Vindication of the Truth of the Christian Religion, Religious treatise · Section 3 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Wherein we ſhall further produce out of the other Goſpels, ſeveral Places very proper to make us truly ſenſible of the Divinity of the Chriſtian Religion.
St. MARK.
CHapt. I. 14.
Now after that John was put in Priſon, Jeſus came into Galilee, preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdom of God, &c. All theſe Expreſſions the Goſpel, or good Tidings, the Goſpel of the Kingdom of God, &c. are very ſtrange and extraordinary. And becauſe our Ears are ſomewhat uſed to them, we do not reflect on them ſo much as we ought. Certainly it muſt be a ſtrange kind of mutual agreement that ſeveral Fiſhermen made together, to go preaching about the World, and call the Subject of their preaching by the name of Goſpel.
Chap. IV. 19.
And the Cares of this World, and the deceitfulneſs of riches, and the luſts of other things entring in, choke the word, &c. Tis not uſual for other Men thus to declare open War againſt their Paſſions; or if they do, they fail not preſently to diſcover themſelves, and lay open their own Hypocriſy to the World.
Verſ. 41.
And they ſaid one to another, what manner of Man is this, that even the Winds and Sea obey him, &c. We too may as well ſay, what manner of Man is this, that not only the Sea, and Winds, but Diſeaſes, Graves, Death, Hell, Earth, Men, and Devils, all obey him? For it is obſervable, there was nothing within the bounds of Nature but what was ſenſible of his Miracles.
Chap. VI. 2, 3.
From whence has this Man theſe things? And what wiſdom is this which is given unto him, that even ſuch mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the Carpenter, the ſon of Mary, &c. Whence rather proceeds this aſtoniſhment of theirs, and what is the reaſon of this ſort of reproach, had not Chriſt wrought ſeveral Miracles amongſt them?
Verſ. 4, 5, 6.
But Jeſus ſaid, unto them, a prophet is not without honour but in his own Country, &c. And he could not do many mighty works there, ſave that he laid his hand upon a few ſick folk, and he healed them. And he marvelled becauſe of their unbelief. Every thing in this paſſage carries with it an Air of Truth without the leaſt ſemblance of Falſity. For he that would invent a ſtory, and deſire other Men ſhould believe it, would never make choice of ſuch Circumſtances as theſe.
Verſ. 56.
And whitherſoever he entred, into villages, or Cities, or Countries, they laid the Sick in the Streets, and beſought that they might touch, if it were but the border of his Garment, and as many as touched him were made whole. It is impoſſible for any Man to impoſe upon other People in ſuch matters of fact as theſe.
Chap. VIII. 27, 28.
And by the way he asked his Diſciples, ſaying unto them, Whom do Men ſay that I am? And they anſwered, ſome ſay John the Baptiſt; but ſome ſay Elias; and others one of the Prophets. Here we may obſerve what a great Impreſſion Chriſt's Miracles had already made upon other Mens minds.
Chap. XIV. 33.
And He began to be ſore amazed, and to be very heavy. To own that Jeſus Christ was reduced to this State, nay him whom they would have Men look upon as the Son of God, is the effect of a ſtrange and ſurprizing ſincerity.
Verſ. 62.
And Jeſus ſaid, I am: And ye ſhall ſee the Son of Man ſitting on the right hand of Power, and coming in the Clouds of Heaven. Did ever any Criminal brought before a Tribunal of Juſtice ſpeak thus?
Chap. XVI. 17, 18, 20.
And theſe ſigns ſhall follow them that believe; in my name they ſhall caſt out Devils, they ſhall ſpeak with ſtrange Tongues; they ſhall take up Serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it ſhall not hurt them; they ſhall lay hands on the Sick, and they ſhall recover, &c. And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with Signs, &c. Either all theſe matters of fact muſt have been neceſſarily true, or St. Mark muſt have been ſtrangely beſides himſelf, when he related them. Let us conſider. What is it that he relates? Or whom did he deſign to impoſe upon? nay what time did he chooſe to effect it? How could he poſſibly perſwade the Diſciples that they had done ſuch Miracles, as they were never able to do? And how ſhould they perſwade themſelves, that Chriſt had given them that power to do Miracles, which they never received?
St. LUKE. Chap. I. 64.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his Tongue looſed, and he ſpake, and praiſed God: And fear came on all that dwelt round about them, and all theſe ſayings were noiſed abroad throughout all the Hill Country of Judea. No man is ſo mad, as to pretend to impoſe upon Men's belief in matters of fact ſo publick as theſe; he would rather make choice of paſſages ſcarce heard of, or at leaſt but obſcurely known.
