frequent_o be_v upon_o the_o account_n of_o their_o goodness_n notwithstanding_o all_o that_o care_n god_n have_v take_v of_o they_o in_o this_o world_n the_o most_o miserable_a from_o whence_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o either_o there_o be_v no_o providence_n which_o i_o have_v already_o prove_v and_o therefore_o now_o suppose_v or_o if_o there_o be_v that_o upon_o that_o supposition_n there_o be_v the_o same_o certainty_n of_o a_o future_a state_n as_o there_o be_v of_o the_o be_v and_o providence_n of_o a_o deity_n so_o that_o whoever_o deny_v one_o must_v be_v force_v to_o disavow_v both_o which_o i_o now_o undertake_v to_o prove_v from_o the_o forementioned_a principle_n first_o that_o without_o a_o future_a state_n mankind_n be_v utter_o uncapable_a of_o happiness_n and_o for_o the_o more_o convince_a demonstration_n hereof_o i_o shall_v consider_v the_o most_o famous_a opinion_n of_o happiness_n among_o the_o philosopher_n and_o that_o i_o may_v the_o more_o easy_o do_v because_o they_o be_v not_o so_o many_o as_o some_o man_n will_v persuade_v we_o they_o be_v for_o as_o for_o the_o know_v and_o common_a citation_n out_o of_o varro_n insist_v upon_o and_o if_o true_a just_o upbraid_v by_o saint_n austin_n of_o their_o be_v divide_v into_o 288_o different_a sect_n and_o opinion_n it_o be_v obvious_a enough_o that_o this_o be_v but_o a_o crude_a and_o injudicious_a collection_n for_o if_o we_o impartial_o consider_v those_o various_a instance_n more_o distinct_o record_v or_o collect_v by_o other_o author_n we_o shall_v find_v they_o either_o so_o many_o difference_n of_o word_n and_o not_o of_o conceit_n or_o else_o motto_n and_o little_a say_n according_a to_o the_o fashion_n and_o affectation_n of_o the_o greek_n rather_o to_o express_v their_o own_o fancy_n and_o peculiar_a humour_n than_o their_o serious_a and_o philosophical_a account_n of_o thing_n and_o it_o be_v obvious_a that_o all_o their_o discourse_n about_o it_o relate_v either_o to_o the_o general_a and_o abstract_a notion_n of_o it_o or_o to_o the_o cause_n and_o object_n that_o produce_v it_o as_o for_o the_o first_o it_o must_v be_v confess_v that_o they_o describe_v it_o by_o a_o infinite_a variety_n of_o expression_n but_o as_o for_o the_o thing_n productive_a of_o it_o there_o neither_o be_v nor_o can_v be_v more_o than_o those_o three_o famous_a opinion_n that_o place_n it_o either_o in_o pleasure_n only_o or_o in_o virtue_n only_o or_o in_o both_o together_o with_o the_o good_n of_o fortune_n to_o which_o all_o other_o subdivide_v sect_n how_o numerous_a soever_o be_v easy_o reducible_a and_o here_o that_o i_o may_v represent_v they_o to_o the_o best_a advantage_n i_o shall_v chief_o consider_v they_o as_o they_o be_v discourse_v of_o and_o account_v for_o by_o tully_n himself_o because_o of_o all_o man_n of_o all_o age_n he_o be_v most_o able_a to_o set_v they_o out_o with_o all_o the_o beauty_n of_o wit_n and_o force_v of_o reason_n and_o according_o have_v in_o those_o admirable_a book_n of_o his_o about_o the_o end_v of_o good_a and_o evil_a and_o his_o tusculan_a question_n discharge_v this_o noble_a argument_n as_o become_v himself_o i._n e._n with_o all_o the_o possible_a advantage_n of_o wit_n and_o reason_n insomuch_o as_o if_o i_o may_v presume_v to_o judge_v so_o much_o and_o yet_o the_o case_n be_v