the Ufe of the World, had he not been baffled at first setting out? If God intends a Law for the Use of the World, he is obliged, if I may use the Expreffion, to publish the Law to the World: And therefore Want of fuch Publication evidently fhews that God was not concerned in them, or at leaft did not intend that we should be concerned in them: And therefore 'tis abfurd to inftance in fuch Pretences as Difficulties. in our Way, which in truth are not in our Way at all.

And thus the Cafe of Revelation stood, and the Gospel had no Competitor, till the great and fuccessful Impoftor Mahomet arose: He indeed pretends a Commiffion to all the World, and found Means fufficiently to publifh his Pretences: He afferts his Authority upon the Strength of Revelation, and endeavours to transfer the Advantages of the Gospel Evidence to himself, having that Pattern before him to copy after: And, should we fay that the Alcoran was never promulged to us by Perfons duly commiffioned, it may be answered perhaps, that the Alcoran is as well published to us as the Gofpel is to them; which has fome Appearance of an Anfwer, though the Fact is indeed otherwife;

for

for even the Alcoran owns Jefus for a true Prophet.

But with respect to this Inftance I perfuade myself it can be no very distracting Study to find Reasons to determine our Choice. Go to your Natural Religion: Lay before her Mahomet and his Difciples arrayed in Armour and in Blood, riding in Triumph over the Spoils of thousands and tens of thousands, who fell by his victorious Sword: Shew her the Cities which he fet in Flames, the Countries which he ravaged and destroyed, and the miferable Diftrefs of all the Inhabitants of the Earth. When fhe has viewed him in this Scene, carry her into his Retirements: Shew her the Prophet's Chamber, his Concubines and Wives; let her fee his Adultery, and hear him alledge Revelation and his divine Commiffion to justify his Luft and his Oppreffion. When fhe is tired with this Profpect, then fhew her the blessed Jefus, humble and meek, doing Good to all the Sons of Men, patiently inftructing both the Ignorant and the Perverfe. Let her fee him in his most retired Privacies: Let her follow him to the Mount, and hear his Devotions and Supplications to God. Carry her to his Table to view his poor Fare, and hear his heavenly

heavenly Discourse. Let her see him injured, but not provoked: Let her attend him to the Tribunal, and confider the Patience with which he endured the Scoffs and Reproaches of his Enemies. Lead her to his Crofs; and let her view him in the Agony of Death, and hear his last Prayer for his Persecutors: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!

When Natural Religion has viewed both, afk, Which is the Prophet of God? But her Answer we have already had; when she saw Part of this Scene through the Eyes of the Centurion who attended at the Crofs; by hi she spoke and faid, Truly this Man was the Son of God.

DISCOURSE X.

ACTS ii. 22.

Jefus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by Miracles and Wonders and Signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves alfo know.

HE

great Evidence of Chriftianity, to which our Saviour and his Apostles constantly appeal, are the Miracles, Wonders, and Signs, which God did by the Hand of Jefus to confirm the Authority and Commiffion he gave him to publish and declare his Will to the World. This being the only reasonable Evidence that he could give of his coming from God, our Saviour fays exprefly, If I had not done among them