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

3. For the Accusation of the Witnesses; he is falsely accused and charged with the things that he never knew: In his Accusation I observe these things. 1. That they sought false witnesses; for true witnesses they could have none:¹ Now the chief Priests and Elders, and all the Council sought false witnesses against Jesus to put him to death. They were resolved in a former Council that he should not live, but die; and now palliating their design with a Scheme of a Tribunal, they seek out for witnesses. O wonder! who ever heard that Judges went about to enquire for false witnesses, and suborned them to come in against the Prisoner at the Bar?² 2. Though many false witnesses came into testify against him, yet they found none; because their witness did not agree together. O the injustice of men in bringing about the Decrees of God! the Judges seek out for witnesses, the witnesses are to seek for proof, those proofs were to seek for unity and consent, and nothing was ready for their purpose. 3. At last, ⟨p. 356⟩after many attempts came two false witnesses, and said, this fellow said, I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three Days. They accuse him for a figurative speech, a trope which they could not understand; which if he had effected according to the Letter, it had been so far from a fault, that it would have been an Argument of his power; but observe their false report of the words he had spoken;³ for he said not, I am able to destroy this Temple of God, and to build it in three days; but, destroy ye this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up: the allegation differs from the truth in these particulars. 1. I am able to destroy, say they; ay but destroy ye, saith Christ. 2. I am able to destroy this Temple of God, say they; ay but destroy ye this Temple, saith Christ; simply this Temple, without addition. 3. I am able to destroy this Temple of God, and to build it in three days, say they; ay but destroy ye this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up, said Christ: he spoke not of building an external Temple; but of raising up his own body, which he knew they would destroy. These were the accusations of the false witnesses, to all which Jesus answered nothing; he despised their accusations, as not worthy an answer; and this vexed more.—But, 4. Another accusation is brought in;