Of the love of our only Lord and Saviour, Iesus Christ: Both that which he beareth to vs; and that also which we are obliged to beare to him. Declared by the principall mysteries of the life, and death of our Lord; as they are deluiered [sic] to vs in Holy Scripture. With a preface, or introduction to the discourse.

How Pilate examined our Blessed Lord; and how he sent him to Herod. Of the scorne which Herod put vpon him. How the returned him to Pilate; and how Pilate re∣solued at last to scourge him.

CHAP. 63.

BVT they persisted in their malicious clamours, and protested that the prisoner had bene sowing rumours,* 1.1 & making stirres through∣out all Iury, beginning at Galiley, and procee∣ding as farre, as that very place. Now Galiley, was belonging to the iurisdiction of Herod, who had bene the murtherer of S. Iohn Baptist; and betwene Pilate and him,* 1.2 there had bene ill(a) 1.3 quarter, till that tyme. But he chaun∣cing to be then at Ierusalem, this Pilate, put a Court-tricke vpon him; for he sent the priso∣ner to him, as if it had bene out of a kind of respect; wheras chiefely it was, because he would faine be rid of the cause.

To Christ our Lord, nothing came a∣misse, who still, with his accustomed humi∣lity, patience, silence, obedience, and most ar∣dent loue, and desire of the saluation of man∣kind, did apply himselfe to renounce any gust

of his owne, and gaue himselfe all away to theirs. And this true Prince of Peace was cō∣tent to vndergoe all that paine, and to endure all that scorne, which would be put vpō him, both at Herods Court, and in the way,* 1.4 be∣twene him and Pilate, vpon condition that so, he might be an occasion of recōciling the em∣nities of those two, though both conspired to his preiudice. For he knew that by that cur∣tesy,* 1.5 which Herod would take so kindly at the hands of Pilate, from that tyme forward, they would be friends.

This Herod was a famous, infamous per∣son for his sensuality, his cruelty, and a world of other vices. And for as much as he had heard, often speach of Christ our Lord, and of the reputation which he had, both for his wonderfull workes, and for his admirable wisedome, he had an(b) 1.6 extreme curiosity to satisfy himselfe, in those two points. In con∣formity therof, he earnestly desired to see some miracle of his working. And for as much, as concerned the fame of his wisedome, he pro∣cured, (by a world of questions, which he as∣ked) to see whether truth would answere, to the voyce which ran of him.

But our Lord IESVS, who was not come into the world to make men sport; but to doe them good; nor to satisfy the curiosity of their heads, but to impart true sanctity to their harts would not vouchsafe to loose one word, vpon that wretched King; nor cared he (through his loue to be suffering for vs) to defend him∣selfe

against all those impudent lyes, which by the Priests and Elders, were thundred out, in a perpetuall storme of words against him. Yet euen Herod himself could not be so vniust, as to allow of the plea, which was made in ac∣cusation of him, for as much as concerned the substance of his cause; but yet(c) 1.7 conceauing, (by occasion of his continuall silence) that ei∣ther he was some silly fellow in himselfe; or els perhaps, that in comparison of him, our Lord thought himselfe to be of farre inferiour speach, and wit (and therfore would not dis∣credit himselfe by saying any thing) he did con∣temne him with his whole guard of souldiers, after a most disdaineful manner; and in token therof, he returned him to Pilate, with a fooles coate vpon his backe. This act amongst the rest, bred an ex∣traordinary contempt of Christ our Lord, in the peoples minde; in regard that Herod and his Court, were esteemed as a kind of Touch, wherby men might be knowne distinctly, & iustly, for what they were. But howsoeuer, this contempt did our Lord vouchsafe to vn∣dergoe; and this coate of scorne was he contēt, and glad to weare; for our confusion, in res∣pect of our former vanity; and for our instru∣ction, how we are to carry our selues in future occasions. Which(d) 1.8 must not be, to stand v∣pon the reputation of our sufficiency, wit, or knowledge; we, who are but wormes and flyes; when the King of glory, the word, the increated Wisedome of Almighty God, wherby all things were made, is content for our sakes, to cast

himselfe before the eyes of our Faith, all con∣temned and derided, as any Idiot, or naturall foole might be. Nor are we to care, though our patience be accounted feare; or our humi∣lity basenes; or our silence simplicity. Nor, when it concernes the seruice of God, and the good of soules, are we to shrinke from our du∣ty, and good desires, though all the world should despise, and hate vs for it.

But when Pilate found that Herod had not thought him worthy of death, he was glad of that occasion, and pressed it hard vpon the Iewes; as knowing indeed, that it was not the zeale of Iustice, but the rage of enuy, which had incensed them against him. Sometymes he questioned our Lord IESVS, to see if any thing would come from him, in the strength wherof he might acquite him. But our Lord, who desired nothing lesse, then what might tend to his owne discharge; and nothing more then what might tend to our aduantage; was so profoundly and inuincibly silent, as did amaze the Iudge.* 1.9 And woe had bene to vs, if this silence of our Lord had not bene ex∣ercised by him; through the merit wherof, the eternall Father will looke with mercy, vpon those millions of sinnes, which be howerly cōmitted, through the impertinent, indiscrect, and vncharitable, impure speach of men.

Sometymes againe, the Iudge would be vsing all the art he had, to make them de∣sist from their desire of his ruine,* 1.10 and in parti∣cular he thought of two expedients. The for∣mer

of them was, to punish him so cruelly out of very pitty, as that, with the sight therof, they might be moued with compassion towards him. So that he resolued to haue him scourged; and to that end he deliuered him ouer to the discretion of his souldiers, who had none. The torment of Christ our Lord,* 1.11 in this mistery of his flagellation, is excellently pondered by Father Auila. He faith therfore to this effect. That(e) 1.12 if a man would exhibite a spectacle, wherby the lookers on, were to be moued to loue; that man would take care, to giue it all those aduantages of grace and beauty, which were any way, to be attractiue of loue.

If he were to present an obiect, wherby the specta∣tors were to be strocken with feare, he would not faile to accompany it, with such instru∣ments, and demonstrations of terrour, as might affect, and afflict their mindes with feare. And so heere, since Pilates care, and study was, how to winne those implacable Harpies, from that hungar, and thirst, after the destruction, and death of Christ our Lord; no doubt can be made, but that he would adorne, and dresse him, in the most lamentable attyre of tor∣ments, which he could deuise; that so by the sight of that excessiue misery, he might conuert their perfect malice into some little mercy.

This designe of his, he was obliged to communicate with the Executioners, who were to be his souldlers, for els he had not bene true to his owne end. And then, I will leaue it, to the reasonable imagination of any crea∣ture,

if such an insolent race of people, as that vseth many tymes to be (hauing receaued an expresse direction from their Commaunder, for the execution of such a cruelty, vpon a pri∣soner, who was so persecuted by all the prin∣cipall men, and Magistrates of his owne pro∣fession) were not likely to shew cruelty in∣ough, vpon that pretious body, of our bles∣sed Lord.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luc. 13.
• * 1.2

  Ibid.
• (a) 1.3

  A cur∣tesy of a Courtier.
• * 1.4

  Ibid.
• * 1.5

  Ibid.
• (b) 1.6

  The curiosity of Herod. Ibid.
• (c) 1.7

  The falle and foolish iudgemēt of the wife men of this world. Ibid.
• (d) 1.8

  Agreat lesson of many vertues at once.
• * 1.9

  Marc. 25.
• * 1.10

  Marc. 25. Luc. 23.
• * 1.11

  Audi Pi∣iac 120.
• (e) 1.12

  Note this for it deserueth all atten∣tion.