there
was no worldly inducement leading them thereto, but rather all things
persuading to the contrary. Their very adversaries could never object any
thing against them, but want of learning, and simplicity which are
furthest from the suspicion of deceitfulness. Now how were it possible,
think you, that so many thousands every where, should have received this
new doctrine, so unsuitable to human reason, from their mouths, if they
had not persuaded them that themselves were eye witnesses of all these
miracles that he did, to confirm his doctrine, and that this testimony had
been above all imaginable exception? Yea, so evident was it in matter of
fact, that both enemies themselves confessed, the Jews and Gentiles that
persecuted that way, were constrained, through the evidence of the truth,
to acknowledge, that such mighty works showed forth themselves in him,
though they out of malice imputed it to ridiculous and blasphemous causes.
And besides, the apostle used to provoke(231) to the very testimony of
five hundred, who had seen Jesus rise from death, which is not the custom
of liars, neither is it possible for so many, as it were, of purpose, to
conspire to such an untruth, as had so many miseries and calamities
following on the profession of it, 1 Cor. xv. 6.

But what say they? That which we have heard of, not only from the
prophets, who have witnessed of him from the beginning, and do all
conspire together to give a testimony that he is the Saviour of the world,
but from John, who was his messenger, immediately sent before his face,
and whom all men, even Christ's enemies, acknowledged to be a prophet, and
therefore his visible pointing out the Lamb of God, his declaring how near
he was, and preferring of him infinitely before himself, who had so much
authority himself, (and so likely to have spoken the truth, being misled
with no ambition or affectation of honour,) his instituting a new
ordinance, plainly pointing out the Messiah at the doors, and publishing
constantly that voice, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand,"--these we, and
all the people have heard,--and heard, not with indignation, but with
reverence and respect. But above all, we heard himself, the true prophet
and sweet preacher of Israel, since the first day he began to open his
mouth in the ministry of the gospel, we have with attentive ears, and
earnest hearts, received all from his mouth, and laid up these golden
sayings in our hearts. He did not cons