those predictions, which speak of the Messiah's sufferings, to afflicted princes; and those which speak of his spiritual kingdom, to the splendor of his temporal reign in Jerusalem, they altogether rejected the humble-preaching Saviour.

Besides, our blessed Lord's popularity as a preacher, and his wisdom and sanctity as a man and a prophet, were insupportable to the priestly rulers. They endeavored on every occasion, and by every means, to lay hold of him; and, if possible, to put him to death. The few distinguished miracles he wrought in JerusaIem had no effect but to increase their calumnies, and confirm their malice. So were they disposed towards him when the resurrection of Lazarus brought their counsel to a crisis; that is, to put him to death as soon as they could apprehend him. This miracle was so luminous, and had such an effect in removing prejudice, and in converting many in Jerusalem, that the chief priests took up the fact in the most serious manner, and substituted policy for justice. "If we let him thus alone,” said they,“ all men will believe on him; and the Romans (deeming his congregations insurrections) shall come and take away both our place and nation." By this decision, they horridly agreed to bring upon themselves the blood of the Holy and Just One. But Jesus did not commit himself into their hand, because his hour was not come.

X. After this, and indeed after a preceding conspiracy, Jesus prudently withdrew from the cantons of Jewry, and confined his labors to Galilee and the sea-coast, because his work was not yet accomplished. He sent the twelve, and afterwards the seventy disciples, into all the cities and villages he intended to visit, that the people might be excited to look for the kingdom of God immediately. Having now manifested himself as an extraordinary prophet, and in many respects as the Messiah, to the whole Jewish nation; having laid the foundation of his infant church, and adequately provided for its ministry, every object of his prophetic mission was fully accomplished: he

therefore hasted to Jerusalem, that he might put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. But oh! when he beheld the city, recollecting its privileges, attesting its crimes, and foreseeing its punishment, he wept and lamented over it. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!-If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.-Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and shall lay thee even with the ground, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation," Luke xix. 41. Matt. xxiii. 37. We learn from this elegiac prediction, that the sinners in Jerusalem had a day of grace, or time of visitation; and that this invaluable moment was past from the time they wickedly rejected the ministry and miracles of Jesus Christ, and in particular the resurrection of Lazarus. How amazing is the long-suffering of God, to spare men to such a height of depravity! How unsearchable are his wisdom and judgments, that he should employ reprobates in the accomplishment of prophecy respecting the crucifixion of his Son!

XI. Of this tragic event, he began to apprize the disciples on such occasions, and in such expressions, as were best suited to their feelings and situation: for they did not expect their master to be crucified on Calvary, but to reign in Jerusalem. As Providence generally conceals our troubles till they come, or till their near approach, so Jesus was pleased to conceal this catastrophe from his disciples, that their sorrow might speedily be turned to joy. It was not till his last journey to that incorrigible city, that he acquainted them plainly with the circumstances of his death and resurrection. "The Son of man,” said he," must be rejected of the high priests and elders, crucified, and rise again the third day." When Mary anointed his head, he said, "she hath done it unto my burial;"

indicating that God had prompted her to an excess in civility, which she could not then account for. In the guest-chamber he disclosed to his disciples almost every circumstance of his departure, being improper to conceal it a moment longer; and he endeavored to reconcile their minds to his exit, by a variety of impressive and suitable arguments. "Except," said he,

a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth fruit. If I go not away, the Comforter will not come; but if I go, I will send him. I go and prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself."

