CHRIST, by the Evidence of their Senfes: And this is the highest kind of Evidence of which human Nature is capable. For when the Senses are employ'd about their proper Objects; if their Organs are in right Order or Difpofition; and there are a due Distance, Medium, and Light, they canhot poffibly be deceiv'd. Since therefore none of thefe Things can be queftioned, with regard to the Apostles; fince they not only faw CHRIST alive after his Death, but also beard him Difcourfe, and Bandled his Body; it unavoidably follows, that they had unquestionable Knowledge of his Refurrection; and if fo, then fince they were the Perfons, by whom the Refurrection of CHRIST was related in the Scriptures; it must likewife be concluded, that those who related the Refurrection of CHRIST, were Perfons of unquestionable Knowledge, with regard to the Matter of Fact related by them; which was the second Propofition we undertook to prove. I come now in the

Third and last Place, To fhew that they were Perfons of unquestionable Fidelity: By which I mean, that they faithfully related the Truth, and nothing but the Truth. And what confidering Man can believe otherwife? They being very Poor and

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and Ignorant, 'tis not likely they fhould be vers'd in the fubtile Artifices of Deceitand Impolture. Befides, what End could they propofe to themselves, by propagating a Falthood? Not to gain Honour, for they very well knew, as their Experience foon taught them, that Infamy, Scorn, and Reproach, would be their Treatment. Not to gain Riches, for they were often: depriv'd of what few Goods they already had upon this Accont; and if they were not, yet they could not conveniently inftruct Men the Doctrines which they deliver'd, without a great, perhaps total Neglect of their worldly Concerns. Nor in fhort, could they be induced to it, upon any other, temporal Views, for it al ways expos'd them to, and generally drew upon them Hunger and Thirst, Perfecu tion, and Imprisonment.

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Again, how could they expect, that their Teftimony fhould be embraced, which was fo much againft the rooted Prepoffeffions of Jews and Gentiles, in reference to their own ancient Religions; except they were certified both of the Truth of that which they related; and allo of Divine Affistance to encourage and fupport them?:

Accordingly we find, that they did not

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make known the Refurrection of Christ; and as a Consequent upon that, publish his Religion to the World; before they were aided from Above, and endued with Power from on High: but on the contrary, kept out of the Way as much as they could, and met together fecretly, for fear of the Jews.

But farther, if we look more closely into the Matter, it will appear morally impoffible, that any Impofture fhould be carried on in it. For it is to be confider'd, that there were not a few concerned in the Death of our Saviour. The whole Sanhedrim, and many of the Peo ple befides, were involv'd in the Guilt of it; and our Saviour having foretold his Refurrection on the third Day, they were refolv'd to look to it, and thereupon fixed a huge Stone to the Door of the Sepul chre, wherein his Body was laid; and appointed a Company of Soldiers, to keep and guard it: And there being at Jerulalem a great Confluence of People from all Parts of the Jewish Nation, to celebrate the Feast of the Paffover; 'tis very probable, that a great many of them were, or at least might be, walking in the Fields ar that Time, fome fooner, and fome later. Now if the Body of our Saviour was to be D. 3. ftolen

ftolen away by his Difciples, they must have firft terrified, or conquer'd the Sol'.. diers who watch'd it; which yet they could not fo much as attempt to do, without caufing fuch a Noile and Disturbance, as would have foon drawn great Numbers to the Aid of the Soldiers; and to the Deftruction of themselves: Not to mention that they must have carefully hid his Body in another Place, which nevertheless would have been quickly discovered, by reafon of the remarkable Wounds that were in it.

And now let us reflect a little upon the Whole. What a strange incredible Thing is it, that a few weak timerous Perfons, one of whom had not long before forfworn CHRIST; and who had all cowardly deferted him; I fay, how incredible is it, that thefe very Perfons fhould all on a fudden, repofe an entire Confidence in each other, and become fo very Bold and Valiant, as to go upon the most hazardous Enterprize imaginable, when there is not the least Shadow of Reason to think fo, but a great deal of it to the contrary? In fhort, thofe who took Council together, against CHRIST to put him to Death, must be counted void of common Sense, if they did not narrowly examine where

his Apostles went, and Abode after his Crucifixion; together with feveral other Things belonging to the fame Bufinefs; Was it not that they were fully fatisfied of the Truth of the Soldiers Relation, con. cerning his Refurrection: But they having determin'd to stifle this Evidence, could do no more than pretend to difregard the. Matter; and only cry it down in generalas an Imposture, without venturing to fift the Particulars of it, as being well aware, that 'twas impoffible to difprove them.

Thus it appears how extreamly weak and trifling that Report was, which the Chief Prielts and Elders invented; namely, that the Difciples of CHRIST did come by Night, and fteal him away, while the Guard flept. Indeed there was hardly any Occafion for fpending any Time in confuting it, it being fo ridiculous and inconfiftent, as to confute it felf: For fuppofing that the Body of CHRIST was stolen away, while the Guard flept, how could the Guard tell who ftole it away? But to say no more of that; whofoever duly weighs what hath been deliver'd upon this Argument, will find it to be the most reasonable Thing in the World, to believe that the Apostles were honeft and faithful in relating the Refur.

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