PILATE shews our SAVIOUR to the People, saying, Ecce Homo!
PILATE having delivered Jesus Christ to the Soldiers, they added cruel Mock∣ings to the punishment of Scourging; and in de∣rision of his Royal Dignity, they put a Crown of Thorns on his Head, a Reed in his Hand, and cloathed him in a Purple Robe. They after∣wards bowed the Knee before him, and buf∣fetting him, said, Hail King of the Jews.
In fine, They had so pitiously used him, that Pilate thought the shewing him to the People would be sufficient to mollifie them, and to make them lay aside their thirst after his Death.
But he was much mistaken in his Expecta∣tion; for as soon as he had presented Jesus Christ hefore them, saying, Behold the Man! there arose such Cries and Clamours from all the People, that much troubled him. Even the offer which he made them of delivering our Saviour on the account of the Passover; at which time he was wont to set at liberty one certain Person; was by one common Voice rejected; so that our Blessed LORD saw Barabbas, who was a Thief, a seditious Per∣son, and a Murtherer, preferred before him.
The knowledge that this Judge had of the innocency of Jesus Christ, held him in suspence, and hindred him from blindly following the fury of the People: He was also further di∣sturbed by the Advice of his Wife, who char∣ged him not to be any ways concerned in the Death of that Just Man, for she had been much troubled on this occasion with Dreams in the Night.
In the mean while the Jews, who would not give over their prosecution; cunningly told Pilate, That he shewed but small affe∣ction to the Emperour, in taking such a Man's part, who had declared himself a King, in opposition to Caesa••.
This Governour, who was very careful of his Fortune, and very little concern'd for Ju∣stice, could not hold out any longer against these words. Wherefore finding all his un∣willingnesses were fruitless, and that the more he endeavoured to save him, the more he rai∣sed a Tumult, he caused Water to be brought him, and thought to do away the horrible Crime he was about committing, by washing his Hands before all the People, in saying, He was not guilty of the Blood of this Man.
He soon after pronounced the Sentence of Death on our Saviour, delivered him into the hands of the Jews, and set Barabbas at liberty.
There was never any greater instance than this Action of Pilate, to shew how far the desire which the People of the World have to satisfie their Ambition and Interests, will car∣ry them. He sets at naught whatever he knew of the Dignity and Innocency of Je∣sus Christ: He neglects the Advice of his Wife, which he ought to have respected as the warnings of Heaven; and treading un∣der foot all the equity and good inclinations which he had to protect a Just Man opprest; he condemned Jesus Christ, not out of Pas∣sion, as the Jews did, nor out of Covetousness, as Judas; but only out of a timerous humour, that he might not expose himself to the dan∣ger of being out of favour at Court.
In the 27th. Chapter of Matthew, is set forth our Saviour's being delivered to Pontius Pilate the Governour; how Judas which be∣trayed him, when he saw he was condem∣ned, repented, and brought the 30 pieces of Silver which he received for betraying him to the Chief Priests, and Elders, telling them he had sinned in betraying Innocent Blood; they answered him, What is that to us? see thou to that. Then casting down the Silver in the Temple, he went out and hanged himself: That with this Silver they bought a piece of Ground, called the Potters-Field, to Bury Strangers in, which was cal∣led the Field of Blood. How Pilate was ad∣monished by his Wife, not to have his hands in the Blood of that Innocent Man, notwith∣standing the Clamours of the People prevail∣ed on him, that he pronounced Sentence of Death, which accordingly was Executed.
The Holy Fathers have observed on this passage of the Gospel, That there's nothing but Charity which can make us prefer our Con∣science and Salvation, to whatever we may lose in the World.
Words are vain, Thoughts are weak, Re∣solutions are too often broken; it must be GOD that works in us by the secret motions of his Ho∣ly Spirit, to keep us in any thing that is good. Let us then earnestly implore his Divine Good∣ness to guide us, to counsel us, and to stablish us; for without him we can do nothing.