Section 8: The Miracle of the Resurrection of great Weight, and confirmed by sufficient Witnesses.

Book 1 Section 8 (p. 15-16):
The Miracle of the Resurrection of great Weight, and confirmed by sufficient Witnesses.

As from the Miracles wrought by Christ in his Life-time, so we argue from the greatest of Miracles after his Cross, Death, and Burial; namely his Resurrection, and return to Life again. For this, not only as true, but as the principal foundation of their Faith, the Christians of all Times and Places (that are worthy that Appelation) build upon, as that which giveth Life to the whole of Christianity; which had been impossible, had not the first Teachers of Christian Faith certainly perfwaded their Auditors, that the thing was so done. Neither could they have perswaded Men endued with Judgment, unless they did afirm themselves Eye-Witnesses, without which Affirmation, no Man, though no mean understanding, would have given credit to them, the thing being so like to things Incredible in the wisdom of Man; and especially for that they must purchase their Belief so dearly, at the cost of the greatest danger and persecution.

That this was affirmed by them with great constancy, even their own Books, and the Writings of other Men do shew; yea, 'tis in their Books, they appealed to the testimony of five hundred Witnesses at once, 1 Cor. 15.9. It is not a custom of Lyers, in matters of Fait, to appeal to Witnesses so many; nor can it be that so many should conspire to bring in an Evidence, in such a case, contrary to what they knew to be the Truth. Had there been no other Witnesses but those first most famous Propagators of the Christian Doctrine, their Testimony had been sufficient; especially considering that these Witnesses all endured intolerable Ignominy, and other Afflictions, and most of them Death itself, for attesting in the case of Christ's Resurrection; not what they had by report from others, but what their Eyes beheld, and their Hands had touched, even the Sacred Body of the Lord Jesus being alive, and eating, drinking, and discoursing with them, forty days after he was risen from the dead: So that either this Testimony is most true; or else they must tell a wilful Lye; which in their Conscience and certain Knowledg they must know to be false, and that with the danger of death for so doing. Now this being utterly incredible, that so many Men, and such Men as could not be charged with impiety, should be so mad as to destroy themselves for nothing; it follows that the Resurrection of Christ is as certain and uncontroulable as any thing whatsoever can be known by any Men, in the most certain way of knowing any thing knowable by Man: and if the Evidence given in this case be rejected, there is nothing to be believed which Men report to others, upon the best knowledg of Sight, Hearing, and Touching, that Men is capable to exercise. I conclude then, that the certainty of Christ's Resurrection is to be accounted (even from rational demonstration) among things which are most certain, which are recommended to us at any distance from our reach and sight; or else all things offered to our Understanding must be accounted false or uncertain.

And what we have spoken of those first Witnesses, the same is also true of Paul, who declared openly, that he had seen Christ reigning now in Heaven, 1 Cor. 15.9. 2 Cor. 12.4. Acts 22.3. Yet wanted he none of the Jewish Learning, nor was he out of hope of Honours, if he had gone forward in his Fathers steps. But on the contrary part, he could expect nothing but hatred of his Kindred, travels over all the World, Difficult, Perilous, and Laborious, and last of all Death and Infamy.