alone, should number amongst them a wretch like Judas, who, for thirty pieces of silver, the common price of a slave, could surrender his Master to the foes who sought His life, is nearly without a parallel in the history of crime. The words, 'Hold him fast,' show how completely the devil had entered into this unhappy man.-MATT. xxvi.

E read that Peter, the sincere and ardent disciple

WE

of our Lord, but who knew not his own weak

ness in the hour of peril, quickly fell in the trial prepared for him by the great enemy of human souls. 'And they that had laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest. But Peter followed Him afar off, unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end.' So far this was well, in comparison; for the other disciples, we read, 'forsook

PETER'S REPENTANCE.

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Him, and fled.' 'Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.'—Matt. xxvi.

AND

said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt

deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.' How loudly does this affecting story speak to

us in the words of the apostle, 'Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall!' Peter professed the warmest zeal, and gave his Lord repeated and, no doubt, very sincere assurances of the firmest resolution in His cause; and yet, except Judas the traitor, none of his brethren fell so low as he. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter, who went out and wept bitterly. He quitted that dangerous scene, where temptation had met and vanquished him, and chose retirement and solitude, to give vent to his overflowing soul. Let us in the same way seek secret converse with our own hearts, that the still small voice of conscience may be heard whenever we have reason to think that it has upbraidings for our consideration.-Matt. xxvi.

(HESE men had, on a former occasion, consulted as

TE

to the readiest means of getting the Saviour into

their power; but now that they had Him before the Roman governor, another question arose, as to what accusation they should bring against Him, by which Pilate would be induced to condemn Him. Had the matter rested with them judicially, or as executioners, they would not have been long in compassing the death of their prisoner; but though, as rulers, they were allowed to manage the affairs of their religion and worship, they were overruled by their Roman conquerors in all other matters. Thus the scene in the high priest's hall ended without their daring to strike the blow they desired. After having accused Him of blasphemy, and adjudging Him guilty of death; after buffeting Him and spitting in His face, they could do no more until they had delivered Him to the

governor, Pontius Pilate, who, as we know, proceeded in the matter contrary to his own judgment and feelings.MATT. xxvii.

REMORSE AND DEATH OF JUDAS.

(HE Evangelist Matthew introduces the fate of Judas

TH

in the midst of the proceedings before Pilate, as if anxious to relieve himself of the traitor at once. 'Then Judas, which had betrayed Him [Jesus], when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned. in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.' It is added in the first chapter of the Acts, and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his