Commentary on John, Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Verſe 1. Over the brook Cedron.]
THis was the Town-dirch, 2 Chron. 30.14. and had it's name from it's darkneſſe or muddineſſe: for it received the baggage, as a common ſinke. Not farre from hence was the valley of Hinnom, wherein there was kept a continuall fire for the burning of dead carcaſes and other garbadge, as Kimchi notes upon Pſal. 27. Hence hell is called, Gehenna.
Verſe 2. And Judas alſo which betrayed him] No ſuch danger to Chriſts Church by any, as by Apoſtates and falſe brethren, Gal. 2.4. Julian, of a for ward Profeſſour became a furious perſecutour, and drew more from the faith by fraud and craſt, then all the Heathen Emperours before him had done, by their force and cruelty. Eo tantum fine ut ipſi ob mutuam inter ſe contentionem bello inteſt ino oppuſnarent eccleſiā. S. zom. Jac. Reu. de vit. Ponuf p. 176.He perſecuted by his perſwaſions, as Nazianzen witneſſeth, and called back the Biſhops that were baniſhed by Constantine, that, by their mutuall wranglings amongſt themſelves, they might embroyl and overthrow the Church. About the year of grace, 1240. One Robert a Bulgarian fell off from the Waldenſes, and turning to be a Dominican, he proved to be a ſore enemy to the Church of Chriſt, in Flanders eſpecially. Biſhop Bonner was at firſt advanced by Cromwelol, and ſeemed muck to diſlike Stephen Gardiner for his Popery. Act. and Mon. Jol. …87.His words to Grafton at Paris, when he was newly made Biſhop of London, were theſe, Before God, the greateſt fault that I ever ſound in Stokeſly (who was his Predeceſſour) was for vexing and troubling of poor men for their Religion, as Lobley the Book-binder and others, for having the Scripture in Engliſh: And (God willing) he did not ſo much hinder it, but I will as much further it, &c. Baldwin the renegado, and Bolſecus (that was hire by the Papiſts to write Calvins life) were deſperate enemies to the truth they had formerly profeſſed. Harding, that had conference with Jewell, was once a zealous Proteſtant, Camd. Eliz. fol. 115.and Chaplain to Lady Jane Gray. Campian of S. Johns Colledge in Oxford, Proctour of the Univerſity, 1568. diſſembled the Proteſtant Religion, which he afterwards oppoſed to his utmoſt. So did Parſons, who was of Balioll Colledge, till he was for his diſhoneſty expelled with diſgrace, and fled to the Papiſts. Chriſts greateſt enemies are uſually thoſe of his owne houſe. He was of the ſociety of Jeſus, that betrayed him.
Verſe 3. Judas having then received a band.] Theſe are the enemies beſt arguments, and thoſe they fiee to when ali's done. So the Jeſuites, thoſe ſworn ſword-men of Satan, give out that their weapons are only, preces & loachrymae, prayers and tears; and that it is unlawfull for them to uſe any other, even then when they are about their moſt bloudy deſigns. Camd. Eliz Epiſt. to Read.A late King of France (after his revolt to Popery) being perſwaded by a great Dake about him not to read mit the Jeſuites, which had been juſtly baniſhed the Realm, he anſwered ſuddenly, Give me then ſecurity for my life. He therefore admitted them, even into his boſome, giving them his houſe for a Colledge; and in a publike ſpeech, laying, Vita Devid. Parei operth. praefix.That they were Timothies in the houſe, Chryſoſtomes in the Chair, Auguſtines in the Schools, &c. But what came of it? One of the Popes ſlaughter flaves, by the inſtigation of the Jeſuites, ſtabbed him to the heart: Theſe Timothies proved Judaſſes; theſe Chryſoſtoms, Catilines; theſe Augustines, Aſſaſſines.
Commeth thither with lanterns, Eſſries divine and morall.&c.] Hypocrites may be compared (ſaith one) to thoſe ſouldiers in the Goſpel, which came to ſeek Chriſt with lights and lanterns, as if they meant not to miſſe of him; yea, they brought clubs and ſtaves, as if they would fight for him: Yet, when he ſaith, Here I am, take you up my Croſſe, they ſtumble at the Croſſe, and fall backwards.
