idolaters, — worldly pleasure-lovers and bigotted ascetics, — the friends of so called liberal views and the most de- termined opponents of all changes, — all ranked together against evangelical religion. One common hatred binds them together. They hate the cross of Christ. To nse the words of the apostles in the Acts: ''Against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, are gathered together." (Acts iv. 27.) All hate each other very much, but all hate Christ much more.
The true Christian must not count the enmity of the world a strange thing. He must not marvel, if like St. Paul at Eonle, he finds the way of Kfe, a "way every- where spoken against," and if all around him agree in disliking his religion. (Acts xxviii. 22.) If he expects that by any concession he can win the favour of man, he will be greatly deceived. Let not his heart be troubled. He must wait for the praise of God. The saying of his Master should often come across his mind : " K ye were of the world, the world would love his own ; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John xv. 19.)
Notes. Lxjke. XXIII. 1—12.
1. — [Unto Pilate.] Pilate was the Roman governor of Judaea. Without him tiie Jews had no power to put our Lord to death. The mere fact that they were obliged to apply publicly to a foreign ruler for the carrying out their murderous plan, was a striking proof that the *' sceptre had departed from Judah," and the time of Messiah had come. (Gen. xlix. 10.)
2. — [Perverting,,, forbidding to give tribute.] The duplicity and dishonesty of this charge are evident. When the enemies of our Lord wanted to bring Him into disfavour with the Jews, they had asked Him " if it was lawful to pay tribute unto Caesar. " (Luke XX. 22.) But now wh^i they want to make Him out ao