A letter to a deist, in answer to several objections against the truth and authority of the scriptures
         Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
      
       
         
           1677
        
      
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         57894
         
           
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             A letter to a deist, in answer to several objections against the truth and authority of the scriptures
             Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
          
           [6], 135, [10] p.
           
             Printed by W.G. :
             And are to be sold by M. Pitt ...,
             London :
             1677.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             Attributed to Edward Stillingfleet. cf. BM.
             Advertisement: p. [2]-[9] at end.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           IMPRIMATUR
           hic
           Liber
           (
           cui
           Titulus
           ,
           
             A
             Letter
             to
             a
             DEIST
             .
             )
          
        
         
           
             
               Feb.
               8.
               1676.
               
            
          
           
             
               Guil.
               Jane
               ,
               R.
               P.
               D.
               Henr.
               Episc.
            
             Lond.
             
               a
               Sacris
               Domest
            
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           A
           LETTER
           TO
           A
           DEIST
           ,
           In
           Answer
           to
           several
           OBJECTIONS
           AGAINST
           THE
           TRUTH
           and
           AUTHORITY
           OF
           THE
           Scriptures
           ,
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             W.
             G.
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           by
           
             M.
             Pitt
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Angel
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           ,
           1677.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           THis
           following
           Discourse
           was
           Written
           for
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           a
           particular
           Person
           ,
           who
           owned
           the
           Being
           and
           Providence
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           expressed
           a
           mean
           Esteem
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           .
           Which
           is
           become
           so
           common
           a
           Theme
           among
           the
           Scepticks
           of
           this
           Age
           ,
           that
           the
           Author
           of
           this
           Discourse
           thought
           it
           worth
           his
           time
           and
           care
           ,
           to
           consider
           the
           force
           of
           the
           Objections
           that
           were
           made
           against
           them
           .
           Especially
           ,
           being
           written
           in
           a
           grave
           and
           serious
           manner
           ,
           and
           not
           with
           that
           Raillery
           and
           Buffonry
           ,
           which
           the
           rude
           Persons
           of
           this
           Age
           commonly
           bestow
           upon
           Religion
           .
           It
           might
           be
           
           justly
           expected
           from
           such
           who
           pretend
           to
           Breeding
           and
           Civility
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           at
           least
           shew
           more
           respect
           to
           a
           thing
           ,
           which
           hath
           prevailed
           so
           much
           among
           Men
           of
           the
           best
           Understanding
           and
           Education
           ,
           and
           who
           have
           had
           no
           Interest
           to
           carry
           on
           by
           it
           .
           For
           it
           is
           against
           the
           ordinary
           Rules
           of
           Conversation
           ,
           to
           affront
           that
           which
           others
           think
           they
           have
           great
           Reason
           to
           esteem
           and
           love
           ;
           and
           they
           would
           not
           endure
           that
           scorn
           and
           contempt
           of
           their
           meanest
           Servant
           ,
           which
           they
           too
           often
           shew
           towards
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           things
           belonging
           to
           it
           .
           If
           they
           are
           not
           
             in
             earnest
          
           when
           they
           scoff
           and
           mock
           at
           sacred
           things
           ,
           their
           own
           consciences
           will
           tell
           them
           it
           is
           a
           horrible
           impiety
           ;
           if
           they
           are
           
             in
             earnest
          
           ,
           let
           them
           debate
           these
           things
           calmly
           and
           seriously
           ,
           and
           let
           the
           stronger
           Reason
           prevail
           .
           Men
           may
           speak
           sharply
           and
           wittily
           against
           the
           clearest
           things
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           the
           Scepticks
           
           of
           old
           did
           against
           all
           Certainty
           of
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ;
           but
           we
           should
           think
           that
           Man
           out
           of
           his
           senses
           ,
           that
           would
           now
           dispute
           the
           Being
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           or
           the
           Colour
           of
           the
           Snow
           .
           We
           do
           not
           say
           ,
           the
           Matters
           of
           Religion
           are
           capable
           of
           the
           same
           evidence
           with
           that
           of
           Sense
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           a
           great
           part
           of
           judgment
           and
           understanding
           ,
           to
           know
           the
           proportion
           and
           fitness
           of
           evidence
           to
           the
           Nature
           of
           the
           thing
           to
           be
           proved
           .
           They
           would
           not
           have
           the
           Eye
           to
           judge
           of
           tasts
           ,
           nor
           the
           Nose
           of
           Metaphysicks
           ;
           and
           yet
           these
           would
           be
           as
           proper
           as
           to
           have
           the
           senses
           judge
           of
           Immaterial
           Beings
           .
           If
           we
           do
           not
           give
           as
           good
           Reason
           for
           the
           Principles
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           as
           the
           nature
           of
           Religion
           considered
           ,
           can
           be
           given
           for
           it
           ,
           let
           us
           then
           be
           blamed
           for
           our
           weakness
           in
           defending
           it
           ;
           but
           let
           not
           Religion
           suffer
           ,
           till
           they
           are
           sure
           nothing
           more
           can
           be
           said
           for
           it
           .
        
         
         
           There
           is
           a
           late
           Author
           ,
           I
           hear
           is
           
           mightily
           in
           vogue
           among
           many
           ,
           who
           cry
           up
           any
           thing
           on
           the
           
             Atheistical
             side
          
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           weak
           and
           trifling
           .
           It
           were
           no
           difficult
           task
           to
           lay
           open
           the
           false
           Reasonings
           ,
           and
           inconsistent
           Hypotheses
           of
           his
           Book
           ;
           which
           hath
           been
           sufficiently
           done
           already
           in
           that
           Language
           wherein
           it
           was
           written
           .
           But
           if
           for
           the
           Advancement
           of
           Irreligion
           among
           us
           ,
           that
           Book
           be
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           talked
           ,
           Translated
           into
           our
           Tongue
           ,
           there
           will
           not
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           want
           those
           who
           will
           be
           as
           ready
           to
           defend
           Religion
           and
           Morality
           ,
           as
           others
           are
           to
           decry
           and
           despise
           them
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           Letter
           of
           Resolution
           to
           a
           Person
           unsatisfied
           about
           the
           Truth
           and
           Authority
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           ALthough
           I
           do
           not
           pretend
           to
           any
           skill
           in
           the
           
             depths
             of
             Theology
          
           ,
           yet
           I
           am
           heartily
           concerned
           for
           the
           Truth
           and
           Honour
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ;
           which
           it
           is
           the
           design
           of
           your
           papers
           to
           undermine
           .
           When
           I
           first
           looked
           them
           over
           ,
           I
           could
           not
           think
           them
           so
           considerable
           as
           to
           deserve
           a
           particular
           Answer
           ;
           especially
           ,
           from
           one
           in
           my
           circumstances
           ,
           who
           have
           so
           much
           
           other
           business
           lying
           upon
           me
           ,
           and
           so
           little
           leisure
           and
           health
           to
           perform
           it
           ;
           but
           I
           found
           at
           the
           conclusion
           of
           your
           Papers
           ,
           so
           earnest
           and
           vehement
           a
           desire
           expressed
           by
           you
           ,
           that
           I
           would
           return
           an
           Answer
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           settlement
           of
           your
           mind
           ,
           that
           I
           could
           not
           refuse
           an
           Office
           of
           so
           great
           Charity
           ,
           as
           you
           represent
           it
           to
           be
           .
           I
           confess
           ,
           when
           I
           considered
           the
           nature
           of
           your
           Objections
           ,
           and
           the
           manner
           of
           managing
           them
           ,
           I
           could
           hardly
           believe
           that
           they
           proceeded
           from
           a
           doubtful
           Mind
           ,
           that
           was
           desirous
           of
           any
           satisfaction
           ;
           but
           since
           you
           tell
           me
           so
           ,
           I
           will
           first
           shew
           my
           Charity
           in
           believing
           it
           ,
           and
           then
           in
           endeavouring
           to
           give
           you
           my
           poor
           assistance
           ,
           and
           impartial
           advice
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           your
           satisfaction
           .
           And
           in
           truth
           ,
           I
           think
           impartial
           advice
           will
           
           contribute
           more
           to
           that
           end
           ,
           than
           spending
           Time
           and
           Paper
           in
           running
           through
           all
           the
           difficulties
           ,
           which
           it
           is
           possible
           for
           a
           cavilling
           Mind
           to
           raise
           against
           the
           plainest
           Truths
           in
           the
           World.
           For
           there
           is
           nothing
           so
           clear
           and
           evident
           ,
           but
           a
           
             Sophistical
             Wit
          
           will
           always
           find
           something
           to
           say
           against
           it
           ,
           and
           if
           you
           be
           the
           Person
           I
           take
           you
           for
           ,
           you
           very
           well
           know
           ,
           that
           there
           have
           been
           some
           ,
           who
           wanted
           neither
           Wit
           ,
           nor
           Eloquence
           ,
           who
           have
           gone
           about
           to
           prove
           ,
           
             That
             there
             was
             Nothing
             in
             the
             World
             ;
             and
             that
             if
             there
             were
             any
             thing
             ,
             it
             could
             not
             be
             understood
             by
             Men
             ;
             that
             if
             it
             were
             understood
             by
             one
             Man
             ,
             it
             could
             not
             be
             expressed
             to
             another
             :
          
           And
           besides
           such
           extravagant
           undertakers
           as
           these
           ,
           how
           many
           have
           there
           been
           ,
           who
           with
           plausible
           and
           subtle
           Arguments
           ,
           
           have
           endeavoured
           to
           overthrow
           all
           manner
           of
           Certainty
           ,
           either
           by
           Sense
           or
           Reason
           ?
           Must
           we
           therefore
           quit
           all
           pretences
           to
           Certainty
           ,
           because
           we
           cannot
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           Answer
           all
           the
           Subtilties
           of
           the
           Scepticks
           ?
           And
           therefore
           I
           am
           by
           no
           means
           satisfied
           with
           your
           manner
           of
           proceeding
           ,
           
             desiring
             all
             particular
             difficulties
             to
             be
             Answer'd
             ,
             before
             we
             consider
             the
             main
             evidences
             of
             the
             Christian
             Faith
             :
          
           For
           the
           only
           reasonable
           way
           of
           proceeding
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           is
           to
           consider
           ,
           first
           ,
           whether
           there
           be
           sufficient
           Motives
           to
           perswade
           you
           to
           imbrace
           the
           
             Christian
             Faith
          
           ;
           and
           then
           to
           weigh
           the
           difficulties
           ,
           and
           to
           compare
           them
           with
           the
           Reasons
           and
           Arguments
           for
           believing
           ;
           and
           if
           those
           do
           not
           appear
           great
           enough
           to
           overthrow
           the
           force
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           you
           may
           rest
           
           satisfied
           in
           the
           
             Christian
             Faith
          
           ,
           although
           you
           cannot
           Answer
           every
           difficulty
           that
           may
           be
           raised
           against
           the
           Books
           wherein
           our
           Religion
           is
           contained
           .
           I
           pray
           Sir
           ,
           consider
           with
           your self
           ;
           do
           not
           you
           think
           it
           possible
           for
           any
           man
           to
           have
           Faith
           enough
           to
           save
           him
           ,
           unless
           he
           can
           solve
           all
           the
           difficulties
           in
           Chr●●ologie
           that
           are
           in
           the
           Bible
           ,
           unless
           he
           can
           give
           an
           account
           of
           every
           particular
           Law
           and
           Custom
           among
           the
           Jews
           ,
           unless
           he
           can
           make
           out
           all
           the
           
             Prophetick
             Schemes
          
           ,
           and
           can
           tell
           what
           the
           Number
           of
           the
           Beast
           in
           the
           Apocalypse
           means
           ?
           If
           a
           Man
           may
           believe
           and
           be
           saved
           ,
           without
           these
           things
           ,
           to
           what
           purpose
           are
           they
           objected
           for
           the
           overthrow
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Faith
          
           ?
           Do
           you
           think
           a
           Man
           hath
           not
           reason
           enough
           to
           believe
           there
           is
           
             extended
             
             Matter
          
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           unless
           he
           can
           solve
           all
           the
           difficulties
           that
           arise
           from
           the
           extension
           or
           divisibility
           of
           Matter
           ;
           or
           that
           he
           hath
           a
           Soul
           ,
           unless
           he
           can
           make
           it
           clear
           how
           an
           immaterial
           and
           material
           Substance
           can
           be
           so
           united
           as
           our
           Soul
           and
           Body
           are
           ?
           Or
           that
           the
           Sun
           shines
           ,
           unless
           he
           can
           demonstrate
           whether
           the
           Sun
           or
           the
           Earth
           moves
           ?
           Or
           that
           we
           have
           any
           certainty
           of
           things
           ,
           unless
           he
           can
           assign
           the
           undoubted
           criterion
           of
           Truth
           and
           Falshood
           in
           all
           things
           ?
           These
           things
           I
           mention
           on
           purpose
           ,
           to
           let
           you
           see
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           certain
           things
           ,
           have
           difficulties
           about
           them
           ,
           which
           no
           one
           thinks
           it
           necessary
           for
           him
           to
           Answer
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           his
           assurance
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           things
           ;
           but
           as
           long
           as
           the
           evidence
           for
           them
           is
           much
           more
           considerable
           than
           the
           
           Objections
           against
           them
           ,
           we
           may
           safely
           acquiesce
           in
           our
           assent
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           leave
           the
           unfolding
           these
           difficulties
           to
           
             the
             Disputers
             of
             this
             World
          
           ,
           or
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           another
           .
           Is
           it
           not
           far
           more
           reasonable
           for
           us
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           in
           Books
           of
           so
           great
           Antiquity
           ,
           as
           those
           of
           Moses
           are
           ,
           written
           in
           a
           Language
           whose
           Idiotisms
           are
           so
           different
           from
           ours
           ,
           there
           may
           be
           some
           difficulty
           in
           the
           Phrases
           ,
           or
           computation
           of
           Times
           or
           Customs
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           that
           we
           cannot
           well
           understand
           ,
           than
           that
           all
           the
           Miracles
           wrought
           by
           Moses
           should
           have
           been
           Impostures
           ;
           and
           that
           Law
           ,
           which
           was
           preserved
           so
           constantly
           ,
           maintained
           with
           that
           resolution
           by
           the
           wisest
           of
           the
           People
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           who
           chose
           to
           dye
           rather
           than
           disown
           it
           ,
           should
           be
           
           all
           a
           cheat
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           more
           reasonable
           for
           us
           to
           suspect
           our
           own
           Understandings
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Speeches
           and
           Actions
           of
           some
           of
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           than
           to
           think
           that
           Men
           who
           designed
           so
           much
           the
           advancing
           Virtue
           ,
           and
           discouraging
           Vice
           ,
           should
           be
           a
           pack
           of
           Hypocrites
           and
           Deceivers
           ?
           Can
           any
           Man
           of
           common
           sense
           suspect
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           to
           be
           a
           Fourb
           ,
           or
           an
           Imposture
           ,
           because
           he
           cannot
           understand
           the
           Number
           of
           the
           Beast
           ,
           or
           Interpret
           the
           
             Apocalyptick
             Visions
          
           ?
           I
           could
           hardly
           have
           believed
           any
           Man
           pretending
           to
           Reason
           ,
           could
           object
           these
           things
           ,
           unless
           I
           saw
           them
           ,
           and
           were
           called
           upon
           to
           Answer
           them
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           my
           serious
           and
           impartial
           advice
           to
           you
           is
           ,
           in
           the
           first
           place
           to
           consider
           and
           debate
           
           the
           main
           point
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           the
           proofs
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Doctrin
          
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           hunt
           up
           and
           down
           the
           Scriptures
           for
           every
           thing
           that
           seems
           a
           difficulty
           to
           you
           ,
           and
           then
           by
           heaping
           all
           these
           together
           to
           make
           the
           Scriptures
           seem
           a
           confused
           heap
           of
           indigested
           stuff
           ,
           which
           being
           taken
           in
           pieces
           and
           considered
           ,
           with
           that
           modesty
           ,
           diligence
           ,
           and
           care
           ,
           that
           doth
           become
           us
           ,
           will
           appear
           to
           contain
           nothing
           unbecoming
           that
           Sacred
           and
           Venerable
           Name
           which
           the
           Scriptures
           do
           bear
           among
           us
           .
        
         
           If
           therefore
           ,
           you
           design
           not
           cavilling
           but
           satisfaction
           ,
           you
           will
           joyn
           issue
           with
           me
           upon
           the
           most
           material
           point
           ,
           
             viz.
             Whether
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             were
             from
             God
             ,
             or
             from
             Men
             ?
          
           For
           if
           this
           be
           proved
           to
           have
           been
           from
           God
           ,
           all
           the
           other
           things
           will
           easily
           fall
           
           off
           of
           themselves
           ,
           or
           be
           removed
           with
           a
           little
           industry
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           Debate
           of
           this
           ,
           I
           shall
           consider
           ,
           first
           ,
           what
           things
           are
           agreed
           upon
           between
           us
           ,
           and
           then
           wherein
           the
           difference
           lies
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             You
             grant
             an
             absolutely
             perfect
             and
             independent
             Being
             ,
             whom
             we
             call
             God.
             
          
        
         
           2.
           
           
             That
             the
             World
             was
             at
             first
             Created
             ,
             and
             is
             still
             governed
             by
             Him.
             
          
        
         
           3.
           
           
             That
             He
             is
             so
             Holy
             ,
             as
             to
             be
             the
             Author
             of
             no
             Sin
             ,
             although
             he
             doth
             not
             hinder
             Men
             from
             sinning
             .
          
        
         
           4.
           
           
             That
             this
             God
             is
             to
             receive
             from
             us
             all
             Worship
             proper
             to
             Him
             ,
             of
             Prayers
             ,
             Praises
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           5.
           
           
             That
             it
             is
             the
             Will
             of
             this
             God
             ,
             that
             we
             should
             lead
             holy
             ,
             peaceable
             ,
             and
             innocent
             Lives
             .
          
        
         
           6.
           
           
             That
             God
             will
             accept
             mens
             sincere
             
             Repentance
             and
             hearty
             endeavours
             to
             do
             his
             Will
             ,
             although
             they
             do
             not
             perfectly
             obey
             it
             .
          
        
         
           7.
           
           
             That
             there
             is
             a
             State
             of
             Rewards
             and
             Punishments
             in
             another
             World
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             course
             of
             Mens
             Lives
             here
             .
          
        
         
           8.
           
           
             That
             there
             are
             many
             excellent
             Precepts
             in
             the
             writings
             of
             the
             New
             Testament
             inducing
             to
             Humility
             and
             Selfdenyal
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             Honour
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             civil
             duty
             and
             honesty
             of
             Life
             ;
             and
             these
             in
             a
             more
             plentiful
             manner
             than
             is
             to
             be
             found
             in
             any
             other
             Profession
             of
             Religion
             publickly
             known
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Questions
           then
           remaining
           ,
           are
           ,
           (
           1
           )
           
             Whether
             the
             matters
             of
             Fact
             are
             true
             ,
             which
             are
             reported
             in
             the
             Writings
             of
             the
             New
             Testament
             ?
          
           (
           2
           )
           Supposing
           them
           true
           ,
           
             Whether
             they
             do
             sufficiently
             prove
             the
             Doctrin
             to
             have
             been
             from
             God
             ?
          
        
         
         
           1.
           
           
             Whether
             the
             matters
             of
             Fact
             were
             true
             or
             no
             ?
          
           And
           as
           to
           this
           point
           ,
           I
           wish
           you
           had
           set
           down
           the
           Reasons
           of
           your
           doubting
           ,
           more
           clearly
           and
           distinctly
           than
           you
           have
           done
           :
           What
           I
           can
           pick
           up
           ,
           amounts
           to
           these
           things
           .
           1.
           
           
             That
             there
             can
             be
             no
             certainty
             of
             a
             matter
             done
             at
             such
             a
             distance
             of
             time
             ,
             there
             having
             been
             many
             fictitious
             Histories
             in
             the
             World.
          
           2.
           
           
             That
             it
             is
             probable
             ,
             that
             these
             things
             might
             be
             written
             ,
             when
             there
             was
             no
             one
             Living
             to
             detect
             the
             falshood
             of
             them
             ;
             and
             thus
             you
             say
             ,
             the
          
           Grecians
           ,
           Romans
           ,
           Egyptians
           ,
           
             and
             other
             Nations
             were
             at
             first
             imposed
             upon
             by
             some
             Men
             ,
             who
             pretended
             to
             deliver
             to
             them
             the
             History
             of
             their
             Gods
             and
             Heroes
             ,
             and
             the
             Wonders
             wrought
             by
             them
             .
          
           3.
           
           
             That
             these
             things
             might
             more
             easily
             be
             done
             ,
             before
             Printing
             was
             used
             ;
             and
             that
             there
             is
             reason
             to
             
             suspect
             the
             more
             ,
             because
             of
             the
             Pious
             Frauds
             of
             the
             Primitive
             Christians
             ,
             and
             the
             Legends
             of
             the
             Papists
             .
          
           4.
           
           
             That
             there
             may
             have
             been
             many
             more
             Deceptions
             and
             Impostures
             in
             the
             way
             of
             propagating
             false
             Revelations
             and
             Miracles
             than
             we
             can
             now
             discover
             .
          
           5.
           
           
             That
             we
             ought
             not
             to
             take
             the
             Testimony
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             or
             the
             Christian
             Writers
             in
             this
             case
             ,
             because
             they
             may
             be
             suspected
             of
             partiality
             ;
             and
             that
             the
             Testimony
             of
          
           Josephus
           
             is
             suspected
             by
             divers
             learned
             Men
             to
             be
             fraudulently
             put
             in
             by
             Christians
             .
          
           6.
           
           
             That
             there
             are
             susficient
             grounds
             from
             the
             Story
             it self
             ,
             and
             the
             Objections
             of
             Enemies
             to
             suspect
             the
             truth
             of
             it
             ;
             because
             of
             the
             contradiction
             and
             inconsistency
             of
             the
             parts
             of
             it
             ;
             the
             want
             of
             accomplishment
             of
             the
             Promises
             and
             Prophecies
             of
             it
             ;
             the
             obscurity
             and
             unintelligibleness
             of
             other
             parts
             ;
             the
             defects
             of
             the
             Persons
             
             mentioned
             therein
             ,
             St.
          
           Paul
           
             's
             oftentation
             ,
             the
             jarrs
             between
          
           Peter
           and
           Paul
           ,
           and
           Paul
           and
           Barnabas
           .
           7.
           
           
             That
             from
             these
             things
             you
             have
             just
             cause
             to
             doubt
             the
             Apostles
             sincerity
             ,
             and
             you
             think
             they
             might
             have
             indirect
             ends
             in
             divulging
             the
             Miracles
             recorded
             in
             Scripture
             ;
             and
             that
             Men
             might
             be
             contented
             to
             suffer
             ,
             to
             make
             themselves
             heads
             of
             a
             new
             Sect
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             to
             rule
             over
             the
             Consciences
             of
             Men
             ;
             and
             that
             they
             had
             time
             enough
             to
             make
             a
             considerable
             interest
             before
             the
             Persecutions
             began
             .
          
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           force
           of
           all
           I
           can
           find
           out
           ,
           in
           the
           several
           parts
           of
           your
           Papers
           towards
           the
           invalidating
           the
           Testimony
           concerning
           the
           matters
           of
           fact
           reported
           in
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           .
        
         
           In
           Answer
           to
           all
           these
           things
           ,
           I
           shall
           shew
           ;
           1.
           
           That
           matters
           
           of
           fact
           done
           at
           such
           a
           distance
           of
           time
           may
           have
           sufficient
           evidence
           to
           oblige
           Men
           to
           believe
           them
           .
           2.
           
           That
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           to
           suspect
           the
           Truth
           of
           those
           Matters
           of
           fact
           which
           are
           contained
           in
           the
           History
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           .
           3.
           
           That
           the
           Apostles
           gave
           the
           greatest
           testimonies
           of
           their
           Sincerity
           ,
           that
           could
           be
           expected
           from
           them
           ;
           and
           that
           no
           matters
           of
           fact
           were
           ever
           better
           attested
           than
           those
           which
           are
           reported
           by
           them
           ;
           from
           whence
           it
           will
           follow
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           not
           reason
           but
           unreasonable
           Suspicion
           and
           Scepticism
           ,
           if
           not
           willfulness
           and
           obstinacy
           which
           makes
           Men
           to
           continue
           to
           doubt
           after
           so
           great
           evidence
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           we
           may
           have
           such
           evidence
           of
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           done
           at
           such
           a
           distance
           of
           time
           as
           may
           
           oblige
           us
           to
           believe
           the
           Truth
           of
           them
           .
           This
           we
           are
           first
           to
           make
           out
           ,
           because
           several
           of
           your
           Objections
           seem
           to
           imply
           ,
           
             That
             we
             can
             have
             no
             certainty
             of
             such
             things
             ;
             because
             we
             cannot
             know
             what
             tricks
             may
             have
             been
             plaid
             in
             former
             times
             ,
             when
             it
             was
             far
             more
             easie
             to
             deceive
             ;
             and
             that
             it
             is
             confessed
             ,
             there
             have
             been
             several
             Frauds
             of
             this
             kind
             ,
             which
             have
             a
             long
             time
             prevailed
             in
             the
             World.
          
