children as well as grown-up men, will all in their appointed course be called upon, like Pontius Pilate, to make their choice. Even this holy season has perhaps brought to us some portion of our trial. It may perhaps have set more vividly before us sins and negligences which we thought not of before; and when we again go forth from our Lord's presence, we shall either have to act on our new feelings and resolutions, or to evade them by some half measure, or to seek some subterfuge to set them aside. Let us remember then, if it be so, that though this trial may not be our last, it will undoubtedly leave us better or worse than when it came; it will advance us one step further on the road to heaven or hell.

Lastly, I will advert to one particular point in which the warning of Pilate fills up that which was wanting in the warning of Judas-I mean with reference to the Holy Communion; for as the latter spoke to the unworthy communicant, so does the

former to those who habitually turn aside from that Heavenly Feast. There are many who refuse to partake of it simply on account of the privileges which it conveys; they believe, and rightly believe, that these privileges may either bring with them a blessing or a curse, and for this cause they are anxious to set them aside. They do not pronounce themselves either good or bad, but avoid all self-examination; and, if at times doubts and misgivings should arise, they suppress them by the hope that they are not really less righteous, but more scrupulous than their neighbours, and merely shrink from a responsibility which others venture to incur. Now such persons are at best only following the footsteps of Pontius Pilate, along the path in which he walked during the whole ministry of our Lord. Nay, it may be truly said that they resemble him in the awful choice which he this day made; for by them, as by him, the responsibility has been incurred already; the blessing or the burthen has

been forced upon them. When the invitation has once been given them by our Blessed Lord, they must either accept it or reject it, they cannot really set it aside. They have indeed escaped the sin of Judas, who as a guest without a wedding garment partook of the heavenly feast; but their names will be written among the number of those for whom the supper was prepared, and who yet refused to come.

Easter Eve.

THE EVENTS OF EASTER EVE.

"Now the next day that followed the Matt.xxvii.

day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be

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