No More Learning

He declares that Jesus must die, but counsels caution
as to the manner of the execution. Philo, a dreaded priest and
Pharisee, steps forward, and with great vehemence pronounces the dream
of Caiaphas a mere empty fiction, yet joins in counselling the death
of Jesus. He declares Caiaphas a disgrace to the priesthood of God,
but that Jesus would abolish the priesthood altogether.

So saying, Philo, with uplifted arms,
Advanced in the assembly and exclaimed:
"Spirit of Moses, reigning now in bliss,
Whether in thy celestial robes thou art,
Or whether thy yet mortal children now
In council met beneath a humble roof,
Thou deign'st to visit. Solemnly
I swear to thee, by yon dread covenant,
Which thou to us hast brought out of the storm
From God, to thee on Sinai revealed:
I will not rest till this thine adversary,
Who hates thy laws and thee, be from this earth
Exterminated. "

The evil counsel is warmly opposed by Gamaliel and Nicodemus. Judas
has a private conference with Caiaphas. The Messiah sends Peter
and John into Jerusalem to prepare the Passover. Jesus, going to
Jerusalem, is met by Judas. Jesus institutes a memorial of His death.
Judas goes out from the supper. Then Jesus prays for His disciples,
and returns to the Mount of Olives.


_III. --Eloah Sings the Redeemer's Glory_

God descends towards the earth to judge the Mediator, and rests
on Tabor. The Almighty sends the seraph Eloah to comfort Jesus in
Gethsemane by singing a triumphant song on His future glory.
He soared on golden clouds and sang aloud:
"Hail me, I was found worthy after Thee
To feel what Thou dost feel, and to behold
At humble distance the Messiah's thoughts,
Which in the fearful and most dreadful hour
Of His humiliation, fill His mind.
No finite being ever saw God's thoughts:
Yet I have been found worthy from afar,
From an obscure dimension of created
And but finite understanding, to extend
My view into Divine Infinitude!
O with what feelings of creation new,
Divine Messiah, those redeemed by Thee--
With what surpassing transport they will see
Thee on Thy everlasting throne of glory!
How they will then behold those radiant wounds,
The splendid testimonies of Thy love
To Adam's race! How they will shout Thy praise
In never-ceasing songs and alleluias!
Ah, then the angel Death's tremendous trump
Will nevermore be heard, nor thunders, then,
O'er Thy redeemed from the Throne will roll,
The depths will bow before Thee, and the heights
To Thee, the Judge, will folded hands uplift.
The last of days will evanescent die
Before the throne, lost in eternity.
And Thou wilt gather all the righteous souls
Around Thee, that they, face to face, may see
Thy glory and behold Thee as Thou art. "

Now the Messiah from the crimsoned dust
Rose victor, and the heavens sang aloud--
The third heaven, of the great Messiah's most
Transcendent sufferings which brought endless life
To precious souls, as now gone over Him.
So sang the heavens.


_IV. --Pilate's Wife Bewails the Saviour's Sufferings_

The Messiah is seized and bound. The assembled priests are seized
with consternation, but their fears are removed by the arrival of
successive messengers. Jesus being taken before Annas, Philo goes
thither and brings Him to Caiaphas. Portia, Pilate's wife, comes to
see Jesus. She approaches from the Procurator's palace near the hall
of assembly, by an arcade lit by lamps.