of a Deity and the concernments of Religion That they received Opinions which destroyed Morality This proved from their Mistakes and Errors 1. Touching the duties and concerns of Love and Charity to their Neighbor And 2ly Touching the Laws of Chastity Justice and of Truth Heathen Philosophy proved ineffectual not only to reform the World but the Professors of it The wickedness of their Lives The accounts and reasons of it The result of all in confirmation of the Christian Faith p. 296. CHAP. XI Of the Resurrection Prolegomena in order to the demonstration of the Resurrection of our Lord. 1. That the Apostles did presently attest the thing 2. That this attestation could not be a bare-faced and notorious lye Arg. 1. From the Testimony Arg. 2. From these three Considerations 1. That our Saviours Body did not continue in the Sepulchre when they proclaimed him risen 2. That his Disciples did not conveigh his Body thence Nor 3. was that done by any other Persons who had no relation to Christ and no affection for him Arg. 3. From the Consideration of the Persons testifying p. 387. The Conclusion Shewing That if what hath been deliver'd should be only probable yet the Christian Faith must in all reason be embraced as being 1. the safest way and 2ly the greatest Instrument of present Happiness A recapitulation of the whole with a Practical Reflection upon what hath been discoursed p. 306. CHAP. I. The Contents WHAT Endeavours have been made to stop the Growth of Atheisme and Irreligion by asserting an all wise presiding Power visible in the production of the World What seemeth further necessary to be alledged against the Atheist An essay towards the eviction of a Providence 1 From the existence of evil spirits 2 From many signall demonstrations of Gods power 3 of his Judgments upon Rebellious sinners and 4 of his power and Mercy in preservation of his servants and his miraculous Answers to their prayers 5 From revelations and predictions of things contingent in their various circumstances 6 From apparitions of good and evil Angels 7 From dreams and visions supernatural 8 From things performed by pretenders to miracles Magicians Witches Oracles philosophers which could not be effected naturally c. The confirmation of the Christian faith by what hath been delivered 1 by evincing that Providence hath been engaged for the establishment of some particular Religion in the world 2 that that particular Religion is no other then the Christian faith § 1. VVHAT Artifices have been used of late to baffle all Religion to undermine the pillars and foundations of it how bold and impudent the instruments of Satan are how free to vent how industrious to infuse their poyson into every soul how unhappily disposed the greater part of Mankind is by reason of the vile Affections and brutish Lusts which reign in them to suck in this hellish Vomit t is needless to informe the Reader He must have shut his Eyes who doth not see and stopt his Ears who doth not hear the sad but just complaints of the encrease of Atheism and Irreligion in the Christian world § 2. TO stop the Growth of this pernicious Evil some have endeavour'd to assert the Being of a God not from the Metaphysical foundations which the Scholes have laid but from the Phaenomena of Nature which carry with them a greater Evidence of some presiding Wisdome over-ruling Power which being undeniably concluded from what they have discoursed on this Subject it remains only to evince that this presiding Wisdome in the Creation of the World had a peculiar eye unto the Welfare of Mankind and doth at present watch over that noble part of his Creation gives indications of his Will Pleasure as far as is conducing to our Welfare and Motives to obey that Will since he that cometh unto God must believe that he is Heb. 11.6 and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him For if we suppose that from the beginning of the world there were established such Laws of Action as doe necessitate the operations and productions which shew the Wisdome of their Great Contriver though we should also doubt whether he ever did or doth at present interest himself in the concernments of Men and the free motions of their Wills and should conceave with modern Theists wee are too inconsiderable to be the matter of his care and Providence we should sufficiently comply with the intent and vigor of those Arguments I shall not venture to supply what 's lacking to those late attempts by any large discourse on the mysterious Theme of Providence which others have improved beyond what I am able to perform but only hint such things which in conjunction seem to make it highly rational to own the thing and which I do not find so fully nor I think so convincingly proposed in other Writers on this Subject § 3. AND 1. If there be any evil Spirits which maligne the Welfare of Mankind then there must be a Providence For were there no superior Power that did curb and over awe them and by so doing shew his care of Man they would according to their inclinations either inflict upon Mankind at present the sorest and most dreadful Evils which could be incident to humane Nature this being the design and drift of hatred to plague and to confound its object or if Mens souls be subject unto future Miseries more Great and lasting then any they can suffer in this present life it would be the endeavour of these Spirits to reduce the world to such compliance with their humors and full submission to their wills as would assuredly subject them to those future Miseries or ruine those who should refuse obedience to them Now the Existence of these evil Spirits may be concluded from their Operations For if the Heathen Oracles did e're foretell what it was not in the power of man to see of which their Authors give us very many instances If any seeming miracles were ever wrought for the establishment of Heathenism or any other way of Worship not allowed by God which even Christians do confess vid. Chap. 9. sect 1. and Scripture doth acknowledg If any persons ever were possessed by the devil If they have ever spoken languages they understood not told things of which he only could informe them or have receav'd assistance or temptations from him to destroy themselves if ever he appear'd to any of his Proselytes in the dark corners of the World or the assemblies of those persons that are devoted to his service we must then own his Being in the World and his design to ruine us at present or to enslave us to his worship in order to our future Ruine Now only to transcribe the Histories and Records of these things would be the work of many volumes they being attested by many Myriads of all Ages and of all Countries of the World confessed by those who have engaged in the Worship of the Devil
that Reason which is obliged to own such Notions as do abound with equal if not greater Difficulties And certainly if Mathematicks will afford its Demonstrations pro and con if Matters obvious to sense do oft confound the Vnderstanding it is not to be hoped it should wade thorough the Abyss of infinite perfections and not be overwhelmed and lost 2. Consider whether you have not greater reason to believe these Doctrines then to disbelieve them From what is here discoursed in the introduction it is clear we have as many reasons to assert a Providence as we have reasons to believe that any signal Demonstrations of Gods power have been made by any acts of Judgment or of Mercy in any Parts or Ages of the World or that his Wisdome was engaged in any Revelations Oracles Predictions Dreams or Visions supernatural or in the Production of the World and in the exquisite Contrivance of any Portion of it We have as many reasons to believe a Providence as we have to assert that any good or evill Angels do exist or ever did appear or interest themselves in any actions of Mankind And yet our reasons which evince the truth of Christian Faith are far more numerous and cogent Let then the Atheist view and ponder what we have here produced in confirmation of these Truths and then consider whether his motives to renounce Christianity and to reject a Providence be more numerous and more convincing then what this Treatise offers to establish them If not he must have greater Reason to assert then to disown them and so his Infidelitie must be the worst