Lots Cast Foe the Coat of Jesus

    "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam woven from the top throughout. They said, therefore, among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my garments among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things, therefore, the soldiers did." Here we are expressly assured, that the thing done was done, that prophecy might be fulfilled. But we see that the fulfilment was altogether providential. The casting of the lot for this part of the raiment of the Messiah was the work of the soldiers themselves, the thought of which occurred to their own minds. Never did men act more spontaneously: Stoical or Mahometan fate could not more exactly have accomplished the thing predicted. In an inconceivable manner God performs his purposes by the voluntary thoughts and actions of all men, even by his enemies. Philosophy may attempt to explain and to reconcile by forced modification on one side or the other. Some, in order to have action voluntary, will deny that God ordains voluntary action, because they cannot comprehend the consistency. Some, in order to maintain the universal ordination of God, deny that action is voluntary, because, in their little wisdom, they cannot philosophize on the subject. Some force a harmony by obliging both parties to soften their expressions, and submit to modification; because they are not hardy enough to take either alternative, yet still wish to be esteemed wise. The attempt to fathom this subject is as vain as to attempt to ascertain the boundary of space or time. That God doth all things by the counsel of his own will, yet that man is voluntary and responsible, are truths exhibited in Scripture, written as with a sun-beam. Our business is to believe both, without any attempt to comprehend the incomprehensible ways of Jehovah.