of the Christian Faith For it is not to be conceived how such a Doctrine as this was should be so wonderfully propagated without the special Help of God A Doctrine so 1 new and therefore so Reproached and Vilified so necessary as it was pretended for the promoting of Gods Glory and for the Good of Man that no Salvation was to be expected from any other Name but that of Jesus Act. 4.12 and yet reserved for the 2 last of times and the declining Ages of the World A Doctrine so inconsistent with and so 3 destructive of all other ways of Worship and whose Professors as many of them as came out of Heathenisme were obliged to look upon the Heathen World upon their former selves and the whole Race of their Progenitors 1 Thes 1.9 Eph. 2.12 1 Cor. 10 20. as the most vile Idolaters and such as hitherto had lived without God and without Hope yea were obliged to detest as Devils those whom they had hitherto adored as Gods A doctrine so 4 incredible in its Author in his Birth from a 5 Virgin and the Obscureness of his Parentage in the 6 Meanness of his outward Condition and in his Reception and Usage by the Governing part of the world in all those circumstances which are most considered by the Generality of Mankind For he was contemned opposed reviled whipped and 7 condemned as the Worst of Malefactors by the Chief Priests and Scribes and Rulers of the People by the Rabbies who were held to be the wisest and the Pharisees who went for the Holy Men of his Nation he seemed to be and confessed he was one 8 deserted by that God whom he presumed to call his Father and whose Message he pretended to deliver He that had taken upon him to be the Sav our of the World could not save himself from the Greatest Miseries that can be suffered in this Life nor at last from a Painful and Accursed death This it was which so disparaged his Doctrine both to Jews and Gentiles that to one it is said to have been a stumbling block 1 Co. 1.23 and the other looked upon it as foolishness A Doctrine so incredible in that Article which is alledged to make amends for the Scandal of the former and which is indeed the Basis of the Christians Hope viz. The 9 Resurrection of Christ from the dead as a pledge and earnest of a future Resurrection for all them that believe in him A Doctrine so infamous for those horrid things that are charged upon the Sectators of it both by Jews and Gentiles who made them Guilty of 10 Atheisme 11 Rebellion Sacriledge 12 Incest Murder Anthropophagy the 13 Worship of the Cloudes and of an 14 Asses head and of the 15 Secrets of the Priests which foul defamations that they might Spread the more effectually and with the better shew of Truth they forced some Slaves and 16 Silly Women by torments to confess them and formed 17 Supposititious acts of Pilate fill'd with the vilest Blasphemies and Impious Revilings of Christianity and caused them to be learnt by Children the more assuredly to print an hatred of it on their Spirits and cause them upon those Accounts to 18 quit the Christians company A Doctrine so pernicious Infructuosi in negotiis dicimur Tertul ap c. 42. as to make every Christian an unprofitable member of the Commonwealth and their Religion so hateful as to be deem'd the 19 Rise of all those Miseries which afterwards perplexed the Roman Empire Whose sudden 20 Ruine it pretended to foretel 21 the pleasure of whose Senate it controuled and whose 22 Gods so vigilant to preserve and extend its bounds farther then the Sea washes or the Sun shines Vltra solis vias ipsius Ocedni limites apud Minut as Octavius saith of them it traduced as Devils or dead men and by such vile affronts made them as their Worshippers imagined to 23 withdraw their kindness and forget their wonted Love to that Empire A Doctrine so repugnant to every Sect of Philosophers in those opinions for which they most eagerly contended to the Epicurean's conceit of an idle unconcerned Diety to the Academicks Scepticisme the 24 Platonists Demons 25 and community of Wives to the 26 Pythagoreans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Peripateticks conceits of a God shut up in Heaven and of a World that has been from Eternity to the Stoicks opinions of a Corporeal God subject to the Laws of Fate and of every mans Power over his own Life to destroy it when he pleaseth Again it is a Doctrine professedly opposite to the 27 Decrees of Emperours against Witchcraft 28 Conjurations 34 Unlawful Conventicles night meetings and against the 29 Introduction of new ways of Worship and what they styled Rebellion Sacriledge irreligion A Doctrine which call's for Self-denyal Love of enemies a life of Highest Purity and separation from the Pleasures and the Enjoyments of the World and for a willingness to bear the Cross and suffer all the Miseries of Life and cruel Death if there be occasion and this only in hopes of future blessings from a crucified Jesus A Doctrine which did thwart the Principles of Education the Passions Humours and Affections the Inclinations Customes Prescriptions and Superstitions of the World and that Habitual Corruption which had so long orespread it and therefore render'd the Practise of it as difficult as the Belief A Doctrine which for these causes was so violently contradicted both by the 30 Zeale and malice of the Jew 1 Cor. 1.19 3 19. Rom. 1 12. and the Philosophy of the Gentile which it condemned as Folly and its Authors as the worst of fooles and by the Sword of Emperours still glutted with the bloud of Christians and by the Rhetoricians Topicks of perswasion and all the Machinations both of men and Devils I say it is not to be conceived that such a Doctrine should by the means of Simple and Illiterate men subject to many thousand miseries 31 and destitute not only of that Eloquence which was so taking in those days but of all visible protection and apparent kindness from that Jesus for whom they di pretend to suffer and void of all that might commend them to the World or which might fit them either to instruct their Proselytes or to confound their Adversaries I say that such a Doctrine should by the means of Persons so unqualified spring forth and shoot like lightning from the East unto the West cancel the Ceremonies of the Jew confound the Scepticisme and baffle all the Wisdome of the Creeks that it should instruct the Rudeness of Barbarians in the sublimest Mysteries and change their Savage Customes unto the Christian Charity and Humility that it should suddenly usurpe the name of 32 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Prevailing Doctrine as Porphyry and others call it that it should shackle even the Prince of Darkness and make his Kingdome fall more quick than lightning from the skies that it
