round his waist a ring covered with sharp iron points, and to it
they fastened the cords by which he was led, doing all with their usual
brutal cruelty.

The two thieves were standing, one on the right and the other on the
left of Jesus, with their hands tied and a chain round their necks;
they were covered with black and lived marks, the effects of the
scourging of the previous day. The demeanour of the one who was
afterwards converted was quiet and peaceable, while that of the other,
on the contrary, was rough and insolent, and he joined the archers in
abusing and insulting Jesus, who looked upon his two companions with
love and compassion, and offered up his sufferings for their salvation.
The archers gathered together all the implements necessary for the
crucifixions, and prepared everything for the terrible and painful
journey to Calvary.

Annas and Caiphas at last left off disputing with Pilate, and
angrily retired, taking with them the sheets of parchment on which the
sentence was written; they went away in haste, fearing that they should
get to the Temple too late for the Paschal sacrifice. Thus did the High
Priests, unknowingly to themselves, leave the true Paschal Lamb. They
went to a temple made of stone, to immolate and to sacrifice that lamb
which was but a symbol, and they left the true Paschal Lamb, who was
being led to the Altar of the Cross by the cruel executioners; they
were most careful not to contract exterior defilement, while their
souls were completely defiled by anger, hatred, and envy. They had
said, 'His blood be upon us and upon our children!' And by these words they
had performed the ceremony, and had placed the hand of the sacrificer
upon the head of the Victim. Thus were the two paths formed--the one
leading to the altar belonging to the Jewish law, the other leading to
the Altar of Grace: Pilate, that proud and irresolute pagan, that slave
of the world, who trembled in the presence of the true God, and yet
adored his false gods, took a middle path, and returned to his palace.

The iniquitous sentence was given at about ten in the morning.

CHAPTER XXX.

The Carrying of the Cross.

When Pilate left the tribunal a portion of the soldiers followed
him, and were drawn up in files before the palace; a few accompanying
the criminals. Eight-and-twenty armed Pharisees came to the forum on
horseback, in order to accompany Jesus to the place of execution, and
among these were the