A Golden Chain

Further, Pilate wrote this superscription in three languages, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. And no doubt the end thereof in the providence of God was, that the passion of Christ, as also the publishing of his kingdom & Gospel might be spread over the whole world. This shows the malice of the Church of Rome, which will not suffer the word of God to be published but in the Latin tongue, least the people should be entangled in errors.

Further, Pilate wrote this superscription in three languages, Hebrew, Greeke, and Latine. And no doubt the end thereof in the prouidence of God was, that the passion of Christ, as also the publishing of his kingdome & Gospell might be spread ouer the whole world. This shewes the malice of the Church of Rome, which will not suffer the word of God to be published but in the Latine tongue, least the people should be intangled in errours.

Again, when Pilate had thus written the superscription, the high priests and Pharisees offended thereat, came to Pilate willing him to change the title, saying,¹ Write not the King of the Jews, but that he said, I am the King of the Jews: but Pilate answered them again, That which I have written, I have written. Though Pilate had been over-ruled before to condemn Christ to death, against his own conscience, yet will he not in any wise condescend to change the superscription. Howe comes this to pass? Surely, as he was ruled by the hand of God in penning it, so by the same hand of God was he confirmed in not changing it. Hence we learn sundry instructions. First, that no man in the world, let him endeavour himself to the uttermost of his power, is able to stop the course of the kingdom of God: it stands firm and sure, and all the world is not able to prevail against it. Secondly, whereas Pilate being but an heathen man was thus constant, that he will not have his writing changed; we may note, how permanent & unchangeable the writings of the holy word of God are. They are not the words of heathen men, but were spoken by the mouth of the Prophets and Apostles, as God gave them utterance. The book of Scripture therefore is much more immutable, so as no creature shall be able to change the least part of it till it be fulfilled. Thirdly, by Pilates constancy, we learn to be constant in the practise and profession of the religion of Christ: this is a necessary lesson for these days, wherein mens professions do fleet like water and go and come with the tide. Many zealous professors to day, but to morrow as could as water. And the complaint of the Lord touching times past, agrees to our days: