Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/213

 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.)