so_o plain_a that_o it_o need_v no_o presumption_n all_o the_o other_o discourse_n beside_o upon_o the_o same_o subject_n be_v not_o to_o be_v compare_v either_o for_o use_v or_o delight_n to_o these_o two_o treatise_n for_o as_o he_o have_v omit_v nothing_o that_o be_v either_o plausible_a or_o pertinent_a to_o his_o argument_n so_o have_v he_o recommend_v his_o notion_n with_o a_o singular_a and_o unimitable_a force_n of_o expression_n for_o though_o possible_o other_o and_o yet_o if_o any_o very_o few_o may_v have_v equal_v he_o in_o philosophic_a skill_n and_o knowledge_n yet_o all_o the_o world_n fall_v short_a of_o he_o in_o his_o miraculous_a art_n of_o eloquence_n and_o so_o i_o call_v it_o in_o that_o it_o look_v like_o more_o than_o a_o prodigy_n that_o one_o man_n shall_v so_o strange_o excel_v all_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n and_o stand_v alone_o as_o it_o be_v a_o be_v of_o a_o superior_a order_n insomuch_o that_o when_o all_o the_o great_a wit_n of_o all_o age_n since_o have_v swell_v and_o labour_v to_o rival_n his_o glory_n he_o have_v be_v so_o far_o from_o have_v a_o equal_a that_o he_o never_o yet_o have_v one_o that_o can_v attain_v the_o honour_n of_o be_v his_o second_o but_o still_o after_o all_o their_o utmost_a endeavour_n they_o appear_v no_o more_o than_o the_o toad_n to_o the_o ox_n or_o the_o star_n to_o the_o sun_n and_o therefore_o in_o my_o follow_a discourse_n i_o shall_v in_o the_o first_o place_n confine_v myself_o to_o a_o strict_a and_o more_o particular_a examination_n of_o his_o performance_n though_o under_o he_o i_o shall_v take_v a_o occasion_n to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o several_a endeavour_n of_o other_o valuable_a author_n upon_o the_o same_o argument_n §_o xvii_o first_o then_o as_o for_o the_o epicurean_a hypothesis_n with_o which_o he_o begin_v he_o have_v indeed_o do_v we_o that_o kindness_n as_o in_o part_n to_o show_v we_o its_o insufficiency_n but_o then_o himself_o have_v not_o be_v able_a to_o direct_v we_o to_o a_o better_a and_o all_o the_o instruction_n he_o have_v give_v we_o afterward_o for_o the_o obtain_n of_o happiness_n be_v chief_o borrow_v from_o the_o canon_n of_o epicurus_n neither_o indeed_o be_v it_o possible_a to_o be_v otherwise_o for_o how_o various_o soever_o man_n may_v delight_v to_o amuse_v themselves_o with_o their_o own_o particular_a fancy_n and_o hypothesis_n there_o be_v no_o more_o than_o two_o real_a account_n of_o the_o state_n of_o humane_a nature_n either_o that_o which_o suppose_v immortality_n or_o that_o which_o do_v not_o so_o that_o the_o supposition_n of_o immortality_n be_v take_v away_o all_o the_o other_o account_n of_o happiness_n can_v amount_v to_o no_o more_o than_o that_o of_o epicurus_n place_v it_o in_o the_o pleasure_n of_o this_o life_n alone_o and_o yet_o for_o the_o full_a demonstration_n of_o the_o thing_n i_o shall_v consider_v they_o single_o that_o thereby_o it_o may_v appear_v how_o plain_o defective_a all_o the_o various_a art_n and_o method_n of_o philosophy_n be_v without_o our_o supposition_n and_o as_o for_o epicurus_n the_o question_n between_o he_o and_o his_o adversary_n be_v whether_o pleasure_n be_v the_o sovereign_n good_a in_o answer_n to_o which_o our_o author_n discourse_n consist_v of_o two_o part_n first_o to_o settle_v the_o right_a notion_n