therefore, in your hearts, not to meditate before what defence ye shall make: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom,* which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict nor resist. And ye shall be delivered up both by parents, and brethren, and kinsmen, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated by all men for my name's sake. Yet a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.‡

And when ye shall see Jerusalem surrounded with armies, then know that the desolation of it is nigh. Then let those that are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let those that are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the country places enter into it. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations, till the times of the nations be fulfilled. And

*The Holy Spirit was to supply them with arguments against their adversaries.

The nearest relations betrayed each other to save them

selves.

ま

Or, by your perseverance preserve your lives.

The commencement of the siege is here recommended

as the most proper time for escape, and accordingly the Christians in general actually profited by this admonition of our Lord, and were preserved. Had he spoken from human conjecture, he would have advised them to escape before they were surrounded; but it was so ordered that the Roman army very unexpectedly retreated, and then the Christians fled before its return.

The three words rendered nations in this sentence are

there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations,* with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring men's hearts failing them for fear, and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth. For the powers of heaven shall be shaken and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spoke to them a parable; Behold, the fig-tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is already near. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is near. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words cannot pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unexpectedly. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, praying always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come,† and to stand before the Son of

man.

the same in the Greek original. They may also be rendered Gentiles or Heathens, which are words of similar signification, derived from the Latin and Greek.

*Nations. The same word as above.

The whole of the preceding passage, besides predicting the destruction of Jerusalem, may also be considered as prophetical of the last day; the destruction of Jerusalem being à type or figure of the day of judgment.

And in the day-time he was teaching in the temple and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON XXII.

WHAT are the contents of this Lesson?

What were the Sadducees, and what was their doctrine? What did they say to Jesus about the resurrection? What was his answer?

How did he prove the resurrection from the writings of Moses?

What question did he ask the scribes, as to the Christ's being David's son?

Of whom did he warn his disciples to beware?
Of what did he accuse the scribes?

What did he say of the poor widow's offering?
What did he prophesy concerning the temple?

What caution did he give his disciples about false Christs? What signs did he say should come before the destruction of Jerusalem?

What was to happen to the disciples at that time

What directions did he give them as to what they should answer when accused?

On what were they to rely for defence against their adversaries ?

What treatment were the disciples to experience from their nearest relations and friends?

By what sign were they to know that the desolation of the city was approaching?

What advice did he give to those in Judea?

What did he say was to happen to the Jews?

Until what time is Jerusalem to be trodden down by the Gentiles?

In what manner is the Son of man to come?

What parable did he use on this occasion ?

What did he say of the certainty of his words?

What caution did he give his disciples against worldly

dangers and temptations?"

What was our Lord's employment in the day-time?
Where did he remain at night?

Were the people anxious to hear him?

LESSON XXIII.

Judas conspires with the chief priests against Christ-Jesus orders his disciples to prepare the passover-and celebrates it-he institutes the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper-the disciples dispute among themselves which should be the greatest he warns Peter-being in agony he prays, and he tells his disciples to pray—Judas and a multitude arrive and conduct him to the high priest-Peter denies him.

FROM LUKE, XXII.

*

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might put him [Jesus] to death; for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went and conversed with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver him up unto them.t And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to deliver him up unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the day of unleavened bread on

* The reason for this name is given in the 12th chap. of Exodus. "And it shall come to pass when your children shall say unto you, What mean you by this service? that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses." It was sometimes called the feast of unleavened bread, because the Jews were to have no leaven in their house during that solemnity. It is called the pasch in the Rheims version, which is the Hebrew name of it, as expressed in the Greek of the New Testament.

That is, with safety, for they feared the people.

which the passover* must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare for us the passover, that we may cat. And they said to him where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said to them, Behold, when ye are entering into the city, a man will meet you, carrying a pitcher of water: follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say to the owner of the house, The Master saith to thee, Where is the guest-chamber, where I may eat the passover with my disciples? And he will show you a large up

room furnished: there make ready. And having gone, they found as he had said to them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said to them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will not any more eat of it, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And having taken the cup, [or chalice,] he gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God come. And taking bread, he gave thanks, and broke, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after they had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is about to be shed for you. Yet, behold, the hand of him that delivereth me up is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth as it was deter

* The lamb slain at the feast of the passover; it was an emblem of Christ slain for the salvation of men; it was to be without blemish, a male of the first year, the blood was to be sprinkled on the two side-posts and upper door-posts of each house, not a bone was to be broken, &c. &c. All which particulars were fulfilled in the circumstances attending the crucifixion of Christ.

Or, I have earnestly desired.