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508 TESTIMONY OF CONTEMPORARIES. [Doc. 259.
so extraordinary and so apostolical a character, should better
escape the imputation of madness, than the prophets of old?
And accordingly some have given out, that he was beside
himself, and, in particular, that it was occasioned by a fever
which he had about twenty years before his death. Now it is
well known by all his acquaintance, that our author recovered
of that fever after the manner of other men ; that his extra
ordinary communications commenced many years before that
time, and that his writings, both prior and subsequent to it,
entirely harmonize and proceed upon the same principles with
an exact correspondence ; and that in the whole of his con
versation, transactions, and conduct of life, he continued to
the end of it the same uniform, excellent man. Now, if to
write many large volumes on the most important of all subjects
with unvaried consistency, to reason accurately, and to give
proofs of an astonishing memory all the way ; and if hereto be
joined propriety and dignity of character in all the relative
duties of the christian life ; if all this can be reconciled with
the definition of madness, why there is an end of all distinction
between sane and insane, between wisdom and folly. Fie
upon those uncharitable prejudices, which have led so many
in all ages to credit and propagate slanderous reports of the
best of men, even whilst they have been employed in the heavenly
work of turning many from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan unto God!
"Were an angel from heaven to come and dwell incarnate
amongst us, may we not suppose that his conversation, dis
coveries, and conduct of life, would in many things be so
contrary to the errors and prejudices, the ways and fashions
of this world, that many would say with one consent, he is
beside himself? And where any one of our brethren, through
the Divine favour, attains to any high degree of angelical
illumination and communications, may he not expect the like
treatment ? I forget the name of the philosopher, whose
precepts and lectures were so repugnant to the dissolute
manners of the Athenians, that they sent to Hippocrates to
come and cure him of his madness ; to which message that
great physician returned this answer. That it was, not the
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