[ '9<5 ] 



" as to fecure us againft all delufion in themfelves." If by good 

 fenfe he means that they fhould not be idiots, enthufiafls, or 

 madmen, this qualification cannot be difputed ; but why educa- 

 tion and learning are required to atteft all forts of miraculous 

 events, I cannot conje£lure, as the knowledge of many fuch 

 events requires nothing more than the free ufe of one's fight 

 or feeling. It is plain that neither education nor learning is 

 requifite to obferve, that a man notorioufly blind from his na- 

 tivity is made to fee without any chirurgical operation, or that 

 a man notorioufly dead is reftored to life ; or to fee a man 

 walking on water as on firm land, &c. thefe are not tricks or 

 impoftures that require fome fkill for their detection. 



The fecond qualification he requires, is " fuch undoubted 

 " integrity as to place tliem beyond all fufpicion of any defign 

 " to deceive others." To this I perfedlly agree. 



The third is " fuch credit and reputation in the eyes of 

 " mankind, as to have a great deal to lofe in cafe of being 

 " detedled in any falfehood." He might add, or at leajl a great deal 

 to fear in cafe of deteBion. For men of an inferior clafs may be 

 little known, and therefore not lofe much credit or reputation ; 

 but they may well fear corporal punifhment, lofs of liberty or 

 life. 



Ibid. 4thly, He requires " that they fhould atteft fads per- 

 " formed in fuch a public manner, and in fo celebrated a part 



" of 



