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passed onward, conqueror over every trial, to the last great victory-a cruel death.

HYMN.

Oh suffering friend of human kind!
How, as the fatal hour drew near,
Came thronging on thy holy mind
The images of grief and fear!

Gethsemane's sad midnight scene,
The faithless friends, the exulting foes,
The thorny crown, the insult keen,
The scourge, the cross, before thee rose.

Did not thy spirit shrink dismayed,
As the dark vision o'er it came;

And, though in sinless strength arrayed,
Turn shuddering, from the death of shame?

Onward, like thee, through scorn and dread,
May we our Father's call obey,
Steadfast thy path of duty tread,
And rise, through death, to endless day.

SECTION XXXVI.

THE TRANSFIGURATION.

MATT. XVII. XIX. 1 and 2.

AND after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother; and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto

them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things; but I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea, beyond Jordan. And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

REFLECTIONS.

"This," said the voice from heaven, "this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him." With what awe must those three disciples after this command,

have attended to the instructions of their master! He has passed from earth; but there is a voice yet speaking to us in his life, there is a voice in his death, which, if we have hearts not deadened by sin, we cannot but hear. In his unequalled gentleness, his affectionate resignation to the will of God, his patient dignity, his dying prayer for the forgiveness of his murderers, there is eloquence indeed. Would that we could hear it, as his disciples heard! Could we but gaze on the Saviour ourselves; and in deed and truth hear from those blessed lips the words of eternal life! Could we stand on the mount of Transfiguration, and thence go with him, and stand at the foot of the cross! It may not be. We are not thus privileged. Yet may we read the records of his life, and thus at least, listen to the words of our Saviour. May we hear him, and obey! His voice will be to us one of heavenly mildness. Earth will be clothed with new beauties, as we regain that innocence, which alone can enable us to enjoy it truly. Heaven will expand before us in holier splendours, as our heart and life approach to the resemblance of the purity which dwells there.

HYMN.

Thou, by pain and care oppressed,

Lift the eye with sorrow dim;

In thy Saviour's love find rest;
Child of suffering, hear thou him!

Trifler of the passing hour,
Vain the pleasures earth can give;
Stay thy course; thy Saviour's power
Calls thee; hear, and turn, and live!

Wanderer on the downward road,
Far from virtue's guiding ray;
Turn to happiness, to God;
Jesus calls thee; turn, and pray!

Hear ye him, your Lord, your friend,
Who to save you lived and died;
Hear him, and till life shall end,
In his holy word abide.

Fixing Faith's bright gaze above,
Hear him, while on earth ye tread :
Ye shall hear his tones of love,
When the trumpet wakes the dead.

PART VII.

TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

SECTION XXXVII.

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JESUS REBUKES THE ARDOUR OF HIS DISCIPLES.

LUKE IX. 51. and XIX.

AND it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers before his face; and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Know ye not what manner of spirit ye are of? And they went to another village.

And Jesus entered, and passed through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus ; which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus, who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him;

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