g grace? Then
this is a godly repentance, which needs not to be repented of. These
are tears which His love shall transform to pearls. How different this
to the attitude of a Judas! Each fell; but in their demeanor afterward
the one was shown to be gold, silver, precious stones; the other wood,
hay, and stubble.

How may we be kept from falling again?

(1) Let us not sleep through the precious moments which heaven affords
before each hour of trial; but use them for putting on the whole armor
of God, that we may be able to stand in the evil day.

(2) Let us not cast ourselves needlessly into situations where our most
cherished convictions are likely to be assailed by wanton men; though
if God should lead us there we need not fear, for it will be given us
in the same hour what to answer. Take care of warming yourself at the
world's fire.

(3) Let us keep within the environing presence of our Lord. It is
always right to do right; always safe; always blessed. Satan can only
hurt us when he allures us out of that safe hiding-place. Never
forsake the things which are pure, and lovely, and of good report.
You, in Jesus, shall yet overcome the world if you refuse to allow the
world to come between Him and you.

XXVII

The Trial before Caiaphas

"Annas had sent Him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest."--JOHN xviii.
24.

It was as yet but two or three o'clock in the morning. Jerusalem was
still asleep, and well it was for the foes of Jesus that no suspicion
of what was on foot had breathed into the minds of the crowds of
pilgrims; for, had the Galileans only known what was being done to
their favorite prophet, they would have risen, and the plot must have
miscarried before Jesus was handed over to the Romans. But, as the
Lord said, "It was their hour and the power of darkness." The darkest
hour before the dawn!

When Annas had completed his preliminary inquiry he gave orders that He
should again be bound with the thongs of which He had been relieved,
and led to that part of the palace specially used by Caiaphas, who was
High Priest, but a mere puppet in the hands of the wily Annas. By this
time the leading Pharisees, Sadducees, and priests, had been got
together, summoned by special messengers; and though the formal meeting
of the Council was probably not held till a little later (compare Matt.
xxvi. 57 with xxvii. 1, 2), the trial was really conducted at that
untimely hour, and the evidence procu