belief of all his immediate disciples"; and to such these words were addressed.

Another of the historians observes upon the practice he appears to have pursued throughout this week: of teaching daily in the temple, (where he was listened to by a great multitude), and retiring at night: "At night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives." Luke xxi, 37.

The multitude that surrounded him in the daytime, many of whom were favourable to him, might have rendered any attempt of the high priests very hazardous, by day.

The following day, (answering to Wednesday in Passion week), he is recorded to have thus distinctly predicted his end: "Ye know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified:" Matt. xxvi, 2.

The time is here specified; (the day of the Passover): the circumstance of his betrayal: and the manner of his death; (by crucifixion.)

Agreeably to this, the party of the High Priests are stated to have had a meeting and concerted how to get possession of him in a private manner, and put him to death, " But they said not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar among the people." Matt. xxvi, 5.

n See John xi, 27; Luke xxiv, 21 "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel." • An uproar, that is, on the part of the people at

In consequence of this apprehension of exciting a tumult, (probably lest it should alarm the jealousy of the Roman government), the conclave are stated to have made a compact with one of his own especial followers to assist them in getting possession of his person; who accordingly is stated to have watched for an opportunity of doing so P.

An incidental allusion of great value appears to have been made by him on this same day, (answering to Wednesday in Passion week), while he was at supper in Bethany; on occasion of the anointing of his feet by a woman, whom some of his disciples invidiously reproached with wastefulness: Jesus answers; (Matth. xxvi, 10, 11, 12); "Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial:" perfumes being used on such occasions, as appears, (to go no farther), from Mark xvi, 1; Luke xxiii, 56; xxiv, 1.

large, who rather favoured than opposed the doctrines of our Lord. Previously to experience, this would have seemed to render it almost impossible that he should have suffered on the day of the Passover, when the concourse of the people was always the greatest; and this enhances the value of our Lord's prediction that he should be put to death on that day.

P Matth. xxvi, 16; Luke xxii, 6, " And he promised,

We may observe also that the circumstance of this occurring at Bethany, at supper, and consequently at the close of the day, establishes, incidentally, the fact that he withdrew himself at evening from Jerusalem. (See p. 84, line 3.)

We are now come to the day of his betrayal, (answering to our Thursday in Passion week): and here his predictions of immediately approaching death are so distinct and numerous that I shall content myself with merely setting them down as they occur.

At his last supper with his disciples: Luke xxii, 15, 16; "And he said unto them, With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you beP fore I suffer: For I say unto you, that I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

Before proceeding, we may remark that we have incidental proof that these words and others still more directly predictive of his death which follow, were so uttered, in the dispute which is recorded to have ensued on this, as on former occasions, "Who should be the greatest?" i. e.

and sought opportunity to betray him unto them, in the absence of the multitude."

P Without entering into any of the critical questions belonging to the place, it may be observed that this was a Paschal supper, though the day following, according to the Jewish mode of computation from sunset to sunset, was the first day of the celebration of the Passover.

Who should occupy the chief place among them after the removal of their master. It may be added that one of the historians who does not mention this dispute, nevertheless records a characteristic action of Jesus, which was designed to teach his disciples humility by his example.

In the course of the most affecting passage of his history which follows, as given by the different narrators, we find him repeatedly and in various ways to announce his approaching betrayal' : e. g.

1 John xiii, 4, 5; "He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself: After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."

Do not the following expressions in the parallel passage of St. Luke, (who nevertheless does not give the circumstance), allude to this action. "Whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat?, but I am among you as he that serveth." xxii, 27. Cf. John xiii, 12, 13, 14.

r St. John who omits many characteristic circumstances of the last supper, which had already been recorded by other Evangelists, yet affords incidental proof of this: see xiii, 11, 18, 21, and sqq.

It is to be observed with respect to this remarkable conversation, that the Apostles evince the same want of comprehension of our Lord's meaning which we have had occasion to remark before, and it is only at the last that they fully appreciate the force of what He had declared:

"Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table." Luke xxii, 21. And the person who should betray him; see Matt. xxvi, 25.

His impending departure: John xiii, 31, 33; "Therefore, when he (Judas) was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified," etc. "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go ye cannot come; so now I say to you."

His sacrifice; (I must be permitted on this occasion to use the language of a Christian); both by words and expressive signs: "For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins:" Matt. xxvi, 28.

He gives them a new and parting commandment; that they "should love one another:" (John

John xiv, 4, 5; " And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" xvi, 28, sqq.; "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now we are sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone."