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God towards me, diligently heard and attended to, recording them not on paper, but upon my heart."

Now is the time to exhibit to full advantage the argument which the different epistles of the New Testament afford. They are, in fact, so many distinct and additional testimonies. If the testimonies drawn from the writings of the Christian fathers are calculated to make any impression, then the testimonies of these epistles, where there is no delusion, and no prejudice in the mind of the inquirer, must make a greater impression. They are more ancient, and were held to be of greater authority by competent judges. They were held sufficient by the men of those days who were nearer to the sources of evidence; and they ought, therefore, to be held sufficient by us. The early persecuted Christians had too great an interest in the grounds of their faith, to make a light and superficial examination. We may safely commit the decision to them; and the decision they have made, is, that the authors of the different epistles in the New Testament, were worthier of their confidence, as witnesses of the truth, than the authors of those compositions which were left out of the collection, and maintain, in our eye, the form of a separate testimony. By what unaccountable tendency is it, that we feel disposed to reverse this decision, and to repose more faith in the testimony of subsequent and less esteemed writers? Is there any thing in the confidence given to Peter and Paul by their contemporaries, which renders them unworthy of ours? or, is the testimony of their writings less valuable and less impressive, because the Christians of old have received them as the best vouchers of their faith?

cles of the Gospel. We see the most intrepid remonstrance against errors of conduct, or discipline, or doctrine. This savours strongly of upright and independent teachers; but is it not a most striking circumstance, that among the severe reckonings which St. Paul had with some of his churches, he was never once called upon to school their doubts, or their suspicions, as to the reality of the Christian miracles? This is a point universally acquiesced in; and, from the general strain of these epistles, we collect, not merely the testimony of their authors, but the unsuspected testimony of all to whom they addressed themselves.

And let it never be forgotten, that the Christians, who compose these churches, were in every way well qualified to be arbiters in this question. They had the first authorities within their reach. The five hundred who, Paul says to them, had seen our Saviour after his resurrection, could be sought after; and, if not to be found, Paul would have had his assertion to answer for. In some cases, they were the first authorities themselves, and had therefore no confirmation to go in search of. He appeals to the miracles which had been wrought among them, and in this way he commits the question to their own experience. He asserts this to the Galatians; and at the very time, too, that he is delivering against them a most severe and irritating invective. He intimates the same thing repeatedly to the Corinthians; and after he had put his honesty to so severe a trial, does he betray any insecurity as to his character and reputation among them? So far from this, that in arguing the general doctrine of the resurrection from the dead, as the most effectual method of securing assent to it, he

their confidence in his fidelity as a witness. "But if there be no resurrection from the dead, then is Christ not risen.-Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God, that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not." Where, we ask, would have been the mighty charm of this argument, if Paul's fidelity had been questioned; and how shall we account for the free and intrepid manner in which he advances it, if the miracles which he refers to, as wrought among them, had been nullities of his own invention?

It gives us a far more satisfying impres-rests the main part of the argument upon sion than ever of the truth of our religion, when, in addition to several distinct and independent narratives of its history, we meet with a number of contemporaneous productions addressed to different societies, and all proceeding upon the truth of that history, as an agreed and unquestionable point among the different parties in the correspondence. Had that history been a fabrication, in what manner, we ask, would it have been followed up by the subsequent compositions of those numerous agents in the work of deception? How comes it, that they have betrayed no symptom of that insecurity which it would have been so natural to feel in their circumstances? Through the whole of these epistles, we see nothing like the awkward or embarrassed air of impostors. We see no anxiety, either to mend or to confirm the history that had already been given. We see no contest which they might have been called upon to maintain with the incredulity of their converts, as to the miraF

For the truth of the Gospel history, we can appeal to one strong and unbroken series of testimonies from the day of the apostles. But the great strength of the evidence lies in that effulgence of testimony, which enlightens this history at its commencement-in the number of its original witnesses-in the distinct and independent records which they left behind them, and

in the undoubted faith they bore among the numerous societies which they instituted. The concurrence of the apostolic fathers, and their immediate successors, forms a very strong and a very satisfying argument; but let it be further remembered, that

out of the materials which compose, if we may be allowed the expression, the original charter of our faith, we can select a stronger body of evidence than it is possible to form out of the whole mass of subsequent testimonies.

CHAPTER VI.

Remarks on the Argument from Prophecy.

troul of agents merely human, and friends to Christianity, then we might have had reason to pronounce the whole history to be one continued process of artful and designed accommodation to the Old Testament prophecies. But the truth is, that

VI. PROPHECY is another species of evi- fulfilled what was spoken by some of the dence to which Christianity professes an old prophets. If every event which enters abundant claim, and which can be estab-into the Gospel had been under the conlished on evidence altogether distinct from the testimony of its supporters. The prediction of what is future may not be delivered in terms so clear and intelligible as the history of what is past; and yet, in its actual fulfilment, it may leave no doubt on the mind of the inquirer that it was a predic-many of the events pointed at in the Old tion, and that the event in question was in the contemplation of him who uttered it. It may be easy to dispose of one isolated prophecy, by ascribing it to accident; but when we observe a number of these prophecies, delivered in different ages, and all bearing an application to the same events, or the same individual, it is difficult to resist the impression that they were actuated by a knowledge superior to human.

