by his blood-thirsty persecutor, he referred him to the very people who were seeking his destruction, that he might learn from them the crimes which they had to lay to his charge. Had the high-priest been sincerely desirous of knowing, from Jesus himself, what his doctrines were, and what he expected of his Disciples, that he might guard the more effectually against any misrepresentations or mistakes, and administer justice with impartiality, our Lord would not have withheld from him the necessary information. But the high-priest had no such objects in view : his design was only to find an occasion against Jesus, either on account of something which should proceed out of his mouth, or as concealing truths which he dared not to avow.
And do we not here see the spirit in which inquiries are still made at this very hour, in relation both to the doctrines of the Gospel, and to the people who profess it ? In what a captious way are questions continually put to religious cha- racters, by those who hate the doctrines of the Gospel ! The object of the inquirers is, not to gain such a knowledge as shall convince and satisfy their minds, but to draw forth some answer, which shall either really, or in appearance at least, justify their rejection of all true religion. So also in relation to the followers of Christ ; their enemies have no wish to hear any thing in their favour : all that they want, is, to collect anecdotes to the disadvantage of those who profess godliness, and to find reasons for holding them up to derision and reproach! The very same spirit which urged on the enemies of Daniel a, wrought also in the enemies of Jesus b, and still reigns, though often cloked under the most specious garb, in all who embrace not the Gospel of Christ0.]
2. With licentious violence — [Nothing could be more honourable than our Lord's appeal to those who surrounded him ; since they had all heard his discourses continually in the temple, and were thoroughly disposed to bring their accusations against him, if they were able to lay any thing to his charge. Yet behold, this appeal, instead of being received as a declaration of his innocence, was resented as an indignity offered to the high-priest ; and that too in a way which was contrary to all law, or equity, or com- mon humanity : in a court of justice itself, an officer of that court, in the very presence of the judge, struck the prisoner, not only uncondemned, but unheard, yea, and before even an accusation had been brought against him! In what court under heaven would such injustice be tolerated in a com- mon cause ? Yet was this passed over without any testimony
a Dan. vi. 4, 5. •> Luke xi. 54. <= 2 Cor. xi. 12.