Page 81 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

80 THIRD BOOK OF
and love, unded upon humility; r those who love
honours cannot believe in him.
2. He has himself left us a brief history of his li in these words (Mat. xi. 5): " e blind see, the lame_ walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to - them, and blessed is he who shall not be scandalised in me." And when the bitterness of his enemies , had reached its highest point, he went with gladness to meet the su erings that brought redemption and salvation to man.
3. It is a just obseration, but one which redounds
not to our honour, that men oft times love that
which is evil and wicked, and that which is honour­
able and virtuous th will hardly believe of each
other. Thus, the enemies of the Most Holy und
believers and llowers, and He was despised, blas­
phemed, and murdered. A mind and a li opposed
to the thoughts and ways of the earth, must neces­
s.arilv have come in violent con ict with the world.

" Ile was in the world, and the world knew him not;
he came unto his own, and his own did n receive him.'·' There were a few who llowed him, but it was in timidity and fear; the power l, on the con­ trary, and the many, incited by the interpreters of the law, by the priests and the pharisees rose up against him and sought his death.
4. I Ie knew and retold his su erings. One of the chosen twelve was seduced to betray his Master, who, bound as a criminal, was led away to the tri­ bunal of the high priest. When s emnly adj_u d to con ss if he were the Son of God, he answered, "Iam/' Thendidtheassembledpriests,andscribes,
and members of the council) condemn him, as guilty