A.. 464 ThePrejudices againfi Chri/tianity conJder'd. Vol. j. our Times creates no mannerof Scruple in the Minds of Men concerning them. That there was fuch a Man as Alexander the Great, and that he Conquer'd and the Perkins ; That Julius Cæfar Invaded our Nation, and in force meafure fub- dned it; and that he overcame Pompey in theBattei of Pharfalia; and innumerable other Things which I might infante in, that were done before our Saviour's Time, are firmly believ'd without any manner of Doubt and Scruple by Mankind, not- withflanding they were done fo long ago. So that ancient Matters of Fad are ca- pable of clear Evidence, and we mayhave fufficient Affurance of them. And where there is equal Evidence, if we do not give equal Belief, the fault is not in the Argument, but in the Paflion or Prejudice of thofe, to whom it is prepofed. 2. We have every whit as great Affurance, (nay greater, if it can, or needed to be) of the Matters upon which the Proof of Chriftianity relies, as of thofe which I have mention'd. The Matters of Fad, upon which the Truthof Chri- ftianity relies, are, That there was fuch a Perfon as lefus Chrifi; that he wrought fuch Miracles ; that he was put to Death at Jerufrrlem under Pontius Pilate; that he rote again from the Dead, and was vifibly taken up into Heaven ; that he be- flowed miraculous Gifts and Powers upon the Apoftles, to make them competent Witneffes of his Refurredion, and of the Truth of that Doctrine which they publifht in his Name; that accordingly they Preach'd the Gofpel to the World, and in a (port fpace, without any Human Advantages, did propagate it, andgain Entertainment for it in molt parts of the then known World. Now there matters of Fad have the fame Teftimony of Hiftories, wrote in thofe Times, and conveyed down to us, by as general and uncontroled a Tradi- tion, as the Conquefts of Alexander, and Julius Cæfar. So that if we do not afford equal Belief to them, it is a fign that we have forcePrejudice or Intereft againft the one, more than againft the other, though the Evidence for both be equal. Nay, I go further, that the Evidence for thefe things which are the Foundation of Chriftianity, is fomuch the greater, becaufe that which depended upon it, was of far greater Concernment to the World, and confequently Man- kind were more obliged to fearch more narrowly into it. For our Saviour's Life, and Death, and Refurredion; we have the Teflimony of a great number of Eye-witneffes, who have wrote the Hiftory of thefe things. And though they were truly extraordinary Perfons, and gave Teftimony to them- felves by Miracles; yet at prefent I defire no more, but that they be looked up- on, as knowing and honeft Relators of what they heard and faw5 and that the fame Credit be given to them, which we give toLivy, and Arian, and Curtites, for plain Events, and matters of Fad. But yet I mutt add withal, that betides the Miracles which they wrought, they gave greater Teftimony of their Integrity, than any Hiftorian in the World ever did. For they willingly fuffer'd the greateft Perfecution and Torment, yea and Death it felt, in Confirmation of the Truth of what they deliver'd. And for the propagating of the Chriflian Religion through fo great a part of the World, it is evident by the Effect beyond all Denial. So that for the Matters of Fad, upon which the Truth of Chriftianity does depend, here is greater, and more advantageous Evidence of Hiftory, than for any other Matter of equal Antiquity whatfoever. 3. As to the fubflanceof thefe Matters of Fait, we have the concurringTefti- mony of the greateft Enemies of the Christian Religion. That there were fuch Perfons as our Saviour and his Apoftles, that they preached fuch a Doctrine, that they wrought fuch Miracles; for this we have the Acknowledgmentof the pews, and the Teftimony of the Heathen Hiftorians, and particularlyof Celcus, and Porphyry, and Julian, who were the particular and moft learned Adverfaries of the Chrittian Religion. So that as to the Matters of Fad, there is no Obje- ction againfl them, whatever ufe we may makeof them, or whatever Confequen- ces we may draw from them. And I prefume it agreed by all Objectors, that if thefe Matters of Fad be true, they are a fufficient Foundation of the Truth of our Religion, and we are very unequal to our Religion, if we make a doubt of there things, which the greaten Enemies of Chrillianity never had the Face to deny. 4. And
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