Typescript converted to computer file by Lee Dunbar - July 2002
The TRIALof theWITNESSESof theRESURRECTIONofJESUS CHRIST
N.B. Not only Mr. Woolston's objections in his Sixth Discourse on ourSaviour's Miracles, but those also which he and others have publishedin other Books, are here considered.
First Published about the Year 1729
THE
T R I A L
OF THE
WITNESSES
OF THE
Resurrection of Jesus
We were, not long since, some Gentlemen of the inns of court together,each to other so well known, that no man's presence was a confinementto any other, from speaking his mind on any subject that happened toarise in conversation. The meeting was without design, and thediscourse, as in like cases, various. Among other things we fell uponthe subject of Woolston's trial and conviction, which had happened somefew days before. That led to a debate, How the law finds in suchcases? what punishment it inflicts? and, in general, whether the lawought at all to interpose in controversies of this kind? We were notagreed in these points. One, who maintained the favorable side toWoolston, discovered a great liking and approbation of his discoursesagainst the miracles of Christ, and seemed to think his argumentsunanswerable. To which another replied, I wonder that one of yourabilities, and bred to the profession of the law, which teaches us toconsider the nature of evidence, and its proper weight, can be of thatopinion: I am sure you would be unwilling to determine a property offive shillings upon such evidence, as you now think material enough tooverthrow the miracles of Christ.
It may easily be imagined, that this opened a door to muchdispute, and determined the conversation for the remainder of theevening to this subject. The dispute ran thro' almost all theparticulars mentioned in Woolston's pieces; but the thread of it wasbroken by several digressions, and the pursuit of things which werebrought accidentally into the discourse. At length one of the companysaid pleasantly; Gentlemen, you don't argue like lawyers; if I werejudge in this cause, I would hold you better to the point. The companytook the hint, and cried, they should be glad to have the causereheard, and him to be the judge. The Gentlemen who had engaged withmettle and spirit in a dispute which arose accidentally, seemed veryunwilling to be drawn into a formal controversy; and especially theGentleman who argued against Woolston, thought the matter grew tooserious for him, and excused himself from undertaking a controversy inreligion, of all others the most momentous. But he was told, that theargument should be confined merely to the nature of the evidence; andthat might be considered, without entering into any such controversy ashe would avoid; and, to bring the matter within bounds, and under oneview, the evidence of Christ's resurrection, and the exceptions takento it, should be the only subject of the conference. With suchpersuasion he suffered himself to be persuaded, and promised to givethe company, and their new-made judge, a meeting that day fortnight.The judge and the rest of the company were for bringing on the cause aweek sooner; but the council for Woolston took the matter up, and said,Consider, Sir, the Gentleman is not to argue out of Littleton,Plowden, or Coke, authors to him well known; but he must have hisauthorities from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; and a fortnight is timelittle enough of all conscience to gain a familiarity with a newacquaintance: and, turning to the Gentleman, he said, I'll call uponyou before the fortnight is out, to see how reverend an appearance youmake behind Hammond on the New Testament, a