CHAPTER V.

PILATE AND HEROD.

MOLOCH, the monster, "besmeared with blood of human sacrifice," now stood up in the assembly.

"Your majesty," said he, "mentioned that Adam rehearsed the conduct of Pilate, and the scenes of Calvary would you be pleased to give us the substance of what he said?

"He related," said Lucifer, "that the whole multitude of departed saints, though invisible to mortal eyes, were present, and beheld not only the Mediator's agony in the garden, but when he was betrayed into the hands of his enemies, they followed him to the hall of the Jewish high priest, and witnessed the insults and outrages that were perpetrated against him there. But when he came to speak of Pilate, his discourse was powerful. Never since the death of the inspired apostles have I seen the conduct of that timid, time-serving judge so accurately portrayed.

"He mentioned that Pilate had been brought up a heathen, and in his early life, was unacquainted with the true religion. But he had now been at Jerusalem long enough to learn much of the character and works of Jesus Christ. He was there when the resurrection of Lazarus electrified the whole country, and was the

theme of inquiry, comment, and wonder, from one extremity of the land to the other. Pilate had seen the leper who had been cleansed by the power of Christ; the lame man he had healed; the dumb he had caused to speak; and the blind he had restored to sight. Opportunities were ample to learn much of the divine works and divine character of the Redeemer.

"It was at the early dawn of day, on the morning immediately after the betrayal of Christ by Judas, that Pilate was roused from his slumbers by a servant who entered his room, and told him that a vast concourse of the elders of the Jews, priests and pharisees, were crowded together in front of the judgment hall.

"What can be the meaning of all this?' said Pilate, rising hastily, and arranging his dress. On going out to meet the multitude, he was addressed by the chief priest: We have brought a malefactor before you for judgment.'

"Who is he?' asked Pilate.

"Jesus of Nazareth,' replied the priest.

"Jesus of Nazareth!' exclaimed Pilate, greatly troubled at the announcement. He had already heard and known so much of the wonderful works of Jesus of Nazareth, that he shuddered at the thought of taking any hand himself in violent proceeding against him; and yet the number, respectability, and influence of this crowd, collected here at this unusual hour, and the determined earnestness of their manner, made it plain that he could not disappoint or disoblige them without great risk to his popularity. He cared but little what the Jews might do against Christ on their own responsibility, but he trembled at their demand that he, as

presiding judge, should share in the proceedings. And on the other hand, he was greatly solicitous to maintain his standing with the rulers of that people. Judea had but lately come under the Roman government, and Pilate thought it might be agreeable to them to have the claims of Rome set aside in this case, and be allowed to judge and condemn Christ in their own court. Thus the Jews would be gratified, and he would avoid having any personal agency in the condemnation of Christ. Pilate therefore said to the

Jewish rulers,—

"Take him,' and judge him according to your law.' (John xviii. 31.)

"But,' said the Jews, 'it is not lawful for us to put any man to death. This is a capital offence. The And all cases that touch the life of a man, must be brought before a Roman court.'

man deserves to die.

"I mean,' said Pilate, 'that as the representative of Rome, I will not urge her claims in this case. Take him, and judge him according to your law. Execute your pleasure. I'll take no notice of it, even should you exceed your authority. I will pass it over in silence. But do not urge me to take any personal agency in the case.'

men.

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"No,' said the Jewish rulers, we are law-abiding We will not consent to act against the Roman law. You are here as the representative of Rome. We insist that you shall do your duty. We bring the case before you. We insist that you shall act.'

"Such was Pilate's first attempt to avoid acting against Christ, and such was its success."

At this Beelzebub rose, and observed, "There is a

remarkable statement in 32d verse of 18th chapter of John's Gospel :- it is this, that the Jews refused to accede to this proposal of Pilate, 'that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.""

stated that

But Christ
Had the

Certainly," said Lucifer, "it was just the Jews put offenders to death by stoning. had foretold that he should be crucified. Jews accepted Pilate's proposal, and put Christ to death according to their law, it would not have fulfilled the prediction of Christ."

"But," said Beelzebub, "was that their intention in refusing Pilate's proposal? Did they wish to fulfil the prediction of Christ? "

"Far from it," said Lucifer: "they had no such intention."

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What, then," said Beelzebub, "does the apostle mean? Or does he there teach that doctrine so terrible to all in hell, that there is a deep divine providence running through all the actions of men, and that even these infuriated Jews, when raving against Christ in the presence of Pilate, were controlled by an invisible hand that was higher than they. It is a doctrine I have dreaded for thousands of years. I never hear it

but I tremble."

"That doctrine is as hateful to me as to you," "But I will go on with Adam's

answered Lucifer.

account of Pilate.

"He next stated, that when Pilate had questioned Christ of many things, he turned to his accusers, and said, 'I find no fault in this man.' On hearing this, they became exceedingly fierce, crying out, 'He stirreth

up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee unto this place.'

"Galilee?' said Pilate. 'Is the man, then, a Gali

lean?'

"Certainly,' said the Jews, 'he is a Galilean.' (Luke xxiii. 6, 7.)

"Then,' said Pilate, 'I have nothing to do with the matter, for Herod is governor of Galilee. The offence has been committed in his jurisdiction. Take him to Herod. He is now at Jerusalem.' Pilate was now confident he had discovered a method of ridding himself of the whole business, without offending the Jews. This was his second device, and he sent them to Herod.

"But Herod also had heard many things of Christ, and having suffered much remorse for his beheading of John the Baptist, he was now reluctant to have any hand in the condemnation of Christ. To gratify the Jewish rulers, who were clamorous and vehement in their accusations, Herod treated him with some marks of derision and disrespect, but would in no form signify that he thought him worthy of death; and thus he sent him again to Pilate. Herod was very artful. He and Pilate had been at variance, but this day they were made friends. Herod affected to understand the sending of the Jewish rulers with their prisoner to him, as a high token of respect and deference on the part of Pilate, and he would not be outdone in courtesy.

"I am honored and flattered by the attentions of the governor; but, at the same time, it is my duty to acknowledge him as the representative of the Roman power in this province. I am but a transient visitor