Give Caesar His Due

George Wyllys Secr.

Give CESAR his Due.

Tell us therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give Tribute unto Cesar, or not?

But JESVS perceived their wickedness, and said. Why tempt ye Me, ye Hypocrites?

Shew me the Tribute Money. And they brought unto Him a Peny.

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

They say unto Him, Cesars. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar, the things which are Cesars: and unto GOD, the things that are GOD's.

When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

That clause of the 21st Ver. Render therefore unto Cesar, the things which are Cesars.

THE Jewish Nation were very happy for a considerable time, under the Government of the Asnomaean Family, p. 2commonly called the Maccabees. There was 〈…〉 and Peace as home, Victors and Success abroad. There were feared & regard'd by all round about them: They were in a 〈…〉 Alliance with the Romans, & treated by them with great Respect.

Afterwards, growing weak by 〈…〉 Divisions, they became a kind of Tributary Kingdom to the Romans, under the 〈…〉 Family; and continued to sink till they became a Roman Province, under Procurators and Governours, such as Florus, Festus, Felix and others.

And having helped to fill up the measure of their Iniquities by Crucifying the Lord of Life & Glory, their Division being still greatly inflamed, they were involved in a Sea of troubles, till it terminated in their utter desolation, both of Church and State.

This should be a Warning to all Governments, especially those who are under the jealous Eye of such who are ready to observe, and improve every part of their ill Conduct: It should be a Motive to keep' as the Apostle saith) the 〈…〉 of the spirit in the bond of peace, Eph. 4.3.

At the time of our Saviours Publick appearance and ministry, the Jews were crumbled and broken into many Parties & Factions: The Controversies were maintained with eagerness and carried on with great best and animosity. But how wide soever they were in their Opinions, how distant soever in their Affections, Views & p. 3Designs, Yet the Rulers (tho' divided) could 〈…〉 counsel together against the Lord, 〈…〉 Anointed, Psal 2.2 Like Herod & Pilate, who tho' their lines of Affection & Interest, were wide & distant, Yet at length they could unite in this single point of Malice; they could agree in their Opposition to Christ & his glorious Gospel.

p. 3Three of the principal contending Parties appear before Christ, tempting him, pursuant to a determination they had come to, after a deep consultation among themselves, Luk 20 20. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words; that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governour. Feign themselves Just men, Men truly Religious, who came to him with cases of Conscience: And to gain his confidence, they begin with Propositions most true in themselves, but as design'd by them, the vilest Tie chery & the grossest Flattery; and for this Reason our Saviour charges them with Hypocrisie Mat 22.16 We know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God is truth, and carest not for any man; for thou regardest not the person of man. Ver. 18. Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? —

The Three Parties were the Herodians, the Sadduces, and the Lawyers; which last were of the Scribes and Pharisees.

We shall take a short view of these Three Parties, and begin with the last first; and so go p. 4back to the first, which will bring us to our Text; it being a particular Answer to the Question proposed by the Herodians.

The term Lawyer is not to be understood as in the present use and acceptation of the word. In the present use of the term, we understand those that Study and Practice the Common Law, the Civil or Common Law. These were so called as being Expositors of the Law of God given by Moses They rendred the Law void by those Interpretations they put upon it: They pretended to great Zeal for the Law, and for the Rights of the People; Asserting that they were of the seed of Abraham and were free; nor ought they to be in Subjection to the Romans. Job 8 33 Infusing those Doctrines into the People, was the occasion of sundry Insurrections & Tumults, led on by Thudas & Judas of Galilee: Of which we have an account, Act. 5.36, 37.

From these sprang those, afterwards called the Zealots, who did so much mischief to their own Nation, and brought on ruine upon them. They pretended to [See Sir William Temple's Memoirs.] great Zeal for Religion and Concern for the Publick Good. A great Writer observes, That when a Religious & Civil Controversie comes to be twisted and blended together, it makes a strong Ferment.

p. 4These propound a Question, Which was the chief, or the greatest Commandment? Designing p. 5to intangle him in the Controversie that was subsisting among them, Whether the Command about Sacrifices, or the Moral Law were the greatest? These according to our Modern way of speaking, we may call the Country Party.

2. The other Party were the Sadducees, who denied the Resurrection We may observe that each Party drew Arguments from their respective Principles, Each taking an Arrow out of their own Quiver. The Lawyer came with a Question about the Law; the Sadducees about the Resurrection; and the Herodians concerning Tribute. They say, Ver. 24 Master, Moses said if a man die having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. …