For though Pilate himself, to gratify the Jews, delivered Him to be crucified; yet before he did so he pronounced openly that he found no fault in Him: and put for title of His condemnation, not as the Jews required, “that He pretended to be king”; but simply, “that He was king of the Jews”; and notwithstanding their clamour, refused to alter it; saying, “What I have written, I have written.”

As for the third part of His office, which was to be “king,” I have already shown that His kingdom was not to begin till the resurrection. But then He shall be king, not only as God, in which sense He is king already, and ever shall be, of all the earth, in virtue of His omnipotence; but also peculiarly of His own elect, by virtue of the pact they make with Him in their baptism. And therefore it is that our Saviour saith ( Matt. 19:28) that His apostles should sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, “When the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory”: whereby He signified that He should reign then in His human nature; and Matt.