"And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked."-ST. MARK, xiv. 51, 52. gled away, but left his garment behindthese facts are all given with evident carefulness of detail, the Evangelist appearing anxious that we should not pass over the occurrence as though it were unimportant, but should pause and consider why it was permitted to happen, or why, at least, it was directed to be recorded. St. Mark is the only Evangelist who mentions this occurrence: we cannot, therefore, as we often may, by a comparison of accounts, obtain a fuller narrative of facts, and thereby settle with more precision what particular truths may have been illustrated or enforced. But if we have only this single account, it goes sufficiently into detail to afford much scope for thought and inquiry; Whatever is in any way connected the facts would not have been related with the apprehension, trial, and cruciat all, and much less with such careful fixion of our blessed Redeemer, ought accuracy, had they not been facts which to possess for us a special interest; an it was important for us to know; and incident which we might have passed they would have been related, we may venture to believe, more than once, had not their single statement sufficed for information and instruction. over as of no great importance, had it not been associated with such awful transactions, acquires solemnity, and demands attention, when found in that series of events, of which it is hard to say whether it should most move our awe or our gratitude. That it was a young man, though no clue is given to his name or condition; that he followed Christ, when his professed disciples forsook him and fled; We cannot, therefore, content ourthat he was clad in a linen cloth; that selves with a brief or cursory notice of his linen cloth was his only garment; the circumstances related in our text. that he was seized by the young men We rather regard it as intended to be who were hurrying Jesus to the high made the subject of patient and prayerpriest; that, being thus seized, he strug-ful meditation, and as fraught with deep |