June 30

"Did not I see thee in the garden with him"—John 18:26.

THESE words were addressed to Peter on a most affecting occasion; when, denying his Lord and Master, he was recognized by one of the servants of the high priest. There are many senses in which we shall find it both pleasant and profitable to be in the garden with Christ.

IN THE EXERCISE OF SACRED MEDITATION. Oh! what have we to contemplate here! What a scene of suffering, when, being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to

17 the ground! Let the golden thread of prayer run through the web of meditation.

WITH THE EYE OF UNFEIGNED FAITH. Behold the Man! Do you not see Divinity enshrined in that agonized body? the likeness of the Son of God in that countenance that is more marred than any man's? Do you not perceive some rays of glory emanating from his grief-worn human form? The Sun of Righteousness is about to set in darkness; can you not discern beams of brightness gilding the clouds that are soon to shut his glories in?

WITH THE TEAR OF GENUINE REPENTANCE. By meditation, we walk in the garden; faith sees the Saviour, and believes in the efficacy of his atonement; repentance stands weeping behind him, and cries. Oh the exceeding sinfulness of sin! It was said of Mary, "She goeth unto the grave to weep there." Let this be said of you in reference to the garden of Gethsemane.

WITH THE EXPRESSION OF GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT. While we should mourn for sin as the cause, we should rejoice in salvation as the glorious result, of the Saviour's sufferings. Through death he has spoiled principalities and powers, finished transgression, and wrought out righteousness; so that now, to the believer, sin has lost its dominion — the law its condemning power — death its sting — the grave its victory — and hell its terror.

WITH A DESIRE AFTER CLOSE COMMUNION. In proportion to the nearness of our intercourse with him will be our disrelish for the world's pleasures, and desire after spiritual enjoyment: and when the inquiry is made with respect to us, "Did I not see thee in the garden with him?" we shall rejoice to acknowledge the fact.

WITH A RESOLUTION OF ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESS. Our whole life in this world should be the continual presentation of a living sacrifice to him. Such an exercise will ennoble the mind, exalt the feelings, and rejoice the spirit. Amid the beauty, richness, and fragrance of the flowers of the garden, let me be with Him whose excellences are so often set forth by an allusion to these curious works of his fingers: let me see him in the rose, the lily, the apple tree, and the trees of the wood; and long for the time when I shall be in the garden of the heavenly paradise with him.