Then turning himself again to his Difciples, he thus continu'd: Go on boldly with a Courage becoming fuch as know that I will account for the ufage you meet with as done to me. Thofe that hearken to you fhall be in the fame efteem with me as if they hearken'd to me in perfon; and they that flight what you preach to them, fhall be judg'd to have contemn'd my Sayings, as my Father alfo will think himself neglected by thofe who refufe to receive my Doctrin.

At the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews fought for Jefus at Ferufalem, well knowing he was wont to repair thither at every folemn Festival; and a great Rumor was fpread concerning him among thofe that came to celebrate the Feaft, fome looking on him as a molt holy perfon, while others branded him with Impofture. But no one durft publicly own his efteem of him for fear of the great men among the Jews, who they knew were his profeft Enemies. Jefus at laft appear'd among them about the fourth day of the Feaft, and began to inftruct the People in the Temple of Jerufalem. Now this was matter of aftonishment to the Jews, who ask'd one another how it was poffible for him to difcourfe fo learnedly about Religion, who had never ftudied under any of their Rabbies. Which when Fefu heard, he thus replied: The Doctrin I propose is no invention of mine,

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17 If any man will do his will, he fhall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of my self.

18 He that fpeaketh of him-felf, feeketh his own glory : but he that feeketh his glory that fent him, the fame is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

19 Did not Mofes give you the law, and yet none of you. keepeth the law? Why go ye. about to kill me?

20 The people answered and faid, Thou haft a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

21 Jefus answered and faid unto them, I have done one: work, and ye all marvel.

22 Mofes therefore gave unto you circumcifion, (not because it is of Mofes, but of: the fathers) and ye on the fabbath-day circumcise a man.

but given me by him that fent me. The true Worshippers of God will eafily perceive whether this Doctrine proceeds from God or no, and they only are the proper judges of this matter. A falfe Prophet, who impofes upon you with Fictions of his own, feeks only his own Glory in every thing he faith and doth; but a true Prophet directs all to the Glory of God, and for that reafon ought to find credit with you, fince he is not like to obtain any advantage from Men by it. Mofes, as you boalt, was indeed your Lawgiver, but which of you lives up to the Rules he has prefcrib'd? and how can you defend thofe Defigns of yours to take away my Life?

The Multitude about the Temple cried out, that furely he must be diftracted to have fuch fufpicions of them, fince no body fo much as thought of killing him. Jefus anfwer'd: The laft Paffover I did fomething in your prefence which you were all amaz'd at, as if I had violated the Law, and from that time you have fought an opportunity of killing me (ch. 18.) Hear ye then my Deferice, unless you are refoly'd to condemn me without hearing what I am able to fay in my juftification:: Mofes, among the Laws he gave you, has commanded you to obferve the Circum cifion as it was obferv'd in the time of Abraham and the Patriarchs, that is, to circumcife the Males on the eighth day after the Birth: Now if that day happens on a Sabbath, you make no fcruple of breaking the Reft upon that day by performing

23 If a man on the fabbathday receive circumcifion, that the law of Mofes fhould nor be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the fabbath-day?

24 Judg not according to the appearance, but judg righteous judgment.

25 Then faid some of them of Jerufalem, Is not this he whom they feek to kill?

26 But lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him: do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Chrift?

27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Chrift cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.

28 Then cried Jefus in the temple as he taught, faying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am : and I am not come of my self, but he

this Ceremony. If then you violate the Sabbath by inflicting a Wound upon a human Body, and making ufe of means proper for the cure of it, why are you inrag'd against me for having made a man intirely whole on that fame day?

Judg not by the outward appearance of that Action which is invidioully term'd a violation of the Sabbath, but make an exact scrutiny, that you may not be guilty of a rash and unjuft judgment. Several of the Citizens hearing Jefus difcourfe on this Subject, inquir'd of fome others whether he were not that Jefus whom the Rulers had often talk'd of putting to death. Of which when they were affur'd, they wonder'd that he talked with this freedom in the Temple, and fufpected that the chief among them began at last to be convinc'd that he really was the Meffiah: but they could not tell how to reconcile his being a Nazarene to this Opinion; for, faid they, the Learned in the Law affure us that when the Messiah shall first appear in Judea, the place of his Birth will be unknown.

Then Jefus cried out with a loud voice: You know me, as you fay, and the place of my Birth, and therefore deny that I am the Meffiah; nevertheless I come not to you on my own accord, and he that fent me is a lover of Truth, and wor

thy

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that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

29 But I know him, for I am from him, and he hath fent me.

30 Then they fought to take him but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Chrift cometh, will he do more miracles than thefe which this man hath done?

32 The Pharifees heard that the people murmured fuch things concerning him: and the Pharifees and the chief priefts fent officers to take him.

33 Then faid Jefus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go to him that fent me.

34 Ye fhall feek me, and fhall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come 35 Then faid the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go that we shall not

thy to be believ'd by you, but you know him not, nor what it is he expects from you: But I know him, and his Determinations, because I am fent by him, and have receiv'd my Inftructions from him.

When Jefus had fpoke thus, the Rulers of the Jews greatly defir'd to apprehend him, but no one was willing to lay hold of him, the time not being yet come in which God had decreed to deliver him up to the fury of his Perfecutors. Now many of the common People believ'd on him, juftly arguing from his Miracles, and faying that the Meffiab himfelf could not perform more than Jefus had shown to them. Which argument when the Pharifees heard, having confulted with the Chief Priefts, they fent the Keepers of the Temple to apprehend him.

Jefus in the mean time thus exprefs'd himself: Make ufe of all your Artifices; in fpite of all I shall continue a while longer upon Earth: When that term's expir'd, I will return to him that fent me. If at that time you feek for me, you will be fruftrated; for I fhall be where it will be impoffible for men of your ftamp to find me out. They then ask'd one another whither it was he defign'd to go? What, faid

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find him? will he go to the difperfed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

36 What manner of faying is this that he said, Ye fhall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am, thither ye cannot come ?

37 In the last day, that great day of the feaft, Jefus ftood and cried, faying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the fcripture hath faid; out of his belly fhall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this fpake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him, fhould receive for the holy Ghoft was not yet given, because that Jefus was not yet glorified)

faid they, will he travel round the Earth, and go to the Jews difpers'd among the Heathens? or will he inftruct thefe in the knowledg of the true God? fo little did they underftand that faying of his, If at that time you feek for me, it will be in vain; for I fhall be where it will be impoffible for fuch men as you to come.

Upon the last day of the Feaft, which was the feventh of October, a day cele brated with great Rejoicings, Jefus ftood in the Temple, and cried out: If any one thirfts, let him come to me, and I will give him drink. In which words he invited all that were defirous to learn of him, to come and fatisfy their defire by liftning to his Doctrin, having that place of Ifaiah in his eye, where we find the fame words, or at leaft fuch as exprefs the fame meaning, viz. ch. 55. 1. He then added, Whoever believes on me (hall be fo far from thiriting, that as the Scripture fpeaks, out of his Belly fhall flow Rivers of never-failing Water. In which he chiefly had refpect to another place of that Prophet, ch. 58. 11. where we have this defcription of good men; the meaning of which Similitude was, that whoever imbrac'd his Doctrin would find intire fatisfaction in it, and be able to afford the fame confolation to others, inasmuch as it was the only effectual remedy to remove all the diforders of the Mind: for he knew that the true Believers (hould after a few month, have the Holy Ghoft fhed upon them, which would be then given when Jef thould be received up into Heaven.

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