Serra. CLXXXVIII. of theChriftrán Relrgiolr. 5''79 receive power after that the Holy Ghofl is cone uponyou, andye (hall be witne/fes untome in Jerufalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the ùtmoft parts of the Earth. This was that which qualified them to be Witneffes to Chrift , and which gave confirmation to their Teftimony. So St. Mark tells us, Mark i6. 2o. And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with fgns`following. To the fame purpofe the Apoftle to the Hebrews, Ch. 2. 3, 4. fpeaking of the publifhing of the Gofpel , How.(hall we efcape, fays he, if we neglehi fo great falvation, which at the firs began to be fpo- ken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him ? What was the Confirmation that was given to it ? It follows in the next Words , God alfo bearing them witnefs, both with fgns andwonders, and with divers Miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghoft, TheApoftles bare witnefs of Chrift, and God bare wit- nefs to them, by thofe miraculous Powers and Gifts, that their Teftimonywas true. Thirdly, Thofe who received the Doftrine of Chrift from the Apoftles had yet a farther Evidence of the Divinity of this Doftrine, from the wonderful Suc- cefs and Prevalency of it by fuch improbable and unlikely means. Had the Do- &rine of Chrift's Religion been fuited to the Corruptions of Men, and ftollen infenfibly into the World, and prevailed by degrees in the revolution of many Ages, as the heathen Superftition and Idolatry did, which met with no oppofition from the Lufts and Interefts of Men, it had then been no ftrange thing: or had it been planted by Power and force of Arms , as the Religion of Mabomet was , then indeed the Succefs of it hadbeen no Argument that it was from God. Had it been fet off with all imaginable advantages of Wit and Eloquence, as the Phi- lofophy of the Hea'hens was, and had it been entertain'd by a few more fublime Spirits, and thofe who were more ftudious and contemplative, and whofe Under- ftandings were elevated above thg common pitch, this might have been lookt up- on butas human and ordinary, and according to the common and ufual courfe of things. But that a Doftrine which was fo oppofite to the Lifts and Inclinations of Men, which was perfecuted and oppofed by all the Powers of the World, de- fpifed and condemned by the witty part of Mankind; that a Doftrine, the profef- fion whereof did expofe Men to fo many worldly inconveniences, to fo many dangers and fufferings, to derifion and to death, fhould be planted by a few mean and inconfiderable Men, deftitute of all fecular Power, and Advantages of human Learning and Eloquence; and in fo fhort a time be fo vaftly propagated, and fo generally entertained by all forts of Men, rich and poor, Philofophers and illi- terate; this was extraordinary, and can be attributed to nothing elfe but a divine Power accompanying it, and bearing it up againft the Power and Malice of Men. That the Doftrine of the Gofpel deliver'd to the World by mean Perfons, with fo much fimplicity and plainnefs, fhould fo ftrangely affe& the hearts of Men , and be of fo admirable a force to ítir up and inflame Men to Piety and Virtue , feems to me a very plain Argument of its Divinity: for we do not find that any Doftrine that was merely human, had ever any confiderable Power upon the Minds of Men, where it was not fet off with the Arts of Speech and Charms of Eloquence: and then it only produceth fome prefent motions and heats; but fel- dom hath any kiting and permanent Effe&, fuch as the Chriftian Religion hath had in the World. Thus I have fhewn what Affurance thofe who received the Doftrine of the Gofpel from the Apoftles, were capable of having concerning the Divinity of this Doftrine, and the divine Authority of the Perfons who declared it to the World. Thirdly, I am to confider what Affurance After-ages, down to this day, are ca- pable of having concerning this matter: and this principally concerns us, who live at the dolance of fo many Ages from the firft revelation of the. Gofpel. Of this I (hall give you an account in thofe two Particulars. Firfl, We have an autlientick and credible Account of this Doftrine, and ofthe Confirmation which was in the firft Ages given to it, tranfmitted down to us. Secondly, The Effefts of this Doftrine Rill remain in the World. E e e e 2 Fi,],
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