Fasciculus myrrhæ. Or a briefe treatise of our Lord and Sauiours passion. Written by the R. Fa. I. F. of the Society of Iesus

CHAP. XI. Of Pilats shewing of our Sauiour.

BEhould (said Pilat) the man, shewing Christ to the Iewes, so abused by his souldiers, as he had scarsly the discernable forme of a man left remayning in him, according to that com∣plaint, which himselfe long be∣fore made by his Prophet saying: J am a worme and no man, the re∣proach of men, and out-cast of the people; to signify therby, that his cruell aduersaries, had shewed no humane respect, or charity to∣wards him, more then to a wor∣me of the earth, carelesly tram∣pled, and trodden on.

He would not be pittyed him∣selfe, that he might purchase par∣don and pitty for vs more abun∣dantly: and to spare vs in all kinds he would in no kind be spared.

His dearest friends were scan∣dalized, and scattered. His fame by slaunderous accusations, was blotted, and obscured. His do∣ctrine belyed; his miracles dis∣graced; his clayme of Diuine Maiesty, as a blasphemy condem∣ned; his flesh torne; his bloud shed, and trodden vnder hang∣mens feet; his louely beauties defaced; the hayre of his head and beard clotted, and glewed togeather with gore bloud; his face all ouer besmeared; finally the delicat proportiō of his limbs marred with swellings, rags of his flesh halfe cut off, and wide ga∣shes made in him; so as no Pain∣ters pensill, or humane imagina∣tion almost can describe him, in a more lamentall case, then that wherein Pilat to the Iewes pu∣blikly presented him; to equall then, and afterwards by new de∣facings,

as he could, the spirituall deformities, and festered woun∣des caused by sinne, in mens sou∣les, and consciences.

The sight of him, so merciles∣ly abused, auayled nothing for mouing the Iewes, to any com∣passion towards him, but rather enraged them the more, and in∣creased their bloudy out-cryes against him; Take him away, Cru∣cify him, as hungry bloud-houn∣des, most eagerly spend their mouthes, and hoatly pursue the chased Deere, emboss't, bleeding and almost spent before them.

This mercilesse people, regar∣ded not what our Sauiour had already suffered, but attended stil vtterly to destroy him; so, con∣trary the whilst to them, in his intentions, and affections, as in goodnes he excelled them.

His mansuetude, he opposed

to their malice, his Patience to their fury, his Charity to their hatred, his silence to their out-cries, his readines to suffer fur∣ther disgraces and torments, to their greedines in procuring them; & he was in all these kinds victorious against them, as being no more apte, in his goodnes, then in his power, to be ore-mat∣ched, whose sufferinges were as his speaches, and actions. Thean∣dricall, Heroicall, and fitly besee∣ming the infinite perfection, and maiesty of his person. So as from his silent, wise, and mysterious behauiours in them, the Roman Centurion was moued, in his death, to attribute aswell Deity, as Sanctity vnto him: and holy soules do draw high lessons, hea∣uenly documents, & happy com∣forts from them. Wheras secular soules puffed vp with pride, lulled

with ease, & dulled with sensuall contentments, coldly conceaue the glory of their Redeemers Crosse, or seldom reflect on those eminent vertues, which he exer∣cised thereon; harbour in their harts, few, and cold memories of gratitude: towards him, and neuer feele any enflamed desires, to imitate his holy pouerty, pro∣found humility, wonderfull pa∣tience, heroicall fortitude, & ar∣dent charity towards them.