           But
           have
           not
           the
           very
           same
           Arguments
           been
           used
           against
           all
           Religion
           ,
           by
           Atheists
           ?
           And
           if
           the
           Cheats
           that
           have
           been
           in
           Religion
           ,
           have
           no
           force
           against
           the
           Being
           of
           God
           ,
           why
           should
           they
           have
           any
           against
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ?
           And
           if
           the
           common
           consent
           of
           Mankind
           signifie
           any
           thing
           as
           to
           the
           acknowledgement
           of
           a
           Deity
           ,
           why
           should
           not
           the
           
           Testimony
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Church
          
           ,
           so
           circumstantiated
           as
           it
           is
           ,
           be
           of
           sufficient
           strength
           to
           receive
           the
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           delivered
           by
           it
           ?
           which
           is
           all
           I
           at
           present
           desire
           .
           Do
           we
           question
           any
           of
           the
           Stories
           delivered
           by
           the
           common
           consent
           of
           Greek
           or
           
             Latin
             Historians
          
           ,
           although
           we
           have
           only
           the
           bare
           Testimony
           of
           those
           Historians
           for
           them
           ?
           And
           yet
           your
           Objections
           would
           lye
           against
           every
           one
           of
           them
           :
           How
           do
           we
           know
           the
           great
           prevalency
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Empire
          
           ?
           was
           it
           not
           delivered
           by
           those
           who
           belonged
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           were
           concerned
           to
           make
           the
           best
           of
           it
           ?
           What
           know
           we
           ,
           but
           thousands
           of
           Histories
           have
           been
           lost
           ,
           that
           confuted
           all
           that
           we
           now
           have
           concerning
           the
           greatness
           of
           Rome
           ?
           What
           know
           we
           ,
           but
           that
           Rome
           was
           destroyed
           
           by
           Carthage
           ,
           or
           that
           Hanniba●
           quite
           overthrew
           the
           
             Roman
             Empire
          
           ;
           or
           that
           Catiline
           was
           one
           o●
           the
           best
           Men
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           because
           all
           our
           present
           Historie●
           were
           written
           by
           Men
           of
           the
           other
           side
           ?
           How
           can
           we
           tell
           bu●
           that
           the
           Persians
           destroyed
           th●
           Macedonians
           ,
           because
           all
           our
           Accounts
           of
           Alexanders
           Expeditio●
           are
           Originally
           from
           the
           Greeks
           And
           why
           might
           not
           we
           suspec●
           greater
           partiality
           in
           all
           these
           Cases
           ,
           when
           the
           Writers
           did
           not
           giv●
           a
           thousand
           part
           of
           that
           evidenc●
           for
           their
           fidelity
           ,
           that
           the
           Firs●
           Christians
           did
           ?
           And
           yet
           ,
           wha●
           should
           we
           think
           of
           such
           a
           perso●
           who
           should
           call
           in
           question
           th●
           best
           Histories
           of
           all
           Nations
           because
           they
           are
           written
           by
           thos●
           of
           the
           same
           Countrey
           ?
           By
           whic●
           it
           seems
           ,
           you
           will
           never
           allow
           
           any
           competent
           Testimony
           at
           all
           ;
           for
           if
           such
           things
           be
           written
           by
           Enemies
           and
           Strangers
           ,
           we
           have
           reason
           to
           suspect
           both
           their
           knowledge
           and
           integ●ity
           ;
           if
           written
           by
           Friends
           ,
           then
           though
           they
           might
           know
           the
           Truth
           ,
           yet
           they
           would
           write
           partially
           of
           their
           own
           side
           :
           So
           that
           upon
           this
           principle
           ,
           no
           History
           at
           all
           ,
           ancient
           or
           modern
           is
           to
           be
           believed
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           all
           reported
           either
           by
           Friends
           or
           Enemies
           :
           and
           so
           not
           only
           Divine
           ,
           but
           all
           Humane
           Faith
           will
           be
           destroyed
           .
           I
           am
           by
           no
           means
           a
           Friend
           to
           unreasonable
           credulity
           ;
           but
           I
           am
           as
           little
           to
           unreasonable
           distrust
           and
           suspicion
           ;
           if
           the
           one
           be
           Folly
           ,
           the
           other
           is
           Madness
           .
           No
           prudent
           Man
           believes
           any
           thing
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           possible
           to
           be
           true
           ;
           nor
           rejects
           any
           thing
           meerly
           because
           
           it
           is
           possible
           to
           be
           false
           :
           But
           it
           is
           the
           prudence
           of
           every
           Man
           to
           weigh
           and
           consider
           all
           circumstances
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           them
           ,
           to
           assent
           ,
           or
           dissent
           .
           We
           all
           know
           it
           is
           possible
           for
           Men
           to
           deceive
           ,
           or
           to
           be
           deceived
           ,
           but
           we
           know
           there
           is
           no
           necessity
           of
           either
           ;
           and
           that
           there
           is
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           Truth
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           though
           Men
           may
           deceive
           ,
           yet
           they
           do
           not
           always
           so
           ;
           and
           that
           Men
           may
           know
           they
           are
           not
           deceived
           .
           For
           else
           there
           could
           be
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           Society
           among
           Mankind
           ;
           no
           Friendship
           ,
           or
           Trust
           ,
           or
           Confidence
           in
           the
           Word
           of
           another
           person
           ;
           because
           it
           is
           possible
           that
           the
           best
           Friend
           I
           have
           may
           deceive
           me
           ,
           and
           the
           World
           is
           full
           of
           dissimulation
           ,
           must
           I
           therefore
           believe
           no
           Body
           ?
           This
           is
           the
           just
           consequence
           of
           this
           
           way
           of
           Arguing
           ,
           
             That
             we
             have
             reason
             to
             suspect
             the
             Truth
             of
             these
             Matters
             of
             Fact
             ,
             because
             there
             have
             been
             many
             Frauds
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             might
             have
             been
             many
             more
             than
             we
             can
             now
             discover
          
           ;
           for
           if
           this
           Principle
           be
           pursued
           ,
           it
           will
           destroy
           all
           Society
           among
           Men
           ;
           which
           is
           built
           on
           the
           supposition
           of
           mutual
           trust
           and
           confidence
           that
           Men
           have
           in
           each
           other
           :
           And
           although
           it
           be
           possible
           for
           all
           Men
           to
           deceive
           ,
           because
           we
           cannot
           know
           one
           anothers
           hearts
           ,
           yet
           there
           are
           such
           Characters
           of
           Honesty
           and
           Fidelity
           in
           some
           Persons
           ,
           that
           others
           dare
           venture
           their
           Lives
           and
           Fortunes
           upon
           their
           Words
           .
           And
           is
           any
           Man
           thought
           a
           Fool
           for
           doing
           so
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           have
           not
           the
           most
           prudent
           and
           sagacious
           Men
           reposed
           a
           
           mighty
           confidence
           in
           the
           Integrity
           of
           others
           ?
           And
           without
           this
           ,
           no
           great
           affairs
           can
           be
           carried
           on
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           for
           since
           the
           greatest
           Persons
           need
           the
           help
           of
           others
           to
           manage
           their
           business
           ,
           they
           must
           trust
           other
           Men
           continually
           ;
           and
           every
           Man
           puts
           his
           Life
           into
           the
           hands
           of
           others
           ,
           to
           whom
           he
           gives
           any
           freedome
           of
           access
           ,
           and
           especially
           his
           Servants
           :
           Must
           a
           Man
           therefore
           live
           in
           continual
           suspicion
           and
           jealousie
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           possible
           he
           may
           be
           deceived
           ?
           But
           if
           this
           be
           thought
           unreasonable
           ,
           then
           we
           gain
           thus
           much
           ,
           that
           notwithstanding
           the
           possibility
           of
           deception
           ,
           Men
           may
           be
           trusted
           in
           some
           cases
           ,
           and
           their
           Fidelity
           safely
           relied
           upon
           :
           This
           being
           granted
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           enquire
           what
           that
           assurance
           is
           which
           makes
           us
           
           trust
           any
           one
           ;
           and
           whereever
           we
           find
           a
           concurrence
           of
           the
           same
           circumstances
           ,
           or
           equal
           evidence
           of
           fidelity
           ,
           we
           may
           repose
           the
           same
           trust
           or
           confidence
           in
           them
           .
           And
           we
           may
           soon
           find
           that
           it
           is
           not
           any
           ones
           bare
           Word
           that
           makes
           us
           trust
           him
           ;
           but
           either
           the
           reputation
           of
           his
           Integrity
           among
           discerning
           Men
           ;
           or
           our
           long
           experience
           and
           observation
           of
           him
           :
           This
           latter
           is
           only
           confined
           to
           our
           own
           tryal
           ;
           but
           the
           former
           is
           more
           general
           ,
           and
           reaches
           beyond
           our
           own
           Age
           ,
           since
           we
           may
           have
           the
           Testimony
           of
           discerning
           Persons
           convey'd
           down
           to
           us
           in
           as
           certain
           a
           manner
           ,
           as
           we
           can
           know
           the
           mind
           of
           a
           Friend
           at
           a
           100
           Miles
           distance
           ,
           viz.
           by
           Writing
           .
           And
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           we
           desire
           no
           more
           than
           to
           be
           satisfied
           that
           those
           things
           were
           written
           
           by
           them
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           deserved
           to
           be
           believed
           in
           what
           they
           writ
           ;
           thus
           ,
           if
           any
           one
           would
           be
           satisfied
           about
           the
           passages
           of
           the
           
             Peloponnesian
             War
          
           ,
           and
           hath
           heard
           that
           Thucydides
           hath
           accurately
           written
           it
           ,
           he
           hath
           no
           more
           to
           do
           ,
           than
           to
           enquire
           whether
           this
           Thucydides
           were
           capable
           of
           giving
           a
           good
           account
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           for
           that
           ,
           he
           hears
           that
           he
           was
           a
           great
           and
           inquisitive
           Person
           ,
           that
           lived
           in
           that
           Age
           ,
           and
           knew
           all
           the
           occurrences
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           when
           he
           is
           satisfied
           of
           that
           ,
           his
           next
           enquiry
           is
           ,
           whether
           he
           may
           be
           trusted
           or
           no
           ;
           and
           for
           this
           ,
           he
           can
           expect
           no
           better
           satisfaction
           ,
           than
           that
           his
           History
           hath
           been
           in
           great
           reputation
           for
           its
           integrity
           among
           the
           most
           knowing
           Persons
           ;
           but
           how
           shall
           he
           be
           sure
           this
           was
           the
           History
           ,
           written
           by
           
           Thucydides
           ,
           since
           there
           have
           been
           many
           counterfeit
           Writings
           obtruded
           upon
           the
           World
           ?
           Besides
           the
           consent
           of
           learned
           Men
           in
           all
           Ages
           since
           ,
           we
           may
           compare
           the
           Testimonies
           cited
           out
           of
           it
           with
           the
           History
           we
           have
           ,
           and
           the
           Style
           ,
           with
           the
           Character
           given
           of
           Thucydides
           ,
           and
           the
           Narrations
           ,
           with
           other
           credible
           Histories
           of
           those
           Times
           ;
           and
           if
           all
           these
           agree
           ,
           what
           reason
           can
           there
           be
           not
           to
           rely
           upon
           the
           History
           of
           Thucydides
           ?
           All
           learned
           Men
           do
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           there
           have
           been
           multitudes
           of
           fictitious
           writings
           ,
           but
           do
           they
           therefore
           question
           ,
           whether
           there
           are
           any
           genuine
           ?
           Or
           whether
           we
           have
           not
           the
           true
           
             Herodotus
             ,
             Strabo
          
           ,
           or
           Pausanias
           ,
           because
           there
           is
           a
           counterfeit
           
             Berosus
             ,
             Manetho
          
           ,
           and
           Philo
           ,
           set
           forth
           by
           Annius
           of
           Viterbo
           ?
           Do
           
           any
           suspect
           whether
           we
           have
           any
           of
           the
           genuin
           Works
           of
           Cicero
           ,
           because
           an
           Italian
           counterfeited
           a
           Book
           
             De
             Consolatione
          
           in
           his
           name
           Or
           whether
           
             Caesars
             Commentaries
          
           were
           his
           own
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           uncertain
           who
           Writ
           the
           
             Alexandrian
             War
          
           that
           is
           joyned
           with
           them
           By
           which
           we
           see
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           not
           only
           be
           certain
           of
           the
           Fidelity
           of
           Persons
           we
           converse
           with
           ,
           but
           of
           all
           things
           necessary
           to
           ou●
           belief
           of
           what
           was
           done
           at
           a
           great
           distance
           of
           time
           from
           th●
           Testimony
           of
           Writers
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           many
           supposititious
           Writings
           that
           have
           been
           in
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           But
           it
           may
           be
           said
           ,
           
             That
             all
             this
             only
             relates
             to
             meer
             matters
             of
             History
             ,
             wherein
             a
             Man
             is
             not
             mu●h
             concerned
             whether
             they
             be
             true
             or
             false
             ;
             but
             the
             things
             we
             are
             about
             are
             matters
             
             that
             Mens
             Salvation
             or
             Damnation
             are
             ●id
             to
             depend
             upon
             ,
             and
             therefore
             ●reater
             evidence
             should
             be
             given
             of
             these
             ,
             to
             oblige
             Men
             to
             believe
             them
             .
          
        
         
           To
           this
           I
           answer
           .
           1.
           
           That
           ●●y
           design
           herein
           ,
           was
           to
           prove
           ,
           ●hat
           notwithstanding
           the
           possibility
           of
           deception
           ,
           there
           may
           be
           sufficient
           ground
           for
           a
           prudent
           and
           firm
           assent
           to
           the
           Truth
           of
           things
           done
           at
           as
           great
           a
           distance
           of
           time
           ,
           and
           convey'd
           after
           the
           same
           manner
           ,
           that
           the
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           reported
           in
           the
           
             New
             Testament
             are
          
           ;
           and
           hereby
           those
           general
           prejudices
           are
           shewed
           to
           be
           unreasonable
           :
           And
           all
           that
           I
           desire
           from
           this
           discourse
           is
           ,
           that
           you
           would
           give
           an
           assent
           of
           the
           same
           nature
           to
           the
           History
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           that
           you
           do
           to
           Caesar
           ,
           or
           Livy
           ,
           or
           Tacitus
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           ancient
           Historian
           .
           2.
           
           As
           to
           the
           
           greater
           obligation
           to
           assent
           ,
           ●
           say
           it
           depends
           upon
           the
           evidence
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           which
           i●
           given
           by
           the
           Matters
           of
           Fac●
           which
           are
           delivered
           to
           us
           .
           An●
           here
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           ask
           you
           ;
           1.
           
           Whether
           it
           be
           any
           ways
           repugnant
           to
           any
           conception
           you
           have
           of
           God
           ,
           for
           him
           to
           make
           use
           of
           fallible
           Men
           to
           make
           known
           his
           Will
           to
           the
           World
           ?
           2.
           
           Whether
           those
           Men
           ,
           though
           supposed
           to
           be
           in
           themselves
           fallible
           ,
           can
           either
           deceive
           ,
           or
           be
           deceived
           ,
           when
           God
           make●
           known
           his
           Mind
           to
           them
           ?
           3.
           
           Whether
           on
           supposition
           ,
           that
           God
           hath
           made
           use
           of
           such
           Persons
           for
           this
           end
           ,
           those
           are
           not
           obliged
           to
           believe
           them
           ,
           who
           do
           not
           live
           in
           the
           same
           Age
           with
           them
           ?
           If
           not
           ,
           then
           God
           must
           either
           make
           no
           Revelation
           at
           all
           ,
           
           or
           he
           must
           make
           a
           New
           one
           every
           Age
           :
           If
           they
           are
           ,
           then
           the
           obligation
           lies
           as
           much
           on
           us
           now
           to
           believe
           ,
           as
           if
           we
           had
           lived
           and
           conversed
           with
           those
           inspired
           Persons
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           to
           suspect
           the
           Truth
           of
           those
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           which
           are
           reported
           in
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ;
           For
           since
           it
           is
           universally
           agreed
           among
           Men
           ,
           that
           Humane
           Testimony
           is
           a
           sufficient
           ground
           for
           assent
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           no
           positive
           ground
           for
           suspicion
           ;
           because
           deceiving
           and
           being
           deceived
           ,
           is
           not
           the
           common
           Interest
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           therefore
           we
           are
           to
           consider
           what
           the
           general
           grounds
           of
           suspicion
           are
           ,
           and
           whether
           any
           of
           them
           do
           reach
           the
           
             Apostles
             Testimony
          
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           reported
           by
           them
           .
           And
           the
           just
           
           grounds
           of
           suspicion
           are
           these
           1.
           
           If
           the
           Persons
           be
           otherwis●
           known
           to
           be
           Men
           of
           artifice
           an●
           cunning
           ,
           full
           of
           tricks
           and
           diss●mulation
           ,
           and
           that
           make
           n●
           Conscience
           of
           speaking
           Truth
           so
           a
           Lye
           tends
           to
           their
           greates●
           advantage
           ;
           which
           is
           too
           muc●
           the
           Papists
           case
           in
           their
           Legends
           and
           Stories
           of
           Miracles
           .
           2.
           ●
           they
           temper
           and
           suit
           their
           Stor●
           and
           Doctrin
           to
           the
           Humour
           an●
           Genius
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           they
           hop●
           to
           prevail
           upon
           ,
           as
           Mahomet
           did
           in
           encouraging
           War
           and
           Lasciviousness
           .
           3.
           
           If
           they
           lay
           the
           Scene
           o●
           their
           Story
           at
           a
           mighty
           distance
           from
           themselves
           ,
           at
           such
           an
           Age
           ,
           wherein
           it
           is
           impossible
           either
           to
           prove
           ,
           or
           disprove
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           case
           of
           the
           Brachmans
           ,
           as
           to
           their
           Brahmà
           ,
           and
           their
           Veda
           ;
           and
           was
           of
           the
           Heathens
           as
           to
           
           their
           Fabulous
           Deities
           .
           4.
           
           If
           there
           be
           any
           thing
           contained
           in
           the
           Story
           ,
           which
           is
           repugnant
           to
           the
           most
           authentick
           Histories
           of
           those
           times
           ;
           by
           which
           means
           the
           Impostures
           of
           Annius
           have
           been
           discovered
           .
           5.
           
           If
           there
           be
           evident
           contradiction
           in
           the
           Story
           it self
           ;
           or
           any
           thing
           repugnant
           to
           ,
           or
           unbecoming
           the
           Majesty
           ,
           Holiness
           ,
           Sincerity
           ,
           and
           Consistency
           of
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           ;
           on
           which
           account
           we
           reject
           Fanatick
           pretences
           to
           Revelations
           .
           If
           there
           were
           any
           thing
           of
           this
           nature
           in
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           we
           might
           then
           allow
           there
           were
           some
           ground
           to
           suspect
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           is
           contained
           therein
           :
           But
           I
           shall
           undertake
           ,
           by
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           defend
           that
           there
           is
           not
           any
           foundation
           for
           suspicion
           as
           to
           any
           one
           of
           these
           .
        
         
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           the
           Persons
           ,
           such
           wh●
           go
           about
           to
           deceive
           others
           ,
           mus●
           be
           Men
           that
           are
           versed
           in
           business
           and
           know
           how
           to
           deal
           with
           Men
           ;
           and
           that
           have
           some
           interest
           already
           that
           they
           have
           gained
           by
           other
           means
           ,
           before
           they
           can
           carry
           on
           such
           a
           design
           as
           to
           abuse
           Mankind
           ,
           by
           Lyes
           and
           Impostures
           in
           Religion
           :
           Therefore
           the
           Atheists
           lay
           the
           deceiving
           the
           World
           by
           Religion
           ,
           to
           the
           Charge
           of
           Politicians
           and
           Law-givers
           ,
           to
           Men
           versed
           in
           the
           practice
           of
           Fraud
           ,
           such
           as
           Numa
           ,
           or
           Lycurgus
           ,
           or
           Xaca
           ,
           or
           Mahomet
           ,
           such
           as
           understood
           the
           ways
           of
           cajoling
           the
           People
           ;
           or
           to
           
             subtle
             Priests
          
           ,
           that
           know
           how
           to
           suit
           the
           hopes
           and
           fears
           of
           the
           superstitious
           multitude
           ;
           whence
           came
           the
           multitude
           of
           Frauds
           in
           the
           
             Heathen
             Temples
          
           and
           Oracles
           .
           But
           would
           
           any
           Man
           in
           the
           World
           have
           pitched
           upon
           a
           few
           Fishermen
           ,
           and
           illiterate
           Persons
           ,
           to
           carry
           on
           such
           an
           intrigue
           as
           this
           ?
           Men
           that
           were
           rude
           and
           unexperienced
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           uncapable
           of
           dealing
           in
           the
           way
           of
           Artifice
           with
           one
           of
           the
           common
           Citizens
           of
           Hierusalem
           .
           When
           was
           it
           ever
           heard
           that
           such
           Men
           made
           such
           an
           alteration
           in
           the
           Religion
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           did
           ,
           against
           the
           most
           violent
           persecutions
           ?
           And
           when
           they
           prevailed
           so
           much
           ,
           the
           common
           charge
           still
           against
           them
           was
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           a
           company
           of
           
             Rude
             ,
             Mean
             ,
             Obscure
             ,
             Illiterate
             ,
             Simple
             Men
             :
          
           And
           yet
           in
           spight
           of
           all
           the
           Cunning
           ,
           and
           Malice
           ,
           and
           Learning
           ,
           and
           Strength
           of
           their
           Adversaries
           ,
           they
           gained
           ground
           upon
           them
           ,
           and
           prevailed
           over
           
           the
           Obstinacy
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           an●
           Wisdom
           of
           the
           Greeks
           .
           If
           th●
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           had
           been
           a
           mee●
           design
           of
           the
           Apostles
           to
           mak●
           themselves
           Heads
           of
           a
           new
           Sect
           what
           had
           this
           been
           but
           to
           hav●
           set
           the
           Cunning
           of
           twelve
           ,
           o●
           thirteen
           Men
           ,
           of
           no
           Interest
           or
           Reputation
           ,
           against
           the
           Wisdom
           and
           Power
           of
           the
           whol●
           World
           ?
           If
           they
           had
           any
           Wisdom
           they
           would
           never
           have
           unde●
           taken
           such
           an
           impossible
           desig●
           as
           this
           must
           appear
           to
           them
           ●
           first
           view
           :
           And
           if
           they
           ha●
           none
           ,
           how
           could
           they
           ever
           hop●
           to
           manage
           it
           ?
           If
           their
           aim
           wer●
           only
           at
           Reputation
           ,
           they
           migh●
           have
           thought
           of
           thousands
           ●
           ways
           more
           probable
           ,
           and
           mor●
           advantageous
           than
           this
           :
           If
           w●
           suppose
           Men
           should
           be
           willin●
           to
           hazard
           their
           Lives
           for
           the●
           
           Reputations
           ,
           we
           may
           suppose
           withall
           such
           Men
           to
           have
           so
           much
           cunning
           as
           not
           to
           do
           it
           till
           they
           cannot
           help
           it
           ;
           but
           if
           they
           can
           have
           Reputation
           and
           ease
           together
           ,
           they
           had
           rather
           have
           it
           .
           I
           will
           therefore
           put
           the
           Case
           concerning
           the
           only
           Person
           that
           had
           the
           advantage
           of
           a
           Learned
           Education
           among
           the
           
             Apostles
             ;
             viz.
          
