The Fountain of Life Opened

Fourthly, Yea, and what is most abominable, and unparalleled; to compass their malicious designs, they industriously labour to suborn false witnesses to take away his life: not sticking at the grossest perjury, and manifest injustice, so they might destroy him. So you read, Matth. 25.59. Now the Chief-Priests and Elders, and all the council sought false witnesses against Jesus, to put him to death. Abominable wickedness! For such men, and so many, to complot to shed the blood of the innocent, by known and studied perjury! What will not malice against Christ transport men to?

Fourthly, Yea, and what is most abominable, and unparallel'd; to compass their malitious designs, they industriously labour to suborn false witnesses to take away his life: not sticking at the grossest perjury, and manifest injustice, so they might destroy him. So you read, Matth. 25.59. Now the Chief-Priests and Elders, and all the council sought salse witnesses against Iesus, to put him to death. Abominable wickedness! For such men, and so many, to complot to shed the blood of the innocent, by known and studied perjury! What will not malice against Christ transport men to?

Fifthly, Moreover, the carriage of the Court was most insolent, and base towards him during the trial. For whilst he stood ⟨p. 315⟩before them as a prisoner yet uncondemned; sometimes they are angry at him for his silence, and when he speaks, and that pertinently to the point; they smite him on the mouth for speaking, and scoff at what he speaks. To some of their light frivolous and ensnaring questions he is silent, not for want of an answer, but because he heard nothing worthy of an answer. And to fulfil what the Prophet Isaiah had long before predicted of him:¹ he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.