and_o definition_n of_o pleasure_n second_o to_o prove_v that_o this_o one_o principle_n blow_v up_o all_o the_o foundation_n of_o justice_n virtue_n and_o honesty_n as_o for_o the_o first_o i_o shall_v not_o much_o concern_v myself_o about_o the_o grammatical_a signification_n of_o the_o word_n pleasure_n for_o i_o must_v confess_v that_o both_o epicurus_n and_o his_o follower_n be_v by_o many_o author_n too_o crude_o revile_v in_o general_a term_n for_o place_v our_o sovereign_a happiness_n in_o pleasure_n when_o it_o be_v so_o very_o clear_a that_o they_o be_v but_o equivalent_a term_n to_o express_v the_o same_o thing_n for_o by_o pleasure_n all_o man_n mean_v that_o content_n and_o satisfaction_n that_o be_v agreeable_a and_o proper_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o any_o be_v so_o that_o when_o it_o enjoy_v and_o possess_v all_o those_o object_n of_o delight_n that_o be_v suitable_a or_o adequate_a to_o its_o respective_a capacity_n it_o be_v then_o in_o all_o man_n account_n arrive_v at_o the_o state_n of_o its_o perfect_a happiness_n or_o full_a contentment_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v but_o a_o idle_a and_o needless_a dispute_n between_o they_o and_o the_o stoic_n whether_o pleasure_n or_o virtue_n be_v the_o supreme_a good_n for_o whatsoever_o may_v be_v the_o reason_n of_o the_o goodness_n of_o virtue_n yet_o the_o reason_n of_o our_o choice_n must_v in_o the_o last_o account_n of_o thing_n be_v resolve_v into_o its_o subserviency_n to_o our_o delight_n and_o satisfaction_n and_o if_o moral_a goodness_n be_v as_o it_o be_v our_o supreme_a felicity_n it_o be_v so_o because_o it_o be_v most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o perfection_n of_o our_o nature_n and_o most_o conducive_a to_o the_o quiet_a and_o satisfaction_n of_o our_o mind_n for_o it_o be_v a_o contradiction_n to_o the_o nature_n of_o create_a being_n too_o act_n without_o any_o regard_n to_o some_o self-end_n unless_o we_o can_v suppose_v they_o devest_v of_o self-love_n than_o which_o no_o supposition_n be_v or_o can_v be_v more_o impossible_a and_o therefore_o this_o as_o it_o be_v not_o a_o reasonable_a so_o neither_o be_v it_o the_o proper_a ground_n of_o exception_n against_o the_o epicurean_a philosophy_n but_o its_o mischief_n
be_v write_v by_o the_o first_o author_n of_o the_o sect_n and_o that_o they_o can_v be_v none_o other_o be_v plain_a enough_o because_o there_o be_v no_o other_o book_n beside_o those_o of_o the_o old_a testament_n peculiar_a to_o any_o sect_n among_o the_o jew_n but_o in_o the_o next_o place_n it_o be_v object_v that_o philo_n affirm_v that_o his_o therapeutic_a sect_n pray_v only_o twice_o a_o day_n whereas_o it_o be_v very_o well_o know_v that_o the_o primitive_a christian_n have_v their_o several_a other_o hour_n of_o prayer_n yes_o and_o so_o they_o may_v have_v and_o philo_n not_o know_v it_o however_o their_o most_o solemn_a season_n be_v morning_n and_o evening_n prayer_n when_o as_o philo_z tell_v we_o they_o resort_v to_o their_o consecrate_a chapel_n and_o that_o be_v their_o public_a devotion_n he_o therefore_o take_v notice_n of_o that_o alone_a whereas_o their_o other_o hour_n of_o prayer_n be_v rather_o set_v apart_o for_o private_a devotion_n which_o be_v more_o or_o less_o frequent_a according_a to_o the_o zeal_n of_o the_o