of Follies Lastly Consider whether he that rejects the Christian Faith must not be forced to believe what 's more incredible then any Mystery contained in it For he must believe that Christ and his Disciples and the Christians of the three first Ages did endeavour to confirm the world in the belief of what they knew to be a lie and consequently that all the Primitive Professors who did so court the Flames and were so wearie of this present life were yet the vilest Atheists as not believing there was any God to punish this their pernicious lye Or secondly that they were all beside themselves that they had lost the principles of preservation and Self Love which Nature hath so deeply planted in the very Brutes and that they made it their designe to ruine and destroy their Souls and Bodys their Friends and their Relations to abandon all the Pleasures of this Life and to expose themselves to all the Miseries that can be incident to humane Nature without any motive but the love of Miserie And yet he must believe that they who did so little understand the common Principles of humane Nature were able to enrich the World with the best Notions of a Deity and of a future State and the best precepts of Moralitie that humane Nature ever was acquainted with And that these Fools had wit enough to propagate their Doctrine and to obtain belief throughout the World maugre all opposition that all the powers of men and Devils could make against them Or 2ly he must believe these Atheists chose to quit their Lives and suffer all the miseries they underwent only to beat down Atheisme and to establish that Religion which bears the Greatest Opposition to all the Naturall results of Atheisme He must believe that what is written in the Books of Scripture and the Apologies of all the Christians and that all that they pretended and appealed to in every corner of the World were but prodigious impudent untruths and that the World was universally induced to Worship a condemned Malefactor as God Blessed for evermore and to embrace the Doctrine of the Cross with all its Disadvantages without a seeming Miracle Or 2ly he must believe that they had no assistance in the Propagation of the Faith besides those arts of Magick in which both Jew and Gentile were more expert then they and which Apostates who were very numerous and frequent learned and ingenious were equally acquainted with and yet that never any of them did attempt to imitate or to disclose their Art or that the world when thus convinced of the Delusion would notwithstanding universally embrace and chuse to suffer for what they knew to be confirmed only by those Magical Collusions which they saw daily practised by Jew and Heathen and in which they were instructed by those very Christians who did so signally condemn those Arts as Devilish and threaten everlasting Misery to all that used them He must believe that all the Records of any signal Judgement which ever did befall the Enemies and Blasphemers of the Christian Faith or any portion of it or of any Mercies Preservations Gifts or Assistances vouchsafed to them in any age or places of the Christian World are void of Truth in every particular He must believe an hundred matters of like nature which this Treatise will suggest And therefore Reader I intreat you to peruse it with that care and diligence which matters of this moment do require and then I hope it may be instrumentall to convince you of and confirm you in the Truth of Christian Faith which is the hearty desire of Your Servant in the Defence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ DANIEL WHITBIE The Contents of the Chapters CHAP. I. WHAT Endeavours have been made to stop the growth of Atheism and Irreligion by asserting an All-wise presiding Power visible in the production of the World What seemeth further necessary to be alledged against the Atheist An Essay towards the eviction of a Providence 1. From the existence of evil Spirits 2. From many signal demonstrations of Gods Power 3. Of his Judgements upon rebellious Sinners And 4. of his power and mercy in preservation of his servants and his miraculous answers to their Prayers 5. From Revelations and Predictions of things contingent in their various Circumstances 6. From Apparitions of good and evil Angels 7. From Dreams and Visions supernatural 8. From things performed by pretenders to Miracles Magicians Witches Oracles Philosophers which could not be effected naturally c. The confirmation of the Christian Faith by what hath been delivered 1. by evincing that Providence hath been engaged for the establishment of some particular Religion in the World 2. That that particular Religion is no other then the Christian Faith pag. 1 2. CHAP. II. That common Prudence would not suffer the Apostles to pretend such things in their Historical Relations of the Life of Christ and in their Epistles to the Churches newly converted as must infallibly disgrace their Testimony and make them appear guilty of Delusion 2. That the Miracles recorded in those Historical Narrations and Epistles if true are a convincing evidence that some superior Power did assist the Workers of them 3. That Christ and his Disciples had no assistance from good or evil Angels to impose upon the World p. 55. CHAP. III. Sect. I. Proleg 4. That Christ and his Apostles did
traditio est quod à Manasse serra lignea dissect us sit Drus observ l. 10. c. 19. Iustin Dial. cum Tryp p. 349. B. Tertull. adv Gnost c. 8. de nat c. 14. Orig. in Mat. p. 225. Hom. 2. in Esaiam Epist ad Iul. Afric vid. de la Cerdam in Tert. tom 1. p. 389. Esay was sawn asunder the Prophet Jeremiah was cast into a noysom dungeon yea so inhumane was their carriage to him Vid. Grotium in Esaiam cap. 53. that some Great men interpret all those passages which were intended by Isaiah to set forth the Passion of our Lord of what this Prophet suffer'd in his own Person But 2ly The Revelations made to Daniel doe more effectually conclude a Providence they being such as did immediately concerne the King of Babylon unfold his Dreames declare unto him that for the space of seven yeares he should be driven from his People to abide with Beasts and feed on Grass like them and yet that afterwards he should enjoy his Kingdome which that it came to pass we are assured not only from the book of Daniel but the concurrent Suffrage of an Heathen a Abydenus apud Euseb praep Evang. l. 9. c. 41. Author Chap. 5th he tels King Belshazzar that his Kingdome was to be taken from him and given to the Medes and Persians and so immediatly it happened his Kingdom being then transfer'd unto Darius Medus and to Cyrus King of Persia of which event saith 35 Abydenus Nabuchadonosor having prophesied disappeared Now here let it be noted 1 that all this is pretended to be done in the most famous Court the World then knew Ezra 4.15 19.5 17.6 1. which kept its Records of all matters of Concern and Moment which occur'd amongst them and with whose Great and most remarkable Affaires the Nations round about must be acquainted and therefore such a Forgery could not have passed without Discovery 2ly That Metamorphosis so full of Wonder and which so much concern'd the Empire could not have been concealed if true nor believed if it had been false 3ly Consider the Events and Circumstances which did attend those things the Advancement of Daniel and his Friends by Nebuchadnezzar the Decree made by him in Honour of his God the Disgrace and Danger of the Magicians who being then and many Ages after in Great Place about those Eastern Monarchs were not likely to have suffer'd this Story in Disgrace of their Profession to have passed without some publick Animadversion if it had not been true Afterwards in Belshazzars time when Daniel seems to have been retired from Court and Business we read how on occasion of the Appearance to Belshazzar and his Disorder thereupon the Queen who is supposed to have been the Widdow of Nebuchadnezzar brought Daniel and his Prophesies afresh into Remembrance how thereupon he was call'd and heard and approv'd and prefer'd what Largesses were bestowed on him and Proclamation made that he should be the third Ruler in the Kingdome all which things whether true or false would appear by the forementioned Records of the Empire Besides these we have in the Book of Daniel sundry other