loving Eyes, with which Thou didst look upon Peter after he had denied Thee, and to grant me speedily the grace of holy contrition; that so I may be cleansed from all the sins, whether deliberate or indeliberate, which I have committed against Thee. Listen to the groans of my heart; heal the wounds of my evil conscience; give me once more the light of Thy grace; and keep from perishing a penitent soul, for the redemption of which Thou wast content to endure such anguish, such insults, and in the end the cruel death of the Cross.
CHAPTER IX
☙ The leading away of the Lord Jesus from Annas
to Caiaphas the Priest, and the Lord's standing
before him
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Chief Priest, and
Perpetual High Priest, for Thy contemptuous leading away from the house
of Annas to that of Caiaphas the High Priest,
where the Scribes and Elders were gathered together to take cruel counsel against Thee. Ah!
with what unholy joy were they filled, when they
saw Thee Whom they had long wished to seize,
but could not, because Thy hour was not yet come,
brought before them as a prisoner. But this is
their hour, and the power of darkness, permitted
them by God that they might fill to the brim the
cup of hate which they had so long been maturing
against Thee; and might now at length openly give
effect — to Thy honour and glory indeed, and for the
salvation of the faithful, but for the eternal damnation of unbelievers — to their inveterate malice,
