tion in which you were seen glorious on Mount Thabor! How different in appearance from that divine Being who sat upon the cherubim, displaying the rays of your majesty to the highest heavens!
II. And Pilate said, "Behold the man!" He was so disfigured, that He hardly had the appearance of a man. How true was the oracle of the prophet, " There is no beauty in Him, nor comeliness, and we have seen Him, and there was no sightliness that we should be desirous of Him"! (Is. liii. 2.) Who would not melt into tears at beholding so sad a spectacle! Yet the hard-hearted crowd are not only unmoved, but they cry out with unparalleled ferocity, " Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" (John xix. 6.) O most beautiful of the sons of men! where is now that gracious countenance of yours? "Do not consider that I am brown, because the sun hath altered m3r color." (Cant. i. 5.) The sun and heat of your charity have indeed changed your color, and have given you the appearance of a " worm and no man," the reproach of men and the outcast of the people." (Ps. xxi. 7.)
III. Pilate had long labored to release Christ, but when he heard these words, " If thou release this man thou art not Caesar's friend," he yielded to malicious importunity. His policy induced him to fear, lest any accusation might be brought against him at the imperial court. Take care that no such human respect ever prevail upon you thus to act in opposition to equity and justice. "He who feareth man," says Solomon, "shall quickly fall; he who trusteth in the Lord shall be set on high." (Prov. xxix. 25.)
