takes little from its credit, which stands upon those two supports: the testimony that the thing was done, resting on the strong foundation, that it was fit and necessary to be done. So far as to the difference which arises from the nature of things. Another arises from the situation of the Reporters.-Witnesses to a miraculous fact well understand that the ground of its credit lies in the fitness and necessity of the thing. Such Witnesses, therefore, when recording their own knowledge, will be naturally more indifferent in arranging circumstances; from the want of which, a variation amongst several Witnesses to the same fact often arises. While those who speak to a common fact, knowing all its support consists in the veracity of their evidence, will be more intent to preserve their credit, by a studious attention to the numeration and order of all its circumstances. This will shew us the unnecessary pains which some late Defenders of this Miracle have taken, against the attacks of Infidelity.-Licentious Writers thought they had discovered some discordances or contradictions in the evidence of the four Evangelists concerning it: Jesus (as they say) after his resurrection appearing, by the testimony of this Evangelist, at the same moment of time, to one person, and, by the testimony of that Evangelist, to another person: an objection that might seem to have weight against a fact standing only on the foot of a natural adventure, and having no reasons of necessity or convenience to support the testimony. Now these defenders of Religion took the case as their Adversaries were pleased to give it to them; they confined themselves to inquire into the represented fact, as if it had been one of a mere civil kind, and supported only by external evidence, the testimony of witnesses. No wonder such defences should be, as in reality they have been, very unsatisfactory. Whereas, had the Advocates of Religion first inquired into the nature of the fact, and shewn, that one that is miraculous, and has a claim to our credit, stands on a wider and more complicated basis than mere human testimony; that this of the Resurrection in particular is thus supported; that it rises on the strong foundation of Necessity; that is to say, that it fulfilled the Jewish Prophecies, and completed the Christian Dispensation; had they done this, I say, the difficulties springing from these minute differences, in the sacred Historians, with regard to the precise time and place of Jesus's several appearances after his resurrection, would have vanished and disappeared; and the dignity of the Evidence for the Christian Faith would have been secured from the dishonour of its being forced to stoop to the low and trifling criticisms on words and phrases, often involved in dark and intricate nothings: then, I say, these Defenders would have seen that St. Paul hath chalked out a better and nobler, as well as shorter and clearer Demonstration of this important truth; who, when he had said, in the words of my Text, If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins, adds, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. And having thus by internal evidence shewn the necessity of the Miracle, he realizes the fact externally, by a cloud of witnesses, but given with becoming dignity, in the gross," He was seen of Cephas, then of the "twelve. After that he was seen of above five hun "dred Brethren at once: of whom the greater part "remain unto this present; but some are fallen "asleep. After that he was seen of James; then "of all the Apostles," &c. |