Verſe 4. Went forth and ſaid unto them] Met his enemy in the face, after he had pray'd; whereas till then, he feared. See the power of prayer. So Eſther, when ſhe had faſted and pray'd, found her heart fortified againſt fear of man; and putting her life in her hand, went boldly to the King. So Hudſon the Martyr, of whom afore.
Verſe 5. Jeſus of Nazareth. Jeſus ſaith, I am he] They called him Jeſus of Nazareth by way of reproach. He takes it upon him, and wears it for a crown: And ſhould not we do like wiſe?
And Judas alſo, &c.] With what face could the Traitour ſtand there? But being full of the devil, he was paſt grace, and could bluſh no more then a ſack-but, Effraenis & effron que
Verſe 6. Affoon then as he had ſaid, &c.] Here our Saviour let out a little beam of the Majeſty of his Deity, and ſive hundred men fell before him, Q…id autem judicaturus facier, qui judicandus hoc fecit, Pſal. 1.7.ſaith Auguſtine? The wicked ſhall not ſtand in judgement, Ila. 11.4.ſaith David. Chriſt ſhall ſmite the earth with the rod of his mouth, ſaith Iſaias; and with the breath of his lips ſhall he ſlay the wicked. Godly men (who have but a drop of Chriſts Ocean, a ſpark of his flame) have a daunting preſence. When Valens the perſecuting Emperour came to S Baſil, while he was in holy exerciſes, it ſtruck ſuch a terrour into him, that he reeled, and had fallen, had he not been upheld by thoſe that were with him. And another time, when he ſhould have ſubſcribed an order for St Baſils baniſhment, Triport. b…ſtor.ſuch a ſudden trembling took his right hand, that he could write never a good letter, whereupon be tore the order for anger, and there was an end of the buſineſſe. When an Officer was ſent to apprechend a godly Deacon at Miltenberg (a Town in the territory of Ments) the Deacon embracing him, ſaid, Salve, frater, frater enimverò meus es, en adſum, transfode me, ſuffoca me, Domine, à me quidem nibil mali expectes. Scultet. Annal. p. 174.Here I am, brother, ſtab me, hang me, doe what you will with me. The officer, as if changed from heaven, anſwered, Sr, you ſhall receive no hurt from me. And when the Boars ran in to kill the Deacon, he delivered him, and ſet him ſafe out of danger. Judas dealt not ſo by Jeſus but as he fell with the reſt, ſo roſe with the reſt, who deſperately went on with their devil. ſh deſign, nothing daunted by their late diſaſter.
Verſe 7. Then asked he them again.] Though ſtruck to the earth, they deſiſt not: So the Sodomites, ſmitten with blindeneſſe, grope for the door. Pharaoh in that palpable darkneſſe, rageth againſt God, and menaceth Moſes, Monoceros interim poteſt, capi non poteſt: Stubborn men will ſooner break then bend. Man, Solinus.faith Polibyus, is held the wrſeſt, but to me he ſeemeth the moſt fooliſh of all creatures: for they, where they have miſcarried once, will not eaſily be driven thither again, Solus home ab evo adaevum peccat fere in y dem: Only man will not be warned, though he have ſoundly ſmarted. We load an Aſſe (ſaith Bernard) and he cares not, becauſe he is an Aſſe, Caver quantum poteſt, quta vitam amct, & mortem timet.and born to bear burdens: But if you would drive him into a ditch, or thruſt him into the fire, he ſhuns it as well as he can, becauſe he loves life, and fears death. Yet ſilly man fears not his eternall bane.
Verſe 8. Let theſe goe their way] This he ſeems to indent with the Jewes, ere he yeelded himſelfe their priſoner. As a good Shepherd, he interpoſeth between the Wolf and the Flock: as an heavenly Eagle, he hath ever an eye to his neſt, when he flieth higheſt from it.
Verſe 9. That the ſaying might be fulfilled, &c.] Chriſt ſpake it of their fouls, it is here applied to their bodies. God hath a fatherly care of both, and will not lay more upon the outward man, then the inward ſhall be enabled to undergoe. Hence that of the Prophet, Behold, I have tried thee, but not as ſilver, Why ſo? Iſa. 48.10.Becauſe Gods weak children having far more droſſe in them, then good oare, would never be able to abide a ſtrict triall.
