Christ at the Country-Seat

We never find Christ at a country-seat, save in the eighteenth chapter of John. The Saviour was not apt to be acquainted with people who owned country-seats.

The merchants of Jerusalem had suburban residences. Christ had somehow become acquainted with one of these men, and been invited by him to come out to the country home. There were gardens surrounding the house. After the heat and excitement of the day in the city, it. was pleasant to go out and sit and walk under the trees and among the flowers.

Jesus is in the garden one night, and sees the gleam of torches and lanterns. Judas and an armed band are coming to take him captive. In this rough way ended the season of reflection and recreation.

You find here, as elsewhere, that Jesus loved the country. We find him among the mountains and sitting by the sea. He pressed a lily irt his sermon. He caught a bird for a text. He walked in the garden the night of his capture.

So it is a good sign when a Christian finds company, and suggestiveness, and refreshment in the beautiful things of God’s world. There may be means of grace in a hyacinth or japonica. It is well when in the small door-yad of a city residence a patch of luxuriant grass is cultivated, or a clematis is taught to climb. A man can preach better of love and faith and heaven when there are camellias on the pulpit. It is no evidence of weak sentimentality when a Christian loves natural beauty. Jesus resorted to a garden.

No doubt Christ selected the garden of this country-seat as a place for private devotion. He who has no spot for secret prayer is a starveling Christian. A man has sorrows, temptations, sins and deliverances that are no one else’s business. He is a fool who tells the world everything. There are prayers that belong only to God’s ear. Better have some place consecrated to private prayer. Choose a pleasant place if possible — not the garret, not the cellar, but a room warm, lighted, cheerful. There is no use in penance. When you invite Jesus to meet you, open for him the most cheerful and pleasant place you can find. Jesus resorted to a garden.

Notice also that it was while in this beautiful suburb of the city, sitting, in the summer night, among the trees, that he was captured of his enemies. We are never more subject to attack from our spiritual enemies than when in the garden of ease. There is less danger for us when out in the conflict of life than when we sit down to rest. It is while unarmed and in quiet that pride breaks in, and indolence and worldliness “with lanterns and torches.”

We need ever to be on our guard. “Watch, therefore, and what I say unto one, I say unto all, Watch /” We cannot have so high a hedge about our garden that Judas cannot break through.

We want this hour for communion with God. We say, “Stand back, O world, with all thy cares!” And yet they break in. They begrudge us this quiet. They would like to carry us off. I see the gleam of their lanterns and torches. May God defend us from fears within and foes without!

We are further on in our Christian life. We are better or worse than last niht. If in one hour a man may lose or win heaven, what might we not gain in a week? Every moment is charged with eternal destinies. Our time for prayer, and repentance, and work will soon be gone. Let this hour be the golden milestone from which we measure our new march heavenward. O Jesus! meet us in the garden, and, as of old, let thy “garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia!”