It is a fact that after keeping the last Passover, and observing, for the first time the Lord’s Supper with his disciples, Jesus left Jerusalem near midnight with the little band of his followers. He went down the side of the hill on which the city stood and crossed the brook Kedron on the way to Gethsemane. It is a fact that on going into the garden he left eight of his disciples at the entrance. It is a fact that he took with him the chosen, favored three, Peter, James, and John, and went further into the garden. It is a fact that then he “began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he—my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” It is a fact that he withdrew from the three disciples, and, alone with God, he bowed himself to the earth, and prayed, saying, “O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” It is a fact that after offering this earnest prayer he returned to his disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What! could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” It is a fact that he went away again, “and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” It is a fact that in the depths of his agony, “there appeared unto him an angel from heaven strengthening him.” We are not told what the angel said to him. No doubt he brought to him some tender, loving words from his Father in heaven, to comfort and encourage him. It is a fact that he returned to his disciples again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. It is a fact that he went away again, and prayed, saying, “O, my Father, if this cup may not pass from me except I drink it, thy will be done.” It is a fact that he returned the third time to his disciples, and said—“Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold he is at hand that doth betray me.” And it is a fact that, immediately after he had spoken these words, the wretched Judas appeared with his band to take him. These are the facts told us by the evangelists respecting Jesus and his agony in Gethsemane. They are very wonderful facts, and the scene which they set before us in our Saviour’s life is one of the most solemn and awful that ever was witnessed. And now, let us go on to speak of _the lessons_ taught us by these facts. These lessons are _four_. _The first lesson we learn from Gethsemane is a lesson—ABOUT PRAYER._