438 Tje»armour of tie uetríbute,o Chap.22. admitted into their Order, had a miraculous Sight of w^ Chrifi from Heaven (Lail ofall he wasteen (yew) to te- Z Car. is. 8. ftifie it to the World. Now for our full conviction, 'tis neceffary to confider the quality of the Witneffes, and the natureoftheir Teftimony. Tn te(limoniis 1. The Witneffes were fuchofwhom there cannot be dignitas, fides, the leaft reafonable Sufpicion. In Civil Caufes of the mores, graeitas examinanaa greatefi moment, the Teftimony of the Honourable ei} and the Rich are accounted valuable, becaufe they are not eafily corrupted : one of a low degree may from bafenefs ofSpirit,through Cowardizeand Fear be tempt- ed to deny the Truth ; one in a poor condition may be fo dazled with the luflreofGold, when he confiders the price ofPerjury, as to be induced to affert a falfhood. But who is more incorruptible, the Noble that from a fenfe ofHonour abhor a Lie, or thofe who by their Di- Rom. 3 8 vine Birth and Qt2alities did fo deteft it,that they would not tell a Lie for the Glory ofGod Who is more wor- thy ofCredit, the Rich whofe Riches fometimes ex- cites their defires after more, or thofe who by a gene- rous difdain defpifed all things 13efides Perfons of known Integrity whom the different images of hopes and fears cannotprobably encline to evil, are admitted to decide the weightieft Caufes : Now the Apoftles were fo innocent, fober, honeft and unblamea=ble in the whole tenour of their Converfations, that their molt malignant Adverfaries could never fallen an accufation upon them. Indeed iftheir carnal Interefts had been concerned, theremight have been fome.coloured Obje- ctions againfl their Teftimony: But ifwe duely'conGder" things, it will appear utterly incredible that anydeceit couldbe in it. For as all the actions ofreafonable Men proceed from Reafonfolidor apparent, fo particularly Impofture and Fitiion are 'neverwithout fome Motive and DiAn n Forbeing contrary to Nature; there mutt inter-
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