N00187:446
The harmony of the Gospels, in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings of Jesus Christ, from his incarnation to his death and burial. / Published by John Eliot, teacher of the church in Roxbury. ; [Two lines from Acts]
printed by John Foster, 1678
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Luk. 22.66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71. And 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 Council saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us, and be said unto them, if I tell you, you will not believe, and if I also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, ye say that I am. And they said, what need we any further witness? for we our selves have heard of his own mouth.
LVk. 22.66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71. And assoon as it was day, the Elders of the people and the chief Priests and the Scribes came together, and led him into their Councell saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us, and be said unto them, if I tell you, you will not believe, and if I also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, ye say that I am. And they said, what need we any further witness? for we our selves have heard of his own mouth.
It was about Cocks crowing when Jesus Christ was condemned, committed to safe custody under a strong guard. The Court adjourned till morning, all the abuses that these carnal keepers inflicted on Jesus, the remainder of the night, I refer unto the fifth act of the Council; which for time extended till morning, and for cruelty it extended to Hell.
Now in preparation for their proceeding in the morning, they held a close and private consultation how to manage this great business. For seeing they now had (according as they long desired and contrived to do) apprehended him and condemned him, they were resolved to put him to death. But they foresaw many difficulties in effecting it. The points considered, plotted and agreed in this private consultation, were sundry: and their agreement may be gathered out of the answer of Jesus Christ in the morning, who gave them to understand that he knew their plots, to convince their Consciences that he was Christ the Messiah, for the asserting whereof they had condemned him. The Points considered of were such as these,
Now in preparation for their proceeding in the morning, they held a close and private consultation how to manage this great business. For seeing they now had (according as they long desired and contrived to doe) apprehended him and condemned him, they were resolved to put him to death. But they foresaw many difficultyes in effecting it. The points considered, plotted and agreed in this private consultation, were sundry: and their agreement may be gathered out of the answer of Jesus Christ in the morning, who gave them to understand that he knew their plots, to convince their Consciences that he was Christ the Messiah, for the asserting whereof they had condemned him. The Points considered of were such as these,
1. We must be speedy in our motions and progress, before the people know that we have apprehended him. For it was about midnight that he was apprehended, ⟨p. 83⟩and brought to Annas and Caiaphas. It was about cocks crowing when he was condemned; he must be put to death and buried before the Sabbath; for if we slack the time, the people will surely rescue him.
1. We must be speedy in our motions and progress, before the people know that we have apprehended him. For it was about midnight that he was apprehended, ⟨p. 83⟩and brought to Annas and Caiphas. It was about cocks crowing when he was condemned; he must be put to death and buried before the Sabbath; for if we slack the time, the people will surely rescue him.
2. They considered that we must speedily deliver him out of our hand, into the Roman hand and power, and it must be done early in the morning before the people gather together and hear of it; for otherwise the people will surely rescue him out of our hand; but out of the Romans hand, they cannot, they dare not attempt it.
2. They considered that we must speedily deliver him out of our hand, into the Romane hand and power, and it must be done early in the morning before the people gather together and hear of it; for otherwise the people will surely rescue him out of our hand; but out of the Romans hand, they cannot, they dare not attempt it.
3. Pilate must be carefully prepared for this matter. Some of us that may be most acceptable to him and prevailing with him, must undertake that matter.
4. Though Pilate was a Pagan, yet they knew him to be wise, just, and of a noble Roman spirit, he will strictly examine the case; and we know that we have no witnesses unto any thing we accuse him of, wherein the witnesses agree, saving in that Point of destroying the Temple and raising it again in three days, and in that Point the witnesses do not punctually agree: nor will Pilate think or judge it a Capital matter if they did agree.
4. Though Pilate was a Pagan, yet they knew him to be wise, just, and of a noble Romane spirit, he will strictly examine the case; and we know that we have no witnesses unto any thing we accuse him of, wherein the witnesses agree, saving in that Point of destroying the Temple and raising it again in three dayes, and in that Point the witnesses do not punctually agree: nor will Pilate think or judge it a Capital matter if they did agree.
5. These considered that they had but one capital matter against him, viz. that he confessed openly before our Court that he is Christ the Son of God▪ which by our Law is Capital, not by the Roman Law. And this is the only point that we can plead against him. And this they did plead, Joh. 19.7. We have a Law, and by our Law he ought to dye, because he made himself the Son of God, But of this we must speak hereafter.
5. These considered that they had but one capital matter against him, viz. that he confessed openly before our Court that he is Christ the Son of God▪ which by our Law is Capital, not by the Romane Law. And this is the only point that we can plead against him. And this they did plead, Joh. 19.7. We have a Law, and by our Law he ought to dye, because he made himself the Son of God, But of this we must speak hereafter.
6. They considered that of this point we have no witnesses, only his own confession, and what if he should deny it, or not confess it before Pilate; therefore we must make this point sure.
7. Hereupon they agreed early in the morning, before the people be stirring, to sit in Council again, and examine Jesus about this point only, to bring him to confess it a second time, and to try if he will stand to it. And if he ask any question to divert or delay us, answer him not a word to any thing, but hold him to this point only, to make the matter of our accusation strong against him, and clear.
8. Care was taken to advise as great a Crew of their own side, as they could, to stand next to the Court, and exclude others as much as handsomely they could, so they acted.
Very early all the Council (viz. all that consented and conspired in this murder) met, 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 Council, surely they had taken but little rest, they verified that saying of Solomon, Prov. 4.16. they sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. They interrogate him again about the same point, for which they had condemned him, not out of remorse or regret of heart, but of crafty design, Luk. 22.67. art thou the Christ tell us?
Very early all the Council (viz. all that consented and conspired in this murther) met, 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 Council, surely they had taken but little rest, they verified that saying of Solomon, Prov. 4.16. they sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. They interrogate him again about the same point, for which they had condemned him, not out of remorse or regret of heart, but of crafty designe, Luk. 22.67. art thou the Christ tell us?
