mocked, and scourged and spit upon, and then put to death. St. Mark x. 33.

The time being come, when he was to suffer for our redemption, he would ride in a kind of triumph into Jerusalem, as going with joy to die for our salvation; but, in the midst of his triumph, and the acclamations of the people, foreseeing the destruction of the holy city, he wept over it, and bewailed the blindness of the Jews; this shews how little we ought to be transported with honours when they abound, but consider that we still live in a vale of tears. To-day he is received with acclamations and Hossannahs, and within a few days they cry out, away with him, crucify him: how inconstant are the joys of this world, how unstable the minds of men!

His enemies could not bear this triumph; they held the great council of the Jews, and there it was decreed he should die; and bargained with Judas for thirty pieces of silver, to betray him into their hands.

He then ordered his disciples to prepare a spacious dining-room, where he eat the last supper, and instituted the most blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, wherein he gave to his disciples his body and blood, under the forms of bread and wine, as the greatest proof of love he could leave them before he died; but first would wash their feet, to signify with what purity they, and we, ought to receive him.

The manner of this divine institution was as follows: supper being ended, he took bread, gave thanks to God, blessed the bread, broke it, and distributed it to his disciples, saying, Take ye and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered to you: do this in remembrance of me. St. Matt. xxvi. St. Mark xiv. St. Luke xxii. In like manner he took the Chalice, that is the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this: for this is of the New Testament, which shall be shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sin: do this as often as you shall drink thereof, in remembrance of me. Here he made his Apostles priests, when he gave them power to do what he had done, consecrate this Sacra

my

blood

ment in both kinds, to represent his body slain, and his blood shed on the cross; which being a propitiation for sin, is also a sacrifice: but this command only regards priests, there being none present, when it was given, but the Apostles. Thus he fulfilled the promise made them before, when he said to them, I am the living bread that descended from heaven, if any one eat of this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread which I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. St. John vi. 51, 52.

This divine Sacrament is a perpetual memorial of his death; a token of his eternal love for mankind; and a signal pledge of future glory, to such as have a humble belief of it, and worthily receive it. He that eateth of this bread (with a firm faith and a pure heart) shall live for ever. St. John vi. 59.

EXHOR.-Follow, O Christian, your blessed Jesus with admiration, love, compassion, and sorrow through all the circumstances of his passion, from his entrance into Jerusalem, to Mount Calvary. Lay up with the blessed Virgin Mary, whatever you see or hear, in your heart. Let humility attend you with him, as well in prosperity as adversity: if you are ever so prospe rous, still remember the tears of Jesus over Jerusalem; for penance is necessary to us at all times; nay, the more you are exalted, the more need you have of bewailing your offences, as you are frail, and the more exposed to sin. Let not the vanities of the world cause you to forget God, but learn to contemn the shortness and inconstancy of all temporal things; the world passes, but the truth, which is from God, remains for ever.

Adore, with humble submission, the mystery of the blessed Eucharist: admire the love of Jesus to you in its institution: all the mysteries of faith are incomprehensible to sense and reason; yet we may comprehend that if God could create something out of nothing (as in the creation) he could change one thing into another: and if we believe him true God under the form of man, why cannot we believe him true God and man under the form of bread and wine,

since himself, who is eternal Truth hath said it; This is my body, this is my blood. As the Holy Ghost was seen under the form of a Dove, so we may, and ought to believe Christ present under the sacramental-species. Often then renew your faith of this mystery, saying with St. Thomas, Ah! my Lord, and my God. Attend those sacred mysteries with profound respect, and often receive them with a heart full of love, purity, and faith; and whenever the devil tempts you to doubt, say, I believe, Lord; help my incredulity, Mark ix. 23.

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SECT. II.

Suffered under Pontius Pilate.

