kedness to those who still rest in mere external performances, or despise thy gospel, that they may be forced, like death-devoted sinners, to fly to thy merits, and with tears of repentance, to seek thy righteousness. Draw every penitent soul to thyself; irra diate it with the comforts which flow from thy condemnation and sufferings. Preserve, O Lord, by thy grace, all those who have hitherto served thee in sincerity and truth, and grant that they may remain faithful unto death. Finally, be pleased to bless every truth which has been here delivered, to the eternal glory of thy name, and the salvation of our souls. Amen.

END OF THE FIRST PART.

PART II.

OF THE

SUFFERINGS

OF

CHRIST

BEFORE THE CIVIL TRIBUNAL OF PILATE AND

HEROD.

The accounts given by the four Evangelists, (Matt. xxvii. 1-30. Mark xv. 1-19. Luke xviii. 125. John xviii. 28. and xix. 16. connected and harmonised.

AND the whole multitude of them arose, and bound Jesus, and led him from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor: And it was early in the morning.

Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief Priests and Elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went out and hanged himself. And the chief Priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field to bury strangers in: Wherefore that field was called the field of blood unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did va

lue, and

gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

And.the chief Priests themselves went out into the judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring you against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

And Jesus stood before the governor. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying, That he himself is Christ a king. Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and called Jesus, and asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? thine own nation, and the chief Priests have delivered thee unto me: What hast thou done?

'Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: But now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

'Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out unto the Jews, and saith unto the chief Priests and the people, I find no fault in this man. And the chief Priests were the more fierce. And when he was accused of the chief Priests

and Elders, he answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, Answerest thou nothing? behold, hearest thou how many things they witness against thee? Jesus answered him to never a word; in so much that the governor marvelled greatly.

And the chief Priests said, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked, Whether the man were a Galilean? And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: For he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but Jesus answered him nothing. And the chief Priests and Scribes stood, and vehemently accused him. And Herod and his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him; and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again. to Pilate: And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together; for before they were at enmity betwixt themselves.

'And Pilate, when he had called together the chief Priests and rulers, and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me as one that perverteth the people: And behold, I having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man, touching those things whereof ye accuse him; no, nor yet Herod For I sent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him; I will therefore chastise him, and release him: Now at the feast of the Passover, the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. Therefore, of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast. And there was one named Barabbas, a notorious prisoner, who lay bound with them that had

made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

' And when they were gathered together, Pilate saith unto them, Ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the Passover. Then the multitude crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief Priests had delivered him for envy. And when he was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: For I have suffered many things this day in a dream, because of him. But the chief Priests and Elders persuaded the multitude, that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Then they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release Barabbas: Now Barabbas was a robber.

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, saith again to them, What will ye that I shall do with Jesus who is called Christ, and whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they all cried out, Crucify him! Crucify him! And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. But they cried out the more exceedingly, Let him be crucified! and they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified: And the voices of them and of the chief Priests prevailed. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired ; but he delivered Jesus unto their will.

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers of the governor led Jesus away into the common hall, and they called together