The true reason of my not doing it, then, is this : He burnt a good many of them himself at Paris, and, by a writing found among what were left, signified, that these were the only ones, fit to be printed; so that without acting contrary to the Bishop's opinion of his own performances, of which he was certainly the best judge, no more could, and therefore no more ought to be published : and it being from thence resolved that no more should, the only effectual way of preventing it, was, to commit the rest to the flames. Which was accordingly done, in my presence, by William MORICE, Esq., his dutiful and worthy son-inlaw and executor. To whom I take this opportunity of acknowledging myself much obliged for several considerable acts of friendship; but particularly for the benefit of publishing these pious remains of my dear friend and patron, whom I greatly admired, loved and reverenced; and to whose memory I therefore dedicate them, with a heart full of gratitude and respect. THOMAS MOORE. CONTENTS THE SECOND VOLUME. THE public Manner in which the Gospel was at first promulged, one considerable Argument of its divine This thing was not done in a corner.-Acts xxvi. 26. The frequent attempts of infidelity make it necessary for I. The fair, open, and illustrious manner, in which it was" promulged, a strong argument of the truth Our Saviour opened his commission without any parti- sans or followers, and lived afterwards chiefly in towns and cities - - - - - - - - ib. His miracles performed often upon the most solemn and remarkable occasions - - - - - - 3 As his life was public, so was his death and resur- II. Reflections that arise from bence are 1. The great advantage which the christian religion has on this account over all other religions - ..4 The credibility of Numa's conferences with a goddess, Neither of them wrought miracles to confirm their The miracles said to be wrought in the East and West Indies are reported by persons so much later than the ance of them - ... - - - . . ib. And the truth of the Jewish revelation depends, as the infidels object, on the testimony of friends only - 6 2. The inexcusable and incurable obstinacy of those, who, notwithstanding the open incontestable manner, in which the divine authority of the Gospel was manifested, continue still to stand out against it . ib. 3. The vanity of pretences to miracles in the Romish communion; which have been generally done pri- • 4. The vanity particularly of transubstantiation, the most absurd pretence of all - - . - - 9 Private visions and illuminations, being a sort of miracles transacted only between God and the souls of those i that pretend to them, can never be made a foundation for the reception of any doctrine - - - ib. 5. A doctrine once established upon incontestable , 6. The more any new doctrine affects secrecy, the more reason we have to suspect it The church of Rome, that prescribes implicit belief, and the enthusiasts, that set up their doctrine of the dic- tates of the Spirit, both to be suspected on this ac-. The conduct of the church of England in this particular 13 The occasion of the text opened - - - 1. The reason of this message from the Baptist . . His disciples were at that time incredulous notwithstand- ing they were frequently instructed concerning the 1. Because their master being now in prison, they might apprehend, if Jesus had been the Messiah, he would have exerted his power to deliver him . 2. They might have observed, that our Saviour had not himself hitherto asserted his right to that title - 3. Their suspicions might be increased by observing, that our Saviour's life had less appearance of out- II, In the reply, the manner of it remarkable, because it gave the disciples an occasion of answering that ques : tion themselves, which they had proposed to our blessed The matter of it remarkable, was an instance of condescension the Jews had before been but little acquainted with . • . ib. that made the inquiry: for, . timony, they are taught to judge of the Messiah by the works they saw in him . . . . . 20 Secondly, miracles were a proof of our Saviour's pre-emi- nence over their master, and were known to be one dis- criminating mark of his being the Messiah - · ib. them acts of benevolence, were rightly suited to insinu- ate that pre-eminence, and to correct those ill notions the disciples might have conceived from their master's Fourthly, the answer is expressed in words taken from the prophet Isaiah, whose writings had more particu- larly pointed out their own master, and in which con- sequently they had been most conversant . 22 The passage in the text is remarkable for its containing the chief marks and characters of such miracles as are sufficient to confirm the authority of any person pre- tending to be sent from God . . . 23 An exhortation to attention in perusing the several parts of Scripture, which, like the works of nature, always appear the more wonderful, the more they are looked 25 |