of Olives. Upon the road thither, he warned them, that, notwithstanding their profeffions of regard, they would all defert him in the hour of his extremity, and thus, the Shepherd being fmitten, the sheep would be fcattered, according to an ancient prediction +. Still anxious for their encouragement, he affured them, that, though he fhould be put to death, he would rife again: instead of upbraiding their cowardice and unbelief, he promised to meet them after that event, and appointed a particular place in Galilee, where he would receive them and confirm their faith and love. Behold, how gracious the Lord is to his wavering and backfliding people!" Though they fall, they fhall not be utterly caft down; for the Lord upholdeth them with his hand."

Not fufficiently aware of their own weakness, they could not credit the declaration of their dear Master, and therefore folemnly protefted, that they would hazard every thing, even life itself, in a fixed and refolute adherence to Him. Peter, in particular, exprefled the strongest abhorrence of the defection then intimated; and Jefus in reply explicitly affirmed, that this confident Apoftle would moft fhamefully and repeatedly deny him that very night. How often are we reminded of human depravity! By numerous inftances we are inftructed to take heed to ourselves, to distrukt our own hearts, and to feek for a better fecurity from fpiritual declenfion, than our fuppofed firmnefs and ability to perfevere.

Jefus arrived at his intended place of retirement, and entered a particular garden called Gethsemane, where he had been accustomed to retreat, and had already spent many nights in devotion. Here, probably, by prayer and meditation he meant to prepare for his approaching fufferings, of which he had a full

* Matt. xxvi. 31-56. Mar. xiv. 27-52. Luke xxii. 39-53. John xviii. 1-12. † Zech. xiii. 7. Pfal. xxxvii. 24.

view. When we look for uncommon difficulties, we ought to be, in a more efpecial manner, frequent and fervent in our applications to the throne of grace. If we thus meet our troubles, we may expect to receive all needful support and confolation.

Out of the eleven, who then attended him, our Lord felected three, Peter, James, and John, who had been favoured with the fight of his glorious tranffiguration, and were now defigned to be witnesses of his deep diftrefs. With them, therefore, he retired to a separate part, and immediately began to feel an inexpreffible anguifh and terror. Very remarkable are the words of the Evangelifts, when they attempt to describe the painful fenfations, which then came upon him through an invifible influence. They imply, fays the learned Bishop Pearfon," that he was poffeffed with fear, horror, and amazement, encompaffed with grief, and overwhelmed with forrow, preffed down with confternation and dejection of mind, tormented with anxiety and difquietude of Spirit."

Probably, he discovered inward perplexity and confufion by his countenance. He declared to his three chofen companions, that his foul was beyond measure afflicted, and, as it were, furrounded with the very pains of death, and defired, that they would continue with him in holy watchfulnefs, and pray for themfelves, that they might not be brought into the perilous conflict. He then withdrew to a little distance, that, being quite alone, he might pour out his heart with the greater freedom before God. He kneeled down; he fell upon his face, and requefted, that, if it were poffible, the extreme diftrefs, by which he was oppreffed, might be removed or fhortened. He cried out, with expreflions of fharpeft anguish, and yet of unfeigned fubmiffion, "O my Father, if thus

* Pearfon on the Creed, p. 190.

thine honour can be fecured, and the falvation of-thy people accomplished, let the bitter cup, from which my nature fhrinks, be taken from me. But I refign myfelf to thy wife and fovereign will: I decline not the work, in which I am engaged; and, therefore, let thy purposes be fulfilled, whatever I may fuffer."

