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the charge of Jefus Chrift. I beg you will declare the difturbances and feditions he stands charged with ad vodi i daw daw BIO.

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Mofes. From his Infafity to his death, his whole life ftands one fcene of difturbance and fedition. First, at his birth, the. difordert mult caft the Eaft into, who fent an embally to king Herod, to know (according to Balaam's prophecy) where the Meffiah was to be born, which meffage threw the king and all Jerufalem into very great confternations with all the coun try. And after fome time thefe men not producing him to the king, it put him in a fury, and he fent and put to death all the male children about Bethlehem, which were attended with great lamentations, families and the whole country put into great grief and convulfions; fo that their affliction was unparalelled, the matter, after fome time, fubfided, and the country enjoyed peace, when, on a fudden, the Whole country was put in diforder as at a time of war, every one running to fee this prodigy, and he won fo upon them that they lost all fenfe of duty and obedience, both to the laws and their families; for no one could be found at home, but continually flocking to him with their fick and to hear him difcourfe. Ifrael bore this intrufion with great temper, for three years, which was the pace of time. He was fuffered to go on when the matter became ferious, and in danger of bringing the whole force of the Ro-· Mans, under whom we were fubject, to destroy our nation. For a little time before his death it became current, that he had railed one La. 1916912 2 0 and or bil zarus,

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bw you nad zeus to sendo ade zarus, after being buried three days, and this man was kept with him; they being a refpectable family, the rumour spread to all au Parts: and, according to our laws, all Ifrael were gathered to Jerufalem, being the moft folemn feaft, our great Patlover. The multitude hearon us be ing of his raifing Lazarus from death, and that he was with him, went out to meet him, and to do him honour, fet him on an afs, ftrewed their clothes before him, cur down palm branches and paffed in crouds, crying, Hofannab to the King of Ifrael, bleed is be that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hofannab in the Highest. So that the whole city was frightened, and coming into the temple, he drove the merchandifers from trafficking, calling the temple his Father's houfe, making himself the Son of God, and that, inftead of a houfe of prayer, they had made it a den of thieves. These and more outrages you have recorded in your own gofpels, all which being duly and maturely confidered, it was judged expedient, according to the fentence of Caiphas, then high-pricft, that it was expedients that Jefus fhould die rather don Sharion peringa judamod is. 910 Bay What were the particulars of his death? 216 Mofes. He was crucified; that is, his hands and feet nailed to the cross, being the eve of the great Sabbath, it was requifite, the body hould be removed but the executioner finding him dead, did not break his legs as they did the two others that died, with him; yer, one of them, to be fure of his death, drove his pear in his fide to his heart; for his greater fhame,

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they crowned him with thorns, divided him, fhared his garments, but caft lots for his veftment: this diverted Ifrael as the lofs of Sampfon's eyes amufed the Philifties. This was done to undeceive the body of the people, who look no farther than pomp and appearances, and so easily seduced from their allegiance.

Luther. It was the faying of an old hermit, that he profited by the moft ignorant, and, 1 will profit by your hint, on my return. I will make fpiritual bailiffs of all my clergy, dignified or not dignified, all ages or degrees, reducing the whole into as finall and neceffary a body as the nature of things may require, with finall benefices, and privilege to take diffenters, with the allowance of half the

up all

profits. Luther. Reducing the number of clergy, and giving each one, taking the whole on an average, of fifty pounds each man, according to his proportion of dignity, with their quota of what may be fcrambled for from Diffenters and all gainfayers, will keep them and families, who are to put their hands to the plow, in fufficient meat, drink, wafhing, lodging, and cloathing, which are fufficient for the chriftian warfare. I lived many years in community with the brotherhood in London, at less than fifty pounds, when we ufually and daily had our levee at one or others lodging, and at either a foup or chop-houfe regale ourselves for our fhilling for dinner; and at night our pint, with a good fop, at either beer or cider cellar; the cellar in Maiden-lane was my delight; but a good bowl of punch, and a pretty friend fealed #TRIM

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the nuptials. O merry has been the feats of our dancing days.tha J

Mofes. I perceive your dinner hour is, arrived, your face is painted a livid hue, your eyes ghaftly, and whole countenance pale and wan; we will not fret you longer,, but bid! adieu, my dear young friend, we will go. od na

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Luther. Your reverence will give orders to have the fettlement drawn with all expedition, as I fet forth, that you may be at eafe and fecure, and ponder the great truths of the gofpels; the rigorous accounting day, the preca rious ftate you are in, and in what degree you will appear before Chrift: as his viceroy I am compelled to admonish all gainfayers, if, per haps you may find and embrace the truth, turn from error and do good. Adieu, reverend scribe, remember the contract,

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they crowned him with thorns, divided him, fhared his garments, but caft lots for his veftment: this diverted Ifrael as the lofs of Sampfon's eyes amufed the Philifties. This was done to undeceive the body of the people, who look no farther than pomp and appearances, and so easily seduced from their allegiance.

Luther. It was the faying of an old hermit, that he profited by the moft ignorant, and, 1 will profit by your hint, on my return. I will make fpiritual bailiffs of all my clergy, dignified or not dignified, all ages or degrees, reducing the whole into as finall and neceffary a body as the nature of things may require, with finall benefices, and privilege to take up all diffenters, with the allowance of half the profits.

Luther. Reducing the number of clergy, and giving each one, taking the whole on an average, of fifty pounds each man, according to his proportion of dignity, with their quota of what may be scrambled for from Diffenters and all gainfayers, will keep them and families, who are to put their hands to the plow, in fufficient mear, drink, washing, lodging, and cloathing, which are fufficient for the chriftian warfare. I lived many years in community with the brotherhood in London, at less than fifty pounds, when we ufually and daily had our levee at one or others lodging, and at either a foup or chop-houfe regale ourselves for our fhilling for dinner; and at night our pint, with a good fop, at either beer or cider cellar; the cellar in Maiden-lane was my delight; but a good bowl of punch, and a pretty friend fealed

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