Lord's prophet; and thereby to make them desist from their purpose. If they were Jewish soldiers, as doubt- less they were, because they were sent by the chief priests and elders, and Pilate was not yet acquainted with their intentions, they could not but have heard the history of the prophet Elijah, who struck dead two different companies of men, consisting of fifty each, who came to apprehend him. Now our Lord struck them to the ground to bring that to their remembrance : and when they would not desist, he resigned himself into their hands. He healed also the high-priest's servant, whose ear Peter had cut off: and, as he had once before rebuked his disciples, when they would have called fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village that had refused him admission, so now he told them, that " all who took the sword, should perish with the sword." Indeed, if there had been any deceit in Jesus, Judas would gladly have discovered it, as a justification of his own trea- chery ; and if there had been any violence in him, his numerous and watchful enemies would not have failed to lay it to his charge. But, so far was he from using deceit or violence himself, that he has engaged to deliver his people from all, who, in either of these respects, should attempt to injure them : " He shall redeem their souls," says David, " from deceit and violence13."
It appears then that his innocence in every respect stands unimpeached; "he was just such an high- priest as became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners." Nor was he more clear in the sight of men, than he was in the sight of God ; for "he did always those things which pleased his Father :" and thrice did his Father, by an audible voice from heaven, declare him to be, " his beloved Son, in whom he was well pleased."
But, however innocent he was, however free both from violence and deceit, yet he was not dealt with as innocent either by God or man : for, as his own countrymen treated him with the utmost barbarity,
b Ps. lxxii. 14.