sufferings. For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." Christ was, indeed, throughout His whole course, and especially in His death, set apart as the great Exemplar of God's truth and righteousness, and this to the end, that His disciples also might, in their degree, be consecrated to the same work of declaring God's righteousness. But now the Lord extends His intercession beyond the little group of his first followers. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word"—their immediate converts those again who learned from these, and so on even to our own generation, and beyond, even to the end of time. "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." This is the Lord's single petition for His future Church-unity-unity of spirit, of heart, of purpose, complete sympathy first with Him, and through Him with His Father; and then, as a necessary result, sympathy and unity with each other. "And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are 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." This is indeed the true ideal of the Church -its true perfection. We can only say Amen, Lord, may the prayer be realized! All men's attempts to bring about this unity by external arrangements, have resulted in producing division. A closer union with God and with Christ, and a wider separation from the spirit of the world, can alone effect it. And because this unity is yet unrealized, therefore it is that the world so little believes that the Church is really of God and the object of His love. "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world." Most gracious and comforting words! a fit conclusion to such a ministry of blessing. Notice the remarkable form this petition takes-"That they may behold My glory," as if that alone would be blessedness. Intense admiration-love heightened to adoration-is the deepest bliss of the soul. see Christ's glory will be to share it. : To "O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou has 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." The world had never known God as the Righteous Father-a Father condemning the sin of His children; yet desiring their repentance and restoration. Christ's whole life had been a declaring of this Name; His death would be a yet plainer declaring of it. And the result of all would be, the triumph of Divine Love in its welcome to the hearts of men. SECTION LXXIV. CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. JOHN Xviii. 1, 2; MATTH. xxvi. 30-46; MARK xiv. 26—42 ; LUKE Xxii. 31—46. WH HEN Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which He entered, and His disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place; for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples." St. Matthew and St. Mark both relate that, after the singing of a hymn at the close of the Last Supper, Jesus and the disciples went out into the Mount of Olives. The brook Kedron was between the city and the Mount of Olives. Over this brook, at one of the saddest epochs of his history, King David had passed when fleeing from the insurgent bands of his son Absalom. "And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over; the king himself also passed over the brook Kedron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness." "And David," it is further said, "went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went up barefoot; and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up."* Across this * 2 Sam. xv. 23-30. brook, and up this ascent, charged with yet deeper sorrows, went now the Son of David. On the way, it seems to have been, that as related by St. Luke,* Jesus warned the disciples that their circumstances were now very different to those in which they were, when, on their first mission, they had had no need either of provisions or weapons that now they would need all the defence they could provide. They understood Him literally, and said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords.' And He said unto them, 'It is enough.'" On the way, also, the Lord renewed His warnings to the disciples in general, and to Peter especially. "And Jesus saith unto them, 'All ye shall be offended because of Me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; but after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter"-in the height of his self-confidence-" said unto Him, 'Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.' And Jesus saith unto him, 'Verily, I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice.' But he spake the more vehemently, 'If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise.' Likewise also said they all."+ St. Luke relates a striking addition to the Lord's warning to the over-confident Peter. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.'” Satan would have willingly dealt * Ch. xxii. 35-38. + Mark, ver. 27—31. with him as with Judas, and led him on to utter despair. "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not"—not even after the fall, when he might so easily have been tempted to think there could be no forgiveness for him, and to rush headlong on to ruin—“ ́ and when thou art converted” ” -restored-" strengthen thy brethren:" as he would well be able to do by his experience of the great forbearance and inexhaustible mercy of his Master. But Peter, instead of entreating the prayers of Jesus to preserve him from falling at all, only reiterated his assurance that he was ready to go with Him, both into prison, and to death.* "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane"+-a garden, says St. John, "into the which He entered, and His disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples."‡ "Eastern gardens, it must be remembered, are not flower-gardens, nor private gardens; but the orchards, vineyards, and fig-inclosures round the town."§ "And when He was at the place," says St. Luke," He said unto them, 'Pray that ye enter not into temptation."" Leaving, then, the rest of the disciples, as it would seem, at the entrance of the garden, "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 * Luke, ver. 31-33.. + Matth. ver. 36. John, ver. 1, 2. Sinai and Palestine, p. 187. II. Ver. 40. |