A26796:825
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, The nature of the Testimony makes it very credible.
1. It was of a matter of Fact. If it had been some high Speculation of universal Things abstracted from Matter, and above the cognizance of the Senses, there might be some pretence to object, That the ⟨p. 472⟩Disciples, unexercised in Sciences, were deceived by the Subtlety of there Master: But 'tis a singular Thing of which the Senses are the most faithful Informers, and competent Judges.
1. It was of a matter of Fact. If it had been some high Speculation of universal Things abstracted from Matter, and above the cognizance of the Senses, there might be some pretence to object, That the ⟨p. 472⟩Disciples, unexercised in Sciences, were deceived by the Subtlety of ther Master: But 'tis a singular Thing of which the Senses are the most faithful Informers, and competent Judges.
2. It was an ocular Testimony, which as it makes the strongest impression upon the Spectator, so upon the belief of others. Thus St. John, That which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked on declare we unto you. 1And that they were not deceived we have great certainty; For Jesus had conversed a long time with them before his Death, and their Respect and Love to Him, and after their Compassion had deeply engraved the lineaments of his Visage in their memories, and He presented himself not many years, but three days after his absence, so that it was impossible they should have forgot his Countenance. He appeared to them not once or twice, but many times, and not suddenly as a flash of Lightning that presently vanisheth, but conversed with them familiarly for forty days. And 'tis observable, the Apostles themselves were not easily wrought on to believe this Truth. When the Testimony of the Angels assured them that He was risen, yet they were suspended between Hopes and Fears. And at his first Appearance they were vehemently surprised; They saw Him die on the Cross three days before, and their Memories were still filled with the frightful images of his Sufferings, so that they were balanced between the present testimony of Sense,