SECTION IV. The Refurrection of Chrift evinces the certainty of Revealed Religion. GILBERT WEST, Efq. in his Obferva tions on the Hiftory and Refurrection of Jefus Chrift, by comparing the feveral parts of the history, has made it to appear, that the women came at different times to the fepulchre, and in different companies; that there were feveral diftinct appearances of angels, of which he reckons three, befides that to the Roman foldiers, viz. to the other Mary and Salome; to Mary Magdalene, to Joanna, and others with her; that these several facts were reported to the apostles at different times, and by different perfons; that there were two diftinct appearances of Chrift to the wom en; one of which was to Mary Magdalene alone; the other to the other Mary and Salome; that to St. Peter was twice at the fepulchre ; once with John, after the firft report to Mary Magdalene, concerning the body's not being found in the sepulchre ; the second time after the report made to Joanna, and the women with her; of the appearance of the angels to them. This learned author obferves, that chriftian writers, dazzled by a few points of resemblance, have confounded thefe different facts, and thereby given great advantage to the infidel. Whereas the facts being rightly diftinguished, all the objections against this part of the gofpel hiftory, as contradictory and inconfiftent, entirely vanish; and it appeareth that the evangelifts, inftead of clafhing and difagreeing, mutually confirm, illuftrate, and support each other's evidence. Mr. Weft hath made excellent and judicious reflections, upon the feveral incidents in the history of the resurrection, and upon the order in which they happened, and in which the several proofs of the resurrection were laid before the apoftles. He fhews that the discovery of it, which was made to them, was wifely ordered to be gradual; and that, as they were to be the chofen witnesses of the refurrection of Jefus, there was a great propriety in the feveral steps that were taken, to give the highest conviction of it. There is a train of witneffes, a fucceffion of miracu lous events, mutually ftrengthening and illuftrating each other, equally and jointly concurring to prove the fame fact. And, whereas their doubting and unbelief, fpoken of by the evangelifts, feems principally to have confifted in this, that though they might believe that Chrift had appeared to thofe, who declared they had seen him, yet they might not believe that he had appeared to them with a real body; therefore, in condefcenfion to their infirmity, he gave them the fulleft evidence of the reality of his bodily appearance. The proofs of Chrift's refurrection laid before the apof tles, are digested by Mr. Weft, under four heads. First, The teftimony of thofe, who had feen him after he was rifen. Secondly, The evidence of their own fenfes. Third ly, The accomplishment of the words he had fpoken to them, while he was yet with them. Fourthly, The fulfilling of the things which were written in the law of Mofes, in the prophets, and in the Pfalms, concerning him; of which he has given a judicious fummary. Upon recapitulating feveral particulars, which conftitute the evidence of our Saviour's refurrection, this learned author concludes, that there never was a fact more fully proved than his refurrection; and that thofe, who were appointed to be the witneffes of it, had every kind of proof, that, in the like circumftances, the most scrupulous could demand, or the moft incredulous imagine.* Having confidered the proofs of the refurrection of Jefus Chrift, as they were laid before the apostles, he proceeds to confider fome of the arguments, that may induce us to believe, at this distance of time, that Christ rofe from the dead; these he has reduced to two principal heads, viz. the teftimony of the chofen witneffes, of the refurrection recorded in the scriptures, and the existence of the christian religion. With regard to the former, he fheweth that the apoftles and evangelifts had two qualities neceffary to eftablifh the credit of a witnefs, a perfect knowledge of the facts they give teftimony to, and a fair, unblemished character; and that their teftimony is tranfmitted down in writings, either penned by themselves, or authorized for their inspection and approbation. He offereth several confiderations, to fhow the genuineness of those writings, and makes ufe, both of the internal marks of the veracity of the facred writers, obfervable in the fcriptures, and the external proofs of their veracity and inspiration ; efpecially the exact accomplishment of the prophecies recorded * After entering into a long and scrupulous examination of the feveral particulars, which conftitute the evidence of the refurrection, Mr. West shows, that there never was a fact, that could more abide the test, than the refurrection of Jesus Christ. in these writings. For inftance, in those relating to the various states of the Jews and Gentiles, different, not only from each other, but from that in which both were at the time when these prophecies were written. He obferves, that there are several particulars, relating to the condition of the Jewish nation, which were moft expressly foretold in the deftruction of the city and temple of Jerufalem, and the figns preceding that deftruction; the miferies of the Jews before, at, and after the famous fiege of that city ; the general difperfion of that people, the duration of their calamity, and their wonderful preservation under it; and, finally, their restoration. And fince the other parts of thefe predictions have been exactly accomplished, there is the greatest reason to think the laft will be fo too, in their proper season. Mr. Weft concludes the whole, with the argument drawn from the prefent existence of the chriftian religion; and fheweth, that without fuppofing the truth of Chrift's refurrection, there is no accounting for the propagation and prefent existence of chriftianity. To fet this in a proper light, he reprefenteth, in an elegant and ftriking manner, the great difficulties that religion had to ftruggle with, at its firft appearance, and the inability of its firft preachers, humanly fpeaking, to oppofe and overcome thofe obftacles. They had the fuperftition and prejudices of the Jews to encounter; and at the fame time, religion, custom, law, policy, pride, intereft, vice, and even philof ophy, united the heathen world againft chriftianity. Its oppofers were poffeffed of all the wisdom, power, and authority of the world. The preachers of it were weak and contemptible, yet it triumphed over all oppofition; and |