Look, as Joseph was betrayed and sold by his brethren ; David by Achitophel, his old friend; Samson by Delilah, that lay in his bosom; so Christ by Judas, one of the twelve; a man, his friend, his familiar, that had been so long conversant with him : he that by profession had lifted up his hand to Christ, now by treason lifts up his heel against him ; he bids the soldiers bind those blessed hands, that not long before had washed the traitor's feet.
In the point before us, we will,
First, Consider Judas, according to that eminent station and place he had under Christ.
Secondly, We will consider his treason, according to the several aggravations of it.
Thirdly, We will enquire into the cause or motives that put him upon such a dreadful, hellish design as this was.
Fourthly, and lastjy, we will view the issue, and see the event of this treason, both as to Christ and as to himself. And then apply it.
First, As for the person that did this, he was very eminent by reason of that dignity Christ had raised him to. For,
1. He was one of the twelve ; one retained not in a more general, and common, but in the nearest, and most intimate and honour- able relation and service to Jesus Christ. There were in Christ's tjme several sorts and ranks of persons that had relation to him. There were secret disciples ; men that believed, but kept their sta- tions, and abode with their relations in their callings. There were seventy also whom Christ sent forth ; but none of these were so much with Christ or so eminent in respect of their place, as the twelve ; they were Christ's family, day and night conversant with him : it was the highest dignity that was conferred upon any : and of this number was Judas. The ancients have much extolled the apostolical dignity. Some stiled these twelve, pedes Christi, the feet of Christ ; because they, as it were, carried Christ up and down the world. Others, oculi Dei, the very eyes of God ; they were his watchmen, that took care for the concernments of his name and gospel in the world. Others, mammce ecclesioc, the breasts of the church ; they fed and nourished the children of God by their doctrine. Now, to be one of this number, one of the twelve, what a dignity was this.
2. Yea, he being one of the twelve, was daily conversant with Christ: often joined with him in prayer, often sat at his feet, hearing the gracious words that came out of his mouth. It was
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one of Austin's three wishes, that he had seen Christ in the flesh : Judas not only saw him but dwelt with him, travelled with him, and eat and drank with him. And during the whole time of his. abode with him, all Christ's carriage towards him was very obliging and winning ; yea, such was the condescension of Christ to this wretched man, that he washed his feet, and that but a little before betrayed him.
3. He was a man of unsuspected integrity among the apostles. When Christ told them, One of you shall betray me ; none thought on him, but every one rather suspected himself; Lord, is it I ? saith one, and so said they all ; but none pointed at Judas, saying, Thou art he,
4. To conclude, in some respect, he was preferred to the rest. For he had not only a joint commission with them to preach the gospel to others, (though, poor unhappy wretch, himself became a cast-away) but he had a peculiar office, he bare the bag, i. e. he was Almoner, or the steward of the family, to take care to pro- vide for the necessary accommodations of Christ and them, Now who could ever have suspected, that such a man as this should have sold the blood of Christ for a little money ? that ever he should have proved a perfidious traitor to his Lord, who had called him, honoured him, and carried himself so tenderly towards him ? And yet so it was; " Lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and " with him a multitude :"" O whither will not a busy devil and a bad heart carry a man !
Secondly, But what did this man do? and what are the just ag- gravations of his fact ? Why, he most basely and unworthily sold and delivered Christ into his enemies hands, to be butchered and destroyed ; and all this for thirty pieces of silver.
Blush, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth, at this ! In this fact, most black and horrid aggravations appear.
1. Judas had seen the majesty of a God on him whom he be- trayed. He had seen the miracles that Christ wrought, which none but Christ could do. He knew that by the finger of God he had raised the dead, cast out devils, healed the sick. He could not chuse but observe and see the rays and awful beams of divine majesty shining in his very face, in his doctrine, and in his life ; to betray a man, to sell the blood of the poorest innocent in the world, is horrid ; but to sell the blood of God, O what is this ! Here is a wickedness that no epithet can match ! Yea,
% This wickedness he committed after personal warnings and premonitions given him by Christ, he had often told them in general, that one of them should betray him, Mark xiv. 20. He also denounced a dreadful woe upon him that should do it, ver. SI. " the Son of man goeth indeed, as it is written of him; but
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" wo to that mail by whom the Son of man is betrayed ; good had it " been for that man if he had never been born.11 This was spoken in Judas's presence. And one would have thought so dreadful a doom as Christ passed upon the man that should attempt this, should have affrighted him far enough from the thoughts of such a wickedness. Nay, Christ comes nearer to him than this, and told him he was the man : For when Judas (who was the last that put the question to Christ) asked him, " Master, is it I ?" Christ's answer imports as much as a plain affirmation, " Thou hast said,1* Matt. xxvi. 25. Moreover,
3. He doth it not out of a blind zeal against Christ, as many of his other enemies did ; of whom it is said, 1 Cor. ii. 8. " That had " they known him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory :" but he did it for money to make his market of Christ. He sold Christ as a man would sell an ox, or a sheep to the butcher for pro- fit. He was fully of the mind of the Pope, whose motto was * " The smell or savour of gain is sweet, let it arise out of what it " will.11 If he can get any thing by Christ's blood, it shall be a vendible commodity with him. " What will ye give me, (saith he) " and I will betray him ?" Matt. xxvi. 15.