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           and
           whom
           you
           seem
           to
           strike
           at
           more
           than
           the
           rest
           :
           Is
           it
           reasonable
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           when
           he
           was
           in
           favour
           with
           the
           Sanhedrin
           ,
           and
           was
           likely
           to
           advance
           himself
           by
           his
           opposition
           to
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           had
           a
           fair
           prospect
           of
           Ease
           and
           Honour
           together
           ;
           he
           should
           quit
           all
           this
           ,
           to
           joyn
           with
           such
           an
           inconsiderable
           and
           hated
           company
           ,
           as
           the
           Christians
           were
           ,
           only
           to
           be
           one
           of
           the
           Heads
           of
           a
           very
           small
           
           Number
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           to
           purchase
           it
           at
           so
           dear
           a
           rate
           as
           th●
           loss
           of
           his
           Friends
           and
           Interest
           and
           running
           on
           continual
           Troubles
           and
           Persecutions
           ,
           to
           the
           hazard
           of
           his
           Life
           ?
           It
           is
           possibl●
           for
           Men
           that
           are
           deceived
           an●
           mean
           honestly
           to
           do
           this
           ;
           bu●
           it
           is
           scarce
           supposable
           of
           a
           Ma●
           in
           his
           Senses
           that
           should
           kno●
           and
           believe
           all
           this
           to
           be
           a
           cheat
           and
           yet
           own
           and
           embrace
           it
           ,
           to
           s●
           great
           disadvantage
           to
           himself
           When
           he
           could
           not
           make
           himsel●
           so
           considerable
           by
           it
           ,
           as
           he
           migh●
           have
           been
           without
           it
           .
           Me●
           must
           love
           cheating
           the
           World
           at
           strange
           rate
           ,
           that
           will
           let
           go
           fai●
           hopes
           of
           preferment
           and
           ease
           and
           lead
           a
           life
           of
           perpetual
           trouble
           ,
           and
           expose
           themselves
           to
           the
           utmost
           hazards
           ,
           only
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           deluding
           others
           .
           If
           the
           
           Apostles
           knew
           all
           they
           said
           to
           be
           false
           ,
           and
           made
           it
           so
           necessary
           for
           all
           Men
           to
           believe
           what
           they
           said
           to
           be
           true
           ;
           they
           were
           some
           of
           the
           greatest
           deceivers
           which
           the
           World
           had
           ever
           known
           :
           But
           Men
           that
           take
           pleasure
           in
           deceiving
           ,
           make
           use
           of
           many
           artifices
           on
           purpose
           to
           catch
           the
           silly
           multitude
           ;
           they
           have
           all
           the
           arts
           of
           Insinuation
           and
           Fawning
           Speeches
           ,
           fit
           to
           draw
           in
           the
           weakest
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           love
           to
           be
           flatter'd
           ;
           but
           what
           is
           there
           tending
           this
           way
           in
           all
           the
           Apostles
           Writings
           ?
           How
           sharply
           do
           they
           speak
           to
           the
           
             Jewish
             Sanhedrin
          
           ,
           upon
           the
           Murther
           of
           Christ
           ?
           With
           what
           plainness
           and
           simplicity
           do
           they
           go
           about
           to
           perswade
           Men
           to
           be
           Christians
           ?
           They
           barely
           tell
           the
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           concerning
           the
           Resurrection
           of
           Christ
           ,
           
           and
           say
           
             they
             were
             eye-witnesses
             of
             it
          
           ,
           and
           upon
           the
           credit
           of
           this
           Testimony
           of
           theirs
           ,
           they
           Preach
           Faith
           and
           Repentance
           to
           Jews
           ,
           and
           Gentiles
           :
           Was
           ever
           any
           thing
           farther
           from
           the
           appearance
           of
           Artifice
           than
           this
           was
           ?
           So
           that
           if
           they
           were
           deceivers
           ,
           they
           were
           some
           of
           the
           Subtilest
           that
           ever
           were
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           because
           there
           seems
           to
           be
           so
           little
           ground
           for
           any
           suspicion
           of
           Fraud
           ;
           and
           we
           cannot
           easily
           imagin
           Persons
           of
           their
           Education
           ,
           capable
           of
           so
           profound
           dissimulation
           and
           so
           artificial
           a
           Cheat.
           Besides
           all
           this
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           consider
           how
           far
           such
           Persons
           do
           allow
           the
           liberty
           of
           dissimulation
           and
           
             artificial
             Juglings
          
           ,
           especially
           in
           Religion
           ;
           we
           see
           the
           Papists
           could
           not
           practice
           these
           things
           ,
           without
           being
           forced
           to
           defend
           them
           ,
           by
           shewing
           
           how
           convenient
           it
           is
           for
           the
           People
           to
           be
           told
           strange
           Stories
           of
           Saints
           ,
           on
           purpose
           to
           
             nourish
             Devotion
          
           in
           them
           :
           To
           which
           end
           ,
           they
           say
           ,
           
             it
             signifies
             not
             much
             ,
             whether
             they
             were
             true
             or
             no
             :
          
           And
           withall
           they
           assert
           the
           
             Lawfulness
             of
             Equivocations
             ,
             and
             Mental
             Reservations
             ,
             and
             doing
             things
             ,
             not
             otherwise
             justifiable
             ,
             for
             the
             Honour
             of
             their
             Church
             and
             Religion
          
           ;
           And
           I
           shall
           freely
           confess
           to
           you
           ,
           if
           I
           found
           any
           countenance
           to
           such
           things
           as
           these
           ,
           from
           the
           Doctrin
           or
           Practice
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           it
           would
           give
           me
           too
           just
           a
           ground
           for
           suspicion
           as
           to
           what
           they
           deliver'd
           .
           For
           if
           they
           allowed
           Equivocations
           ,
           or
           
             Mental
             Reservations
          
           ,
           how
           could
           I
           possibly
           know
           what
           they
           meant
           by
           any
           thing
           they
           said
           ?
           For
           that
           which
           was
           necessary
           to
           make
           the
           Proposition
           true
           ,
           
           lay
           without
           my
           reach
           in
           the
           Mind
           of
           another
           ;
           and
           while
           they
           so
           firmly
           attested
           that
           
             Christ
             was
             risen
             from
             the
             Dead
             ,
          
           they
           might
           understand
           it
           of
           a
           Spiritual
           or
           
             Mystical
             Resurrection
          
           ;
           but
           if
           they
           should
           be
           found
           to
           allow
           Lying
           or
           
             Cheating
             for
             the
             cause
             of
             Religion
             ,
          
           their
           credit
           would
           be
           gone
           with
           me
           ;
           for
           how
           could
           I
           be
           any
           longer
           sure
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           one
           Word
           they
           said
           ?
           I
           should
           be
           so
           far
           from
           thinking
           them
           Infallible
           ,
           that
           I
           could
           not
           but
           suspect
           them
           to
           have
           a
           design
           to
           deceive
           me
           .
           The
           first
           thing
           therefore
           we
           are
           to
           look
           at
           in
           Persons
           who
           require
           our
           belief
           ,
           is
           the
           strictest
           veracity
           ;
           if
           they
           falter
           in
           this
           ,
           they
           expose
           themselves
           to
           the
           suspicion
           of
           all
           but
           credulous
           Fools
           .
           But
           we
           no
           where
           find
           greater
           plainness
           and
           sincerity
           required
           ,
           
           no
           where
           more
           strict
           and
           severe
           prohibitions
           of
           dissimulation
           in
           Religion
           ,
           nor
           more
           general
           Precepts
           about
           
             speaking
             Truth
          
           ,
           than
           in
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
             .
             But
             might
             not
             all
             this
             be
             done
             with
             the
             greater
             artifice
             to
             prevent
             suspicion
             ?
          
           Suspicion
           is
           a
           thing
           ,
           which
           
             he
             that
             set
             bounds
             to
             the
             Sea
             ,
          
           can
           set
           no
           bounds
           to
           ;
           if
           Men
           will
           give
           way
           to
           it
           ,
           without
           reason
           ,
           there
           can
           be
           no
           end
           of
           it
           .
           For
           the
           most
           effectual
           ways
           to
           prevent
           it
           ,
           will
           still
           afford
           new
           matter
           and
           occasion
           for
           it
           .
           If
           Men
           do
           use
           the
           utmost
           means
           that
           are
           possible
           ,
           to
           assure
           others
           of
           their
           sincerity
           ,
           and
           they
           will
           not
           believe
           them
           ,
           but
           still
           suspect
           the
           design
           to
           be
           so
           much
           deeper
           laid
           ;
           there
           is
           no
           way
           left
           possible
           to
           satisfy
           such
           Men
           ;
           their
           suspicion
           is
           a
           disease
           incurable
           
           by
           rational
           means
           ,
           and
           such
           persons
           deserve
           to
           be
           given
           over
           as
           past
           all
           remedy
           .
           If
           Men
           act
           like
           prudent
           Men
           ,
           they
           will
           judge
           according
           to
           the
           Reason
           of
           Things
           ;
           but
           if
           they
           entertain
           a
           jealousie
           of
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           of
           those
           who
           give
           them
           the
           greatest
           assurance
           they
           have
           no
           Intention
           to
           deceive
           them
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           no
           purpose
           to
           go
           about
           to
           satisfie
           such
           Persons
           ,
           for
           that
           very
           undertaking
           makes
           them
           more
           suspicious
           .
           If
           the
           Apostles
           therefore
           gave
           as
           much
           ground
           as
           ever
           any
           Persons
           did
           ,
           or
           could
           do
           ,
           that
           they
           had
           no
           design
           to
           impose
           upon
           the
           World
           ,
           but
           proceeding
           with
           all
           the
           fairness
           and
           openness
           ,
           with
           the
           greatest
           evidence
           of
           their
           sincerity
           ,
           there
           can
           be
           no
           reason
           to
           fasten
           upon
           them
           the
           imputation
           of
           cunning
           
           Men
           who
           made
           it
           their
           business
           to
           deceive
           others
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           This
           will
           more
           appear
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           Matters
           deliver'd
           by
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           nature
           of
           their
           Doctrin
           .
           For
           if
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           were
           only
           a
           contrivance
           of
           the
           first
           Preachers
           of
           it
           ,
           it
           must
           by
           the
           event
           be
           supposed
           that
           they
           were
           very
           subtle
           Men
           ,
           who
           in
           so
           little
           time
           ,
           and
           against
           so
           great
           opposition
           could
           prevail
           over
           both
           Jews
           and
           Gentiles
           ;
           but
           if
           we
           reflect
           on
           the
           nature
           of
           their
           Doctrin
           ,
           we
           can
           never
           imagin
           that
           these
           Men
           did
           proceed
           by
           the
           same
           Methods
           that
           Men
           of
           subtilty
           do
           make
           use
           of
           .
           If
           it
           were
           there
           own
           contrivance
           ,
           it
           was
           in
           their
           power
           to
           have
           framed
           it
           as
           they
           thought
           fit
           themselves
           ;
           and
           in
           all
           probability
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           done
           it
           in
           a
           way
           
           most
           likely
           to
           be
           successful
           ;
           but
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           was
           so
           far
           from
           it
           ,
           as
           though
           they
           had
           industriously
           designed
           to
           advance
           a
           Religion
           against
           the
           genius
           and
           inclination
           of
           all
           Mankind
           .
           For
           it
           neither
           gratifies
           the
           voluptuous
           in
           their
           Pleasures
           ,
           nor
           the
           Ambitious
           in
           their
           desires
           of
           External
           Pomp
           and
           Greatness
           ,
           nor
           the
           Covetous
           in
           their
           thirst
           after
           Riches
           ;
           but
           lays
           a
           severe
           restraint
           on
           all
           those
           common
           and
           prevailing
           Passions
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           which
           Mahomet
           well
           understood
           ,
           when
           he
           suited
           his
           Religion
           to
           them
           .
           Christianity
           was
           neither
           accommodated
           to
           the
           Temper
           and
           Genius
           either
           of
           Jews
           or
           Gentiles
           :
           The
           Jews
           were
           in
           great
           expectation
           of
           a
           Temporal
           Prince
           at
           that
           time
           to
           deliver
           them
           from
           the
           Roman
           Slavery
           ;
           and
           every
           
           one
           that
           would
           have
           set
           up
           for
           such
           a
           Messias
           ,
           might
           have
           had
           followers
           enough
           among
           them
           ,
           as
           we
           find
           afterwards
           by
           the
           attempts
           of
           Barchocebas
           and
           others
           .
           But
           the
           Messias
           of
           the
           Christians
           was
           so
           directly
           contrary
           to
           their
           hopes
           and
           expectations
           ,
           being
           a
           poor
           and
           
             suffering
             Prince
          
           ,
           that
           this
           set
           them
           the
           more
           against
           his
           Followers
           ,
           because
           they
           were
           hereby
           frustrated
           of
           their
           greatest
           hopes
           ,
           and
           defeated
           in
           their
           most
           pleasing
           expectations
           :
           But
           besides
           ,
           if
           they
           would
           have
           taken
           in
           the
           
             Mosaick
             Law
          
           ,
           it
           might
           in
           probability
           have
           succeeded
           better
           ;
           but
           this
           St.
           Paul
           would
           by
           no
           means
           hear
           of
           .
           
             But
             if
             they
             rejected
             the
             Jews
             ,
             methinks
             they
             should
             have
             been
             willing
             to
             have
             had
             some
             assistance
             from
             the
             Gentiles
             .
          
           No
           ,
           they
           charged
           them
           with
           
           Idolatry
           where
           ever
           they
           came
           ,
           and
           would
           not
           joyn
           in
           any
           parts
           of
           their
           Worship
           with
           them
           ;
           nor
           so
           much
           as
           Eat
           of
           the
           remainder
           of
           their
           Sacrifices
           .
           But
           supposing
           they
           had
           a
           mind
           to
           set
           up
           wholly
           a
           new
           Sect
           of
           their
           own
           ;
           yet
           we
           should
           think
           they
           should
           have
           framed
           it
           after
           the
           most
           plausible
           manner
           ,
           and
           left
           out
           all
           things
           thar
           were
           most
           liable
           to
           Reproach
           and
           Infamy
           :
           But
           this
           they
           were
           so
           far
           from
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           contemptible
           part
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           viz.
           
             A
             Crucified
             Saviour
          
           ,
           they
           insist
           the
           most
           upon
           ,
           and
           Preach
           it
           on
           all
           occasions
           ,
           and
           in
           comparison
           of
           it
           ,
           strangely
           despise
           all
           the
           Wisdom
           and
           Philosophy
           of
           the
           Greeks
           .
           What
           did
           these
           Men
           mean
           ,
           if
           Christianity
           had
           been
           only
           a
           contrivance
           of
           theirs
           ?
           If
           they
           had
           but
           left
           out
           
           this
           one
           circumstance
           ,
           in
           all
           Human
           probability
           ,
           the
           excellent
           moral
           Precepts
           in
           Christianity
           would
           have
           been
           highly
           magnified
           among
           all
           those
           who
           had
           been
           bred
           up
           under
           the
           Instructions
           of
           Philosophers
           .
           Nay
           ,
           they
           would
           not
           make
           use
           of
           the
           most
           commendable
           Methods
           of
           Humane
           Wisdom
           ;
           nor
           do
           as
           the
           Jesuits
           have
           done
           in
           China
           ,
           make
           Men
           have
           a
           better
           opinion
           of
           the
           Religion
           they
           brought
           ,
           for
           their
           skill
           in
           Mathematicks
           and
           Astronomy
           ;
           but
           as
           much
           as
           it
           was
           possible
           ,
           to
           let
           the
           World
           see
           it
           was
           no
           contrivance
           of
           Humane
           Wisdom
           ,
           they
           shunned
           all
           the
           ways
           of
           shewing
           it
           in
           the
           manner
           of
           its
           propagation
           .
           Nay
           ,
           when
           the
           People
           would
           have
           given
           the
           Apostles
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           never
           were
           vain
           Men
           more
           concerned
           
           to
           have
           it
           ,
           than
           they
           to
           oppose
           it
           ;
           And
           do
           these
           things
           look
           like
           the
           Actions
           of
           Men
           that
           designed
           only
           to
           make
           themselves
           great
           ,
           by
           being
           the
           Heads
           of
           a
           new
           Sect
           of
           Religion
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           Men
           that
           made
           it
           their
           design
           to
           deceive
           the
           World
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           thought
           it
           necessary
           to
           bring
           in
           any
           matter
           of
           Story
           concerning
           the
           Author
           of
           their
           Religion
           would
           have
           placed
           it
           at
           such
           
             a
             distance
             of
             time
          
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           not
           capable
           of
           being
           disproved
           :
           As
           it
           is
           apparent
           in
           the
           
             Heathen
             Mythologie
          
           ;
           for
           the
           Stories
           were
           such
           ,
           as
           no
           person
           could
           ever
           pretend
           to
           confute
           them
           otherwise
           than
           by
           the
           inconsistency
           of
           them
           with
           the
           common
           principles
           of
           Religion
           .
           But
           if
           we
           suppose
           Christianity
           to
           have
           been
           a
           meer
           device
           ,
           would
           the
           Apostles
           
           have
           been
           so
           senseless
           to
           have
           laid
           the
           main
           proof
           of
           their
           Religion
           on
           a
           thing
           which
           was
           but
           newly
           acted
           ,
           and
           which
           they
           were
           very
           capable
           of
           enquiring
           into
           all
           the
           Circumstances
           that
           related
           to
           it
           ,
           viz.
           the
           
             Resurrection
             of
             Christ
             from
             the
             Dead
             .
          
           We
           may
           see
           by
           the
           whole
           design
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           the
           great
           stress
           of
           Christianity
           was
           laid
           upon
           the
           Truth
           of
           this
           ;
           to
           this
           ,
           Christ
           himself
           appealed
           before
           hand
           :
           to
           this
           all
           the
           Apostles
           refer
           as
           the
           mighty
           confirmation
           of
           their
           Religion
           ;
           and
           this
           they
           deliver
           as
           a
           thing
           which
           themselves
           had
           seen
           ,
           and
           had
           conversed
           with
           him
           for
           40
           Days
           together
           ,
           with
           all
           the
           demonstrations
           imaginable
           of
           a
           true
           and
           
             real
             Body
          
           :
           And
           that
           not
           to
           one
           or
           two
           credulous
           .
           Persons
           ,
           but
           so
           
           many
           of
           them
           who
           were
           hard
           to
           be
           satisfied
           ,
           and
           one
           ,
           not
           without
           the
           most
           sensible
           evidence
           ,
           but
           besides
           these
           ,
           they
           tell
           us
           of
           500
           
             at
             once
             who
             saw
             him
             ,
             whereof
             many
             were
             then
             living
          
           when
           those
           things
           were
           written
           .
           Now
           I
           pray
           tell
           me
           what
           Religion
           in
           the
           World
           ever
           put
           it self
           upon
           so
           fair
           a
           tryal
           as
           this
           ?
           Of
           a
           plain
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           as
           capable
           of
           being
           attested
           as
           any
           could
           be
           .
           Why
           did
           not
           Amida
           ,
           or
           Brahma
           or
           Xaca
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           of
           the
           Authors
           of
           the
           present
           Religions
           of
           the
           
             East
             Indies
          
           ?
           Why
           did
           not
           Orpheus
           ,
           or
           Numa
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           introducers
           of
           Religious
           Customa
           among
           the
           Greeks
           or
           
             Romans
             ?
             Or
             Mahomet
          
           among
           the
           Arabians
           put
           the
           issue
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           their
           Religion
           on
           such
           a
           plain
           and
           easie
           tryal
           as
           this
           ?
           If
           you
           say
           
             That
             Christ
             
             appeared
             only
             to
             his
             Friends
             ,
             who
             were
             ready
             to
             believe
             such
             things
             ,
             and
             not
             among
             his
             Enemies
             :
          
           I
           Answer
           ,
           That
           though
           they
           were
           his
           Friends
           ,
           yet
           they
           were
           very
           hard
           to
           be
           perswaded
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           it
           at
           first
           ;
           and
           afterwards
           gave
           larger
           Testimonies
           of
           their
           fidelity
           than
           the
           Testimony
           of
           the
           greatest
           Enemies
           would
           have
           been
           ;
           for
           we
           should
           have
           had
           only
           their
           
             bare
             Words
          
           for
           it
           ,
           (
           if
           they
           would
           have
           given
           that
           ,
           which
           is
           very
           questionable
           ,
           considering
           their
           dealing
           with
           the
           other
           Miracles
           of
           
             Christ
             :
          
           )
           But
           the
           Apostles
           manifested
           their
           sincerity
           by
           all
           real
           proofs
           that
           could
           be
           thought
           sufficient
           to
           satisfie
           Mankind
           ;
           appealing
           to
           the
           very
           Persons
           who
           were
           concerned
           the
           most
           in
           it
           ,
           having
           a
           hand
           in
           the
           Death
           of
           Christ
           ,
           declaring
           their
           greatest
           
           readiness
           to
           suffer
           any
           thing
           rather
           than
           deny
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           laying
           down
           their
           Lives
           at
           last
           for
           it
           .
           If
           all
           this
           had
           been
           a
           meer
           Fiction
           ,
           how
           unlikely
           is
           it
           ,
           that
           among
           so
           many
           as
           were
           conscious
           of
           it
           ,
           no
           one
           person
           by
           hopes
           or
           fears
           ,
           by
           flatteries
           or
           threatnings
           ,
           could
           ever
           be
           prevailed
           upon
           to
           deny
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           .
           If
           there
           had
           been
           any
           such
           thing
           ,
           what
           triumphing
           had
           there
           been
           among
           the
           Jews
           ;
           and
           no
           doubt
           his
           name
           had
           been
           Recorded
           to
           Posterity
           among
           the
           Writers
           both
           of
           Jew●
           and
           Gentiles
           that
           were
           professed
           Enemies
           of
           Christianity
           .
           But
           they
           are
           all
           wonderfully
           silent
           in
           this
           matter
           ;
           and
           instead
           o●
           saying
           enough
           to
           overthrow
           the
           
             truth
             of
             Christianity
          
           ,
           as
           you
           seem
           to
           suggest
           ,
           I
           do
           assure
           you
           ,
           I
           am
           
           mightily
           confirmed
           in
           the
           belief
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           ,
           by
           carefully
           observing
           the
           slightness
           of
           the
           Objections
           that
           were
           made
           against
           it
           ,
           by
           its
           most
           professed
           Enemies
           .
        
         
           But
           you
           seem
           to
           imply
           ,
           
             That
             all
             this
             Story
             concerning
             Christ
             was
             invented
             long
             after
             the
             pretended
             time
             of
             his
             being
             in
             the
             World
             ,
          
           Why
           may
           not
           you
           as
           well
           suspect
           ,
           that
           
             Julius
             Caesar
          
           lived
           before
           Romulus
           ;
           or
           that
           Augustus
           lived
           at
           the
           Seige
           of
           Troy
           ?
           For
           you
           might
           as
           well
           reject
           all
           History
           upon
           such
           grounds
           as
           those
           you
           assign
           ;
           and
           think
           Mahomet
           as
           right
           in
           his
           Chronology
           ,
           as
           the
           Bible
           .
           It
           is
           time
           for
           us
           to
           burn
           all
           our
           Books
           ,
           if
           we
           have
           lived
           in
           such
           a
           Cheat
           all
           this
           while
           .
           Methinks
           you
           might
           as
           well
           ask
           ,
           whether
           Lucretia
           were
           not
           
             Pope
             Joan
          
           ?
           Or
           
           Alexander
           the
           sixth
           ,
           one
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Emperours
          
           ?
           Or
           whether
           Luther
           were
           not
           the
           Emperour
           of
           Turky
           ?
           For
           there
           is
           no
           greater
           evidence
           of
           any
           History
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           than
           there
           is
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           things
           reported
           in
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           were
           done
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           pretended
           to
           be
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Therefore
           we
           offer
           this
           Story
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           to
           be
           compared
           with
           all
           the
           
             Circumstances
             of
             that
             Age
          
           ,
           delivered
           by
           any
           other
           Historians
           ,
           to
           try
           if
           any
           inconsistencies
           can
           be
           found
           therein
           :
           Which
           is
           the
           most
           reasonable
           way
           can
           be
           taken
           to
           disprove
           any
           History
           .
           If
           it
           could
           be
           proved
           ,
           that
           there
           could
           be
           no
           such
           Taxation
           of
           the
           Empire
           as
           is
           mention'd
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Augustus
           ,
           that
           Herod
           did
           not
           live
           in
           
           that
           Age
           ,
           or
           that
           the
           Jews
           were
           not
           under
           the
           
             Roman
             Government
          
           ,
           or
           that
           there
           were
           no
           
             High
             Priests
          
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           nor
           the
           Sects
           of
           Pharisees
           and
           Saducees
           ,
           or
           that
           there
           were
           any
           other
           remarkable
           characters
           of
           time
           set
           down
           in
           the
           History
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           which
           could
           be
           manifestly
           disproved
           ;
           there
           were
           some
           pretence
           to
           call
           in
           Question
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Story
           ;
           but
           there
           is
           not
           the
           least
           Foundation
           for
           any
           scruple
           on
           this
           account
           ;
           All
           things
           agreeing
           so
           well
           with
           the
           truest
           accounts
           we
           have
           of
           that
           Age
           ,
           both
           from
           Josephus
           and
           the
           
             Roman
             Historie
          
           .
           I
           shall
           not
           insist
           on
           the
           particular
           Testimony
           of
           Josephus
           concerning
           Christ
           ,
           because
           we
           need
           it
           not
           ;
           and
           if
           those
           who
           question
           it
           ,
           would
           proceed
           with
           the
           same
           severity
           against
           many
           
           other
           particular
           passages
           in
           good
           Authors
           ,
           they
           might
           as
           well
           call
           them
           in
           question
           as
           they
           do
           that
           ;
           since
           it
           is
           confessed
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Ancient
           Manuscripts
           have
           it
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           supposing
           that
           it
           doth
           not
           come
           in
           well
           ,
           must
           we
           suppose
           it
           impossible
           for
           Josephus
           to
           Write
           incoherently
           ?
           Yet
           this
           is
           the
           main
           Argument
           that
           ever
           I
           have
           seen
           urged
           against
           this
           Testimony
           of
           Josephus
           .
           But
           I
           say
           ,
           we
           need
           it
           not
           ;
           all
           other
           things
           concurring
           in
           so
           high
           a
           degree
           to
           prove
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           History
           of
           Christ.
           Yet
           since
           you
           seem
           to
           express
           so
           much
           doubtfulness
           concerning
           it
           ,
           
             as
             though
             it
             were
             framed
             when
             there
             was
             no
             one
             living
             capable
             of
             disproving
             it
          
           ;
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           shew
           you
           the
           great
           absurdity
           of
           such
           a
           Supposition
           .
           1.
           
