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 MEDITATIONS 
 
 FOR 
 
 SIassion 
 
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 BY 
 
 V 
 
 EEK. 
 
 Eev. Ej GREENWALD, D.D., 
 
 PASTOR OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, 
 
 LANCASTER, PA. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 4 
 THE LUTHERAN BOOKSTORE, 
 
 117 N. SIXTH STREET. 
 
 1873. 
 
K\ A 
 
 *> 
 
 
 
 ^1 5 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, 
 
 By E. GREENWALD, D.D., 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sherman & Co., Printers. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The Lectures here presented to the reader 
 were delivered by the author, in the regular dis- 
 charge of pastoral duty, to the members of the 
 Church of the Holy Trinity, during Passion Week 
 of the year of our Lord 1868. He used the Order 
 for Passion Services, prescribed in the Liturgy of 
 the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, as the basis of 
 the course of Lectures. Many of the Prayers he 
 has translated from Dieffenbach's Haus Agende. 
 In this Order, the narratives of the Four Evan- 
 gelists are brought together, the one supplying 
 what is omitted by the others, and thus a con- 
 nected and complete history of our Lord's Pas- 
 sion is presented. His method consisted in the 
 simple reading of the connected history, and then 
 deducing its lessons. His aim was to awaken a 
 devout feeling in the breast, to strengthen faith, 
 to enkindle love, and develop the practical relig- 
 ious life of the Christian. As the Lord's Supper 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 is usually administered in our churches on Easter, 
 
 at the close of the Passion services, these services 
 
 are admirably adapted to prepare the mind and 
 
 heart of the communicant for the worthy and 
 
 profitable partaking thereof. This end was kept 
 
 steadily in view in the preparation and delivery 
 
 of the Lectures. They are sent forth with the 
 
 fervent prayer that they may serve to quicken, in 
 
 the breasts of the members of our churches, the 
 
 spirit of true evangelical devotion, and glorify 
 
 the name of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 
 Christ. 
 
 E. G. 
 
 Lancaster, Pa., 
 
 August 1st, 1872. 
 
IJMttRttflita far fiaaaion Wuk 
 
 THE FIRST SERVICE. 
 
 Dearly Beloved : 
 
 Let us hear the first part of the Passion His- 
 tory as related by the several Evangelists, which 
 is as follows : 
 
 John xi: 47-53. Then gathered the chief priests 
 and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do 
 we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we 
 let him thus alone, all men will believe on him; 
 and the Romans shall come, and take away both 
 our place and nation. And one of them named 
 Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, 
 said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor con- 
 sider that it is expedient for us, that one man 
 should die for the people, and that the whole 
 nation perish not. And this spake he not of him- 
 self : but being high priest that year, he prophesied 
 that Jesus should die for that nation ; and not for 
 that nation only, but that also he should gather 
 together in one the children of God that were scat- 
 
6 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 tered abroad. Then from that day forth they took 
 counsel together for to put him to death. 
 
 Matt, xx: 17. And Jesus going up to Jerusa- 
 lem, took the twelve disciples apart in the way, 
 and said unto them (Luke xviii : 31-34), Behold, 
 we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are 
 written by the prophets concerning the Son of 
 man shall be accomplished. For he shall be de- 
 livered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, 
 and spitefully entreated, and spitted on ; and they 
 shall scourge him, and put him to death : and the 
 third day he shall rise again. And they under- 
 stood none of these things: and this saying was 
 hid from them, neither knew they the things 
 which were spoken. 
 
 John xii : 1, 2. Then Jesus, six days before the 
 passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was 
 which had been dead, whom he raised from the 
 dead. There they made him a supper (Matt. 
 xxvi:6) in the house of Simon the leper (John 
 xii : 2), and Martha served : but Lazarus was one 
 of them that sat at the table with him. Mark 
 xiv : 3. As he sat at meat, there came a woman 
 having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard 
 very precious; and she brake the box, and poured 
 it on his head (John xii : 3-6), and anointed the 
 feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; 
 and the house was filled with the odor of the oint- 
 ment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas 
 Iscariot 3 Simor^s son, which should betray him, 
 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 7 
 
 pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not 
 that he cared for the poor; but because he was a 
 thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put 
 therein. Mark xiv : 4, 6-9. And there were 
 some that had indignation within themselves, and 
 said, "Why was this waste of the ointment made? 
 And Jesus said, Let her alone ; why trouble ye 
 her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For 
 ye have the poor with you always, and whenso- 
 ever ye will, ye may do them good: but me ye 
 have not always. She hath done what she could: 
 she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the 
 burying. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this 
 gospel shall be preached throughout the whole 
 world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken 
 of for a memorial of her. 
 
 John xii : 12. On the next day (Matt, xxi: 1-7), 
 when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and w T ere 
 come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, 
 then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, 
 Go into the village over against you, and straight- 
 way ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: 
 loose them and bring them unto me. And if any 
 man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord 
 hath need of them; and straightway he will send 
 them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled 
 which w T as spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye 
 the daughter of Zion, behold thy King cometh 
 unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a 
 colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, 
 and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought 
 
8 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 the ass, and the colt, and put on them their 
 clothes, and they set him thereon. John xii : 17. 
 The people therefore that was with him when he 
 called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him 
 from the dead, bare record. Mark xi:8. And a 
 very great multitude spread their garments in the 
 way (Matt. xxi:8, 9): others cut down branches 
 from the trees, and strewed them in the way; and 
 they that went before, and that followed, cried, 
 saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is 
 he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna 
 in the highest. 
 
 Luke xix : 39-44. And some of the Pharisees 
 from among the multitude, said unto him, Master, 
 rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said 
 unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold 
 their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 
 And when he was come near, he beheld the citj% 
 and wept over it, saying, It* 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. For the days shall come upon thee, 
 that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, 
 and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every 
 side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and 
 thy children within thee; and they shall not leave 
 in thee one stone upon another; because thou 
 knewest not the time of thy visitation. 
 
 Matt, xxi : 10-13. And when he was come into 
 Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who 
 is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 9 
 
 the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus 
 went into the temple of God, and cast out all them 
 that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew 
 the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of 
 them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is 
 written, My house shall be called the house of 
 prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 
 Luke xx : 1, 2. Then the chief priests and the 
 scribes came upon him with the elders, and spake 
 unto him, saying, Tell us by what authority doest 
 thou these things? or who is he that gave thee 
 this authority? Mark xi : 29. And Jesus answered 
 and said unto them, I will also ask of you one 
 question, and answer me, and I will tell you by 
 what authority I do these things. Luke xx : 4-6. 
 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of 
 men? And they reasoned with themselves, say- 
 ing, If we shall say, From heaven ; he will say, 
 Why then believed ye him not ? But and if we 
 say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they 
 be persuaded that John was a prophet. Matt. 
 xxi : 27, 28. And they answered Jesus, and said, 
 We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither 
 tell I you by what authority I do these things. 
 But what think ye? Matt, xxi : 33, 34. There 
 was a certain householder which planted a vine- 
 yard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a place 
 for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to 
 husbandmen, and went into a far country. And 
 when the time of the fruit drew near (Luke xx : 
 10), he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that 
 
10 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard : 
 but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away 
 empty. Mark xii : 4-6. And again he sent unto 
 them another servant; and at him they cast stones, 
 and wounded him in the head, and sent him away 
 shamefully handled. And again he sent another; 
 and him they killed, and many others; beating 
 some, and killing some. Having yet therefore 
 one son, his well beloved (Luke xx : 13-15), then 
 said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? 
 I will send my beloved son : it ma} 7 be they will 
 reverence him when they see him. But when the 
 husbandmen saw him they reasoned among them- 
 selves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill 
 him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they 
 cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 
 Matt, xxi : 40-44. "When the lord therefore of the 
 vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those hus- 
 bandmen ? They say unto him, He will miserably 
 destroj 7 those wicked men, and will let out his 
 vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall ren- 
 der him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith 
 unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, 
 The stone which the builders rejected, the same 
 is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's 
 doing, it is marvellous in our eyes ? Therefore 
 say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be 
 taken from you, and given to a nation bringing 
 forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall 
 on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever 
 it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Matt. 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 11 
 
 xxiii : 37-39. 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! 
 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For 
 I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, 
 till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the 
 name of the Lord. 
 
 Matt, xxi : 45, 46. And when the chief priests 
 and Pharisees had heard his parables, they per- 
 ceived that he spake of them. But when they 
 sought to lay hands on him, they feared the mul- 
 titude (Mark xii : 12), and they left him, and went 
 their way. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 My Brethren : 
 
 We have entered upon Passion Week, in which we 
 commemorate the last sad scenes in the life of the 
 dear Saviour of men. Devout meditation upon the 
 dying sorrows of our Lord must always be profita- 
 ble, as it strengthens our faith in him, softens our 
 hearts, awakens our hatred to sin, draws out our love 
 for the meek and gentle Jesus, and prepares us for 
 most blessed communion with him. 
 
 That part of the Passion History arranged for this 
 evening, suggests many thoughts upon which we may 
 profitably meditate. Let us briefly refer to a few of 
 them. We have here, 
 
 1. A blessed expediency. 
 
 It was a wonderful remark uttered by the Jewish 
 
12 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 high priest Caiaphas, "It is expedient that one man 
 should die for the people." He hardly knew what 
 he meant, or understood his own language. But he 
 uttered a most vital truth nevertheless. It was expedi- 
 ent that one man should die for the people. The death 
 of one might be a substitute for the rest. His death 
 might save them. They might live because he died. 
 This was the true nature of Christ's death. All men, 
 as sinners, deserved to die; but God was pleased to 
 accept the death of Jesus, instead of the death of all. 
 His death was instead of theirs. Christ died for us. 
 It was expedient that one should die for the people. 
 It was necessary that he should die for sinners. If 
 he had not died, all must have died. Because he died 
 all may live. There is life in his death \ death for 
 him, but life for all who believe in him. Blessed 
 dying that leads to such blessed living ! Precious, in- 
 deed, was the meaning of the high priest's words, 
 " It is expedient that one man should die for the 
 people I" 
 
 2. Jesus willingly went up to be sacrificed. 
 
 il Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things 
 that are written concerning the Son of man shall be 
 accomplished, for he shall be mocked, and scourged, 
 and put to death." His time was now come, and he 
 willingly gave himself up to be crucified. li I lay 
 down my life for the sheep. JSTo man taketh it from 
 me, but I lay it down of myself." He did not refuse 
 to suffer. For this purpose he came into the world. 
 Unresistingly he went to the slaughter, like a lamb 
 led to the sacrifice. He was in the hands of his 
 Father, and he came to do his will, and whether that 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 13 
 
 will required him to act or to suffer, he was ready for 
 either. He was about his Father's business, and did 
 his Father's work, and yielded to his Father's will, 
 and served his Father's pleasure from his birth in 
 the stable to his ascension from Mount Olivet. In 
 now going to Jerusalem to die, he was following the 
 same great principle of his life. " He set his face 
 steadfastly to go to Jerusalem," to agonize in the 
 garden, to be betrayed by Judas, to be condemned by 
 heathen judges, to be mocked, and spit upon, and 
 crowned with thorns, and nailed, and pierced, and 
 finally to die, because his Heavenly Father willed 
 that he should endure all this. Is our will equally in 
 harmony with the divine will? Is God's will in all 
 things our will? Whether for work or suffering; in 
 relaxation or duty; to live or to die, are we as ready 
 to do and endure the will of God as was the blessed 
 Jesus ? 
 
 3. The sufferings and death of our Lord were in ful- 
 filment of God's own method of m,ercy, long before an- 
 nounced and prefigured. 
 
 " All things that are written by the prophets con- 
 cerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.'' The 
 redemption of the world by the sufferings and death 
 of Christ was not an accident. It was foreordained. 
 In the same chapter that relates the fall, is the prom- 
 ise of a Saviour. Through the whole Old Testament 
 run the types, and symbols, and predictions of a 
 Redeemer to come. All were intended to prepare 
 the way for his coming. All pointed out the nature 
 of his mission, and the way of sacrifice and suffering 
 by which the world would be redeemed. The death 
 
14 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 of Christ, and the manner of his death, were neces- 
 sary to the accomplishment of the end to be attained. 
 "It behoved Christ to suffer." God foresaw man's 
 misery and woe, and in mercy provided a remedy for 
 them. It is the highest exhibition of wisdom and 
 goodness. It is a wonderful display of love and 
 mercy. Every part fits every other part, and all are 
 necessary to make up a glorious plan of salvation for 
 perishing men. Who is not lost in wonder as he con- 
 templates it ? Whose ideas of God's character are 
 not exalted in the highest degree by it? Who ever 
 tires of meditating on it? Angels desire to look into 
 it, and the study of it affords the most rational, and 
 delightful, and instructive employment for men. 
 
 4. Friendship's base requital. 
 
 "He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall 
 be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on, 
 and they shall scourge him, and put him to death." 
 What an array of outrages for the world's best ben- 
 efactor is here ! How strange that the Saviour of 
 mankind should receive such ill treatment from those 
 whom he came to save! The world always has had 
 scorn, and abuse, and persecution, and martyrdom 
 for its best friends. It takes its enemies to its bosom, 
 whilst it scourges and spits upon its benefactors. 
 But even with all this which we see every day, it 
 does still seem very wonderful that the good and 
 holy Jesus should have been so badly treated. Men, 
 in their insane abuse of him, lost all sense of decency. 
 They would hardly spit into the face of a dog. Yet 
 they spit into the face of the holy Jesus ! And he 
 bore it all patiently ! With a word or a nod he could 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 15 
 
 have caused the earth to open and swallow them up; 
 but as love for their souls brought him into the world, 
 so the same wonderful love bore all their ill usage 
 patiently. Do we treat the Saviour differently? Men 
 even now despise him, and crucify him afresh. Do 
 we love, and honor, and treat him well ? 
 
 5. Affection's offering. 
 
 Mary anointed the body of Jesus for its burial. 
 Here was proof of true affection. Here we see the 
 gushing love of a true woman's heart. She spared 
 no costly sacrifice in honor of her Lord. She freely 
 poured the costly spikenard on his head and feet, and 
 anointed and embalmed his body for its burial before 
 its death. With pious love she washed the Saviour's 
 feet, and wiped them with the long tresses of her 
 hair. Of all the marks of affection which Jesus re- 
 ceived on earth, this was perhaps the most affecting. 
 The reading of the account softens the heart, and 
 melts the eye to tears. We never think of the scene 
 without emotion. How beautiful is grateful love ! 
 How welcome to the heart of Jesus, amidst the abuse 
 he was receiving, must her gentle and grateful affec- 
 tion have been ! Some hearts still beat kindly towards 
 him. He was not utterly forsaken. Human beings 
 were not all reprobates. Some are still only a little 
 lower than the angels. They have not all utterly 
 lost their angelic character. Do our breasts heave 
 as kindly for the Saviour as did the bosom of Mary ? 
 Do we love him as she did ? Are we as willing as she 
 was, to make sacrifices for his sake ? Do we consider 
 nothing as lost which we do in honor of Jesus? 
 
16 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 6. The triumphal entrance to the place and scenes of 
 sacrifice. 
 
 In fulfilment of prophecy Jesus entered into Jeru- 
 salem as a conqueror. He came as a King, meek in 
 his bearing, and mean in his equipage, seated on a 
 humble ass's colt, yet attended with a large retinue, 
 and welcomed with loud hosannas and enthusiastic 
 plaudits. He was the Son of David, and he came in 
 the name of the Lord God Almighty, to set up his 
 kingdom on the earth. His kingdom was not, as the 
 excited multitude thought, a splendid military power, 
 but a kingdom of faith, and truth, and grace, and 
 righteousness, and love. Instead of entering thus, to 
 be seated on a throne, he came to be raised on a cross. 
 Instead of coming to live among them as a King, he 
 came to die as a sin offering. Instead of entering in 
 triumph to occupy a palace, he came to find a grave. 
 He did not come to his death weeping, but he came 
 with joy and gladness. He was not afraid to die. In 
 dying, he conquered death. It had no power over 
 him, and he knew it. He entered the abode of death 
 itself, the more effectually to overcome death. He 
 laid down in the grave, that thereby he might de- 
 prive it of its power, and wrest from it the victory. 
 The result of the conflict was not doubtful, and there- 
 fore he approached it joyfully. The same grace he 
 gives to all who believe in his name. They, too, may 
 approach death without fear. They can follow their 
 Lord through death and the grave, as well as through 
 life. Since Jesus has died, death is no longer the 
 scene of terror that it was. It possesses another 
 character altogether than that which it possessed be- 
 fore. It is to the Christian, no longer an enemy, but 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 17 
 
 a friend. We may, like Jesus, look at it without 
 alarm, and yield ourselves up to it with a cheerful 
 smile. We may welcome it in triumph, and there 
 need be no tears shed for us when we die. As Jesus 
 approached his end in triumph, so, too, may all his 
 followers do. 
 
 7. The fickle multitude. 
 
 The people, one day, shouted "Hosanna!" and the 
 next, cried just as loudly, " Crucify him !" They were 
 mere creatures of impulse. There was no sound 
 principle at the bottom of either their friendship or 
 their enmity. Theirs was not intelligent action, but 
 merely blind enthusiasm. Popularity is no test of 
 truth. Jesus, on the day of his entrance into Jerusa- 
 lem, was, with the multitude, the most popular of 
 men; but on the next, no one was more unpopular 
 than he. Let us do right, and please God, and have 
 a good conscience, whatever may be the popular or 
 unpopular estimate that men may form of us. We 
 are to be judged, not by human approbation or dis- 
 favor, but by the eternal principles of right and 
 wrong. True religion is not mere enthusiasm. It is 
 more than shouting hosanna. It is founded on truth 
 and principle. It is not superficial, but deeply rooted 
 in the disposition and character of the man. It is 
 permanent, and does not change. It is sound and 
 genuine. It has a reason for its hope, and can ren- 
 der a reason. It is like the everlasting hills, im- 
 movable. It is the religion of faith, and principle, 
 and character, and not merely of feeling. He that is 
 in possession of it, was a Christian yesterday, is such 
 
 2 
 
18 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 to-day, and will be such to-morrow. Such must all 
 Christians be. 
 
 8. Sorrow for others' sorrows in forgetfulness of his 
 own. 
 
 " And when he was come near, he beheld the city, 
 and wept over it." What a large, compassionate 
 heart was the heart of Jesus ! He felt for the mis- 
 eries of others. He came to save men, but they 
 would not let him save them. They were madly 
 bent on their own destruction. He foresaw the 
 dreadful ruin which they were bringing upon them- 
 selves, and which was nigh at hand. They did not 
 foresee it, but it was all plain to his eye. He foresaw 
 the ill-fated city surrounded by the Eoman army; the 
 dreadful progress of the siege; the horrors of famine; 
 the dreadful loss of life; the gutters rolling with blood; 
 the brutal slaughter; the miseries that no tongue can 
 describe; the thousands of captives led away into 
 hopeless bondage ; the utter ruin of the city, temple, 
 and nation. He foresaw all this as the sad conse- 
 quences of their sinful ways, and he could not restrain 
 his tears. He wept over the guilty city. He was 
 going to the most dreadful personal sufferings, but he 
 forgot them all in view of the miseries of others. He 
 had no tears for himself, but he had many bitter tears 
 for his enemies. What a loving Saviour we have ! 
 If he wept and prayed for his enemies, he will surely 
 pity and pray for his friends. He feels for our mise- 
 ries, and he will have mercy upon our souls. Have 
 we, also, his kind and gentle spirit? Do the suffer- 
 ings of others awaken our compassion ? Do we, like 
 him, weep for the distresses that prevail around us, 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 19 
 
 and do we also extend a willing hand to succor and 
 relieve them ? 
 
 9. Unworthy occupants of high and holy places. 
 
 To those that bought and sold in the temple, Jesus 
 said, "My. house is called a house of prayer, but ye 
 have made it a den of thieves." They converted the 
 very sanctuary of the Lord into a market-place for 
 mercenary traffic. They were in a holy place, but 
 they had there very unholy hearts. They did not 
 leave the world outside, but took it with them into 
 the house of God. Their hearts were corrupt in the 
 midst of the very influences that ought to have sanc- 
 tified them. They were in the Church, but were not 
 of the Church ; they were in Moses' seat, but were 
 not of Moses' spirit. They came for other purposes 
 than those of devotion. They trafficked in the things 
 of religion and were made rich thereby, so that they 
 had their religion in their pockets but not in their 
 hearts. The place in which they were was holy, but 
 they were unholy; the place honored them, but they 
 disgraced it. We, too, are in the sanctuary of the 
 Lord, and bear the name of the Lord's servants. Do 
 we honor both the sanctuary and the name which we 
 bear? Are our spirits in harmony with the spirit of 
 the Lord's house, and of the solemn ordinances that 
 are administered there? Has the sacredness of the 
 place its reflex in the sanctity of our hearts? As the 
 atmosphere that surrounds us is holy, are our hearts 
 also pure? As we bear a holy name, are our lives 
 also holy? 
 
20 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 10. Faithful reproof met by anger and persecution. 
 
 " When they perceived that he spake of them, they 
 sought to lay hands on him." Men will usually bear 
 anything more patiently than kind reproof of their 
 vices. You wound a man in the tenderest part when 
 you point out to him his errors and sins, and seek to 
 make a better and safer man of him. Strange that 
 it should be so, but still it is so. The pride of the 
 heart takes fire at once when its sins and errors are 
 rebuked, however kindly. If an error in a man's 
 deed for his land is pointed out to him so that he 
 may rectify it and save his property, he thanks you, 
 and considers you his best friend. But if a flaw in 
 his title to heaven is shown to him, and he is urged 
 to change his principles and his life, so that he may 
 be saved when he dies, he ranks you as his enemy, 
 hates you, and will not speak kindly to you. If Jesus 
 had not reproved the errors and vices of the Jews, 
 they would not, perhaps, have molested him, and he 
 might have been permitted to live to old age if he 
 chose, without being persecuted. But they hated him 
 because he reproved their sins. " Am I your enemy," 
 asks the Apostle Paul, " because I tell you the truth ?" 
 Is he not my best friend that shows me my soul's 
 danger, in order that by a timely change of heart and 
 life I may be saved? "Let the righteous smite me, 
 and it shall be a kindness, and let him reprove me, it 
 shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my 
 head." 
 