of a Deity and the concernments of Religion That they received Opinions which destroyed Morality This proved from their Mistakes and Errors 1. Touching the duties and concerns of Love and Charity to their Neighbor And 2ly Touching the Laws of Chastity Justice and of Truth Heathen Philosophy proved ineffectual not only to reform the World but the Professors of it The wickedness of their Lives The accounts and reasons of it The result of all in confirmation of the Christian Faith p. 296. CHAP. XI Of the Resurrection Prolegomena in order to the demonstration of the Resurrection of our Lord. 1. That the Apostles did presently attest the thing 2. That this attestation could not be a bare-faced and notorious lye Arg. 1. From the Testimony Arg. 2. From these three Considerations 1. That our Saviours Body did not continue in the Sepulchre when they proclaimed him risen 2. That his Disciples did not conveigh his Body thence Nor 3. was that done by any other Persons who had no relation to Christ and no affection for him Arg. 3. From the Consideration of the Persons testifying p. 387. The Conclusion Shewing That if what hath been deliver'd should be only probable yet the Christian Faith must in all reason be embraced as being 1. the safest way and 2ly the greatest Instrument of present Happiness A recapitulation of the whole with a Practical Reflection upon what hath been discoursed p. 306. CHAP. I. The Contents WHAT Endeavours have been made to stop the Growth of Atheisme and Irreligion by asserting an all wise presiding Power visible in the production of the World What seemeth further necessary to be alledged against the Atheist An essay towards the eviction of a Providence 1 From the existence of evil spirits 2 From many signall demonstrations of Gods power 3 of his Judgments upon Rebellious sinners and 4 of his power and Mercy in preservation of his servants and his miraculous Answers to their prayers 5 From revelations and predictions of things contingent in their various circumstances 6 From apparitions of good and evil Angels 7 From dreams and visions supernatural 8 From things performed by pretenders to miracles Magicians Witches Oracles philosophers which could not be effected naturally c. The confirmation of the Christian faith by what hath been delivered 1 by evincing that Providence hath been engaged for the establishment of some particular Religion in the world 2 that that particular Religion is no other then the Christian faith § 1. VVHAT Artifices have been used of late to baffle all Religion to undermine the pillars and foundations of it how bold and impudent the instruments of Satan are how free to vent how industrious to infuse their poyson into every soul how unhappily disposed the greater part of Mankind is by reason of the vile Affections and brutish Lusts which reign in them to suck in this hellish Vomit t is needless to informe the Reader He must have shut his Eyes who doth not see and stopt his Ears who doth not hear the sad but just complaints of the encrease of Atheism and Irreligion in the Christian world § 2. TO stop the Growth of this pernicious Evil some have endeavour'd to assert the Being of a God not from the Metaphysical foundations which the Scholes have laid but from the Phaenomena of Nature which carry with them a greater Evidence of some presiding Wisdome over-ruling Power which being undeniably concluded from what they have discoursed on this Subject it remains only to evince that this presiding Wisdome in the Creation of the World had a peculiar eye unto the Welfare of Mankind and doth at present watch over that noble part of his Creation gives indications of his Will Pleasure as far as is conducing to our Welfare and Motives to obey that Will since he that cometh unto God must believe that he is Heb. 11.6 and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him For if we suppose that from the beginning of the world there were established such Laws of Action as doe necessitate the operations and productions which shew the Wisdome of their Great Contriver though we should also doubt whether he ever did or doth at present interest himself in the concernments of Men and the free motions of their Wills and should conceave with modern Theists wee are too inconsiderable to be the matter of his care and Providence we should sufficiently comply with the intent and vigor of those Arguments I shall not venture to supply what 's lacking to those late attempts by any large discourse on the mysterious Theme of Providence which others have improved beyond what I am able to perform but only hint such things which in conjunction seem to make it highly rational to own the thing and which I do not find so fully nor I think so convincingly proposed in other Writers on this Subject § 3. AND 1. If there be any evil Spirits which maligne the Welfare of Mankind then there must be a Providence For were there no superior Power that did curb and over awe them and by so doing shew his care of Man they would according to their inclinations either inflict upon Mankind at present the sorest and most dreadful Evils which could be incident to humane Nature this being the design and drift of hatred to plague and to confound its object or if Mens souls be subject unto future Miseries more Great and lasting then any they can suffer in this present life it would be the endeavour of these Spirits to reduce the world to such compliance with their humors and full submission to their wills as would assuredly subject them to those future Miseries or ruine those who should refuse obedience to them Now the Existence of these evil Spirits may be concluded from their Operations For if the Heathen Oracles did e're foretell what it was not in the power of man to see of which their Authors give us very many instances If any seeming miracles were ever wrought for the establishment of Heathenism or any other way of Worship not allowed by God which even Christians do confess vid. Chap. 9. sect 1. and Scripture doth acknowledg If any persons ever were possessed by the devil If they have ever spoken languages they understood not told things of which he only could informe them or have receav'd assistance or temptations from him to destroy themselves if ever he appear'd to any of his Proselytes in the dark corners of the World or the assemblies of those persons that are devoted to his service we must then own his Being in the World and his design to ruine us at present or to enslave us to his worship in order to our future Ruine Now only to transcribe the Histories and Records of these things would be the work of many volumes they being attested by many Myriads of all Ages and of all Countries of the World confessed by those who have engaged in the Worship of the Devil
State and their denial of all future punishments and from their false conceptions of the rise and fatality of Sin That these opinions are destructive to the service of a Deity and the concernments of Religion That they received opinions which destroyed morality This proved from their mistakes and errors 1. Touching the duties and concerns of love charity to their neighbour And secondly touching the laws of Chastity Justice and of truth Heathen Philosophy proved ineffectual not only to reforme the world but the Professors of it The wickedness of their lives The accounts and reasons of it Theresult of all in confirmation of the Christian Faith § 1. BUT that which is the Crown of all and indeed potissima demonstratio a most convincing evidence of the Assistance of the holy Spirit towards the propagation of the Gospel is the excellency of the Christian precepts and the subservience they bear not only to our future but to our present welfare § 2. IT were endless to insist upon the incredible Power of Christianity when cordially embraced to sheath the Sword beat it into plow-shares to still contentions and bind the hand to its good behaviour to prevent all waies of being cruel to our neighbours life or prejudicial to his estate and Fortunes or injurious to his name or honour by taking up or venting a reproach against him or by discovering those Errors and infirmities which Charity doth bind us to conceal It were infinite to recount those liberal provisions it hath made for Love and Charity pity and compassion and whatsoever may