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Dearest Father:—I have only terminated my last letter,
to take up my pen for the beginning of another;
for I find relief, only in writing to you, from the deep affliction
which has struck me to the earth. If anything
can add to my mortification at the death of the Nazarene,
Jesus, it is that I should have endeavored so earnestly to
make you believe in him also. Forgive me, my dear
father; your wisdom, your knowledge of the Prophets,
your judgment, were far above my own. But who could
have believed that he was less than he claimed to be—the
very Son and Messias of God. Oh! I shall never have
confidence in a human being again; and the more lovely,
the mere holy, the more heavenly the character of any
one, the wiser and purer their teachings, the more distrustful
shall I be of them. In the grave with Jesus is
buried, henceforth and forever, all trust in human virtue—
even when accompanied by amazing miracles. I perceive
that a man may teach divine truths, nay, wear upon
his lineaments the very impress of an angel, may heal the
sick by a touch, walk the sea, raise the dead, and cast out
devils, and yet prove in the end a deceiver. Alas for human
truth! Alas for poor Israel! which has thus been blinded!
They have beheld their idolized Shiloh nailed to a Gentile
cross, without power in himself to prevent this ignominy.

But I will turn from these painful thoughts, and, as I

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promised in my last, will give you an account of what
passed at his trial, as you will be desirous of knowing on
what accusation his condemnation was founded.

It is now the morning following his crucifixion, and I
am calmer than I was yesterday, and will be able to write
with more coherency. Twenty-four hours have passed
since he was nailed to the cross. His followers have been
since hunted like wild beasts of the wilderness. Annas
has hired, and filled with wine, fierce Roman soldiers, and
sent them everywhere to seize the fugitive Nazarenes.
John was especially sought out, and the emissaries of
Annas came at midnight, last night, to the house to take
him; but we assisted him in making his escape, by means
of the subterraneous passage, that leads from the dwelling
of Rabbi Amos into the catacombs beneath the Temple.
Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus, accompanied him,
and they got safely out of the city, and are now at Bethany
with Martha,—whence they will go to John's new home,
near Gennesaret. Even Lazarus, whom Jesus raised, has
been made prisoner, but was released by the influence of
Æmilius, the Roman knight, who has conducted him
hither, where he now is in safety; and Æmilius has also
placed a guard about our house, for fear of further Jewish
violence. I therefore can write to you undisturbed.
Æmilius is the only one who has any confidence left, since
Jesus died, in his promises. He says that Jesus plainly
foretold his death, and also that if he died, he would rise
again! Peter, also, recollects Jesus' saying this; but Uncle
Amos has no confidence, and says:

“It is easy for any man to foretell that he will die, and
quite as easy for him to add that he will rise again! But

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let us see Jesus rise again, and we will believe in him indeed!”

But Æmilius, though only recently a convert from the
Paganism of Rome, is firm in his faith, that he will rise
again to life; and, instead of giving up all, as we do, he
says that he should not be amazed to be suddenly told by
the soldiers, whom he left to guard his tomb, that he had
burst forth alive from the dead! The confidence of Æmilius
has almost inspired me with hope again! But, dear father,
I saw his cleaved side, the torrent of blood and water flow
forth from the horrid wound, and saw his lifeless head
hang down upon his breast. If he had not been pierced
through, I might have hoped that he could yet revive!
But that he was pierced, removes all hope that he can be
restored. He did not swoon, and thus appear like one
dead, or we might trust to his restoration; but he was
slain, and I saw him lie a mangled corpse at the foot of
the cross, bleeding from five wounds, one of which was
through and through his heart. I should rejoice to have
the faith of dear Æmilius; but I tell him that I have
hitherto believed too well, and that when Jesus expired,
all faith in my bosom expired with him.

But I have forgotten that I am to narrate to you, dear
father, the particulars of his accusation, trial, and condemnation.
As I was not present at the Pretorium, I am
indebted, for the details which I shall give, in part to John,
and in part to Rabbi Amos, who were both there a portion
of the night; Peter, and other disciples, as well as
Æmilius, have given me additional facts.

