Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-08

VOL. XXXIX.
idolatry Of the Romans. Insurrections
against the Roman government had been
frequent. For 4 time Judea was governed
by the Herods, and had in some sense an
automatic government, but after Archelaus
the eldest son of IIerod the great was
deposed by the emperor, Augustus, Judea
cea a'ed to have this automatic form of GOV.
ernment, ceased to be province ny itself
and became connected with the GREAT
eastern province of tho Roman empire.
known as Syria. The persons deputed bv
the emperors to govern this province were
termed prOcurators. Plate was the fifth
Of the number so appointed after Jutlea
ceased to have king. These officers
were usually appointed arbitrarily by the
emperors, with little question AS to their
fitness for the office, and many times he
who could offer the most gold could secure
the place. The position was no desirable
one the proconsul must please his master.
and seek also TO please the people, for any
naturalization on their part would be
charged to him. Often the complaints OF
influential people, particularly if they
were backed by gold, would secure the
withdrawal of such appointments. Tne
consent of Plate must be secured before
Jesus could be put to death, but there was
great danger to him in giving such conscnl
Any well sustained charge of maladmnls-
tration might cost him his place. Luke
gives US clear view of the tactics BY
which PLATE was persuaded TO consent to
the cruciixion. Before him nothing is
said about the charge Of blasphomy urged
before the council. There was good rea-
son for this. Plate would take cOgnjzance
only of crimes of a civil nature. lie knew
nothing of the Jewish law, and could not
legally act under it. He must judge under
the Roman law. So new line of acousa.
ton is pursued before him.
There were three leading points, or
counts, in the charge they made. First:
perverting the people, that is, by his teach
ings turning them away from fidelity to
Rome. Sec md: he claimed to be king.
This would be supposed to be great
crime against Caesar. Third: he refused
to pay tribute, or perhaps better, was
opposed to paying tribute. The first of
these was utterly groundless. The second
was true in form but not in fact. As j esus
necer claimed kingship in any ordinary or
civil sense, but only over spiritual,
unseen kingdom, The third charge was
probably manufactured out of the CONVEX
sation ho had with Peter about taxes,
when the money was found in the fish's
mouth; also, perhaps, from his word when
they asked him directly whether it was
lawful to pay tribute to Cesar or not.
PLATE saw clearly that there was no
foundation for these charges, for further
on we find the statement that he knew
that envy was at the bottom Of the whole
accusation. He gave ample opportunity
to Jesus for self-defence, and became
urgent that he should answer his accusers.
PLATE evidently saw that the least effort
on Christ's part would make it appear Il.
once that he was altogether innocent in
the particulars mentioned.
To second their infamous efforts to per.
suade PLATE the priests hqd stirred up the
people to make popular demand for the
sentence of Jesus. The corruption then
existing in government matters made #
easy to secure desired results in that wav.
The hated R)mln officials made them
selves friends by yielding to the popular
voice. This was to them kind of iusur
ance against any charges the people might
bring against them. In short, they thought
to purchase popularity, often by selling
out honor and integrity The people
crowded outside the Judgement hall, or
court room, of Plate. Began in their
clamors to demand tn 1t he would release.
as had been the C lsto n. prisoner unto
them. This was another way in which
these Off; bj for popular favor.
Criminals were released because the peo.
pie desired it, and because yielding to thf.
desire would somowhat plciGy the people
1t seems it was custom to show sg
avors upon their great feast day.
Plate unfortunately askel ii he should
release unto them the King of the Jews.
This gave them chance to ash for him
whom they desired, AMI utter their fianl
ish wish for the crucliixion Of Jesus. The
cry of the populace was of more weight
with PLATE than the wish of the Jewish
leaders. The priests knew woll how tc
incite the people and so there ctme an
unceasiny shout from the populace de.
that Jesus should be put to death.
while desperate, guilty ofrobbery, sed
lion and murder should be released unto
them.
Pilot wavers, and goes in and out from
The hall in the effort to secure the release
of Jesus. At length he yields, and having
scourged the prisoner, a most inexcusable
he turns him over to their will. |
The incidents Of this lesson furnish ma
terial for much meditation and pract ical
instruction. They furnish q sad comment
upon the perverseness Of the jewish rulers.
They were willing to use any device
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