CHAPTER VIII.
11. Q. _Why would not CHRIST condemn the woman caught in adultery?_
_A._ Not because he approved of her sin, but because it did not belong to him as a prophet, to be the judge of such matters.
9. Q. _What learn you from the persons being convicted from their own consciences, and going out one by one?_
_A._ That wicked men need no other accuser but their own consciences; and that it is absurd to condemn and be inveterate against another, for a crime we have been, or are guilty of ourselves.
Q. _Is it to be supposed that all this woman’s accusers had been guilty of adultery?_
_A._ Perhaps not in the very act, but guilty of heart-adultery, as our Saviour explained it in the 5th of _Matthew_.
6. Q. _How did the |Jews| intend to ensnare our blessed LORD, by bringing this woman before him?_
_A._ They wanted to impeach him, either as severe if he ordered her to be stoned, or as one that gave license to sin, if he forgave her.
Q. _What may we suppose CHRIST wrote when he stooped down?_
_A._ It is presumption to give the least guess, since GOD has not thought proper to reveal it to us.
Q. _What may we learn from CHRIST’s stooping down, as though he heard them not?_
_A._ That we ought to be unwilling to hear, and not take pleasure in hearing of our neighbour’s faults.
12. Q. _How can it be said, that JESUS then spake again unto them, when it is said before, that they went out one by one?_
_A._ Some have supposed, that the discourse which follows at this verse, was at another ♦time; but if the word _then_ should confine it to the present time, it may be reconciled thus. We may suppose where CHRIST was sitting, there was a vacant place to which the scribes and pharisees brought the woman, and in which CHRIST might stand alone with her. Now these being convicted one by one, (for it seems plain that CHRIST spoke only to _them_ verse 7th) they might go out; while such as were there before the scribes and pharisees came might remain; and to them CHRIST proceeded with his discourse, and spake again on the point which he did, before he was interrupted.
♦ “ime” replaced with “time”
31. Q. _What learn you from our Saviour’s discourse with the |Jews| who believed on him?_
_A._ That young converts ought to be exhorted to continue in well doing; and that perseverance only can denominate us true disciples.
39. Q. _What learn you hence?_
_A._ That this is the language of all mere professors: they say, we have CHRIST for our Saviour; but if they were CHRIST’s disciples they would do the works of CHRIST; for in vain we call him “LORD, LORD,” if we do not the things that he says.
48. Q. _What learn you from hence?_
_A._ That if CHRIST who was innocence itself was called a devil, much more will the members of his houshold.
56. Q. _What learn you hence?_
_A._ That if _Abraham_ rejoiced at a distance to see CHRIST’s day, much more ought we to rejoice and give thanks, who enjoy it as present.
57. Q. _Does it appear from hence that CHRIST was fifty years old?_
_A._ No, for it is plain he was not above thirty-four when he was crucified; but we must consider that people in such cases generally speak within compass; and besides, our LORD being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, he might look older by far than he really was.
58. Q. _What learn you from hence?_
_A._ That JESUS CHRIST is GOD, since he takes that title to himself, which GOD himself made use of when He sent _Moses_ to _Pharaoh_, _Exodus_ iii.