Z The Evidence of Vol. II. and ftole him away, while we flept; which amounts to no more, but that when they awaked, his Bodywas Come way or other conveyed or gone out of the Grave; which is confiftent with his Refurre&ion. But furelynone will think fit to give Credit to what they teftify was done, while they were afleep. They are very willing to believe aThing, who will admit of fuch a Depo(ition. Thus much concerning our Saviour's Appearance to his Difeiples and Follow- ers, after his Refurre&ion. I (hall briefly confider in the Second Place, why he only appeared tohis own Followers, and not alfb to the unbelieving jam, who had put him to Death, for the full Convi&ion ofhis Ene- mies and Murderers, and the Converfion of that wholeNation to whom he was primarily fent. Of this Matter, fo far as is fit for us to enquire into the Rehfon of the Divine Difpenfations, this probable Account may be given : r. It was only of abfolute Neceflity, that thofe who were to be the firft Pub- lifhers of the Gofpel, and the Witneflès of his Refurre&ion.to the World, fhould have the utmoft Evidence and Satlsfaetion concerning the Rertlityof it : Others might very foon credit it upon the Te(tirnony of fo many Witneffes, who alfo gave Evidence to the Truth of their Teltitnony, by the Miracles which they wrought ; and of their own Sincerity, by dying for this Teftimony. And thus St. Peter takes Notice of the Reafon why our Lord, after his Refurre&ion, did not appear to all the People, but only to fele& Witneffès; be:caufe his Appear- ance was neceffary only to thofe, who were defigned and appointed to be the Witnellès of it. If more had been neceffary, he muff by the fame Reafon have appeared toall the World, as well as to the 7ews: A51 so. 4o, 4r. HimGodrai- fed up the ThirdDay, and fhemedhim openly ; not to aß the People, but' to Witnejs chofen before of God, evenunto us, who did eat and drinkwith him, afterhe raftfrom theDead;. and he commanded ru topreach unto the People, and to teflify, &c. 2. The unbelieving 7ews, efpecially the chief Priefts and Rulers, upon whole. Authority the People depended, were very unworthy to whom God fhould af- ford fo extraordinary a Way of ConviCtion, who had already defpifed and re- jeaed fo great Evidence as was offered to them; and not only fo, but malici- oufly imputed the plaineft Miracles that ever were wrought amongt(l them, to the Power and Operation of the Devil. Now if any Thing can render Men incapa- ble of the Favour of farther Means of Convi&ion, fuch a malicious Refiflanceof the Evidence which our Saviour's Miracles daily wrought among them, carried along with them, would probably do it ; efpecially if weconfider, that the great- eft of all the Miracles which he wrought in his Life-time (I mean the railing of Lazarus from the Dead, after he had been dead four Days) was fo far from con- vincing them, tho' they could not deny the Thing, that from thence their Malice took Occafion to reColve to put him toDeath ; yohn 11.47. Then gathered the chief Priefls and Phárifees a Council, and faid, What dome ? For this Man doth manyMira- cles: If we let him alone, all Men will believe on him. And'Ver.'53. Therefore from. that Day they took Counfel together for to put him toDeath. Nowwas it reafonable, that he fhould appearto them for their Convi&ion, after he was rifen from the Dead, who malicioufly confpired to compafs his Death, for this very Caule, be- caufe they knew that he had railed one from the Dead. 3. This would have been inconfiflent with that juft Punifhment,. which God had determined to bring upon the Jewifh Nation for their obf inate Infidelity, and malicious Reje&ion, and cruel Litageof theSon ofGod. After fitting Means ufed for the Convi&ion of Men, it is juft with God to let Men remain in their own obflinate Infidelity, and to puni(h them for it. And it is not tobe expe&ed, that God fhould ufe violent and irrefiftible Means, to bring fuch Perfons to Repen- tance, and to prevent their Ruin. He pities the Weaknefs and Infirmities of ho- nee(t Minds, and condefcends to give them fuch Evidence as it is not reafonable to demand, as he did to his Difciples : But hebath not thought fit to provide fo ex- traordinary a Remedy for wilful and obflinate Infidelity; which was the Cafe of the Scribes and Pharifees. Second '',
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