Ar laft two falfe witneffes are found, whofe teftimony is lefs incongruous and contradictory to itfelf-" This fellow "faid, I am able to deftroy the temple of "GOD, and to build it in three days." And were thefe the words which proceeded from his facred lips? He fpake of a temple-of destroying-of building-of three days; but he spake of the temple of his body in the figurative language of prophecy he forefhadowed his death and his refurrection-he fpake of his conflict, and his victory. The words were his-the conftruction yours: the words were true-the evidence falfe and flanderous.

WHERE the refolution is previously taken, any pretence will be fufficient to carry it into effect. Had those words been spoken, as it was fuggested, they contained no crime-had he been, as they supposed him, a mere man, the fpeech had carried a femblance of oftenO 3 tation,

tation, no femblance of blafphemy. Yet how vehement is Caiaphas for an anfwer! as if that hallowed pile had already fuffered facrilegious violence: as if our Lord had rafhly affailed the temple, and Him that dwelleth therein.

THAT infinite wifdom well knew how little fatisfaction there could be in his reply, where the fentence was determined. JESUS held his peace." Where the queftioner is unworthy, the queftion captious, the tendency of it malicious, the best answer is filence.

WHEN Our Lord ftood before the cruel Annas, his facred cheek was fmitten for his just and moderate reply-now his filence is no less displeasing. Caiaphas was crafty as well as rancorous. What was in vain attempted by false witneffes, fhall be accomplished by means of the prifoner himself-a folemn adjuration fhall make it unneceffary to have recourfe to the teftimony of ac

cufers.

cufers. "I adjure thee by the living "GOD, that thou tell us, whether thou "be the CHRIST, the Son of GOD." O Caiaphas, thy lips are unhallowed, but thy charge is dreadful. Now, if JESUS hold his peace, he incurs the guilt of difregarding that awful nameif he fpeak, he is enfnared. An affirmation is death-a denial, worse than death. Now then fhalt thou learn, that it was not fear which had clofed that gracious mouth. He who hath charged us to confefs him before men, will not refuse to confefs himfelf-" JESUS faith unto him, THOU HAST SAID."

THERE is a time to keep filence, and a time for fpeech-CHRIST, the wisdom of GOD, hath given us an example of both. We must not fo speak, as to give advantage to cavils-we must not be fo filent, as to betray the truth. Proud and infulting Caiaphas, no longer fhalt thou complain of a fpeechless pri04 foner

foner thou fhalt hear more than thou demandeft. "Hereafter fhall ye fee the "Son of Man fitting on the right hand "of power, and coming in the clouds of "Heaven." There spake the Messiahthe voice of GOD, and not of man. The Son of Man, whom thou feeft arraigned before thy confiftorial feat, is the Son of GOD, whom thou shalt hereafter behold, to thine unutterable confufion, fitting in majefty on the throne of Heaven, attended with thousands of glorious angels, and coming in the clouds to that dreadful judgment, when profane and remorfeless hypocrites fhall ftand before his just tribunal, and receive the recompence due to their crimes.

THE defign of Caiaphas is answered. Now, in an affected zeal for the honour of religion, he rends his garments at the words of CHRIST. Certain of the applause and support of thofe around him, he addrefles them, as one jealous for the infulted

infulted majefty of his GOD.

"What

"further need have we of witneffes ? "Behold now ye have heard his blaf"phemy. What think ye?" And they anfwered and faid, "He is guilty of "death."

WHAT indignities can be too great for him who is declared worthy to die? Now, O bleffed LORD, is the fury of thy malignant enemies let loose upon thee. Now is thy face defiled with their spittle-now their cruel hands are lifted up to buffet thy cheek-now fcorn and infult trample upon thine humble patience. "Prophecy unto us, thou "CHRIST-who is he that fmote thee?" The predictions of thy lamentable pasfion are literally fulfilled. Well spake the Holy Ghoft of thee by the mouth of Efaias, "He was defpifed and re

jected of men, a man of forrows, and acquainted with grief-for the tranf

greffion of my people was he fmitten."

Thou