SERM. III, IV.

or elfe because it implies a Contradiction, and is therefore in it self abfolutely impoffible; neither of which Objections can be of any Force as to the Matter before us. For a human Body is certainly an Object of feveral Senses; and by Seeing, and Hearing and Feeling Men may be infallibly affur'd that it is living. And tho' a Refurrection be an unusual Thing, and befides the common Course and Order of Nature, yet by no Argument, drawn either from Senfe or from Reason, can it be fhewn to be impoffible. On the contrary, Reason will fuggeft to us, that that Almighty Power which caus'd a Body to live which had not liv'd before, can as easily at leaft caufe a Body which hath already liv'd to live again; fince it cannot be more difficult to restore Life, than it was to impart it at first.

THAT Jefus Chrift did truly die, cannot be doubted. There is no room here for the leaft Sufpicion of Fraud. For he was crucified at Jerufalem, a Place of great Refort, where he was well known, at Noon-day, at the Time of

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their most folemn Festival, in Prefence of Multitudes of Spectators; and they HI,IV. who had the Charge of this Bufinefs were his Enemies, and would be fure to do it effectually. Nor did the Adverfaries of our Religion ever deny that Chrift was truly dead and buried; but have always objected it as a Reproach to Chriftians, that they were the Followers and Worshippers of one who was known to have died the Death of a Slave and most infamous Malefactor. If therefore after this he really fhew'd himself alive, then it cannot be denied that he did rife again.

Now that he did fhew himself alive after his Death and Burial to more than five hundred Eye-witneffes, is affirm'd by St. Paul; the greatest Part of whom, he tells us, were alive many Years afterwards, at the Time when he wrote his firft Epistle to the Corinthians. Twelve of his Difciples were appointed to be felect Witnesses to Mankind of this extraordinary and important Event, who accordingly made it the Bufinefs of their Lives to publish it, both by their Preach

ing and Sufferings, to all the Nations of SERM. the Earth. III,IV.

I AM aware that a Question has been asked by fome, If Chrift did really rise again, why did he not shew himself pub. lickly to the Jewish Sanhedrim, and to the Inhabitants of Jerufalem and Judæa? It might as well have been ask'd, Why did he not appear to the Roman Emperor and Senate, who were a more confiderable Body of Men than the Jewish Sanhedrim? Nay, why did he not appear to all Nations? Why not to all Perfons of all Nations in all Ages, and that not once, but very often? For there is no End of the extravagant Demands of Men not contented with what is neceffary. Several Reasons may be affign'd, why Chrift did not after his Refurrection appear publickly to the Jewish Nation. But there needs no other Answer to this idle Question than to obferve, that if there were Witneffes enow of Chrift's Refurrection, it is very unreasonable to object that there were no more. Surely a Fact that is prov'd by fufficient Evidence,

dence, is not difprov'd by alledging that SERM. there are no more Proofs. From many III, IV. other Inftances as well as this it appears, that it is God's ufual Method of acting, to do not all that it is poffible for him to do, but what he judges neceffary and fitting to be done. If on any occafion God provides fuch Means as are proper and requifite for bringing about the Ends he aims at, tho' he do nothing farther, What juft Exception does there lie against this Manner of Proceeding? Is it unworthy of him to adapt and proportionate the Means to the End? Or is it any Impeachment of his Wifdom, or Juftice, or Goodness, that he does not fatisfy the Expectations of unreasonable Men; which, it is manifeft, are boundlefs, and never to be fatisfied? The only Question that ought to be between us and the Unbelievers on this Head is this, Whether God hath provided fuch a Number of Witneffes of our Lord's Refurrection, as is fufficient for the Conviction of reasonable Perfons; that is, of fuch as are defirous to difcoyer the Truth,

SERM

and fincerely difpos'd to embrace it. Now that the Number of the Witneffes

III, IV is abundantly fufficient for this Purpose,

appears from hence, That among Men of all Ranks and Conditions in all Countries and Ages of the World, Affairs of the greatest Moment have constantly been, and still are determin'd, and Controverfies of the laft Importance both to the Fortunes and to the Lives of Men have always been, and ftill are finally decided by the Evidence of a much finaller Number of credible Witnesses.

THE Evidence therefore of our Saviour's Refurrection, confider'd with regard to the Number of Perfons testifying it, is altogether unexceptionable. And if we confider it with regard to the Character and Qualifications of the Witnesses, and the Manner and Circumstances of their Teftimony, we fhall find that it is equally unexceptionable on these Accounts alfo; and confequently that it is in all Refpects abfolutely compleat and fatisfactory.

THE Credibility of any Evidence is increafed or abated, in proportion to the