even by the Sceptics and Infidels of our times, fhewed his zeal for Chrif tianity, first, in his middle age, by publishing a discourse on purpose to demonftrate the Reasonablenefs of believing Jefus to be the promised Meffiah; and, after that, in the last years of his life, by a very judicious Commentary upon feveral of the Epiftles of St. Paul.

He speaks of the miracles wrought by our Saviour and his Apostles, in the strongest manner, both as facts unexceptionably true, and as the cleareft evidences of a divine miffion. His words are thefe: The ' evidence of our Saviour's miffion 'from Heaven is fo great in the mul'titude of his miracles he did before all forts of people, (which the Di6 vine Providence and Wisdom has

g Reasonableness, &c. p. 256.

• fo

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'fo ordered, that they never were nor could be denied by any of the 'enemies and oppofers of Chriftianity) that what he delivered can'not but be received as the Oracles ' of God, and unquestionable verity.' And again; After his refurrection, he fent his Apoftles amongst 'the nations, accompanied with miracles; which were done in all parts fo frequently, and before fo 6 many witneffes of all forts, in broad I day light, that, as I have often observed, the enemies of Chriftianity 'have never dared to deny them, no,

6

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not Julian himself: who neither 'wanted skill nor power to inquire 'into the truth; nor would have 'failed to have proclaimed and ex

6

pofed it, if he could have detected

'any falsehood in the hiftory of the

h Reasonableness, &c. p. 263.

6

Gospel,

Gospel, or found the leaft ground 'to question the matter of fact publifhed by Chrift and his Apoftles. The number and evidence of the 'miracles done by our Saviour and

his followers, by the power and 'force of truth, bore down this mighty and accomplished Emperor, and all his parts, in his own do'minions. He durft not deny fo plain matter of fact; which being granted, the truth of our Sa'viour's doctrine and miffion una' voidably follows, notwithstanding ⚫ whatsoever artful fuggeftions his "wit could invent, or malice should ' offer to the contrary.'

To those who ask, ' What need was 'there of a Saviour? what advantage have we by Jefus Chrift?' Mr. LOCKE replies, It is enough to

iReasonablenefs, &c. p. 255.

'juftify

juftify the fitnefs of any thing to 'be done, by refolving it into the 'wisdom of God, who has done it ; ' whereof our narrow understandings and fhort views may utterly incapacitate us to judge. We know lit 'tle of this vifible, and nothing at all of the ftate of that intellectual world (wherein are infinite num'bers and degrees of fpirits out of the reach of our ken orguefs), and therefore know not what tranfactions there were between God and 6 our Saviour, in reference to his kingdom. We know not what need 'there was to fet up a Head and a 'Chieftain, in oppofition to "the "Prince of this world, the Prince "of the power of the air, &c." 'whereof there are more than ob'fcure intimations in Scripture. And • we shall take too much upon us, if 'we fhall call God's wifdom. or pro

6

vidence to account, and pertly conTM demin for needles all that our weak, and perhaps biaffed under standing cannot account for.xAnd then he fhews at large the neceflity there was of the Gofpel Revelation** to deliver the world from the miferable ftate of darknefs and ignorance that mankind were ino. As to the true knowledge of God; the worship to be paid him" plovĀŠ to the duties to be performed to him. To which he adds the, mighty aids and encouragements to the per formance of our duty; 1. From the affurance the Gofpel gives of future rewards and punishments 21; and, 2. From the promise of the Spirit of God to direct and affift us.

As to

* Reasonablenefs, &c. p. 260mo di pa57. m p. 264. p. 282 p. 284.WP pita89.

n