arisees were not rebuked by Christ for this feast, because we read not
so much in Scripture; for there were many things which Jesus did and said
that are not written in Scripture, John xxi. 25; and whereas it seemeth to
some, that Christ did countenance and approve this feast, because he gave
his presence unto the same, John x. 22, 23, we must remember, that the
circumstances only of time and place are noted by the evangelist, for
evidence to the story, and not for any mystery, Christ had come up to the
feast of tabernacles, John vii., and tarried still all that while, because
then there was a great confluence of people in Jerusalem. Whereupon he
took occasion to spread the net of the gospel for catching of many souls.
And whilst John saith, "It was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication,"
he gives a reason only of the confluence of many people at Jerusalem, and
showeth how it came to pass that Christ had occasion to preach to such a
great multitude; and whilst he addeth "And it was winter," he giveth a
reason of Christ's walking in Solomon's porch, whither the Jews' resort
was. It was not thought beseeming to walk in the temple itself, but in the
porch men used to convene either for talking or walking, because in the
summer the porch shadowed them from the heat of the sun, and in winter it
lay open to the sunshine and to heat. Others think, that whilst he saith,
it was winter, importeth that therefore Christ was the more frequently in
the temple, knowing that his time was short which he had then for his
preaching; for in the entry of the next spring he was to suffer.
Howsoever, it is not certain of what feast of dedication John speaketh.
Bullinger leaves it doubtful;(858) and Maldonat saith(859) that this
opinion which taketh the dedication of the altar by Judas Maccabeus to be
meant by John, hath fewest authors. But to let this pass, whereas the
Rhemists allege,(860) that Christ approved this feast, because he was
present at it. Cartwright and Fulk answer them, that Christ's being
present at it proveth not his approving of it. _Non festum proprie
honoravit Christus_, saith Junius,(861) _sed caetum piorum convenientem
festo; nam omnes ejusmodi occasiones seminandi evangelii sui observabat et
capiebat Christus_.

_Quasi vero_ (saith Hospinian(862)) _Christus Encaenoirum casua
Hierosloymam abierit_. Nay, but he saw he had a convenient occasion, _ad
instituendam hominum multitudenem, ad illud festum confluentiam_.

Even