The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-31

those who buffeted and spit upon Jesus
bad for thirtv-eight years been roubled
with sore eyes. Yet wnen the drops OF
Christ's blood, coming from the wound,
fell upon him. Immediately he was healed.
And the kinsfolk and acquaintance OF
Jesus, together with the women who had
followed him from Galilee, stood afar of,
beholding these things.
Now larry. by means of John. had asked
OF Joseph, who was of Arimathea. a city
of the Jews, that he might care for and
bury the body Of Jesus. This man was
well born, rich and the holder of Office, a
friend Of Jesus and also of PLATE. He
was, moreover, a G~od-fearing lew, wait
ing for the Kingdom of God, who did not
consent TO the counsels or deeds of the
wicked. Ara he finding Nicodcmus, whose
sentiments his foregoing speech had
shown, since he had seen what good deeds
Jesus had done, saith TO him, i know that
thou didst love Jesus when living, and
oidst gladly hear His words; and l saw
thee fighting with the Jews on his account.
If, then, it seemeth good TO thee, let us
go 10 Plate. and beg the body Of Jesus
for burial, because it is a great sin for
Him to lie unburicd.' Nicodemus said,
however, 81 am afraid lest PLATE should
be enraged, and some evil should befall
me. But If thou wilt go alone, ana beg
the dead, and take Him, then will l also
go win thee. and help thee to do every
thing necessary for the burial" Nicoda-
mus. having thus spoken, Joseph directed
his eyes to heaven, and prayed that he
might not fail in his request.
Then Joseph went away to Plate. ana
having saluted him. sat down. And he
saith unto him., II entreat thee. my lord,
not to be angry with me, if L shall ask
anything contrary to what seemeth good
10 your h%ighness." Then saith PLATE.
And what is it that thou askest?" Joseph
saith, Jesus. the good man whom through
hatred the Jews have taken away to cruel
ty, Him 1 entreau that thou give me for
burial" Plate saith, And what hath
happened, that we should deliver to be
honored again the dead body of Him
against whom evidence of sorcery was
brought By Ills nation; and who was in
suspicion of taking the kingdom of Caesar,
and so was given up by us to death?'
Then Joseph, weeping, and in great grief,
fell at the feet of Plate, saying, MY
lord, let no hatred fall upon a dead man,
for all the evil that a man hath done
should perish with Him in His death. And
L know, your highness, how eager thou
vast that Jesus should not be crucified;
and how much thou saidst to the Jews on
His behalf, now in entreaty. and again in
anger, and at last how thou dist wash they
hands,, and declare that thou who wished
INN TO be put TO death; for all which rea-
sons 1 entreat thee not to refuse my re-
quest" Plate, therefore. seeing Joseph
thus lying. duplicating and weeping,
raised him up, and said, go, L grant thee
this dead man; take Him and do whatso-
ever thou wilt"
PLATE AND HEROD.
Then Plate sent TO Herod and asked the
body Of Jesus. And Herod said: Brother
PLATE, even if no one had asked for Him.
we purposed to bury him, especially as the
Sabbath draweth on; for it is written in
the law, that the sun set not upon one
that hath been put to DEATH Then Joseph.
having thanked Plate, and kissed his
hands, and his garments. went forth, re-
joicing indeed in his heart, as having OBJ
tanned his desire; but carrying tears in his
eyes. Accordingly he goeth away to Nico-
demus, and discloseth to him all that had
happened. Then having bought myrrh and
aIoes. a hundred pounds, they, along with
the mother of the Lord and Mary Magda-
lene and Salome and the rest of the women
and John, went to do what was customary,
for the body of the Lord.
And Joseph and Nicodemus prepared to
take the Lords body down from the cross.
Now the body of the robber on the right
was not found; but of him on the left, as
the form OF a dragon, so was his body. And
they set two ladders against the arms of
the cross. Then Joseph. with a hammer
and a pair of pincers, assembled one of the
ladders and drew out the nail from the
right hand of the Lord. Very fast it held.
for it was long, and so deeply imbedded in
the cross that it pressed the hand of the
Lord very close. But in good time Joseph
got it out. Then did john make 10 him a
sign hat he should deliver it to him Sc
cretly, lest Mary seeing it, her heart
should burst. Likewise, Nicodemus went
up the ladder on the left side, and with
great difficulty drew out the nail from the
other hand, giving it to John secretly. Then
Nicodemus descended to draw the nail
from the feet, and whilst he did so, Joseph
supported the body of Jesus upon his shout
ders. Mary. seeing this. raised herself upon
her feet so that she was able to touch the
hands of her son. for the arms hung down
from the shoulders of Joseph. And she
kissed them, gladly. weeping and moaning
bitterly.
When, then, the nail of the feet was
drawn out, Joseph descended from the
ladder. supporting on his shoulders the
body of the Lord, whilst Nicodemus aided
him. And they extended the body upon a
white cloth that they had placed upon the
earth. And when they did so, the whole
earth quaked and great fear arose. Then
Mary received in her lap the head and
shoulders of the Lord. taking the crown
of thorns from His head. and Mary Magda
lene took Him by the feet before which she
had found the forgiveness of her sins: and
all the others gathered round the body.
THE MOTHER OF SORROWS.
The poor, bereaved mother held upon
her knees the sacred head and could not
cease kissing it or watering ii with the
abundance of her tears. Signing dolorously
she said TO her son, Alas, dearest son
what hast thou done? Why nave they thus
put thee to death? Alas, sorrowing mother
what shallst thou do? How is that JOY
which 1 received of thee when 1 conceive,
thee turned into great sorrow?' Then she
began again 10 kiss the visage of her sor