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Chapter Verse difference in the evangelic accounts, I call material, for two reafons: the firft is, that our faith in the fcriptures is leffened, when in them we find fuch contradictory accounts, that it is evident one of them must be untrue. The second relates to the last state of Judas: by Matthew's account, when he perceived they had condemned Jefus, and in course would deprive him of life; (an extre mity which perhaps he at first did not expect) he repented the evil he had occafioned; declared the innocence of Jefus and his own crime publickly in the temple made retribution to the utmost of his power, by refunding the money for which he committed the crime: and laftly-Inflicted upon himself the feverest punishment he poffibly could in this world and thefe we hope, may fomething extenuate in the next *: and add to these Acts, ch. iv, v. 27 and 28. We will now proceed with Matthew's account of the examination before Pilate (which was interrupted by 11 a recital of the above ftory) And Jefus ftood

xxvii.

before the governor, and the governor asked him faying, Art thou the King of the Jews? 12 and Jefus faid unto him thou fayeft. And when he was accused of the chief priefts and elders, 13 he answered nothing.. Then faith Pilate unto him, hearest thou not how many things they 14 witness against thee? And he answered him to

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never a word, infomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.' The fame short and uninteresting account of this matter, is given by St. Mark. Luke gives us fomething better, and introduces new matter; ch. xxiii, v. 1-And

the whole multitude of them arofe, and led ' him unto Pilate. And they began to accuse

him faying, We found this fellow perverting 'the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to 'Cæfar; saying, that he himself is Chrift a king. 'And Pilate asked him saying-Art thou the king of the Jews? And he answered him and

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faid, thou fayeft it. In page 146, I have given the name of equivoque to these kind of anfwers: this tranfaction evinces its propriety. If the Roman governor had understood this anfwer as à plain avowal of his being King of the Jews; he would not, he ought not to have faid to the chief priests and to the people, his accufers- I 'find no fault in this man.' Judea was at that time, a Roman province, they allowed not a king therein; and to withhold or forbid Cæfar's tribute was a capital crime. When we examine St. John's account of this matter, we fhall, I think, be confirmed in this opinion. But we firft will finish Luke's. And they were the more fierce, faying, he stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, 6 he asked whether the man were a Galilean.

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And as foon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurifdiction, he fent him to Herod, who himself was alfo at Jerufalem at that time. And when Herod faw Jefus he was exceedingly glad, for he was defirous to fee him of a long feafon, because he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to have feen fome miracle done by him. Then he questioned him in many words: but he anfwered him nothing. (Why this filence, when interrogated by men of "the higher rank, men of learning and in authority?) And the chief priests and scribes stood ' and vehemently accufed him. And Herod with ⚫ his men of war fet him at nought, and mocked

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him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and fent

him again unto Pilate.' The Roman governor, and the Jewish tetrarch, feem to bandy him from one to the other in derifion: Pilate fends him to Herod as his competitor for the throne of Ifrael; Herod ironically acknowledges his title, by arraying him in a gorgeous robe; but fends him back to Pilate for his determination. We find this complimental jeft, reconciled Pilate and Herod, who before were at variance- And the fame day Pilate and Herod were made 'friends together; for before they were at en

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mity between themfelves.' St. Luke is the only evangelift who mentions Herod in this affair : he goes on And Pilate when he had called to'gether the chief priefts, and the rulers of the people,

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people, faid unto them, ye have brought this man unto me as one that perverteth, the people; 6 and behold I have examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof accufe him. No, nor yet Herod, for I fent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will chaftife him, and release him.' He did not, nor did Herod think Jefus worthy of death," from which it is evident they did not think ferioufly of his pretentions to the kingdom of Ifrael; but it is evident that Pilate thought he deserved fcourging for the difturbances he had raised therein. Having thus given Matthew, Mark, and Luke's account of this examination, up to the demand relative to Barabbas; we will now examine St. John's. He fays nothing of Herod, but he gives us long and repeated examinations before Pilate, ch. xviii, v. 28 Then led

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they Jefus from Caiaphas (the high Prieft) unto the (Roman) Hall of Judgment and it was. early, and they themselves went not into the. Judgment Hall, left they fhould be defiled, but that they might eat the paffover. Pilate then went out unto them (great condefcenfion) and faid, What accufation bring you against this man? They answered and faid unto him; If he were not a malefactor, we would not have de-. livered him up unto thee. (An odd kind of

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' answer.) Then faid Pilate unto them; Take

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ye him and judge him according to your law. (This reply is full as odd; the Jews having no power to judge a malefactor.) The Jews there⚫fore said unto him, it is not lawful for us to C put any man to death.' St. John adds That the faying of Jefus might be fulfilled which he fpake fignifying what death he fhould die.' (Query where is this prophecy to be found? and how, in this, was it fulfilled) Then Pilate entered into the Judgment Hall again, and called Jefus, and faid unto him, Art thou the king of the Jews? (This pretention I fup'pose he had now learnt from the Jews without) Jefus answered him-Sayeft thou this thing of

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thyfelf, or did others tell it thee of me?' Could Jefus want this information? and was it respect. ful to a Roman magiftrate, acting officially; to question him, instead of replying to his demand? Pilate, it seems, refpectfully rejoined— Am I a

Jew? and goes on-Thine own nation, and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What haft thou done? (By this queftion it seems as if 'there was no particular accusation before Pilate; and as if he expected Jefus to accuse himself. St. John gives a very lame account of the pro'ceedings in a Roman tribunal) Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world: If

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my kingdom were of this world, then would

my fervants fight, that I should not be delivered

to the Jews but now is my kingdom not from

hence.

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