Of the many infallible P200fs of Christ's Kefurrection. A SERMON Preached at St. PET E R's, IN OXFORD, BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY, ON EASTEK-DAY, 1745 And repeated at SAINT MARY's ON LOW-SYNDA following. SERMON VII. ACTS i. 3. o whom also he chewed himself alive after his Pasion, by manp infallible Proofs. T HE Perfons to whom our LORD is here faid to have fhewn himself, were the eleven APOSTLES. The Paffage at large is to this Effect: *THE former Treatife which I made (fay's "the Author of the Acts) contained all that Jefus did, and taught, till the Day of his Af" cenfion; when he gave particular Precepts to the Apostles, whom he had chofen, to whom alfo be fhewed himself alive after his Paffion, by many infallible Proofs, being feen of them forty Days, and fpeaking of the Things pertaining unto the Kingdom of God." * A&ts i. THIS THIS PASSAGE does not expressly mention that Chrift had chofen his Difciples chiefly for this End, to be the Witneffes of his Refurrection;" it is here implied, however, because it is affirmed that the Apoftles were chofen; and the Author affigns no other Motive, but the prefent Purpose. ter, * AND that this was the true State of the Cafe, St. Peter manifeftly tells us in the tenth ChapHim God railed up, faith he, the third Day, and thewed him openly, not to all the People, but to Witnelles cholen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the Dead. THIS Place is a good Comment upon the Words of the Text; and their Meaning, by the Help of it, may be thus explained. Je fus fhewed himself alive, after bis Paffion, to the Apostles, whom he had chosen to be Witneffes of bis Refurrection; and of this Fact he gave them many infallible Proofs, being feen of them for the Space of forty Days; in which Time, his -Manner of converfing was fuch, as afforded them all poffible Opportunities of knowing him again, * Verfe 40, 41. be he eating and drinking with them, and speaking ftill upon the Subject which had all along been his chief Concern, namely, the Things pertaining unto the Kingdom of God. IN this Piece of HISTORY then, it is exprefsly faid, that the Proofs Jefus gave of his Refurrection were MANY; and, in the next Place, that they were INFALLIBLE; and, laftly, it is implied, that certain Persons were CHOSEN, on Purpose, to give Teftimony to the Refurrection. As these are all Circumftances of great Note in the Matter before us, and have a particular Influence upon the Credit of it, they require a diftinct Examination. I fhall, therefore, in the following Discourse confider the Telti monp of Christ's Refurrection, FIRST, Under the Article of its MANY PROOFS. I SHALL then, fecondly, Examine their IN FALLIBILITY. AND, laftly, Enquire for what particular Reafons it might feem good to divine Providence, that |
