The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

2. They had not the advantage of Art and Eloquence to commend their Religion. There is a kind of charm in Rhetoric that makes things appear otherwise than they are: the best cause it ruins, the worst it confirms. Truth, though in its self invincible, yet by it seems to be overcome; and Error obtains a false triumph. We have a visible proof of this in the Writings of Celsus, Symmachus, Caecilius ⟨p. 446⟩and others for Paganism against Christianity. What a vast difference is there between the lies and filthiness of the one, and the Truth and Sanctity of the other? Yet with what admirable address did they manage that Infamous Subject? Although it seemed incapable of any defence, yet they gave such colours to it, by the beauty of their expressions, and their apparent reasons, that it seemed plausible; and Christianity notwithstanding its brightness and purity was made odious to the people. But the Apostles were most of them wholly unlearned. St. Paul himself acknowledges that he was weak in presence, and his Speech was not with the enticing words of Mans Wisdom. ¹A crucified Christ was all their Rhetoric. Now these impotent despicable Persons, were employed to subdue the World to the Cross of Christ; and in that season, when the Roman Empire was at its height, when the most rigorous Severities were used against all Innovations, when Philosophy and Eloquence were in their flower and Vigour, so that Truth unless adorned with the dress and artifice of falsehood was despised, and a Message from God himself, unless eloquently conveyed, had no force to persuade. Therefore the Apostles debased themselves in the sense of their own weakness, We have this treasure in earthen vessels, ²That the excellency of the power may be of God, & not of us. 'Twas from distrust of themselves, their true confidence in God proceeded. They were only so far powerful as he enabled them: like instruments in which there is not Virtue sufficient for the carving of a Statute, if they do not receive it imprest from the Artificer that uses them. Briefly, as God the Author of Wonders uses that which is weak in Nature, to conquer the most rebellious parts of it: ⟨p. 447⟩He makes the weak sand a more powerful bridle to the impetuous Element of Waters, than the strongest banks raised by the industry of Men, and composed of the most solid materials: