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26._o v._o 55_o you_o lay_v no_o hold_n on_o i_o as_o for_o what_o celsus_n needless_o repeat_v i_o shall_v content_v myself_o with_o the_o answer_n which_o i_o have_v already_o give_v he_o go_v on_o and_o say_v do_v your_o pretend_a saviour_n in_o his_o life-time_n teach_v his_o doctrine_n in_o a_o most_o public_a manner_n and_o after_o his_o resurrection_n only_o appear_v to_o one_o fanatical_a woman_n or_o some_o other_o who_o belong_v to_o the_o same_o wretched_a cabal_n because_o when_o he_o be_v live_v the_o world_n have_v more_o sense_n than_o to_o give_v credit_n to_o he_o but_o every_o one_o forsooth_o must_v believe_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o resurrection_n of_o course_n but_o that_o he_o appear_v only_o to_o one_o
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raise_v some_o person_n from_o the_o dead_a as_o we_o be_v credible_o inform_v be_v no_o better_a than_o empty_a fiction_n and_o vain_a amusement_n we_o believe_v that_o our_o saviour_n do_v real_o rise_v from_o the_o dead_a as_o the_o prophet_n and_o he_o himself_o have_v foretell_v he_o shall_v and_o one_o thing_n among_o other_o that_o make_v his_o resurrection_n the_o more_o remarkable_a and_o in_o which_o it_o excel_v that_o of_o any_o other_o person_n be_v the_o follow_a consideration_n that_o he_o wa'_v raise_v from_o the_o dead_a by_o a_o prophet_n such_o as_o elijah_n or_o elisha_n be_v but_o by_o the_o immediate_a inflvence_n of_o rhe_n godhead_n hence_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o the_o happy_a effect_n of_o his_o resurrection_n be_v so_o exrraordinary_a and_o so_o general_n pray_v
enter_v upon_o a_o virtuous_a course_n of_o life_n do_v deserve_v so_o scornful_a a_o title_n as_o that_o which_o the_o jew_n bestow_v upon_o our_o holy_a religion_n celsus_n add_v with_o equal_a inadvertency_n no_o one_o say_v he_o but_o a_o mad_a man_n will_v take_v your_o saviour_n to_o be_v god_n or_o the_o son_n of_o god_n who_o instead_o of_o carry_v the_o awful_a stamp_n of_o divinity_n bear_v all_o the_o mark_n of_o infamy_n and_o disgrace_n and_o especial_o since_o this_o doctrine_n be_v entire_o build_v on_o some_o force_a and_o even_o ridiculous_a interpretation_n of_o scripture_n but_o he_o ought_v to_o produce_v some_o instance_n of_o these_o force_a interpretation_n which_o he_o talk_v of_o and_o these_o mark_n of_o infamy_n as_o he_o think_v which_o do_v so_o much_o disgust_v he_o and_o let_v we_o see_v what_o it_o be_v that_o he_o have_v to_o offer_v against_o we_o that_o so_o the_o christian_n may_v return_v he_o a_o satisfactory_a or_o at_o least_o a_o sufficient_a answer_n if_o they_o think_v the_o matter_n do_v require_v it_o he_o say_v that_o as_o the_o sun_n enlighten_v every_o thing_n by_o its_o pierce_a ray_n do_v immediate_o discover_v itself_o to_o we_o by_o the_o glorious_a light_n which_o it_o transmits_n over_o the_o whole_a sphere_n by_o turn_n so_o your_o pretend_a saviour_n have_v he_o be_v god_n or_o the_o son_n of_o god_n will_v have_v resemble_v that_o glorious_a luminary_n this_o we_o say_v believe_v know_v and_o can_v prove_v he_o do_v for_o when_o he_o come_v into_o the_o world_n or_o which_o be_v the_o same_o thing_n when_o the_o sun_n of_o righteousness_n do_v but_o begin_v to_o shine_v and_o its_o dazzle_a ray_n be_v intercept_v by_o a_o dark_a and_o sullen_a cloud_n justice_n seem_v to_o regain_v its_o native_a seat_n the_o neigh_v of_o horse_n the_o