T••• ••ch of the accusation. Now followeth Christs examination before •o•••us Pilate: for when the Jews had thus falsely accused him, then Pontius Pilate took him and brought him into the common hall, and asked him this question, Art thou the King of the Jews? Now Christ being thus examined, made as Paul also testifieth,1 a good confession. The sum thereof stands in four heads. The first is, that he confesseth himself to be a King; not such an one as they accused him to be,2 yet a true King. Whence we may learn divers instructions: first, that every Christian man in the midst of his misery and affliction, hath one that is most sufficient every way to defend him against all his enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil. For this King can do whatsoever he will: and therefore when the legion of devils would enter into a herd of swine, they could not without his leave. And when the Centurions daughter was dead,3 he but spake the word and she arose. And when Lazarus was dead, and had lien in the grave four days, he but said, Lazarus come forth, and he came forth bound hand and foot. Yea even hell and death give place to his word, and nothing can resist his power. And therefore he that is a true member of Christ, needs not to fear any enemies be they never so great or so many. And again, as Christ is able, so is he ready and willing to save and defend all that believe in him. For he it is that gave his life for his subjects, which no King would do, and shed his blood for their redemption: which he would never have done, if he had not desired their salvation. Secondly, ⟨p. 319⟩whereas Christ is a mighty King, which can do whatsoever he will, let all such among us that have hitherto lived in ignorance, and by reason of ignorance live in their sins, at length begin to come unto him, and do him homage, and with penitent hearts fall down before him: otherwise if they continue in their old rebellions, let them know whatsoever they be, high or low, that he hath a rod of iron in his hand to bruise them in pieces;4 their souls shall smart for it: as both Pilate, Caiaphas, and the rest of the Jews were with a full cup rewarded for crucifying the Lord of life. And if Christ cannot draw thee in this life from thy crooked ways, be sure at the hour of death he will break thee in pieces like a potters vessel.
T••• ••ch of the accusation. Now followeth Christs examination before •o•••us Pilate: for when the Iewes had thus falsly accused him, then Pontius Pilate tooke him and brought him into the common hall, and asked him this question, Art thou the King of the Iewes? Now Christ beeing thus examined, made as Paul also testifieth,1 a good confession. The summe thereof stands in foure heads. The first is, that he confesseth himselfe to be a King; not such an one as they accused him to be,2 yet a true King. Whence we may learne diuers instructions: first, that euery Christian man in the midst of his miserie and affliction, hath one that is most sufficient euery way to defend him against all his enemies, the world, the flesh, and the deuill. For this King can doe whatsoeuer he will: and therefore when the legion of deuills would enter into a herd of swine, they could not without his leaue. And when the Centurions daughter was dead,3 he but spake the word and shee arose. And when Lazarus was dead, and had lien in the graue foure daies, he but saide, Lazarus come forth, and he came forth bound hand and foote. Yea euen hell and death giue place to his word, and nothing can resist his power. And therefore he that is a true member of Christ, needes not to feare any enemies be they neuer so great or so many. And againe, as Christ is able, so is he readie and willing to saue and defend all that beleeue in him. For he it is that gaue his life for his subiects, which no King would doe, and shedde his blood for their redemption: which he would neuer haue done, if he had not desired their saluation. Secondly, ⟨p. 319⟩whereas Christ is a mightie King, which can doe whatsoeuer he will, let all such among vs that haue hitherto liued in ignorance, and by reason of ignorance liue in their sinnes, at length begin to come vnto him, and doe him homage, and with penitent hearts fall downe before him: otherwise if they continue in their old rebellions, let them know whatsoeuer they be, high or low, that he hath a rod of iron in his hand to bruise them in pieces;4 their soules shall smart for it: as both Pilate, Caiphas, and the rest of the Iewes were with a full cup rewarded for crucifying the Lord of life. And if Christ cannot draw thee in this life from thy crooked waies, be sure at the houre of death he will breake thee in pieces like a potters vessell.
- 1•. Tim. 6.12.
- 2Joh. 18.36,37.Ioh. 18.36,37.
- 3Math 8.31. M••k. 5.41. Jo•. 11 43.Math 8.31. M••k. 5.41. Io•. 11 43.
- 4Psal. 2.9. and 110.2.
