life; that by a profound humility, and a true estimate of my own vileness, I may continually advance to the glory of eternal blessedness. Amen.

XV. PILATE CONDEMNS THE LORD TO BE CRU

CIFIED.

Prophecy.

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His Mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.

Gospel Harmony.

S. John xix. 6-15; S. Matt. xxvii. 24-27.

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because He made

Himself the SON of GOD. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment-hall, and saith unto JESUS, Whence art Thou? But JESUS gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto Him, Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest Thou

not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee? JESUs answered, Thou couldst have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this Man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend : whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought JESUS forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and

He saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged JESUS he delivered Him to be crucified.

Reflections.

As CHRIST was brought before the tribunal, so should we bring ourselves before the tribunal of our own consciences, that we may escape the strict judgment of GOD; and judge ourselves that we be not judged of the LORD; (1 Cor. xi. 38;) undergo all adversities patiently, for in them we stand before the tribunal of GOD; for when we are judged, we are chastened of the LORD, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor. xi. 39.) O Thou,

Who didst stand before Pilate to be judged, may I stand without fear in Thy last judgment. Thou fearest nothing because Thou art ready to suffer for all, to redeem all, knowing well that Thy Death shall give them life; and Thy condemnation in the society of the wicked shall be their salvation before the Sovereign Judge.

Meditations.

Who can read, without horror, this sentence of death, which they pronounce against Thee, O true Life of our souls? O the only Hope of sinners,

can the human heart be so hard, that men could see Thee thus suffer without being touched with compassion, and that they should demand Thy Death, and cry with one voice, "Away with Him! Crucify Him?"

my SAVIOUR, I will adore and serve Thee; I will seek and love Thee. Enter into my soul and reign there supreme; but pardon me, O my God! for I am more guilty than those people; they wished not for Thee, because they knew Thee not, neither believed in Thee; and I who believe in Thee, worship Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be what Thou art; how many times have I turned away mine eyes, when Thou hast revealed Thyself unto me, to look on that which separates me from Thee. Heal this infirmity, O LORD, that I never lose sight of Thee, but that Thou mayest always be the object of my desire.

O Eternal Love! how adorable are Thy dispen

sations! Those for whom Thou diest, choose the kind of death they shall make Thee die. My sins joined with the clamours of the Jews, and demanded justice against Thee, because Thou art charged with my debts, which could only be thereby satisfied by Thee. O boundless charity! Thou hast suffered the death of the Cross, because our sins demanded it for Thee. Listen, O sinful soul, to the voice of the herald, who proclaimed that JESUS of Nazareth was condemned to die on the Cross between two thieves, as a Malefactor, and false King. Consider how meekly His holy humility received this cruel sentence. Listen

to the joyful shouts of His enemies, whose wishes are gratified. Behold the ardour with which they press the execution of this sentence; and in the midst of this tumult behold the silence, the calmness, the meekness of JESUS, Who awaits all, sees all, and suffers all without complaining, or without any mark of impatience. O wondrous clemency of GOD! 0 inestimable patience of CHRIST! which so great injuries could not move, nor so great pains subdue.

What ought to be my confusion, and what can I say before Thee, O LORD, when I see that Thou wert delivered for me to the cruel and unjust will of Thine enemies, and I refuse to give myself up to Thy will. To condemn Thee to death, it is sufficient that Thine enemies ask it; but that I may acquiesce in whatever sorrow comes upon me, it is not sufficient that Thou willest it. Those men were blind and wicked, and Thou gavest Thyself up to their will. Thy will, LORD, is the rule of all right, yet I hesitate to submit to it. O the blindness of my mind! O the hardness

of my heart! Change, O LORD, henceforth this disposition of my heart, which is so baneful to myself, and so unworthy towards Thee. I give myself without reserve to Thy will; and for my consolation in all that afflicts me, I wish for no other reason, than that Thou hast appointed it. There would I bind and

may be done, and not

crucify myself, that Thy will mine, now and at all times, in life and death, in time and eternity.

O most merciful LORD! I am charged with sins, and Thou art innocence itself. However, Thou art silent, and I justify myself. Thou sufferest without complaint all the injustice of Thine enemies, and I complain of the least slight. Thou so lovest those who treat Thee thus unworthily, as even to die for them, and I pass my life in feelings of anger and hatred as soon as any one renders me not the duties which my pride unreasonably exacts. When, O my Saviour, shall I see my heart changed?

When shall I have Thee alway before my eyes, that I may imitate Thee in all things, and wish rather to be like Thee, than to please men?

Behold, the King of Heaven and earth! the eternal King, the King of Glory, Whose kingdom shall have no end. See, O my soul, that He reign over thee. Canst thou submit to a King Who appears so contemptible? Canst thou wear His livery, and accompany Him to death, Who has descended from heaven to deliver thee from hell? O Sovereign Ruler of the world, I recognize Thee as my King, and adore