CHRIST PRAYING ON THE MOUNT.

AFTER our blessed Saviour had eaten the last passover with his disciples, and instituted the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, to be observed as a memorial of the expiatory sacrifice of his body and blood, which he was about to offer up, "he came out and went, as he was wont, to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples, also, followed him." Having reached the garden of Gethsemane, which was at the foot of the Mount, he ordered eight of his disciples to wait for him at a certain place, whilst he, accompanied by Peter, James, and John, retired to offer up his devotions. As they were on their way, he desired they would unite their prayers with his, that they might not be abandoned to temptation. They had not proceeded far before Jesus found himself overcome by a depression, which rendered his soul "sorrowful, even unto death." Having declared this to the three apostles, and desired them to watch with him at this trying crisis, he withdrew from them to offer up his private prayers to God: then he "knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from Heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Having thus prayed, he returned to his apostles, but finding them asleep, he awoke them, and in a reproof full of tenderness, reminded Peter of his late promises, and present neglect of him, when he so especially stood in need of support and consolation. Three times did our blessed Lord retire and pray, but at length his sense of God's indignation against human delinquency, and the prospect of what he was himself so shortly to suffer, caused such a violent agony both of mind and body, that the sweat which fell from him was mingled with blood. During this terrible climax of endurance, under which his mere human nature must have sunk, he was strengthened by an angel.