votary_n but_o philo_n say_v he_o affirm_v that_o this_o sect_n compose_v hymn_n and_o those_o in_o various_a measure_n and_o yet_o this_o custom_n be_v very_o well_o know_v not_o to_o have_v be_v use_v in_o the_o christian_a church_n till_o after_o the_o reign_n of_o the_o antonine_n it_o may_v be_v so_o in_o the_o greek_a and_o latin_a church_n but_o in_o a_o church_n pure_o jewish_n as_o it_o be_v certain_a this_o be_v and_o be_v so_o agree_v to_o have_v be_v by_o all_o hand_n this_o custom_n be_v use_v from_o the_o beginning_n neither_o be_v it_o any_o new_a invention_n of_o the_o christian_n but_o continue_v by_o they_o in_o imitation_n of_o the_o ancient_a jewish_a church_n but_o last_o say_v he_o the_o man_n of_o this_o sect_n according_a to_o philo_n description_n be_v very_o numerous_a and_o scatter_v all_o the_o world_n over_o whereas_o at_o that_o time_n there_o be_v but_o a_o very_a small_a number_n of_o christian_n and_o it_o must_v be_v confess_v that_o so_o they_o be_v if_o compare_v either_o to_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n at_o that_o time_n or_o to_o their_o own_o multitude_n in_o after-age_n and_o yet_o their_o number_n be_v very_o great_a if_o consider_v as_o they_o be_v by_o philo_n as_o a_o philosophic_a sect_n and_o so_o at_o that_o time_n christianity_n be_v more_o observable_a than_o any_o other_o sect_n spread_v every_o where_o so_o fast_o and_o wherever_o it_o come_v prevail_v so_o much_o but_o if_o this_o great_a and_o famous_a sect_n that_o philo_n speak_v of_o be_v not_o christian_n our_o learned_a author_n will_v have_v do_v very_o well_o to_o consider_v how_o it_o be_v possible_a that_o such_o a_o peculiar_a sect_n of_o man_n shall_v at_o that_o time_n have_v be_v disperse_v through_o all_o part_n of_o the_o habitable_a world_n and_o never_o be_v so_o much_o as_o take_v notice_n of_o by_o any_o writer_n of_o that_o age_n but_o only_o in_o this_o little_a pamphlet_n of_o philo._n at_o least_o consider_v the_o exact_a agreement_n of_o the_o description_n itself_o to_o the_o christian_n and_o the_o utter_a silence_n about_o any_o other_o sect_n to_o which_o it_o may_v agree_v that_o seem_v to_o i_o no_o less_o than_o a_o demonstrative_a proof_n that_o it_o must_v be_v intend_v of_o they_o and_o of_o they_o alone_o and_o beside_o the_o evidence_n of_o the_o thing_n itself_o the_o reason_n of_o the_o name_n be_v obvious_a enough_o for_o though_o as_o eusebius_n say_v it_o be_v not_o much_o material_a to_o inquire_v whether_o philo_n himself_o coin_v this_o name_n as_o most_o agree_v with_o the_o manner_n of_o the_o person_n that_o he_o describe_v or_o whether_o the_o christian_n may_v not_o have_v that_o name_v give_v they_o in_o that_o place_n from_o the_o beginning_n the_o name_n of_o christian_n not_o be_v then_o use_v in_o all_o place_n yet_o it_o be_v but_o a_o synonymous_a word_n with_o that_o of_o christian_n especial_o when_o turn_v out_o of_o the_o hebrew_n into_o greek_a for_o the_o word_n jesus_n indifferent_o signify_v either_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d saviour_n or_o healer_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v easy_a for_o philo_n who_o be_v a_o hebrew-greek_a to_o interpret_v it_o by_o the_o name_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o healer_n especial_o consider_v its_o near_a affinity_n both_o