two falfe Witneffes, who alledg'd they had heard Jefus fay he would deftroy this Temple made with hands, and build another in three days time without any human help. But neither was this accufation ftrong enough to condemn him to death; which made the chief Prieft and Jews, affembled in the houfe of Caiaphas, at á lofs how to destroy him.

The next day the whole Sanhedrim being affembled in the ufual Place, Jefus was brought before them by those who had bin in the houfe of Caiaphas, and the Witneffes were again examin'd; to whofe accufations Jefus making no reply, the High Prieft arofe, and ask'd him the reafon of his Silence. But Jefus returning no anfwer, many other Members of the Sanhedrim ask'd him whether he were the Meffiah or not, and commanded him to give an Anfwer to their question. Then

faid Fefus, if I fhould here profefs my felf the Meffiah, you would not believe me; and if I fhould propofe any Questions to you, you would not difmifs me, tho you would be unable to reply to what I could propound: for which reafon I think it not neceffary to make any Defence, or plead for my felf before this Affembly.

But the High Prieft, that he might get an Anfwer from him, began to adjure him by the true God, to tell them whether he were the Meah, the Son of God; and the others alfo urg'd him to the fame purpofe. Jefus then perceiving himself bound by fo religious a Ty, made this publick Profeffion: I am indeed him you mention, The Meffiah, and hereafter you fhall fee me feated at the right hand of that inacceffible Light by which God manifefts his Prefence in Heaven, and defcending in the Clouds from Heaven, fo as you fhall no longer doubt whether I am the Meffiah or not.

Upon hearing of which words the High Prieft rent his Garment, exclaiming a

gainst

The year of Chrift, 33. of his Ministry, 4.

MATTHEW.

CHAP. XXVI. He hath spoken blaf

phemy;

what further need have we of witneffes? behold, now ye have heard his blaf phemy.

66 What think ye? They answered and faid, He is guilty of death.

67 Then did they fpit in his face, and buffeted him, and others fmote him with the palms of their hands,

68 Saying, Prophethou fy unto us, Chrift, who is he that fmote thee?

MARK.

LUKE.

CHAP. XIV.

CHA P. XXII.

71 And they faid,

What need we any What need we any further witness? for further witnesses ?

64 Ye have heard we our felves have the blafphemy:

heard of his own
mouth.

what think ye? นี

And they all condemn-
ed him to be guilty of
death.

65 And fome began
to fpit on him, and to
cover his face, and to
buffet him, and

63 And the men that held Jefus, mocked him, and fmote him.

64 And when they had blindfolded him, they stroke him on the to fay unto him, Pro- face, and asked him, phefy: and the fervants faying, Prophefy who did ftrike him with the is it that fmote thee? palms of their hands.

65 And many other things blafphemously fpake they against him.

513

Јонм.

gainst Jefus as a Blafphemer. Then turning himself to the Sanhedrim; What need, faid he, of any further witness? You your felves have heard his Blafphemy, what think you? they replied, they thought he deferv'd to die. At that time the Guard fet over him began to fpit on him, and to buffet him; and having blindfolded him, they ftruck him with the Palms of their hands, bidding him guess who it was that ftruck him, fince, being the Meffiah, as he faid, he must needs be a Prophet alfo. After this manner did thefe miferable Wretches revile him; but the Sanhedrim without any more to do condemn'd him as worthy of Death.

to put him to death.

2 And when they

bound him, they

council,

bound ND 28

head bin away, and de- Jefus, and carried him 'A multitude of Je fus Then led they

livered him to Pontius away, and delivered them arofe, and led unto the hall of judgPilate the governour. him to Pilate.

宁

him to Pilate.

K

ment :

and it was early, and they themfelves went not into the judgment-hall, leftthey fhould be defiled; but that they might eat the paffover.

29 Pilate then went out unto them, and faid, What accufation bring you against this. man?

CHA P. LXIII.

The Jews carry Jefus before Pilat, and demand Sentence against him. Pilat receives their Accufation, examins bim upon it, and acquits him; but at last, for fear of a Sedition, be condemns bim, tho against his Will, and fets. Barabbas free. The Defpair of Judas.

ESUS having bin thus condemned by them, the whole Sanhedrim arofe, and went directly to the Judgment-Hall to impeach him before Pontius Pilat the Roman Governour: thither they led Jefus. However they themselves went not in, that they might not be defil'd by going into the houfe of a Heathen Man, and thereby be excluded from eating of the Victims that were that day to be facrific'd, and which were wout (as the other Sacrifices offer'd up during the eight Days that Feaft lafts) to be call'd, The Pasover.

Pilat being inform'd that the Jews waited without with a Man bound, whom they defign'd to deliver into his hands as worthy of Death, indulging their Seperftition in this particular, came out and asked them what crime they accus'd him of.

They

11 And Jefus food before the governour; and the governour ask

2 And Pilate asked

2 And they began to accufe him, faying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cefar, faying, that he himself is Chrift a king.

3 And Pilate asked

ed him, faying, Art him, Art thou the him, faying, Art thou thou the king of the king of the Jews? the king of the Jews?

JOHN.

CHAP. XVIII.

30 They answered and faid unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

31 Then faid Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judg him according to your law. The Jews therefore faid unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

32 That the faying of Jefus might be fulfilled, which he fpake, fignifying what death he thould die.

They replied, (half angry that Pilat fhould feem to fufpect them as defigning to deftroy an innocent Perfon) that if he had not bin a Malefactor, they would not have brought him before him. Pilat then bid them take him, and judg him according to their Law. They anfwer'd, they had already examin'd him, and found him worthy of Death, which the Roman Laws prohibited them to put in execution. By which means came to pa's what Jefus had foretold concerning the Death he fhould die; the Rom.ms being wont to crucify fuch ftrangers as were condemn'd to death, which was contrary to the cultom of the Jews, who befide then could not execute any one, unless upon fome fudden tumult.

Then they urg'd against him, that they knew he endeavor'd to foment a Tumult, and raife an Infurrection against the Roman Government, by forbidding the Peoples paying Tribute to Cafar, affirming that he himself was King of the Jews. Pilat then ask'd Jefus, who stood before him, whether he were the King of the

V v v 2

Jews,