THE

TRY AL

OF THE

Witnesses of the Refurrection of JESUS.

W

E were, not long fince, fome Gentlemen of the Inns of Court together, each to other fo well known, that no Man's Prefence was a Confinement to any other, from speaking his Mind on any Subject that happened to arife in Converfation. The Meeting was without Defign, and the Difcourse, as in like Cafes, various. Among other things we fell upon the Subject of Woolfton's Tryal and Conviction, which had happened fome few Days before: That led to a Debate how the Law ftands in fuch Cafes, what Punishment it inflicts ; and, in general, whether the Law ought at all to interpofe in Controverfies of this kind. We were not agreed in those Points. One, who maintain'd the favourable Side to Woolfton, difcover'd a great Liking

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Liking and Approbation of his Difcourfes against the Miracles of Chrift, and feem'd to think his Arguments unanfwerable. To which another replied, I wonder that one of your Abilities, and bred to the Profeffion of the Law, which teaches us to confider the Nature of Evidence, and its proper Weight, can be of that Opinion; I am fure you would be unwilling to determine a Property of Five Shillings upon fuch Evidence, as you now think material enough to overthrow the Miracles of Chrift.

It may easily be imagin'd that this open'd a Door to much Difpute, and determin'd the Converfation for the Remainder of the Evening to this Subject. The Difpute ran thro' almoft all the Particulars mention'd in Woolfton's Pieces; but the Thread of it was broken by feveral Digreffions, and the Pursuit of things which were brought accidentally into the Difcourfe. At length one of the Company faid pleafantly, Gentlemen, you don't argue like Lawyers; if I were Judge in this Caufe, I would hold you better to the Point. The Company took the Hint, and cry'd, they should be glad to have the Caufe re-heard, and him to be the Judge. The Gentlemen who had engaged with Mettle and Spirit in a Difpute which arofe accidentally, feem'd very unwilling to be drawn into a formal Controverfy: and especially the Gentleman who argu'd against Woolfion, thought the Matter grew too ferious for him, and excus'd himself from undertaking a Controverfy in Religion, of all others the moft momentous: But he was told, that the Argument fhould be confined merely to the

Nature

Nature of the Evidence, and that might be confider'd without entering into any fuch Controverfy as he would avoid; and to bring the Matter within Bounds, and under one View, the Evidence of Chrift's Refurrection, and the Exceptions taken to it, fhould be the only Subject of the Conference. With much Perfuafion he fuffered himself to be perfuaded, and promised to give the Company, and their new-made Judge, a Meeting that Day Fortnight. The Judge and the reft of the Company were for bringing on the Caufe a Week fooner; but the Counsel for Woolton took the Matter up, and faid, Confider, Sir, the Gentleman is not to argue out of Littleton, Plowden, or Coke, Authors to him well known; but he must have his Authorities from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ;: and a Fortnight is Time little enough of all conscience to gain a Familiarity with a new Acquaintance; and, turning to the Gentleman, he faid, I'll call upon you before the Fortnight is out, to fee how reverend an Appearance you make behind Hammond on the New Teftament, a Concordance on one Hand, and a Folio Bible with References on the other. You shall be welcome, Sir, reply'd the Gentleman, and perhaps you may find fome Company more to your own Taste; he is but a poor Counsel who studies on one fide of the Queftion only; and therefore I will have your Friend Woolfton, Tindall, Coins, to entertain you when you do me the Favour of the Vifit. Upon this we parted in good Humour, and all pleased with the Appointment made, except the two Gentlemen who were to provide the Entertainment.

The SECOND DAY.

T HE Company met at the Time appointed:

But it happened in this, as in like Cafes it often does, that fome Friends to fome of the Company, who were not of the Party the First Day, had got notice of the Meeting; and the Gentlemen who were to debate the Question, found they had a more numerous Audience than they expected or defired. He efpecially who was to maintain the Evidence of the Resurrection, began to excuse the Neceflity he was under of difappointing their Expectation, alledging that he was not prepared; and he had perfifted in excufing himself, but that the Strangers who perceived what the Cafe was, offered to withdraw, which the Gentleman would by no means consent to: They infifting to go, he faid, he would much rather submit himself to their Candour, unprepared as he was, than be guilty of fo much Rudenefs, as to force them to leave the Company. Upon which one of the Company, fmiling faid, It happens luckily that our Number is increased; when we were last together, we appointed a Judge, but we quite forgot a Jury, and now, I think, we are good Men and true, fufficient to make one. This Thought was pursued in feveral Allufions to legal Proceedings, which created fome Mirth, and had this good Effect, that it dispersed the folemn Air which the mutual Compliments upon the Difficulty before-mentioned had introduced, and restored the Eafe and Good-humour natural to the Conversation of Gentlemen.

The