Prophesies which concern the Translation of the Empire of the Assyrians to the Medes and Persians and from them to the Macedonians and what was to be done both by the Lagidae and Seleucidae and particularly by Antiochus Illustris all which were so evidently foretold by Daniel as they did afterwards fall out that 36 Porphyry was forced to say this Prophesy was written by another Daniel who lived under Antiochus Epiphanes and so after these things were done But this he says without all Ground and therefore might have said the like of any other Author and so may any one that pleaseth of the works of Porphyry That Daniel was in high repute even while the Babylonian Monarchy yet stood appeares by those sayings of Ezekiel who was his Contemporary where he ranks him with Noah and Job Ezeck 14.14 and where he says Ironically to the King of Tyre whose City was to be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar ch 28.2 behold thou art wiser then Daniel there is no secr et that they can hide from thee Besides 37 Josephus tels us this Danicl built a Tower at Ecbatane of a most admirable structure wherein the Kings of Mede and Parthia were interr'd and that a Jewish Priest presided there unto his times as also that Alexander saw the Book of Daniel and was confirmed by it in his Conquests all which adds to the Glory of that Great Prophet and to the proof of that Supernatural Gift which could proceed from no other Cause but a Divine Inspiration § 8. 6ly THE Apparitions of good or evil Angels Ghosts or Spirits to seduce or to instruct comfort or terrify the World do give in Pregnant Evidence that God doth manage the Transactions of it and therefore firmly do evince his Providence Which Spirits had they not antiently appeared to men Moses could not have been so frequent in the mention of them the World could not have been so forward to believe and worship them and through all Ages to assert their Being and pay their Homage to them or think they did 38 preside over each Nation and attend on every 39 individual Person as his Good or evil Genius Their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Stanly Theol. Chald. sec 3. ch 6 7 8. or consultation of the Dead would not have been so common or so famous through the Heathen World nor their endeavors by Theurgick or Telestick Rites to call forth and converse with good or to repel the evil Daemons Of this the Anges which did move the Waters of Bethesda is a most signal Instance for if those Waters had not wrought the Cures that were said to be done by them what could induce the Impotent to wait the motion of them or why should Christians ascribe those Cures to them which had they not been true the Jews of that Age would have eagerly denyed and might have easily confuted but if those Cures were true it is evident they were Miraculous For if the Water did the Cure by any natural Virtue why did it only help the first that stepped in why at such special Seasons only and whence could it derive so Catholick a Virtue against all Distempers § 9. 7ly IF any †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig. in Celsum l. 1. p. 35. Dreams and Visions of the Night which were in Antient Times Gods frequent and familiar Way and Method to instruct his Prophets and inform his People and constantly affirmed by the Jewish Prophets and pretended also very often by the Heathens and Of which so many Tracts and Histories are written such numerous Examples given by Jews and Christians also that to conclude Them all mistakes would be to shake the Faith of History I say if any Revelations of this Nature were vouchsafed by God he hereby shews how much he doth concern himself to let us know his Will and
of the disobedient unto the wisdome of the just accordingly John Baptist in the b Luk. 1.17 Power Spirit of Eliah went before Jesus attesting that he was the true c Joh. 1.29.34.33.31 Messias the Lamb the Sonne of God and that he was informed from Heaven of him thence commissionated to prepare his way And so effectually this Elias prevail'd on the whole Nation of the Jews that they esteemed him a d Mark 11.32 Prophet a e Joh. v. 35. Burning and a Shining light in which they willingly rejoyced a Just and Holy man whose Doctrine they liked very well Joseph Antiq Judaic l. 8. c. 7. whose Counsell they would gladly follow whose baptisme they receiv'd with greatest readiness The Messias was to be the offspring of a f Esa 7.14 Virgins womb and have no Father but the God of Heaven an opinion too incredible to find acceptance without greatest Evidence or to be unnecessarily pretended without Greatest Folly or to obtain and win upon the world when managed by the worst of fooles He was to come into the world 2 before the g Gen. 49.10 Scepter did depart from Judah before the 3 ruine of k Mal. 3.1 Jerusalem before the l Dan. 9.26.27 ceasing of the dayly Sacrifice He was to come into the world whil'st n Mich. 5.2 Bethlehem remained amongst the Governours of Judah and whil'st the second o Hug. 2.5.7.9 Temple stood He was to suffer Death at the Conclusion of the p Dan. 9.24 weekes of 4 Daniel which in the Judgment of the Jews 5 who then impatiently q Luc. 2.25.38 expected their Messias was that very time in which our Saviour did appear And well might they expect his present coming when both John Baptist taught that his appearance was at hand and some of them were assured by speciall revelation that their r Luc. 2.26 eyes should see their Saviour when both that 6 Ancient Prophesie which had obtained Credit throughout the Easterne world Talmud Cod. Sanhedr c. 11.5.33 and their own Prophets Paraphrasts and Doctors did agree in the assertion of it It being in it self so evident out of their writings that at this day the Jews confess Christ either came about that time and lies concealed ever since or else his comeing was deferr'd beyond the time prefixt by reason of the abounding sins of their Nation In 7 Bethlehem he was to be born a thing which hapned by so strange and unaccountable a taxing such as none was ever known before and there was no occasion for it then there being peace throughout the Roman Empire that nothing but a secret and over-ruling Providence could have procured it All which particularly afford a most convincing demonstration to the Jew that his Messiah was in vaine expected or is already come For where is now the second Temple and the City Bethlehem What place amongst the Governours of Judah doth it now retaine where 's Judahs Scepter and where the Law-Giver between his feet Is not Jerusalem destroyed Are not their sacrifices and oblations ceased And if the weekes of Daniel do not end where Christians do contend they did what certaine period can they have or what instruction can they give us when the Messiah whom they speak of will appear Besides he was to be a ſ Deut. 18.15.18 Joh. 4.25 Prophet and foretell things to come in his times was t Esa 9.6.7 Janum terra marique pace parta ter clausit Suet. de Augusto cap. 22. peace to flourish as at his birth it did throughout the then known world Janus his Temple being shut which in the time of War stood allwaies open A constant throng of 8 Miracles was to attend his life and doctrine he was to bear away our griefes and 9 heal our sicknesses to cure the v Esa 35.56 Lame the Deafe the Blind and Dumb and make his bodily cures become the preface to his spirituall yet his gratious Embassage his infinite amazing love must find no other welcome but x Esa 53.12 reproach and infamy he was to come into the world poor and lowly and riding on an y Zech. 9.9 Ass to be a 53. Esa 2. Esa 50.2 Ch. 53.12 despised set at nought buffeted and spit upon and to be numbered with transgressours he was to be 10 rejected by 11 suffer from those very persons for whose sake he suffered He was to be a d Esa 53.3 man of sorrows and to increase those sorrows nothing but e Psal 69.21 Gall and vinegar was to be tendered to him his Life was to conclude in an f Dan. 9.26 untimely Death a death attended with such circumstances as added to the wonders of his life his g Psal 22.17.25.12.1 Hands and Feet and 12 sides were to be pierced yet maugre all the Tyrannies of Custome and Jewish Malice of his adversaries not a h Ex. 12.46 Psal 22.18 Bone of him was to be broken not a Rent was to be made upon his Garment His i Psal 16.10 Soul must