As soon as the mob of Jews, who had Jesus under arrest,
and which I saw pass the house, reached the house
of Rabbi Annas, he, from his window, asked them whom

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they had in custody; and when they answered that it
was the “Nazarene Prophet,” he said, with great joy:

“Bring him into the lower court, that I may see him.
By the rod of Aaron! I would have him do some notable
miracle for me.”

And thus speaking, the white-headed old man hastened
to the court, which, on reaching, he found thronged with
the infuriated multitude, mingled with the Roman soldiers.
It was with difficulty he made a passage to where Jesus
stood, both imprisoned and defended by a glittering lattice
of Roman spears. After regarding him attentively, he
said, with curiosity, yet with sarcasm:

“Art thou, then, the King of the Jews? Hast thou
come to reign on the throne of David? Show me a sign
from heaven, and I will acknowledge thee, O Nazarene!”

But Jesus stood calm and dignified, making no answer.
Annas then angrily plucked him by the beard, and a messenger
at the same moment arrived, to say that Caiaphas,
the High Priest, who had married the beautiful and
haughty Ruth, the daughter of Annas, demanded to have
Jesus brought before him. Upon this he said, in a loud voice:

“Lead him to the Palace! Caiaphas, my son-in-law,
would see the man who would destroy the Temple, and
re-build it in three days.”

There now arose a dreadful shout from the priests and
people, who rushing upon Jesus, attempted to grasp his
person; and in protecting him, as they had been commanded
to do, the Romans wounded several of the Jews. Hereupon
there was a great cry of,—

“Down with the Roman eagles! Down with the barbarians!
Death to the Gentiles!”

These cries were followed up by a fearful rush of the

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mass of men, upon the handful of guards. They were
forced back, their spears broken like straws, or turned aside,
and Jesus successfully wrested from their power. But in
the height of the battle, Æmilius, who had heard the tumult
from the castle, appeared with a portion of the legion, of
which he was Prefect, and instantly charging the people,
who fled before the breasts of his horses, rescued the Prophet,
but not without the sacrifice of the lives of three of
the foremost.

“Rabbi,” said Æmilius to the Prophet, with compassionate
respect, “I know thou hast power from God to
disperse, as chaff, this rabble of fiends! Speak, and let
them perish at thy divine command!”

“Nay, my son! I am come into the world for this hour,”
answered Jesus. “This, also, is a part of my mission
from my father. It becomes me to endure all things, even
death.”

“You cannot die, my Lord!” said Æmilius, warmly.
“Did I not see thee raise Lazarus from the tomb?”

“To die I came into this world; but not for myself. I
lay down my life, and I can take it again. These men
could have no power over me, except my Father did grant
it to them: and what my Father doth, I do also. Seek
not, my son, to deliver me. This day was seen by Esaias,
who wrote of me. I must fulfil the Prophets. There remains
only that I be delivered to judgment and to death!”

These words passed between them beneath the portico,
as Æmilius was loosing the sharp cords from the bleeding
wrists of the youthful Prophet.

“To Caiaphas! to Caiaphas!” now cried the multitude,
who had been for a moment awed by the bold charge
of the Roman horse, but now grew bolder, as some men

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removed the dead and wounded out of sight. “To the
palace with the blasphemer! for he who calls himself God
is, by our law, to be punished with death. To the High
Priest with him!”

“I can rescue you, Great Prophet!” said Æmilius,
resolutely. “Give me the word, and you are mounted
on my horse, and safe in the castle of David.”

“The High Priest has sent for me. He must be obeyed,”
answered Jesus; and Æmilius, surprised at his refusal
to escape, reluctantly escorted him to the palace.
The windows already glared with torches; and the superb
Hall of Aaron, within the Palace, was alight with a hundred
flambeaux. The Romans entered, guarding their
prisoner, and followed by a tumultuous throng, which, each
moment, fearfully increased in numbers. Caiaphas was
already upon his throne, although it was the hour of midnight,
an unwonted time for him to sit in the council-chamber;
but his desire to have Jesus brought before him,
of whose arrest in Olivet he had been an hour before apprised
by one of his emissaries, led him to hold an extraordinary
court. A score of the elders and chief-priests
were standing about him, their dark eager faces earnestly
watching the entrance, to get a look at the approaching
Prophet. Among the most eager of all these was Caiaphas
himself, who regarded the eloquent Nazarene as his rival
in the eyes of the whole people, and had, therefore, long
thirsted for his destruction. As Jesus serenely entered,
led by the sorrowful Æmilius, Caiaphas bent his tall, gaunt
form forward, thrust his neck and huge black head in advance,
and, with keen eyes, and sharp, scrutinizing glances,
surveyed his youthful rival.

