sition, and by this impious act he thought that he should obtain a sum of money. Prompted therefore by this hope of reward, he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. This unworthy disciple did not lose sight of his object, for he begins his conference with, What will ye give me, and I will betray him unto you? Astonished, as they must be, at such a proposal, they nevertheless received it gladly, and promising to give him money, they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver: after which time he sought such an opportunity to betray him in the absence of the multitude, as soon presented itself.

On this foul transaction I shall make one observation here. It is particularly noticed by the evangelists, that this traitor was "one of the twelve :" a circumstance which very greatly aggravated his offence. Our LORD had chosen from the rest of his disciples twelve, whom he admitted to the most honourable trust, as well as the most endearing intimacy*: And that one of these twelve should conceive and execute the horrid design of betraying him, aggravates the wickedness of the

* See Doddridge's Family Expositor.

traitor to such an height of profligacy, that I do not desire to dwell on it for any other reason, than as it suggests a warning to those who are endowed with the greatest blessings from above: whose guilt, if they prove traitors to their LORD, must be esteemed the greater in proportion to the favours, which they have received.

Nor was it any impeachment either of the knowledge or wisdom of JESUS, that he who knew the hearts of men, should admit one to be partaker of his most intimate councils, who, he foresaw, would betray him. It shews that JESUS was not afraid of the eyes of his enemies, however malicious-that his miracles were no juggling tricks, performed by compact with his disciples; and that he was not carrying on any plot to deceive the world. If JESUS had been engaged in such a design, he must have foreseen that Judas, when he betrayed him to the chief priests, would discover the whole fraud. The choice therefore, which our LORD, with the fullest knowledge of the character of Judas, made of him for an apostle, was a proof of the most profound wisdom, instead of being an instance of imprudence; and he thereby demonstrated in the clearest

manner, his own most perfect innocence*. This melancholy act of treachery in Judas concluded the occurrences of wednesday, the fourth day of the week: nor was it long before the opportunity which he immediately sought, presented itself, for fulfilling the iniquitous engagement into which he had thus entered; as we shall soon see in the sequel of the transactions of thursday, some of which I now, by anticipation, proceed to consider in the remaining part of this lecture.

Thursday, the fifth day of the week, was the first day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed, that is the Paschal Lamb be slain.

The passover was the name given by the Jews to the feast, which was annually celebrated in commemoration of their coming out of Egypt; because the night before their departure, the destroying

*Bishop Watson's Theol. Tracts, v. 5, p. 180.

+ I have here deviated a little from my original design, by introducing this evening (wednesday) some of the occurrences of thursday; which I did, to regulate the length of the lectures and I have judged it better to have them printed, as they were delivered from the pulpit, than to make the remainder of this lecture the beginning of the following, which will be observed to have consider. ably exceeded the time usually occupied by such discourses.

angel, who put to death the first-born of the Egyptians, passed over the houses of the Hebrews, without entering therein; for they were marked with the blood of the lamb, which was killed the evening before, and which for this reason was called the Paschal Lamb*, being an emblem of our Lordt.

The Jews from all parts resorted to Jerusalem to celebrate this great festival; and as CHRIST was made under the law, he was punctual in fulfilling all righteousness, and submitted to all the ordinances of the law, and to this among the rest; determining to keep the passover at Jerusalem with his disciples, although he knew, that at this feast he should be crucified. Persecuted as he was at this time, and knowing that his life was sought after, yet he could not be deterred from the performance of his duty; and therefore that he might observe the solemnity with the strictest devotion, he commanded two of his disciples, Peter and John, to go into Jerusalem, and prepare the paossver, that they might eat; while he himself probably went into the temple; or, as some think, spent part

*See Cruden's Concordance.
+ Bish. of London's Lect. xxi.

+ Gal. iv. 4.
§ Matt. iii. 15.

of the day in retirement for meditation and prayer.

These disciples cheerfully obeyed the command of their Master, having first asked him where they should prepare it; and, that they might not mistake the place, received from him a sign, as they had once before, when they found an ass with a colt exactly in the same place as he had described. Behold, said he unto them, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water, follow him into the house, where he entereth. And ye shall say to the master of the house, The Master saith unto thee, My time is at hand, where is the guest chamber, in which I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared, there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came unto the city, and found as he had said unto them; and they prepared the passover.

Here you see the blessed JESUS, although surrounded with enemies, and in the midst of snares, giving directions to his disciples, which they as readily obeyed, to make preparations for the celebration of the passover. But alas! how backward are we, my Brethren, in fol