not be left in Hell nor must his Body see corruption his 13 resurrection was to be as signall as his death for he was then to see the k Esa 53.11 travel of his soul and to draw all men after him He was to be exalted into the highest Heavens and sit at the 14 right hand of God l Ps 110.1 Mat. 22.43 Government was to be upon his shoulders and to continue there for ever The fresh appearance of the Star of Jacob was to expell the shadows of the 15 law Christ at his resurrection was to throw down the m Mat. 23. Mark 13. Temple of the Jews and to inflict upon them for their unbeliefe the Greatest and most dreadfull vengeance which ever yet befell the nation he was to ruine and pull down the Kingdome of the Prince of darkness to spread the 16 Gospell through the n Esa 11.10 Jer. 16.19 Gentile world by the plentiful effusions and powerfull operations of the 17 spirit on his own Disciples to justify his mission and convince Gainsayers that his Doctrine was the Mind and Will of God and lastly to transforme into the Christian purity a world of men inslaved to heathen superstitions and overwhelm'd in sin § 3. LOE here a crowd of Circumstances so certainly foretold of the Messiah as that the Jew found nothing to except against them so signally fulfilled in our Jesus that nothing can be farther needfull to confirme their truth And 3dly incompatible to any other person For that I may not here repeat what I have already say'd that no man would have chosen to undergoe those hard termes which were declared in the Scripture of the Old Testament to belong to the Messiah it being contrary to humane Nature to desire to lead a poor and miserable life and then dye a painful Ignominious death unless it were in prospect of some great advantages
se trahentes rebellarunt Sueton. in Vespas c. 4. Tacit. Hist l. 5. 7 Of Bethlehem From Thee shall spring Messiah the Son of David R. Salomo Iarchi in Mich. 5.2 Chald. Paraph. 8 A continuall throng of Miracles Midrash Coheleth in Eccles 1.11 R. Hadarshan in Ps 74. Raymund Pug. fid p. 610. vide Comment in c. 8.5.1 num 1. 9 Heal our diseases Our Masters tell us that the name of the Messiah should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est leprosus de domo Rabbi It being sayd surely He took upon him our infirmities and heal'd our sicknesses Gem. Sanhedr cap. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sec 36. That the Messiah was to open the eyes of the blind we are told Midrash in Ps 146. 10 Reproched rejected Esa 53.2.3 on which place R. Moses Alsheid sayth thus Behold our Doctors of happy memory conclude with one mouth that this is spoken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Messiah as they receaved from their Ancestors The Son of David shall be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to the two families of Israel R. Jehud a. vide Coch. in duos tit Talm. p. 210. Gloss Talm. tract Sanhedr c. 11. Mornaeum de Christian Relig. c. 30. 11 He must suffer That the Messiah of the Iews should suffer death was so expresly delivered by the Prophets that they who dream'd of a Messiah who should sway the scepter and subdue nations under them were forced to invent a double Savior Messiah Ben Ioseph to be slain and Messiah Ben David whose reign was to be glorious upon earth Targum in Cant. 24.5 7.3 Talmud in Massecheth Succa c. 5. Sol. Iarchi in Esa 24.28 Kimchi in Zach. 12.10 12 His Sides were to be pierced R. Sol. on the place speaks thus Our Rabbins have expounded this of Messiah Ben Ioseph who was to be slayn vid. lib. Succa dist Hachalil Chamisha 13 His resurrection Of which Ps 16.9 is expounded in Midrash Tehillim and for which the example of Ionah is alledged Menasse B. Israel de Resur l. 1. c. 5. 14 At the right hand of God That the Antient Rabbins did understand this Psal of the Messiah will appear from R. Ionathans Targum from Midrash Tehillim in Psal 2.7 18.36 R. Moses Hadarshan in Gen. c. 18.1 15 The shadows of the Law The law which thou at present learnest shall be vanity compared to that law which is to be delivered in the days of the Messiah R. Hizkiah apud Raym. p. 608. Our Doctors of happy memory conceive that Israel shall afterwards receive another law as formerly they did immediately from the mouth of God Auctor Sepher Ikkarim l. 3. c. 19. Our Rabbins sayd of Sacrifices they should all cease excepting those of prayer and prayses Midrash in Num. 13. vide R. Hadarshan in Gen. 41.49 Ionathan sup Esaiam 12.3 Raymund Pug. fid p. 608. 16 The Conversion of the Gentiles The Gentiles shall be saved after the war with Gog and Magog R. David Kimchi in Esa 49.6 which they expect before the coming of their Messiah The whole World shall be one Church according to that of Zeph. 3.9 that they may all call upon the name of the Lord with one consent Bereschith Rabba on these words on that day will I build the Tabernacle of David c. 17 The Gift of the holy Spirit Then shall the Spirit of Prophesy reside among the people so that our sons and our daughters shall Prophesy according unto that of Ioel 2.28 R. Saadia Gaon in Sepher Haemunoth c. 8. Sal. Iarchi in Es 44.2 18 Celsus Who calls the Prophesys of the old Test 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Orig. l. 7. p. 333. p. 338. he speaks thus of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 19 Phlegon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig. in Celsum p. 69. 20 The ejection of Devils out of men and beasts and places 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig. in Celsum p. 376. the Attestations of the Christians thorough divers Centuries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Just Mart. dial cum Tryph. p. 302. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig. in Celsum p. 20. subjecta est nobis tota vis daemonum Tertull. Apol. c. 23. sec 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb contra Hieroc c. 1. p. 514. vide Iren. l. 2. p. 215.218 Justin Mart. p. 45.247.302.311 Origen in Celsum p. 7.20.34.53.62.124.127.334.337.376 Minut. Fel. p. 31. Tertull. Apol. c. 23.25 ad Scap. c. 2.4 Cypr. ad Demetr Firmic p. 19. p. 40. Theodoret. de curand Gr. aff ser 3. p. 55. 21 They provoked their adversarys to try the truth of what they sayd Veni cognosce vera esse quae dicimus Cypr. Epist ad Demetr sec 12. Tertull. Apol. c. 23. edatur hic aliquis c. 22 To make their senses judge Vel ipsis quos colis crede aut si volueris tibi credere de teipso loquetur audiente te qui nunc tuum pectus obsedit Videbis sub manu nostra stare vinctos tremere captivos quos tu suspicis veneraris ut Dominos Certè vel sic confundi in erroribus tuis poteris quando conspexeris audieris Deos tuos quid sint interrogatione nostra statim prodere praesentibus licet vobis praestigias illas fallacias suas non posse celare Cyprian Epist ad Demetr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Just dial cum Tryph. p. 311. vide Ap. 2. p. 45. Dictis non stetis si oculi vestri aures permiserint vobis Tertull. Apol. c. 23. 23 They appeald to their own knowledge of it Daemonas de hominibus expellimus sicut plurimis notum est Tertull. l. 2. ad Scap. Haec omnia sciunt plerique pars vestrum Minut. p. 31. 24 To hundreds of living witnesses Haec omnia tibi de officio suggeri possunt ab eisdem advocatis qui ipsi beneficia habent Christianorum licet adclament quae velint nam cujusdam Notarius cum à Daemone praecipitaretur liberatus est quorundam propinquus puerulus quanti honesti viri de vulgaribus enim non dicam aut à Daemoniis aut à valetudinibus remediati sunt Tert. ad Scap. c. 4. 25 They offered upon pain of death Nisi se Daemonas confessi fuerint Christiano mentiri non audentes ibidem illius Christiani procacissimi sanguinem fundite Tertull. Apol. c. 23. 26 And make those very Daemons confesse that they were cheats and devils Ipsis testibus esse eos Daemonas de se verum confitentibus credite Minut. p. 31. vid. Lact. l. 2. c. 15. 27 That when the Heathens could not by their charms exorcisms the Christian by the name of Jesus could eject them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iust p. 45. Dial. cum Tryph. p. 311. Ecce aliquis instinctu Daemonis percitus effertur insanit ducamus hunc in Jovis O. M. Templum vel quia sanare homines Jupiter nescit in Aesculapii vel Apollinis fanum jubeat utriuslibet Sacerdos Dei sui
