After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
Ver. 1. For he would not walk in Jewry] The Roman rule in battle was, Nec fugere, nec sequi, Neither to flee dangers nor to follow them. The Christian's motto is, Nec temere, nec timide, Neither timorous, nor temerarious (reckless). As we must not basely desert the cause of Christ when called out to defend it, but η ταν η επι ταν, as she said to her son (Plutarch), Either vanquish or die, as the Black Prince's father said to him, Either live with the gospel or die for it; so we may not rashly run ourselves upon unnecessary dangers, but decline them where we can with a good conscience. He that flees may fight another time, said Demosthenes, ριψασπις. Christians also are permitted to flee, when they are sought for to the slaughter, so it be with the wings of a dove and not with the pinions of a dragon. It was a masculine resolution of that good woman celebrated by Jerome, Non ideo negare vole, ne peream: sed ideo mentiri nolo, ne peccem. I will rather die than lie.