April 11

Matthew xxvi.—36. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.

37. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here and watch with me. 39. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father! if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What! could ye not watch with me one hour? 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing; but the flesh is weak.

The passover was celebrated at the full moon; and at that season the climate of Jerusalem would admit of spending the night in the open air. After the discourse and prayer which followed the institution of the Supper as narrated by John, our Lord went with his disciples out at the eastern gate of the city, down into the Valley of the Kedron (one may follow the same path to-day), and, crossing the brook to the slope of the Mount of Olives, entered a garden of olive-trees called Gethsemane. The probable spot is still marked by a group of very ancient olives. Leaving his disciples, he entered the shadow of the trees, and fell upon his face in prayer; only Peter, James, and John being near enough to afford him that sense of human companionship which the spirit craves in its inward conflicts. The innocent, sensitive spirit of Jesus shrank from the ignominy and suffering now immediately before him. Yet his was not the mere nervous shrinking of a delicate nature from pain. A dread mystery of sorrow for our

42. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father! if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be done. 43. And he came and found them asleep again; for their eyes were heavy. 44. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. 47. And while he yet spake, lo! Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

sakes entered into the anguish of his soul: a last temptation from Satan to swerve him from his resolve to die; a foreboding of his loneliness when his disciples should forsake him, and the Father's face be hid,—all this was wrung into the cup now given him to drink; and, as the holy purpose of his soul wrestled with the weakness of the flesh, his sweat ran from him as great drops of blood.

Yet there was no faltering of his will to do the will of his Father. The Man of sorrows lies prostrate before us, in all the abasement and weakness of the nature he had taken upon him; but even as the Son of man, tempted and suffering, yet without sin, he triumphs by faith and prayer and submission. Though his disciples, weary with watching and sorrow, fall asleep, there are heavenly watchers nigh to comfort and strengthen him; for the struggle in his soul renews the conflict between heaven and hell for the possession of the soul of man.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 86, 171.

O Lord Jesus! how shall we ever love thee and praise thee for the greatness of thy love for us? Forgive us our sloth and self-indulgence, our wavering and timidity; and, by thine agony and bloody sweat, help us to bear our cross, and suffer us never to fall away from thee. May the love of Christ constrain us! May we learn the joy of sacrifice, and be willing to labor and to suffer for those who do us wrong! Father in heaven, teach us like thyself to do good to the evil and the unthankful.

O God, who makest the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice! we bless thee that ours has not been a night of anguish and sorrow. We lift up our hearts to thee with thanksgiving for the joy of another day; for vigor for its duties, appetite for its pleasures, and readiness for its opportunities of good. Bless us in our labors, keep us pure in our enjoyments, incite us to do thy will; and oh! we beseech thee, preserve us from harm, from temptation, and from sin. Keep us from

that love and that fear of this world which would estrange us from thee.

Seeing that we know not what a day may bring forth, we pray, that, if trials and disappointments shall come, we may have grace to meet them and to profit by them; that in all events we may see the hand of our Father, and may say, "Thy will be done." Conscious of our weakness, humbly confessing our sins, we cast ourselves upon thine infinite grace in Christ our Saviour for pardon, strength, and sanctification. May we as a family honor thee in our daily walk and conversation! May old and young alike know the beauty of holiness, the joy of consecration to Christ! Grant thy grace to all who are dear to us; and grant us grace to hold all men dear for Christ's sake, and to win them to the knowledge of his gospel. And may the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.