to have the force of truth. Turning, then, to the works of the Deistical writers, we find, that the modern opinion, by some, adduced against the fact of the existence of Christ, has not obtained, generally, among them; in fact, very few, indeed, have entertained it; and, consequently, from the conduct of the Deists themselves, we may reasonably conclude, there is no solid foundation for it.

Edward. It is only surprising, that the objection should have ever been brought forward at all.

Mr. B. Proceeding to the next class of antagonists, we find, the followers of Mohammed refer to the great work of the founder of their religion, as the supreme authority on this subject. By him, however, the existence of Jesus Christ is not only acknowledged, but assumed, as an essential part of the foundation, on which his own claims are established. The country, the life, and reputed death, of the Founder of Christianity, must, therefore, at that time, have been well known to be the same, as at present believed.

Maria. This, also, carries us up to the beginning of the seventh century, and establishes the belief of the Christian statement, at that period, in the very countries, where our Lord is said to have lived.

Mr. B. The testimony of the next body of adversaries, is important, as being that of the descendants of those, who had once possessed that country, and "of whom, as touching the flesh, Christ came," and, in substance, it agrees with the statement of the Christians; for, they allow, that Christ was the founder of the religion, which bears his name; and, that he was put to death, by their ancestors, before the destruction of Jerusalem. Now, this last event is well known to have taken place in the year 70, and, therefore, it becomes certain, that the origin of Christianity, could not have occurred later, than a few years of the period assigned by its advocates.

19 And of the opinion, in particular, of some modern Deists, that write against the fact of Christ's existence ?-20 What is said of the followers of Mohammed, in relation to the existence of Jesus Christ ?-21 How does Maria reply to this fact?-22 What is said of the testimony of the third body of adversaries to Christianity, the Jews?-23 When was Jerusalem destroyed?

Maria. Do the Jews assign no particular period for the appearance of Jesus?

Mr. B. They do; but, as they differ among themselves, and are proved, by the testimony of all other nations, to be most careless, as to their chronological statements, we can place no dependence on the date assigned by the majority, which is considerably earlier, than that, given by the Christians, and is positively contradicted, by the testimony of another body of adversaries, on which greater reliance can be placed.

Edward. From what particular authors, do you obtain this information?

Mr. B. From authority, which the Jews hold in the highest estimation, that of the Talmud, the date of which, may be referred to the year 500, and which, from the bitterness of its language, against the Founder of Christianity, shows, the compilers of it did not possess the power to deny the facts above mentioned; whilst it leads us to suspect the truth of the imputations they cast upon him, and which you may see in Lardner.

Edward. Then, do you think it just, to receive their declarations in the one case, and not in the other?

Mr. B. There is a probability, in favour of the former, which there is not, as to the latter. On referring to the passages in question, you will find, that the anecdotes bear such internal marks of falsity, that, had they appeared at an earlier period, they could hardly have been credited by any one; but, we have a further confutation of them, in the fact, that, previous assailants of Christianity, as devoted to their own faith as the compilers of the Talmud, and much more acute, have not left the slightest trace of their knowledge of any such transactions, which they hardly could have failed to mention, if true. Edward. But, what authority have these previous authors, with the Jews?

Mr. B. The Mishna, which was compiled by Rabbi

24 What is said of the account of the Jews, on the time of our Saviour's appearance ?-25 What is said of the Talmud, as relating to the argument?-26 What question does Edward ask, respecting the testimony furnished in the Talmud ?-27 What is the reply of Mr. B. to him, on this point?

Jehudah Hakkadosh, about the year 180, holds the highest place, and contains no proof against Christianity, drawn from false statements, on the part of its friends, and casts no imputation of immorality on its Founder. It only laments the decline of religion, intimates its fears, from the prevalence of the new faith, and confirms the fact of the destruction of Jerusalem having taken place, at the time usually assigned.

Maria. We have, then, the testimony of the Jews, as well as of the Mohammedans, to the truth of the Christian statement.

Mr. B. There yet remains, the testimony of the advocates of that religion, which was overthrown by Christianity; they, therefore, cannot be less likely to state the truth, than either of those already considered. Here, indeed, we have no work, acknowledged by them, as of supreme authority, as in the two last cases; and, we must, therefore, trace the vestiges of Christianity, step by step, from the time of the last Pagans, to the time, when it first made its appearance.

