John Trapp on Matthew 27:24

Verse 24. He took water] Too weak an element to wash off guilt [illegible: 1 word] which is not purged but by the bloud of Christ, or fire of hell. And washt his hands] An old Ceremony, used, in this case, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. both by Jews (Deut. 21. 6, 7. Act. 18. 6.) and Gentiles, as the Scholiast upon Sophocles testifieth. And it was as much as to say, the guilt of innocent bloud doth no more stick to my conscience, then the filth now washed off, doth to my fingers. Sed quid hoc est, [illegible: 1 word] one? Manus abluit Pilatus, & cor polluit. O Ierusalem, wash thy heart from wickednesse, saith the Prophet. God and nature begin at the heart. And, Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, butJer 4 14. withall, Purifie your hearts, ye double-minded, saith the Apostle.Jam. 4. 8. The very Turks, before praier, wash both face and hands, Blunts voyage. pag. 100. sometimes the head and privities. But bodily exercise only profiteth little. See ye to it] See thou to that, said they to Iudas, vers. 4. See ye to it, saith Pilate to them: With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again, Mat. 7. 2. They are paid in their own coyn, their own very words, by a just judgement of God, are regested upon them.