Signs of the Times for 1878
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"Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22 : 12. VOLUME 4. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, FIFTH-DAY, JULY 4, 1878. NUMBER 25. f•mmm•MiO•m•IMIII• passover. The innocent lamb slain in Egypt, a virtual acknowledgment that he was seek- innocent. As Pilate thus spoke, the rage .1.14 tht the blood of which sprinkled upon the door- ing to establish a throne in Judah in opposi- and disappointment of the priests and elders *,ISSUED WEEKLY BY THE, posts caused the destroying angel to pass tion to the power of Caesar. Priests, scribes, knew no bounds. They had made great over the homes of Israel, prefigured the sin- and rulers, all united in noisy denunciations C leYelitMay Adventist Publishing Association. efforts to accomplish the death of Jesus, and less Lamb of God, whose merits can alone of Jesus, and in importuning Pilate to pro- now that there appeared to be a- prospect of , ELM. JAMES WHITE, PRESIDENT. avert the judgment and condemnation of nounce sentence of death upon him. The his release they seemed ready to tear him in fallen man. The Saviour had been obedient lawless uproar of the infuriated priests and pieces. They lost all reason and self-ccntrol, iminycs : Two- DOLLARS a year in advance for a VolUme of 4 numbers. 'When paid,by Tract Societies, to the Jewish law, and observed all its dignitaries of the temple confused the senses and gave vent to curses and maledictions ors by individuals for their friends, $1.50. divinely appointed ordinances. He had of the Roman governor. Finally, when against him, behaving more like demons than just identified himself with the paschal lamb some measure of quiet was secured, he again -,-pffice, 1009 Castro St., bet. 11th and 12th. men. They were loud in their censures of as its great antitype, by connecting the Lord's addressed Jesus, saying, " Answerest thou Pilate, and threatened the vengeance of the Address, SIGNS 'OE THE TIMES, Oakland, Gat. supper with the passover. What a bitter nothing? Behold how many things they Roman law against him if he refused to 'Mockery then was the ceremony about to be witness against thee. But Jesus yet an- condemn one who, they affirmed, had set him- Oh, Who Like Thee? observed by the priestly persecutors of Jesus ! swered nothing ; so that Pilate marveled." self up against Caesar. Pilate beheld, in the accused, a man bear- The silence ol the Saviour perplexed him. During all this uproar, Jesus stood un- IloW beauteous were the marks divine, ing the marks of violence, but with a serene He saw in the prisoner no marks of a sedi- moved, uttering no word in answer to the That in thy Meekness used to shine, and noble countenance and dignified bearing. tious character, and he had no confidence in abuse that was heaped upon him. He had :'_That lit thy lonely pathway, trod Many cases had been tried before the Roman the accusations of the priests. Hoping to spoken freely to Pilate when alone with him, wandrons loVe, 0. Son of God? governor, but never before had there stood gain the truth from him, and to escape from that the light of his truth might illuminate Oh, who like thee so calm, so bright, in his presence a man like this. He discov- the clamor of the excited crowd, he requested the darkened understanding of the Roman .Bo piire, so made to live in light? ered no trace of crime in his face ; and some- Jesus to step with him into his house. When governor; and now he could say nothing :.;oh, who like thee did ever go, thing in the prisoner's appearance excited he had done so, and the two were alone, more to prevent 'him from committing the So patient throUgh a world of4woo ? his sympathy and respect. He turned to Pilate turned to Jesus, and in a respectful fearful act of condemning to death the Son -Avon death, which sets the pris'ner free; the priests, who stood just without the door, voice asked him, " Art thou the King of the of God. Pilate turned again to Jesus and 'Was pang, and-scoff, and scorn to thee; . and asked, "What accusation bring ye Jews ?" inquired, " Hearest thou not how many 'Net love through all thy nature glowed, against this man ? " Jesus did not directly answer this question. things they witness against thee? And he And "mercy with thy life blood flowed. They, were not prepared for this question. He knew that conviction was awakened in answered him to never a word ; insomuch :431y, 4n thy light be mine to go, They had not designed to state the particu- the heart of Pilate, and he wished to give that