The obscurity of the prophetical language has been often complained of; but it is not so often attended to, that if the prophecy which foretels an event were as clear as the narrative which describes it, it would in many cases annihilate the argument. Were the history of any individual foretold in terms as explicit as it is in the power of narrative to make them, it might be competent for any usurper to set himself forward, and in as far as it depended upon his own agency, he might realize that history. He has no more to do than to take his lesson from the prophecy before him; but could it be said that fulfilment like this carried in it the evidence of any thing divine or miraculous? If the prophecy of a Prince and a Saviour, in the Old Testament, were different from what they are, and delivered in the precise and intelligible terms of an actual history; then every accomplishment which could be brought about by the agency of those who understood the prophecy, and were anxious for its verification, is lost to the argument. It would be instantly said that the agents in the transaction took their clue from the prophecy before them. It is the way, in fact, in which infidels have attempted to evade the argument as it actually stands. In the New Testament, an event is sometimes said to happen, that it might be

Testament, so far from being brought about by the agency of Christians, were brought about in opposition to their most anxious wishes. Some of them were brought about by the agency of their most decided enemies; and some of them, such as the dissolution of the Jewish state, and the dispersion of its people among all countries, were quite beyond the controul of the apostles and their followers, and were effected by the intervention of a neutral party, which at the time took no interest in the question, and which was a stranger to the prophecy, though the unconscious instrument of its fulfilment.

Lord Bolingbroke has carried the objection so far, that he asserts Jesus Christ to have brought about his own death, by a series of wilful and preconcerted measures, merely to give the disciples who came after him the triumph of an appeal to the old prophecies. This is ridiculous enough; but it serves to show with what facility an infidel might have evaded the whole argument, had these prophecies been free of all that obscurity which is now so loudly complained of.

The best form, for the purposes of argument, in which a prophecy can be delivered, is to be so obscure, as to leave the event, or rather its main circumstances, unintelligible before the fulfilment, and so clear as to be intelligible after it. It is easy to conceive that this may be an attainable object; and it is saying much for the argument as it stands, that the happiest illustrations of this clearness on the one hand, and this obscurity on the other, are to be gathered from the actual prophecies of the Old Testament.

It is not, however, by this part of the argument, that we expect to reclaim the

enemy of our religion from his infidelity; has left the Jewish people; of the strong not that the examination would not satisfy prejudices, even of the first disciples; of him, but that the examination will not be the manner in which these prejudices given. What a violence it would be of were dissipated, only by the accomplishfering to all his antipathies, were we to ment; and of their final conviction in the land him, at the outset of our discussions, import of these prophecies being at last so among the chapters of Daniel or Isaiah! strong, that it often forms their main arHe has too inveterate a contempt for the gument for the divinity of that new reliBible. He nauseates the whole subject too gion which they were commissioned to strongly to be prevailed upon to accom- publish to the world. Now, assuming, pany us to such an exercise. On such a what we still persist in asserting, and ask subject as this, there is no contract, no ap- to be tried upon, that an actual comparison proximation between us; and we therefore of the prophecies in the Old Testament, leave him with thè assertion, (an assertion with their alleged fulfilment in the New, which he has no title to pronounce upon, will leave a conviction behind it, that there till after he has finished the very examina- is a real correspondence between them; tion in which we are most anxious to en- we see, in the great events of the new disgage him,) that in the numerous prophe-pensation brought about by the blind incies of the Old Testament, there is such a strumentality of prejudice and opposition, multitude of allusions to the events of the far more unambiguous characters of the New, as will give a strong impression to finger of God, than if every thing had hapthe mind of every inquirer, that the whole pened with the full concurrence and anforms one magnificent series of communi- ticipation of the different actors in this hiscations between the visible and the invisible tory. world; a great plan over which the unseen God presides in wisdom, and which, beginning with the first ages of the world, is still receiving new developements from every great step in the history of the species.

