Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

Now it was that they led him from Annas to Caiaphas; and presently a Council is called of the High Priests, Scribes, and Elders; these were the greatest, gravest, learnedest, wisest men amongst them, and they all conspire to judge him, who is the great Judge both of quick and dead.—In their proceedings, we may observe, 1. The captious examination of the High Priest. 2. The sacrilegious smiting of one of the Servants. 3. The impious accusations of the Witnesses. 4. The Sentence of the Judges. 5. The perfidious denial of perjured Peter. 6. The shameful delusion, and abuses of the base Attendants.

NOw it was that they led him from Annas to Caiphas; and presently a Council is called of the High Priests, Scribes, and Elders; these were the greatest, gravest, learned'st, wisest men amongst them, and they all conspire to judge him, who is the great Judge both of quick and dead.—In their proceedings, we may observe, 1. The captious examination of the High Priest. 2. The sacrilegious smiting of one of the Servants. 3. The impious accusations of the Witnesses. 4. The Sentence of the Judges. 5. The perfidious denial of perjured Peter. 6. The shameful delusion, and abuses of the base Attendants.

1. For the captious examination of the High Priest: The High Priest then asked Jesus of his Disciples, ¹and of his Doctrine. 1. Of his Disciples; what the Questions were, it is not expressed; but probably they might be such as these; How many Disciples he had? and where they were? and what was become of them? why he should take upon him to be better guarded than others of greater place and calling? whether it did not savour of sedition and disturbance of the State, to lead about such a Crew of Disciples and followers after him? and what was the reason of their flight? whether it were not a token of their guiltiness of some disorder, or of riotous practises? It is not for me to speak how many Queries the High Priest might make to tempt Jesus; but certainly he was sifted to the Bran, examined to the full of all such circumstances as either might trap Christ, or in the least degree advance and help forward his Condemnation; to this question concerning his Disciples, our Saviour answered nothing; alas, he knew the frailty of his followers, he might have said, For my Disciples, you see one hath betrayed me, and another will anon forswear me, he stays but for the crowing of the Cock, and then you shall hear him curse and swear, that he never knew me; and for all the rest, a panic fear hath seized upon their hearts, and they are fled, and have left me alone to tread the Wine-press. Ah no, he will not speak evil of the Teachers of his people; it was grief to him, and added to his sufferings,