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

4. The Lord doth herein with divine wisdom distinguish, viz, that there be two sorts among his persecutors. Some, we have cause to fear, did know what they did, as appears, Math. 21.38, this is the heir come let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. Such as so acted are not within the compass of Jesus Christ his pardon and prayer.

4. The Lord doth herein with divine wisdome distinguish, viz, that there be two sorts among his persecutors. Some, we have cause to fear, did know what they did, as appears, Math. 21.38, this is the heir come let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. Such as so acted are not within the compass of Iesus Christ his pardon and prayer.

But the generality of the people acted even as they were led, 1 Cor. 12.2. and they did like those that followed Absalom, in the simplicity of their hearts, now such as those Jesus Christ doth pity, pardon, and pray for. The chief Priests & Council did know, or might have known that he was Christ the Son of the living God; for besides all the proofs that he gave of it, in his life and Ministry, by doctrine and fulfilling Prophesies, and abundance of miracles, yet they raged against him, and resolved to kill him, and when they could find no cause against him, they put him upon it to confess whether he was the Son of God, or no, he did plainly witness a good confession, that he is the Messiah, and for that confession only, and for no other cause, saving their own envy they did condemn him to dye, and rested not till they had accomplished it. These things being so, it is hard for us to say, that these are of the number of those that knew not what they did. But the people for the most part were over persuaded by them, & in their ignorance acted. Pilate also was ignorant of his Deity, though he believed with an historical faith that he was the King of the Jews, and had he known his Deity, he would not have crucified him,