zarus.

The fame of the miracle he had fo recently performed, and which, from the vicinity of Bethany to Jerufalem, must have been universally known in that city, would naturally excite an eager curiofity to fee not only the perfon who had performed it, but also him who had been raised from the dead. Great multitudes, of courfe, flocked to Bethany, as soon as they knew that Jesus was there with LaThe chief priests, who daily became more alarmed for their influence on the people, which they were fenfible was already much diminished, now confulted by what means they might involve Lazarus in the destruction they were meditating for Jefus; knowing that, whilft they fuffered him to live, fo ftrkiing a proof of the divine power of our Lord must neceffarily draw great numbers of the Jews after him could they once remove this standing miracle, they were in hopes they might be able to give the whole tranfaction another turn, if not deny it alto

gether;

gether; or, at any rate, that time would foon deftroy the remembrance of it.

12. On the next day, much people "that were come to the feast, when they "heard that Jefus was coming to Jerufalem,

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"13. Took branches of palm-trees, and

went forth to meet him, and cried, Ho"fanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that "cometh in the name of the Lord.

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"14. And Jefus, when he had found a young afs, fat thereon; as it is written,

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15. Fear not, daughter of Sion; behold, thy King cometh, fitting on an "afs's colt.

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"16. These things understood not his difciples at the firft: but when Jefus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and "that they had done these things unto

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"him.

"17. The people, therefore, that was "with him when he called Lazarus out of

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"18. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle..

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19. The Pharifees, therefore, faid among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold the world is gone after him."

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The going out of the multitude to meet him, and their bringing him into Jerufalem with fongs of triumph, was in conformity to the prophecy of Zechariah, (chap. ix. ver. 9.): Rejoice greatly, "O daughter of Zion; fhout, O daughter "of Jerufalem: behold, thy King com"eth unto thee: he is juft, and having falvation; lowly, and riding upon an

afs, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” And, again, (Pfalm cxviii. verfe 26.): "Bleffed be he that cometh in the name "of the Lord."

The conduct of the people, upon this occafion, might not perhaps have arisen from

from their faith in him as the meffiah, but merely from, gratitude for the many miracles he had wrought in their favor: indeed, the difciples themselves appear not to have, at this time, understood it in any other light. If so, they ignorantly fulfilled a very important prophecy. The Pharisees, however, regarded the affair in the most serious point of view: in his popularity they faw their own downfal; and were, therefore, confirmed in their purpose to destroy him.

Fear is the natural and constant attendant upon guilt. Confcious that they had corrupted the law of Mofes, and that they had introduced the greatest abuses into it, for the mere purpose of their own aggran dizement, they trembled at the punishment that awaited them. Had they been faithful to the commandments of God, and worshipped him in spirit and truth, with no other object in view than his honor, would they have apprehended the entire overthrow of their religion and law by one who poffeffed no temporal power; whose

whofe followers were, in general, from amongst the lowest ranks of the people, and whom they themselves profeffed to defpife? Had they been Mofes' true difciples, they would have been Chrift's also; and the appearance of our bleffed Lord upon earth, would have caufed a general joy amongst them, in the ftead of that dread which was fo vifible in all their actions.

Had there been really any caufe for apprehending a revolution of government, can we suppose that the Romans, who fhewed fo much jealousy upon all other occafions, would have remained quiet fpectators whilft their authority was overturned? yet we find, that, even to the laft, the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, had not the leaft idea of any fuch danger.

"20. And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship "at the feaft:

"21. The fame came, therefore, to "Philip, which was of Bethfaida of GaHhh

lilee,