Dream of Pilate's Wife

    Whatever may be the philosophy of dreaming, this dream was evidently providential. Yet, why providential? What did it effect? What was it designed to effect? It did not prevent Pilate to give up Jesus to his enemies, that they might put him to death: nor was it intended for such a purpose. Jesus must die. Why, then, a waste of means to prevent it? Was not this dream a thing dissuasive to Pilate from condemning Christ? Yet God intended that Jesus should now die by the hands of his enemies. If, then, it did not serve to save Christ from death, and was not intended to be successful for that purpose, what other purpose could it serve? One purpose it served. It showed that the counsel of God must stand, notwithstanding the strongest efforts that can be made to prevent it. Pilate was fully convinced of the innocence of Jesus; he was apprehensive when he heard of his pretensions of being the Son of God ; and he was now warned by this dream of his wife, to keep himself free from the blood of Jesus. Yet, after all, he gave him up.

    It shows us also, that Divine Providence affords to the wicked an occasion of aggravating their guilt. Pilate knew that Jesus had done nothing worthy of death; yet for unwarrantable reasons he was giving him into the hands of his enemies. At this moment he is warned by a wonderfully providential dream, against what he was about to do, yet he did it notwithstanding. His guilt, then, is providentially aggravated.