 Such, my beloved, are some of the good and beau- 
 tiful lessons of that portion of the Passion history of 
 our Lord selected for this evening. Let us lay them 
 well to heart. And as we follow still further this 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 21 
 
 most wonderful history, we will find it increasingly 
 interesting and instructive. We will read it with 
 new eyes, and meditate upon it with improved hearts. 
 We will honor the Lord who suffered for us; be 
 brought into nearer sympathy with his divine and 
 holy spirit; have stronger faith in him; and enjoy 
 sweeter, and more delightful, communion and fellow- 
 ship with him at his table. 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou King of Saints, who 
 wast despised and rejected of men, but who now sit- 
 test at the right hand of the majesty on high. 
 Lord, how low was the state of humiliation before 
 Pontius Pilate, to which Thou didst submit in order 
 to exalt us to heaven. O Thou Kiog of truth, grant 
 that we may so hear Thy voice, and follow Thy call, 
 that we may enter into Thy everlasting Kingdom. 
 Thy Kingdom is not of this world, and Thy dominion 
 is spiritual and heavenly, but we are earthly and full 
 of sin. O cleanse Thou us by Thy blood, that we, as 
 Thy Sanctified ones, and blessed of Thy Father, may 
 once stand before Thee with joy. O Thou King who 
 wast crowned with thorns, graciously grant to us the 
 crown of eternal life. O Thou King who didst bear 
 scorn and suffering, mercifully grant to us an entrance 
 into Thy Kingdom of joy and glory. O Thou who 
 w r ast a King on the cross and in death, have mercy 
 upon us, and bring us to everlasting life. O Thou 
 holy and eternal King, we prostrate ourselves before 
 Thy cross as before the throne on which Thou wast 
 lifted up, and we offer unto Thee our homage and our 
 prayers. Graciously accept us as Thy subjects, and 
 
22 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 keep us faithful to Thee forever, to the honor and 
 glory of Thy name, and for the sake of the great love 
 wherewith Thou hast loved us. Amen. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Saviour of sinners, we 
 thank Thee that it behoved Thee, and was expedient 
 that Thou shouldst suffer and die for the people. 
 May we live by Thy death. Give us Thy life. May 
 we be crucified with Thee, and wilt Thou live in us. 
 We bless Thee that we have redemption through Thy 
 blood. O cleanse us from all sin. Since Thou didst 
 come to save sinners, grant unto us poor, miserable 
 sinners, the gift of eternal life. Thou, who didst will- 
 ingly submit Thyself to suffering and death in obedi- 
 ence to Thy Father's will, grant unto us submissive 
 and obedient hearts, that we, too, may do and endure 
 all that our Father in heaven may order and lay upon 
 us. O Thou dear Eedeemer, who didst graciously 
 accept the oil and tears which the holy love of Mary 
 did pour upon Thy sacred person, be pleased, with the 
 same gracious condescension, to receive the tokens of 
 love which we may offer unto Thee. Open our hearts 
 that we, too, may love Thee with warm and constant 
 affection. O Lord, we mourn over the hardened 
 wickedness of our own hearts, and are grieved that 
 Thou wast abused, and mocked, and buffeted, and 
 spit upon by the corrupt hearts and vile tongues of 
 men in Thy great humiliation to which Thou didst 
 descend to save us poor sinners. Grant us grace, O 
 Lord, that our love for Thee may never become cold, 
 but as we have given ourselves to Thee, help us to 
 remain Thine forever. O Jesus, Thou son of David, 
 have pity upon us. Thou who didst weep over lost 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE. 23 
 
 sinners have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. 
 Gather us under Thy wings of love; soften our hard 
 hearts; and renew our sinful natures. Give us Thy 
 Holy Spirit that he may abide with us forever. In- 
 fuse Thy own loving spirit into our breasts, and fit us 
 by Thy grace for blessed communion with Thee on 
 earth, and for eternal fellowship with Thee in heaven, 
 through Thy gracious mediation, who now livest and 
 reign est forever. Amen. 
 
 O, dear Lord Jesus Christ, who didst willingly go 
 to Thy death on the cross for us poor sinners, grant 
 us grace, that we may, with true faith and sincere 
 devotion, deny ourselves, take up every cross Thou 
 dost cause us to bear, and faithfully follow Thee 
 in all manner of affliction and sorrow, through the 
 strength and comfort of thy Holy Spirit. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who didst patiently bear the shameful 
 persecution of Thy enemies, when, with cruel scorn, 
 they did mock and spitefully entreat Thee, crowning 
 Thee with thorns, and spitting upon Thy person, 
 grant us grace that we, too, may in all our tempta- 
 tions and trials possess our souls in patience, endure 
 the malice of the wicked, and return blessing for 
 cursing, through Thee, who art, with the Father and 
 the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 
 
 O dear Lord, who wast meek and lowly of heart, 
 and who dost now, as at the beginning, come to Thy 
 Church, through Thy word and sacraments, in much 
 mercy, yet with great majesty, bringing to us, Thy 
 children, manifold gifts of grace, we humbly beseech 
 
24 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 Thee to pour out upon Thy Church Thy gracious 
 benediction, and set up Thy heavenly kingdom in the 
 whole world, so that being King of nations, as Thou 
 art of saints, Thy holy name may be glorified by men 
 on earth, as it is by the angels in heaven, through 
 Thee, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, 
 livest and reignest one God, forever and ever. Amen. 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 
 
 Hear, now, the second part of the Passion 
 History as related by the several Evangelists, and 
 brought together into one continuous narrative. 
 It is as follows : 
 
 Luke xxii : 7-11. Then came the day of un- 
 leavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 
 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and pre- 
 pare us the passover, that we may eat. And they 
 said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare ? 
 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are 
 entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, 
 bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the 
 house where he entereth in. And ye shall say 
 unto the good man of the house, The Master saith 
 unto thee (Matt, xxvi : 18), My time is at hand, I 
 will keep the passover at thy house with my disci- 
 ples. Luke xxii : 12. And he shall show you a large 
 upper room furnished : there make ready. Mark 
 xiv: 16, 17. And his disciples went forth, and came 
 into the city, and found as he had said unto them : 
 and they made ready the passover. Now when 
 the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 
 Luke xxii: 15-18. And he said unto them, With 
 desire I have desired to eat this passover with you 
 
 3 
 
26 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 before I suffer : For I say unto you, I will not any 
 more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the king- 
 dom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, 
 and said, Take this, and divide it among your- 
 selves : For I say unto you, I will not drink hence- 
 forth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when 
 I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. 
 
 Luke xxii : 24-30. And there was also a strife 
 among them, which of them should be accounted 
 the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings 
 of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them ; and 
 they that exercise authority upon them are called 
 benefactors : But ye shall not be so : but he that is 
 greatest among you, let him be as the younger; 
 and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For 
 whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he 
 that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but 
 I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they 
 which have continued with me in my temptations. 
 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father 
 hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and 
 drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on 
 thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 
 
 John xiii : 2-17. And supper being ended, the 
 devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscar- 
 iot, Simon's son, to betray him ; Jesus knowing that 
 the Father had given all things into his hands, and 
 that he was come from God, and went to God ; he 
 riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; 
 and took a towel and girded himself. After that 
 he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 27 
 
 the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the 
 tow^el wherewith he was girded. Then cometh 
 he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, 
 Lord, dost thou wash my feet ? Jesus answered, 
 and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not 
 now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith 
 unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus 
 answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no 
 part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, 
 not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 
 Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth 
 not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; 
 and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who 
 should betray him ; therefore said he, ye are not 
 all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and 
 had taken his garments, and was set down again, 
 he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to 
 you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say 
 well; for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and 
 Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to 
 wash one another's feet. For I have given you 
 an example, that ye should do as I have done to 
 you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is 
 not greater than his lord ; neither he that is sent 
 greater than he that sent him. If ye know these 
 things, happy are ye if ye do them. 
 
 John xiii : 21, 22. When Jesus had thus said, 
 he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, 
 Verily, verily I say unto you, that one of you shall 
 betray me. Then the disciples looked one on an- 
 other, doubting of whom he spake. And they 
 
28 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one 
 by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? And 
 he answered and said unto them, It is one of the 
 twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. The 
 Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him; 
 but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is 
 betrayed; good were it for that man if he had 
 never been born. Matt, xxvi : 25. Then Judas, 
 which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, 
 is it I ? He said unto him, Thou hast said. John 
 xiii : 23-30. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bo- 
 som one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 
 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he 
 should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 
 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, 
 Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to 
 whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. 
 And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to 
 Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the 
 sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto 
 him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man 
 at the table knew for what intent he spake this 
 unto him. For some of them thought, because 
 Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, 
 Buy those things that ye have need of against the 
 feast, or that he should give something to the poor. 
 He then, having received the sop, went imme- 
 diately out, and it was night. Luke xxii : 31-34. 
 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan 
 hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as 
 wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 29 
 
 fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen 
 thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am 
 ready to go with thee both into prison, and to 
 death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock 
 shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt 
 thrice deny that thou knowest me. 
 
 Mark xiv : 22. And as they did eat, Jesus took 
 bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, 
 and said, Take, eat; this is my body (Luke xxii : 
 19), which is given for you : this do in remem- 
 brance of me. 1 Cor. xi : 25. After the same 
 manner also he took the cup, when he had supped 
 (Matt, xxvi : 27), and gave thanks, and gave it to 
 them, saying, Drink ye all of it (1 Cor. xi : 25). 
 This cup is the new testament in my blood (Luke 
 xxii : 20), which is shed for many for the remis- 
 sion of sins (1 Cor. xi : 25); this do ye, as oft as 
 ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Mark xiv : 
 23. And they all drank of it 
 
 Mark xiv : 26. And when they had sung a hymn, 
 they went out into the mount of Olives. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Dearly Beloved : 
 
 In the Lesson which we have just read, and which 
 constitutes the second of the course of Passion Ser- 
 vices, we have an account of a number of very inter- 
 esting circumstances in the eventful history of our 
 Lord's Passion. As we approach the final sad scene 
 
30 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 in the crucifixion of the Saviour, we find our interest 
 deepens in the succession of events that preceded it. 
 Let us briefly remark upon the points of chief impor- 
 tance that are brought before us in the Lesson for 
 this evening. We have here, 
 
 1. The Passover and the true Paschal Lamb. 
 
 u The day of unleavened bread had come, when the 
 passover must be killed." Jesus kept the feast with 
 his disciples. Among all the Old Testament institu- 
 tions, none more plainly typified himself than the 
 passover. He was the object at which it pointed. 
 St. Paul says: "Christ, our Passover, is slain for us." 
 He was the true Paschal Lamb, by the shedding of 
 whose blood the angel of death was made to pass over 
 a sinful world. By the shedding of his blood our 
 guilt was taken away, or passed over ; God's wrath 
 against us was propitiated, or passed over; and the 
 penalty of the law was satisfied, or passed over. 
 Christ is, therefore, our true Passover. He was slain 
 for us. As he sat at the table, and ate the Paschal 
 Lamb, we have the type and the antetype together; 
 the symbol and the thing symbolized at the same 
 table. The Passover was slain to save the people; 
 he was about to be slain for the same purpose. At 
 the sprinkling of the blood of the paschal lamb on 
 the lintel and door-posts, the angel of death passed 
 over the occupants ; at the offering before God of the 
 blood of Christ our Passover, the dread condemnation 
 that rested over us passed away forever. In com- 
 memoration of the Jewish passover the paschal lamb 
 was e^ten ; and in commemoration of the Christian 
 Passover, Christ, as the true Paschal Lamb, gives us 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 31 
 
 himself to eat. Blessed Passover! "With desire," 
 said Jesus, " have I desired to eat this passover with 
 you before I suffer/' Have we the same desire — the 
 same hunger and thirst for the Christian Passover, 
 which is just before us at the Lord's Table? Do we 
 have the same holy relish for the heavenly feast to 
 which Jesus invites us? 
 
 2. Pride and ambition among even the Lord's disciples. 
 
 "And there was a strife among them which of them 
 should be accounted the greatest." There is nothing 
 more natural to the depraved human heart than pride, 
 ambition, strife, and contention. These are the sad- 
 dest marks of human depravity, and the sources of 
 the largest part of the miseries that exist on the earth. 
 There is nothing, at the same time, more opposed than 
 they to the meek, and gentle, and loving spirit of the 
 Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The spirit of the 
 Gospel is the very opposite of these. The spirit of 
 the Saviour was especially free from any of these, for 
 no heart ever beat with more humble, gentle, forgiv- 
 ing, and loving emotions than his. Strange that his 
 disciples could have been with him for three years, 
 and then just before the communion, and within a few 
 hours of his death, could have betrayed such hateful 
 passions, and a spirit so opposite to that which ani- 
 mated his breast. We often discover evidences of 
 depravity in persons where we would least expect to 
 find them. What is the spirit of our mind? Do we 
 admit into our hearts the same passions that exhibited 
 themselves in the hearts of the disciples? Have we 
 been so long time with Jesus as his professed follow- 
 ers, and have we not learned more of his spirit than 
 
32 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 they? In view of the communion, and our commem- 
 oration of the sufferings and death of Jesus in that 
 holy sacrament, do we banish all those hateful pas- 
 sions from our hearts, and cultivate the graces of love, 
 humility, forgiveness, gentleness, and charity? 
 
 3. The betrayer of his Lord. 
 
 " The supper being ended, the devil put it into the 
 heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him." 
 Such a base suggestion, as that of selling the Lord for 
 money, could only have been put into the heart of one 
 of the Lord's disciples by the devil. Such a horrid 
 temptation as that could, of course, have had no other 
 source. But, accustomed as we are to see exhibitions 
 of desperate wickedness all around us, and familiar 
 as all our lives have been with extreme cases of hu- 
 man depravity, it does still seem almost impossible 
 that one of Christ's own chosen disciples, who enjoyed 
 the intimacy of his society, and companionship, and 
 instructions, and example, for so long a time, could 
 have been so utterly lost to all piety and virtue as to 
 sell that dear Saviour into the hands of his bitter ene- 
 mies for the paltry sum of thirty pieces of silver. An 
 open enemy is bad enough, but a vile traitor is the 
 vilest of men. Jesus was wounded in the house of 
 his friends. His enemies crucified him; but one of 
 his own disciples betrayed him. When the number 
 of the disciples was but twelve, one of them was a 
 traitor. We need not, therefore, be surprised that 
 when the Church numbers its thousands and tens of 
 thousands of members some should be unworthy of 
 the name they bear. It was no reproach to Christ, 
 nor a scandal to the other disciples, that Judas acted 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 33 
 
 so badly. The shame and the disgrace rested only 
 on him, and not on them. Let us, therefore, act 
 worthy of our high calling, and not stumble at the 
 unworthy conduct of others from whom we had ex- 
 pected better things. We are not responsible for 
 their bad conduct. They must answer for themselves 
 to God. God will take care that they shall be called 
 to account for their sins, and for the injury which 
 they inflict upon the holy Gospel by their unworthy 
 deeds. God will also take care of his own cause, and 
 not suifer it to be overthrown by bad men in the 
 guise of friends. Let us do our duty, and leave the 
 rest with God. Let us especially guard our own 
 hearts that no treacherous thought or purpose be 
 harbored there. Let no one that appears at the 
 Lord's Table, and receives to his lips the holy com- 
 munion, carry within his breast the heart of a traitor. 
 
 4. Christ an example of humility. 
 
 He girded himself with a towel, took a basin of 
 water, and performed the menial office of washing 
 the feet of his disciples. He did not intend this as a 
 religious rite, as some have supposed, but he intended 
 it as a lesson of humility. As it was the office of ser- 
 vants in the East to wash the feet of guests when 
 they entered a house, so he intended that his disciples 
 should be servants to one another, and willingly 
 render service and acts of kindness to each other. 
 One should not esteem himself above the other, and 
 proudly disdain to know him, or have intercourse or 
 fellowship with him, or render him service when in 
 need. But, like the Saviour, who washed his disci- 
 ples' feet, although he was their Lord and Master, 
 
34 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 and the Son of God, we, too, should be humble, and 
 lowly, and condescending, to those that are beneath 
 us. This is a most precious Christian grace. God is 
 no respecter of persons. In his sight there are only 
 two classes, namely, the good and the bad ; the be- 
 liever and the unbeliever; the heart that loves and 
 fears God; and the heart that loves and fears him 
 not. All the other artificial distinctions of life are 
 not regarded by him, and are vain in his sight. The 
 sufferings of Christ for us all, as sinners in common, 
 who, without his death would all alike have perished, 
 should teach us humility. The holy communion, 
 where we all meet on a common level, and where rich 
 and poor, great and small, the beggar and the prince, 
 eat of the same bread and drink of the same cup, 
 teaches that we are all one before the Lord, and that 
 the numerous conventional distinctions among men 
 are nothing in his sight. Let us all cultivate the 
 grace of humility. Let us not despise our brother, 
 but feel that we are both alike dependent on the 
 mercy of God for all our hopes of heaven. Let sinful 
 pride be suppressed, and let us, like Jesus, be meek 
 and lowly of heart, and we shall find rest for our 
 souls. 
 
 5. Sorrow at the fear of defection from Christ. 
 
 When Jesus foretold that one of them would betray 
 him all the disciples were filled with sorrow, and be- 
 gan to say, " Is it I ? Is it I ?" The sad defection of 
 one of their number caused them to lose confidence 
 in their own fidelity. When others fall even the 
 faithful Christian fears that in the time of temptation 
 he too may fall. " Lord, is it I that shall betray thee ?" 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 35 
 
 should be often asked by the Christian in times of 
 earnest self-examination. It is well for us to feel our 
 own weakness, and even to suspect ourselves, in order 
 that we may be the more guarded, and cling all the 
 more closely to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 6. The intimacy of holy friendship. 
 
 "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of 
 his disciples whom Jesus loved." How near to Christ 
 did John seem as he sat by the side of his Lord, with 
 his head resting on his bosom ! How blessed was that 
 station ! Who would not like to have been in his 
 situation, and enjoyed the tokens which he enjoyed 
 of the love of Jesus? He could not doubt that Jesus 
 loved him. And have we any more reason than he 
 had to doubt that Christ loves us? Are we not also 
 privileged to occupy most near and intimate relations 
 to the Saviour? Are we not permitted to take our 
 places at the Lord's Table, and, like John, feel that 
 the Lord is near us there, even at our side, and in our 
 hearts? With this token of the Lord's presence and 
 grace can we doubt his love for us? Does he not in- 
 vite us to his feast as welcome guests, and will he not 
 be with us, and love us, when we are there at meat 
 with him? What better evidence can we have that 
 the Saviour loves us than the Lord's Supper affords ? 
 
 7. The good and the evil spirit. 
 
 "And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to 
 Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, and after the sop, 
 Satan entered into him." Men may be under the 
 influence of a good spirit, or they may be under the 
 influence of a spirit of evil. Good men have God's 
 
36 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 Holy Spirit in their hearts, and are surrounded by 
 good angels that serve as ministering spirits to 
 strengthen the good within them, and to preserve 
 them from evil. But bad men have an evil spirit 
 dwelling in their hearts, that has dominion over 
 them, and they are surrounded with spirits of evil 
 that tempt them to sin, and encourage and embolden 
 them to deeds of wickedness. " The angel of the 
 Lord encampeth round about them that fear him to 
 deliver them.'' Let us by piety, prayer, and holiness, 
 invite good influences into our hearts, and over our 
 lives. Happy are they in whom the Spirit of God 
 dwells ! Dreadful must it be for a soul to be under 
 the dominion of evil, led captive by Satan at his will. 
 Blessed help when the angels are our ministering 
 spirits to keep us unto the kingdom of heaven ! 
 
 8. The weakness of the strongest. 
 
 " Peter said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with 
 thee both into prison and to death." He no doubt 
 thought so at the time, but he knew not how weak 
 he was. He was weaker than he seemed. The trial 
 was too great for his strength. Men often think they 
 can do what, when the trial comes, they find they 
 are unable to do. The best Christian is weak. Happy 
 are they that know it, and trust in the arm of the 
 Lord for strength. Jesus said to Peter, " Simon, 
 Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you that 
 he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee 
 that thy faith fail not." Happy are we to have such 
 an intercessor as Jesus ! He prays for us now as he 
 prayed for Simon. Is there not much precious com- 
 fort in the thought? If Jesus, as our great Advo* 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 37 
 
 cate, adds his prayers to the Father to ours, can we 
 doubt that they will be heard ? 
 
 9. The institution of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 After the passover was eaten, and before they rose 
 from the table, Jesus instituted a holy Christian Sac- 
 rament instead of that of which they had partaken. 
 He took of the unleavened cakes before them, broke, 
 and handed a small piece to each of the disciples, and 
 said, " Take, eat, this is my body which is given for 
 you. This do in remembrance of me." He then 
 took the cup of wine before him, and gave it to them, 
 and said, "Take and drink all ye of it; this cup is my 
 blood of the new testament, which is shed for you 
 and for many for the remission of sins. This do as 
 oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me." How 
 solemn were these words! How solemn was the 
 whole scene ! Silence, still as death, broken only by 
 the subdued voice of Jesus himself, must have reigned 
 in the room. It is as solemn still. No scene is more 
 impressive now than the administration of the Lord's 
 Supper. It is nearer to heaven there, than we ever 
 get on earth. It is more like heaven than any other 
 scene that this world ever presents. How blessed is 
 it to Christian hearts ! It is once again just before 
 us. In it Jesus gives himself to us, with all the bless- 
 ings of the Gospel. It is the communion of his body 
 and his blood, and he communicates himself to our 
 souls. Let us accept the gift with believing minds 
 and loving hearts. Let us come with clean hands 
 and a pure spirit. The blood of sprinkling will 
 cleanse from sin him that believes; and the same 
 faith in Jesus will put on the robes of his imputed 
 
38 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 righteousness as the wedding garment for the feast. 
 Do we believe in him ? Do we hope for salvation 
 through his death ? Do we trust that God for Christ's 
 sake hath forgiven all our sins? Do we love the 
 Saviour? Do we desire to be like him? Do we 
 relish prayer and communion with him ? Do we feel 
 unworthy of the privilege, but still a great desire 
 to be a child of God, to enjoy his favor, and to be 
 with him at last in heaven? Then let us come, and 
 not doubt for a moment that we will be welcome 
 guests. 
 
 Such, my beloved, are the beautiful and instructive 
 lessons of this second part of the Passion History. 
 May our meditation upon them result in large spirit- 
 ual profiting ! 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 O dearest Lord Jesus, who hast mercifully pre- 
 pared for us a table, at which Thou dost impart to us 
 Thy grace and blessing, grant that we may come to 
 it with hearts well prepared to receive Thy benefits. 
 As Thy body was broken, and Thy blood was shed 
 for the forgiveness of our sins, enable us by true faith 
 to lay hold on the hope of pardon and reconciliation 
 with, Thee. We are not worthy of Thy grace, or of 
 a place with Thee, but Thou art merciful above all 
 that we can ask or think. Be graciously pleased to 
 heal our wounds, to soothe our sorrows, and to shed 
 abroad Thy peace in our souls. With marvellous 
 kindness and grace, Thou feedest us with Thyself, 
 the true bread of life, and dost quench our deep 
 thirst by giving us Thy blood to drink. For such 
 Thy infinite mercy, we render Thee our feeble praises, 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 39 
 
 and we would give ourselves to Thee as a living sac- 
 rifice of thanksgiving. We beseech Thee, preserve to 
 us, and to Thy entire holy Church, this heavenly 
 grace, and take not from us, on account of our sins, 
 the pure and true sacrament of Thy body and blood. 
 Grant that in Thy holy Supper, all heavy laden and 
 weary souls may find comfort and strength; and all 
 Thy dying saints obtain support and joy in their last 
 hour. May we, who long ago became Thine, with 
 our body, soul, and spirit, in holy Baptism, be nour- 
 ished and preserved in holy communion with Thee, 
 by Thy body and blood, and may we live not unto our- 
 selves but unto Thee. Yea, O Lord, by the power 
 of Thy life in us, we would live to Thee; by the effi- 
 cacy of Thy death in us, we would die to Thee; and 
 by having Thee in us, and by being ourselves in Thee, 
 we would at our last hour rise to eternal life, and enter 
 into Thy glory. Hallelujah! Amen. 
 
 Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we give Thee 
 humble and hearty thanks, that Thou hast given Thy 
 dear Son to die for us, that He might not only bear 
 our sins and make atonement for us on the cross, but 
 that He might also give us, in His holy Supper, His 
 body to eat, and His blood to drink, unto our salva- 
 tion. We pray Thee, give us grace to put our whole 
 trust in Thy redeeming love; and help us always so 
 to come to this holy sacrament, that our faith in Him 
 may be strengthened, our souls comforted, and we be 
 enabled to resist all the assaults of sin and death, 
 through the same, Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Lord God our Heavenly Father, who didst send 
 
40 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, into the world, that 
 He might defend and protect us in our frailty, from 
 the power and assaults of the devil, preserve us, we 
 beseech Thee, from all false security; and in all our 
 temptations, keep us by Thy Holy Spirit, to walk 
 according to Thy word, that we may never fall into 
 the power of the adversary, but in the end, be saved 
 forever, through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 O dear Jesus, who, although Thou art God over all 
 blessed forever, yet didst Thou become of no reputa- 
 tion, and didst take upon Thyself the form of a ser- 
 vant, and wast made in fashion as a man, and didst 
 humble Thyself, and didst serve in willing humility 
 in order to save us, grant that we, like Thee, may be 
 lowly in heart, and serve one another, bearing one 
 another's burdens, and helping each other into the 
 kingdom of heaven, through Thee, who, with the 
 Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, livest and 
 reignest forever. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who dost grant unto Thy true believers 
 great nearness to Thyself, and with great love, dost 
 give them a place at Thy table, and dost even draw 
 them to Thy bosom, we beseech Thee, draw near to 
 us with Thy grace, and as we lean upon Thy breast at 
 Thy Holy Supper, may our hearts be filled with Thy 
 love, and taste the sweetness of communion with 
 Thee, through the same, Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 O God, who discernest the hearts of all men, and 
 
THE SECOND SERVICE. 41 
 
 wilt bring into judgment every secret thing, we pray 
 Thee, try our reins and purify our souls, that no hy- 
 pocrisy nor untruth may be in us, but that we may 
 be sincere and without offence until the day, and 
 second coming in glorious majesty, of Thy Son, Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Almighty God, who knowest us to be set in the 
 midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason 
 of the frailty of our nature, we cannot always stand 
 upright, grant to us such strength and protection as 
 may support us in all dangers and carry us through 
 all temptations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 A men. 
 
THE THIKD SEKVICE. 
 
 We will read, now, the third part of the Passion 
 History, as harmonized and brought together from 
 the narratives of the Four Evangelists : it is as 
 follows : 
 
 John xvii. These words spake Jesus, and lifted 
 up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour 
 is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may 
 glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all 
 flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as 
 thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that 
 they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus 
 Christ whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee 
 on the earth: I have finished the work which thou 
 gavest me to do. And now, Father, glorify thou 
 me with thine own self with the glory which I had 
 with thee before the world was. I have mani- 
 fested thy name unto the men which thou gavest 
 me out of the world : thine they were, and thou 
 gavest them me ; and they have kept thy word. 
 Now they have known that all things whatsoever 
 thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given 
 unto them the words which thou gavest me; and 
 they have received them, and have known surely 
 that I came out from thee, and they have believed 
 that thou didst send me. I pray for them : I pray 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 43 
 
 not for the world, but for them which thou hast 
 given me ; for they are thine. And all mine are 
 thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in 
 them. And now I am no more in the world, but 
 these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy 
 Father, keep through thine own name those whom 
 thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we 
 are. While I was with them in the world, I kept 
 them in thy name; those that thou gavest me I 
 have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of 
 perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 
 And now I come to thee; and these things I speak 
 in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled 
 in themselves. I have given them thy word; and 
 the world hath hated them, because they are not 
 of the world, even as I am not of the world. I 
 pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the 
 world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the 
 evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not 
 of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth : 
 thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the 
 w 7 orld, even so have I also sent them into the 
 world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that 
 they also might be sanctified through the truth. 
 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also 
 which shall believe on me through their word; 
 that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in 
 me, and I in. thee, that they also may be one in 
 us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent 
 me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have 
 given them; that they may be one, even as we are 
 
44 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be 
 made perfect in one; and that the world may 
 know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, 
 as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they 
 also, whom thou hast given me, be with me w r here 
 I am ; that they may behold mj^ glory, which thou 
 hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the 
 foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the 
 world hath not known thee: but I have known 
 thee, and these have known that thou hast sent 
 me. And I have declared unto them thy name, 
 and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou 
 hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. 
 
 John xviii : 1. When Jesus had spoken these 
 words, he went forth with his disciples over the 
 brook Cedron. Mark xiv: 32. And they came to 
 a place which was named Gethsemane (John xviii : 
 1), where was a garden, into the which he entered, 
 and his disciples. Matt, xxvi : 36-38. And he said 
 unto them, Sit ye here, w T hile I go and pray yon- 
 der. And he took with him Peter and the two 
 sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and 
 very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul 
 is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye 
 here, and watch with me. Luke xxii : 41. And 
 he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast 
 (Matt, xxvi : 39-43), and fell on his face, and 
 prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let 
 this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, 
 but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disci- 
 ples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Pe- 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 45 
 
 ter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 
 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into tempta- 
 tion : the spirit, indeed, is willing, but the flesh is 
 weak. He went away again the second time, and 
 prayed, saying, my Father, if this cup may not 
 pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be 
 done. And he came and found them asleep again : 
 for their eyes were heavy (Mark xiv : 40), neither 
 wist they what to answer him. Matt, xxvi : 44. 
 And he left them, and went away again, and 
 prayed the third time (Luke xxii : 42-46), saying, 
 Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from 
 me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. 
 And there appeared an angel unto him from 
 heaven, strengthening him. And being in an 
 agony he prayed more earnestly : and his sweat 
 was as it were great drops of blood falling down 
 to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, 
 and was come to his disciples, he found them sleep- 
 ing for sorrow, and said unto them (Matt, xxvi : 
 45, 46), Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, 
 the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed 
 into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: 
 behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. 
 
 Matt, xxvi : 47, 48. And while he yet spake, lo, 
 Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a 
 great multitude with swords and staves, from the 
 chief priests and elders of the people. Now he 
 that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whom- 
 soever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast. 
 John xviii : 4-9. Jesus, therefore, knowing all 
 
46 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 things that should come upon him, went forth, 
 and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They an- 
 swered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto 
 them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed 
 him, stood with them. As soon then as he had 
 said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and 
 fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, 
 "Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazar- 
 eth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am 
 he : if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way : 
 that the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, 
 Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. 
 Matt, xxvi : 49. And forthwith he (Judas) came 
 to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him. 
 Luke xxii : 48-50. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, 
 betray est thou the Son of man with a kiss ? When 
 they which were about him saw what would follow, 
 they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the 
 sword ? And one of them (John xviii : 10), Simon 
 Peter, having a sword drew T it, and smote the high 
 priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The 
 servant's name was Malchus. Luke xxii : 51. And 
 Jesus touched his ear, and healed him. Matt. 
 xxvi : 52-55. Then said Jesus unto him (Peter), 
 Put up again thy sword into his place : for all they 
 that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 
 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, 
 and he shall presently give me more than twelve 
 legions of angels? But how then shall the Scrip- 
 tures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that 
 same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 47 
 
 come out as against a thief with swords and staves 
 for to take me ? I sat daily with you teaching in 
 the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. Luke 
 xxii : 53. But this is your hour, and the power of 
 darkness. Matt, xxvi : 56-58. But all this was 
 done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be 
 fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and 
 fled. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led 
 him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the 
 scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter 
 followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Beloved : 
 
 The Lesson which we have just read as the third of 
 the series in the Passion History brings us into con- 
 nection with some of the most solemn and impressive 
 scenes in the life of Jesus. It instructs at the same 
 time that it impresses us. Let us meditate briefly 
 upon the most prominent points that are brought 
 before us. 
 
 We have here — 
 
 1. The finished work. 
 
 "I have finished the work which thou gavest me 
 to do." His active work was completed; his hour 
 was now come; and there remained only the last sad 
 scenes of suffering and death. Christ's work was a 
 finished work. He came to do the will of his Heav- 
 enly Father, and he did it. He left nothing undone 
 of all that he came to do. The salvation of the world 
 
48 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 was a great work; none else but he could do it; and 
 what he came to do he finished. "He hath done all 
 things well." Can the same be said of the work we 
 are doing in the world? Are we doing the Lord's 
 work — and are we doing it well? Will we be able, 
 like Jesus, to say at the close of life, Lord, I have 
 finished the work which thou gavest me to do? Are 
 we living so faithfully in all the walks of faith, and 
 piety, and holy duty, that we shall have accomplished 
 at the close the whole end and purpose for which God 
 sent us into the world? 
 
 2. The oneness of Christians. 
 
 " That they may be one, even as we are one." How 
 fervently did not our Lord pray in his last solemn 
 prayer before he suffered for the unity and harmony 
 of his Church. It is called after his name; it is pur- 
 chased by his blood; it is his kingdom in the world; 
 it is the fold where dwell the sheep of his pasture ; it is 
 the bride, the Lamb's wife, and therefore the rending 
 of the Church, and want of oneness of its members, 
 would detract from the glory of its divine head, and 
 destroy one great object of Christ's sufferings and 
 death. He would have a united, not a divided house. 
 He would have the children of his family dwell at 
 peace. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for 
 brethren to dwell together in unity. How blessed 
 and happy is union among Christians. Like a blessed 
 family circle — that green spot on the desert surface 
 of human life — is the Church, the family of Christ, 
 united, harmonious, and happy. Let Christians draw 
 together. They have much in common. Especially 
 let each congregation be as one peaceful, confiding, 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 49 
 
 and harmonious family. Let the banner that waves 
 over us be love. Let the love of one heart be like a 
 sacred cord that goes out and becomes entwined 
 around each other heart, and binds all together in 
 blessed unity and peace. Let our communions be 
 precious, not only from the preciousness of our faith, 
 and hope, and interest in Christ, but also from the 
 delightful fellow-feeling which they awaken as the 
 communion of saints. Will each do his part, as much 
 as in him lies, that the Church may live and act in 
 blessed oneness? 
 
 3. The Christian's safe keeping. 
 
 " Father, keep through thine own name those whom 
 thou hast given me." We are safe in our Saviour's 
 keeping. He is the finisher, as well as the author, of 
 our faith. We need a keeper, and the Lord is our 
 keeper. His hand keeps us from falling. Without 
 his daily help we would long since have fallen. We 
 lean on the arm of the beloved. He is the rod of our 
 defence, and the staff on which we lean. If his arm 
 is around us he will keep us from falling. At his side 
 what harm can overtake us? There is virtue in the 
 prayers of Jesus. He is our gracious Intercessor and 
 Advocate. Did he not attest his love for us by dying 
 for us? Will he forsake us now? What reason have 
 we to doubt his constant love for us? Our only safe 
 place is at the foot of the cross, and at that refuge no 
 avenger of blood can harm us. 
 
 4. Christians in the world, yet not of the world. 
 
 "I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of 
 the world, but that tbou shouldst keep them from the 
 
 5 
 
50 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not 
 of the world. " Christians are in the world. They 
 are the light of the world, and the salt of the earth. 
 The world could not spare them. With their depar- 
 ture the glory of the world would depart. They are 
 the salt that preserves human society from utter cor- 
 ruption. God has a work for Christians in the world, 
 and therefore they are kept in the world. Still they 
 are not of the world. Their principles, their spirit, 
 their maxims, their habits, their aims, are not of the 
 world. They are citizens of a better country, and 
 their highest interests are located in heaven. They 
 must therefore keep themselves unspotted from the 
 world. Their presence in the world should be a cor- 
 rective of its evils, and a rebuke to its vices. Do we 
 have our conversation in heaven? Do we live as 
 strangers and pilgrims on the earth? Are our lives 
 a standing reproof of the worldliness and sin that 
 prevail around us? Do we maintain that holy singu- 
 larity that is becoming to those whose treasures are 
 in heaven, and their hearts also? 
 
 5. The sanctification of believers. 
 
 " Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is 
 truth. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that 
 they also might be sanctified through the truth." 
 Christians are a holy people. They are consecrated 
 to that which is holy. Their name, their doctrines, 
 their profession — the church, the ordinances, the 
 Saviour, all are holy, and demand that Christians 
 everywhere should be holy. The means of grace are 
 intended to produce holiness in our hearts. The 
 Lord's Supper is especially adapted to make us holy. 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 51 
 
 It strengthens our faith, increases our love, confirms 
 our hope, and develops and matures in our souls all 
 the graces of the Christian character. It would seem 
 that no man can come within its sacred influence 
 without becoming a holier and better man. The 
 Gospel, in all its doctrines, and precepts, and spirit, 
 demands a holy life and conversation from all men. 
 It gives no countenance to sin in any of its forms. 
 An unholy Christian contradicts the whole design 
 and object of Christianity. Do we live holy? Is 
 Jesus Christ our sanctification and righteousness, as 
 well as our wisdom and redemption? Does the truth 
 sanctify our natures ? Does our faith purify our 
 hearts? Do we resemble Jesus, who did no sin, 
 neither was guile found in his lips? Do we strive to 
 be holy as God is holy? 
 
 6. The presence of Christians with their Lord in his 
 kingdom. 
 
 "Father, I will that they whom thou hast given 
 me be with me where I am, that they may behold 
 my glory which thou hast given me." It is the desire 
 of our Lord that his redeemed should be gathered to 
 himself. He died for them in order that they may 
 live with him forever. He chose them out of the 
 world, that they may constitute his family throughout 
 everlasting ages. He is with them on earth, and he 
 will have them with him in heaven. "I will that 
 they be with me where I am." He has gone to pre- 
 pare a place for them, that where he is they may be 
 also. His presence with them makes earth endurable, 
 and his presence with them will make heaven a par- 
 adise forever. In trouble and sorrow he is with 
 
52 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 them; in death his presence will chase away all dark- 
 ness and fear; and in heaven they would rather be 
 absent from the body and present with the Lord, 
 which is far better. Most blessed are the hopes and 
 prospects of Christians! All are theirs — life and 
 death, things present, and things to come — all are 
 theirs ! 
 
 T. Jesus 1 sorrows. 
 
 " He began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then 
 said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, 
 even unto death. " The saddest scene that angels 
 ever witnessed they looked upon in Gethsemane. 
 Whose heart is not softened as he meditates upon 
 the agony and bloody sweat of Jesus in the garden ? 
 Heavy was the load that, like a mountain, crushed 
 the dear Saviour to the earth. That heavy, crushing 
 burden was made up of the accumulated sins of a lost 
 world. Behold that innocent sufferer, writhing on 
 the ground, alone, the dews of the night on his head, 
 groaning, weeping, praying, sweating drops of blood ! 
 Who can view the scene without tears? And all this 
 to effect our salvation ! Does a heart exist in any 
 human breast, so hard that this scene will not soften 
 it? so cold that it will not move it to beat in strains 
 of warmest love ? 
 
 8. Prayer in trouble. 
 
 " Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." He 
 went away a first, and second, and third time, and 
 prayed. The heart unbosoms its grief when it pours 
 out its prayers. Prayer seems to be the spontaneous 
 utterance of a soul distressed. "Is any afflicted, let 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 53 
 
 him pray." Jesus prayed when in trouble; and when 
 in trouble, all his followers should do the same. The 
 heart is thereby relieved of its heavy grief, and that 
 becomes supportable w T hich seemed too heavy to be 
 borne before. Do we likewise pray when the heart 
 is sad? Do we, in the retirement of our chambers, 
 utter our groans, and tears, and sighs, and prayers 
 to the ear of a kind sympathizing Father, who 
 knows how to soothe our sorrows and dry our tears? 
 
 9. Patient submission. 
 
 " Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from 
 me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." 
 Jesus was a patient sufferer. If there never was 
 sorrow like unto his sorrow, so, too, there never was 
 more patient resignation to sorrow. He prayed that, 
 if it was possible, and consistent with the divine will, 
 he might be spared the suffering; but if not, and he 
 left it all to his Heavenly Father, he would still will- 
 ingly bear it. The will of his Father was his will, 
 and he would have no other will than his. The will 
 of his Father he would do, and the will of his Father 
 he would suffer. Are we, like Jesus, patient sufferers ? 
 Do we meekly bear whatever sorrow a Heavenly 
 Father's hand lays upon us? Does no murmuring 
 word nor complaining thought escape us, when God's 
 chastenings are on us ? Are we, too, ready both to 
 do and to suffer whatever the will of the Lord is ? 
 Blessed followers of Jesus, when they are ready to 
 follow him in sorrow as well as in joy! 
 
 10. Companionship in grief. 
 
 "What, could ye not watcfc with me one hour?" 
 
54 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 How soothing to the troubled heart is the warm 
 sympathy of friends ! How are the jagged edges of 
 grief smoothed away by the kind and comforting 
 words of a loved one, who sits at our side, and min- 
 gles his tears with ours! Blessed are they that 
 " weep with those that weep !" How utterly desolate 
 does the mourner seem who has no one to feel for 
 him, to sympathize with him, or to utter words of 
 encouragement and hope into his ear! Jesus, our 
 Eedeemer, suffered alone. His companions, over- 
 come with their own sorrow, slept. No hand was 
 near to lift him up, to dry his tears, to wipe away 
 the bloody sweat that stood in drops upon his face. 
 Solitary sufferer! He trod the winepress of God's 
 wrath alone. Will we not learn from the loneliness 
 of Jesus in his sorrow in Gethsemane, to visit, and 
 extend sympathy and help to those sorrowing fellow- 
 men who are overtaken with trouble and affliction? 
 In succoring others in tribulation we minister unto 
 Jesus. u Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
 the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto 
 me/' 
 
 11. The invisible strengthener. 
 
 " And there appeared an angel unto him from 
 heaven strengthening him." Jesus was not utterly 
 forsaken. If earth forsook him, heaven did not. 
 Men, at best, would have been miserable comforters. 
 They could have sat at his side and wept with him, 
 but they could not really have helped him. The 
 strength and comfort which he needed must come 
 from a higher source. They must come from above. 
 An angel ministered unto him. Through an angel, 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 55 
 
 strength was imparted to the Lord of angels. Heaven 
 has resources when earth fails. " Earth has no sor- 
 row that heaven cannot heal." Let us look upward 
 for help in trouble. " God is our refuge and strength, 
 a very present help in trouble." He will send his 
 angels to comfort us. Invisible comforters are around 
 the pious and the good. An unseen hand holds up the 
 aching head, dries the trickling tear, and nerves the 
 disconsolate heart. " Are they not all ministering 
 spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be 
 heirs of salvation ¥■' Happy are we when the holy 
 angels are our guardian spirits ! 
 
 12. The deceitful kiss. 
 
 "JSTowhe that betrayed him gave them a sign, say- 
 ing. Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he, hold 
 him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, 
 Hail, Master, and kissed him." The heart is deceitful 
 above all things, and desperately wicked — who can 
 know it? The depths of sin into which a man can 
 fall are wonderful. That one of the twelve chosen 
 disciples could betray his Lord, and that he could 
 commit that awful crime for money, proves how enor- 
 mous are the crimes of which man is capable. But 
 that he should make a kiss, the token of affection, the 
 sign to his accomplices by which the victim of his 
 treachery was pointed out to them, is such a proof of 
 hardened wickedness, cool and calculating hypocrisy, 
 and bold and shameless villainy, that it renders the 
 character and conduct of Judas Iscariot the vilest and 
 most odious of which we have any account in sacred 
 or profane history. "Betray est thou the Son of man 
 with a kiss f" But do we not also need to watch and 
 
56 MEDITATIONS EOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 pray lest we be led into temptation? May not even 
 communicants betray the Saviour with a kiss? May 
 not the same lips that touch the "cup of blessing " 
 utter the vile words of passion, of cursing, of slander? 
 Is not even now the fair outward seeming used by 
 many to conceal the inward malignity of their hearts ? 
 Do not men now, like Joab, approach a brother in 
 the guise of friendship, and taking him by the beard, 
 say, in tender tones, " Art thou in health, my brother?" 
 whilst the clenched hand sends the concealed weapon 
 to the heart? Nothing is more hateful than hypoc- 
 risy. Let us be what we seem. Whatever our offer- 
 ings on God's altar may lack, let them never want 
 sincerity of intention. 
 
 13. The care of Jesus for his disciples. 
 
 "If, therefore, ye seek me, let these go their way." 
 He was willing himself to suffer, but he did not then 
 wish his disciples to be subjected to arrest or perse- 
 cution for his sake. They were not able to drink of 
 his cup, nor to be baptized with the baptism which 
 he was baptized w T ith. He would, therefore, spare 
 them. He had, also, other use for them in the world. 
 Their hour had not yet come. It w^ould come soon 
 enough, and they w T ould pass through great tribula- 
 tion for his sake, but now it was not vet at hand. 
 Having loved them, he loved them to the end. Of 
 them he lost none. And does he not still take care 
 of his own? "He shall deliver thee in six troubles, 
 yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee." Blessed 
 protection is that which our divine Eedeemer extends 
 over his people. He cares for them. He shields them 
 at the expense of his own suffering. Are we not 
 always safe in his care? 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 57 
 
 14. Fainthearted disciples. 
 
 " Then all the disciples forsook him and fled." Their 
 faith was weak. Their courage was not strong. They 
 were easily frightened. They were afraid for their 
 lives. However resolute they were in the absence of 
 danger, the presence of danger made cowards of them 
 all. In their subsequent lives they braved death in 
 all its most horrid forms, and they willingly laid down 
 their lives for Christ and his Gospel, but now they 
 were yet weak in the faith. Shall we, like them, 
 forsake our Lord in times of difficulty and trial? 
 Shall we be valiant soldiers in a state of peace, but 
 cowards in a time of war? Shall the fear of what 
 man can do to us ever render us unfaithful to the 
 duty we owe to God? Shall we ever turn our backs 
 upon our Lord rather than boldly face opposition and 
 resolutely maintain our place close to his side? We 
 are safest when nearest to him. We are in greatest 
 danger when we run away from him. 
 
 15. Following afar off. 
 
 Peter followed afar off. John was close at the 
 Saviour's side, but Peter staid at a distance behind. 
 He was afraid to come nearer. He would not wholly 
 desert his Master, but he remained far in the rear. 
 John was a true representative of the Christian's 
 devoted attachment and persevering fidelity to his 
 Lord. Peter was a type of another, and a very large 
 class of people. They bear the name of Christ, and 
 profess to be his disciples, but they follow their Lord 
 at a great distance. They are always afar off; in 
 their private devotions; in their public duties; in 
 their moral character; in their Church love; in their 
 
58 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 benevolent contributions; in their works of useful- 
 ness; in everything. They follow afar off. We must 
 follow the Lord closely. We are safest, as well as 
 happiest, when near him. It is our duty to be near 
 him. At his table, and everywhere else, it is wisest 
 and best for us to keep near him. We should have 
 him at our side, and in our hearts; his arm around 
 us; his hand beneath us; and the shield of his pro- 
 tection over us. Blessed are they who are thus 
 always, on earth and in heaven, with the Lord. 
 
 16. Christ's humiliation. 
 
 " Are ye come out as against a thief?" They put 
 our Lord to contempt even in the mode of his arrest. 
 He was betrayed like a dog, sold for a dog's price, 
 and arrested like a thief. "He was despised, and 
 they esteemed him not." All the ignominy of which 
 they were capable, they heaped upon the innocent 
 and blessed Lamb of God. How fierce was the scorn 
 with which he was loaded when he was made sin for 
 us ! He, the innocent, suffered for the guilty, and 
 all the reproach of guilt and sin was made to rest 
 upon his blessed head. Do we not sympathize with 
 the innocent sufferer? Do we not hate our sins when 
 we bear in mind that all this reproach w^as endured 
 on our account? Shall we not also willingly bear 
 reproach for his sake? Shall any of us join with his 
 enemies in casting reproach upon him by being 
 ashamed of the Gospel? Can we ever be guilty of 
 such a crime as that? 
 
