The Fountain of Life Opened

Secondly, As he was inhumanely abused before he was tried; §2so he was examined and judged by a Court that had no Authority to try him. Luk. 22.66. as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the Chief-Priests, and the Scribes came together; and led him into their Concil: This was the Ecclesiastical Court. The great Sanhedrin which according to its first constitution, should consist of seventy grave, honourable, and learned men: to whom were to be referred all doubtful matters, too hard for inferior Courts to decide. And these were to Judge impartially and uprightly for God, as men in whom was the Spirit of God. According to Gods counsel to Moses, Numb. 11.16, &c. In this Court the Righteous and innocent might expect relief and protection. And that is conceived to be the meaning of Christs ⟨p. 314⟩words, Luk. 13.33. It cannot be that a Prophet perish out of Jerusalem; that is, their Righteousness and Innocency may expect protection. But now, contrary to the first constitution, it consisted of a pack fo malicious Scribes and Pharisees; men full of revenge, malice and all unrighteousness: And over these Caiaphas (a head fit for such a body) at this time presided. And though there was still some face of a Court among them, yet their power was now abridged by the Romans; that they could not hear and determine, judge, and condemn in Capital matters as formerly. For as Josephus their own Historian informs us; Herod in the beginning of his reign took away this power from them;¹ and that Scripture seems to confirm it, Joh. 18.31. It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: And therefore they bring him to Pilates Bar. He also understood him to be a Galilean, and Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee, and at that time in Jerusalem, he is sent to him; and by him remitted to Pilate.

Secondly, As he was inhumanely abused before he was tried;