The Fountain of Life Opened

Secondly, against whom doth Pilate give Sentence? against a §2Malefactor? No, his own mouth once and again acknowledged him innocent. Against a common prisoner? No, but one whose same no doubt had often reached Pilates ears, even the wonderful things wrought by him, which none but God could do. One that stood before him as the picture, or rather as the body of innocency and meekness. Ye have condemned, and killed the Just, and he resisteth you not, James 5.6. now was that word made good, Psal. 94.21. They gather themselves together, against the soul of the Righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

Secondly, against whom doth Pilate give Sentence? against a §2Malefactor? No, his own mouth once and again acknowledged him innocent. Against a common prisoner? No, but one whose same no doubt had often reached Pilates ears, even the wonderful things wrought by him, which none but God could do. One that stood before him as the picture, or rather as the body of innocency and meekness. Ye have condemned, and killed the Just, and he resisteth you not, Iames 5.6. now was that word made good, Psal. 94.21. They gather themselves together, against the soul of the Righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

Thirdly, But what was the sentence that Pilate gave? We have §3it not in the form in which it was delivered. But the sum of it was, that it should be as they required. Now what did they requires why, crucify him, crucify him. So that in what formalities soever it was delivered, this was the substance and effect of it, I adjudge Jesus of Nazareth to be nailed to the Cross, and there to hang till he be dead. Which sentence against Christ was, First, A most unjust, and unrighteous sentence, the greatest perversion of Judgement and Equity that was ever known to the civilized world, since seats of Judicature were first set up. What! to condemn him, before one accusation was proved against him? And if what they accused him of (that he said he was the Son of God) had been proved, it had been no crime, for he really was so; and therefore no blasphemy in him to say he was. Pilate should rather have come down from his seat of Judgement and adore him, that sit there to judge him. Oh it was the highest piece of injustice that ever our ears heard of. Secondly, As it was an unrighteous sentence, so it was a cruel sentence, delivering up Christ to their wills. This was that misery