clangor_n of_o trumpet_n the_o clash_v of_o arm_n and_o the_o pierce_a groan_n of_o sick_a and_o wound_a person_n be_v hear_v no_o more_o but_o a_o wonderful_a and_o happy_a calm_v succeed_v the_o late_a dismal_a confusion_n the_o alwise_a god_n so_o order_v matter_n that_o he_o prepare_v the_o way_n for_o the_o success_n of_o the_o gospel_n by_o subject_v entire_a nation_n to_o the_o roman_a empire_n that_o so_o our_o saviour_n apostle_n may_v not_o be_v hinder_v as_o otherwise_o they_o may_v have_v be_v in_o observe_v the_o order_n which_o their_o bless_a lord_n have_v give_v they_o to_o teach_v all_o nation_n for_o how_o will_v this_o have_v be_v practicable_a i_o wo'n_v say_v easy_a to_o be_v do_v if_o people_n of_o different_a country_n have_v live_v under_o prince_n of_o their_o own_o have_v want_v a_o mutual_a and_o fair_a correspondence_n and_o have_v not_o live_v under_o the_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o roman_a emperor_n it_o be_v very_o well_o know_v that_o our_o saviour_n be_v bear_v in_o the_o reign_n of_o the_o emperor_n augustus_n who_o bring_v the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n under_o the_o roman_a yoke_n and_o make_v mankind_n almost_o as_o it_o be_v one_o body_n politic_a this_o manifest_o and_o great_o conduce_v to_o the_o spread_v of_o the_o gospel_n not_o only_o as_o it_o lay_v a_o foundation_n for_o a_o freedom_n of_o commerce_n but_o also_o as_o it_o happy_o prevent_v those_o dreadful_a war_n which_o we_o have_v reason_n to_o believe_v will_v avoidable_o have_v happen_v if_o all_o the_o nation_n of_o the_o earth_n have_v be_v unite_v under_o one_o common_a empire_n for_o before_o the_o reign_n of_o augustus_n the_o athenian_n wage_v war_n with_o the_o peloponnesian_n and_o many_o parallel_n instance_n if_o it_o be_v needful_a may_v easy_o be_v produce_v from_o history_n and_o the_o strict_a and_o most_o peaceful_a religion_n which_o the_o christian_n embrace_v will_v never_o in_o all_o probability_n have_v be_v establish_v in_o the_o world_n as_o bless_a be_v god_n it_o be_v if_o our_o saviour_n have_v be_v seasonable_o bear_v in_o a_o time_n of_o profound_a and_o universal_a tranquillity_n then_o celsus_n say_v that_o the_o christian_n be_v guilty_a of_o wretched_a sophistry_n when_o they_o have_v the_o confidence_n to_o say_v that_o he_o who_o they_o affirm_v to_o be_v the_o son_n of_o god_n be_v the_o very_a eternal_a word_n and_o he_o think_v this_o be_v unanswerable_a because_o say_v he_o instead_o of_o that_o pure_a and_o holy_a word_n which_o we_o expect_v they_o will_v give_v we_o a_o account_n of_o they_o only_o tell_v we_o of_o a_o miserable_a man_n and_o scandalous_a wretch_n that_o end_v his_o day_n upon_o a_o cross_n which_o be_v certain_o the_o most_o shameful_a as_o well_o as_o painful_a death_n that_o he_o can_v possible_o have_v sufr_v but_o this_o objection_n have_v be_v already_o answer_v and_o i_o have_v plain_o show_v that_o the_o first-born_a of_o every_o creature_n be_v please_v to_o assume_v a_o human_a body_n and_o soul_n that_o at_o the_o creation_n of_o the_o world_n god_n give_v a_o positive_a and_o strict_a command_n and_o the_o person_n who_o be_v concern_v in_o its_o honourable_a and_o speedy_a execution_n be_v no_o other_o than_o the_o live_n and_o coeternal_a word_n and_o since_o my_o business_n at_o present_a be_v to_o talk_v to_o a_o pretend_a jew_n i_o shall_v quote_v a_o passage_n out_o of_o the_o old_a testament_n viz._n he_o send_v his_o word_n psal_n 