My Discourses hereafter, if God spare me Life and Liberty, which under his Providence I don't despair of, to publish another Volume, shall treat on some historical Passages of the New Testament, such as, "On the Stories of _Jesus_'s Birth; and the Appearances of Angels to the Shepherds keeping Watch over their Flocks by Night: "The Journey and Presents of the Wise Men to _Jesus_: "The Slaughter of the Innocents at _Bethlehem_, and of _Herod_'s Cruelty: "The Travels of _Joseph_ with the Child _Jesus_ and his Mother into _Egypt_: "The Disputation of _Jesus_ with the _Doctors_ in the Temple, and his Elopement from his Parents: "His riding on an Ass to _Jerusalem_; and on other such like Passages of his Life. For I am resolv'd to give the Letter of the Scripture no Rest, so long as God gives me Life and Abilities to attack it. _Origen_[331] _says_, that _when we dispute against Ministers of the Letter, we must select some historical Parts of Scripture, which they understand literally, and shew that according to the Letter, they can't stand their Ground, but imply Absurdities and Nonsense_. And how then is such a Work to be perform'd to best Advantage? Is it to be done in a grave, sedate, and serious Manner? No, I think Ridicule should here take Place of sober Reasoning, as the more proper and effectual Means to cure Men of their foolish Faith and absurd Notions. As no wise Man hardly ever reprehends a Blunderbuss for his Bull, any other way, than by laughing at him; so the Asserters of nonsensical Notions in Theology should, if possible, be satirized and jetted upon, or they'll never be put out of Countenance for, nor desert their absurd Doctrines. And there never was a polemical Divine, that, if he had an Opportunity and Advantage over the Weakness of his Adversary, did not take such a ludicrous and merry Course with him. But on such historical Passages of the Gospel as before mention'd, do I trust to publish another Volume of _Discourses_, like to these on _Jesus_'s Miracles; and at present pass to my third general Head, at first proposed to be spoken to, and that is, III. To consider what _Jesus_ means, when he appeals to his Works and Miracles, as to a Testimony and Witness of his Authority; and to show that he did not properly and ultimately refer to these done in the _Flesh_, but to those mystical ones he would do in the _Spirit_, of which those done in the Flesh are but mere Types and Shadows.