It may be here remarked, that these predictions of Christ are as demonstrative of his godhead, as his miracles. Indeed, the greater part of his ministry was one continued series of predictions respecting the success of the gospel, the rewards of the righteous, and ..the punishments of the wicked. His predictions regpecting the destruction of Jerusalem we should particularly notice, because their striking completion is confirmed by the fullest historic evidence. That perverse and incorrigible city had ever rejected the word of the Lord, and killed the prophets; therefore he in-fatuated them to their own destruction. The prominent circumstances of this destruction were minutely detailed by our Lord. He said, that the enemy should surround them as eagles gather about their prey; that the horrors of the siege should be incomparably severe; that those who should be happy, or rather wretched enough to survive the dreadful calamity, should be led away captive to all nations. He, lastly, provided for the safety of his church, by warning the disciples to flee to the mountains on the approach of the hostile armies. There are two other remarkable circumstances which he predicted, and which were not accomplished when Titus suppressed the Jewish rebellion in the seventieth of Christ, but they were accomplished in the next rebellion, viz. that the foundation of the temple should be razed, and that JerusaF

lem should be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles should be fulfilled. The reader need only compare the twenty-first chapter of Saint Luke with the Jewish history, to trace the prophetic character and amazing wisdom of Jesus Christ. May he ever deign, of his great mercy, to guide us by that wisdom, and may we be ever preserved from danger, like his first disciples, by attending to his word!

XII. Six days before the passover, at which our Lord was crucified, he arrived at Bethany, and supped with Lazarus, and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. After supper Mary anointed Jesus with a box of precious ointment, which caused Judas to murmur. His friends in the city, with many of the populace, hearing of his arrival, came out next morning to meet him, for the resurrection of Lazarus had induced many to believe on him. Jesus accompanied them into the city, riding on an ass's colt; and these being met by a multitude still coming to meet him, the joy of his disciples became so great, that it could not be contained. They cut down branches of trees, as emblems of peace and joy, spread their garments for his beast to tread upon, and sung hosannas to him, as the son of David, and the king of Israel. The Pharisees, alarmed at these divine and regal honors, entreated him to repress them; but he would not, it being meet that the children of Zion should rejoice, and for once do ho mage to their king, Zech. x.

His stay in Jerusalem was but for a night or two; for he returned to Bethany again. And two days before the passover he supped with Simon the leper, one of the chief rulers.

XIII. We shall now retire with Jesus to the guestchamber, and see the last moments of him who is the source of all wisdom, and the model of every virtue. After supping with his disciples, he gave Judas a sop, and dismissed him, and then by prayer and thanksgiving consecrated bread and wine, as the sacred memorials of his passion and death.* All nations have

Two of the evangelists mention the sacrament as previous to the : but on several occasions they are more solicitous of truth than

celebrated illustrious deeds, and great events of a beneficent nature, by some exterior memorials of festivity and honor. Providence, in the religious economy, has done the same. The covenant with Abraham received the seal of circumcision; the deliverance from Egypt was annually celebrated by the feast of the passover; in the introduction of the gospel, the baptism of water was imposed on all believers, as a badge of their faith and purity. Agreeably to these institutions, our Lord took bread, and blessed, and brake it, saying, “take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you. In like manner he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, drink ye all of thisthis is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for you, for the remission of sins: do this in remembrance of me." This solemn and sacred ordinance he enlivened by such discourse concerning the glory and happiness of heaven; his mediation with the Father; his future advent; and the offices and grace of the Comforter, as charmed and edified his weeping disciples. He then sung a hymn, and retired to the garden of Gethsemane, his occasional place of devotion.

XIV. On entering the garden, he withdrew about a stone's cast from his disciples, and falling down on his knees, began to ask life and salvation for a guilty world. And oh! tremendous to say! justice could remit no part of the punishment-the innocent or the guilty must die. Justice could remit no part, even to the beloved Son, though his shrinking humanity deprecated the bitter cup: therefore he said, “Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Hereupon his righteous soul sustained the whole anguish of our iniquities, which it pleased the divine justice to transfer to him. "The sorrows of death compassed him about, and the pains of hell got hold upon him." Three times he prostrated and prayed; and three times he rose in the conflict. So great was his agony, that

of order. And as the sop is presumed to be a part of the supper, Mr. Pool is decidedly of opinion, that Judas was not present at the holy

sacrament.