proof to us than that Oracular Revelation For God spake but once in that Voice but he speaks by the Prophets to the end of Time That was more astonishing but less instructive to us than Prophecies that are continually unfolded and verified by Events Before I finish this Argument I will briefly consider what is objected against some Doctrines of the Gospel viz. The Trinity the Divine Incarnation the Mean state and Sufferings of the Son of God in the World These Points have been opposed by the Jews and other Infidels as mere Impossibilities directly contrary to the Reason of Mankind To this I answer We must distinguish between what is incomprehensible to Humane Reason and what is repugnant to it between the things which Reason cannot perfectly understand how they can be and the things which it perfectly understands that they cannot be Natural Light may not be able to discover the being of some things and the manner of their existence which really are But what it sees to involve a contradiction is absolutely impossible Now there is no Point in the whole complexion of the Christian Faith that is repugnant to Reason The unity and supreme equality of the Three Persons in the Godhead transcends our conception but Reason cannot prove it to be impossible For the Essence of God is not of the same condition with created Substances so that although in the whole compass of the Creatures there is no like instance but one Nature is always joyn'd with one Subsistence yet it does not follow that the Divine Nature may not subsist in Three Persons All the difficulty that is pretended to be invincible is this That the manner of it is incomprehensible And 't is necessarily so for 't is impossible that what is Infinite should be comprehended by a finite mind The Incarnation of the Son of God wherein the Essence of Christianity consists is not contrary to Reason Indeed 't is impossible that the Divine Nature should be substantially chang'd into the humane Nature and God cease to be God in becoming Man but the Union of the Deity to the humane Nature is not impossible For what repugnance is there either in respect of God or the Creature Is it impossible that the Supreme Goodness should communicate it self in the strictest degree of union to the Reasonable Creature or is the Reasonable Creature incapable to receive the highest Favour This is a great Mystery but the Divine Omnipotence is not to be limited by our narrow thoughts 'T is most reasonable to believe that God can do what we cannot discover how it is performed Seneca prudently observes that extraordinary effects in Nature are unaccountable to us as to their immediate proper Causes whilst we only consider the usual Principles by which it works Nay in the most common works of Nature how many things are so perceptible to Sense that none is so stupid as to deny them yet imperceptible to Reason as to the manner of their production Who understands the admirable conjunction of the Soul and Body in Man how two Metals of so precious and so base alloy Gold and Lead a Spirit and Matter the one celestial the other earthly should so strictly combine and notwithstanding such diversity in their natures and properties imbrace with such concord in their inclinations Now if the sharpest Eye fixt with the greatest attention cannot discern the manner of this Natural Union when the thing is above all doubt can there be any pretence to disbelieve Supernatural Mysteries because we are not able to comprehend how they are effected 3. There being infallible proofs that Jesus Christ was sent from God to make known his compassionate Counsels for the Salvation of Man the consequence is clear and necessary that the Doctrines of his Gospel are to be receiv'd though never so incomprehensible to the natural understanding There is no Demonstration more sure than the Principle of Faith God has declar'd so therefore 't is true 'T is injurious to his Honour to require any other proof of his Word than his Word 'T is incomparably more certain that God cannot deceive us than that our Understandings are not deceived Now what is the main subject of the Gospel It instructs us that the Word was God and the Word was made Flesh. Can there be a more plain Declaration who Jesus Christ is that we may conceive aright of his Natures his Virtues his Prerogatives and Merits It is not possible without violence to interpret the words otherwise than they plainly signifie that a Divine Being assum'd the Humane Nature and was God-Man This was also declar'd by Jesus Christ. For when the Jews supposing him to be a meer Man taxt him for the violation of the Sabbath in his doing a miraculous Cure on that day he replied to their exception My Father works hitherto and I work that is as God is not subject to the Law of the Sabbath but uninterruptedly does the Works of his merciful Providence so I his Son work in all times without limitation This expression the Jews truly understood to import no less than an equality with God a Son being of the same Nature with his Father and therefore charg'd him with Blasphemy Our Saviour allows their Interpretation but vindicates it from Impiety by a further declaring his Cōmunion with God in his Will and Power that he perform'd Divine Works that he might receive the same Divine Honour as the Father had And shall we not believe this Testimony that Jesus Christ gives of himself Did not the WORD understand the meaning of his own Expressions could Truth deceive was it possible for Wisdom to speak improperly Was Power defective and unable to declare what it would have us to understand How unreasonable is it then to object how can this