Chap. II. 16.
And found Mary and Joſeph, and the Babe lying in a Manger. Great was the exactneſs of theſe Writers in giving us a ſimple Relation of things as they really were. What can ſeem more contrary and irreconcilable one with another than all theſe Circumſtances? A Child ſleeping in a Manger, but a Child whoſe Nativity was declared, even by Angels, and celebrated by all the Hoſt of Heaven; a Child that was baniſhed the Society of Men, but elevated in dignity even above the bleſſed Spirits; a Child that was inconſiderable and of no eſteem on Earth, but great in Heaven, and adored by Angels; that was indeed a while after his Birth worſhipped by ſome Wiſe-men, that brought him Preſents, but ſoon …orced to fly into Egypt for the ſafety of his Life. Certainly there appears nothing like a Fiction in all theſe Circumſtances.
Chap. V. 19.
And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, becauſe of the multitude, they went upon the Houſe-top and let him down through the tiling with his Couch into the midst before Jeſus. Do ſuch things as theſe enter eaſily of themſelves into a Man's mind, who writes nothing but of his own invention.?
Chap. VII. 38.
And ſhe ſtood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to waſh his feet with Tears, and did wipe them with the Hairs of her Head, and kiſſed his feet, and anointed them with the Ointment; 'Twas eaſie to know the Redeemer of the World by that ſaving alteration he was ſeen to make in thoſe that followed him.
Chap. IX. 45.
But they underſtood not this ſaying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not. Great indeed was the Evangeliſts ſincerity; who ſtuck not to own the ignorance and ſtupidity of the Diſciples!
Chap. X. 19. 20.
Behold I give unto you Power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions, and over all the Power of the Enemy, and nothing ſhall by any means hurt you. Notwithſtanding in this rejoyce not, that the Spirits are ſubject unto you: but rather rejoyce becauſe your Names are written in Heaven. A certain Character of true Religion indeed, which ſets a greater value upon Spiritual benefits than any miraculous Gifts, altho the latter are more tranſcendent in the Eyes of Men than the former!
Verſ. 41, 42.
And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful. And Mary has choſen that good part, which ſhall not be taken away from her. Did ever a deceiver, or a Man whoſe mind was ſet upon this World, expreſs himſelf after this manner?
Chap. XI. 27, 28.
And it came to paſs, a certain Woman of the company lift up her voice, and ſaid unto him, bleſſed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou haſt ſucked: But he ſaid, yea rather bleſſed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it. It was impoſſible for any one to flatter Chriſt. For he having no regard to himſelf, nor taking any pleaſure in the ſatisfaction of other Men's inordinate deſires, had his whole Heart fixt upon God; his Eyes, his Ears were bent wholly upon his ſervice, and his ſole Felicity conſiſted in ſeeing his Father feared and adored. Nothing could be pleaſant, nothing acceptable to him but true Piety. And that becauſe God was the Center of all his Actions, and the love of him was as it were the Spring that gave motion to all his deſires and affections. So great was his Behaviour and ſo ſublime his Thoughts.
Verſ. 40, 41.
Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without, make that which is within alſo? But rather give alms of ſuch things as ye have; and behold, all things are clean unto you. The Phariſees contended only for outward and corporeal Purity: but Christ for that which is Spiritual and Internal: Which think ye of the two knew beſt the Genius of true Religion?
Chap. XII.
But he ſaid unto him, man who made me a judge, or a divider over you? Chriſt utterly renounced all the cares and buſineſs of this World, and would ſcarce hear them mentioned. So ſtrangely had he weaned his Thoughts from the World.
Verſ. 30, 31.
For all theſe things do the Nations of the World ſeek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of theſe things. But rather ſeek the Kingdom of God, and all theſe things ſhall be added unto you. Chriſt deſigned to form a Society that ſhould wholly conſiſt of ſuch Perſons as were utterly to renounce the World, and not buſy their Thoughts about temporal concerns, ſuch as were to loſe all their poſſeſſions, and ſuffer all kinds of Puniſhments to be numbred among his Followers. Did ever yet ſuch a great and extraordinary deſign enter into any Man's Mind?
Chap. XIV. 33.
So likewiſe, whoſoever he be of you, that forſaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my Diſciple. A ſtrange and terrible Declaration indeed, which does not at all become a flattering Impoſtor!