indear my Brother to me and draw forth all my powers to assist him It gives the truly generous and publick Spirit it commands every man to seek his Brothers weal and shew him all that kindness which he could expect or beg when under like necessity It bids us burn when others are afflicted and weep with those that weep That is it bids us be as forward to relieve them under all their pressures and afflictions as if their afflictions were our own Now what can further be required to our present happiness than the security of what a present we enjoy from any hand of violence and the assurance of our Brothers help towards the enjoyment of the thing we want Nor is it less conducive to the publick good Christianity gives such a relish of sublimer Bliss as disintangleth the more noble Soul from all the trivial concernes of earth It tells us that the freindship of this world is enmity to God that he who beares affection to these earthly things is but pretender to the love of heaven It inspires into us that contentmēt which allayes the hell torment of an inordinate still gaping appetite It transformes the man into humility and meekness and so prevents the tumult disturbance of the haughty Spirit It enforceth peace upon us by the strongest motives and threatneth an eternal flame to the Incendiary It moulds the Soul into a simple honest and sincere deportment and interdicts those flattering Addresses which belye the thoughts and Conscience of the Speaker and more then this it cannot do in order to our publick welfare since that can never suffer but from unjust and treacherous factious and turbulent proud worldly or rapacious Spirits § 3. CHRISTIANITY is a Religion highly perfective of humane nature and such as best comports with the concernments of our Souls and most advanceth its most noble faculties It gives the best discoveries of the Divine existence and of Providence and of that obedience and homage which we owe unto a Deity and of those attributes which are the only grounds and most prevailing motives to it viz. The Truth and Freedome the Justice Power Goodness the Wisdome Unity and Omnipresence of a Deity all which must be entirely owned as the foundations of reall Piety It presents us with such admirable discoveries of Wisdome Justice Goodness Mercy and Compassion in the contrivance and procurement of Pardon and Salvation to us by the death of Christ as Judaisme could never boast It holds forth the clearest light to guide our darke and purblind Reason into the paths of vertue and to secure us from the splitting rocks of Vice It gives the best and largest Comment upon those duties of the moral Law which are so imperfectly and so obscurely hinted by the light of nature and so much questioned and disputed by the Gentile World as wee shall see hereafter It discovers to us those impediments which would retard and clog us in the performance of our duty that so we may avoid them It makes the evil thought as guilty as the evil action and calls as much for purity of heart and freedome from every vile affection as from those actions that doe issue from them It setleth the floating soul on the firm Basis of divine veracity and for the Heathens faint surmises and the Jews darker shaddowes of good things to come it gives the Christians lively hopes and full assurances of Faith It tenders the holy Spirit as an earnest of our future bliss and assures us if we doe the will of heaven we shall know what is so In fine the knowledge of a future endless bliss and misery is the result of Gospel revelation which upon all these grounds doth best provide for the information of our understanding in what it is concern'd to know in order to our future happiness to wit the being of a God and our engagement to adore and serve him what will procure his Favour and will provoke his Indignation and what concernes we have sincerely to avoide the one and to pursue the other § 4. NEXT it presents the Will with the most soveraigne motives and engagements unto duty and bindes that on us with most powerful cords of Love and the amazing mercies of our God and Saviour The obligations of repeated vows and Covenants especially of those of Baptisme and the Sacred Eucharist the convictions of our conscience the laws and Sanctions of that Majesty who strikes an awe upon it and the example of our Saviours which doth at once prescribe to our obedience and provoke us to it It pains forth sin to us in its own dress attended with the dangers of present and a dreadful expectation of eternal miseries and those enhanced by all the aggravations which love and mercy conscience and duty the light of reason and religion the experience of our selves and others can afford it It presents Goodness to us in its fairest and most tempting aspects assures us that the ways of God are Good honourable safe and easie and full of comfort and present satisfaction to the Soul It courts the affections with the most admirable delights that heaven can tender it surrounds us with the pleasures of a virtuous life the joys of charity the comforts of an upright conscience the smiles of heaven and its concernment for the good man's welfare here and happiness hereafter such happiness as far exceeds what we are able
that Reason which is obliged to own such Notions as do abound with equal if not greater Difficulties And certainly if Mathematicks will afford its Demonstrations pro and con if Matters obvious to sense do oft confound the Vnderstanding it is not to be hoped it should wade thorough the Abyss of infinite perfections and not be overwhelmed and lost 2. Consider whether you have not greater reason to believe these Doctrines then to disbelieve them From what is here discoursed in the introduction it is clear we have as many reasons to assert a Providence as we have reasons to believe that any signal Demonstrations of Gods power have been made by any acts of Judgment or of Mercy in any Parts or Ages of the World or that his Wisdome was engaged in any Revelations Oracles Predictions Dreams or Visions supernatural or in the Production of the World and in the exquisite Contrivance of any Portion of it We have as many reasons to believe a Providence as we have to assert that any good or evill Angels do exist or ever did appear or interest themselves in any actions of Mankind And yet our reasons which evince the truth of Christian Faith are far more numerous and cogent Let then the Atheist view and ponder what we have here produced in confirmation of these Truths and then consider whether his motives to renounce Christianity and to reject a Providence be more numerous and more convincing then what this Treatise offers to establish them If not he must have greater Reason to assert then to disown them and so his Infidelitie must be the worst of Follies Lastly Consider whether he that rejects the Christian Faith must not be forced to believe what 's more incredible then any Mystery contained in it For he must believe that Christ and his Disciples and the Christians of the three first Ages did endeavour to confirm the world in the belief of what they knew to be a lie and consequently that all the Primitive Professors who did so court the Flames and were so wearie of this present life were yet the vilest Atheists as not believing there was any God to punish this their pernicious lye Or secondly that they were all beside themselves that they had lost the principles of preservation and Self Love which Nature hath so deeply planted in the very Brutes and that they made