The Power of Jefus to drive the Buyers and Sellers out accounted Why he was fo Zealous against the Profanation of the Temple, A Defence of the Literal Story of Jefus's fuffering the Devils to ibid. Gadara inhabited partly by Jews partly by Heathens. The Jews, tho' forbidden by Law to feed Swine, yet did probably feed them at Gadara for the use of the Heathens. Jefus did only not hinder the Devils from entering into the Swine. But if he had been Acceffary, yet the Jewish Owners And Jefus as a Prophet had Authority to punish them. Demoniacks and Mad-men were not the fame. Evil Spirits frequently poffefs'd Men in thofe days, as appears by ibid. This happen'd about three Days before the Paffover. Several forts of Fruits and Corn us'd to be Ripe in Judæa at the More particularly the First Crop of Figs was Then Ripe. p. 42 Thefe were the first-ripe Figs Spoken of in the Old Teftament. By the time of Figs is meant the time of Gathering them. p. 45 The time of Gathering them was not till the fecond Day after the Miracles may be Deftructive ones, and yet true Miracles. A Defence of the Literal Story of Jesus's turning the Water into No No Impropriety in Jefus's being prefent at this Marriage-Feaft. No appearance of any Intemperance at it. What is meant by, when Men have well drunk. Jewish Marriages celebrated with Feafting for feven Days. Great Numbers prefent at this Feaft. but at this Paffover. True State of the Question between Mr. W. and his Oppofers. A Defence of the Literal Story of Jefus's healing the Infirm man ра parted to the Pool. Reafons, why All, who were at the Pool, were not healed. ibid. A Conjecture, why the Pool had that Virtue Then, and not be- Reafons, why Jefus heal'd this One man only at the Pool. Neither this Story, nor what is faid in Mark vi. 4. a Proof of The Jewish Houfes were low, with a Door out to the Top, which was Flat and fit for walking, &c. There were Stairs to the Top of them, both on the Infide and Out- The Bearers of the Paralytick might get up to the Roof by the In The Impatience of the Man and his Bearers accounted for. No occafion for Ropes or Ladders to raise him to the Top. No neceffity, that any Tiles fhould have fallen, or Duft been raised. The Silence about the behaviour of the Owner of the Houfe on this Reafons, why Jefus let the Paralytick be brought down, and did The Reality of Jesus's Refurrection being proved, all his other THE MIRACLES of JESUS VINDICATED. PART the FIR S T. CONTAINING The Proofs of JESUS's Refurrection stated, and the Objections to it anfwer'd. HE Refurrection of Jefus being a Point of fo great Importance, that the whole Weight of Chriftianity refts upon it, it is very neceffary that the Truth of this Fact fhould be made out Clearly, and for that purpose the following Treatife is offer'd to the Reader, who, if he comes to it with Attention and without Prejudice, may (it is hoped) be convinc'd of the Reality of this great Miracle, and be fupply'd with a fufficient Anfwer to the feveral Objections lately rais'd against it. THE Objections have been formed from the Hiftory written by the four Evangelifts, and therefore fuppofe that they wrote the Accounts, which we now have under their Names; I have the fame right to make the fame fuppofal in Defence of Jesus's Refurrection, as is made in Oppofition to it; and therefore fhall forbear to prove what is allow'd in the Question; when That comes to be deny'd, it will receive a Satisfactory Answer; but till then it must be taken for granted, that the Books of the New Teftament were written by thofe whofe Names they bear, and are handed down to us the fame as they were written. HAVING premis'd this, I proceed to the Proof of the Fact in view, the Refurrection of Jefus; which is now made matter of Difpute (it feems) in a Chriftian Country; but fince it is, Satisfaction ought to be given to all Enquirers, whether they feek it B in in Sincerity or not. The Books, which make this Enquiry neceffary, are too well known to need to be particularly named. In them the Evangelifts and Apoftles are fometimes reprefented as Fools and Gredulous Men, fometimes as Cheats and Impoftors: I fhall therefore confider the Matter in both these Lights, not regarding upon whom One or Both of the two Characters may fall, if it fhould appear (as it will) that they don't in the leaft belong to the Apoftles: And for this purpose I muft follow the old Diftinction (till a better can be found) and fay, that, if the Account given us by the Apoftles be Falfe, it must have been, either because they were Deceived Themselves, or because they knowingly Deceived Mankind. I. THAT they could not be Deceived Themselves, in the Cafe before us, may be proved by the following Arguments. AFTER Jefus was rifen, and before he was afcended, he Thewed himself alive (to his Apoftles and feveral others) by many Infallible Proofs, being feen of them forty Days, and fpeaking of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Acts i. 3. MORE particularly, the facred Writers make mention of ten or twelve different Appearances of Jefus, and intimate that he was feen oftner. He convers'd with them, and gave Anfwers to their Queftions; he Eat and Drank with them, to fhew that his Body was a Real one. Luke xxiv. 43. And when they fufpected, that what they faw might be a Spirit, he bad them handle him and fee; for a Spirit (said he) hath not Flesh and Bones, as ye fee me have. Luke xxiv. 39. AND beyond all this, he fubmitted to fuch a close Examination as his Scrupulous Apoftle Thomas infifted upon; for he permitted him, in prefence of the reft of the Apoftles, to feel the Marks of the Wounds, which the Nails had caused in his Hands and Feet, and which the Spear had made in his Side. AND for a ftill farther Conviction, for a Proof which should pafs all Poffibility of deceiving, he told them (before he afcended up into Heaven), that they should be endued with Power from on high. Luke xxiv. 49. and be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days after. Acts i. 5. which, according to the Prediction, happen'd to them at the end of ten Days, when the Holy Ghost fell upon them, and they all spake with other Tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts ii. 4. IN the Certainty of this Event they could not poffibly be miftaken; they felt within them the wonderful Gift, the Power of fpeaking Languages till then Unknown to them. They had the fame Evidence of their really having This, as they had of their being Alive. And is there any thing in Nature, which a Man can be furer of? Even thofe, whofe Scepticism has carried them fo far, as to affert, that, we cannot be Certain of the Existence of any Objects without us, muft in this Cafe allow, that the Apoftles might be certain of what they felt by inward Perception, |