From Bethany he went up to the feast of the dedication, at Jerusalem. At this feast, the Jews required of him a public declaration, whether or not he was the promised Messiah or Christ. When in reply, he appealed to the works which he had done in his Father's name, they became so indignant against him, that they again determined to stone him. He did indeed show those who accused him of blasphemy against God that he was innocent, but it availed him nothing. They sought to take him and put him to death; but he escaped this time also from their hands, and withdrew to the place on the other side of Jordan, where John had baptized. Here many received his doctrines as true, and became his followers.

SECTION VI.

THE LAST DAYS OF THE LIFE OF JESUS.

By this time, the fourth feast of the passover was drawing near, and Jesus entered upon his journey to Jerusalem. On the way, he admonished those that were with him to strive after salvation, and warned them against all hypocrisy in worshipping God. In the house of one of the chief Pharisees, where he was a guest on the sabbath-day, he healed a man who had the dropsy, and exhorted the guests to humility. Upon this journey, he imparted to his disciples, as well as to others who followed him, much excellent instruction. He told them, that constancy, forbearance, and fidelity in the confession and practice of his doctrines, and a readiness to undergo every species of suffering for his sake, constituted the only sure sign of their being his true followers and genuine disciples. He

THE LAST DAYS OF JESUS.

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called upon them, therefore, expressly, to see to it with all seriousness and diligence, that this sign was found upon them. In the parable of the unjust steward, and the account he gave of the rich man who lived every day in splendour and pleasure, he censured the vices of the vain sensual world, such as injustice and faithlessness, dissipation, gluttony and indifference to the poor; while, on the other hand, he recommended compassion to those suffering with want, as a virtue, the practice of which brings happiness. In another parable, he taught that men should persevere in prayer, and pray with humility, keeping far removed from a proud reliance upon their own virtues and merits, and feeling sensible of their unworthiness before God. While upon this last journey, he also performed several great works of love. He restored ten men who were lepers to health, of whom, however, only one returned him thanks for this benevolent act. At Bethany, he raised his friend Lazarus from the dead, after he had been buried four days. This miracle excited great attention to the power of Jesus. The Jews now more than ever went about to kill him. As, however, the time of his death had not yet arrived, he retired to a city called Ephraim, a remote place, until the passover had drawn near.

During his residence in this place, he evinced towards young children that were brought to him that he was the children's friend. He showed a rich young man what it was requisite for him to do, in order to become his true disciple. He promised his disciples great rewards for their faithfulness to him thus far; but in the parable of the labourers in the vineyard, warned them, and all of us, who wish to know what he taught, not to be envious if we find others faring better than we do, and not to murmur against God, even if he does not do according to our wishes and thoughts.

When now the feast of the passover had drawn near, Jesus left Ephraim on his way towards Jerusalem. On the journey he gave his disciples a prophetic account of the torments which awaited him, and of the kind of death before him, at Jerusalem. On coming near to Jericho, he found a blind beggar sitting by the side of the road, and gave him his sight. In the city of Jericho he visited the house of Zaccheus, and instructed those who were present in edifying discourses and parables. On going out of Jericho, he found two blind men sitting by the way-side, and cured them of their blindness,-when they accompanied him out of gratitude.

SECTION VII.

THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS.

On a Sunday Jesus made his public entrance into Jerusalem. The people who followed after him and came to meet him showed him the greatest marks of honour, and accompanied him with songs of praise and exclamations of joy. He, however, on drawing near to the gates of Jerusalem, wept over the great blindness and profligacy of its inhabitants, and the frightful destruction which hung over this beautiful city.

O the Saviour, kind and full of compassion! Under exhibitions of the purest love, he travels on to the city, where he is to be seized and slain! The misery of its inhabitants moves him to tears!-Once more, however, before he died, he presented himself in his divine elevation of character, while he saw the destruction of Jerusalem impending; and, as at the beginning of his career as a

THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS.

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teacher, so also at its conclusion, he purified the temple of those people, who within its courts, transacted business, which was in direct opposition to the dignity of the place. At the same time, he also miraculously healed many who were sick of their diseases. In the evening, he went back again to Bethany.

Early on Monday, he returned to Jerusalem, and again rebuked those who traded in the temple; in doing which, however, he excited the priests against him. In the evening he concealed himself without the city.

On Tuesday, he came again into the temple and continued preaching various salutary doctrines. He taught the resurrection of the dead, foretold the destruction of the city Jerusalem, and answered the question, "Which is the greatest commandment in the law?" He recommended sincere, undivided, heartfelt love to God as the greatest, the chief commandment; by the side of which he placed true love to mankind, including in this last, indeed, the love of ourselves, but excluding from it selfishness. He also named the signs which should precede the divine judgment which was to be brought on the Jewish nation, and particularly upon the city of Jerusalem and its splendid temple. As this judgment was to be sudden and unexpected in its coming, so he took occasion thence to exhort his followers to make serious preparation for it, and to think upon their security, because that they now had time for it. Hence he admonished them to live in the constant exercise of moderation and temperance, to guard themselves against painful anxiety about the necessaries of life, to attend with all diligence to what was good, and carefully avoid everything wicked; because that all this was necessary for every one who would stand in righteousness and joy, not only before this, but before

every other judgment of God. These instructions he not only imparted in words, but also in the parable of the ten virgins, and that of the different talents a man intrusted to his servants. He also imparted to them a few hints respecting his glorious coming to the last judgment of all men. On Wednesday, he again taught in the temple. On Thursday, he sent Peter and John into the city, to prepare the paschal lamb; in the mean time, he held an instructive dialogue with the rest of his disciples, in which he taught them respecting many subjects, comforted, and admonished them. Towards evening, he went with them to Jerusalem. While on the way, he delivered various touching and consolatory farewell discourses. When they were about to sit down at the table, he washed his disciples' feet, and thereby gave them a practical exhortation to exercise love and humility towards each other. At the table he showed them that one of their number should betray him, and soon after told Judas, with perfect clearness, that he was the person. This faithless disciple had already agreed with the high-priests to deliver Jesus, his teacher and the best of teachers, into their hands, for thirty pieces of silver, or about fifteen dollars. The information of Jesus, that he knew his wicked intentions, the manner in which he gave it, and the warning he thus gave the traitor, did not, however, all hold him back from his infamous deed. At this repast, Jesus also established the sacrament of the holy supper, exhorted his disciples to love one another, and foretold Peter of his fall.