wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

I have given good proofs of my bounty to all my creatures; but, if I were such as thou slanderest me, one that would be willing to receive more than I give, why didst thou not the rather take a course to increase that stock, which I committed unto thee; that so I might have received the advantage of mine own gifts.

XXV. 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance : but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Whosoever, through the effectual inoperation of God's Spirit, shall improve those graces and helps which he hath received, to the further honour of God, he shall receive a further accession both of grace and glory; and he, that quencheth the Spirit, and suppresseth the good motions thereof, and rejects those good means which are offered him, shall be stripped of all those common favours which he hath, and lose the hope of all that he might have attained.

XXV. 30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As that earthly master would justly cast such an unprofitable servant out of doors, into the darkness and cold, there to miscarry, while himself and his thrifty followers are entertained with good cheer and light within; so shall the just God cast out such evil and unfaithful servants from his presence, and thrust them down into the dark pit of hell, where there is nothing but wailing and horror.

XXV. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

And he shall set his elect and holy ones, as sheep, on the right hand; and the wicked and reprobate, as goats, on the left.

XXV. 35. For I was an hungered, and ye gare me meat; &c.

For ye have manifested the truth of your faith, which only can give you just claim to heaven, by the fruits of your good and charitable works: when I, in my poor members upon earth, was hungered, ye gave me meat; &c.

XXVI. 2. And the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified.

The Son of Man is already, by Judas, in his intended conspiracy with the high priests and elders, betrayed to death, and that to the death of the Cross. XXVI. 3. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest.

Then assembled together both the high priest of that year (for they were now grown annual), and the chief fathers of all those priestly families, and the scribes, and the elders of the people; all which, conjoined together, made up a perfect Council of the Jews.

XXVI. 6. In the house of Simon the leper.

In the house of Simon, who had been a leper, but, being cured, retained still the name of his fore-past disease.

XXVI. 7. There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment.

Then came to him a woman, noted for her zeal to Christ, even Mary Magdalene, having an alabaster box of very precious and sweet ointment.

XXVI. 8, 9. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Judas saw it, he grudged at it; and, conceiving great indignation thereat, stirred up his fellow-disciples to murmur at this act of Mary; saying, What great pity it is, that an ointment of so great price should be thus poured out in waste! There might have been a great sum raised upon it, which might have been distributed to the poor, and have yielded a long and durable relief unto them; whereas now it is spent to

XXVI. 12. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Ye do willingly allow sweet balms and rich perfumes for the dead; behold, this woman hath herein reached beyond your conceit: she hath done this, as her last office, towards my burial. I am now sitting with you at supper: my thoughts are upon my grave; and this woman hath hereby made a bountiful and loving preparation for those my last exequies.

XXVI. 18. And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; gc.

I, who know the motions and the thoughts of all men, do foretel you, that, going into the city, ye shall meet a man bearing a pitcher of water : follow ye that man; and say to him, Thus saith our Master, My time is now at hand, wherein I shall both keep the Passover, and be made an Everlasting Passover for my Church: I have made choice of thy house, to honour it with this my last feast, &c.

XXVI. 23. And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

Even one of you, my familiar and domestic attendants, who sitteth now with me, and dippeth his hand in the same dish

little purpose.

with me and you, shall be so perfidious as to betray me, and sell me into the hands of

my

enemies. XXVI. 25. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

Then Judas, who was secretly guilty of this wickedness, thinking that his silence might be an accusation of himself, durst boldly ask, as hoping to outface the matter, Master, is it I? Jesus said unto him, Since thy guiltiness hath taken the boldness to ask this question, do not think that either thy secrecy or impudence can carry it away without notice: Thou art the man.

XXVI. 26. Take, eat; this is my body.

Take, eat; this bread is sacramentally my very body: so as, if ye do worthily receive this element, ye do therewith partake of me: while your hand and your mouth take and eat this bread, your souls do truly and really receive me, who am represented, and exhibited, and conveyed unto you, by and with this outward sign.

XXVI. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

This wine is sacramentally my very blood, whereby the New Testament is ratified, and sealed up to and with all my faithful ones; which blood of mine is now to be shed for the redemption of mankind, and for the remission of the sins of all penitents and true believers.