 These, my beloved, are the chief lessons of that 
 portion of the Passion History appointed for this 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 59 
 
 evening. They are valuable, impressive, and prac- 
 tical. They are well adapted to strengthen our faith ; 
 to awaken love; to promote pious emotions; and to 
 develop Christian graces within us. Our meditations 
 upon them should draw us nearer to Jesus, and pre- 
 pare our hearts for a very blessed communion with 
 him. 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 O Lord Jesus, our Saviour, how much, how much 
 didst Thou suffer on account of our sins ! O thou 
 innocent Lamb of God, Thy soul trembled, and was 
 afraid, and did suffer the deepest distress and terror, 
 when our sins, and the sins of the whole world, were 
 laid on Thee. In order that we might be redeemed, 
 Thou didst writhe in the dust. Thou didst suffer ex- 
 cruciating anguish of soul, that thereby we might be 
 delivered from the torments of hell. O Lord, help us 
 to acknowledge with fear and trembling, the great- 
 ness of our sins and guilt, that caused Thee such bitter 
 sufferings. Ah, Lord ! at what a terrible price of 
 agony and distress, of bloody sweat and exceeding 
 sorrow, of heart groans and death strugglings, didst 
 Thou purchase and redeem us, poor, lost, and con- 
 demned sinners. Never can we sufficiently thank 
 Thee for this Thy wonderful love and mercy. O 
 Thou dearest high priest of our profession, have 
 mercy upon us, and grant that we may wholly rest 
 our hopes upon the merits of Thy bloody sacrifice. 
 By Thine agony and bloody sweat, help us, good Lord. 
 By Thy fear and terror, give us comfort and courage. 
 By Thy great sorrow and heaviness, have mercy upon 
 
60 MEDITATIONS FOE, PASSION WEEK. 
 
 us, and grant us peace and joy in the final hoar. 
 Amen. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst in great anguish 
 of soul weep, and pray, and sweat bloody drops on 
 the cold ground, in the dark night of Thy great hu- 
 miliation, we pray Thee, fill us with such a deep sense 
 of Thy wonderful love and mercy, that we may ever- 
 more hate sin, and abhor ourselves in dust and ashes. 
 We too w 7 ould weep, and pray, and mourn in anguish 
 of soul, that our sins and guilt were the causes of all 
 Thy bitter agony. O Lord, have mercy upon us, and 
 let the precious drops of blood that fell from Thy sa- 
 cred body, cleanse us from all sin. We would lie 
 down in the dust w^ith Thee, and confess that we are 
 not worthy of any part of all the sweat, and tears, 
 and drops of blood that Thou didst shed for us. 
 
 Lord, have mercy upon us. 
 
 Christ, have mercy upon us. 
 
 Lord, have mercy upon us. Amen. 
 
 O dear Jesus, who in the deep compassion of Thy 
 soul, didst pray for Thy holy church, that it might 
 be one, as Thou and Thy Father art one, grant, we 
 beseech Thee, grace to all Thy people, that they may 
 always hold fast to the one Lord, one faith, and one 
 baptism, and so keep the unity of the Spirit in the 
 bonds of peace, through Thee, who art the only and 
 ever living Head of the one body, Thy Church, Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who art able to deliver Thy faithful dis? 
 ciples, whom Thou hast chosen out of the world, from 
 
THE THIRD SERVICE. 61 
 
 all the dangers and adversities that beset them, we 
 pray Thee, grant Thy powerful protection to all who 
 in true faith and heartfelt love, do lean upon Thy 
 almighty grace, through Thee, who, with the Father 
 and the Holy Ghost, art one God, blessed forever. 
 Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who, though unseen by mortal eyes, art 
 still present with Thy Church, always, even unto the 
 end, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may always 
 experience Thy gracious presence with us, and re- 
 ceive Thy powerful help in every time of need, through 
 Thee, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who art our Advocate with the Father, 
 and dost pray for us, as Thou didst pray for Thy dis- 
 ciples, grant that Thy powerful intercession may avail 
 for our eternal salvation, through Thee, who, with 
 the Father, and the Holy Ghost, one God, livest and 
 reign est forever. Amen. 
 
 Thou who wast tempted in all points like as we 
 are, yet without sin, grant, we beseech Thee, to have 
 compassion on our infirmities, and succor us in all 
 times of temptation, for the sake of the great love 
 wherewith Thou hast loved us. Amen. 
 
THE FOUETH SEEVICE. 
 
 Let us hear the fourth part of our Lord's Pas- 
 sion History, as recorded by the four evangelists, 
 as follows : 
 
 John xviii : 12-14, 19-24. Then the band and 
 the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, 
 and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; 
 for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was 
 the high priest that same year. Now r Caiaphas 
 was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it 
 was expedient that one man should die for the 
 people. The high priest then asked Jesus of his 
 disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered 
 him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in 
 the synagogue, and in the temple, w r hither the 
 Jews always resort; and in secret have I said 
 nothing. Why askest thou me ? ask them which 
 heard me, what I have said unto them : behold, 
 they know w 7 hat I said. And when he had thus 
 spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck 
 Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answer- 
 est thou the high priest so ? Jesus answered him, 
 If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but 
 if well, why smitest thou me ? Now Annas had 
 sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. 
 
THE FOURTH SERVICE. 63 
 
 Matt, xxvi : 57. And they that had laid hold on 
 Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest 
 (Mark xiv : 53), and with him were assembled all 
 the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. 
 John xviii : 15. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, 
 and so did another disciple : that disciple was 
 known unto the high priest, and went in with 
 Jesus into the palace of the high priest. Matt. 
 xxvi : 59, 60. Now the chief priests, and elders, 
 and all the council, sought false witnesses against 
 Jesus to put him to death; but found none; yea, 
 though many false witnesses came, yet found they 
 none (Mark xiv : 56), their witness agreed not to- 
 gether. Matt, xxvi : 60, 61. At the last came two 
 false witnesses, and said, This fellow said, I am 
 able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it 
 in three days. Mark xiv : 60, 61. And the high 
 priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, say- 
 ing, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which 
 these witness against thee ? But he held his peace, 
 and answered nothing. Again the high priest 
 asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, 
 the Son of the Blessed? Matt, xxvi : 63-68. I 
 adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us 
 whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Je- 
 sus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless 
 I say unto you, Hereafter shall } 7 e see the Son of 
 man sitting on the right hand of power, and com- 
 ing in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest 
 rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blas- 
 phemy : what further need have we of witnesses? 
 
64 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What 
 think ye ? They answered and said, He is guilty 
 of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buf- 
 feted him ; and others smote him with the palms 
 of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou 
 Christ, who is he that smote thee ? 
 
 John xviii : 16, 17. But Peter stood at the door 
 without. Then went out that other disciple, which 
 was known unto the high priest, and spake unto 
 her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. 
 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto 
 Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's dis- 
 ciples? He saith I am not (Matt. xxvi:58); and 
 went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. 
 John xviii : 18. And the officers and servants stood 
 there, who had made a fire of coals, for it was cold ; 
 and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood 
 with them, and warmed himself. MARKxiv:66- 
 67. And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there 
 cometh one of the maids of the high priest; and 
 when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked 
 upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus 
 of Nazareth. Matt, xxvi : 70. Bat he denied be- 
 fore them all (Mark xiv:68), saying, I know him 
 not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And 
 he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. 
 Luke xxii : 59. And about the space of one hour 
 after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a 
 truth this fellow also was with him; for he is a 
 Galilean. John xviii: 26. One of the servants of 
 the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter 
 
THE FOURTH SERVICE. 65 
 
 cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden 
 with him? Matt, xxvi :73, 74. And after a while 
 came unto him they that stood by, and saith to 
 Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy 
 speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse 
 and to swear (Mark xiv: 71), I know not this man 
 of whom ye speak. Luke xxii:60. And imme- 
 diately, while he yet spake, the cock crew (Mark 
 xiv: 72) the second time. Luke xxii:61. And the 
 Lord turned and looked upon Peter. Mark xiv: 
 72. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus 
 said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou 
 shalt deny me thrice. Luke xxii:62. And Peter 
 went out, and wept bitterly. 
 
 Matt, xxvii : 1. When the morning was come, 
 all the chief priests and elders of the people took 
 counsel against Jesus to put him to death (Luke 
 xxii : 66 ; xxiii : 1): and led him into their council, 
 saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said 
 unto them. If I tell you, ye will not believe; and 
 if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let 
 me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the 
 right hand of the power of God. Then said they 
 all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said 
 unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, 
 What need we any further witness ? for we our- 
 selves have heard of his own mouth. And the 
 whole multitude of them arose (Mark xv: 1), and 
 bound Jesus, and carried him away (John xviii : 
 28), from Caiaphas into the hall of judgment 
 (Matt, xxvii : 2), and delivered him to Pontius 
 
66 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 Pilate the governor. John xviii: 28. And it was 
 early ; and they themselves went not into the judg- 
 ment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that 
 they might eat the passover. 
 
 Matt. xxvii:3-10. Then Judas, which had be- 
 trayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, 
 repented himself, and brought again the thirty 
 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 
 saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the 
 innocent blood. And they said, What is that to 
 us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces 
 of silver in the temple, and departed, and went 
 and hanged himself. And the chief priests took 
 the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to 
 put them into the treasury, because it is the price 
 of blood. And they took counsel, and bought 
 with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 
 "Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, 
 unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was 
 spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they 
 took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him 
 that was valued, whom they of the children of 
 Israel did value, and gave them for the potter's 
 field, as the Lord appointed me. 
 
 EEMAEKS. 
 
 Beloved : 
 
 This fourth part of the Passion History of our dear 
 Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, brings us still nearer 
 to the final sad scene of his crucifixion and death. 
 He is now in the hands of sinners. They will do with 
 
THE FOURTH SERVICE. 67 
 
 him as they list. Let us recall to mind the particular 
 points of greatest interest which this lesson contains. 
 We have here, 
 
 1. The publicity of ChrisVs work. 
 
 " Jesus answered, I spake openly to the world: I 
 ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, 
 whither the Jews always resort, and in secret have I 
 said nothing/' Christ had nothing to conceal. He 
 was the light, and could not be hid. He came to 
 "enlighten the world, and therefore he designed that 
 all should know what he did and taught. Let us 
 cultivate the same openness of character. Let us 
 have nothing in our lives that we need to conceal, 
 or be ashamed of. 
 
 2. The heaven-daring hand. 
 
 " And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers 
 that stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his 
 hand/' And did not that impious hand wither? 
 Could the arm that struck the holy Son of God ever 
 be lifted up again ? When wicked king Jeroboam 
 put his hand forth from the altar where he was burn- 
 ing incense to his idols, against the man of God, who 
 reproved him in the name of the Lord, "his hand 
 which he put forth against him dried up, so that he 
 could not pull it in again to him." Did it fare better 
 with the impious hand that struck our blessed Lord? 
 Yes; he that healed the ear of Malchus suffered that 
 sacrilegious hand to live. There never was greater 
 provocation, yet Jesus with wonderful patience bore 
 it all. He took no vengeance of his enemies. Do 
 we? 
 
68 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK, 
 
 3. The Christian's reply to insult 
 
 "Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil bear 
 witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou 
 me?" No passionate expression escaped his lips. 
 He vindicated himself, but he did not rail. He pre- 
 served a mild and unruffled temper amid the most 
 provoking insults. Do we exhibit a different spirit, 
 and use a different mode of speech? Do we become 
 excited by the ill treatment of others, and do we 
 hurl back to them the same bitter words with which 
 they assailed us? Or do we with a soft answer turn 
 away wrath ? 
 
 4. The courageousness of a gentle nature. 
 
 "And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did 
 another disciple: that other disciple was known unto 
 the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the pal- 
 ace of the high priest/' Boldness staid without; tim- 
 idity went in. He that boasted accomplished noth- 
 ing; the humble and modest preserved a noble bearing 
 in the midst of trial and danger. So it always is. He 
 that boasts of his religion has seldom any religion to 
 boast of. Let us cultivate humble piety. Keep near 
 to Jesus with a humble and self-renouncing faith. 
 
 5. Truth opposed by falsehood. 
 
 "Now the chief priests and elders sought false wit- 
 nesses against Jesus to put him to death. " Falsehood 
 is always opposed to truth. Truth is always the ob- 
 ject of hostility to falsehood. They, like light and 
 darkness, are opposites, and are in constant conflict 
 with one another. Chief priests and elders ought to 
 
THE FOURTH SERVICE. 69 
 
 have been the friends of truth, and the enemies of 
 every false way. They had degenerated sadly. Those 
 who bear Christ's name, and sit in official chairs, 
 ought to exhibit in larger measure than others the 
 spirit of truth and righteousness. To them much is 
 given, and from them much is required. They cannot 
 plead ignorance. They know, and therefore they 
 ought to do the right. Many know the right, and 
 yet pursue the wrong. There is darkness within, 
 notwithstanding there is light all around them. 
 
 6. Chrisfs life beyond the reach of slander. 
 
 " Yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found 
 they none." He lived so holily that his bitterest ene- 
 mies could find no fault in him. They were willing 
 and malignant enough, but so pure was Christ's char- 
 acter and life that even perjured witnesses could fas- 
 ten no crime upon him. Their malice could fix not 
 even an unworthy suspicion upon his character. Do 
 we also live above reproach ? Are our characters so 
 pure that slander cannot hurt us? Are we so con- 
 scious of rectitude, and so strong in the confidence of 
 good men around us, that we can afford to treat slan- 
 der with indifference? 
 
 7. Silence under abuse. 
 
 "But he held his peace and answered nothing." 
 Some things are so obviously false and malignant 
 that they deserve no reply. They are best refuted 
 by silence. They will die a natural death much 
 sooner than we can kill them. Replying to them 
 only tempts their authors to repeat their slanders. 
 It is wisest to let them alone. They slander us in 
 
70 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 order to annoy us, and when they see us annoyed 
 they have succeeded in their aim. Do we suffer in 
 silence, and allow abuse to expend itself? Can we 
 afford to let it alone? 
 
 8. Christ declared on his oath to be the Son of God. 
 
 "The high priest said, I adjure thee by the living 
 God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the 
 Son of God. Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said." 
 There is no more important declaration in the New 
 Testament than this. Jesus, before a legal tribunal, 
 was put upon his solemn oath, and was called upon 
 to say, on his oath, whether he was the Christ, the 
 Son of God. And when thus solemnly adjured, he 
 answered, in the affirmative, and declared that he 
 was. Did he utter a false oath? Did he perjure him- 
 self? By no means. Then he was really the Christ, 
 the Son of God. Do we all believe this? Is Christ's 
 true and proper divinity one of the chief articles of 
 our faith ? Is it the great pillar of our religious sys- 
 tem? Is it the rock on which our hope rests? Do 
 we believe concerning Christ that "this is the true 
 God and eternal life?" 
 
 9. Warning against premeditated crime. 
 
 "Nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye 
 see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, 
 coming in the clouds of heaven." He was now before 
 their tribunal, and he made no resistance, but suffered 
 them to do with him as they listed. But he reminded 
 them that there was another tribunal where he him- 
 self would be judge, before which his present judges 
 
THE FOURTH SERVICE. 71 
 
 would stand, and that there they would have to give 
 an account for the things they were now doing. It 
 was an appropriate and a very solemn reminder. It 
 is a warning for us as well as for them. Can we meet 
 the Judge in peace? Can we stand before him with 
 joy, and not with trembling? As we stand at his 
 table can we also stand at his bar? 
 
 10. Affected horror of blasphemy. 
 
 "And the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He 
 hath spoken blasphemy, what further need have we 
 of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blas- 
 phemy. What think ye? They answered and said, 
 He is guilty of death," Those impious and wicked 
 men were horror-stricken at Jesus' blasphemy when 
 he called himself the Son of God. They were aston- 
 ishingly jealous for God's honor. They ; who even in 
 their affected devotions took God's name in vain, 
 stood aghast at Christ's assertion of his real and true 
 character. How contemptible was their hypocrisy. 
 What willing judges were they in their malice against 
 the innocent Saviour of men who had put himself in 
 their power. How vile is the character of men who 
 steal the livery of heaven to serve the devil in. " My 
 soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their as- 
 sembly, mine honor, be not thou united." 
 
 11. Christ bearing our reproach. 
 
 "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him, 
 and others smote him with the palms of their hands, 
 saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that 
 smote thee." This is a most humiliating spectacle. 
 
72 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 It shows human nature in its worst and lowest light. 
 No man, with such a scene before him, can deny that 
 human nature is utterly depraved. They not only 
 did not treat Jesus with common justice, but they 
 did not extend to him common decency. It was out- 
 rageous treatment of which they might well have 
 been utterly ashamed. Oh! how much of ignominy 
 and scorn was the immaculate Jesus compelled to bear 
 w T hen he bore the sins of a guilty and lost world. Our 
 sins, too, were there. Do we not hate them? 
 
 12. A disciple's denial of his Master. 
 
 "Then began Peter to curse and to swear, saying, 
 I do not know the man." Jesus w T as forsaken by 
 both friends and foes. His friends were as weak and 
 cowardly as his foes were malignant and strong. His 
 friends were overawed. They were few and power- 
 less. Still Peter ought not to have denied his Lord. 
 He knew him well, and uttered what he knew to be 
 untrue. There were many aggravations of his crime. 
 We would not have thought it possible for him to do 
 such a thing. It is humiliating to contemplate the 
 spectacle which, in the view of heaven and earth, he 
 made of himself. He fastened a stain upon his name 
 which will never be wiped out. There is no excuse 
 for him. Still there are some extenuations. It was not 
 wilful, malicious, cool, calculating wickedness like 
 that of Judas. But it teaches us all a lesson, and 
 utters a loud warning. He had just communed, and 
 now, so soon afterward, he denied the Saviour. Will 
 we do the same? Be not high-minded, but fear. 
 
 
THE FOURTH SERVICE. 73 
 
 13. Bitter tears of repentance. 
 
 "And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. 
 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly." The mild, 
 pleading, sorrowful, pitying look of Jesus went to the 
 heart of the weak and erring disciple. It at once 
 subdued his soul. As he met the eye of his Lord, all 
 the better principles and feelings of his nature were 
 at once awakened, and he was rescued. He was 
 overwhelmed with a sense of his sin and shame. The 
 enormity of his offence was seen by him as he did not 
 see it before, and his mortification, and self-reproach, 
 and bitterness of regret, and sorrow were extreme. 
 He went out, and unable to restrain himself, he wept 
 bitterly. Long and deep was his repentance. His 
 iniquities went over his head; like a heavy burden, 
 they were too heavy for him. But he was saved. 
 God had mercy upon him, as he will have mercy upon 
 every contrite, broken heart. Are we, too, sometimes 
 overtaken in a fault; and when the momentary pres- 
 sure of the strong temptation is taken away, and we 
 are conscious that the tender, pitying eye of our Lord 
 was all the while upon us, and is upon us still, do we 
 also, like this humble and penitent disciple, weep 
 bitterly ? 
 
 14. Premeditated injustice. 
 
 " When the morning was come, all the chief priests 
 and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus 
 to put him to death/' They were unjust judges. 
 They occupied the seat of judgment, but there was 
 no righteousness in their hearts. The object before 
 their minds was not how they might give the accused 
 
 7 
 
74 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 a fair trial, but how they might, with the forms of 
 law and some appearance of respect for justice, put 
 to death the innocent. It is sad for all the true in- 
 terests of a people when iniquity and corruption reign 
 in high places. Let the ermine be pure. An incor- 
 ruptible judiciary is the pride and safety of the State. 
 
 15. Sin cherished in the heart whilst defilement of the 
 body is fastidiously guarded against. 
 
 "And it was early, and they themselves went not 
 into the judgment hall lest they should be defiled, but 
 that they might eat the passover." The Jew felt 
 that he was defiled in the place of judgment thronged 
 by Gentiles, where his body might come into contact 
 with sometbing that would render him ceremoniously 
 unclean. He had washed the outside of the cup and 
 the platter, but he had left the inside full of filth and 
 nastiness. His preparation for the ordinances of the 
 Lord consisted of putting away the leaven of bread 
 from his house, whilst he left the leaven of malice and 
 wickedness in his heart. The presence of the former, 
 he felt, would defile him, and render him unfit for the 
 passover; but he did not feel, as he ought to have 
 felt, that the latter was the greater evil, and caused 
 the greater defilement. My body may come in con- 
 tact with a sinner, and not be defiled;, but my soul 
 cannot touch sin, and be clean. Let us, in our prep- 
 aration for God's ordinances, give most attention to 
 the internal preparation of the heart. " Fasting and 
 bodily preparation are indeed a good external disci- 
 pline, but he alone is worthy and well prepared who 
 believes these words, given and shed for you for the 
 remission of sins." 
 
THE FOURTH SERVICE. 75 
 
 16. The remorse of the traitor. 
 
 The lashings of remorse are terrible. The terrors 
 of a guilty conscience who can bear? Be sure your 
 sin will find you out. Ketribution will come swiftly. 
 Sometimes the fires of hell begin to burn already on 
 this side of death. Let all sinners take warning. He 
 that falleth on Christ, the Kock, shall be broken; but 
 on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to pow- 
 der. The case of Judas is a startling lesson for wicked 
 men in all time. 
 
 17. The Church in rebellion against its Head. 
 
 The members of the Church sought to put to death 
 the Head of the Church. An unnatural schism, when 
 the members of the body plotted to cut off the Head 
 of the body. They called themselves worshippers of 
 the true God, yet they crucified Him who is "the 
 true God and eternal life." Their sin against Christ, 
 was sin against God. It was only a new, but most 
 dreadful manifestation of that old evil, the enmity of 
 man against his Maker. It was the worst form in 
 which sin ever appeared, as they crucified the Lord 
 of life and glory. In the whole history of sin, there 
 never was such an instance before. But may there 
 not be a still more aggravated form of sin ? Is not 
 the apostate Christian guilty of a yet more enormous 
 wickedness, who " crucifies to himself the Son of God 
 afresh, and puts him to an open shame?" Shall the 
 soul of any Christian communicant be stained with a 
 crime of so black a dye, as to exceed in heinousness 
 even the sin of the vile men who imbrued their hands 
 in the blood of the world's Messiah ? 
 
76 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 Such, beloved, are the reflections that are suggested 
 by the Fourth Part of the Passion History. Are 
 they not all valuable, both for instruction and warn- 
 ing, and should they not be considered well ? 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 O dear Lord, upon whom the horrible judgment 
 was pronounced by the lips of wicked rulers, He 
 is guilty of death : Thee, who alone of all that lived 
 on the earth, wast guiltless and pure, they declared 
 guilty, and condemned to death ! Ah ! dear Jesus, 
 how keenly do these words pierce my soul ! As with 
 a two-edged sword, they cut and wound my heart. 
 This horrible judgment did not strike Thee, but me, 
 O Thou holy Eedeemer of men ! I am the guilty 
 one for whom Thou didst become substitute and 
 surety. Against me, as guilty of death, the accusa- 
 tions of conscience, the demands of the broken law, 
 and the insulted majesty of God, cry out. Thou, 
 Thou, O Holy One of Israel, guilty of death ! Ah, 
 where shall I hide myself for shame, that upon Thy 
 innocent head, such a dreadful imputation was fast- 
 ened by the unrighteous verdict of wicked men? 
 And whither shall I flee to shield myself from the 
 terrible judgment which strikes me in the sentence 
 pronounced on Thee ? Ah, whither, but to Thy cross, 
 that I may hide myself in Thy opened wounds ! Thou 
 didst take upon Thyself the condemnation of death 
 that was justly pronounced on me, that by Thy 
 stripes I might be healed. I am guilty of death, but 
 Thou didst, for me, and in my stead, suffer death on 
 the cross in order that I might not die. Thou didst 
 suffer the bitter agony of death, that my dreadful 
 
THE FOURTH SERVICE. 77 
 
 guilt, which Thou didst bear, might no longer stand 
 charged against me. Thou didst receive and suffer 
 the horrible sentence of death, that the awful judg- 
 ment of death which rested on me, might be forever 
 cancelled. 
 