be What pride is it to rebel against the Divine Revelation what obstinacy to remain unsatisfied unless we discover how terms so distant in themselves the highest Being GOD and the lowest in the Sphere of Rational Beings Man should be so strictly united How they should be so intimately joyn'd without confusion of Natures in one Person that 't is truly said God was humbled to the form of a Servant and Man is rais'd to the right-hand of God Here 't is our duty to subject our noblest faculty the Understanding to Divine Revelation In the Doctrines of Faith as well as in the disposures of Providence 't is sufficient to check presumptuous Curiosity that God is the Author I shall add one Consideration more If Jesus Christ was not what he declar'd himself to be the Son of God he was a most Impious Man For 't is Impiety in the supreme degree for any in the pure order of Creatures to assume Divine Honour But the quality of his Doctrine and sanctity of his Life infinitly clear him from such a vile Charge For is it conceivable that a Person guilty of the highest even Sacrilegious Pride should be an Instructer of the most
neglecting him all their glittering actions were but a weak counterfeit a dead resemblance of real vertue In their most eminent publick works the praise of Men was their ultimate design and as some appear bold from Fear they were Vertuous from Vanity If God be not the Principle the Motive and the End of what we do there are wanting the essential Ingredients of moral Goodness Now all these Precepts shine with their native light and carry such evidence of their rectitude that our obedience may come from an ingenuous filial spirit satisfied with the reasonableness of our Heavenly Fathers Commands and not be servile only perform'd to the absolute will of a Master And can there be a more convincing proof of the truth of Christian Religion of its Divine descent than the Image of Gods Holiness so clearly imprest upon it Add further these Precepts are deliver'd with that plainness and so proportion'd to the capacity of all and yet with that soveraign Authority that 't is reasonable to believe that God himself speaks and it becomes Man to hear with reverence and submission The Gospel is without the ornaments of Art yet its sweet facility is temper'd with that Majesty that 't is a sensible caracter that Divine Wisdom compos'd it 3. The Promises of the Gospel are so worthy of God and sutable to the wants and desires of Men that 't is perfectly reasonable to assent to their truth and goodness This will appear by a particular consideration of them 1. The Promise of Pardon to penitent Believers And in this we are to consider the conditions and the ground of its assurance to us The conditions are Repentance and Faith 1. Repentance is a peculiar Command and Priviledg of the Gospel The Law consider'd in it self did not admit of it nor give the least hope of pardon for it supposes Man in the integrity of Nature and accordingly directs him how to please God and preserve his Love but propounds no means of reconciliation after an offence There are no seeds of Grace to temper its rigour But the Gospel is the Declaration of Mercy to the guilty and miserable upon such terms as God may be capable to give Pardon and Man qualified to receive it 'T is not more true that God is the Judge of the World and that all Men shall appear before his Tribunal than that Sin without Repentance shall not escape Punishment To forgive the unreformed sinner would stain his purest Perfections the inviolable beauty of his Holiness the incorruptible rectitude of his Justice Such Lenity would have a pernicious influence on the corrupt World by encouraging Men to Sin without fear and outragiously to break his Laws in confidence of Pardon Therefore in the Evangelical Promise Repentance and Remission of Sins are inseparably joyn'd Repentance is a preparative in order to our receiving Divine Mercy and a strong preservative against Sin for time to come The Remembrance of those sorrows and fears the anxieties and indignation against himself that Sin caus'd in a true Penitent will make him jealous for the future of his Heart and ciâ—cumspect against all Temptations that may betray him As one that has narrowly escaped consuming by Fire retains the idea of his danger so deeply imprest on his mind that upon any new occasion his antient fears revive and make him very watchful Besides the apprehension of Just and Eternal Vengeance makes the Mercy of God so admirable the sense of his tender compassion so sweet that an humble Believer cannot forget or neglect it The forgiveness of Sin in this way is not only an engagement but an infallible cause of fearing to offend a God so great and good And Faith is a qualification as requisit for the obtaining pardon that is a cordial entire receiving Jesus Christ as he is presented to us in the Gospel to resign our minds to his Doctrines as our Prophet to have reliance on his Sacrifice and Mediation as our Priest to yeild universal chearful and constant Obedience to him as our King And how congruous is it that all who receive so unvaluable a benefit as forgiveness of Sin should thus honour him who procures it And the Gospel affords the strongest assurance that God is most willing to pardon humble and contrite sinners This is necessary for the relief and ease of true Penitents For when the enlightn'd Conscience reflects upon the number and enormity of its Sins the presumption in committing them 't is ready to be swallowed up with despair of recovering the lost favour of God It cannot devise any means how to appease his incensed Majesty and satisfie violated