it their designe to ruine and destroy their Souls and Bodys their Friends and their Relations to abandon all the Pleasures of this Life and to expose themselves to all the Miseries that can be incident to humane Nature without any motive but the love of Miserie And yet he must believe that they who did so little understand the common Principles of humane Nature were able to enrich the World with the best Notions of a Deity and of a future State and the best precepts of Moralitie that humane Nature ever was acquainted with And that these Fools had wit enough to propagate their Doctrine and to obtain belief throughout the World maugre all opposition that all the powers of men and Devils could make against them Or 2ly he must believe these Atheists chose to quit their Lives and suffer all the miseries they underwent only to beat down Atheisme and to establish that Religion which bears the Greatest Opposition to all the Naturall results of Atheisme He must believe that what is written in the Books of Scripture and the Apologies of all the Christians and that all that they pretended and appealed to in every corner of the World were but prodigious impudent untruths and that the World was universally induced to Worship a condemned Malefactor as God Blessed for evermore and to embrace the Doctrine of the Cross with all its Disadvantages without a seeming Miracle Or 2ly he must believe that they had no assistance in the Propagation of the Faith besides those arts of Magick in which both Jew and Gentile were more expert then they and which Apostates who were very numerous and frequent learned and ingenious were equally acquainted with and yet that never any of them did attempt to imitate or to disclose their Art or that the world when thus convinced of the Delusion would notwithstanding universally embrace and chuse to suffer for what they knew to be confirmed only by those Magical Collusions which they saw daily practised by Jew and Heathen and in which they were instructed by those very Christians who did so signally condemn those Arts as Devilish and threaten everlasting Misery to all that used them He must believe that all the Records of any signal Judgement which ever did befall the Enemies and Blasphemers of the Christian Faith or any portion of it or of any Mercies Preservations Gifts or Assistances vouchsafed to them in any age or places of the Christian World are void of Truth in every particular He must believe an hundred matters of like nature which this Treatise will suggest And therefore Reader I intreat you to peruse it with that care and diligence which matters of this moment do require and then I hope it may be instrumentall to convince you of and confirm you in the Truth of Christian Faith which is the hearty desire of Your Servant in the Defence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ DANIEL WHITBIE The Contents of the Chapters CHAP. I. WHAT Endeavours have been made to stop the growth of Atheism and Irreligion by asserting an All-wise presiding Power visible in the production of the World What seemeth further necessary to be alledged against the Atheist An Essay towards the eviction of a Providence 1. From the existence of evil Spirits 2. From many signal demonstrations of Gods Power 3. Of his Judgements upon rebellious Sinners And 4. of his power and mercy in preservation of his servants and his miraculous answers to their Prayers 5. From Revelations and Predictions of things contingent in their various Circumstances 6. From Apparitions of good and evil Angels 7. From Dreams and Visions supernatural 8. From things performed by pretenders to Miracles Magicians Witches Oracles Philosophers which could not be effected naturally c. The confirmation of the Christian Faith by what hath been delivered 1. by evincing that Providence hath been engaged for the establishment of some particular Religion in the World 2. That that particular Religion is no other then the Christian Faith pag. 1 2. CHAP. II. That common Prudence would not suffer the Apostles to pretend such things in their Historical Relations of the Life of Christ and in their Epistles to the Churches newly converted as must infallibly disgrace their Testimony and make them appear guilty of Delusion 2. That the Miracles recorded in those Historical Narrations and Epistles if true are a convincing evidence that some superior Power did assist the Workers of them 3. That Christ and his Disciples had no assistance from good or evil Angels to impose upon the World p. 55. CHAP. III. Sect. I. Proleg 4. That Christ and his Apostles did
quod dicturi sumus Christum enim Dii piissimum pronunciaverunt immortalem factum cum bona praedicatione ejus meminerunt Et post haec de Christo interrogantibus si est Deus ait Hecate Viri pietate praestantissimi est illa anima Aug. l. 19. c. 23. lib. 22. c. 25. Ille est Deus quem nec commemor are me piget confitente Porphyrio atque id Oraculis Deorum suorum probare cupiente ipsa Numina perhorrescunt Porphyry the greatest Adversary of the Christian Faith who owns our Saviour for a God and tells us That one of their oracles did yield an ample Testimony unto his Worth and Merit But secondly We have no reason to conceive that his Disciples should continue to gull the World in this particular For such was their simplicity they could not such their sincerity they would not go about to do so § 2. Lucian Peregr p. 338. Mimet p. 4. Celsus apud orig p. 146 147. Hieroc apud Euseb contra Hieroc p. 5 14. Tertul. Apol. c. 49. Arnob. l. 1. p. 34 35. 1. SUCH was their * Nam cum videret futuros vos esse gestarum abs se rerum divinique operis abrogatores ne qua subesset suspicio magicis se artibus muner a illa beneficiaque largitum ex immensa illa populi multitudine quae suam Gratiam sectabatur admirans piscatores opifices Rusticanos atque id genus delegit imperitorum qui per varias Gentes missi cunct a illa miracula sine ullis fucis atque adminiculis perpetrarent Arnib l. 1. p. 30. simplicity they could not Plots and Designs to overturn the World and introduce a Doctrine which carryed such a signal Opposition to the Faith and Tenets the Wisdom and Philosophy the Interests and Vices of the World must call for better Heads and deeper Judgements nor was it ever heard that twelve simple Mechanicks for such the Apostles and primitive Professors of Christianity were still reputed by their Adversaries should be so much concern'd for any way of Worship or durst adventure with the hazard of their Lives to Preach it to the World though after such a Grand delusion of mankind by men so rude and infamous as the Apostles were esteemed nothing could have seemed too foolish absurd to be imposed upon the world †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost or 2. in Bab. p. 446. Should any man have sayd when Christ was nailed to the Cross that many thousands of his bloudy murtherers which then reviled him as a malefactor should in few days become his converts and venture all their present and Eternal interests upon the truth of his pretended Resurrection should they have said that through all the world he should be shortly worshipped as that King to whom all power both in heaven and earth was Given and as that Jesus who alone could give Salvation should they have told us that all this should be done in spight of all the powers of wit and policy of eloquence and of the sword the Interests and lusts the superstitions and corrupt opinions and the reputed wisdome of mankind by a few mean unskilful men the