there was nothing improbable in it, because our Lord had not only expressly foretold that he would rise the third day, but had rendered what he said highly credible, by the many exceeding great works that he wrought in his lifetime, by his giving sight to the blind, healing the paralytic, restoring withered limbs, and raising some to life that were actually dead. Since therefore he who had performed such wonders, he who had raised others from death, foretold his own resurrection, there was nothing incredible in the fact related.

Peter and John went to his sepulchre, and found his body missing. Mary Magdalen, who had been there before them, and by her report occasioned their going, returning again to the sepulchre with them, when they were departed, saw Jesus risen, and spake with him. He was afterwards, on the same day, seen by Simon Peter, and by two other disciples, who conversed with him in their way to Emmaus; and on the evening of the same day by the disciples assembled together in a body, who examined the wounds made in his hands and feet, and saw him eat part of a broiled fish and of a honeycomb. These relate the fact to Thomas, who nevertheless would not believe it, but said, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. This was rejecting such evidence as all men govern themselves by, and act upon, in other cases. thing related was indeed more than probable from the prediction of our Saviour, who had given such ample proof of his being a person sent from God, and was confirmed by the joint testimony of many

The

eyewitnesses, persons whose credibility he had not the least reason to suspect, and who could have no interest in deceiving him. This unbelief therefore was highly unreasonable, and what he is most justly blamed for.

Hence we may easily learn what is the faith commended by our Lord in the Gospel of St. John, and by the apostle in my text. It is a faith built upon such evidence as wise men assent to and act upon in the most important concernments of the present life: Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. "Thou wouldst not believe my "resurrection, unless thou didst see me with thine "own eyes, and handlest my wounds, although "thou hadst received plain and full evidence of the "truth thereof. Their faith is more to be esteemed "and praised, who, although they have not seen "me themselves, yet believe my resurrection from "the report of those many eye and earwitnesses "who have seen me and conversed with me." From comparing the words of my text with this part of our Lord's history, the plain meaning of the commendation given to the grace of faith in my text, as exercised by those Christians the apostle wrote to, from this circumstance, that they had believed in him whom they had not seen, appears to be, not in the least to discourage them from looking after all fitting and suitable evidence of the truth of those things which are proposed to their belief in the gospel; for this is made their duty; but to encourage them in yielding their assent to truths built upon such evidence as we generally govern ourselves by

in the most momentous affairs of the present life, and in acting agreeably thereto.

Were we to believe nothing but what we are eye or earwitnesses of, the business of the world would be soon at a stand. There could be little trade or commerce carried on in distant parts of the world; there could be no such thing as fixed courts of judicature; there could be no policy or government, nor would there be much comfort in life itself. In the affairs of this world we are forced to yield to probable arguments and the testimony of others, and upon this ground we proceed in the most important concernments. When a thing probable in itself is related by persons of credit, who we have no reason to suspect would deceive us, we not only yield our assent to it, but govern ourselves by it. Thus it is in all matters of commerce; thus it is in all courts of judicature, not only in civil, but in criminal cases, wherein the liberties and lives of men are concerned: and thus it is in the arduous affairs of policy and government, be they never so important. Now if in matters of religion we have the same evidence as we have in those which are the greatest and most important concernments of life, and notwithstanding will not yield to this evidence, but require more, is not this highly blameworthy On the other hand, is it not right, and fitting, and commendable, to yield to such proof, and act agree ably thereto? for,

3dly, To act upon such evidence shews our inclination and readiness to obey the will of God. To assent to the truth of those things which we see with our own eyes, and can no longer doubt of, as

Thomas did, is no ways praiseworthy. But to consider and examine the evidence of what is offered to us as a truth coming from God, and containing his mind; and when we find there is the same evidence for it as we are usually governed by in the greatest and most momentous affairs of the present life, then to give our assent to it, so as to govern ourselves by it, is truly commendable. This discovers a devout frame and temper of mind, a mind prepared to do the will of God in every thing it knows to be such; it shews a desire to understand, and a willingness to perform every thing which God shall require.

When persons receive things for the will of God without a suitable evidence of their being so, this discovers not so much a zeal and forwardness to do the will of God, as a laziness of temper, a most culpable indolence, a sloth highly blameworthy, which exposes them to receive the very worst things as coming from above, the dictates of Satan for the truths of God; makes them liable to be imposed upon by the cunning of designing knaves, or the madness of every enthusiast; and is a direct disobedience to the commands of God, which enjoin us to search the scriptures, to try the spirits, and judge of divine truths by their evidence.

On the other hand, when persons will not yield to such evidence as is convictive in all other the most important cases, and which they govern themselves by in the weightiest concernments of the present life, this discovers an obstinacy and perverseness of temper that is noways excusable: it shews also a great disinclination and averseness to perform the will of God. What reason can be assigned why they should withhold their assent in matters of reli

gion, when they have the same evidence of the truth thereof as they are forced to yield to, and are governed by, in all other the most important affairs, unless it be their aversion to perform what God requires? If God has been pleased to give us as strong proof that the things enjoined in the gospel are his will, as we are contented with, and act upon, in all the most momentous concerns of the present life; what can hinder us from embracing the gospel precepts as containing the mind of God, and conforming thereto in our lives, but a disinclination to their purity and holiness, and a fondness for the contrary vices? Men are loath to part with their endeared habits. To cut off a right hand, and pluck out a right eye, is matter of pains and difficulty. They cannot find in their hearts to root up their beloved lusts and long-indulged vices. Therefore they resist the very same evidence they yield to in all other cases, at least so far as not to be influenced and governed by it in their conversations.

Forasmuch then as the admitting things to be the mind of God without proper evidence is directly disobeying the command of God, and betrays a most culpable indolence and sloth; and again, the rejecting things as divine, when supported by the same evidence which is convictive to us in all other the most important cases, betrays an unreasonable stubbornness of temper, and an aversion to the things required of us; the middle way is unquestionably the safest, and the only commendable one; which is, to look into and examine the proofs of those things which are offered to us as containing the will of God, and always to yield to such arguments as we have nothing solid to object against; to give our