The truth of Christian religion in six books / written in Latine by Hugo Grotius ; and now translated into English, with the addition of a seventh book, by Symon Patrick ...

SECT. XIV. Answer to an Objection, taken from out∣ward Testimonies, which make more for these Books.

THERE remains another way of over∣throwing a Testimony, which is by producing contrary Testimonies out of other Authors.

But I dare boldly say, that there are no such testimonies to be found, unless a Man will produce the sayings of them that were born a long time after, and of such also as did so openly profess enmity against Christianity, that they could be no fit Witnesses in this matter.

Nay, on the contrary, if need were, we could alledge many testimonies to confirm di∣vers parts of the history which is delivered in the said Books. Thus both Hebrews and Pa∣gans report that Jesus was crucified, and that sundry miracles were done by him and his

Disciples. Those most famous Books of Jo∣sephus, which were set forth about Forty Years after Christ's Ascension, do make men∣tion of Herod, Pilat, Festus, Felix, John the Baptist, Gamaliel, and of the destruction of Hierusalem at large. Herewithal agree that which the Authors of the Talmud have re∣corded concerning those times. Tacitus re∣lates how cruelly Nero used the Christians. And anciently there were certain Books extant, not only of private Men, as of Phlegon, and others; but also some publick Acts, where∣unto the Christians appealed, for that in them there was mention made of the Star that ap∣peared at Christ's Nativity, and also of the Earthquake and Eclipse of the Sun (against the course of Nature, it being then full Moon) at the time of Christ's Passion upon the Cross.