in_o sound_n and_o signification_n to_o the_o word_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d to_o heal_v so_o that_o the_o meaning_n of_o the_o appellation_n be_v that_o they_o be_v the_o follower_n of_o jesus_n i._n e._n the_o healer_n and_o thus_o have_v recover_v this_o ancient_a church_n from_o the_o perverseness_n of_o learned_a man_n i_o shall_v conclude_v this_o argument_n with_o a_o excellent_a passage_n of_o irenaeus_n a_o very_a early_a writer_n in_o these_o western_a 3._o part_n of_o the_o world_n though_o say_v he_o there_o be_v a_o vast_a variety_n of_o language_n in_o the_o world_n yet_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n be_v one_o and_o the_o same_o in_o all_o place_n in_o germany_n in_o spain_n in_o france_n in_o the_o east_n in_o egypt_n in_o lybia_n in_o the_o remote_a as_o well_o as_o in_o the_o middle_a part_n of_o the_o world_n and_o as_o there_o be_v but_o one_o sun_n in_o the_o universe_n so_o be_v all_o man_n every_o where_o that_o be_v dispose_v enlighten_v by_o the_o same_o truth_n of_o the_o unity_n of_o this_o tradition_n i_o shall_v discourse_v in_o its_o proper_a place_n at_o present_a it_o be_v enough_o to_o our_o purpose_n that_o we_o have_v from_o hence_o a_o very_a early_a testimony_n of_o its_o universality_n §_o xix_o this_o then_o be_v so_o that_o the_o christian_a religion_n prevail_v as_o never_o doctrine_n do_v let_v we_o a_o little_a consider_v what_o extraordinary_a advantage_n it_o have_v to_o recommend_v itself_o to_o the_o good_a opinion_n of_o mankind_n and_o here_o it_o be_v at_o first_o view_v apparent_a that_o it_o labour_v under_o all_o the_o possible_a disadvantage_n in_o the_o world_n except_v only_o its_o own_o naked_a and_o unassisted_a truth_n so_o that_o have_v it_o not_o be_v for_o that_o undeniable_a evidence_n of_o proof_n that_o it_o bring_v along_o with_o it_o of_o its_o divine_a authority_n it_o be_v impossible_a it_o shall_v ever_o have_v gain_v one_o proselyte_n over_o to_o its_o belief_n and_o here_o the_o first_o thing_n to_o be_v consider_v be_v that_o the_o whole_a frame_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n be_v build_v upon_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n and_o that_o in_o itself_o so_o incredible_a that_o it_o can_v not_o have_v be_v believe_v have_v it_o not_o be_v vouch_v by_o some_o testimony_n so_o unquestionable_a as_o to_o surmount_v its_o own_o incredibility_n for_o the_o story_n be_v plain_o this_o that_o under_o the_o prefectship_n of_o pontius_n pilate_n there_o be_v a_o poor_a young_a man_n in_o judaea_n of_o mean_a birth_n and_o no_o education_n who_o pretend_v to_o be_v send_v from_o god_n to_o cancel_v that_o law_n which_o god_n himself_o have_v establish_v by_o moses_n to_o reform_v all_o the_o world_n to_o bring_v in_o a_o more_o perfect_a rule_n of_o life_n and_o a_o more_o excellent_a way_n of_o worship_n and_o that_o for_o a_o proof_n of_o his_o commission_n he_o pretend_v to_o a_o power_n of_o work_a miracle_n and_o often_o cure_v the_o blind_a the_o lame_a the_o leprous_a and_o sometime_o raise_v the_o dead_a but_o by_o this_o mean_n draw_v great_a multitude_n after_o he_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o jewish_a state_n grow_v jealous_a of_o his_o design_n and_o so_o apprehend_v he_o as_o a_o disturber_n of_o the_o public_a peace_n and_o