Q. WHAT did our Saviour do after his last Sup

A. He went out of Jerusalem, to the Garden of Olives, called Gethsemani, to pray, attended by three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John. Here he began to be seized with fear, trouble, and grief, which he expressed in these words: Mu smil is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, stay here end watch with me. Q. What happened after this? A. Going from his disciples, about a stone's cast, he fell on his face, and in an agony, sweat drops of blood, which ran down on the ground. Three different times he prayed to God the Father, to turn from him the bitter cup, that is, those sufferings then represented to him; but each time he added to his prayer, Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done: and then an Angel came from heaven to comfort him. Q. Did not his disciples watch and pray with him? A. No: three times he visited them in the Garden; the first time, he found them sleeping, and reproved them for it: What, could you not watch one hour with me? Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is ready, but the flesh is weak. The second time, he found them so far overpowered by sleep that they knew not what to answer: and the third time he said, Sleep now and take your rest, for the time is come, when

the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us go hence, behold he that betrayeth me is at hand. Q. What followed immediately after P A. Scarcely had he spoke the word, when Judas Iscariot appeared with a company of soldiers, which the Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees had sent with the traitor to take Jesus; and Judas gave them a signal, that whomsoever he should kiss, that was the man: then coming up, he said, Hail Master, and kissed him. Jesus, to move him to repentance, said no more, but Friend, why art thou come hither? What, Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss? Q. Was he then taken by the soldiers? A. He first went and met the soldiers, and asked them, Whom seek ye? They answered, Jesus of Nazareth. He said to them, I am he: and immediately they recoiled backward, and fell to the ground. He repeated the same words again, and then surrendered himself, and they seized him and bound him. Q. What became of his disciples who were in the Garden with him? A. They proffered to defend him by the sword: St. Peter drew his, and cut off Malchus's ear, one of the high-priest's servants; but Jesus reprehended him for it, bid him put up his sword, and by a miraculous touch of his hand cured Malchus: notwithstanding these wonders they carried him away, and then all his disciples fled.

EXHOR.Learn with Jesus in the Garden to pray with profound reverence, fervour, humility, and resig nation. Learn again from Jesus in the Garden, how to bear adversity with patience: it is God that inflicts, it is the part of man to obey. Let this be ever your voice, Father, not mine, but thy will be done. This will bring the angel of comfort, under the severest trials: take all your afflictions as the just punishment of sin; accept the stroke of divine mercy, that you may avoid the stroke of divine justice.

Beware of covetousness: this was the ruin of Judas, and is the destruction of infinite souls. If riches abound, set not your heart upon them; still make them give way to the riches of eternity give often to the poor, to make amends for your excesses in enter

taining the rich. Reject not the call of God, as did Judas, and the perverse soldiers, whom miracles done even upon themselves, could not convert; but repent while the time of mercy lasts, and leave off sin; greater is your perverseness than theirs, if, after so many miracles done for yours and the world's conversion, after miracles of mercy and providence that shine over you, you still continue obstinate in sin.-Trust not to your own strength, as did Peter, and the rest of the disciples, but watch and pray, that you fall not into temptation; temptation leads you into sin, and sin to damnation. He that stands, let him take heed he does not fall, 1 Cor. x. 12.

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SECT. III.

Suffered uuder Pontius Pilate.

WHAT

HAT did they do with Jesus, after he was taken in the Garden? A. They led him bound to Annas, and Annas sent him to Caiphas, who was high-priest for that year. Q. How did they treat him before Caiphas? A. The Chief Priests, and Scribes, and the Ancients, with the High-priest in council, examined him concerning his doctrine and his disciples: he answered them, that he had always taught in public, and in secret had taught nothing; Why then, says he, do you ask me? Ask them that heard me. At these words one of the High-priest's servants struck him on the face, saying, Answerest thou so to the High-priest? Jesus, with great mildness, replied, If I have spoken ill, give testimony of evil; but if well, why strikest thou me? Q. What witnesses did they bring against him? A. Many false witnesses; but their testimony did not seem sufficient. Q. What question in particular did the High-priest and the council propose to him? A. This: If thou art Christ, tell us plainly: he answered, If I tell you, you will not believe me they all replied, Art thou the Son of God? He said to them, You have said that I am. The High-priest put the same question to him, and adjured him by the living God, to tell them whether he were Christ the Son of God? Je