CONVERSATION IX.

CHRISTIANITY.-TESTIMONY-PROPHECY.

Henry. We have read the letter of Pliny to the emperor, and feel astonished that wise and politic rulers, as they were, should be induced to carry on such horrid persecutions against innocent men and women, without any respect to age or rank.

Father. The letter is a valuable relic of antiquity, as it gives an impartial, though short account, of the worship of the early Christians. Pliny says, "This was the account which they gave of the nature of the religion they had professed, whether it deserves the name of crime or error, that they were accustomed on a stated day to meet before daylight, and to repeat among themselves a hymn to Christ as to a god."

Miriam. When were the books of the New Testament published?

Father. In the life-time of the writers whose names they bear. All excepting those of John, were published within a few years after the resurrection of Christ. Copies were taken and circulated, wherever the gospel was preached, in countries very remote from each other. A few

remarks of Mr. Addison, an eminent writer, will prove to you that there could be no mistake as to these writings. He says, "I shall single out four persons, eminent for their lives, their writings, and their sufferings, that were successively contemporaries, and bring us down as far as to the year of our Lord 254. St. John who was the beloved disciple, and conversed most intimately with our Saviour, was appealed to as the living oracle of the church; and his first oral testimony lasted the first century. Polycarp, who was the disciple of St. John, and had conversed with others of the apostles and disciples of our Lord, lived till A. D. 167, though his life was shortened by martyrdom. Ireneus, who was the disciple of Polycarp, and had conversed with many of the immediate disciples of the apostles, lived, at the lowest computation of his age till the year 202, when he was likewise cut off by martyrdom; in which year the great Origen was appointed regent to the catechetic school in Alexandria, and he was the miracle of that age, for industry, learning, and philosophy."* He calls our Scriptures, "The Old and New Testament," "The Ancient and New Scriptures," "The Ancient and New Oracles."4

* Addison's Evidences, Section V. + Paley's Evidences, Vol. I. Chap. 9.

Thomas. Were not some of the books of the New Testament at first considered doubtful?

Father. They were by some of the churches. The second Epistle of Peter; those of James and Jude; the second and third of John; the Epistle to the Hebrews, and the book of the Revelation, were not universally received from the beginning as the genuine writings of those whose names they bear; though they were acknowledged by many churches. The doctrines contained in them were undoubted; and after their evidences had been examined, they were admitted as the inspired Word of God.

Henry. By what means have they been preserved?

Father. By being copied, translated, and circulated among all Christians; being collected into one volume; and by the regard paid to them by the Christians, who esteeming them by the inspired word of God, chose rather to sacrifice their lives than part with them. "Eusebius says, 'The writings of the Apostles had obtained such an esteem as to be translated into every language, both of Greeks and Barbarians, and to be diligently studied by all nations.' This testimony was given about the year A. D. 300, how long before that date, these translations were made, does not appear."*

*Paley's Evidences, Vol. I. Chap. 9.

Miriam. But have not these writings been altered and corrupted?

Father. No: that were impossible. "There never were any writings of antiquity conveyed down with so good evidence of their being genuine as these. Upon their first publication, the books of the New Testament, in particular, were put into all hands, scattered into all nations, translated into various languages. They have been quoted by innumerable authors, appealed to by all parties of Christians, and made the standard of truth in every question of moment. We can trace them back through every age to the period in which they were written. And extremely remarkable and consolatory is the consideration, that notwithstanding the innumerable times they have been copied, and the various errors, sects and parties which have arisen, the corruptions which have prevailed in the church, and the revolutions and convulsions which have taken place among the nations, the Bible is fundamentally the same; insomuch that from the worst copy or translation in the world, we may easily learn the genuine doctrine of Christianity."

PROPHECY.

Thomas. The testimony of Christianity must certainly be acknowledged as sufficient to establish

its truth.

What are the principal prophecies, which may be regarded as evidences of the truth and divinity of Christianity?

Father. All those remarkable predictions, which are contained in both the Old and the New Testament.

Henry. What are the most remarkable predictions in the Old Testament?

Father. Besides those which relate to the revolutions, in the several kingdoms surrounding Judea, which were to prepare the way for the dispensation of the gospel, the most striking are those which relate to the continuance of the Jewish nation, and to the person and the mission of Jesus Christ. I will make references to the scripture passages which contain them, and I hope you will attentively read them.

Miriam. We shall be greatly obliged by your making such references, and shall consider it our interest to read them. What was foretold of the continuance of the Jewish nation?

Father. That Messiah would come before the government of the tribe of Judah should be destroyed.* That after great revolutions in the surrounding nations, Messiah should appear in the second temple, and fill it with greater glory

*Gen. xlix. 10.