Standers-by unbind him, and let him

go.

*

45. Now This was fo great and undeniable an Evidence of Jefus's Divine Power and Authority, that many *Ver. 18. of the Jews, who were prefent, as I faid, upon occafion of comforting Mary and her Sifter after their Brother's Death; were convinced by this Miracle, and believed on Jefus.

& 31.

46. But others of them, being obftinately prejudiced and incorrigibly wicked, fo that no Proof whatfoever, no not even raising one from the Dead before their Eyes, could convince and perfuade them to embrace a Doctrine inconfiftent with their vicious and worldly Tempers; instead of believing on Jefus, went maliciously and informed the Pharifees what he had done; that they might confult how to oppose him, and confider of Means to prevent the Influence that fo notorious and plain a Miracle was likely to have upon the People.

47. The Chief Priefts therefore and Pharifees, calling a Council, confulted among themselves, faying: What fhall we do? 'Tis plain, and we cannot deny, it, that this Man has indeed worked many notable Miracles.

48. Now if we take no notice of it, and fuffer him to go on in this manner undisturbed; the People will certainly all run after him, believing him to be the expected Meffiah, and will fet him up for their King: And the Romans upon this Pretence, as if we were raifing Sedition against them, will take occafion to come upon us, and deprive us utterly of our Religion and remaining Liberty. Yet on the other hand, if we should rafhly apprehend this

unto them, Loofe him, and let him go.

45 Then many of

the Jews which came feen the things which to Mary, and had

Jefus did, believed on him.

49 And one of them named Caia

phas, being the high priest that fame year, faid unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor confider that it is expedient for us, that one man fhould die for the

people, and that the whole nation perish

not.

51 And this fpake he not of himself; but being high priest that year, he prophe; fied that Jefus fhould die for that nation: 52 And not for that nation only, but that alfo he should gather together in one, the children of God that were fcat

tered abroad.

V o L. II.

Man, and put him to Death, and it fhould appear at the fame time that he is an innocent Perfon; this also might prove of dangerous Confequence.

4950. But Caiaphas, who was Prieft for that Year, ftanding up, faid: one of the Council, and alfo High I wonder ye fhould be fo weak and irrefolute, as to raise Scruples and Queftions in fo plain a Cafe; and spend that time in confulting and deliberating, which ye ought to employ in executing your Defigns. Is this a time to confider and difpute, when the Thing is already almost paft recovery? No ; ye ought immediately, without further enquiry or lofs of Time, to cause the Man to be put to Death. What if it should afterwards appear, that he was an innocent Perfon? Is it not better that one Man fhould be put to Death at all adventures for the Prefervation of the whole Nation, than that the whole Nation should be ruined by your unneceffary Scrupuloufnefs about the Life of one Man?

51 52. This, though spoken by Caiaphas in a politick and worldly Senfe only; yet, he being High Priest that Year, it was fo ordered by especial Providence, that his Words, in a Senfe different from what he invery tended, appeared to be an exact Prophecy of what foon after came to pafs, viz. That Jefus fhould die for the Nation of the Jews; and not for that Nation only, but also for all Mankind that he might gather together out of all the Nations of the Earth, the difperfed Servants of God, into one holy Church, united under one Head which is Chrift, and joined together in one holy Communion and Fellowflip, in D d

;

the

the Profeffion and Practice of one Faith and Worship.

53. Now from this time forwards, the Council of the Jews, being fully refolved to take away Jefus's Life, confulted no longer whether they fhould do the thing or no, but only How, and in what manner they might best effect

it.

54. Jefus therefore, knowing their Refolution, appeared no more openly among the Jews at or near Jerufalem, till the Time of his Suffering was fully come; but retired into the farther part of Judea, to a City called Ephraim, upon the Borders of the Wildernefs. And there he continued for fome time with his Disciples privately, till the Feaft of the Paffover drew near.

