A conference with a theist part I / by William Nicholls.

THE CONTENTS. of the Third Part. OF THE CONFERENCE.

Of the Predictions concerning Christ.

• THE Objections answered, of Prophecies not to the pur∣pose. p. 10.
• ...

• Texts quoted by way of accommodation. p. 10.
• Texts quoted in Mystical Sense. 14.
• Types and Allegories vindicated. 20.
• Gen. 3.15. A Prophecy of Christ. 27.
• Scepter of Judah. Gen. 44.10. Prophecy of Christ. 36.
• How the Fathers interpreted this Prophecy. 45.
• Balaams Star, Numb. 24.17. a Prophecy of Christ. 49.
• A Virgin shall conceive, Isa. 7.14. Prophecy of Christ. 53.
• The Jewish way of Exposit. a confirmation of Christianity. 63.
• The Prophetick Excursions Explained. 69.
• 2 Psalm, a Prophecy of Christ. 71.
• 62 Psalm, a Prophecy of Christ. 76.
• Prophecy of the Call of the Gentiles, verified in Christ. 83.
• Call of the Gentiles, no random Guess of the Prophets. 89.
• Glory of the Second Temple, Hag. 2.7. a Prophecy of Christ. 90.
• 52 & 53 cap. Isa. Prophecy of Christ. 96.
• The Monarchies and Weeks in Daniel, Prophecy of Christ. 100.
• Micha 5.2. Prophecy of Christ. 115.
• Reason why Prophecies are something obscure. 119.

Of the Life and Actions of Christ, as they are Re∣corded in Scripture.

• The Birth of Christ Vindicated. 124.
• The Blasphemy of Celsus and Julian confuted. 127.
• Christ more glorious and great, than Romulus, Numa, &c 132.
• The Vindication of Christ's Anger, Christ a pattern of the greatest Patience. 136.
• Our Saviour's Discourse, agreeable to the Eastern way of Reasoning. 143.
• By making use of the Greek Philosophy and Eloquence, he would not have been understood by the People. 145.
• He avoided by this Prolixity. 146.
• Christ does not speak Parables in his Laws, nor generally, Parables difficult. 448.
• Christ's riding on an Ass, not ridiculous. 150.
• This a Token of his Humility, and the nature of his King∣dom. 150.
• To shew him to be a King, as well as a Prophet. 152.
• Jews Interpret this Prophecy of the Messias. 153.
• Christ no Impostor, but a good Man. 155.
• Because his Miracles were done so often, and before so ma∣ny. 157.
• ...

• His Miracles not capable of Collusion. 158.
• He was no Cheat, because he could get nothing by it. 159.
• Because of the great Penalty on Impostors 162.
• Such Numbers could not conceal a Cheat. 163.
• Christ's Miracles owned by his Enemies. 165.
• The Reason why Christ did so few Miracles in his own Coun∣try. 167.
• Christ Preached the Gospel to the Poor, not to deceive such people, but because they were better qualified to receive the Gospel than the Rich. 170.
• The Ignorant better qualified for this than the Learned. 170.
• This Choice made the Progress of the Gospel more miracu∣lous. 171.
• Why Christ required Faith in his Disciples. 173.
• Mean Men as good Judges of Miracles as others. 173.
• Vindication of Christ's Patience. He more couragious and patient than the Heathen Philosophers. 176.
• Reason of our Saviour's praying that the Cup might pass from him. 177.
• Christ's Death no Collusion. 181.
• Instances of Aristeas, &c. compared with Christ's Resurrecti∣on confuted. 182.
• Testimony of Christ's rising from the Dead unexception∣able. 185.
• The Disciples stealing away the Body a foolish Lie. 189.
• Christ's not so generally Conversing with his Disciples after the Resurrection, no Argument against the Truth of it. 193.
• The Comparison of Apollonius with Christ foolish. 199.
• Philostratus set on to forge his History. 202.
• Forged in immitation of Gospel Miracles. 203.
• Apollonius no good Man. 206.
• Apostles more credible than Philostratus, because unlearn∣ed. 207.
• Story of Abaris his Miracles, ridiculous. 208.
• The Apostles not Counterfeits. 209.
• Because good Men. 212.
• Because they knew the Matters they related. ib.
• Because not cunning enough, to carry on such a Cheat. 213.
• Because all witnessed the same. 214.
• Because they could get nothing by it. 215.
• Because the Truth of what they said, easily examined. 216.
• Because they Suffered and Died for their Doctrine. 217.
• ...

• Tis false, that the Apostles ventured nothing by preaching, for they ventured their Lives and Liberties. 221.
• They did not preach for Vain Applause. 222.
• Got nothing by the Collections. 223.
• Persecuted by the Gentiles, as well as Jews. 224.
• Preached against the Heathen Idolatry. 225.
• False Brethren, not Informers. 226.
• What St. Paul said to the Pharises, no prevarication. 226.
• Case of the Apostolick and Popish Miracles different. 228.
• The Doctrine of the Messias before the Captivity. 230.
• Not owing to the Jewish Gematria. 232.
• Notion of a Temporal Messias, did not further the Gos∣pel. 233.
• The Millennium no Apostolick Doctrine. 234.

Of the Doctrines Contained in the Old Testament.

• Prayer of Christians vindicated, because better than the Heathens. 238.
• No Sauciness to pray to God. 239.
• Prayer for Rain, not for a Miracle. 240.
• Christians think not to weary God by Prayer. 242.
• Nor to flatter him by Thanksgiving. 243.
• Mortification vindicated to be a a reasonable Duty. 246.
• Single Marriage vindicated. Polygamy not lawful from the practice of the Antients. 249.
• Or Barbarous. 250.
• More Comfort in Single Marriage. 251.
• Affections of the Married, do not naturally wear off by Age. 253.
• Nor by the speedy decay of Feminine Beauty. 254.
• Ob. against Polygamy, from the slavery of such Wives. 255.
• From the equal Number of Males and Females. 256.
• Humility and Meekness vind. against Spinosa and Match. 263.
• Forgiving Injuries Vindicated. 268.
• Doctrine of Repentance Vindicated. 276.
• And that of Grace. 282.
• Reasonableness of the Institution of the Sacraments. 287.
• Reasonableness of the general Resurrection. 296.
• Of the Doctrine of Wicked Spirits. 302.
• Of Hell, and the Eternity of Hell Torments. 307.
• Of Heaven. 315.