 O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the 
 world, 
 
 Have mercy upon me ! 
 
 O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the 
 world, 
 
 Have mercy upon me ! 
 
 O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the 
 world, 
 
 Grant me Thy peace. Amen. 
 
 O Thou, who art the Christ, the Son of God, and 
 the Saviour of the world, we bow the knee before 
 Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the Lord, to the 
 glory of the Father, and the Holy Ghost, who with 
 Thee liveth, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 
 
 O Thou, who didst submit to be judged and con- 
 demned by mortal worms, when, sitting in Moses' 
 seat, they took upon themselves to judge the Son of 
 God, grant, we beseech Thee, to have mercy upon us 
 miserable sinners, and cast us not away from Thy 
 presence, when we shall stand before Thee in the 
 great day, through Thee, who with the Father and 
 the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest ; one God, forever 
 and ever. Amen. 
 
 Thou, who in the hour of Thy great tribulation 
 wast denied and forsaken by Thy disciples, grant us 
 
78 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 grace, we beseech Thee, to remain steadfast in the 
 faith, and in the profession of Thy name, so that no 
 temptation that may assail us shall be able to move 
 us from our faithfulness to Thee, who didst give Thy- 
 self to suffering and death in order to save us, Jesus 
 Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who didst in wonderfully tender compas- 
 sion turn and look upon Thy faithless disciple, when, 
 in the hour of sore trial, he denied Thee, grant that, 
 if at any time, we too shall be falling away from our 
 duty and devotion to Thee, under the strong tempta- 
 tions that assail our fearful hearts, Thou wilt look 
 with melting love upon us, that we also may weep 
 bitterly, and be saved, through Thee, who with the 
 Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one 
 God, forever and ever. Amen. 
 
 O God, forbid that we should so greatly sin against 
 thy grace as to fall into utter despair of Thy mercy, 
 and, dying without hope, sink down into eternal 
 death, we beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake. 
 Amen. 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 
 
 We will read to-day the fifth part of the Passion 
 History as given in the Gospels. It is as follows : 
 
 John xviii : 20-32. Pilate then went out unto 
 them, and said, What accusation bring ye against 
 this man? They answered and said unto him, If 
 he were not a malefactor, we would not have de- 
 livered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto 
 them, Take ye him, and judge him according to 
 your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It 
 is not lawful for us to put any man to death : That 
 the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he 
 spake, signifying what death he should die. Luke 
 xxiii:2. And they began to accuse him, saying, 
 We found this fellow perverting the nation, and 
 forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he 
 himself is Christ a king. John xviii : 33-38. Then 
 Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and 
 called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King 
 of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou 
 this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of 
 me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own 
 nation and the chief priests have delivered thee 
 unto me : what hast thou done? Jesus answered, 
 My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom 
 
80 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 were of this world, then would my servants fight, 
 that I should not be delivered to the Jews : but now 
 is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore 
 said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus an- 
 swered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this 
 end was I born, and for this cause came I into the 
 world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. 
 Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 
 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when 
 he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, 
 and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. 
 Matt, xxvii : 12-14. And when he was accused of 
 the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 
 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how 
 many things they witness against thee? And he 
 answered him to never a word; insomuch that the 
 governor marvelled greatly. Luke xxiii : 5. And 
 they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up 
 the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, begin- 
 ning from Galilee to this place. 
 
 Luke xxiii : 6-16. When Pilate heard of Galilee, 
 he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And 
 as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's 
 jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself 
 also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when 
 Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad : for he 
 was desirous to see him of a long season, because 
 he had heard many things of him; and he hoped 
 to have seen some miracle done by him. Then 
 he questioned with him in many words; but he 
 answered him nothing. And the chief priests 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 81 
 
 and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 
 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, 
 and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous 
 robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same 
 day Pilate and Herod were made friends together; 
 for before they were at enmity between themselves. 
 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief 
 priests and the rulers and the people, said unto 
 them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one 
 that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having 
 examined him before j 7 ou, have found no fault in 
 this man touching those things whereof ye accuse 
 him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; 
 and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 
 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 
 
 Matt, xxvii : 15, 16. Now at that feast the gov- 
 ernor was wont to release unto the people a pris- 
 oner, whom they would. And they had then a 
 notable prisoner, called Barabbas (Luke xxiii : 25), 
 that for sedition and murder was cast into prison. 
 Mark xv:8, 9. And the multitude crying aloud 
 began to desire him to do as he had ever done 
 unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, 
 (Matt, xxvii : 17, 18), Whom will ye that I release 
 unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called 
 Christ? Mark xv: 10. For he knew that the chief 
 priests had delivered him for envy. Matt, xxvii : 19. 
 "When he was set down on the judgment seat, his 
 wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to 
 do with that just man: for I have suffered many 
 things this day in a dream because of him. Mark 
 
82 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 xv:ll, 12. But the chief priests moved the people, 
 that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 
 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, 
 What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom 
 ye call the King of the Jews? Luke xxiii : 21, 22. 
 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 
 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what 
 evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death 
 in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him 
 go. Mark xv : 14. And they cried out the more 
 exceedingly, Crucify him. Luke xxiii : 23. And 
 the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 
 John xix : 1. Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, 
 and scourged him. Mark xv : 16. And the sol- 
 diers led him away into the hall, called Pretorium; 
 and they call together the whole band. Matt. 
 xxvii : 28, 29. And they stripped him, and put on 
 him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted 
 a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and 
 a reed in his right hand : and they bowed the knee 
 before him, and mocked him, saying (John xix: 
 3-12), Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote 
 him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth 
 again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him 
 forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault 
 in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown 
 of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith 
 unto them, Behold the man. When the chief 
 priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried 
 out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith 
 unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him, for I find 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 83 
 
 no fault in him. The Jews answered him,We have 
 a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he 
 made himself the Son of God. When Pilate there- 
 fore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; 
 and went again into the judgment hall, and saith 
 unto Jesus, Whence art thou ? But Jesus gave him 
 no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest 
 thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have 
 power to crucify thee, and have power to release 
 thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldst have no 
 power at all against me, except it were given thee 
 from above: therefore he that delivered me unto 
 thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth 
 Pilate sought to release him. 
 
 John xix : 12-15. But the Jews cried out, saying, 
 If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend : 
 whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against 
 Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, 
 he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judg- 
 ment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, 
 but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the 
 preparation of the passover, and about the sixth 
 hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your 
 King! But they cried out, Away with him, away 
 with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, 
 Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests an- 
 swered,We have no king but Caesar. Matt, xxvii : 
 24-26. When Pilate saw that he could prevail noth- 
 ing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took 
 w T ater, and washed his hands before the multitude, 
 saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just per- 
 
84 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 son : see ye to it. Then answered all the people, 
 and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 
 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when 
 he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be 
 crucified. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 Beloved : 
 
 The fifth part of the Passion History narrates the 
 humiliating and most distressing scenes enacted by 
 judges, rulers, and people at the trial and condemna- 
 tion of the Lord of life and glory. The Jews rejected 
 their Messiah. Men sat in judgment on their Lord. 
 Sinners condemned him who came to save them. 
 With hearts deeply moved, and bowed down, let us 
 witness the humiliation of Jesus as he was delivered 
 for our offences. 
 
 We have here, 
 
 1. Jesus in the hands of the Gentiles. 
 
 Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish high priests, 
 and in them the Jews officially rejected their Messiah. 
 Pilate was a Gentile, and the representative of the 
 Roman Empire, and in him the Gentile world con- 
 demned the Saviour. Jews and Gentiles alike re- 
 fused him who came to be the world's Redeemer. 
 The whole world conspired against the Lord of the 
 world. Both Jews and Gentiles are alike guilty of 
 the horrid crime of judging Jesus to death. Gentile 
 cannot reproach Jew, for Jesus was before both tri- 
 bunals, and by both was he unjustly condemned. All 
 share in the dreadful guilt. As the sins of the world 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 85 
 
 were the real murderers of Christ, and our sins were 
 laid on him, we, too, share in the guilt of his death. 
 
 2. The innocent prejudged. 
 
 When Pilate asked the accusers of Jesus, " What 
 accusation bring ye against this man Y J they an- 
 swered, " If he were not a malefactor we would not 
 have delivered him up unto thee." They had pre- 
 judged his case, and predetermined that he should 
 be put to death. They did not investigate in order 
 to ascertain the truth of the accusation, but they 
 condemned him before they tried him. Their crime 
 was in their hearts. They maliciously condemned 
 him. They hated Jesus. The carnal mind is enmity 
 against God. No evidence of human depravity is 
 more conclusive than the hatred felt by the Jews 
 toward the holv Jesus. The heart that could hate 
 Jesus must be vile indeed. Do we love him? All 
 who do not love him, hate him. All who hate him 
 now, are equally guilty with those who then con- 
 spired to kill him. Do we hate Christ? 
 
 3. False charges. 
 
 When Pilate insisted on the production of specific 
 charges, they said, " We found this fellow perverting 
 the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, 
 and saying that he himself is Christ, a king/' These 
 charges were wholly false. He came not to pervert, 
 but to convert the nation. He would turn the hearts of 
 the people to their G-od. He expressly directed them 
 to render unto Caesar the things that were Caesar's. 
 The malignity of their hearts is apparent in their 
 endeavors to excite the jealousy of the Boman au- 
 
86 MEDITATIONS FOE, PASSION WEEK. 
 
 thorities against him, because he had come to reign 
 over their hearts as a spiritual King in a spiritual 
 kingdom. Truth is light. Falsehood is darkness. 
 This was the hour when darkness ruled. Truth 
 would not have crucified Jesus who was himself the 
 Truth. Falsehood only could condemn him. Truth 
 never rejects the Gospel of Christ. Falsehood al- 
 ways does so. Have we any fellowship with the 
 works and the workers of darkness? 
 
 4. TJie church, the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 "My kingdom is not of this world." It is not a 
 worldly kingdom. It is in the world, but not of the 
 world. It is a kingdom, not of earthly thrones, and 
 lords, and parliaments, and armies; but of grace, and 
 doctrines, and religious ordinances, and spiritual 
 duties, and holy living. His kingdom is within us. 
 His throne is in the heart. His subjects are Chris- 
 tians. Are we his subjects? Are we Christians? 
 Has he set up his throne in our hearts? Does he 
 reign there? reign in righteousness and true holi- 
 ness? 
 
 5. Christ's peaceable kingdom. 
 
 u If my kingdom were of this world, then would 
 my servants fight." There is fighting in the king- 
 doms of this world. The world is full of fight. But 
 Christ's kingdom is not of this world, and his true 
 servants are therefore of a different spirit. They do 
 not fight. The only warfare they maintain is against 
 untruth and sin. The weapons of their warfare are 
 spiritual. They are men of peace. They love one 
 another. They love their enemies. They bless them 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 87 
 
 that curse them. They do good to them that hate 
 them. They pray for them that despitefully use 
 them. They make sacrifices for peace. They have 
 no pleasure in strife. They will rather suffer than 
 fight. Do we know what spirit we are of? 
 
 6. Tlie faithful and true witness. 
 
 He came to bear witness of the truth. He bore a 
 true testimony. All his words were true. All his 
 works were right. All his influence was exerted in 
 behalf of truth and righteousness. Are we, like 
 Jesus, advocates of truth? Have we, on all proper 
 occasions, a good word for the truth? Do we love it 
 ourselves, and commend it to others? Are we, like 
 Jesus, willing rather to suffer than to renounce it ? 
 
 7. The momentous question. 
 
 "What is truth V 9 Could human lips have uttered 
 a more important question ? Pilate wished to know 
 what was truth. Jesus was the way, the truth, and 
 the life. The truth stood then before him. He had 
 not far to go in order to find it. And although so 
 near to him he failed to see it. He even sentenced 
 it to be crucified. Strange that with the bright light 
 of day all around him, a man may shut his eyes and 
 be in darkness. Blessed are they that believe, and 
 love, and obey the truth — the truth as it is in Jesus! 
 
 8. Silence under calumny. 
 
 Both at the bar of Pilate, and in the palace of the 
 high priest, Jesus vindicated himself in such words 
 as he deemed necessary; and also during a part of 
 the time maintained an imperturbable silence. He 
 
88 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 knew when to speak and when to be still. But 
 neither his speech nor his silence pleased his mali- 
 cious accusers. They found fault with him for both. 
 His silence was very expressive. It spoke more elo- 
 quently than words. It expressed innocence, dignity, 
 patience, self-respect, indifference to calumny. There 
 is great power in silence. A noble character can afford 
 to be silent when calumniated. He can permit his 
 life to refute his calumniators. Let us, like Jesus, 
 live so holiiy, and justly, and unblamably, that none 
 can slander us, or if they do, that no person will 
 believe them. 
 
 9. The vehemence of malice. 
 
 " They were the more fierce/' When Pilate seemed 
 slow to condemn Jesus, the malice of the Jews knew 
 no bounds. Their hatred w T as fiendish malignity. 
 They gnashed their teeth, and, subsequently, they 
 shook their heads at him. It is wonderful that even 
 such depraved hearts could so intensely hate such 
 purity and innocence. What need humanity has to 
 blush for shame that it made of itself such a spectacle 
 before heaven and earth, in its treatment of the im- 
 maculate Lamb of God when he came to the world 
 on his mission of love and mercy! 
 
 10. Men at enmity with one another, agree in their 
 hostility to Christ. 
 
 "And the same day Pilate and Herod were made 
 friends together." They had before been "at enmity 
 between themselves." They became friends, not be- 
 cause the grace of God subdued their enmity and 
 melted their hearts, but because they agreed in a 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 89 
 
 common hostility toward the world's Eedeemer. It 
 is often so. Men who disagree in almost everything 
 else, agree in their hatred to Christ. They quarrel 
 on questions of business, morals, science, law, politics, 
 property; but all are wonderfully harmonious in their 
 opposition to the way of salvation through the blood 
 of Jesus. The offence of the cross has not yet ceased. 
 To the Jew, Christ crucified is still a stumbling-block, 
 and to the Greek foolishness. But what then? It 
 is still, as ever, the wisdom of God, and the power of 
 God to salvation, to every one that believeth. 
 
 11. The prudent wife. 
 
 Pilate's wife sent to her husband, as he sat on the 
 judgment seat, and advised him to "have nothing to 
 do with that just man." She desired him not to stain 
 his hands and conscience with his blood. She gave 
 him good counsel. It would have been well for him 
 if he had heeded it. Woman is often man's best ad- 
 viser. Many a husband would have been saved from 
 ruin if he had heeded his wife's counsel. Woman has 
 always been the Gospel's warmest friend. She has 
 had the courage to plead for Christ and his cause, 
 when bolder hearts have hesitated through fear. She 
 was Jesus' friend in the palace, at the cross, and at 
 the sepulchre; and she constitutes the larger portion, 
 now, of the members of our churches, and of the com- 
 municants at the Lord's Table. Christ is woman's 
 best friend, and it is right that she should feel the 
 strongest friendship for him. 
 
 12. The wretched choice. 
 
 When the opportunity was afforded to choose be- 
 
 8 
 
90 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 tween Christ and Barabbas, the multitude chose the 
 robber and murderer in preference to the Saviour. 
 They rejected the friend that had instructed, and fed, 
 and healed, and blessed them, and chose the villain 
 who had robbed them, and stained his hands with 
 their blood. How madly they felt and acted! How 
 madly men still feel and act ! They reject Christ 
 and all the blessings of his salvation, and choose sin, 
 and all the evils for time and eternity, that follow 
 after it. Men still, as then, choose Barabbas and 
 reject Christ — press the murderer to their hearts, and 
 condemn the Saviour to the cross. Wretched choice! 
 
 13. The insane cry. 
 
 "And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify 
 him." Well might the imbecile Pilate ask in response 
 to that demand, " Why, what evil hath he done ?" 
 Why crucify the Messiah, for whose advent the world 
 waited for four thousand years, and for whose salva- 
 tion, its sins and miseries had cried to heaven with 
 unutterable groans, during all those long and sad 
 ages? Madness ruled the hour. What crime could 
 be greater than to crucify the Lord of life and glory? 
 And yet in their guilty madness, they called for the 
 only remedy for sin and guilt. It behoved Christ to 
 suffer, for Christ crucified is the power of God to the 
 salvation of sinners. God turned even their crime 
 into a blessing for the world, and made the very cru- 
 cifixion for which they insanely vociferated, the way 
 of healing for all mankind. We now glory in the 
 cross, for salvation is by the Crucified. Their crime 
 is not lessened because what they intended as a curse 
 to Jesus, is to the world its greatest blessing. God 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 91 
 
 makes the wrath of man praise him. Let us not by 
 unbelief, imitate their crime, and crucify the Lord 
 afresh, but let us gladly welcome into our souls all 
 the grace and blessing which that death has secured 
 for the world, which their guilty hands inflicted. 
 
 14. Cruel mockery. 
 
 They not only scourged the bare body of Jesus, as 
 they would the vilest malefactor, until his bruised 
 and bleeding flesh quivered under the cruel blows, 
 but they mocked his claims to be a king, by putting 
 a scarlet robe upon him, a crown platted of thorns 
 on his head, and a reed for a sceptre in his hand; and 
 bowing the knee in mock reverence before him, they 
 tauntingly cried, Hail, king of the Jews! They 
 spared the infliction of no pang upon either his body 
 or his soul. God had left him in their power, and 
 they racked their ingenuity for means of torture for 
 his body, and for methods of inflicting stings upon 
 his sensitive heart. Whose breast does not heave 
 with emotions of pity, and who can restrain his tears, 
 as he contemplates the blessed Jesus in the hands of 
 his cruel mockers ? 
 
 15. The weak official. 
 
 Pilate was not equal to his position. The mob 
 triumphed over him. Justice did not rule. Passion 
 and violence were permitted to override all law and 
 authority. Notwithstanding repeated admissions that 
 he found no fault in him, Pilate nevertheless ordered 
 him to be crucified because the riotous mob clamored 
 for his death. There is no safety for life or property 
 except under a just and firm administration of law. 
 
92 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 The invisible majesty of law throws its protection 
 over the people in all well-ordered States. Law rests 
 on public virtue, as virtue rests on the Christian Ee- 
 ligion as its basis. The Gospel that was overwhelmed 
 by the mob in the person of its Author, before Pilate, 
 is still the only protection of society from mob rule. 
 Christian States, where the doctrines of the crucified 
 Jesus give tone to society, and furnish a firm founda- 
 tion for public order, alone afford security to all the 
 rights and interests of man. What Pilate could not 
 do, Christ does. What all the power of the Eoman 
 empire was unable to effect, the principles and spirit 
 of Christianity accomplishes in all purely Christian 
 States. 
 
 16. The dreadful imprecation. 
 
 "His blood be on us, and on our children." We 
 tremble even now at the repetition of these words. 
 And yet these hardened men uttered them without 
 emotion. They assumed all the fearful responsibility 
 of his death. When Pilate sought to wash his hands 
 of the guilt of his blood, they took that guilt upon 
 themselves. It was a horrible imprecation. These 
 words send a shudder through the heart as we read 
 them. The blood which they invoked upon them- 
 selves came upon them speedily, and the whole world 
 stood aghast at the spectacle. It was a spot made 
 by blood, that could only be wiped out with blood. 
 Eetribution took millions of lives for one precious 
 life, and demanded torrents of blood from thousands 
 of hearts for the blood which they forced out of one 
 dear heart. How terribly did his murderers curse 
 themselves, by inviting his blood to return upon their 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 93 
 
 souls ! It might have been applied as a blessing to 
 cleanse and save them, but they changed that precious 
 blood into a curse to condemn them forever. Instead 
 of speaking better things than the blood of Abel, it 
 cried to heaven for a vengeance far more dire than 
 that which overtook the first murderer. It came on 
 them and on their children. With unnatural cruelty 
 they involved their children in the same ruin that 
 overtook themselves. Let us recoil with horror from 
 the guilt which, by crucifying the Lord afresh, brings 
 that blood upon us as an avenger of sin. Let us rather, 
 by faith, bring it upon us in its pardon-speaking and 
 its soul-cleansing power. As such it may also rest 
 upon our children. They, too, may escape its curse, 
 and share its blessings. May the blood of the Cruci- 
 fied be upon us and our children, to take away both 
 our sins and theirs ! 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 Dear Father in Heaven, we render to Thee most 
 hearty thanks that Thou didst freely give Thy dear 
 Son to death, in order that we might have life in Him. 
 O lead us by Thy Holy Spirit, so to love and trust in 
 Him that we may never, like His cruel murderers, 
 choose the robber and crucify the Saviour. May we 
 not prefer this evil world, with its sinful ways and 
 sensual joys, and reject Thy dear Son, and the grace 
 and mercy which He purchased for us! We welcome 
 to our souls the dear Lord who came to save us. 
 Guilty and condemned, we have no other shelter 
 where we may hide. We take refuge in His wounds, 
 and hope for pardon through His blood. May His 
 
94 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 blood, that was given and shed for the remission of 
 sins, wipe out the sentence of condemnation that was 
 written against us! May His blood be upon us and 
 our children, not to curse us, but to save us ! Help 
 us to take warning, lest we crucify afresh the Lord 
 of glory, and bring His blood upon us, in vengeance 
 for our dreadful guilt. Alas ! we have too often for- 
 gotten Thee, and been unfaithful to Thee, and served 
 Thee with lukewarm devotion. O draw our wayward 
 hearts nearer to Thee. Thou hast kept us hitherto; 
 keep us still. Let us never wander from Thee. Suffer 
 us not to fall from Thy hand. We have chosen Thee 
 as our portion, may we hold Thee fast forever. We 
 have renounced the devil and all his works, the vain 
 pomp and vanity of the world, with all the sinful 
 desires of the flesh, and we pray Thee grant us grace, 
 that the enemy of our souls may never have power 
 to prevail against us. O Lord, we are weak, and 
 unable to stand of ourselves, do Thou graciously hold 
 us up. We fly to Thee for help. Mercifully preserve 
 us by the blood of Thy dear Son ! Amen. 
 
 Dear Lord Jesus, Thou didst do and suffer so much 
 for me — didst drink for me the bitter cup of sorrow — 
 didst atone for my sins with groans, and tears, and 
 blood, and death — and I, alas ! have so often forgot- 
 ten Thee, denied Thee, offended Thee, murmured 
 against Thee, been ashamed of Thee, and refused to 
 follow Thee. O dear Lord, have mercy upon my 
 poor soul! Pity my poor heart! Look upon me 
 tenderly, and melt me to penitence and tears. Draw 
 me to Thy side, and keep me there. Give me not 
 over to the power of the enemy. Lord help me, and 
 suffer me not to perish. By Thy blood and anguish, 
 good Lord, deliver me ! Amen. 
 
