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MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

Јони.

CHAP. VII.

40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this faying, faid, of a truth this is the prophet.

41 Others faid, This is the Chrift. But fome faid, Shall Chrift come out of Galilee?

42 Hath not the scripture faid, that Chrift cometh of the feed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

43 So there was a divifion among the people because of him.

44 And fome of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharifees; and they faid unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46 The officers answered, Never man fpake like this man. 47 Then anfwered them the Pharifees, Are ye alfo deceived?

48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharifees believed on him?

Many that had heard thefe, and other Difccurfes of Jefus, concluded him to be that Prophet who was to be the Forerunner of the Meffiah, while others took him for the very Meah, which many alfo thought impoffible, fince, as it appeared by the Scriptures, the Meffiah was not to be born in Galilee, but at Bethlehem the Birthplace of David, from whom alfo the Meffiah was to be defcended. The Jews thus difagreed, and were divided in opinion concerning him. Some were for feizing him, and carrying him to the Sanhedrim, which others difapprov'd of as unjuft. But no body had the boldness to lay hold of him, and thofe that look'd to the Temple return'd to the Sanhedrim, without performing what they were fent for ; and being ask'd why they did not feize him, they replied, that they had never heard any one talk with a Majefty and Wifdom equal to him. But the Pharifees tebuk'd, them faying, What, are you alfo deluded by him? Have you feen any of the Rulers or Pharifees, men skill'd in the Law, and whofe Example you may fafely Pp 2 follow,

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JOHN.

CHAP. VII.

49 But this people who knoweth not the law are curfed.

50 Nicodemus faith unto them, (he that came to Jefus by night, being one of them) 51 Doth our law judg any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

52 They answered, and faid unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look; for out of Galilee arifeth no prophet.

53 And every man went to his own house.

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follow, give credit to him? 'Tis only the injudicious Multitude that have been guilty of fuch Impiety.

It happen'd that Nicodemus was prefent at this Affembly, he who, as we have related, came two years before to Jefus by night: This man being himself one of the Sanhedrim, defiring to bring them to a better temper, ask'd them whether by the Law they could condemn any man without hearing him?

Then faid they to him: Art thou a Galilean alfo, and a favourer of this man, as the common people are? If thou believeft him to be a Prophet, thou mayft be convinc'd of thy mistake, if thou inquireft into the Country out of which the Prophets came; for thou wilt find that none of 'em ever came from Galilee. After thefe Debates the Sanhedrim broke up without coming to any refolution in the

matter.

CHA P. XXXIX.

The Judgment of Chrift concerning an Adulterefs. His Difcourse concerning himself, and the Depravity of the Jews of that Age.

IN the night time Jefus retir'd to the Mount of Olives not far from the City that he might avoid the Snares of the Sanhedrim; but every morning he return

to Jerufalem, and in the Temple was furrounded with a great Multitude, whom he acquaint

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JOHN.

CHAP. VIII.

came unto him; and he fat down, and taught them.

3 And the fcribes and Pharifees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had fet her in the mids,

4 They fay unto him, Mafter, this woman was taken in. adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Mofes in the law commanded us, that fuch fhould be ftoned; but what Layeft thou?

6 This they faid, tempting him, that they might have to accufe him. But Jefus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as tho he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lift up himfelf, and faid unto them, He that is without fin among you,, let him first caft a ftone at her.

