was done: they spit upon Him, mocked their hands. Thus ended the second me. Dear Friend,-Thy letter has just reached III. THE FALLEN WITNESS.-On this The poem referred to was written in my boyish days, when I knew little of colonial occasion Peter, (the rock,) showed but history or anything else, and was included in little of the stability of the rock. Hmy published writings by my publisher against was in the company of enemies and felt my wishes. I think thou art right in regard afraid; no doubt he also felt ashamed to John Bonython. I knew nothing of him of his Galilean origin. Even save what I found in the Hist. of Saco, and maid" caused him to quail, and deuy heard of the name on this side of the water. supposed the name and race extinct, as I never his Master. The cock crew, a warning If possible, I shall have the entire poem omitto him. The maid persisted in her ted-if not, I will cheerfully add the note claim that he was a follower of Jesus, suggested. I thank thee for calling my attenand now began to tell it to them that stood do injustice to any one, living or dead. tion to the matter, as I would not knowingly by. This increased his alarm, and he I am, very truly, thy friend, denied it again. Then they that stood by took up the charge: Surely thou art one of them, and ** thy speech agreeth thereto. His Galilean brogue betrayed him. And he denied with curses, and thus became "the faithless witness." A second time the cock crew, and Peter recollected the words of Jesus, and his own boast: "though all should forsake, yet will I never." His heart melts, and he weeps bitter tears of shame and sorrow. It is said that he, all his life long, rose at the cock crowing, and prayed. Do likewise, when you deny your Lord. JOHN G. WHITTIER. THE AMENDE HONORABLE. Since the death of Longfellow, "the Quaker poet," Whittier, is generally regarded as holding the highest position in American literature. In a letter just published in a London periodical, he proves that he possesses a greatness of character which is worthy of his genius. In one of his early poems, "Mogy Megone," he had reflected on the character of John Bonython, one of the early settlers of Maine, and it must be confessed that he had some historical authority for his unfavorable remarks. Recently one of Bouython's remote descendants, living in Australia, wrote to Mr. Whittier, inquiring for the sources of his information, and suggesting that if there was no sufficient proof for his statements, that the fact might be stated in a note in subsequent editions of his works. In reply he received the following generous letter: Amesburg, Mass., U. S., 9 mo. 15, 1881. LIFE'S VOYAGE. My bark is wafted on the strand One who was known in storms to sail, He holds me when the billows smite; If sharp, 'tis short; if long, 'tis light- Safe to the land! safe to the land! BAD BARGAINS.-Once a Sabbathschool teacher remarked that he who buys the truth makes a good bargain and inquired if any scholar recollected an instance in Scripture of a bad bargain. "I d," replied a boy. "Esau male a bad bargain when he sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. "" A second said: "Judas made a bad bargain when he sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver." A third boy observed: "Our Lord tells us that he makes a bad ba gain who, to gain the whole world, looses his own soul." LESSON VII. THIRD SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT. JESUS BEFORE PILATE. MARK 15; 1-15. 1. And straightway" in the morning the chief) priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. 2. And Pilate asked him Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. 3. And the chief priests accused him of many things; but he answered nothing. 4. And Pilate a ked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. 5. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. 6. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. OUTLINE: 8. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. 7. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.kim, to be crucified. Ques. 46. How dost thou understand these words, "He ascended into heaven?" Ans. That Christ, in sight of His disciples, 9. But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10. For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 11. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. :{ 1. THE QUESTION OF THE JUDGE. Vs. 1-2. Verse 1. What was done early on Friday morning? Who were present? To whom did they deliver Jesus? Why? (See John 18: 32). What did Judas do about this time? (Matt 27: 3-10). : LESSON HYMNS: 12. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the GOLDEN TEXT: “ He is despised and rejected of men.” 2-5. What was the question of the Judge? Did our Lord acknowledge the title? What accusation did the Jews make? (Luke 23: 2). Did they say anything about blasphemy now? Why not? What kind of kingdom did Jesus say His is? (See John 18: 36-38). Did Pilate pronounce Jesus guilty, or innocent? 6-7. What custom had Pilate introduced? What notable prisoner was there? What was he? Nov. 12, 1882. Jews? 13. And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. 15. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged INSTRUCTION. For the full history read MATT. 27: 1-26. LUKE 23: 1-25. JOHN 18: 28-40. Notice the following four stages of His trial: (1) Jesus before the Sanhedrin; (2) before Pilate; (3) before Herod; (4) again before Pilate. Six stages in all. Verse 1. A consultation, a regular meeting of the Sanhedrin on Friday morning. To Pilate, the Roman Governor, who alone had power to put to death. 