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 Evidences of Christianity, or. A collect 
 
 Clin 
 
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Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tlie Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 924029321 688 
 
EVIDENCES 
 
 O F 
 
 CHRISTIANITY: 
 
 OR 
 
 A COLLECTION of REMARKS 
 
 INTENDED 
 
 TO DISPLAY THE.,E X C E L L E N C E; 
 
 RECOMMEND THE PURITY, 
 
 ILLUSTRATE THE CHARACTERi 
 
 AND 
 
 KYINC£ THE AUTHENTICITY, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 C H R J S T LA N R E L I G I N, ,, 
 BY GILBERT WAKEFTELb, B. a: 
 
 LATE FELtOW OF JESUS COLLEGEj CAMBRIDGE.^. 
 
 None of the wicked shall understand ; 
 
 But the wise shall understand. Daniel xii. lO. 
 
 iiretirt T« TtA©' en'» « j^naffjs, hMm TTfx^if. Aristotle, 
 
 ■ '■ .quantum vertice ad auraS 
 
 ^therias, tantum radice in Tartara tendit. 
 Ergo non hiemestillam, non flabraj neque imbres 
 Conveliunt: imiiipta manet. ' Virgil. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION, MUCH ENLARGED. 
 
 L ON b N': 
 
 PRINTED F O.R THE AUTHOR^ 
 
 AND tOLD BY G. C. J, AN&J. KOBINSON, PATEK-NOSTXR ROW; 
 AND J, OEICHTON. n". 225, HOLSORM. 
 
T O 
 
 THOMAS NORTHMORE, Esq. 
 
 O P 
 
 UPPER SEYMOUR-STREET. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 Though the formality of a Dedication may 
 seem but ill-suited to the sincerity and in- 
 timacy of our friendship, I could not deny 
 myself the gratification of this public de- 
 claration of my affeftion and esteem. 
 
 From the contemplation of that political 
 delusion, produced by calumny and cor- 
 ruption on timidity and weakness ; a de- 
 lusion, which has seduced Englishmen into 
 associations against their own liberties and 
 happiness 5 — and from that religious infatu- 
 ation, which confines the privileges and com- 
 forts of society to the figments of knavery 
 and ignorance ; I turn myself for relief to 
 a congenial mind, deeply affefted with the 
 infelicities of our times and country. Ever 
 unreserved in my 'speculations, and the pro- 
 fession of them, I think it much to my ho- 
 A 3 nour, 
 
( IV ) 
 
 nour, amidst such degeneracy of manners 
 and failure of resolution, to number among 
 my friends a chosen few, the votaries or 
 Integrity and Truth ; not more distinguished 
 by reftitude of sentiment and the gifts oif 
 intellefl, than by every personal accom- 
 plishment and every social virtue. Whether 
 rve shall see a refclification of our constitu-r 
 tioh, and live to reynce over the meliorated 
 condition of the multitudes of our coun- 
 trymen in rags and beggary, in misery and 
 vice, (such is the solicitude of our glorious 
 government for their welfare !) it is im- 
 possible to pronounce : so gradual is the 
 process of Providence in the reformation of 
 the world ! so long and severe may be the 
 intermediate chastisement of this nation for 
 it's unparalleled enormities ! No effort, how^ 
 pver, of benevolence for the general good 
 will be thrown away: and, under every va-f 
 riation of events, it will continuie the duty of 
 individuals, as it will constitute their final 
 triumph, to live above the corruptions of 
 the age, to plead the cause of wretchedness 
 ^|id poverty, to beat down the pride of 
 
 their 
 
{ V ; 
 
 their oppressors, to meet with composun 
 scoffs and insults, disabilities and einbarass 
 ments, as fellow-suflFerers with the best anc 
 wisest of our species, and among-the rest 
 with that great reformer, the saviour o 
 the world himself, persecuted even to cruci 
 fixion by the corrupt ecclesiastics and aban 
 doned statesmen of his day. The dispro 
 portion of our numbers shall not divert u: 
 from a dauntless profession of our princi 
 pies and a vigorous perseverance in th( 
 work of reformation. When the oracle di 
 re£led the Athenians to find out that singl 
 person, who opposed the public sentiment 
 Phocion nobly declared himselfno be th( 
 man. ?' I am dissatisfied, says he, with ali 
 f that ye have done and said." 
 , At present the political horizon is darJ 
 and lowering ; and Europe seems to be pre 
 fipitating into the very sink of slavery. Th( 
 spirit of subje6ls is not less abjeft than the 
 insolence of their rulers is domineering 
 but the prospeft may brighten speedily 
 ^nd distress at least disabuse our country 
 pien into a (Jejuand for those temperate re- 
 forms 
 
( vi ) 
 
 forms, by which no peace will be endan- 
 gered, no revolution and it's evils be ren- 
 dered necessary ; evils, which the present 
 measures of administration have undeniably 
 a most obvious tendency to produce. Of 
 all possible calamities w^Ak is the most re- 
 pugnant to the feelings of the Christian and 
 the philosopher : and who shall calculate 
 that immensity of guilt, which wantonly 
 calls forth thousands and tens of thousands 
 to plunge their swords in the bosoms of 
 tlieir fellow-creatures, and desolates the cre- 
 ation of the Almighty, the God of Peace 
 and Mercy, the Father of Mankind, with 
 torrents oif human blood? If the rulers of 
 the earth were suffered to quench their rage 
 in person by this sanguinary process ; the 
 maxim of the pacific Jesus might receive 
 it's efficacy, to the'benefit of our species, to 
 the redemption of innumerable vidiims more 
 meritorious than their sacrificers : " They 
 '• ,that take up the sword, shallperishby 
 " THE sv\70RD." The purport of Aij- mission, 
 and the design ■ of the divine administra- 
 tion, however dilatory the execution of it's 
 
 schemes; 
 
( vu ) 
 
 schemes to our inadequate comprehensiorij, 
 is the H A p p I N £ s s of man : but that happiness 
 can only result from virtue ; znd virtue 
 is inseparable from civil liberty : a no- 
 ble truth ! gloriously asserted by the father 
 of poetry and the morning- star oi he.athen 
 literature : 
 
 AvfipwTWs, ore juv '/.arra. SsXiov Vi^Ldi^ eXtiiriv. 
 Jove jixt it certain, that the fatal day. 
 Which makes men slaves, takes half their worth 
 away. 
 
 Our wish, therefore, for that equality of go- 
 vernment, in which the civil rights and legal 
 protedion of rich and poor, base and noble, 
 shall be indiscriminate, (a position laid 
 down as indisputably true by the great po- 
 litical writers of antiquity, and only ques- 
 tioned by the audacity of modern ignorance) 
 our wish, I say, for the undistinguished pro- 
 teftion of law, is rational, benevolent, and 
 virtuous; and every attempt to promote 
 these principles, consistently with the general 
 happiness, and, if possible, with peace, is a 
 
 real 
 
( viii ) 
 
 real co-operation with- the designs of Pro- 
 vidence, the truest exerripHcation of the 
 Christicun doftrine, and the most perfeB 
 obedience to the will of God. 
 