acquainted with the Laws of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Rewards annex'd to the obfervance of them. In the mean time certain Teachers of the Law and Pharifees brought to him a Woman taken in the very act of Adultery, and plac'd her in the midft, that they might have his judgment about it in the hearing of all that were prefent. In order to get an answer from him, they told him fhe was taken in the very fact, and that he very well knew fuch perfons by the Law of Moses were to be fton'd to death; but they defired him to give his opinion in the cafe. Now they put this queftion, not to be inform'd by him, but to render him odious to the Romans (who had depriv'd the Jews of all Power of determining in capital Cafes) if he fhould fay they ought to ftone her; and to the common People among the Jews, if he fhould affirm they were not obliged to keep one of the Laws of Mofes. Jefus, to avoid their question by filence, stoop'd down, and made as if he wrote fomething on the ground, without anfwering a word. But the men continuing to prefs this question to him, he rais'd himself, and told them, that he that was without fin ought to throw the firft Stone at her: in which he obfcurely intimated, that fince the Romans had depriv'd them of the Power of putting the Law of Mofes in execution, they ought to be more indulgent, and allow her a fpace to repent; especially confidering that if God fhould inflict on Sinners the Punishments they have deferv'd without delay, all Mankind must be cut off: Which confideration ought to make men lefs fevere in their dealings towards one another, and not to do that to others which they

would

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

1

JOHN.

CHAP. VIII.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote ground.

on the

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own confcience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the laft and Jefus was left alone, and the woman ftanding in the midft.

10 When Jefus had lift up himfelf, and faw none but the woman, he faid unto her, Woman, where are those thine accufers? hath no man condemned thee?

II She faid, No man, Lord. And Jefus faid unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: Go, and fin no more.

12 Then fpake Jesus again unto them, faying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

would not have God to do to them; and that as they themselves defired time to repent, they would allow the fame Indulgence to the Guilty. Jefus having given this answer, ftoop'd again, and began to write upon the ground, as if he was think ing of fomewhat elfe. The men having heard what Jefus faid, being confcious to themfelves of many Crimes, fneak'd off one by one, the eldest first, and then the others, fo that he remain'd alone with the Woman ftanding before him.

Then lifting himself up, and feeing none with him but the Woman, he ask'd her what was become of her Accufers, and whether any one had condemn'd her to any fort of Punishment.

The Woman replied, that her Accufers were all gone off, while he was writing on the ground; and that he had not bin condemn'd by any one. Then faid he, neither do I adjudg thee to any Punishment; go thy way, and for the future take care not to be guilty of the like Sin.

Jefus afterwards thus addrefs'd himself to the Multitude that flock'd about him : I ama Light fent to guide Mankind, that wanders in the darknels of Ignorance: Whoever will become my Difciple, fhall have thefe Mifts. difpel'd, and be fhown the way that leads to Life eternal The Pharifees hearing this, interrupted him,

faying,

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

JOHN.

CHA P. VIII.

Is The Pharifees therefore faid unto him, Thou bearest record of thy felf; thy record is not true.

14 Jefus anfwered and faid unto them, Tho I bear record of my felf, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15 Ye judg after the flesh, I judg no man.

16 And yet if I judg, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that fent me.

17 It is alfo written in your law, that the teftimony of two men is true.

18 I am one that bear witnefs of my self, and the Father that fent me, beareth witness of me.

19 Then faid they unro him, Where is thy Father?

faying, that he bore witnels to himself, a Teftimony on which no body could rely; and that perhaps he was blinded with Self-love. Jefus thus replied to their Objection: The Testimony I bear to my felf is worthy to be relied on, and you need not fear my judging otherwife than becomes me, out of a principle of Vanity or Self-love; for I know who it is that has fent me, and to whom I must return after I have executed my Office here; both which are as yet unknown to you. You pafs your cenfure on me from my outward appearance, which makes you think I am not to be credited. The judgment I make refults from the confideration of mens Words and Actions, and the affections of the Mind. By the Laws that Mofes gave you, the concurring teftimony of two Witneffes ought to be credited: In this cafe you have two witneffes, and the judgment I make concerning my felf is con firm'd to you by the Miracles my Father has enabled me to perform among you. And thus it is that you give credit to the Prophets, namely, by perceiving their Commiflion feal'd with the Miracles God has given them the Power to perform, whofe Authority is above all exception.

The Pharifees then ask'd him where his Father was, not perceiving that it was God whom he had fo call'd. Then laid Jefus: You neither know me, nor bim

whom

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