           Because
           we
           have
           the
           plain
           Testimonies
           of
           
           the
           greatest
           Enemies
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           such
           a
           Person
           as
           Christ
           was
           ,
           who
           suffered
           according
           to
           the
           
             Scripture
             Story
          
           .
           For
           Tacitus
           not
           only
           mentions
           the
           Christians
           as
           suffering
           at
           Rome
           for
           their
           Religion
           in
           the
           time
           of
           
             Nero
             ,
             (
             Annal.
          
           15.
           )
           but
           saith
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Author
             of
             this
             Religion
             was
             one
             Christ
             ,
             who
             suffered
             under
          
           Pontius
           Pilate
           ,
           
             Procurator
             of
          
           Judea
           ,
           
             in
             the
             time
             of
          
           Tiberius
           ;
           which
           is
           an
           irrefragable
           Testimony
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Story
           concerning
           Christ
           ,
           in
           an
           Age
           ,
           when
           if
           it
           had
           been
           false
           ,
           nothing
           could
           have
           been
           more
           easily
           detected
           than
           such
           a
           Fiction
           ,
           by
           the
           number
           of
           Jews
           which
           were
           continually
           at
           Rome
           :
           And
           neither
           Julian
           ,
           nor
           Celsus
           ,
           nor
           Porphyrie
           ,
           nor
           Lucian
           did
           ever
           question
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Story
           it self
           ;
           but
           only
           upbraided
           
           the
           Christians
           for
           attributing
           too
           much
           to
           Christ.
           2.
           
           If
           there
           were
           really
           such
           a
           Person
           as
           Christ
           was
           ,
           who
           suffered
           as
           Tacitus
           saith
           ,
           then
           the
           whole
           Story
           could
           not
           be
           a
           Fiction
           ,
           but
           only
           some
           part
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           these
           additional
           parts
           must
           either
           be
           contrived
           by
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           or
           after
           their
           time
           :
           Not
           after
           their
           time
           ,
           for
           then
           they
           must
           be
           added
           after
           Christianity
           was
           received
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           for
           that
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           Tacitus
           ,
           was
           spread
           in
           the
           Apostles
           times
           as
           far
           as
           Rome
           ;
           and
           if
           these
           parts
           were
           not
           received
           with
           it
           ;
           the
           Cheat
           would
           presently
           have
           been
           discover'd
           as
           soon
           as
           broached
           ,
           by
           those
           who
           had
           embraced
           Christianity
           before
           :
           And
           besides
           ,
           Tertullian
           in
           his
           time
           appeals
           to
           the
           
             Authentick
             Writings
          
           of
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           ,
           which
           
           were
           then
           extant
           ,
           wherein
           the
           same
           things
           were
           contained
           ,
           that
           we
           now
           believe
           :
           If
           these
           things
           then
           were
           forged
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           by
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           ;
           and
           I
           dare
           now
           appeal
           to
           you
           ,
           whether
           ever
           any
           Story
           was
           better
           capable
           of
           being
           disproved
           than
           this
           was
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           not
           been
           true
           ,
           since
           it
           was
           published
           in
           that
           very
           time
           and
           place
           ,
           where
           the
           Persons
           were
           living
           ,
           who
           were
           most
           concerned
           to
           disprove
           it
           :
           As
           appears
           by
           the
           hatred
           of
           the
           Jews
           to
           the
           Christians
           ,
           both
           then
           and
           ever
           since
           :
           which
           is
           a
           very
           observable
           circumstance
           for
           proving
           the
           truth
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ;
           for
           the
           Jews
           and
           Christians
           agreed
           in
           the
           
             Divine
             Revelations
          
           of
           old
           ,
           the
           Christians
           believed
           moreover
           ,
           that
           Christ
           was
           the
           Messias
           promised
           ;
           this
           Christ
           lived
           and
           dyed
           among
           
           the
           Jews
           his
           Enemies
           ;
           his
           Apostles
           Preached
           ,
           and
           wrought
           Miracles
           among
           their
           most
           inveterate
           Enemies
           ,
           which
           Men
           that
           go
           about
           to
           deceive
           never
           care
           to
           do
           :
           And
           to
           this
           Day
           the
           Jews
           do
           not
           deny
           the
           
             Matters
             of
             Fact
          
           ,
           but
           look
           on
           them
           as
           insufficient
           to
           prove
           Jesus
           of
           Nazareth
           to
           have
           been
           the
           Messias
           :
           Nay
           ,
           Mahomet
           himself
           ,
           who
           in
           all
           probability
           would
           have
           overthrown
           the
           whole
           Story
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           if
           he
           could
           have
           done
           it
           with
           any
           colour
           ,
           yet
           speaks
           very
           honourably
           of
           Christ
           and
           of
           the
           great
           things
           which
           were
           said
           and
           done
           by
           him
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           That
           there
           is
           nothing
           in
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           unbecoming
           the
           Majesty
           ,
           or
           Holiness
           ,
           or
           Truth
           of
           a
           
             Divine
             Revelation
          
           .
           As
           to
           the
           precepts
           ,
           
             you
             acknowledge
             their
             excellency
          
           ;
           
           and
           the
           Promises
           chiefly
           refer
           either
           to
           
             Divine
             Grace
          
           ,
           or
           
             future
             Glory
          
           ;
           And
           what
           is
           there
           herein
           unbecoming
           God
           ?
           And
           as
           to
           what
           concerns
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           great
           Characters
           of
           that
           throughout
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           possible
           for
           us
           to
           expect
           ;
           there
           appearing
           so
           much
           simplicity
           ,
           sincerity
           ,
           candour
           ,
           and
           agreement
           in
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           it
           .
           Some
           Men
           would
           have
           been
           better
           pleased
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           been
           all
           written
           by
           one
           Person
           ,
           and
           digested
           into
           a
           more
           exact
           method
           ,
           and
           set
           forth
           with
           all
           the
           Lights
           and
           Ornaments
           of
           Speech
           .
           This
           would
           have
           better
           become
           an
           Invention
           of
           Men
           ,
           but
           not
           a
           
             Revelation
             of
             God
          
           :
           Plainness
           and
           simplicity
           have
           a
           natural
           greatness
           above
           art
           and
           subtilty
           ;
           and
           therefore
           God
           made
           choice
           of
           
           many
           to
           write
           ,
           and
           at
           several
           times
           ,
           that
           by
           comparing
           them
           we
           may
           see
           how
           far
           they
           were
           from
           contriving
           together
           ,
           and
           yet
           how
           exactly
           they
           agree
           in
           all
           things
           which
           Men
           are
           concerned
           to
           believe
           .
           But
           you
           say
           ,
           
             We
             have
             many
             infirmities
             of
             the
          
           Apostles
           
             discovered
             therein
             ,
             their
             heats
             and
             animosities
             one
             against
             another
             .
          
           But
           I
           pray
           consider
           ;
           1.
           
           How
           came
           you
           to
           know
           these
           things
           ;
           Is
           it
           not
           by
           their
           own
           Writings
           ?
           And
           if
           they
           had
           been
           such
           ,
           who
           minded
           only
           their
           applause
           ,
           had
           it
           not
           been
           as
           easie
           to
           have
           concealed
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           would
           they
           not
           certainly
           have
           done
           it
           ,
           if
           that
           had
           been
           their
           aim
           ?
           If
           St.
           Paul
           
             seems
             to
             boast
          
           ,
           doth
           he
           not
           do
           it
           ,
           with
           that
           constraint
           to
           himself
           ,
           as
           a
           Man
           that
           is
           forced
           to
           do
           it
           for
           his
           own
           vindication
           
           against
           malicious
           Enemies
           ?
           And
           who
           ever
           denyed
           a
           Man
           of
           a
           generous
           mind
           the
           liberty
           of
           speaking
           for
           himself
           ?
           2.
           
           But
           suppose
           
             they
             had
             infirmities
             and
             heats
             among
             them
          
           ;
           doth
           this
           prove
           that
           God
           could
           not
           make
           use
           of
           them
           as
           his
           Instruments
           to
           declare
           his
           Truth
           to
           the
           World
           ?
           Then
           it
           will
           follow
           ,
           that
           God
           must
           never
           reveal
           his
           will
           by
           Men
           ,
           but
           by
           Voices
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           or
           Angels
           ,
           or
           the
           assumption
           of
           the
           
             humane
             Nature
             by
             the
             Divine
          
           .
           But
           ,
           if
           God
           be
           not
           denyed
           the
           liberty
           of
           imploying
           meer
           Men
           ,
           we
           cannot
           find
           so
           great
           evidences
           of
           Piety
           and
           Zeal
           ,
           of
           Humility
           and
           Self-denyal
           ,
           of
           Patience
           and
           Magnanimity
           ,
           of
           Innocency
           and
           universal
           Charity
           in
           any
           Men
           as
           were
           in
           the
           Apostles
           ;
           And
           therefore
           did
           appear
           with
           the
           
           most
           proper
           Characters
           of
           Embassadors
           from
           Heaven
           .
           And
           I
           dare
           venture
           the
           comparison
           of
           them
           with
           the
           best
           Philosophers
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           greatest
           and
           most
           excellent
           virtues
           ,
           for
           which
           they
           were
           the
           most
           admired
           ;
           notwithstanding
           the
           mighty
           difference
           as
           to
           their
           Education
           ;
           allowing
           but
           the
           same
           Truth
           as
           to
           the
           Story
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           which
           we
           yield
           to
           Xenophon
           ,
           or
           
             Diogenes
             Laertius
          
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Writers
           concerning
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           is
           it
           then
           which
           you
           object
           against
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           to
           make
           them
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           God
           ?
           I
           find
           but
           two
           things
           in
           the
           Papers
           you
           sent
           me
           .
           1.
           
           
             Want
             of
             the
             continuance
             of
             the
             Power
             of
             Miracles
             ,
             which
             you
             say
             is
             Promised
             .
          
           Mark
           
           16.
           17.
           2.
           
           
             The
             number
             of
             the
             Beast
             in
             the
             Revelations
             .
          
           But
           ,
           Good
           Sir
           ,
           consider
           ,
           what
           it
           is
           to
           call
           in
           question
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           for
           such
           Objections
           as
           these
           are
           ?
           Must
           there
           be
           no
           Revelation
           ,
           unless
           you
           understand
           every
           Prophecy
           ,
           or
           the
           extent
           of
           every
           promise
           ?
           Be
           not
           so
           injurious
           to
           your
           own
           Soul
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           such
           Objections
           ,
           to
           cast
           away
           the
           great
           assurance
           which
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           gives
           us
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Pardon
           of
           Sin
           upon
           Repentance
           here
           ,
           and
           eternal
           Happiness
           in
           another
           World.
           Would
           you
           reject
           all
           the
           Writings
           of
           Plato
           ,
           because
           you
           do
           no
           more
           understand
           some
           part
           of
           his
           Timaeus
           than
           the
           number
           of
           666
           ?
           You
           must
           have
           a
           very
           nice
           faith
           ,
           that
           can
           bear
           with
           no
           difficulties
           at
           all
           ,
           so
           that
           if
           there
           be
           but
           
           one
           or
           two
           hard
           things
           that
           you
           cannot
           digest
           ,
           you
           must
           throw
           up
           all
           the
           best
           Food
           you
           have
           taken
           ;
           at
           this
           rate
           you
           must
           starve
           your
           Body
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           ruin
           your
           Soul.
           But
           of
           these
           places
           afterwards
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           have
           hitherto
           removed
           the
           grounds
           of
           Suspicion
           ,
           I
           now
           come
           to
           shew
           the
           positive
           Testimonies
           of
           their
           Sincerity
           which
           the
           Apostles
           shewed
           ,
           which
           were
           greater
           than
           were
           ever
           given
           to
           any
           other
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           in
           the
           World.
           I
           will
           then
           suppose
           the
           whole
           Truth
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Doctrine
          
           to
           be
           reduced
           to
           this
           one
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           Whether
           
             Christ
             did
             rise
             from
             the
             dead
             or
             no
             ?
          
           for
           (
           as
           I
           have
           said
           already
           )
           it
           is
           plain
           ,
           the
           Apostles
           put
           the
           main
           force
           of
           all
           that
           they
           said
           upon
           the
           Truth
           of
           this
           ;
           and
           often
           declared
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           appointed
           to
           be
           the
           
           Witnesses
           of
           this
           thing
           .
           Now
           ●et
           us
           consider
           how
           it
           is
           possible
           ●or
           Men
           to
           give
           the
           highest
           assurance
           of
           their
           sincerity
           to
           others
           ;
           and
           that
           must
           be
           either
           by
           giving
           the
           utmost
           Testimony
           that
           Men
           ●an
           give
           ;
           or
           by
           giving
           some
           Testimony
           above
           that
           of
           Men
           ,
           which
           cannot
           deceive
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           
             Testimony
             of
             God.
          
           
        
         
           1.
           
           They
           gave
           the
           
             utmost
             Testimony
          
           that
           meer
           Men
           could
           give
           of
           their
           fidelity
           .
           I
           know
           no
           bet●er
           way
           we
           have
           for
           a
           full
           assurance
           as
           to
           any
           humane
           Testimony
           ,
           than
           to
           consider
           what
           those
           Circumstances
           are
           which
           are
           generally
           allowed
           to
           accompany
           Truth
           ,
           and
           if
           we
           have
           the
           concurrence
           of
           all
           these
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           much
           as
           can
           be
           expected
           :
           For
           nothing●
           that
           depends
           on
           Testi●ony
           can
           be
           proved
           by
           
             Mathematical
             
             Demonstration
          
           .
           But
           notwithstanding
           the
           want
           of
           this
           ,
           eithe●
           we
           may
           have
           sufficient
           ground
           to
           assent
           to
           Truth
           upon
           Testimony
           ,
           o●
           there
           can
           be
           no
           difference
           known
           between
           Truth
           and
           Falshood
           by
           Humane
           Testimony
           ;
           which
           overthrows
           all
           Judicial
           proceeding●
           among
           Men
           ;
           the
           Justice
           whereof
           doth
           suppose
           not
           only
           the
           veracity
           of
           
             Humane
             Testimony
          
           ;
           Bu●
           that
           it
           may
           be
           so
           discerned
           by
           others
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           safely
           rely
           upon
           it
           .
           Now
           the
           main
           thing
           to
           be
           regarded
           as
           to
           the
           
             Truth
             o●
             Humane
             Testimony
          
           are
           these
           .
           1.
           
           I●
           Men
           testifie
           nothing
           but
           wha●
           they
           saw
           .
           2.
           
           If
           they
           testifie
           i●
           at
           no
           long
           distance
           of
           time
           from
           the
           thing
           done
           .
           3.
           
           If
           they
           testifie
           it
           plainly
           ,
           and
           withou●
           doubtful
           expressions
           .
           4.
           
           If
           a
           great
           number
           agree
           in
           the
           same
           
           Testimony
           .
           5.
           
           If
           they
           part
           with
           all
           that
           is
           valuable
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           rather
           than
           deny
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           they
           have
           testified
           :
           And
           where
           all
           these
           concur
           ,
           it
           is
           hardly
           possible
           to
           suppose
           greater
           evidence
           to
           be
           given
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           a
           Thing
           ;
           and
           now
           I
           shall
           shew
           that
           all
           these
           do
           exactly
           agree
           to
           the
           
             Apostles
             Testimony
          
           concerning
           the
           Resurrection
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           1.
           
           They
           testified
           nothing
           but
           what
           they
           saw
           themselves
           .
           The
           Laws
           of
           Nations
           do
           suppose
           that
           greater
           credit
           is
           to
           be
           given
           to
           
             eye
             witnesses
          
           than
           to
           any
           others
           ,
           thence
           the
           Rule
           in
           the
           Civil
           Law
           
             Testimonium
             de
             auditu
             regulariter
             non
             valet
             :
          
           Because
           ,
           say
           the
           Civilians
           and
           
             Canonists
             ,
             Witnesses
             are
             to
             testifie
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             not
             barely
             the
             possibility
             of
             things
          
           ;
           that
           which
           Men
           see
           ,
           they
           can
           testifie
           whether
           
           they
           are
           or
           not
           :
           That
           which
           Men
           only
           hear
           ,
           may
           be
           ,
           or
           no●
           be
           ;
           and
           their
           Testimony
           is
           no●
           of
           the
           Fact
           ,
           but
           is
           looked
           on
           as
           more
           uncertain
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           have
           greater
           allowances
           given
           it
           ;
           but
           the
           Apostles
           testified
           only
           
             what
             they
             saw
             and
             handled
          
           ;
           and
           that
           after
           the
           most
           scrupulous
           enquiry
           into
           the
           Truth
           of
           
             Christ
             Body
          
           ,
           and
           after
           many
           doubts
           an●
           suspicions
           among
           themselves
           abou●
           it
           ;
           so
           that
           they
           did
           not
           seem
           hastily
           and
           rashly
           to
           believe
           what
           they
           afterwards
           declared
           to
           the
           World.
           Now
           a
           Body
           was
           a
           proper
           object
           of
           Sense
           ,
           and
           no
           tryal
           could
           be
           greater
           ,
           or
           more
           accurate
           than
           theirs
           was
           ;
           nor
           an●
           satisfaction
           fuller
           than
           putting
           their
           fingers
           into
           the
           very
           wound
           of
           the
           
             pierced
             side
          
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           They
           did
           not
           stay
           till
           the
           
           circumstances
           might
           have
           slipt
           out
           of
           their
           Memories
           ,
           before
           they
           testified
           these
           things
           ;
           but
           very
           soon
           after
           ,
           while
           the
           impression
           of
           them
           was
           fresh
           upon
           them
           :
           If
           they
           had
           let
           these
           Matters
           alone
           for
           any
           long
           time
           ,
           the
           Jews
           would
           have
           asked
           them
           presently
           ,
           if
           these
           things
           were
           true
           ,
           why
           did
           we
           not
           hear
           of
           them
           as
           soon
           as
           they
           were
           done
           ?
           Therefore
           we
           see
           the
           Apostles
           on
           the
           very
           day
           of
           Pentecost
           ,
           a
           little
           after
           
             Christs
             ascension
          
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           openly
           and
           boldly
           declare
           the
           Truth
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           not
           in
           private
           corners
           among
           a
           few
           Friends
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           most
           solemn
           meeting
           of
           their
           Nation
           from
           all
           parts
           ;
           which
           was
           the
           worst
           time
           could
           have
           been
           chosen
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           any
           intention
           to
           deceive
           .
        
         
         
           3.
           
           They
           testifie
           it
           in
           as
           
             plain
             a
             manner
          
           as
           is
           possible
           ,
           on
           purpose
           to
           prevent
           all
           mistakes
           of
           their
           meaning
           ,
           
             This
             Jesus
             hath
             God
          
           
           
             raised
             up
             ,
             whereof
             we
             all
             are
             Witnesses
             ;
             Therefore
             let
             all
             the
             House
             of
          
           Israel
           
             know
             assuredly
             ,
             that
             God
             hath
             made
             that
             same
             Jesus
             ,
             whom
             ye
             have
             crucified
             ,
             both
             Lord
             and
             Christ.
          
           Men
           that
           had
           a
           mind
           to
           deceive
           would
           have
           used
           some
           more
           general
           and
           doubtful
           words
           ,
           than
           these
           were
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           If
           this
           had
           been
           testified
           by
           one
           single
           witness
           ,
           the
           World
           would
           have
           suspected
           the
           Truth
           of
           his
           Testimony
           ;
           for
           according
           to
           the
           Rule
           in
           the
           
             Civil
             Law
          
           in
           the
           case
           of
           
             Testimony
             ,
             Vox
             unius
             ,
             vox
             nullius
             est
             :
          
           But
           this
           was
           testified
           by
           very
           many
           ;
           not
           meerly
           by
           the
           twelve
           Apostles
           ,
           but
           by
           500
           at
           once
           ;
           among
           whom
           some
           
           might
           be
           supposed
           to
           have
           so
           much
           honesty
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           capable
           of
           being
           perswaded
           to
           have
           discovered
           the
           Imposture
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           in
           the
           least
           suspected
           any
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           But
           that
           which
           adds
           the
           greatest
           weight
           to
           all
           this
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           not
           one
           of
           all
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           scarce
           any
           one
           of
           the
           rest
           ,
           but
           exposed
           themselves
           to
           the
           utmost
           hazards
           and
           dangers
           ,
           rather
           than
           deny
           or
           retract
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           they
           witnessed
           .
           If
           the
           People
           had
           been
           careless
           and
           indifferent
           about
           Religion
           ,
           it
           is
           possible
           Men
           might
           have
           gone
           on
           in
           a
           Lye
           so
           long
           till
           they
           had
           gotten
           interest
           enough
           to
           maintain
           it
           ;
           but
           no
           sooner
           did
           the
           Apostles
           appear
           ,
           witnessing
           these
           things
           ,
           but
           they
           met
           with
           an
           early
           and
           vigorous
           opposition
           ,
           and
           that
           from
           the
           chiefest
           Men
           in
           
           Power
           ,
           who
           made
           it
           their
           business
           to
           suppress
           them
           .
           Now
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           they
           were
           put
           to
           this
           choice
           ,
           if
           they
           would
           renounce
           or
           conceal
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           they
           testified
           ,
           they
           might
           presently
           enjoy
           ease
           ,
           and
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           rewards
           too
           ;
           but
           if
           they
           went
           on
           ,
           they
           must
           look
           for
           nothing
           but
           the
           sharpest
           persecution
           ;
           and
           this
           they
           met
           with
           almost
           in
           all
           places
           ;
           and
           is
           it
           conceivable
           ,
           that
           Men
           should
           be
           so
           fond
           of
           a
           lye
           ,
           to
           forsake
           all
           and
           follow
           it
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           to
           take
           up
           their
           cross
           for
           it
           ?
           If
           credit
           and
           interest
           in
           the
           hearts
           of
           People
           ,
           might
           carry
           a
           Man
           on
           a
           great
           way
           in
           the
           delusion
           ,
           yet
           he
           would
           be
           loth
           to
           dye
           for
           it
           ;
           and
           yet
           there
           was
           never
           a
           one
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           but
           ventured
           his
           life
           for
           the
           Truth
           of
           this
           ;
           and
           all
           but
           one
           ,
           they
           tell
           us
           ,
           did
           suffer
           
           Martyrdom
           for
           it
           .
           I
           pray
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           consider
           ,
           where
           you
           ever
           meet
           with
           any
           thing
           like
           this
           ,
           that
           so
           many
           Men
           should
           so
           resolutely
           dye
           ,
           for
           what
           themselves
           at
           the
           same
           time
           knew
           to
           be
           a
           lye
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           must
           certainly
           do
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           all
           a
           contrivance
           of
           their
           own
           heads
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           But
           although
           in
           these
           things
           they
           went
           as
           high
           as
           it
           was
           possible
           for
           
             humane
             Testimony
          
           to
           go
           ,
           yet
           they
           had
           something
           beyond
           all
           this
           ,
           which
           was
           a
           concurrence
           of
           a
           
             Divine
             Testimony
          
           ,
           in
           the
           
             miraculous
             gifts
          
           and
           operations
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Ghost
          
           .
           And
           this
           we
           assert
           to
           be
           the
           highest
           Testimony
           can
           be
           given
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           of
           a
           Truth
           of
           any
           thing
           ;
           because
           God
           will
           not
           employ
           his
           Power
           to
           deceive
           the
           World.
           And
           as
           all
           other
           Truth
           hath
           a
           criterion
           proper
           
           to
           it
           ;
           so
           this
           seems
           to
           be
           the
           proper
           criterion
           of
           a
           
             Divine
             Testimony
          
           ,
           that
           it
           hath
           the
           
             power
             of
             Miracles
          
           going
           along
           with
           it
           .
           For
           if
           we
           do
           suppose
           God
           to
           make
           known
           his
           Mind
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           it
           is
           very
           reasonable
           to
           believe
           there
           should
           be
           some
           
             distinguishing
             note
          
           of
           what
           is
           immediately
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           what
           comes
           only
           from
           the
           inventions
           of
           Men
           ;
           and
           what
           can
           be
           more
           proper
           to
           distinguish
           what
           comes
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           what
           from
           Men
           ,
           than
           to
           see
           those
           things
           done
           which
           none
           but
           God
           can
           do
           ?
           But
           against
           this
           you
           object
           several
           things
           ,
           which
           I
           shall
           easily
           and
           briefly
           Answer
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             You
             cannot
             tell
             what
             it
             is
             that
             Miracles
             do
             attest
             ;
             not
             all
             their
             Doctrin
             ,
             since
          
           Paul
           
             said
             ,
             some
             was
             not
             from
             the
             Lord.
          
