and_o transaction_n of_o his_o life_n be_v open_a and_o conspicuous_a to_o the_o world_n he_o lay_v not_o the_o scene_n of_o his_o action_n in_o a_o dark_a unknown_a or_o undiscovered_a corner_n of_o the_o earth_n but_o he_o appear_v in_o one_o of_o the_o most_o eminent_a place_n of_o all_o asia_n all_o his_o work_n be_v perform_v amid_o his_o enemy_n and_o he_o choose_v the_o jew_n the_o most_o jealous_a and_o the_o most_o prejudice_v people_n in_o the_o world_n for_o the_o eye-witness_n of_o his_o miracle_n and_o the_o companion_n of_o his_o conversation_n but_o above_o all_o jerusalem_n itself_o the_o most_o famous_a city_n at_o that_o time_n in_o that_o part_n of_o the_o world_n be_v the_o scene_n of_o his_o most_o public_a action_n there_o it_o be_v that_o he_o be_v put_v to_o death_n in_o the_o presence_n not_o only_o of_o that_o city_n but_o of_o the_o whole_a nation_n there_o it_o be_v that_o he_o rise_v from_o the_o dead_a there_o it_o be_v that_o his_o disciple_n first_o 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its_o ground_n and_o pretence_n and_o yet_o this_o story_n the_o more_o it_o be_v inquire_v into_o the_o more_o firm_o it_o be_v believe_v and_o learned_a man_n every_o where_o and_o of_o all_o persuasion_n when_o they_o come_v to_o examine_v into_o it_o can_v not_o bring_v their_o mind_n to_o any_o issue_n concern_v it_o till_o at_o length_n they_o be_v force_v to_o resign_v up_o themselves_o to_o its_o full_a belief_n i_o have_v indeed_o hear_v some_o witty_a gentleman_n as_o our_o fantastic_a age_n very_o much_o abound_v with_o such_o shrewd_a person_n compare_v the_o first_o propagation_n of_o christianity_n in_o those_o part_n of_o the_o world_n with_o that_o of_o the_o late_a growth_n and_o spread_v of_o the_o folly_n of_o quakerism_n in_o england_n than_o which_o nothing_o can_v be_v more_o enormous_o surmise_v for_o set_v aside_o a_o thousand_o other_o defect_n in_o the_o comparison_n it_o be_v notorious_a that_o that_o wild_a and_o enthusiastic_a sect_n do_v not_o set_v up_o 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same_o time_n and_o lay_v down_o their_o life_n out_o of_o that_o undoubted_a assurance_n they_o have_v of_o its_o truth_n and_o certainty_n we_o may_v now_o with_o much_o more_o reason_n doubt_n of_o what_o be_v do_v to_o his_o late_a majesty_n in_o january_n 1648._o than_o they_o can_v at_o that_o time_n of_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o apostle_n concern_v the_o passion_n and_o resurrection_n of_o jesus_n neither_o do_v the_o current_n of_o this_o tradition_n stop_v here_o in_o the_o corinthian_a church_n but_o as_o it_o come_v down_o from_o the_o first_o witness_n so_o it_o descend_v in_o the_o same_o channel_n to_o aftertime_n for_o as_o the_o apostolical_a write_n be_v own_a by_o this_o epistle_n so_o be_v this_o epistle_n by_o those_o who_o can_v not_o but_o be_v certain_a of_o its_o authority_n especial_o dionysius_n bishop_n of_o that_o church_n to_o who_o it_o be_v write_v for_o as_o saint_n clement_n epistle_n be_v write_v not_o long_o after_o the_o time_n of_o the_o 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oppose_v they_o i_o have_v account_v elsewhere_o and_o though_o i_o shall_v by_o and_o by_o make_v use_n of_o their_o authority_n and_o make_v it_o good_a too_o yet_o our_o present_a argument_n be_v not_o concern_v in_o that_o dispute_n for_o whether_o these_o epistle_n that_o at_o this_o time_n pass_v under_o his_o name_n be_v genuine_a or_o counterfeit_a it_o be_v certain_a that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o man_n and_o that_o he_o write_v such_o epistle_n and_o if_o so_o than_o he_o be_v another_o competent_a witness_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o apostolical_a testimony_n and_o his_o great_a sense_n of_o immortality_n and_o earnest_a