SECT. VI. And because they would not say what was false.

THE other thing we affirmed, viz. that they would not speak an untruth, belongs to what was before treated of, when we shewed the credibility of the Christian religion in general, and of the history of Christ’s resurrection. They, who would disprove witnesses in this particular relating to the disposition of their mind and will, must of necessity allege something to make it credible, that they set their mind against the truth. But this cannot be said here: for if any one should object that their own cause was concerned, he ought to examine upon what account it was their cause; certainly nor for the sake of getting any advantage, or shunning any danger; when, on the account of this profession, they lost all advantages, and there were no dangers which they did not expose themselves to. It was not therefore their own cause, unless out of reverence to God, which certainly does not induce any man to tell a lie, especially in a matter of such moment, upon which the eternal salvation of mankind depends. We are hindered from believing such a wicked thing of them, both by their doctrines, which are in every part full of piety;³⁹⁵³⁹⁵   And abhor lying, John xiv. 17. xv. 26. xvi. 13. xvii. 17, 19. viii. 37. Acts xxvi. 25. Rom. i. 25. 2 Thess. ii. 10. 1 John i. 6, 8. ii. 4, 21. 2 Cor. vi. 8. Ephes. iv. 15, 25. Colos. iii. 9. Rev. xxii. 15. 2 Cor. xi. 31. Gal. i. 20). Observe how industriously St. Paul distinguishes those things which are his own, and those which are the Lord’s, 1 Cor. vii. 10, 12. how Cautious in speaking of what he saw, whether he saw them in the body, or out of the body, 2 Cor. xi. 2. and by their life, which was never accused of any evil fact, no, not by their enemies, who only objected their unskilfulness against them, which is not at all apt to produce a falsity. If there had been in them tile least dishonesty, they would not have set down their own faults to be eternally remembered; as in the flight of them all, when Christ was in danger,³⁹⁶³⁹⁶   Matt. xxvi. 31, 56. and in Peter’s thrice denying him.³⁹⁷³⁹⁷   Matt. xxvi. 69, and the following; Mark xiv. 66, and the following; Luke xxii. 54, and the following.