Puniſhments, They reply, [It is not Jawful for us to put any fat to Death. ) Iris very queſtionable in what Senſe they ſpake ls Thoſe thar affirm that the Power of Judging , and Determining in Capital Cauſes, was before this time taken from the 7ows, mule affirm, rhat Stephen was put to Death in a Popular Tumult; for he was after this ſtoned to Death by the Fews, At. 7. 59. Which 15 nor probable, conſidering what we read of him, chap. 615,15» called before the Council, and Witneſſes uſed againſt him, and have no Record of any Notice-the Civil Magiſtrate took of the Ft as a Diſorder. I therefore rather think their meaning was, Tis 15 with us a Feaſt-Day, on which it is not lawful for us to pit any to Death withour thy Conſent: Or, Iris not lawful torus to pur any to Death , for eny Civil Cauſe ; for ſaying, he 15 0 King ; for it is manifeſt by the Queſtion which Pilate firlt put ro him , upon his ſecond coming into the Hall , ment!0n*
7oh. 18. 33. in which all the orher three Evangeliſts agree, 4 they had charged him with ſaying, that he was the King of the Jews: To which all that he replyed, which is recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke , is, Thou ſayeft it : T am nor bound to accuſe my ſelf , Who witneſſes this againſt me ? But John faich that our Saviour ſaid, Sayeft thou this thing of thy ſelf, or did others tel} It thee of me ? Pilate anſwered, Am IT a Few 2 Thy own Nation, and the Chief Prieſts have delivered thee to me; What haſt thau done ' Teſus anſwered and ſaid, My Kingdom is not of this Warld © 7] * Kingdom were f this World , then would my Servants fight, 1"
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which if others had told Pilate this, they were bound to have produced. Pilate tells him, He had it nor of Hhimſelt; he was Ln Jew, bur chey were thoſe of his own Nation who had deli- verad him co him, and therefore askech him what he had done, Then our S1VIOUr openeth himſelt, nor denying that he was the King of the Jews, bur relling him he was no King of this World ; tis Kingdom Was a vPITITURL Kingdom, and he might know what Kin 2 he 5-45 by his Retinue, and thoſe who rook his part ; for it ke had [aid Claim © any ſecular Kingdom, he thould have had {me appearing £0 rake his part, and ro Fight tor him ro d2liver 1m from his Enenues, bur he ſaw he hat none. Pilate laying hold of tis Words, replies, Art thou a King ? Jeſus anſwered, Thu {azeft that Tam a King, to this end was I Born, and for this Cue came T into the World, that T ſhould bear Witneſs to” the Tiuth, Eery one that 3s of the Truth, heareth my | oice. Pilate ſuith unto bin, What is Truth 2 Our Saviour ftill uſfecth Prudcnce, and i:ceps himfelt upon a cluſe Guard, Ir had been dangcrous for : |im, direAly to bave owned himſelf a King. He thereture only «ils Pilcte, That he ſaid he was a King, and that he came into 2c World to bear Teſtimony ro rhe Truth, and furrher adds,
{ck Pilite, who had no Norton of char Truth which Chriſt ſpake of; he goes out as it were deriding nim, faying, What # Truth ? Preſently he goerh our to the Jews, v. 38. and tells them, he frqd in him no fault at all, and offers to releaſe him ; bur this | we ſhall meet with in cur Evangelift by and by, the paſſages ; kerero mentioned are cnly relared by John : Excepring only the Queſtion, Art thou the King of the Jews * and our Saviour's An- tiver, Tu ſayſt it : Which is reported by all,
12 And when he was accuſed of the chief priefts and elders, he anſwered nothing.
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14 And He anſwered him to never a word : inſo- much that the governour marvell-1 greatly.