XXVI. 29. But I say unto you, I will not drirk henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

It is a farewell cup, that I now drink with you: for I will no more, in this mortal state, drink, from henceforth, of this fruit of the vine ; but shall reserve myself for a more comfortable draught, sweeter than all the new wine which earth can afford; of 'glory and happiness, which I shall enjoy in my Father's kingdom, whereof ye shall be blessed partakers with me.

XXVI. 31. All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

All ye shall be scandalized, and drawn into offence with that, which shall be done unto me this night: for your hearts will fail you, and ye shall weakly yield to forsake me, when ye see me laid hold of, and carried away violently by mine enemies; so as in you shall be fulfilled that of the prophet, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad.

XXVI. 32. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

But be not dismayed with that, which shall befal me: I must die indeed, but I will rise again; and, when I am risen, will shew myself to you, my dear disciples : and, that ye may know

my

where to make account of my presence, remember that I now tell you, I will go before you into Galilee.

XXVI. 39. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nerertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

O my Father, when I look to the grievousness of these instant sufferings, and the infirmity of this human nature which I have assumed, I could be well content to wish, that, if it could be, this bitter death, which now awaits for me, might by me be avoided, and by thee removed: but, when I cast mine eye to thy holy decree, and the necessity of man's redemption, I do most willingly submit myself to thy will : be it not, as human nature could be content to wish, but as thy Divine Will hath everlastingly decreed.

XXVI. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation : the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. If, for sake

ye

do not find cause enough to stir up yourselves, and to shake off your drowsiness, yet, at least for your own, be advised so to do: neither let your eyes only be open to watch, but your heart also to pray; for ye are now in great danger to be overcome, with temptations of fear and distrust : I know your mind is good ; ye are willing enough to perform these good duties; but the natural infirmity of your flesh is ready to strive against these good motions, so as ye had need of my seasonable and earnest excitations.

XXVI. 45. Sleep on now, and take your rest : behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Since my so serious admonition could not keep open your eyes; go to, now sleep on; take

you can: behold, ye are now entering into a busy and perilous time; for now is the hour of my suffering at hand, and I, the Son of Man, am betrayed, by my wicked disciple, into the hands of the malicious Jews.

XXVI. 50. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come ?

Had an enemy done me this ill office, it would have become him; but for thee, my friend and familiar, to sell thy service to my betraying, how hateful a thing it is! I do well know thy errand : thou art come to betray thy master with a kiss.

XXVI. 51. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a serrant of the high priest, and smote off his ear.

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus, even Simon Peter, out of his zeal to his Master, drew forth his sword, and stretched out his hand, and smote a servant of the high priest, called Malchus, and cut off his ear.

XXVI. 52. Then Jesus said unto him, Put up again thy

your rest if

sword into his place : for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Put up thy sword: these are not the weapons, that ye, my disciples, must fight withal: Peter, thou dost not herein fight for me, so much as against thyself; for whosoever, in a private revenge, being not thereto called and authorized, shall smite with the sword, that man pulls upon himself the just revenge of God and his Law; and must expect the same measure, which his cruelty, and presumption, hath meeted to another.

XXVI. 53, 54. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be ?

It is a great weakness and ignorance in thee, if thou thinkest it is for want of help, that I am fallen into these malicious hands: no; I would have thee know, that if I would pray unto my Father in Heaven for rescue, I could easily obtain a mighty host of glorious angels to deliver me: but then, what would become of mankind ? or how should that be fulfilled, which the Scriptures have foretold concerning me, and that great work of Redemption, which must be wrought by me?

XXVI. 61. And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Whereas Jesus had said, If you shall destroy this living Temple of my body, I will, within three days, build it up again; these false witnesses, perverting his words, and misalledging them, as spoken of the material Temple of Jerusalem, accuse him to have said, I am able to destroy this Temple of God, which you hold in so great honour and reverence, and can build it up again in three days.

XXVI. 64. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Jesus saith unto him, I am indeed the Christ, the Son of God; but it is not for you to judge of me, by this now homely and contemptible appearance of mine: the time shall come, when ye shall behold me in another form: ye, who now look upon me with scorn and contempt, shall then see me sitting gloriously on the right hand of Majesty and Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven to judge both the quick and the dead.

XXVI. 68. Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

They say thou art a great Prophet; now, shew thy skill: out of thy deep knowledge, now tell us, thus hoodwinkt, who it is that smites thee.