gress in the acquisition of the most common and obvious truths. We should be placed, intellectually, in circumstances analogous to infancy, without the means whence infancy could ripen into manhood. All the knowledge that we could attain, during many years of unassisted effort would be but a trivial matter, and might be imparted by testimony in a very short space of time.

Neither is testimony a less satisfactory, than it is convenient and copious, source of knowledge. We are not the less convinced that the Roman Empire had an existence, although we were not in being either in the time of its glory or of its

mor that the crusades, which drained Eu

rope of its population and led her children to perish in distant lands, were undertaken, although we did not behold the misery and the destruction consequent thereupon. Comparatively few Europeans have landed on the shores of South America, or have witnessed the struggles of her population with the forces of her oppressors; nevertheless no inhabitant of Europe is the less convinced that such a country exists, and that her children are free. No one presumes to deny the existence of London, or Naples, or Calcutta, although he may not have visited either of these cities. Of all these and similar truths, he is convinced, by the testimony of the historian, the journalist, or the traveller.

But testimony, which serves man so faithfully in matters of ordinary life, as that it is a substitute for sight and experience, is not less necessary to him in matters of religion. The facts which the

actions. We should act unreasonably, therefore, if we were to refuse our assent to facts, howsoever they might differ from such as had come under our own notice and experience, merely on account of their resting on the foundation of testimony. If, from the character and conduct of the men, there could be no reasonable ground for suspecting, either, that they were deceived themselves, or, that they intended to deceive others; and, more particularly, if the result of their testimony were, toothe witnesses, not honour and emolument, but, on the contrary, disgrace, and loss, and suffering, we should have good reason for believing their evidencemos omul ek is ment untiɛ

1

But quitting these general observations respecting the use and importance of testimony, I would proceed to remark upon it, as a main branch of evidence in support of our holy religion, and endeavour to show, that the testimony of the Christian witnesses is worthy of all belief.

4

One of the prevailing modes of attack upon Christianity seems to be, the denying of the genuineness of the books in which it is handed down to us. Nevertheless this must be noticed as a comparatively new feature in unbelief. As well might we deny the genuineness of the writings of Cæsar, or Virgil, or of any other ancient author, as of those of the Evangelists and Apostles.What was received as genuine nearly eighteen centuries ago what was not disputed by Celsus and Porphyry and other early unbelievers, cannot reasonably be deemed a forgery in the present

day. The most virulent and learned opposers of Christianity, in the very period of its infancy, did not venture to dispute the genuineness of the Christian books.m, spor) 475 iv 6 9adoit 4520

But, before adducing evidence upon this point, we may observe, that the testimony of the Chris tian witnesses asserts, that Jesus was born in Judea, and was the founder of the Christian religion; that, professing to go forth in the name, and by the authority, of God, his Father, he preached repentance, and the forgiveness of sins, and promised eternal life to all, who should believe and obey the precepts of the gospel; that he wrought miracles in attestation of his divine commission; that he was put to death by the Jews, at the instigation of their priests and rulers; that he was raised from the dead by the power of God, and that he afterwards showed himself openly to his disciples, and conversed with them respecting their future labours; that after he had led them out as far as Bethany,' and while he was in the act of blessing them, he was parted from them, and carried up to heaven.' It is, moreover, asserted,

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* The most acute, the most learned, and the most inveterate ene→ mies of the Christian religion in former ages, have admitted the genuineness of the books of the New Testament, and have framed their arguments against the Christian religion, upon the supposition that these records were authentic documents of the Christian faith. Celsus in the second century, Porphyry in the third, and the emperor Julian, all men of learning and acuteness, and bitter enemies to the Christian religion, allow the genuineness of the books of the New Testament. See Lardner's Jewish and Heathen Testimonies to Christianity; and Paley vol. 1. c. 10. sect. 9.-Belsham's Summary View of the Evidences, page 43.

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by the Christian witnesses, that after the ascension of Jesus, those, whom he had appointed to be his

apostles, went into OF DST ODDS EVE every region, preaching the 2500197 gospel, and exhorting men to repent and turn to God, and to do works meet for repentance, God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the holy Spirit according to his own will; that conIGOTGEOM sequent upon their exertions, and, in spite of the most severe persecution, inflicted by the supporters of the ancient systems of religion, the word of God mightly grew and prevailed.” It shall be our endeavour to show, from various considerations, that this testimony is worthy of our belief. And, first; the Christian witnesses relate nothing but what is possible. The proof of this, in fact, needs scarcely detain us a moment; for it must be obvious to vious to every man, that the Being who created the universe, and placed man in the world, 191190 and submitted his works to the control of certain 0916 bed on fixed laws, could also,

the benefit of man, and suspend or alter the 19941999 also, at any time, interfere for regular operation of the laws which he himself had appointed. The circumstances attending the planting of Christianity in the world were, indeed, contrary to the usual course of nature, they were miraculous; but there is nothing herein, impossible to the Being, who has all power in his hands; who doeth as it pleaseth him both in heaven and upon the earth.

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oldsdong nopeam and to Juoriais Secondly; considering the previous circumstances of mankind, and the unbounded goodness of God, the things related by the Christian wit