Chap. XXIV. 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53
And ye are witneſſes of theſe things. And behold I ſend the promiſe of my Father: but tarry ye in the City of Jeruſalem, until ye be endued with Power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lift up his hands and bleſſed them. And it came to paſs while he bleſſed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into Heaven. And they worſhipped him, and returned to Jeruſalem with great Joy: And were continually in the Temple praiſing and bleſſing God. In theſe words we find four ſeveral things worthy of our Reflexion, 1. The Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, 2. The Aſcenſion of Chriſt, 3. The Joy of the Apoſtles. And 4. Their continual aſſiduity in praiſing God. How could St. Luke have made his Brethren believe, that Chrict had promiſed them the Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, that he aſcended into Heaven in their ſight, that the Diſciples were exceeding joyful, and continued daily in the Temple, praiſing and bleſſing God? And if he could perſwade none of them to believe it, what could be his deſign in writing it? How comes it to paſs that they all ſuffered Martyrdom in defence of ſuch an incredible Fiction?
St. JOHN. Chap. I. 8, 9.
He was not that light, but was ſent to …ear witneſs of that light. That was the true light, which …ightneth every man that cometh into the World. John was originally but a Fiſherman; who then could have infuſed theſe ſublime Notions into his Mind?
Verſ. 14.
(And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the …nly begotten of the Father) full of Grace and Truth. There plainly appears in this diſcourſe the ſtedfaſt perſuaſion of a Man who had ſeen with his eyes what he teſtified, and the fulneſs of an Underſtanding that was truly convinced of what he aſſerted; nay the perſuaſion of an Author that thought no expreſſion could be ſtrong enough to utter what he thought, and who united together ſeveral Ideas different from one another; becauſe a ſingle Idea could not perfectly repreſent what he would ſay. The word Glory was not ſufficient of it ſelf, and therefore he further added a Glory full of Grace and Truth.
Chap. III. 7.
Marvel not that I ſaid unto thee, ye muſt be born again What could be more extraordinary than this diſcourſe? And how ſtrangely perſuaded was he that ſpoke it, that we muſt be entirely changed before we can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven?
Verſ. 13.
And no man hath aſcended up to heaven, but he that came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which is in Heaven. Certainly this Man ſpoke not like other Men; whatever he ſays here ſeems either to be very extravagantly blaſphemous, or ſomething above the ſublimeſt Thoughts of Men. If then the purity of his Manners, his Holineſs of Life, his ſhort, clear, expreſſive Precepts that ſeem to ſavour of nothing but Piety and true Holineſs, together with the ſurprizing and wonderful effects of the Goſpel, force us to look upon the former part of the expreſſion as Blaſphemous, we can't at the ſame time but believe the latter to be ſo too.
Verſ. 31.
He that is of the Earth, is earthly, and ſpeaketh of the Earth: he that cometh from Heaven, is above all. Tho John the Baptiſt had not ſaid this, we might have known Chriſt by his own words to have been the Lord of Life come down from Heaven.
Chap. IV.
But whoſoever drinketh of the Water that I ſhall give, ſhall never thirſt; but the Water that I ſhall give him, ſhall be in him a well of Water ſpringing up into everlaſting Life. Theſe expreſſions are ſomething more than humane. Had Chriſt thought like other Men, he would certainly have expreſt himſelf ſo too. But he thought no otherwiſe upon earthly things than as they ſerv'd to make us underſtand thoſe that were Spiritual. What ever he met with he made uſe of only for that deſign. He ſeemed to live here upon Earth for no other purpoſe than to guide us in the way to Heaven. To Fiſhermen he ſpoke of becoming Fiſhers of Men. To thoſe who valued themſelves upon their Birth, he ſpoke of being born again. When they ſpoke to him about eating, he anſwered that his meat was to do the will of his Father. And when he ſat on the ſide of the Well, he ſpoke of his divine Grace as of a Well of Water ſpringing up into everlaſting Life. Who is not filled with admiration when he conſiders theſe things?
Verſ. 24.
God is a Spirit, and they that worſhip him, muſt worſhip him in Spirit and in Truth. This was telling Men in ſhort what they ſhould have known, and what all till then were wholly ignorant of. This was what is moſt conformable to a reaſonable nature, and the Principles of natural Revelation, what diſtinguiſhed true Religion from Superſtition, what the wiſeſt among the Heathens had not been able to diſcover at a time when reaſoning and ſpeculation were at the height, at leaſt what they had but a very faint Knowledge of, what the Prophets themſelves had ſpoke of but obſcurely, and what the Jews who in the days of our Saviour minded nothing in Religion but the External Corporeal part of it, were wholly ignorant of. What manner of Man then was he, who alone had ſo much Wiſdom?
