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as an example of undefigned coincidence in the two evangelists.

Again, (p. 870.) Acts iv. 6. Annas is called the High Prieft, though Caiaphas was in the office of the high priesthood. In like manner in Jofephus *, "Jofeph the fon of Gorion, and the High Priest Ananus, were chofen to be fupreme governors of all things in the city." Yet Ananus, though here called the High Priest Ananus, was not then in the office of the high priesthood. The truth is, there is an inde terminateness in the use of this title in the gofpel; fometimes it is applied exclusively to the person who held the office at the time; fometimes to one or two more, who probably shared with him fome of the powers or functions of the office; and, fometimes, to fuch of the priests as were eminent by their station or character: and there is the very fame indeterminateness in Jofephus.

* De Bell. ii. c. 20, fec. 3.

+ Mark xiv. 53.

M 2

XXIV.

1

XXIV. (p. 347.). John xix. 19, 20. "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the crofs." That fuch was the cuftom of the Romans upon thefe occafions, appears from paffages of Suetonius and Dio Caffius: "Patrem familias-canibus objecit, cum hoc titulo, Impie locutus parmularius." Suet. Domit. cap. x. And in Dio Caffius we have the following: "Having led him through the midst of the court or affembly, with a writing fignifying the cause of his death, and afterwards crucifying him." Book liv.

Ib. "And it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin." That it was alfo ufual, about this time, in Jerufalem, to fet up advertisements in different languages, is gathered from the account which Jofephus gives of an expoftulatory meffage from Titus to the Jews, when the city was almost in his hands; in which he fays, Did ye not erect pillars with infcriptions on them, in the Greek and in our language, "Let no one pass beyond these bounds ?”

XXV. (p. 352.) Mat. xxvii. 26. " When he had fcourged Jefus, he delivered him to be crucified."

The following paffages occur in Jofephus:

"Being beaten, they were crucified oppofite to the citadel *.'

"Whom, having firft fcourged with whips, he crucified t."

"He was burnt alive, having been first beaten ."

To which may be added one from Livy, Tib. xi. c. 5. "Productique omnes, virgifque cafi, ac fecuri percuffi."

A modern example may illuftrate the ufe we make of this inftance. The preceding

* P. 1247, 24 edit. Hudf.
+ P. 1080, 45 edit.

P. 1327, 43 edit,

of a capital execution by the corporal punishac ment of the sufferer, is a practice unknown in England, but retained, in fome inftances. at least, as appears by the late execution of a regicide, in Sweden. This circumstance, therefore, in the account of an English execution purporting to come from an English writer, would not only bring a fufpicion upon the truth of the account, but would, in a confiderable degree, impeach its pretenfions of having been written by the author whose name it bore. Whereas the fame circumftance, in the account of a Swedish execution, would verify the account, and fupport the authenticity of the book in which it was found; or, at least, would prove that the author, whoever he was, pos feffede the information and the knowledge which he ought to poffefs.

slu XXVI:(p. 353.) John xix. 16.

And

They took Jefus, and led him away, and he,

bearing his cross, went forth.'

Plutarch. De iis qui sero puniuntur, p. 554.

A Paris,

A Paris, 1624. Every kind of wickedness produces its own particular torment, just as every malefactor, when he is brought forth to execution, carries his own cross.”

XXVII. John xix. 32. "Then came the foldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him."

Conftantine abolished the punishment of the cross; in commending which edi&, a heathen writer notices this very circumstance of breaking the legs: "Eo pius, ut etiam vetus veterrimumque fupplicium, patibulum, et cruribus fuffringendis, primus removerit." Aur, Vict, Cef. сар. xli.

"Now

XXVIII. (p. 457.) Acts iii. 1. Peter and John went up together into the

temple, at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour."

Jof. Ant. lib, xv. c. 7, fec. 8,

"Twice

every day, in the morning, and at the ninth

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