and which, if acted upon at this day, in
Christian countries, would infallibly prevent the execution of the
criminal law: For what testimony would be sufficient to prove a
fact, if the witnesses were required to be "without sin?" Instead,
therefore, of saying unto them, "whosoever of you is without sin,
let him cast the first stone at her;" he should have said, 'Men! who
made me a judge, or a ruler over you? carry the accused to the
proper tribunal.'

As to his conduct about the matter of Elias, it was as follows. It is
said, in the 17th chapter of Matthew, that at his transfiguration, as
it is called, Moses, and Elias appeared to his disciples on the
mount, talking with Jesus. Upon coming down from the mount, the
disciples asked Jesus, "how say the scribes that Elias must come
first, (that is, before the Messiah.) Jesus answered, Elias truly
cometh first, and restoreth all things; but I say unto you, that Elias
has come already and they have done unto him what they would;"
meaning John the Baptist, who was beheaded by Herod. (See the
parallel place in Mark.) And he says concerning John, (Mat. vi.
14,) "And if ye will receive it, this is Elias which was for to
come."

Now certainly no one will pretend that John was the Elias
prophecied of by Malachi, as to come before "the great, and
terrible day of the Lord," which has not yet taken place. And
besides, that he was not Elias is testified of, and confirmed by,
John himself, who in the gospel of John, chapter 1, to the question
of the Scribes, asking him, "if he was Elias?" answers "I am
not." It is pretty clear that Jesus was embarrassed by the question
of the Apostles, "how say the Scribes, that Elias must come first?"
for his answer is confused; for he allows the truth of the
observation of the Scribes, and then refers them to John, and
insinuates that he was "the Elias to come." However, it must be
acknowledged, that he does it with an air of hesitation, "If you
will receive it," &c.

But are these all the accusations you have to bring against him?
may be said by some of my readers. Do you account as nothing,
his claiming to forgive sins? his speeches wherein ho claims to be
considered as an object of religious homage, if not to be God
himself? Do you consider these impieties as nothing? I answer by
asking--the following questions: What would you think of a man
who, in our times, should set up those extraordinary claims? and
who should assert, that "eating his f