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which, in every page, would have contradicted that of the witnesses? Since, then, the society of which I am speaking cannot produce such a formal evidence, I think I am authorised, by all the rules of sound criticism, to believe that it never was possessed of any authentic documents to oppose to the witnesses.-But it occurs to me, that the* friends of the witnesses, when they came into power, are said to have destroyed every proof repugnant to their testimony. It has not, however, been in their power to annihilate that great society, which was avowedly inimical to them. And they did not become powerful till many centuries after the event, which was the subject of their belief. I must then relinquish this suspicion, which is void of foundation. And, whilst the society in question has nothing to produce, but the most vague accusations of imposture, the witnesses (I remark) have handed down, in their writings, informations and interrogatories, made by the magistrates themselves, or by the chief teachers of that so

*The Christians under Constantine.

ciety, which are positive proofs, that they were far from being indifferent as to what was going forwards in their capital.

I did not indeed suppose any such indifference; it was too improbable. I supposed, on the contrary, that the magistrates or teachers did actually exert their utmost efforts to come to a certain knowledge of the facts. I therefore proceed to the informations and interrogatories, contained in the writings of the witnesses or of their first disciples.

As these writings have never been contradicted in a formal manner, by those whose immediate interest it was to contradict them; I think myself obliged to admit that these writings are of considerable authority.

It is with a singular satisfaction that I read over and over again these interesting interrogatories: and the more I read them, the more I admire the exquisite sense, the singular precision, the noble courage and candour, so conspicuous in the answers.

Truth seems to dart forth from every side, and the bare perusal of them is sufficient to convince us, that such facts are not a mere invention. It is not certainly in such a way as this, that people set themselves to invent.

CHA P. III.

THE MAN LAME FROM HIS BIRTH

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O sooner had the disciples of Jesus begun (in the midst of the capital),. to bear witness to what they called the truth, than they were led before the tribunals. They are examined, questioned, and they openly attest before these tribunals, that which they had already affirmed in the pre sence of the people..

A man lame from his birth, had been recently restored to the use of his limbs ; this lame man was forty years of age.* Two of the witnesses are the reputed au-thors of this cure. They are sent for by the: senators, who propose this question to> them, By what power or by what name have

*Acts iii. 4.

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ye done this? The question is precise and formal. Te rulers of the people (answered the witnesses), if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you, whole.

What now is the behaviour of the two fishermen ? Do they attempt to ingratiate themselves with their judges? No; they set out by upbraiding them openly with an atrocious crime, and conclude by affirming. the very fact which the judges held in the utmost abhorrence.-Here I reason with. myself, and my reasoning is very simple:If be, whom the magistrates have crucified, has been crucified justly; if he be not risen from the dead; if the miracle wrought on the lame man be another deceit; these magistrates, who undoubtedly have proofs. of all this, will loudly and publicly reproach these witnesses with their audaciousness, their imposture, their malice; and will inflict on them the severest punishment.

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