The compleat office of the Holy Week with notes and explications / translated out of Latin and French ; published with allowance.

VI. LESSON.

In this Lesson the Church shews us how the Jews put JESUS CHRIST to death.

THey have sharpned their Tongues as a Sword. Let not the Jews say, We have not killed Christ; for certainly 'twas therefore they delivered him into the Hands of Pilate the Judge, that so they might seem guiltless of his Death: For when Pilate said unto them, Do ye your selves put him to death; they answered, 'Tis not lawful for us to kill any one. Thus they would retort on the Judge the Injustice of their own Crime. But how could they deceive God, who is the true Judge? 'Tis certain, that what Pilate did, made him partake of their Guilt; but in comparison of the Jews, he is far more innocent: for he did what he could to deli∣ver him out of their Hands: And therefore having first caused him to be scourged, he shewed him unto them; not that he scourged our Lord out of design to persecute him, but thereby a little to appease their Rage, that by their beholding him so cruelly whipped, they might be satisfied, and desist from de∣manding his Death. And this he did. But when they still persisted, ye all know, he washed his Hands before them, and said, That he had nothing to do with it, and was cleansed

from the guilt of his Death: yet he put him to death; and if he be guilty for having con∣demn'd him against his will, are they inno∣cent who forced him to it? By no means. Because Pilate pronounced Sentence against him, and commanded him to be crucified, he is guilty of his Death. And ye, O Jews, have put him to death; and how have ye put him to death? With the Sword of your Tongues: For ye have sharpned your Tongues, and soaked them in his Blood, when ye exclaimed against him, saying, Cru∣cifie, Crucifie.

RESP.

The Church shews unto us, That the Prophet Jeremy, in his twelfth Chapter, did foretel this Insolence of the Jews against the Saviour of the World, who was willing to suffer this Out∣rage, that thereby he might obey the Decree of God's Provi∣dence.

R. I have delivered my beloved Soul into the Hands of the Wicked, and my Inheri∣tance became unto me as a Lion in the Wood: The Enemy cried out against me, saying, Let us assemble and make haste to devour him. They have set me in the remotest of the Wil∣derness, and all the earth wailed over me; because he was not found that would ac∣knowledge me, or do me good.

V. Men without mercy have risen up against me, and they have not spared my

Soul: Because he was not found that would acknowledge me, or do me good.

R. I have delivered my beloved Soul, &c.