deliberation they ever had about it. Not long after the resurrection,
the apostles were taken; the High Priest thought the matter of that
weight, that he summoned the council and senate of the children of
Israel. The apostles are brought before them, and make their defence.
Part of their defence is in these words: The God of our fathers raised
up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. The defence was indeed a
heavy charge upon the senate, and in the warmth of their anger, their
first resolution was to slay them all. But Gamaliel, one of the
council, stood up, and told them, that the matter deserved more
consideration. He recounted to them the history of several imposters
who had perished, and concluded with respect to the case of the
apostles then before them: If this work be of men, it will come to
nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be
found to fight against God. The council agreed to this advice, and
after some ill treatment, the apostles were discharged. I ask now, and
let any man of common sense answer, Could Gamaliel possibly have given
this advice, and supposed that the hand of God might be with the
apostles, if he had known that there was a cheat discovered in the
resurrection of Jesus? Could the whole senate have followed this
advice, had they believed the discovery of the cheat? Was there not
among them one man wise enough to say, How can you suppose God to have
anything to do in this affair, when the resurrection of Jesus, upon
which all depends, was a notorious cheat, and manifestly proved to be
so? I should but lessen the weight of this authority by saying more,
and therefore I will rest here, and give way to the Gentleman to go on
with his accusation.

Mr. A. My Lord, Before I proceed any further, I beg leave to
say a few words in reply to what the Gentleman has offered on this
head.