by the first?  Besides, when the people of different countries came to compare notes, and found that they had all received the same account of Christ and of his doctrine; then surely the evidence of these distant witnesses thus united, became stronger than if they had told their story together:  for twelve men separately examined form a much stronger proof for the truth of any fact, than twelve men agreeing together in one story.

If the same thing were to happen in our own time:  if one or two were to come into England, and report that a man was raised from the dead; and, in consequence of it, teach nothing but that we ought to love God and our neighbors:  if, to confirm their report, they should, before our eyes, cure the blind, the deaf, the lame, and even raise the dead to life:  if, endued with all these powers, they should live in poverty and distress, and patiently submit to all that scorn, contempt, and malice could contrive to distress them; and at last sacrifice even their lives in justification of the truth of their report:  if upon inquiry we should find, that all the countries in Europe had received the same account, supported by the same miraculous powers, attested in like manner by the sufferings, and confirmed by the blood of the witnesses:  I would fain know what any reasonable man would do in this case?  Would he despise such evidence?  I think he would not.  And whoever thinks otherwise, must say, that a resurrection, though in its own nature possible, is yet such a thing, in which we ought not to believe either God or man.

        Judge.  Have you done, Sir?

        Mr. B. Yes, my Lord.

        Judge.  Go on, Mr. A., if you have anything to say in reply.

Mr. A. My Lord, I shall trouble you with very little.  The objections and answers under this head, I shall leave to the judgment of the court; and beg leave only to make an observation or two upon the last part of the Gentleman’s argument.

And first, with respect to the sufferings of the apostles and disciples of Jesus, and the argument drawn from thence for the truth of their doctrines and assertions, I beg leave to observe to you, that there is not a false religion or pretence in the world, but can produce the same authority, and show many instances of men who have suffered even to death for the truth of their several professions.  If we consult only modern story we shall find Papists suffering for Popery, Protestants for their religion.  And among Protestants every sect has had its martyrs; Puritans, Quakers, Fifth-monarchy men.  In Henry VIII’s time England saw both Popish and Protestant martyrs; in Queen Mary’s reign the rage fell upon Protestants; in Queen Elizabeth’s Papists and Puritans were called sometimes, though rarely, to this trial.  In later times, sometimes churchmen, sometimes dissenters were persecuted.  What must we say, then?  All these sufferers had not truth with them; and yet, if there be any weight in this argument from suffering they have all the right to plead it.