d Magiftrates of the Temple, and the ders; Are you come out, as against thief, with fwords and ftaves, to ap chend Me? I fat dayly with you teachg in the Temple, and you took Me ot: But, this is your hour, and the ower of darkness. And this was done at the Scriptures of the Prophets might fulfilled, Then His Difciples forfaking im, fed away. And there followed im a certain young man having a linen oath about his naked body; and they id hold on him: but he, cafting off ne linnen cloath, fled from them aked.hh work efp. Thus was the King of Glory difko noured into the shamefull condition of a Malefactor: with Swords and ftaves they feize upon Him, with fhouts and tus mults they burry Him away. But, O! this comforts all the power of darknes fball last but an hour. Every circumstance is fad and difmals the horror of the. night, and the naife of the multitude, the dreadfull menaces of armed Souldierss and, which wounds yet deeper, his com paffionate beart, when the shepheard is Smitten the Sheep will be fcattered. But — LeBon Leffon 274. Then the Band, and the Tribune & the Officers of the Jews took JESUS! and bound Him. And they brought Him: first to Annas (for he was father in law to Caiaphas, the High-Prieft of that year) Now, Caiaphas was he who had given counfell to the Jews, that It was expedient one Man fhould die for the people. And they brought Him into the HighPriest's houfe, where all the Chief Pries, and Scribes and Elders were affembled. But, Simon Peter followed JESUS afar off, to the High-Pricft's Palace and fo did another Difciple. Now that Difciple was known to the High-Prieff, and went in with JESUSinto the High-Prief's Palace; But Peter flood at the door without. Then went out that Difciple, who was known to the High-Prieft, and fpake to the Portrefs, and brought in Peter and he went in. And a fire be ing kindled in the midst of the court, Peter fat down with the fervants, as warmed himself at the fire, to fee the Refp. See how the infolent lead away the Ear T Earth, bound as a flave: fee hom the politick Great ones flick together to conful against their own and the Worlds Redeemer. It was indeed expedient One should die for the people, Nor elfe all the Nations of the Earth had perisht. But, where, O my Soul! Shall we feek this One that can fave us? not among men, for they are finers, nor among the Angels for they are creatures and the All-wife Goodness will chufe the Beft; His only Son must be the Sacrifice. It was. Leffon 275. * The High-Prieft askt JESUS of His lifciples and of His Doctrine. JESUS fwered him, I fpake openly to the World, I always taught in the Synague and in the Temple whither all e Jews refort, and in fecret have I id nothing. Why askeft thou Me? ask em who heard Me what I have faid them: behold, thefe know what I id. And, when He had thus fpoken, ne of the Officers who stood by, truck ESUS with the palm of his hand, sayg, Anfwercft thou the High-Priest so ? ESUS answered him, If I have spoken ill, bear bear witness of the evil; but, if well why trikeft thou Me.. * Refp. Such are fomtimes prepofterous proceedings of the World, where the Cri minal fits on the Bench, and the Judge Atands at the Bar: where all we fay fil be misinterpreted, and a petty Officer affront the worthieft Perfon. Lord, if Thy pleasure be we should share in Thy Suffering; let Thy Grace enable us to imitate Thy patience. What could be faid more fit to convince their perverfness? what more effective to clear Thy inno cence? yet would not this be acquitted, nor that acknowledged. Lord,Leßon 276. Now Annas had fent Him bound to Caiaphas the High-Prieft. And the Chief Priefts and Elders and all the Council fought false witness against JESUS, that they might deliver Him to death; and found none though many came and bare false witness againft Him, yet their te ftimonies agreed not together. At laft there arose two falfe witueffes, who bare falfe teftimony against Hima, fayling, We heard Him fay, I am able to deftroy the Temple of God, and after three das to build it again: I will diffolve this Temple made with hands, and in three ays build another made without hands And their teftimony agreed not. And the High-Prieft, rifing up in the midft, asked ESUS, Anfwereft thou nothing to the hings which thefe men object against hee? But JESUS held His peace, and nfwered nothing. efp. Thus didt Thou argue, dearest Lord, to defend Thy innocence, and prevent their fin; but when their malice, grew peremptory and incorrigible, Thou leftft them to themselves and answeredft nothing. *O make us learn of Thee this excellent Lefon, The time to speak and the time to hold our peace. Thou never complaink of the perjured witnesses, nor exclaimft against the fpite and envy of the Judges: but having faid enough to clear the truth, wifely refignedft Thy felf to Providence, and faid no more. * make us Leßon 277. And, when it was day, the Elders of the people and the Chief Priefts and Scribes affembled together, and brought Him into the Council, faying, If thou be |