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St. Augustin represents unto us the malice and obstinacy of the Jews, who instead of owning the truth of Christs Resurrecti∣on, whereof they had such certain Testimonies; yet they still persisted in their Infidelity, running headlong on their own ruin and destruction.
THey set a Guard of Soldiers to keep the Sepulcher. In the mean time the Earth trembled, and our Lord arose, signali∣zing his Resurrection by so many Miracles, that the very Soldiers who guarded his Body became Witnesses, and could have declared it, if they had willed to have spoken truth. But Avarice, which had possessed that Com∣panion-Disciple of Christ, had likewise en∣tred the Hearts of those Soldiers who kept the Sepulcher. We will give you Money, said they, and say, That whilst ye were asleep, his Disciples came and stole him away. Truly they failed in their vain Searches. Un∣happy as ye are, What have ye said? Where is your Subtleness and Cunning? Are ye so blind? Have ye so little Sense? Are ye so wicked and malicious, to utter such Words? O unhappy Craft! What hast thou said? Dost thou forsake so much the Light of Coun∣sel and Piety? And art thou so much drown∣ed in Cunning and Wickedness, as to say this? Do ye say, That whilst ye slept, his Disciples came and stole him away? You produce sleeping Witnesses; but rather you have slept your self, since you are lost in your vain Search.
RESP.
By the following Versicles taken out of the Fifty seventh and Fifty third Chapter of the Prophet Isay; the Church represents
unto us, That if the Jews were unhappy in having so ill treated and not acknowledged the Saviour of the World; we who be∣lieve in him are not less faulty and unhappy, unless we consider what this Divine Saviour suffered for us, and thence draw some benefit to our selves.
Behold, how the Just perisheth, and there is none that considereth in his heart; and men of mercy are gathered away, because there is none that understandeth: for at the face of malice is the Just gathered away.
V. As a Lamb before his shearer, he shall be dumb, and shall not open his mouth. From distress and from judgment he was taken up: And his memory shall be in peace.
Behold, how the just perisheth, &c.