Justice how a Rebel should become his Son how one condemn'd to everlasting Punishment should be restored to the unfading inheritance of Life The case is most intricate and hopeless Now the Gospel propounds means of Universal Sovereign efficacy to reconcile God to us The most precious Blood of his Son offer'd up a Sacrifice to expiate Sin This sprinkles all Nations and in all Ages retains an undecaying vertue This affords solid and everlasting comfort to all sensible returning Sinners 2. The sending of the holy Spirit of God to renew us according to his Image and to confirm us against temptations in this mortal life is another Promise of the Gospel and most requisit to make us capable to serve and enjoy him A happy temper of Nature the Precepts of Philosophy vertuous Examples the severity of humane Laws are not powerful to regenerate a Man and transform him into a new Creature They may restrain the exorbitancies of carnal appetites but cannot throughly change the mind and affections Were there any vital spark within any seed of Holiness in Mans corrupted Nature such assistance might cherish it but he is dead to the truly Spritual Life tho not to the merely Moral and no less than an Omnipotent efficacy can produce a new spring of life a divine Nature the principle of willing Obedience to God And after conversion while in the state of tryal here the best are subject to innumerable surprises by their own frailty and exposed to new dangers every hour by temptations that foment and heighten the reliques of Sin in them so that without supernatural assistance they would be quite discouraged and foild by the enemies that war against the Soul Now in the Gospel God has promised to give the holy Spirit to those that ask it in the most hazardous and difficult conflicts he assures those who ardently address themselves to him for help that his Grace shall be sufficient for them 3. The Gospel contains many gracious promises with respect to supplying the wants and giving support and refreshment under the troubles of the present life Temporal blessings are in the lowest rank of good things and are promised as they should be desir'd subordinately to our chief good First seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and all other things shall be added saith our Saviour And to relieve us
and honoured by Men proportionably to the Cures that were received from him How much more when done by an undoubted Miracle Of this the People the numerous spectators were so convinc'd that they said When Christ cometh the expected Deliverer will he do more Miracles than these which this Man has done The Pharisees themselves could not deny the Effects but would not acknowledg the true Cause Envy was more powerful in their breasts than the clearest Evidence Therefore to invalidate his Authority they ascrib'd some of his wonderful works to the Prince of Devils But this pretence was so void of all Reason and full of impiety that nothing but inveterate malice could suggest it For would the Devil destroy his own Kingdom is he such a lover of Holiness as to authorise the most perfect Master of it by a compliance with his Will Those proud Spirits are servile only in appearance and when they suffer themselves to be commanded by Men 't is always with design to establish and increase their own Dominion Therefore the most famous Sorcerers observe some Rites by the Devil's prescription and in the using of them acknowledg his power But our Saviour had a soveraign Empire over them and ejected them not only from the Bodies but from the Souls of Men subduing by his holy Doctrine the power of Sin wherein the Kingdom of Satan consists From hence he argues If I by the finger of God cast out Devils then is the Kingdom of God come unto you And hence it was that he charges them with self-condemning obstinancy For if the Gentiles were inexcusable for not acknowledging and honouring God so clearly manifested in the Works of Nature The Jews were as inexcusable for rejecting Jesus Christ so powerfully declared to be the Son of God by supernatural Operations Add further that in his lowest state when he seemd to be utterly forsaken of God yet then his Innocency and the Divinity of his Person were miraculously testified For at his Death even insensible Nature as if it had been capable of Knowledg and Affection was in the most astonishing disorder as resenting the Passion of its Lord. The Sun was eclips'd in a time and place against all possibility of Nature For the Moon was then in opposition to it and in its Full and in an instant past a half Circle of the Heavens to interpose between the body of the Sun and the Earth that the Air at noon day was darkn'd as at midnight This compell'd the Roman Centurion to acknowledg that he that suffer'd was the Son of God And his Resurrection from the Grave was a visible Argument to confirm his Doctrine for that God would not exert his extraordinary power to confirm a false Doctrine in a matter of infinite moment that so nearly concerns his own Glory and the Salvation of Men there is sufficient assurance from his Wisdom Truth Goodness Was there ever any Prince that would permit an Usurper in his own Presence to make use of his Royal Seal to authorise by Commission his Subjects to rebel against him And would God have suffered a Deceiver to work Miracles and thereby obtain Divine Honour from Men the incommunicable Right of the Deity Nay it had not been a bare permission but a positive Act of God himself it being impossible that any other should do them Or would God who is the prime Verity work Miracles to give credit to a Lye and violate the Honour of his