THE FIFTH SERVICE. 95 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, who art the way, the truth, 
 and the life, in whom we are recreated unto good 
 works, and made holy, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that, 
 like Thee, we may be without guile, and that even 
 our enemies may not be able to find any fault in us, 
 but that living as becometh those who have Thee for 
 an example in all things, we may at last ^inherit 
 everlasting joy and felicity, not for any worth or 
 merit in us, but alone for the sake of the infinite 
 righteousness of our only Mediator and Eedeemer, 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who didst wear, on earth, the crown of 
 thorns, for us, grant that through the merit of Thy 
 sufferings, we may wear in heaven, the crown of 
 everlasting glory, for the sake of Thy infinite mercy 
 and grace. Amen. 
 
 O God, who didst cause the wrath of man to praise 
 Thee, when, through the crucifixion, by wicked hands, 
 of Thy Son, Thou didst redeem us from our sins, and 
 didst give us life by His death, grant us grace, that, 
 putting no confidence in man, nor in the wisdom of 
 the world, which is foolishness with Thee, we may 
 trust wholly to Thy infinite wisdom for our salvation, 
 and look for eternal life, by faith alone, to Jesus 
 whom men have crucified, but whom Thou hast 
 made, for us, both Lord and Christ, to whom be 
 glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who wast despised and rejected of men, 
 grant us grace, that we may not, like the Jews, choose 
 Barabbas and crucify Jesus, but like the glorious com- 
 
96 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 pany of the redeemed on earth and in heaven, prefer 
 above our chief joy, Thee, who art the brightness of 
 Thy Father's glory, and the express image of His per- 
 son, who art crowned with glory and honor, and art 
 the everlasting joy of the souls of Thy people, the 
 same, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 
 
 9 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. 
 
 The sixth part of the history of our Lord's Pas- 
 sion, as given by the several evangelical historians, 
 is as follows : 
 
 Matt, xxvii : 27, 31. Then the soldiers of the 
 governor took Jesus, and took the robe off from 
 him, and put his own raiment on him, and led 
 him away to crucify him. Luke xxiii : 32. And 
 there were also two others, malefactors, led with 
 him to be put to death. John xix : 17. And he 
 bore his cross. Matt, xxvii : 32. And as they 
 came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by 
 name, him they compelled to bear his cross; (Luke 
 xxiii : 26-31), and on him they laid the cross, that 
 he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed 
 him a great company of people, and of women, 
 which also bewailed and lamented him. But Je- 
 sus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusa- 
 lem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, 
 and for your children. For, behold, the days are 
 coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are 
 the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and 
 the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they 
 begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to 
 
98 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things 
 in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 
 
 Matt, xxvii : 33. And when they were come 
 unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a 
 place of a skull (Mark xv : 23), they gave him to 
 drink wine mingled with myrrh ; but he received 
 it not. There they crucified him, and the male- 
 factors, one on the right hand, and the other on 
 the left. Luke xxiii : 34. Then said Jesus, Father, 
 forgive them, for they know not what they do. 
 Mark xv : 25. And it w T as the third hour. John 
 xix : 19-24. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it 
 on the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Naza- 
 reth the King of the Jews. This title then read 
 many of the Jews ; for the place w T here Jesus was 
 crucified was nigh to the city": and it was written 
 in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the 
 chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The 
 King of the Jews ; but that he said, I am King of 
 the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, 
 I have written. Then the soldiers, when they had 
 crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four 
 parts, to every soldier a part ; and also his coat : 
 now the coat was without seam, woven from the 
 top throughout. They said, therefore, among 
 themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, 
 whose it shall be : that the scripture might be 
 fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment 
 among them, and for my vesture they did cast 
 lots. These things, therefore, the soldiers did. 
 Matt, xxvii ; 36. And sitting down, they watched 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. 99 
 
 him there : (Luke xxiii : 35), and the people stood 
 beholding. John xix : 25-27. Now there stood by 
 the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's 
 sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Mag- 
 dalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, 
 and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he 
 saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 
 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother ! 
 And from that hour that disciple took her unto 
 his own home. 
 
 Matt, xxvii : 39. And they that passed by re- 
 viled him, wagging their heads (Mark xv : 29, 30), 
 and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, 
 and buildest it in three days, save thyself. Matt. 
 xxvii : 40-44. If thou be the Son of God, come 
 down from the cross. Likewise also the chief 
 priests mocking him, with the scribes and el- 
 ders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot 
 save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come 
 down from the cross, and we will believe him. 
 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he 
 will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God. 
 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, 
 cast the same in his teeth. Luke xxiii : 39-43. 
 And one of the malefactors which were hanged 
 railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thy- 
 self and us. But the other answering rebuked 
 him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou 
 art in the same condemnation ? And we indeed 
 justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: 
 but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he 
 
100 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou 
 comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto 
 him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be 
 with me in Paradise. 
 
 Luke xxiii : 44, 45. And it was about the sixth 
 hour, and there was darkness over all the earth 
 until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened. 
 Matt, xxvii : 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus 
 cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama 
 sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, 
 why hast thou forsaken me ? Mark xv : 35. And 
 some of them that stood by, when they heard it, 
 said, Behold, he calleth Elias. John xix : 28, 29. 
 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now 
 accomplished that the scripture might be fulfilled, 
 saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of 
 vinegar. Matt, xxvii : 48, 49. And straightway 
 one of them ran, and took a sponge and filled it 
 with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him 
 to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether 
 Elias will come to save him. John xix : 30. When 
 Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, 
 It is finished. Luke xxiii : 46. And when Jesus 
 had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into 
 thy hands I commend my spirit : and having said 
 thus (John xix : 30), he bowed his head, and gave 
 up the ghost. 
 
 Matt, xxvii : 51-54. And behold, the vail of the 
 temple was rent in twain from the top to the bot- 
 tom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 
 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. 101 
 
 the saints which slept arose, and came out of the 
 graves after his resurrection, and went into the 
 holy city, and appeared unto many. Mark xv : 
 39. And when the centurion, which stood over 
 against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave 
 up the ghost (Luke xxiii : 47), he glorified God, 
 saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. Mark 
 xv : 39. Truly this man was the Son of God. Matt. 
 xxvii : 54. Now when they that were with him, 
 watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those 
 things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, 
 Truly this was the Son of God. Luke xxiii : 48. 
 And all the people that came together to that 
 sight, beholding the things which were done, 
 smote their breasts and returned. 
 
 REMAKES. 
 
 Dearly Beloved: 
 
 We have come, in the course of these Passion Ser- 
 vices, to the final sad scene in the Passion history. 
 We commemorate to-day the crucifixion and death of 
 our dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In these 
 lessons we have followed him, step by step, from his 
 going up to Jerusalem, and his public entrance into 
 that city at the last Passover which he attended 
 with his disciples, through the solemn scenes of the 
 institution of the Holy Supper, the agony and bloody 
 sweat in Gethsemane, his betrayal by Judas Iscariot, 
 his trial before the high priest, and before Pontius 
 Pilate, until the hour when he was led forth to be 
 crucified. This last is the special subject of our medi- 
 
102 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 tation in the present service. Let ns confine our re- 
 marks to the circumstances that attended the cruci- 
 fixion of our Lord. 
 We have here — 
 
 1. The victim condemned to the sacrifice. 
 
 "And he delivered him to be crucified." The death 
 of Jesus was the infliction of a judicial sentence. He 
 put himself in our stead to suffer and die as our sub- 
 stitute and surety, so that thereby justice might be 
 satisfied, and the penalty of the law be fulfilled that 
 demanded our death. The whole was therefore ju- 
 dicial. He suffered the penalty of the law. He suf- 
 fered in our stead. By his vicarious suffering we are 
 saved from suffering. By his death we are rescued 
 from death. Blessed dying that secures our living. 
 
 2. Christ bearing his cross. 
 
 " And he bore his cross." Sad words. The streets 
 of Jerusalem witnessed a mournful spectacle as Jesus 
 went along bearing his cross. He was weak from 
 loss of rest; from the agony of the garden; from the 
 scourging at the bar of Pilate; and from long fasting; 
 and the heavy timber of the cross crushed him down 
 to the earth. He fell beneath the heavy burden. In- 
 nocent sufferer! Were not the hard hearts of thy 
 enemies melted into compassion for thy hard lot? 
 Shall not our hearts feel pity for the suffering Saviour 
 at the same time that we feel indignation for our sins 
 that made his cross so heavy? 
 
 3. Ohrisfs cross-bearer. 
 
 The strong shoulder of Simon of Gyrene bore the 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. 103 
 
 heavy cross that seemed too much for Jesus. He 
 bore it after Jesus. It was no injury to him to bear 
 Christ's cross. Happy cross-bearer ! for wherever 
 the Gospel is known will his name be spoken in con- 
 nection with the name of Jesus. Are not we, too, 
 Christ's cross-bearers ? " He that will come after me, 
 let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and 
 follow me." Do we rejoice to bear Christ's cross? 
 Do we bear it and suffer for his sake ? 
 
 4. Holy sympathy. 
 
 "And there followed him a great company of 
 people, and of women that also bewailed and lamented 
 him." If many hard hearts did beat in fierce hatred 
 toward the innocent sufferer, there were still some 
 that felt for his sorrows, and wept with and for him. 
 Especially do we see and love the holy sympathy and 
 gentle piety of woman. Woman's heart swelled in 
 warmest sympathy for Jesus. She followed him to 
 his cross; kneeled at his feet; wept as he bled; and, 
 with pious love and gentle hands, helped to lay his 
 bleeding body in its tomb. Her sympathy and kind- 
 ness for Jesus honored and ennobled her sex. The 
 Gospel, too, is her best benefactor. Jesus is her best 
 friend. She still honors him, as he has blessed her. 
 Piety has its sweetest home in her breast, and of the 
 number of those who commemorate his dying love 
 she is largely in the majority. May she ever be true 
 to her best benefactor and friend. 
 
 5. The true cause of tears. 
 
 "Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and 
 for your children." Jesus needed not the tears that 
 
104 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 were shed for him. But those who shed them needed 
 them for themselves and theirs. Great and terrible 
 calamities were impending over them. Weep, there- 
 fore, for yourselves. Tears of penitence may avert 
 the doom. By weeping now you may thereby pre- 
 vent more sad and hopeless tears. Do we weep for 
 ourselves and for our children? If neither we nor 
 they are Christians we would do well to weep. 
 
 6. The crucifixion. 
 
 "And when they were come to a place called Gol- 
 gotha, there they crucified him/' They crowned him 
 with thorns that inserted their sharp points into his 
 tender temples. They forced the cruel nails through 
 his quivering flesh into the timbers of the cross. They 
 raised up the cross, and him thus painfully suspended 
 on it, and left him hanging between heaven and earth, 
 as if earth had rejected him, and heaven was unwill- 
 ing to receive him. What a crime was this for wicked 
 hands to perpetrate. What a scene was this for men 
 and angels to look upon. Can we think of it without 
 the deepest emotion ? 
 
 7. The innocent numbered with the guilty. 
 
 He was numbered with the transgressors. Every- 
 thing was done to humiliate and disgrace him. He 
 died by crucifixion, the most ignominious mode of 
 death; and he was executed in company with male- 
 factors and criminals, in order to throw contempt 
 upon and degrade him. But God hath made the 
 wrath of man to praise him. The very instrument 
 of his shame is become the symbol of his glory. No 
 symbol is so dear as the cross. No word is more 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. 105 
 
 sacred, or awakens more holy emotions. And he 
 took his place with the worst of sinners, in their 
 lowest estate, so that from thence he might lift them 
 up to heaven. God forbid that I should glory save 
 in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. From the foot 
 of the cross only can I reach the top of the throne. 
 
 8. The forgiveness of enemies. 
 
 u Father, forgive them; for they know not what 
 they do." Was there ever uttered a more thrilling 
 prayer? Was ever such love and forgiveness dis- 
 played on earth before? If he could suffer like a 
 malefactor, he could pardon like a God. Does not 
 that prayer include us? As our sins were his real 
 murderers, is not his prayer for his murderers a gra- 
 cious intercession for all poor sinners? Was not 
 that prayer the voice of his pardon speaking blood 
 which was shed for the remission of sins? Do we 
 also learn of him? Do we breathe his forgiving 
 spirit? Does the view of Jesus on the cross subdue 
 all the enmity of our hearts toward our enemies? 
 Do we, too, pray for them that despitefully use and 
 persecute us? 
 
 9. Depravity under the cross. 
 
 The soldiers cast lots for his coat. How hardening 
 is sin. These hard and callous men could coolly gam- 
 ble under the cross of a dying man for the coat that 
 he had worn. How utterly depraved is the human 
 heart. It is deceitful above all things and desperately 
 wicked. Nothing but the grace of God can change 
 it. Do we differ from hardened men ? It is the grace 
 of God that hath made us to differ. 
 
106 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 10. The disconsolate mourners. 
 
 " Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, 
 and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, 
 and Mary Magdalene/' They were a broken-hearted 
 group. They were the dying Saviour's mourners. 
 As his blood dropped down to the earth their tears 
 fell to the ground. Theirs was disconsolate sorrow. 
 How could they be comforted? With his death all 
 their hopes expired. Our griefs are largely mixed 
 with consolation, but their sorrow had not one in- 
 gredient of comfort. Our sympathies are divided 
 between the dying Saviour on the cross and the 
 weeping mourners beneath it. 
 
 11. Jesus 1 filial love. 
 
 "When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the 
 disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto 
 his mother, Woman, behold thy son. Then saith he 
 to the disciple, Behold thy mother." Jesus forgot 
 his own sorrow in his great sympathy for his heart- 
 broken and disconsolate widowed mother. He gave 
 his mother into the care of the beloved disciple John, 
 and with his djang breath constituted between them 
 the relation of son and mother. What a beautiful 
 example have we here of filial affection. What child, 
 with Jesus' example before him, can ever forget his 
 mother? Who will not resemble a model of filial love 
 so surpassingly beautiful ? 
 
 12. Insult to the dying. 
 
 "And they that passed by reviled him, wagging 
 their heads, and saying, Ah thou that destroyest 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. 107 
 
 the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself." 
 The greatest criminal that ever suffered for his crimes 
 could not have been worse maltreated than was the 
 innocent Jesus. The ordinary sympathy that is ren- 
 dered to the worst of men was refused to him. 
 
 O hardened people, cruel priests, 
 
 How they stood round like savage beasts ; 
 
 Like lions ready to devour 
 
 When God had left him in their power. 
 
 Have we gentler and more Christian sympathies? 
 Does the commemoration of his love soften our hearts, 
 and the view of his sorrows melt us to tears? 
 
 13. Penitence in a dying hour. 
 
 Jesus never lost sight of his proper work. Even 
 in the midst of the excruciating anguish of crucifixion 
 he administered forgiveness and comfort to a penitent 
 soul. He came to save sinners, even the chief, and 
 no humble cry for remembrance and mercy did he 
 ever turn unheard away. The dying prayer he will 
 hear. Eepentance even in death, and at the eleventh 
 hour, will be acknowledged by him. Bat let us not 
 presume. We have one instance of accepted repen- 
 tance in a dying hour to save us from despair, but 
 only one, so that we may not presume. Do not defer 
 thy repentance, and thy call upon Jesus for remem- 
 brance, until a dying hour. It is full of terrible dan- 
 ger. It may then be too late. 
 
 14. Heavenly sympathy with the divine sufferer. 
 
 Heaven blushed for the deeds of men. Creation 
 would not look on when wicked creatures slew their 
 
108 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 Creator. Heaven sympathized with a dying Saviour. 
 It enshrouded itself in mourning at his death. 
 
 The sun beheld it ? No ! the shocking scene 
 Drove back his chariot. Midnight veiled his face. 
 Not such as this ; not such as Nature makes ; 
 A midnight Nature shuddered to behold. 
 A midnight new, a dread eclipse (without 
 Opposing spheres), from her Creator's frown. 
 Sun, didst thou fly thy Maker's pain? or start 
 At that enormous load of human guilt 
 Which moved his blessed head, o'erwhelmed his cross, 
 Made groan the centre, burst earth's marble womb 
 "With pangs — strange pangs — delivered of her dead? 
 Hell howled ; and heaven that hour let fall a tear. 
 Heaven wept that man might smile. Heaven bled 
 That man might never die. 
 
 15. The forsaken. 
 
 " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me V 
 Who can tell the anguish of soul that forced that 
 dreadful cry from the lips of Jesus ? What a prayer 
 was that for the Son of God to utter! In bearing 
 the curse of sin he was treated as a sinner. Justice 
 looked upon him as a criminal, and laid upon him all 
 its woes, He bore the wrath of God, inflicted upon 
 the sins of a guilty world. He was really forsaken. 
 Nothing else bat humanity supported by divinity 
 could have survived the terrible hour, Bat life for 
 us attends the dreadfal cry of Christ's despair. He 
 was forsaken, that we might not be. He redeemed 
 us from the curse of the. law, being made a curse for 
 us. By him we are accepted. Blessed forsaking, that 
 secured such happy acceptance ! 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. 109 
 
 16. The longing of a holy soul. 
 
 " I thirst !" He thirsteth for God's sympathy and 
 love; for his presence and favor; for support and 
 help in that awful hour. He thirsted, too, for the 
 salvation of a lost world, for whom he was then 
 struggling and dying. He thirsted for God, for the 
 living God. That was a great word, "I thirst !" 
 Have we the same longing of the soul? Do we, too, 
 thirst ? Do we thirst after righteousness ; after com- 
 munion with God; after the joys of heaven; after 
 the salvation and happiness of our fellow-men ? 
 Blessed thirst, that is slaked at the wells of salva- 
 tion ! 
 
 17. The greatest word of all. 
 
 " It is finished !" The work of obedience and of 
 suffering was now finished. There was now nothing 
 more either to do or to suffer. The work of men's 
 redemption was done. The end for which he came 
 into the world was now accomplished. The sacrifice 
 was offered; the blood was shed; the agony was over. 
 Nothing more now remained. All was finished on 
 earth; the work of heaven now commenced. In the 
 outer court where the Lamb was slain, the bloody work 
 was over. He would now go into the holy of holies; 
 the higher sanctuary not made with hands, and com- 
 plete the atonement there. But all that earth could 
 do was now done. He left not his work incomplete. 
 "I have finished the work thou gavest me to do." 
 
 18. The blessed death. 
 
 " Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." 
 If the struggle before death was fierce, the end itself 
 
110 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 was peace. His was a blessed death. It was a sweet 
 passing over into heaven. Such a death has no ter- 
 rors. Jesus showed us how peacefully a Christian 
 can die. He can make a dying bed, even when it is 
 a cross, feel soft as downy pillows are. Since Jesus 
 died, we may not be afraid to die. He took from 
 death its sting. Blessed are the dead which die in 
 the Lord from henceforth. 
 
 1 9. The opening of the holy of holies. 
 
 "And, behold, the vail of the temple was rent in 
 twain from the top to the bottom/' The holy of 
 holies had been shut and concealed before. It is now 
 open and accessible to all. The vail is now rent. 
 The wall of partition between Jew and Gentile is 
 broken down. Access to God is open to every one. 
 All may come to the mercy-seat. Jesus opened access 
 to the throne of grace by a new and living way, 
 which he hath consecrated for us through the vail, 
 that is to say, his flesh. We may now approach God 
 in confidence and peace. We are reconciled to God, 
 and God is reconciled to us, by the death of his Son. 
 The " good things to come" are all ours. The door 
 of heaven itself — the true holy of holies — is open to 
 every one that will enter in. Through the rent vail 
 let us enter, and find rest and peace. 
 
 20. The enforced confession. 
 
 " And they feared greatly, and said, Truly this was 
 the Son of God." What other conclusion is rational? 
 All things unite in forcing this conviction upon the 
 mind and heart. All the circumstances of Christ's 
 death; all that preannounced it; all that attended 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. Ill 
 
 it; and all that succeeded it, combine to make no 
 other conviction possible. Truly he was the Son of 
 God ! His death was not like the death of the chil- 
 dren of men. It was the death of the Son of God. 
 It meant what no other death meant. It was a 
 death, such as never took place before nor since, nor 
 ever will occur again. That was the great day of 
 atonement, and the death was the death of the Lamb 
 slain from the foundation of the world. It constituted 
 the great sacrifice for sin, in which all the previous 
 sacrificial offerings culminated, and were completed, 
 and rendered valid for the forgiveness of sins. No 
 wonder the centurion and the multitude, not under- 
 standing this, w T ere overwhelmed with astonishment 
 at what they saw. They could do no more than ex- 
 press the full conviction of their hearts, Truly this was 
 the Son of God. And in saying that they said every- 
 thing. Do we say the same? Do we adore Jesus of 
 Nazareth as the Son of God ? 
 
 21. The self-reproach. 
 
 "And all the people smote their breasts and re- 
 turned. " They went out to Calvary exulting, and 
 mocking, and crying, Crucify him ! crucify him! but 
 they came away and returned to the city with other 
 feelings altogether. They "looked on him whom 
 they pierced, and they mourned for him as one 
 mourneth for his only son, and were in bitterness for 
 him as one that is in bitterness for his first born." 
 Their work of blood gave them no satisfaction. They 
 now shuddered at what they had done. In keen 
 remorse and bitter self-reproach they smote their 
 breasts, and with sad and downcast eyes they came 
 
112 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 back. They had cried, "His blood be on us and on 
 our children/' and now they were beginning to feel 
 the force of their dreadful imprecation. But they 
 felt it afterwards still more. His blood was not only 
 on their stained hands, but it was on their souls, and 
 on their children. It was to them frightful blood; 
 the " savor of death unto death." 
 
 But let his blood — cleansing, forgiving, saving— be 
 on us and on our children, a "savor of life unto life." 
 Precious drops, that speak and seal our peace with 
 God ! We will ever trust in it. We have faith in 
 Jesus' blood. It " cleanseth us from all sin." It se- 
 cures us full and free forgiveness of all our transgres- 
 sions. It was " shed for the remission of sin." 
 
 We commemorate its shedding at the Lord's Sup- 
 per. We w r ill do so with faith, and love, and joy, and 
 hope. " Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my 
 blood hath ecernal life, and I will raise him up at the 
 last day." Blessed communion ! May God give us 
 grace to appear as welcome guests, and to taste all 
 the precious sweetness of this holy sacrament! 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 O dear Father in heaven, we thank Thee that Thou 
 hast given Thy beloved Son unto death, in order that 
 through Him we might have life. We pray Thee, 
 grant us the help of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may 
 be enabled always so firmly to hold fast to Him, and 
 so faithfully to love and serve Him, that we shall 
 never, like Thy ancient people, choose the world and 
 sin, and deny the dear Lord that bought us with His 
 blood. In Thy righteous displeasure, Thou didst re- 
 
THE SIXTH SERVICE. 113 
 
 quire the blood of Thy dear Son at the hands of those 
 who had invoked it upon themselves and upon their 
 children. O Lord God, help us to take warning, that 
 we may not fall into the same condemnation. O Lord 
 Jesus Christ, let Thy blood be upon us unto salva- 
 tion, and not unto judgment. We have often forgot- 
 ten and been unfaithful to Thee, and have even re- 
 jected Thee, and chosen the lust of the world before 
 Thee. But, O Thou who hast hitherto mercifully 
 borne us in Thy arms of love, cast us not now away 
 from Thy presence. We will choose Thee, and re- 
 nounce the world forever. In Thee alone do we find 
 peace and salvation, therefore we fly to Thee, and 
 call upon Thee for mercy. O Lord J esus, have mercy 
 upon us ! Amen. 
 
