LORD, can this arise ? O grant me the grace to suffer cheerfully and patiently all insults and injuries which may be heaped upon me. By Thy help I am resolved never to resent injuries offered me, for I know that I deserve to be despised; and how can I refuse contempt and reproach, when I see Thee, my GOD and Saviour, suffering so much scorn and ignominy for my sake? O my Saviour, teach me to know Thee, and help me to love and follow Thee all my days, and to glory in contempt for Thy sake. Prayer. O LORD GOD, the King of kings, the Saviour of souls! all praise and glory be to Thee, Who for my sake didst vouchsafe to be mocked and afflicted in many ways, during the whole of this awful night. Thou, LORD, knowest how hard it is for me to endure even the slightest wrong. Thou knowest how sinful I am, how slothful is my nature, how cold my desires; do Thou therefore mercifully help my infirmity, and grant that I may never unbecomingly sink under any adversity, or shrink from meeting it. O give me grace that I may not lose my peace of mind through any wrongs inflicted on me, nor be greatly moved by unjust reproaches, but may I meekly and patiently bear all for Thy sake, Who hast borne so much for me. Amen. VIII. THE LORD JESUS LED BOUND TO PILATE. Gospel Harmony. S. Matt. xxvii. 1, 2, 11—14; S. Mark xv. 1-5; S. Luke xxiii. 1-5; S. John xix. 28-37. When the morning was come all the Chief Priests and Elders of the people took counsel against JESUS to put Him to death: and when they had bound Him, they led Him away from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. And they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they should eat the Passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up 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 they began to accuse Him, tion 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 again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in Him no fault at all. And they Reflections.1 They led JESUS bound to Pilate, but would not go into the Prætorium, for they feared to defile themselves by going into a heathen man's house, but feared not to pollute themselves by procuring the death of the Innocent JESUS. From their false accusations, let us learn to beware that we do not accuse of what is false, or in a false manner. Jews, infidels, and heretics falsely accuse CHRIST; and so do evil livers who throw their sins on GOD, by attributing them to fate, destiny, or any but the right cause, and thereby charge GOD with being the author of their sins. See S. James i. 13—15. Meditation. Consider, O my soul, with sorrow and compunction, how these fierce men led thy LORD GOD, and most loving Saviour, bound and miserably disfigured for thy sake, to the uncircumcised heathen Judge, to be condemned by him, as though He were the vilest of men. Pilate sat on his judgment swelling with pride; be 1 See also Williams, page 166. fore him stood the LORD in lowliness and meekness; around Him were the impious and savage Jews, like roaring lions, uttering horrid imprecations, and lying charges against the LORD of Truth. But amidst all, JESUS, as a meek and gentle Lamb, opened not His Blessed Mouth, because He was ready and willing to die for thee. O with what Divine patience did He bear all the injuries, shame, confusion, contempt and ignominy heaped upon Him by those cruel men! Whereas, we vile and miserable sinners are easily provoked, and bear malice in our hearts for months or years, and thereby miserably destroy our souls. He, the LORD of majesty and glory, daily bare such contumelies and wrongs from us, whilst we so often despise His holy commands, resist His will, neglect the inspirations of His Spirit, receive His grace in vain, and mock and crucify Him afresh; trampling His most Precious Blood under foot. For we fear not to commit our hateful and execrable sins for which He so suffered, and which He is still ever ready to pardon and blot out; and also to receive us into His favour, if we will but be converted and turn to Him with our whole hearts. He is our Intercessor and Advocate with the FATHER, and pleads the merits of His Passion for all our sins and negligences. O how far are we from imitating Thee, O Blessed JESUS! We worms of the earth are puffed up with pride and wrath, and are scarcely able to forgive those who have offended us, or to look upon them with a calm and forgiving countenance. O may Thy example so humble and shame me, that I may henceforth more diligently imitate Thee, O LORD JESUS. Prayers. All praise, glory, and honour be to Thee, O LORD JESUS, SON of the living GOD, Who didst vouchsafe, for us sinners, to be led bound, and loaded with scorn, to the tribunal of the heathen Pilate; and Thou, the Judge of quick and dead, didst stand before him, and declare Thy kingdom not to be of this world, that Thou mayest lift our hearts from the love of this present world, to that blessed kingdom prepared for those who love Thee. Grant me grace, O LORD, that I may submit to the powers ordained by Thee, obey my equals, and honour and love all men for Thy sake. Succour me, that I may not fear the judgments of others concerning me, but bear them with a resolute and patient spirit; and follow Thee, not only when joy or prosperity smile upon me, but also when sorrow and adversity weigh me down. Enable me, O my GOD, to renounce all carnal and perishing things, and to love, continually seek after, and to cleave inseparably to Thee, the only True and Eternal Good. Amen. O LORD JESU CHRIST, King of heaven and earth, Who didst humbly keep silence, at the wicked accusations and calumnies of the Jews, who desired Thy Death; and as a gentle Lamb opened not Thy Blessed Mouth to answer those who charged Thee with crimes; Grant, O meek, and gentle Saviour, that I may never be disturbed by the detractions of others, but may X |