CHRISTIANITY. 



torn of anointing persons in the sacerdo- 

 tal or regal character, as a public signal 

 of their separation to important offices. 

 After the death of Jesus, his disciples 

 were for some years called Nazarenes, 

 from Nazareth, where he was brought 

 up. This name afterwards became the 

 designation of a particular sect; and we 

 learn from a passage in the Acts of the 

 Apostles, that about the year 42, they 

 who adopted the principlesand professed 

 the religion which Jesus had taught, and 

 for the sake of which he cheerfully laid 

 down his life, were distinguished by the 

 name of Christians at Antioch. Hence 

 the system itself is called Christianity. 

 The foundation of a Christian's faith and 

 practice, his ultimate, and, in truth, his 

 only appeal, must be to the facts, the 

 doctrines, and the precepts of the Scrip- 

 tures, particualrly those of the New Tes- 

 tament. Other formularies, other con- 

 fessions of faith, from whatever motives 

 dictated, and from whatever reasons re- 

 commended, should ever be regarded 

 with a suspicious eye ; lest, by laying 

 stress upon what is human, \ve should 

 overlook that which comes recommended 

 upon divine authority. The careful read- 

 er of the New Testament will find a 

 detail of instructions given, of wonders 

 performed, and of future events reveal- 

 ed. He will also be struck with a very 

 particular account of the sufferings,death, 

 resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the 

 founder. The history containing these 

 things appears to be fairly written, and to 

 carry with it as substantial proofs of its 

 authenticity, as any history that has 

 gained credit in the world. Is the Chris- 

 tian called upon for the reason why he 

 believes in the antiquity of the writings 

 of the New Testament ? he may reply, 

 " For the same reason that I believe the 

 antiquity of Virgil's poems, Csesar's Com- 

 mentaries, or Sallust's narrations : and 

 that is, the concurring testimony of all 

 intervening ages. Do any ask, Why I 

 believe that the several books were writ- 

 ten by the persons whose names they 

 bear ? I answer, for the same reason that 

 I believe the Georgics to be the produc- 

 tion of Virgil ; Jerusalem Delivered, that 

 of Tasso ; Paradise Lost, that of Milton ; 

 an Essay upon the Subject of Miracles, 

 to be the work of Hume ; and a Refuta- 

 tion of that Essay, the performance of 

 Campbell. Do any inquire, \Vhetherthe 

 sacred pages have not been greatly cor- 

 rupted ? I answer, They have not been 

 greatly corrupted : as appears by a colla- 



tion of the earliest manuscripts, and a?] 

 appeal to the earliest versions and ancient 

 fathers. So many corroborating circum- 

 stances plead in favouv of the Gospel, 

 that I must either disturb all records, or 

 continueto admit the authenticity of those 

 which display the duty and hopes of a 

 Christian." 



In reasoning upon the truth of Christi- 

 anity we may appeal to its internal evi- 

 dence, and, combining the doctrine and 

 precepts of the system, infer from them 

 the validity of the system itself. The early 

 triumphs of this religion furnish another 

 powerful argument in its support : espe- 

 cially if it be remembered, that in the es- 

 timation of the world it was neither ho- 

 nourable, profitable, nor popular. Under 

 every disadvantage, and struggling under 

 the most terrible persecution, it flourish- 

 ed, and has maintained its ground for 

 nearly two thousand years. Another argu- 

 ment for the truth of the Christian reli- 

 gion arises from the completion of pro- 

 phecies, of which some preceded Jesus, 

 and were accomplished in him,and others 

 were uttered by him, and came to pass 

 during his life ; such were the treachery 

 of Judas, and the cowardice and meanness 

 of Peter ; or within a few years after his 

 crucifixion; of this kind was the memora- 

 ble destruction of Jerusalem. The cha- 

 racter of Christ, and the miracles which 

 he wrought, are evidences of the divinity 

 of his mission. On these grounds, if the 

 question be put " Why are you a Chris- 

 tian?" the answer has been given by a good 

 writer, from whom we shall transcribe it. 

 " Not because I was born in a Christian 

 country, and educated in Christian princi- 

 ples; not because IfindtheillustriousBa- 

 con, Boyle, Locke, Clarke, and Newton, 

 among the professors and defenders of 

 Christianity ; nor merely because the sys- 

 tem itself is so admirably calculated to 

 mend and exalt human nature ; but be- 

 cause the evidence accompanying the 

 Gospel hasconvincedme of its truth. The 

 secondary causes assigned by unbelievers 

 do not, in my judgment, account for the 

 rise, progress, and early triumphs of the 

 Christian religion. Upon the principles of 

 scepticism, I perceive an effect without 

 an adequate cause. 1 therefore stand ac- 

 quitted to my own reason, though 1 con- 

 tinue to believe and profess the religion 

 .of Jesus Christ. Arguing from effects to 

 causes, 1 think I have philosophy on my 

 side. And reduced to a choice of difficul- 

 ties,! encounter not so many, in admitting 

 the miracles ascribed to the Saviour, as 