There is another essential part of the argument, which is much strengthened by this obscurity. It is necessary to fix the date of the prophecies, or to establish, at least, that the time of their publication was antecedent to the events to which they refer. It is impossible to give a complete expo- Now, had these prophecies been delivered sition of this argument without an actual in terms so explicit, as to force the concurreference to the prophecies themselves; rence of the whole Jewish nation, the arand this we at present abstain from. But gument for their antiquity, would not have it can be conceived, that a prophecy, when come down in a form as satisfying, as that first announced, may be so obscure, as to in which it is actually exhibited. The be unintelligible in many of its circum-testimony of the Jews, to the date of their stances; and yet may so far explain itself sacred writings, would have been refused by its accomplishment, as to carry along as an interested testimony. Whereas, to with it the most decisive evidence of its being a prophecy. And the argument may be so far strengthened by the number, and distance, and independence, of the different prophecies, all bearing an application to the same individual and the same history, as to leave no doubt on the mind of the observer, that the events in question were in the actual contemplation of those who uttered the prediction. If the terms of the prophecy were not comprehended, it at least takes off the suspicion of the event being brought about by the controul or agency of men who were interested in the accomplishment. If the prophecies of the Old Testament are just invested in such a degree of obscurity, as is enough to disguise many of the leading circumstances from those who lived before the fulfilment, -while they derive from the event an explanation satisfying to all who live after it, then, we say, the argument for the divinity of the whole is stronger, than if no such obscurity had existed. In the history of the New Testament, we see a natural and consistent account of the delusion respecting the Messiah, in which this obscurity

evade the argument as it stands, we must admit a principle, which, in no question of ordinary criticism, would be suffered for a single moment to influence your understanding. We must conceive, that two parties, at the very time that they were influenced by the strongest mutual hostility, combined to support a fabrication; that they have not violated this combination; that the numerous writers on both sides of the question have not suffered the slightest hint of this mysterious compact to escape them; and that, though the Jews are galled incessantly by the triumphant tone of the Christian appeals to their own prophecies, they have never been tempted to let out a secret, which would have brought the argument of the Christians into disgrace, and shown the world how falsehood and forgery mingled with their pretensions.

In the rivalry which, from the very commencement of our religion, has always obtained between Jews and Christians, in the mutual animosities of Christian sects, in the vast multiplication of copies of the Scriptures, in the distant and independent societies which were scattered over so

many countries, we see the most satisfying | day, and point to the accomplishment of pledge, both for the integrity of the sacred clear prophecies in the actual history of writings, and for the date which all par- the world. The present state of Egypt, ties agree in ascribing to them. We hear and the present state of the Jews, are the of the many securities which have been examples which we fix upon. The one is provided in the various forms of registra- an actual fulfilment of a clear prophecy; tions, and duplicates, and depositories; but the other is also an actual fulfilment, and neither the wisdom, nor the interest of forms in itself the likeliest preparation for men ever provided more effectual checks another accomplishment that is yet to against forgery and corruption, than we come. Nor do we conceive, that these have in the instance before us. And the clear and literal fulfilments exhaust the argument, in particular, for the antecedence whole of the argument from prophecy. of the prophecies to the events in the New They only form one part of the argument, Testament, is so well established by the but a part so obvious and irresistible, as concurrence of the two rival parties, that should invite every lover of truth to the we do not see, how it is in the power of examination of the remainder. They additional testimony to strengthen it. should secure such a degree of respect for the subject, as to engage the attention, and awaken even in the mind of the most rapid and superficial observer, a suspicion that there may be something in it. They should soften that contempt which repels so many from investigating the argument at all; or at all events, they render that contempt inexcusable.

But neither is it true, that the prophecies are delivered in terms so obscure, as to require a painful examination, before we can obtain a full perception of the argument. Those prophecies which relate to the fate of particular cities, such as Nineveh, and Tyre, and Babylon; those which relate to the issue of particular wars, in which the kings of Israel and Ju- The whole history of the Jews is calcudah were engaged; and some of those lated to allure the curiosity, and had it not which relate to the future history of the been leagued with the defence and illusadjoining countries, are not so much veiled tration of our faith, would have drawn the by symbolical language, as to elude the attention of many a philospher, as the understanding, even of the most negligent most singular exhibition of human nature observers. It is true, that in these instan- that ever was recorded in the annals of the ces, both the prophecy and the fulfilment world. The most satisfying cause of this appear to us in the light of a distant an- phenomenon is to be looked for in the tiquity. They have accomplished their history which describes its origin and proend. They kept alive the faith and worship gress; and by denying the truth of that of successive generations. They multi-history, you abandon the only explanation plied the evidences of the true religion, which can be given of this wonderful peoand account for a phenomenon in ancient ple. It is quite in vain to talk of the imhistory that is otherwise inexplicable, the mutability of Eastern habits, as exemplified existence and preservation of one solitary in the nations of Asia. What other people monument of pure theism in the midst of ever survived the same annihilating proa corrupt and idolatrous world. cesses? We do not talk of conquest, But to descend a little farther. We where the whole amount of the effect is in gather from the state of opinions at the general a change of dynasty or of governtime of our Saviour so many testimonies ment; but where the language, the habits, to the clearness of the old prophecies. The the denomination, and above all, the geotime and the place of our Saviour's appear- graphical position, still remain to keep up ance in the world, and the triumphant pro- the identity of the people. But in the gress, if not the nature of his kingdom, history of the Jews, we see a strong inwere perfectly understood by the priests destructible principle, which maintained and chief men of Judea. We have it them in a separate form of existence amid from the testimony of profane authors, changes that no other nation ever survived that there was, at that time, a general ex- We confine ourselves to the overthrow of pectation of a prince and a prophet all their nation in the first century of our over the East. The destruction of Jerusa- epoch, and appeal to the disinterested teslem was another example of the fulfilment timonies of Tacitus and Josephus, if ever of a clear prophecy; and this, added to the cruelty of war devised a process of other predictions uttered by our Saviour, more terrible energy for the utter extirpaand which received their accomplishment tion of a name, and a remembrance from in the first generation of the Christian the world. They have been dispersed church, would have its use in sustaining among all countries. They have no comthe faith of the disciples amidst the perplexities of that anxious and distressing period.