Chap. V. 25.
Verily Verily I ſay unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the Dead ſhall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear ſhall live. He that could raiſe the Dead to Life again might well ſpeak after this manner: But ſuch Expreſſions would have been extravagant in any other but him.
Verſ. 36.
But I have greater witneſs than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finiſh, the ſame works that I do, bear witneſs of me, that the Father hath ſent me. Thoſe works muſt have been very extraordinary indeed, ſince he preferred the witneſs they bore of him before that of John the Baptiſt. For were it otherwiſe he would have expoſed himſelf to the ſcorn of thoſe that heard him.
Verſ. 44.
How can ye believe, which receive Honour one of another, and ſeek not the Honour that cometh from God only? He that deſigns to deceive others does not expreſs himſelf after this manner. Chriſt ſhould rather have made uſe of the vanity and weakneſs of Men, which is nicely to be touched and delicately to be wrought upon in ſuch caſes.
Chap. VI. 14, 15.
Then thoſe Men when they had ſeen the Miracle that Jeſus did, ſaid, this is of a Truth that Prophet that ſhould come into the World. When Jeſus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a King, he departed again into a mountain himſelf alone. 'Twas not out of any weakneſs or fear that Chriſt refuſed to put himſelf at the Head of thoſe that would have made him King. He that foretold his ſufferings, and eſtabliſhed a memorial of them, nay he who aſſembled together a Company of diſtreſſed Wretches, whom he vouchſafed to lead about, would not ſurely have been afraid oſ the fortune of War, ſince he might have been followed by an innumerable company of People, who would have daily increaſed, being deluded by the common Opinion of thoſe days, that he was to be a great King. What then deterred him from it? Only his Humility.
Verſ. 35.
I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to me, ſhall never hunger; and he that cometh to me ſhall never thirſt. Did ever any man uſe an expreſſion like this? How can a Man be the Bread of Life? And what can be the meaning of this expreſſion? Was going to Chriſt enough to ſatisfy hunger and thirſt? No one but an Enthuſiaſt, or one that was really come down from Heaven to inſtruct Mankind, could have expreſſed himſelf thus. But who is he that ſhall dare to Blaſpheme againſt the Wiſdom of that Divine Perſon?
Verſ. 63.
The Fleſh profiteth nothing: the words that I ſpeak unto you, they are Spirit and they are Life. This Comment excellently juſtifies the Wiſdom of that wonderful Teacher, and clearly ſhews us what we ſhould think of thoſe ſeeming Paradoxes he advanced in the foregoing Verſes, ſo contrary to all our former Ideas and Prejudices.
Chap. VII. 17.
If any Man will do his will, he ſhall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I ſpeak of my ſelf. This is the beſt and ſureſt Rule whereby we may judge of Chriſt and his Goſpel. And therefore for a Man to be perſwaded of the Doctrine of Chriſt, it is firſt requiſite that his Heart be rightly diſpoſed, rather than his underſtanding fully enlightned. Men at Chriſts coming into the World were wholly ignorant of this great and noble Truth. They made a Science of Religion, which none could underſtand but the learned. And the Reaſon of Man which would know every thing but ſcarce knows any thing perfectly, proudly aſſumed to itſelf the priviledge of judging in matters of Salvation. But were that a certain Rule to go by, the proud would be the greateſt Favourites of God, and the more Men ſtrove out of vanity or ambition to become learned, the clearer inſight they would have into Revelation. That indeed would be proper to make a conſiderable progreſs in humane Sciences: but the Science of Salvation is not to be acquired but by Holineſs and Humility. For Virtue is a practical Habit. The more Simple and Ignorant we are, the more our Eyes will be open. The better we live, the leſs ſcruples we ſhall entertain. The more we love God, the more ſenſible we ſhall grow of his admirable Precepts. What great Wiſdom then does this Maxim contain, which Men in paſt Ages were wholly ignorant of, and which the preſent Age ſcarce yet underſtands?
Verſ. 37, 38, 39.
