ries that may befal it; and we find ourselves in a condition of making fuch an augmentation as, by the bleffing of God, cannot but prove effectual. If we carry it on vigorously, we shall gain for ourfelves and our pofterity a long, a glorious, and a lafting-peace; but if we neglect fo fair an opportunity, we may be willing to employ all our hands, and all our treasures, when it will be too late; and shall be tormented with one of the most melancholy reflections of an afflicted heart, That it was once in our power to have made ourselves and our children happy. OF OF THE Chriftian Religion. SECTION I. 1. General divifion of the following difcourfe, with regard to Pagan and Jewish Authors, who mention particular's relating to our Saviour. II. Not probable that any fuch fhould be mentioned by Pagan writers who lived at the Jame time, from the nature of fuch tranfactions. III. Efpecially when related by the Jews.. IV. And heard at a distance by those who pretended to as great miracles of their own. V. Befides that, no Pagan writers of that age lived in Judæa or its Confines. VI. And because many books of that age are loft. VII. An inftance of one record proved to be authentic.. VIII. A fecond record of probable, though not undoubted, authority. I. THAT "T I.HATI may lay before you a full state of the fubject under our confideration, and methodize the feveral particulars that I touched upon in difcourfe with you; I fhall firft take notice of fuch Pagan Authors, as have given their teftimony to the hiftory of our Saviour; reduce these Authors under their refpective claffes, and fhew what authority their teftimonies carry with them. Secondly, 1 fhall take notice of Jewish, Authors in the fame light. II. There are many reafons, why you should fuch a wonderful nature fhould be taken notice of by those eminent Pagan writers, who were not expect that matho Poraries with Jefus Chrift, or by thofe who lived before his: Difciples had perfonally appeared among them, and afcertained the report whe miracles.. gone abroad concerning a life fo full of miracles.. Suppofing fuch things had happened at this day in Switzerland, or among the Grifons, who make a greater figure in Europe than Judæa did in the Roman Empire, would they be immediately believed by those who live at a great diftance from them? or would any certain account of them be tranfmitted into foreign countries,, as that of our Iwithin fo fhort a space of tign countries, Saviour's public miniftry? Such kinds of news, though never so true, feldom gain credit, till fome time after they are tranfacted and exposed to the examination of the curious, who by laying together circumstances, atteftations, and characters of those who are concerned in them, either receive or reject what at first none but eye-witneffes could abfolutely believe or disbelieve. In a cafe of this fort, it was natural for men |