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

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,² and the fresh remembrance of what they had seen. Therefore He justified the truth of his Resurrection to all their Senses. He discoursed with them, made them feel his Wounds, eat and drank with them,³ so that 'twas impossible they should be ⟨p. 473⟩deceived, unless willingly. Thus by the wise dispensation of God, their doubting hath confirmed our Faith.

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 convers'd 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 daies after his absence, so that it was impossible they should have forgot his Countenance. He appear'd to them not once or twice, but many times, and not suddenly as a flash of Lightning that presently vanisheth, but converst with them familiarly for forty daies. And 'tis observable, the Apostles themselves were not easily wrought on to believe this Truth. When the Testimony of the Angels assur'd them that He was risen, yet they were suspended between Hopes and Fears. And at his first Appearance they were vehemently surpriz'd; They saw Him die on the Cross three daies before, and their Memories were still fill'd with the frightful images of his Sufferings, so that they were ballanc'd between the present testimony of Sense,