The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

If any man should now among us, take on him to speak with divers Languages, or tell the Churches that divers Languages are spoke among them in their hearing, by unlearned men; and that Prophesyings, Interpretations, miraculous cures, &c. are wrought among them, and name the persons, time and place; and should tell them that they had all some sort or other of the same gifts themselves; were it possible for the people to believe all this, if it were a Lie? Would they not say, when did we ever hear your Languages? or when did we ever see your Cures and other Miracles? when did we see an Ananias and Sapphira die? When did we do any such works our selves? Do we not know what we do? Men could not believe such palpable untruths ⟨p. 329⟩in matter of public fact, so near them, among them, upon them, and much less could so many thousands believe this, in so many Nations, if it were false: Because the understanding is not free in it self; but per modum naturae is necessitated by cogent evidence. Absurd doctrines may easily deceive many thousands; and so may false History do by men at a sufficient distance: But he that thinks the ears and eyes and other senses of so many thousand sound persons, were all deceived thus in presence, will sure never trust his own ears or eyes or sense in any thing; nor expect that any man else should ever believe him, who so little believeth his own sense and understanding.

If any man should now among us, take on him to speak with divers Languages, or tell the Churches that divers Languages are spoke among them in their hearing, by unlearned men; and that Prophesyings, Interpretations, miraculous cures, &c. are wrought among them, and name the persons, time and place; and should tell them that they had all some sort or other of the same gifts themselves; were it possible for the people to believe all this, if it were a Lie? Would they not say, when did we ever hear your Languages? or when did we ever see your Cures and other Miracles? when did we see an Ananias and Saphira die? When did we do any such works our selves? Do we not know what we doe? Men could not believe such palpable untruths ⟨p. 329⟩in matter of publick fact, so neer them, among them, upon them, and much less could so many thousands believe this, in so many Nations, if it were false: Because the understanding is not free in it self; but per modum naturae is necessitated by cogent evidence. Absurd doctrines may easily deceive many thousands; and so may false History do by men at a sufficient distance: But he that thinks the ears and eyes and other senses of so many thousand sound persons, were all deceived thus in presence, will sure never trust his own ears or eyes or sense in any thing; nor expect that any man eise should ever believe him, who so little believeth his own sense and understanding.