in the Church for divers Centuries The confirmation of this second Argument The result of these Particulars FOURTHLY Arg. 4 Those Miracles which Christ and his Apostles wrought in confirmation of the Christian Faith are a most signal Demonstration of its truth and certainty as will appear if we consider 1. The Design on which our Saviour came into the World For it was requisite that he who came to baffle and pull down the Devils Kingdom should shew his Power over those evil Spirits which upheld it Needful it was that he who taught the World to slight and to detest those Heathen Deities which had so long obtained in the World and had confirmed it in their service by seeming Miracles vid. Not. in cap. 9. num 5 6 7 8. Predictions gifts of Healing and the like should by more powerful works convince the World he was more worthy of their Adoration And it was also requisite that he who gave it out that he came down from God to manifest the will of heaven to the world should by unquestionable signs of Gods assistance prove the truth of his Commission from him And lastly It was requisite that he who came to null that Law of Moses which was established or by the Jews conceived to be established by many Miracles should give a greater proof of his Commission from the God of Heaven then were the Miracles of Moses Secondly This will be farther evident if we consider that the Jews expected great and many Miracles from their Messiah They tell us Midrash Coheleth in Eccles 1.11 that the Miracles of Moses should not be remembred by reason of those greater Miracles which their Messiah should perform That the signs of the Messiah should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 substance vid. Raymund Pugfid p. 610. whereas the signs of the departure out of Aegypt compared with them should be only accidents And this their Expectation was grounded upon these Predictions of their Prophets that their Messiah should make the blinde to see the deaf to hear Isaiah 35.6 the dumb to speak the lame to walk Thirdly The Jews and Heathens did in effect confess that sutably to these Predictions of the Prophets and to the expectation of the Jews they did work Miracles For to ascribe them to 1 Shem Hamporash or to the Arts of 2 Magick as Jews and Heathens did is to confess that they were done by Christ since nothing but the evidence of Fact could tempt his most malitious Enemies to use such slight Evasions and to confess as did the Pharisees and the Chief Priests that Christ did Miracles so many and so powerful that if he had been let alone Joh. 11.48 all men would have believed on him The wiser Heathens as 3 Celsus 4 Porphyry 5 Hierocles and 6 Julian confess'd the thing 7 Pilate who lived upon the place where his Disciples tell us that all his Miracles were done and who passed Sentence on him gave such a large account to Tiberius both of the Wonders of his Life and Death and Resurrection as made the Emperor 8 propose him to the Senate as one fit to be admitted among the Roman Gods And this account the Christians frequently appealed to and sent the Romans to their own Archives to be convinced of its truth Others conclude that he did his Wonders by that Art of Magick which he had learn'd from the 9 Aegyptians vid. Annot in cap. 9.1 and think it is sufficient to oppose against him an 10 Apollonius or an Apuleius as Men of equal Fame for working Wonders which had the truth of what the Christian Records do affirm concerning them been questionable they could have had no reason and no temptation to have done it being sufficient for their purpose to have questioned or disproved what was delivered by those Records But fourthly His Apostles do affirm his Miracles were very many and done in many places They tell us that he compassed all a Matt. 4.24 18.16 9.35 Galilee and all the cities and villages of Iudea preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing all diseases and all sicknesses among the people He b Mat. 12.15 15.30 19.2 healed many that were sick of divers maladies All the diseased throughout Syria Great multitudes yea all that could be c Luke 4.40 brought unto him He d Mark 1.34 cast out many devils and e Matt. 8.16 healed all that were possessed of the devil And then they adde that there were many other f John 20.30 signs which Iesus did which were not written by them From which compendious Repetition of them we may well infer his Miracles were more than they were able to recount particularly or more than they thought needful so to do Fifthly The same Apostles tell us they were mighty deeds for he rebuked the winds and g quell'd the ragings of the sea and h Matt. 8.26 14.25 walked upon it He i Mark 6.42 satisfied 5000 with two loaves and with five little fishes he gave sight unto the blinde and life unto the dead he cast out devils and knew the secrets of the heart He wrought his Miracles by inconsiderable means Matt. 8.3 16. Mark 8.7 13. Joh. 4.50 for he cast out the evil spirits and healed diseases with a word or by such means as were as insufficient by any natural Virtue to produce the Cure He raised the dead only by touching of the Bier on which they lay Luke 7.14 15 16. 18.54 John 11.43 45. or taking of them by the hand His word made Lazarus come forth though bound with Grave-cloathes and his Word made the Fig-tree wither Lastly The Wonders of his Death were as remarkable as were the Actions of his Life For then the Heavens were over-spread with darkness Matt. 27.49 52. the Temple vail was rent the Earth trembled the Rocks rent the Graves opened many dead Bodies did arise and shew themselves to many living in the holy City which when the People saw some of them being forced by remorse of Conscience Luke 23.47 smote upon their breasts and said of Christ Truly this was the Son of God this was a just and upright man and so notorious were these things that Heathens have recorded them But sixthly His Apostles tell us That he performed these things in publick and in the presence of the Pharisees Luke 5.17 6.17 18.19 Matt. 14.35 36. and Doctors of the Law of every Town of Galilee Judea and Jerusalem and from the Sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon which came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases That he did nothing privately but in the Synagogues Temples John 18.20 21. where his Accusers were still present And seventhly they affirm That these his Miracles had most remarkable Effects upon the Hearers and Spectators even the most perverse and spiteful of them Both Pharisees and Lawyers throughout Judea Jerusalem Luke 5.17 26. and Galilee when their
Christ assured them a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost Tom. 5. Orat. 2. in Bab. p. 442. they should out do those many miracles which He himself had wrought Ioh. 14.12 which was a promise of so strange a nature that never any person did pretend the like nor could it be fulfilled according unto what these Records have delivered without the greatest demonstration of Christs power or fail of being so without the ruine of that faith which he had planted the rejection of those Histories which spake of its exact completion But let it be considered 2ly That Jews and Heathens their most malitious and subtile enemies confess the thing Act. 4.16 That indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell at Jerusalem and we cannot deny it say the High Priest and Rulers of the Jews The Heathens tell us that they were the greatest 11 Juglers and had 12 received from our Saviour Books which did instruct them in these arts and made them able to derive the cheat unto their followers Nay they 13 acknowledge that at their very Sepulchers were many wonders done 3ly Agreably to these predictions and confessions we are told in the forementioned Records that God confirmed the word of his Grace Act. 14.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 19.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 8.13 Act. 4.23 Act. 9.40.20.10 by doing signs and wonders by the Apostles hands and that these Miracles were not mean ordinary things but mighty that with great power gave the Apostles witness to the Resurrection and that great grace was upon them all The dead were raised by them Tabitha by Peter and Eutychus by Paul and Irenaeus tells us that in his time by the prayers and fastings of the Church the dead were frequently restored to life a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. l. 2. c. 56. c. 57. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hereticks saith he for all their boast of miracles they cannot raise the dead as Christ and his Apostles did and as many of the Brotherhood when the necessities of the Church required it have by their prayers and fastings often done Their miracles were wrought at distance and by unlikely and inconsiderable means by Handkercheifs and Napkins which obtained this virtue of doing mighty cures only by being sent from an Apostles hand b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost St Peters shadow healed all that were afflicted with evil Spirits throughout all Ierusalem and all the Cities round about it Their very Sepulchers were instrumental to the working of so many and such apparent Miracles that as their Enemies were forced to confess them so Christians did often 14 plead them with the greatest confidence they were such as conquered and amazed the Conjurer Acts 19.18 19. such as prevailed with the Magicians to burn their Books and make confession of their Practises and own that Doctrine though with the hazard of their Lives which pronounced them guilty of contracting with the Prince of darkness 3ly These Wonders were perform'd by Christians throughout all places of the World in which the Gospel did obtain and flourish St Paul assures us that from Jerusalem Rom. 15.19 and round about unto Illyricum the Gospel had been preached by him with mighty signs and wonders and by the power of the Holy Ghost and both the reason and the necessity of the thing assure us that what was done by him must be done also by the rest of the Apostles and especially by those who were preferred above him by the Church of Corinth and Galatia The Records of the Churches and the Apologies of Christians writ from each corner of the World the Conversion of so many by the Apostles Preaching in every quarter of it Joel 2.28 the Promise of the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon all flesh Acts 2.29 and given to as many as the Lord should call all these and many other Circumstances confirm us in the Truth of this Particular Fourthly This Power of working Miracles was still retained in the World for divers Centuries For the Apologies and Records of the Christians in their respective Ages still avouch and plead them against the Heretick the Jew the Heathen for confirmation of their Faith Irenaeus writing against the Gnosticks Carpocratians and Valentinians asserts That if they truly did what they pretended only yet was it not to be compared with the Miracles of Christ and his Disciples And then he adds a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. l. 2. cap. 57. It is impossible to reckon up all the miraculous Gifts which the Church throughout the World receives and exerciseth to the benefit of the Heathens Origen in commendation of the Christian Faith above the Jews Pretensions tells them That b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig. in Celsum l. 2. p. 62. since the coming of a Saviour they were left destitute of all the signs of Gods especial Presence with them they had no Prophets nor any Wonders done amongst them whereas the Christians were plentifully endowed with these Gifts of Miracles and Prophesie c Quanti honesti viri de vulgaribus enim non dicimus aut à Daemoniis aut valetudi nibus remediati sunt quando non Geniculationibus Jejunationibus nostris etiam siccitates sunt depulsae Tertul. ad Scap. c. 4. How many Men of reputation for we speak not of the vulgar sort have been freed from Devils by us when is it that our Prayers and Fastings do not cause their dearths to cease So Tertullian Of this miraculous Power the second and third Ages give us instances innumerable Of its continuance in the fourth Century Eusebius and 15 Cyril Theodoret and 16 Augustine are sufficient Witnesses If therefore these were matters which the Jews and Heathens who persecuted Christ and his Disciples do confess if Christians of all places through divers Ages of the World pretended and appealed to them using no other method to convince the World If their Apologies and Disputations with their Adversaries which were so mightily prevailing did bottom on the truth of these Particulars and if those Writings which contained them were universally acknowledged as Divine and absolutely true then must the Miracles recorded in them be Divine and such as they are held to be by Christians Besides the Apostle Paul assures the Church of Rome Rom. 15.15 18 19. he would not speak of any thing which Christ had not performed by him and yet he adds 2 Cor. 11.6 12.12 That he could glory of the grace given to him to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed through mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God And to the Church of Corinth he writes thus That he had given them full proof of his Apostleship that he had fully been made manifest among them in all things that he did not come behind the very chief of the Apostles Which is sufficient to evince that not St
Hortulis in locis publicis ac privatis pro sua quisque opinione certabat August de C. D. l. 18. c. 41. Et rursus Has alias diffensiones innumerabiles Philosophorum quis unquam populus quis Senatus quae potestas vel dignitas publica impiae civitatis dijudicandas alias probandas recipiendas alias improbandas repudiandasque curavit ac non passim sine ullo judicio confusé que habuit in gremio suo tot controversias hominum non de agris domibus sed de his rebus quibus aut misere vivitur aut beatè dissidentium August ibidem 103 A stipend from the Roman Emperours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lucian Hunuch p. 160. p. 161. 104 Flourished most Quaeritur saepe cur tam multi sunt Epicurei Cic. de fin Bon. l. 1. Multi postea defensores nescio quomodo ii qui auctoritatem minimam habent maximam vim populus cum illis facit Idem l. 2. p. 87.88 p. 89. Dicitur Philosophus nobilis à quo non solum Graecia Italia sed etiam omnis Barbaria commota est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laert. l. 10. p. 712. vide p. 721. 105 The Abettors of them did accord the best Epicurus una in domo ea quidem angusta quam magnos quantaque amoris conspiratione conjunctos tenuit amicorum greges quod fit etiamnum ab Epicureis Cic. de fin l. 1. Numen apud Euseb Praep. Ev. l. 14. c. 5. 106 Hence they took up with carnal pleasures Nec equidem habeo quod intelligam bonum illud detrahens eas voluptates quae sapore percipiuntur detrahens eas etiam quae auditu cantibus detrahens eas etiam quae ex formis percipiuntur oculis suaves mentiones five quae aliae voluptates gignuntur in toto homine quolibet è sensu quae sequuntur in eadem sententia sunt totusque liber qui est de summo bono refertus sententiis verbis talibus est Cic. Tusc 3º de Epicuro Et rursus Nam singo num mentior cupio refelli istam voluptatem Epicurus ignorat quippe qui testificatur ne intelligere quidem se posse ubi sit aut quid sit ullum bonum praeter illud quod cibo aut potione avrium delectatione obscena voluptate capiatur An haec ab eo non dicuntur de fin bon l. 2. de N. D. l. 1. Non id semel dicit sed saepius annuere te video nota enim tibi sunt proferrem libros si negares His gemina habes apud Athen. deipnos l. 12. c. 12. Laert. l. 10. p. 710. Plutarch Moral p. 1098. 107 Held them the chiefest good Plerique voluptatem summum bonum dicunt Cic. de div l. 2. de fin bon l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch adv Colotem p. 1125. vide Laert. l. 2. p. 54. Ed. St. Cic. de N. D. 108 Socrates first introduced it into families Ab antiqua Philosophia usque ad Socratem numeri motusque tractabantur unde omnia orirentur quove recederent studioseque ab his syderum magnitudines intervalla cursus inquirebantur cunct a caelestia Socrates autem primus Philosophiam devocavit è coelo in urbibus collocavit coegit de vita moribus rebusque bonis malis quaerere Cic. Tusc qu. l. 5. l. 3. 109 That there was nothing just or unjust in it self but as the Lawes of Nations made it so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristot Eth. l. 1. c. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pyrrho apud Laert. p. 262. Hujus sententiae erant Archelaus Laert. l. 2. p. 37. Cyrenaici ib. Theodorii p. 57. Aristippus p. 55. Pyrrho p. 252. Epicur us p. 302. vide Sext. Empir adv Math. p. 450. 