3. This silence they interpret for simplicity; and so, 1. They despised him. And, 2.1 they dismissed him; And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. They arrayed him with a white, glittering, gorgeous raiment: the word [Greek or Hebrew], signifies gorgeous, bright, resplendent, such as Nobles and Kings used to wear: The Latins sometimes render it, splendidam vestem, and sometimes candidam, or albam vestem, we translate it a gorgeous robe; and the Ancients call it a white robe; in imitation whereof the Baptised were wont to put on a white raiment, which they called [Greek or Hebrew]; but whether it were white or no, I shall not controvert: The Original yields thus far, that it was a bright and resplendent garment, such as came newly from the fulling: many mysteries (if it be white) are found out here; some say, this held forth the excellency or dignity of Christ: White colour is most agreeable to the highest God; he many times appeared in white, but never in any other colour; and the Saints in heaven are said to be clothed in long white Robes: 2and Peers, Kings, and Caesars were usually clothed in white, saith Jansenius: Others say, this held forth the innocency of Christ, and ⟨p. 363⟩that they were directed herein by Divine providence, declaring plainly against themselves, that Christ should rather have been absolved as an innocent, than condemned as a malefactor.—But to leave these mysteries, the meaning of Herod was not so much to declare his excellency, or innocency, as his folly, or simplicity; certainly he accounted him for no other than a very fool, and idiot, a passing simple man. The Philosophers (says Tertullian) drew him in their Pictures, attired by Herod, like a fool, with long Asses ears, his nails plucked off, and a book in his hand, &c. O marvellous madness! Oh the strange mistakes of men!3 in his life time they account Jesus a glutton, a drinker of Wine, a Companion of Sinners: a Blasphemer, a Sorcerer, and one that cast out Devils through Beelzebub, Prince of Devils: yea, and one that himself was possessed with a Devil. And now towards his death he is bound as a thief, he is struck in the house of Caiaphas as an arrogant and saucy fellow, he is accused before the Sanhedrin of Blasphemy;
3. This silence they interpret for simplicity; and so, 1. They despised him. And, 2.1 they dismist him; And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. They arrayed him with a white, glittering, gorgeous rayment: the word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, signifies gorgeous, bright, resplendent, such as Nobles and Kings used to wear: The Latines sometimes render it, splendidam vestem, and sometimes candidam, or albam vestem, we translate it a gorgeous robe; and the Ancients call it a white robe; in imatation whereof the Baptised were wont to put on a white rayment, which they called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; but whether it were white or no, I shall not controvert: The Original yields thus far, that it was a bright and resplendent garment, such as came newly from the fulling: many mysteries (if it be white) are found out here; some say, this held forth the excellency or dignity of Christ: White colour is most agreeable to the highest God; he many times appeared in white, but never in any other colour; and the Saints in heaven are said to be cloathed in long white Robes: 2and Peers, Kings, and Coesars were usually cloathed in white, saith Jansenius: Others say, this held forth the innocency of Christ, and ⟨p. 363⟩that they were directed herein by Divine providence, declaring plainly against themselves, that Christ should rather have been absolved as an innocent, than condemned as a malefactor.—But to leave these mysteries, the meaning of Herod was not so much to declare his excellency, or innocency, as his folly, or simplicity; certainly he accounted him for no other than a very fool, and ideot, a passing simple man. The Philosophers (sayes Tertullian) drew him in their Pictures, attired by Herod, like a fool, with long Asses ears, his nailes plucked off, and a book in his hand, &c. O marvellous madness! Oh the strange mistakes of men!3 in his life time they account Jesus a glutton, a drinker of Wine, a Companion of Sinners: a Blasphemer, a Sorcerer, and one that cast out Devils through Belzebub, Prince of Devils: yea, and one that himself was possessed with a Devil. And now towards his death he is bound as a thief, he is struck in the house of Caiaphas as an arrogant and saucy fellow, he is accused before the Sanhedrim of Blasphemy;
