was also predicted by Isaiah, "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting."

The same prophet in still larger terms, describes all the sufferings of our blessed Lord, and shows that he endured them, to make atonement for the sins of the whole human race. 66 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken."

When the scourging was over, the Roman soldiers of Pilate's guard repeated all the insolent mockeries of Herod's followers, and, whilst some insulted him

with pretended homage, others buffeted him, and treated him with the most shocking indignity. In this deplorable condition, Pilate again brought Jesus out to the multitude, trusting that such a piteous spectacle would excite their compassion; but he was again disappointed, the infuriate multitude crying out with greater vehemence, "Away with him! Crucify him !" The rulers perceiving that Pilate was still undecided, had recourse to an expedient which they knew would be successful. Tiberius Cæsar, who was then emperor of Rome, was a suspicious and vengeful tyrant, the dread of all who held office under him, as the mere shadow of an accusation was sufficient to stimulate his cruelty. While Pilate was devising some expedient to release Jesus, the Jews alarmed him by shouting, "If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar." Pilate, afraid of having his loyalty called in question, washed his hands before them all, and declared himself guiltless of the blood of that innocent person. The furious multitude replied, "His blood be upon us, and upon our children!" Pilate then pronounced the fatal words, "Let him be crucified!"

CHAPTER XVII.

PASSION WEEK.

Friday, continued.

The Crucifirion.

WHEN Pilate had pronounced the most unjust of sentences upon the most innocent of men, the Roman soldiers led Jesus back to the hall, where they stripped him of the ensigns of his mock royalty, and placed on him his own garments. It was a common aggravation of the punishment of crucifixion, to compel the criminal to carry his cross to the place of execution; the burden was laid upon our Lord, but his body was so weakened by suffering that he sunk under the weight, and the guards compelled a Jew of Cyrene, named Simon, to assist in carrying the load.

The sad procession had to go to a considerable distance, for the Jews suffered no criminals to be put to death in any of their cities, much less in their metropolis. In this they imitated the regulations that had been observed at their encampments in the wilder

I