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to release fome Prifoner, at the Feast of the Paffover, whomsoever they would defire. And there being at that Time, one Barabbas, (who for a certain Sedition made in the City, and for Murder, was caft into Prifon) they requested that Barabbas might be releas'd. But as for JESUS, they infifted upon it that he should be crucified. But Pilate being defirous that JESUS fhould be releas'd, faid to them again, A Why? what evil bath he done? I have found no cause of death in him. I will therefore chaftife him for his Mifdemeanour, and then let him go. Indt grows or Sysłał Joh. xix. Pilate accordingly had him scourg'd, in order to his Difcharge: And the Soldiers platted a Crown of Thorns, and put it upon his Head, and bowing the Knee before him, with the most ignominious Mockery and Scoffing, endeavour'd to turn him into all imaginable Ridicule. And, in this Condition, Pilate brought him out to them again, to deliver him back into their Hands. But they no fooner faw him, but they cried out, Crucify him, Crucify him. Pilate faid unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him; if you will crucify an innocent Perfon; for I find

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no fault in him. The Jews anfwer'd him;0* We have a Law, and by our Law, he ought to die; because he made himself the Son of - Godvibs2 01 5

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This obftinate Perfiftence of theirs, and their alledging of a Law, in the Cafe, made fome Impreffion upon Pilate; so heTM took JESUS again into the Judgment Hall, and began to examine him anew." And he faith unto him, Whence art thou? But JESUS gave him no Answer. Then Pilate faid unto him, Speakeft thou not unto me? Don't you 1 think me worthy of an Anfwer? Don't you know that I have power either to crucify or releafe you you, just as I please? JE 8 U s anfwer'd, As to your power, you could have none at all, against me, except it were given you from heaven, which is a Reason, why you should be^* juft and moderate in the Use of it. But, if it prove otherwife, you are not the only Perfon who will be to blame; for, theirs will be the greater fin, who delivered me to you, without any juft Cause, in order to my fuffering Death.

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Matt.

xxvii. 24.

This touch'd the Governor's Confcience; from thenceforth he fought to release him; and had another Conference with the Chief Priefts and Elders about it. But they would not recede from their Demands; faying withall; If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæfar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself a King, Speaketh against Cæfar. And they got the People to join with them in the fame Cry; Crucify this man; we will have no King but Cæfar.

When therefore Pilate faw that he could not prevail, and found that the Tumult increas'd more and more; he took Water and wash'd his Hands, before the Multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this juft perfon: See to it. Then anfwer'd all the People, and faid, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then Pilate releas'd Barabbas, and fent away Jefus to be crucified, as they defir'd.

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SECT. VIII.

The Trials of feveral of the APOSTLES,

The next Inftance we have, is in the Trial and Examination of two of our

bleffed

bleffed LOR D's Apoftles; even the fame two who had ventur'd into the High Priest's Palace, to see what was like to become of their dear LORD; Peter and John. CHRIST, having been crucified, dead, buried, rifen again, and afcended into Heaven, had ac cording to his Promise, sent the Holy Ghoft; to prepare and qualify his Apoftles, by the Inspiration of found Doctrine, and a Power of working Miracles, for the Converfion of Mankind.

I,

And these two Apoftles, by fuch extraordinary Affistance, having reftor'd to a Acts. iii. lame Man, the Ufe of his Limbs, and 1, &c. thereby gain'd a numerous Audience, and a favourable Reception, among the People; as they were preaching the Gospel, we are told, The Priefts, and the captain of the tem- iv. 1, ple, and the Sadducees, came upon them; be- &c. ing grieved that they taught the people, and preached, through JESUS, the Refurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in bold, unto the next day; for it was then eventide.

And it came to pass, on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and fcribes, and Annas the High-Prieft, and Caiaphas, and John,

and

and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the High-Prieft, were gathered together, at Jerufalem. And when they had Set the Apostles in the midft, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have. ye done this? And when the Apoftles had answer'd them in fuch a manner as they could take no Advantage of; and when they faw the Man that was heal'd, ftanding with them, to atteft the Truth of the Miracle, they could fay nothing against it. But, when they bad commanded them to go afide, out of the council, they conferred among themselves, fay ing, What shall we do to these men? Fors that, indeed, a notable miracle hath been done by them, is manifeft to all them that dwell in Jerufalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the People, let us ftraitly threaten them, that they speak benceforth to no man, in this name. And they called them, and commanded them, not to Speak, at all, nor teach, in the name of JESUS. But Peter and John, anfwered and faid unte them, Whether it be right, in the fight of God, to bearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and beard. So, when

they

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