A vindication of the truth of Christian religion against the objections of all modern opposers written in French by James Abbadie ... ; render'd into English by H.L.

CHAP. IV.

That the Disciples of Jesus Christ could not im∣pose upon men in the matter of their Writings, or Preaching.

SInce the principal design of an Impostor is to con∣ceal the cheat he intends to play, it is very easy to observe his Intention and Cunning in his choice of the Circumstances he relates.

For if he invents a matter of fact, he will certain∣ly pretend either that it happen'd long since; or 'twas in a remote Country; or that there were but few Spectators of it, who are since dead; or that ••t is a singular matter of fact which drew no Con∣••equence after it, and of which there can be no sen∣••ible Evidence given. In short, whatever a man in∣vents,

he still reserves to himself some means or other to bring himself off in case he were too far urged by some people who might interess themselves in the thing related.

But here we observe on the one hand, that men are more particularly concerned in the matters of fact which the Apostles relate, nay and all mankind. The Jews who are represented in them as most abo∣minable Parricides, could not look upon them with∣out some concern. The Christians whom the truth of these matters of fact engag'd to suffer Martyr∣dom, could not but examine them with attention. And the Heathens whose Religion those matters of fact would certainly subvert, if once acknowledged to be true, were very much concerned not to con∣sent to such a forgery. Lastly, the High-Priests were too jealous of their Authority, the Magistrates too much averse to all new Sects, and the People too much devoted to prejudice and superstition, ever to admit of these matters of fact without a strict examination.

We observe on the other hand, that those very men who published them, were so far from being sparing or cautious in their choice of the Circum∣stances they related, that they set down expresly so many that must needs have been well known; that either they must have been immediately convinced of their falshood, or we acquiesce in what they told us.

For I. if you ask, in what place did they testifie and affirm the truth of these matters of fact? We answer at Jerusalem, and in Judea, the very places where all these things occur'd. And lest you should any ways question it, we will prove further by the Testimony of all Antiquity, that the Apostles esta∣blish'd by their Preaching a Church at Jerusalem.

II. Would you know the time? 'Twas in the space of three years that the Miracles of Jesus Christ, his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension were brought to pass: and a few Weeks after the Ascension, the Apostles begun to Preach publickly in Jerusalem.

III. Would you know the witnesses of the truth of these matters of fact? We can produce a great number of persons who both lived and conversed with Jesus Christ himself.

IV. Would you fain know the nature of the matters of fact here attested? We shew you that they are very evident and singular ones; that the Sick are healed, the Winds and Seas hush'd, the Dead raised, a man put to death who convers'd with his Disciples, and ascended into Heaven, &c.

V. If you would know their number: we can shew that the whole Life of Jesus Christ was but one continual series of Miracles.

VI. Lastly, Would you know the proofs of all this? The Apostles themselves boast of having re∣ceived miraculous gifts, and that too by a good Title, as we shall shew in the sequel of this Work.

In the interim do but unite all these Circumstances together, and see what an irresistible evidence arises from their Union? How could the Apostles perswade so many persons concerned in this thing, so many that had both known and seen Jesus Christ? Would they not soon have lost all Credit, if search had been made into the places, and the truth of what they affirmed strictly examin'd? Or rather, how is it possible that whilst they ventur'd to publish such things in the very places where they must necessari∣ly have been brought to pass, the Jews should not have stopt the progress of the Gospel, by discover∣ing to the World so visible and evident an Impo∣sture? For the Apostles did not publish only one single matter of fact of this nature. They affirm'd

also that their Master had raised Lazarus from the Dead, together with the Son of the Widdow of Naim, and the Daughter of Jairus; that he had heal'd almost an infinite number of people possessed with the Devil, Deaf, Blind, and sick of the Palsy; and that his fame had spread throughout all Syria.

Nor were the Apostles content barely to preach all these things, they put them also down in writing, and their Writings are dispers'd throughout all the World. Therefore they hid not themselves, but were willing every one should know the certainty of what they testify'd, and examine as much as they pleased the matters of fact they related. They gave them out to the World, and exposed them to be search'd all manner of ways. But supposing I should grant those Books to be written forty, fifty, or sixty years after the Death of Jesus Christ, still is it evident that before that time there was a Church at Jerusalem founded by the preaching of the Apostles; and it is certain that the Apostles had declared by word of mouth the Miracles and Resurrection of Je∣sus Christ, which are the essential matters of fact contained in those Books.

For how could they otherwise perswade the World to worship a crucified man? or convince them that Jesus Christ was the true Messias? How was it possi∣ble the Christians should look upon that Book as Di∣vine, which went upon a supposition of what was never done? By what kind of agreement should four persons who wrote in different times and places, and copy'd not one anothers Writings (as is plain if we read them over with never so little attention, and consider their different manner of relating the same things) I say by what kind of agreement should they have conspired to inform us of the same mat∣ters of fact, if the Apostles had not first of all una∣nimously and universally publish'd them? How could

the Apostles have perswaded men to turn Christians, had they not declared the Miracles, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ; since Christianity can't subsist without these matters of fact? Thus we see 'tis to no purpose for Impostors to disguise them∣selves, for all their shifts and tricks serve only to discover them.