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XVI.

VARIOUS PROOFS OF JESUS CHRIST.

If we are not to give credit to the Apostles,

we must suppose them either to be deceived or deceivers. But neither could have easily been the case. As to the first, it was impossible they should be mistaken in taking a man to be risen from the dead; and as to the other, the supposition of their being impostors is extremely absurd. Let us only examine it at length. Let us imagine these twelve men meeting together after the death of Jesus Christ, and combining to fabricate a report of his resurrection. By this they must set all powers against them. The heart of man has a strange inclination to inconstancy and change, to be drawn aside by promises and rewards. Now should only one of them be influenced by all these allurements, or even by imprisonment, tortures, or death itself, they had all been undone. Pursue this suppo

sition.

While Jesus Christ continued with them, he might have encouraged them: but afterward, if he did not really appear to them, who was it that made them proceed?

The style of the gospel is admirable in an infinite number of views; and in this amongst others, that it contains no invectives, on the part of the historians, against Judas, or Pilate, nor against any of the enemies, or the murderers of Jesus Christ.

Had this modesty of the evangelical historians been affected, (along with many other characters of the same excellent temper,) and had they affected it only in order to be taken notice of; if they had not ventured to remark it themselves, they would not have failed to procure friends who should notice it to their advantage. But as they acted without any affectation, and from motives altogether disinterested, they never made any person observe it. Indeed, I do not know that it has been remarked to this day, which shows the simplicity of their whole conduct in the affair.

Jesus Christ performed miracles, and his Apostles after him, and many were also wrought by the primitive Christians; because as the prophecies were not yet fully accomplished, and were to be accomplished by them, nothing but miracles would have been a sufficient evidence of their commission. It was foretold, that the Messiah should convert the Gentile nations. But how was this prophecy to be

and how were they to be converted to the Messiah, without beholding this final effect of the prophecies that proved him? Till, there- . fore, he had died, and was risen again, and the Gentiles were converted, all was not fulfilled. So that miracles were necessary through the whole of this period. But there is now necessity for any more to establish the truth of the Christian Religion, for the prophecies which are accomplished remain a perpetual miracle.

The present condition of the Jews is also a striking evidence of our Religion. It is astonishing to see this people subsisting during so long a course of years, and yet to see them always miserable; it being necessary as an evidence of Jesus Christ, both that they should subsist, to be his witnesses, and should be miserable, as his crucifiers. And though to subsist, and to be miserable, are in some respects contradictory, yet the Jews do subsist, notwithstanding their misery.

But were they not almost in the same condition in the time of the captivity? No: The sceptre was not interrupted by their captivity in Babylon; because their return was promised and foretold. For lest they should imagine the sceptre to be departed from Judah, when Nabuchodonosor carried away the people, they were beforehand assured, that they should only re

main there for a short period, and should certainly be brought back. They were always consoled by the prophets, and their kings were continued. But the second destruction is without any promise of restoration; without prophets, without kings, without comfort, without hope; the sceptre is now departed from them for ever.

It was scarcely to be considered as being in a state of captivity, to be in it with an assurance of deliverance in seventy years. But they are, now, without any such hope.

God had promised them, that though they should be scattered to the very extremities of the earth, yet if they were faithful to his law, he would gather them again. They are now faithful to it, and yet remain under oppression. It follows, therefore, that the Messiah is come, and that the law, which contained these promises, has been annulled by the establishment of another.

If the Jews had all been converted by Jesus Christ, we should have none but suspected witnesses; and had they been entirely destroyed, we should have no witnesses at all.

The Jews rejected Christ, but not all of them; so now saints receive him, and not those who are carnal. And this is so far from di

minishing his glory, that it gives the last touch which perfects it.

The argument which the Jews employ, and the only one we find insisted on in their writings, in the Talmud, and by the Rabbins, is, that Jesus Christ did not subdue the nations

by force of arms. Jesus Christ, say they, was killed, he was overcome; he did not conquer the Gentiles by his power; he has not given us their spoils; he has not enriched us. And is this all they have to say? It is in this, he appears so amiable to me: I would not have such a Messiah as they figure to themselves.

of

How delightful it is to behold, with the eye faith, Darius, Cyrus, Alexander, the Romans, Pompey, and Herod, all conspiring, without knowing it, to promote the glory of the gospel.

XVII.

AGAINST MAHOMET.

THE Mahometan religion has for its foundation the Alcoran, and Mahomet. But this pro