55. At which time, the Jews being obliged to go up from all Parts of the Country to Jerufalem to be prefent at the Feast; many went thither a little before-hand, to purifie themfelves according to the Law, that they might be prepared to eat the Paffoever.

56. Great Numbers therefore of the People from all Parts of the Country, meeting together in the Temple; they inquired one of another concerning efus, and afked each Other's Opinion about his Doctrine and Behaviour; alfo, where they thought he was, and whether he would (contrary to Cuftom) abfent himself from the Feaft: Some of them being defirous to see him, that they might hear his Doctrine, and behold his Miracles; and others, that they might difcover him to the Chief Priefts.

Jefus entertained at Bethany, ver. 1. Judas's Covetousness reproved, ver. 4. The extreme Malice and Iniquity of the Jews, ver. 10. Jefus's folemn Entrance into Jerufalem, ver. 12. The Greeks defire to fee Jefus, ver. 20. Jefus foretells the fpreading of the Gospel among the Gentiles after his Death, ver. 24. That Chriftians must fuffer Affiction and Perfecution, ver. 25. A Voice from Heaven ver. 28. Jefus foretells his Death, ver. 32, 33. His final Warning to the impenitent Jews, ver. 35.

1 THen Jefus, fix 1. days before

Now OW Six Days before the Paffover, Jefus, in his Return to Jerufalem, came again to Bethany, the Town where Lazarus dwelt, whom he had raised from the Dead.

the paffover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2. And there he * Iwas invited to a 2 There they made great Supper; at which Martha affisted

* At the House of Simon the Leper; poffibly the fame where Lazarus and his Sifters dwelt. At leaft, Simon was a Friend and Acquaintance of theirs; and Lazarus was invited as a Guelt; but Martha, as a Friend and Neighbour, aflifted in providing the Entertainment. As to the Time; though even St. John's Words do not neceffarily fignifie, that the Feaft was made the fame Day that Jefus came to Bethany Six Days before the Paffover; yet, fuppofing that they do fo, how they may nevertheless be reconciled with the other Evangelifts, fee Note on Mark xiv. 3. Dd 2

VOL. II.

in

him and

in providing the Entertainment; and Lazarus was one of the Company that fat at Table with Jefus.

3. Now as they were fitting at Meat, Mary came behind Jefus with a Box of very precious Ointment, containing not lefs than a Pound; And the anointed his Head and Feet with it, and wiped his Feet with the Hair of her Head ; and the whole Houfe was filled with the fweet smell of the Ointment.

45. Whereupon Judas Iscariot, the fame that afterward betrayed Jefus, faid in Difcontent: Wherefore is this Woman fuffered to wafte prodigally fo much good Ointment to no purpose, which might have been fold for a great deal of Money, enough to have relieved feveral poor People.

6. This he faid, not that he had any Charity or real Concern for the Poor; but because, being Purfe-bearer to Jefus and the Apoftles, and of a covetous and thievifh Difpofition, he was difpleafed the Ointment was not fold, and the Money put into his Poffeffion, that he might have applied fome of it to his own private Ufe.

7. Jefus, therefore, knowing his Thoughts, replied: Nay, do not difturb the Woman: For 'tis a very commendable Thing in her, that he has teftified her Refpect in this manner, and paid this last Honour to me before my Death. Which because it is now very near, there is also another good thing, that you are not aware of, in what this Woman has now done for me: She has anointed my Body beforchand against the Burial; and has been directed by Providence to spend that Ointment on me yet alive, which she would have defired, and you would

him a fupper, and Martha ferved: but

Lazarus was one of them that fat at the

table with him.

3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment, of spikenard, very coftly, and anointed the feet of Jefus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was

filled with the odour of the ointment.

4 Then faith one of his difciples, Judas Iscariot, Simons Jon, which fhould betray him,

5 Why was not this ointment fold for

three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6 This he faid, not that he cared for the poor; but because had the bag, and he was a thief, and bare what was put

therein.