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II. JESUS GIVES HIMSELF UP TO THE MULTITUDE.

Gospel Harmony.

S. Matt. xxvi. 50-54; S. Mark xiv. 46, 47; S. Luke xxii. 49-51; S. John xviii. 10, 11.

When they which were about Him saw what would follow, they said unto Him, LORD, shall we smite with the sword? Then Simon Peter having a sword, drew it, and smote the High Priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said JESUS unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the Cup which My FATHER hath given

Me, shall I not drink it? for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My FATHER, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels? but how then shall the Scripture be fulfilled, that thus it must be ? And He touched Malchus' ear, and healed him.

Reflections.

From the consideration of this we may learn: 1st, That as the LORD, for love of us, surrendered Himself a Prisoner to the Jews, so should we bring all our senses and members into captivity to the obedience of CHRIST; (2 Cor. x. 5;) that is to say, our eyes must be turned from all unlawful sights, our ears from hurtful sounds, our tongues from hasty and evil speaking, our hands from wicked deeds, and our feet from wandering in vain and sinful ways. We ought so to bind ourselves as not to be led captive by the concupiscence of the flesh, and the desire of sensuality draw

ing us into sin. Our hearts should also be restrained from evil dispositions; our intellects from false judgments and erroneous opinions; and our wills from everything which is contrary to the Divine will. 2ndly, We e may also learn another lesson from this, viz. that we ought to surrender ourselves willingly to CHRIST, since, in this life, we are in a state of warfare, and unless we are the servants of the Merciful LORD JESUS, we shall be overcome by our enemies, and consigned to eternal slavery.

See also Williams, p. 59-74.

Meditation.

Who can bear to think of the ignominy, affliction, and contempt which was inflicted on Thee, O Most Gracious LORD, by these monsters ? Consider now, O my soul, thy LORD and Creator, Whose excellence the angels admire, how exceedingly He is abased and humbled for thy sins! Behold His most exalted Majesty abased to the very dust for love of thee. O how great was that love which made Him willing to suffer thus for sinful men! O remember with shame thy hardness and dissoluteness of heart, which suffers thee to sin without fear or compunction, when JEsus has redeemed thee with such labours and dreadful anguish. Meditate on His sorrows and Passion until thou art moved to contrition and love.

See Bishop Hall's Contemplations, Vol. III. p. 460.

Prayer.

All praise, honour, and glory be to Thee, O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who didst willingly give Thyself up as a Captive into the hands of the traitor, and Thy furious enemies, who were thirsting to shed Thy precious Blood; give me grace never to flee from adversities which are for Thy honour and glory, but may I cheerfully receive them as gracious gifts from Thy Fatherly Hand, and may I endure them with patience and humility as long as Thou seest fit to lay them upon me. Amen.

Blessed and praised be Thy goodness, O most benignant Saviour, Who didst restore the ear of Malchus, one of Thy furious persecutors, that returning kindness for injuries, Thou mightest make known to us the riches of Thy meekness and goodness. Grant, I beseech Thee, that the desire of revenge may never arise in my heart, but that I may always show towards my neighbours, and those who injure me, a spirit of deep compassion and most ardent charity. Amen.

III. CHRIST IN BONDS.

Prophecy.

Lover and friend hast Thou put far from Me, and Mine acquaintance into darkness. Psa. lxxxviii. 18.

Gospel Harmony.

S. Matt. xxv. 55-57; S. Mark xiv. 46-49; S. Luke xxii. 52-54; S. John xviii. 12.

Then JESUS said unto the Chief Priests and Captains of the Temple, and the elders which were come to Him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you teaching in the Temple ye laid no hold on

Me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled. Then the band, and the Captain, and officers of the Jews took JESUS, and bound Him, and led Him away to Annas.

Reflections.

From this we may draw many lessons. First, that since the LORD was willing to be bound, that He might loose the bonds of our sins, we ought to be grateful for our deliverance, and careful lest we be again bound by the chains of our sins. Secondly, that as CHRIST was voluntarily bound that He might unite us to Himself with the bonds of love, we ought also to strive to be so firmly united to Him by love, that we may not be easily separated from Him; for love is the bond which unites the soul to GOD. Thirdly, we should bind all our members, and our tongues especially, with the bonds of God's precepts, lest they be free to things contrary to the Divine will or precepts: we should neither say nor do anything which will offend either GOD or our neighbour. Fourthly, we ought to be so bound to our neighbour

by brotherly love as to desire that all the benefits and grace received from GOD may be imparted to them. Fifthly, we ought so to bind ourselves to JESUS, that giving up our self-will, we may be placed as Isaac was on the altar, and daily offered as a whole sacrifice to our GOD.

See Williams, p. 93.

Meditation.

Who is the man that dare resist Thee? Who can bind Thee, O Infinite Power? O King of Glory, is it possible that there are hearts so barbarous as to treat Thy Divine Person with so much indignity? Thy tender love, O my GoD, converts souls; Thy gentleness captivates the hearts of men; Thy Presence delights and satisfies the eyes and hearts of those who look upon Thee; and Thy benefits fill the earth. How then could there be found men so ungrateful, so cruel, and so rash, as to put their hands upon the anointed Saviour, and to overwhelm Him with injuries, reproaches, and bonds, as if a thief and a robber? And Thou, O Life of my soul! not only dost not hide Thyself, but Thou goest before Thy enemies; Thou gavest up to them Thy sacred Body, and forbadest Thy disciples to resist. Thou healest the ear of Malchus, who was come to take Thee, by the touch of Thy Hand. Thou refusest the succour of angels, Thou permittest Thy Apostles to flee, and thinkest only of the Cup which Thy FATHER had prepared for Thee, because Thou wouldst be an Example of our obedience, and the Remedy for our sin.

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