Verſe 10. The ſervants name was Maelchus] A buſie fellow belike in ſurprizing our Saviour. L Brook.But it was a ſad Omen (ſaith a noble and renowned Writer) that Peters ſword ſhould cut off the ear of Malchus, which ſignifies a King or kingly authority. How the Pope hath lifted up himſelf, foreign, above all that is called Auguſtus, or Emperour, is better known, then that it need be here related. And if Biſhops forbear (ſaith he) to touch the Scepter (which they ſtrive to ſway) it is but as once Mercury ſpared Jupiters thunder-bolts, which he durſt not ſteale, leſt they ſhould roare too loud, or at leaſt burne his fingers.
Verſe 11. Put up thy Sword.] Our Saviour checks him for his inordinate zeal; wherein to be over-carried, is eaſie and ordinaty. The memorable ſtory of William Gardiner Martyr in Portugall, who in the very preſence of the King and his Nobles could not forbear, but fell upon the Cardinall, as he was acting a Maſſe. See Act. and Monum. fol. 1242. So William Flower, upon an Eaſterday at Westminſter, ſeeing a Prieſt miniſtering the Sacrament of the Aitar to the people, ſtruck and wounded him upon the head, and alſo upon his arme and hand with a wood-knife: In the which ſo doing, as indeed he did not well, nor evangelically: ſo being afterwards examined by Biſhop Bonner, he did no leſſe confeſſe his not-well-doing in the ſame, ſubmitting therefore himſelf willingly to puniſhment, when it ſhould come. Howbeit touching his belief in the Sacrament, and Popiſh miniſtration, he neither did, nor would ſubmit himſelf: But when he was rempted to turn, and alſo threatned, he anſwered, Doe what ye will, I am at a point: for the heavens ſhall aſſoon fall, as I will forſake mine opinion, Act. and Mon. Jol. 1430.&c. At his execution, firſt his hand being held up againſt the Stake, was ſtricken off: At the which, ſome that were preſent affirmed, that he ſhrunk not, but once a little ſtirred his ſhoulders.
Verſe 12. Took Jeſus and bound him.] This was done foreign, as Irenaeus hath it, whiles the Deity reſted: for he could as eaſily have delivered himſelf, as he did his Diſciples; but this Sacrifice was to be bound with cords to the Altar: he was pinnioned and manacled, as a malefactour. So was not Abner: His hands were not bound, nor his feet put into the fetters, 2 Sam. 3 34. But Chriſt was bound for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities. Paul by his priviledge was freed from whipping; foreign.but we by Chriſts bondage, from thoſe chains of darknes, 2 Pet. 2.4. from thoſe ſcourges and ſcorpions in hell.
Verſe 13. And led him away to Annas firſt.] Who would not goe to bed (late though it were) till he had ſeen Chriſt brought bound before him, and then cried out, likely, as Hanuibal did, when he ſaw a pit full of mans bloud, O formoſum ſpectaculum! So Stephen Gardiner would not ſit down to dinner, till the news came of the good Biſhops burnt at Oxford. Then he came out rejoycing, and ſaying to the Duke of Norfolk, Act. and Mon. fol. 1622.Now let us goe to Dinner: but it was the laſt that ever he eat for it. Shall they eſcape by iniquitie? No: In anger caſt them down, ô God, Pſal. 56.7.
Verſe 14. Now Caiaphas was he, &c.] So Balaam, the devils Spelman, ſpake excellently of the Star of Jacob. See the Notes on Chap. 11.51, 52.
Verſe 15. That Diſciple was known to the high-Prieſt.] Perhaps for that he and his father Zebedee were wont to ſerve the fat Prieſt with the beſt and daintieſt fiſh: (for this other Diſciple was John, who had firſt fled with the reſt, and now came ſculking in, De nat. anima.to ſee what would become of his Maſter.) Of the Aſſe-fiſh Ariſtotle affirmeth, that he, of all other creatures, hath his heart in his belly: Such a thing was this Prieſt.
Verſe 16. But Peter ſtood at the door] Better he had kept him further off. He that will not fall into the ditch, muſt not walk too near the brimme. Peter might better have beſtowed himſelf ſomewhere elſe: Longè utilius fuiſſet gemere, & precari in obſcuro aliquo angulo, ſaith Muſculus. It had been better for him to have been praying in a corner, then thus to put himſelf upon a danger, unleſſe he had known himſelf the ſtronger. Luther comforteth the men of Miltenberg by an Epiſtle; and becauſe they were forbidden to meet and talk together, about matters of Religion, upon pain of death, Qui infir miores ſunt, tacitè in Domino gaudeant, Deum que rogent, ut ſe quo que animet ad publicam veritat que proſeſſionem.he adviſeth thoſe of them that were ſtrong in the ſpirit, to doe their duty, notwithſtanding the danger. But for the weaker ſort, he exhorteth them to rejoyce ſecretly in the Lord, and to pray to him for further ſtrength, that they may be able to make a bold and wiſe profeſſion of his truth.
Verſe 17. He ſaith, I am not.] Falſe diſſimulation is true deniall. A ſilly wench is too hard for this ſtout ſtickler, who was alway, Melius animatus quam armatus, as one obſerveth of him: Sir Elias fulminator ad Jeſubelis minas trepidat, factus ſeipſo imbecillior. Thou alſo ſtandeſt by faith: Rom. 11.be not high-minded, but fear.
Verſe 18. And Warmed himſelf.] But whiles he warmed without, he cooled within. Evil company is a great quench-coal, an ill air for zeal to breathe in, it caſts a damp. For the abundance of iniquity, Mat 24.the love of many waxeth cold. Peters evil example was a compulſion to other good people, Gal. 2.14. What marvell then if the ſwearing, curſing ſouldiers compel'd him to doe the like? They were the trunks, thorow which the devil delivered himſelfe, jeering at, and railing upon Chriſt, no doubt, &c.
Verſe 19. Alſted Chron. Aventin, An. nal l. 3. Cade of the Church.Asked Jeſus of his Diſciples] Queſtioned him in the ſpirituall Court firſt, as an heretike; as afterwards in the temporall Court, for a ſeditious perſon. So the Papiſts condemned married Prieſts for Nicolaitans, in the Synod of Millain, anno 1067. Virgilius a Germane Biſhop, and a great Mathematician, they condemned for an heretike, for affirming that there were Antipodes. Paulus 2. Iac. Reu de vit. Pontiſ p. 139. Act and Mon. fol. 1550.Pope, pronounced them heretikes that did but name the name Academy, either in jeſt or in earneſt. Innocent 2. condemned Arnoldus Brixius of hereſie, for ſaying that the Clergy ſhould have their temporalties taken away, and be tied to their ſpirituals only. Bonner objected to Philpot the Martyr that he found written in his book, In me Joanne Philpotto ubi abundavit peccatum, ſuperabundavit & gratia. And when the Biſhop of Worcecter exhorted Philpot, Ibid. 1637.before he began to ſpeak, to pray to God for grace: Nay, my Lord of Worcester, ſaid Bonner, you doe not well to exhort him to make any prayer; for this is the thing theſe heretikes have a ſingular pride in, that they can often make their vain prayers, in the which they glory much: For in this point they are like to certain arrant heretikes, of whom Pliny makes mention, Plin Epiſt.that they ſing Antelucanos hymnos, &c. Was not this well aimed? Thoſe he ſpoke of were the Primitive Chriſtians, whom Pliny excuſeth to Trajan the Perſecutour. But it is eaſie for malice to make hereſie what it pleaſeth, when it is armed with power, and can make havock at pleaſure.
Verſe 20. Veritas abſconde crubeſcit.I spake openly to the world.] Truth is bold and bare faced: when hereſie hides it ſelf, and loatnes the light. What ſaid John Frith, Martyr, to the Archbiſhops men, that would have let him goe and ſhift for himſelf? If you ſhould both leave me here, and goe to Croydon, declaring to the Biſhops, that you had loſt Frith, Act. and Mon. fol. 19 7.I would ſurely follow as faſt after as I might, and bring them news that I had found and brought Frith again. Do ye think that I am afraid to declare my opinion to the Biſhops of England in a manifeſt truth?