We can even come down to the present

mon tie of locality or government to keep them together. All the ordinary principles of assimilation, which make law, and religion, and manners, so much a matter

of geography, are in their instance suspended. Even the smallest particles of this broken mass have resisted an affinity of almost universal operation, and remain unailuted by the strong and overwhelming admixture of foreign ingredients. And in exception to every thing which history has recorded of the revolutions of the species, we see in this wonderful race a vigorous principle of identity, which has remained in undiminished force for nearly two thousand years, and still pervades every shred and fragment of their widely scattered population. Now if the infidel insists upon it, we shall not rest on this as an argument. We can afford to give it up: for in the abundance of our resources, we feel independent of it. We shall say that it is enough, if it can reclaim him from his levity, and compel his attention to the other cvidences which we have to offer him.

it is not to be wondered at, that in the multitude of observations, the defence of Christianity may often be made to rest upon ground, which, to say the least of it, is precarious or vulnerable. Now the injustice which we complain of is, that when the friends of our religion are dislodged from some feeble outwork, raised by an unskilful officer in the cause, its enemies raise the cry of a decisive victory. But, for our own part, we could see her driven from all her defences, and surrender them without a sigh, so long as the phalanx of her historical evidence remains impenetrable. Behind this unscaled barrier, we could entrench ourselves, and eye the light skirmishing before us with no other sentiment than of regret, that our friends should, by the eagerness of their misplaced zeal, have given our enemy the appearance of a triumph. We offer no opinion as to the two-fold interpretation of prophecy; but though it were refuted by argument, and disgraced by ridicule, all that portion of evidence which lies in the numerous examples of literal and unambiguous fulfilment remains unaffected by it. Many there are who deny the inspiration of the Song of Solomon. But in what possible way does this affect the records of the evangelical history? Just as much as it affects the lives of Plutarch, or the Annals of Tacitus. There are a thousand subjects on which infidels may idly push the triumph, and Christians be as idly galled by the severity, or even the truth of their observations. We point to the historical evidence of the New Testament, and ask them to dispose of it. It is there, that we call them to the onset; for there lies the It may not be out of place to expose a main strength of the Christian_argument. species of injustice, which has often been It is true, that in the evidence of prophecy, done to the Christian argument. The de- we see a rising barrier, which, in the profence of Christianity consists of several dis-gress of centuries, may receive from time tinct arguments, which have sometimes been to time a new accumulation to the materials multiplied beyond what is necessary, and which form it. In this way, the evidence even sometimes beyond what is tenable. In of prophecy may come, in time, to surpass addition to the main evidence which lies in the evidence of miracles. The restoration the testimony given to the miracles of the of the Jews will be the fulfilment of a clear Gospel, there is the evidence of prophecy; prophecy, and form a proud and animating there is the evidence of collateral testimony; period in the history of our religion. "Now there is the internal evidence. The argu- if the fall of them be the riches of the world, ment under each of these heads, is often and the diminishing of them the riches of made to undergo a farther subdivision; and the Gentiles, how much more their fulness."

All we ask of him is to allow, that the undeniable singularity which is before his eyes, gives him a sanction at least, to examine the other singularities to which we make pretensions. If he goes back to the past history of the Jews, he will see in their wars the same unexampled preservation of their name and their nation. He will see them surviving the process of an actual transportation into another country. In short, he will see them to be unlike all other people in what observation offers, and authentic history records of them; and the only concession that we demand of him from all this, is, that their pretensions to be unlike other people in their extraordinary revelations from heaven, is at least possible, and deserves to be inquired into.

CHAPTER VII.

Remarks on the Scepticism of Geologists.

VII. THE late speculations in geology form another example of a distant and unconnected circumstance, being suffered to cast an unmerited disgrace over the whole

of the argument. They give a higher an tiquity to the world than most of those who read the Bible had any conception of. Admit this antiquity, and in what possible way

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