           Answ.
           Miracles
           do
           attest
           the
           veracity
           of
           the
           
           Speaker
           ,
           and
           by
           consequence
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           
             Doctrin
             ;
             not
             that
             you
             should
             believe
             that
             to
             be
             from
             the
             Lord
             ,
             which
             he
             said
             was
             not
          
           ;
           but
           that
           which
           he
           said
           ,
           was
           from
           the
           Lord.
           But
           when
           he
           makes
           such
           a
           distinction
           himself
           ,
           it
           is
           very
           unreasonable
           to
           urge
           that
           as
           an
           Argument
           ,
           that
           he
           had
           
             nothing
             from
             the
             Lord
          
           ;
           it
           is
           much
           rather
           an
           argument
           of
           his
           candor
           and
           ingenuity
           ,
           that
           he
           would
           not
           pretend
           to
           
             Divine
             Revelation
          
           ,
           when
           he
           had
           it
           not
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           
             You
             would
             have
             it
             signified
             ,
             what
             Doctrin
             it
             is
             which
             is
             attested
             by
             Miracles
             ,
             since
             the
             Doctrins
             of
             Scripture
             lye
             in
             heaps
             and
             confusion
             .
             Answ.
          
           To
           what
           purpose
           should
           any
           Doctrins
           be
           singled
           out
           to
           have
           the
           Seal
           of
           Miracles
           set
           to
           them
           ,
           since
           it
           is
           their
           
             Divine
             Commission
          
           to
           Teach
           and
           declare
           
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           is
           sealed
           by
           it
           ?
           And
           what
           they
           did
           so
           Teach
           and
           declare
           ,
           is
           easily
           known
           by
           their
           Writings
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           
             But
             why
             do
             not
             Miracles
             still
             continue
             ?
             Answ.
          
           Because
           there
           are
           no
           Persons
           employ'd
           to
           Teach
           any
           
             new
             Doctrines
          
           ;
           and
           no
           Promise
           of
           Scripture
           doth
           imply
           any
           more
           :
           For
           the
           signs
           which
           were
           to
           follow
           them
           that
           believe
           ,
           were
           such
           as
           tended
           to
           the
           first
           confirmation
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Faith
          
           ;
           which
           being
           effected
           ,
           their
           use
           ceased
           ;
           and
           so
           to
           ask
           why
           God
           doth
           not
           continue
           a
           Gift
           of
           Miracles
           to
           convince
           Men
           that
           the
           former
           were
           true
           ,
           is
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           as
           to
           ask
           why
           God
           doth
           not
           make
           a
           
             New
             Sun
          
           ,
           to
           satisfie
           Athiests
           that
           he
           made
           the
           Old
           ?
        
         
           4.
           
           
             But
             doth
             not
             the
             Scripture
             say
             ,
             that
             wonders
             are
             not
             always
             to
             be
             
             taken
             as
             confirmations
             of
             the
             Truth
             of
             Doctrin
             ,
             since
             false
             Prophets
             may
             work
             Wonders
             ,
          
           Deuteron
           .
           13.
           1.
           
           Answ.
           That
           signifies
           no
           more
           ,
           than
           that
           Wonders
           are
           not
           to
           be
           believed
           against
           the
           Principles
           of
           
             Natural
             Religion
          
           ;
           or
           Revealed
           Religion
           already
           confirmed
           by
           
             greater
             Miracles
          
           :
           And
           that
           those
           who
           would
           value
           such
           a
           particular
           sign
           above
           all
           the
           series
           of
           Miracles
           their
           Religion
           was
           first
           established
           by
           ,
           may
           be
           justly
           left
           to
           their
           own
           delusions
           .
           You
           might
           as
           well
           object
           the
           lying
           Wonders
           of
           the
           
             Man
             of
             Sin
          
           ,
           against
           all
           the
           Miracles
           of
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           .
           If
           God
           hath
           once
           done
           enough
           to
           convince
           Men
           ,
           he
           may
           afterwards
           justly
           leave
           them
           to
           the
           tryal
           of
           their
           Ingenuity
           ;
           as
           a
           Father
           that
           hath
           used
           great
           care
           to
           make
           his
           Son
           understand
           
           
             true
             Coyn
          
           ,
           may
           afterwards
           suffer
           false
           to
           be
           laid
           before
           him
           ,
           to
           try
           whether
           he
           will
           mind
           his
           being
           cheated
           or
           no
           ?
        
         
           5.
           
           But
           you
           may
           yet
           farther
           demand
           ,
           
             what
             the
             Testimony
             of
             Miracles
             doth
             signisie
             to
             the
             Writings
             of
             the
             New
             Testament
             ?
             Answ.
          
           1.
           
           The
           Miracles
           do
           sufficiently
           prove
           the
           Authority
           of
           that
           Doctrin
           ,
           which
           was
           delivered
           by
           those
           who
           wrought
           Miracles
           ;
           as
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           .
           2.
           
           If
           there
           had
           been
           the
           least
           ground
           to
           question
           the
           Truth
           and
           Authority
           of
           these
           Writings
           ,
           they
           had
           never
           been
           so
           universally
           received
           in
           those
           Ages
           ,
           when
           so
           many
           were
           concerned
           to
           enquire
           into
           the
           Truth
           of
           these
           things
           ;
           for
           we
           see
           several
           of
           the
           Books
           were
           a
           long
           time
           examined
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           ,
           when
           no
           sufficient
           reason
           could
           
           be
           brought
           against
           them
           ,
           they
           were
           received
           by
           those
           Churches
           ,
           which
           at
           first
           scrupled
           the
           receiving
           them
           :
           And
           I
           am
           so
           far
           from
           thinking
           the
           doubts
           of
           the
           first
           Ages
           any
           Argument
           against
           the
           Authority
           of
           a
           Book
           ,
           that
           by
           the
           objections
           of
           some
           against
           some
           of
           them
           ,
           I
           am
           thereby
           assured
           ,
           that
           they
           did
           not
           presently
           receive
           any
           Book
           ,
           because
           it
           went
           under
           the
           name
           of
           an
           
             Apostolical
             Writing
          
           :
           As
           I
           am
           the
           more
           confirmed
           in
           the
           belief
           of
           the
           Resurrection
           of
           Christ
           ,
           because
           some
           of
           the
           Disciples
           were
           at
           first
           very
           doubtful
           about
           it
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           You
           may
           yet
           ask
           ,
           
             What
             doth
             all
             this
             signifie
             to
             the
             Writings
             of
             the
             Old
             Testament
             ,
             which
             were
             written
             at
             a
             longer
             distance
             of
             Time
             from
             us
             ,
             and
             in
             a
             more
             Ignorant
             Age
             of
             of
             the
             World
             ?
          
           Answ.
           There
           cannot
           
           be
           a
           more
           evident
           proof
           of
           the
           
             Old
             Testament
          
           ,
           than
           by
           the
           New
           :
           For
           if
           the
           New
           be
           true
           ,
           the
           Old
           must
           be
           so
           ,
           which
           was
           confirmed
           so
           plainly
           and
           evidently
           by
           it
           ;
           our
           Saviour
           and
           his
           Apostles
           appealing
           to
           Moses
           and
           the
           Prophets
           on
           all
           occasions
           .
           So
           that
           the
           same
           Miracles
           which
           prove
           their
           Testimony
           true
           ,
           do
           at
           the
           same
           time
           prove
           the
           
             Divine
             Authority
          
           of
           the
           
             Old
             Testament
          
           ,
           since
           it
           is
           so
           expresly
           said
           in
           the
           
             New
             ,
             That
             Holy
             Men
             of
             God
             did
             speak
             as
             they
             were
             moved
             by
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             .
          
        
         
           But
           after
           all
           this
           ,
           You
           urge
           ,
           that
           you
           have
           discover'd
           such
           things
           in
           these
           Writings
           as
           could
           not
           come
           from
           God
           ,
           as
        
         
           1.
           
           
             Contradictions
             in
             them
          
           .
           2.
           
           
             Something
             's
             inconsistent
             with
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God.
          
           3.
           
           
             Promises
             made
             that
             were
             never
             fulfilled
             .
          
           4.
           
           
             Things
             so
             obscure
             
             as
             no
             one
             can
             tell
             the
             meaning
             of
             them
             .
          
           Under
           these
           four
           Heads
           I
           shall
           examin
           the
           particular
           allegations
           you
           bring
           against
           the
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Under
           the
           head
           of
           Contradictions
           ,
           you
           insist
           on
           the
           Prophecy
           Gen.
           15.
           13
           ,
           14
           ,
           15
           ,
           16.
           
             made
             to
          
           Abraham
           
             concerning
             his
             Posterity
             ;
             compared
             with
             the
             Accomplishment
             mentioned
             ,
          
           Exod.
           12.
           40.
           41.
           
           And
           the
           force
           of
           your
           Argument
           lyes
           in
           this
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Prophecy
             in
          
           Genesis
           
             doth
             imply
             that
             the
             Servitude
             of
             the
             Children
             of
          
           Israel
           in
           Egypt
           
             was
             to
             be
          
           40
           
             Years
             ;
             or
          
           430
           saith
           Exod.
           
             but
             both
             these
             are
             repugnant
             to
             other
             places
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             make
             their
             abode
             in
          
           Egypt
           
             not
             to
             exceed
          
           215
           
             Years
             ;
             or
             at
             the
             highest
             ,
             by
             the
             number
             of
             Generations
             could
             not
             exceed
          
           350
           
             Years
             ,
             stretching
             them
             to
             the
             utmost
             advantage
             .
          
           To
           this
           which
           you
           lay
           so
           much
           
           weight
           upon
           ,
           I
           Answer
           distinctly
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           By
           your
           own
           confession
           ,
           supposing
           the
           430
           Years
           to
           begin
           from
           the
           Covenant
           made
           with
           Abraham
           ,
           the
           accomplishment
           mentioned
           ,
           Exod.
           12.
           40.
           doth
           fall
           out
           exactly
           in
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Children
           of
           Israels
           going
           out
           of
           Egypt
           ,
           for
           you
           have
           proved
           from
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           from
           the
           Covenant
           with
           Abraham
           to
           Jacobs
           being
           in
           Egypt
           ,
           were
           215
           Years
           ;
           to
           which
           you
           add
           ,
           that
           Coath
           
             being
             supposed
          
           5
           
             Years
             Old
             at
             the
             going
             into
          
           Egypt
           ;
           
             and
             that
             at
          
           70
           
             Years
             he
             Begat
          
           Amram
           ,
           
             and
             that
          
           Amram
           
             at
             at
          
           70
           Begat
           Moses
           ,
           
             to
             which
          
           Moses
           his
           80
           
             Years
             being
             added
             ,
             makes
             up
             the
             other
          
           215
           
             Years
             ,
             whereby
             we
             have
             the
             full
          
           430
           
             Years
             ,
             by
             your
             own
             computation
             .
          
           Now
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           I
           pray
           consider
           what
           reason
           you
           have
           
           to
           charge
           the
           Scripture
           with
           contradiction
           in
           a
           Matter
           your self
           acknowledges
           ,
           so
           exactly
           accomplished
           in
           this
           way
           of
           computation
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           But
           you
           say
           ,
           
             the
             Words
             will
             not
             bear
             this
             ;
             because
             they
             speak
             of
             the
          
           400
           
             Years
             to
             expire
             in
             their
             Servitude
             in
          
           Egypt
           .
           Answ.
           For
           this
           we
           must
           consider
           the
           importance
           of
           the
           Words
           both
           in
           Genesis
           and
           Exodus
           .
           There
           is
           not
           a
           Word
           of
           Egypt
           mentioned
           in
           Genesis
           ;
           but
           only
           in
           general
           it
           is
           said
           ,
           
             Thy
             Seed
             shall
             be
             a
             Stranger
             in
             the
             Land
             that
             is
             not
             theirs
             ,
             and
             shall
             serve
             them
             ,
             and
             they
             shall
             afflict
             them
          
           400
           Years
           ;
           and
           it
           will
           conduce
           very
           much
           to
           the
           right
           understanding
           this
           Prophecy
           to
           consider
           the
           main
           scope
           and
           design
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           was
           not
           to
           tell
           Abraham
           how
           long
           they
           should
           be
           in
           servitude
           to
           the
           Egyptians
           ,
           
           but
           how
           long
           it
           would
           be
           before
           his
           Seed
           should
           come
           to
           the
           possession
           of
           the
           promised
           Land
           ;
           And
           it
           seems
           Abraham
           by
           the
           Question
           ,
           Gen.
           15.
           7.
           8.
           did
           expect
           to
           have
           the
           Inheritance
           of
           this
           Land
           
             in
             his
             own
             time
          
           :
           To
           this
           therefore
           God
           Answers
           ,
           by
           telling
           him
           ,
           he
           meant
           no
           such
           thing
           ,
           but
           it
           was
           intended
           for
           
             his
             Seed
          
           ,
           and
           that
           not
           suddenly
           neither
           ,
           for
           they
           were
           to
           tarry
           
             till
             the
             iniquity
             of
             the
          
           Amorites
           
             should
             be
             full
          
           ,
           which
           would
           not
           be
           till
           the
           
             fourth
             Generation
          
           ;
           and
           then
           
             his
             Seed
             should
             after
          
           400
           
             Years
             ,
             come
             to
             the
             Possession
             of
             the
             Promised
             Land
             ;
             but
             in
             the
             mean
             time
             they
             were
             to
             Sojourn
             in
             a
             Land
             that
             was
             not
             theirs
             ,
             and
             to
             meet
             with
             many
             hardships
             and
             difficulties
             .
          
           This
           is
           plainly
           the
           scope
           of
           this
           prophecy
           ,
           and
           by
           attending
           to
           it
           ,
           the
           great
           Objections
           
           presently
           appear
           without
           force
           ;
           for
           the
           Land
           of
           Canaan
           notwithstanding
           the
           Promise
           ,
           was
           by
           the
           Patriarchs
           themselves
           looked
           on
           as
           a
           Land
           wherein
           they
           were
           Strangers
           .
           So
           Abraham
           saith
           Gen.
           23.
           4.
           
           
             I
             am
             a
             Stranger
             and
             a
             Sojourner
             with
             you
          
           ;
           and
           which
           is
           more
           remarkable
           in
           the
           blessing
           of
           Jacob
           by
           Isaac
           ,
           to
           whom
           the
           Promise
           was
           made
           ,
           it
           is
           said
           ;
           
             And
             give
             thee
             the
             Blessing
             of
          
           Abraham
           
             to
             thee
             ,
             and
             to
             thy
             Seed
             ,
             that
             thou
             mayest
             inherit
             the
             Land
             wherein
             thou
             art
             a
             Stranger
             ,
             which
             God
             gave
             unto
          
           Abraham
           ,
           Gen.
           28.
           4.
           
           Where
           the
           very
           same
           Word
           is
           used
           concerning
           Jacob
           ,
           that
           is
           expressed
           in
           the
           Prophecy
           ,
           Gen.
           15.
           13.
           
           So
           that
           the
           Patriarchs
           looked
           on
           themselves
           as
           
             Strangers
             in
             the
             Land
             of
          
           Canaan
           ,
           so
           long
           after
           the
           promise
           made
           ,
           and
           after
           
           the
           increase
           of
           the
           Seed
           of
           
             Abraham
             ▪
          
           And
           therefore
           the
           land
           of
           Canaan
           was
           called
           
             Terra
             Peregrinationum
          
           ,
           the
           Land
           wherein
           they
           were
           strangers
           ;
           Gen.
           36.
           7.
           
           —
           37.
           1.
           
           And
           when
           God
           was
           calling
           the
           People
           of
           Israel
           together
           out
           of
           Egypt
           ,
           yet
           then
           the
           Land
           of
           Canaan
           was
           called
           by
           the
           very
           same
           title
           ,
           the
           
             Land
             of
             their
             Pilgrimage
             ,
             wherein
             they
             were
             strangers
             :
             Exod.
          
           6.
           4.
           
           And
           Ps.
           105.
           9
           ,
           10
           ,
           11
           ,
           12
           ,
           13.
           where
           we
           have
           a
           full
           account
           of
           the
           Promise
           made
           to
           
             Abraham
             ,
             Isaac
          
           ,
           and
           Jacob
           ,
           concerning
           the
           inheritance
           of
           that
           Land
           it
           is
           said
           ,
           
             that
             they
             were
             few
             ,
             and
             strangers
             in
             it
             ,
             when
             they
             went
             from
             one
             Nation
             to
             another
             ,
             from
             one
             Kingdom
             to
             another
             People
             .
          
           Which
           doth
           fully
           explain
           the
           meaning
           of
           the
           Prophecy
           in
           Genesis
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           restrained
           to
           the
           servitude
           
           of
           the
           People
           of
           Israel
           in
           Egypt
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           understood
           of
           their
           state
           of
           Pilgrimage
           for
           400
           Years
           ,
           wherein
           they
           were
           to
           suffer
           great
           hardships
           ,
           before
           they
           should
           come
           to
           the
           Inheritance
           of
           
             Canaan
             .
             This
             is
             no
             forced
             or
             unnatural
             exposition
             of
             the
             Words
             ,
          
           as
           you
           seem
           to
           suggest
           ;
           but
           to
           my
           apprehension
           ,
           very
           plain
           and
           easie
           ,
           if
           we
           attend
           to
           the
           main
           scope
           and
           design
           of
           them
           which
           was
           to
           acquaint
           Abraham
           how
           long
           it
           would
           be
           before
           the
           prophecy
           were
           accomplished
           ,
           and
           what
           the
           condition
           of
           his
           Seed
           should
           be
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           
             viz.
             That
             they
             should
             have
             no
             Land
             which
             they
             should
             call
             their
             own
             by
             Inheritance
             all
             that
             time
             ,
             but
             they
             should
             be
             exposed
             to
             great
             hardships
             ,
             yea
             even
             to
             Servitude
             ;
             but
             that
             Nation
             whom
             they
             should
             serve
             ,
             should
             at
             last
             suffer
             for
             
             their
             ill
             usage
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             they
             should
             come
             out
             of
             that
             Captivity
             with
             great
             substance
             ;
             and
             all
             this
             to
             be
             done
             in
             the
             fourth
             Generation
             of
             the
          
           Amorites
           
             when
             their
             Iniquities
             should
             be
             arrived
             at
             the
             full
             height
             .
          
           All
           which
           particulars
           ,
           were
           so
           remarkably
           accomplished
           at
           such
           a
           distance
           of
           time
           ,
           and
           under
           such
           improbable
           circumstances
           ,
           that
           that
           this
           very
           prophecy
           were
           enough
           to
           convince
           an
           unprejudiced
           mind
           ,
           that
           it
           came
           from
           Divine
           Inspiration
           .
           For
           where
           do
           we
           meet
           with
           any
           thing
           like
           this
           in
           the
           Histories
           of
           other
           Nations
           ?
           viz.
           A
           Prophecy
           to
           be
           accomplished
           400
           Years
           after
           ,
           and
           the
           very
           manner
           foretold
           ,
           which
           no
           humane
           conjecture
           could
           reach
           to
           ,
           since
           the
           manner
           of
           deliverance
           of
           the
           People
           of
           Israel
           out
           of
           their
           Captivity
           in
           
           Egypt
           ,
           was
           to
           all
           humane
           appearance
           so
           impossible
           a
           thing
           ,
           especially
           at
           such
           a
           time
           when
           the
           Spirits
           of
           the
           People
           were
           sunk
           and
           broken
           by
           so
           long
           a
           slavery
           :
           And
           not
           only
           the
           manner
           foretold
           ,
           but
           the
           accomplishment
           happened
           to
           a
           day
           ,
           according
           to
           Exodus
           12.
           41.
           
           
             And
             it
             came
             to
             pass
             at
             the
             end
             of
             the
          
           430
           
             Years
             ,
             even
             the
             selfe-same
             day
             it
             came
             to
             pass
             ,
             that
             all
             the
             Hosts
             of
             the
             Lord
             went
             out
             from
             the
             Land
             of
          
           Egypt
           .
           But
           against
           this
           you
           object
           ,
           
             That
             the
             sojourning
             is
             spoken
             of
             the
             Children
             of
          
           Israel
           in
           Egypt
           for
           430
           
             Years
             ;
             which
             cannot
             hold
             good
             any
             ways
             ;
             since
             ,
             to
             make
             it
             up
             ,
             the
             times
             of
          
           Abraham
           ,
           Isaac
           ,
           and
           Jacob
           ,
           
             must
             be
             taken
             in
             who
             could
             not
             be
             called
             the
             Children
             of
          
           Israel
           .
           Answ.
           For
           the
           430
           Years
           ,
           I
           grant
           ,
           that
           according
           to
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           
           they
           did
           commence
           from
           the
           Covenant
           made
           to
           Abraham
           Gal.
           3.
           17.
           and
           that
           the
           400
           Years
           began
           from
           
           Isaac's
           being
           owned
           for
           the
           
             Promised
             Seed
          
           ;
           between
           which
           time
           the
           30
           Years
           were
           passed
           ;
           and
           all
           appearance
           of
           difficulty
           is
           avoided
           ,
           if
           we
           admit
           the
           reading
           of
           the
           best
           Copies
           of
           the
           LXX
           .
           which
           is
           in
           these
           words
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
             Now
             the
             sojourning
             of
             the
             Children
             of
          
           Israel
           
             who
             dwelt
             in
          
           Egypt
           and
           Canaan
           ,
           
             they
             and
             their
             Fathers
             was
          
           430
           Years
           .
           This
           is
           the
           reading
           of
           our
           Alexandrian
           Copy
           ,
           and
           the
           Complutensian
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           Aldus
           ,
           and
           of
           Eusebius
           in
           his
           Chronicon
           ,
           and
           of
           St.
           Hierome
           in
           his
           Translation
           of
           it
           ;
           
           and
           of
           the
           Church
           in
           St.
           Augustins
           time
           ,
           and
           afterwards
           ;
           and
           lest
           any
           should
           reject
           this
           as
           a
           late
           Interpolation
           ,
           or
           gloss
           received
           into
           the
           Text
           ,
           besides
           these
           Testimonies
           of
           the
           Antiquity
           of
           it
           ,
           we
           find
           the
           very
           same
           in
           the
           Samaritan
           Copy
           ,
           which
           the
           Enemies
           of
           it
           do
           allow
           to
           be
           as
           ancient
           as
           our
           Saviours
           time
           .
           And
           that
           which
           very
           much
           confirms
           the
           Truth
           of
           this
           reading
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           Jews
           themselves
           follow
           the
           sense
           of
           it
           ,
           who
           are
           the
           most
           eager
           contenders
           for
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Hebrew
           Copy
           ;
           who
           all
           agree
           ,
           that
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Computation
           of
           the
           430
           Years
           is
           to
           be
           taken
           before
           the
           Children
           of
           Israels
           going
           into
           Egypt
           :
           and
           
             Menasseh
             Ben
             Israel
          
           contends
           with
           many
           others
           ,
           that
           the
           430
           Years
           did
           begin
           from
           
           the
           Promise
           made
           to
           Abraham
           ,
           and
           the
           400
           from
           the
           time
           of
           Isaac
           ,
           to
           which
           their
           most
           ancient
           Books
           of
           Chronology
           do
           agree
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           speak
           both
           
             Philo
             Judaeus
          
           ,
           and
           Josephus
           ;
           who
           although
           in
           one
           place
           he
           seems
           to
           make
           the
           Israelites
           
             affliction
             in
          
           Egypt
           
             to
             have
             been
          
           400
           Years
           ,
           yet
           when
           he
           speaks
           more
           particularly
           of
           it
           ,
           
             he
             makes
             the
             time
             of
             their
             abode
             in
          
           Egypt
           
             to
             have
             been
             only
          
           215
           ,
           
             and
             the
          
           430
           
             to
             begin
             from
          
           Abrahams
           
             entrance
             into
          
           Canaan
           :
           The
           Targum
           of
           Jonathan
           begins
           the
           430
           from
           the
           Vision
           of
           Abraham
           ,
           and
           the
           400
           from
           the
           Birth
           of
           Isaac
           ;
           all
           which
           I
           mention
           ,
           to
           let
           you
           see
           that
           the
           Jews
           themselves
           do
           in
           sense
           concur
           with
           the
           Samaritan
           and
           Greek
           Copy
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           have
           more
           reason
           to
           suspect
           
           something
           left
           out
           in
           the
           present
           Hebrew
           ,
           than
           any
           thing
           added
           in
           those
           Copies
           .
           
