it up in three days (John ii. 19), and that the Son of man would be three days in the bosom of the earth as Jonas was three days in the whale's belly (Matthew xii. 40). He foretold that He would be lifted up, meaning on His cross, but that by this lifting up He would lift up many toward Himself, that is to say, He would free them from sin and place them in the condition of children of God (John xii. 32). Speaking to Mary Magdalen He thus foretold His ascension into heaven, "I ascend to My Father and to your Father, to My God and your God" (John xx. 17). To His apostles He predicted, too, that He would send the Holy Ghost saying, "I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Paraclete, that He may abide with you forever" (John xiv. 16).

But there are three highly important facts which we have seen existing through many centuries, which could not have resulted from any other source than divine wisdom, and which could not have been accomplished save by the power of an almighty God. Twelve poor men were sent forth to proclaim a new doctrine, one never before heard of, apparently unintelligible to all, which was to effect a complete change in the family, in the state, in religion, and in individual life and practise. These men had learned nothing more than that divine wisdom imparted to them. They had no other power than that entrusted to them by God. They were to wage war against heathenism and all the cherished vices and darling lusts of heathenism. And they did combat manfully, and preach successfully, and before them bowed the proud nations of the earth. They set up their altars in the strongholds of paganism, they overturned pagan idols, annihilated superstition, and introduced the worship of the one true God.

The world rose up against them, but they remained steadfast; unbelievers slaughtered them, but could not silence them. In their places arose new champions of the faith whose mission was duly inherited by their spiritual sons, just as kings or princes succeed one another. These sons, too, were martyred, but their blood became the seed of new confessors in the faith. Though fourteen millions of Christians fell in the sanguinary struggle, Christianity kept aloft its standard of the cross, while paganism sank at last into the tomb.

Heretics arose in the bosom of the Church, persecutions were renewed, the Church suffered, and bled, but triumphed in the end. At no time did the Church enjoy peace, for when tranquil in one land, she was combating in another. Such struggles, too, in all ages, but served the more effectually to form models and examples for mortals on earth, as well as intercessors in heaven.

While these twelve fishermen stood erect as twelve pillars of the Church of Christ, the proud vaults and arches of Jerusalem's Temple sank to the earth. When wicked men would raise that edifice again in order to set at naught the predictions of Christ, flames of fire burst from the earth and gave testimony of Him.

Who could have foreseen such a revolution-who could even have thought of it? Our divine Lord foresaw and foretold it, saying, "Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark xvi. 15), knowing, as He well knew, that human power could not hinder the fulfilling of such a commission. He foretold that the gates of hell, namely, the power of evil, would not prevail against the Church, and that of the Temple in Jerusalem not a stone would be left upon a stone, for the edifice would be brought to utter and hopeless desolation.

These are predictions that have been working out their fulfilment before the eyes of all through the long lapse of many ages. While the growth of the Church is a perpetual triumph, the people of Israel, scattered up and down over the face of the earth, are a lasting memorial of the divine anger. These two last facts proved the Saviour to have uttered the truth when He said, "Heaven and earth shall pass, but My words shall not pass" (Matthew xxiv. 35).

If, finally, we scrutinize the life of our blessed Lord from the moment of His Incarnation till the time of His Passion we find example after example. He has pointed out to us the way we are to follow, in order that in us God may see His well-beloved sons in whom He is well pleased. Industry, obedience, zeal in prayer, heartfelt piety, delight in the word of God, charity, goodness, mercy, meekness, stainless purity, and a quiet, humble demeanor are the chief features in the character of Our Lord. Now Christ has left us an example in order that we should follow it. He lived long enough among men to bless and to sanctify all the circumstances and relations of life. He Himself appeals to us, "I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also" (John xiii. 15). We can not help knowing our duty. In fact we have but one duty to discharge on earth: To imitate Christ and to pursue a course of life having for its accompaniments those most precious gifts of God, wisdom and grace.

FOURTH ARTICLE OF THE CREED.

"Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried."

I. "SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE."HISTORY OF THE SUFFERINGS AND DEATH OF OUR LORD AND SA

VIOUR JESUS CHRIST.

DURING three years and a half Our Saviour had gone about teaching, counseling, pointing out the divine chastisements that overtake the unrepentant, diffusing blessings, doing good. His time was now come, for Daniel's weeks of years were drawing to a close. Israel could no longer exculpate itself, for so astounding had been Jesus' miracles that only wickedness itself could withstand their force. While some few had opened their hearts to the influence of God's words, the majority had neglected the time of grace and salvation. The great event was drawing nigh, from which blessings were to flow down upon all mankind. The sufferings of Jesus began.

For some time past snares had been laid to entrap the Saviour, for He had unmasked the hypocrisy of the priests and Pharisees. Hence Our Lord for some time had avoided the city of Jerusalem. Four days previous to the feast of the Passover when, according to ancient custom, the paschal lamb was killed and eaten, He appeared again publicly in the city. When approaching Bethphage on the Mount of Olives He sent two of His disciples to Bethania to engage a foal of an ass, on which He seated Himself and rode into Jerusalem, in order that the vision of the prophet Zacharias might

be fulfilled: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold thy King will come to thee, the Just and Saviour: He is poor and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zacharias ix. 9).

Just then there was great commotion throughout the entire city, for only a short time before He had raised Lazarus to life after the body had been three days in the tomb, and this miracle could not be denied, explained away, or hushed up. The people rejoiced, while the priests were enraged. When the news spread that the worker of miracles was approaching, the people went out in crowds to meet Him, paying Him kingly honors, for on the road under His feet they strewed palm and olive branches, a distinction seldom shown to any one other than a royal personage, at the same time singing, "Hosanna! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John xii. 13). Thus was Our Saviour recognized as king, and they proclaimed, "Hosanna!" who five days later cried out, "Crucify Him!"

Now, the devil entered Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, who was eaten up with the passion of greed, and who went stealthily and plotted with the high priests and chiefs of the nation to deliver up his blessed Master to them. They were pleased, and promised him money, some thirty pieces of silver. Then came the day of the unleavened bread, on which the paschal lamb was to be slaughtered. This was the day on which Our Saviour's Passion really began, for He was the real paschal lamb that was soon to be slaughtered for the sins of the world. Again had come the hour of Phase, that is to say, the passing of the destroying angel, for from this day forth the destroying angel would pass harmlessly over those sprinkled with