19. Consider also, that all the Adversaries of these Miracles and Relations, could not with all their Arguments or violence hinder thousands from believing them, in the very time and Country where they were done: but that they who did behold them, did generally assent, at least to the matter of Fact: So that we may say with Austin, Either they were Miracles, or not: If they were, why do you not believe? If they were not, behold the ⟨p. 204⟩greatest Miracle of all, that so many thousands (even of the beholders) should be so blind, as to believe things that never were, especially in those very times when it was the easiest matter in the world to have disproved such falsehoods. If there should go a Report now of a man at London, That should raise the Dead, cure the Blind, the Deaf, the Sick, the Possessed; feed thousands with five Loaves, &c. And that a multitude of his Followers should do the like, and that a great many times over and over, and that in the several parts of the Land, in the presence of Crowds, and thousands of people: I pray you judg, whether it were not the easiest matter in the world to disprove this if it were false? And whether if were possible that whole Countries and Cities should believe it? Nay, whether the easiness and certainty of disproving it, would not bring them all into extremest contempt? Two things will be here objected: First, That then the Adversaries not believing, will be as strong against it, as the Disciples believing is for it. Answer, Read what is said before of the Adversaries incompetency, and it may satisfy to this. *Secondly, And consider also that the generality of the Adversaries did believe the matter of Fact, which is all that we are now enquiring after. The recital here of those multitudes of Testimonies that might be produced from Antiquity, is a work that my strait time doth prohibit; but is done by others far more able. Only that well known passage in Josephus I will here set down. In the time of Tiberias there was one Jesus, a wife man (at least if he was to be called a man) who was a worker of great Miracles, and a teacher of such who love the truth, and had many, as well Jews as Gentiles who clave unto him. This was Christ. And when Pilate upon his being accused by the chief men of our Nation, had sentenced him to be crucified, yet did not they who had first loved him forsake him:
19. Consider also, that all the Adversaries of these Miracles and Relations, could not with all their Arguments or violence hinder thousands from believing them, in the very time and Countrey where they were done: but that they who did behold them, did generally assent, at least to the matter of Fact: So that we may say with Austin, Either they were Miracles, or not: If they were, why do you not believe? If they were not, behold the ⟨p. 204⟩greatest Miracle of all, that so many thousands (even of the beholders) should be so blinde, as to believe things that never were, especially in those very times when it was the easiest matter in the world to have disproved such falshoods. If there should go a Report now of a man at London, That should raise the Dead, cure the Blinde, the Deaf, the Sick, the Possessed; feed thousands with five Loaves, &c. And that a multitude of his Followers should do the like, and that a great many times over and over, and that in the several parts of the Land, in the presence of Crouds, and thousands of people: I pray you judg, whether it were not the easiest matter in the world to disprove this if it were false? And whether if were possible that whole Countries and Cities should believe it? Nay, whether the easiness and certainty of disproving it, would not bring them all into extreamest contempt? Two things will be here objected: First, That then the Adversaries not believing, will be as strong against it, as the Disciples believing is for it. Answer, Read what is said before of the Adversaries incompetency, and it may satisfie to this. *Secondly, And consider also that the generality of the Adversaries did believe the matter of Fact, which is all that we are now enquiring after. The recitall here of those multitudes of Testimonies that might be produced from Antiquity, is a work that my streight time doth prohibit; but is done by others far more able. Onely that well known passage in Josephus I will here set down. In the time of Tiberias there was one Jesus, a wife man (at least if he was to be called a man) who was a worker of great Miracles, and a teacher of such who love the truth, and had many, as well Jews as Gentiles who clave unto him. This was Christ. And when Pilate upon his being accused by the chief men of our Nation, had sentenced him to be crucified, yet did not they who had first loved him forsake him:
- *Julian when he scorneth Christ, doth acknowledge his Miracles. What (saith he) hath this Jesus done worthy of memory or of any account in all his life? Save that he cured a few blind and lame, and delivered some from Devils that possessed them, &c. The Star that appeared at Christs birth is mentioned by Pliny lib 2. cap. 25. So do divers others, as Origen reports, Cont. Celsum. Herods killing the children is mentioned in Augustus taunt I had rather (saith he) be Herods Swine then his Son, because he killed a son of his own among the rest. Macrob. Saturnal.Julian when he scorneth Christ, doth acknowledg his Miracles. What (saith he) hath this Jesus done worthy of memory or of any account in all his life? Save that he cured a few blinde and lame, and delivered some from Devils that possessed them, &c. The Star that appeared at Christs birth is mentioned by Pliny lib 2. cap. 25. So do divers others, as Origen reports, Cont. Celsum. Herods killing the children is mentioned in Augustus taunt I had rather (saith he) be Herods Swine then his Son, because he killed a son of his own among the rest. Macrob. Saturnal.
