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

Yet again before he would do the wicked Fact, he had one device more, whereby he hoped either to appease their minds, or if not to assert his own innocency, and to testify against them. He calleth for water in their sight, and washeth his hands with a protestation of his innocency, in this horrid fact of shedding the blood of such an innocent person. But alas Pilate, why then did you do the deed? This is but a poor excuse to you, though a convincing Argument to them, that the Judge should so steadfastly protest the innocency of Jesus Christ, whom they out of envy persecuted to the death.

Yet again before he would doe the wicked Fact, he had one device more, wherby he hoped either to appease their minds, or if not to assert his own innocency, and to testifie against them. He calleth for water in their sight, and washeth his hands with a protestation of his innocency, in this horrid fact of shedding the blood of such an innocent person. But alas Pilate, why then did you doe the deed? This is but a poor excuse to you, though a convinsing Argument to them, that the Judge should so stedfastly protest the innocency of Jesus Christ, whom they out of envy persecuted to the death.

They still are in fear that Pilate would shrink from the work, and not finish that which they hoped they had entangled him to do. And because they saw that he was so deeply affected with the guilt of the innocent blood of Jesus, they endeavoured to ease his mind as much as in them lay of that terror & fear. Therefore they do in a most dreadful manner take the guilt of his blood upon themselves, and thereby, as much as in them lay, to acquit Pilate, to uphold his recoiling heart to the work, till he had done it, and to show their confidence in the case, and harden Pilates heart, they involve their Children in the guilt of his blood. Why did they so? did not their Fathers cavil against God, for setting their children's teeth on edge, when their Fathers had eaten sower grapes? Ezek. 18.2, 3, 4. But mad envy, pride and passion, are cruel, bloody, confident, though shut up in blindness and violent ignorance.