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Chap. 8.
1 ANd Iesus went into the mount Oliuete.
2 And in the morning he came againe into the Temple: and all the people came vnto him, and sitting downe he taught them.
3 And the Scribes and the Pharisees bring vnto him a woman taken in adulterie, & setting her in the midst:
4 They say vnto him, Master, this woman was taken in the very act, when as shee did commit the adultrie.
5 And Moses commaunded vs in the law, that such should be stoned: therefore what sayest thou?
6 〈…〉〈…〉 they said thus ••empting him, that they might 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some matter to accuse him. And Iesus casting downe his eyes, did write with his finger vppon the grounde.
7 And when as they continued asking him, lifting vp his eyes he said vnto thē, he that amongest you is free from sinne, let him cast the first stone at her.
8 And looking downe againe, he wrote vpon the earth.
9 And when they had heard, and were accused of their consciences, they went out on•• after 〈◊〉〈◊〉, beginning at the alders eue•• vnto the last: so that Iesus was left alone, and the woman that stood in the middle.
10. And when Iesus lift vp his eyes, and saw none but the woman, hee saide, woman where ••e these thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 Shee said, none Lord, Iesus answered ••er saying, Neither will I condemne thee: go•• thy way and sinne no more.
9 And the Scribes and the Pharisees bring. It is well knowen that the Grecians did not know of this historie in times past therefore some do gesse that it was annexed by some other: but because it was alwayes receiued of ye latine Churches, and it is found in the auncientest Greeke bookes, and it conteineth nothing that is vnmeete for the spirite of the Apostle, there is no cause why we shold refuse to applie it vnto our vse. VVhereas the Euangelist saith that the Scribes brought the woman, his meaning is that they did that of set purpose, that they myght lie in wayte for Christ. He expresseth the Pharisees by name, because they were the chi••je in the order of the Scribes. And their wickednes was too great in catching a cloake for their craftines, which they themselues do bewray with their owne mouth. For they doe not dissemble that they haue the manifest commandement of the law. VVhereupon it fol∣loweth that they doe it maliciously, because they aske as yet as if it were concerning a d••••••tfull matter. But this was their purpose, to en∣force Christ to depart from the office of preaching grace, that he might seeme to be diuers and unconstant. Therefore they say plainely & flat∣ly that Moses condemneth adultersses, to the ende they may holde Christ fast bound with a pr••iudice of the law. For doubtles it was vn∣lawful to acquit those whom the law did condemne. If he did subscribe ••••••o the law he should seeme after a sort to be vnlike to himselfe.
•• And Iesus hauing cast his eyes downeward. By this gesture hee shewed that he cōtēned thē, therfore in my iudgemēt they deale very vnskilfully,