Verſe 21. Why askeſt thou me?] We are to be ready alwaies to give an anſwer, to thoſe that ask as a reaſon of our hope, ſo they doe it to learn of us, and not to inſnare us. Thus I kept the banddogs at ſtaves end (ſaid Nicolas Shetterden, Act. and Mon. ſot. 1575.Martyr) not as thinking to eſcape them, but that I would ſee the Foxes leap above ground for my bloud, if they can reach it (ſo it be the will of God) yet we ſhall ſee them gape and leap for it. Mr Hawks, Martyr, asked a Parſon that examined him, what kin he was to the weather-cock of Pauls? Ibid 1445.And told one Miles Huggard a Hoſier in Pudding-lane, who began to queſtion him, that he could better skill to eat a pudding, and make an hoſe, then in Scripture either to anſwer or oppoſe.
Verſe 22. One of the Officers.] Becauſe our Saviour gave not the high Prieſt his uſuall titles, but dealt freely with him, this officer to curry favour, Veluti pontificy honoris vindex, beats our Saviour with his hand, or ſtick, and is the better thought of. Like Maſter, like man. Disploſo ſclopeto a Vicarij ſamuto, ſed fruſtraimpetitur. Scultet.So the Biſhop of Geneva's ſervant diſcharged his Piſtoll at Farellus (that faithfull man of God) when he was convented before his Lord; but by Gods good providence, miſſed him. Great mens vices goe as ſeldome unattended, as their perſons: they ſhall be ſure of ſuch about them, Ne leonum laudibus murem obruas.as will lick up their ſpettle, and load the Mouſe with the Lions praiſes.
Verſe 23. If I have spoken evil.] Chriſt bears with the officers inſolency, but forbears not to clear his own innocency. We muſt, when aſperſed, labour as the eclipſed Moon, by keeping our motion, to wade out of the ſhadow, and recover our former ſplendour.
Verſe 24. Bound, to Caiaphas the high-Prieſt.] Who ſhould have done our Saviour better juſtice, then to have ſuffred him, bound and uncondemned, to be injuriouſly beaten before his face. But the times were then law leſſe and licentious for the ſans of the people. Tales ſunt principum mores, quales ſubditorum humores, ut malo nodo non deſit malus cuneus.
Verſe 25. He denied it, and ſaid, I am not.] Take heed by this example, Patres nos inſtruunt tum docentes, tum labantes, ſaith Auguſtin. Seeſt thou ſuch as Peter to make ſhipwrack? Look well to thy tackling, They that will not profeſſe Chriſt (unleſſe they repent with Peter, which Stephen Gardener ſaid at his death, Act. and Mon. fol. 190….that he could not) ſhall be ſorted with ſuch in participation of plagues, as, through exceſſe of pain, and defect of patience, gnaw their own tongues, Revel. 16.10.
Verſe 26. Whoſe ear Peter cut off.] A great mercy it was, that Peter had not been then hewed in a hundred peeces, by the ruffianly ſouldiers. But God had deſigned him to a further ſervice. My times are in thy hand, ſaith David. They were deceived, that ſwore to kill Paul by ſuch an hour, Act. 23.12.
Verſe 27. Peter then denied again.] He that is fallen down one round of hels ladder, knowes not where he ſhall ſtoppe or ſtay, till he come to the bottome. Sin is of an encroaching nature; modeſt and maidenly at firſt; but yeeld to it once, and there's no hoe with it.
The Cockcrew.] And withall Chriſt looked back upon him, as a peece of his ſufferings, with foreign, what thou my friend, Peter? Scipio had rather Annibal ſhould eat his heart with ſalt, then Laelius give him a croſſe word.
