though "the chief priests and the scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him" (Luke xxiii. 10), He refused to utter a word in His own defence. Admire and imitate the courage and constancy of His mind, which could not be overcome either by flattery or ill-usage. Learn, also, to be reserved with persons of impure conduct, unless you have certain hopes of converting them. Reflect also what a punishment to the sinner, when Christ speaks no more to His hardened conscience.
III. "And Herod, with his soldiers, despised Him, and mocked Him, putting on Him a white garment." (Luke xxiii. 11.) The eternal Wisdom of God is deemed a fool, and considered as one who from simplicity had called Himself a king, and is treated as such by the king and his whole court, who took delight in insulting Him. Thus attired, Christ is sent back again to Pilate, and proclaimed, as He passed along, to be an idiot and an imaginary king. " The word of the cross to them indeed that perish is foolishness, but to them who are saved" that is, to us, "it is the power of God." (1 Cor. i. 18.) Good Lord, is it thus that you attempt to cure my pride and arrogance? With how much truth did thy Apostle say, " If any man among you seem to be wise, let him become a fool, that he may be wise." (1 Cor. iii. 18.)
THURSDAY.
Barabbas is Preferred to Christ.
I. "Upon the solemn day, the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would." (Matt, xxvii. 15) Hence, desirous of rescuing Jesus, whose innocence was perfectly evident, Pilate put Him in competition with Barabbas, a seditious assassin. He then asked the Jews which of the two he should
