Chapter 111

Of the many and wonderful things, which our Lord did draw out of that greatest wickedness, which they committed who murdered Christ and of the several effects which these words Behold the man, being spoken by Pilate, and preached by the Apostles, have brought to pass, in the world.

WHO is he, that will not wonder, and give praise to God, for his infinite wisdom; who by so strange a means, could redeem the world; drawing the greatest blessings, out of the most wicked sins, that ever were committed by men? What more impious thing, either was, or ever can be committed in the world, then to dishonour, profane, torment, and crucify, the Son of God. But yet, on the other side, from what other thing, hath there grown so much benefit to the same world, as by this blessed Passion, there hath done. It was then conceived, that when Pilate bestowed such a dressing of torments upon this spouse, that he had dressed him only, but to have been seen by the eyes of that people. But he dressed him, as it proved, to be seen by the eyes of the whole world;¹ doing service thereby, (although himself knew not of it) to that, which God had promised so² long before, by saying, All mankind shall see the salvation of God: And this salvation, is Christ Jesus, to whom the Father said, I do not much esteem that thou shouldst awake the tribes of jacob to serve me, and convert the dregges of Israel to me. I³ gave thee, for a light to the Gentills, that so thou mightst be my⁴ salvation, to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Christ Jesus, in person, did only preach, to the sheep of the house of Israel, which had perished; and afterward, his holy Apostles, did begin to preach to the same people of Israel; and they converted some, but not all the jews; and therefore, they are called dregges. But the salvation of the Father, which is Christ, did not stay only with the people of the jews; but⁵ sallied out into the world, when it was preached by the Apostles; & so also, at this day, is the preaching of the name of Christ, stretching itself out to the Nations, which are furthest of; that so, he may be a light, not only to the jews who believed, upon his preaching to them in person; but to the Gentills also, who lived in idolatry, far off from God. And then was it fulfilled, which⁶ Simeon, that holy Swan, did sing; when he said, out of his desire to dye, Now Lord, thou lettest thy servant departed in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation; which thou hast prepared, in the sight of all Nations; A light to the Gentills, and a glory to thy people of Israel If we consider, that Christ was placed by the hand of Pilate, to be seen first by that people, in his own house; and afterward from the top of the Cross in Mount Caluary; it will be evident to us, that although, (in respect there came to the Paschall, men of all conditions, and Tribes (as well of naturals, as strangers) there must needs be great store of people; yet was not Christ, therefore placed in the view, and presence of all people, as Simeon, in his Canticle, had sunge. And therefore Christ, was placed in the view, and presence of them all, when he was preached through the world, by the Apostles, and their successors. Of whom, David⁷ said, That their sound went out through the whole earth; and that their words did reach to the very ends thereof. For⁸ Christ, being thus preached, was light then, and is so now, to those Gentills who will believe in him; and so he is both light, and honour, to the jews, who also will believe in him; as S. Paul expresseth, speaking of them, of whom Christ came, according to the flesh, who is God, being blessed, above all things, for all eternity.

Let us now consider, how fare otherwise, this was ordained by God, from that, which Pilate did intent. He conceived, that he but placed Christ in the presence of that people, & no more; and he said, Behold here the man; and he thought, when they would not let him dismiss him, but demanded that he might be crucified, that he should never more, have been seen by any. But,⁹ because the eternal Father, saw it was not reason, that such a spectacle as that was, of his only begotten Son (being the image of his own beauty), should be beheld by so few, and those, so wicked eyes; or should be presented only to so hard hearts as theirs; he ordained, that another voice, more loud than that, should be sounded forth, throughout the world, by the mouth of many; and they most holy publishers thereof, who should also say, Behold the man. The voice of Pilate, could not sound far off; for it was but one, and a wicked one; inspired by fear, through which, he sentenced Christ to death. He deserved not to be the proclaimer of this word, Behold the man; and therefore, did God command it to be proclaimed by others. And that, so far from any fear of theirs, that rather they did desire, and rather they do resolve to dye, then to fail of one¹⁰ tittle, in preaching, and confessing, the truth, and glory of Christ Jesus.