Verſe 28. Leſt they ſhould be defiled.] Putid hypocriſie! they ſtand upon legall defilements, and care not to defile their conſciences with innocent blond. foreign.What is this but to ſtrain at a gnat, and ſwallow a Camel? So Saul ſeemed to make a hainous matter of eating the fleſh with the bloud, 1 Sam. 14.33. when it was nothing with him to ſpill the bloud of innocent Jonathan. Nay, he was ſo ſcrupulous, that he would not ſo much as name a guilty man, or ſinner, but, in caſting of lots, in ſtead of ſaying; ſhew the nocent on guilty, he ſaid, ſhew the innocent or upright perſon, as Tremellius reads it, yet at the ſame time (as is well obſerved) he made no conſcience of bloody baths. So Doeg was detained before the Lord, either becauſe it was the Sabbath, or his vow was not finiſhed, &c. But when he went thence, he became deaths-man to the Lords Prieſts.
Verſe 29. Pilate then went ant unto them.] It was much he would gratifie them ſo farre in their ſtand further off, for I am holier then thou; Breerw. Enq. p. …8.that he would yeeld to their ſuperſtition, which he could not but contemn. But the very Turk, ſo the Chriſtians pay him his yearly tribute (which is one fourth part of their encreaſe, and a Sultan for every poll) permitteth them the liberty of their religion.
Verſe 30. If he were not a malefactour] Why? What evil had he done them? Might he not have ſaid to them as Themiſtocles to his Athenians? Are ye weary of receiving ſo many benefits by one man?
Verſe 31. It is not lawfull for us.] That is, upon this or any ſuch like day, upon an holy-day, or holy-day-Eeve. For otherwiſe they had power, or at leaſt took it at their pleaſure; as when they ſtoned Stephen, Act. 7. and would have killed Paul, Act. 24. But note, that they would ſeem to do all according to Law by any means; ſo would their ſucceſſours, the Catholikes. Which, if it be ſo (ſaith M. Fox) how did they then to Anne Askew, Act. and Mon. fol. 1392.whom they firſt condemned to death, and then ſet her on the tack? By what law did they call up Mr Hooper, and priſon him for the Queens debt (when the Queen in very deed did owe him fourſcore pound) and kept him a year and half in priſon, and gave him never a peny? By what Law did Biſhop Bonner condemn and burn Richard Mekins, a lad of fifteen years, when the firſt Jury had quit him, and at the ſtake he revoked all hereſie, and praiſed the ſaid Bonner to be a good man: and alſo having him in priſon, would not ſuffer his father and mother to come to him, to comfort their own childe? What Law had they to put Mr Rogers our Protomartyr in priſon, when he did neither preach nor read lecture, after the time of the Queens inhibition? And when they had kept him in his own houſe half a year, being not deprived of any living, yet would not let him have one half-peny of his owne means to relieve him, his wife and eleven children? By what Law was Thomas Tomkins hand burned, and after his body conſumed to aſhes? What good Law or honeſty was there to burn the three poor women at Garneſ…e, with the Infant-childe falling out of the mothers womb, when as they all before recanted their words and opinions, and were never abjured before? So, what right or order of Law did Stephen Gardener follow, in troubling and impriſoning Judge Hales, when he had done nothing neither againſt Gods Law nor mans, proceeding in order of Law againſt certain preſumptuous perſons, which, both before the Law, and againſt the Law then in force, took upon them to ſay their Maſſe?
Verſe 32. Signifying what death he ſhould die.] This ſhews that the Jewes had power to put to death, but by a providence he was brought to Pilate, that, according to the manner of the Romans he might be crucified a that kinde of death being not, otherwiſe, in uſe among the Jews. Hence our Lord is ſaid to have been crucified at Rome, Rev. 11.8.
Verſe 33. Entred into the judgement-hall again.] For without among the people, there was nothing but clamour and confuſion: much like to that regnum Cyclopum, ubi foreign, Pilate therefore retires himſelfe into the palace, that he might more ſedately ſet himſelf to ſift the buſineſſe.
Verſe 34. Sayeſt thou this of thy ſelf,] As who ſhould ſay; If thou doeſt this of thy ſelf, what reaſon is it that thou ſhouldſt be both Judge and witnes? If others have done it, why are not mine accuſers brought face to face? If to be accuſed be enough to make a man guilty, none ſhall be innocent. Judges are to proceed ſecundum allegata & probata.
