The 19. Meditation of the first accusation of Our Lord before Pilate
Then they brought Jesus from Caiphas into the Palace, and it was morning, and they entered not into the Palace, because they would not be defiled, but that they might eat the Pasch.
Consider 1. That they made hast betimes in the morning to procure the death of our Lord, least perhaps if it should be deferred, it might be hindered through the favor of the people: for it is the subtlety of the devil, to carry men headlong into mischief, least by delay they might alter their purpose. Be that on the contrary part quick to good (for the grace of holy Ghost admitteth no delay) and show unto evil, for the feet of wicked men are swift to do mischief. Take heed therefore that thou ommittest no occasion to do good, and in temptation resist, expecting, that the Devil being driven away, Christ may come and help.
Consider secondly, that Christ thy Lord being the lover of purity, was put into the house of a Gentile, as an unclean person, guilty of many crimes, (which house the Jews of religion refused to enter into, least they should be defiled with some spot whereby they might be forbidden to eat the Pasch) & was thought unworthy to be numbered amongst the children of God, or to be put to death by the hands of the Jews. If thou be accounted base, or a sinner, imitate this patience of thy Lord, and let thy chiefiest care be to be better esteemed of God then of men.
Consider thirdly, that that thing happened to the Jews which they feared: For they did not eat the mystical Pasch, because Christ the true Pasch took it away by his death, and that which they did eat, they celebrated with polluted minds & hateful unto God. Be thou therefore careful not so much for thy outward beauty & cleanness, as for thy inward purity of thy mind, that thou maist receive the true Pasch of our Lord in the Eucharist; & praying unto God that thou mayest be pure in heart, whereby thou mayest often eat worthily this holy Pasch.
II
Then Pilate went forth unto them, & said, what accusation do you bring against this man? They answered him if he were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him to thee: Then said Pilate to them, take ye him and according to your Law judge him. The Jews said to him: It is not lawful for us to kill any man: that the speech of Jesus might be fulfilled, signifying what death he should die.
Consider 1. The humanity of Pilate, who might have interpreted their refusing to come into his house as to an unclean person, as a contempt of him; yet he yield to their religion, being better then thou & many other Christians who being contemned, yield contempt again, & by no entreaty will yield in any point or title of honor.
Consider 2. The proud answer of the Jews, by which they abused the outward face of Religion to the death of an innocent. We (say they) being Priests, making conscience to break the least commandments of the law, would never have delivered this man unto you, expect for many causes he had been most worthy of death. So great was the innocency of our Lord, that without compulsion they would not have come to accuse him.
Consider thirdly Pilates answer, more wise then the answer of the Priests: For many times secular men have more goodness then Priests. The Gentile seemed to be not a little offended, that he should be required to put him to death without hearing or convicting him, as if he should say, If your Law permit this, yet the Law of the Romans doth not. But the Jews had no consideration of this just scandal: whom thou doest imitate, so oft as thou doest give cause of scandal, whom, thou doest imitate, so oft as thou givest cause of scandal of reproach to the weak, or to Heretics. Remember the word of our Lord: It is better that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and he thrown into the bottom of the Sea, then one of those little ones should be scandalized.
Consider fourthly the other answer of the Jews, saying: it is not lawful for us to kill any man; that is to say, upon the Cross. For they stoned Stephen, and they prepared to stone the Adulteress. For our Lord must be put to death, not with stones, hut upon the Cross, and not by the Jews, but by the Gentiles, which is shown by that which followeth, that the speech of Jesus might be fulfilled, who had foretold them both. Give thanks therefore unto thy Lord, that he passed from the Jews to the Gentiles, and pray that he when by the hands of the Gentiles would undergo the Cross, & suffer death, will accept for thee the unbloody sacrifice, which in remembrance of his Passion is offered in the Church of the Gentiles world without end.
Consider 2. The proud answer of the Jews, by which they abused the outward face of Religion to the death of an innocent. We (say they) being Priests, making conscience to break the least commandments of the law, would never have delivered this man unto you, expect for many causes he had been most worthy of death. So great was the innocency of our Lord, that without compulsion they would not have come to accuse him.
Consider thirdly Pilates answer, more wise then the answer of the Priests: For many times secular men have more goodness then Priests. The Gentile seemed to be not a little offended, that he should be required to put him to death without hearing or convicting him, as if he should say, If your Law permit this, yet the Law of the Romans doth not. But the Jews had no consideration of this just scandal: whom thou doest imitate, so oft as thou doest give cause of scandal, whom, thou doest imitate, so oft as thou givest cause of scandal of reproach to the weak, or to Heretics. Remember the word of our Lord: It is better that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and he thrown into the bottom of the Sea, then one of those little ones should be scandalized.
Consider fourthly the other answer of the Jews, saying: it is not lawful for us to kill any man; that is to say, upon the Cross. For they stoned Stephen, and they prepared to stone the Adulteress. For our Lord must be put to death, not with stones, hut upon the Cross, and not by the Jews, but by the Gentiles, which is shown by that which followeth, that the speech of Jesus might be fulfilled, who had foretold them both. Give thanks therefore unto thy Lord, that he passed from the Jews to the Gentiles, and pray that he when by the hands of the Gentiles would undergo the Cross, & suffer death, will accept for thee the unbloody sacrifice, which in remembrance of his Passion is offered in the Church of the Gentiles world without end.
III
Then they began to accuse him, saying: We have found this man subverting our people, and forbidding to give tribute unto Caesar, and saying, that he is Christ our King.
They began (saith he,) as the beginning of many accusations, which should follow. (We have found) we have not heard of others, but we ourselves have seen.
Consider 1. Three accusations, all which depended upon one. He doth affirm (say they) that he is the Messias, & King of the Jews, promised to our fore-Fathers, and thereby draweth the people unto him, and he commands neither to obey Caesar, nor to pay tribute unto him. Lying plainly; who knew that our Lord did shun a Kingdom, did teach obedience, did pay tribute, and did answer, that it should be paid. Hereby thou mayest learn, how envy maketh a man blind, so as he cannot perceive the ignominy & reproach, that he doth unto himself. For by these words they proved themselves liars before Pilate, who could not be ignorant of Christ his answer to the Herodians. Render unto Caesar those things which are Caesars. Avoid thou therefore all perturbation of mind, which doth both much hinder the seeing of the truth, & weaken thy reputation.
Consider secondly whereof Christ was accused. First that he did subvert the people. His office is to move the people, to turn them up and down, to turn them up and down to subdue the flesh, which ruled the spirit, unto the spirit, to place poor and base Fisher-men above Kings, and after his life to throw the proud rich men down into Hell, and to lift poor Lazarus unto Abrahams bosom. Secondly that he forbad to give tribute unto Caesar. Our Lord doth forbid to pay tribute unto the Devil, who is called Prince of this world; and requireth no small tribute of the actions of men, whom he would have to attempt or execute nothing without some mixture of sin. Christ contrawise commanded to this tribute unto God & that thou shalt refer all thy actions to his glory. Thirdly that he is King & the Messias. Thy Lord is truly a King and the Messias, who governeth and feedeth all his people, both with his body and holy spirit. Yield thou thyself under the government of this King, fight against his enemies, and follow him thy Captain in all things.
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