no fault in him. The Jews answer'd him; We have a Law, and by our Law, he ought h to die; because he made himself the Son of God.

This obftinate Perfistence of theirs, and their alledging of a Law, in the Cafe, made fome Impreffion upon Pilate; so he 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 think me worthy of an Anfwer? Don't you know that I have power either to crucify or releafe you, just as I pleafe? JESUS answer'd, As to your power, you could have none at all, at all, against me, except it were given you from heaven; which is a Reafon, why you should be just and moderate in the Ufe 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 just Cause, in order to my fuffering

Death.
I

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; saying withall; If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæfar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself King, fpeaketh 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 just perfon: See ye to it. Then answer'd all the People, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then Pilate releas'd Barabbas, and sent away Jefus to be crucified, as they defir'd.

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 LORD's Apoftles; even the fame
two who had ventur'd into the High Prieft's
Palace, to fee what was like to become of
their dear LORD; Peter and John. CHRIST,
having been crucified, dead, buried, risen
again, and afcended into Heaven, had ac-
cording to his Promife, fent the Holy Ghoft;
to prepare and qualify his Apostles, by the
Infpiration of found Doctrine, and a Power
of working Miracles, for the Converfion
of Mankind.

And these two Apoftles, by fuch extraordinary Affiftance, having reftor'd to a Acts. iii. I, &c. lame Man, the Ufe of his Limbs, and thereby gain'd a numerous Audience, and a favourable Reception, among the People; as they were preaching the Gospel, we are told, The Priests, and the captain of the tem- iv. 1. ple, and the Sadducees, came upon them; 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.

be

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

and

&c.

and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the High-Prieft, were gathered together, at Jerufalem. And when they had fet 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 saw 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 had commanded them to go afide, out of the council, they conferred among themselves, faying, What shall we do to thefe men? For 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, answered and said unto them, Whether it be right, in the fight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have feen and beard. So, when

3

they

they had further threaten'd them, they let them go: finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people for all men glorified God, for that which was done.

&c.

But, as the Apoftles went on, preaching and working Miracles, with great Succefs, The High-Prieft rose up, and all that were --- v. 17, with him (which is the fect of the Sadducees) and were filled with indignation; and laid their hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison. From whence, after they were miraculously deliver'd by the Angel of the LORD, and, by his Command, had again enter'd into the temple, early in the morning, and taught; we are told, The HighPrieft came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the Senate of the children of Ifrael; and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But, being informed that they had efcap'd, When the High-Prieft, and the captain of the temple, and the chief Priests, beard. thefe things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. And, at laft, hearing that they were in the temple, teaching the people, the captain, with the officers, went and brought them, without violence, and set

them