ine Son. They were decked in flowing robes; but at, terrible to
say, instead of appearing resplendent in their character of priests of
the Most High, they were transformed into priests of Satan, for no one
could look upon their wicked countenances without beholding there,
portrayed in vivid colours, the evil passions with which their souls
were filled--deceit, infernal cunning, and a raging anxiety to carry out
that most tremendous of crimes, the death of their Lord and Saviour,
the only Son of God. Next followed the false witnesses, his perfidious
accusers, surrounded by the vociferating populace; and last of
all--himself--her Son--Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, loaded with
chains, scarcely able to support himself, but pitilessly dragged on by
his infernal enemies, receiving blows from some, buffets from others,
and from the whole assembled rabble curses, abuse, and the most
scurrilous language. He would have been perfectly unrecognisable even
to her maternal eyes, stripped as he was of all save a torn remnant of
his garment, had she not instantly marked the contrast between his
behaviour and that of his vile tormentors. He alone in the midst of
persecution and suffering looked calm and resigned, and far from
returning blow for blow, never raised his hands but in acts of
supplication to his Eternal Father for the pardon of his enemies. As he
approached, she was unable to restrain herself any longer, but
exclaimed in thrilling accents: 'Alas! is that my Son? Ah, yes! I see
that it is my beloved Son. O, Jesus, my Jesus!' When the procession was
almost opposite, Jesus looked upon her with an expression of the
greatest love and compassion; this look was too much for the
heartbroken mother: she became for the moment totally unconscious, and
John and Magdalen endeavoured to carry her home, but she quickly roused
herself, and accompanied the beloved disciple to Pilate's house.

The inhabitants of the town of Ophel were all gathered together in
an open space to meet Jesus, but far from administering comfort, they
added a fresh ingredient to his cup of sorrow; they inflicted upon him
that sharp pang which must ever be felt by those who see their friends
abandon them in the hour of adversity. Jesus had done much for the
inhabitants of Ophel, but no sooner did they see him reduced to such a
state of misery and degradation, than their faith was shaken; they
could no longer believe him to be a king, a prophet, the Messiah, a