Expreffions, and fo fuited them to those later Circumstances: Which indeed is not impoffible to be fuppos'd. Yet because fuch an Opinion, without fome Proof, must be very weak, all thofe Hypothefes and Solutions, will in the mean time deferve to be esteem'd very weak alfo. Nor can I deny but this Corollary does therefore much weaken the Fifth Propofition, in my Harmony of the Evangelifts, with its Corollaries: As I here take occafion freely to acknowledge upon this occafion.

"

(5) The Epistle to the Philippians, A. D. 67. That this was not Written fo early as A. D. 62, nor together with those to the Ephefians, to the Coloffians, and to Philemon; as the forecited Authors fuppofe; but as late as is here affign'd, feems to me highly probable, because it is quite on another Subject; becaufe 'tis but once quoted in the Conftitutions; becaufe Paul therein fpeaks of their Fellowship with him in the Gospel from the Philip 1.5 firft Day till now; of one at least of his Solemn Apologies for the Gospel as then over; of the Courage bis Bonds and Sufferings had. 7. 12, infpir'd others with; of his doubtfulness whether he should defire to Live or Dye; with his hopes of Living for their fakes, and alfo of feeing them again; of the Perfecutions 2. 17. 24° He, as well as they were then under, because Paul here mentions thofe Dogs, evil Workers, 3. 2. &. and the Concifion, or thofe Jewish perfecuting

Here.

20.86.27.

'c.

Hereticks which spread much towards the end of Paul's life; because he takes notice 4. 15, 16 that these Philippians had communicated to him in the beginning of the Gospel, as at a time then long paft, and that they had once and again fent fupplies to bim to Theffalonica. All which circumstances are figns of a later date; and fome of them particularly are indications that the Perfecution by Nero was then begun at Philippi, which could not be before A. D. 64. at the fooneft, when it began at Rome; but might well be fomewhat later; because places remote from Rome must be ftill flower in the execution of the Emperors Orders, than those nearer to it.

Jam. 1. 1.

(6) The Epiftle of James A. D. 66. That this Epiftle was not written fo foon as A. D. 60. nor much before the Death of James, and Deftruction of Jerufalem, is alfo plain by the following Arguments. (1) This Epiftle fpeaks of fuch Trials or Temptations, fuch Exercise of Faith and Pa12. tience then peculiarly neceffary, and fo represents the reward of those fuffering Virtues, it fo directly affirms, that the Heathen 5.6,7,8. already drew them before their Judgment Seats, and that they condemned and flew the juft; that 'tis highly probable Nero's Perfecution was then begun in Judaa ; which was not till Anno Domini 64. or la ... ter. (2) This Epiftle fo plainly upbraids the rich Jews with their Folly in cheating

the

the Poor, and hoarding up Wealth, and living in Luxury, when they already felt, and would foon feel more the Miferies already come, and coming upon them; nay, it fo directly fpeaks of their doing all this in the laft Days of their Common-wealth; v. 3. and fo fully affures the Chriftians, that the coming of the Lord drew nigh, and the Judge v. 8, 9. food before the Door ; and fo exprefly fpeaks of thofe Wars and Fightings that were then among them; and that they flew, and fought, and war'd with one another; 4 1, 1. that it feems plain the Jewish War and its Tumults were then begun; which was about the middle of A. D. 66. Probably the Hire of thofe Laborers, which by the rich v. 4 Jews were kept back by Fraud here intimated, belongs to the Harvest A. D. 66. and this Epiftle might well be written towards the latter part of the fame Year, after both the Perfecution, and the War of Judea were begun among them. These feein strong Evidences in this cafe. Yet is there one grand Objection to be here confider'd, fince it has forc'd the moft Learned to overlook these Arguments, and to place the Death of James much fooner, about A. D. 62. and that is the feeming Affirmation of Jofephus, that James was martyr'd about that very time. But in answer to this I affirm, that Jofephus does not fay that he was then actually put to Death, but only deliver'd Antig. L.

XX. c. 8.

upp. 698.

up among others to be ftoned by the High Prieft Ananus. His Words are thefe: ärav nadices Cuviselor reins, ja των εἰς αυτὸ ἢ ἀδελφὸν ἰησε το λεγομοία χει ιακωβΘ. όνομα αυτών και τινας ἑτέροις, ως νομησάντων κατηγορίζω ποιησαμένο παρέδωκε danoopjes. He deliver'd them up to be &ftoned; without affirming that they actual ly were ftoned; much lefs that they all were flain thereby. For we must confider, (1) That the Condemnation by a Jewish High Prieft was not fufficient regularly to put any one to Death at that time, without the Sentence of the Roman Governor : As we know from the Hiftory of our Lord's Condemnation, and the Jews own Words at that time, it is not lawful for us to put any Man to Death. (2) That had this Sentence been immediately executed, or attempted to be executed, yet would it not certainly follow, that James had been actually flain. Paul was truly ftoned at Lyftra, nay, and drawn out of the City for dead, yet did he live many Years afterwards. (3) Jofephus informs us in the fame place, that this Proceeding of Ananus, to convene Judges, and fentence Men to Death, was immediately complained of to King Agrippa; who prefently turn'd him out of his Office for the fame. So that the leaft delay of Execution must fave the Lives of the condemned. (4) He alfo there informs us, that

Fob.18.31

A&t. 14.19

when

1

Cels. L. I.

.P. 35.

C. 23. P.

when the fame Complaint was presently carried to the new Governor Albinus, then on his way to Jerufalem, it was not for actually taking away the Lives of any, as if the Sentence were already executed ; but for prefuming to convene fuch a Judicature ; for which he was immediately threatned by Albinus. (5) The fame Jofe phus, in words directly alledg'd by Origen and Eufebius, tho' wanting in our prefent Copies, affirms that the Murder of this James, was the occafion of the miferable Orig.Contr Siege and Defolations of Jerufalem: Cura ἢ συμβέβηκεν ἰσδαίοις κατ ̓ ἐκδίκησιν ιακώβε το Eufebil. δικαίε, ὃς ἂν ἀδελφὸς ἰησε το λεγομλύει χρις• EL.L.I. ἐπειδή του δικαιότατον αυτὸν ὄντα οἱ ἐκδαίοι απέκτ 65. Tevi. The Jewish Nation was fcarcely fo clear of Blood, that if this James had been only flain among feveral others, on a fudden, without a general approbation, and this Eight or Nine Years before, Jofephus would thus afcribe thofe terrible miferies thereto, in fo folemn a manner as he here does. (6) Eufebius himself, and the much antienter Hegefippus, whom he cites for it, do directly affirm, that this James was thrown down from a Pinacle of the Temple, and then fton'd, and after all Slain with a Club, immediately before the Siege of ferufalem : ευθὺς θεσπασιανὸς πολιορκεί την redajav fays Hegefippus: And Eufebius there fays, το 70 τ αίτίαν αμα με το

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