you can read in the seventeenth chapter of St. John's Gospel, and which I hope you will learn by heart as soon as you are old enough. Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

CHAPTER XXIX.

JESUS SUFFERING IN THE GARDEN, AND

BETRAYED.

As they were going, Jesus began to say that all the disciples would forsake Him that night. They were all much shocked at the thought, and said they never would forsake Him. Peter was certain he never could be offended at his Lord, even though every one else was. Jesus told him that that very night, before the cock crew, he would deny Him three times. Peter was more and more positive, and said that, even if he should die with Jesus, he would never deny Him. Now there was a garden near the Mount of Olives called Gethsemane, to which Jesus often went with his disciples. They all went there now for the

last time. Jesus told his disciples to sit where they were for a time, while He went a little way off to pray. He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be filled with sorrow. Now was the time of the Saviour's greatest suffering. He told the three disciples his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Then He went a little further to pray, and falling on his face He said, "Oh! my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Jesus had told Peter, James, and John to watch with Him; but when He came back to them they were asleep. Hear how gently He spoke to Peter, "What! could you not watch with me one hour?" Jesus then went away again to pray, and we are told that an angel came and strengthened Him. Being in an agony He prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And what was all

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this agony? No one had yet touched Him. Oh, no! It was not his body that suffered. The agony was in his soul. Jesus was now bearing the wrath of God against sin, your sin, and my sin, dear children! Yes, we must have borne that agony for ever had not Jesus borne it for us. Again He came back to his disciples, and again found them sleeping. "Watch and pray," was the Saviour's kind rebuke. Again He left them, and again found them asleep. The time had come when He was to be betrayed; and while He spoke to his disciples, Judas came near with a number of people sent from the Chief Priests and Scribes with swords and staves. Judas had agreed with them that he would go up to Jesus and kiss Him. As soon as they were come near to Him, he went up to Him, saying, "Hail, Master," and kissed Him. Simon Peter had a sword with him. As soon as he saw that his Master was going to be taken he drew his sword, and

cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the Chief Priest. But the holy Jesus was kind even to his enemies. In a moment He touched the man's ear, and healed him. He told Peter to put up his sword into its sheath. Do you not know (said Jesus) that if I were to ask my Father He would send me multitudes of angels to defend me from these wicked men? "Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled."