on the contrary, led away with that vulgar Miftake, that Jefus was born at Nazareth, because he had lived there from his Youth; replied: Can any thing ever perfuade us that a Man born in Galilee can be the Meffiah, when the Scripture expressly tells us, that Chrift is to come of the Family of David, and *Micah. to be born in * Bethlehem the City of David? V. 2. 43. Thus the People were greatly divided in their Opinions concerning Jefus; fome being convinced by the Power and Evidence of Truth, to acknowledge him to be the Chrift; but others on the contrary sticking obftinately to the Prejudices, which for want of due inquiry they had rafhly and unreasonably conceived against him. 44. And fome of them had a great mind to lay hold on him and fecure him. But no body had the heart to do it; no, not even the Officers themfelves, who were fent out on purpose by Authority of the Council with exprefs Orders to apprehend him. 45. When therefore the Officers re- fees, without having apprehended Jefus ; 46. The Officers anfwered: So ex- It feems from the anfwer, v.49. that Jome fuch 42 Hath not the fcripture faid, That Chrift cometh of the feed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was? 47. The Pharifees in great Anger replied: What? Are Te alfo, who have the Advantage of being our immediate Attendants, led away with the Errour of the ignorant Multitude, and feduced into a Belief of this Man? 48 49. You fee; not one of the Rulers, who belong to the great Council, and are the only proper Judges whether a Man be a true Prophet or no; nor any one of the Pharifees, Men eminent for ftrict Holinefs, and for their great Learning and Skill in all Queftions of the Law; have believed on him. Why then fhould Ye be led away with the Folly of the giddy common People who 'tis no wonder if they be deceived by every Impoftor; having no Understanding of the Law, and being therefore juftly forfaken of God, and left under his Curse. two verfes is Dr. Claget's. 50 & 51. Upon this, * Nicodemus, * The Paone of the great Council, and a Favou- raphrafe rer of Jefus, (the fame that had for- on these merly come to Jefus and converfed with him privately by Night,) obferving the Pharifees Rage against him, and these indecent and indifcreet Pafiages; though he was a Man of a timorous Nature, and durft not interpofe directly in the behalf of Jefus; yet could not forbear to fay fomething in general, that might allay their Heat, and divert them from fudden Attempts against him. And therefore he faid: Doth our Law juftify us in condemning a Man before we hear what he can fay for himfelf? Equity feems to require, that we should take knowledge of his Actions as well from his own Words, as from what others fay against him. 52. But 52. But the Pharifees, poffeft with unreasonable Prejudices; and not willing to be at the pains of making any equitable Inquiry; instead of abating their Paffion upon this grave and gentle Reproof, were on the contrary more exafperated, and replied fiercely to Nicodemus; What, are You alfo of this Galilean Faction? Search the Scriptures, and truft to your own Eyes; fee, if ever any Prophet arofe out of Galilee. 53. Which abfurd Argument, grounded wholly on a vulgar Prejudice against the Country of Galilee, and on a falfe Opinion of Jesus's being born at Nazareth, giving occafion to fome other Difputes among them; fome of them thereupon, fearing leaft Controverfies should grow among themselves, faid, that nothing more could be done at that time. And fo they broke up the Council in Anger, and every Man returned to his own House. 52 They answered and faid unto him, Art thou alfo of Galilee? Search and lilee arifeth no prophet. look for out of Ga 53 And every man went unto his own houfe. CHAP. VIII. Of the Woman taken in Adultery, ver. 11. Of the true Nature and Defign of the Gospel, ver. 12, 14. Vicious Affections, and not want of Evidence, the Caufe of Men's Unbelief, ver. 23. 1. THE next Evening, Jefus, according to his frequent Custom, retired out of the City to the Mount of Olives, to refresh himself, and to spend part of the Night in Meditation and Prayer. 2. And in the Morning early, he returned again to the City, and went into the Temple; And the People reforted to him, as ufual, in great Multitudes; and he fat down and taught them. JEfus I Efus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and taught them. he fat down, and 3 And 34. And as he was inftructing the People, a Company of Scribes and Pharifees came in, and brought with them her before him, faying: Mafter, we a Woman taken in Adultery, and fet have taken up this Woman, not upon a bare fufpicion of Adultery, but having plainly convicted her of the Crime, by the Teftimony of those that took her in the very Act. 5. Now it being exprefsly commanded in the Law of Mofes, that both the Adulterer and Adulterefs fhould be put to Death; it has been the Custom of our Nation to execute this Law upon the Offenders, by the Peoples ftoning them to Death with Stones. Nevertheless, because we find you do in some other Matters difpenfe with the Law of Mofes, we are defirous to know what Directions you would give us in the present Cafe. 6. This they faid, not that they had any real respect for Jefus, or any deference at all to his Authority; but on the contrary, only with a malicious Defign to enfnare and expofe him: Thinking, that if on the one fide he fhould incourage the People to ftone her, then he might be accufed to the Roman Governour for promoting a feditious and tumultuary Execution of a Criminal without the Governour's Authority; but if on the other fide he fhould endeavour to fave her from the Fury of the common People, then the Jews might be offended at him as an Enemy to their Liberties. Jefus therefore, knowing their malicious Design against him, seemed at firft not to regard them; but, ftooping down, wrote upon the Pavement with his Finger, as if he had been intent upon fome other Thoughts, and had not heard what they said, A a 7. The Mr. le Clerc, in his Additions to 7. The Pharifees, feeing him not regard them, or thinking him to be put to a great streight for an Answer, continued asking and preffing him to deliver his Opinion. Whereupon Jefus raifing himself up, faid: Why do you urge Me to give any Judgment in this Matter? I have nothing to fay against your executing the Law. Only ye ought to confider, that he that is very zealous in punishing another, fhould in all Equity be free from Guilt himself. Whoever therefore among you has a clear and innocent Confcience, let him begin and caft the firft Stone at the Woman. 8. By this Answer Jefus plainly avoided the Snare they had laid for him ; neither abfolutely encouraging their tumultuous way of executing Criminals, nor yet wholly denying the Peoples Li**Tis berty; *but only justly reproaching therefore the Pharifees, for being led to the Sevewithout rity they pleaded for, not by the true reafon,that Zeal of an honeft Mind, a hearty Love of Right, and a real Indignation against Sin, but merely by Hypocrify and an outward falfe Appearance of Holinefs. Dr. Ham- And having thus anfwered them, he mond fays ftooped down again and wrote on the upon this Ground with his Finger; giving them Place; He time to confider; and that, being redoes not proached and fhamed by their own Confee what fciences, they might be willing to take danger Chrift the Opportunity of flipping away, whilst could they imagined that he took no notice. of them. think to avoid by fuch an 9. Accordingly, every one of them applying to himself what Jefus had Anfwer. faid, and fearing to be difcovered and fhamed, they took the Advantage of his being otherwife employ'd, and of his fceming not to mind what they did; and went out one by one: till there was not |