putable, one, who was kinsman to the man whose ear he had cut off, declared that he saw him in the garden with Jesus. Peter then began to curse and to swear that he knew not the man. Immediately the cock crew a second time. And Jesus turned and looked on Peter. Then remembered he the word of the Lord, how he had said, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out and wept bitterly.

George. Peter was more to be pitied than any of the disciples, for his affliction must be tenfold, from the reflection of his ingratitude.

Aunt. Sin and sorrow are inseparably connected. At our next meeting we will proceed with our Lord's examination.

2

DIALOGUE XII.

Aunt. EARLY on FRIDAY morning the Sanhedrim met again in council, when Jesus was brought before them: they again asked him, if he was the Son of God; and, upon his answering in the affirmative, they declared they needed no farther witness. They then resolved to deliver him to the Roman power.

George. I wonder what Judas thought of himself.

Aunt. When he saw matters carried so far, he was compelled, by the torment which he endured through remorse of conscience, to bring back the money, declaring before the Sanhedrim, that he had sinned

in betraying innocent blood: they dismissed him with a rough answer, saying, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he threw down the silver, and departed. The chief priests then consulted what should be done with the money, concluding that it would not be lawful to put it into the treasury, as it was the price of blood: at length they resolved to make a purchase of the potter's field, to bury strangers in, thereby accomplishing the prediction of Zechariah, chap. xi. 12, 13.

Maria. What became of Judas?

Aunt. He went and hanged himself; and, as his wickedness was beyond precedent, his death was such as might occasion general notice; for he fell headlong from the tree, and his bowels gushed out.

Lucy. I cannot think how the Sanhedrim could proceed, when even the traitor himself had declared our Lord innocent.

Aunt. In some measure to cast off the odium from themselves, they hurried Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor; but refused to enter into the hall of a pagan, lest they should be defiled, and rendered unfit for celebrating the passover. Therefore Pilate came out to them, to know what accusation they had against Jesus. They answered, that if he had not been a malefactor, they should not have brought him. Pilate told them, they might take him and judge him according to their law; but they alleged they had lost the power of putting any to death: (which some say was taken away from them about three years before) a plain proof that the sceptre was departed from Judah, and consequently that Shiloh was come. See Gen. xlix. 10.

George. Nothing would satisfy them but his

death.

Aunt. And, to attain their object, they accused him of perverting the nation, and proclaiming himself Messiah the king. When Pilate heard this, he thought it became him to examine the matter, and returned into the judgment-hall, where he put this question to Jesus, Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus would not deny his kingdom, but declared, it was not of this world: for that, if it were, his followers would have saved him from the Jews. Pilate, surprised to see one who stood at his bar assume sovereignty, asked him in derision, whether he was really a king. Our Lord answered, For this end was I born and sent into the world, to bear witness. of the truth. Pilate rose suddenly from the bench, and, taking Jesus with him, returned to the people; declaring that he found no fault in the man.

Lucy. His innocency is proved by his very judge; and yet to think they should still persist in having his life!

Aunt. They grew more fierce when they saw Pilate willing to release him. Pilate, finding Jesus was a Galilean, sent him to Herod, who was then

at the feast at Jerusalem.

Herod had heard of the

fame of Jesus, and was much pleased at his being brought before him, as he entertained hopes of seeing some miracle wrought by him.

Maria. I feel sorry that this wicked man should be honoured with a sight of our Lord.

Aunt. It was permitted farther to display the malice of the Jews, and the innocency of Christ.

Maria. Did our Lord gratify Herod's curiosity by performing any miracles?

Aunt. No; nor even answering his questions. Herod, instead of looking upon him as a rival king, treated him as an insignificant person; and his soldiers and guards took the blessed Jesus, and arrayed him in some cast-off robes of royalty, deriding him, and carrying him along the streets in mock-majesty to Pilate again.

Lucy. Oh, aunt, what will those persons feel, when they see Jesus seated on his throne, and themselves brought before his tribunal!

Aunt. They, with all in every succeeding age, who have despised and rejected him, will be brought, like the devils, to believe and tremble, when they see him in his glory, with his holy angels, the last trumpet sounding, and he on the judgment-seat. Then they will behold him as a King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Maria. But how surprising that Jesus should leave his throne of glory to come down and suffer such indignities from his creatures!

Aunt. And what we have related is but a part of his sufferings. Pilate, when Jesus was brought back to him, told the Jews, that he could not find him guilty of those crimes laid to his charge, and that Herod, to whom he had been sent, had passed the same judgment; but, to appease their fury, he said, he would scourge him, and dismiss him. Perceiving they would not agree to that, he thought of another expedient. At the passover it was a custom to release a criminal whom they should choose. Pilate had a notorious malefactor, named Barabbas,

who was convicted of murder; and he imagined, by proposing Jesus and Barabbas to them, they would prefer an innocent man to a thief and a murderer.

While these things were in agitation, the wife of Pilate sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. Pilate then asked the Jews which of the two should be released. They cried, Away with this man, and give us Barabbas. He then said, What shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all cried, Crucify him, crucify him! thus dictating the punishment, which was the most cruel that could be named. Pilate, a third time, declared he could find nothing worthy of death in him: he would therefore chastise him, and let him go. Upon which the people tumultuously required that he might be crucified. At length their voices prevailed upon the governor, who ordered Jesus first to be scourged; a punishment very dishonourable among the Romans, and never inflicted on any but slaves: this was performed, no doubt, with extraordinary severity, for the soldiers offered many indignities beside. After they had scourged Jesus, they took him into the common hall, and, having stripped him, threw a loose purple coat on him for a robe, put a wreath of thorns upon his head for a crown, and a reed, or cane, in his hand for a sceptre; then, in derision, they saluted him, and bowed the knee, crying, Hail, King of the Jews! at the same time spitting in his face, and striking him with the cane on his head, that he might be the more wounded by the thorns!