derful as is the action which the drama evolves out of the con- flict of sisterly love with death, the curtain falls on death as victor. Into the gospel story Jesus brings a benefaction, a lesson, and a triumph. His warm sympathy, His comforting words, His tears at His friend’s tomb, are in significant contrast with the politic, timid, at times reproachful attitude of the cho- rus of Theban elders towards Antigone. The consummation of both dramas is unmitigated horror. Suicide solves the prob- lem for Antigone, and Electra receives back her brother as from the dead, only to incite him to murder, and to gloat with him over the victims. It is a beautiful feature of the Gospel narrative that it seems, if we may so speak, to retire with an in- stinctive delicacy from the joy of that reunited household. It breaks off abruptly with the words, “Loose him, and let him go.” The imagination alone follows the sisters with their brother, perchance with Christ, behind the closed door, and hears the sacred interchanges of that wonderful communing. Tenny- son, with a deep and truly Christian perception, has struck its key-note.
‘* Her eyes are homes of silent prayer, Nor other thought her mind admits But, he was dead, and there he sits! And He that brought him back is there.
Then one deep love doth supersede All other, when her ardent gaze Roves from the living brother’s face And rests upon the Life indeed.” “In Memoriam.”
45. The things which Jesus did. The best texts omit Jesus. Some read 6, that which He did; others 4, the things
which.
46. Some ofthem. Not of the Jews who had come to Mary, but some of the Jews, some perhaps who had joined the crowd from curiosity.
47. The chief priests. Of the Sadducean party. This should be constantly kept in mind in reading both John’s nar- rative and that of the Synoptists. The Sadducees, represented
Vou, I1,—14