Eternal most perfect Veracity Or is it consistent with his Infinite Goodness to make a Delusion so strong that the most sincere would be in great danger to be overcome by it Therefore the Apostle urges it as an uncontroulable Argument of our Saviour's Divine Mission Ye Men of Israel hear these words Jesus 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 you your selves also know These were proofs of the greatest vigour to induce the World to believe that he came from God to make known his Counsel for the recovery of lost undone Mankind 'T is said by Libertines that the Heathens tell miraculous stories to confirm their Religion that their Hero's descended in a right line from some Deity and not to instance in many particulars they boasted of Apollonius Tyanaeus as one that vied with Christ himself in wonderful works But this Objection is easily refuted for if Paganism had a miraculous Power attending it why did it not make use of it to discredit that Power that authoris'd Christianity in the time it made fierce War against it If equal to it in Divine Power and incomparably superiour in humane aids how came it to pass that the weaker prov'd victorious and the stronger was put to flight 'T is evident therefore the pretended Miracles of Paganism were works of the Devil not to be compar'd with what was done by an Almighty Hand If it be again objected That the relation of the Miracles as perform'd by Jesus Christ is from his Disciples who favoured his Person and Cause and therefore may be justly suspected I answer The vanity of the Pretence is apparent for if they had artificially fram'd a Narrative of extraordinary things as done by him in that time wherein they wrote and in the view of many how easy had it been to expose them to the just scorn and hatred of all for their notorious falshood and infatuated Impudence but they were never accus'd of this Nay such was the number clearness and greatness of his Miracles that the uncontrouled fame of them forc'd his Enemies in after-Ages to acknowledg their truth The Jews in their Talmud confess he did Wonders but give such a ridiculous Account of the Means by which they were done as betrays the weakness of their Reason and the strength of their Malice against him And his Apostles with their Successors in preaching the Gospel wrought Miracles so frequently in the face of many Nations that those who were most obstinately averse from submitting to it could not deny what was visible to thousands and that Miraculous Power they always ascribed to the Name of CHRIST So that there is no colour for jealousy as if his Miracles recorded in the Gospel were not true But because the Resurrection of Christ is the great Principle upon which all Christian hopes depend I will shew that we have all the rational assurance of it that it is capable of This being a matter of fact done many Ages past is to be proved by Testimony And first 't is worthy of Observation that the Providence of God is concern'd to authorize this manner of proof that is absolutely necessary for the preserving humane Societies 'T is of little importance whether the truth of things be discovered in speculative Sciences or the appearance of it deceive the Inquirer 'T is no wrong to the Commonwealth that an Astronomer mistakes in his dimensions of the magnitude of the Sun for his
errour does not lessen its benign influences still it shines and causes the Spring and Autumn 'T is of little importance that a Philosopher is deceiv'd in his search after the principles of mixt bodies for notwithstanding his mistake Animals still live and move and perform all the Functions sutable to their Nature But in Judgments that respect matters of Fact if the Truth cannot be known by testimonys the civil felicity cannot long subsist For the unjust distribution of Rewards and Punishments is necessarily ruinous to the Being of the State And is it credible the Divine Providence that reaches to the smallest parts of the World in such an admirable manner should leave the conduct of humane affairs even of the greatest moment to a deceitful Light And that after the most diligent search and caution has been used the result should be only wavering Conjectures This imagination is extreamly injurious to his Wisdom and Goodness In particular if we consider the Number and the Quality of the Witnesses of Christ's Resurrection and the Circumstances of their Testimony we shall have so clear conviction of its truth as may induce us most firmly to believe it I do not now speak of a Divine Faith that supernatural Light that makes us acquiesce in things because God has reveal'd them but of a rational humane Faith grounded on just and powerful motives which is preparatory for the Divine 1. The Law admits two Witnesses as a competent number in Causes of greatest moment Of this there were many The approved Integrity of a Witness gives weight to his Testimony as on the contrary a known Lyar forfeits his Credit so entirely that he is not believed when he speaks true When Demades the Orator addrest himself to the Athenians I call all the Gods and Goddesses to witness the truth of what I shall say The Athenians often abused by his impudent Lyes presently interrupted him And we call all the Gods and Goddesses to witness we will not believe you The bare word of an Honest Man in an important matter perswades more than the most exquisite Oaths and far-fetch'd Imprecations by which a Lyar would give credit to his Imposture Now we have strong proof of the Integrity of the Apostles If an inflexible Fidelity and constant Truth were qualities so remarkable in the Community of the Primitive Christians that the Pagan Judges themselves were constrained to acknowledg it certainly they were found more eminently in those by whose Doctrine and Example they form'd themselves And as it is impossible to possess this Vertue so strictly united to Justice in an excellent degree without having all the others so 't is evident they were adorn'd with all moral Vertues For their lives were above the least reproach and charge of their implacable enemies so that they were fain to make express Laws against their Profession to render them guilty in Appearance Besides the circumstances of their Testimony make it very valuable 1. 