The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-11-28

N''N MY HOul ~ tACttulll9
sorrowtill, even unto death; stay here and
watch with me-" Every prop seemed falling
beside him, and in the deepening gloom and
dread that surrounded him, he reached out
for sympathy and aid. Then as if recolect-
ing hlmselfand the task before him, he broke
away even from those three remaining friends
and they saw with speechless grief and n
nazement his form disappear in the darkness.
Jerusalem issunk in slumber and security,
and nought but the tread of the watchmen
Is heard along the streets. The disciples i'm
the garden ofGethsemane are quietly sleep
ing below, and all is still and solemn, as night
ever is when left alone; and the large umin-
Gus stars are shining down in their wonted
beauty. hedron goes murmuring by, as if
singing IN its dreams, and the olive trees rus
Tie TO the passing breeze; as If their leaves
were but half stirred from their slumbers.
1t is night, most quietnight, with all its nc
compartments ofbeauty and loveliness
But bark, from the summit of Mount Oil
vet rises low and plaintive moan, and there,
stretched on the dewy grass, his face TO IL D
earth, is seen the dim outlines ola human
form. Al is still around, save that moan
which arises in a deep, perpetual monotony,
like the last cry of helpless suffering. But
listen again; prayer is ascending the heav-
EMS and what prayer, aud in what tones il
is uttered. Such accents never before rl,ng
on the ear of God or man: "Futher, if il be
possible, let this cup pass from me-" 1t is sill
again, and nature herself seems TO gasp for
breath and 10, there arises another voice. in
tones ofresignation sweeter than angels use.
Father, not my will but thine be done" Oh,
what neXpressible tenderness is poured in
that word, "Father'-the very passion and
soul oflOve is breathed in it, Wearied and
worn, that totterng form slowly rises and
moves through the gloom towards where The
three friends are sleeping-going in its hui
nanity after sympathy. The pressure is too
great-the sorrow and despair is TOO deep.
and the human heart reaches out its hands
lmplorlngly for help. "Whnt, could YOU not
watch with me one hour" falls on their slum-
berous ears, and the lone sufferer turns again
TO his solitude and his woe. Prone on the
earth he again casts himself and the wave
comes back with heavier and darker flow.
Bursting signs aud gronns that rend the heart
again startle the midnight air, and down those
pale cheeks the blood is tricklng, and the |
dewy grass turns red as if a wounded man |
were weltering there. The life stream is |
flowing from the crushed heart, as it trem- !
bles and wrestles in the grasp of its mighty |
agony. Woe and darkness, and horror in |
conceivable, Understandable. gather in fearful |
companionship around that PROSTATE form,
but stu the prayer goes up, and still the voice
OF resignation hovers amid the tumult like |
the breath ofGod over world in chaos. ru-
ling the wild scene. u
Oh, s this the form that few DAYS ago
stood on the same height and looked off on
Jerusalem sleeping below, while the sunlight
around, and the fragrant breezes loaded with
the scent ofthe pomegranate and vine, visited
IN kindness his brow, and the garden smiled
up in his face from beneath, and garments
were srewed before him, and branches Of
palm waved around him, and "HosANNAH TO
THE HIGHEsTm shook the hill2 Alas. what
a change has passed over him. No hosannas
greet his ear, but deep within his soul are
voices OF terror and dismay, striving but in :
vain, TO shake his consistency or darken his
faith - -
At length the sacrifice was paid, the fear
Iull baptism endured, and the brow lIrepared
Tor its chaplet of ;borns The agony was o.
yer; but the Son of God, weak and eNhaus-
ted, lay helpless on the earth, when 10. n
bright wing flashed through the gloom. and
San angel appeared strengthening him." Oh,
no wings ever before passed the portals of
heaven, with such lightning like rapidly, not a.,
even when the birth song arose from the man !
ger OF Bethlehem, as those which sped away
or the Mount of Olives, never before did
hey SO Joyousy enclose with heir bright fol-
iingS human or divine form, as when they ,,
the bloody, exhausted body of the !
Son of God A'
The first act in the fearful tragedy had now
passed, and the second was soon to COM :
nence. There was, however, to be an inter :
'ai otinsuts, scorn and mockery =,
Christ arose fromthe earth he had moisteu- ;,
"a with his blood, and stood beneath the stars, n
hat still shone on as TRANQUILITY as if all un-
Conscious of the scene that had transpired in e
helr light kedron still murnured by, and p
he night air stirred the leaves as gentle as -
yer. Ali was sweet and tranquil, when torch +,
. were seen dancing TO and fro along the %
lopes ofthe hill, and the heavy tread Of ap-
'roaching feet was heard, and rough voices -
roke the holy quiet of nature; and soon Ro- n
nan helmets flashed through the gloom, and &c
words Slttered in the torch light. and band @,
i soldiers drew up before "the man of sor- {;
ows." Whom seek YEP" fell in languid and o.
uiet accents on their ears. "Jesus of Naz- p,
reth" was the short and stern reply. clam
e, was the answer, but in tones that had
more OF God than man in them, for swords W
nd torches sunk to the earth at their utter "
nee, and those mailed warriors staggered %
ack and fell like dead men. Ii WINS not the :"
aggard and blood streaked face over which "
ne torches shed their sudden glare, that mn VI
erved them so, for they were used to scenes "
violence and murder-it was the God !"
peaking from the man.
but so It must he, that the Scriptures may =,
Q fulillled;" and the berayer and his accom- y
hces take up their fallen weapons, and freed ~
ON the sudden awe that overwhelmed them 81
lose threateningly around their unresisting ut
Ictlm. With their prisoner they catter 70
own the declivity of Olivet, cross Kedron, ~
nd soon their heavy tread resounds along ~
ne streets of Jerusalem as they hurry on to ny
'e house of the high priest ~