Sixthly, And lastly, It was an immutable title. The Jews en- deavoured, but could not persuade Pilate to alter it. To all their importunities he returns this resolute answer, " What I have writ- " ten, I have written ;" as if he should say, Urge me no more. I have written his title, I cannot, I will not, alter a letter, a point thereof. " Surely the constancy of Pilate at this time can be at- " tributed to nothing but divine special Providence -J-." Most wonderful ! that he, who before was as unconstant as a reed shaken by the wind, is now as fixed as a pillar of brass.
And yet more wonderful, that he should write down that very particular in the title of Christ, This is the King of the Jews, which was the very thing that so scared him but a little before, and was the very consideration that moved him to give sentence. What was now become of the fear of Caesar ? that Pilate dares to be Christ's herald, and publicly to proclaim him, The King of the Jews. This was the title.
Secondly, We shall next enquire what hand the Divine Provi- dence had in this business.
And indeed, the providence of God in this hour, acted glori- ously, and wonderfully, these five ways.
First, In over-ruling the heart and hand of Pilate in the draught and stile of it, and that contrary to his own inclination. I doubt
* He would have it written in three languages, that this might be a presage of the future calling, not only of all the Hebrews, but also of all the Gentiles to the kingdom of Cfirist. Par.
| Hac Pilati conslanlia divina providential tribucnda est. Calvin.
SERM. XXVII. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 337
not but Pilate himself was ignorant of, and far enough from de- signing that which the wisdom of providence aimed at in this mat- ter *. He was a wicked man, and had no love to Christ. He had given sentence of death against him ; yet this is he that proclaim- ed him to be Jesus, King of the Jews. It so over-ruled his pen, that he could not write what was in his own heart and intention, but the quite contrary ; even a fair and public testimony of the kingly office of the Son of God, This is the King of the Jews.
Secondly, Herein the wisdom of Providence was gloriously dis- played, in applying a present, proper, public remedy to the re- proaches and blasphemies which Christ had then newly received in his name and honour. The superstitious Jews wound him, and Heathen Pilate prepares a plaister to heal him : they reproach, he vindicates; they throw the dirt, he washes it off. Oh the pro- found and inscrutable wisdom of Providence !
Thirdly, Moreover, Providence eminently appeared at this time in keeping so timorous a person, a man of so base a spirit, that would not stick at any thing to please the people, from receding, or giving ground in the least to their importunities. Is Pilate be- come a man of such resolution and constancy ? whence is this ? but from the God of the spirits of all flesh, who now flowed in so powerfully upon his spirit, that he could not chuse but write ; and when he had written, had no more power to alter what he had written, than he had to refuse to write it.
Fourthly, Herein also much of the wisdom of Providence ap- peared, in casting the ignominy of the death of Christ upon those very men who ought to bear it. Pilate was moved by divine instinct, at once to clear Christ, and accuse them. For it is as if he had said, you have moved me to crucify your king, I have cru- cified him, and now let the ignominy of his death rest upon your heads, who have extorted this from me. He is righteous, the crime is not his but yours.
Fifthly, And lastly, The providence of God wonderfully disco- vered itself (as before was noted) in fixing this title to the cross of Christ, when there was so great a confluence of all sorts of people to take notice of it So that it could never have been more ad- vantageously published, than it was at this time. So that we may say, How wonderful are the works of God ! " His ways are in the " sea, his paths in the great deeps ; his footsteps are not known :" His providence hath a prospect beyond the understandings of all creatures.
* The Divine Providence which ov«r-ruled the pen of Pilate, had far higher views. Calvin*
338 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SEKM. XXVII.
Inference 1. Hence it follows, That the providence of our God can, and often doth over-rule the counsels and actions of the worst of men to his own glory.
It can serve itself by them that oppose it, and bring about the gldiy and honour of Christ, by those very men, and means, which are designed to lay it in the dust. " Surely the wrath of man shall " praise thee," Psal. lxxvi. 10. The Jews thought when they crowned Christ with thorns, bowed the knee, and mocked him, led him to Golgotha and crucified him ; that now they had utterly despoiled him of all his kingly dignities ; and yet even there he is proclaimed a king. Thus the dispersion of the Jews, upon the death of Stephen, spread the gospel far and near, " For they went " every where preaching the word," Acts viii. 4. Thus Paul's bonds for the gospel fell out to the furtherance of the gospel, Phil. i. 12. O the depth of Divine Wisdom ! to propagate and establish the interest of Jesus Christ, by those very means that seem to im- port its destruction : that extracts a medicine out of poison ! How great a support should this be to the faith of God's people ! When all things seem to run cross to their hopes and happiness ! " Let * IsraeF therefore hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is " mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption," Psal. cxxx. 7. i. e. He is never at a loss for means to promote and serve his own ends.
Inf. 2. Hence likewise it follows, That the greatest services per- formed to Christ accidentally and undesignedly, shall never be ac- cepted nor rewarded of God. Pilate did Christ an eminent piece of service. He did that for Christ that not one of his own disciples at that time durst do ; and yet this service was not accepted of God, because he did it not designedly for his glory, but from the mere over-rulings of providence.