The Trial of the Witnessses of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ | Page 4

Christ Jesus
declared himself a Prophet, and put the proof of his mission on this,
that he should die openly and publickly, and rise again the third day.
This surely was the hardest plot in the world to be managed; and if

there be one instance of this kind, or in any degree like it, by all means
let it be produced.
Mr. A. My Lord, There has hardly been an instance of a false religion
in the world, but it has also afforded a like instance to this before us.
Have they not all pretended to inspiration? Upon what foot did
Pythagoras, Numa, and others set up? Did they not all converse with
the gods, and pretend to deliver oracles?
Mr. B. This only shews, that revelation is by the common consent of
mankind the very best foundation of religion; and therefore every
imposter pretends to it. But is a man's hiding himself in a cave for some
years, and then coming out into the world, to be compared to a man's
dying, and rising to life again? So far from it, that you and I and every
man may do the one, but no man can do the other.
Mr. A. Sir, I suppose it will be allowed to be as great a thing to go to
heaven, and converse with angels, and with God, and to come down to
earth again, as it is to die, and rise again? Now, this very thing
Mahomet pretended to do; and all his disciples believe it. Can you deny
this fact?
Mr. B. Deny it, Sir? No. But tell us who went with Mahomet? Who
were his witnesses? I expect, before we are done, to hear of the guards
set over the sepulchre of Christ, and the seal of the stone. What guard
watched Mahomet in his going or returning? What seals and credentials
had he? He himself pretends to none. His followers pretend to nothing
but his own word. We are now to consider the evidence for Christ's
resurrection, and you think to parallel it, by producing a case for which
no one ever pretended there was any evidence. You have Mahomet's
word; and no man ever told a lie, but you had his word for the truth of
what he said: and therefore you need not go round the globe to find
such instances as these. But this story, it is said, has gained great credit,
and is received by many nations. Very well. And how was it received?
Was not every man converted to this faith with the sword at his throat?
In our case, every witness to the resurrection, and every believer of it,
was hourly exposed to death. In the other case, whoever refused to
believe, died; or, what was as bad, lived a wretched conquered slave.

And will you pretend these cases to be alike? One case indeed there
was, within our own memory, which, in some circumstances, came
near to the case now before us. The French prophets put the credit of
their mission upon the resurrection of Dr. Emmes, and gave publick
notice of it. If the Gentleman pleases to make use of this instance, it is
at his service.
Mr. A. The instance of Dr. Emmes is so far to the purpose, that it shews
to what lengths enthusiasm will carry men. And why might not the
same thing happen at Jerusalem, which happened but a few years ago in
our own country? Matthew and John, and the rest of them, managed
that affair with more dexterity than the French prophets; so that the
resurrection of Jesus gained credit in the world, and the French
prophets sunk under their ridiculous pretensions. That is all the
difference.
Mr. B. Is it so? And a very wide difference, I promise you. In one case
everything happened that was proper to convince the world of the
resurrection; in the other, the event manifested the cheat: and upon the
view of these circumstances, you think it is sufficient to say, with great
coolness, That is all the difference. Why, what difference do you expect
between truth and falsehood? What distinction -----
Judge. Gentlemen, you forget you are in a court, and are falling into
dialogue. Courts don't allow of chit-chat. Look ye, the evidence of the
resurrection of Jesus is before the court, recorded by Matthew, Mark,
and others. You must take it as it is; you can neither make it better, or
worse. These witnesses are accused of giving false evidence. Come to
the point; and let us hear what you have to offer to prove the
accusation.
Mr. B. Is it your meaning, Sir, that the objections should be stated and
argued all together, and that the answer should be to the whole at once?