PART is infinitely fuperior to fo trivial an accufation. IV. It may fuffice to afk, * Whether the devil 'could give fight to a man born blind, or reftore to life a man that had been four days dead? Falfhood may caft a mist before the eyes, and beguile; but a real, conftant, and permanent refurrection, is the work only of the. Creator, and the living and true God.

CHA P. V.

Teftimony given by Saint John the Baptift of Chrift: authority of fuch a teftimony confidered, with relation to all the circumstances which accompany it. John the Baptift is certainly the fore-runner foretold by the prophets, and confequently Jefus Chrift, whofe forerunner he was, is the Meffiah. Authority of the teftimony of John the Baptist by the union and concurrence of many circumstances, which demonftrate the truth of it. Prediction made to Zacharias, who was fpeechless. Fecundity of the aged and barren Elizabeth. Speech restored to Zacharias: evident prediction of the future miniftry of his fon. John being concealed in the defart until the hour of his manifeftation, and proclaiming, when he appeared, that the Meffiah was come, tho' he did not diftinctly know him, is certainly infpired with

*"Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?" faid certain Jews, who refuted the accufation which others alledged against Chrift, of his being poffeffed, John x. 21.

with a divine light. The perfonal character CHAP. of Saint John, and the idea which he had of V. the Meffiah, and of true juftice, prove his miffion to be divine. The conftant refusal of Saint John to pass for the Meffiah, is a convincing proof of his fincerity. His fentiments with relation to Chrift, whofe glory be was defirous to augment at the expence of his own, add a farther dignity to his teftimony. The martyrdom of Saint John feals bis teftimony. Important reflections upon the character of his refolution and prudence in parting with his disciples, and bringing them over to Chrift. Invincible ftrength of thefe united proofs: they might fuffice, abftracted from all others.

HRIST relies only upon himself, to prove what he is his divinity is above every thing, and his miracles are the fole teftimony worthy of him. "Ye fent deputies to John (he fays to the Jews) and he bare "witnefs unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man, but these things I fay", (that is, I put you in mind of what John faid of me) that ye might be faved. "He was a burning and a fhining light; and ye were willing for a feason to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that "of John; for the works which the Father "hath given me to finish, the fame works "that I do, bear witness of me, that the Fa"ther hath fent me."

VOL. III.

H

* John x. 21.

+ John v. 33.

We

PART

We have hitherto confidered the preference IV. which Chrift fhews to his own miracles, and to thofe which he wrought by his apoftles, above the teftimony of John the Baptift; but it is juft, that after having confidered Chrift, we return to his fore-runner, and make a better ufe of that burning and fhining light than the Jews did, who admired his light in the be-. ginning, but did not embrace the Meffiah whom it difcovered.

John the Baptift is certainly the forerunner foretold by the prophets, and confequently Chrift, whose fore-runner he was, is the Meffiah.

I

T must be particularly remembered, that God foretold by his prophets, that when the times were accomplished, the Meffiah fhould be preceded by an ‡ angel; that is to fay, by an ambaffador or fore-runner of eminent virtue, who should prepare the way and dispose the people to receive him. Behold, "faith he by the prophet Malachy, I will "fend my meffenger, and he fhall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple; even the meffenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in."

t

Malach. iii. 1.

This

This temple is certainly that which the I-CHAP. raelites rebuilt after they were delivered from V. the Babylonish captivity, as appears by the prophet Haggai, who was cotemporary with Malachy, and who comforted the Jews in the meanness and fimplicity of the temple, which was much inferior in magnificence to Solomon's, by affuring them, that the Meffiah would come in perfon and proclaim peace in it; an honour which would render this temple, tho' void of ornament, much more glorious than the firft, notwithstanding it was moft fumptuously decorated. Thus faith the Lord "of hofts, Yet once, it is a little while, and I "will shake the heavens, and the earth: I "will shake all nations, and the defire of all "nations shall come, and I will fill this houfe "with glory, faith the Lord of hofts. The filver is mine, faith the Lord of hofts. The glory of this latter houfe fhall be greater than "the former, faith the Lord of hosts: and in "this place will I give peace, faith the Lord "of hofts."

This temple has been deftroyed for many ages. It follows then, either that the prophecy is falfe, if the Meffiah is not come, or that the Meffiah is come, if the prophecy be true. The proof could not be more evident with regard to Chrift, nor more preffing against the Jews and those who refused to believe in him. This proof we have given in another place in its full extent and force, and I curforily repeat it here, because it is as conclufive H 2

Haggai ii. 7.

with

PART with respect to the fore-runner of the Meffiah IV. as to the Meffiah himself, fince he must precede him before the fecond temple can be destroyed; and because Jefus is equally diftinguishable by what the prophets fay of him, as by what they fay of the meffenger who should prepare the way: for it is equally certain, that Chrift must have come before the deftruction of the temple, and after his fore-runner: and as there was no one who affumed the quality of a fore-runner of the Meffiah, before the deftruction of the temple, except Saint John the Baptift; and as Saint John the Baptift ftiled himself the fore-runner of Chrift only, it follows evidently, that Chrift is the Messiah.

ARTICLE II.

Authority of the teftimony of John the Baptift, by the union and concurrence of many circumftances, which demonfrate the truth thereof. Prediction made by Zacharias, who was ftruck Speechless.

TH

HIS proof is of great weight, if we confider it only as it has been above proposed; but it is much ftronger, when we infpect it in its utmost extent, and join all the circumstances which the divine wisdom thought proper to unite with it, in order to render the testimony of the fore-runner worthy the Mef