THE TRIAL OF THE WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. WE were, not long fince, some gentlemen of the inns of court together, each to other fo well known, that no man's prefence was a confinement to any other from speaking his mind on any fubject that happened to arife in conversation. The meeting was without defign, and the discourse, as in like cafes, various. Among other things we fell upon the fubject of Woolfton's trial and conviction, which had happened fome few days before: that led to a debate how the law ftands in fuch cases; what punishment it inflicts; and, in general, whether the law ought at all to interpofe in controverfies of this kind. We were not agreed in these points. One, who maintained the favourable fide to Woolfton, difçovered a great liking and approbation of his discourses against the miracles of Christ, and seemed to think his arguments unanfwerable. To which another replied, I wonder that one of your abilities, and bred to the profeffion of the law, which teaches us to con fider the nature of evidence, and its proper weight, can be of that opinion: I am fure you would be unwilling to determine a property of five fhillings upon fuch evidence as you now think material enough to overthrow the miracles of Chrift. It may eafily be imagined that this opened a door to much difpute, and determined the converfation for the remainder of the evening to this subject. The difpute ran through almost all the particulars mentioned in Woolfton's pieces; but the thread of it was broken by feveral digreffions, and the pursuit of things which were brought accidentally into the difcourfe. At length one of the company faid pleafantly, Gentlemen, you do not argue like lawyers: if I were judge in this caufe, I would hold you better to the point. The company took the hint, and cried, they should be glad to have the cause re-heard, and him to be the judge. The gentlemen, who had engaged with mettle and fpirit in a difpute which arose accidentally, feemed very unwilling to be drawn into a formal controversy: and especially the gentleman who argued against Woolfton, thought the matter grew too ferious for him, and excufed himself from undertaking a controverfy in religion, of all others the most momentous: but he was told, that the argument fhould be confined merely to the nature of the evidence, and that might be confidered without entering into any fuch controverfy as he would avoid; and, to bring the matter within bounds, and under one view, the evidence of Chrift's refurrection, and the exceptions taken to it, fhould be the only subject of the conference. With much perfuafion he suffered himself to be perfuaded, and pro mised to give the company, and their new made judge, a meeting that day fortnight. The judge and the reft of the company were for bringing on the cause a week fooner: but the counsel for Woolfton took the matter up, and said, Confider, fir, the gentleman is not to argue out of Littleton, Plowden, or Coke, authors to him well known; but he must have his authorities from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; and a fortnight is time little enough of all confcience to gain a familiarity with a new acquaintance; and, turning to the gentleman, he said, I will call upon you before the fortnight is out, to fee how reverend an appearance you make behind Hammond on the New Teftament, a concordance on one hand, and a folio Bible with references on the other. You shall be welcome, fir, replied the gentleman; and perhaps you may find some company more to your own tafte he is but a poor counsel who ftudies on one fide of the question only, and therefore I will have your friend Woolfton, T-1, and C-s, to entertain you when you do me the favour of the vifit. Upon this we parted in good humour, and all pleased with the appointment made, except the two gentlemen who were to provide the entertainment. THE SECOND DAY. The company met at the time appointed but it happened in this, as in like cafes it often does, that fome friends to fome of the company, who were not of the party the firft day, had got notice of the meeting; and the gentlemen who were to debate the queftion found they had a more numerous au |