July 7

The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah liii. 6.

All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. — MATT. xxvi. 31.

THESE touching words of our most holy Lord must have made a deep impression on his disciples; and so they should on us. The occasion and the surroundings were sad; and in the tones of his voice and in his words there was sadness. They reveal the loneliness of Christ, on the one hand, and on the other, the weakness of even his own chosen and best disciples. When troubles come, friends forsake us. Many people will shrink from standing by their friends or the Church when in trouble, even if good is to come out of the troubles. The good appear to disadvantage and are at a discount in this world, and people last of all help a good man because he is good, or suffers for the good.

All the disciples were "offended" because of Christ that night, and all forsook him, and were like sheep without a shepherd. Oh, that we may never from fear or shame allow our Master's cause to suffer, or forsake it when dangers surround it or threaten it! Although all were "offended" and forsook Christ, he still fulfilled his high and holy mission, and so let each one of us, even if all alone and forsaken, live, labor, and suffer for God, his cause, and his children.

G. W. E. Peschau.

Ashamed of Jesus! — empty pride;

I'll boast a Saviour crucified,

And, oh, may this my portion be,

My Saviour not ashamed of me!

JOSEPH GRIGG.