110 The examples and worship of their Deities did give encouragement unto the lewdest actions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato de Rep. l. 2. vide August de C. D. l. 1. c. 7. Nazianz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 77. 111 Porphyry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ep. ad Anebonem apud Theod. ser 3. p. 48. 112 Amelius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apud Theodoret. de cur Gr. aff serm 2. p. 33. 113 A Heathen Emperour as to be writt Clamabat saepius quod à quibusdam sive Judaeis sive Christianis audierat tenebat idque per praeconem quum aliquem emendaret dici jubebat quod tibi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris quam sententiam usque adeo dilexit ut in Palatio in publicis operibus praescribi juberet Aelius Lamp de Alex. Severo Hist August Leyd ed. p. 577. CHAP. XI OF THE RESVRRECTION of our Saviour Christ THE CONTENTS PROLEGOMENA in order to the demonstration of the Resurrection of our Lord. 1. That the Apostles did presently attest the thing 2. This attestation could not be a bare-faced and notorious lye Arg. 1. from the testimony Arg. 2. from these 3 considerations 1. that our Saviours body did not continue in the sepulcher when they proclaimed him risen 2. That his Disciples did not conveigh his body thence Nor 3. was that done by any other persons who had no relation to Christ and no affection for him Arg. 3. from the consideration of the persons testifying AND thus we have dispatch'd our demonstrations of the Christian Faith We now proceed unto that Article of it from which we may infer the rest viz. The Resurrection of our blessed Saviour Which that we may conclude with Greater evidence we premise § 1. THAT the Apostles did presently attest the thing The predictions of our Lord and Saviour own'd by the malice of the Jew and all their vain endeavours to prevent what he foretold touching his Resurrection the expectation of his friends and that abundant satisfaction which they found in this particular the early records of the Christians Story and Symbols of his faith which every where inculcate it all these give in a full assurance of this truth Nay had the knowledge of his resurrection been defer'd beyond that period which he himself had fixed how impossible had it been to have cajold the world into so firme and stedfast a belief of the particular circumstances to have held up the drooping Spirits baffled hopes of his disciples or to have kept the insulting Jew from giving visible demonstrations of the vanity of their pretensions or from crying out of the imposture Could his Disciples be assured of his resurrection by frequent apparitions of him and not endeavour to acquaint the world with what so much concern'd the truth of his predictions and their hopes which was of so great importance to mankind and could not be neglected by the Disciples of our Lord they be faithfull unto the commission which they pretended Or could they be so quick nimble to conveigh his body from the sepulcher and yet their tongues be backward to proclaim him risen Would interest or reason suffer them to
otherwise their hopes lay buried in his Grave and expired together with him After such manifold experience of their Masters power to assist them by an Almighty hand after their solemne protestations made to own him in the sharpest tryals they shamefully deserted him and at first assault betook themselves to their heeles their Prolocutor renounced him and seconded his denyal with an oath they barr'd their dores and hid their heads dreading every thing they heard or saw And can it be imagined that persons so extreamly timerous should hazard their lives to rescue his dead body from the Grave who after all obligement both of faith and duty did so little to preserve him from it against a watch so vigilant and zealously concerned to prevent the mischiefs of a second and therefore more pernitious error After commands so strict peremptory to secure the Sepulcher in vain must they attempt to rifle it which if any say they did whilest the watchmen slept how came they privy to it what credit can their word deserve if whilst they waked what could induce those watchmen to make lyes their refuge and wilfully permit the cheat Besides it is a timerous trade to play the thief much more to rob the Grave of its Inhabitants and they might well expect that vengeance should arrest them in a fact designed to delude the world and to entitle God unto the worst of villanies and hence not only their respect unto their Master but their own safety must have taught them to dispatch their business and not to spend their time in the uncasing of his body and rowling up the Napkins that were about his head and to do things of such needless curiosities But 3ly more incredible it is that persons unconcerned for this Jesus should run so great an hazard or be concerned to remove his body thence or that the Apostles should bottom all their hopes on such a tottering foundation trust to the fidelitie of those men who in this very busines in which their silence could alone befriend them were the worst of cheats T is lastly most incredible that persons of this temper should still go on to stifle and conceal the matter and not be tempted by the pleasure of the thing the service they might do to their Religion the hopes of a considerable reward or by the hatred of a cheat so Gross and palpable to manifest the shame and infamy of those that forged it Besides how could his own Disciples hope by mighty signs and wonders by Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit great numerous to give in evidence unto his Resurrection which they confidently pretended had he been still reserved under the power of death and only by their own or others art reoved from his Sepulcher How is it that they never thought within themselves he could not save himself and whence shall we expect Salvation He could not by his Miracles of power and Goodness prevail upon one Nation to believe his Doctrine and can we though destitute of all that power which resided in him think to reduce the world into obedience or to impart the Holy Ghost to others when we our selves have the Spirit of delusion only Nay might not the example of Theudas Judas and many others both of their own and other Nations all whose endeavours although their hopes and their abilities were greater and their undertaking less proved unsuccesful and ended in the ruine of those bold adventurers be sufficient to deter them from such bold attempts Lo here a testimony which gives the Greatest evidence to it self and yet asserted by such men who neitheir would deceive nor were deceived in this particular and consequenty whose attestation could be no deceit Which that it may appear with greater evidence Consider first That they pretended to many and infallible convictions of the Truth to frequent apparitions of this Jesus attended with some signal circumstance to evidence their truth unto them and gae it out that they conversed with him fourty daies saw many Miracles done by him received instructions from his mouth to feed his Sheep to teach all Nations and Baptize them Yea that they were endowed with power from him to confirm the testimony by mighty signes and wonders and for the truth of this they frequently appeal'd unto their adversaries and the experience of those who did embrace their Doctrines in all which confident appeals and attestations requiring little more then eyes and ears to certifie the truth unto them t is equally incredible they should deceive or be deceived Did they give credit to this Jesus they must conclude him risen according to his own prediction and therefore could not be deceivers in asserting it Did they conclude him an Impostor what motives could they have to publish him the Saviour of the World who after he had call'd them to leave all and follow him and made such ample Promises unto them of Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel left them so sadly in the lurch exposed unto shame and infamy Did they give credit to the Sacred Oracles and reverence the Law of Moses why did they not dread those Judgements which God proclaimed against the false and lying Prophet