the governor marveled greatly." :Elm:Ong all my way Uwe% lars of the alleged crime of Jesus. They had him an opportunity to acknowledge how far Angry voices were now heard, declaring And:give me ever on the road, expected that Pilate would, without delay, his mind had been influenced in the right that the seditious influence of Jesus was well TO trace thy footsteps, Son of God. confirm their decision against the Saviour. direction. He therefore answered, " Sayest known throughout all the country. Said However they answered him that they had thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell they, " He stirreth up the people, teaching tried the prisoner according to their law and it thee of me ?" The Saviour wished a state- throughout all Jewry, beginning from Gal- turt41 vtivit0. found him deserving of death. Said they, "If ment from Pilate whether his question arose lilee to this place." Pilate at this time had he were not a malefactor, we would not have from the accusations just made by the Jews, no thought of condemning Jesus, because he delivered him unto thee." But Pilate was or from his desire to receive light from was certain that he was the victim of the PP ,AL. TO PRAT.. not satisfied with the explanation of the Jews, Christ. Pilate longed for a more intelligent envious and designing priests. As he, after-' and retninded thaw of their inability to exe- faith. The dignifiedbearing of Jesus, and E., Lv. ward stated to Jesus, he had the. poWer cute the law. He intimated that if 'their his calm self-possession when placed 'in a condemn or to release him ; but he dreaded judgment only was necessary to procure his position where there would naturally be .i,41 the of the people; so when he heard iVtIEN'iresus Was asked the question, Art condemnation, it was useless to bring the developed a spirit of hate and revenge, aston- that Jesus was a Galilean and was under 4hon• the Son of God / he knew that to, an- prisoner to him. Said he, "Take ye him, ished Pilate and won his deep respect. The swer in: the jurisdiction of Herod, he embraced the the affirmative would make his and judge him according to your law." direct question just asked him by Jesus was opportunity to spare himself from farther death certain ; a denial would leave a Stain The treacherous priests felt that they were immediately understood by him, which evi- ,:upon his humanity. There was a time to difficulty, and refused to decide the case, outwitted; they saw that it would not do to denced that his soul was stirred by convic- sending him to Herod, who was then in" Je- be silent' and a time to speak. He , had specify the grounds for their condemnation tion. But pride rose in the heart of the rusalem. not spoken until plainly interrogated. In his of Jesus. The charge of blasphemy would Roman judge and overpowered the Spirit of Jesus was faint and weary from loss of lessons to his -disciples he had declared : be regarded by Pilate as the expression of God. " Pilate answered, Am I a Jew ? " Whosoever, 'therefore, sleep and food, and the ill-treatment he had •shall confess me religious bigotry and priestly jealousy; and Thine own nation and the chief priests have received; yet his suffering condition awak- before men, him will I confess also before my the case would be at once dismissed. But delivered thee unto me; what bast thou ened no pity in the hearts of his persecutors. Father who is in heaven." When challenged, if they could excite the apprehensions of the done ?" He was dragged away to the judgment hall jesus did not deny his relationship with God. Roman governor that Jesus was a leader of Pilate's golden opportunity had passed. of Herod amid the hooting and insults of the In that solemn Moment his character was at sedition, their purposes would be accom- Jesus, however, did not leave him without merciless mob. Besides escaping responsi- Stake, and must 'be vindicated. He left on plished. Tumults and insurrections were farther light. \At his desire God sent an bility in regard to the trial of Jesus, Pilate that occasion ,ari example for man to follow constantly arising among the Jews against angel to Pilate's wife; and, in a dream, she thought this would be a good opportunity to :under similar circumstances. He would the Roman government, for many affirmed was shown the pure life and holy character teach hina not to apostatize from his faith to heal an old quarrel between himself and that it was against the Jewish law to pay of the man who was about to be consigned Herod. He thought that this act on his escape suffering or even death.