'l"iz. t.bat " all" disciples might claim this privilege. Bread to strengthen; wine to gladden. 'l'he cup is by Ignatius ce.lled ll;,'"'"1, as it was the symbol of love. By Paul it is ea.lied the,:• com!Dunion_" (see 1 Oor. :r.. 16). (4) The description. "My blood of the covenant. It 1s the sign and seal of the" better promises" of the" new" or excellent, nnd" everlasting" covenant. (5) The hymn. Praise at such time ie us to most fitting. " Christ, removing the hymn from the close of the Passover to the close of the Lord's Supper, plainly intimates that he intended that the ordinance should continue in bis Church, that is, it bad not its birth with the ceremonial law, so it should not die with it" (Henry). (6) The departure, immediately afterwards, to the Mount of Olives, was also significant. For he was destined thence, after bis actual Passion, to ascend into heaven to receive for us the blessing of the covenant. 3. The adfnOOitory incident. (1) "As they were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." As at its institution the Passover separated between Israel and Egypt in mercy and judgment, so now at its transformation into the Christian sacrament, mercy and judgment were to separate between the spiritual and t!Ordid Israel. Judas was the type of his nation also when his wickedness recoiled upon him, as the wickedness of the Egyptians had recoiled upon them. (2) The presence -of treachery in the Church is an occasion of sorrow to the true believer. "They were exceeding sorrowful : " for the Lord, that his great love should be requited with villainy; for their college, that its credit and influence should be comE!"omised. (3) It is also an occasion for heart-searching. "They began to say untonim every one, Is it I, Lord?" The search of true self-examination is particular and special. The evil con- cealed in us can be fully discovered to us only by the Lord. " He that dippeth," etc. (ver. 23; cf. Ps. xii. 9). External communion with Christ in hie ordinances is an aggravation of treachery to him. (4) "The Son of man," etc. (ver. 24). It had been foretold that Messiah should suffer (cf. Is&. !iii. 3; Dan. i:r.. 26). But though Divine mercy brought in.finite good out of that suffering, those who inflicted it were none the lees criminal. How resolute is the devil of hypocrisy I " Judas answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? "-J. A. M.
Ven. 31-85.-Strength and weakness. .After the admonitory incident of the last Passover, which separated the unhappy Iscariot from the apostleship, Jesus, journeying with the eleven to1Varde the Mount of Olives, proceeded to caution them against the weakness which he discerned in them. He is not our truest friend who conceals from us our faults. L IN J ESUB WE SEE THE ENBHBI1'"'EHENT OF DIVINE STRENGTH, 1. In his all- comprehensive knowledge. (1) What was "written" was perfectly familiar to him. He was supremely "mighty in the Scriptures." The" Sword of the Spirit" is a trusty weapon, both for defence in parrying the thrusts of Satan and for offence in putting the armies of the aliens to the rout. (2) He knew Limself to be the "Shepherd" of Israel That Shepherd is Jehovah (see Ps. xxiii. 1; lx.xx. 1). That Shepherd is Messiah (see Isa. :xL 11; Ezek. xxxiv. 23; Zech. xiii. 7). Jesus identifies himeelf as that oforious Personage (see John L 11; Heh. :r.iii. 20; 1 Pet. v. 4). As the Shepherd here is the "Fellow" of the "Lord of hosts," he only can be intended who is "equal with God." (3) He knew everything about his sheep. He could foretell the incident -af the denial by P~ter. He could oppose the limit before the second cock-crowing of that nicrbt to Peter's "never." He could forecast bis desertion by "all." He knows ue inficitely better than we know ourselves. (4) Knowledge is power. Perfect know- ledge can never be taken at a disadvantage. It cannot be surprised. It bas boundleBS resources. 2. In his all-enduring compassion. (l) With what patience does he endure the unfe.ithfulDess of his discipled I '!'hough he knew they would desert him, yet does he not spurn them from his presence. His kind heart can see, even in the excess of their self-confidence, a sincere and warm affection. 'fhe case is different from that of Judas. Ilia sin was deliberate; Peter's we.s a sin of Rurprise. '!'hat of Judas arose -from the state of his heart; the act of Peter was against bis habitual feelings and principles. Though he foresaw that all the disciples would leave him to tread the -·.,.inepress alone, his gentleness made no rejoinder to their protestations of devotion to .him even to the dee.Lb. (2) The Shepherd submits to be smitten for the sheep, J?or Mmsolf he had no need to die, The formidableness of that "eworu" of Oivine juatloa c:rr. u:v1. 1-75.] TUE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTTIEW. 565