preparing to besiege it closely: that then they should flee from the city into the mountains, because these things would be a sure sign to them that the destruction of the city and its inhabitants drew nigh. He said he could not give them more exact warning, because the day and hour were known only to God; they were not revealed even to him. The disciples believed his prediction, took heed to his warn-ing, watched till Titus began to enclose Jerusalem with his troops and his intrenchments; and then fled into Peræa beyond Jordan, escaping the most direful of the calamities inflicted by that fierce, savage, and most bloody war; which ended in the slaughter of nearly a million and a half of people, and in the utter desolation of the once glorious city.

The train of thought called up in our Savior's mind by this discourse with his disciples, brought forth the beautiful parable of the master of the house watching against the coming of the thief; the nobleman going into a far country and leaving authority with his steward in his absence; the ten virgins; and the talents; and also that solemn discourse concerning the last judgment, in which the

judge is represented as dividing the assembled nations, and placing them on the right hand and on the left, according to the deeds which they had done.

About this time, perhaps on the very day and hour in which Jesus was holding this solemn and interesting discourse with his disciples on the mount of Olives, the Chief Priests, the Scribes, and Elders, consulted how they might take Jesus by craft, and put him to death: but they said, 'not during the feast, lest there should be a tumult among the people.' This is another proof of the great veneration which the people generally had for our Lord. In the midst of their consultations, Judas Iscariot went and offered, for a sum of money, to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude. This exactly met their wishes, and they gladly agreed to purchase his treachery for thirty pieces of silver, about £3. 15s. Od. of our money. From that time Judas sought an opportunity of betraying him. He did not become an open enemy of Christ, but pretended still to be his friend and follower: he went about with him, listened to him, and showed him the same outward

marks of affection as before. His hypocrisy deceived the other apostles; but it was seen through by Christ: he knew what the bad man was about; but he suffered him to go on, because he knew that by his death he should glorify God, and work out the salvation of men.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE LAST PASSOVER.

Ir has been already said that this feast continued seven days. During that whole period the people ate only unleavened bread, that is, bread not fermented, or thin biscuits made of meal and water. On the first day of unleav ened bread the disciples asked Jesus where they should prepare for the passover. This was not a difficulty, for they might have gone to almost any house in Jerusalem whose 'guest chamber' was not already occupied, and have been freely welcomed. It was simply a question as to what Jesus wished. Every considerable house had a 'guest chamber,' set apart

for occasions like the present, to accommodate those who came up to the feast from other places and, in smaller houses, the master welcomed his friends, or acquaintance, or even strangers, from distant parts, to such accommodation as he had for himself and family. No one thought of his own selfish comfort, while such multitudes were in the city, who had come up to worship God and sacrifice in his temple. Jesus directed his disciples to a certain house where the master would show them a large upper room furnished. They went there and made ready the passover. This feast was eaten after dark: when, therefore, the evening was come, he proceeded with his disciples to the appointed place. After they had placed themselves at table, he told them that he had greatly desired to eat this passover with them before he suffered. Meanwhile his thoughts and feelings were very different from theirs: for while his mind was fixed upon the awful events which were near, they were debating which of them seemed to be greatest. He gently rebuked them for their worldly-mindedness; and afterward, probably with reference to their ambitious controversy, he rose from

table, laid aside his outer garment, took a towel and girded it round his waist, leaving the ends hanging loose and of sufficient length for wiping with, then poured water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of his disciples, and to wipe them with the towel.

When he came to Simon Peter, the warmhearted apostle objected to his master's performing so servile an office for him: but Jesus showed him that this outward washing was emblematical of that inward purification which was the object of his mission. Peter then no longer objected, but desired that the washing might be extended to his hands and his head. Having washed all their feet, Jesus put on again his outer garment and sat down. He then showed them why he had done that to them which was usually done by the servants of the house; namely, to give them an example of humility and kindness: 'Ye call me master and lord: and ye say well, for so I am. If I, then, your lord and master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you.' What a difference there is between this lesson and