 " Behold the man!" O Lord Jesus, Thou Son of 
 God and Son of Mary, how great was Thy humilia- 
 tion, how distressing Thy anguish, how painful Thy 
 stripes and wounds! O Thou Lamb of God, how 
 heavy were the sins of the world as they lay upon 
 Thee ! Ah, Lord Jesus, how great and crushing were 
 our sins as they pressed Thee down, and forced Thee 
 even into the bitter sufferings and death of the cross ! 
 In heartfelt sorrow and repentance we cry unto Thee, 
 O Jesus, have mercy upon us, miserable sinners! 
 May Thy stripes and wounds, Thy deep disgrace, 
 Thy sacred head crowned with thorns, ever stand out 
 so plainly before our souls, that we may never forget 
 our sins, nor lose sight of Thy great mercy. Ah, 
 Lord Jesus, our hearts are full of distress and anguish. 
 We must have been forever lost on account of our 
 sins, if Thou hadst not had mercy upon us. We 
 
 10 
 
114 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 know no other refuge but in Thee. Cast us not away, 
 dear Lord Jesus, for the sake of Thy bitter sufferings 
 and death, O cast us not away ! Amen. 
 
 O dearest Lord Jesus, who didst bear the heavy 
 cross on Thy dolorous way to Golgotha, grant us Thy 
 heavenly strength, that we may bear after Thee, 
 whatever crosses Thou mayest, in Thy wise and good 
 Providence, lay on us, through Thee, Jesus Christ, 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Jesus, who wast forced by Thy bitter agony to 
 exclaim, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken 
 me! come to our help, with Thy heavenly grace, 
 whensoever we are in trouble, that by the dreadful 
 anguish of Thy Passion, we may find comfort and 
 peace. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who didst finish the work which Thou 
 earnest to do, grant us Thy grace, that we, too, may 
 finish our course with joy, and look with glad hope -to 
 the crown of glory which Thou hast laid up in heaven 
 for all that love Thee. Amen. 
 
 O dear Jesus, who didst commend Thy spirit into 
 the hands of Thy heavenly Father, grant that we 
 also may await our end in faith, have no fears to dis- 
 tress us, but, with Thy perfect peace in our hearts, 
 and leaning on Tlry staff, and guarded by Thy arm, 
 may pass in safety through the valley of the shadow 
 of death, to the everlasting joy and felicity which 
 Thou hast laid up for us in heaven, through Thee, 
 who with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, livest one 
 God, forever and ever. Amen. 
 
THE SEVENTH SERVICE. 
 
 We will hear, finally, the seventh portion of 
 the Passion History. It reads thus: 
 
 Luke xxiii : 49. And all his acquaintances, and 
 the women that followed him from Galilee, stood 
 afar off, beholding these things. Matt. xxvii:56. 
 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary 
 the mother of James and Joses, and Salome the 
 mother of Zebedee's children. Mark xv : 41 . Who 
 also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and 
 ministered unto him; and many other women 
 which came up with him unto Jesusalem. 
 
 John xix : 81-37. The Jews, therefore, because 
 it was the preparation, that the bodies should not 
 remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day (for 
 that Sabbath day was a high day), besought Pilate 
 that their legs might be broken, and that they 
 might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, 
 and brake the legs of the first, and of the other 
 w T hich was crucified with him. But when they 
 came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, 
 they brake not his legs; but one of the soldiers 
 with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came 
 there out blood and water. And he that saw it 
 bare record, and his record is true; and he know- 
 
116 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 eth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For 
 these things were done that the Scripture should 
 be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 
 And again another Scripture saith, They shall 
 look on him whom they pierced. 
 
 Matt. xxvii:57. When the even was come, 
 there came a rich man (Mark xv:43), Joseph of 
 Arimathea, an honorable counsellor, which also 
 waited for the Kingdom of God (Luke xxiii : 50, 
 51), and he was a good man, and a just: The same 
 had not consented to the counsel and deed of them 
 (John xix : 38), being a disciple of Jesus, but 
 secretly for fear of the Jews. Mark xv : 43-46. 
 And he came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and 
 craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled 
 if he were already dead; and calling unto him the 
 centurion, he asked him whether he had been any 
 while dead. And when he knew it of the centu- 
 rion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought 
 fine linen, and took him down. John xix : 39-41. 
 And there came also Nicodemus (which at the 
 first came to Jesus by night), and brought a mix- 
 ture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds 
 weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and 
 wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the 
 manner of the Jews is to bury. ISTow in the 
 place where he was crucified there was a garden, 
 and in the garden a new sepulchre (Matt, xxvii: 
 60), which he had hewn out in the rock (Luke 
 xxiii: 53), wherein never man before was laid. 
 John xxix:42. There laid they Jesus therefore 
 
THE SEVENTH SERVICE. 117 
 
 because of the Jews' preparation day (Matt, xxvii : 
 60, 61), and rolled a great stone to the door of the 
 sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary 
 Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over 
 against the sepulchre (Luke xxiii : 55, 56), and 
 beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 
 And they returned, and prepared spices and oint- 
 ments; and rested the Sabbath day according to 
 the commandment. 
 
 Matt, xxvii : 62-66. Now the next day, that fol- 
 lowed the day of the preparation, the chief priests 
 and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, 
 Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while 
 he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 
 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made 
 sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by 
 night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, 
 He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall 
 be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye 
 have a watch; go your way; make it as sure as ye 
 can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, 
 sealing the stone, and setting a watch. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Beloved : 
 
 We have in this seventh portion of the Passion 
 History the last of these Passion Services. We have 
 followed our dear suffering Lord through all the sad 
 scenes of his state of humiliation until he is laid in 
 his lowly tomb. Let us direct our special attention 
 
118 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 to the most prominent points contained in the present 
 Lesson. 
 
 We have here — 
 
 1. The distant group of mourners. 
 
 "And all his acquaintance, and the women that 
 followed him from Galilee, stood afar off beholding 
 these things." John, and Mary the mother of Jesus, 
 and other devoted and courageous friends, ventured 
 to the very foot of the cross. They braved all the 
 insults and abuse to which they might have been 
 subjected by the soldiers and the Jews. They disre- 
 garded all personal inconvenience and danger out of 
 their great love to Jesus, and from the desire to 
 honor and comfort him in his terrible sufferings. The 
 others stood afar off, not venturing so near, but still 
 feeling true sympathy, and shedding bitter tears of 
 sorrow. What a sad and sorrowful group they were. 
 With beating hearts and tearful eyes they looked on 
 as their dearest earthly friend was struggling in his 
 death agony. Their fondest hopes were being dashed 
 to the ground; and of all the sad hours of their lives 
 this was the darkest and the saddest. It is, however, 
 always darkest just before morning. Man's extremity 
 is God's opportunity. God tries his children, but he 
 will not utterly forsake them. 
 
 2. The last Jewish Sabbath. 
 
 "That Sabbath was a high day." It was the last 
 Jewish Sabbath. On that Sabbath the body of Jesus 
 was in the tomb, and it was no longer a festival, for 
 the children of the bride-chamber mourned on that 
 day. It has never been a festival since. It was ab- 
 
THE SEVENTH SERVICE. 119 
 
 rogated forever. The following week the disciples 
 met, not on the Sabbath, but on the Lord's Day, the 
 first day of the week, in commemoration of their 
 Saviour's glorious resurrection. They never after- 
 wards met, as a Christian congregation, on the Sab- 
 bath. They always came together to worship God 
 and break bread on the first day of the week. The 
 Jews called that Sabbath "a high day,'' but it was 
 the last Sabbath day — the lowest of days, for their 
 work of wickedness and blood threw its dark shadow 
 over the day, and it was blotted out as the Sabbath 
 forever. Another day was appointed in its stead. 
 This is now "the day the Lord hath made; we will 
 rejoice and be glad in it." In it is the gathering of 
 the people; in it we are blessed out of the house of 
 the Lord; and in it we commemorate the dying love 
 of Jesus at the Lord's Supper. It is now "the high 
 day" — the highest of days. Shall we not keep it to- 
 morrow with more than usual solemnity? 
 
 3. The pierced side. 
 
 "One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, 
 and forthwith came there out blood and water." The 
 cruel spear reached the heart that of all other hearts 
 beat most warmly in compassion for the miseries of 
 the world. Cruel wantonness that wounded the 
 heart of Jesus after he was already dead. He truly 
 died. His heart was pierced, and its streams of blood 
 ran down his sacred person. His temples were bleed- 
 ing from the pointed thorns; his hands and feet were 
 bleeding from the cruel nails; and his side was bleed- 
 ing from the spear that in mere cruel wantonness was 
 thrust into his heart. His was a bloody sacrifice. He 
 
120 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 came by water and by blood. By blood to make atone- 
 ment; by water to sanctify and cleanse. By the one 
 we are forgiven; by the other we are made holy. 
 Oh, the blessed death of Jesus! Never did earth or 
 heaven witness such a death before. It is our priv- 
 ilege, as Christians, to celebrate it in the Lord's Sup- 
 per. We will do so with all the devotion and love 
 which such a death demands. 
 
 4. The personal witness. 
 
 "And he that saw bare record." The sufferings 
 and death which we commemorate are facts. No 
 facts are better attested. They are the greatest, 
 most wonderful, and most important facts that ever 
 transpired on the earth. The Gospel is not a fable, 
 but a fact. We reach our hopes not through an in- 
 tricate process of reasoning, or through a labyrinth 
 of finely woven fables, but by the simple belief of the 
 facts which numerous credible eyewitnesses relate to 
 us. Did Jesus live, and teach, and suffer, and die, 
 and rise again, and ascend to heaven ? These are facts, 
 capable of being attested by witnesses, as any other 
 facts. The facts being established, the doctrines nec- 
 essarily flow out of them, and rest upon them. We 
 receive the facts, and believe the doctrines that result 
 from them. And when we do so we feel that we have 
 a reason for our hope, and can render a reason. 
 
 5. Piety in high places. 
 
 " There came a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, an 
 honorable counsellor, and went boldly unto Pilate, 
 and craved the body of Jesus. And there came also 
 Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, 
 
 
THE SEVENTH SERVICE. 121 
 
 and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a 
 hundred pounds weight." It is usual to consider the 
 first disciples of our Lord as among the commonest 
 and poorest of the people. And they were so. But 
 not all those who occupied high positions in society, 
 in the church, and in the state, were enemies of Christ 
 and the Gospel. He had warm friends in the high 
 council, and among the high dignitaries of the church, 
 who lamented the degeneracy of the times, and waited 
 for the Kingdom of God. Persons of wealth, educa- 
 tion, and position among men do not, indeed, give 
 dignity to Christ and his religion. It dignifies and 
 honors them. They need the grace which the Gospel 
 brings as much as the lowest and the poorest. For 
 God is no respecter of persons. It is, however, in- 
 teresting to know that those who have the best ad- 
 vantages for investigation, and the most favorable 
 opportunities for obtaining knowledge, have been, 
 and are, humble believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 They have wide influence, and that influence should 
 be exerted in behalf of the best interests of themselves 
 and their fellow-men. Let all men duly appreciate 
 the social liabilities that rest upon them. None have 
 any reason to be ashamed of Christ. None are so 
 high that Christ is not higher. None are so noble 
 that they do not need the grace that bringeth sal- 
 vation. 
 
 6. The decent burial. 
 
 With affectionate piety, his sorrowing friends gave 
 him decent burial. They took his lifeless body down 
 from the cross, washed off the blood from his face 
 and person, bore it away to the new tomb in which 
 
 11 
 
122 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 no man had yet been laid, wrapped it in fragrant 
 spices, wound it round with the finest linen, and laid 
 it gently away in its hard sepulchre bed. This was 
 a sad duty, and with full and bursting hearts they 
 no doubt discharged it. But what a blessed work 
 was theirs ! They honored themselves when they 
 showed respect for the body of their Lord. They 
 touched and handled the sacred body of Jesus. Should 
 we not take into our hands, and into our lips, the 
 Holy Communion at the Lord's table, with some- 
 thing of the solemnity and affectionate reverence 
 with which these pious men and women embalmed 
 and buried the dear body of their Lord ? 
 
 7. The three gardens. 
 
 "Now in the place where he was crucified there 
 was a garden." In a garden man was innocent, and 
 fell into sin. In a garden Jesus groaned, and wept, 
 and prayed, and suffered the bloody sweat. And it 
 was in a garden that the dead body of Jesus was 
 buried and rose again. Here we have the three 
 gardens that will ever be most memorable in the 
 history of man: the happy garden of innocence; the 
 bloody garden of sacrifice ; the triumphant garden 
 of the resurrection. God created us in the one, 
 atoned for us in the second, and raised us up to 
 heaven in the third. Blessed gardens! Let their pious 
 consideration aid us in becoming fitted for a still 
 more blessed garden, the everlasting Paradise of 
 God! 
 
 8. The weeping Marys. 
 
 " And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other 
 Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre." The 
 
THE SEVENTH SERVICE. 123 
 
 others had departed, but they remained. They could 
 not tear themselves away from the spot where the 
 body of their Saviour lay. Love and grief held them 
 there. How strong is love ! "What fervent devotion 
 to Christ has its home in woman's heart ! Last at 
 the cross, first at the sepulchre, and last again there. 
 From that time to this she has shown the truest 
 faith, the warmest love, the most beautiful piety, and 
 the most active charit}^. May she ever be true to 
 him who has most blessed her! In honoring him 
 she ennobles herself. 
 
 9. Human devices. 
 
 " The chief priests and Pharisees came together 
 unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that arch 
 deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three 
 days I will rise again. Command, therefore, that the 
 sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his 
 disciples come by night and steal him away, and say 
 unto the people, He is risen from the dead, so the 
 last error shall be worse than the first." The enemies 
 of Christ were crafty people. Their malignity knew 
 no bounds. They were not content with killing the 
 Messiah, they wished also to destroy his cause. They 
 thought if they could produce the dead body of our 
 Lord after the third day, they would falsify his pre- 
 diction as to his own resurrection, and thus convict 
 him of such a manifest falsehood, that no one any- 
 where would believe in him. They, therefore, ob- 
 tained authority to fasten the door and seal the stone 
 of the sepulchre, and thus insure the accomplishment 
 of their well-considered design. But they were sig- 
 nally overreached. They most effectually confuted 
 
124 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 themselves. The method they took to destroy Christ's 
 word was the best adapted of all others to establish 
 it. They provided a band of numerous, and most dis- 
 interested, and reliable witnesses of Christ's actual 
 resurrection from the dead. If the stone had not 
 been sealed, and the Eoman guard had not been 
 placed, there might have been a doubt, even to this 
 day, whether Christ really arose. But now there is 
 not a peg left for infidelity to hang a doubt upon. 
 The infidels of that day have completely shut the 
 mouths of the infidels of the present day. God can, 
 and often does, easily confound the wisdom of man, 
 and make even the wrath of his enemies to praise 
 him. 
 
 10. The gloomy interval. 
 
 "What a sad night ruled over the earth whilst Jesus 
 lay in the grave! The sun had gone down. The 
 gloom of night reigned over the world. The hopes 
 that pious and good men, who waited for redemption 
 in Israel, had entertained, that the long-expected 
 Messiah had at last come, had expired. To them the 
 sun seemed to have gone down at midday. But the 
 poor, disappointed, dispirited disciples, how unenvi- 
 able must have been their feelings ! Where did they 
 hide themselves during this sad interval? Human- 
 ity, before hopeful and encouraged, was now in de- 
 spair. Dark was the night that now brooded over 
 the world. But after the darkness comes the light; 
 after the night appears the morning. Wait, child of 
 humanity, wait ! All is not ill that seems to be so. 
 
 11. The grave's victim. 
 
 Never did the grave hold a more noble prisoner. 
 
THE SEVENTH SERVICE. 125 
 
 It had held kings, and princes, and prophets, and 
 rich men, and wise men, and noble men, before; but 
 it never before held the Son of God. It seemed a 
 great triumph for the grave. Death had in its cus- 
 tody the Lord of life himself. Within his portals lay 
 the conqueror of death. It was the victor admitted 
 within the citadel. It was a stronger than Samson, 
 bound, indeed, for a time with withes, but possessed 
 still of all his strength. He came into the courts of 
 death, that he might the more effectually conquer 
 death. He entered within the grave in order the 
 more thoroughly to burst open its doors, and break 
 down its walls. Death could not hold him. In the 
 effort to hold and overcome him, death was itself 
 overcome. 
 
 12. The final triumph. 
 
 The last portion of the Passion History leaves 
 Jesus in the grave; but we pass a step beyond, and 
 behold his glorious resurrection. He burst the bars 
 of death. He wrested the victory from the grave. 
 He rose triumphant over death and hell. His resur- 
 rection is the culmination of his glorious history. It 
 is of the highest significance for us. It authenticated 
 his work. It established his Messiahship. It proved 
 his divinity. It took away the power and fear of 
 death. It gives us other ideas altogether of the na- 
 ture of dying. It opens our view through the portals 
 of the grave. It revealed the renewed resurrection 
 life. It proved that the dead can rise and live. It 
 gives hope in our own death, and comfort in the 
 death of our friends. It teaches, in brief, that Jesus 
 Christ is the Son of God, and the Saviour of men ; 
 
126 MEDITATIONS EOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 that he has atoned for our sins, and provided for our 
 justification ; and that the believer may live and die in 
 the comfortable hope of life and immortality beyond 
 the grave. These are most vital points in the Christian 
 system of religion. These are essential to our peace 
 with God, and our hope of heaven. They are most 
 wonderful things, and full of most precious consola- 
 tion for believing hearts. 
 
 Beloved, with this evening's service we close this 
 series of Passion Services. The preparation of these 
 discourses, has been to me a most pleasant parochial 
 duty. The examination of the various points in this 
 most wonderful and affecting history, as they have 
 presented themselves, has been at the same time very 
 profitable to my own heart. I hope they have not 
 been uninteresting or unprofitable to those dear Chris- 
 tian friends who have accompanied me in these medi- 
 tations. The one prominent object which I have 
 kept in view, was our preparation for the Holy Com- 
 munion. Devout meditation on the sufferings of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, is, of all things, best adapted to 
 soften the heart, awaken its love for the Saviour, and 
 bring it into a state in harmony with the spirit of the 
 Lord's Supper. May these meditations aid in making 
 our communion to-morrow, tender, profitable, and de- 
 lightful ! 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 O Jesus Christ, our dear Lord and Saviour, we 
 draw nigh to Thee to-day, in holy Sabbath stillness, 
 and earnestly beg for Thy grace. This holy Lenten 
 season is ended, and we have followed Thee with sor- 
 rowing hearts, along Thy entire dolorous way from 
 
THE SEVENTH SERVICE. 127 
 
 Gethsemane to Golgotha, where Thou didst bow Thy 
 sacred head and die. Now, Lord, grant us poor sin- 
 ners Thy heavenly grace, that we may at all times 
 acknowledge our great guilt and sinful deservings, 
 that brought upon Thee such cruel sufferings, and 
 such a bitter death. O grant us Thy gracious help, 
 that by the power of Thy death, we may overcome 
 sin, and live wholly to Thee. O Lord Jesus, Thou 
 dost rest well in the grave ; but the holy morn ap- 
 proaches when Thou wilt burst the bars of death, 
 and rise triumphant from the tomb. So, let us also 
 rest in peace in the silent grave, until the glorious 
 resurrection morning, when Thou, who art the first- 
 born from the dead, shalt come with the sound of the 
 trumpet, and Thy holy angels with Thee. Then, O 
 Lord Jesus, call us too to life, that we may enjoy the 
 blessed fruits of the shedding of Thy blood, and of 
 Thy most precious death and burial; and reign with 
 Thee in glory and blessedness forever. Amen. 
 
 O Thou blessed Lord Jesus, we give Thee praise 
 and thanksgiving, that having passed through death 
 and the grave to Thy glory, Thou hast also called us 
 into Thy holy kingdom, and hast appointed us heirs 
 with Thee, of Thy everlasting inheritance. With 
 hearts full of gladness, and with joyful lips, do we 
 praise Thee for Thy power and great glory. We are 
 greatly comforted in all our tribulations and necessi- 
 ties, for Thou, as our sovereign Lord and gracious 
 King, art strong to keep, and all-powerful to deliver 
 us. In our last hour we will not despair, for Thou 
 dost call Thine own from death, and out of the grave, 
 to eternal life, and leadest them into Thy eternal 
 
128 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 kingdom of glory. We pray Thee, O Thou King of 
 glory, extend more and more the borders of Thy 
 heavenly kingdom, even unto the ends of the earth, 
 and bring in the heathen that are yet far from Thee, 
 that they too, with us, may bow the knee to Thee. 
 Pour out upon our blessed Christianity the constant 
 dew of Thy grace, that as Thou dost reign over us 
 as our gracious Sovereign, Thou wilt multiply ever 
 more and more among us the triumphs of Thy grace 
 and mercy. Wilt Thou, as the rightful Euler of the 
 whole world, so govern the kings, and princes, and 
 powers of the earth, that bowing before Thee in the 
 true faith, they may acknowledge Thy right to their 
 homage and faithful service ? Be with us, also, O 
 Lord Jesus, as the Lord and Master of all our fami- 
 lies, dwell among us in the spirit of love and devo- 
 tion, rule in all our hearts by Thy grace, sanctify our 
 minds and hallow our affections, and grant us Thy 
 Holy Spirit, that we may ever live before Thee as 
 Thy faithful disciples, and the true members of Thy 
 heavenly kingdom. Be our comforter in all our trib- 
 ulations, our guide through this vale of sorrow, and 
 in the end, bring us, through death and the grave, 
 into Thy everlasting rest, through Thee, who didst 
 lie down in the tomb and rise again for us, Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
THOUGHTS FOE THE LOKD'S TABLE. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 The Self -Examination — "Lord, is it IV 
 
 Matt, xxvi : 21, 22. And as they did eat, he 
 said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall 
 betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, 
 and began every one of them to say unto him, 
 Lord, is it I ? 
 
 We are about to partake of the same holy commu- 
 nion which Jesus instituted, as he and his disciples 
 were eating the passover here referred to. It was a 
 startling announcement from his lips, as he and they 
 were at the same table, and in social intimacy were 
 eating together. Gould it be that one of these twelve 
 would betray him ? Could any one of that little com- 
 pany betray his Lord? Could any one be a traitor, 
 whose lips ate of the bread and drank of the cup that 
 Jesus gave him? There was such an one. Jesus 
 saw the hidden heart, although none with him at the 
 table saw it. And what does he see in us to-day ? 
 We, too, are here to eat and drink with him. We 
 profess love and friendship for Jesus. Will we always 
 love him? Will we be his friends forever? Or will 
 we, too, betray the Lord? Will we eat and drink at 
 his table, and then go away, and by our sins, betray 
 him? Some do so; will any of us do so? Shall we 
 
130 MEDITATIONS FOR, PASSION WEEK. 
 
 crucify afresh the dear Saviour, whose crucifixion on 
 the cross we sacramentally commemorate here to- 
 day ? With the kiss of friendship between our lips 
 and his, will we betray him? These questions, the 
 solemn declaration of Jesus to his disciples gives us 
 occasion to ask ourselves when about to eat of the 
 same communion which he then instituted. 
 