2. King of the Jews-i. e, the Messiah. Thou sayest it—it is true; I am. 3-5. False charges are not answered. Silence is the best reply. 6. Released a prisoner, in order to please the people. 7. Barabbas, a political prisoner. 9. Pilate wished to release Jesus. 10. Envy; the Jewish teachers were jealous of the great Teacher. 11. A murderer was preferred to Jesus. 12. What shall I do with Jesus? A perplexing question. 13. Crucify Him, instead of Barabbas, who would have met such a fate. 15. Willing to content the people-a weak, cowardly man's indecision. Delivered Jesus, and yet believed Him innocent. He suffered under Pontius Pilate." 6. CATECHISM. QUESTIONS. Isaiah 53: 3. was taken up from the earth into heaven; and 9-10. Whom did Pilate wish to release ? What feeling did he regard as the cause of Jesus' condemnation ? 11. Who incited the rabble to demand the release of Barabbas ? 12. What perplexing question did Pilate ask? Do you accept Him, or reject Him? 13-14. What demand did the crowd make? Was crucifixion a Jewish, or Roman mode of punishment? Were any but slaves and traitors crucified? 15. What was Pilate willing to do? What did he do first to Jesus? What next? Do you crucify Him afresh, and put Him to an open shame? (Heb. 6: 6). { "What shall I do with Jesus?" Third Sunday before Advent. I. THE QUESTION OF THE Judge. In the morning a consultation. Third stage of the trial. This meeting was a morning session, convened to ratify formally what had been done before with haste and informality. The night was not the time to hold a trial; there was no full attendance, perhaps. It seemed necessary that a regularly called council should condemn the Lord; and now they bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. This they did, because they had no power to put Him to death, as Pilate had. Thus with His delivery to Pilate, the fourth stage in His trial began. And Pilate asked Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? Why such a question? What has it to do with the charge of blasphemy, brought by the Jewish court? Nothing whatever. Pilate cared nothing about the Jewish religion, or temple, or anything concerning their laws. Hence these cunning rulers had brought a different charge against Jesus, and laid it before the Governor. This Galilean claims to be the King of the Jews, and as such wishes to excite a political revolution, and wrest Judea from the hands of Cæsar. They brought the charge of a political offense. He refuses to "pay tribute to Cæsar, saying that Himself is Christ, the King." Hence Pilate's question: Art Thou the King of the Jews? enemies of Jesus thus declared Him to be such a temporal king as they desired; and in that character they delivered Him up to the heathen Pilate. The answer of Christ was explicit: Thou sayest it; that is, what you say is true. In John 18: 33-38 we have the full reply of Jesus. "My kingdom is not of this world, ** else would My servants fight. **To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice." The effect of these words on Pilate was very great. He was convinced that Jesus was no exciter of revolt, no ambitious demagogue or zealot, but a King in the realm of truth, not of force. Hence it was that Pilate sought to release Jesus. II. THE SILENCE OF THE PRISONER. The chief priests accused Him of many things; to which He answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. He then seut Jesus to Herod, (Luke 23: 5-12), who e soldiers treated Him shamefully. This was the fifth stage in the trial. Herod returned Him to Pilate; who thereupon made this declaration: "I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this man; * * no, nor yet Herod; for I sent you to him; and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." Mark tells of the custom which Pilate had introduced-namely, setting a prisoner free on festive occasions, to deepen avail himself of this custom by releasthe general joy. He now sought to ing Jesus. III. THE PEOPLE'S WICKED CHOICE. The Jewish rulers were cunning enough to defeat Pilate's good intention. They have already determined who shall be released-Barabbas. "He was plainly a ringleader in one of those fierce outbreaks against the Roman denomination which fast succeeded one another in the latter days of the Jewish commonwealth." "It is remarkable that this man was confessedly guilty of the very crime with which the priests and rulers had falsely charged Jesus-that of sedition; and no plainer proof of their hypocrisy could be given to the watchful Pilate, than their efforts to release the former and to condemn the latter." Bar-Abbas-"son of the Father." He came as "a false Christ," a wouldbe political deliverer, who made insurrection, and had committed murder. Him the rulers preferred to Christ, the Deliverer from sin; and now they persuaded the peop'e to make the same wicked choice. Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? We must give Pilate credit for good intentions. He knew the spirit which actuated the Jewish rulers: he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him for envy. Jesus was a more popular Teacher than they, and this they could not tolerate. They "moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas." It is "no marvel to see murderers desire a murderer." What shall I do with Jesus? This was a perplexing question with Pilate; and it is with many. What shall we do with Him, if we choose Him not as our Lord and Saviour? They cried out, Crucify Him! Why so painful and shameful a death? What evil hath He done? Pilate asks. And the only answer he receives is a fiercer shout: Crucify Him! The mob was now fully aroused, and Pilate quailed before their anger; and wil ing to content the people, released Barabbas, but scourged Jesus and handed Him over to be crucified. The weak, pitifu! judge, that knew the right, but feared to bear witness to it. TELEGRAPH ENEMIES. Spiders in Japan seriously affect the usefulness of the electric wires. They spin their webs so thickly around and upon them, that when wet with dew they become good conductors and run the message to the earth. In vain men are employed continually in sweeping the wires. The spiders generally outnumber the men, and the difficulty remaius. The bear, too, loves honey, and when he hears the wind buzzing in the wires overhead, he assures himself that somewhere near must be a colony of bes, and, of course, a store of honey for him, so he carefully begins to search among the stones which secure the telegraph poles, to the great disturbance of the system and his own final disappointment.-Sunday. If we would build high, let us begin low and dig deep. A true sense of sin will bring us nearer to Jesus. Once brought to Him, and living a life of faith on Him, we shall bear more fruit to His glory. TWO FORTUNES. BY ALICE CARY. I'll tell you two fortunes, my fine little lad, For you to accept or refuse, Now hear them, and say which you choose. The scourging was terribly painful, and often resulted in the death of the vic-I tim. He was "stripped to the waist, his hands bound on his back, and he was then tied in a stooping posture to a pillar or post. He was then beaten, till the soldiers chose to stop, with knots of rope, or plaited leather thongs, armed at the end with acorn-shaped drops of lead, or small sharp-pointed bones." Many prisoners died under the scourge. Our Lord did not, however, being reserved for a still more painful end. I see by the gifts within reach of my hand A I see a great orchard, its boughs hanging down see droves of cattle, some white' aud some With apples both russet and red; I brown, But all of them sleek and well fed. I see flocks of swallows about the barn-door, see them, too, threshing the wheat on the floor; And the fanning-mill whirling so fast; And now the bright picture has past. And I see rising dismally up in the place Of the beautiful house and the land, A man with a fiery red nose on his face, And a little brown jug in his hand. Oh, if you behold him, my lad, you would wish That he were less wretched to see; For his boot toes they gape like the mouth of a fish, And his trousers are out at the knee. Nov. 19, 1882. 1. THE MOCKERY. Vs. 16-19. { 2. THE WEARY JOURNEY. Vs. 20-23. 3. THE CRUCIFIXION. Vs. 24-26. 20. Whither did they next lead Him? To do what? To whom did Jesus speak on the way? (See Luke 23: 27-31). 22. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 23. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received jet not. GOLDEN TEXT: "They pierced My hands and My feet." Ps. 22: 16. INSTRUCTION. Verse 16. The soldiers, Roman soldiers on guard at Pilate's residence. The hall was the court-yard, around which the Prætorium was built. 17. Purple, the color worn by Kings. Here, in mockery. Crown of thorns, instead of a golden crown. The crown was put on Him in mockery; the thorns are the symbol of the curse resting on sin. 19. Reed, instead of a royal sceptre in His hand. Spit upon Him, the token of deepest insult. Worshipped, in mock homage. 20. Led Him out, beyond the city walls. Crucify, to put to death by hanging on a cross. This death was inflicted upon none but slaves and the worst of criminals. 21. Simon, "the father of Rufus and Alexander." Cyrenian, Cyrene is a city in northern Africa. 22. Golgotha. same as Calvary. 23. Gave to drink, offered Him a stupefying drink, to deaden pain. 24. Parted garments; the soldiers received them. 25. Third hour, from sunrise; about 9 o'clock. 26. Superscription, the name, and the charge against Him. CATECHISM. Ques. 47. Is not Christ then with us, even with respect to His human nature, He is no to the end of the world, as He hath more on earth; but with respect to his promised? Godhead, majesty, grace, and Spirit, He is at Ans. Christ is very man and very God: no time absent from us. QUESTIONS. 24. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. 25. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 26. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 21. Whom did they meet on the way? What did they compel Him to do? Where is Cyrene? 22. What is the meaning of Golgotha? What name is generally used? Where was this place? 23. What did they offer Jesus? What was it to produce? Did He drink it? Why not? 24. What manner of death is crucifixion? What kind of persons only were crucified? What did they do with His garments? What with the seamless robe? (See John 19: 24). 25. At what o'clock did the crucifixion begin? 26. What title did Pilate place over Jesus' head? Is He the King of your heart? Do you serve Him? LESSON HYMN: “O, Sacred Head, now wounded.” |