             But
             doth
             not
             this
             take
             off
             from
             the
             Authority
             of
             the
             Scripture
             ?
          
           Not
           at
           all
           :
           For
           the
           only
           Question
           is
           about
           the
           True
           Reading
           :
           And
           having
           the
           consent
           of
           the
           
             Samaritan
             ,
             Alexandrian
          
           ,
           and
           other
           Copies
           of
           the
           LXX
           .
           and
           of
           the
           Ancient
           Church
           ;
           and
           of
           the
           Jews
           themselves
           as
           to
           the
           sense
           of
           it
           ,
           we
           have
           reason
           to
           look
           on
           this
           as
           the
           truer
           Reading
           :
           Which
           is
           making
           no
           addition
           to
           the
           scripture
           either
           as
           to
           Persons
           or
           Places
           ,
           but
           only
           producing
           the
           more
           Authentick
           Copy
           ;
           much
           less
           is
           this
           Adding
           or
           Changing
           as
           we
           please
           ,
           for
           if
           we
           did
           this
           without
           so
           much
           Authority
           as
           we
           have
           for
           it
           ,
           you
           might
           as
           easily
           reject
           it
           as
           we
           produce
           it
           .
        
         
         
           3.
           
           After
           all
           this
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           the
           mighty
           force
           of
           your
           Reason
           to
           charge
           the
           Scripture
           with
           Contradiction
           ,
           supposing
           the
           400
           
             Years
             were
             to
             be
             spent
             in
             the
             servitude
             of
             the
             Children
             of
          
           Israel
           in
           Egypt
           .
           I
           confess
           ,
           when
           I
           found
           the
           Scripture
           so
           boldly
           ,
           so
           frequently
           charged
           with
           no
           less
           than
           Contradiction
           ,
           I
           expected
           something
           like
           Demonstration
           in
           the
           Case
           ,
           especially
           in
           this
           place
           which
           you
           chose
           to
           put
           in
           the
           Front
           of
           all
           ;
           but
           I
           do
           not
           find
           any
           thing
           like
           such
           a
           proof
           of
           a
           Contradiction
           ,
           supposing
           we
           should
           allow
           the
           400
           Years
           to
           be
           spent
           in
           Egypt
           .
           Yes
           ,
           say
           you
           ,
           Coath
           was
           5
           
             Years
             Old
             when
             he
             came
             down
             into
          
           Egypt
           ,
           
             and
             When
             he
             had
             lived
             there
          
           65
           
             Years
             he
             begat
          
           Amram
           ,
           and
           Amram
           being
           70
           
             Years
             Old
             begat
          
           Moses
           ,
           
             to
             which
          
           Moses
           his
           80
           
             Years
             being
             
             added
             ,
             we
             have
             only
          
           215
           Years
           .
           But
           since
           the
           Scripture
           doth
           not
           assign
           ,
           the
           particular
           Age
           of
           any
           of
           these
           ,
           when
           they
           begat
           their
           Children
           ,
           I
           see
           no
           impossibility
           or
           repugnancy
           in
           the
           supposition
           ,
           that
           400
           Years
           should
           pass
           from
           
           Levi's
           going
           into
           Egypt
           ,
           to
           the
           Eightieth
           of
           Moses
           ,
           any
           more
           than
           from
           Salmons
           entrance
           into
           Canaan
           to
           the
           time
           of
           David
           ,
           for
           no
           more
           are
           reckoned
           in
           scripture
           than
           Boaz
           the
           Son
           of
           Salmon
           ,
           by
           Raab
           ,
           and
           Obed
           ,
           and
           Jesse
           ;
           So
           that
           by
           the
           same
           way
           ,
           this
           latter
           may
           be
           explained
           ,
           the
           former
           may
           be
           so
           too
           .
           If
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           
             That
             either
             they
             begat
             their
             Children
             at
             a
             great
             Age
             ,
             or
             that
             the
             scripture
             in
             Genealogies
             doth
             not
             set
             down
             all
             the
             intermediate
             Parents
             ,
             but
             only
             the
             most
             eminent
             ,
             (
             as
          
           Caleb
           
             is
             called
             the
             Son
             of
          
           Esron
           .
           
           1
           Chron.
           2.
           9
           ,
           18.
           
             although
             there
             was
             at
             least
             one
             between
             them
             ,
             )
          
           the
           very
           same
           Answer
           will
           serve
           to
           clear
           this
           part
           of
           the
           Chronology
           of
           Scripture
           from
           any
           appearance
           of
           Contradiction
           .
           These
           things
           you
           might
           have
           found
           more
           largely
           deduced
           and
           fully
           handled
           by
           those
           Learned
           Persons
           ,
           who
           have
           undertaken
           to
           clear
           the
           Chronology
           of
           Scripture
           :
           Who
           were
           men
           of
           more
           Judgment
           ,
           than
           from
           any
           difficulty
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           to
           call
           in
           question
           the
           Truth
           and
           Authority
           of
           the
           
             sacred
             Scriptures
          
           ;
           and
           although
           the
           Opinions
           of
           Chronologers
           ,
           are
           like
           the
           City
           Clocks
           ,
           which
           seldom
           agree
           ,
           yet
           some
           come
           nearer
           the
           time
           of
           the
           day
           than
           others
           do
           ;
           and
           therefore
           you
           ought
           to
           examine
           and
           compare
           them
           before
           you
           pronounce
           so
           peremptorily
           
           about
           Contradictions
           in
           scripture
           ,
           which
           you
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           do
           till
           you
           find
           that
           no
           one
           hypothesis
           among
           them
           will
           serve
           to
           free
           the
           scripture
           from
           Contradiction
           :
           For
           otherwise
           ,
           you
           do
           but
           blame
           the
           Sun
           ,
           because
           you
           cannot
           make
           the
           Clocks
           agree
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           all
           I
           can
           find
           in
           your
           Papers
           under
           the
           head
           of
           Contradictions
           ;
           and
           I
           leave
           you
           now
           soberly
           to
           consider
           ,
           whether
           this
           place
           did
           afford
           you
           sufficient
           ground
           for
           so
           heavy
           a
           Charge
           ;
           but
           if
           you
           say
           ,
           
             you
             have
             a
             great
             many
             more
             by
             you
             ,
             but
             you
             sent
             me
             this
             only
             for
             a
             Tryal
             of
             my
             skill
          
           ;
           before
           you
           send
           any
           more
           ;
           I
           beseech
           you
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           to
           consider
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           How
           easily
           things
           do
           appear
           to
           be
           Contradictions
           to
           weak
           ,
           or
           unstudied
           ,
           or
           prejudiced
           minds
           ,
           which
           after
           due
           
           consideration
           appear
           to
           be
           no
           such
           things
           .
           A
           deep
           prejudice
           finds
           a
           Contradiction
           in
           every
           thing
           ;
           whereas
           in
           Truth
           ,
           nothing
           but
           ill
           will
           ,
           and
           impatience
           of
           considering
           ,
           made
           any
           thing
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           which
           they
           Quarrel
           at
           ,
           appear
           to
           be
           so
           .
           If
           I
           had
           been
           of
           such
           a
           quarrelsome
           humour
           ,
           I
           would
           have
           undertaken
           to
           have
           found
           out
           more
           Contradictions
           in
           your
           Papers
           ,
           than
           you
           imagin
           ,
           and
           yet
           you
           might
           have
           been
           confident
           ,
           you
           had
           been
           guilty
           of
           none
           at
           all
           .
           When
           I
           consider
           the
           great
           pains
           ,
           and
           Learning
           ,
           and
           Judgement
           ,
           which
           hath
           been
           shewn
           by
           the
           
             Christian
             Writers
          
           in
           the
           Explication
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           and
           the
           raw
           ,
           indigested
           Objections
           which
           some
           love
           to
           make
           against
           them
           ,
           if
           I
           were
           to
           judge
           of
           things
           barely
           
           by
           the
           fitness
           of
           persons
           to
           judge
           of
           them
           ,
           the
           disproportion
           between
           these
           ,
           would
           appear
           out
           of
           all
           comparison
           .
           A
           modest
           Man
           would
           in
           any
           thing
           of
           this
           nature
           say
           with
           himself
           ,
           methinks
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           such
           Contradictions
           in
           the
           Bible
           ,
           as
           now
           seem
           to
           me
           ;
           so
           many
           persons
           of
           incomparable
           Abilities
           in
           the
           First
           ,
           and
           latter
           Ages
           of
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           who
           have
           made
           it
           their
           business
           to
           enquire
           into
           these
           things
           ,
           would
           have
           discerned
           them
           before
           me
           :
           And
           yet
           they
           retained
           a
           mighty
           veneration
           for
           the
           scriptures
           ,
           as
           coming
           from
           God
           himself
           ;
           and
           therefore
           it
           may
           be
           only
           weakness
           of
           Judgement
           ,
           want
           of
           Learning
           ,
           or
           some
           secret
           prejudice
           may
           make
           me
           suspect
           these
           things
           ;
           or
           else
           I
           must
           suspect
           the
           honesty
           of
           
           all
           those
           persons
           who
           have
           pretended
           such
           a
           Devotion
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           yet
           have
           believed
           them
           full
           of
           Contradictions
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Wherein
           the
           Contradiction
           appears
           .
           Is
           it
           in
           the
           main
           and
           weighty
           parts
           of
           the
           Religion
           revealed
           herein
           ;
           or
           is
           it
           only
           in
           some
           smaller
           Circumstances
           as
           to
           time
           and
           place
           ?
           The
           great
           thing
           you
           are
           to
           look
           after
           ,
           are
           the
           Matters
           those
           Scriptures
           tell
           you
           your
           Salvation
           depends
           upon
           ;
           and
           if
           there
           be
           a
           full
           consent
           ,
           and
           agreement
           therein
           ;
           you
           find
           enough
           for
           you
           to
           believe
           and
           practice
           .
           And
           if
           some
           Contradictions
           should
           still
           appear
           to
           you
           in
           smaller
           Matters
           ,
           what
           follows
           from
           thence
           ,
           but
           only
           that
           the
           same
           care
           was
           not
           taken
           about
           little
           ,
           as
           about
           great
           things
           ?
           And
           you
           ought
           to
           set
           that
           appearance
           
           of
           Contradiction
           in
           small
           Matters
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           real
           consent
           in
           the
           things
           of
           the
           highest
           importance
           ;
           and
           from
           thence
           rather
           to
           infer
           ,
           that
           this
           was
           no
           combination
           or
           design
           to
           deceive
           others
           ;
           for
           such
           persons
           take
           the
           greatest
           care
           to
           prevent
           suspicion
           ,
           by
           their
           exactness
           in
           every
           minute
           Circumstance
           ;
           and
           sometimes
           the
           over-much
           care
           to
           prevent
           suspicion
           doth
           raise
           it
           the
           more
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           
             What
             ways
          
           have
           been
           used
           by
           Men
           of
           judgement
           and
           learning
           ,
           to
           clear
           those
           places
           from
           the
           charge
           of
           Contradiction
           .
           For
           ,
           not
           one
           of
           the
           Objections
           you
           can
           start
           now
           ,
           but
           hath
           been
           considered
           over
           and
           over
           ;
           and
           all
           the
           difficulties
           that
           belong
           to
           it
           examined
           ;
           If
           you
           will
           not
           take
           the
           pains
           to
           do
           this
           ;
           it
           is
           plain
           you
           do
           not
           desire
           satisfaction
           ,
           
           but
           only
           seek
           for
           a
           pretence
           to
           cavil
           ;
           especially
           ,
           if
           you
           only
           search
           the
           weakest
           or
           most
           injudicious
           Writers
           on
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           endeavour
           to
           expose
           their
           opinions
           ,
           without
           taking
           notice
           of
           what
           others
           have
           said
           with
           more
           clear
           and
           evident
           Reason
           .
           This
           shews
           either
           want
           of
           Judgment
           in
           choosing
           such
           Expositors
           ,
           or
           want
           of
           Candor
           and
           fair
           dealing
           and
           a
           desire
           of
           taking
           any
           advantage
           against
           the
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           How
           hard
           a
           Matter
           it
           is
           for
           us
           at
           this
           distance
           to
           understand
           exactly
           the
           grounds
           of
           Chronology
           ,
           or
           the
           manner
           of
           computation
           of
           Times
           used
           so
           long
           ago
           :
           and
           therefore
           in
           all
           difficulties
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           we
           ought
           to
           make
           the
           fairest
           allowances
           that
           may
           be
           ,
           considering
           
           withall
           ,
           that
           escapes
           and
           errours
           are
           no
           where
           more
           easily
           committed
           by
           Transcribers
           ,
           than
           in
           numbers
           :
           and
           that
           it
           is
           a
           very
           unreasonable
           thing
           ,
           that
           a
           Book
           otherwise
           deserving
           to
           be
           thought
           the
           best
           Book
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           should
           be
           scorned
           and
           rejected
           ,
           because
           there
           appears
           some
           difference
           in
           the
           computation
           of
           times
           .
           We
           do
           not
           so
           exactly
           know
           the
           manner
           of
           the
           
             Hebrew
             Chronology
          
           ,
           nor
           ,
           the
           nature
           of
           their
           Year
           ,
           or
           Intercalations
           ,
           nor
           the
           customs
           of
           their
           Genealogies
           ;
           nor
           the
           allowance
           to
           be
           made
           for
           interregnums
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           be
           able
           to
           define
           peremptorily
           in
           these
           things
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           sufficient
           to
           shew
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           improbability
           in
           the
           accounts
           that
           are
           given
           ;
           and
           no
           sufficient
           reason
           can
           be
           drawn
           from
           thence
           to
           
           reject
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           come
           to
           consider
           the
           places
           you
           object
           ,
           
             as
             containing
             things
             inconsistent
             with
             the
             Wisdom
             ,
             or
             Goodness
             of
             God
             ,
             according
             to
             a
             rational
             perswasion
          
           ;
           and
           those
           are
           either
           ,
           1.
           
           
             From
             the
             Laws
             of
          
           Moses
           .
           2.
           
           
             From
             the
             express
             story
             of
             the
             Bible
             ,
             or
             actions
             of
             the
             Prophets
             .
          
        
         
           1.
           
           
             From
             the
             Laws
             of
          
           Moses
           :
           Your
           
             first
             Objection
          
           is
           from
           Exod.
           21.
           7.
           
           
             Where
             a
             Man
             is
             supposed
             to
             sell
             his
             Daughter
             ;
             which
             you
             say
             ,
             it
             is
             incredible
             to
             believe
             that
             God
             should
             permit
             ;
             because
             it
             implies
             unnatural
             affection
             and
             covetousness
             in
             the
             Father
             .
          
           But
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           1.
           
           You
           do
           not
           consider
           ,
           that
           this
           is
           barely
           a
           
             provisional
             Law
          
           ,
           and
           is
           not
           the
           permission
           of
           the
           thing
           ,
           so
           much
           as
           the
           regulation
           of
           it
           ,
           supposing
           
           it
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           in
           case
           a
           Man
           should
           part
           with
           his
           interest
           in
           his
           Daughter
           to
           another
           Person
           ,
           upon
           an
           extraordinary
           case
           of
           necessity
           ,
           as
           the
           Jews
           understand
           it
           ;
           yet
           then
           ,
           she
           was
           not
           to
           be
           in
           the
           condition
           of
           a
           Servant
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           either
           Betrothed
           to
           the
           Person
           who
           receiv'd
           her
           ,
           or
           to
           his
           Son
           ;
           which
           was
           intended
           for
           the
           restraint
           of
           promiscuous
           Buying
           and
           Selling
           Daughters
           ,
           meerly
           for
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           Lust.
           The
           Jews
           who
           certainly
           best
           understood
           their
           own
           Judicial
           Laws
           ,
           do
           say
           ,
           that
           this
           was
           never
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           but
           where
           there
           was
           a
           presumption
           of
           such
           a
           betrothing
           ;
           for
           no
           Man
           could
           Sell
           his
           Daughter
           to
           those
           to
           whom
           it
           was
           unlawful
           for
           her
           to
           Marry
           by
           their
           Law
           ;
           so
           that
           this
           was
           looked
           on
           as
           a
           kind
           of
           Espousals
           of
           a
           young
           
           Girle
           ,
           taken
           into
           Wardship
           by
           another
           ;
           but
           so
           ,
           that
           if
           she
           were
           not
           Betrothed
           ,
           she
           was
           to
           remain
           her
           6
           Years
           during
           her
           Minority
           ,
           as
           the
           Jews
           understand
           it
           ;
           unless
           she
           were
           redeemed
           ,
           or
           set
           Free
           ,
           or
           the
           Jubile
           came
           ,
           or
           the
           Master
           dyed
           ,
           or
           the
           time
           of
           her
           Minority
           expired
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           case
           of
           necessity
           being
           supposed
           ,
           it
           hath
           been
           thought
           lawful
           for
           Parents
           to
           make
           advantage
           by
           their
           Children
           ,
           not
           only
           by
           the
           Jews
           ,
           but
           by
           other
           Nations
           ,
           who
           have
           been
           in
           the
           greatest
           esteem
           for
           Wisdom
           .
           For
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           12
           Tables
           ,
           among
           the
           Romans
           ,
           the
           Father
           had
           the
           liberty
           of
           Selling
           his
           Son
           three
           times
           ,
           for
           his
           own
           advantage
           ,
           as
           
             Dionys.
             Halicarnasseus
          
           relates
           ;
           and
           before
           that
           time
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           only
           in
           use
           among
           
           the
           Romans
           ,
           but
           in
           such
           esteem
           among
           them
           ,
           that
           upon
           the
           review
           of
           their
           Laws
           the
           Decemviri
           durst
           not
           leave
           it
           out
           ;
           but
           by
           one
           of
           the
           Laws
           of
           
             Numa
             Pompilius
          
           ,
           it
           was
           restrained
           to
           the
           times
           before
           Marriage
           ,
           for
           in
           case
           the
           Son
           had
           the
           Fathers
           consent
           to
           Marry
           ,
           he
           could
           not
           Sell
           him
           afterwards
           ,
           as
           the
           same
           Author
           tells
           us
           .
           This
           Law
           continued
           in
           force
           among
           them
           ,
           till
           Christianity
           prevailed
           in
           the
           
             Roman
             Empire
          
           ,
           for
           although
           there
           were
           a
           prohibition
           of
           Diocletian
           against
           it
           ,
           yet
           that
           signified
           nothing
           ,
           till
           Constantine
           took
           care
           ,
           
             That
             such
             indigent
             Parents
             should
             be
             relieved
             out
             of
             the
             publick
             charge
             ,
          
           Cod.
           Theodos.
           l.
           11.
           tit
           .
           27.
           2.
           
           And
           yet
           after
           this
           ,
           the
           Custom
           did
           continue
           ,
           when
           the
           Parents
           were
           in
           great
           want
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           a
           
           Law
           of
           Theodosius
           ,
           Cod.
           3.
           tit
           .
           3.
           
           
             Omnes
             quos
             Parentum
             miseranda
             fortuna
             in
             servitium
             dum
             victum
             requirunt
             addixit
             ,
             ingenuitati
             pristinae
             reformentur
             .
          
           And
           it
           further
           appears
           ,
           that
           even
           in
           Constantin's
           time
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           Law
           made
           by
           him
           ,
           Parents
           would
           still
           ,
           when
           they
           thought
           themselves
           overcharged
           with
           Children
           ,
           part
           with
           their
           Interest
           in
           them
           to
           others
           for
           advantage
           ,
           but
           it
           was
           chiefly
           while
           they
           were
           sanguinolenti
           ,
           as
           the
           Law
           expresses
           it
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
             new
             Born.
             Cod.
             Theod.
             l.
          
           5.
           tit
           .
           8.
           
           By
           the
           Laws
           of
           Athens
           ,
           before
           Solons
           time
           ,
           Parents
           might
           sell
           their
           Children
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           Plutarch
           ,
           in
           his
           Life
           ;
           and
           the
           same
           Philostratus
           reports
           of
           the
           
             Phrygians
             ,
             l.
          
           3.
           
             vit
             .
             Apollon
             .
             Tyan
          
           .
           and
           the
           like
           custom
           doth
           obtain
           among
           the
           Chineses
           to
           this
           
           day
           ,
           if
           persons
           do
           think
           themselves
           unable
           to
           bring
           up
           their
           Children
           themselves
           .
           And
           there
           are
           two
           things
           to
           be
           said
           for
           it
           .
           1.
           
           The
           natural
           obligation
           lying
           on
           Children
           to
           provide
           for
           their
           Parents
           in
           necessity
           ,
           by
           any
           way
           they
           are
           able
           .
           2.
           
           The
           probability
           of
           better
           Education
           under
           more
           able
           Persons
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           Thebans
           had
           a
           Law
           ,
           That
           Parents
           
             in
             case
             of
             poverty
             ,
             were
             to
             bring
             their
          
           Children
           
             to
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             as
             soon
             as
             they
             were
             Born
             ,
             who
             put
             them
             out
             to
             such
             as
             were
             judged
          
           
           
             fit
             to
             bring
             them
             up
             ,
             and
             to
             have
             their
             service
             for
             their
             reward
             .
          
        
         
           
             But
             however
          
           ,
           you
           say
           ,
           
             This
             place
             implys
             a
             toleration
             of
             having
             many
             Wives
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             said
             ,
             if
             he
             take
             him
             another
             Wife
             ,
             v.
          
           10.
           
           I
           do
           not
           deny
           ,
           that
           the
           Mosaical
           Law
           did
           suppose
           the
           practice
           of
           
           Polygamy
           ;
           but
           as
           it
           doth
           no
           where
           expressly
           allow
           it
           ,
           neither
           doth
           it
           expressly
           condemn
           it
           .
           And
           although
           we
           say
           ,
           the
           
             Christian
             Law
          
           is
           far
           more
           excellent
           ,
           which
           reduceth
           Marriage
           to
           its
           first
           institution
           ;
           yet
           you
           will
           find
           it
           a
           hard
           Matter
           to
           prove
           such
           a
           permission
           of
           Polygamy
           as
           this
           was
           ,
           to
           be
           so
           repugnant
           to
           the
           Law
           and
           Principles
           of
           Nature
           ,
           as
           from
           thence
           to
           infer
           ,
           that
           this
           Law
           of
           Moses
           could
           not
           be
           from
           God
           :
           You
           might
           have
           said
           the
           same
           about
           the
           Matter
           of
           Divorce
           ,
           which
           was
           permitted
           them
           ;
           Christ
           saith
           ,
           
             for
             the
             hardness
             of
             their
             hearts
             :
          
           Which
           shews
           ,
           that
           God
           doth
           not
           always
           require
           that
           from
           Men
           which
           is
           best
           pleasing
           to
           himself
           ;
           and
           that
           as
           to
           his
           
             Political
             Government
          
           ,
           he
           may
           not
           always
           punish
           that
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           so
           pleasing
           to
           him
           .
        
         
         
           The
           next
           Law
           you
           quarrel
           at
           is
           that
           ,
           Deut.
           22.
           13
           ,
           
             &c.
             
             About
             the
             tryal
             of
             Virginity
             :
          
           Which
           you
           object
           against
           ,
           
             as
             immodest
             ,
             and
             uncertain
             ,
             and
             therefore
             unbecoming
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God.
          
           So
           ,
           many
           customs
           of
           those
           elder
           times
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Eastern
           parts
           to
           this
           day
           seem
           very
           strange
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           are
           not
           so
           well
           acquainted
           with
           the
           Reasons
           of
           them
           .
           Methinks
           ,
           it
           better
           becomes
           our
           Modesty
           in
           such
           cases
           ,
           to
           question
           our
           understanding
           those
           customes
           ,
           than
           presently
           to
           cast
           so
           much
           disparagement
           on
           the
           Author
           of
           them
           .
           If
           you
           had
           been
           offended
           at
           the
           literal
           sense
           of
           those
           Words
           ,
           many
           of
           the
           Jews
           themselves
           say
           ,
           they
           are
           to
           be
           understood
           figuratively
           of
           the
           evidence
           that
           was
           to
           be
           brought
           and
           laid
           open
           
           before
           the
           Judges
           ,
           on
           behalf
           of
           the
           defamed
           Person
           .
           And
           both
           Josephus
           and
           Philo
           omit
           the
           laying
           open
           the
           Cloth.
           But
           supposing
           it
           to
           be
           taken
           in
           the
           plainest
           literal
           sense
           ,
           I
           have
           Two
           Things
           to
           say
           in
           vindication
           of
           this
           Law.
           1.
           
