SERM,

the World to great Multitudes, at Ferufalem the Capital of Judæa, and a very III,IV.

populous City; at the Time of one of their folemn Festivals, when many Myriads of Jews and pious Gentiles were come up thither to worship, not only from all Parts of Judaa, but from every Nation under Heaven. Not only to their Acquaintance and Followers, Friends either to their Mafter or to themselves; not only to Perfons of low Condition, or of mean Endowments of Mind, who might be thought the moft liable to be impos'd on; but to Perfons of all Sorts and Degrees without Diftinction; to thofe of the most ample Fortunes, and in the highest Stations; to thofe of the greatest Name for Learning and Policy; to their Lord's moft bitter and irreconcilable Enemies; to those who had been the Contrivers and Authors of his Death, the High Priefts and Elders, who wanted neither Skill nor Authority, nor Inclination, and whom it mightily behov'd in Point of Intereft and Reputation to detect the Cheat, if there were any, and

to

SERM. III, IV.

to bring the Forgers of it to condign Punishment.

THEY gave in their Evidence not lightly and ludicroufly, but with all becoming Seriousness and Solemnity, as in a Concern of the greateft Moment; not in Words obfcure and of uncertain Signification, fo as to leave room either for others to misunderstand it, or for themfelves to deny and evade it; but in the clearest and strongest Terms, in as proper and fignificant Expreffions as Language could convey. Not by Compulfion, nor by the Inftigation of others; not long deliberating, whether they fhould teftify or no; not with Reluctancy or Irrefolution; not doubtingly or waveringly, but of their own Accord, with the greateft Willingness, and with remarkable Alacrity and Zeal; not only uncall'd for, but in Contradiction to the Commands of their Superiors, as Persons fully affur'd both of the Truth of what they depos'd, and of the indispensable Obligation they were under to publifh it; declaring moft folemnly, That they

muf

must obey God rather than Man, and that they could not but speak the Things which they had feen and heard. Not once, nor for a fhort Time, nor in one Place only, not occafionally nor by the bye; but very often, during a Course of many Years, and unto their Lives end; induftriously feeking Opportunities of publishing their Teftimony, forfaking all other Employments, and devoting themselves wholly to this; fpending their Days in continual Labour and Travels, that by them the Preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles in every City and Country of the Universe might hear. Not differently, on different Occafions, but to all Perfons, at all Times, and in all Places invariably and alike; in perfect Agreement with themselves, and with one another; not faintly or timorously, not difguifing or palliating the Matter to avoid the Displeasure of any, but with fignal Courage and Boldnefs, in the most open and unguarded manner declaring the naked Truth, and reprefenting it in its native Colours, to thofe to whom it

muft

SERM.

III, IV.

.

H, IV.

muft needs be moft offenfive, and whom SERM. it was very dangerous to offend; undauntedly and with notable Prefence of Mind telling the Jews, Jefus of Nazareth a Man approved of God among you by Miracles and Wonders and Signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves alfo know, Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked Hands have crucified and flain, This Jefus bath God raised up, whereof we all are Witnesses; And proclaiming to the Faces of the High Priefts themselves and of the whole Senate, The God of our Fathers bath raised up Jefus, whom ye flew and banged on a Tree Him hath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour. This is the Stone which was fet at nought of you Builders, which is become the Head of the Corner. And we are his Witnesses of thefe Things. Such was their, De meanour even to the Governours of their Nation. All this has certainly the Face of plain and upright Dealing: Here are

.no

no Marks of Craft and Deceit.

Thefe

Ways of Proceeding bear no Refemblance to the Tricks and Wiles of Impoftors. Truth, Truth alone is open and conftant, uniform and always the fame; foyes to come at the Light, and will bear Examination, and is not to be over-ruled either by Fear or Shame.

KNAVISH and fraudulent Défigns are generally undertaken and pursued with a View to fome felfish and worldly End, fuch as Gain, Power, Honour, or the Gratification of Luft. But what worldly End, what fecular Advantage the Apofties could aim at by testifying the Refurrection of their Mafter, is utter ly unimaginable. They could not expect thereby to infinuate themfelves into the Favour of the High Prieft and Rulers, nor to receive any Reward or Countenance from them, who had all along perfecuted their Mafter as a Counterfeit, and had at last imbrued their Hands in his Blood; for them therefore it was very neceffary that he fhould be reputed a Deceiver. They could not reafonably G hope

SERM III, IV.