 I remain. Dear Sir, 
 
 with the sincerest respefl, 
 your affeftionate friend 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Hackney, June 13, 1793. / 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 1 SHALL only detain the reader at his en? 
 trance on the following work, whilst I in? 
 form him, that he will find a considerable 
 addition of new materials, and the old, I 
 hope, much improved. Should the present 
 attempt in behalf of religion be-favourably 
 received by, the public, I shall take an early 
 opportunity, if possible, of submitting to 
 their notice a course of similar Remarks, 
 tending to authenticate, illustrate, and exr 
 plain the Jewish • Scriptures also. In the 
 mean time, as the following observations 
 respeft chiefly the internal Evidences of 
 Christianity, I beg leave to premise, that by 
 this ex|)ression I wish the reiader to un- 
 derstand, " a Proof of the Divinity of the 
 :' Christian religion, derived from the cir^. 
 " cumstances of that religion itself; whether 
 " colle6led from it's history, or inferred from 
 f' it's condition and effeEls" 
 
 I have thought proper to subjoin the fol, 
 lowing precautions from Spencer on Pro- 
 digies, to engage the candid attention of 
 
 ^he reader, 
 
 f« In 
 
. ( X ) 
 
 " in matters of a moral nAthit, argu- 
 " ments, which appear before the mind in 
 " a high degree of probabihty, are sufficient 
 " rules of faith and practice. In all matters 
 " we are to consider, not what arguments 
 " we would require, but what the subjeft 
 '* will bear. For neither religion nor rea- 
 " son require men to believe more strongly 
 " than the premises conclude, or to look 
 " for premises of greatdr strength than the 
 " condition of the subje6l will admit. Too 
 " great a facility in taking up insufficient 
 " proofs in some, and too great a rigour. in 
 " exafting them beyond the capacity of 
 " the matter in others, have been of equal 
 " prejudice to truth. It is therefore a justice 
 " the reader owes the argument and him- 
 " self, not to expe£l clear demonstration, but 
 " high probabititi'es therein : a title, which 
 " I am not without some ho|)e, that the rea^ 
 " sons, hereafter alledged, may deserve." 
 
ADVEkTiSEMENt 
 
 TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 IF the Reader should find any thing in the fol- 
 lowing pages, that tends to confirm his opinion oj 
 the Truth and Excellence of Christianity, his ohli-^ 
 gatidns are due to the Rev. Thomas Wakefielu 
 of Richmond in Surry, at whose instigation thesi 
 Remarks were put together, and to whom they are 
 cordially inscribed by his 
 
 Affectionate Brother 
 
 THE AUTHOlii 
 
EVIDENOES, &c. 
 
 introduction: 
 
 It is a heathen maxim of antiquity, that a great 
 ^book is a great evil: and the wisest of the Kings 
 of hrael has observed with no less justice, that of^ 
 •making many books there is no end> The benefit 
 and x;onVemence of an Author and the Public 
 would, be equally consuhed, , if, the spiirit of these 
 aphorisms were punftiially regarded in all literary 
 undertakings., . *" - : 
 
 Should ' ?Ke,''sense and learning of an age be 
 estimated by the number of it's writings, the g^ie- 
 ration, in which we liVe, might assert a bighei;' 
 rank on the scale of letters than. the inost accom- 
 plished periods of ancient time : the Genius of 
 4thens and Rome tbemsplyes would bow down 
 before us. But, on the other hand, if intrinsic 
 B excellence 
 
6 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 excellence and novelty of information must decide 
 the claim of literary merit, w« should find our- 
 selvesj I firmly believe, degraded to a much lower 
 point than our pride would previously suffer us 
 to imagine. For my own part, it is my wish and 
 intention, neither to misemploy my own time, nor 
 to abuse the patience and leisure of my reader, 
 by retailing the fruits of another's labour and 
 ingenuity; and, accordingly, the following Re- 
 marks corroborative and illustrative of Christi- 
 anity, will be found, to the best of my knowledge, 
 either entirely new, or, where the subjeft has 
 been already treated by my predecessors in this 
 province, as concise as possible*. By such a pro- 
 cedure, we should aft a more honourable part to 
 them, who have gone before us ; more uprightly to 
 ourselves, and more respeftfuUy to the commu- 
 nity at large : and, what is of principal importance, 
 we should more effeftually contribute also to the 
 advancement of solid learning and our own fame 
 
 as useful and honest writers t. ' 
 
 f 
 
 * I approve the sentiment of Ulysses in Homer : 
 
 • ' ■ , ^%6g°> « fo' Eolw' 
 
 ■ft Etsi©- &' e4 elspij (ro^©<,, 
 
 To T£ n'lzXai TO T£ tW aSe, ya^ fourlot 
 - A^f'Sm I'jnui icvficti s^ev^ut, Bacchylides^ apud Clem. AI. 
 
 REMARK 
 
iVtbkk'cKS OF CHRISTiANITY. 
 
 REMARK 1. 
 
 No contemptible presumption in favour of a 
 revelation similarly circumstariced with Christia- 
 nilyi resembling it, I inean, in tke genius of it's 
 ^rfecepts, the mode of it's communication, and 
 the chit-Jtfter of it's gxtaXApoktle* ; arisesj in my 
 jiidgeilient, vcovsx a fcbhsideratioii of those remaric- 
 able declarations of the god-like Socrates in the 
 ■WfeU-knOwri Hialogue of Platoi. After that extra- 
 ordinary person had represented to his pupil Alci- 
 lihdei the ,dange^ and teirierity of offering sacri- 
 fices and suppiicdtidns to the Gods for things appa- 
 rently beneficial, but possibly fatal in the issue 
 ib our happiness and virtue from the uncef'tainty 
 of future events ; and had given the preference 
 to those prayfers, whicfi resign the conduft of the 
 universe and of individuals to the absolute will 
 of Providence; he adds: " In my opinion it is 
 " better to abstain altogether from prayer and 
 « sacrifice ; and to ■virait for information, hb~w we 
 «' ought to be affefted towaMs God and men. But 
 
 * Christ Jtfiis the apostle and high-priest of our con- 
 fession, says the sublime author of the Epistle ta the He- 
 Srerjs, c. ill. v. t. 
 
 + The Alcibiades Secuadus. 
 
 B 2 " when. 
 
8 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAN ITV. 
 
 " when, said Alcibiades, will this informatiofl 
 *' come ; and who will be our instru&or ? for the 
 " sight of this person would give me the most 
 " lively satisfafliion. He it is, replied Socrates^ 
 " who is solicitous for thy welfare. I am rea,dy, 
 *' says Alcibiades, to comply with all the injunc- 
 *' tions of this man, whoever he may be, if I can 
 " but grow better by this compliance. And assure 
 "yourself^ rejoined Socrates,' t]ia.t he also has a 
 " wonderful eagerness in your behalf*." 
 
 Whether something like that report, traditional 
 as it should seem, which afterwards prevailed so 
 generally throughout the East t, and which I am 
 inclined myself to carry up to a more venerable 
 origin than random fancy ^ or philosophical specula- 
 tion (feeling as I do no impulse from inclina- 
 tion, no authority from learning, no encou- 
 ragement from antiquity, no arguments from 
 reason, for the exclusion of the Deity from occa- 
 sional communication with his creatures in former 
 periods): whether, I say, such a rumour had 
 
 * This was the period of that mighty famine, when man- 
 kind began to be in toant, Luke xv. 14. when reflefting minds 
 began to see the necessity, of some extraordinary inter- 
 ference lo reftify the dark and depraved condition of 
 the world.. 
 
 + See Suetonius in Vespasian, iv. 8, and the commen- 
 tators on the place : edit. Pitisci, 
 
 reached 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 9 
 
 reached the ears of SocraieSj or his pure and 
 penetrating mind, contrasting the blindness and 
 corruption of the world with the benignity and 
 wisdom of a ccelestial superintendant of the uni- 
 verse, had condufted hini to this conclusion; upon 
 either supposition, the opinion of so competent 
 a witness upon the condition of human affairs 
 must be allowed, I think, by every impartial judge, 
 of no inconsiderable moment, and infinitely more 
 worthy of attention than the bold positions of 
 modern deists, either with affeftions depraved by 
 vicious praftices," with minds distorted by obli- 
 quity of purpose, or with understandings puffed 
 up by imaginary science. I must beg leave at 
 least for myself to demur at any opinion on these 
 subjefts, which does not come recommended to 
 me by the united qualities of upright intelleB, 
 steady virtue, and solid learning. 
 
