MATTHE W. CHAP. XXVII. nour took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of foulaiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand : and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail king of the Jews. 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 3 Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he faw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pices of filver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have finned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they faid, MARK. CHAP. XV. to the hall, called Pretorium, 17 And they clothed him * and bowing their knees wor- 18 And began to falute him, 19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him. * 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. Common Hall, and began to mock and deride him in the same manner as they had done before, clothing him with the Purple Robe, and putting the Crown of thorns on his Head, and a Reed for a Sceptre into his Hand. Having thus disguis'd him, they bow'd their Knees before him, and faluted him with Hail King of the Jews! After they had thus for a while ignominiously scoff'd at him, they took the Purple Robe off, and the Reed out of his Hand, with which they struck him; and having cloth'd him with his own Garments, they led him out to the Place appoint ed for his Crucifixion. Now Judas, who perhaps never thought things would have bin push'd on to that extremity, perceiving Pilat had condemn'd his Master, touch'd with remorse at the villany he had committed, and to give a public demonstration of it, return'd to the Sanhedrim with the 30 Shekels he had received according to his Bargain, faying, I have fintu'd in that I have betray'd my innocent Mafter. But they, as whol 1 MATTHEW. CHAP. XXVII. What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of filver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the filver pieces, and faid, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potters field to bury ftrangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood to this day.. 9 (Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of filver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Ifrael did value: 10 And gave them for the potters field, as the Lord appointed me.) ly unconcern'd, and no way partaking of the Crime, replied, That's nothing to us, do thou look to it. Judas then, throwing down the Mony in the middle of the Temple, went out and hang'd himself; and the Rope breaking, by his fall to the ground he burst, and all his Bowels gu'd out. The Chief Priefts fecur'd the Mony; but looking on it as polluted, having bin employ'd for betraying a man that was to fuffer death, they would not put it in the Treasury, but with it bought the Potters Field for a burying Place for Strangers that should die at Feru Salem. And this was so notorious to all the Inhabitants of that City, that from thence that Field was call'd in their Language Hakeldama, which fignifies the Field of Blood. Thus happen'd to him fomething like what we read in the Prophecy of Zechariah, chap. 11. 12. where he is said to receive the 30 Pieces of Sil ver, the Price he was valued at by the Jews, and to caft it out to the Potter. CHA P. Jefus is led out to the Place of Execution. He is crucified between two Robbers, the one of which repents, and is by Jesus rewarded with a Promise of the enjoyment of Paradise. The Words of Jesus while be hung on the Cross. His Death, and the Miracles which preceded and followed it. The Opinion of the Centurion and others concerning Jesus. His Burial. NOW Jefus bearing his Cross, was led forth to the Place call'd the place of a Scull, in the Hebrew Golgotha: but being unable to support the weight of it by reafon of the continued Fatigue he had endur'd all night and that day, the Soldiers compel'd one Simon a Cyrenian, who by chance was returning that way home out of the Country, the Father of Alexander and Rufus, two Persons well known in their Country, to carry the Cross for him. In the mean time a great multitude of all forts of People were gather'd together, who follow'd him (as is ufual on fuch occafions) to be Spectators of the Tragedy that was to be acted; among them were feveral Women belonging to Jerufalem, who greatly bemoan'd his misfortune. But Jefus turning about to them; Do not lament my death, said he, 1 he, but the calamities that shall befal you and your Children: For the time ap proaches in which Jerusalem shall be reduc'd to so great Straits, that those Women only shall be judg'd happy who are barren, and have no Children to take care of. At that time, the Inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be driven to such despair, that they shall with for the Hills and Mountains that are within their Walls to cover them, rather than fall into the Power of their Enemies. For if the Jews, who are now quiet and submissive under the Roman Government, are yet so severely us'd by their Governors, what severe Vengeance will they execute against them when they shall have broke out into open Rebellion ? There were alfo led together with Jesus two Malefactors to be crucified. Being arriv'd at the place appointed for the execution, the Crosses being fixt, and all things ready, the Soldiers offer'd Jesus a drink made of Vinegar and Myrrh; Yyy of there they cruci 35 And they crucified him, and parted had crucified him, they fied him, his garments,. 34 * And they parted his garments, what every man should take... K 18 Where they crucified him. * 23 Then the souldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments (and made four parts, to every souldier a part) and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rent it, but : and caft lots. cast lots for it, whose it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled, which faith, They parted my raiamong them, and for my vesture they did cast lots... These things therefore. the fouldiers did. ment 19 And Pilate wrote: 37 And set up over 26 And the fuper- 38 And a super- a title, and put it on his head, his accufation scription of his accu scription was also the cross. And the. written,. fation was written over, written over him writing was, of which having tasted, he refus'd to drink.... Afterwards having stripp'd him naked, and divided his Clothes into four parts, fo that each of the Quaternion who were his Executioners might have a share, they fastned him to the Cross. But the Coat which was all of a piece, and without feam, they cast. Lots for; by which that truly befel Fefus, which David spoke. figurately concerning himself, Pf. 22. 9. They divided my Garments among them, and caft Lots for my Vesture. Now the Soldiers, after they had crucified those who were condemn'd, fat by the Croffes to guard them, left their Friends should attempt their Rescue. Upon the top of the Cross on which. Jesus hung, there was an Inscription by Pilat's |