70. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilæan, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

71. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

72. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Peter's root was good, and he immediately recovered himself. Whenever we are so unhappy as to fall into sin, we cannot too soon call to mind the words of Jesus, or be too soon cut to the heart for it. But, Lord, keep us from sinning, lest we never repent. O what have I to think of! and yet not one tear!

In this chapter and in the following, is the relation of Christ's submitting to be apprehended, tried, condemned, and crucified, as a malefactor. What almighty love was here; and who can think worthily of it! What is our condition, and what is sin, in God's account, when his own Son must become a curse for us! And how sad will be our doom, if we slight so great a mercy! You do not disbelieve or deny this. But then we are apt to think confusedly of it. We are willing to take it upon hearsay. It does not come home to us. We do not, every one, think enough of our own sins, and that they crucified Jesus Christ. And till we do, there can be no faith in him, or salvation by him. Some perhaps may think themselves safe, and that they need not fear sin, because Christ died for it. This is turning Christ's remedy into poison. Such are blind indeed, if they do not see the dreadful guilt of all sin, God's hatred of it, and the necessity of forsaking it, when Christ hanging upon the cross is placed before them. May the Lord deliver us from such awful guilt! Amen.

SECTION LI.

Chap. xv. ver. 1-14.

JESUS IS ACCUSED BEFORE PILATE.

1. And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

Our sins bound and delivered him to Pilate. Look well at this picture. Fancy yourselves bound, and going to be delivered up, not to Pilate, but to the devil. See in this glass what sin will do for you, if you do not come to Christ with penitent hearts to have the guilt of it taken away. Think, on the other hand, what it is to be presented to God by Christ, washed in his blood.

2. And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

He would not deny that he was the King of the Jews, though it was the most dangerous confession he could make. Nevertheless Pilate was so over-ruled by the secret counsel and power of God, as to be willing to acquit him, and give a clear testimony of his innocence, with respect to any seditious purposes, which he could possibly entertain, of making himself a temporal king.

3. And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

4. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

5. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

Though Jesus was the only sinless man who ever lived, he would not plead in his own defence, because he bore our sins. He would not say that he was innocent, because you and I could not, if we had stood in his place. Think betimes what answer you will make, if God should lay sin to your charge at the day of judgment.

6. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

7. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

The prejudice of these wicked Jews against Christ fitted them to become fit subjects for Satan to exercise his temptations upon. The state of our hearts is the most important matter with us all. May God purge out the leaven of malice and wickedness from them; and not lead us into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one.-Edit.

8. And the multitude crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9. But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews.

10. For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for

envy.

11. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13. And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

It was necessary that Jesus should both be condemned, and declared innocent by his judge. What a remarkable providence was this! If he had not suffered he would not have redeemed us; and if he had not been innocent he could not; neither if he had not been declared innocent, could we have received and trusted in him, as the Saviour of the world.

SECTION LII.

Chap. xv. ver. 15—26.

CHRIST IS CRUCIFIED.

15. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Can we ever be so undervalued? We can suffer nothing that we do not deserve, and yet how little can we bear? How does our blood boil within us, at a small affront, or injury, and how lasting is our resentment! Well might Christ say, "Learn of me to be meek and lowly." And so the Christians did once; but those days are past.

16. And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Prætorium; and they call together the whole band.

17. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head.

They clothed Christ in a robe of purple,—in a kingly robe, in scorn. And with a crown of thorns. Our sins served to make up this crown of thorns. Let them pierce you to the heart. Christ wore the painful crown gladly, that they might not be the never-dying worm at our hearts.

18. And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

Do you say truly, what they said in scorn and mockery? He was and is King of the Jews, and of all flesh; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. He has all power given him in heaven and earth, to govern, bless, and reward his faithful servants; and he shall be my Lord and King to save and reign over me. Nothing can make you Christians but saying this from the heart.

19. And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

20. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

21. And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Christ should have borne his cross himself, as malefactors usually did; but probably he was faint and weary, and could not. Well, my friends; that is a good heart which follows the blessed Jesus in every step of his sufferings; and says, what did he endure for me, and what return does he expect from me! If we do not think thus, what are we?

22. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

23. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh; but he received it not.

They gave him a stupifying potion, according to custom in such cases, to lessen the sense of pain; but mingled with gall, according to St. Matthew, to make it bitter and unpalatable. But he would not drink it. Either he would. not have his senses dozed, or his pains lessened.

24. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

25. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26. And the superscription of his accusation was written over,

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Pilate wrote this title in derision; but it was a blessed truth. He was the King of the Jews, not in a temporal sense, as they expected, but spiritually, to bear rule in their souls, and to subdue sin in them. He is our king, and we are his covenanted people, when we receive him into our hearts by faith, and submit to his gracious rule. This is salvation, and nothing else is so. O! think as you read

this chapter, and as ever you desire it should be made a blessing to you, that all he endured was to bring you to this, and how surely you will perish if it does not.