 As nothing, that can contribute to the further- 
 ance of the go/pel, or the promotion of scriptural 
 knowledge, appears to me impertinent to the pre- 
 sent subjeft, I shall make no apology for submit- 
 ting to the consideration of the judicious reader, 
 whether a most difficult passage in the epistle 
 to the Romans * does not admit of explanation 
 
 * Chap, viii. ver, 26. ' 
 
 8 3 from 
 
10 EVIDENCES OF CIiE.I,STI4.l^ITr., 
 
 from the ides^s arising put of the p,resei[it disqui- 
 sitions on the sentiments pf Socrates. ' 
 
 And in liks mf^nn^cr also the spirit, (the power 
 arid precepts of the gospel) as}iskt\ (conspires in 
 assisting) our infirmities: for we kn.o.w nq,'^ 
 
 WHAT TO PRAY FOR AS 'VVE OUGHT; ^Mif thlS_ 
 
 very spirit .intexcedeth for %is with secret grot^ns : 
 that is, groa.ns not uttered, in opposition t;o the 
 importunate and audilfl^ utterance^ of our anxiotrst 
 I|iearts. 
 
 Iijideed the whole chapter, which appears at 
 first involved in great obscurity, may probably rp- 
 peiye much illumination from these suggestions. 
 
 REMARK 11. 
 
 i PROCEED to a Remark, not decisive perhaps, 
 but of no in.cpnsiderable tendency and of exten- 
 sive application. 
 
 If the hopks of the Net)) Testament he the. pro- 
 dufilion of' imposture, the forgers of them w^re 
 |,Ews: in other words, these writings can scarcely 
 have beeo invented by any man, ox set of men, 
 pf any other wi^iwn, whatsoever. — ^^ow this ptiger- 
 ▼ation brings the question at least: into a narrower 
 compass, and contra&s the ground upon which 
 
 our 
 
EVIDENCES OF CH-RJ&TIANITY. J» 
 
 our sceptical antagianist must take hiA stand for 
 his encounter with tlje advocal^e of CJirisiianiiy. 
 
 For to supersede the menjtion- of the extreme 
 dificuliy,, or rather the impos&ihility^ if we wouild 
 state the point with- impartiality and precision, of 
 personating, without a liability: to- the grossest 
 eirors, a character connefted with the mention 
 of celebrated men„ times, places, customs, manmrst 
 and other fpecijic circumstances witliout number; 
 not, I say, to insist on: these peculiaritiesj I make 
 no scifuple to maintain, that every reader, con- 
 versant with tKe writers of antiquity,, and ejadowed 
 with the least critical perception of stile and phra- 
 seology,, must acknowledge at once the mode of 
 composition in the New Testament to wear a com- 
 plexion essentially dastinO: from that; of all other 
 writings whatsoever, except thoie of jfety5,. and 
 such as have been modelled by the same standard* 
 No competent judge, I am persuaded, will ven? 
 ture to controvert this positioo:*. 
 
 *- Non difficile fojet h'ominJ.studloso, qtii quidem in 
 J'udseorum lingua et scriptis aliquant diu versatus fuoritj 
 Kovum Testjraientum. de, versu fere in versum, in Unr 
 guam Talmudicam transfundere ; adeo a vulgJiri eorum ct 
 communi loquendi ratione nusquam et nunquam discedit, 
 Lightfaot praef. in adum vol. Opp, edit. Rotircdimt 
 
 B 4 , ThQ 
 
la EVIDENCES OF CBRISTI ANITY^ 
 
 The religious sentiments of the Hehrews were 
 confessedly very different fram thbse of any other 
 ancient nation : their religious institutions were, the 
 daily employment of their lives to a scrupulous 
 exaftness, and the study of their religious writings 
 was made the perpetual ■ engagement and obliga- 
 tion of particular sefts among them. The entire 
 community might be stiled indeed a nation of 
 priests. Thus the whole current of their ideas 
 became tinftured of course with an infusion of 
 religious images ; and the colouj imbibed frprri 
 this source became incorporated with the whole 
 texture of their public and private life; with their 
 aftiohs, their writings, their sentiments, and their 
 conversation. Their stile of composition, there- 
 fore, and their cast of thought, are peculiarly their 
 own; that is, charafteristic of the people, and" 
 essentially distinguished from any nationally Greek 
 or jRemsn. author that can be mentioned. 
 
 But the pertinency and force of this general 
 remark will be best understood by a particular 
 illustration of it. None but a jfew, fot example, 
 (to assume the fafil as it is recorded) would have 
 conceived such a relation as the following in 
 similar terms*. 
 
 * Another illustration of this topic may be seen in my 
 pb?ervations on the words ex fCKpuv,, Matt, xiv, a, in my 
 commentarj/'otithitGosfet. 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 13^, 
 
 Now there is- at jferusdlekn by the sheep-market a 
 fool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, 
 having Jive porckesl 
 
 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of 
 Hind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the 
 water. 
 
 For an Angel went down at a certain season 
 into the pool, and troubled the water : whosoever 
 then first after the troubling of the water, stept in^ 
 was made whole of whatsoever disease he had *. 
 
 Th^ pool, bath, or spring, here spbken of, I 
 suppose to have been like some of those men- 
 tioned by Herodotus and Pliny, to whom I refer 
 the reader t; such indeed as travellers of our own 
 times often mention. That warmth and occa- 
 sional fluftuation, from some secret and unknown 
 cause, for which a Greek or Roman historian 
 would have attempted to account in conformity 
 to the philosophical principles of his own peculiar 
 system ;]; j a few, who was accustomed to ascribe 
 aU events to the immediate agency of his King ye-> 
 Jiovah', naturally attributes to the operation of a 
 
 ♦ John V. 2—5, 
 
 + Herod, iv. i8i. Plin. Nat. Hist. 5i. 97, 103. xxxi. 
 i, 4, See ilso Pausanias, iv. 35. edit. Kuh,nii,3ind the notes 
 there, • , - 
 
 + See the Scholiast on ApoU, Rhod. iii. 325, Lucret. vl; 
 
 uunistenng. 
 
ti EVIDBT^CES OF CHRtSTIAWITY. 
 
 piinistering Angj,l: a mode of solution, which 
 would not readily have occurred but to a disciple 
 
 tjf the law of Moses *. — And let me ^^d^tbis idea, 
 
 / 
 
 • The heathens alfo, it mull he confeffed, occ^fionally 
 afcribed very extraordinary and unexpeSied events Xo the 
 itit.ejrferQUce Q,f the Qods, but lefs uniformly in general, and 
 through the mediation of oth^r Gods, AiahSgna-Mia-tyaf roJe 
 srcy^w TTav^oi, vir' eutbj^ijij xai ©EfiN fiufAuii, n tej^hij;. AreiteWS 
 ii. 1 . init. Individual heathens, in proportion to their 
 fanftity of charafter and their reveren^ce for the Supreme 
 Jeihg, appjfOX-ima^ed.to the vigour of the Jvuijfi ideas on 
 t^jji§ fubjeft. Eujlathius, in his coijnmentary on the firft 
 veiffe o{ the Iliad, fays ; OKu% h, i wodju*; vrxi to 7rag))^?ia^/*6H), 
 xai |s>(^ov x«( i^ui^ttnii nat TC^ccfioVt 1 xixt TEfUTU^E;, ei; te Seiov yft®' 
 iis» Ei; Sem ccTTOHaiis'ee, 
 
 The iDcomparable- Hippocrates, p. ag^., edit. Foes, has 
 jxpreffed himfelf in- words truly ^vangeliftical : E(ioi Je xa» 
 
 Ir^piir ETEftf SEIOTEfOI^ 2i^E oi'S^Un'IVOTigOV, uMs: ^fiSVTK ^EltK. 
 
 Cornelius Nepos fays of Timokon, left. 4, Ni/iil rerum ku- 
 mdnarumjine Deorum numine a.gi putabat. 
 
 But on this fubje£)i I know nothimg, comparable to fome 
 yerfes of Oppian, halieut. ii. 3. to- which every reader of 
 fublipijty and beauty, whfl has. not remarked them before, 
 will thank me for direfting his attention. 
 
