May the God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory, by Christ Jesus our Lord, make us perfect; strengthen, settle us! Unto Him be glory and dominion, thanksgiving and praise, for ever and ever! SERMON XIX, MATT. xxvi. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh T is weak. Ir is in seasons of adversity and dangerous trial that men's principles are put to the proof, and the real worth of their character shineth forth. And we may truly say, that never was equal fortitude and presence of mind, or so perfect a piety, humanity and benevolence, disclosed upon the theatre of this world, as by our Saviour in his last sufferings. The evangelist had immediately before been giving an account of that overwhelming sorrow and dejection of mind which the blessed Jesus laboured under at this time; at the near approach of that cruel and infamous death which which he was to undergo, of which he had the full foreknowledge given him; recording his humble submissive prayer at the same time to God, if it might be consistent with the designs of his infinite wisdom, and good for himself and for all, to be delivered from it, ver. 39. "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." In this sad extremity, on removing to a small distance from his disciples, to pray in secret to the great Supporter of all his creatures in their distresses, he had desired the three whom he had selected from the rest, to keep themselves awake and attend to what passed, that they might give him assistance if he should want and call for it; for he was afraid of fainting quite away. "Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me.' He addresses himself to Peter, as he had made greater professions of attachment than the others, to make him sensible of his faults. But when he returned, expecting to receive comfort from them, ver. 40, "he findeth them asleep :"-upon which," he saith unto Peter, Peter; What, could ye not watch with me one hour? "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." In this latter clause it has been thought by some that our Saviour makes a kind apology for his disciples, to excuse them for their not being more attentive to himself; viz. that he knew they were well disposed to him, but their sorrow and heaviness had got the better of them; warning them, however, to be more careful for the time to come. But although he might be inclined to pass over their unkindness to himself, and unconcernedness for him in his distress, it is not likely that he should apologize for their neglect and inattention, when at the same time they themselves were in the most imminent danger, and going to be put to the most severe trial, which would terrify them so as to make them desert him, their Master, in his greatest need, and might issue in their deserting truth and goodness, and falling away entirely from him. In his rebuke, therefore, though tempered with mildness, as it was now, and al VOL. I. 2 B ways |