           That
           however
           uncertain
           some
           Physitians
           have
           thought
           that
           way
           of
           Tryal
           to
           have
           been
           in
           these
           parts
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           yet
           it
           is
           generally
           agreed
           to
           have
           held
           for
           the
           Eastern
           parts
           ,
           by
           the
           most
           skilful
           Physitians
           among
           the
           Arabians
           :
           And
           a
           custom
           of
           the
           same
           nature
           is
           said
           by
           good
           Authors
           to
           have
           been
           observed
           among
           the
           Egyptians
           ,
           and
           other
           Africans
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Arabians
           ;
           so
           that
           this
           could
           not
           be
           thought
           so
           strange
           or
           immodest
           among
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           those
           parts
           :
           And
           it
           is
           very
           probable
           that
           some
           
           particulars
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Practice
           of
           these
           Laws
           are
           not
           set
           down
           ,
           which
           might
           very
           much
           tend
           to
           the
           certainty
           of
           them
           ,
           as
           the
           Age
           of
           the
           Married
           Persons
           ,
           which
           was
           most
           likely
           then
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           to
           this
           day
           in
           the
           Eastern
           parts
           ,
           very
           early
           ,
           the
           Jews
           say
           ,
           at
           12
           years
           old
           ,
           which
           would
           make
           the
           Tryal
           more
           certain
           .
           2.
           
           As
           to
           the
           Modesty
           of
           it
           ,
           you
           are
           to
           consider
           ,
           that
           the
           Law
           was
           intended
           to
           keep
           persons
           from
           unjust
           defamations
           ,
           and
           such
           a
           way
           of
           Tryal
           was
           therefore
           pitched
           upon
           to
           deter
           persons
           from
           such
           defamations
           ;
           which
           Men
           might
           otherwise
           have
           been
           more
           ready
           to
           ,
           because
           of
           the
           liberty
           of
           divorce
           ,
           and
           the
           advantage
           they
           had
           in
           saving
           the
           dower
           ,
           if
           they
           could
           prove
           the
           party
           vitiated
           before
           Marriage
           ;
           therefore
           all
           the
           proof
           
           of
           that
           Nature
           was
           to
           be
           passed
           soon
           after
           the
           consummation
           of
           Marriage
           ,
           which
           being
           agreed
           then
           by
           all
           the
           Friends
           ,
           there
           was
           to
           be
           no
           liberty
           left
           for
           defamation
           afterwards
           ;
           but
           in
           case
           any
           Man
           should
           be
           guilty
           of
           it
           ,
           the
           producing
           those
           Evidences
           ,
           which
           before
           they
           were
           agreed
           upon
           ,
           should
           be
           sufficient
           to
           clear
           the
           Innocency
           of
           the
           party
           accused
           .
           And
           therefore
           I
           look
           on
           this
           Law
           ,
           as
           the
           Jews
           do
           on
           that
           of
           the
           
             rebellious
             son
          
           ,
           of
           which
           they
           say
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           instance
           of
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           ;
           the
           Penalty
           threatned
           being
           so
           effectual
           to
           prevent
           the
           occasion
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           such
           in
           a
           great
           Measure
           ,
           I
           suppose
           the
           other
           Law
           mentioned
           by
           you
           to
           have
           been
           ,
           
             viz.
             of
             the
             Water
             of
             Jealousy
             ,
          
           which
           you
           make
           so
           strange
           a
           matter
           of
           ;
           
           and
           think
           it
           
             savours
             too
             much
             of
             a
             design
             to
             gratify
             the
             jealous
             humour
             of
             the
             Jewish
             Nation
             :
          
           But
           you
           might
           have
           put
           a
           fairer
           construction
           upon
           it
           ,
           viz.
           That
           it
           was
           intended
           to
           prevent
           any
           occasion
           of
           suspicion
           being
           given
           to
           the
           Husband
           ,
           by
           too
           much
           familiarity
           with
           other
           persons
           ;
           since
           the
           Law
           allowed
           so
           severe
           a
           Trial
           ,
           in
           Case
           the
           Wife
           after
           admonition
           did
           not
           forbear
           such
           suspected
           familiarity
           ,
           but
           if
           you
           had
           looked
           on
           the
           Law
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           ,
           Num.
           5.
           12
           ,
           13.
           &c.
           you
           would
           have
           found
           ,
           that
           the
           design
           of
           it
           was
           to
           keep
           Women
           from
           committing
           
             secret
             Adultery
          
           ,
           by
           so
           severe
           a
           Penalty
           ;
           yet
           withall
           allowing
           so
           much
           to
           a
           reasonable
           suspicion
           ,
           (
           for
           so
           the
           Jews
           understand
           it
           ,
           with
           many
           Cautions
           and
           Limitations
           )
           that
           rather
           
           then
           Married
           persons
           should
           live
           under
           perpetual
           jealousies
           ,
           he
           appointed
           this
           extraordinary
           way
           of
           Tryal
           ,
           whereby
           Adultery
           was
           most
           severely
           punished
           ,
           and
           the
           honour
           of
           Innocency
           publickly
           vindicated
           ;
           which
           certainly
           are
           not
           ends
           at
           all
           unbecoming
           due
           Conceptions
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           The
           last
           of
           the
           
             Jewish
             Laws
          
           ,
           which
           you
           quarrel
           with
           is
           
             the
             prohibition
             of
             Usury
             ,
             in
             several
             places
             of
             Moses
             his
             Law
             and
             the
             Psalms
             :
          
           And
           from
           hence
           you
           fall
           into
           a
           long
           Discourse
           
             to
             prove
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             Usury
             :
          
           But
           to
           what
           purpose
           I
           beseech
           you
           ?
           For
           you
           were
           to
           prove
           ,
           that
           God
           could
           never
           forbid
           it
           ;
           you
           might
           have
           spared
           
             your
             pity
             for
             Men
          
           ,
           as
           you
           think
           ,
           
             Blinded
             with
             superstition
             ,
             and
             cheated
             with
             New
             and
             Aëry
             Notions
             :
          
           For
           by
           all
           that
           I
           can
           see
           by
           these
           
           Papers
           ,
           some
           pretended
           Enemies
           to
           superstition
           have
           no
           better
           Eyes
           than
           their
           Neighbours
           ,
           and
           are
           as
           easily
           cheated
           with
           groundless
           Fancies
           and
           Aëry
           imaginations
           .
           The
           only
           thing
           to
           the
           business
           in
           that
           long
           Discourse
           is
           this
           ,
           
             That
             you
             cannot
             imagine
             that
             God
             should
             make
             a
             Law
             so
             much
             to
             Mans
             inconvenience
             ,
             and
             forbid
             him
             so
             nice
             and
             indifferent
             a
             thing
             ,
             as
             Moderate
             increase
             of
             profit
             by
             letting
             out
             of
             Money
             ,
             when
             it
             is
             allowed
             upon
             Lands
             ,
             Houses
             ,
             and
             Trade
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           To
           this
           I
           Answer
           ,
           that
           the
           prohibition
           of
           Usury
           ,
           to
           the
           
             Jewish
             Nation
          
           ,
           was
           upon
           
             political
             Grounds
          
           peculiar
           to
           the
           constitution
           of
           that
           People
           ;
           as
           appears
           by
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           Deut.
           23.
           19
           ,
           20.
           
           
             Thou
             shalt
             not
             lend
             to
             Usury
             unto
             thy
             Brother
             —
             Unto
             a
             Stranger
             thou
             maist
             lend
             upon
             Usury
          
           ;
           but
           
           none
           of
           the
           Laws
           which
           are
           founded
           upon
           common
           and
           Moral
           Reasons
           have
           such
           Limitations
           as
           this
           ;
           for
           God
           would
           never
           have
           said
           ,
           
             Thou
             shalt
             not
             commit
             Adultery
             with
             thy
             Brothers
             Wife
          
           ;
           but
           
             with
             the
             Wife
             of
             a
             Stranger
             thou
             maist
             .
          
           But
           there
           was
           this
           particular
           Reason
           ,
           for
           the
           prohibition
           of
           Usury
           to
           the
           
             Jewish
             Nation
          
           :
           It
           pleased
           God
           to
           fix
           their
           Habitation
           ,
           not
           upon
           the
           Sea-side
           ,
           as
           Tyre
           and
           Sidon
           stood
           ;
           but
           within
           Land
           where
           they
           had
           no
           conveniencies
           of
           Trading
           ,
           but
           the
           Riches
           of
           the
           Nation
           lay
           in
           Agriculture
           and
           Pasturage
           :
           In
           which
           the
           Returns
           of
           Money
           are
           neither
           so
           quick
           nor
           so
           advantageous
           to
           make
           sufficient
           compensation
           for
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           Money
           in
           the
           time
           they
           have
           it
           :
           For
           the
           main
           thing
           valuable
           in
           Money
           is
           
           the
           advantage
           the
           borrower
           makes
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           where
           that
           is
           great
           ,
           it
           seems
           reasonable
           that
           the
           person
           whose
           the
           Money
           is
           ,
           should
           have
           a
           proportionable
           share
           of
           the
           advantage
           made
           by
           it
           ;
           but
           where
           persons
           borrow
           only
           for
           present
           occasions
           to
           supply
           their
           necessities
           ,
           there
           it
           is
           only
           an
           Act
           of
           kindness
           to
           lend
           ,
           and
           it
           would
           be
           unreasonable
           to
           press
           upon
           ,
           or
           take
           advantage
           by
           anothers
           necessities
           .
           And
           this
           seems
           to
           have
           been
           the
           case
           among
           the
           Jews
           ;
           they
           were
           only
           the
           Poor
           that
           wanted
           Money
           for
           present
           necessities
           ;
           the
           Rich
           had
           no
           way
           to
           imploy
           it
           in
           Trading
           ,
           unless
           that
           they
           lent
           to
           the
           
             Tyrian
             Merchants
          
           ,
           which
           it
           was
           lawful
           by
           their
           Law
           to
           do
           ;
           now
           if
           they
           took
           Usury
           of
           their
           own
           people
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           of
           those
           whose
           urgent
           necessity
           ,
           and
           not
           hopes
           of
           a
           
           mighty
           increase
           by
           it
           made
           them
           borrow
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           was
           a
           very
           just
           and
           reasonable
           Law
           to
           forbid
           Usury
           among
           them
           :
           which
           I
           believe
           he
           would
           never
           have
           done
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           placed
           the
           Jews
           upon
           the
           Coasts
           of
           Phoenicia
           ,
           where
           Trading
           was
           so
           much
           in
           request
           .
        
         
           These
           are
           all
           the
           Laws
           which
           you
           have
           picked
           out
           of
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           the
           
             Jewish
             Law
          
           ,
           to
           represent
           it
           unbecoming
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           God
           :
           And
           now
           I
           pray
           Sir
           ,
           look
           back
           again
           upon
           them
           ,
           see
           how
           few
           ,
           how
           small
           ,
           how
           weak
           your
           Objections
           are
           ;
           and
           compare
           them
           with
           the
           weight
           ,
           and
           justice
           ,
           and
           prudence
           ,
           and
           piety
           ,
           expressed
           in
           all
           the
           rest
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           find
           cause
           to
           be
           ashamed
           of
           speaking
           so
           harshly
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           so
           well
           
           accommodated
           to
           those
           Ages
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           the
           Condition
           of
           that
           People
           for
           whom
           they
           were
           appointed
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           now
           consider
           what
           you
           object
           against
           the
           story
           of
           the
           Bible
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             That
             passage
             of
          
           Moses
           ;
           Exod.
           32.
           32.
           
           
             Blot
             me
             out
             of
             thy
             Book
             which
             thou
             hast
             written
             :
          
           Where
           your
           design
           is
           to
           shew
           that
           Moses
           
             prayed
             to
             be
             Damned
             ,
             and
             that
             this
             was
             a
             very
             irrational
             thing
             :
             And
             savouring
             more
             of
             passion
             than
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God.
          
           But
           what
           if
           Moses
           meant
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           Damnation
           ?
           As
           there
           is
           not
           any
           word
           in
           the
           Context
           relating
           that
           ways
           ,
           but
           all
           the
           design
           of
           that
           Chapter
           is
           about
           a
           Temporal
           punishment
           ,
           which
           was
           a
           present
           Destruction
           of
           the
           People
           for
           their
           sins
           .
           And
           the
           Book
           out
           of
           which
           he
           prayed
           
           
             God
             to
             blot
             him
          
           ,
           seems
           to
           me
           to
           be
           no
           other
           ,
           than
           the
           Roll
           of
           
             Gods
             chosen
             people
             ,
             who
             were
             to
             possess
             the
             Land
             of
          
           Canaan
           :
           For
           so
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           properly
           signifies
           a
           Roll
           or
           
             Register
             .
             Psalm
          
           69.
           28.
           
           We
           meet
           with
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
             the
             Roll
             of
             the
             living
             ,
             or
             the
             Book
             of
             the
             living
          
           we
           render
           it
           ,
           because
           all
           ancient
           Books
           were
           in
           the
           fashion
           of
           Rolls
           .
           In
           that
           Chapter
           ,
           Moses
           intercedes
           with
           God
           on
           behalf
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           that
           he
           would
           make
           good
           his
           promise
           to
           them
           ,
           of
           bringing
           them
           into
           the
           
             Land
             of
          
           Canaan
           .
           v.
           13.
           and
           v.
           30.
           
           He
           goes
           up
           to
           make
           an
           Atonement
           for
           the
           People
           ,
           i.
           e.
           
             as
             to
             the
             cutting
             them
             off
             in
             the
             Wilderness
             ,
          
           and
           therefore
           he
           desires
           rather
           than
           the
           People
           should
           be
           destroy'd
           ,
           
             that
             God
             would
             strike
             him
             out
             of
             the
             Roll
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             Dye
             in
             
             the
             Wilderness
             rather
             than
             the
             People
             :
          
           And
           God
           gives
           that
           Answer
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           v.
           33.
           
           
             Whoever
             hath
             sinned
             against
             me
             ,
             will
             I
             blot
             out
             of
             my
             Book
             ,
          
           the
           sense
           of
           which
           is
           the
           same
           with
           those
           words
           of
           the
           
             Psalmist
             ,
             he
             sware
             in
             his
             wrath
             that
             they
             should
             not
             enter
             into
             his
             Rest.
             Psal.
          
           95
           ,
           11.
           
           And
           according
           to
           this
           interpretation
           ,
           which
           is
           most
           natural
           and
           easie
           ,
           all
           your
           long
           Discourse
           
             against
             praying
             to
             be
             Damned
          
           comes
           to
           just
           nothing
           ;
           there
           being
           no
           pretence
           for
           it
           ,
           either
           in
           the
           Text
           or
           Context
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           story
           of
           Ruth
           doth
           not
           please
           you
           ,
           
             as
             savouring
             in
             your
             opinion
             of
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             Immodesty
          
           ;
           but
           you
           would
           have
           a
           better
           opinion
           of
           it
           ,
           if
           you
           consider
           that
           the
           reason
           of
           her
           carriage
           towards
           Boaz
           ,
           in
           such
           a
           manner
           ,
           was
           upon
           Naomies
           telling
           her
           
             that
             
             he
             was
             one
             to
             whom
             the
             right
             of
             redemption
             did
             belong
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             ,
          
           by
           their
           Law
           ,
           
             was
             to
             Marry
             her
             .
             Ruth
          
           2.
           20.
           
           And
           this
           Ruth
           pleaded
           to
           
             Boaz
             ,
             Ruth
          
           3.
           9.
           
           By
           which
           it
           appears
           ,
           that
           she
           verily
           believed
           that
           he
           was
           legally
           her
           Husband
           ;
           and
           Boaz
           we
           see
           speaks
           of
           her
           
             as
             one
             that
             was
             a
             vertuous
             Woman
             ,
             and
             known
             to
             be
             such
             in
             the
             whole
             City
             .
          
           v.
           11.
           
           And
           he
           confesses
           
             he
             was
             her
             near
             kinsman
             ,
             only
          
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             there
             was
             one
             nearer
          
           .
           v.
           12.
           
           By
           which
           it
           seems
           ,
           if
           there
           had
           not
           ,
           Boaz
           had
           made
           no
           Scruple
           of
           the
           matter
           :
           And
           the
           Jews
           say
           ,
           in
           such
           Marriages
           very
           little
           Ceremony
           was
           required
           ,
           if
           the
           next
           of
           kin
           did
           not
           renounce
           his
           right
           ,
           because
           the
           Law
           had
           determined
           the
           Marriage
           before
           hand
           .
           If
           you
           had
           but
           considered
           this
           one
           
           thing
           ,
           you
           would
           have
           spared
           the
           many
           Observations
           you
           make
           on
           this
           story
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           You
           Object
           against
           2
           Sam.
           12.
           8.
           
             as
             too
             much
             countenancing
             either
             Incest
             or
             Adultery
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             said
             ,
             that
             God
             gave
             to
          
           David
           
             his
             Masters
             Wives
             into
             his
             Bosom
             .
          
           But
           1.
           
           It
           is
           very
           strange
           to
           bring
           this
           place
           as
           a
           countenance
           to
           Adultery
           ,
           which
           was
           purposely
           designed
           to
           upbraid
           David
           with
           the
           sin
           of
           Adultery
           ;
           and
           you
           will
           find
           it
           no
           easie
           matter
           ,
           by
           the
           constitution
           of
           the
           
             Mosaical
             Law
          
           ,
           to
           prove
           Polygamy
           to
           be
           Adultery
           .
           2.
           
           The
           Jews
           give
           a
           fair
           Interpretation
           of
           this
           place
           ,
           for
           they
           say
           ,
           that
           the
           Wife
           of
           a
           King
           could
           never
           Marry
           after
           her
           Husbands
           decease
           ,
           as
           the
           Gemara
           on
           the
           Title
           Sanhedrim
           expresly
           saith
           ,
           although
           some
           among
           
           them
           follow
           the
           opinion
           of
           
             R.
             Jehuda
          
           ,
           that
           she
           might
           Marry
           the
           succeeding
           King
           ;
           but
           that
           is
           built
           chiefly
           on
           this
           place
           ;
           of
           which
           the
           rest
           give
           a
           better
           account
           ,
           viz.
           that
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           doth
           not
           
           imply
           
             Sauls
             Wives
          
           ,
           but
           the
           
             Maids
             of
             Honour
          
           ,
           or
           Attendants
           ,
           on
           the
           Court
           of
           Saul
           ,
           which
           all
           fell
           into
           Davids
           power
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           whom
           he
           might
           choose
           Wives
           ,
           without
           danger
           of
           Incest
           ;
           and
           even
           some
           of
           those
           who
           assert
           it
           lawful
           for
           one
           King
           to
           Marry
           his
           predecessors
           Wife
           ,
           yet
           say
           in
           this
           case
           of
           David
           ,
           that
           the
           Word
           only
           implies
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           of
           
           Saul's
           Family
           ,
           as
           Merab
           and
           Michal
           were
           ,
           but
           not
           
           Saul's
           Wives
           .
           So
           that
           all
           the
           difficulty
           here
           arises
           only
           from
           the
           Interpretation
           of
           an
           
             unusual
             word
          
           ,
           in
           which
           we
           have
           much
           more
           reason
           to
           trust
           
           the
           Jews
           than
           other
           Writers
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           You
           are
           much
           offended
           at
           Hosea's
           
             Marrying
             an
             Adulteress
          
           :
           But
           all
           the
           formidable
           difficulties
           of
           that
           place
           will
           presently
           vanish
           ,
           if
           you
           allow
           the
           
             Prophetical
             Schemes
          
           ,
           wherein
           those
           things
           are
           said
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           which
           are
           intended
           only
           to
           represent
           in
           a
           more
           lively
           manner
           the
           things
           signified
           by
           them
           .
           And
           so
           you
           may
           see
           the
           
             Chaldee
             Paraphrase
          
           ,
           fully
           explains
           this
           place
           of
           Hosea
           and
           Maimonides
           purposely
           discourseth
           on
           the
           
             Prophetick
             parables
          
           ,
           and
           
           brings
           this
           as
           one
           of
           the
           instances
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           with
           him
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           
             Jewish
             Interpreters
          
           agree
           .
           But
           you
           Object
           against
           such
           a
           way
           of
           Teaching
           ,
           
             as
             tending
             to
             the
             encouragement
             of
             Vice
             ,
          
           which
           it
           is
           very
           far
           from
           ,
           being
           designed
           to
           represent
           the
           odiousness
           of
           it
           :
           
           For
           the
           whole
           Scope
           of
           the
           Prophet
           is
           to
           let
           the
           People
           understand
           ,
           that
           their
           Idolatry
           was
           as
           hateful
           to
           God
           as
           the
           sin
           of
           Adultery
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           consequence
           of
           it
           would
           be
           their
           Misery
           and
           Ruine
           .
           And
           yet
           that
           God
           expressed
           as
           much
           tenderness
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           a
           Man
           that
           was
           very
           fond
           of
           a
           Woman
           would
           do
           ,
           in
           being
           unwilling
           to
           put
           her
           away
           ,
           although
           he
           knew
           she
           were
           false
           to
           his
           Bed
           :
           the
           former
           is
           intended
           in
           the
           first
           Chapter
           ,
           and
           the
           latter
           in
           the
           third
           .
           And
           what
           is
           there
           tending
           to
           Immorality
           in
           all
           this
           ?
           May
           not
           God
           make
           use
           of
           one
           Vice
           ,
           whose
           evil
           is
           more
           notorious
           to
           represent
           another
           by
           ,
           whose
           evil
           they
           are
           more
           hardly
           convinced
           of
           ?
           May
           not
           he
           set
           forth
           a
           
             Degenerate
             People
          
           by
           the
           Sons
           of
           an
           Adulteress
           ?
           And
           by
           the
           Names
           
           given
           to
           them
           express
           his
           detestation
           of
           their
           wickedness
           ?
           Especially
           when
           the
           Parabolical
           Terms
           are
           so
           clearly
           explained
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           in
           the
           second
           Chapter
           .
        
         
           But
           you
           will
           say
           ,
           
             these
             things
             are
             related
             as
             plain
             matters
             of
             Fact
             :
             with
             the
             several
             circumstances
             belonging
             to
             them
             .
          
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           they
           are
           so
           ,
           but
           so
           Parables
           use
           to
           be
           ;
           so
           was
           
           Nathan's
           to
           David
           ;
           so
           is
           that
           of
           the
           Rich
           Man
           and
           Lazarus
           in
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ;
           so
           is
           Jeremies
           going
           to
           
             Euphrates
             to
             hide
          
           
           
             his
             Girdle
          
           ;
           (
           for
           it
           is
           not
           very
           likely
           the
           Prophet
           should
           be
           sent
           18
           or
           20
           days
           Journey
           into
           an
           Enemies
           Country
           for
           no
           other
           end
           :
           )
           So
           is
           
             Ezekiels
             lying
             on
             one
             side
             for
          
           390
           
           
             days
             ,
             and
             having
             his
             Head
             and
             Beard
          
           contrary
           to
           the
           Law
           ,
           as
           Maimonides
           observes
           :
           And
           his
           
           
           
             digging
             in
             the
             Walls
             of
             the
             Temple
             at
          
           Hierusalem
           ,
           while
           he
           was
           in
           
           Babylon
           :
           And
           many
           other
           things
           of
           a
           like
           nature
           ,
           which
           are
           set
           forth
           with
           as
           punctual
           a
           Narration
           of
           circumstances
           as
           this
           of
           Hosea
           ,
           and
           yet
           they
           were
           only
           figurative
           expressions
           .
           We
           that
           are
           accustomed
           to
           another
           way
           of
           Learning
           ,
           think
           these
           things
           strange
           ;
           but
           this
           was
           a
           very
           common
           way
           in
           the
           elder
           times
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           to
           this
           day
           much
           used
           in
           the
           
             Eastern
             Countries
          
           ,
           to
           represent
           Duties
           to
           some
           ,
           under
           the
           Parables
           of
           things
           as
           really
           done
           by
           others
           :
           As
           may
           be
           seen
           in
           Locman
           and
           Perzoes
           ,
           besides
           what
           
             Clemens
             Alexandrinus
          
           and
           others
           have
           said
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Antiquity
           and
           common
           use
           of
           this
           Parabolical
           way
           of
           Teaching
           .
        
