fwer to the Pharifees and Herodians the very fame Thing with our Lord's Confeffion before Pilate, That he was indeed King of the Jews, but his Kingdom was not of this World.

I will refer the Reader but to one Paffage more on this Head. In Matt. xxi. our Lord, in a Parable, fhews the Rulers of the Jews, that the Kingdom they expected, would, for their wicked and obftinate Behaviour, be taken from them: an hard Leffon for them to learn, who expected to conquer the World, when once their Kingdom was come! It is faid exprefsly, 45. that the chief Priests and Pharifees perceived that he spake of them, and fought to lay Hands on him.

The Author of the Tryal had faid that Jefus fell into Difgrace with his Countrymen, and fuffered for oppofing their Notions of a victorious Meffias. To which the Confiderer fays, I believe it cannot be proved that Jefus fuffered for this Caufer. Very concife! but what Conceit must he have of his own Opinion, if he thinks it ought to pafs without Proof for a fufficient Anfwer to fuch Evidence?

The next Queftion ftarted by the Confiderer is, "Whether Chrift foretold his own Death "and Refurrection; and he is willing to think he did not; but for no other Reason that

First Edit. p. 13. Third Edit. p. 7. p. 20. Third Edit. p. 14.

9 First Edit.

I can find, but because the Author of the Tryal afferts that he did. The Confiderer had obferved before, that the Conqueft the Tryal feems to have over Mr. Woolfton, was occafioned by his granting too much; and he is determined to avoid this Fault, and to grant nothing. I am not fure, fays he, that Jefus did foretell his own Death and Refurrection, only that the Evangelifts fay he did; nor that be referred to the Authority of ancient Prophecies, to prove that the Meffias was to die and rife again, only that I read fob. What does all this amount to? Has he not manifeftly given up this Point to the Author of the Tryal? for what did that Author undertake more than to fhew from

the Evangelists, that Chrift foretold his Death and Refurrection? and the Confiderer admits that the Evangelifts indeed tell him fo. One would think now the Difpute over. No: the Confiderer will not take their Word. Well then; what Proof has he to the contrary? None; he pretends to none; but is determined not to believe them. I admire at his Modefty in calling his Book an Answer to the Tryal only; he might with as good Reafon have called it, an Answer to all that ever was, or ever will be published in Defence of Chriftianity; for all depends on the Credit of the Gospel History.

But he fays, the Evangelifts report Prophe

cies which were never delivered; and this he proves from the Conceffion of the Author of But this Piece of Management

the Tryal.

(hardly to be called by fo foft a Name as a Mistake) has been taken notice of before, to which I refer the Reader .

Let us then examine this Queftion, Whether Chrift foretold his Death and Refurrection?

1. The Confiderer maintains that the chief Priefts and Rulers of the Jews never heard of any Prediction of the Death and Refurrection of Christ, and hence infers, that they had no Pretence for guarding the Sepulchre, and confequently that the Account given by St. Matthew of guarding and fealing the Sepulchre is all Forgery.

2. He admits that Chrift five times foretold his Death and Refurrection to his Difciples, and that in fo plain a Manner, that it was impoffible for them not to understand him clearly. But it appearing in the Hiftory of the Gospel, that they did not understand him, he infers there were no fuch Predictions, but that they are mere Forgery d.

As he allows the five Predictions to the Difciples to be clear and exprefs, there is nothing wanting under this Head, but to account for what is faid in the Gospel, that the Disci

с

• Page 6, &c. Edit. p. 24. 31: P. 24.

First Edit. P. 32. 40. Third e First Edit. p. 32. Third Edit.

ples

ples did not understand what was faid to them,

which will be confidered in due Time.

As to the Jews, whether they had any reason to apprehend that Chrift might probably prove a true Prophet, and rife from the dead, must appear not only from the Predictions faid to be given them, but from what they could not avoid knowing, the many Miracles done in his Life Time; for it is the Character of the Perfon in this Cafe, that gives Weight to the Prediction.

the Tryal put it on this Foot.

The Author of "It must ne

ceffarily be that they had difcovered fomething in the Life and Actions of Christ, "which raised this Jealoufy, and made them "listen to a Prophecy in this Cafe, which in 66 any other they would have defpifed. - For "had the Jews been perfuaded that he per"formed no Wonders in his Life, they would not have been afraid of feeing any done by him after his Death f."

66

The Confiderer, in Anfwer to this Reafoning, reforts in the first place to his ufual Charge, that the Account given of the Apprehenfion the Jews were under, and their Concern to guard the Sepulchre, is all Forgery. But out of this forged Account he has taken two Words, which pafs with him for authentic Hiftory. The Jews fay unto Pilate, Sir, we remember that Deceiver faid, while he was yet

alive, After three Days I will rife again. Now the Confiderer fays, the Jews never applied to Pilate; but the whole Relation, every Word of it is a Cheat excepting only the

Words that Deceiver; and from thence he argues thus. The chief Priests and Pharifees believed fejus to be a Deceiver, if we take their Opinion from their own Words, viz. We remember that Deceiver faid 8. From this lame, crippled, and at beft mifreprefented Piece of Hiftory, the Confiderer draws a Confequence which is to ftand against the united Authority of all the Gospels, viz. that the Jews were perfuaded he performed no Wonders in his Life".

What now is to be done? muft I tranfcribe great Part of the Gofpels to confute so shamelefs an Affertion? I would hope that no Chriftian is fo unacquainted with the Hiftory of Christ, as to want any Affiftance in this Cafe. But however, to give Satisfaction to all, who are willing to receive it, I will produce fome few Paffages, in which the Scribes, Pharifees, and chief Priests themselves, were either Eyewitneffes of the Miracles, or appear fully acquainted with them.

Upon our Lord's firft Appearance, and healing all manner of Difeafes among the People, bis Fame went through all Syria-and there fol

First Edit. p. 37. and to the fame Purpose, Third Edit. p. 29.

First Edit. p. 38. Third Edit. p. 29.

I

lowed