in history that looked upon it with a very unfavourable afpect; and though I cannot pretend to fettle the exact degree of neglect which the Heathens had of prodigies in general, or the Chriftian ones in particular; though it is impoffible to dif cover from fuch materials as hiftory affords what certain number of Converts amongst the Heathens came over at first; and to what particular motives their converfion was owing; yet thus much at least (which is enough on this occafion) is made out, that the Pagans in general had a much lower opinion of Miracles than they really deferved, and came over at first in much fewer numbers, than fuch frequent and furprizing occurrences fhould naturally occafion.

We have heard indeed much in all ages of Christianity of the swift progress of the Gospel ; and fo indeed it was to a most amazing degree if unattended by Miracles, and likewise in fome meafure fo on the plan we are maintaining, when every Convert that was made, was made in direct oppofition both to his principles and passions, both to the prevailing religion, and prevailing philofophy on any other fuppofition it's progress was not rapid but flow; nay it's flowness was more miraculous than it's fo much boafted rapidity, if left

to

to the clear and uncorrupted fuggeftions of reafon, men could live, as they did, fo long in a fupine neglect of the pureft fpecies of religion fupported by a feries of fuch amazing transactions.

As to what may be faid farther in regard to the first Converts, that it must be the force of Miracles which brought them over; and of confequence that the Pagans did not utterly contemn this fort of conviction in general; this may be allowed in all it's force confiftently with all that has been already advanced on this fubject: Since it never was intended to fhew that no Heathen could admit the proof from Miracles, but why fo ma

ny

did not; though indeed it will be found upon a nearer fcrutiny than feems hitherto to have been made into the first ages of the Gospel, that a much fewer number of Pagans were converted by Miracles than is commonly imagined.

e

• It cannot be doubted but that Julian was as good a judge as any one of the principal motives that contributed to the propagation of Chriftianity, having himself been of this Religion, and afterwards endeavouring to establish Heathenifm by the fame methods that made the Gospel flourish, and these he affures Arfaces the High Prieft were chiefly the kindnefs of Chriftians to ftrangers, their care. in burying their dead, and their celebrated fanctity of life and manners. Julian. Epift. ad Arfac.

I will

I will not now confirm the truth of this obfervation by the numerous examples that may be brought from the primitive times, as it does not relate to the fubjects I am about to treat of; nor will I add any other proofs to fhew the low opinion which the Heathens bad of Miracles, as thofe already collected remain altogether unshaken: and while they do fo, I have a right to make use of them on any other occafion, and efpecially on one fo facred, as that of adding farther ftrength to the best Religion in the World: This I intend to do in the following manner.

There are fome particular Miracles of Christianity which may be faid more peculiarly to belong to the Pagans than the reft; as either being thought fo univerfal as to extend over the greatest part of the habitable World; or being wrought in fuch of their capital cities; or in fo public a manner, that the most incurious could not avoid their fight. Of the former fort is thought the miraculous darkness at the Paffion; of the latter fort are all the others taken notice of in this Work; fome of which have been just mentioned by me before, but not enough for their dignity and weight, and not confidered in that useful light which they deferve to be placed in.

Now

Now as the truth and reality of fome amongst thefe depends principally on the testimony of the Fathers, which is likewife the cafe with the Scriptures themselves, this teftimony must be either confirmed in a better manner than bas hitherto been done; or elfe there would be fuch a breach for infidelity to enter in at, as even Infidels themselves could never hope to find.

Thus for inftance, the filence and neglect of the Pagans in regard to the miracles related by the Primitive Chriftians is altogether as great as their filence and neglect of those related by Chrift and his Apoftles; and the objection to them naturally arifing from hence must not only be of the fame weight, but has likewife been urged in all it's force by as fenfible and fagacious Writers as the modern times can produce: and I fee no poffible method of removing it effectually but that which is laid down in the fol lowing Differtations. Now as the Reader will find many illustrations of this point, as he proceeds forward in the work, I shall only obferve here, that for any Chriftian to jay that no Writer in the World has taken notice of the Pool of Bethesda but St. John, or that no Writer in the World has taken notice of the fall of Simon

Magus

Magus but Arnobius; and yet to be able to affign no better reason than has hitherto been offered for fuch ftrange omiffions, which is in effect no more than the meer caprice or fancy, the forgetfulness or idleness of the Heathen Writers; I fay for any Chriftian to do this, argues a diftrefs that even an enemy must pity, and is calculated rather to encreafe than mitigate the malignity of this untoward appearance of antient times.

It is certain indeed that fome Chriftians, and fuch too as are zealously affected to their Religion, feem not only indifferent about maintaining or strengthening the teftimony of the Primitive Chriftians, but likewife difpute the very existence of these facts, even with those Writers themselves; but how, in this cafe, we can trust at all to their authority in the most important parts of Chriftianity I own my felf at a loss ta guess.

I am aware indeed it will be faid, that I ought to be as little at a lofs on this head as any one, and that it behoves me in particular to account for an inconfiftency which can be charged upon no one more properly than myself, being here engaged in the defence of thofe Writers, whom I bad

in