bring to him an ass's colt which they would find there, and bidding them tell the owner that the master had need of it. They did as Jesus commanded, and when the owner asked them why they untied it, they said as they had been directed, and he immediately suffered them to take it away. They brought it to Jesus, and spread some of their clothes upon its back, and then placed our Lord upon it. There were, at this time, great multitudes attending him on his journey, going up to Jerusalem from all parts to the Passover. Many of them spread their garments in the road, and others cut down branches of trees and strewed them in the road.. This was a kind of homage only paid to kings, governors, successful generals, men high in station and in influence; and to them only on extraordinary occasions. It shows, therefore, in what great honor our Lord was held at that time, by the people generally, and what high expectations they had formed from the wonderful power shown in his miracles: though meek, and lowly, and riding upon an ass, they treated him as if he were already a king and conqueror, such as they expected him to become. They surrounded him as he went,

shouting with glad voices, Hosanna! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!'

Some of the Pharisees urged him to put a stop to these exclamations; but again he showed, by a strong figure, that the genuine feelings of men's hearts must not, cannot be repressed; that if it gratified them to do him this honor, he would permit it to be done, saying, 'I tell you, if these should be silent, the stones would immediately cry out.' He knew well enough in what all this seeming triumph would end: he was neither deceived by it, nor turned aside from his purpose. Nay, even in the midst of this tumult of joyful acclamation, when he came into full view of Jerusalem, and foresaw, as the consequence of the blindness, hardness of heart, and impenitence of his countrymen, the siege and destruction of that sacred city, amid slaughter, famine, pestilence, and burning, such as had never before been seen, he wept over it. Riches, glory, power, an all-conquering monarch, in splendid palaces, surrounded by a magnificent court, were in the minds of the multitude; in the mind of Jesus was a clear perception of the miseries that were coming upon them. Thus he made his

last entry into Jerusalem, a joyful multitude around him, and anguish in his bosom. He went steadily on, in perfect calmness, betraying no fear, no irresolution, no violent indications of the woe that lay heavy at his heart. How was this? He had a glorious prospect beyond all the suffering and the calamity, — the mansions in the Father's house, where he shall dwell forever with his faithful disciples, disciples from all nations and climates under heaven, a redeemed and purified multitude whom no man hath numbered or can number, an assemblage of immortal spirits, having laid aside the corruption of earth, and started on their glorious career of eternally increasing brightness and blessedness. He could both suffer and contemplate the greatest present evils, because he saw, when they should have passed away, infinitely greater good. He could trust God.

CHAPTER XX.

THREE DAYS IN THE TEMPLE.

On the first day he healed the blind and the lame and the children, having caught the enthusiasm of the multitude who accompanied him into the city, filled the temple with their shouts of Hosanna to the son of David!' The Priests and the Scribes were again angry at this, and asked him if he heard it, evidently meaning that he ought not to permit it. Again our Lord showed his sympathy with all the true and kind feelings of the human heart: he would not have the children hushed: he listened with delight to their honest voices: and answered the high and proud priests, Have ye never read, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?' thus showing that there is what is good and acceptable to God, even in the praises which children utter because they hear others uttering them. By them is praise perfected, filled up, made complete. They have no sympathy with what is cold, formal, and hypocritical: let their voices

be heard, therefore, and we know that those to whom they look up, and from whom they take their tone, must first have been strongly moved by some genuine and sound-hearted impulse.

Jesus discoursed also about other things, on this first day, and many among the rulers believed on him; but through fear of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; that is, as we have before seen, not be allowed to approach man or woman within six feet, to eat or drink with any, or to shave or wash themselves. These things would have been exceedingly inconvenient and disagreeable to them, and therefore they would not speak out boldly; for they loved to have honor from men, more than to have honor from God, written in their hearts, where no man could see it.

On the second day he went into the temple, and again cast out the traders and moneychangers.

On the third day some of the chief priests, scribes, and elders came to him in the temple and asked him by what authority he did those things which he had done on the two past days. They did not inquire, 'Is what he has done