h the spear, crowned with
thorns, taunted by the revilings of the multitude, the vinegar and the
gall. He must be deserted, and encounter these trials alone. He must be
rejected, betrayed, crucified alone. And as he spoke to his disciples
those words of affection and holiness-those words so full of counsel and
sublime consolation-he remembered all this; he remembered that they who
now clung to him, and listened in sorrow to his parting accents, would
soon be scattered as sheep without a shepherd, and leave him to himself
in all that shame and agony. But even as he foretold it there gleamed
upon his spirit the sunshine of an inner consciousness,--a comfort that
no cloud could darken; and instantly he added, "And yet I am not alone,
because the Father is with me."

Having thus considered the circumstances in which these words were
spoken, I now proceed to draw from them a few reflections.

I would say, then, in the first place, that the great test which proves
the excellence of the religion of Christ is its adaptation to man in
solitude,--to man as a solitary being; because it is then that he
is thrown upon the resources of his own soul,--upon his inner and
everlasting life. In society he finds innumerable objects to attract his
attention and to absorb his affections. The ordinary cares of every
day, the pursuit of his favorite scheme, the converse of friends, the
exciting topics of the season, the hours of recreation, all fill up his
time, and occupy his mind with matters external to himself. And looking
upon him merely in these relations, if we could forget its great social
bearings, and the harmonies which flow from its all-pervading spirit out
into every condition of life, we might, perhaps, say that man could get
along well enough without religion. If this world were made up merely of
business and pleasure, perhaps the atheist's theory would suffice,
and we might feel indifferent whether controlled by plastic matter or
intelligent mind. We will admit that happiness, in one sense of the
term, does not essentially depend upon religion. Nay, we must admit this
proposition. A man may be happy without being religious. Good health,
good spirits;--how many, possessing these really enjoy life, without
being devout, or religious according to any legitimate meaning of that
term.

But change the order of circumstances. Remove these external
helps,--substitute therefor sorrow, duty, the revelations of our own
inner being,--an