The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

4. They said Hail King of the Jews, deriding hereby both his person and his people.

4. They said Hail King of the Iews, deriding hereby both his person and his people.

5. They smote him or gave him blows with their hands, fists, palms, and with slaves. The word which the holy Ghost useth, signifieth any, or all these kinds of blows, and we may justly conceive that they spared him not in any thing.

And unto all this they are emboldened by the example of Herod, who was a Je• and a professor of that Religion, and seeing he so mocked and abused this innocent person, these Pagan Soldiers would not fear to do as had as he did, yea, out-do him, if they did so bad, these would be before them rather then behind them, rather exceed then abate in evil, such is the bent of sinful man. Pilate commanded only his scourging, (so far as appeareth in the History) but he permitted and approved all the rest, even all that unjust and cruel usage of an innocent person. Thus Pilate and his men acted in the praetorium.

And unto all this they are emboldened by the example of Herod, who was a Je• and a professor of that Religion, and seeing he so mocked and abused this innocent person, these Pagan Souldiers would not fear to do as had as he did, yea, out-do him, if they did so bad, these would be before them rather then behind them, rather exceed then abate in evil, such is the bent of sinful man. Pilate commanded only his scourging, (so far as appeareth in the History) but he permitted and approved all the rest, even all that unjust and cruel usage of an innocent person. Thus Pilate and his men acted in the pretorium.