 "And they were exceeding sorrowful." Well they 
 might be. It was an announcement that was well 
 adapted to cause them distress. It was a horrible 
 crime. Could any heart be so vile? Could there be 
 one in that little company capable of doing such a 
 deed? Could one with the smile of friendship on his 
 lips, be so deceitful? The mere suspicion that any 
 one of them could be guilty of such a crime, was a 
 most distressing imputation. The words of Jesus 
 must have stunned them like a clap of thunder over 
 their heads. In holy horror they must have lifted 
 their hands, and been for a time shocked to speech- 
 lessness. 
 
 But when they did recover their minds to speak 
 what were the words they uttered? "Lord, is it I?" 
 Every one began to say unto him, "Lord, is it I?" 
 All except Judas were conscious of no such intention; 
 but knowing how weak and feeble even a holy, re- 
 generated nature is, they, with humble hearts and 
 tearful eyes, asked, "Lord, is it I?" Can I be so weak 
 as to fall by temptation into such a sin ? Can any 
 circumstances occur that will lead me so far to forget 
 myself and my duty to my Lord? Can I e^er lose 
 the warm love which I now feel to Jesus, and dis- 
 honor and betray him? Lord, who searchest the 
 
THOUGHTS FOR THE LORD ? S TABLE. 131 
 
 heart, and knowest my present pure intention, is it I 
 who can possibly do this thing? 
 
 Shall not we, too, ask ourselves this question to- 
 day? We intend no such thing. If we know our 
 own hearts, we do really and sincerely love Christ. 
 We wish in all things to honor him and do his will. 
 But we know, too, our weakness. We know also 
 that temptations are all around us. In humility and 
 self-distrust we, too, may ask, "Lord, is it I?" Shall 
 I go away from the communion table and forget that 
 I communed? Shall I bear away with me nothing 
 of the spirit of my Lord? Shall I in my temper and 
 character be unlike him whose communion I have 
 enjoyed? Shall I go awa} 7 with less piety than I 
 possessed when I came? Shall I become lukewarm 
 in God's service, and negligent of my Christian duties? 
 Shall I suffer grace to die in my heart, and my interest 
 in holy things to decline? Shall I entertain in my 
 heart feelings and sentiments towards others in con- 
 flict with the gentleness and love of the Gospel? 
 Shall my lips with which I communed utter words 
 of strife and blasphemy, and thus wound my Lord in 
 the house of his friends ? Shall I even do worse than 
 this, and fall into gross sin, and thus bring reproach 
 upon him who died for me ? " Lord, is it I ?" With 
 a trembling heart I would, like the disciples, ask the 
 Lord at his table, Lord, is it 1 that could do this? 
 
 But for our assurance and comfort we may recall 
 the fact that, except in the case of Judas, it was not 
 they. Though sorely tempted they did not betray 
 the Lord. Peter in momentary forgetfulness denied 
 him, but did not betray him. The Lord helped them. 
 The grace they received at their first communion 
 
132 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 strengthened them. They remained faithful. So, 
 too, will we. The very question was a benefit to 
 them, and it will also benefit us. It made them 
 humble. They trusted not in their own strength but 
 in God's. So also should we. By his grace we are 
 held up. In his strength we are strong. Let us 
 come leaning on his arm. It is no disqualification 
 for the communion when we feel our weakness and 
 distrust ourselves. A very acceptable communicant 
 may ask, "Lord, is it I?" Indeed, none are more 
 acceptable than they. They lean all the more 
 strongly on God's arm, and make his grace their 
 refuge. Let every devout communicant, therefore, 
 ask, "Lord, is it I?" No! it is not you. He that 
 trembles at God's word will not betrav him. He 
 that distrusts himself will not deny his Lord. He 
 that leans on the arm of Jehovah, and not on his 
 own, will always be safe, both at the Lord's Table 
 and everywhere else. 
 
THOUGHTS FOR THE LORD'S TABLE. 
 
 No. II. 
 
 The Meditation — "For the Remission of Sins." 
 
 When instituting the Lord's Supper Jesus said con- 
 cerning it, " This is my blood of the New Testament 
 which is shed for you, and for many for the remission 
 of sins/' These are for us sinners most precious 
 words. They reveal a way of pardon for sin, and 
 salvation from its curse. They tell of a Saviour. 
 They proclaim an atonement for sin by the sacrifice 
 of a sin offering, by which the full and free forgive- 
 ness of sin is secured to us. They make known to 
 us a salvation purchased for us by the shedding of 
 the blood of Jesus. We have in them the whole 
 Gospel. They tell us of sin, and salvation from sin ; 
 salvation from sin by the remission of sin ; remission 
 of sin by the shedding of Jesus' blood ; the shedding 
 of his blood constituting a testament or divine prom- 
 ise founded on the expiation made by that blood; 
 and the sacrament conveying to us the benefits of 
 that testament, and assuring us thereof. See how 
 beautifully the several steps succeed each other by 
 which God's grace in the Gospel is made known to 
 man. It is a wonderful system of love and mercy. 
 In the Lord's Supper we have an epitome of the 
 whole Gospel. In those precious words we have a 
 
134: MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 secure foundation of hope on which our souls can rest 
 in peace. " Given and shed for you and for many 
 for the remission of sins/' 
 
 But there is here not merely the general announce- 
 ment of the doctrine of atonement for sin, but there 
 is also the specific application to each believing com- 
 municant of the benefits of that atonement in the 
 connection of these words with the institution of the 
 Lord's Supper. It was not without direct design that 
 our Lord said, " Take and drink all ye of it ; this cup is 
 my blood of the New Testament which is shed for 
 you for the remission of sins." He here directly tells 
 us that that which we drink at the Lord's Table is 
 his blood shed for the remission of sins. By drinking 
 it, therefore, we receive from him the sacramental 
 pledge of the remission of sins, which the shedding 
 of that blood effected for us. Sacraments are not in- 
 stitutions by which we give anything to God ; but 
 they are means through which he gives something 
 to us. Therein God gives grace to us. The Lord's 
 Supper is a divinely appointed channel through which 
 his blessings flow to the devout recipient. The chief 
 of those blessings is the remission of sins. The re- 
 mission of sins is therein offered, and to the believing 
 communicant it is conveyed. Of the remission of 
 sin it is to him the token and seal. This is most 
 distinctly declared: "Take, drink, this is my blood, 
 given and shed for you, for the remission of sins." 
 To the true and humble believer in Jesus the Lord's 
 Supper is the visible pledge and assurance, taken into 
 the hand, and received into the mouth, of the remis- 
 sion of sins. Well has Luther said in our Small Cate- 
 chism, of this declaration of the Saviour, when an- 
 
THOUGHTS FOR THE LORD'S TABLE. 135 
 • 
 
 swering the question, "What benefits are derived 
 from such eating and drinking?" " They are pointed 
 out in those words of the institution, ' given and shed 
 for you for the remission of sins/ namely, through 
 these words, the remission of sins, life and salvation 
 are granted unto us in the sacrament. For where 
 there is remission of sins, there life and salvation are 
 also." He proceeds to another question, " How can 
 the bodily eating and drinking produce such great 
 effects?" And he answers: "The eating and the 
 drinking, indeed, do not produce them, but the words 
 which stand here, namely, ' given and shed for you 
 for the remission of sins/ which words, besides the 
 bodily eating and drinking, are the chief things in 
 the sacrament; and he who believes these words has 
 that which they declare, namely, the remission of 
 sins." Such are the almost inspired words of one of 
 the holiest and most eminent of God's servants, and 
 they are a correct deduction from the words of the 
 Lord himself. God, in this holy sacrament, gives to 
 the humble, contrite, believing soul, his own divine 
 assurance and pledge, token and seal, of the forgive- 
 ness of sins. 
 
 Beloved, shall not you and I so regard this blessed 
 sacrament in our approach to it to-day ? We are 
 sinners. We believe, yet we are sinners still. We 
 need the forgiveness of sin. We daily need it. Oar 
 best services of God are imperfect services, and we 
 daily need God's mercy. If he were not gracious and 
 merciful we must of necessity perish. As Christians, 
 we have not attained beyond the need of the forgive- 
 ness of sins. No, we humbly lie at the footstool of 
 mercy, and feel that our only safe place is at the foot 
 
136 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 of the cross. And we come to the Holy Communion, 
 not because we do not need forgiveness, but for the 
 very opposite reason, viz., because we do need it. 
 We might well say with Peter, "Depart from me, 
 for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" but because we are 
 sinful men we need, most of all, that the Lord should 
 not depart from us with his grace and mercy. We are 
 attracted to the Lord's Supper by the remission of 
 sins which it offers. There is mercy for us in it, and 
 therefore we come to it. Its holiness might well repel 
 us from it, for we feel that we are unholy; but the 
 grace and mercy which it offers invite and draw us 
 to it; for we feel so deeply that we need them, and 
 cannot be saved without them, that we dare not re- 
 main away. As in it God gives us his sacramental 
 seal and pledge for the remission of all our sins, we 
 would come to it as humble penitents, devoutly be- 
 lieving in Jesus, confessing our sins, trusting in his 
 mercy, pleading for forgiveness, renewing our cov- 
 enant, seeking grace and strength for new obedience, 
 and enjoying the comfort and peace which the mercy 
 of God in Jesus Christ our Lord gives to our souls. 
 Shall not this be the spirit and the purpose of our 
 communing to-day ? Shall we not come feeling the 
 great need of the remission of sins, and desiring 
 from the Lord himself some gracious and comfort- 
 able assurance of it ? Let us take the Lord's Supper 
 as the Lord's pledge of the great blessing which is 
 in it, for which he shed his blood, which this sacra- 
 ment was intended especially to communicate, and 
 which we most of all need, viz., the remission of sins. 
 Blessed words! — "Given and shed for you for the 
 remission of sins." 
 
THOUGHTS FOR THE LOKD'S TABLE. 
 
 No. III. 
 
 The approach. — " Wherewith shall I come before the 
 
 LordT 
 
 "Before the LordT How solemn, and even awful, 
 is the thought! How shall a sinner stand before the 
 Lord? Is He here in the majesty and terror of an 
 indignant sovereign whose laws I have transgressed, 
 and who calls to me in anger, "Prepare to meet thy 
 God V y Is the table a throne, Christ in the sacra- 
 ment, my judge, the chancel the culprit's bar, and 
 am I summoned to hear the dreadful sentence of de- 
 served condemnation, "Depart, ye cursed ?" Oh no! 
 Far otherwise. "We are come, not unto the mount 
 that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor 
 unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest. . . . But 
 we are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of 
 the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an 
 innumerable company of angels; to the general as- 
 sembly and church of the first-born which are written 
 in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the 
 spirits of just men made perfect. And to Jesus the 
 Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of 
 sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of 
 Abel's." We need not hesitate, therefore, for it is the 
 voice of a friend, and not that of an enemy, that bids 
 
 12 
 
138 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 us come. It is not to receive condemnation, but sal- 
 vation, that we are invited. How strange that it 
 should be so ! And yet how blessed that it is so! 
 
 Lord, at thy table I behold 
 
 The wonders of thy grace ; 
 But most of all admire that I 
 
 Should find a welcome place. 
 
 I that am all defiled with sin ; 
 
 A rebel to my God : 
 I that have crucified his Son, 
 
 And trampled on his blood. 
 
 What strange, surprising grace is this, 
 
 That such a soul has room ; 
 My Saviour takes me by the hand, 
 
 And kindly bids me come ! 
 
 But u wherewith shall I come before the Lord ?" I 
 will come with an empty hand — a hand emptied of 
 everything else, that it may fill itself with Christ. 
 " Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with 
 calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with 
 thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers 
 of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgres- 
 sion, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 
 Such sacrifice and offering he has not desired, but 
 one great and all-sufficient sacrifice he has provided, 
 by which the sins of mankind have been atoned for, 
 and on which their hopes of salvation can securely 
 rest. I will, therefore, let fall from my hand all that 
 magnificent pile of worth and merit that I had built 
 up. I will let fall the tithes of mint, and cummin, 
 and anise by which I had vainly hoped to propitiate 
 
THOUGHTS FOR THE LORD'S TABLE. 139 
 
 God's favor. I will even forbear to bring any of the 
 more imposing offerings of the Mosaic ritual. With 
 a bare and empty hand I will lay hold upon and ap- 
 propriate Christ's righteousness as the only hope set 
 before me. 
 
 My faith would lay her band 
 
 On that dear head of thine ; 
 "While like a penitent I stand, 
 
 And there confess my sin. 
 
 I would unclothe myself of the polluted garment of 
 my own righteousness in which I had prided myself 
 so much, and I will put on the spotless robe of Christ's 
 righteousness as the festal garment in which to appear 
 at this feast, which he has provided for me. I would 
 lay aside my own filthy rags, which served no other 
 purpose than to expose my nakedness, and make 
 known my shame, and I will put on in their stead 
 the garments that have been washed and purified in 
 a Saviour's blood. I will come empty, self-renounc- 
 ing, and naked, so that I may fill myself with Christ, 
 wash away my sins in his blood, and be clothed with 
 his spotless righteousness. 
 
 But whilst I come with an empty hand, I will en- 
 deavor to come with a full heart. How can I do 
 otherwise than come with a heart full of gratitude, 
 and joy, and love for the dear Kedeemer, whose dying- 
 love I commemorate at his table ? How did his ten- 
 der heart break with the love it bore for me, and 
 gushed forth not only floods of tears, as he wept over 
 my Avoe, but streams of blood as he died for my sins 
 on the cross ! And shall my cold heart experience 
 
140 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 no feeling, and manifest no sympathy? Cold as the 
 ice of the Polar Sea, and hard as the nether millstone 
 must be the heart that can look on a suffering, bleed- 
 ing, groaning, dying Saviour, and pass unfeelingly by 
 on the other side. As I go to the Communion Table, 
 where I am brought into the most intimate union 
 with his broken body, and his shed blood, let me so 
 meditate upon the unspeakable mercy that produced 
 such a strange sacrifice, until my soul is lost in won- 
 der, and my heart is melted into tenderness and love. 
 In such a tender and delightful frame of mind would 
 I appear at his altar. I would remember that I am 
 a guest at a table, where Christ, my loving Saviour, 
 presides; where his gracious presence is enjoyed; 
 where the most surprising tokens of his good-will are 
 before me; and where the whole atmosphere that 
 surrounds me is fragrant with holiness and heaven. 
 I would have my heart beat in unison with the affec- 
 tionate spirit of this feast of love, so that I may fer- 
 vently love him who first loved me. 
 
 I ask myself again the question, " Wherewith shall 
 I come before the Lord?" and I answer, I will come 
 in company with my fellow-communicants, and in 
 affectionate fellowship with them. The Lord's Supper 
 is a communion of Christians with each other. It is 
 a delightful reunion of children of the same family 
 around their Father's board, in their elder brother's 
 house. They have the same Father, the same Sav- 
 iour, the same faith, the same hope, the same name. 
 They appear together at the same table, eat of the 
 same bread, drink of the same cup, and come into 
 communion with the same broken body and shed 
 
THOUGHTS FOR THE LORD'S TABLE. 141 
 
 blood. They are alike sinners, having the same need 
 of a Saviour, are supported by the same grace, ani- 
 mated by the same joys, distressed by the same fears, 
 walk in the same road, and look to the same heaven 
 as their final home and blissful resting-place. Oh, 
 then, let me come with my fellow-communicants as a 
 happy band of Christian brethren and sisters, drawn 
 together with the holiest and tenderest ties of affec- 
 tion and love. Let the feeling by which we are ani- 
 mated toward each other be the sincerest kindness 
 and good-will, and let not the smallest cloud obscure 
 for a moment the peaceful sunshine that glows in our 
 breasts. If any alienations had existed before, they 
 must all be forgotten and forgiven, and all "bitter- 
 ness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil- 
 speaking, must be put away from us, with all malice, 
 and we must be kind one to another, tender-hearted, 
 forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake 
 hath forgiven us/' Our souls must be so affected with 
 the contemplation of the wonderful love of God in 
 sending his own Son to die for us whose offences 
 against him have been so numerous and so aggra- 
 vated, that the comparatively trivial offences that our 
 fellow-men have committed against us shall seem too 
 insignificant to remember, or to cause a moment's 
 disturbance of our peace. The fire of heavenly love 
 that burns on this altar should kindle a correspond- 
 ing emotion in our breasts, so that our hearts shall 
 glow with warm affection toward each other. In this 
 spirit, and in no other, will I come before the Lord. 
 Whilst I would love God with all my heart, soul, and 
 strength, I would also love my neighbor as myself. 
 We will eat and drink together as brethren. We will 
 
142 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 share each other's joys, and sympathize with each 
 other's sorrows. The peace of God shall dwell in our 
 hearts, and the banner that waves over us shall be 
 love. 
 
 Once more the question occurs, " Wherewith shall 
 I come before the Lord?" and the heart answers, I 
 will come with the deliberate purpose in reliance on 
 his grace, never to stray away from him again. The 
 tender and pure spirit that throws its influence over 
 us at the communion table, should accompany us 
 through life. It should produce in us such a hatred 
 to sin, and such a love for holiness, as to enable us to 
 be better Christians after, than we were before, our 
 communion. The affecting view which we have of 
 Jesus at his table, as suffering and dying for our sins, 
 should awaken in us such a loathing for sin, as to 
 cause us to forsake it utterly. The joy which we 
 derive from fellowship with the Saviour should de- 
 stroy within us all relish for fellowship with sin, and 
 the sanctifying influence of this holy ordinance should 
 elevate us above all inclination to do wrong. Whilst 
 kneeling at his table, we should form the most solemn 
 determination ever hereafter "to do justly, to love 
 mercy, and to walk humbly with God." And the 
 strength which we derive from this holy sacrament 
 will enable us to carry this resolution into effect. 
 
 I will come to stay. It is " so good to be here," 
 that I would fain remain always. 
 
 Father, my soul would here abide ; 
 
 But if my feet must hence depart, 
 Still keep me, Father, near thy side, 
 
 Still keep thy dwelling in my heart. 
 
THOUGHTS FOR THE LORD'S TABLE. 143 
 
 If I cannot remain at the table, I can still stay "be- 
 fore the Lord." I will not depart from Him. My 
 partaking of the Lord's Supper shall make me a bet- 
 ter Christian. I desire to take away with me from 
 the Lord's Table such rich blessings and large sup- 
 plies of grace, that never again shall faith fail, devo- 
 tion languish, love decay, or any other Christian 
 grace decline, in my heart. I would be the Lord's 
 forever. I have often wandered, but I fervently pray 
 that, as I now go to this holy communion in the 
 strength of the Lord God, I may, by the strength 
 which He there will give me, be aided to remain a 
 faithful Christian until He shall call me to the higher 
 communion which He has prepared for me in His 
 everlasting kingdom. 
 
 The Prayer. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee, that out of 
 great love for Thy Church on earth, Thou hast or- 
 dained a holy Sacrament, in which Thou dost give us 
 Thy body to eat, and Thy blood to drink, for the 
 strengthening of our faith, and for the spiritual com- 
 fort of our hearts. What shall we render unto Thee 
 for this Thy grace that Thou hast deemed Thy Church 
 worthy of such precious gifts ? In the holy Sacrament 
 of Baptism, when we yet lay in' our mothers' arms, 
 Thou didst receive us as Thy children by the washing 
 of regeneration, and didst incorporate us into Thy 
 body; and now, in the Sacrament of the Lord's Sup- 
 per, Thou dost nourish our souls with divine food, 
 that thereby we may be more closely united with 
 Thee; be strengthened in all holy desires; have more 
 of Thy pure and holy mind; and be, and remain, in 
 
144 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 body, soul, and spirit, Thine forever. Gracious art 
 Thou, O Lord, who hast bestowed upon us these Thy 
 unspeakable mercies. Grant us Thy help that we 
 may, at all times, be prepared, in true faith, to receive 
 Thee in this holy Sacrament, who wilt Thyself take 
 up Thy abode with us; and give us grace that, as 
 living branches in Thee, the true vine, we may ever 
 bring forth the fruits of holiness to Thy eternal glory. 
 Amen. 
 
 O dear Lord Jesus Christ, who hast prepared for 
 me this Holy Table, and dost graciously invite me to 
 partake of the blessed Sacrament of Thy body and 
 blood, grant me a truly believing heart and mind, 
 that I may wholly trust in Thy bloody sacrifice on 
 the cross for the forgiveness of my sins; that I may 
 look to Thee alone, as my sin offering slain for me, 
 for mercy and healing; and that I may hope for sal- 
 vation in the final hour, only for the sake of the 
 atonement and satisfaction which Thou didst make 
 for me by Thy obedience unto death, as my substitute 
 and surety, when Thou didst offer up Thy life to save 
 me, through the same Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, who art of purer eyes than to behold in- 
 iquity, look into my heart and cast out all impure 
 thoughts and fleshly desires, and give me Thy own 
 pure and heavenly mind, so that, coming to this holy 
 Sacrament, I may partake of the same with such 
 affections as are fitting and right, to the honor and 
 glory of Thy holy name, through Jesus Christ my 
 Jjord. Amen. 
 
 O Almighty God, who didst out of great love for 
 
THOUGHTS FOR THE LORD'S TABLE. 145 
 
 as, poor miserable sinners, send Thy dear Son to die 
 for us on the cross, give us grace that, with true faith 
 in his blood, and with sincere love for his person, we 
 may eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, in re- 
 membrance of the great love wherewith He hath loved 
 us, who is our blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 O dear Lord Jesus Christ, we come to Thy Holy 
 Communion, not because we are worthy, but feeling 
 and confessing our utter unworthiness to be admitted 
 to a place at Thy Table, and begging Thee to accept 
 and bless us for the sake alone of Thy great grace and 
 mercy, who art our only Eedeemer and Saviour, Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O God, we pray Thee fill our hearts with the spirit 
 of true devotion, that, not with our lips only, but with 
 our hearts especially, we may approach Thy Table 
 and partake of Thy Holy Communion, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O God ; who perceivest the weakness of our faith, 
 and the frailty of our nature, and dost know how 
 often we have failed to carry out the good purposes 
 which our awakened consciences have caused to be 
 formed within us, grant us grace that we may receive 
 from Thy Holy Communion such spiritual strength 
 that we may be effectually assisted thereby to remain 
 faithful in all holy living to the end, through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst give to Thy true 
 
 13 
 
146 MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK. 
 
 believers the new commandment, that they love one 
 another, and didst declare that by the love which 
 they bear to each other shall all men know them to 
 be Thy disciples, grant us, we beseech Thee, Thy 
 Holy Spirit, that we may come to Thy Holy Com- 
 munion with such tender love and sincere good will 
 as shall fulfil Thy law, show forth the spirit of Thy 
 true disciples, and be suitable to the worthy partak- 
 ing of the Holy Supper, at which we, being many, 
 are one bread and one body in Thee who art the ever 
 living Head, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O God, who dost freely forgive our great and mani- 
 fold sins, when we, in sincere sorrow, do ask Thee, 
 we beseech Thee grant us grace that we may patiently 
 bear with the errors and offences which our fellow- 
 men may commit against us, and be ready at all times 
 to be reconciled to our brother who offends us, and 
 forgive even as we hope to be forgiven, for the sake 
 of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, who dost pronounce them to 
 be blessed who hunger and thirst after righteousness, 
 and dost promise that they shall be filled, we beseech 
 Thee awaken in our souls a true hunger and thirst 
 after Thy righteousness and grace, and mercifully fill 
 us at Thy Holy Table with the true bread from 
 heaven, that, eating Thy flesh and drinking Thy 
 blood, Thou mayest dwell in us, and we in Thee, and 
 that in the hour of death we may not die, but have 
 everlasting life, through Thee, who, with the Father 
 and the Holy Ghost, one God, livest forever and ever. 
 Amen. 
 
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