power of detecting and exposing. It concerned the whole Jewish nation to show the falsity of the pretensions of him whom they had put to death, to deny or to vindicate the accounts given of the conduct of their rulers, with regard to his crucifixion. It afterwards became a matter of the greatest consequence to the Roman empire to decide upon this question. The Christians had increased in numbers and influence to a great degree, and persecutions only added to their strength. What then was the direct course to be pursued, if the Christian statements could be proved false? Certainly to prove that fact. The evangelists had given all the details of the death of the Founder of this religion with the utmost care, and the Christian apologists in later times were ever daring them to the proof. If Pilate never had condemned our Lord to the peculiar kind of death, and under all the circumstances alleged, why was not the fact disproved? The Christians justly laid the greatest stress upon the leading events of the life of their Master: that an extraordinary person was at that particular time expected to arise, was known throughout the whole of the eastern parts of the empire, and probably in the west also; that the Jews were in full expectation that he was to spring from the house of David, and that the time for his appearance was come, is also known. The full belief of that nation induced them to brave all the power of the Roman empire, and to the very last they were sanguine in their hopes of the appearance of the Messi

as.

Now under these circumstances a person did appear, whose life so influenced many, that the whole world was shortly after astonished at their boldness, their zeal, and perseverance. There appeared a stronger probability every year that they would ultimately succeed; and yet neither Jews nor Romans, though most desirous to crush them, attempted that which would have had the greatest tendency.

36 Who were interested in proving the falsity of Christianity?-37 How would they probably have proceeded in doing it?-38 On what did Christians lay great stress?-39 What was the case of the Jews and of the Romans in relation to the establishment of Christianity?

Maria. The New Testament statements have never, then, been shown to be false, as regards our Lord?

Mr. B. They have not: and on this I lay the greatest stress; for if there had been the means of proving them false, it is utterly incredible that they should have been acknowledged as true.

Maria. But all the New Testament statements have not been acknowledged as true.

Mr. B. None have been proved to be false, and some of the greatest importance have been owned true. Edward. What is confessed as true?

Mr. B. It is owned that Christ worked miracles.

Maria. But by whom?

Mr. B. Both Jews and Pagans.

Maria. But by any near the time of Christ?

Mr. B. Even by the first antagonist of his religion, Celsus.

Maria. But if he owned the fact, why did he not become a Christian?

Mr. B. Because he absurdly supposed those miracles could have been wrought by magic, which we know they could not. The Jews had the same mode of accounting for them. Now no reasoning upon the subject whatsoever can get over the stubborn fact, that the miracles of Christ were acknowledged by those of his opponents who lived nearest to his time, and had the best means of ascertaining the truth.

Edward. But if this be admitted, the whole question seems decided.

Mr. B. It does not follow, that because enemies as well as friends believed that he worked miracles, that therefore he did: it only follows, that we have no means of proving that he did not, by means of historical testimony. But unless we find reason to believe, from inter

40 What question does Maria ask respecting the New Testament statements of our Lord?-41 What reply does Mr. B. make to it?-42 What general remark does he make of the other New Testament accounts?-43 What is confessed as true?-44 By whom?-45 At how early a period?46 If Celsus admitted the fact, why did he not become a Christian?47 What use in the argument can be made of this and other similar admis

nal evidence, that deception was practised, then we must also conclude that those miracles were really wrought.

Edward. And therefore we must examine as to the probability of the apostles having been deceivers.

Maria. There can be little chance for any one who now attempts this, since their first enemies could not overthrow those statements in which fraud was most open to detection.

Edward. We do not know that the miracles were so open to detection. The leading facts of the life of Christ might be true, exclusively of the miracles; and the miracles may have been appended to it, to give authority to his precepts.

Maria. They may; but from my recollection of them, I do not think it probable; for, though some of them were private, the greater part were public.

Edward. But if it was believed that miracles could be performed by the power of magic, they might have been less examined than they ought to have been at the time: the accounts were not published till after his death, and then probably with exaggerations, supposing that pretensions were really made to this power from the very beginning, which is by no means certain.

