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nefs to risk his life for him, were fincere, and from his heart. But this was not the kind of fervice his mafter required of him : his kingdom was not of this world. Had he been inclined to refift, would he have made use of the feeble aid of man, when he had the whole heavenly host at his command? The denunciation against all those who take the fword, That they shall perish with the fword, ought, I conceive, to be understood of those who employ it unlawfully, on private occafions, or for the purposes of perfecution. With this text fo exprefsly against them, I know not how the professors of Christianity have been able to reconcile those dreadful wars and perfecutions for religious opinions, which have deluged the world with blood.

From the example of our blessed Saviour's implicit fubmiffion to the will of his Father, we may learn, that it is our duty to receive, with patience and refignation, the cup of affliction, whenever it pleases God, for his wife purposes, to fend

it to us.

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When we read that our bleffed Lord healed the wounded man-the man who had come out against him, as against a felon, with fword and staff, can we help admiring his wonderful mercy and benignity? Nor is the ftupidity and hardheartedness of those who had come out to apprehend him, lefs remarkable. That they could fee him perform so great a miracle, and for such a purpose, and still persevere in their wicked attack upon him, would be incredible, did we not find it recorded in the book of truth.

"12. Then the band, and the captain, " and the officers of the Jews, took Jesus, " and bound him,

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66 13. And led him away to Annas first : (for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, "which was the high priest that fame year.)

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66 14.

Now Caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man fhould die for "the people."

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As it is no where mentioned that Annas was in any public employment, it does not appear that the officers could have had any other view in carrying our Lord before him, than that of gratifying the idle curiofity of this relation of the high priest, and adding a new infult to their prifoner. Caiaphas, as high priest, had before prophefied the death of the meffiah: it was the very effence of the Jewish law, and the object of all its types and ceremonies, That one man was to die for the people; and, upon the ground of this general belief amongst the Jews, although they difbelieved our Lord to be the messiah, he scrupled not to form his plot for the destruction of an innocent perfon, whofe doctrines were likely to prove deftructive to his felf-interefted views and thofe of his affociates in office. Before a judge fo prejudiced and unprincipled, was our Lord dragged, to undergo the ceremony of a mock trial.

We are told by St. Mark, (chap. xiv. ver. 50.) that, upon the apprehenfion of

our

our Lord, the difciples "all forfook him, "and fled."

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15. And Simon-Peter followed Jefus, " and fo did another difciple. That dif ciple was known unto the high priest, " and went in with Jefus into the palace "of the high priest.

"16. But Peter stood at the door with. 66 out. Then went out that other difciple, "which was known unto the high priest, "and spake unto her that kept the door, " and brought in Peter.

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17. Then faith the damfel that kept "the door unto Peter, Art not thou also

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one of this man's difciples? He faith, I

am not.

"18. And the fervants and officers "ftood there, who had made a fire of

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coals, for it was cold, and they warmed "themselves; and Peter stood with them, " and warmed himself.”

The desertion of the difciples came to pass, as had been foretold by our blessed 4H 2 Lord :

Lord: but what fhall we fay of Peter; he who had fo confidently boasted, That though all men fhould be offended because of his mafter, yet he would never be offended, and that he would die with him rather than deny him? Of his fincerity, at the time, we cannot doubt; nay, he had but just before given a proof of it, in expofing himself to danger in his maf ter's cause. Alas, fuch is the frailty of human nature, that we can place no reliance upon our beft refolves! No fooner is he charged with being the disciple of Jefus, than his heart is overcome with fear, and he confidently makes his first denial of his Lord in his distress.

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19. The high priest then asked Jefus "of his difciples, and of his doctrine.

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20. Jefus answered him, I fpake open"ly to the world; I ever taught in the Synagogue, and in the Temple, whither "the Jews always refort; and in fecret "have I faid nothing.

"21. Why afkeft thou me? afk them " which

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