7. And moreover, in His very passion and cross, before they had reached the cruelty of death and the effusion of blood, what infamies of reproach were patiently heard, what mockings of contumely were suffered, so that He received16 Erasmus adds, “with patience.” the spittings of insulters, who with His spittle had a little before made eyes for a blind man; and He in whose name the devil and his angels is now scourged by His servants, Himself suffered scourgings! He was crowned with thorns, who crowns martyrs with eternal flowers. He was smitten on the face with palms, who gives the true palms to those who overcome. He was despoiled of His earthly garment, who clothes others in the vesture of immortality. He was fed with gall, who gave heavenly food. He was given to drink of vinegar, who appointed the cup of salvation. That guiltless, that just One,—nay, He who is innocency itself and justice itself,—is counted among transgressors, and truth is oppressed with false witnesses. He who shall judge is judged; and the Word of God is led silently to the slaughter. And when at the cross, of the Lord the stars are confounded, the elements are disturbed, the earth quakes, night shuts out the day, the sun, that he may not be compelled to look on the crime of the Jews, withdraws both his rays and his eyes, He speaks not, nor is moved, nor declares His majesty even in His very passion itself. Even to the end, all things are borne perseveringly and constantly, in order that in Christ a full and perfect patience may be consummated.17 [This sublime passage recalls Bacon’s Paradoxes. See p. 237, note 3, supra.]
VII. Sub ipsa autem passione et cruce, priusquam ad crudelitatem necis et effusionem sanguinis veniretur, quae conviciorum probra patienter audita, quae 0627A contumeliarum tolerata ludibria, ut insultantium sputamina exciperet, qui sputo suo caeci oculos paulo ante formasset; et in cujus nomine a servis nunc ejus diabolus cum angelis suis flagellatur, flagella ipse pateretur; coronaretur spinis qui martyres floribus coronat aeternis, palmis in faciem verberaretur qui palmas veras vincentibus tribuit, spoliaretur veste terrena qui indumento immortalitatis caeteros vestit, cibaretur felle qui cibum coelestem dedit, aceto potaretur qui salutare poculum propinavit! Ille innocens, ille justus, immo innocentia ipsa et ipsa justitia, inter facinorosos deputatur, et testimoniis falsis veritas premitur, judicatur judicaturus, et Dei Sermo ad victimam tacens ducitur. Et cum ad crucem Domini confundantur sidera, elementa turbentur, 0627B contremiscat terra, nox diem claudat, sol, ne Judaeorum facinus aspicere cogatur, et radios et oculos suos subtrahat, ille non loquitur, nec movetur, nec majestatem suam sub ipsa saltem passione profitetur. Usque ad finem perseveranter ac jugiter tolerantur omnia, ut consummetur in Christo plena et perfecta patientia.