JOHN XX. 30, 31.

And many other Signs truly did Jefus in the Prefence of his Difciples, which are not written in this Book. But thefe are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift the Son of God, and that believing ye might bave Life through his Name.

T

HESE Words ftand towards the Close of St. John's Gospel, and are by fome thought to be the laft of his own Writing, They give us an Account of the Nature of his Gofpel, and of his End and Design in publishing it to the World. The Apostle does not pretend his Gospel to be a perfect and complete Narrative of all that our Lord did whilft he conversed among

Men,

Men, not even of all the Miracles and Wonders which he wrought in Confirmation of his Doctrine: Many other Signs truly did Jefus, which are not written in this Book. He adds farther, that the Signs omitted in his Account were done in the Prefence of his Difciples, and were, confequently, of as good Authority as those related by himself. This was but a neceffary Piece of Caution; for St. John wrote his Gospel late, towards the End of his Life, after the Apostles and Difciples of Chrift had spread the Gospel far and near, and had both by Preaching and Writing published the great Works and Signs done by their Mafter. To prevent therefore the Sufpicions which some might be apt to entertain of their Teachers, when they found the great Evidences infifted on by them not mentioned by St. John, who, being the laft Writer of the Apostles, would naturally, for that Reason, be supposed to be the most accurate; he declares that he had not recounted all the Signs done by Jefus, but that there were many others, which, having been wrought in the Prefence of the Disciples, might very well be taught and published by them, though omitted by himself.

But why does St. John, speaking of the Miracles of Jefus, take notice only that they

were

were done in the Prefence of the Difciples? whereas in truth they were done in the Face of the Sun, in the moft open and public Manner, in the Sight of Friends and Foes; which is fo advantageous a Circumstance, and which adds fo much to the Credibility of the Signs, that it ought ever to be remembered. St. John knew this very well, having in the course of his Gospel often taken notice of this very Thing: Particularly in the Story of Lazarus he tells us, that many Jews were with Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their Brother, who followed Jefus to the Grave, and faw Lazarus come forth to Life upon his Call: Many of which, fays St. John, Ch. xi. 45, 46, having feen the Things which Jefus did, believed on him: But fome of them went their ways to the Pharifees, and told them what Things Jefus bad done. But the Reason why this is not infifted on in the Text is, that it was not to St. John's Purpose: He is there fpeaking of the authoritative Promulgation of the Gospel, as is evident from the last Verfe, Thefe Things are written that ye might believe: And this led him no farther than to observe that the Preachers and Publishers of the Gospel were Eye-witneffes of the Things they attested, and therefore unexceptionable Witnesses.

This is the true Foundation of the Apoftles' Authority confidered as Promulgers of Chriftianity; which depended upon what they themselves had feen or heard, and not upon what others had feen or heard, whether Friends or Foes. Other Circumftances may be good collateral Evidence; but the Teftimony of the Apostles refts upon this, That they themselves faw and heard what they have reported. And therefore the fame Apostle in his first Epiftle fets forth this Evidence in the very fame Manner: That which was from the Beginning, which we have heard, which we have feen with our Eyes, which we have looked upon, and our Hands have handled, of the Word of Life-That which we have feen and heard, declare we unto you, that alfo may have Fellowship with us.

ye

You have alfo the Reafon affigned which moved St. John to publifh his Gospel, which extends likewise to all the other Writings of the New Testament: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift the Son of God, and that believing ye might have Life through his Name. This Reafon is not fo ftrictly to be urged, as if Writing were the only Way of publishing the Gospel, which we know was effectually published to great Multitudes, before any Book of the