DISCOURSE IX.

Christ before Pilate

"And Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest," etc.Matt. xxvii. 11-25.

"Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers," etc.-Matt. xxvii. 26-37.

DISCOURSE XI.

The last Conflict

"Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left," etc.— Matt. xxvii. 38-50.

DISCOURSE XII.

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The Kepraach of the Cross wiped away. 169

"And, behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent," etc.-Matt. xxxii. 51-56.

DISCOURSE XIII.

The Burial

"When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple," etc.-Matt. xxvii. 57–61.

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DISCOURSE XIV.

The Sepulchre made sure ..

"Now the next day, that followed the day of the prepara

tion, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember," etc.-Matt. xxvii. 62-66.

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DISCOURSE XV.

The Resurrection

"In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre," etc.Matt. xxviii. 1-8.

DISCOURSE XVI.

Report of the Watch.

"Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed the chief priests all the things that were done," etc.-Matt. xxviii. 11-15.

DISCOURSE XVII.

The Meeting in Galilee

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain, where Jesus had appointed them," etc.Matt. xxviii. 16-20.

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DISCOURSE I.

The Bargain.

MATTHEW XXVI. 14-25.

"Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver," etc.

THE Covenant or bargain between Judas and the Chief Priests for the betrayal of Christ forms the first scene depicted in the coloured window at the east end of the Church. To the view of the person facing it the design occupies the lower corner on the left. In the passage taken for our text the transaction there portrayed is narrated, and on this narrative the following discourse will be a practical comment. The treason of Judas, together with an affecting conversation between our Saviour and his disciples on that melancholy subject, can hardly fail, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the

divine blessing, to supply a variety of useful reflections.

In consulting together "how they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him," nothing, perhaps, would have appeared so improbable to his adversaries as that the assistance of one of the twelve was to be obtained. The proposal of Judas appears to have been altogether unsought and unexpected. How entirely are both our friends and our enemies in the hand of God, and all human purposes overruled by him for the fulfilment of his own! And whensoever for his wise and holy ends he shall see fit so to order it, one friend may do us more mischief than an host of enemies. In reflecting on the passage of Holy Writ before us, let us consider,

I. The Negotiation between Judas and the Chief Priests. "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests." It was a high aggravation of the crime in this case, that the traitor was one of the twelve. The twelve were the constant familiar companions of Jesus. They were regarded and treated by him as his friends-" I have not called you servants," said he to them, "but friends." The instructions which he delivered to the multitude in parables were expounded by him to the disciples in private. They enjoyed the greatest possible advantages. They had Christ

himself for their teacher, their counsellor, their example, their friend. They were eye-witnesses of all his miracles, hearers of all his discourses, companions with him in all his travels and all his visits. But the greatest circumstantial advantages, if the heart be not right with God, will not make it so. Nothing but divine grace will change it. None were ever so highly favored with the means of grace as the twelve. Of all men that ever lived they appear to have been, in a religious view, the most highly privileged. And yet one of this chosen and highly favored company turned out, in the end, to have been a hypocrite and a traitor.

Covetousness was the master principle of his character. This was the vicious habit that stifled all his better convictions and purposes, if he ever had any, and paved the way for him to treason, and to perdition.

Circumstances favored the indulgence of his favorite lust. "He kept the bag, and was a thief, and bare what was put therein." John xii. 6. He was the treasurer of the little company. The office suited his avaricious propensity. First he harboured and nurtured the delusive passion, and then found, not without seeking, we may suppose, the means of gratifying it. Little did he consider whither it was to lead him.

Little do sinners sus