577 SERMON CLXXXVIII. The Evidences of the Truth of the Chriftian Religion. 2 Con. IV. 3, 4. But if our Gofpel be hid, it is hid to theta that are loft; in whom the God of this world bath blinded the minds of them which believe not, left the light of the gloriousGofpel of Chrift, who is the Image of God, fiould Thine unto them. IN difcourfrng of the Evidence of our Saviour's Divine Authority, I propofed The Ninth the confidering three things. sermon on Firfi, What Evidence theyhad, who heard the Do&rine of the Gofpel imme-this Text. diately from our Saviour. Secondly, What Evidence they had , who receiv'd this Do&rine by the preach- ing of the Apoftles. Thirdly, What Evidence after-Ages have, until the prefent time. The firfl of thefe I have handled at large; and now proceed to the Second, viz. To confider what Affurance thofe who heard the Do&rine of Chrift from the Apoftles were capable of having concerning his Divine Authori- ty; and of this I (hall give you an Account in thefe three Particulars. Firft, They had all the Affurance concerning this matter, which men can have of any thing from the Teftimony ofcredible Eye and Ear-Witneffes. Secondly, They had this Teftimony confirmed by Miracles. Thirdly, Theyhad yet a farther Evidence of the Divinityofthis Do&rine, from thewonderful Prevalency andSuccefs of it, byfuch improbable and unlikely Means. Firl; Thofe who receiv'd the Do&rine of Chrift from the Apoftles, had all the Affurance of Chrift's Divine Authority, that Men can have of any thing from the Teftimony of credibleEye and Ear-wtneffes. TheApoftles who immediately converft with our Saviour, and heard his Do&rine, and faw his Miracles, they had the Teftimony of their own Senfes for his Divine Authority; they heard and faw the Atteftations which God gave to him: and thofe to whom the Apoftles preached, received all this from them, as from Eye and Ear-witnelfes. So that thofe who received the Do&rine of Chrift from the Apoftles, had all the Argu- ments which the Apoftles had, to fatisfie them concerningChrift's Divine Autho- rity, only they were not convey'd to them in fo immediate a manner. The Apo- ftles faw and heard thofe things themfelves, which gave them fatisfia&ion that 7e- fus Chrf came from God: thofe to whom the Apoftles preached, received thefe things from their Teftimony. And this alfo was a fufficient ground ofAffurance, as will clearly appear, ifwe can make out thefe two things. I. That theApoftles were credible Witneffes. And, II. That ifthey werefo, then their Teftimonywas fufficient to perfuade belief. I. That the Apoftles were credible Witneffes. Of their Knowledge there can be no queftion, becaufe theygaveTeftiniony only ofwhat themfelves had feen and heard; fo that if they falfified in any thing, it could not be for want of fufficient Knowledge, but for want of Fidelity. Now thofe who heard them, had all the Ar- guments that couldbe to fatisfie them of their Fidelity. Theydelivered things plain- ly, andwithout artificial Infinuations; they allagreed intheir Teftimony; andwere always conftant to themfelves in the fame Relation; there was no vifìble lntereft to Tway them w the leaft to fallfieagainft their Knowledge; they gainednothing byit; Eeee nay,
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