The manifestation of the divine power, through which the Three Witnesses received their testimony, destroys the theory of deception alleged to have been practiced by the Prophet on the credulity of the Eight Witnesses by exhibiting plates either manufactured by himself or accidentally discovered. Such, then, is the force of this direct testimony of the Eleven Witnesses to the truth of the Book of Mormon--the testimony of the Three and the Eight when considered together. It is so palpably true that it cannot be resolved into illusion or mistake. It is so evidently honest that it cannot be resolved into pure fabrication. It is of such a nature that it could not possibly have been the result of deception wrought by the cunning of Joseph Smith. There remains after these but one other theory: "The Witnesses were honest." They saw and heard and handled what they say they saw, and heard, and handled. Their testimony stands not only unimpeached, but unimpeachable. Footnotes 1. Renan, _The Apostles_, p. 67 and note 46. 2. Renan, _Life of Jesus_, introduction, p. 14; also New Witnesses, vol. I, chapter 1. 3. Renan, _The Apostles_, p. 37. 4. _The Nineteenth Century_, March, 1889. 5. _The Nineteenth Century_, June, 1889. Professor Huxley's papers quoted here will also be found in _Agnosticism and Christianity_, pp. 84, _et seq._ and 96 _et seq._ 6. Renan closes his treatise upon this subject as follows: "The glory of the resurrection, then, belongs to Mary of Magdala. After Jesus it is Mary who had done most of the foundation of Christianity. The shadow created by the delicate sensibility of Magdalene wanders still on the earth. Queen and patroness of idealists, Magdalene knew better than any one how to assert her dream, and impose on every one the vision of her passionate soul. Her great womanly vision: 'He has risen,' has been the basis of the faith of humanity. Away, impotent reason! Apply no cold analysis to this _chef d'oeuvre_ of idealism and of love. If wisdom refuses to console this poor human race, betrayed by fate, let folly attempt the enterprise. Where is the sage who has given to the world as much joy as the possessed Mary of Magdala?"--_The Apostles_, p. 61.