hatred and derision of the place they lived in I say should so extravagant a thought have then been vented it must have surely passed for an Idle brain-sick dream as little to be heeded as that twelve cripples should beseige storm plunder and destroy the strongest and best peopled city or that a naked man should vanquish all the powers of the Roman Empire Besides such is the excellency of the Christian faith so much above the reach of humane wisdome to conceive so seemingly repugnant to it when revealed that it was most unfit to be the matter of a design to gull the world so sublime and spiritual are its precepts so far exceeding all that the learning and wisdome of the Greeks could snew that t is impossible to believe they should derive from witless and mechanick persons § 3. NAY such was their sincerity that if they could yet they would not thus abuse the world Whosoever views their writings so full of wisdome and of purity so admirably pathetical in their expressions a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig. in Celsum p. 70. free in the confession of their own infirmities Mat. 26.36 Mar. 14.71 Gal. 1.13 1 T-m 1.15 so full and pregnant in those doctrines which speak the greatest self denyal so plain in the delivery of Christian duties so void of all the arts of wit and policy all the advantages of Eloquence and humane wisdome and then considers that their lives were sutable to what their doctrines did deliver that they became examples as well as Preachers both of the Christian faith and patience 2 Thes 3.9 and did appeal to the Churches newly converted by them and attempted by others to disown them how holily and b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thes 2.10 Rom. 16.17 1 Tim. 1.20 Titus 3.10 how unblamably they had liv'd He that considereth their quickness to condemne and censure to avoide and punish those who did not walk according to their rules of piety as enemies unto the Gross of Christ and yet how irksome and distastful those things are to wicked men how prone and strongly byassed their affections are the other way I say he that shall well consider these particulars will quickly see sufficient reason to believe them upright and sincere § 4. BESIDES no man is wicked to no end which must be their case if they had been deceivers For what could they expect to get by lying Was it to grow big with honour They confessed and every days experience made it good 1 Cor. 4.9 2 Cor. 4.9 Luk. 6.20 their doctrine and their Persons were the scorn and derision of their Adversaries Was it to abound in wealth Poverty was their beatitude their Charity and faith were sure to keep them low enough the Pearl of price was to be bought with the loss of all they had if they had any thing to lose Was it to swim in pleasure The witness of the spirit and their own knowledge could informe them that bonds and Prisons would abide them in every place Acts 20.23 2 Cor. 23.27 and their whole life was a continued Scene of troubles perils and afflictions They could not seek Great things but they must contradict that doctrine of self-denyal humility and an heavenly mind which they so oft inculcated nor enjoy them without a contradiction to the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Celsus apud Orig. lib. 7 pag. 343. predictions of Jesus which they had left on record For He foretold them that in the world they should have tribulation and that their names should be cast out as evil doers that persecutions scourgins death and Universal hatred should be their portion among men They knew by reason and experience that if their hopes depended only on the enjoyments of this present life they must of all men
be most miserable and t is repugnant to the principles of humane nature to be in love with misery Self-preservation as it includes the welfare both of soul and body being the Great and fundemental rule of Action We see how backward even the best of Christians are to quit the enjoyments of this present life in expectation of a future bliss what then could move those men who if their Saviour was not risen could not expect the blessings of another world but rather vengeance from that God whom they so wickedly bely'd to broach that doctrine which layd an obligation on them to quit their pleasures honors and enjoyments and suffer all the hardships of this present life 3ly What hopes could they conceive of their obtaining credit from the world whence could they gather matter of so strong presumption Not from that Jesus who was if what they published of him was a lye detained under the power of the Grave Not from that God whom they so wickedly bely'd engaging both his power and veracity to attest a falshood 1 Cor. 1.17 cap. 2.4 13. Not from the powerful charmes of eloquence they neither had nor needed them in publishing the doctrin of the Cross nor from the more prevailing powers of worldly riches staves in their hands and sandals on their feet were all the treasures they carried with them Not from Authority and power to overballance and bear down their adversaries this could not be expected from twelve poor illiterate men contesting with the world and all the powers of darkness Not lastly from any Good affection which the world bore them or any proneness whether in Jew or Gentile to embrace their doctrine it being every where Gainsaid and by the Interests affections the eloquence and power of the world opposed The chiefest of the Jews had even then prefer'd a Thief and Murtherer before their Lord and Master Mark 5.13 c. 3.3 they regarded not his Miracles whilst living with their tumultuous clamours they persecuted him to death and were they likely to give credit to the bare word of those men for his Resurrection Act. 17.32.26.8 which to the Gentile seemed a thing incredible and to the Jew a fiction The doctrine of the Cross was to the one a stumbling block to the other folly Had they designed to commend their doctrine to the world by any artifice they would in the first place a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tom. 8. p. 101 have strip'd it of tenets so offensive and incredible they b woud not have made the cross the matter of their daily Sermons 1 Cor. 2.2 Phil. 3.8 Gal. 6.14 and their greatest Glory they would have Preach'd things pleasing to the Flesh and not have spoke so much of loosing Life and all the Pleasures and Enjoyments of it for a Saviour at least their Sufferings must have taught them Wisdom when they and Preach'd the World about their Ears and themselves into a Dungeon Self-love must have prevailed upon them to begin their Recantation Sermons and confess the Imposture and not persist in the assertion of so great a Folly for which they had suffered so much already and could expect no better but much worse § 5. BUT Fourthly This Lye if such it were must have been managed with the greatest absurdity and by pretending to such things as must infallibly expose them to the reproach and hatred of those with whom they did converse For first They must pretend to call Men from the Worship of dumb Idols 1 Thess 1.9 and dead Men unto the Living God and yet seduce them from the Worship of that God unto the Adoration of the greatest Malefactor and Impostor Secondly They must pretend to the greatest kindness to the Souls and Bodies of Mankind and yet be known to Prosecute what visibly procured present and eternal ruine of them both they must pretend to buoy them up with hopes of future Blessings and unconceivable Rewards of all their Faith and Patience