 . to, Je ve Ti; an^onoKS-n aTtcuna 
 
 Noer^i ©EH-N ; Ho- offaoy- vtt ex .'jzoo^ i^v^ Oieipui,^ 
 Ova oT'ov djivcracrai j3^E^ag<i;v 'ffi^ipaia xt;xA». 
 
 TiJioSex lyya; eojte;. 
 
 of 
 
EVipSNCES. QF CI^p.ISTIAN?TY, 1,^ 
 
 qF the p^tiqijlar interference of the Pe^ty by his 
 qti^els, seems to \\^ye heet\ mor^ \ha^ Usually pre- 
 dominant in those tinges, M(bich ' appijoj^ima^e to, 
 the 2f ra, i^ -whic^^ y;e. believe the afio^tlei, to l^ve. 
 lived and written. Wha,t tljie original histpry, ia 
 it's account of those animals, ybich ?i,<;compa5rtfd, 
 Noah in the ark, relates in the following simple 
 language, — Twq, of iivery savi ihcill, covu vj^fi thee 
 to keep them aliv^ * ; — the Chaliet' paraphrases of 
 Jonathan and Jerusalem dignify with this observ- 
 able addition : 'Two oj e,ach shaj,l go in unto thee by 
 THE HAND OF AN Ancel, who wUl take them, 
 and make them go in unto thee to keep them c^livfi. 
 ^j}irfior,e examples of this form, of speech might, 
 be easily produced from the same- p^raphrasts t. 
 
 Nonnus, who is referred by Q-hronologers tp. th© 
 
 Jijlh century, and who executed a paraphsase oF 
 
 iS^. John's gospel in Greek hexajneters, has given 
 
 such a represenJ;a,tion of this transaftion,^ as inight, 
 
 naturally be expetled from one desirous t,o, thfoW. 
 
 * Gen. vi.' zo. 
 
 + John xii. 28, 29. Then a voice camefi-om heaven: I have 
 hdth glorified sit, and mil glorify it again. Upon which the 
 multitude standing by, that heard it, /did. It thundered. Otheis 
 faid : An angel hath spoken to him. As in c. i. v. 52; 
 of the fame evangelist, the frequent communications c5f di- 
 vine power to our Lord during his m^inistry, is represented 
 under the strongly --embleraatical language of angels 
 
 ASC£5«CJNG AND DESCENblMG TO THE SON OF MAN. ■ 
 
 a clajjie. 
 
t6 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 a clajfic air over his performance, and to main- 
 tain a consistency with their modes of thinking, 
 whose language he* adopted. " A pool," says he, 
 *« where the feverish person, seeing the water bub- 
 " ble up with spontaneous motion, washt 
 « away his distemper in the warm stream *." 
 
 * Ef^ernf afraftivS®., oTij XExai/ftEf®* ctrrf 
 
 OepfiX 'ni'Kcuvaji.tm ama-Haa.ro )wjii,a.ta (1. hv^JMra,') taaHf 
 
 A superstitious adherence to the /ktter of the original, 
 which had no conception of looking out for an easy and 
 rational solution of this apparent, inconsistency of the two 
 accounts, in the peculiarities of sentiment or the idioms of 
 language, produced the following remark of an annotator 
 on the passage : " Paulo post vocat, oiutosXiktov v^up. Sed 
 •' quomodo sua sponte, fiquidem, ut ait Johannes, AngeLus 
 " descendebat et movebat aquamf Crediderim Nonnum alia 
 " EXEMPLA prae manibus habuisse, qua: nullatn facerent 
 " Angeli mentionem ; vel (a ray of reason beginning to 
 fteal across his understanding) " aquam etvnt'Kui.nt appel. 
 " lat, quod invisibili qu^dam virtute non humanis artibus mo- 
 " veretur." In which he has my approbation and con- 
 currence, as coinciding with the conceptipns of his 
 author. 
 
 The account, which Prudentius gives of this pool, may 
 with propriety be subjoined ; 
 
 Morborum Tnedicina latex, quern spiritvs horis 
 £ru£iat vanis, fusum ratione iatenti. 
 
 And 
 
EVIDEXCES OF GHRISTIANITY. 17 
 
 And who can deny the reasonableness and cre- 
 dibility of the circumstance as exhibited in this 
 relation? Nor, I apprehend, would our Evau- 
 gelisty had he not been educated in Jewiih prin- 
 ciples, have propounded, with the same faS be- 
 fore him, a narrative materially different from 
 that of his poetical expositor, divested only of his 
 embellishments. The assertion, that — Whoioever 
 jint stept in after the troubling of the water, was 
 made whole oj whatjoever difeaje he had — goes no 
 further, in my opinion, than a mere declaration 
 of the refuted efficacy of that mineral spring, for 
 the striO: truth of which our history is by no 
 means responsible : and the descent of an angel was 
 the obvious unavoidable solution of such a phce ■ 
 nomenon, as the spontaneous fluBuation of the pool, 
 to a mind nurtured in the Jewish system of 
 theology. 
 
 It must be thought extremely probable, that 
 the warmth and medical qualities of the water had 
 occasionally efFeCted cures in rheumatisms and 
 similar disorders, and had thereby excited an ex- 
 peftation of relief in other cases ; but no circum- 
 sta^fices in the Apostle's narrative imposes a re- 
 straint on my mind at least to conclude, that any 
 miraculous restoration to health or soundness had 
 been accomplished even in a single instance. 
 
 And 
 
i8 EV-liJENCfcs Of cURifettAkiTif. 
 
 And the prbn^hess* bf all ages ahd nations to 
 siich tfddulity and superstition appears toi rescub 
 this interprfetation, which is diffidehtly propbised 
 to the judicious reader, from evfcry imputation df 
 imptobability. 
 
 The following extrafl; from a most reSpeOtablle 
 iilthor will accede as no mean corroboratioti of 
 these remarks. 
 
 «' From Chester I rode — to HaliweU; where I 
 *« saw and drank of the so much farhed watet of 
 *' St. Winifred's well, which I knew tiot how t6 
 " distinguish frbm common water. — Over it is a 
 « handsome stohe bilildingi and by it a chapel, 
 ** where lie continually a great number bf poor, 
 « lame, iflipotent people; rtioire, I believe, to be^ 
 " and receive the alrfis bf strange:^s, that either 
 *' out of curiosity at devotion cbme to visit and 
 
 * I once knew a person, who strenuously maintained, 
 that a conjurer in the neighbourhood could raise spirits 
 when he pleased ; and that his own son-in-law and many 
 others had been present at the time. When I declared mv 
 utter persuasion of the impossibility of such a powef, lib 
 affirmed, that he \vould bring the eonjttref-j Who often 
 capie to the toMm, to exhibit before me. I accepted tiie 
 proposal, and promised moreover to reward the exhi- 
 bitioner with ten guineas, for a successful operation of his 
 art. This was too critical a test for our conjurer'& ma- 
 rireuvres; and terminated the dispute. I heard no' more 
 of his perform.ances, 
 
 " see 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRIStlANITV, ig 
 
 « see the well, thah out of hope to receive fliUch 
 " benefit by the use of this water ; though the 
 " inhabitants of this place will tell yoU stories 
 •'enough, very confidently and cikduM- 
 
 *' STANTIALLY, of LATELY DONE MIRACULOUS 
 
 « CURES by the use thereof: but I have learned, 
 « that to distrust is nervus safientiiie*:" alluding to 
 the celebrated trochaic of Epicharmul : 
 
 Upon the whole, the example here alledged, 
 not only illustrates and supports the previous ar^- 
 gument, but, if I do not deceive myself, may be 
 justly proposed as a specimen of liberal in- 
 terpretation of the Scriptures, grounded upon 
 a suitable apprehension of the value of Hebrew 
 phraseology : and such an interpretation, as will 
 appear, perhaps, on a competent estimation, not 
 less unexceptionable in itself, than calculated to 
 place many important passages of the jewijh and 
 Christian revelations beyond the reach of Sciolists 
 and Sceptics of every denomination. 
 
