Behold now, as foretold by the Prophet, he is in a judicial Manner _numbered with the Transgressors_! Behold him as some poor Man of no Reputation, standing before the High Priest and Elders, and before _Herod_ and _Pilate_, where Witnesses appear against him, and he mindful of the most gracious Design of his Coming, declineth to plead in his own Defence, _but as a Sheep that is dumb before the Shearer_, so under many Accusations, Revilings, and Buffetings, remained silent. And though he signified to _Peter_, that he had Access to Power sufficient to overthrow all their outward Forces; yet retaining a Resignation to suffer for the Sins of Mankind, he exerted not that Power, but permitted them to go on in their malicious Designs, and pronounce him to be worthy of Death, even him who was perfect in Goodness; thus _in his Humiliation his Judgment was taken away_, and he, like some vile Criminal, _led as a Lamb to the Slaughter_. Under these heavy Trials (tho' poor unstable _Pilate_ was convinced of his Innocence, yet) the People generally looked upon him as a Deceiver, a Blasphemer, and the approaching Punishment as a just Judgment upon him; _They esteemed him smitten of God and afflicted._ So great had been the Surprize of his Disciples, at his being taken by armed Men, that they _forsook him, and fled_; thus they hid their Faces from him, he was despised, and by their Conduct it appeared as though _they esteemed him not_. But contrary to that Opinion, of his being smitten of God and afflicted, it was for our Sakes that _he was put to Grief_; _he was wounded for our Transgressions_; _he was bruised for our Iniquities_; and under the Weight of them manifesting the deepest Compassion for the Instruments of his Misery, laboured as their Advocate, and in the Deeps of Affliction, with an unconquerable Patience, cried out, _Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!_