and of Consuming Fire to their Enemies at an approaching Day of Judgment and yet be well assured that either no such Day was coming or if it were it must reveal their folly and load them with those Judgments they denounced against others Thirdly 1 Thess 2. v. 3 4 5. They must pretend unto the greatest Truth Sincerity and Holyness of Life and be confessedly the greatest Lyars and most vile Impostors Fourthly They must pretend to be Ambassadors from Heaven and yet know they could have no assistance but from Hell nor could Instruct their Converts in any other Arts but those which visibly derived thence Lastly They could not be Deceivers but others who embrac'd and did successively promote and spread their Doctrine must know that they were such and be instructed in the same Arts of Magick by them which how incredible a thing it is may be sufficiently concluded from the foregoing Proofs For § 6. FIRST Their meanness and simplicity was still the great Objection of their Adversaries their Virtue and Sincerity their Purity of Life their humble self-denying Tempers their Charity and Mercy their Aversion to the Pomps and Vanities the Pleasures and Concernments of the World were still the same as in their Teachers they had as little hopes of those Enjoyments which Honor Pleasure or Advantage might present to tempt them to this Undertaking they being called to suffer and told that all that would live Godly must suffer Persecution Nay 1 Pet. 2.21 1 Thess 3.3 2 Tim. 3.12 the Experience of others must Convince them that this would be their Portion too whereas no Comfort was pretended to support them under these Fiery Tryals but such as did unquestionably suppose the Truth of their Religion viz. the Comforts of the Holy Spirit the Blessings of another World and an assurance that all the Rage and Malice of their Enemies reach'd only to their Bodies and the destruction of this present Life and yet they suffered with the greatest Constancy and readiness of Mind as even * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lucian Peregr Heathens do attest Besides they could not propagate the Cheat without those false and Hypocritical Pretensions we have mentioned nor yet prevail on any that were not willing to be their Confederates and learn their Artifices for the imposing of this Faith on others But those Artifice swere contrary to the Faith it self which they had Learned and were to Teach For still they represented it a very †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iust Mart. Ap. 1. p. 43. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Idem Apol. 2. p. 57. wicked thing not to speak Truth in every thing and held it much beneath the Christian to redeem his Life by Falshood and Hypocrisie And as their Multitude encreased so still they were the more likely to disclose it their Dispersions both through Design and Persecution carryed them throughout all the World and being so divided in Place it was hard for them not to contradict one another it
of the disobedient unto the wisdome of the just accordingly John Baptist in the b Luk. 1.17 Power Spirit of Eliah went before Jesus attesting that he was the true c Joh. 1.29.34.33.31 Messias the Lamb the Sonne of God and that he was informed from Heaven of him thence commissionated to prepare his way And so effectually this Elias prevail'd on the whole Nation of the Jews that they esteemed him a d Mark 11.32 Prophet a e Joh. v. 35. Burning and a Shining light in which they willingly rejoyced a Just and Holy man whose Doctrine they liked very well Joseph Antiq Judaic l. 8. c. 7. whose Counsell they would gladly follow whose baptisme they receiv'd with greatest readiness The Messias was to be the offspring of a f Esa 7.14 Virgins womb and have no Father but the God of Heaven an opinion too incredible to find acceptance without greatest Evidence or to be unnecessarily pretended without Greatest Folly or to obtain and win upon the world when managed by the worst of fooles He was to come into the world 2 before the g Gen. 49.10 Scepter did depart from Judah before the 3 ruine of k Mal. 3.1 Jerusalem before the l Dan. 9.26.27 ceasing of the dayly Sacrifice He was to come into the world whil'st n Mich. 5.2 Bethlehem remained amongst the Governours of Judah and whil'st the second o Hug. 2.5.7.9 Temple stood He was to suffer Death at the Conclusion of the p Dan. 9.24 weekes of 4 Daniel which in the Judgment of the Jews 5 who then impatiently q Luc. 2.25.38 expected their Messias was that very time in which our Saviour did appear And well might they expect his present coming when both John Baptist taught that his appearance was at hand and some of them were assured by speciall revelation that their r Luc. 2.26 eyes should see their Saviour when both that 6 Ancient Prophesie which had obtained Credit throughout the Easterne world Talmud Cod. Sanhedr c. 11.5.33 and their own Prophets Paraphrasts and Doctors did agree in the assertion of it It being in it self so evident out of their writings that at this day the Jews confess Christ either came about that time and lies concealed ever since or else his comeing was deferr'd beyond the time prefixt by reason of the abounding sins of their Nation In 7 Bethlehem he was to be born a thing which hapned by so strange and unaccountable a taxing such as none was ever known before and there was no occasion for it then there being peace throughout the Roman Empire that nothing but a secret and over-ruling Providence could have procured it All which particularly afford a most convincing demonstration to the Jew that his Messiah was in vaine expected or is already come For where is now the second Temple and the City Bethlehem What place amongst the Governours of Judah doth it now retaine where 's Judahs Scepter and where the Law-Giver between his feet Is not Jerusalem destroyed Are not their sacrifices and oblations ceased And if the weekes of Daniel do not end where Christians do contend they did what certaine period can they have or what instruction can they give us when the Messiah whom they speak of will appear Besides he was to be a ſ Deut. 18.15.18 Joh. 4.25 Prophet and foretell things to come in his times was t Esa 9.6.7 Janum terra marique pace parta ter clausit Suet. de Augusto cap. 22. peace to flourish as at his birth it did throughout the then known world Janus his Temple being shut which in the time of War stood allwaies open A constant throng of 8 Miracles was to attend his life and doctrine he was to bear away our griefes and 9 heal our sicknesses to cure the v Esa 35.56 Lame the Deafe the Blind and Dumb and make his bodily cures become the preface to his spirituall yet his gratious Embassage his infinite amazing love must find no other welcome but x Esa 53.12 reproach and infamy he was to come into the world poor and lowly and riding on an y Zech. 9.9 Ass to be a 53. Esa 2. Esa 50.2 Ch. 53.12 despised set at nought buffeted and spit upon and to be numbered with transgressours he was to be 10 rejected by 11 suffer from those very persons for whose sake he suffered He was to be a d Esa 53.3 man of sorrows and to increase those sorrows nothing but e Psal 69.21 Gall and vinegar was to be tendered to him his Life was to conclude in an f Dan. 9.26 untimely Death a death attended with such circumstances as added to the wonders of his life his g Psal 22.17.25.12.1 Hands and Feet and 12 sides were to be pierced yet maugre all the Tyrannies of Custome and Jewish Malice of his adversaries not a h Ex. 12.46 Psal 