: equally the subject of His concern,—this seems hardly credible. So again, we find no difficulty in believing that the more considerable events in our own lives are duly noted in the Book of GOD's remembrance, because they are, to us, all in all but the various petty chances which day by day befal us; the many minute acts which go to form a habit, and which together make up a character, these, because they seem to ourselves so very petty, we are inclined to believe may be by GoD altogether unheeded. Thus we make ourselves the standard of all things; and even judge of GOD's eternal Attributes by the measure of our own imperfections. Surely, we shall do well at this time to try to banish from our minds so serious a mistake: serious, because this habit of regarding some things as little with GOD, lies at the root of all Sin; and occasions that practical Infidelity of which men are guilty as often as they speak as if they were overlooked by His Providence; uncared for, and as it were forsaken by Him: their trials unmeasured, their tears unnoted, their inward bitterness a secret to GOD as well as to man. Let it be ours to remember that we have to do with One who doth indeed measure the waters in the hollow of His Hand, and mete out Heaven with the span, and comprehend the dust of the Earth in a measure, and weigh the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance ;-yet, who feedeth His flock like a shepherd; and gathereth the lambs with His arm a. a Is. xl. 11, 12. Wednesday before Easter. SIN A HARDENER OF THE HEART. ST. MATTHEW xxvi. 14-16. One of the Twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. THE exact history of Wednesday in Holy Week is, it must be confessed, somewhat doubtful. What at least is certain,-Judas, as on this day, made his wicked compact with the chief priests to betray his LORD to them, for money and truly, so astonishing a transaction, so black and revolting a crime, may well have the thoughts of a whole day to itself. The event of to-day has been felt in fact by the Church from the earliest period to be so tremendous, that all the Wednesdays in the year derive from the Wednesday in Holy Week a character of solemnity second only to that which the sacrifice of our LORD's Death on Good-Friday, has imparted to all the other Fridays in the year. On reviewing the sacred record of the transaction thus brought under our notice, how many thoughts force themselves upon us! How unlovely seem our gains! and how unblessed a thing, until God hath blessed it, seems the pursuit of gain!-How subtle, also, must the snare be which could lure an Apostle into the betrayal of the innocent blood; and that blood, the blood of Him who came into the World to save the World!-Then further, how unavailing do the loftiest opportunities, the most precious privileges, prove to be, in and by themselves, to promote our chiefest good!-The several trains of thought, thus suggested, we may follow out with advantage for ourselves in private. It is proposed now to derive another lesson from the crime of Judas; which may indeed be regarded as the very mystery of iniquity, and as containing within itself the whole history of sin. Above all things, probably, we are here struck with the deadening, hardening effect of sin upon. the heart. Else, surely, the words of CHRIST would have melted Judas, many a time, into sorrow, wrought in him repentance, awakened in him some natural touch of pity. It was his Friend whom he was about to betray,-his Benefactor whom he was about to injure so : irreparably the One who had walked with him, and always in meekness and love, for three years and upwards. For a miserable sum of money, he was about to work the ruin of One who had displayed so many a time in his presence Almighty Power; yea, who had conferred on himself the gift of working miracles. He was going to deliver into the hands of men, thirsting, (as he was well aware,) for nothing less than the blood of their victim, the Holy Being who had gone about doing good to all,-curing diseases,— relieving want, preaching the Gospel,-for the space of three years. He would have to look upon that sacred forehead bruised with stones; those lips, silenced for ever; those hands, powerless; those limbs, stark and cold. Never more, if he effected his accursed purpose,-never more by the hill-side, could they take their simple meal together; sweetened by His solemn converse; made a holy thing by His blessing!.. Never more by the Lake, or upon its grey waters, or along its further coast, would they be found, those twelve Disciples and their LORD; the words of eternal Life flowing the while from His lips, sweeter than honey or the honeycomb.' Never more in the Garden would they rest at evening, together; seeing Him engaged |