198 The NEW and COMPLETE LIFE of our BLESSED LORD felves juft men, who maintained the greaten veneration for the divine law, and dreaded nothing more than the doing any thing in- continent with it's precepts ; and, under this fpecious cloak of hypocrify, to, beg his determination of an affair that had long Iain heavy on their confciences namely, the paying tribute to Cmfar, which they thought inconfiffent with their zeal for religion. This queffion was, it ,feems, fu- rioufly debated in our Saviour's time ; one, Judas, a native ofGalilee, having infpired the people with a notion, that taxes to a foreign power were abfolutely unlawful. A. doctrine fo pleating to the worldly - minded Jews, could not fail of friends, efpecially among the lower. clafs ; and, therefore, muff have many partizans amongtl the multitude that then furrounded the Son of God. The prieras, therefore, imagined, that it was not in his power to decide the point, without rendering him- felf obnoxious to force of the parties : if he fhould fay it was lawful to pay the taxes, they believed, that the people in whore hearing the queffion was propofed, would be incenfed againff him, not only as abate pretender, who, on being attacked, pub- licly renounced the character of the Mel- fish, which he had affumed among his friends, but alto as a flatterer of princes, and a betrayer of the liberties of his country, one who taught doarines incon- fiffent with the known privileges of the people of God: but if he fhould affirm, that it was unlawful to paytribute, theyde- termined to inform the governor, who, they hoped, would punifh him as a fomenter of fedition. Highly elated with their projeft, they accordingly came ; and, after palling an encomium on the truth of his million, his courage, and his impartiality, they propofed this famous queflion : tl4after, Paid they, we- know that thou art true, and careflfor no tnan; for thou regardeft not the /efon of teen, but teachtfi the way of God in truth. Tell us therefore, what think thou, is it lawful to give tribute unto Ccefar or scot? However, though they had artfully laid the fcheme, they could not deceive our bleffed Lord, whobeheld the inmott recef- fes of their hearts : he faw their fecret intentions; and accordingly called them hypocrites, to fignify, that though they made confcience, and a regard for the divine will, their pretence for propofing this queffion, he faw their deign, and knew that their intention was only to enfnare him. Neverthelefs, our bleffed Saviour did not decline anfwering their queflion, but pre- vioufly defired to fee a piece of the tribute money. The piece was accordingly pro- duced, and proved to be coined by the Romans. Upon which our dear "Lord an- fwered them, fnce this money bears the image ofCmfar, it is his ; and by making ufe of it, you acknowledge his authority : if fo, I leave it to yourfelves, to judge whether tribute ought not to be paid towards the fupport of that government which ye have acknowledged, which ye cannot{hake off, and by which your tran- quillity is preferved : but, at the fame time that you difcharge your duty to the civil magiftrate, you fhould never forget the duty you owe to your God ; but re- member, that as you bear the image of the great, the omnipotent King, you are his fubjects, and ought to pay him the tribute of yourfelves, ferving him to the very utmoft ofyour power. Under a pretence of religion, the Plta- rifees and their followers often juffified fedition ; but the Herodians; in order to ingratiate' themfelves with the reigning powers, made them a, compliment of their confciences, complying with whatever.they enjoined, however oppofite their commands might be to the .divine law. Our Lord, therefore, adapted his anfwer to them both, exhorting them in their regards to God and the magiftrate, to give each his due; as, when their rights only are infifed on, there can beno inconfiftency between them. JEsus, by fo unexpected an anfwer, confuted them on their own principles, and
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