22.18 Bone of him was to be broken not a Rent was to be made upon his Garment His i Psal 16.10 Soul must not be left in Hell nor must his Body see corruption his 13 resurrection was to be as signall as his death for he was then to see the k Esa 53.11 travel of his soul and to draw all men after him He was to be exalted into the highest Heavens and sit at the 14 right hand of God l Ps 110.1 Mat. 22.43 Government was to be upon his shoulders and to continue there for ever The fresh appearance of the Star of Jacob was to expell the shadows of the 15 law Christ at his resurrection was to throw down the m Mat. 23. Mark 13. Temple of the Jews and to inflict upon them for their unbeliefe the Greatest and most dreadfull vengeance which ever yet befell the nation he was to ruine and pull down the Kingdome of the Prince of darkness to spread the 16 Gospell through the n Esa 11.10 Jer. 16.19 Gentile world by the plentiful effusions and powerfull operations of the 17 spirit on his own Disciples to justify his mission and convince Gainsayers that his Doctrine was the Mind and Will of God and lastly to transforme into the Christian purity a world of men inslaved to heathen superstitions and overwhelm'd in sin § 3. LOE here a crowd of Circumstances so certainly foretold of the Messiah as that the Jew found nothing to except against them so signally fulfilled in our Jesus that nothing can be farther needfull to confirme their truth And 3dly incompatible to any other person For that I may not here repeat what I have already say'd that no man would have chosen to undergoe those hard termes which were declared in the Scripture of the Old Testament to belong to the Messiah it being contrary to humane Nature to desire to lead a poor and miserable life and then dye a painful Ignominious death unless it were in prospect of some great advantages
was impossible for them to conspire in so great a Juggle their Enemies were every day more awakened to oppose them more vigilant to search and pry into their Arts and more concern'd to quell the growing Faction their Miracles more frequently repeated and before greater Multitudes and lastly were continued through divers Ages all which may assure us that they were no Deceivers For to reflect a little upon what hath been discoursed 'T is first A Miracle of Impudence and Folly that any one should begin this Cheat with all these Disadvantages and without hopes of Benefit much more that Illiterate Unreflecting and Mechanick Souls should do so And secondly 'T is more miraculous that after all their Sufferings they should continue to promote it without the least regret of Conscience for so great a Villany and without the least Concernment for their Freedom from such Cruel Torments Thirdly Much more That a Lye thus managed by such mean and contemptible Persons of a most hateful Nation and Religion should prevail upon one single Person much more upon a City a Nation yea a World of Men to ruine both Themselves and Families their Souls and Bodies to promote it Fourthly That it should prevail so wonderfully without the help of humane Power or any thing to tempt affection nay in despite of all that Eloquence and Power and Interest could do unto the contrary 5ly That they should prevail by known Hypocrisie and lyes and feigning a Commission from the God of heaven and a Great kindness to those very men they thus helped forward to their ruine and only taught to be as very Hypocrites and base Impostors as themselves 6ly That they should all conspire to transmit the falshood by the same Method but with Greater Efficacy unto succeeding Generations 7ly Yet more incredible it is that they who went out from them 1 Joh. 2.19.1 Tim. 1.19 Act. 20.30 Cypr. Ep. 52. ad Antm. sec 7.8.9.1 Cor. 5.5.1 Tim. 1. â—0 and renounced the Gospel so made Shipwrack both of Feith and Consciencee those many Hereticks that spake perverse things to draw many Disciples after them and to pervert the simple those Libellatici and Thurificati and Traditores who were so hated and so infamous amongst them those many that were delivered up to Satan or underwent severest pennance should none of them be tempted to disclose the cheat or by that art which from the Christians they had learned to confront that Testimony which by these Miracles they gave unto their Doctrine but that the heathen should be forced for want of such confessions and assistances to urge some a See Aot in e. 8. s 2. silly women to confess them Guilty of those Villanies from which more sober a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tryph. apud Just pag. 227. Jews and b Plin. Ep. l. 10. ad Trajanum Ep. 97. Heathens did acquit them T is lastly most incredible their most malicious Enemies the inquisitive and learned Grecian and the Zealous Jew who sent their chiefest Rabbies into each corner of the World to publish and proclaime the Christians Atheists and Guilty of most Gross impiety durst not accuse them of fraud or falshood in what their Story had delivered c Justin Dial. cum Tryph. p. 234. for it doth not appeare by any records of the Jews that this so necessary and so effectual a Method to disgrace the Christian faith was once attempted by the most able Doctors of their law In fine ought it not to be matter of our admiration that men so vigilant malitious and powerful as the Heathen were though they had frequent opportunities in the first three hundred years and though they were so much concern'd and so desirous to do it should not be able to find out the fraud which they declare the Christians exercised in any one particular or to out do and counterplot their Magick or to bear up against its power but should suffer them to trample over their supposed Gods and force them to confess unto their very faces they were devils to stop the mouthes of their Magicians Inchanters and Southsayers their Oracles and famous Tripods and so to challenge them as Arnobius doth 2 Potestis aliquem monstrare ex omnibus Magis qui unquam fuere per secula consimile aliquid Christo millesima ex parte qui fecerit l. 1. p. 25. Where is the man that can pretendunto the 1000th part of what Christ did but that the most able and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 testatur Orig. adv Celsum p. 368. admired Philosophers should be seduced to believe and suffer as the Christians did and the b Tum paenè omnes Christum Deum sub legis observatione colebant Sulpit. Hist Sac. l. 2. c. 45. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 4. c. 5. Vid. Epiphanium Euseb Chron. ad An. 125. most zealous Jews rather bring in their Judaisme and mix it with Christianiy as did the Ebionites the Nazarites then to question or deny the truth of it § 8. SHOULD it be here objected that the assurance which we have that the Apostles did pretend such things on which our Arguments do bottom depends upon the truth of Sc. Story of which no evidence is Given I Answer That our Arguments depend partly upon such postulata as carry with them a convincing evidence and partly on the supposition of such actions done of which we have the best assurance that matters of that nature can afford Our postulata are these 1. That Christ professed to be the King or Messiah of the Jews and consequently both to do and suffer what was expected from and prophesied of their Messiah and had it not been so what expectations could he have of being so esteemed or what could tempt the writers of his life and actions to be so frequent in the mention of things to which he never did pretend what could induce the Primitive Professors to insist so much upon those Arguments what motives could he have to suffer or pretend such things as were expected from Shilo Secondly That the Disciples of this Jesus were what Jew and Gentile still objected to them and they themselves confess'd poor ignorant despised Persons Thirdly That these Disciples could not be taught to carry on their Masters design if it were a Delusion but they must know their Master to be a vile Impostor and must despair of all that Happiness and that Assistance which he promised and that the like must be asserted of all those who did endeavor to promote the Christian Faith by Arts received from them Fourthly That things being thus supposed they could not but know that all which He and his Disciples did pretend was gross Hypocrisie Fifthly That Persons having all the Reasons to renounce Christ which both their present and eternal Interest their love of Truth and of their Countries safety Credit and Religion could suggest unto them but not one Motive to avouch his Doctrine would not continue so
