For 1. They were persons of competent understanding, as their Writings show; and therefore not like Children that might be cheated with palpable deceits. 2. They were many (the twelve Apostles, and 70 Disciples, and all the rest, besides the many thousands of the common people that only wondered at him, but followed him not. One or two may be easilyer deceived than such multitudes. 3. The matters of fact were done near them, where they were present, and not far off. 4. They were done in the open light, and not in a corner, or in the dark. 5. They were done many times over, ⟨p. 305⟩and not once or twice only. 6. The nature of the things was such, as a juggling deluding of the senses could not serve for so common a deceit: As when the persons that were born blind, the lame, the Paralytic, &c. were seen to be perfectly healed; and so of the rest. 7. They were persons who followed Christ, and were still with him, (or very oft): and therefore if they had been once deceived, they could not be so always 8. And vigilant subtle enemies were about them, that would have helped them to have detected a deceit. 9 Yea, the twelve Apostles and 70 Disciples were employed themselves in working Miracles, healing the sick and Demoniacs, in Christs own life-time; and rejoiced in it: And they could not be deceived for divers years together in the things which they saw, and heard, and felt, and also in that which they did themselves: Besides that, all their own Miracles which they wrought after Christs ascension, prove that they were not deceived. 10 There is no way left then but one to deceive them; and that is, if God himself should alter and delude all their senses, which it is certain that he did not do: For then he had been the chief cause of all the delusion, and all the consequents of it in the World: He that hath given men sight, and hearing, and feeling, will not delude them all by unresistable alterations and deceits, and then forbid them to believe those lies, and propagate them to others. Man hath no other way of knowing things sensible but by sense. He that hath his senses sound, and the object proportionate and at a just distance, and the medium fit, and his understanding sound, may well trust his senses; especially when it is the case of many:1
For 1. They were persons of competent understanding, as their Writings shew; and therefore not like Children that might be cheated with palpable deceits. 2. They were many (the twelve Apostles, and 70 Disciples, and all the rest, besides the many thousands of the common people that only wondered at him, but followed him not. One or two may be easilyer deceived than such multitudes. 3. The matters of fact were done neer them, where they were present, and not far off. 4. They were done in the open light, and not in a corner, or in the dark. 5. They were done many times over, ⟨p. 305⟩and not once or twice only. 6. The nature of the things was such, as a juggling deluding of the senses could not serve for so common a deceit: As when the persons that were born blinde, the lame, the Paralitick, &c. were seen to be perfectly healed; and so of the rest. 7. They were persons who followed Christ, and were still with him, (or very oft): and therefore if they had been once deceived, they could not be so alwayes 8. And vigilant subtile enemies were about them, that would have helped them to have detected a deceit. 9 Yea, the twelve Apostles and 70 Disciples were employed themselves in working Miracles, healing the sick and Demoniacks, in Christs own life-time; and rejoyced in it: And they could not be deceived for divers years together in the things which they saw, and heard, and felt, and also in that which they did themselves: Besides that, all their own Miracles which they wrought after Christs ascension, prove that they were not deceived. 10 There is no way left then but one to deceive them; and that is, if God himself should alter and delude all their senses, which it is certain that he did not doe: For then he had been the chief cause of all the delusion, and all the consequents of it in the World: He that hath given men sight, and hearing, and feeling, will not delude them all by unresistable alterations and deceits, and then forbid them to believe those lies, and propagate them to others. Man hath no other way of knowing things sensible but by sense. He that hath his senses sound, and the object proportionate and at a just distance, and the medium fit, and his understanding sound, may well trust his senses; especially when it is the case of many:1
- 1Unum boni Viri verbum, unus nutus, sexcentis argumentis ac verborum continuationibus parem fidem meretur. Plutar. in Phocion.
