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thofe Prophecies or no, is not material to the prefent Questions.

Is it not manifeft to Sight, that thofe Words, "the ancient Books referred to are extant, " and no fuch Prophecies to be found," exprefs the Sense and Opinion of the Objector to the Resurrection? But the Confiderer charges it to the Author of the Tryal as his own Sentiment, which he could not have done had he quoted the Paffage fairly. For this Reason he has altered it, and left out all the Words which exprefsly refer the Opinion to the Objector. His Quotation ftands thus,-The Author of the Trial (or Mr. B) Jays that though Jefus referred to the Aathority of the ancient Prophecies to prove that the Meffias was to die and rife again; and that though the ancient Books referred to are extant, and no fuch Prophecies to be found, whether the Prophecies can be found or no, it is not material to the prefent Question.

I shall leave the Confiderer's fair Dealing to be tried upon a Comparison with the Paffage, as it stands in the Tryal, and as it is transcribed into his Answer: And let him account to his Readers, as he can, for having fo grofsly imposed on them.

The only Thing here properly to be charged on the Author of the Tryal, is expreffed in those Words, whether the Gentleman (i. e. the Objector) can find thofe Prophecies or no, is not

& Tryal, p. 30.

P. 13.

First Edit. p. 20. i Third Edit.

material

material to the prefent Question. I think this is faid very juftly; for furely Believers are not to wait for the Evidence of Prophecy, 'till Infidels can or will fee it: and therefore whether the Gentleman (the Objector) could find the Prophecies or no, was not material; and further, whether he could or not find the Prophecies, it was not material to the present Queftion. The prefent Question related to the Truth of the Refurrection, confidered merely as a Matter of Fact: And as Facts must be proved, not by Prophecy, but by historical Evidence, it was impertinent to talk of Prophecy, when the Enquiry concerned a mere Fact only.

But the Confiderer, for want of Difcernment, or fomething else, says, it is granted the Gofpel Hiftorians fuggeft there are Prophecies, which are not to be found in the Books they refer to; but this is faid not to be material. He leaves out the Words, to the prefent Question, and goes on; Strange! is it not material, whether what the Evangelifts fay be true or false? Whether this is a true or falfe Infinuation to countenance the Hiftory? whether through Ignorance they imagined there were Prophecies which there were not, and fo were deluded? and whether through Defign they fuggefted there were, and fo deceived others k? All this is very well; but before the Confiderer can be entitled to the

* First Edit. p. 21.

Third Edit. p. 14.

full

full Merit of it, he muft fhew what he is doing, and whom he means to confute. He appears to me to be hunting down nothing but a very great Blunder of his own.

The Objector to the Truth of the Refur rection fays, (Tryal, p. 14.) In other Cafes the Evidence fupports the Credit of the History; but here the Evidence itself is prefumed only upon the Credit which the History has gained. The . Confiderer quotes the Words, and introduces them in this Manner, ""Tis true that in "other Cafes, &c. and refers the Reader to the Tryal; as if the Words produced expreffed the Senfe of the Author of the Tryal himself. The Confiderer was made fenfible of this Miftake, and tho' the Paffage ftill ftands, and very improperly, in his new Edition; yet he has ta ken fome Care to cover the Blunder, by dropping the Reference to the Tryal.

But let us fee in other Inftances how fairly the Confiderer deals.

The Author of the Tryal, to fhew that the Jews, in guarding the Sepulchre, betrayed a fecret Conviction of the Truth of the Miracles, performed by Christ in his Life-time fays,

Tryal, p. 38. For bad they been perfuaded that he wrought no Wonders in his Life, I think they would not

have

Page 8: First Edit.

The Confiderer quotes thefe Words thus:

They being perfua ded be performed no Miracles in his Life, were €

not

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have been afraid of feeing any done by him after his Death.

Again, p. 39.

The Author of the Tryal, to fhew the Inconfiftency of Woolston's Scheme, fays,

Surely this is a moft fingular Cafe; when the People thought him a Prophet, the chief Priests fought to kill him, and thought his Death would put an End to his Pretenfions; when they and the People bad difcovered him to be a Cheat, then they thought him not fafe, even when he was dead, but were afraid he should prove a true Prophet, and, according to his own Prediction, rife again.

not afraid of seeing any done by him after his Death b

Therefore that they fhould kill him, that his Death might put an End to all Pretenfions; yet think him not safe, when be was dead is, I muft own, a needlefs and prepofterous Fear, and a most fingular Case, as the Gentleman (meaning the Author of the Tryal rightly expreffes it.

By this artful Abufe of the Language of the Tryal, he makes the Reader imagine, that he has convicted the author out of his own Mouth.

Once more; amongst other things amazingly acted, as he expreffes himself, the Confiderer reckons this for one, that St. Matthew

с

Firft Edit. p. 38.

Edit. p. 48. Third Edit. p. 38.

Third Edit. p. 29.

Firft

Should

fhould be admitted as an Evidence in a Court, tó prove a Fact when he was abfent; and for this amazing thing he refers the Reader to P. 42. of the Tryal.

I thought it impoffible, that the Author of the Tryal fhould give any Handle for so impertinent an Objection to the Credit of St. Matthew. St. Matthew is an Hiftorian, and who ever objected to an Hiftorian, that he was not prefent at all the Tranfactions he reports? However I turned to the Tryal, p. 42. but not one Word is there about the Credit of St. Matthew; nor is it eafy to discern what the Confiderer refers to without fuppofing him guilty of a great Blunder, and not to know the Difference between an Hiftorian, and one produced as an Eye-Witness.

The Author of the Tryal objects to the Credibility of the Story made by the Guards of the Sepulchre, because their own Relation fhews they were asleep, when the Things they related happened. And to this Purpose he says, I would ask the Gentleman whether he has any Authorities in Point, to fhew that ever any Man was admitted as an Evidence in any Court, to prove a Fact which happened when he was afleep? This, I fuppofe, must be the Paffage, upon the Strength of which the Author of the Tryal is made a Party to the Objection against the Credit of St. Matthew; and it fhews how well qualified the Confiderer is to determine on the Credit of the Gospel HistoC 2 rians

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