with it. This point therefore, of the . truth of our Saviour's hiftory, as recorded by the Evangelifts, is every where taken for granted in the writings of thofe, who from Pagan Philofophers became Christian Authors, and who, by reason of their converfion, are to be looked upon as of the strongest collateral teftimony for the truth of what is delivered concerning our Saviour.

VI. Besides innumerable Authors that are loft, we have the undoubted names, works, or fragments of feveral Pagan Philofophers, which fhew them to have been as learned as any unconverted hea then Authors of the age in which they lived. If we look into the greatest nurferies of learning in thofe ages of the world, we find in Athens, Dionyfius, Quadratus, Ariftides, Athenagoras; and in 4lexandria, Dionyfius, Clemens, Ammonius, and Anatolius, to whom we may add Origen; for though his father was a ChriAian martyr, he became, without all controverfy, the most learned and able Philofopher of his age, by hfs education: at Alexandria, in that famous feminary of arts and sciences.

SE C

SECTION V.

1. The learned Pagans had means and op portunities of informing themselves of the truth of our Saviour's hiftory;

II. From the proceedings,

III. The characters, fufferings,

IV. And miracles of the perfons who publifbed it.

V. How thefe firft Apoftles perpetuated their tradition,by ordaining persons to fucceed them.

VI. How their fucceffors in the three firft centuries preferved their tradition. VII. That five generations might derive this tradition from Chrift, to the end of the third century.

VIII. Four eminent Chriftians that deliwered it down fucceffively to the year of our Lord 254.

IX. The faith of the four above-mentioned perfons, the fame with that of the Churches of the Eaft, of the Weft, and of Egypt. X. Another perfon added to them, who brings us to the year 343, and that many other lifts might be added in as direct and fhort a fucceffion.

XI. Why

XI. Why the tradition of the three firft centuries, more authentick than that of any other age, proved from the converfation of the primitive Chriftians.

XII. From the manner of initiating men in-to their religion.

XIII. From the correspondence between the Churches.

XIV. From the long lives of feveral of Christ's Difciples, of which two inftances.

I. IT now therefore only remains to

confider, whether thefe learned men had means and opportunities of informing themselves of the truth of our Saviour's hiftory; for unless this point can be made out, their teftimonies will appear invalid, and their enquiries ineffectual.

II. As to this point, we muft confider, that many thoufands had seen the tranfactions of our Saviour in Judæa, and that many hundred thousands had received an account of them from the mouths of those who were actually eye-witnesses. I fhall only mention among these eyewitneffes the twelve Apoftles, to whom we must add St. Paul, who had a particular call to this high office, though ma

ny

ny other difciples and followers of Chrift had alfo their fhare in the publifhing this wonderful hiftory. We learn from the ancient records of Chriftianity, that many of the Apostles and Difciples made it the express business of their lives,, travelled into the remoteft parts of the: world, and in all places gathered multitudes about them, to acquaint them with the history and doctrines of their crucified Mafter. And indeed, were all Chriftian records of thefe proceedings.entirely loft, as many have been, the effect plainly evinces the truth of them; for how elfe during the Apoffles lives, could Christianity have fpread itself with fuch an amazing progrefs through the feveral nations of the Roman empire? how could it fly like lightning, and carry conviction with it, from one end of the earth to the other?

III. Heathens therefore of every age fex, and quality, born in the most diffe rent climates, and bred up under the most different inftitutions, when they faw men. of plain fenfe, without the help of learning, armed with patience and courage, inftead of wealth, pomp, or power, expreffing in their lives thofe excellent doc

trines of Morality, which they taught as delivered to them from our Saviour, averring that they had feen his miracles during his life, and converfed with him after his death; when, I fay, they faw no fufpicion of falfhood, treachery, or worldly intereft, in their behaviour and converfation, and that they fubmitted to the most ignominous and cruel deaths, rather than retract their teftimony, or even be filent in matters which they were to publifh by their Saviour's cfpecial command, there was no reason to doubt of the veracity of those facts which they related, or of the Divine Miffion in which they were employed.

IV. But even these motives to Faith in our Saviour would not have been fufficient to have brought about in so few years fuch an incredible number of converfions, had not the Apostles been able to exhibit ftill greater proofs of the truths which they taught. A few perfons of an odious and defpifed country could not have filled the world with Believers, had they not fhown undoubted credentials from the Divine perfon who fent them on fuch a meffage. Accordingly we are affured, that they were invef