How our sins have particularly murdered Christ and us.
By John William Fletcher
Priests, magistrates, people, pursue him to the garden; bound by the chain of our sins. We wonder; he is led captive. We execute; he is silent. We shut our eyes; he is blindfolded. We pamper the flesh; he sheds blood, and agonizes. We seek ease; he faints under the cross. We are proud; he is crowned with thorns, and naked. We abuse our hands and feet; he is pierced. We are intemperate; he thirsts and hath vinegar and gall. We are unclean; he is bathed in blood. We are impatient; he is railed at. We are accursed by the law; he was upon the tree. We are hard-hearted; his heart was pierced. We are careless; he had strong cries and agonies.—Fletcher.