When he had prayed to this effect, he returned to his three difciples, whom he found afleep. Ah! how unmindful they were of their Lord's affliction, and of the folemn charge, which he had given them! Immediately he roufed them with a ferious, though gentle, admonition, upbraiding them all, and Peter more especially, for their unwillingness to bear their part with him in holy vigilance, even for fo fhort a feafon. He likewife repeated his former injunction, that they fhould be upon their guard, confider their danger, and by fervent fupplications draw down ftrength from heaven, against the hour of fevere trial. Do we afk, why they betrayed such a backwardness to this neceffary duty? The compaffionate Jefus accounted for it, though the reafon does not furnish an excufe: "The fpirit truly is willing, but the fleth is weak." This clearly fhewed the tenderness of his difpofition towards them. He uttered no peevish complaints of their unkindness, but acknowledged their cordial attachment to him, and lamented that their good defires were obstructed by the wearinefs of their bodies, or rather, through the corruption of their nature.

A fecond time he withdrew, and offered up fimilar petitions. He declared again his entire fubmiffion to the Father's will, and perfect acquiefcence with that very appointment, at which the weakness of humanity fhuddered. On returning to his difciples, he found them once mare overpowered with fleep. This ftrange ftupor called forth a fresh rebuke, which fo confounded

confounded them, that they had nothing to reply; and yet, we fhall obferve, it had no lafting effect.

The Saviour retired a third time, and prayed as before. On that occafion, it fhould feem, he was juft finking under the weight of his diftrefs, when an Angel from heaven was commiffioned to adminifter fupport and confolation, and prevent him from being overpowered. Was the ftruggle, then, immediately concluded? No: his confternation remained, perhaps increased: being in an agony, engaged as it were in fharp conflict, he cried to God with ftill greater ardour. Such was the intenseness of his foul, that his whole frame was thrown into a violent agitation. He was proftrate in the cold night, yet fweat profufely; nay, the very blood forced its way through the innumerable pores of his body, and fell in large drops upon the ground. Then, as well as at his crucifixion, that prophetical declaration was fulfilled, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midft of my bowels *."

Where were the difciples of Jefus, in this season of his extreme anguifh? An Angel, as we have feen, was fent for his relief; but was there no earthly friend to fupport his drooping head? No: he had occafion to lament, that he found no comforters. Thofe, who made the most solemn proteftations of regard, were inattentive to his diftrefs. The three moft favoured Apoftles, though they had been twice before reproved for their drowsiness, had fallen asleep again. Their grief, indeed, contributed, in fome meafure, to produce this effect: but, doubtless, they betrayed the weakness and deficiency of their fpiritual principles. He returned, repeated his reproof, and intimated, that it was too late to obferve his neglected injunction, that the time for watching and

Pfal. xxii. 14.

prayer

prayer was expired, and that he should be immediately delivered into the hands of wicked men. Then,

having recovered from his agony, and not dreading the event, he called upon them to arife, that they might meet the traitor, who was approaching with a band of ruffians to apprehend him.

The whole of this narration fills us with wonder, and at the fame time fuggefts the most important inftructions. We cannot but exprefs our furprife at the conduct of the difciples, circumftanced as they were, Doubtlefs, they were highly blamable, in difregarding their dear Lord, when he requested their peculiar attention, and neglecting his repeated admonitions. But, while we mourn over them, relapfing into the fame fault again and again, we are reminded of our own depravity, and taught, not to be confident of ourfelves, however fincere and earneft we may be in right principles: for, though the fpirit is willing, the flesh is weak."

Our eyes are more especially fixed upon the Saviour, who, under his unutterable anguifh, exhibits a perfect pattern of patience and meeknefs. Let us learn to fuffer with the fame difpofition. There are infirmities, attached to humanity, which we may feel without fin, so as to fhrink under the preffure, or in the profpect, of calamities. We may, therefore, innocently defire the cup to pafs from us. But we are inftructed from the view of Jefus in the garden, to furrender up ourfelves without referve to the divine difpofal, and to confult the glory of God and the falva. tion of men, rather than our own prefent ease and comfort. Under the most painful feelings, while we fpread our cafe before the Lord, and entreat his gracious interpofition, we fhould poffefs fuch an entire refignation, as to be able to fay, "Not what I will, but what thou wilt." Have we attained this temper? How far otherwife! Do not our trials draw forth our corruption, and prove that we are very oppofite to the