Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-03

HhoS& ki68Shfp WI . tee0PUtar> one. Force susf
tains the temporal kingdom; the untaillng Truth
and eternal wisdom of God the spiritual. The pow
ers and principaties of the seized and PQs-
sessed by the mighty of this world through violence
and fraud, rapine, murder and boodshed; the unf
speakableSioys and gloics Of the other are obtain
ed and possessed by the meek and lo~ly OF eartn
through faith and obedience, hops, love and charity
The Roman Emperor, Tiberius Caesar. claims the
kingdom OF the JewsEin the one sense; "Christ
king claims it in the other. And this was in fact
the meaning of jesus answer, when he replied to
PLATE and said. "my kingdom is not of this world;
if my kingdom were Of this world, then, would my
servants fight that might not be delivered to the
Jews but now is my kingdom not from hence w z
But how did plate get at this meaning9 Flesh
and blood could not reveal it unto him and so, it
is clear to my mind, that PLATE permitted By
our Lord to understand it; because, when PLATE
further asked, whether theu he claimed to be
king, he answered. "Thou sayest (righD that / am a
king" Thus we see, that while Jesus stood there
charged with prvy conspiracy and rebellion against
Caesar BY "the whole multitude" and already con-
demned by the acknowledgment on his own part,
that he claimed to be king Of the Jews, yet PLATE
pronounced him to be wholly innocent, which he
could not have done except on the understanding
that although king of the Jews, his dominion was
exclusively spiritual, and could never interfere with
the rights of the emperor, and this he could not
have known, unless it had been given from above
Now, verify believe that this done by Jesus in
order to defend himself successfully from the charge
of rebellion against Caesar whose authority, even to
try him for his life, he had neither disputed or con.
temned And | also believe that it must have been
done through the light Of his Divine natures for 1t is
not possible that the simple declaration which Jesus
made in regard to the nature of his kingdom, after
frankly admitting that he claimed to be king of the
Jews, unaccompaned by an etfiux OF his Divine ma
ture was sufficient for this purpose His saying, MY
kingdom is not of this world, &c" would never
have convinced PLATE OF his inn, cency, for in this
linda hova thaA
cused which he could not understand, against the
testimony of 'the whole multitude" of his accusers,
saying, "We found this fellow perverting the ma
ton, and forbiddng to give tribute to Caeser" 1t
must have been by some other means, them that Pi-
late was made sensible of the all important truth,
which was not known to the Jews themselves, that
the avowed kingship of Jesus over them was
spiritual dominion, and, therefore something entire
ly different from The dominion Of Caesar over them,
which temporal, and that therefore also, there
nothing in the pretensons of Jesus that con-
icled with the authority of Caesar. But these were
mos. extraordinary facts invoking a supernatural
truth heretofore unknown and on that account, were
not likely in the ordinary course of events, to come
before that any other earthly tribunal: and yet,
they materially affected the interest of the accused
How then was Pontus Plate. being properly judge
this OCCASION and holding by the authority Of Caesar
the issue Of life and death in his hands, TO be made
sensible, first, Of the existence, and then of the ap
pcabity of this great and eternal Truth so as to be
able to determine upon the innocence Of the accused,
notwithstanding the of human testimony
against him? Without doubt. PLATE possessed
full and perfect knowledge of the criminal nature of
the charges brought against Jesus. So, likewise, was
he duly impressed with the important character, and
high position, and thorough competency Of the wit
nesses who testified of them. The accused and &C
cnscrs were all of one nation They were Jews,
who were under subsection to Caesar. But the whole
multitude of the Jews, including their high priests
accused Jesus of perverting the nation Of forbid
himself is Christ q King; while Jesus, though
meek and lowly in his manner. frankly admits to the
judge that lie does claim to be the king Of the Jews.
This in any sense in which Plate of his own know!-
edge could understand it, is rivalry to Caesar, and
constitutes treason the highest offence known to the
laws of the Romans. Besides, the witnesses are
credible, and competent to testify against the &C.
cused for Plate himself declared, when he told
Jesus that his own nation ard the high priests had
delivered him into hishands; and yet, there must be
no fault found in him. he must be wholly innocent,
even in the opinion Of his earthly judge, towards
whom, as the representative Of Caesar, the supreme
temporal sovereign Of the country, in his high mis-
sion to earth, he had both preached and practiced
obedience or else, under contrary decision OF
the judge, the world would have authoritative de.
claraion Of his guilt, which not intended Now,
therefore, under such overwhelming amount of
testimony against him, and the crushing condemna-
ton Of his own confession, what shall be done to
prevent Pilates finding him guilty of all he is charg
cd with, and sentencing him accordingly as con-
demned malefactor to suffer death upon the cross
1t is true his suffering death the cross together
with all its painfuness and ignominy, settled
things by an Almighty fiat, which unalterably
fixed beyond the reversal, because it was above and
independent Of the knowledge of this tribunal. But
these things were known only to the accused of I'll
that tumutuous assemblage, including judge. accu-
sers, and Jesus own disciples for even the valiant
Peter amid the fearful scenes that characterized that
ty Of knowing the man. Jesus knew, however, that
he had to suffer these things account of the SIM
funess ofman, but rot on account of his own guilt;
for it was part of the divine scheme of salvation
that he should suffer death as regularly convicted
feon and traitor but the contrary, that he should
be vicarously sacrificed the innocent for the guilty.
He must be led to the slaughter the frstling OF
the flock pure and spotless lamb, upon whose de.
voted but sinlcss head are bound the sins Of the
whole world, in order to the ends of divine
justice, and for the purpose Of enabling him to be-
come the Saviour of men. Such was the Almighty
Fathers merciful plan for the redemption Of the
world, and such was the fearful part which the AL.
mighty and ever-merciful son had to act III that
eventful drama Now, then, as it was no part OF
Gods plan of salvation, that his only begOtten son
should be condemned to suffer death as guilty
criminal, by a judge whose authority as such, the
son had obedently respected, but the contrary,
that he should in point Of fact die nnocently, and
manifestly on account Of the sinfuness and wicked
ness Of others, even in the opinion of his earthly
judge, therefore, it became Christ Jesus, the God
man, through the exercise OF his almighty power
permit Plate to discern, dimy perhaps but certain
ly, enough of his real character to understand the
difference between his spiritual pretcnsions and the
temporal dominion of Caesar, and to clearly see, no
doubt the difference between the darkness and false
hood Of his accusers and the light of truth as it
in him. Hence have PLATE, under all the ankle
ty Of perturbed and exercised spirit enquiring Of
him whom he has just tried for his fe and of whose
innocency he has just become convinced in such an
| unaccountable manner, What is :ruth?" He does
ask the question testify hastily not at ALL Nor
does he ask in adoubtng, vascillatng, fearful mood
but he askst anxiously earnestly, and with all