A26796:828
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.
Thirdly, The Uniformity of the testimony makes it valuable upon a double account. First, As it secures us, there was no corruption in the Witnesses. Secondly, That it was no Illusion.
1. That there was no Corruption in the Witnesses. The most prudent way to discover the falsity of a testimony, is to interrogate the Witnesses severally, to see if there be any contradiction between them. But if they concur not only as to the Substance, but Circumstances, their Deposition is very credible. Now the Apostles exactly agreed in their testimony, as appears by the several Gospels, in which, although wrote in divers times and places, yet there is an admirable Harmony not only as to the Fact it self, but the least particularities.
2. The Agreement of so many proves it was no Illusion. If He had only appeared to some persons separately, carnal Reason, which is ingenious to deceive itself, might object that it was only the effect of a distempered fancy, and no real object of Sense. But after He had shown Himself to some of the Disciples apart, and that holy Company was met together, uniting the several sparks, to encourage their hopes of his Resurrection, He came to them altogether; and for many days conversed with them. Now who can believe that so many should be obstructed with Melancholy for so long time, so as constantly to remain under the power of a Delusion? Besides, He afterwards appeared to five hundred at once: Now how could such a number of ⟨p. 474⟩different Ages, Sexes, Temperaments be at the same time struck with the same Imagination?
2. The Agreement of so many proves it was no Illusion. If He had only appear'd to some persons separately, carnal Reason, which is ingenious to deceive itself, might object that it was only the effect of a distemper'd fancy, and no real object of Sence. But after He had shewn Himself to some of the Disciples apart, and that holy Company was met together, uniting the several sparks, to encourage their hopes of his Resurrection, He came to them altogether; and for many daies conversed with them. Now who can believe that so many should be obstructed with Melancholy for so long time, so as constantly to remain under the power of a Delusion? Besides, He afterwards appear'd to five hundred at once: Now how could such a number of