Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/184

 you deserted  your  colors! Surrender yourself  again  to your  captain,  renew  your  oath,  and  promise  an  exact obedience for  the  future. Banish from  your  heart whatever you  suspect  may  have  treacherously  leagued with his  and  your  enemies,  and  say  with  the  psalmist, "Deliver me  from  my  enemies,  O  Lord!  teach  me  to  do Thy  will,  for  Thou  art  my  God." (Ps. cxlii.  9.)

I. Christ  having  ended  His  prayer,  said  to  His  disciples, "Rise, let  us  go;  behold,  he  is  at  hand  who  will  betray me.  And  as  he  yet  spoke,  behold  Judas,  one  of  the  twelve, came." (Matt. xxvi.  46.)  Mark  the  persevering  diligence of the  traitor  in  his  bad  design. — The other  Apostles  had been asleep,  and  were  scarcely  roused  at  the  third  call of their  master. Judas, on  the  contrary,  was  upon  the watch to  betray  him. How attentive  are  men  to  temporal affairs,  and  how  careless  in  spiritual  things! Deplore this miserable  folly  of  mankind  and  of  yourself. "Judas, one  of  the  twelve,  came." Oh unheard  of  ingratitude! He who  had  been  so  highly  favored  by  his Master, appears  at  the  head  of  His  enemies  to  seize  Him. Learn hence,  not  to  rely  too  much  on  gifts  that  have been received  without  desert. The more  you  have,  the more will  be  required  from  you,  and  the  greater  cause you have  to  fear. " Howl,  thou  fir-tree,  for  the  cedar  is fallen." (Zach. xi.  2.)  Have  you  not  reason  to  fear, when an  Apostle  fell?

II. " And  with  him  [came]  a  great  multitude  with swords  and  clubs." (Matt. xxvi.  47.)  Mark  how  this wicked rabble  came  armed  with  malice,  and  prepared  to gain  their  evil  object,  in  regard  to  Jesus. They were