least way were indifferent, not greatly caring whether God or the devil reigned, so that they might bide in their au- thority, feared immediately (as Herod did of the loss of his kingdom, when the wise men asked where the newborn king of the Jews was), and conspired with the scribes and Phari- sees against Christ, and took him and brought him unto Pilate, saying, "We have found this fellow perverting the people, and forbidding to pay tribute unto Cæsar, and saying that he is a 2 king, and moving the people from Galilee unto this place." Then Pilate, though he likewise was before in- different, put 3 now in fear of the loss of his office, through such persuasions, slew innocent Christ. And in very deed, as the scribes and Pharisees were all their lives before blind guides, unto the destruction of their souls; even so were they at their last end blind prophets, unto the destruction of their bodies. For after that they had slain Christ and divers of his apostles, and persecuted those poor wretches that be- lieved on him, God, to avenge the poor innocent blood that bare witness unto his 4 truth, poured his wrath among them, that they themselves rose against the emperor: and the Romans came (according as they blindly prophesied), and slew the most part of them, and carried the rest captive into all nations, and put other nations in the realm. But whose fault was that insurrection against the emperor, and mischief that followed? Christ's and his apostles, whom they falsely accused beforehand? Nay 5, Christ taught that they should give Cæar that which pertained unto Cæsar, and God that which belonged to God: even that they should give Cæsar their lawful bodily service, and God the heart; and that they should love God's law, and repent of their evil, and come and receive mercy, and let the wrath of God be taken from off them. And the apostles taught that all souls should obey the higher powers, or temporal rulers. But their ob- stinate malice, that so hardened their hearts that they could not repent, and their railing upon the open and manifest truth, which they could not improve, and resisting the Holy Ghost, and slaying of the preachers of righteousness, brought [ TYNDALE, II.] | The cruel Jews, by per- secuting Christ and his apostles, procured the vengeance of God to lighten upon themselves. The apostles taught all obedience. The Jews falsely ac- cused Christ. |