proved but refuses to receive reproof, will finally have a heart harder than the nether mill-stone, and a conscience past feeling, and seared as w^ith a hot iron. This was the state of the Jewish nation during the time of our Lord's ministry ; and the heading up of their sin was their deliberate rejection of Him, when Pilate desired to let Him go. From such judicial blindness may we all I)ray to be delivered ! There is no worse judgment from God than to be left to ourselves, and given over to our own wicked hearts and the devil. There is no surer w^ay to bring that judgment upon us than to persist in refus- ing warnings and sinning against light. These words of Solomon are very awful : " Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded ; but ye have set at nought all my coun- sel, and would none of my reproof : I also will laugh at your calamity ; I will mock when your fear cometh." (Prov. i. 24-26.) Never let it be forgotten, that, like the Jews, we may at length be given up to strong de- lusion, so that we believe lies, and think that we are doing God service while we are committing sin. (2 Thess. ii. 11.)
The thirds and last portrait in the picture before us, is that of Pontius Filate.
We see a Roman Governor, — a man of rank and high position, — an imperial representative of the most powerful nation on earth, — a man who ought to have been the fountain of justice and equity, — halting be- tween two opinions in a case as clear as the sun at noon- day. We see him knowing what was right, and yet afraid to act up to his knowledge, — convinced in his own conscience that he ought to acquit the prisoner before him, and yet afraid to do it lest he should displease His accusers, — sacrificing the claims of justice to the base fear of man, — sanctioning from sheer cowardice, an