weakness the help of Thy grace; that so I may not be cast down under its burden, nor be too much distressed by it; but, remembering Thy undeserved scourging, may be found meek and submissive under what I have to bear, no matter how heavy it maybe. Make me a partner in Thy sufferings, and stir me up to amendment of life by the chastening of sons, that so, by bearing punishment with due meekness and humility, I may in this life present become more pleasing to Thee, and in the life to come may rejoice with Thee more gloriously, in that Place, where all Thy Saints, no longer in fear of sin, rejoice for ever in the victory which Thy sufferings have won for them.
CHAPTER XV
☙ Of the stripping the mocking the crowning,
and the smiting of the Head, of the Lord Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, illustrious King
of Saints, and shining Crown of everlasting glory, for the many unheard-of
outrages and affronts, to which Thou wast once
more subjected by Thy impious tormentors, when
Thou hadst been brought by the cruel soldiers
into the Praetorium. There, the whole band being
gathered together unto Thee, Thou wast shamefully stripped of Thy own garments, and instead
of them, wast mockingly clothed in a scarlet
cloak; that so Thou mightest clothe us, who are
devoid of all goodness, with the cloak of Thy
own holiness, and mightest adorn us with the
sweetness of Thy Own nature.
I praise and glorify Thee, with the special be-
