Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/484

 heldst thy  peace,  and  patiently  sufferedst  their  unjust proceedings.

8. O  good  and  gracious  Jesus! who wast  seat  from Pilate to  Herod;  he  out  of  vain  curiosity  coveting  to  see some miracle  at  thy  hand,  demanded  many  things  of thee,  and  the  Jews  continuing  their  perverseness  against thee; hut  to  all  these  thy  meekness  replied  not  a  word: wherefore Herod  and  all  his  court  despised  thee,  and putting on  thee  a  white  garment  in  scorn  and  derision, sent thee thus  hack  again  to  Pilate. O unspeakable humility and  obedience  to  the  will  of  thine  enemies! thou wentst  forth  and  returnedst  again,  and  wast  led  up and  down  from  place  to  place  without  gainsaying,  hut suffering them  to  do  whatever  they  would.

9. O  good  and  gracious  Jesus! who in  the  judgment-hall  wast  stript naked,  and  without  any  compassion  most cruelly scourged. There was  thy  blessed  virginal  and tender flesh  torn  with  stripes,  and  altogether  mangled and deformed;  so  that  the  streams  of  thy  most  precious blood ran  down  on  every  side  upon  the  earth.

10. O  good  and  gracious  Jesus! after thy  sharp  and bloody scourging,  to  put  thee  to  more  shame  and  confusion, as  also  to  increase  thy  torments,  they  clothed thee with  an  old  purple  garment,  and  platting  a  crown of thorns,  pressed  it  on  thy  holy  head,  till  the  sharp points pierced  thy  temples,  and  thy  most  precious  blood ran down  and  covered  thy  face  and  neck:  they  gave thee in  derision  a  reed  for  thy  sceptre,  and  kneeling down before  thee  in  scorn,  saluted  thee,  saying,  Hail, King of  the  Jews;  then  took  they  the  reed  out  of  thy hand, and  with  it  struck  thy  sacred  head,  and  again spat upon  thy  sacred  face.

11. O  good  and  gracious  Jesus! who wast  brought forth from  Pilate  to  the  Jews  to  be  gazed  on,  wearing the crown  of  thorns  and  purple  garment,  Pilate  shewing thee to  the  people,  and  saying,  Behold  the  man;  but they cried  out,  with  a  loud  voice  and  insatiable  malice, Crucify him,  crucify  him!

12. O  good  aim  gracious  Jesus! thou wast  delivered up to  the  will  and  pleasure  of  the  Jews,  who  immediately led  thee  to  be  crucified,  laying  thy  heavy  cross