VERS. LVIII.
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And casting him out of the City they stoned him.
s 1.1 I. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the place of stoning was without the Sanhedrin, according as it is said, bring forth him that hath cursed without the Camp, Levit. XXIV. 14. It is a Tradi∣tion 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the place of stoning was without three Camps. The Gloss tells us that the Court was the Camp of the Divine Presence, the Mountain of the Temple, the Camp of the Levites, and Jerusalem the Camp of Israel. Now in every San∣hedrin in whatever City, the place of stoning was without the City, as it was at Jerusalem.
We are told the reason by the Gemarists why the place of stoning was without the San∣hedrin, and again without three Camps, viz. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 If the San∣hedrin go forth and sit without the three Camps; they make the place for stoning also di∣stant from the Sanhedrin, partly lest the Sanhedrin should seem to kill the man; partly that by the distance of the place there may be a little stop and space of time before the Criminal come to the place of execution, if peradventure any one might offer some testi∣mony, that might make for him. For in the expectation of some such thing,
II. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
There stood one at the door of the Sanhe∣drin having a Handkerchief in his hand, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and an horse at such a distance as it was only within sight. If any one therefore say, I have something to offer in behalf of the condemned person, he waves the Handkerchief, and the horse∣man rides and calls the people back. Nay if the man himself say, I have something to offer in my own defence, they bring him back four or five times one after another, if it be any thing of moment that he hath to say.I doubt they hardly dealt so gently with the innocent Stephen.
III. If no testimony arise that makes any thing for him, then they go on to stoning him:
The Crier proclaiming before him, N. the Son of N. comes forth to be stoned for such or such a crime: N. and N. are the witnesses against him, if any one hath any thing to testifie on his behalf, let him come forth and give his evidence.
IV.
When they come within ten cubits of the place where he must be stoned, they exhort him to confess, for so it is the custom for the malefactor to confess, because every one that confesseth hath his part in the world to come, as we find in the instance of Achan, &c.
V.
When they come within four cubits of the place, they pluck off his clothes, and make him naked.
VI.
The place of Execution was twice a mans height. One of the witnesses throws him down upon his loyns; if he roul upon his breast they turn him upon his loyns again. If he die so, well: If not, then the other witness takes up a stone, and lays it up∣on his heart.If he die so, well; But if not, then he is stoned by all Israel.
VII. All that are stoned are hanged also, &c. These things I thought fit to transcribe the more largely, that the Reader may compare this present action with this rule and common usage of doing it.
1. It may first be questioned for what crime this person was condemned to die. You will say for blasphemy: For we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. But no one is condemned as a blasphemer 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 unless for abusing the Sa∣cred name with four letters, &c. Hence is it that although they oftentimes accused our Saviour as a blasphemer, yet he was not condemned for this, but because 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he used witchcraft and deceived Israel, and seduced them into Apostacy t 1.2 And those are reckoned amongst persons that are to be stoned, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He that evilly perswades, and he that draws into Apostacy, and a Conjurer. u 1.3
2. It may further be questioned whether our Blessed Martyr was condemned by any formal sentence of the Sanhedrin, or hurried in a tumultuary manner by the people, and so murdered: It seems to be the later.