ing to the observers of their demeanor, and to the all-knowing God, say,) and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:'and, We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.' Such a lively sense of goodness shining forth in a long course of practice; so to bridle appetites, so to moderate passions, so to eschew all the allurements of pleasure, profit, and honor; to bear adversities so calmly and sweetly; to express so much tender kindness and meekness toward all men; to be continually employed in heavenly discourses and pious works; exhorting men by word, leading them by example, to all sorts of goodness indisputably such: to live thus, long and constantly, doth nowise suit unto persons utterly debauched in mind, and of a profligate conscience; who had devised, and did then earnestly drive on the propagation of a vile cheat. The life, I say, they led was not the life of wicked impostors, but worthy of the divinest men; fit to countenance and carry on the best design, such as they pretended theirs to be.

3. Farther, they were persons of good sense'; yea, very wise and prudent; not in way of worldly or fleshly wisdom; in skill to contrive or compass projects of gain, honor, or pleasure to themselves; to the commendation of them and of their testimony, they disclaimed being wise or skilful that way; having no practice therein, nor caring for it; (for they looked not much on things temporal and transitory; they did not mind earthly things; they had not their conversation or interest here, but above, as citizens of another world, deeming themselves as but sojourners and pilgrims here;) but endued they were with a wisdom, as in itself far more excellent, so more suitable to the persons they sustained; with great perspicacy and sound judgment in the matters they discoursed about, and in the affairs they pursued: such their writings, according to acknowlegement of innumerable most wise and learned persons, fraught with admirable wisdom and heavenly philosophy, (rude indeed and simple in expression, but most exact and profound in sense,) do manifest them to have been; such the tenor of their doctrine evidenced them, shining with that lustre and beauty, compacted with that strength and harmony, that whoever will not confess it to have proceeded from God, must, on consideration, however allow that it could not have been devised by idiots or mean persons, but did come from persons of much subtilty and great reach: they must be no fools who could frame a religion merely by its own plausibility, without any external help, able presently to supplant all the religions in the world; and to stand durably firm on the foundations laid by them. Such also the notable conduct of their great affair, (notwithstanding so mighty disadvantages and difficulties,) together with the prodigious efficacy their endeavors had on men, do evince them to have been : they surely could not be weak men, who in a plain and peaceable way confounded all the wit and policy, all the learning and eloquence, all the force and violence that withstood them. Experience did attest to the truth of what St. Paul saith; The weapons, of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every thing that exalteth itself against the knowlege of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.'

4. So were they qualified in their minds: it must be farther also considered, as to their purposes in this case, that in falsely venting and urging this testimony, they could not have any design gainful or beneficial to themselves; but must therein to no end be mischievous to themselves and others; abusing others indeed, but far more harming themselves; they must be supposed voluntarily to have embraced all sorts of inconvenience, and designedly to have rendered themselves miserable; courting adversity, choosing naked and barren evil for its own sake : For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: for neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: neither of men sought we glory.' Profit, honor, or pleasure, (those baits which intice men to do evil, and set them on wicked attempts,) or any worldly advantage thence to accrue to themselves, they could have no design on; for all those things wittingly and willingly they did abandon; for the sake of this very testimony incurring extremities of loss, of disgrace, and of pain. They did plainly foresee what entertainment their testimony would find, and how in prosecution thereof they should be forced to endure all kinds of indignity, of damage, and of hardship from men; that 'in this world they should have tribulation;' that 'men should deliver them up to be afflicted, and should kill them:' and that they should be hated of all nations for his name's sake:' their Master expressly had forewarned them that 'all who would live godlily in Christ Jesus' (that is, all professors of faith in him, especially the teachers thereof) 'must suffer persecution;' and 'must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God:' that 'bonds and imprisonments did abide them in every place;' that God had set forth the Apostles as appointed unto death, and exposed them as spectacles of scorn and obloquy to the world; that they were called to suffering,' and 'appointed to this very thing,' as to their office and their portion: these were the rules and measures they went by; these the expectations they had from the world: according unto which it did in effect happen to them; 'Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and have no certain dwelling-place; and labor, working with our hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and as the offscouring of all things unto this day.' So doth St. Paul describe the Apostles' condition.

5. All these afflictions, as they knowingly did object themselves to for the sake of this testimony, so they did endure them with contentedness and joy; when they had been beaten, they departed, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus; rejoicing that they were made partakers of Christ's sufferings;' deeming it a privilege that was given them, not only to believe in him, but to suffer for his name;' thinking themselves ' happy in being reproached for the name of Christ;' 'taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods;' 'counting all things but loss for the excellency of the knowlege of Jesus Christ their Lord, for whom they suffered the loss of all things.'

6. Whence it is evident enough that the satisfaction of their conscience, and expectation of future reward from God for the discharge of their duty herein, was all the argument which did induce them to undertake this attestation, all the reason that could support them in it; neither of which could be consistent with the resolved maintenance of such a falsehood. They could not indeed but grievously be tormented with remorse in their minds, they could not but dread severe vengeance from heaven, had they been conscious to themselves of so villanous a design of mocking God, (whose name and express command they pretended, whose testimony and judgment they appealed to in this affair,) and together of abusing the world with such an imposture. Such must have been their inward sense, and such their expectations, had they proceeded with guilty conscience in this business: but they do seriously profess otherwise, and the condition of things might assure us they were in good earnest; εἰς τοῦτο, ‘For this end,' saith St. Paul, 'we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe:' and, Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world:' and, 'Knowing the fear of the Lord,' (that is, being sensible of our duty toward God, and fearful of his judgment, if we transgress it,) 'we persuade men; but are made manifest unto God.' So they declare what principle it was that moved them to this practice: and the hope encouraging them in it they often express; ' If,' said they, ' we suffer with Christ, we shall be glorified together with him :' and, We always bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our body:' and, ' It is a faithful saying, if we are dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us:' and, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.' So they profess concerning the grounds and reasons of their Maintaining this testimony (and the points connected therewith) with so great present inconvenience to themselves: and the state of things rendereth their profession most credible; for they appear not so blind as not to see those inconveniences, nor so fond as to like them for themselves, or on no considerable account: they confess that they should be very stupid and senseless people, if they had incurred and underwent all this to no purpose, or without hope of good recompense for it after this life; 'If Christ be not risen,' saith St. Paul, 'then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain; yea, and we are found false witnesses of God, that he raised up Christ;-then we have only hope in this life;' and, if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.'

7. And how indeed is it conceivable that such persons should be so bewitched with so passionate an affection, or so mighty a respect, toward a poor dead man, (one who was born so obscurely, who lived so poorly, who died so miserably and infamously, as a malefactor; who indeed so died to their knowlege most deservedly, supposing they did know their testimony to be false; one who never was capable to oblige them, or to recompense them for their actings and sufferings in any valuable measure,) that merely for his sake, or rather not for his sake, but only for a smoke of vain opinion about him, (which could nowise profit either him or them,) they should with an inflexible obstinacy defy all the world; expose themselves to all the persecutions of the world, and to all the damnations of hell. St. Paul surely had another opinion of Jesus, when he said, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us: for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Could they, think we, speak thus, who knew Jesus to be a wicked deceiver, worthily hated of God and men? No assuredly; their speech and behavior do palpably show that therefore they did bear so vehement an affection, and so high a respect toward Jesus, because, as with their mouths they openly professed, so they were in their hearts thoroughly persuaded, that he was the Son of God most dear unto him; who died for their sake; who