The multitude, pressing in, soon filled all the vast hall,

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and even crowded upon the rostrum, upon which were
seated the scribes, elders, and many of the principal priests.
The Roman soldiers, with clanging steel, marched in, and
arrayed themselves on either side of the High-Priest's
throne, having Jesus standing alone before its foot-stool.
The scene must have been striking, and full of painful
interest, to the most unconcerned present. The arched
ceiling of the chamber, supported by seventy columns of
porphyry, represented the deep blue heavens, studded with
glittering constellations in starry gold. The walls were
of jasper, superbly colored, with precious stones inlaid, representing
every variety of fruit and flower, in all their
native tints and varied forms of grace and beauty. The
hundred flambeaux reflected a thousand times from the
polished surfaces of the columns, shed a magnificent light
over all. The gorgeous robes of the High-Priest, his dazzling
tiara and priceless breast-plate, refracted the radiant
beams with indescribable prismatic splendor. The steel
spear-heads and polished cuirasses of the Roman guard,
catching the light upon points and bosses, gleamed like
flames of fire; while the silver crest of the helmet of
Æmilius shone among all this glory like a lesser sun.

Contrasting this brilliancy, surged, and heaved, and
moved below the dark masses of the people, in their gray
and brown caps and cloaks, for the night was cold, and
they wore their winter garments; and all this dark ocean
of human forms gleamed with ten thousand eyes, flashing
like the phosphorescent stars, that glitter on the surface
of the up-heaving sea, when the shadow of the storm-cloud
hangs above it, and the winds are about to be unbound,
to lash it into fury. So seemed this terrible sea of human
heads—Jesus, the centre of their looks and of their hate,

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the Pharos at whose feet these foaming billows of passion
broke with terrific power. He alone, of all that countless
host, he alone was calm—serene—fearless! Caiaphas
gazed upon him, as he stood before his foot-stool, betraying
admiration mingled with resentment. The scribes and
priests also gazed and talked together, with looks of unusual
interest. Caiaphas now waved his hand, with a gesture
for silence, and addressed Jesus:

“So, then,” he said, with haughty irony, “thou art
Jesus, the far-famed Galilean Prophet! Men say thou
canst raise the dead! We would fain see a miracle.
Thinkest thou if we put thee to death presently, thou canst
raise thyself?”

“`Jesus,' said Rabbi Amos, who just entered; and stood
near, and saw all, `Jesus remained unmoved. His bearing
was marked by a certain divine dignity, and an expression
of holy resignation sat upon his features. He
looked like Peace, incarnate in the form of man! A soft
influence seemed to flow from his presence, and produce a
universal, but momentary, emotion of sympathy. Caiaphas
perceived it, and cried, in his harsh, stern voice:

“`You have brought this man before me, men of Jerusalem!
Of what do ye accuse him?'

“`He is a malefactor, or we would not have brought
him, responded a fierce voice, from the multitude.

“`Let those who have accusations, come forward and
make them. He is a Jew, and shall have justice by our
laws.'

“`You Jews have no power to try a man for his life,
most noble Caiaphas!' said Æmilius. `The lives of all
your nation are in the hand of Cæsar, and of his tribunals.
You can put no man to death!'

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“This said Æmilius, in hopes that if Jesus could be
brought before Pilate, the Roman Procurator, he might be
by him released, for he knew Pilate had no envy or feeling
against the Prophet.