to do much less could they prevail upon the World to imitate that Phrensie which was so greatly opposite to all the Principles of Ingenuity and Reason Truth and Interest But secondly That we have just assurance that the Primitive Professors of Christianity did pretend these things will be evinced from these Considerations For First 'T is evident from their Apologies and Writings in the first Ages of the Church that throughout all the World the Christians did for divers Centuries appeal to the Predictions of our Lord and his Apostles and to the Gifts and powerful Operations of the Holy Ghost they daily exercised and to the speedy Propagation of the Gospel through the then known World as to the most convincing Evidences of the Truth of Christian Faith which consident Appeal assures us That those things were matters of unquestionable Truth And 2ly It is likewise evident they held that riches were a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beatior in hoc itinere vivendi qui paupertate se sublevat non sub divitiarum onere suspirat Minut. p. 40. vid. Lact. l. 7. c. 1. Cypr. de lapsis f. 219. Hieron in Jonam c. 3. unprofitable a b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beatior in hoc itinere vivendi qui paupertate se sublevat non sub divitiarum onere suspirat Minut. p. 40. vid. Lact. l. 7. c. 1. Cypr. de lapsis f. 219. Hieron in Jonam c. 3. burthen temptation a great c Virtutis via non capit magna onera portantes hanc tenere non potest nisi qui fuerit expeditus nudus Nam isti locupletes multis ingentibus Sarcinis onerati per viam mortis incedunt Lact. l. 7. c. 1. l. 5. c. 15. p. 505. impediment to their eternal weal and that they thought it sufficient to have Meat Drink and Clothing and their Duty not to cover more and thereupon declined d Peregrinis mercibus delectabitur qni nec lucrum sciat appetere cui sufficit victus Lact. l. 5. c. 17. p. 510. Tertul. de Idol c. 7. Arnob. p. 71. Merchandise and all those Callings which might tempt them to it that e Quia animo animaque miscemur nihil de rei communicatione dubitamus omnia apud nos indiscreta sunt praeter uxores Tert. Ap. c. 39. Aug. de Civ D. l. 5. c. 18. Tom. 10. Serm. 27. de verbis Domini Arnob. p. 152. Charity made their Enjoyments common not onely to their Christian Brother but their f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Julian Apost Epist ad Arsacium vid. Euseb H. Eccl. l. 9. c. 8. Heathen Enemy that they refused the g Nobis ab omni gloriae dignitatis ardore frigentibus nulla est necessitas coetus Tert. Ap. c. 38. Minut. p. 35. Honors and Preferments of the World and were so far from an ambitious pursuit of Glory that they religiously declined it that they were wont to slight the h Vos vero suspensi interim atque solliciti honestis voluptatibus abstinetis non spectacula visitis non pompis interestis Convivia publica sine vobis Cecil apud Minut p. 12. Tert. Apol. c. 38. sect 2. Pleasures of the World and by their readiness to dye made it i Non igitur quaestus commodi gratia religionem istam commenti sunt quippe qui praeceptis reipsa eam vitam secuti sunt quae voluptatibus caret omnia quae habentur in bonis spernit qui non tantum pro fide mortem subierint sed etiam morituros se scierint praedixerint Lact. l. 5. c. 3. appear how little they did relish all the Sweets and Satisfactions of this present Life that they abstained from the most Lawful Pleasures refused to k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Conc. Laod. c. 53. p. 23. v. Elmen in Arnob. p. 90. Dance and gratifie the Flesh with Feastings but rather chose by solemn l De Icjuniis Christianorum solennibus v. Minut. p. 8. p. 13. Tert. Ap. c. 4. sect 2. Cōment in utrosque Fastings to subdue it That this they did and held themselves obliged to do in order to their future Bliss and in compliance with the Christian Precepts we have abundant Evidence from all the Writings and Apologies of Christian Fathers and consequently we have the best assurance that they were not acted by any of those Principles in the Propagation of the Christian Faith In a word their m Eccepars vestrum major melior egetis algetis opere fame laboratis Deuspatitur dissimulat non vult aut non potest opitulari suis Cecil apud Minut. Poverty and their contempt of Worldly Pleasures and Grandure their daily n Vid. Annot. in cap. 8. num 31. Persecutions and seeming Derelictions were the great matters of the Heathens Scandal it was this they daily did object unto them and reproach them with § 9. Corol. NOW hence it follows that what they have delivered to the World touching the appearance of Angels and what they did and spake Secondly That what they do relate of Christs Predictions of his Death the Persons from whom he suffered viz. the Scribes and Pharisees the Elders and chief Priests the Disciple that betrayed Him to them the manner of His Death and the deportment of the Gentiles towards Him the flight fear and scandal of His own Disciples though promising the contrary the three Denyals of St. Peter the Predictions of His Death and the continuation of the Life of His beloved Apostle Thirdly That what they tell us of his acquaintance with the Thoughts Conceptions and Imaginations of his own Disciples and of those Jews with whom he did converse their secret murmurs and desires to ask him Questions the reasonings and disputings of their Hearts the secret Councils vile Surmisings the treacherous Intentions and the mental Blasphemies of the malicious Jew or whatsoever of like nature they have left on Record were delivered bona fide and with a full Conviction of the Truth of what was thus asserted by them CHAP. III. SECT II. The Contents THat Christ and his Disciples could not be deceived in their pretensions to the things they spake of Proleg 5. and presumed they did and yet prevail upon the World to own and to assert their Doctrine THAT Christ and his Disciples could not be deceived in their pretensions to the things they spake off Proleg 5. and presumed they did and yet prevail upon the more knowing part of the World to credit and assert their Doctrine under the greatest disadvantages 1. Our Saviour could not be deceived if his pretensions to be the Saviour of the World and to accomplish what was foretold of the Messiah were not false and if they were this must infallibly destroy his Credit waith his Friends supposing what we have already proved that they were not wilfully Deceivers and give his Enemies too