Pilate, was a profane, and foul person, for he was a sinful and an unbelieved man. But of the other proclaimers of this word, Behold he man, I say prophetizeth¹¹ saying, How beautiful upon the mountains be their feet, who preach the good news of peace, and of benediction, and who say, In Zion thy God shall reign. The God of Zion, is Christ Jesus; in whose person David prophetizeth saying, Psalm. 2. I am made King, by the hands of God over Zion, that holy mountain of his, preaching his commandment. And this King, who preacheth the Father's commandment (which is the word of the Holy Gospel) began to reign in Zion; and he was received upon Palme-Sunday, for the King of Israel in the Temple, which was placed upon Mount Zion. And to the end we may understand, that this Kingdom was to be, over spiritual things; it is said, by David, that he was made King over Mount Zion; which is the mountain, where that Temple stood, wherein the worship of God was performed. And¹² afterward, when upon the same Mount Zion, our Lord sent the Holy Ghost upon his disciples, and he was preached publicly in the midst of Jerusalem, and in the ears of the High Priests, and Pharisees; and when, by the first sermon of S. Peter¹³ upon the point of three thousand men were converted; then was this Kingdom of his increased. And when more people were yet converted, the Apostles did preach and say to Zion, Thy God shall reign. As if a man had said, Though yet, this Lord of ours, be known but by a few; yet shall his kingdom ever go increasing; till such time, as that at the end of the world, he may reign over all men; rewarding the good with mercy; and punishing the wicked, with the iron rod, of his rigorous justice.

This is the voice of the preachers of Christ, which saith, Thy God shall reign. And¹⁴ because Christ reigneth not in the hart of an unclean person (for as much, as sin reigneth therein) it is not fit that he should preach the Kingdom of Christ to others, who will not give him leave to reign in his own soul. Therefore is it, that Isay¹⁵ saith, The feet of such as preach peace unto us, are beautiful. By the feet which are to be beautiful, are signified the desires of the soul. And therefore Christ would not have the feet of those preachers covered with shoes, on¹⁶ the uper part, because God doth place the beauty of them in public, for the example of many. But yet, whosoever hath his feet clean, is to be very careful not to think, that himself made them so; but he must give thankes to him, that washed the feet of his disciples, with visible water, upon Holy Thursday; and who washeth the souls, of all them, which ever come to be washed, with his sacred blood.

It was not therefore reason, that so clean a king as Christ was, should be proclaimed by such a filthy mouth as that of Pilate; or that there should be, but such a proclaimer, as could speak no louder, (and who was but one) to publish a spectacle, wherein so many, and so great wonders, were to be declared, as were, in Christ; when he was brought forth, to be seen by the people. And though¹⁷ Pilate, might conceive, that quickly, there would be no more thought of Christ; nor any, that would have compassion of him; yet God ordained, that instead of those few, who did spit upon him, there might be, & may be, & shallbe, many, who are with reverence to adore him. And that, instead of them who, for the loathsomeness of the spectacle could not endure to look upon him; there should be many, who might joy in beholding that most blessed face, as a most pure, and perfect glass, though it were placed, upon a¹⁸ Cross. And instead of them, who thought him to deserve, all that which he suffered, there should be so many, who might confess, that he committed no evil for which he ought to suffer; but only that themselves had sinned; and that he suffered for the love of them. And lastly, if their cruelty were so great, as not to have compassion of him; but demanded, that he might be murdered upon the cross; God was pleased, that there should be many, who would desire to dye for Christ; and who with all their souls would say, I see¹⁹ O thou my friend, that thou art wounded, and full of pain, and I would to God I could suffer it for thee. Let not therefore Pilate think, that he dressed Christ so, in vain; though he could not move them, who then were present to compassion; since now, so many, upon the remembrance of those afflictions of Christ, have so great pity of him; that in their hearts, they are scourged, & crowned, and crucified together with him; as S. Paul affirmeth, both of himself, and, in the person, of many others.

Footnotes

1. God can serve himself as well of them that offend him, as of them that love him. ↩

2. Isa. 52. ↩

3. Isa. 49. ↩

4. That is, the Saviour of my people. ↩

5. The faith of Christ, was spread into the world by the Apostles; and it is still spreading in the furthest corner thereof by Apostolical men. ↩

6. Luc. 2. ↩

7. Psalm. 18. ↩

8. Our Lord is the light, both of jews and Gentills: Of the jews he is more particularly the honour, because he took their flesh in the pure womb, of the perpetual Virgin. ↩

9. How different the thoughts of God, are from the thoughts of men. ↩

10. The courage of the Apostles, & of Apostolical men. ↩

11. Isa. 52. ↩

12. How the spiritual kingdom of Christ our Lord, grew to increase. ↩

13. Act. 2. ↩

14. If a preacher will profit others, he must begin with himself. ↩

15. Isa. 5●. ↩

16. These are sandals which still are used, by many holy Orders in the Catholic Church. ↩

17. The difference between a , and a pious Christian. ↩

18. The place of the greatest reproach, that could be tho●h● of. ↩

19. The words of a soul, which is the spouse of Christ our Lord. ↩