 Further: this proposition, which I am attempt- 
 ing to establish^ will be ascertained to the. fhilolo- 
 
 * Ray's Itinerary, '-p. 21. and this, it may be observed, 
 at a time when the, propensity to such marvellous faith was 
 considerably' impaired in the minds even of the vulgar in 
 this country. 
 
 - S^^ 
 
40 EVIDENCES or CttRiSTtANltYi 
 
 ger with indisputable evidence from an acquaint^ 
 ance with ihe oriental languages; and others, whose 
 opportunities, or inclination has not furnished 
 them with this criterion of authenticity, may reap 
 abundant conviftion from Lighifoot's Talmudical 
 illustrations of the New Testament ; who, beyond 
 any other writer that has fallen under my n-oticcj 
 shews, with, learning most profound and industry 
 most unwearied*, the circumstantial correspon- 
 dence of the evangelical narrations to the sayii)gs> 
 maxims, traditions, usages, and manners of the 
 Jewish nation. No attestations of this nature, 
 iri6re minute, more copious, and more diver^ 
 sified, ever, co-operated to the establishment of 
 any moral and political truth whatever. 
 
 And, that I may not suffer to go by me a con- 
 venient opportunity of enforcing a congenial ar- 
 gument in favour of the sacred writings, I will 
 further entreat the reader to consider, whether 
 
 * Be was One of a host 6f extraordinary scholal-s, pro* 
 duced by the Universities of England, and particularly 
 Cambridge, during the last century; to whdse. learning .out 
 indolent and puny age cannot, I am afraid, produce.even 
 a tythe of parallels. Let me specify a few Cambridge-Tnt.n, 
 tliat present themselves to memory. Bishops. JTa&oB, ^^iL 
 kins, Beveridge, Pearson, and StilUngflett, Patrick :" Mede, 
 Cudworth,, lightjoot, Spenser, CasttU, Barrow, Burnet', and 
 Milton. 
 
 the 
 
EVlfiENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 21 
 
 tlie accordance of the multifarious CMi^o?K5,^enonj^ 
 places, charaSters^ incidents, and other peculiar 
 circumstances, thickly sown through the pages of 
 these histories, and connected with the most po- 
 lished age and nation of antiquity, produftive of 
 many illustrious authors, with whom a compa- 
 rison may be instituted in this respeft; whether, 
 I say, the accordance of such a multiplicity of 
 particulars with the contents of other authentic 
 contemporary records, does not amount to a proof 
 almost demonstrative, that the books in question 
 were produced by writers of that time, well ac^ 
 quainted with the subj eft-matter of their respec- 
 tive performances^ 
 
 But, before I conclude HciisSeBion, why should 
 1 hesitate to propose an additional specimen of 
 two of similar interpretation, to the judgement of 
 intelligent and candid theologians ; those, I mean, 
 who love a rational and liberal criticism of the 
 scriptures, as the only possible method of recom- 
 mending their contents to learned and inquisitive 
 readers of every description, beyond the defence 
 of circumscribed creeds and established systems of 
 belief? For creeds and systems, the children of ig- 
 norance and the nurselings of authority, are 
 doomed to mortality, like the perishable authors 
 of their being ; whilst Truth and Reason, the ema- 
 nations of God himself, without the props of hu- 
 
 c man 
 
22 EVIDfiKCES OP CHRISTIANITY'. 
 
 man institutions, will continue, unimpaired as hfs 
 own eternity, when the earth and the heavens 
 shall be no more. 
 
 And there appeared unto him an angel from hea~ 
 ven, stringthemng him*. 
 
 The silence of the other evangelists respe6ling 
 so remarkable a phaenomenon, accepted in it's li- 
 teral intention, naturally inclin.es me to look out 
 for an interpretation, that will mollify this diffi- 
 culty, and fall in with the general chafafter of the 
 writers. Now it seems to me, (who labour at 
 least to dig out truth from the mine) that the for- 
 titude, which our Lord appears to have reco- 
 vered in so sudden and unexpefted a manner, 
 would be attributed by a Jew to the interference 
 of Jehovah through the mediation of an angel, in 
 consequence of the predominant persuasion, in- 
 terwoven •with all the ideas of this people, that 
 every extraordinary event in particular was the' 
 immediate execution of God himself. 
 
 To the same mode of solution I would wily 
 lingly refer A£ls xvi. 7. And, having come to 
 Mysia, they were attempting to go by Bithynia ; and 
 i|Ae Spirit suffered them not : that is, their own 
 JUDGEMENT, on mafuter consideration, strongly 
 assured them, that the purposes of their missioa 
 
 * Luke Kxii, 43. 
 
 would 
 
BVIDENCtS OF CHRISTIAKITY. a^ 
 
 would not be promoted by what appeared to-them 
 an eligible measure. 
 
 A passage from Xenofhon's Apohgy for Socrates 
 will throw light on the text before us, and, ac- 
 cording to my apprehension, will admit of no 
 other acceptation. s 
 
 « But indeed*, says Socrates, though I have 
 " already attempted even twice to consider of an 
 *' apology, the dcemon still opposes me :" i. e. my 
 secret conviElion — my conscience — the deliberate and 
 impartial decision of my own mind. The philo- 
 sopher meant nothing more by this phrase, which 
 has produced so much dispute and speculation. 
 
 Hence also an observable declaration of our 
 Lord, recorded by St. John, appears in my judge- 
 ment, to admit an unforced and satisfa6lory ex-- 
 planation. 
 
 * AVia wsi fix ^a, (pettxi avrav, x«i ^; »)Je ewipj^jsa-anT^ fUJ 
 mo'neit iti^t rr,i asro^oyia;, BvanmrM ftot to diz>f«oMo>. Se&,. 4. 
 
 Hemer, as in numberless other passages, thus expresses 
 the judgement of Diomede. II. K. 365. 
 
 am', 5te Jb rax,' sfteMt ftiyiio-es-flai fvJiecxiffffi, 
 ^ivym i; >ri»{, tot« Jij fti*©' ff♦£«^' Afliim < 
 
 When Dolon soon had mingled tuith the watch. 
 Quick-running to the ships; Minerva sek* 
 An impulse to xbs- breast of Tydiiis' son. 
 
 c a 
 
 Hence' 
 
,]t4 SVIBSNCeS of CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Henceforth * ye will fee the heaven opened, and 
 the angels of God ascending and descending to the 
 son of man. 
 
 By which I understand simply, that ye will be' 
 witnesses to extroiordiaary communicatidns of the 
 Deity, and to frequent displays of divine power. ■ 
 
 Part of aft address to his disciplesj ascribed by 
 Ovid t to Pythagor&s, will supply a pleasing spe- 
 cimen of a congenial phraseology. 
 
 Eti qiioniam Deus ora tnovef, sequar ora tmvenUm 
 Rite DEUMi'Delphosque meos, iPSUMque RECLUDAM 
 ^THERA ; ei augustis reserabo oracula ?nentis. 
 
 God prompts my lips, and I the call divine 
 Will duly follow, Lo I the portals high 
 Of Other's self I open, and disclose 
 The shirine orac'lar of cxleftial truth. 
 
 But it is time to proceed with our remarks. 
 
 REMARK III. 
 
 No candid mind can desire, and no ingenuity 
 could devise, a more convincing internal evidence 
 of the validity of the Gofpel narratives, than the 
 
 SUPERLATIVE PRE-EMINENCE of thcir MORA- 
 
 * C.i. V. 52. + Metam. xv. 143. 
 
 LITY, 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY, 25 
 
 LiTY, in competition with the doftrines of Gentile 
 philosophy, and the dedu£lions of what is usually 
 called natural Religion: 
 
 This topic, I am aware, has been amply dis- 
 cussed by a variety of writers of more leisure, 
 more ability, more patience, and moi^ indus- 
 try, than myself. It remains, therefore, for me 
 to exhibit, only the statement of this argument in 
 it's true point of view; which is indeed very strik- 
 ing and well worthy of attention. 
 