if they did not believe it why were they so concerned for the Truth of the predictions of the Law concerning the Messias as to assert them with the loss both of the freedome and safety of their lives Should we ascribe the cheat unto the powers of imagination since they pretended to be eye witnesses of the Resurrection and to deliver nothing but what they saw and heard is it not strange to think that Phancy should create a person to them frequently appearing preaching and instructing giveing out commissions administring of holy Ordinances and the like that it should draw them out unto the mount of Olives after an aery Phantasm and then present it carryed up into Heaven In short they were certain his body was not privately conveyed away by their endeavours and that this only was pretended to disgrace their testimony and what could farther be required to assure both them and us that they were not deceived To Conclude If this relation were untrue either they were beside their senses when they did believe or besides their wits when they affirm'd it and did endeavour to confirm what they did not believe with loss of life and fortunes and if so what shall we say to the world of Christians that maugre all temptations to the contrary did stedfastly believe these men who had so little reason to believe themselves It is prodigious to think that a poor ignorant young man of meanest birth and breeding of a most hateful Nation and hated by that Nation to the death because pretending that he was a Prophet sent from God and after this his death only avouched to be so by twelve Fishermen pretending with loud boasts of miracles false as God is true to testifie his Resurrection though a greater falshood and promising to all that would
confirmed by the Histories of both the Indies supposed by the Laws of Moses and by the Gospel Story the 1 Jewish 2 Christian and the 3 Heathen Exorcists these Spirits being subject not only to the name of Jesus but to the invocation of the God of Abraham and of Jsaac and of Jacob though used by those who did not 4 own their faith but notwithstanding did attest upon their own experience the virtue of those names as well as 5 Jews and Christians § 4. 2ly IF there have ever been any displays or actings of Gods power if any Miracles vouchsafed in confirmation of the faith of Jew or Christian Turk or Heathen all which have more or less pretended to them Acts 2.5 the Jew with so much evidence as to gain Proselytes from every nation under heaven the Christian with so great conviction as to prevail upon the world against the powers of Interest Custome and Education and all the opposition which the Wit and Power of the world could make to entertain the Faith delivered by them If the red sea was divided which both the sacred and 6 profane writers do attest If our Saviour and his Apostles the first Christian converts Vid. Raymund Pug. fid part 2. c. 8. s 6. did any of those miracles which in their writings are recorded of them of which we give a large account in our Discourse upon that Subject I say if any of these things were done we must acknowledge some superior Power did engage in the assistance of those persons and was concerned to have the world believe what they delivered By which assistance if the superior Power did intend the Happiness and Welfare of Mankind he makes provisions for it and by so doing shews a Providence but if he designe mans Ruine and Destruction he must then be an evil and seducing power which sure could not be were there no higher Power to challenge and reward our Service and to revenge our Disobedience § 5. 3ly IF any signal Judgments were inflicted by the immediate hand of God upon Rebellious sinners of which the Annals of all ages and books made up of such collections yeeld us large accounts If any visible declarations of Gods wrath and of approaching Judgments have been made unto the world by Signes Prodigies by Dreams and Apparitions by Prophesies or by a voice from Heaven of which not only Histories Ecclesiastical and heathen do inform us but suspected 7 Atheists do confess and prove the same If there hath ever been a deluge over the world which since the Caverns of the earth containe the waters of it can never be effected by the course of nature or Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire from heaven both which the 8 Heathen records have at large delivered to us preserving the traditions of the 9 Ark the 10 Dove sent out of it and of the 11 Mountains where it rested and frequently attesting that the fruits and apples of the land of 12 Sodom being toucht do vanish into smoak and ashes If Lots wife looking back became a pillar of salt and that so lasting that 13 Josephus and a In Gen. 19.26 Brochardus testify it was extant in their days and the Jerusalem Targum doth conclude it shall be so unto the Resurrection so notable that 14 Heathens used to conjure by invocation of that God who turned Lots wife into the Pillar If the 15 destruction of Jerusalem was prefaced with prodigious tokens of approaching Vengeance and God hath still appear'd in plagues and Judgments against 16 those who have attempted to rebuild the temple there If any waters of probation have had the virtue to discover and chastise the sinner whilst they cleared the innocent as Heathen writers affirme of 17 Olachas and other rivers which were wont to put off their natures and become fire to the Guilty person of the 18 Crateres Palicorum the 19 Sardinian fountains which did strike the thief or perjured person blind or dead of the 20 Indian Brachmans probatory waters and many others of that kind and as the Jews say with much better ground of those of Jealousy which being used according to the prescription of their law to try the chastity of any woman of whom her husband should be Jealous Numb 5 27.28 did cause the Guilty thigh to rot and had no like effect upon the innocent I say with better Ground for had they failed upon tryal the Jews could not have owned that law for sacred which left them such a standing lye Lastly If king 21 Agrippa suffered by the immediate hand of God Act. 12 23. because he gave not God the Glory of what the people did ascribe unto him as is attested by Josephus agreably to what St. Luke delivers we have from all these instances the clearest evidence of Gods vindictive Justice on the transgressors of his law and of our own concernments to obey it § 6. 4ly IF any acts of mercy or preservation by the power of God have been vouchsafed to any of Gods servants If Daniel was preserved in the Lyons den and Shadrach Meshach and Abednego from the devouring flames which must be a relation of the greatest credit if we consider that it speaks of matters done in so vast a company as were then met together to adore the Image which was erected by the king of Babylon and in the Greatest Court the world then knew and in defiance of the decrees and statutes of so Great a monarch and yet so done as to prevail upon him to own and reverence the God of those poor Captives and to establish a * Dan. 2 47.3.29 decree in honour of him which must be left on record in the Annals of that Empire in which all * Ezra 4.15.19 matters of any moment were digested to witness to the truth of what was seen and done and that it also speaks of matters done by men whose actions and Religion did blast the reputation of their Heathen Deities did baffle and confound their Sorcerers Magicians Astrologers and Men whose Religion did still 22 thrive under oppression and bring in dayly Proselyts Agen if any answer hath been made unto the prayers of Christian Jew or Heathen of which they all do boast so much and give such frequent instances If God according to his promise did still command his blessing on the sixth years crop Levit 25.21 and make it double unto that of other yeares and had it not been so this promise must have been a vain presumptious boast sufficient to discredit the whole law of Moses If fire of course came down from heaven in the days of Moses and extraordinarily at the petition of Elijah to consume the Jewish sacrifices as the 23 Apostate Julian doth acknowledge If 24 Heathen Records do pretend the same whose stories examples of this kind seem too exact and frequent to be deemed cheats If Gods miraculous assistance and answer to the 25 prayers of Theodosius did