Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

In this Period I shall observe, 1. Judas's Treason. 2. Christ's Apprehension. 3. Christ's binding. 4. Christ's leading to Annas, one of the Chief Priests, as to his first station.

1. Judas's treason: And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was ⟨p. 351⟩called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. ¹This Traitor is not a Disciple only, but an Apostle; not one of the seventy, but one of the twelve. Augustine speaks of many offices of Love that Christ had done to Judas in especial manner; he had called him to be an Apostle, made him his Friend, his Familiar, caused him to eat of his Bread, sit at his Table, and to dip his hand in the Dish with him; yea if his Tradition be true, Jesus had delivered Judas often from death, ²and for his sake healed his Father of a Palsy, and cured his Mother of a Leprosy: and next to Peter, honoured him above all other his Apostles. Of this we are sure, that he kissed him, and washed his feet, and made him his treasurer, and his Almoner; and that now Judas should betray Christ; O how doth this add to the sufferings of Christ, and to the Sin of Judas? Behold, a multitude, and Judas in the front: he went before them, tam pedibus quam moribus; in his presence, and in his malice. The Evangelist gives the reason of this, that he might have the better opportunity to kiss him, this was the sign he gave the rout; whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he, lay hold on him; he begins war with a Kiss, and breaks the peace of his Lord by a Symbol of kindness: Jesus takes this ill; What, Judas! betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? q. d. What,³ dost thou make the seal of Love the sign of treachery? What! must a Kiss of thy mouth be the Key of treason? O what a friendly reproof is here! By way of use.