Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

¹2. For the sentence it self, When Pilate heard that,—he sate down in the judgment seat, in a place that is called the pavement, because erected of stones; but in the Hebrew Gabbatha;—This word signifies an high place, and raised above; it was so on purpose, that the Judges might be seen of men when they pronounced sentence. And here Pilate sitting down, he gave the doom. What was the form, or manner of the sentence is a great question amongst Divines.² Chrysostom is of mind, that he pronounced no form at all, but only delivered Jesus unto them to be crucified, Mark. 15.15. John 19.16. Others cannot yield to this, for to what end (say they) should he then sit down upon the judgement seat? and yet amongst themselves they cannot agree on a form;³ Anselm gives it thus, I adjudge Jesus of Nazareth to that ignominious and shameful Death of the Cross. ⁴Vincentius thus, I condemn Jesus, seducing the people, blaspheming God, and saying that he was Christ the King of the Jews, to be fastened to the Cross, and there to hang till he dye. Many other forms are brought in by others, but that of Luke is I am sure most authentic.⁵ And Pilate gave sentence, that it should be as they required: and then he delivered Jesus to their will. Here's a sentence indeed, a delivery of Jesus not to his own, but to his enemies liberty; to the boundless bonds, and all the possible Tortures of their own wills, and wishes. O unjust sentence! Give me not over to the will of my adversaries, ⁶cries David; the will of malice is an endless wheel, it cares not how long it spins out pain, and therefore they cried, Crucify him, Crucify him, let him be crucified. Amen, (says Pilate) do what you please, Crucify him, and Crucify him as often as you will, it shall be as you require, Lo now I deliver him to your own will.