themselves, induced me to press the doubts I have already expressed; and, for the same reason, I should wish to consider one more and very serious objection, which appears to me to lie at the threshold of all further investigation, viz. that the whole proof of Christianity depends upon the veracity of those interested in its defence. Maria. Not all, brother.

Edward. Yes, all, directly or indirectly. It is from Christians, that we have our accounts of the origin and history of Christianity. It is from them, we have received the Scriptures, which contain its precepts; from their hands, also, have we received the works of those, who rejected this religion, and which may have been garbled to serve its cause. If even their own statement be correct, for fifteen hundred years every thing has been in their own power. Its defenders, in later ages, have been evidently interested in supporting it: of those, who lived at an earlier period, we know nothing, but through the accounts of their successors. These defenders, also, have been the priests of this religion, and had, therefore, a further interest in maintaining it. How, then, can we rely upon any proof derived from such sources?

Maria. This is, indeed, a strong charge; can you overthrow it, sir?

Mr. B. As far as is necessary. I must, however, take it for granted, that you are acquainted with what is generally believed to be the true history of Europe, during the period you have alluded to. I must, also, beg you to give some attention to the present state of the Christian world.

Edward. It is divided into a great number of sects, all at variance with each other.

Mr. B. You will not dispute, I suppose, the truth of those facts, which are acknowledged by persons of all parties, infidels as well as Christians.

Edward. Certainly not.

Mr. B. And, I suppose, you will acknowledge, that

2 From whom do we receive accounts of the origin and progress of Christianity?-3 What inference does Edward think may be drawn, from this circumstance, against its truth ?-4 What does Mr. B. take for grant. ed?-5 What does he suppose?

the works, generally received in the world, as the productions of the persons whose names they bear, for the last three centuries, at least, were really such.

Edward. Undoubtedly; the invention of printing sets the matter at rest.

Mr. B. Then, it is certain, that never were nations more opposed to each other, than many of the Christian sects have been. Could there have been any system of deception in common, among those, who persecuted each other to death?

Edward. I should think not.

Mr. B. If there had been any system of deception kept up among the priests, would it have been concealed, notwithstanding all the martyrdoms that took place?

Edward. No; those, who were put to death by Christians, would never have died in the faith of Christ, had they not believed the religion of Christ to have been from Heaven.

Mr. B. The whole of the documents, then, on which we rely, could not have been forged subsequently to the Reformation. Now, of what character were the ages, which preceded it?

Edward. They are generally called the dark ages, from the deplorable state of ignorance in which the great mass of the people were.

Mr. B. From the best sources of information, relative to that period, what was the character of the clergy? Edward. Very low indeed, both as to morals and as to intellectual attainments.

Mr. B. If, then, the documents of the period, which preceded it, were forged at that time, we should be compelled to believe, that thousands of manuscripts were written, with the most consummate art, and dispersed,

6 What does he suppose, in relation to the writers of the last three centuries?-7 What does he then presume to be certain, in relation to many of the Christian sects?-8 When Edward admits this, what question does Mr. B. ask him?-9 In relation to those put to death by Christians, what does Edward assert ?-10 Of what character were the ages, which preceded the Reformation?-11 What was the character of the clergy, during those ages?-12 If the documents of the period preceding the Refor mation, were forged at that time, what should we be forced to believe?

with the greatest care, by men utterly unqualified for the task, and some of them containing sentiments most contradictory to the course of life they were pursuing; documents, which, when known, must occasion the downfal of their own pretensions.

Edward. That is wholly incredible.

Mr. B. If, then, the manuscripts of the fathers, and the classics, were really written by the persons, whose names they bear, and at the times and in the places alleged, (with the MSS. of the New Testament I do not concern myself at present), how far is it probable, such were corrupted by those Christians of the middle ages, through whose hands they passed?

Edward. We know, that the manuscripts of the classics, were found neglected in the libraries of monks, who knew not the value of what they possessed. Those of the Fathers, were transcribed, and held of the greatest authority all over Europe. Any interpolation of the works of the former, would never have been an objectany interpolation of those of the latter, impracticable.

Mr. B. When these works were first edited, was it with reference to the interests of Christianity?

Edward. No: some of the revivers of literature, were even suspected of infidelity; and those, who edited the Fathers, never thought of making use of them to defend Christianity itself.

Mr. B. Then, where does the slightest probability ex ist, that the documents, on which we depend for the defence of Christianity, are otherwise, than what they profess to be genuine productions of the persons, whose names they bear, written at the times and places alleged, and handed down, in substance, the same as originally written? For a more particular account, of course, I must refer you to the successive editors of each, who have laboured to send out the works of each author, as free from defect as possible.

13 What question is asked by Mr. B. respecting the manuscripts of the fathers and the classics?-14 What reply does Edward make to it ?-15 Were these works first edited with reference to the interests of Christianity?-16 Of what is it asked, by Mr. B., where exists the slightest probabílity?

Edward. But, admitting that all the works, to which it may be necessary to refer, in proof of the truth of Christianity, be genuine and unadulterated, it by no means follows, that they are true. In some cases, at least, very little weight can be attached to the declarations of the fathers; for, I believe, it is generally acknowledged, that they were both credulous, and addicted to exaggeration.

Mr. B. Perhaps so; and we must, therefore, be careful not to estimate their statements beyond their intrinsic value.

Edward. But, in some particulars, we are almost certain, they have recorded, what they knew to be false: and, is the testimony of such persons worth any thing? Does not their conduct throw strong suspicion on the religion itself?

Mr. B. One of the most violent of those, who have impeached their authority, speaks thus:

The history of the Gospel, I hope, may be true, though the history of the church be fabulous. And, if the ecclesiastic historians have recorded many silly fictions, under the name of miracles, as they undoubtedly have, the blame must be charged to the writers, not to their religion."-Middleton's Works, vol. i, p. 131, 4to ed. The use, which I shall make of their works, will be such as cannot be materially affected by your objection. Maria. Where they speak of things as passing under the public eye, or as being acknowledged by their enemies, or challenge investigation, in cases where it could easily have been made, and would have decided the question, some degree of credit must be allowed them. It is not to be imagined, that they would give their enemies so easy a triumph over them, as to render themselves liable to certain exposure, by greatly departing from the truth in such points.

Edward. In cases, where their statements are corrobo

17 What assertion does Edward make, on the supposition, that the works in question are genuine ?-18 And, what question does he ask, in reference to the admission of Mr. B., that this supposition may be cor rect?-19 What quotation is made from Middleton, on the subject ?-20 In what cases does Maria consider these writings entitled to credence?

rated by the acknowledgment of their enemies, or by the fact of no contrary statement having been published, which might reasonably have been expected, there appears no sufficient ground for withholding the assent we should give to any indifferent matter of well-authenticated history. There must, however, be some cases, in which we shall be reduced to their testimony alone, and that, perhaps, in points of great importance.

Mr. B. We must, therefore, the more carefully examine into the real probability, or improbability, of the truth of such portions.

Maria. But, the evidence, thus scattered through a variety of authors, in different languages, is completely inaccessible to ordinary readers.

Mr. B. It has been collected, arranged, and translated, for their benefit, by the defenders of Christianity, in later times.

Maria. But, how can we place reliance upon works of this nature, made by any man, who has a personal interest in maintaining one side of a disputed point?

Mr. B. Surely, ordinary readers may place reliance upon the accuracy of his translations, when, after a considerable lapse of time, his most acute and learned adversaries have never called their fidelity in question. Gibbon was no friend to Christianity, yet he placed the greatest reliance upon the labours of "the indefatigable Tillemont," and "the laborious Lardner." It also so happens, that those, who have laboured most in works of this kind, could gain or lose very little, whatever might be the result.

Maria. Be that as it may, still it is reasonable to conclude, that personal interest does bias many of the defenders of Christianity, and prejudice many others of those, who may be so circumstanced, as not to have much to gain or lose. If men fancy Christianity to be a great

21 In what cases does Edward consider them entitled to it ?-22 Into what, then, does Mr. B. think, that examination should be made?—23 Why does Maria think this evidence inaccessible ?-24 How is difficulty removed?-25 On what ground may reliance be placed on the accuracy of these translations ?-26 What does Maria consider a reasonable conclusion, in relation to this matter?