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

Paul, ¹he disclaimed it with abhorrency:² And presently after, those who would have adored him as a God, stoned him as a Malefactor; he chose rather to be their ⟨p. 471⟩Sacrifice than their Idol. Besides, how could they expect to be great or rich by declaring that One who came to such a Tragical End in the face of the world, was raised to Life, when the hands of the Jews were still bloody with the Wounds of their Master, and their hearts so enraged against all that honoured his Name, as to excommunicate them for execrable Persons. It had been as extravagant to have designed the acquiring of Reputation or Riches by their Preaching, as for one to throw himself into a flaming Furnace to be cooled and refreshed: And that Pleasure could not be their Aim is manifest: For they met with nothing but Poverty and Persecution, with Derision and Disgrace, with Hardships and all the effects of Fury, which they willingly endured rather than cease from Preaching, or deny what they had Preached. Their unheard of Resolution to forsake their Native Country, and travel to all the known parts of the Earth, to convey the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, is a strong Demonstration that they believed it to be true, and of infinite moment, most worthy of all the dangers to which they voluntarily exposed themselves. Never did Ambition or Avarice, the most active Passions, cause men to be more diligent, than they were to communicate the Knowledge of our Saviour to all Nations. Now what greater assurance can we possibly receive that they were sincere in their Report.

Paul, ¹he disclaim'd it with abhorrency:² And presently after, those who would have ador'd him as a God, stoned him as a Malefactor; he chose rather to be their ⟨p. 471⟩Sacrifice than their Idol. Besides, how could they expect to be great or rich by declaring that One who came to such a Tragical End in the face of the world, was rais'd to Life, when the hands of the Jews were still bloody with the Wounds of their Master, and their hearts so enraged against all that honoured his Name, as to excommunicate them for execrable Persons. It had been as extravagant to have designed the acquiring of Reputation or Riches by their Preaching, as for one to throw himself into a flaming Furnace to be cool'd and refresh'd: And that Pleasure could not be their Aim is manifest: For they met with nothing but Poverty and Persecution, with Derision and Disgrace, with Hardships and all the effects of Fury, which they willingly endured rather than cease from Preaching, or deny what they had Preach'd. Their unheard of Resolution to forsake their Native Countey, and travel to all the known parts of the Earth, to convey the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, is a strong Demonstration that they believed it to be true, and of infinite moment, most worthy of all the dangers to which they voluntarily exposed themselves. Never did Ambition or Avarice, the most active Passions, cause men to be more diligent, than they were to communicate the Knowledg of our Saviour to all Nations. Now what greater assurance can we possibly receive that they were sincere in their Report.