The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…

The Soul's Soliloquy, ravished in contemplation of the Passion of our Lord.

What hadst thou done, O my sweet Saviour, and ever blessed Redeemer, that thou wast thus betrayed of Judas, sold of the Jews, apprehended as a Malefactor, and led bound as a Lamb to the slaughter? What evil hadst thou committed, that thou shouldest be thus openly arraigned, accused falsely, and unjustly condemned before Annas and Caiaphas, the Jewish Priests, at the judgment-seat of Pilate, the Roman President? What was thine offence? or to whom didst thou ever wrong? that thou shouldest be thus pitifully scourged with whips, crowned with thorns, scoffed with flouts, reviled with words, buffeted with fists, and beaten with staves? O Lord, what didst thou deserve to have thy blessed face spit upon, and covered as it were with shame? to have thy Garments parted, thy hands and feet nailed to the Cross? To be lifted up upon the cursed Tree, to be crucified among Thieves, and made to taste Gall and Vinegar: and in thy deadly extremity, to endure such a Sea of God's wrath, that made thee to cry out, as if thou hadst been forsaken of God thy Father? yea, to have thy innocent heart pierced with a cruel spear, and thy precious blood to be spilt before thy blessed mothers eyes? Sweet Saviour, how much wast thou tormented to endure all this, seeing I am so much amazed but to think upon it! I enquire for thine offence, but I can find none in thee; no, not so much as guile to ⟨p. 462⟩have-been found in thy mouth. Thy enemies are challenged, and none of them dare rebuke thee of sin; thy accusers (that are suborned) agree not in their witness, the Judg that condemns thee, openly cleareth thy innocency,¹ his wife sends him word she was warned in a dream that thou wast a just Man, and therefore should take heed of doing injustice unto thee. The Centurion that executed thee, confessed thee of a truth to be both a just man, and the very Son of God. The thief that hanged with thee justifieth thee, that thou hast done nothing amiss. What is the cause then, O Lord, of this thy cruel ignominy, passion, and death? I, O Lord, I am the cause of these thy sorrows, my sins wrought thy shame, my iniquities are the occasion of thy injuries. I have committed the fault, and thou art plagued for the offence; I am guilty, and thou art arraigned; I committed the sin, and thou sufferest the death; I have done the crime, & thou hangedst on the Cross: Oh the deepness of God's love!