 The precepts of Chridianity^ respeSing the re- 
 gulation of human life in every branch of duty, 
 whether relative or personal^ not only excel in 
 .sublimity of sentiment, and in suitableness to the 
 great end of all morality, I mean, the refinement 
 of the heart and the exaltation of charafter to the 
 highest point attainable by our measure of ra- 
 tional intelligence ; — the gospel precepts not only 
 excel, I say, in these respefts the morality of any 
 single philosopher of antiquity, but the concen- 
 trated wisdom ol every moralist and philosopher 
 of every age and nation, even when purged from 
 that mass of impurity, absurdity, and error, which 
 so 4^bases the .systems of •heathen discipline. 
 This incontrovertible assertion is surely of pro- 
 digious moment, and impels the understanding 
 with an irresistible force of evidence, without 
 the counterbalance of, perhaps, a single particle 
 
 c 3 of 
 
Z6 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITy. 
 
 of palpable imbecility and folly in it's compo. 
 sition. Nor am I conscious of any hazard, of 
 any rashness, in this position: I feel no fear of 
 drawing upon myself an imputation of groundless 
 confidence or childish partiality. The field, how- 
 ever, is open to the unbeliever;, the diligence, 
 and wit of ages have been employed in furnish^ 
 ing him with armour for the combat : the chal- 
 lenge is made in form, and the contest is capable 
 of decision. But it were vain to expefcl; frorn 
 him an open engagement on terms, which a know- 
 ledge of antiquity will convince him to be so ut-^ 
 terly unequal. The true scholar is but too well 
 assured from evidence most unequivocal, that our 
 Galilean has brought down from the skies whstt 
 Socrates, inferior only to the Galilean, wisht, but 
 wisht in vain. 
 
 Yet one fallacy, which has probably misled the 
 understandings of many enquirers on this subje£l, 
 must not go undetected. Produce me the man, 
 who can justly claim a superiority, in native en- 
 dowments of intelleQ: and heart,* and the accom- 
 plishments of learning, to the Platos, the'A^-istotles, 
 the Xenophons, the Tullies, of Greece and Rome. 
 Is that, shall we suppose, within the compass of 
 his capacity, which these heroes of literature and 
 genius were unable to attain ? — ^So then, to form 
 a true judgement pf the powers of unassisted reason 
 
 and 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 27 
 
 and the progress of natural religion, we ought, in 
 all propriety and fairness, to recur to those syst 
 terns of morality, which existed before the birth 
 01 Christ: They alone are the reasonable spe- 
 cimens of those powers ; — the genuine criterion of 
 ihat progress. The numerous schemes of moral 
 philosophy, devised, or rather drawn up, be- 
 neath the sunshine of gospel light, have received 
 too much illumination from that source of bright- 
 ness, to pass with considerate examiners for a 
 proper test of the abilities of man, unaided by 
 Revelation*. Yes :• educated under those benign 
 
 influences, 
 
 * To this purpose our great poet Dryden in his rdigio 
 
 ■laid: 
 
 Vain wretched creature ! how art thou misled 
 To think thy wit thtse godlike notions bred ! 
 These truths are not the produft of thy mind, 
 But dropp'd from Heaven, and of a nobler Itind. 
 Reveal'd Religion first informed thy sight. 
 And Reason saw not 'till Faith sprung the light. 
 Hence all thy natural worship takes the source: 
 'Tis Revelation what thou thinks*! discourse. 
 Else how com'st thou to see these truths so clear, 
 Which so obscure to heathens did appear? 
 Not Plato these, nor .■ rittotle found ; 
 Nor he whose wisdom oralcles renown'd. 
 Hast thou a wit so deep, or so sublime ? 
 Or panst thou lower dive, or higher climb ? 
 
 c 4 Cansjt 
 
•SS EVIDENCES OF CHRIST! AN ITV. 
 
 influences, which Christianity has shed on life and 
 jnanners, we have imperceptibly imbibed a por- 
 tion of it's vivifying spirit ; and easily mistake that 
 for an emanation of unborrowed light, which is but 
 a reJleBion of a brighter luminary, unobserved 
 merely from a long familiarity with its eflPefts, 
 The fountain of living waters first flowed indeed 
 only through the country oi Judea; but has since 
 distributed rivulets of heaith and vigour through 
 every civilized region of the universe. Nay, fur- 
 ther; the purer morality of the later Grecian 
 schools, and the striking superiority discernible 
 in the theories of modern times over those of th§ 
 old philosophers, afford of themselves an incon-. 
 trovertible demonstration, that the waters of Israel 
 far transcend in salutary virtues J.rbana and Phar- 
 far, and all the rivers of Damascus. 
 
 To conclude : we will state the question in few 
 words, and much it behoves the deistical speculator 
 to return an answer? that will secure him a con- 
 scientious retention of his system. 
 
 Canst thou by reason more of godhead know 
 ■Than Plutarch, Senecoj or Cicero ? 
 Those giant wits in happier ages born, 
 When arms and arts did Greece and Rome adorn, 
 fvnew no such system ; no such piles cou'd raise 
 Of natural worship^ built on prayer and praise 
 To Oil? sgl? Qo4, - 
 
 Coynj 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 29 
 
 Could the son of a carpeiUer— could a tribe 
 ei fishermen, unassisfted, by the peculiar favours 
 of the Deity — thus outstrip the whole assem- 
 blage of illustrious philosophers, and ad- 
 vance morality to perfeftion by a single ef- 
 fort*. 
 
 Tossed about by the contending waves of 
 Gentile philosophy, and wandering with an un- 
 certain course under the malignant glimmerings 
 of natural religion, my vessel flies for refuge into 
 the haven of the gospel; where she may cast 
 at length the anchor of her hope, and ride in 
 safety, 
 
 * We may apply on the present occasion a sagacious 
 remark of Dionysius the Halicarncusian, antt. Rom. vii, sub 
 finem. O^iya jut ya^ iimriiivfuna %m Svna; re kcu Es^Ta; 
 
 Qiiis casum mentis ascriiere talibus audet ? 
 HtEC negat auSorem guis staiuisse Deum ? 
 
 Clauoiak. 
 In confirmation of the preceding remarks, I would re- 
 commend to the reader's perusal some admirable reflec- 
 tions, delivered with equal strengtli and fimplicity of rea- 
 soning, in Doctor Craig's Xi^e of Christ, pp. 138, 139, 
 2d edition : which it were injurious to weaken by mutir 
 lated quotations. 
 
 REMARK 
 
go EVIDENCES or CHRISTIANITY, 
 
 REMARK IV. 
 
 If the moral satyrist could pronounce with 
 propriety of the philosophical maxim, Know thy^ 
 ielj, that it came down from heaven* ; with much 
 more justice may the advocates of Christianity 
 put in the claim of coelestial extraftion for these 
 injunftions of it's founder: 
 
 But I say unto you, love your enemies ; bless ihem, 
 who curse you; do good io them, who hate you; and 
 pray for them, who- injuriously use you and perse- 
 cute youf. 
 
 Such are the godlike precepts of our christian 
 lawgiver! Hear him deliver the same lesson of 
 the most pure and sublime morality with an 
 energy still more pathetic, and a simplicity still 
 more engaging : 
 
 A new commandment J give unto you, that ye love 
 one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love' 
 oi),e another'^. 
 
 A precept of such refined benevolence, which 
 enjoins even the sacrifice of life itself in the cause 
 of friendship j , could only stream froiji the over- 
 
 * e coeh descendit Tjafit triavTot : 
 
 Juvenal, xi. 27. 
 
