Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-01

case to hunt up or manufacture evidence
against the purest character this world bos
ever seen, Mark says, "All the council
sought for witness against him" So far
did blind prejudice and rage overbear
justice that each man of the council was
intent to find something which might pass
Tor evidence against their victim who was
already condemned. 1t is no wonder that
their witnessesagreed not together. Every
man in the council was so intent on
securing speedy condemnation that they
dld not even stop to manuhcture a con
sistent false charge, but IN the most
headlong and ungaurded manner inroIuc
cd false witnesses before the council. At
last two were found who bore witness to
tho same point. They had heard Jesus
speak about rebuilding this temple in three
days. 1t was perhaps considered as
crime to speak thus against their 'holy,"
temple, the pride of all the people; but
even this weak charge could not ba sus.
tanned. The desire to criminato Christ
was so strong that it outwent its real par
pose and even the false witnesses agreed
not together. The high priest then rose
in the midst of some tumult, as it wolld
appear, and began to question Christ Tic
virtually called upon Christ to answe. for
himself In view OF the charge brought
against him. Christ had no disposition to
defend himself, certainly not against such
false and foolish charges, brought in in SO
irregular manner. 1t was only die.
tate ofcommon wisdom and self-respoct to
refuse any answer to charges brought in
the manner here stated. Finding that
Christ had no disposition to answer the
witnesses, the high priest asked him II
question of real aud Fundamental import
ance in the case. Directly and pointedly
he demanded cart thou the Christ the Son
of the Blessed?" To this grave and per.
tinent question Christ made positive and
unmistakable answer; Il am" This
answer was at once taken as basphem
GUS assumption. 1t was nothing more or
less than direct assertion that he was
the Christ promised in Scripture, tho Son
of God. At this assertion the high priest
rent his clothes, the eastern method Of
showing violent passion, and cried out
"what need we any furth er witnessP'
This was certainly an improper thing for
the president of the court to do. He vir-
tually declared his own decision in the
matter, and urged the others to Join him
in pronouncing sentence upon the pris.
oner. The vote against Jesus is said to
have been unanimous, but the whole pro
ceeding was clearly disorderly, and no
effort was probably made TO reach Il fair
vote upon the question.
The prophecy Of Isaiah 53;S was very
clearly fulfilled in these proceedings. He.
VAS taken from judgment, or refused any
honorable trial. The whole purpose
of the assembly being not to examine
but to condemn. The charge, if time
enough had been taken to formulate it,
would have been blasphemy, and the spec
iication, that he assumed TO be the Son of
God. No sooner was the tumultuous
vote taken than the council still further
degraded themselves by Offering all man.
ner of abuse to the prisoner. This perhaps
was the most despsable part of the whole
infamous proceeding, The commoncst
sense Of justice protects n prisoner from
personal abuse and harm while on trial ;
here we have the spectacle of the whole
court dssolving into u mob, and leading
forward the commonality to malhrlt IN
innocent victim.
While these shameful proceeding, were
transpirng in the council above, an equal.
ly sad and shameful scene appeared in the
court below. Peter had obtained admission
to the palace through tine agency of john,
who was known TO the high priest, and
had taken place among the servants Of
the high priest and some attendtnts Of the
other members of the Sanhcdrin. A maid
Of the household, marking him carefully
charged him with having been with Jcsu,
of Nazareth; meaning doubtless that he
was constant follower Of him. Peter
was little while ago ready to fight the
whole cohort of armed soldiers, but he i:
now in different mood. Discouraged
and doubling, among a rabble Of ignorant
opposers to Christ, he yields, and declar. :
that he knows not what she is say Ing
This has been understood to mean that ht
could not comprehend her meaning, mas
much as he was not familiar with the
Greek tongue in which she probably spake
A very shallow falsehood indeed, but as
good as the average lie that is prompted
by fear. Peter was evidently uncomfort-
able in the company where he fonnd him
self, and so walked away into the porch
through the corridor Or hall leading from
the inner court to the outer entrance o
the building. The eastern house, built
after the Roman plan, was in form OF
a hollow square; the court in the middle
being open to the sky. In this court the
servants were assembled while the hear.
ing went on in a room above, but in full
view from this court. Again and again
the servants charge Peter with having
been one of Christ's followers, but as oftcl
he denies, until at last losing all sense o
honor or shame, he began to curse ant
swear, again, perhaps, he went to thu
outer door to avoid the questonings of the
servants, and second time he hears the
cock crow. Then the words of Chris
came to him and overcome with gull
and shame, he wept. Luke tells us thai
he was brought to himself by look from
Jesus. How keen must have been the
remorse which such look would burr
into his heart.
A..,I., ,,nt-;nt hna nnpIia1 for a no,,