a_o enemy_n to_o the_o establish_a religion_n and_o for_o those_o crime_n condemn_v he_o to_o the_o ignominious_a death_n of_o the_o cross_n and_o that_o they_o take_v care_n that_o he_o shall_v suffer_v with_o all_o the_o aggravation_n of_o shame_n and_o disgrace_n in_o sight_n of_o all_o the_o people_n of_o jerusalem_n and_o yet_o notwithstanding_o that_o his_o heartblood_n be_v let_v out_o with_o a_o spear_n whilst_o he_o be_v hang_v upon_o the_o cross_n he_o rise_v again_o the_o three_o day_n converse_v familiar_o with_o his_o disciple_n and_o at_o last_o in_o the_o presence_n of_o great_a number_n of_o they_o ascend_v up_o into_o heaven_n now_o this_o story_n be_v in_o itself_o so_o strange_a and_o prodigious_a so_o without_o precedent_n so_o full_a of_o appear_v inconsistency_n so_o contrary_a to_o the_o prejudices_fw-la of_o the_o jew_n and_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o greek_n and_o withal_o so_o public_a and_o so_o notorious_a that_o if_o it_o have_v not_o be_v certain_o true_a it_o can_v never_o have_v be_v believe_v and_o if_o it_o have_v be_v false_a must_v have_v be_v demonstrative_o confute_v for_o the_o passage_n
affirm_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d that_o he_o quite_o vanish_v away_o at_o last_o he_o only_o say_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d that_o he_o go_v away_o and_o this_o though_o he_o will_v seem_v to_o affirm_v that_o it_o be_v after_o a_o wonderful_a manner_n and_o no_o body_n know_v how_o be_v a_o pitiful_a abatement_n to_o the_o bigness_n of_o his_o former_a expression_n vanish_v away_o though_o the_o truth_n be_v if_o he_o have_v stand_v to_o it_o it_o must_v unavoidable_o have_v prove_v itself_o a_o lie_n for_o it_o be_v utter_o incredible_a that_o so_o strange_a a_o thing_n as_o that_o shall_v have_v be_v do_v in_o so_o great_a a_o presence_n as_o that_o and_o yet_o never_o any_o notice_n be_v take_v of_o it_o but_o in_o the_o last_o place_n the_o historian_n will_v fain_o bid_v at_o something_o of_o his_o hero_n appear_v after_o death_n yet_o he_o do_v it_o so_o faint_o that_o in_o the_o conclusion_n of_o all_o it_o come_v to_o nothing_o especial_o when_o he_o tell_v we_o that_o the_o time_n of_o his_o death_n be_v altogether_o unknown_a and_o that_o the_o uncertainty_n of_o it_o take_v in_o no_o less_o than_o the_o compass_n of_o thirty_o year_n and_o then_o they_o that_o be_v so_o utter_o at_o a_o loss_n as_o to_o the_o time_n of_o his_o decease_n and_o that_o for_o so_o long_a a_o space_n be_v likely_a to_o give_v a_o very_a wise_a account_n of_o the_o certain_a time_n of_o any_o thing_n that_o he_o do_v after_o it_o but_o how_o or_o to_o who_o do_v he_o appear_v 13._o why_o to_o a_o young_a man_n one_o of_o his_o follower_n that_o doubt_v of_o the_o immortality_n of_o the_o soul_n for_o ten_o month_n together_o after_o his_o death_n but_o how_o or_o where_o why_o the_o young_a man_n be_v tire_v with_o watch_v and_o pray_v to_o apollonius_n that_o he_o will_v appear_v to_o he_o only_o to_o satisfy_v he_o in_o this_o point_n one_o day_n fall_v into_o a_o dead_a sleep_n in_o the_o school_n where_o the_o young_a man_n be_v perform_v their_o several_a exercise_n and_o on_o the_o sudden_a start_n up_o in_o a_o great_a fright_n and_o a_o great_a sweat_n cry_v out_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d