Integrity and Information of the Witneffes. If they who teftify have not rightly inform'd themfelves of the Matter which they relate, or if they do wilfully falfify in their Relation, their Depofitions ought to be efteem'd of no Validity. But if there be no Ground to fufpect the Witneffes either of Unfaithfulness or of Miftake; If, on the other hand, there be very ftrong Proofs both of their Fidelity and of their Knowledge, that they have no Design to impose upon others, nor have been impos'd upon themfelves; If a confiderable Number of fuch Witneffes do all concur in afferting the fame thing, expreffly, industriously, zealously, openly, boldly, frequently, conftantly, without Ambiguity, without Referve, without Hefitation, without Retracting, without Profpect of Advantage, without any human Probability of meeting with Credit, in Oppofition to the combin'd Forces of all the Learning and Wealth, and Authority, and Superftition and Vices of the World; renouncing all that is dear and defirable; not tempted F 2

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By the Promises of Rewards to unfay what they have affirm'd, nor flinching under the Apprehenfions, and Trials of the most cruel Sufferings, from which they might be exempted by revoking their Teftimony, or barely forbearing to publifh it: If befides all this, there be vifible Tokens of a Divine Prefence going along with them, and fealing their Teftimony by mighty Signs and Wonders, and caufing all Oppofition to fall before them; this Teftimony, if any, is credible and valid. If fuch Evidence as this be once fet afide, then nothing is to be prov'd by Teftimony; no Business can be tranfacted among Men, no Controverfies can be terminated, no Reports nor Hiftories however attefted are to be credited, neither Man nor God himself is to be believ'd; here is an End of all Certainty, and we muft for ever abandon ourselves to Doubting and Scepticism.

LET us now apply this to the Evidence of our Lord's Refurrection, that we may judge whether there be any Defect in it.

IN

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IN order to discover what is the true Character of those who teftified Chrift's Refurrection, it will not be impertinent to observe, that the moral Precepts which thofe Perfons deliver'd by Writing as well as by Preaching, are known to excel thofe of the most celebrated Philofophers. As their Master had done before them, fo did they on all Occafions prefs and bind upon Men the Practice of all manner of Virtue, and particularly a punctual Obfervance of the Rules of Juftice, Truth and Honefty. They did likewise. condemn and forbid under the feverest Penalties all forts of Vice and Immorality, and especially Injuftice of all kinds; all Guile and Hypocrify; all Arts of Deceit and Impofture. This I confefs is. no Demonstration that the Apostles were themselves fuch Men as they taught others to be; for many fay, and do not. Very often Mens Behaviour is a Contradiction to their Doctrine. But from hence however this Conclufion neceffarily follows, that the Religion which the Apostles profefs'd and preach'd, was far from ha

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ving any Tendency to vitiate their Morals, or to make them difhoneft Men, and engage them in any fraudulent Defigns. Their avowed Principles could not prompt them, nay would not allow them to be Knaves. They could not poffibly think themfelves oblig'd in Confcience; they could not confiftently think themselves at liberty to invent and spread a Lie and to perfist in it, in order to propagate a Religion, of which Fidelity is an effential Part; the very Foundation of which is laid in Truth and Sincerity, and which prohibits all Lying under Pain of everlasting Damnation.

BUT there is ftill remaining pofitive and direct Proof of the Probity and Credit of those who bore Witness to the Refurrection. They who well knew their Perfons and Tempers, and manner of Life, by converfing long and familiarly with them, their Companions and Scholars, and they who lived in the Times immediately fucceeding, have in their Writings upon feveral Occafions made fo honourable mention of them, and bestow

ed

ed on them fuch Encomiums, and givenfuch Relations concerning them, as leave no room for their good Character to be called in Queftion. If we may believe thofe who know moft of them (And in this Cafe whom elfe ought we to believe?) their Converfation was unblameable and exemplary. So far as appears, from the Time that they enter'd upon their Apoftolic Office, they transcrib'd their own Precepts into their Lives, and adorn'd by their Practice the Doctrines which they recommended by their Preaching. They are defcribed to have been Perfons eminent not only for their Piety towards God, but also for their Faithfulnefs and Sincerity, their plain and conscientious and honourable Dealing in their Intercourfe with Men; for their invincible Firmness and Conftancy, Meeknefs and Patience; for their fervent and extenfive Charity, and their difinterested and unwearied Endeavours to do Good to the Souls and Bodies of Men; for their Temperance, and Moderation and Mortification; for their Selfdenial and F 4

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