Verſe 35. Am I a Jew?] This he asketh in ſcorn of that Nation; hatefull among the Heathens for their difference from them in Religion. Caius the Emperour caſt them out with their Oratour Philo, Serab, Geog.who came to make Apology for them againſt Appion of Alexandria their adverſary and accuſer. Strabo of meer ſpite, ſaith, that Judea is a dry and barren countrey, when the Scripture calleth it a land flowing with milk and honey, plenty and dainty; and Tacitus cannot but grant as much. Heyl. Geng. Au. de…iv, DeiFlorus calleth the Temple at Jeruſalem, impiae gentis arcanum, a Sanctuary for rogues, as the Papiſts fay of Geneva. Seneca jeers them for caſting away the ſeventh part of their time upon a weekly Sabbath. Juvenal plaies upon their circumciſion. Lib foreign. …ap. 5 Ta…. Ann…t. …. 21.Plutarch tels a long Story of their feaſt of Tabernacles, which, ſaith he, they keep in honour of Batcbus. Tacitus ſaith, they were called Aſinarij, becauſe they worſhipped the golden head of an Aſſe, &c. No wonder though profane Pilate diſdeign to be held a Jew, when they were thus traduced.
Verſe 36. My kingdome is not of this world.] Chriſt could not be received as a god into the Pantheon at Rome, for that he wanted worſhippers, preached poverty, and choſe mean men for his Diſciples. Domitian the Emperour, after he had baniſhed John into …thmos, and Damicilla Flavia his own ſſiters daughter, with many more, into Pontus, and put divers to death for that they were Chriſtians, he commanded all ſuch Jews as he could finde, to be put to death, that were of the ſtocke of David. Amongſt whom meeting with ſome Chriſtians alſo, that were allied to Chriſt, and underſtanding that they were poor, harmleſſe people, he diſmiſſed them, and by Proclamation forbad any more to be martyred.Euſ…b. l. 7 c. 20.
Verſe 37. That I ſhould bear witneſſe of the truth.] Our Saviour ſpeaketh religiouſly to a profane perſon: So doth Jacob to Eſau. Each Countrey-man is knowne by his language. Gen. 33.5.God will turne to all his people a pure lip, Zephan. 3.9. They are none of his that can ſhift their ſailes to the ſitting of every winde, tune their fiddles to other mens baſe, and, as the Planet Mercury, be good in conjunction with good, and bad with bad.
Verſe 38. What's truth?] In a ſcornefull, profane manner. As indeed profane ſpirits cannot heare favoury words, but they turne them off with a ſcorne. What's truth? Fastidientis atque irridentis vox, non interrogantis, ſaith Beza. Some thinke it is, vox admirantis. As if Pilate wondered at Chriſt, that when his life was in queſtion he ſhould talke of truth, q. d. Your life is in danger, and talke you of truth? Politicians thinke Religion niceneſſe. How ever it was, or with what minde ſoever, out hee goes, and ſtaies not an anſwer: As Saul bad the Prieſt bring to him the Arke, but, ere that could be done, drawes forth his Armie, 1 Sam. 14.
Verſe 39. But ye have a cuſtome] An ungaine, ungodly cuſtome it was, Prov. 17.15. What ever were the ground of it. Some thinke it was in memory of Jonathan, In iſt a conſuetudine turpe & craſſum ſuit vitium Calv. Goodw. Antiq. Heb p. 39. Prov. 28.97.reſcued from his father by the people. Others, that the Feaſt might be celebrated with the greater joy and gladneſſe. Others, more probably, in remembrance of their deliverance from the Aegyptian bondage. But why ſhould any Barabbas ſcape by it? A bloody man ſhall flee to the pit, and no man may ſtay him.
Verſe 40. Now Barabbas was a robber] And a murtherer too, Act. 3.14. yet preferred before Chriſt, who was alſo crucified in the midſt of two theeves, as the worſt of the three. Thus he was peccatorum maximus, both by imputation, for he bore our ſinnes, which were all made to meet upon him, Iſa. 53.6. And by reputation, for he was numbred with the tranſgreſſours, ver. 12. and made his grave with the wicked, verſ. 9.