Fifthly,Business, but declar'd it in the most HET did not make a Secret of this publick and open manner that could poffibly be.

It was not a Story privately whisper'd amongst themselves, or communicated only to thofe of their own Party; but they proclaim'd it in the Ears of all the People, and chofe fuch a Time to begin, wherein Jerufalem being crouded with Foreigners of all Nations, there was no want of Perfons, able and curious enough, to enquire into the Truth of the ftrange Report they made. So far were they from any fly and clandeftine Management in this Cafe, that they went into the Synagogues of the Jews, nay, into the Temple it felf (where there was no likelihood of a thin Auditory) and preach'd the Refurrection of Chrift. And as if it was intended, that all poffible Objections fhould be taken off, which might feem to intimate their being afraid of great Men, and that they addrefs'd themselves only to the Mob upon this Occafion; they appear'd in the most august Councils of the Jews, and testify'd to the Faces of the High Priests and Rulers, what they had taught the common People before. 'Twas a very remarkable Speech, which St. Peter made to this purpose, in one of those grand Affemblies: Te Rulers of the People, and Elders of Ifrael! If we be this Day examin'd of the good Deed done to the impotent Man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known to you all, and to all the People of Ifrael, that by the Name of Jefus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified,

whom

whom God raised from the Dead, even by Him, doth this Man ft and here before you whole. This is the Stone, which was fet at nought of you Builders, which is become the Head of the Corner. Neither is there Salvation in any other; for there is no other Name under Heaven, given amongst Men, whereby we must be fav'd.

What Freedom and Spirit appears in every Line of this Difcourfe? No Man fure can charge the Apostles, with making a Secret of Chrift's Refurrection, when they dar'd proclaim it with fo much brisknefs, to those who had been the Authors of his Death. A Man can scarce forbear thinking, how the Council look'd, upon this bold Charge; fo many grave, wife and learned Seniors, as there were of them, to be thus attack'd by two ignorant and illiterate Men! The Author of that History tells us, that they marvell'd: And well they might; for, befides that the Subject of the Difcourfe was very ungrateful to them, they expected, as Men of Figure and Grandeur, to be addrefs'd to with more Ceremony and Refpect. Yet this was all the Complement they had, to be told, They were the Murderers of Chrift; and that God has rais'd him up from the Dead, to be the univerfal Lord and Saviour of the World. Sad Tidings to those who ftood in defiance of him! And the more provoking too, in that they were told of it in the Prefence of all thofe People, who following their Example, had condemn'd him for an Impoftor.

And very strange it was, that the Council fhould let the matter pafs as they did. Could not they have reply'd to the Apostles?—You make a Noife about a thing, which the whole Nation knows to be an egregions Cheat

You pretend that Chrift rofe from the Dead, when here is

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plain and undeniable Proof, which shall presently be produc'd to you, that there were was no fuch matter, but you by fome deceitful Arts, convey'd his Body away! Such a Declaration as this, back'd with anfwerable Proof, and fuch bold Management, as always accompanies Truth and a clear Confcience; would have effectually filenc'd the fe Preachers, and put a final ftop to the Progress of their Religion. But instead of this, they fneak, and grow cool upon the matter; the whole Council is confus'd, and they order the Apostles to withdraw, while they lay their Heads together, and agree upon fome proper Answer to be return'd to them. And at laft, as the refult of all their Confultations, they command them to speak no more in the Name of Jefus, threatning them with their Resentments if they did, and fo thought fit to difmifs them: Which is the very thing, that Men confcious of the Truth, and Self-condemn'd, would have done in the fame Cafe. However, the Apoftles, little regarding these Injunctions, went on with their Work; and quickly gave the Council a fresh Occafion to call them in question, for their Difobedience. And St. Peter (as the Mouth of the reft) gave fuch Reafons why they dif obey'd, as thofe great Men could by no means digeft, but were extremely uneafy under. We ought to obey God, rather than Men. The God of our Fathers raifed up Jefus, whom ye flew and hanged upon a Tree. Him hath God exalted with his right Hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give Repentance to Ifrael, and forgiveness of Sins. And we are his Witnesses of these things, and fo is also the Holy Ghoft, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

This fhort Sermon (fays the Hiftorian) cut them to the Heart, and they took Counsel to flay them. A

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most effectual way of anfwering Arguments, to execute those, who drive them on too far! However, they contented themselves with lefs Severities for that time; and having beaten the Apoftles, fent them out of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to fuffer Shame for the Name of Jefus; and affur'd even by the Confeffion of the High Priests themselves, that they had fill'd all Jerufalem with their Doctrine.

SECT.

SECT.

Sixthly, T

XXVII.

HESE Perfons were fuch, whose * Probity and Vertue, their worst" Adverfaries never did (and therefore for certain never could) pretend to call in question.

That they were reproach'd and vilify'd by the World, is indeed very certain; but this was what they were forewarn'd of, what they expected themselves, and what their Doctrine would naturally produce. But what I intend is, that no Adverfary whatever, ever made an offer to fhew the World, that they were ill Men. And I think, I rightly infer from thence, that therefore they could not.

For Men in fuch Circumftances, as the first Preachers of this Doctrine, were not to expect any thing of Ceremony or Compliment; but had there been any grounds to fufpect their good Manners and Veracity, we may conclude, Mankind had not fail'd to know it. Because all

* Τὸν βίον ἄκρως κεκαθαρμθόοι, καὶ ἀρετῇ πήση της ψυχής MENOMA VOL. Eufeb. de Apoftol. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. 3. Cap. 24.

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Part III. imaginable Reasons of Intereft and Policy, engag'd their Enemies to do what could be done, to stop the Progrefs of Christianity; which if it profper'd, would infallibly fubvert all the Laws and Customs which they and their Ancestors, had fo great a Fondness for. Now nothing would more effectually have dafh'd this New Religion, and confequently have fecur'd the Old ones from the Encroachments of it; than to have made it apparent, that the first Spreaders thereof, were Men of vicious Lives and Principles, and in reality, infinitely far from all that Sanctity and Devotion they fo much pretended to.

Besides, 'tis a remarkable Inftance, that we have in particular, of the Integrity and Candour of these Perfons, that they do not fcruple to take notice of the common Infirmities of Human Nature, in one another: that they speak fo fparingly in their own Praife, and enlarge fo little on the Vices of their Adverfaries, under all the Provocations they had to the contrary.

They needed not to have told the World, their own Doubts and Fears, about the Truth of Chrift's Refurrection; how they doubted before, and how they doubted afterwards, even while they were looking on him: Nor would they have done thus, if they had been arrant Cheats and Impoftors. No! They would have kept all that to themfelves, as not poffible to be of any ufe to an impious Caufe. Whereas, thefe and other Inftances, of their free, open, and impartial Management, evidently difcover good Temper, Modefty, and a strict regard to Truth, which are the Qua

+ Odio dignus eft (videlicet Chriftus) quod ex orbe religiones expulit, quod ad Deorum cultum prohibuit accedi. Ita Ethnicus apud Arnob. Lib. 2.

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