lnngua~e of the Lord himself. It was known, perhaps, that that fearful punishment awaited Barabbae and the two other malefactors; and the chief priests, it may be thought tbe.t by bringing about that mode of death they would both satisfy their owr: cruel be.tred nnd exhibit the Lord as a raiser of sedition, a conspirator against the Roman government. The question had shown Pilate's want of courage. A judge should not devolve bis responsibility upon the populace. He made now a weak attempt to check the violence of the crowd. " What evil hath he done? " he asked. But the fierce cry only gathered fresh strength. Stimulated alike by the persuasions of the chief priests, by tho faint opposition of Pilate, and by the excitement of numbers e.nd noise, it became every minute more and more violent and menacmg, "Crucify him! crucify him I" 4. Pilate washes his hands. His defence of the Lord bad been only half-hearted, He knew that be was absolutely innocent; he evidently had some vagne undefined awe of him. He would have saved him if he could have done so without endangering himself. But Pilate feared a Jewish mob. It was at all times formidable, but especially so e.t the seasons of the great national festivals. His previous experience gave him reason to fear an accusation at Rome. He began to yield; but he made a weak attempt to throw the responsibility of the crime upon the people. He washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I e.m innocent of the blood of this just Person: see ye to it." He thus at the same moment pronounced the innocence of the Accused, and his own guilt; for by this symbolical action he declared that it was out of fear of the people that he delivered Jesus to their will. Cowardice often leads to guilt. Very earnestly we ought to pray for holy courage and strength of purpose to persevere in the path of rectitude. l'ilate, who despised the Jews, now used a signifi- cant act prescribed on certain occasions by the Mosaic Law (Deut. xxi. 6, 7), and she.red apparently some of the feelings which led the Jews to attach so much impor- tance to ceremonial washings. But as the outward washings of the Jews could not cleanse the heart, so Pilate's act could not remove the guilt which rested on him. He condemned the Innocent through selfish fear; his hands were full of blood. No mere outward rite can purge the soul. There is only one fountain opened for sin and uncleanness-the precious blood of Christ, which applied by faith can cleanse the conscience and make the penitent sinner whiter than snow. The people understood the meaning of Pilate. They were willing, in their wild infatuation, to take the guilt upon themselves; they answered and said, "His blood be on us, e.nd on our children!" A fearful imprecation, and fearfully fulfilled. Some doubtless of those who uttered it, very many of their children, were sharers of the dreadful calamities which attended the siege and capture of Jerusalem less than forty years afterwards. They bad mid, "His blood be on us!" the streets of Jerusalem were deluged in blood. They he.d cried, "Crucify him I crucify him I" they perished in thousan<ls by the cross. Still the guilt of bis blood rests on that outcast race; and only tbe.t blood can wash away the stain. For the blood of Christ could cleanse even those who shed it. It is "the one full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the who!~ world." It could cleanse Pilate, Caiaphas, the fierce bloodthirsty multitude, the Roman &oldiers, who indeed were obeying the orders of the governor, but pie.inly took an evil plea.sure in the cruel deed. "His blood be on us!" the crowd shouted in their frenzy. The guilt of that blood must rest even now in a greater or less degree upon all who sin wilfully against the light of the knowledge of Christ; who, knowing what th! Lord most holy suffered for them, live as though the cross had never been, as though the blessed Saviour had never suffered there for them that they might live. And the holy influence of that blood is upon the hearts of those who come to Christ in faith and love, who live under the sba<low of the cross, walking in the royal we.y of the cross, seeking ever to realize in e.ll its depth and fulness the precious and stupendous truth that "the Son of God loved me, and gave himself for me." Pilate knew that that blood wns iunoceut blood; but he knew not its sanctity and exceeding precious- ness. He quailed before the wild clamour of the multitude; be gave sentence tba.t it ahould be e.e they required; and he released Barabbas unto them, whom they had desired. LESSONS. 1, Silence is sometimes golden, The Lord was silent amid false accu• aations. Let ue learn of him, 2. Selfish fear often leads to great sin. Pray for holy COUJ'O.ge, 3. 'fho favour of the multitude is uncert~n. TTUllt not in popularity, 606 THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [ou. xxvu.1-66.
-i. We must wash our hands in innocency. Outward rites will not cleanse the impure soul.