fide he defired only the parents of the girl to CHAP. atteft the fact, being unwilling that the mi- II. racle should be doubtful, yet was fatisfied with confirming the truth by a precife number of witneffes ordained by the law, two on the fide of Jairus, and three on his own.

He fubjoins to this moderation a pofitive prohibition to publish the miracle, which in of astonishing a manner manifefted his power over death, a miracle which coft him but a fingle word, and was fo efficacious, that in an inftant the walked, and was as formerly in a condition of taking fuftenance. Such a prohibition must convey to us how much fuperior he was to the action he came to perform, how he despised the admiration of men, and infinuates a leffon of humility to his difciples, to whom a little while before he manifefted with complacency the holy difpofitions of a woman bashful and trembling, yet replete with faith, and from whom * he concealed his own glory, or commanded them to conceal it; in order that they might difcern between the edification and utility of their brethren, and their per

fonal honour.

*He concealed it from thofe whom he had not taken with him, and he ordered the reft to conceal it by ftopping their mouths.

CHAP.

PART : IV.

CHAP. III.

Continuation of the fame fubject: the miracles of Jefus Chrift are unquestionable, and convincing proofs of his divinity. 1. Refurrection of the widow's only fon at Naim, proved by circumftances which can admit of no fufpicion. 2. Refurrection of Lazarus: certain proofs of his death. 3. Manifeft proofs of his refurrection. 4. Lawful and neceffary confequences of fuch a miracle, which confirm the whole, by demonftrating that Chrift is the Refurrection and the Life. Answer to an objection.

ARTICLE I.

Refurrection of the widow's only fon at Naim, proved by circumstances which can admit of no fufpicion.

T

HE refurrection, I am going to speak of, is not the firft miracle which Chrift wrought of this kind, for he had already raised from the dead a young man hard by Naim, a town of Galilee, with circumftances still more astonishing and public. "Now "when he came nigh the gate of the city,

behold, there was a dead man carried out, "the only fon of his mother, and she was a "widow: and much people of the city was

+ Luke vii. 12.

* with her. And when the Lord faw her, CHAP. " he had compaffion on her, and faid unto III. her, Weep not. And he came and touched "the bier, (and they that bare him stood still) "and he faid, Young man, I fay unto thee, "arife. And he that was dead fat up, and

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and

began to fpeak: and he delivered him to his "mother. And there came fear on all they glorified God, faying, That a great ‡ prophet is rifen up among us, and that God "had vifited his people."

What is there here that the most fufpicious perfon could diftruft? Chrift came from Capernaum, where he had healed the fervant of the centurion. He arrived at the time of the funeral: he found him at the gate of the city, attended by a great number of the inhabitants. The mother, who had loft her only fon, was diffolved in tears; the tomb was prepared; they were going to put the corpfe into it. Where is there room for deceit? Or if in fuch circumstances the young Man's death be not certain, how muft one be more pofitively affured? and if it be true, how can the refurrection be doubted, under the fame circumstances and before the fame identical witnesses?

But how do I know, (will perhaps be faid by a timorous man, and one that is wavering in his faith) whether his death and refurrection be faithfully related, and whether they were real? After so many proofs of the fincerity of the evangelifts, and of the truth of the miracles of Chrift and his apostles, there can

‡ Luke vii. 16.

be

PART be no room to return to this original doubt: IV. nevertheless I am very ready to confider it, provided that we do not carry this fufpicion too far, and extend it to very minute circumstances, or to facts which appeared contrary to the defign of the evangelifts, who might have had fome intereft in fuppreffing, them for the glory of Jefus Chrift.

It is faid, that the fame of this miracle was every where promulged, as well as the reflection of the people, that a great prophet appeared, and that God had vifited his people; that the disciples of Saint John reasoned about him, and that he appointed two of them to fend to Chrift, and fay," Art thou he that "should come, or look we for another? (They "indeed came to Jefus) and faid to him,

John Baptift hath fent us unto thee, faying, "Art thou he that fhould come, or look we "for another?"

Such a queftion propofed by public deputies to Jefus Chrift before the multitude, feemed a recantation of the ancient teftimonies which Saint John had fo often given of him; or at leaft appeared to imply a doubt and hefitation, and of courfe a change, in his fentiment. Chrift, therefore in order to prevent the unjust consequence they might draw from it, fpoke greatly of the conftancy and refolution of Saint John after the departure of his difciples, and of the divine light which enlightned him, fuperior to that of the prophets. Such a deputation and question had not the

Luke vii. 17.

air

air of people zealous for the glory of Chrift; CHAP. and we may boldly affirm, that they did III. not counterfeit them. We must therefore look upon them as certain; and confequently the miracle, which was the occafion of them, must be evident.

This becomes ftill clearer, when we exa mine what Chrift did in the presence of Saint John's deputies, and what he said to them: for he cured many diseased in their fight, delivered those who were poffeffed with malignant spirits, gave fight to many that were blind, and he added, "Go your way, and tell

John what things ye have seen and heard, "how that the blind fee, the lame walk, the lepers are cleanfed, the deaf hear, the dead "are raifed, to the poor the gofpel is preached.", It is not faid, that Chrift did then actually raise any one from the dead, as is affirmed of the other miracles which he performed in their prefence. But the refurrection of the young man of Naim was recent; it was of that they spoke with astonishment, and with a fecret jealoufy of their master; and it is diftinctly pointed out in thefe words, "Go your way, and tell what things ye have "feen and heard."

If they will yet affert, that at that very time fome one had been raised from the dead, I fhall not oppose it: the refurrection performed at Naim will thereby be only the more strongly evinced: and it fuffices me to obferve, that the miracles wrought in the presence of Saint John's deputies, who were already diftrustful and jealous, VOL. III. muft

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