plished in the event; are so many additional convincing teftimonies that He came forth from God, and went to God. To which must be added the ancient predictions of Mofes and the Prophets concerning a future Meffiah, all believed and infifted on by the Jews, and amazingly fulfilled in the person of Jesus.

any

If be furprized that the Rulers and Doctors among the Jews could poffibly refift evidences fo inconteftible as have here been reprefented; be it remembered that malice and envy, those black humours of the human mind, are enough to obfcure the brightest truths, and fuppress the most cogent methods of conviction. For that their infidelity was not owing to want of evidence, if rightly attended to, is plain; seeing they themfelves acknowledged that He did many miracles, yet at the fame time bent all their force and stratagems to render them ineffectual,

ineffectual, and destroy Him; blafphemously alledging that he did his mighty works through the affistance of the Devil; cafting all out of the fynagogue that believed on him; fending forth fpies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might entrap him in his talk; fuborning false witneffes against him at his trial; and lastly, bribing the foldiers who were the guards of his fepulchre, in order to ftifle their testimony of his refurrection. And that all this was really the effect of malice, because He had charged them with hypocrify, reproved their errors, and expofed their vices, appears from the behaviour of Pilate, who, it is faid, knew that the Chief Priests had delivered him for envy; and was therefore willing to release him, having examined and found no fault in him. The truth is, the apprehenfion they were under left a general belief in Jefus, through the mighty works which

He

He did, might put an end to their credit with, and authority over the people, had blinded their understanding, and precluded all true judgment. And, thus much may fuffice to evidence the divine authority of the Gofpel-Revelation with respect to those, who both heard the words, and faw the works of Jesus.Again, that they too were under the fame obligation of believing it, who were witneffes of the Apoftles' preaching, and of the figns and wonders wrought by their hands, refults from a like method of reafening. For it exceeds all human credibility, that a fet of poor and illiterate men fhould on a fudden be endued with ability and refolution to proclaim, in every language under Heaven, a crucified Redeemer, and at the fame time to back their teftimony with a series of miracles performed in virtue of his name only; thereby converting great numbers to the faith, to whom

they

they also communicated such amazing powers; and this too in certain expectation, and under the immediate fenfe, of perfecutions, torments, and death itfelf; unless they were really commiffioned from above, and actuated and directed by an Almighty Agent.

The last thing to be confidered under this head is, the grounds and reafonableness of their faith, who living in ages diftant from the times of Chrift and his Apostles, neither heard their preaching, nor faw their miracles. Now it is plain they must be beholden to tradition of fome fort or other for their information and affurance. But furely this can be no objection against the reasonablenefs of their believing; for what other method is there of coming at the knowledge of paft tranfactions? And that fuch may be known with a fufficient degree of certainty will, I prefume,

fume, not be difputed. It is true oral tradition, though it may ferve to keep

up

the remembrance of fome principal facts, is not altogether to be depended on for an exact conveyance of truth; as being liable to additions and omiffions in the relation, from every tongue by which it is tranfmitted. For which reafon the Spirit of God hath not trusted the Chriftian Revelation to fo vague and uncertain a teftimony, but committed it to written characters, the most credible and authentic; infomuch that no one argument can be required, which does not stand in full force, and must ever do fo, in favour of them. For that the books of the New Teftament are really the works of thofe Authors whofe names they bear, fufficiently appears, in that they were generally received by the Church from the beginning under that character ; and conftantly owned and teftified by the Chriftians of that age, to VOL. II. have