 + Matt, V. 44. X John xiii, 34. § John^xv, 13. 
 
 flowing 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 34 
 
 flowing fountain of universal and unbounded 
 jLovE. For any other source of such a pure ef- 
 fusion I look round in vain*. The history of 
 our species from the beginning of the world to 
 this hour,i — the systems of philosophers, — the the- 
 ory of the human mind,— the deduftions of ex- 
 perience, — the report of my own heart, — all 
 unite in riveting me to this solution. What, 
 possibly fabulous, antiquity in that instance t of 
 their Pylades and Orestes could extol with such 
 excess of panegyric, Jesus of Nazareth not only 
 accomplisht in his own person, with every cir- 
 cumstance that could ennoble such a dignified 
 display of love and friendship, but requires also 
 of his disciples, as the unambiguous test of their 
 ^herence to his cause, and their worthy pro- 
 fession of his nan^e and doftrine. Jn this respe6l 
 pven the law of Moses will bear no competition 
 ^jth the pre-eminent merit of the gospel + : and 
 
 * See John y, 19. Col. ii. 9. 
 
 + UntLS erat Pylades, unus qui mallei Orates 
 Ipse mori : lis unafuit per scecula mortis, 
 4lUr quod raptret Jalum, non cederet alter, 
 
 Manil, ii. 583, 
 
 + Matt. V. 43. Juv. Sat. xiv. 103. 
 
 Non monstrare vias eadem nisi sacra coUnti ; 
 Oucssitiijn, ad/ontem solas dedmurevir^os, 
 
 all 
 
32 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 all otlier founders of sefts and fathers of doftrinc, 
 as far as my acquaintance with them has extended, 
 of whatever age and nation*, have mixed with 
 their systems, in a greater or less portion, some 
 unpropitious and corrosive ingredients, — some 
 bitterness oi party zeal, — some sour infusion of ex- 
 cluding and per sending principles.— ^And alas ! how 
 inadequately have even the followers of Jesus 
 profited, either by the example or the command- 
 ment of their master ! Those rankling disorders 
 of the heart, which his tenderness and love was 
 ever assiduous to soothe by mollifying instillations 
 of oil and wine, his infatuated false disciples have 
 ,(50 inflamed by animosities and hatred, that, in 
 some periods of the Christian history, the body of 
 
 * Solon's benevolence was o£ a Judaica.1 complexion : 
 
 To the same purpose Aristotle, rhet. i. 9, 3^. Ken ra Tag 
 ejjSfB,- TifAW^ficOai fji.aM.aii, xat (xij x«Ti|t?vX«TTSff9»r To ts y«j a-tra- 
 ^o^i^ovat ^ly.aioit' to o£ dtxasioy, Ka\o]i' y,at avS^em, to jxij viTlat^ai, 
 
 Compare also the following remark of the Stagyrite in 
 the same work, i. 7. 2. K.at to iv irmcry^iHy m lu ttoi^v S<i^em», 
 at a,ifSTuli(cv ei'jccf to (/.ev 7»g, xd» ^«ii9a»ii, aifi)iTET«i' ilomt J ea 
 f^m^aiwn ov Sbxfi av =^Eo-9a» : with Matt, vi.,3. Afts XX. 35, 
 though this, unrivalled regsoner is there Speaking, I ac- 
 knowledge, not as a philosopher, Ijtit as a rhetorician, 
 
 his 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRlSTl ANlTti gjj 
 
 his Church has been little else than a noisome mass 
 of wound, and bruise, and running sore *. 
 
 Next to this doftrine of unlimited benevolence^ in 
 dignity and usefulness^ and alike demonstrative* 
 of the purity and magnanimity of it's author, is 
 the doftrine of the forgiveneis of injuries.. 
 
 Peter said : Lord, how oft shall my brother sin 
 against me, and I forgive him ? Till seven times ? 
 
 Jesus saith unto him : Iscty not unto thee, uniil 
 seven times, bid until seventy times seven f. 
 
 Every reader of sensibility and taste, at the same 
 time that his heart burns within him at the genero- 
 sity and goodness of the preceptor, must be delight- 
 ed with the language of the precept, redolent of the 
 pure simplicity of ancient times; and proclaim- 
 ing, beyond the reach of art and even the sus- 
 spicion of spurious fabrication, the legitimacy of 
 it's extraftion from above. 
 
 The parable too, by which this noble precept is 
 enforced, may be recommended to 'the reader, as 
 exquisitely beautiful and engaging ; the undoubted 
 produftion of a mind intimately acquainted with 
 the passions and propensities of the human heart, 
 
 * Isaiah i. 6. 
 
 + Matt, xviii. 21, 22. and to the same purpose other 
 passages might be alledged, if necessary. 
 
 Should 
 
34 ' EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Should thp deist, like Baal's prophets, call upon 
 his natural religion for such proofs of divine wis- 
 dom, such specimens of coelestial morality, 'yrora 
 morning until noon, no voice would be returned to 
 his cries ; no answer given. If even Moses, the 
 oracle of the Jews, is willing to acknowledge the 
 superiority of our Christian lawgiver, much more 
 must the disciples of natural religion decline this 
 unequal competition. But the Hebrew teacher 
 has already borne an unaffefted involuntary testi- 
 mony to the transcendant merits of the messenger 
 of the new covenant , by the mouth of the Jewish 
 officers, who were sent to apprehend our Lord : 
 Never man, said they, spake like this man*. 
 
 Nor must I omit to mention, under the head 
 of this remark, the consolatory assurances, which 
 the gospels abundantly supply, of the goodness^ 
 the mercy, the placability, of the divine nature ^ 
 of the exceeding great love of the Creator for his 
 creatures, and his earnest de'sire of their temporal 
 and eternal welfare : in which praise the Hebrew 
 scriptures must share with the evangelical. On the 
 other hand, it is too well known to make any spe- 
 cification needful, what gloomy and frightful con- 
 ceptions the' generality of heathens entertained 
 
 * John vii. 46, 
 
 of 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHR JSTI ANITY. 
 
 35 
 
 of the deity, (in which' tliey have been unhap- 
 pily imitated by the papists of succeeding times, 
 and the morose fanatics of other churchesj en- 
 deavouring to appease his wrath by sacrifices of 
 the most horrid kind, by flagellations, penances, 
 an4 every species of,self-torn>eilUng superstitions; 
 as if the benevolenf Ruler of the Universe could 
 delight, like grim Moloch besmeered with blood, 
 in the miseries of his subjetts; as if the father of 
 all flesh could be offended without' a fault, and 
 ruled the families of men with an iron rod of 
 more than tyrannical ferocity : 
 
 — — Antiphates trq)idl laris, et PolyphemuE. 
 
 As, however, it is not my wish to recommend 
 the gospel by tlxe defamation oi gentilisvi, nor 
 weakly to endeavour the advancement of the truth 
 by concealment or disguise ; we must allow, that 
 some heathen writers entertained much more ho- 
 nourable sentiments of the divinity ; though this 
 concession must principally be restriB.ed in favour 
 of those authors, who lived in times that enabled 
 them to fill their urns at the fountain of revealed 
 light. Indeed, such alone, if I mistake not,, main- 
 tain the sufficiency of repentance only, and resolu- 
 tion of ' amendment, to the forgiveness and favour 
 of God. To this purpose is that.illustrious passage 
 
 in 
 
30 EVIDENCES OF CMRtSTl ANlTY. 
 
 in Phornutus, concerning the nature of the gods * i 
 They denominate also Jupiter the placable* 
 from his disposition to relent towards those, who for" 
 sake iniquity : for he cannot possibly continue irre- 
 concileable to such. And on this account also, there 
 are altars ereBed to Jupiter the God of suppli- 
 
 ANTS. 
 
 To which may be subjoined a remark of the 
 scholiast on Aristophanes f: Amendment is a sujicient 
 declaration, that the offence was involuntary : i. e. in 
 opposition to conscience and conviBion. 
 
