Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/216

 outward action,  but  make  no  scruple  of  injuring  them by detraction. Listen to  the  embittered  cry  of  the  Jews: " His  blood  be  upon  us  and  upon  our  children." Observe how passion  drives  its  votaries  headlong  to  perdition  and guard against  its  effects  in  yourself.

III. "And Pilate  gave  sentence  that  their  petition should  be  granted." (Luke xxiii.  24.)  Reflect  how  unjust this  sentence  was. The author  of  life  is  condemned to death  almost  in  the  same  breath  that  He  is  pronounced innocent and  just. How criminal  was  the  action  of  Pilate when  he  yielded  to  the  unjust  demands  of  the  Jews! For your  part,  be  steady  and  resolute  in  defence  of  justice, although  a  thousand  deaths  should  threaten  you. Imagine with  what  shouts  of  joy  and  applause  the  people welcomed this  sentence,  and  how  the  priests  and  Pharisees triumphed. Ponder the  feelings  of  Christ  at  the time. He made  no  complaint  nor  opposition,  but  with undaunted courage  "  delivered  Himself  to  him  who judged  Him  unjustly." (1 Pet.  ii.  23.)

I. After  Christ  is  condemned  to  die,  He  is  stripped  of the  purple  robe,  and  clothed  in  His  own  garment  again, in order  that  He  may  be  better  known,  being  in  His  own attire. He is  not  relieved,  however,  of  His  crown  of thorns. In like  manner,  if  you  wish  to  carry  the  cross after your  Saviour,  you  must  cast  off  the  purple  robe, that is,  every  affection  to  the  world,  and  put  on  the  garment and  livery  of  Christ,  viz.,  mildness  and  patience, according to  the  command  of  the  Apostle,  "  Put  ye  on the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." (Rom. xiii.  14.)

II. When the  cross  was  brought  forth,  our  Saviour