i_o believe_v thou_o o_o tyanaeus_n and_o be_v ask_v by_o his_o companion_n the_o meaning_n of_o his_o transport_n why_o say_v he_o do_v you_o not_o see_v apollonius_n they_o answer_v he_o no_o but_o that_o they_o will_v be_v glad_a to_o give_v all_o the_o world_n that_o they_o can_v it_o be_v true_a say_v he_o for_o he_o only_o appear_v to_o i_o and_o for_o my_o satisfaction_n and_o be_v invisible_a to_o all_o other_o and_o so_o tell_v they_o what_o he_o have_v say_v to_o he_o in_o his_o sleep_n concern_v the_o state_n of_o soul_n this_o poor_a account_n of_o a_o dream_n and_o a_o vision_n of_o a_o over-watched_n boy_n be_v all_o that_o this_o great_a story_n afford_v to_o vie_v with_o our_o saviour_n resurrection_n and_o now_o upon_o review_n of_o this_o whole_a history_n it_o seem_v evident_a to_o i_o that_o this_o man_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v endue_v with_o any_o extraordinary_a or_o divine_a power_n that_o he_o do_v not_o deserve_v the_o reputation_n of_o a_o ordinary_a conjurer_n for_o though_o huetius_n have_v take_v some_o pain_n to_o prove_v he_o so_o yet_o he_o give_v no_o evidence_n of_o it_o beside_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o common_a people_n and_o if_o that_o be_v enough_o to_o make_v a_o conjurer_n there_o be_v no_o man_n of_o a_o odd_a and_o a_o singular_a humour_n as_o apollonius_n affect_v to_o be_v who_o be_v not_o so_o think_v of_o by_o the_o common_a people_n and_o therefore_o when_o he_o be_v accuse_v for_o it_o before_o domitian_n the_o emperor_n when_o he_o come_v to_o hear_v the_o cause_n slight_v both_o he_o and_o his_o accuser_n and_o dismiss_v he_o the_o court_n for_o a_o idle_a and_o fantastic_a fellow_n and_o it_o be_v manifest_a from_o the_o whole_a series_n of_o his_o history_n that_o he_o be_v a_o very_a vain_a man_n and_o affect_v to_o be_v think_v something_o extraordinary_a and_o so_o wander_v all_o the_o world_n over_o in_o a_o odd_a garb_n to_o be_v gaze_v at_o and_o admire_v and_o make_v himself_o considerable_a in_o that_o age_n by_o wit_n impudence_n and_o flattery_n of_o all_o which_o he_o have_v a_o very_a competent_a share_n but_o for_o his_o wonder-working_a faculty_n which_o he_o will_v needs_o pretend_v to_o he_o fetch_v that_o as_o far_o off_o as_o the_o east_n indies_n that_o be_v the_o far_a off_o as_o he_o think_v from_o confutation_n and_o yet_o the_o account_n that_o he_o have_v give_v of_o those_o part_n be_v so_o gross_o fabulous_a that_o that_o alone_o convict_v his_o whole_a life_n of_o imposture_n and_o impudence_n and_o this_o may_v suffice_v to_o make_v good_a this_o part_n of_o the_o demonstration_n of_o our_o saviour_n divine_a authority_n from_o the_o certain_a evidence_n both_o of_o his_o own_o and_o his_o apostle_n miracle_n and_o to_o set_v it_o above_o the_o reach_n of_o all_o manner_n either_o of_o objection_n or_o competition_n §_o xxviii_o but_o though_o the_o history_n of_o jesus_n of_o nazareth_n have_v this_o advantage_n of_o all_o other_o in_o that_o the_o tradition_n whereby_o it_o have_v be_v convey_v down_o to_o we_o have_v prove_v the_o truth_n of_o its_o own_o testimony_n by_o plain_a and_o undeniable_a miracle_n yet_o if_o we_o set_v aside_o this_o peculiar_a divine_a attestation_n and_o consider_v the_o tradition_n by_o itself_o as_o mere_o humane_a and_o deliver_v down_o in_o