count of what they had themselves been taught; but in laying claim to inspiration, and daring all the world, in all ages, to disprove their pretensions, no refuge is left for them. But what have they thus asserted which can be shown unworthy of God, or impossible to have proceeded from him? The general consent of mankind, as to the excellency of the New Testament morality; the total want of proof on the infidel side against it, when considered in connexion with these pretensions of the apostles; must carry conviction to the mind of every honest man.

Maria. The precepts of the New Testament are so numerous and so determinate, that it seems out of all reason to suppose these men could invariably have been right, when even the greatest philosophers have failed, had they not been really inspired.

Mr. B. Many of these precepts, also, are such as were not only new at the time of their promulgation, but opposed to common opinion. Their excellency is indeed now apparent; but it has only been by experience that they have triumphed over prejudice and opposition. The precepts of St. Paul, in connexion with his life, convey ideas not merely of excellence of the highest kind, but of the most original cast,—of such a nature as only to be duly appreciated upon examination. In him active benevolence and self-denial were exhibited to an extent that is unequalled in the annals of profane history. To confer the greatest degree of happiness to the greatest number possible, by the best means, was not the object either of the religion or of the philosophy of Greece. To renounce, for the sake of mankind at large, all personal ease and reputation, was what Grecian patriotism had never contemplated. The true value of the soul of man had never been duly appreciated in the Pagan world; and nothing could be more opposed to common notions,

32 What questions does he then propound, in order to render his meaning more clear?-33 What does Maria say, seems to be out of all reason? -34 How does the case of these precepts differ now from what it was when they were given?-35 Of the precepts of St. Paul, what is said?— 36 In what particulars are the religion of Greece and Rome placed in contrast with the gospel?

than to teach that in this faith there was "neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free.”

Maria. So that in these respects time has added to the force of the evidences in behalf of Christianity.

Mr. B. In moral as in physical science, the progress of the mind has been slow. The history of mankind furnishes abundant evidence of the difficulty of attaining to a correct knowledge of first principles. How many ages have been spent in unlearning what had been in the first instance presumed upon insufficient evidence! How incessantly necessary we find it to recur to experience, to rectify opinions which seem fixed on the firmest basis of reason and expediency! Yet the precepts of the New · Testament are given with the greatest decision and brevity; left, in all the hardihood of truth, to be tried by the experience of all mankind, in all ages.

Edward. They are also given by different writers; and it would be difficult for their agreement in all points, upon any other hypothesis than that which they assign.

Mr. B. To all these considerations, now add that of the character of our Lord, as developed in the Gospels: in all it is the same, and in itself so different from any thing else that the world has ever seen, that no other can bear any comparison with it. At first sight, it appears one which could not have been produced by imposture. All others who claimed the character of the Messiah as their own, took a very different course. As might have been expected from impostors, they adapted their pretensions to popular prejudices; they founded their hopes of empire on the ignorance and viciousness of those around them. Our Lord's appeal was to the Scriptures, his life, his works, his doctrine.

"Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”John, v. 39.

37 What has been the progress of the human mind?-38 How is this illustrated?-39 What is said of the precepts of the New Testament generally?-40 How does Edward speak of them?-41 By the addition of what does Mr. B. propose to strengthen the argument?-42 What is said of others who claimed the character of Messiah?-43 What appeals did our Lord make in attestation of his divine character?

"Which of you convinceth me of sin?"-John, viii. 46. "Go and show John again those things, which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them."-Matt. xi. 4-6.

"I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said."-John, xviii.

20,

21.

If

My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."John, vii. 16, 17.

Maria. These appeals were also made on public occasions of great importance, in the presence of numbers who were his bitterest enemies.

Mr. B. In laying claim to this absolute perfection of life and doctrine, at the same time that he exposed the false pretensions of others, our Lord drew upon himself their hatred, and rendered his character and precepts objects of the most rigid scrutiny. Yet what could they establish against him? Their own confession was,

"This man doeth many miracles.”—John, xi. 47. "Never man spake like this man.”—John, vi. 47. "And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus, to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together."-Mark, xiv. 55-59.

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye ·

44 What does Maria say of these appeals?-45 By what means in particular did our Lord draw on himself the hatred of his enemies?-46 Yet, what confessions were they obliged to make respecting him?

have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man, touching those things whereof ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him."-Luke, xxiii. 13–15.

"Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."—John, xix. 6—7.

Maria. We cannot have stronger attestation from enemies than these.

Mr. B. I shall only add the solemn declaration of St. Peter on the same subject, that "Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”—1 Peter, 21-22.

Maria. If the life of our Lord, so far as we can collect it from the sacred writings, in any particular proved these declarations false, all would be lost.

Mr. B. Yet in no instance has error or sin been detected.

Edward. The conclusion, then, must follow that he was the Messias ?

Mr. B. It must: for all the evidence we can bring forward upon the subject leads to that conclusion. Who can believe that the Jews would have imputed his miracles to magic, if they could have disproved them by other means; that they would have required that he should be put to death, "because he made himself the Son of God," if they could have produced evidence of sin? The Gospels afford us abundant proof of the pains they had taken "to entangle him in his talk;" and what instance have we, except this, of any one ever having been able at all times to preserve himself from error? Our Lord was attacked in such a variety of ways, was tried by so many different characters, that he could not have

47 What does Maria say of them?-48 What is the testimony of St. Peter respecting our Lord's character? 49 To what conclusion does all the evidence adduced lead us?-50 Of what does the gospel afford abundant proof?

escaped some taint of common failing, had he been otherwise than what he professed. We find no instance of any other " enduring such contradiction of sinners against himself;" of any other "being tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin."

Maria. In considering our Lord's conduct, perhaps we are not so much struck with the excellence of particular actions, from finding nothing but perfection in all.

Mr. B. There is also a peculiarity in our Lord's character that well deserves our attention; viz. that singular union of assumption of the greatest authority with the most entire humility. Therefore the Jews sought. the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God."-John, v. 18.

"Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."-John, xiii. 13—15.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."-Matthew, xi. 28-30.

Maria. If we had not the Gospels in our hands, it would be very difficult to conceive how such high pretensions could be reconciled with such deep humility.

Mr. B. It is also well deserving of your attention in how complete a manner the union of two distinct characters is united in our Lord. As about to leave a perfect example for his disciples to follow, we find him passing through the ordinary occupations of life as though he had no higher object, with only one or two exceptions, evidently introduced for the sake of reminding those

51 But what was the result?-52 Of what great peculiarity in our Lord's character does Mr. B. speak?-53 What passages are quoted from the gospels, which assert this peculiarity?-54 How does Maria speak of this peculiarity?-55 What else is named by Mr. B. as deserving attention?— 56 Of his character as a man, what does Mr. B. say?