desire_n of_o martyrdom_n show_v his_o great_a assurance_n of_o our_o saviour_n resurrection_n upon_o which_o they_o be_v found_v so_o that_o he_o be_v another_o undoubted_a witness_n of_o the_o apostolical_a tradition_n viz._n that_o the_o christian_a faith_n descend_v from_o the_o apostle_n and_o that_o they_o give_v that_o proof_n of_o their_o testimony_n that_o be_v record_v of_o they_o in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n and_o by_o his_o testimony_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o all_o that_o christianity_n pretend_v to_o be_v the_o tradition_n of_o the_o apostle_n connect_v with_o the_o certain_a history_n of_o aftertime_n so_o as_o to_o leave_v no_o dark_a and_o unknown_a interval_n wherein_o the_o story_n pretend_v to_o have_v be_v former_o act_v by_o the_o apostle_n may_v have_v be_v first_o obtrude_v upon_o the_o world_n but_o on_o the_o contrary_a to_o make_v it_o undeniable_o evident_a that_o there_o can_v never_o have_v be_v any_o such_o story_n have_v it_o not_o first_o descend_v from_o the_o apostle_n but_o though_o this_o be_v enough_o to_o my_o purpose_n for_o attest_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o apostolical_a history_n by_o such_o a_o near_a and_o immediate_a witness_n to_o make_v the_o tradition_n of_o the_o church_n certain_a and_o uninterrupted_a yet_o i_o will_v not_o wave_v that_o advantage_n that_o i_o have_v from_o this_o glorious_a martyr_n epistle_n because_o they_o breathe_v so_o much_o the_o genuine_a spirit_n of_o the_o ancient_a christianity_n especial_o as_o to_o the_o undoubted_a assurance_n of_o a_o future_a immortality_n which_o show_v what_o mighty_a satisfaction_n they_o have_v of_o the_o reality_n of_o the_o thing_n that_o they_o so_o firm_o believe_v and_o so_o vehement_o desire_v and_o as_o for_o the_o epistle_n themselves_o they_o be_v so_o strong_o and_o unanimous_o attest_v by_o the_o record_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n that_o they_o have_v never_o be_v so_o much_o as_o question_v but_o for_o their_o resolute_a opposition_n to_o some_o mens_fw-la prejudices_fw-la for_o they_o be_v resolve_v in_o their_o own_o innovation_n of_o church-government_n contrary_n to_o that_o of_o the_o apostolical_a and_o primitive_a constitution_n which_o these_o epistle_n so_o zealous_o assert_v and_o that_o as_o establish_v by_o the_o command_n of_o god_n and_o thereby_o make_v necessary_a to_o the_o peace_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n they_o have_v no_o way_n leave_v but_o stubborn_o i_o ought_v to_o have_v say_v impudent_o to_o reject_v their_o authority_n but_o alas_o that_o be_v so_o admirable_o vouch_v as_o if_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n have_v purposely_o design_v to_o secure_v their_o credit_n for_o ever_o and_o particular_o in_o the_o first_o place_n by_o his_o friend_n policarp_n who_o send_v a_o copy_n of_o they_o to_o the_o church_n of_o philippi_n with_o a_o letter_n of_o his_o own_o now_o policarp'_v epistle_n be_v never_o question_v nay_o it_o be_v for_o some_o hundred_o year_n after_o public_o read_v in_o the_o church_n of_o asia_n how_o then_o be_v it_o possible_a to_o avoid_v so_o clear_a and_o certain_a a_o testimony_n as_o this_o they_o have_v no_o other_o way_n but_o only_o by_o say_v that_o this_o particular_a passage_n be_v foist_v in_o without_o any_o shadow_n of_o ground_n for_o the_o surmise_n nay_o contrary_a to_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o mankind_n that_o a_o epistle_n so_o universal_o know_v to_o the_o learned_a and_o the_o unlearned_a shall_v be_v so_o easy_o corrupt_v and_o the_o corruption_n never_o take_v notice_n of_o and_o when_o this_o counterfeit_a passage_n be_v thrust_v into_o it_o contrary_a to_o the_o faith_n of_o all_o the_o public_a book_n it_o shall_v pass_v down_o