when St. Peter, through excess of zeal, "drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear," our Saviour condemns only his impetuosity, performs a miracle to heal the wound, and goes, "like a lamb to the slaughter," to him who had declared (but knew not in what sense it was here accomplished) "it was expedient that one man should die for the people."

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As far as he was an "example" for us to "follow," here is the great pattern for all human suffering; not of insensibility to pain, but of the patient endurance of it-of ardent devotion-of meek resignation-of constant firmness; he teaches us not to say that affliction is not an evil, (for he prayed against it,) but he shews that it is to be received with humility, as the chastisement of sin; to be endured with fortitude, as the instrument of good; to be accepted without murmuring, as the discipline of God (whereby he trains his children to virtue, and fits the virtuous for glory); and that, instead of arraigning the wisdom, or decrying the goodness, of the Al

mighty, we may learn of the Son of God himself, "whose kingdom is not of this world," but who will give his servants grace to bear the dispensations that occur in their way towards it, and preserve them amidst those temptations in which their "strength and their faith" would otherwise "fail."

It did so in the disciples, whom every motive of duty, obedience, and affection, might seem inviolably to have attached to him. Our Lord had foretold them of his sorrows, had endeavoured to supply them with resolution that they might bear them with him, had warned them against deserting him. But of the twelve, two only seem to have attended him; one, who had shared his love and been the companion of his labours, "betrayed him with a kiss;" even Peter followed him "afar off," and he was left to endure by himself the bitterness of that hour.

The presence of friends in the hour of trial gives a certain strength to the mind; it affords some melancholy relief to suffer among those whom we have loved, to be aided (as far as human aid can

go) by their sympathy, and the pain which is shared by many, is in some measure lessened to each; but if they who should have supported our interest then abandon it, or they who ought to have regarded us with love, seek only their own ends and safety, if they have had or shared our confidence only to abuse it, or been admitted into the secrets of our bosom only to betray them, they then increase even "the bitterness of death," and "pierce the soul with many sorrows."

Our Lord felt this in all its aggravation: from the beginning he had found the world against him, "he came unto his own, and his own received him not ;" and now, "in the multitude of sorrows that he had in his heart," when "he looked for some of those whom he loved to pity him, there was no man, neither found he any to comfort him.' "The shepherd, indeed, was smitten, and the sheep were scattered abroad." He trod the wine-press alone; of the people there were none with him; "then all the disciples forsook him and fled."

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Or if one remained nearer, it was but to prove

7 Verse 5.

how He knew the heart of man, its weakness, its corruption, and to fulfil what He had foretold con

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cerning him—“ verily, verily, I say unto thee, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." In the first heat of passion, St. Peter could draw his sword in his master's defence, and say, "though all should be offended because of of thee, yet would I never;" but no sooner was his master made prisoner, than his courage began to waver, and the fervor of his transient devotion was gone; he dared not accompany, and yet he could not utterly desert him; he followed because he yet loved him, but at a distance because he feared; "he stood at the door without, but his resolution weakened as danger seemed to increase, and when, admitted within the palace, he heard his master accused of blasphemy, "denied that he knew the man."

And what is man still, when left to himself, but the same fickle, frail, and sinful creature? What, if there is no power from above to keep him from falling, is all his boasted service? a tie which is snapped asunder the moment there is a

8 Verse 16.

temptation sufficiently strong-a profession which changes with circumstances in the very face of duty, promises, or oaths-an attachment, which, in the first season of trial, is dissolved. "Lead us not, O Lord, into temptation, but deliver us from evil," might be our daily prayer, for we know not else into what sin and sorrow we may be led.

But from the consideration of human frailty, we may turn to that of divine purity, and the purposes of divine wisdom, which were hastening to their accomplishments; "the high priest asked Jesus of his disciples and his doctrines."

They were subjects on which he might easily have been informed, "I spake openly to the world, I have ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort, and in secret have I said nothing: why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I said unto them." He might, indeed, appeal to such, for there were many that had been sick and were healed, many whom he had converted and comforted; the dumb could tell his praise, and the

9 Verses 19, 20.