Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1811-12-23
Lbe sgonitor.....No. LXlI.


" dni he casf dozun the pieces Of silver ~ fhe
Temple, and zsenf and hanged hinase.t."
Tie history Of Judas affords a lesson,
which, even at this day Is nor without It's
point. He was persuaded that tie Jesus
whom he followed was the promised Mes
siah but he probably expected, ~ did The
Jews generally, that his mission was to re-
suit in the temporal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of their
nation ard though the religion he taught
had IN itself sufficient charms to have Sc
cured the attachment of his followers, yet
Judas was not satisfied with its moral beau.
~ and excellency only. He doubtless no.
ped that when the preaching of his Master
should have drawn after him majority Of
the people, ha would assume tile relns OF
government, and then would commence the
glorious era which had been so long predic-
Ted. With this limited and base apprehcn-
sion OF The divine mission, it was natural for
the tcmporizing Judas to conclude that he,
among tile chosen twelve, would be adyan-
cod 10 the Chief offices of the state. Power.
honors and dignities danced before his eyes,
and notwithstanding the present loMliness
OF his Masters state, he viewed the day as
not far distant when mighty reyolulon
should place the haughty ScrIbes and Phsr.
isees, the chief Priests aud Rulers under
the feet Of the poor despised fishermen -
But when lie found that his ambition was
not to he gratiiied in this manaer, he sought
what he hoped would be The surer road 10
prefefment and distinction, and battered
his soul for thiry pieces. IL is not 10 be pre-
sumeU, however, that this was al tie re-
ward lie expected. He probably caEcula ed
that If lie could make himself instrumental
IN gratif, ling the darling wish of those then
IN power could lie be lLs means ut aiding
them IA CRUSHING what they considered as
faction hostile 70 their personal aggrsndize-
ment, lie should, Notwithstanding tie base
dereiIcslon Ut every principle Of honor,
whicb he manifested IN The TRANSACTION.
stand tairer chance for the same honors
which, he had ssinly expected To receive
from him whose kingdom Is not of t..is
world. But they kne w betger-they Knew
that wretch who would baseiy betray his
cause when its success began TO appear
doubtful and change his coat with Tire cur
rent If popular opinion, would also when
ever that current should discover the least
indication Ut another change, bctray fhrDl
as readily as he had before betrayed lis Sest
friends However they we're grasifird with
the success Ut their party they des?ised .he
TOOL through whose mslrumentas.,y il had
been Effected They gave him his stipuia
ted price. and THAT was all. Ashamed, NOR
tffed and disappointed, he began 10 ,ti'ect
on the enormity oil his crane, and s;u,g 70
the quick that tie had rendered himself 81
crinnsiiy odlous for so mean prlce, II the
agony Of has soul he si.urned il fsom him,
a.sL : went and hanged himself" Lei me
'empoFising, waserng, though pretended
friend 10 treth and good government hence
learn wisdom, and Il, modern aTo .tAtr>
here feadtheIr Guom Iudas coye,S ! IicI.
es and honoFs, and 50 do many IN tins day.
Jad Is aan.ed q be rslseu ~ : roit or hon.
or by shuse In afthUrity, and 50 ~ man,
now---Anc yudss hsngea l.Iasssli, aha 50
nsAy shss. M.