Another time being asked if it was lawful to [40] pay tribute to Cesar, and seeing the image of the Prince on the coin that they showed him, he evades the difficulty by replying that they should "render unto Cesar what belongs to Cesar, and unto God what belongs to God." The difficulty consisted in that he would be guilty of lèse majesté if he had said it was not permitted, and by saying that it was, he would reverse the law of Moses which he always protested he would not do, because he felt that he was either too weak, or that he would be worsted in the endeavor. So he made himself more popular, by acting with impunity after the manner of Princes, who allowed the privileges of their subjects to be confirmed while their power was not well established, but who scorned their promises when they were well enthroned. III. He again skillfully avoided a trap that the Pharisees had set for him. They asked him--having in their minds thoughts which would only tend to convict him of lying--by what authority he pretended to instruct and catechise the people. Whether he replied that it was by human authority because he was not of the sacred body of Levites, or whether he boasted of preaching by the express command of God, his doctrine was contrary to the Mosaic law. To relieve this embarrassment, he availed himself of the questioners themselves by asking them in the name of whom they thought John baptized? The Pharisees, who for policy opposed the baptism by John, would be condemned themselves in avowing that it was of God. If they had not admitted it they would have been exposed to the rage of the populace, who believed the contrary. To get out of this dilemma, they replied that they knew nothing of it, to which Jesus answered that he was neither obliged to tell them why, nor in the name of whom he preached. IV.