107_o v._o 20._o and_o heal_v they_o and_o deliver_v they_o from_o their_o destruction_n what_o celsus_n add_v in_o the_o person_n of_o a_o jew_n that_o if_o this_o be_v the_o word_n that_o be_v the_o son_n of_o god_n we_o hearty_o agree_v with_o you_o be_v more_o than_o i_o ever_o hear_v any_o jew_n acknowledge_v though_o i_o have_v frequent_o converse_v and_o dispute_v with_o their_o most_o celebrate_a doctor_n i_o have_v already_o prove_v that_o our_o bless_a saviour_n be_v no_o magician_n nor_o vile_a impostor_n and_o i_o do_v think_v fit_a to_o imitate_v celsus_n in_o his_o frequent_a and_o ridiculous_a tautology_n chap._n xxi_o let_v we_o see_v now_o what_o he_o have_v to_o say_v against_o the_o account_n we_o have_v of_o the_o genealogy_n of_o our_o saviour_n here_o one_o will_v think_v he_o may_v seasonable_o have_v mention_v the_o dispute_n that_o the_o christian_n themselves_o have_v often_o have_v by_o reason_n of_o the_o seem_a disagreement_n that_o there_o be_v between_o the_o several_a evangelist_n in_o this_o important_a affair_n but_o with_o all_o his_o profound_a knowledge_n of_o the_o mystery_n of_o our_o holy_a religion_n he_o hadn_v so_o much_o policy_n it_o seem_v as_o that_o will_v amount_v to_o he_o say_v this_o genealogy_n which_o it_o seem_v be_v orderly_o trace_v up_o to_o the_o repute_a parent_n of_o mankind_n and_o according_a to_o which_o your_o pretend_a saviour_n be_v of_o the_o honourable_a line_n of_o the_o jewish_a king_n be_v a_o fine_a invention_n to_o procure_v he_o great_a kindness_n and_o respect_n from_o those_o weak_a person_n who_o will_v be_v so_o credulous_a as_o to_o take_v any_o notice_n of_o he_o and_o say_v he_o it_o be_v a_o little_a odd_a indeed_o but_o the_o christian_n can_v swallow_v any_o thing_n that_o the_o carpenter_n be_v wife_n be_v descend_v from_o so_o noble_a a_o race_n and_o which_o be_v more_o unaccountable_a that_o she_o herself_o shall_v know_v nothing_o of_o the_o matter_n but_o pray_v what_o be_v this_o to_o the_o affair_n in_o hand_n suppose_v she_o be_v ignorant_a that_o she_o come_v from_o a_o noble_a family_n what_o i_o beseech_v you_o can_v you_o infer_v from_o thence_o to_o the_o prejudice_n of_o christianity_n may_v it_o not_o be_v true_a that_o she_o be_v remote_o descend_v from_o the_o common_a parent_n of_o mankind_n and_o more_o immediate_o from_o the_o king_n of_o judah_n whether_o she_o know_v it_o or_o no_o and_o perhaps_o celsus_n think_v that_o all_o the_o ancestor_n of_o a_o person_n who_o be_v oppress_v with_o poverty_n must_v of_o course_n resemble_v he_o in_o condition_n and_o that_o all_o the_o ancestor_n of_o a_o king_n do_v infallible_o attain_v to_o royal_a dignity_n but_o it_o will_v be_v loss_n of_o time_n to_o return_v a_o answer_n to_o such_o ridiculous_a discourse_n as_o this_o for_o the_o age_n in_o which_o our_o lot_n be_v cast_v will_v furnish_v we_o with_o innumerable_a instance_n of_o person_n who_o come_v of_o a_o rich_a and_o noble_a family_n and_o yet_o by_o some_o unhappy_a accident_n or_o other_o be_v soon_o reduce_v to_o a_o much_o mean_a condition_n than_o that_o of_o the_o virgin_n mary_n the_o mother_n of_o our_o bless_a lord_n and_o on_o the_o contrary_a they_o who_o outward_a circumstance_n be_v former_o very_o inconsiderable_a have_v be_v advance_v by_o some_o sudden_a and_o remarkable_a turn_v of_o providence_n to_o the_o high_a pitch_n of_o external_n grandeur_n chap._n xxii_o than_o he_o ask_v in_o his_o cavil_v way_n pray_v what_o do_v your_o