uncontrolled_a and_o unquestioned_a to_o all_o after-age_n nay_o far_o if_o it_o be_v forge_v it_o must_v have_v be_v before_o the_o time_n of_o eusebius_n who_o give_v a_o account_n of_o it_o and_o believe_v it_o genuine_a and_o yet_o himself_o affirm_v that_o it_o be_v at_o his_o time_n public_o read_v in_o church_n as_o saint_n jerome_n afterward_o that_o it_o be_v in_o he_o now_o it_o be_v a_o very_a probable_a thing_n that_o eusebius_n will_v be_v impose_v upon_o by_o one_o private_a copy_n contrary_a to_o the_o faith_n of_o all_o the_o public_a book_n or_o that_o he_o shall_v impose_v the_o mistake_n upon_o all_o that_o follow_v he_o 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vigorous_a in_o their_o resolution_n can_v you_o think_v all_o this_o come_v to_o pass_v slight_o and_o by_o chance_n that_o man_n do_v not_o consider_v what_o they_o be_v about_o when_o they_o die_v for_o their_o religion_n that_o there_o be_v a_o conspiracy_n of_o sot_n and_o madman_n all_o the_o world_n over_o to_o undo_v themselves_o and_o throw_v away_o their_o life_n without_o so_o much_o as_o think_v what_o they_o be_v do_v it_o be_v endless_a to_o heap_v up_o all_o the_o testimony_n that_o may_v be_v collect_v out_o of_o the_o primitive_a writer_n upon_o this_o argument_n when_o it_o be_v so_o know_v and_o confess_v a_o thing_n even_o by_o the_o enemy_n of_o the_o religion_n so_o that_o this_o be_v the_o ground_n of_o pliny_n letter_n to_o the_o emperor_n concern_v the_o christian_n the_o multitude_n of_o person_n of_o all_o condition_n which_o he_o say_v be_v so_o great_a that_o the_o temple_n and_o sacrifice_n be_v almost_o utter_o forsake_v and_o tacitus_n tell_v we_o of_o 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earth_n be_v at_o the_o great_a festival_n of_o pentecost_n when_o proselyte_n of_o all_o nation_n resort_v to_o jerusalem_n to_o who_o they_o preach_v in_o their_o several_a language_n and_o this_o be_v noise_v abroad_o that_o a_o few_o illiterate_a fisherman_n be_v all_o on_o a_o sudden_a inspire_v with_o the_o gift_n of_o speak_v all_o the_o language_n of_o the_o know_a and_o habitable_a world_n curiosity_n bring_v great_a multitude_n to_o hear_v they_o and_o when_o the_o multitude_n be_v convince_v of_o and_o amaze_v at_o the_o miracle_n than_o be_v it_o a_o proper_a time_n for_o saint_n peter_n to_o begin_v his_o sermon_n of_o the_o resurrection_n of_o jesus_n and_o prove_v it_o by_o their_o own_o testimony_n this_o jesus_n have_v god_n 32._o raise_v up_o whereof_o we_o be_v all_o witness_n that_o be_v we_o that_o be_v as_o you_o see_v endue_v with_o this_o miraculous_a gift_n of_o speak_v all_o language_n in_o order_n to_o our_o preach_n in_o the_o name_n of_o jesus_n to_o all_o 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authority_n in_o the_o next_o place_n the_o emperor_n julian_n do_v not_o deny_v but_o diminish_v the_o wonder_n of_o our_o saviour_n miracle_n in_o that_o there_o be_v nothing_o so_o very_o remarkable_a record_v of_o he_o unless_o to_o cure_v the_o lame_a and_o the_o blind_a and_o to_o cast_v out_o devil_n in_o the_o town_n of_o galilee_n may_v be_v reckon_v among_o the_o work_n of_o great_a magnificence_n but_o this_o be_v object_v rather_o like_o a_o emperor_n than_o a_o philosopher_n for_o as_o huetius_n 2._o very_o well_o reply_v to_o it_o it_o be_v the_o great_a work_n of_o ambitious_a prince_n to_o raise_v army_n to_o dispeople_v nation_n to_o erect_v prodigious_a building_n here_o to_o demolish_v a_o great_a city_n and_o there_o to_o re-edify_v a_o great_a but_o alas_o these_o be_v work_n within_o the_o power_n of_o art_n and_o nature_n and_o be_v to_o be_v wrought_v out_o by_o the_o wit_n or_o the_o industry_n of_o man_n whereas_o those_o that_o be_v wrought_v by_o jesus_n 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press_v