3. His sentence —
[No sooner was this confession uttered, than the high- priest, to testify his abhorrence of what he called blasphemy, rent his clothes. This, though a common way of expressing grief or indignation among the Jews, was forbidden to tiie high- priest, whose august character was supposed to render him superior to all such transports of passion^. But, on this occa- sion, he who should have inclined to mercy was the first to condemn the prisoner, and to stir up the whole court against him. Little consideration is wanted, when religion is to be opposed : clamour will easily supply the want of argument, and prejudice supersede the necessity of proof: hence his assessors in judgment instantly adopted his sentiments ; and all condemned Jesus, as a blasphemer, to suffer death. How awful to behold a number of persons, possessed both of the magisterial and sacerdotal office, branding as a blasphemer God's only begotten Son, and, with malice truly diabolical, exclaiming, " He is guilty of death !" What must the heavenly hosts have felt, if they were spectators of this transaction ! and how ought we to feel, when we consider, that we bear about with us the same evil dispositions, and, unless restrained by grace, should be as ready as they to renew the same scenes. We may imagine indeed, that the peculiarity of their situation led them to wickedness which we are incapable of committing: but it is a certain truth, that we in like circumstances should
d See Mark xiv. 62. ^ Dan. vii. 13, 14.
f Compare 2 Kings xviii. 37- and xix. 1. with Lev. xxi. 10.