CHRISTIANITY, 
Jerusaleiii Delivered, that of Tasso ; Para- 
dise Lost, tliat of Milton; an Essay upon 
the Subject of Miracles, to be the work of 
Hume ; and a Refutation of that Essay, the 
pciformance of Campbell. Do any inquire. 
Whether the sacred pages have not been 
greatly corrupted ? I answer. They have 
not been greatly cornipted; as appears by 
a collation of the eaidiest manuscripts, and 
an appeal to the earliest versions and ancient 
fethers. So many corroborating circum- 
stances plead in favour of the Gospel, that 
' I must either disturb all records, or con- 
tinue to 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 pre- 
cepts of the system, infer from them the 
validity of the system itself. The early tri- 
umphs of this religion furnish another pow- 
erful argument in its support ; especially 
if it be remembered that in the estimation 
of the world it was neither honourable, 
profitable, nor popular. Under every 
disadvantage, and struggling under the most 
terrible persecution, it flourished, and has 
maintained its ground for nearly two thou- 
sand years. Another argument for the 
truth of the Christian religion arises from 
the completion of prophecies, of which 
some preceded Jesus, and were accom- 
plished in him, and others were uttered by 
him, and came to pass during his life ; such 
were the treachery of Judas, and the cow- 
ardice and meanness of Peter ; or within a 
few years after his crucifixion ; of tins kind 
was the memorable destruction of Jerusa- 
lem. The character 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 Christian ?” the answer has been gi- 
ven by a good writer, fi om whom we shall 
transcribe it. “ Not because I was born in 
a Christian country, and educated in Chris- 
tian principles ; not because I find the illus- 
trious Bacon, Boyle, Locke, Clarke, and 
Newton, among the professors and de- 
fenders of Christianity ; nor merely because 
the system itself is so admirably calculated 
to mend and exalt human natui'e ; but be- 
cause the evidence accompanying the Gos- 
pel has convinced me 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. I therefore stand acquit- 
ted to my own reason, though I continue 
to believe and profess the religion of Jesur 
Christ. Arguing from effects to causes, I 
think I have philosophy on my side. And 
reduced to a choice of difficulties, I en- 
counter not so many, in admitting the mi- 
racles ascribed to the Saviour, as in the 
arbitrary suppositions and conjectures of 
his enemies. 
“ That there once existed such a person a* 
Jesus Christ; that he appeared in Judea in 
the reign of Tiberius ; that he taught a 
system of morals superior to any inculcated 
in the Jewish schools ; that he was crucified 
at Jerusalem; and that Pontius Pilate was 
the Roman goveraor by whose sentence he. 
was condemned and executed, are facts 
which no one can reasonably call in ques- 
tion. The most inveterate Deists admit 
them without difficulty : and, indeed, to 
dispute these facts would be giving the lie 
to all history. As well might we deny the , 
existence of Cicero, as that of a person by 
the name of Jesus Christ. And with equal 
propriety might we call in question the ora- 
tions of the former, as tlie discourses of 
the latter. We are morally certain that 
the one entertained the Romans with his 
eloquence, and that the other enlightened 
the Jews with his wisdom. But, it is un- 
necessary to labour these points, because 
they are generally conceded. They who 
affect to despise the Evangelists and Apos- 
tles profess to reverence Tacitus, Sueto- 
nius, and Pliny. And these eminent Ro- 
mans bear testimony to several particulars 
-which relate to the person of Jesus Christ, 
his influence as tlie founder of a sect, and 
his crucifixion. Froih a deference to hu- 
man authority, alt therefore acknowledge 
that the Christian religion derived its name 
from Jesus Christ. And many among the 
Deists are so just to its merits, as to admit 
that he taught better than Confucius, and 
practised better than Socrates or Plato. 
“ To come then to the question : Why ar e 
you a Christian? 1 answer. Because the 
Christian religion carries with it internal 
marks of its truth ; because not only with- 
out the aid, but in opposition to the civil 
authority, in opposition to the wit, the ar- 
gument, and violence of its enemies, it 
made its way, and gained an establishment 
in the world ; because it exhibits the ac- 
complishment of some prophecies, and pre- 
sents others which have been since fulfilled ; 
and because its author displayed an exam- 
ple, and performed works, which bespeak 