hard_o he_o still_o take_v shelter_n in_o one_o of_o these_o evasion_n and_o for_o that_o reason_n we_o can_v avoid_v to_o take_v notice_n of_o they_o and_o first_o as_o for_o the_o pretence_n of_o magic_n it_o be_v own_o vanity_n be_v its_o own_o confutation_n for_o if_o he_o be_v such_o a_o magician_n as_o be_v pretend_v 6._o then_o either_o himself_o be_v the_o first_o inventour_n and_o master_n of_o his_o own_o art_n or_o he_o learn_v it_o from_o other_o if_o he_o have_v no_o teacher_n and_o yet_o acquire_v the_o skill_n of_o do_v thing_n so_o extraordinary_a that_o alone_o seem_v something_o divine_a and_o wonderful_a that_o a_o young_a man_n without_o learning_n without_o book_n without_o tutor_n without_o instruction_n shall_v by_o the_o strength_n of_o his_o own_o faculty_n arrive_v to_o a_o high_a degree_n of_o knowledge_n than_o all_o the_o learned_a man_n in_o the_o world_n beside_o for_o it_o can_v be_v deny_v that_o the_o action_n record_v of_o he_o infinite_o 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believe_v that_o any_o thing_n less_o than_o a_o divine_a power_n can_v with_o a_o word_n speak_v cure_n all_o manner_n of_o disease_n give_v sight_n to_o man_n bear_v blind_a recover_v die_a person_n at_o a_o distance_n and_o raise_v the_o dead_a themselves_o to_o ascribe_v such_o action_n as_o these_o mere_o to_o magic_n be_v a_o conceit_n so_o utter_o extravagant_a that_o it_o be_v a_o affront_n to_o the_o understanding_n of_o mankind_n at_o least_o at_o this_o time_n to_o think_v it_o need_v any_o other_o confutation_n beside_o its_o own_o impossibility_n though_o if_o any_o man_n will_v be_v so_o humoursom_o credulous_a in_o his_o infidelity_n as_o to_o pretend_v some_o such_o suspicion_n i_o shall_v only_o refer_v he_o to_o a_o smart_a discourse_n of_o 1._o arnobius_n in_o answer_n to_o it_o who_o first_o pursue_v all_o our_o saviour_n miraculous_a action_n and_o the_o manner_n of_o their_o performance_n and_o then_o appeal_v to_o the_o common_a sense_n of_o mankind_n concern_v 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saviour_n have_v leave_v the_o world_n a_o considerable_a time_n before_o paul_n become_v his_o disciple_n but_o beside_o that_o the_o story_n be_v altogether_o groundless_a and_o without_o proof_n and_o if_o it_o be_v not_o yet_o it_o confute_v itself_o by_o its_o own_o silliness_n and_o absurdity_n viz._n that_o the_o apostle_n shall_v learn_v to_o do_v those_o thing_n that_o they_o do_v by_o rule_n of_o art_n but_o either_o these_o man_n that_o tell_v we_o of_o this_o magic_a book_n have_v see_v it_o or_o they_o have_v not_o if_o they_o have_v not_o they_o speak_v at_o random_n if_o they_o have_v why_o be_v they_o not_o able_a to_o do_v the_o same_o thing_n themselves_o why_o do_v they_o not_o cure_v their_o sick_a friend_n or_o conjure_v they_o out_o of_o their_o grave_n as_o for_o the_o fable_n of_o the_o jew_n that_o our_o saviour_n have_v steal_v out_o of_o the_o temple_n the_o shem_n hamporash_n or_o the_o name_n of_o god_n write_v in_o its_o proper_a character_n which_o they_o say_v it_o be_v not_o lawful_a for_o they_o vulgar_o to_o do_v and_o by_o virtue_n of_o that_o be_v enable_v to_o work_v all_o kind_n of_o miracle_n it_o be_v a_o fable_n so_o very_o despicable_a that_o i_o be_o ashamed_a to_o repeat_v it_o and_o therefore_o much_o more_o scorn_n to_o confute_v it_o §_o xxvi_o their_o next_o evasion_n to_o this_o argument_n be_v to_o vie_v other_o story_n with_o that_o of_o our_o saviour_n and_o his_o apostle_n and_o thereby_o to_o abate_v either_o their_o wonder_n or_o their_o credit_n and_o this_o they_o chief_o do_v as_o to_o the_o resurrection_n especial_o celsus_n who_o 2._o have_v in_o this_o point_n more_o than_o any_o other_o show_v the_o strength_n of_o his_o malice_n and_o the_o weakness_n of_o his_o cause_n and_o he_o