'T was not built on the report of others Mere hear-say is very deceitful and often like a Contagion passes from Ear to Ear and blasts the Reputation of the Innocent with easy and credulous persons But a Testimony from sight makes impression on the belief of wise considering Men. Now we have undoubted Assurance of Christ's Resurrection from the clear and concurrent deposition of their Senses What we have heard and what we have seen with our eyes and what we have handled of the Word of Life saith the Apostle St. John 2. The uniformity of their Testimony renders it convincing If any material contradiction be between Witnesses 't is an infallible mark of their Forgery But the Apostles agreed not only in the substance but in the particularity of the Fact In vain Porphiry and Julian rack'd their Wits to find some contrariety in their Relations An impartial Inquirer must acknowledge all their Objections to be mere Cavils and effects of Malice 3. There were no motives to corrupt them For the humane will is naturally moved either by attraction of some Good or aversion from some Evil. A Fiction is not maintain'd for pure love of it self but with respect to either of those objects whether real or in appearance The Roman Histories report that Julius Proculus solemnly swore that he saw Romulus ascend to Heaven but the motive of his Imposture is visible for it was to prevent a great disorder among the People But 't is very evident that nothing desirable in the World had the least influence upon the Apostles Nay on the contrary whatever was terrible to Nature discourag'd them They suffer'd all temporal evils even Death it self for this Testimony And this last proof confirms all the others They are called Martyrs by way of excellency who have seal'd the Truth with their Blood Now what can be added to give us full and entire Faith in their Testimony In great and difficult Cases suspected Persons are put to Torture for the discovery of Truth The Apostles were tryed by the sharpest Sufferings yet declar'd the Resurrection of their Divine Master with unfainting perseverance What shadow of doubt can remain after such clear evidence of their sincerity Let sober Reason judge whether the matter is capable of proof more strong and convincing If it be said they were deceived with an Illusion either being distemper'd or in a dream both the pretences are most absur'd and incredible For the operations of the External Senses may be infallibly discern'd by their proper caracters from those of the Imaginations Indeed if the mind be in disorder either from some more fixed and tenacious cause or from sleep the influences of Reason are suspended or only some faint rays appear and are suddenly extingush'd so that it can make no true judgment of things In this state the Imagination draws all the vigour of the Soul to it self and the Phantasms are made so bright by the heat of the Spirits in the brain that those painted Scenes seem to be as real as the substantial objects we see hear and touch But sound Reason can reflect upon it self and extend its veiw to the operations of all the other faculties and observe the just and certain difference between Chimaeras in the imagination and things really existant It comprehends distinctly and with assurance that it is not disturb'd and that the Internal and External Senses are dispos'd for their regular operations It considers that the Pageants of Fancy moving in a dream vanish in a moment upon waking But real effects perceiv'd by the Senses in their full exercise are more constant and durable One may be wounded in a dream yet feel not loss of blood or strength when he is awake But the wounds received in a Combat are sometimes rebellious against the most potent remedies Now to apply this to the present subject Is it in the least degree probable that a vain shadow in a dream should make an indelible impression on the memories of the Apostles and their waking thoughts should
and the Redeemer of the World This I will briefly open There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one And there are three that bear witness in Earth The Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one All the Divinity gave testimony of this important Truth The Father not only by the Miracles wrought by his Power to confirm the Mission of Christ but which is here principally intended by a voice from Heaven First at his Baptism This is my well-beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And at his Transfiguration before some of his Disciples a Shining Cloud the sign of the Divine Presence encompast them and a voice came forth of the Cloud This is my well beloved Son hear him Upon this glorious Voice they were struck with such an impression of fear that they fell on their faces And when our Saviour near his Passion prayed Father glorifie thy Name a voice came from Heaven I have glorified it and will glorifie it Now can there remain any doubt after such an high attestation from the most Soveraign Authority The Son also