was as a dumb man not opening His mouth." (Ps. xxxvii. 14.) Learn hence how to demean yourself on such occasions, and to commit your cause to God's providence.
II. So irreprehensible had been the life and actions of Christ, that these enemies of His could not fabricate even the semblance of a crime against Him. Wherefore the high-priest at last conjured Him by the living God, to say if He were the Christ, in order that he might condemn Him of blasphemy, if He affirmed that He was, Christ, who had hitherto preserved the most perfect silence, in reverence to the sacred name of His Father, immediately answered, "Thou hast said it." At the same time He alluded to the general judgment to deter Him, if possible, from his evil design, and to wake him from the sleep of death. But alas! " the perverse are hard to be corrected.', (Eccles. i. 15.) Entreat our Lord, that you may never be of this character.
III. Consider the false zeal of the malicious and the wicked. " Then the high-priest rent his garments, saying, He hath blasphemed. " (Matt. xxvi. 65.) The devout follower of Christ ought to rend his heart with sincere contrition for his sins, which have cost the Son of God so many pains. " Rend your hearts and not your garments," says the prophet. (Joel ii. 13.) This mock court of judicature immediately cries out with one voice, "He is guilty of death." (Matt. xxvi. 66.) O most unjust sentence! O divine Jesus! will you suffer yourself to be deemed a blasphemer, and declared guilty of death; and shall I continually attempt to gain the approbation of men, and to rise above my deserts? I cannot be a true disciple of Thine if I act in this manner.