Mr. B. We will examine, then, into the probability that the apostles added these miracles, to give authority to the precepts of their Master.

If it be supposed that our Lord Jesus Christ was only a very superior character, who vainly attempted the reformation of the Jewish nation, and was, in consequence, put to death; and this is the only supposition that can be formed by those who admit historical testimony, but are unwilling to acknowledge the performance of miracles; then we must inquire, of what nature was his doctrine and manner of life-how far it would be consistent with

48 What does Maria say as to the apostles having been deceivers?-49 What relation does Edward think there may have been between the leading facts in the life of our Lord, and the miracles?-50 Why does he think the miracles might have been examined less carefully than they should have been?-51 What does Mr. B. propose doing, touching the miracles? -52 What does he say is the only supposition to be made by those who doubt their truth, while they admit historical testimony?-53 If so, what then must be the inquiry?

the allowance of an attempt to deceive for the purposes of general good—and how far it was acted upon by his apostles.

Edward. Upon this hypothesis, then, our Lord would be a sort of Jewish Socrates; and his disciples, seeing the bad result of their Master's attempt to reform his nation, without the assumption of miraculous powers, after his death gave him that to which he himself made no pretension.

Mr. B. Now I think it is quite certain, that, if this had been the case, they would, at least, have made as free with his doctrines, as with his life; for with regard to his precepts, few could detect any false statements; with respect to miracles, they were at the mercy of every enemy.

Maria. It certainly seems probable that they would somewhat soften and accommodate their statements to public prejudice.

Mr. B. Now what are their doctrines? what are the precepts put into the mouth of their Lord? The world has never seen a stronger expression of detestation of hypocrisy and insincerity, than the whole of these writings manifest. With regard to the nature of God, as a Spirit, and with respect to his worshippers, who are to "worship him in spirit and in truth," the language is uniform and decisive, to so great a degree, as utterly to exclude all idea of the men, who spent their lives in promulgating such opinions, entertaining any hope that by deception they could recommend this religion. Of those "who do evil that good may come," they teach that "their damnation is just; they threaten eternal vengeance against all liars;" and the most terrible miracle recorded in the volume, is connected with "lying unto the Holy Ghost." If any fact be certain, this is most surely so, that their professed doctrine did not admit of any thing like deception, even for the most beneficial end. If now

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54 What does Edward say results from this hypothesis?-55 Had this been the case, what does Mr. B. think quite certain?-56 What do they ay of the nature of God, and of the worship due him?-57 Against what sins do they denounce vengeance?-58 What fact relating to their doctrine does Mr. B. think certain?

a single miracle were disproved, by their own uniform doctrine they were accursed.

Maria. And in those times it was in the power of any one to ascertain the truth, so that they never would have run so great a risk.

Mr. B. Now before we consider the miracles related of our Lord, let us refer to those connected with St. Paul. Among the common historical facts which are generally admitted, I think we must admit St. Paul's defences before the sanhedrim, to Felix, and Agrippa. They were public acts, and can no more be denied, than the trials of Archbishop Laud, or Lord William Russell. Now would St. Paul, upon such an occasion, solemnly state the fact of a miraculous interposition from heaven, in the presence of those who undoubtedly could have produced witnesses to prove the contrary, had his statement been false? St. Paul's previous life was known, as he asserts, to all the Jews; the fact of his conversion was equally notorious. By his change of religion, he made the heaviest charge against the rulers of Judea which could be made against men; and, from the nature of the case, their rage against him must have been excited to the Now under these circumstances, I say, very utmost. that mere madness alone could have prompted his conduct in the first instance in joining the Christians, or, in the second, in adopting such a method of defence, unless the miracle was real.

Maria. Festus accused him of madness.

Mr. B. And what followed? “ But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

59 What does Mr. B. propose doing before considering the miracl?60 What important facts in the life of St. Paul are named, and what is said of them?-61 What is said of the probability of such a change in St. Paul's religion, if the miracle related, connected with his conversion, were not true?62 What did St. Paul say in reply, when accused of madness by Festus?