“`Thou sayest well, noble Roman,' answered Caiaphas;
`but for crimes of blasphemy against the Temple, we are
permitted by Cæsar to judge our people by the laws of
Moses. And this man, if rumor comes nigh the truth, has
been guilty of blasphemy. But we will hear the witnesses.
'

“Hereupon several of the chief-priests and scribes, who
had been going in and out among the crowd, brought forward
certain men, whose very aspect showed them to be
of the baser sort. One of these men testified that he had
heard Jesus say, that he would destroy the Temple, and
could again in three days rebuild it more magnificently
than it was in the days of Solomon the Mighty.

“Upon this testimony all the priests shouted, `Blasphemer!
' and called for him to be stoned to death; and
the passionate Abijah, the most virulent of the scribes, cast
his iron ink-horn violently at him, but one of the soldiers
turned it aside with his lance; at which there was a deep
murmur against the Romans, which Caiaphas, with difficulty
silenced.

“A second witness was now produced by Abijah, who
testified, that Jesus had taught in Samaria, that men would
soon no longer worship in the Temple, but that the whole
earth would be the temple, for Jews and Gentiles.

“This was no sooner heard, than some of the men
gnashed at Jesus with their teeth, and, but for the gestures
and loud voice of the High-Priest, they would have
made an attempt to get him into their power. The noise

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of their rage is described as having been like the roaring
of all the wild beasts of the wilderness, rushing to the banquet
of a fresh battle-field.

“A third witness, a man who had been notorious for
his crimes, now came up. He carried on his wrist a cock,
with steel gaffs upon the spurs, as if just brought up from
the cock-pit, to bear testimony; for such were the sort of
fellows suborned by the priests. He testified that Jesus
said, that the day would soon come when not one stone
should be left upon another of the Temple; that he had
called it `a den of thieves,' and the priests `blind guides'
and deceivers; the scribes foxes; and the pharisees `hypocrites!
'

“But the fourth and fifth witnesses contradicted each
other; neither did the testimony of two others agree; one,
who asserted that he heard him call himself `the Son of
God,' was contradicted by others, who asserted that it was
only `the Son of Man;' and, in another instance, one said
he heard him say, that he and God were One, while the
other testified that what he said was, that God was greater
than he. Neither did other witnesses agree together.

“Such opposite testimony perplexed and irritated Caiaphas,
and confounded the chief-priests and scribes. The
High-Priest now began to perceive that Jesus would have
to be released, for want of testimony against him. All the
while the prisoner had remained standing before him
bound, with his hands tied across his body, his countenance
mild, but heroic—`the firmness and composure of innocence,
' as Æmilius described his bearing to be.

“`What! Galilean and blasphemer of God and His
Temple! answerest thou nothing?' cried the High-Priest;
`hearest thou not what these witness against thee!'

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“But Jesus remained silent. Caiaphas was about to
break the silence by some fierce words, when a voice was
heard the other side of the columns, on the left of the
throne, where was a fire-place, in which was burning a
large fire, about which stood many persons. Rabbi Amos
at once recognized, in the violent speaker, Peter, who had
come in with him and John; the latter of whom, in the
disguise of a priest, stood not far from Jesus, gazing tenderly
upon him, and listening, with the most painful interest,
to all that they testified against him: but Peter
stood farther off, by the fire, yet not less eagerly attending
to all that passed.

“`Thou art one of the Nazarene's followers!' cried the
voice of a maid, who brought wood to feed the fire. `Thou
needest not to deny it. I am of Galilee, and knew thee
when thou wert a fisherman. Seize him, for he is one of
them.

“`Woman, I swear by the altar and ark of God, and
by the sacred Tables, I know not the fellow! I never saw
Galilee!'

“`Thy speech betrayeth thee, now thou hast spoken!'
cried the woman; `thou art a Galilean, and thy name is
Simon Bar Jona. I know thee well; and how, three years
ago, you and your brother Andrew left your nets, to follow
this Nazarene!'

“`May the thunders of Horeb and the curse of Jehovah
follow me, if what thou sayest be true, woman. Thou
mistakest me for some other man. I swear to you, by the
head of my father, men and brethren, that I never saw his
face before!'

