conflicts. Temptation itself is not necessarily sinful; the sin consists in listening to the tempter and cherishing his suggestions. Through severe trials and temptations God's eminent servants are prepared for special usefulness. Thus, they learn to resolve the doubts of others or to administer consolation to the tempted.

3. We are taught to go to Jesus with our temptations when we see how He learned and knows what sore temptations mean. His example teaches us how most successfully to resist temptation by, "It is written," and by the sword of the Spirit and by the shield of faith. How important to be well skilled in its use, to have the mind and memory well stored with the Scripture in youth. Those individuals or communities who are best established in the Holy Scriptures are best fitted to resist temptation, and least likely to be led away by every form of

error.

4. Beware of the devil when he comes quoting Scripture. His followers are famous for it. Thus they prove spiritualism, universalism, anything, so long as they are allowed to mutilate or pervert the meaning of Scripture. Even thus Satan seeks to destroy your souls. the devil, and he will flee from you.'

"Resist

From which of the three temptations are we most in danger-Unbelief of God's Word? To choose the world. as our portion? Or presumptuous self-will?

THE TRAITOR'S KISS.

"Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”—Luke xxii. 48.

The term Son of man was one of the frequent designations of the Messiah. It included the idea of the Incarnate God, God manifest in the flesh. Three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, concur in their accounts of the betrayal. John in his Gospel gives a quite different though not contradictory account.

According to Matthew, Jesus asked, “Friend, wherefore art thou come?" (Matt. xxvi. 47-50.) According to Mark, Judas "Goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, Master, and kissed him." (Mark xiv. 43-45.) Luke narrates that while He yet spake to the sleeping disciples, "Behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" (Luke xxii. 47, 48.) And the Evangelist John adds, “As soon as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward and fell to the ground" (John xviii. 6), overawed by the heavenly majesty of His countenance. They could then have had no power to arrest Him and lead Him away had He not voluntarily surrendered Himself. Thinkest thou that He could not then have prayed and summoned more than twelve legions of angels to His assistance? The four writers all agree that the betrayal occurred in the garden of Gethsemane, though John omits to mention that memorable agony of the garden.

After the passover and after the institution of the Lord's Supper, our Lord and His disciples, Judas excepted, went out of the city over the brook Kidron to a garden. Judas knew well the spot, for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither. On that night Jesus, taking three chosen disciples, enjoined

upon them to watch, while He retired alone to pray. There He prayed in that agony, which we cannot comprehend when we read that, on a cold night (for a little later the soldiers and Peter warmed themselves by the fire), His sweat was great, drops of blood falling down to the ground. There His disciples strangely slept, instead of watching. There His prayer was answered by an angel strengthening Him. Himself now fully prepared for the conflict, He would give his disciples longer rest-but lo! torches and lanterns are seen in the garden and sounds of approaching footsteps are heard. There appeared a multitude of officers and men, well armed, as if they would have arrested a thief and were prepared to overcome all resistance. And Judas also stood with them, went before and led them.

It has excited the astonishment of many how came Judas there, standing among the enemies of Christ. Let us study the history and character of the traitor in order that we may gain new views of the sufferings of Him who was betrayed in order that He might die to redeem us.

1. Consider the historical facts. Judas was called among the original twelve disciples, and we know nothing of his earlier history. There was another Apostle of the same name called also Thaddeus and Lebbeus. This Judas or Jude wrote the Epistle of Jude, which is the last book but one in our New Testament. Judas, the traitor, was sometimes called Iscariot. As in the case of others who received the same commission, we suppose that Judas Iscariot wrought miracles, healed the sick, and preached that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. At least we find no evidence of any difference when they were commissioned and when they returned, rejoicing that the devils were subject unto them in the name of Jesus Christ. All shared in the expectation of a temporal dominion.

Judas seems not to have been suspected by his fellow disciples, until the last passover supper, and then only by one or two who understood the significance of the sop handed to him. He had been entrusted above the rest with a responsible office and duty. He was the treasurer of the

society. Did this office destroy him? Is it not more probable that his covetous nature prompted him to seek this office than that the official handling of the money tempted him to betray his trust? The testimony is positive that he was a thief. He held the bag or purse into which the contributions of the people were thrown, and from this common treasury it was his duty to provide for the common wants, viz., for the feast, or to make distributions to the poor. (John xii. 6 and xiii. 29.) Some interpret "Bare what was put therein" as bearing away, purloining. Positive also is the testimony of John that Judas cared not so much for the poor as he did for himself, and that his professions of regard for the poor were as hypocritical as his pretended love for the Master. The priests, we know, had long sought some plan to apprehend Jesus Christ. Doubtless they had thought of bribing and corrupting some of His adherents. They found their man in Judas Iscariot. Yet he seems to have gone freely to them and asked, How much or what will you give me? He had his price, thirty pieces of silver. Judas covenanted for this small sum and from that time sought opportunity to betray Him.

Judas was present at the passover feast. Whether he was present at the subsequent institution of the Lord's Supper is disputed. It is written by John, "He then, having received the sop, went immediately out; and it was night." (John xiii. 30.) Was this sop a part of the passover, or the Lord's Supper? Let us take it for granted that Judas thus disappeared before the institution of the Lord's Supper and before the precious discourse and prayer contained in three chapters of John's gospel. Where do we find him next? He reappeared with the treacherous kiss. Where was Judas during the subsequent trial? We are not informed. Probably he stood yet among the enemies of Christ, but despised by those who had used him as their tool. He had no accusation to bring. If his Master had done any wrong, either moral or political, here was the time and he the man to testify. The charges which false witnesses brought amounted to nothing.

upon them to watch, while He retired alone to pray. There He prayed in that agony, which we cannot comprehend when we read that, on a cold night (for a little later the soldiers and Peter warmed themselves by the fire), His sweat was great, drops of blood falling down to the ground. There His disciples strangely slept, instead of watching. There His prayer was answered by an angel strengthening Him. Himself now fully prepared for the conflict, He would give his disciples longer rest-but lo! torches and lanterns are seen in the garden and sounds of approaching footsteps are heard. There appeared a multitude of officers and men, well armed, as if they would have arrested a thief and were prepared to overcome all resistance. And Judas also stood with them, went before and led them.

It has excited the astonishment of many how came Judas there, standing among the enemies of Christ. Let us study the history and character of the traitor in order that we may gain new views of the sufferings of Him who was betrayed in order that He might die to redeem us.

I. Consider the historical facts. Judas was called among the original twelve disciples, and we know nothing of his earlier history. There was another Apostle of the same name called also Thaddeus and Lebbeus. This Judas or Jude wrote the Epistle of Jude, which is the last book but one in our New Testament. Judas, the traitor, was sometimes called Iscariot. As in the case of others who received the same commission, we suppose that Judas Iscariot wrought miracles, healed the sick, and preached that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. At least we find no evidence of any difference when they were commissioned and when they returned, rejoicing that the devils were subject unto them in the name of Jesus Christ. All shared in the expectation of a temporal dominion.

Judas seems not to have been suspected by his fellow disciples, until the last passover supper, and then only by one or two who understood the significance of the sop handed to him. He had been entrusted above the rest with a responsible office and duty. He was the treasurer of the