CHRISTIANITY. 



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pf*clly open to detection, and which could be so rea- 

 dily converted to the discredit of that religion, win 

 was the favourite ambition of their lives to promote and 

 nublith in tlic world. Third, Tint tins testimony could 

 haw gained the concurrence of the people to whom it 

 was addressed, and that, with their cjrrs perfectly open 

 to itt falsehood, they should be ready to make the sacri- 

 fice of life and of fortune in supporting it. Fourth, 

 That this testimony should never have been contradicted 

 by the Jews, and that they should have neglected so ef- 

 fectual an opportunity of disgracing a religion, tin- pro- 

 grctt of which they contemplated with so much jealousy 

 and alarm. Add to this, that it is not the testimony of 

 one writer, which we ire making to pass through the 

 ordeal of so many difficulties. It is the testimony of 

 many writer-, who lived at different times, and in differ- 

 ent countries, and who add the very singular circumstance 

 of their entire agreement with one another, to the other 

 citcumstancc* equally unaccountable, which we have just 

 now enumerated. 1 he falsehood of tlteir united testi- 

 mony is not to be conceived. It is a supposition which 

 we are warranted to condemn, upon the strength of any 

 one of the above improbabilities taken separately. But 

 the fair way of estimating their effect, upon the argu- 

 ment, is to take them jointly, and, in the language of the 

 doctrine of chances, to take the product of all tlic im- 

 probabilities into one another. The argument which this 

 product furnishes for the truth of the ChrUtian testimony, 

 has, in strength and conclusivrncss, no parallel in tl.e 

 whole compass of ancient literature. 



The testimony of Celsus is looked upon as pecu- 

 liarly valuable, because it is disinterested. But it' this 

 consideration gives so much weight to the testimony of 

 Celu, why should so much doubt and suspicion annex 

 to the testimony of Christian writers, several of whom, 

 before his time, have given a fuller and more express 

 testimony to the authenticity of the gospels ? In t'.ie per- 

 secutions they sustained ; in the obvious tone of sincerity 

 and honety which runs through their writings ; in their 

 general agreement upon this sub] ct ; in the multitude of 

 rr>, vho i. ever could havi- confided in men 

 th*t ventured to c< mmit themselves, by the assertion of 

 what was obviously and notoriously false; in the check 

 which the vigilance, both of Jews and Heathens, exu-- 

 cited over every Christian writer of that period ; in all 

 these circumstances, they give every evidence of having 

 cd a fair and unpolluted testimony. 



43. II. We shall now look into the New Testament 

 itvlt", and endeavour to lay before the reader the in- 

 ternal marks of truth and honesty, which are to be found 

 in it. 



*4. Under this head, it may he right to insut upon the 

 minute tccur/cy, which runs through all its a!! isions to 

 the existing manners and circumstances of the tits,. T . 

 appreciate the force of this argument, it would b 

 to attend to the peculiar situation of Judea, at tic time 

 of our Saviour. It was thin wider the donvnio". . f the 

 Roman emperors, and comes frequently und- r the : 

 of the prof.me historians of that per od. From tliis 

 scurce we derive great variety of infonr ition, as to the 

 manner itt which tne emperors conducted the g 

 roeni of their different provinces ; what degree of indul- 

 gence was allowed to the religious opinions of he pen. 

 pie, whom they held in subjection; IM how far they were 

 suffered to live under the administration of thru- own 

 Uwi; the power which wit vested in the presid. 

 provinces; and a number of other circumstances i 

 to the criminal and civil jurisprudence of that period. 

 In this way, there ii a greit number of different pointi 



in which the historians of the New Testament Can be n 



brought into comparison \viili tin .rui.. -u of 



the age. The history oi ( his apostles contains s ""~.~~-' 



innumerable references to the v Ijlic affairs. It 



is not the li obscure and unnoticed individuals. 



-t.l attracted much of the public ktteht: 

 had been before the governors of the country. They 

 had pa : . bed forms of justice) and 



t them underwent the trial and pu f the 



time's. It is easy to perceive, then, that the New Testa- 



liters weic led to allude to a number of these cir- 

 cumstances iii the political 1, ='., i y and constitution of 

 the times which can o under the Co., i ordinary 



historians. Tiiis w .is delicate ground for an inventor 

 to tread upon ; and particularly, if he lived at an age 

 subsequent to the time of his history. II 

 case iiave fabricated a tale, by confining himself to the 

 obscure and familiar incidents of private hi.-ucy ; but 

 it is only for a true and 3 cotcmporary historian, to sus- 

 tain a continued accuiacy, through his minute ai'.d nu- 

 merous allusions to the public policy and govir;,;:u:.i of 

 the times. 



45. Within the period of the gospel history, Judea The ci- 

 experienced a go^d riiaiiy vici -i the state of its trcrr 



government. At one time it formed part of a kingdom ["^ 

 under Herod tht Groat. At ar.other, it formed |. - 

 a smaller government ui.der ArJielaus. It after this 

 came under the direct administration of a Roman gover- 

 nor, which form was again interrupted for several \ 

 by the elevation <.f Her d A^nppa to the so. 

 power, as exercised by his grandfather ; z:,d it is a- 

 left in the form of a province at the conclusion of the 

 _;tlical history. There were also frequent changes 

 in the political state of the CIA. ceni to Judea ; 



and which are often alluded to in the Mew Testament. 

 A caprice of the reigning emperor, often gave rise to a 

 new form of government, and a new distribution of terri- 

 tory. It will be readily conceived, how much these per- 

 petual fluctuations in the state of public affairs, both in 

 Judea and its neighbourhood, must add to the power and 

 d-fficulty of that ordeal to which the gospel history has 

 been subjected. 



40'. On this part of the subject, there is no want of The coin- 

 witnesses with whom to i- writers of the New cidenc* be- 

 Te'tatnent. In addition to the Roman writers, who twixi the 

 have touched u:>on the affairs of Judea, we have the be- ^ 1 "'J i !*^ f 

 ncfit of a Jewish historian, who has given us a professed -j. t ..' 

 hii-tory of his own country. Frim him, as was to be ami 

 expected, we have a far greater quantity of copious and or profane 

 detailed narrative, relative to the internal affairs-of Judea, authors. 

 to the manners of the people, and those particulars which 

 are connected with their religious belief, and ecclesiasti- 



.stitution. With many, it will be supposed to add 

 to tlu v .ilue of his testimony, t!iat h* was not a Chris- 

 tiau; hut that, on the other hand, we lave even reason 

 to believe him to have been a <;us and dtti-r- 



enemy to the cause. It is really a most useful 

 exercise, to pursue the harmony which tu'i.sists betwixt 

 the wiiti rs of the N* w Testament, and tho md 



profane author.-, with whom w- bi:.i;: them into Compa- 

 rison. Throughout the whole ex .mination, our atten- 

 tion is confined to forms of justice ; su. ' gover- 

 nors in different provinces; manners, and political institu- 

 tions. We are therefore apt to forget the wcfedoeMoi tl-.c 

 subject ; and we appeal to all WOO have protecutcd this 

 enquiry, if tlii-- circumstance is not favourable to their ha- 

 ving a closer and more decided impression of the truth of 

 the gospel history. By instituting a comparison bet wist 

 the evangelists and cotcmporary authors, and restrict- 