besides the perfect holiness of his life the exquisite Wisdom of his Doctrine the Wonders of his Works his Resurrection from the dead that were authentick proofs of his Celestial Person and Calling after his Ascension gloriously appear'd from Heaven in diverse Visions to the Preachers of his Gospel To Saul in his Journey to Damascus calling to him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me It is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks This is an unexceptionable testimony that he is the Son of God being risen from the dead and returned to Heaven from whence he thus discover'd himself Now that this was real and no fantastick illusion is evident by the marvelous effects of it Those who were companions in the journey were seiz'd with great terror and himself struck blind by the overpowering splendor of the Apparition But especially the effects of it upon his Soul are convincing who it was that spake to him For Saul was by Sect a Pharisee that of all others most passionately adher'd to the Jewish Religion by Temper hot and violent by Profession a persecutor of the Christians One that breathed forth Threatning and Slaughter that excited the Fury of the High-Priests sollicited their Cruelty In short a fierce spirit that envied Nero the title of the first Persecutor of the Church Yet this Man by this Vision and Voice from Heaven of a furious Persecutor in an instant became a zealous Apostle of a Wolf became a Pastor He presently exprest his entire submission Lord what wilt thou have me to do There is nothing so hard to do nothing so dreadful to suffer but I will readily undertake for thine honour and the propagating thy Truth Now from whence came this Change so strange so new in a person confirm'd in the opposite party from whence this resignation of will so entire and perfect so unexpected and sudden What gave him courage to contradict to their faces the High-Priests whose instrument he was and declare that Jesus whom they called a Deceiver was the Son of God and their Judge What animated him to appear before Kings and Emperours to testifie this dangerous Truth What made him with unparallel'd activity with the most ardent affections propagate the Gospel and after a thousand perils by Sea and Land a thousand disgraces and injuries at last to confirm the Faith of Christ with his Blood It is therefore past all contradiction that he had the greatest assurance that the Son of God spake to him Another Vision of the WORD from Heaven was to St. John when he was pleas'd to reveal to him the future state of his Church its Combats and Victories He then appear'd in a form expressive of his Majesty Power and Providence requisite for the ordering all the great Events that should befal it And said I am the first and the last I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I live for ever and have the Keys of Hell and of Death wherein he appropriates to himself the incommunicable titles of the Deity and then declares those two astonishing Miracles that the Prince of Life that had an Eternal Principle of it in himself was dead and that one who had been dead was alive This Riddle the Gospel unfolds The Son of God was made Man and by that admirable union allied Eternity and Time Life and Death together As 't is a common form of speech that a Man dies when the Body is depriv'd of Life though the Soul be immortal So it was true the Son of God died when his Body was crucified though he was uncapable of the least diminution of his Divine life And after three days he rose by the Divine Power to enjoy an Immortal Life And have the Keys of Hell and Death The irresistible force of Death all Men must yield to and from the Grave there 's no redemption by finite power But Jesus Christ has Soveraign Authority and Power to open the Grave and raise the Dead to an happy Immortality This glorious Appearance made St. John to fall as dead at his Feet and could not recover himself till assured by the reviving words of his favour The Spirit also appear'd from Heaven to give Testimony concerning the divine Person and Office of Christ First by descending as a Dove on him when he was baptised This was the completion of the Prophecy The Spirit of the Lord is upon me He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor to publish Deliverance to the Captives And in the second of the Acts the Spirit descended in the form of Fiery Tongues upon the Apostles to qualifie them for preaching the Gospel to the World And 't is worthy of observation that the Apostles were before this very defective in Wisdom and Courage so that their Divine Master though Goodness it self yet tax'd them for their stupidity and in his Sufferings they all forsook him But after the effusion of the Spirit upon them they were endowed with that admirable Wisdom and Resolution that nothing could gainsay and overcome They presently spake in various Languages the things concerning Iesus Christ that the World was astonish'd and many converted by this Testimony from God for the honour of our Saviour and others confounded in their obstinacy Now since this miraculous descent of the Spirit was to ratify the Promise that he made to them If I go away I will send to you another Comforter What more clear and valuable Testimony can we have that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the World If Infidelity should reply If we had heard these Voices and seen those glorious Visions we should be convinc'd but what assurance have we there is no deceit in these Relations I answer There never was clearer Grounds of the belief of any thing done without the compass of our own senses than of what