In the laſt Day that great Day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood and cried, ſaying, If any Man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his Belly ſhall flow Rivers of living Water. (But this ſpake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him ſhould receive. For the Holy Ghoſt was not yet given, becauſe that Jeſus was not yet glorified.) How could the Evangeliſt have made Chriſt utter ſuch words as theſe, and a little after added this Annotation concerning the Effuſion of the Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, had he really ſeen nothing happen that was like it? Who ſees not plainly that the Parentheſis ſuppoſes that Event to be well known, ſince it informs us of the Reaſon of it?
Verſ. 40, 41.
Many of the People therefore when they heard this, ſaid of a Truth this is the Prophet: Others ſaid, this is the Chriſt. But ſome ſaid, ſhall Chriſt come out of Galilee? All theſe Diſputes and little Conteſts manifeſtly ſhew the great impreſſion the Doctrine and Miracles of Chriſt had already made upon Peoples minds. Beſides they are of ſuch a Nature as not eaſily to be thought of by a Perſon who could invent Lies.
Chap. VIII. 7. 10, 11
So when they continued asking him, he lift up himſelf and ſaid unto them, he that is without ſin among you, let him firſt caſt a Stone at her, &c. When Jeſus had lift up himſelf, and ſaw none but the Woman, he ſaid unto her, Woman, where are thoſe thine Accuſers? hath no Man condemned thee? She ſaid, no man, Lord. And Jeſus ſaid unto her, neither do I condemn thee; go, and ſin no more. There is no need of a Comment to underſtand the Divine energy of theſe words. A Heart rightly diſpoſed will ſooner be ſenſible of it, than able to expreſs it.
Verſ. 51.
Verily, verily I ſay unto you, if a Man keep my ſayings he ſhall never ſee Death. How could Chriſt advance ſuch a Paradox? Or how is it probable that John ſhould make him utter it, he who had already ſeen ſeveral of his Maſter's Diſciples die? Theſe words then muſt ſecretly imply ſomething more ſublime and uncommon, than appears to us at firſt ſight: And thoſe who taught them had deeper Underſtandings, and more piercing Judgments than other Men.
Chap. XI. 25.
I am the Reſurrection and the Life, he that believeth in me, tho he were dead, yet ſhall he live. This is ſuch a ſtrange diſcourſe as was never met with before.
Verſ. 43, 44.
And when he had thus ſpoken, he cried with a loud Voice, Lazarus come forth: And he that was Dead came forth, bound Hand and Foot with Gravecloaths: and his face was bound about with a Napkin, &c. Nothing can be more circumſtantially told than this matter of fact. Lazarus had been Dead about four Days. He was buried, and a Stone had been rolled over his Grave. Nay he already began to Stink. Some of the Jews that were there preſent murmured, and ſaid among themſelves. Could not this Man who opened the eyes of the Blind, have cauſed that even this Man ſhould not have died? John 11. 37. And others that were come to comfort the two Siſters were there aſſembled. The Dead Perſon was raiſed to Life again, he was ſeen, and heard to ſpeak. Several that were there believed in Jeſus Chriſt, ſo that the great Council among the Jews was terrified at it, and the Chief Prieſts and Phariſees being gathered together upon this Occaſion, many of them cried out, and ſaid, What do we? for this Man does many Miracles. If we let him thus alone, all Men will believe on him, and the Romans ſhall come, and take away both our place and Nation, &c. Had this matter of fact been falſly invented, how durſt the Evangeliſt ſo exactly deſcribe it with all its Circumſtances? Why did not others make a ſtrict enquiry, and dive into the Bottom of it? Did the Chriſtians want Enemies to do it, they who were continually expoſed to the Perſecutions of all the Powers upon Earth? This Goſpel was believed at Jeruſalem, which place was yet extant, and Bethany was but a few Furlongs diſtant from Jeruſalem. The Falſhood alone of that ſingle matter of fact, which was ſo ſignal and ſo publickly known, would have utterly overthrown the whole Fabrick of the Apoſtles New Religion, given up the Cauſe to the Jews, and univerſally ſilenced the Chriſtians. Why then did they not manifeſt the Truth upon the Spot?
Chap. XIII. 35.
By this ſhall all Men know that ye are my Diſciples, if ye have love one to another. A Divine Mark indeed! and a Character not in the leaſt to be ſuſpected!
Chap. XIV. 11, 12.
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or elſe believe me for the very works ſake. Verily, verily I ſay unto you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, ſhall he do alſo, and greater works than theſe ſhall he do. What could the Evangeliſts think when he related theſe things, if he was truly convinced by his own experience, and by that of his Aſſociates, that Chriſt's Diſciples could not perform any Miracles?
Chap. XV. 24.
