though Pilate himself could see no real grounds for the observation, yet so craftily was an observation, calculated to awaken the jealous suspicions of the Roman government, introduced, that this, as well as the universal clamour which was raised, prevailed. Pilate delivered Jesus to them to do with him as they would; but it was not until he had washed his hands before them, and declared himself "innocent of the blood of that just person 1." To which the infatuated Jews replied, with an imprecation on their own heads, which was in a short time so perfectly accomplished, and which remains in force even to this day; "His blood be on us and on

our children."

But there was another impartial witness to our Lord's innocence; this was Herod. In the midst of the clamours of the chief priests, and while they were vehemently urging the condemnation of their victim, some of their expressions led Pilate to understand that Jesus was a Galilean.

1 Matt. xxvii. 24.

Unwilling to pronounce sentence on a guiltless man, and gladly availing himself of an opportunity by which he flattered himself he might, perhaps, avoid the necessity of doing so, without affronting the Jews, Pilate sent our Lord to Herod, who happened at that time to be at Jerusalem, and who as Tetrarch of Galilee, might be considered as having especial jurisdiction over him. At this Herod was pleased, for he had for a long time been desirous of seeing one of whom he had heard so much. It appears that he was moved only by curiosity to this desire. hoped to have seen some miracle performed by Jesus Christ, and when he was disappointed, he shewed the malice of his disposition, by mocking him and setting him at nought. But even he bore witness to the innocence of the object of his derision, as we learn from the words of Pilate; "for I have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him; no, nor yet Herod; for I sent you to him, and

He

lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him 1."

But besides these, there is another important witness to our Lord's innocence. Among those persons whom Christ had, in an especial manner, chosen for his friends and associates, there was one who in a most deplorable manner, fell from the distinguished place to which he had been raised. Judas, in the hour of trial, not only deserted his Lord and Master, but actually betrayed him into the hands of his enemies. What was his motive for this, whether it was disappointment at not so quickly as he wished obtaining that wealth, the expectation of which seems in the first instance to have made him a follower of our Lord, or whether his sordid soul was seduced by the hope of securing to himself the miserable pittance of thirty pieces of silver, it is not now our object to enquire. It is certain he betrayed his Lord; but equally cer

1 Luke xxiii. 14, 15.

tain is it that he repented of the crime, and with the most undoubted remorse, threw back his bribe, and declared the innocence of his victim. "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest and elders saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us, see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself 1 ."

We may observe, while upon this subject, that the centurion, upon whose exclamation of" truly this was the Son of God,” all our discourses have turned, was a witness, if not actually to the innocence of our Lord, for it was not to that that his attention was particularly directed, but to the consistence, clearness, and self-possession which he displayed, and which could only be the effect of inno

1 Matt. xxvii. 3.

cence. And this, with the other marvels which attended the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, drew from him the exclamation which has so much been the subject of our consideration.

The conviction of our Lord's innocence in the minds of all who were attendant on his death, appears to me to be one of the most important subjects to which our attention can be drawn. For we must be perfectly satisfied of his sinless perfection, before we can believe him to be the Lamb without spot or blemish, who tak eth away the sins of the world; and of this we have the most undoubted proof, when the very traitor who gave him up to his enemies declared him guiltless, and the very judge who pronounced his sentence proclaimed him innocent.

A part of our Saviour's conduct to which I will next direct your attention, and which shews, in an eminent degree, his divine nature as well as his self-possession, under the trying circumstances in which he was placed, is his especial regard for others, and his entire abandonment of