“As he spoke,” said John, “he cast his angry looks
towards the place where Jesus stood. He caught his

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Master's eyes bent upon him, with a tender and reproving
gaze, so full of sorrowing compassion, mingled with forgiveness,
that I saw Peter stand, as if smitten with lightning.
He then pressed his two hands to his face, and uttering
a cry of anguish and despair, that made the High-Priest
start, and which went to every heart, he rushed out,
by the open door, into the darkness, and disappeared. As
he did so, the cock, which was held tied upon the wrist
of the third witness, crowed twice, in so loud a tone, that it
caused some persons in the gross crowd to burst into
laughter, and to imitate him, greatly to the annoyance of
Caiaphas, who for some time could not still the confusion.
I then remembered the words of Jesus to Peter, spoken
but twelve hours before: `This night, even before the cock
crow the first watch of the morning, thou shalt thrice deny
that thou knowest me!' Upon this,” added John, “my
confidence in my Master came back, full and strong, and
I felt that he would not, could not, be harmed; for, that
he foreknew all things that could happen to him, and
would escape danger of death.

“At length, when order was restored, so that Caiaphas
could be heard, he again addressed Jesus, saying, but
with more respect than before:

“`Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? I
adjure thee, by the living God, tell us plainly!'

“Jesus then elevated his princely form, and bending his
eyes upon the face of the High-Priest, with a look so
brightly-celestial that Caiaphas involuntarily dropped his
eyelids to the ground, answered, and said:

“`If I tell you, O Caiaphas, ye will not believe! If I
prove it to you from the prophets, and by my works, ye
will not listen! If I say that I am the Christ, ye will not

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then acknowledge me, nor let me go free! I have spoken
openly to the world, in the Temple and in the synagogue
I have concealed nothing. Ask them which heard me,
what I have said. Nevertheless, I say unto you what I
have before taught, that I am the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed; and hereafter ye shall behold me sitting on the
right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds
of heaven.'

“`Art thou the Son of God?' cried several of the
priests at once, while Caiaphas held up his hands in
horror.

“`Ye have said THAT which I am,' answered the
Prophet, without changing, except to a sublimer look, the
expression of his countenance, which,” says John, “seemed
to shine, as he had seen it in the Mount, when he was
transfigured before him.

“`Men of Israel and Judah, ye hear his words!' cried
the High Priest, rending down the blue lace from his
ephod. `Hear ye his blasphemy?'

“`Said I not, son of Aaron, that you would neither
believe me nor let me go, if I told you who I am?' said
Jesus, firmly. `I tell you the truth, and ye call it blasphemy!
'

“`Answerest thou the High-Priest so!' cried Abner,
furiously; `the chief officer of the Temple!' striking him
with the palm of his hand across the mouth.

“Jesus calmly answered, with the blood trickling from
his lips: `If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil,
and judge me by our law; but if well, why smitest thou me?'

“`Ye have heard the blasphemy,' said Caiaphas, extending
his hands towards the people. `What think ye?
Need we any further witness than his own mouth?'

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“`He is guilty of death!' cried Abner, in a hoarse voice,
his eyes, red with being up all the night, glaring like a
leopard's; and advancing to where Jesus stood, bound and
bleeding, he spat in his face thrice.

“This was followed by a loud outcry for his death;
and several vile fellows also spat upon him, and pulled
him by the beard, and for some minutes it seemed to be
the only thought of all, who were any ways near him,
to do him some ignominy; and, but for the protection of
Æmilius and his soldiers, they would have torn him in
pieces.

“`Is this Jewish justice?' he cried, indignantly, to
Caiaphas. `Do you condemn and kill a man without
witness? Stand back, hounds, for Romans are not used
to see men condemned without law. Back, fellows—or
your blood shall flow sooner than his for which you thirst!'

“At this determined attitude they gave back for a moment,
and left Jesus standing in the midst, sad but serene.

“John ran to him, and wiped the blood and uncleanness
from his lips, and cheeks, and beard, and gave him water,
which the woman who had recognized Peter, compassionately
brought in a ewer.

“`Master, use thy power, and escape from them!'
whispered John.

“`Nay—tempt me not, beloved,' he answered. `My
power is not for my deliverance, but for that of the world.
For you I can do mighty works; but for myself I do
nothing. I came not to save my life, but to lay it down!
Mine hour is at hand!'

