our Blessed Saviour in his former beauty, before he suffered these torments: then behold him, on the contrary, in this miserable state. If in the first, thou dost rightly view him, thou shalt see him more beautiful than the sun: in his eyes a comely gravity; in his speech a gracious facility; in his actions singular modesty; in the gesture of his whole body profound humility, joined with reverend majesty.
Then, after thou hast satiated thy soul with pleasure, in beholding this rare piece of admirable perfection, then turn thine eyes again, and look upon him as he is, in this present miserable state. Ridiculously clothed in purple, bearing in his hand a reed for a kingly sceptre, and upon his head a crown of sharp thorns, instead of a regal diadem: his eyes were dimmed, his face pale and wan, fouled and covered with the filthy spittle of the Jews; behold him within and without! his heart consumed with grief, his body torn with wounds and blows, forsaken of his disciples, hastened to undergo death from his enemies; mocked of the soldiers, despised of the high-priests, rejected as a wicked king arrogantly assuming this title, unjustly accused, and destitute of all human aid.
Do not consider these things as done and past many years since, but imagine with thyself, that at this present lime they are acting before thy face, not as another man's sorrows, but as thine own afflictions: set thyself in his
