we may add, that he was feen twice af ter his Afcenfion, cloathed with the higheft Glory and Happiness in Heaven; to wir, once by St. Stephen, and once by St. Paul

And if we farther confider the manner of his Converfation with them, while he was on Earth, we cannot but allow that they were fully certified of his Refurrection. For he continued with them for a long time together; difcourfing upon the moft Noble and fublime Subjects; giving them the most admirable Lectures in Divinity and expounding the Scriptures with fuch a furprizing Strength and Exactness, that that their Hearts burn'd within 'em, even before they knew who he was. After which, at another Time of his Appearance, leaft they might fuppofe that they had feen a Spirit; he eat in their Prefence a Piece of a broil'd Fish, and of an Honey-Comb; and moreover bid them handle him, that they might know that be bad Flesh and Bones, which a Spirit bath ngt. And at another Time, he commandca Thomas to put bis Finger into the Print of the Nails, and to thrat his Hand into the Side which was pierc'd So that nothing can be more manifeft, than that the Apofles were allur'd of the Refurrection of bas.

CHRIST,

CHRIST, by the Evidence of their Senfes: And this is the highest kind of Evidence of which human Nature is capable. For when the Senfes are employ'd about their proper Objects; if their Organs are in right Order of Difpofition; and there are a due Distance, Medium, and Light, they cannot poffibly be deceiv'd. Since therefore none of thefe Things can be queftionéd, with regard to the Apostles; fince they not only faw CHRIST alive after his Death, but also heard 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 likewise be concluded, that those who related the Resurrection of CHRIST, were Perfons of unquestionable Knowledge, with regard to the Matter of Fact related by them; which was the fecond Propofition we undertook to prove. I come now in the

Third and laft 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 ca believe otherwife: They being very Poor D 2 and

and Ignorant, 'tis not likely they should be vers'd in the fubtile Artifices of Deceit and Impolture. Besides, what End could they propofe to themfelves, by propagating a Fallhood? Not to gain. Honour, for they very well knew, as their Experience foon taught them, that Infamy, Scorn, and Reproach, would be their Treatment. Nor 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 Thirft, Perfecu tion, and Imprifonment.

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 also of Divine Affiftance to encourage and support them?:

Accordingly we find, that they did not

make

make known the Refurrection of CHRIST; and as a Confequent 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 clofely in to the Matter, it will appear morally impoffible, that any Impofture fhould bet carried on in it. For it is to be confider'd, that there were not a few concern ed in the Death of our Saviour. The whole Sanhedrim, and many of the Peo ple besides, 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 Sepulchre, 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 Difturbance, 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 yery 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 lealt 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