a vindictive punishment, for no such punishment can exist under the government of innite benevolence. Suffering inflicted without any beneficial design is unjust and unworthy of God; but sufferings inflicted to reclaim the sufferer, or to warn others, though severe and long continued, are not only consistent with, but are the result of perfect wisdom, justice, and benevolence. Such was that punishment which awaited the traitor, and which, no doubt, when his heart was wrung with anguish at the reflection of what he had done, extorted from him the bitter exclamation, "that it would have been better for him never to have been born." And this prompted him to lay violent hands upon himself, and to abandon that existence, the burden of which he could no longer endure: by which he has left an awful memorial that the best institutions, the most perfect example, the most virtuous society, and the most efficacious means of improvement, will not always secure men from the perpetration of the most odious crimes.

SERMON XI.

REFLECTIONS ON THE CHARACTER, CRIME, AND

FATE OF JUDAS.

PART THE SECOND.

MATTHEW, Xxvii. 3.

Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself.

THIS false apostle was a native of Iscarioth, a town in Galilee, and it is by this title that he is usually distinguished from another apostle of the same name, the brother of James, and a near relation of Jesus.

Of this infatuated and abandoned man we have already taken a former occasion to observe, that avarice was the predominant feature of his character; but, that there is no reason to think that he was a man of a sanguinary disposition.

That our Lord associated him into the

company of his apostles with a clear foresight of the treacherous part he was to act, and in order to accomplish the designs of Providence.

That this foolish and wicked disciple betrayed his master into the hands of his enemies for a trifling bribe, not intending any personal injury to him; but fully expecting that he would rescue himself, as he had repeatedly done, by an exertion of his miraculous power.

That this treachery of Judas had been often foretold by Jesus in the course of his ministry, and particularly at his last passover, where he first gave a general intimation to his disciples that one of the company would betray him; after which, he privately specified to Peter and John the person of the traitor; and lastly indicated it so distinctly to Judas himself, though not so openly as to be understood by the other disciples, as obliged him to rise up and leave the room.

That he retired probably before the in

par

stitution of the eucharist, and without ticipating in that sacred pledge of fidelity and affection.

Also, that the Scriptures justly represent the conduct of Judas as in the highest degree criminal and worthy of punishment, though it was predicted and predestinated to take place.

I now propose to make two additional observations, and to conclude with some practical reflections.

I. The Evangelists, Matthew and Luke, record, or are supposed to record, the remorse with which this unhappy man was overtaken, and the fatal consequence which ensued.

Matthew relates, that when Judas, who betrayed him, saw that he was condemned, he repented himself. He watched the issue of the business, expecting, no doubt, every moment, that his master, by the exertion of his miraculous power, would effect his escape, as at other times. But his hour was come; and though Jesus had the same power of confounding his adver

saries, of disarming their malice, or of eluding their pursuit, as before, he voluntarily submitted to an ignominious and painful death, in order to fulfil his Father's pleasure, and to accomplish the great purpose of his mission and ministry.

But

when Judas saw that sentence of condemnation was passed by the chief priests and council, and that Jesus was about to be led to execution, being disappointed in all his expectations, his mind was pierced with the most cutting remorse, when he considered how base, how unjust, how ungenerous, and how impious a part he had acted in being accessory to the death of so innocent and holy a person, so kind a friend, so generous a master, so distinguished a prophet, and divinely inspired teacher, and, wrung with anguish, he hastened to the council-chamber, made confession of his guilt,, and threw up the wages of iniquity.

The evangelist adds: "He brought the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I