The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

Here see, 1. That though they so abused our Lord Jesus for his Answer, and for putting them upon the right way of enquiring, viz to ask his hearers, to s•e if they could testify any thing against him: for in his Answer he had vindicated himself and his Doctrine, both for matter and manner; therefore if they would find any thing against him, it must be by Witnesses that heard him; yet now they are necessitated to fall to this course, as Jesus had said, though they had abused him for so saying.

Here see, 1. That though they so abused our Lord Iesus for his Answer, and for putting them upon the right way of enquiring, viz to ask his hearers, to s•e if they could testifie any thing against him: for in his Answer he had vindicated himself and his Doctrine, both for matter and manner; therefore if they would find any thing against him, it must be by Witnesses that heard him; yet now they are necessitated to fall to this course, as Jesus had said, though they had abused him for so saying.

2. All the Counsel there present, were unanimous in what they do: & what do they? They sought for false Witnesses, that they might find some matter; or at least appearance of some matter, for which they might put him to death. They carried themselves, and managed the matter so, that all might easily see their intent, to find some matter whereof to accuse him. Because they were resolved to put him to death, they sought not for what was true, just, righteous, but for something to criminate him, by Witnesses. they cared not though it were false Witness. They encouraged them to testify any thing. And when they misrepresented his words and meaning, they took the advantage to wring his words to the worst sense, as appeareth in that Instance, when Christ said, They would ruin and destroy this Temple, his Body, and he would raise it up again the third day. So John representeth his words, Joh. 2.19. he spake of the Temple of his Body. Nor was there any capital crime in it as they represented his words, yet any thing will, serve their turn, to be a seeming matter of accusation.