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THE

EVIDENCES

REVEALED RELIGION.

CHAPTER VI.

AN EXAMINATION OF THE EVIDENCE OF SEVERAL

MIRACLES WHICH HAVE BEEN SAID TO HAVE BEEN WROUGHT FOR OTHER PURPOSES THAN

THE CONFIRMATION OF THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN REVELATIONS.

WE

E fhall be much confirmed in our belief of the miracles of Mofes and of Chrift, and of the truth of their religions, if we compare the evidence which has been brought for them, with that which is alledged in favour of other miracles. For miracles have been pleaded in favour of heathenifm, Mohammedanifm, and the church of Rome; but the evidence which is alledged in their favour, though it has been boafted of by modern unbelievers, as equal, and even fuperior to what has been pleaded for the miracles of Mofes and of Chrift is exceedingly defective, if there be any VOL. II.

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propriety in the rules which I have already laid down for afcertaing the value of human teftimony.

The number of falfe iniracles which have gained credit in the worid, pofterior to thofe of Chrift and his apoftles, are, in fome measure, an evidence of their truth Mankind are easily led by analogy from one thing to another; fo that having been compelled to admit the evidence of fome miracles, they would more eafily admit that of others, in any respects fimilar to them (as their being wrought by the fame kind of perfons, and for fimilar purposes) upon much more flender evidence; whereas, if nothing had exifted of the like nature before them, the evidence of which was indifputable, the later miracles would have gained no credit at all; fo that the credit which they have obtained is a kind of proof that fomething better authenticated had taken place before them. In like manner fpurious Gofpels, &c. are fome proof that there were genuine ones prior to them.

It may truly be faid of all miracles, not Jewish or Chriftian, that they were either not published to the world till long after the time in which they were faid to have been performed, or not in the places in which they were faid to have happened, or they were fuffered to pafs without examination, because they coincided with the favourite opinions and prejudices of those to whom they were reported; or that it was the intereft of priests or magiftrates

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