Edward. Those, however, who lived subsequently to the establishment of Christianity, as the religion of the state, can hardly be of so much importance, as those who preceded them.

Mr. B. The state of the Pagans, under the Christian emperors, though certainly very unfavourable to them, was not, however, of such a nature, as to preclude their giving us considerable information, as to their opinion of Christianity, and the state in which it had existed, previously to its establishment. The very manner, in which they write, respecting it, proves, as well, that they were under no constraint, as to this expression of their opinions, as, that they were not biased, in favour of the religion of the court.

Maria. But, if they were men of character, surely,

28 What is said of the testimony contained in the Mishna ?-29 What other testimony remains to be considered ?-30 In examining the testimony of Pagans, in favour of Christianity, how does Mr. B. propose to proceed-31 What is remarked of the Pagans, under the Christian emperors?-32 What does Maria suggest, concerning their rejection of Christianity?

their rejection of Christianity, under such circumstances, ought to have great weight, since they lived near the times, in which truth could best be discovered; and, interest must have prompted many, to embrace the new religion.

Mr. B. It is not without weight; but, this is not the place to consider it: we must pursue the more immediate object before us, viz. the obtaining certain knowledge, as to the state of Christianity, in their times, and those which preceded them.

Edward. It may, however, be conceived, they would not speak fully their opinion, as to their own times.

Mr. B. Let us refer to facts. In the fifth century, Proclus published eighteen arguments, against the Christian religion, or, rather, against one tenet of it, that the world had not existed, from eternity. The works of Zosimus, manifest the most bitter hatred of Christianity, undisguised and unsoftened; and, Hierocles so far provoked the popular feeling, as to suffer severely from their indignation. Rutilius scruples not to attack the monastic system, at that time becoming very popular, using no very measured expressions.

Maria. This would hardly have been tolerated, in some countries, now.

Mr. B. Eunapius, who lived at the close of the fourth century, speaks not less freely. I give you Lardner's translation, and refer you to him for further information. Speaking of Christians, Eunapius makes use of the following language.

"Thus, these warlike and courageous champions, overwhelming all things, with confusion and disorder, but foully defiled with avarice, gave out, that they had overcome the gods, and boasted of their sacrilege and impiety. Then, they introduced into the sacred places, a sort of people, called monks,—men, it is true, as to

33 What reply does Mr. B. make to her ?-34 What is said of Proclus? 35 What is said of Zosimus, Hierocles, and Rutilius ?-36 Who else is named, as speaking very freely, in the fourth century, upon these matters? 37 From whom, is a long quotation, showing the freedom, with which Pagans expressed their opinions ?--38 What are some of the principal accusations against Christians, in this quotation?

their outward shape, but, in their lives, swine, who openly suffered and did ten thousand wicked and abominable things. Nevertheless, to them it seemed to be an act of piety, to trample under foot the reverence due to the sacred places: for, every one, that wore a black coat, and was content to make a sordid figure in public, had a right to exercise a tyrannical authority: such a reputation for virtue, had this sort of men attained. But, of these things, I have already spoken in the Universal History. Then, monks were settled at Canobus; who, instead of deities, as conceived in our minds, compelled men to worship slaves, and those, not of the better sort, neither. For, picking up and salting the bones and skulls of those, whom, for many crimes, justice had put to death, they carried them up and down, and showed them for gods, and kneeled before them, and lay prostrate at their tombs, covered over with filth and dust. There were some of them (called martyrs, and ministers, and intercessors with the gods), slaves, that had served dishonestly, and been beaten with whips, and still bore, in their corpses, the scars of their villanies. And, yet, the earth brings forth such gods as these."-Lardner, c. liii

You will not, I think, after this specimen, suspect the Pagan testimonies of any undue predilection in favour of Christianity, nor of any reluctance to conceal, what they deemed its weaknesses.

Edward. It is also evident, that, though the popular feeling was turned against idolatry, there yet remained a strong body of the philosophising Pagans, who preferred it to Christianity.

Maria. They also give a very disgusting picture of Christianity.

Mr. B. It is drawn by the hand of an enemy, you must recollect. The next testimony I shall cite, gives somewhat a different idea: Ammianus Marcellinus, in one place, speaks of the office of a Christian bishop, as "recommending nothing but justice and lenity;" and, in anoth

39 What does Mr. B. say, of this specimen of Pagan testimony?-40 What does Edward say of it?-41 What account does Mr. B. give of Ammianus Marcellinus