“`Let not a handful of Romans frighten you, men of
Jerusalem!' cried Abner. `There is not a legion in all
the city. Here we are masters, if we will it! To the

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rescue! Let me hear the Lion of Judah roar in his might,
and the Eagle of Rome will shrink and fly away. To the
rescue!'

“`Hold! men and brethren!' cried Caiaphas, who had
judgment enough to see that the first blow would be the
beginning of a revolution, that would bring down upon the
city the Roman army quartered in Syria, and end in the
destruction of the nation. `Hold, madmen!'

“But his voice was drowned amid the roar of the
human tempest. Æmilius and his men were borne away
on the crest of the surge, and so pressed by the bodies of
the Jews that they could not make use of their weapons.
In the wild confusion, Jesus was carried, by fierce hands,
to the opposite end of the council-chamber; while Caiaphas
strove to appease the wrath of Æmilius, who insisted
that the fate of Jesus should be left with Pilate, the
Procurator. After brief consultation with the chief-priests,
elders, and scribes, Caiaphas consented; though knowing
that Pilate, being a Pagan, would not heed a charge of
blasphemy, he resolved with the rest, that nothing should
be said of that before him, but that he should be accused
to him of sedition, and setting up a kingdom in opposition
to the universal empire of Cæsar.

“When Æmilius, aided by the authority of Caiaphas,
at length came where Jesus had been dragged, they found
him standing blindfolded among a crowd of the basest
fellows of Jerusalem, who were amusing themselves by
slapping his cheeks, and asking him to tell, by his divine
knowledge of all things, who did it? They would also
hold money before his blinded eyes, and ask him to name
its value or inscription; and when he still kept silence,

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they struck him, beat him with their hands, and cruelly
smote him with their staves to make him respond.

“`We will let thee go, Nazarene,' said one, `if thou wilt
tell how many hairs I have in my beard!'

“`Nay, let him divine!' cried another, `what I gave
for my Passover-lamb, in the market, and the name of
the Samaritan of whom I bought it!'

“`Out with your lambs, Kish!' shouted a third fellow,
thrusting himself forward, `let me hear him prophecy!
It is a rare quail, a prophet, in these dull times. What,
Galilean, silent and sullen! I will make thee speak, and
sing, too!' and he let a blow of his staff fall upon the
head of Jesus, which would have felled him to the earth,
but for the voice of Caiaphas, which arrested, in part,
its force.

“`Men of Israel!' he cried aloud, `that this pestilent
Nazarene is a blasphemer, we have heard with our ears;
and, by our law, he ought to die, because he hath made
himself the Son of God! But Cæsar hath taken the
power of life and death out of our hands! We can put
no man to death but the Romans only. That he has
spoken against Cæsar, and is a seditionist, can be proved.
Let us take him before Pilate with this accusation; and
if he be found guilty of death, as he will be, unless the
Procurator wink at a usurper's rising up in his government,
which he will not dare to do, we shall have the
Nazarene hanged on a Roman cross, ere the sun reaches
the mark of noon on the dial of the Temple.'

“This speech pleased the people, and having re-bound
Jesus, more securely, they cried, all with one voice:
`To Pilate! To the Pretorium!'

p612-393

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“The multitude then poured out of the gates of the
palace, like a foaming and chafing river, which hath overflowed
its banks, and with terrible cries which we heard,
startling the dawn, even in our house, took the direction
towards the Pretorium. Of the hundreds of thousands of
Jews from the country, who crowd Jerusalem like a beehive
at this holy season, not one slept that night, or was
absent from that scene; and the noise of the tramp of that
scene shook the very foundations of Mount Zion, while
the murmur of voices was like the sound of many waters.

“It was with difficulty that Æmilius could protect
the Prophet in safety up the hill, and to the entrance
of the Pretorium, while he entered with his prisoner,
just as the sun gilded the loftiest pinnacle of the Temple,
and the trumpets of the Levites sounded to prayers.”

In another letter, dear father, I will continue the account
of his trial, the remembrance of which, while I now
write of it, almost rekindles again all my love, faith,
devotion and confidence in him; for who but a man,
God-sustained, could have borne so meekly all this pain,
insult, ignominy, and shame?