the_o ordinary_a course_n of_o thing_n it_o have_v be_v so_o constant_a so_o catholic_a and_o so_o uninterrupted_a as_o to_o be_v its_o own_o demonstration_n for_o if_o there_o have_v be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o the_o story_n of_o jesus_n of_o nazareth_n in_o that_o age_n there_o can_v never_o have_v be_v any_o such_o tradition_n or_o if_o there_o be_v it_o be_v so_o early_o that_o if_o it_o have_v be_v false_a it_o must_v immediate_o have_v perish_v as_o a_o manifest_a lie_n in_o that_o when_o it_o come_v so_o near_o the_o very_a time_n in_o which_o the_o thing_n itself_o be_v act_v nothing_o but_o undoubted_a truth_n can_v ever_o have_v maintain_v its_o authority_n for_o though_o it_o be_v easy_a at_o a_o distance_n to_o tell_v strange_a story_n of_o the_o time_n of_o old_a as_o we_o find_v by_o those_o many_o idle_a and_o incredible_a legend_n add_v to_o the_o history_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n in_o the_o after-age_n of_o ignorance_n and_o superstition_n yet_o to_o raise_v a_o story_n so_o strange_a and_o remarkable_a as_o that_o of_o jesus_n of_o nazareth_n and_o his_o apostle_n without_o any_o ground_n or_o foundation_n for_o it_o nay_o against_o the_o certain_a knowledge_n of_o those_o who_o live_v in_o the_o place_n where_o it_o be_v first_o broach_v and_o to_o gain_v proselyte_n to_o such_o a_o notorious_a fiction_n be_v a_o thing_n not_o possible_a in_o the_o course_n of_o humane_a affair_n for_o to_o pass_v by_o all_o the_o other_o disadvantage_n that_o i_o have_v already_o represent_v that_o this_o tradition_n must_v labour_v under_o if_o it_o rise_v not_o up_o to_o the_o very_a time_n that_o it_o pretend_v to_o especial_o that_o of_o its_o be_v a_o matter_n of_o fact_n which_o must_v unavoidable_o have_v destroy_v it_o if_o false_a that_o which_o i_o have_v already_o propose_v and_o come_v now_o to_o prosecute_v seem_v as_o insuperable_a as_o any_o of_o the_o rest_n viz._n that_o great_a number_n of_o learned_a and_o wise_a man_n who_o live_v in_o the_o age_n next_o and_o immediate_o after_o it_o shall_v after_o the_o strict_a enquiry_n concern_v its_o truth_n not_o only_o suffer_v themselves_o to_o be_v impose_v upon_o by_o so_o late_a and_o palpable_a a_o fiction_n but_o lay_v down_o their_o life_n in_o defence_n of_o it_o this_o be_v not_o credible_a unless_o they_o be_v full_o assure_v of_o the_o undoubted_a certainty_n of_o the_o thing_n itself_o and_o their_o assurance_n alone_o be_v to_o we_o a_o sufficient_a demonstration_n of_o it_o but_o though_o that_o be_v enough_o yet_o i_o will_v undertake_v more_o viz._n to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o ground_n and_o reason_n of_o their_o assurance_n by_o trace_v up_o the_o certain_a tradition_n of_o the_o thing_n itself_o to_o the_o very_a time_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o from_o they_o derive_v it_o down_o to_o after-age_n through_o the_o hand_n of_o wise_a learned_a and_o judicious_a man_n and_o that_o as_o i_o take_v it_o will_v make_v a_o new_a and_o distinct_a demonstration_n of_o the_o infallible_a certainty_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n now_o this_o tradition_n be_v convey_v two_o manner_n of_o way_n either_o by_o a_o succession_n of_o church_n or_o of_o single_a person_n first_o by_o a_o succession_n of_o church_n and_o