If I had not done among them the works which none other Men did, they had not had Sin. He continually laid before their Eyes the Teſtimony of his Works.
Chap. XVI. 2.
They ſhall put you out of the Synagogues; yea the time cometh, that whoſoever killeth you, will think that he doth God ſervice. 'Tis evident by this prediction the Evangeliſt aſcribes to Jeſus, that the Diſciples did not then expect, nay were not to expect any thing but croſſes and tribulations. What then could ſupport them in their preſent ſufferings, and the diſmal proſpect of worſe to come, but the hopes of ſuch a reward as is inconſiſtent with the quality of Impoſtors. A Name which our Incredulous Adverſaries are pleaſed to give them?
Verſ. 33.
In the World ye ſhall have Tribulation; but be of good chear I have overcome the World. He was continually foretelling them what misfortunes they were to expect. This in all appearance ſhould have diſheartned them; but it only ſerv'd to try their Patience, and confirm the Word which they preached.
Chap. XVII. 25, 26.
O Righteous Father, the World has not known thee, but I have known thee, and theſe have known that thou haſt ſent me. And I have declared unto them thy Name; that thy love wherewith thou haſt loved me, may be in them, and I in them. Can a Man imagin that an Impoſtor ſhould expreſs himſelf thus? Is falſhood then ſo different here from what it uſually is, and does it breath out nothing but Virtue, Innocence, Love, and Charity? Has it altogether that Spirit of pure Holineſs and elevated Simplicity, of ineffable conſolation, and wonderful Truſt and Reliance upon God, which run's through all the latter Diſcourſes Jeſus made to his Diſciples, to comfort them for his approaching Departure?
Chap. XVIII. 36, 37.
My Kingdom is not of this World, &c. Pilate therefore ſaid unto him, art thou a King then? Jeſus anſwered, thou ſayeſt that I am a King: And for this cauſe came I into the World, that I ſhould bear witneſs unto the Truth. Every one that is of the Truth heareth my Voice. Jeſus plainly declared that his Kingdom was not of this World: Yet he called himſelf King. Had he been an Impoſtor, he would have pretended to have reigned ſomewhere, or at leaſt ſhewed ſome Ambition of it.
Chap. XX. 25, 26.
The other Diſciples therefore ſaid unto him, we have ſeen the Lord. But he ſaid unto them, except I ſhall ſee in his hands the Print of the Nails, and thruſt my hand into his Side, I will not believe, &c. Jeſus ſaith unto him, Thomas, becauſe thou haſt ſeen me, thou haſt believed: Bleſſed are they that have not ſeen, and yet have believed. Could any one have made Thomas believe that he had been more incredulous than the reſt of the Diſciples, and that he would not be perſuaded till he had ſeen and felt the Body of his Maſter?
Chap. XXI. 3.
Simon Peter ſaith unto them, I go a fiſhing: They ſay unto him, we alſo go with thee. They went forth, and entred into a Ship immediately; and that Night they caught nothing. But when the Morning was now come, Jeſus ſtood on the ſhore, &c. Chriſt being Dead, the Diſciples betook themſelves again to their former employment, for they could not ſubſiſt without doing ſomething to get a Livelyhood. And Jeſus after his Reſurrection appeared ſometimes to them on the Sea ſhore, where they were a fiſhing. What can be ſuſpected in all this?
Verſ. 20, 21, 22, 23.
Then Peter turning about▪ ſeeth the Diſciple whom Jeſus loved, following, which alſo leaned on his Breast at Supper, and ſaid, Lord, who is it that betrayeth thee? Peter ſeeing him, ſaith to Jeſus, Lord, and what ſhall this Man do? Jeſus ſaith unto him▪ if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went this ſaying abroad among the brethren, that that Diſciple ſhould not die: yet Jeſus ſaid not unto him, he ſhall not die; but if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the Diſciple which teſtifies of theſe things, and wrote theſe things, &c. Can we imagin that the Evangeliſt himſelf invented this Report, which he pretends went about concerning his Immortality? And do ſuch Thoughts come into a Man's Head? However do but obſerve how all the particulars of this matter hang ſo one upon another, that whoſoever grants one of them, muſt grant alſo the reſt. For the Report ſpread abroad that John ſhould not die, was grounded upon the Anſwer which Chriſt returned to Peter; and he returned not that Anſwer to Peter, till after his Reſurrection, and after having foretold Peter himſelf, with what kind of Death he ſhould glorifie God. This connexion therefore plainly ſhews us what we ought to believe upon this account.