         
           I
           now
           come
           to
           your
           Objections
           
           against
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           :
           but
           I
           find
           them
           so
           few
           ,
           and
           those
           so
           slight
           and
           inconsiderable
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           end
           for
           which
           you
           produce
           them
           ,
           that
           I
           may
           easily
           pass
           them
           over
           .
           To
           that
           
             about
             the
             continuance
             of
             Miracles
          
           ,
           I
           have
           already
           Answer'd
           :
           And
           I
           find
           not
           one
           word
           in
           the
           places
           mentioned
           by
           you
           ,
           which
           implies
           the
           necessity
           of
           the
           continuance
           of
           them
           in
           all
           Ages
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Church
          
           .
           That
           place
           ,
           Mark
           10.
           29
           ,
           30.
           speaks
           of
           no
           more
           but
           such
           a
           recompence
           in
           this
           life
           
             as
             is
             consistent
             with
             persecution
          
           ;
           and
           therefore
           must
           chiefly
           lie
           in
           inward
           contentment
           ;
           which
           all
           wise
           Men
           have
           valued
           above
           external
           accommodations
           ;
           although
           withall
           ,
           by
           the
           account
           St.
           Paul
           gives
           of
           himself
           ,
           and
           his
           Brethren
           ,
           
           God
           did
           abundantly
           provide
           for
           them
           one
           way
           or
           other
           .
           
             As
             having
             nothing
             ,
             and
             yet
             enjoying
          
           
           
             all
             things
          
           :
           Which
           amounts
           to
           a
           Hundred-fold
           in
           this
           life
           .
        
         
           But
           certainly
           you
           are
           the
           first
           Man
           ,
           Who
           have
           Objected
           
             the
             obscurity
             of
             the
             Book
             of
             Revelations
             ,
             againgst
             the
             Authority
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             :
          
           Which
           is
           just
           as
           if
           one
           should
           Object
           the
           quadrature
           of
           the
           Circle
           against
           
             Mathematical
             certainty
          
           .
           If
           we
           grant
           that
           there
           are
           some
           things
           in
           that
           
             Mystical
             Book
          
           ,
           we
           do
           not
           yet
           well
           understand
           ;
           what
           then
           !
           Must
           neither
           that
           Book
           ,
           nor
           any
           other
           of
           the
           Bible
           be
           of
           
             Divine
             Revelation
          
           ?
           I
           will
           not
           pursue
           the
           unreasonableness
           of
           this
           way
           of
           arguing
           so
           far
           as
           I
           might
           ;
           but
           I
           leave
           your self
           to
           consider
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           of
           
           all
           that
           I
           have
           Written
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           your
           satisfaction
           .
           If
           you
           think
           fit
           to
           return
           an
           Answer
           ,
           I
           pray
           do
           it
           clearly
           and
           shortly
           ,
           and
           with
           that
           freedom
           from
           Passion
           ,
           which
           becomes
           so
           weighty
           a
           Matter
           :
           And
           I
           beseech
           God
           to
           give
           you
           a
           right
           understanding
           in
           all
           things
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           
             Sir
             ,
          
           
             Your
             Faithful
             Servant
             .
          
           
             
               June
               11.
               1675.
               
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             Books
             sold
             by
          
           Moses
           Pitt
           ,
           
             at
             the
          
           Angel
           
             in
             St.
          
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           .
        
         
           
             Folio
             .
          
           
             
               THeses
               Theologicae
            
             variis
             Temporibus
             in
             Academia
             Sedanensi
             editae
             ,
             &
             ad
             disputandum
             propositae
             .
             Authore
             
               Ludovico
               le
               Blanc
            
             verbi
             Divini
             Ministro
             &
             Theologiae
             professore
             .
             In
             qua
             exponitur
             sententia
             Doctorum
             Ecelesiae
             Romanae
             ,
             &
             Protestantium
             .
             Price
             20
             s.
             
          
           
             Dr.
             Henry
             Hammond's
             Sermons
             .
             1675.
             
          
           
             A
             Table
             of
             Ten
             thousand
             Square
             Numbers
             ,
             by
             
               John
               Pell
            
             ,
             D.
             D.
             stitcht
             ,
             1
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             
               Tuba
               Stentoro-Phonica
            
             ,
             or
             the
             Speaking-Trumpet
             ;
             being
             an
             Instrument
             of
             excellent
             use
             both
             at
             Sea
             and
             Land
             ;
             by
             Sir
             
               Samuel
               Morland
            
             .
             Price
             of
             the
             Book
             1
             s.
             of
             the
             Instrument
             2
             l.
             5
             s.
             
          
           
             Articles
             and
             Rules
             for
             the
             Government
             of
             His
             Majesties
             Forces
             by
             Land
             ,
             during
             this
             present
             War
             ,
             1673.
             1
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             Bailii
             opus
             Hist.
             Chronol
             .
             vet
             .
             &
             Nov.
             Test.
             1663.
             
          
           
             Becmanni
             Exercitationes
             Theol.
             Contra
             Socinianos
             .
          
           
             An
             History
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             by
             
               Alex.
               Petrey
            
             .
             1662.
             
          
           
             
               Catalogus
               Librorum
            
             in
             Regionibus
             Transmarinis
             nuper
             Editorum
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             Quarto
             .
          
           
             Dr.
             
             Pell's
             Introduction
             to
             Algebra
             .
             7
             s.
             
          
           
             
               Nich.
               Mercatoris
            
             Logarithmo-Technia
             ,
             sive
             methodus
             construendi
             Logarithmos
             ,
             1668.
             
             &
             
               Jac.
               Gregorii
            
             Exercitationes
             Geometricae
             ,
             1668.
             2
             s.
             
          
           
             
               Love
               only
               for
               Love
               sake
            
             ,
             a
             Dramatick
             Romance
             ,
             by
             Sir
             
               Richard
               Fanshaw
            
             .
             3
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             Mori
             Enchiridion
             Metaphysicum
             ,
             1671.
             10
             s.
             
          
           
             Snellii
             Typhis
             Batavus
             ,
             Ludg.
             Bat.
             1624.
             5
             s.
             
          
           
             
               Petrus
               Paaw
            
             de
             Ossibus
             ,
             Amst.
             1633.
             5
             s.
             Dr.
             
               Thomas
               Jacomb
            
             ,
             on
             the
             Eighth
             Chapter
             of
             the
             Romans
             .
             8
             s.
             
          
           
             A
             Letter
             from
             a
             Gentleman
             of
             the
             Lord
             
             Howard's
             Retinue
             ,
             to
             his
             Friend
             in
             London
             ,
             dated
             at
             
               Fez
               ,
               Nov.
            
             1.
             1670.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             Dr.
             Wallis
             Opera
             Mechanica
             ,
             22
             s.
             
          
           
             Hieronymi
             Mercurialis
             de
             Arte
             Gymnastica
             Libri
             sex
             cum
             figuris
             ,
             1672.
             
          
           
             Pignorii
             Mensa
             Isaica
             ,
             1669.
             
          
           
             
               
                 
                   Pharmacopeia
                
                 
                   Hagiensis
                   ,
                   1659.
                   
                
              
               
                 
                    
                
                 
                   Augustana
                   ,
                   1672.
                   
                
              
            
          
           
             
               J.
               Crellii
               Ethica
               Aristotelica
               &
               Christiana
               ,
            
             16
             s.
             
          
           
             
               Joan.
               Binchii
               Mellificium
               Theologicum
            
             ,
             16
             s.
             
          
           
             
               Theod.
               Kerkringii
            
             D.
             M.
             
               Spicilegium
               Anatomicum
            
             ,
             Continens
             Observationum
             Anatomicarum
             rariorum
             centuriam
             unam
             nec
             non
             Osteogeniam
             foetuum
             in
             qua
             quid
             cuique
             ossiculo
             ●ingulis
             accedat
             Mensibus
             ,
             quidve
             decedat
             &
             ●n
             eo
             per
             varia
             immutetur
             tempora
             ,
             accuratissimè
             oculis
             subjiciuntur
             ,
             1670.
             
          
           
           
             There
             is
             newly
             published
             two
             Recantation-Sermons
             (
             Preached
             at
             the
             
             French-Church
             in
             the
             Savoy
             )
             by
             two
             Converted
             Romanists
             ,
             Mr.
             
               Dela
               Motte
            
             ,
             late
             Preacher
             of
             the
             Order
             of
             the
             Carmelites
             ;
             and
             Mr.
             
               De
               Luzanzy
            
             ,
             Licentiate
             in
             Divinity
             ;
             wherein
             the
             Corrupt
             Doctrines
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             Rome
             are
             laid
             open
             and
             confuted
             .
             Both
             Printed
             in
             French
             and
             English.
             
          
           
             Also
             two
             other
             Sermons
             ,
             one
             Preached
             before
             the
             King
             at
             
               White-Hall
               ,
               Jan.
            
             30.
             1676.
             by
             
               Henry
               Bagshaw
            
             ,
             D.
             D.
             the
             other
             before
             the
             Lord
             Mayor
             ,
             Dec.
             19.
             1675.
             by
             JohnCook
             .
          
           
             
               A
               Modest
               Survey
            
             of
             the
             most
             material
             things
             in
             a
             discourse
             ,
             called
             the
             
               Naked
               Truth
            
             ,
             6
             d.
             
          
        
         
           
             Octavo
             .
          
           
             A
             discourse
             of
             
               Local
               Motion
            
             ,
             undertaking
             to
             demonstrate
             the
             Laws
             of
             Motion
             ,
             and
             withall
             to
             prove
             ,
             that
             of
             the
             seven
             Rules
             delivered
             by
             Mr.
             
               Des
               Cartes
            
             on
             this
             Subject
             ,
             he
             hath
             mistaken
             Six
             :
             Englished
             out
             of
             French
             ,
             1671.
             1
             s.
             
          
           
             The
             History
             of
             the
             late
             Revolution
             of
             the
             Empire
             of
             the
             Great
             Mogol
             ,
             with
             a
             description
             of
             the
             Countrey
             ,
             in
             two
             Volumes
             .
             7
             s.
             
          
           
             The
             History
             of
             the
             Conquest
             of
             the
             Empire
             of
             China
             by
             the
             Tartars
             .
             1671.
             4
             s.
             
          
           
             
               Mystery
               of
               Iniquity
               unvailed
            
             in
             a
             discourse
             ,
             wherein
             is
             held
             forth
             the
             opposition
             of
             the
             Doctrine
             ,
             Worship
             ,
             and
             Practices
             of
             the
             Roman
             Church
             ,
             to
             the
             Nature
             ,
             Designs
             ,
             and
             Characters
             of
             the
             Christian
             Faith
             ,
             by
             
               Gilbert
               Burnet
            
             .
             1
             s.
             
          
           
             A
             Collection
             of
             
               Popish
               Miracles
            
             wrought
             by
             Popish
             Saints
             ,
             both
             during
             their
             lives
             ,
             and
             after
             their
             death
             ,
             collected
             out
             of
             their
             own
             Authors
             ,
             1
             s.
             
          
           
           
             
               Theod.
               Turqueti
               ,
               De
               Mayerne
               ,
               De
               Arthritide
               ,
               Accesserunt
               ejusdem
               Consilia
               aliquot
               Medicinalia
               ,
            
             1
             s.
             
          
           
             A
             new
             way
             of
             curing
             the
             Gout
             ,
             and
             Observations
             and
             Practices
             relating
             to
             Women
             in
             Travel
             ,
             3
             s.
             
          
           
             A
             Relation
             of
             a
             Conference
             held
             about
             Religion
             at
             
               London
               ,
               Apr.
            
             3.
             1676.
             by
             
               Edward
               Stilling
               fleet
            
             ,
             D.
             D.
             and
             
               Gilbert
               Burnet
            
             ,
             with
             some
             Gentlemen
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             Rome
             .
             2
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             
               Elenchi
               Motuum
               Nuperorum
               in
               Anglia
               pars
               tertia
               ,
               sive
               Motus
               Compositi
               .
               Ubi
            
             G.
             Monchii
             
               e
               Scotia
               progressus
               ,
               nec
               non
            
             Aug.
             Caroli
             Secundi
             in
             Angliam
             
               Reditus
               ;
               ejusdemque
               Regiae
               Majest
               .
               per
               Decennium
               gesta
               fideliter
               enarra●tur
               ,
            
             1676.
             
          
           
             
               Gualteri
               Needham
            
             Disputatio
             Anatomica
             de
             Formato
             Foetu
             .
             1667.
             3
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             
             Buxtorfius's
             Epitome
             of
             his
             Hebrew
             Grammar
             Englished
             ,
             by
             
               John
               Davis
            
             ,
             1658.
             1
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             The
             
               Fortunate
               Fool
            
             ,
             or
             the
             Life
             of
             Dr.
             Ce●nudo
             ,
             a
             Spanish
             Romance
             ,
             1670.
             2
             s.
             
          
           
             The
             Adventures
             of
             Mr.
             
               T.
               S.
            
             an
             English
             Merchant
             ,
             taken
             Prisoner
             by
             the
             Turks
             of
             Argiers
             ,
             with
             a
             description
             of
             that
             Kingdom
             ,
             and
             the
             Towns
             and
             Places
             thereabouts
             ,
             1670.
             1
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             Contemplations
             on
             Mortality
             ,
             1670.
             1
             s.
             
          
           
             A
             Discourse
             written
             to
             a
             Learned
             Frier
             ,
             by
             Mr.
             
               Des
               Fourneillis
            
             ,
             shewing
             that
             the
             Systeme
             of
             Mr.
             
               Des
               Cartes
            
             ,
             and
             particularly
             his
             Opinion
             concerning
             Brutes
             ,
             does
             contain
             nothing
             dangerous
             ;
             and
             that
             all
             he
             hath
             written
             of
             both
             ,
             seems
             to
             have
             been
             taken
             
             out
             of
             the
             First
             Chapter
             of
             Genesis
             :
             To
             which
             is
             annexed
             the
             
               Systeme
               General
            
             of
             the
             Cartesian
             Philosophy
             ,
             1
             s.
             
          
           
             The
             Relation
             of
             a
             Voyage
             into
             Mauritania
             in
             Africk
             ,
             by
             
               Roland
               Frejus
            
             of
             Marseilles
             ,
             by
             the
             French
             Kings
             order
             ,
             1666
             ,
             to
             
               Muley
               Arxid
            
             King
             of
             
               Taffaletta
               ,
               &c.
            
             with
             a
             Letter
             in
             Answer
             to
             divers
             Questions
             concerning
             their
             Religion
             ,
             Manners
             ,
             &c.
             
             1671.
             1
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             A
             Genuine
             Explication
             of
             the
             Visions
             in
             the
             Book
             of
             Revelation
             ,
             by
             
               A.
               B.
               Peganius
            
             .
             1671.
             2
             s.
             
          
           
             Prodronius
             to
             a
             Dissertation
             concerning
             Solids
             naturally
             contained
             within
             Solids
             ,
             laying
             a
             foundation
             for
             the
             rendring
             a
             rational
             account
             ,
             both
             of
             the
             Frame
             and
             the
             several
             Changes
             of
             the
             Mass
             of
             the
             Earth
             ,
             as
             also
             the
             various
             Productions
             of
             the
             same
             .
             By
             
               Nich.
               Steno
            
             ,
             1671.
             1
             s.
             3
             d.
             
          
           
             
               Basilius
               Valentinus
            
             ,
             of
             Natural
             and
             Super-natural
             things
             ,
             also
             of
             the
             first
             Tincture
             ,
             Root
             ,
             and
             Spirits
             of
             Metals
             and
             Minerals
             ,
             how
             the
             same
             are
             Conceived
             ,
             Generated
             ,
             Brought
             forth
             ,
             Changed
             and
             Augmented
             :
             Whereunto
             is
             added
             
               Frier
               Bacon
            
             of
             the
             Medicine
             or
             Tincture
             of
             Antimony
             ,
             Mr.
             
               John
               Isaack
               Holland
            
             his
             works
             of
             Saturn
             ,
             and
             
               Alexander
               Van
               Suchten
            
             ,
             of
             the
             Secrets
             of
             Antimony
             out
             of
             Dutch
             ,
             1671.
             2
             s.
             
          
           
             The
             Poetical
             Histories
             ,
             being
             a
             compleat
             Collection
             of
             all
             the
             Stories
             necessary
             for
             a
             perfect
             understanding
             of
             the
             Greek
             and
             Latin
             Poets
             ,
             and
             other
             Ancient
             Authors
             ,
             written
             
             Originally
             in
             French
             ,
             by
             the
             Learned
             Jesuite
             
               P.
               Galtruchius
            
             .
             Now
             Englished
             and
             Enriched
             with
             Observations
             concerning
             the
             Gods
             worshiped
             by
             our
             Ancestors
             in
             this
             Island
             ,
             by
             the
             Phoenecians
             and
             Syrians
             in
             Asia
             ;
             with
             many
             useful
             Notes
             and
             occasional
             Proverbs
             ,
             gathered
             out
             of
             the
             best
             Authors
             :
             Unto
             which
             are
             added
             two
             Treatises
             ;
             One
             of
             the
             Curiosities
             of
             Old
             Rome
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             difficult
             Names
             relating
             to
             the
             Affairs
             of
             that
             City
             ;
             The
             other
             containing
             the
             most
             remarkable
             ●ieroglyphicks
             of
             Egypt
             .
             The
             Third
             Edition
             ,
             with
             Additions
             .
             By
             
               Marius
               D'
               Assigny
            
             ,
             B.
             D.
             3
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             An
             Essay
             about
             the
             Origine
             and
             Virtues
             of
             Gems
             ,
             by
             the
             Honourable
             
               Robert
               Boyle
            
             .
             1
             s.
             6
             d.
             Idem
             Lat.
             twelves
             ,
             1
             s.
             
          
           
             Sir
             Samuel
             Morland's
             Arithmetick
             ,
             with
             several
             useful
             Tables
             ,
             and
             a
             Perpetual
             Almanack
             ,
             1673.
             3
             s.
             
          
           
             A
             Compleat
             Treatise
             of
             Chyrurgery
             ,
             containing
             Barbetts
             Chirurgery
             .
             Mindererus
             of
             Diseases
             Incident
             to
             Camps
             and
             Fleets
             :
             With
             a
             Chyrurgeons
             Chest
             of
             Medicines
             and
             
               Instruments
               .
               &c.
            
             6
             s.
             
          
           
             Dr.
             Lower
             de
             corde
             .
             Amster
             .
             1671.
             3
             s.
             
          
           
             Dr.
             Grews
             Anatomy
             of
             Vegetables
             ,
             1672.
             2
             s.
             
          
           
             Crowei
             Elenchi
             Script
             .
             in
             Scripturam
             .
             3
             s.
             6
             d.
             
          
           
             
               
                 Eugelenus
                 de
                 Scorbuto
              
               .
            
             
               
                 Fred.
                 Deckeri
              
               Exercitationes
               Medicae
               .
            
             
               Grotii
               via
               ad
               Pacem
               .
            
             
               
               
                 Alb.
                 Gentilis
              
               de
               Armis
               Romanis
               .
               
                 
                   De
                   Imperio
                   .
                
                 
                   De
                   Legationibus
                   .
                
                 
                   De
                   Nuptiis
                   .
                
              
            
             
               Hammond
               de
               Confirmatione
               .
            
             
               Hugenii
               momenta
               Desultoria
               .
            
             
               Paraei
               Chronologia
               Sacra
               .
            
             
               Thruston
               de
               Respiratione
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             Twelves
             .
          
           
             A
             
               Paradise
               of
               Delights
            
             ,
             or
             an
             Elixir
             of
             Comforts
             offered
             to
             Believers
             ,
             in
             two
             discourses
             ,
             the
             first
             on
             Heb.
             6.
             17
             ,
             18.
             the
             second
             on
             Rom.
             8.
             32.
             
             By
             
               Robert
               Wyne
            
             .
             1
             s.
             
          
           
             
               Grotii
               Sophompaneas
               .
            
             
               Gronovius
               in
               Livium
               .
            
             
               Primrose
               Ars
               Pharmaceutica
               .
            
             
               Schook
               de
               Pace
               .
            
             
               Suetonius
               .
            
             
               Swalve
               Alcali
               .
            
             
               Severini
               Synopsis
               Chyrurgiae
               .
            
             
               Terentii
               Flores
               .
            
             
               Trelcatii
               loci
               Communes
               .
            
          
           
             Balduinus
             de
             
               Calceo
               &
               Nigronius
            
             de
             
               Caliga
               Veterum
            
             .
             Accesserunt
             ex
             
               Q.
               Sept.
               Fl.
               Tertulliani
            
             ,
             Cl.
             
               Salmasii
               &
               Alb.
               Rubenii
            
             Scriptis
             plurima
             ejusdem
             Argumenti
             ,
             1667.
             
          
           
             
               Pauli
               Barbetti
            
             opera
             Chirurgica
             Anatomica
             ,
             1672.
             
          
           
             Praxis
             Barbettiana
             Cum
             notis
             
               Fred.
               Deckeri
            
             ,
          
           
             
               Ottonis
               Tachenii
            
             Hippocrates
             Chymicus
             ,
          
           
             
               Q.
               Horatii
            
             Poemata
             cum
             Commentariis
             Jo.
             Menellii
             ,
             1676.
             
          
           
             
               Hugo
               Grotius
            
             de
             veritate
             Religionis
             Christianae
             ,
             1674
             ?
          
           
           
             
               Theodori
               Kerckringii
            
             D.
             M.
             Commentarius
             in
             
               Currum
               Triumphalem
               Antimonii
               Basilii
               Valentini
            
             a
             se
             latinitate
             donatum
             ,
             1671.
             
          
           
             
               Jo.
               Pincieri
            
             M.
             D.
             AEnigmatum
             Libri
             Tres
             cum
             solutionibus
             ,
             1655.
             
          
           
             
               Francisci
               Redi
            
             Experimenta
             circa
             res
             diversas
             naturales
             ,
             speciatim
             illas
             quae
             ex
             Indiis
             adferuntur
             ,
             1675.
             
          
           
             
               
                 Aulus
                 Gellius
              
               .
            
             
               Besterfeldus
               Redivivus
               .
            
             
               Herls
               Wisdoms
               Tripos
               .
            
             
               Wilkins
               Beauty
               of
               Providence
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             Quarto
             .
          
           
             A
             New
             Dictionary
             ,
             French
             and
             English
             ,
             by
             
               Guy
               Miege
            
             .
             1677.
             
          
           
             Marshal
             
             Turenne's
             Funeral
             Sermon
             .
             1677.
             
          
           
             
               Jer.
               Horroccii
               .
               Angl.
               Opusc.
               Astron.
            
             1673.
             
          
           
             An
             Historical
             Vindication
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             in
             Point
             of
             Schism
             ,
             by
             Sir
             
               Ro.
               Twisden
            
             .
          
           
             The
             last
             Siege
             of
             
               Mastricht
               .
               Sept.
            
             5.
             1676.
             
          
           
             Dr.
             
             Tillotson's
             Sermon
             before
             the
             King
             ,
             Apr.
             18.
             1675.
             
          
           
             Dr.
             
             Wilkins's
             two
             Sermons
             before
             the
             King
             ,
             March
             7.
             1669.
             and
             Feb.
             7.
             1670.
             
          
           
             Dr.
             Jo.
             Tillotson's
             Rule
             of
             Faith.
             1676.
             
          
           
             
               Rhetores
               selecti
               :
               Demetrius
               Phalerius
               ,
               Tiberius
               Rhetor
               ,
               Anonymus
               Sophista
               ,
               Severus
               Alexandrinus
               Grecè
               et
               Lat.
               per
            
             Tho.
             Gale.
             
               Soc.
               Coll.
               M.
            
             1676.
             
          
           
             A
             Scriptural
             Catechism
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Method
             observed
             by
             the
             Author
             of
             the
             
               Whole
               Duty
               of
               Man
            
             ,
             1676.
             
          
           
             How
             ,
             of
             delighting
             in
             God
             ;
             of
             the
             blessedness
             of
             the
             Righteous
             .
             Two
             Vol.
             
          
           
             Art
             of
             Speaking
             ,
             by
             
               M.
               du
               Port-Royal
               ,
               1676
            
             :
          
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A61565-e220
           
             Tractat.
             Theol.
             politic
             .
          
        
         
           Notes for div A61565-e530
           
             Acts
             2.
             32.
             36.
             
          
           
             
               AElian
               .
               v.
               hist.
               l.
            
             2.
             c.
             7.
             
          
           
             
               Selden
               .
               vxor
               Ebra
            
             .
             l.
             1.
             c.
             10.
             
             
               Schick
               .
               De
               jure
               Reg.
            
             c.
             16.
             
             Theor.
             19.
             
          
           
             
               Maim
               .
               Moro
               Nevoch
               .
               l.
            
             2.
             c.
             46.
             
          
           
             Jer.
             13.
             4.
             5.
             
          
           
             Ezek.
             4.
             5.
             6.
             
          
           
             Ezek.
             5.
             1.
             
          
           
             Ezek.
             8.
             8.
             
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             6.
             10.