CHAPTER XVIII.

1. JESUS saying these things, went forth with His disciples beyond the torrent of cedars, where was a garden, into which He entered and His disciples.

2. But Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place, because JESUS oft times assembled there with His disciples.

3. Judas then, having received a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with candles, and lamps, and weapons.

4. JESUS therefore, knowing all things that were coming upon Him, going forth, said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5. They answered Him, JEsus of Nazareth. JESUS saith unto them, I am. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them.

6. When therefore He said unto them, I am, they went away backward, and fell to the ground.

7. Again therefore He asked

THE INTERNAL SENSE.

THAT the LORD, as to His humanity, having put off His first rational principle, enters into a state of His divine intelligence, from which He com municates with those who are principled in good and truth,

v. 1.

Which state is known also to those who are in the knowledge of truth, but in evils of life, and who therefore seek to destroy it by all kinds of false persuasions both internal and external, v. 2, 3.

Yet they are checked for a time by inquisition in their own minds concerning their designs, and by the consequent notice that the LORD'S HUMANITY was DIVINE, v. 4, 5, 6.

Which inquisition is again

they said, JESUS of Nazareth.

8. JESUS answered, I told you that I am; if then ye seek me, let these go away.

9. That the Word which He said might be fulfilled, of them which thou gavest me, have I lost none.

10. Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear; but the servant's name was Malchus.

11. Then said JESUS unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

12. Then the band, and the captain, and the officers of the Jews took JESUS, and bound Him.

13. And led Him away to Annas first; for he was fatherin-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that same year.

14. But it was Caiaphas which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

15. But Simon Peter followed JESUS, and [so did] another disciple; but that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with JESUS into the palace of the high priest.

same notice, v. 7, and former part of 8.

On which occasion intercession is made from the divine love in favour of those who are principled in good and truth, latter part of 8th v. and v. 9.

Yet they, who are principled in the faith of the church, seek protection in truth, rejecting obedience, until they are instructed, that the LORD, as to His humanity, was to suffer temptations, and thus to enter into His glory, v. 10, 11,

Accordingly the LORD suf fers His humanity to be deli vered up and treated by the perverted church, as they had before treated His Word, v. 12, 13, 14.

But they, who are principled in faith alone, cannot enter into this process, and therefore deny the divinity of the LORD'S humanity, being influenced only by external loves, v. 15, 16, 17, 18.

17. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

18. But the servants and the officers stood, having made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and they warmed themselves; but Peter was standing with them, and warming himself.

19. The high priest then asked JESUS Concerning His disciples, and concerning His doctrine.

20. JESUS answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort, and in secret have I spoken nothing.

21. Why askest thou me? Ask them that heard, what I have spoken to them; behold, they know what I have said.

22. But when He had said these things, one of the officers standing near gave JESUS a blow with a rod, saying, Answerest thou the high priest

so?

23. JESUS answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why smitest thou me?

24. Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

25. But Simon Peter was standing and warming himself: Then they said unto him, Art not thou also [one] of His dis ciples? He denied, and said, I am not.

26. One of the servants of the high priest, being a kins

That inquisition is made in the perverted church respecting the LORD's humanity, and answer is given, that nothing can be known concerning it, but through obedience to it's precepts, v. 19, 20, 21.

This answer, however, only excites greater outrage against that humanity, when yet it ought to have appeased all violence, v. 22, 23, 24.

That in the end of the church there will remain no longer any faith, but a plenary denial of the LORD, v. 25, 26, 27.

man of him whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with Him? 27. Then Peter denied again, and immediately the cock

crew.

28. Then they led JESUS from Caiaphas unto the governor's hall; but it was morning: And they themselves entered not into the governor's hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the passover.

29. Then Pilate went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

30. They answered and said unto him, If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up unto thee.

31. Then Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any one to death:

52. That the saying of JESUS might be fulfilled, which He said, signifying by what death He was about to die.

33. Then Pilate entered again into the governor's hall, and called JESUS, and said unto Him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

34. JESUS answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell thee of me?

35. Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me; what hast thou done?

Therefore in the end of the church all truth divine is separated from those who are of the church, notwithstanding their external sanctity, and imparted to those who are in the falses of ignorance, and who yet are inquisitive about truth, and especially about it's rejection by those who are of the church, in consequence of separating it from it's good, v. 28, 29, 30.

But they, who are in the falses of ignorance, cannot account for this separation, until they are instructed, that it is forbidden in the Word, and that nevertheless it had taken place amongst those of the perverted church who were in possession of the Word, v. 31,

32.

They are therefore inquisitive about truth divine, but are admonished to explore in themselves the motive which leads them to such inquisition, so as to discover whether it be from the love of truth, or from other motives, v. 33, 34.

They are further inquisitive about the work of redemption, and are instructed that it is a divine work, for the purpose of imparting to man, not na

36. JESUS answered, My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom was of this world, then would my servants strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37. Pilate therefore saith unto Him, Art thou a king then? JESUS answered, Thou sayest that I am a king: For this was 1 born, and for this I came into the world, that I might bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

38. Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth? And saying this, he again went out unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no fault in Him.

39. But ye have a custom, that I should release to you one at the passover; will ye then that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

40. Then they all again cried out, saying, Not this [man], but Barabbas; but Barabbas was a robber.

tural and temporal dominion, but that which is spiritual and eternal, v. 35, 36.

They are again inquisitive about the divinity of the LORD's humanity, and are further instructed, that they have internal evidence in themselves of it's divinity, because the sole reason why the humanity was conceived, and came into the world, was, that it might be made divine truth, and thus divine good, which doctrine is received by all who are principled in good, v. 37.

Lastly, they are inquisitive about divine truth, and by such inquisition are led to discover, and to make confession, that the LORD had integrity, and that thus His humanity was DIVINE GOOD, and therefore no violence ought to be done to it, v. 38, 39.

Nevertheless, the perverted church reject the divine truth, and cleave to the infernal false, v. 40.

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