 For these reasons we may be indulged, as we 
 pass along, with expressing a more than ordinary 
 surprize, that modern Christians^ should relapse 
 into the very filth of heathenism, and imagine the 
 sacrifice of Jesus on the cross absolutely neces- 
 sary to appease the wrath of God, to satisfy his 
 justice, and render him placable to the human 
 
 * Cap. 11. edit. Gale. tlfo^etye^ivHirt h xai iMiTit^ov to* 
 At«, iVjioMxlat ona. Tot; e| 'a$ixiK$ ^iraTiQf^Ei'ot;' ail ya.qa.^iithr' 
 AaxTu; c^oi ir^®' svtu;. Ai» tuto yit^ y.eu Ixto'iu Ai^ »a't ffuiMi. 
 On, this topic some beautiful verses in Seneca's Agamemc 
 non, V. 240. are well worthy of quotation. 
 Referamur illuc, unde nan decuit prius 
 Abire : vd nunc casta repetatur fides. 
 Nam sera nunqudm est ad iofiostnores via. 
 Quern poenitet pecdsse, pene est innecens. 
 f On the Plutus, v. 779. AM' avrx noma. — 
 
 face J 
 
t:ViD£NCES OF CHUISTI AMITY. ' gy 
 
 face ; as if repentance and reformation were not 
 adequate inducements with our. heavenly Father^ 
 whose tender mercies are over all his works, to re- 
 admit his ahenated children into favour and pro* 
 teSion ! 
 
 REMARK V. 
 
 An admired ancient has observed, with no less 
 propriety of thought than elegant simplicity of 
 diftion, that*" the word of truth is recommended 
 " by it's plainness and pefspicuity; requiring no 
 " subtleties of argument, no embellishments of 
 " rhetoric, td produce conViftion*." Truth, it 
 should seem, is in unison with the constitutional 
 movements of our nature, and takes by a direft 
 approach instantaneous possession of the heart. 
 
 In this view the doBrines of the gospel deserve 
 the highest applause, and approbation. They are 
 propounded to us in terms of all possible simpli- 
 city; and come accompanied by motives so plain, 
 so reasonable, and so cogent, as to speak, one 
 would imagine, with irresistible emphasis of per- 
 
 * Eurip, Phoen. 483. 
 
 'd suasion' 
 
38 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 suasion .to every mind, not adulterated by Bophis- 
 try^ nor depraved by vice*. 
 
 The universal rule of human conduft, deliveted 
 by our Lord, is concise and full; liable to no 
 mistake or misapplicationj, 
 
 Whatsoever ye would that men ihmld do unto you, 
 do ye even so unto them t. 
 
 Nor are subordinate duties enforced with less^ 
 pregnancy and decision of precept. 
 
 Servants^ be obedient to your masters, doing ser- 
 vice as to the Lord, and not to men^. 
 
 Masters, give unto your se'rvants'that -which is 
 just and equal ; knowing that ye also have a master 
 in heaven J. 
 
 * Minucius Felix' obferves with Iiis cuflomary elegance, 
 Atque etiam, quo imperitior sermo, hoc illustrior ratio est ; 
 quoniam non fucatur pompa facundiae et gratia:, sed, ut 
 est, reftii regula sustinetur: Seft. 16. To the same efFefl; 
 Arnobius, p. 34. edit. Lug. Bat. A. Sed ab indoftis homi- 
 nibus et rudibus scfipta sunt ; et idcirco non sunt facili au- 
 ditione credenda. B. Vide de magis hsec fortior causa sit 
 cur ilia sint nullis cbinquinata mendaciis, mente simplici 
 prodita, et ignara lenociniis ampliare. A. Trivialis et sor- 
 didus sermo est. B, Nunquam enim Veritas seftata est fu- 
 cum ; r.ec quod exploratum et certum est circum,duci se 
 patitur orationis per ambitum longiorem. Colleftiones, 
 enthymemata, definitiones, omniaque ilia ornamenta, qui- 
 bus fides quKritur assertionis, suspicantes adjuvant, non 
 veritatis liiiiamenta demonstrant. 
 
 + Matt. vii. la. % Eph. vi. 5, 7. § Col. iv. i. 
 
 A mul- 
 
iSVlDEMCtS Ot GHftlSTlANlTY. gg 
 
 A multitude of other passages might be. adduced 
 in confirmation, of this Remark^: but they are 
 well known ; and I shall not multiply words in 
 defending or explaining a position, which is level ' 
 to every understanding, and will find an advocate 
 in every breast. The charms of truth are but 
 impaired by decoration. 
 
 REMARK Vi; 
 
 Is it easy to conceive a point of doftrine more 
 truly noble in itself, more interesting . to human 
 nature, and better calculated to- inculcate more 
 enlarged ideas of the power and goodness of the 
 Deity, than the declaration of' Gold's indis(;rimi- 
 nate and perpetual pYOvidence over universal na- 
 ture; — over tjie innumerable tribes of inanimate 
 and living things ? But, if the philosopher con- 
 templates with astonishment, th^' sublimity" of this 
 conception, \he. philologist y^iW be no less delighted 
 with the dignifi^ plainness of the language^ in 
 wfiich it is arrayed by an evcyigelist^: 
 
 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? And 
 
 one of them shall not fall on the^ground without your 
 
 Father. But the very hairs of your head are all 
 
 numbered*, ' '• 
 
 ,* Matt. X. 29, 30. 
 
 D 2 Which> 
 
\ 
 
 40 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Which shall we pronounce the more predomi- 
 nant feature in this striking pifture of the supreme 
 Being, — the affeBion of the Parent, or the power 
 cf the Creator? — And what less, suffer me to ask, 
 what less could utter such glad and awful tidings 
 to mankind, than a voice from the oracle of the 
 'sanBuary, the bosom of God himself* ? 
 
 " God," says Newton f, is all eye, and ear, 
 and SENSE." But this prince of pfiilosophers, this 
 glory, not of our nation only, but our species, 
 refined his notions of the divinity from the favou- 
 rite volume of his meditations; that volume, which 
 had declared) that' a sparrow'^,- nay even a hair of 
 
 the 
 
 * John i. 18.. 
 
 + Schol. Gen. in Princip. The whole passage deserves 
 quotation. Totus est sui simijis, totus oculus, totus auris, 
 totus cerebrum, totus bracMum, totus vis sentiendi, intelli- 
 gsndi et agendi, sed more minime humano, more minime 
 corporeo, more nobis prorsiis incognito. 
 
 With this passage, one from Pliny, Nat. Hist, ii, 7. may 
 very properly be compared. Quisquis est Deus, totus est 
 sensus, totus visus, totus auditus, totus anima;, totus 
 animi, totus sui. 
 
 J See Matt. x. 29, 3p. Luke xxi. 18. This circumflance 
 is touched upon with exquisite delicacy and tenderness in 
 Dibdin's Song of Poor Jack ; from a just conception, that 
 such a beautiful and pathetic image would find •a mirror 
 in every bosoin. The Saviour of mankind would have 
 
 I given 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 41 
 
 the head could not fall to the ground without 
 vibrating through the remotest corner of God'^s 
 creation. 
 
 Son^ observations of Alexander the disciple of 
 Aristotle^ preserved by Cyril of Alexandria, * wil] 
 form no unentertaining supplement to this Re-', 
 mark, especiallf^kthe English reader: 
 
 " To say thaP^^ is not willing to exercise a 
 *' providence over' »Vi'orldly things^ is a position' 
 " wholly foreign to "his nature. It is envy alone 
 " or unreasonable absurdity in one, who is able to 
 " aft better, to abstain. But, since both these 
 " affeftions are foreign to God, he can be influ- 
 " enced by neither. It remains, therefore, that 
 " he is both able and willing to exert a provi- 
 " dential care, and consequently exerts it. It is 
 " reasonable then to infer, that no event, however 
 
 ^ 
 
 given no applause to the satire.of our poet, however e.xqul 
 site it's humour, 
 
 Die and endou a college or a cat : 
 but would have reser^pd his approbation for that provi 
 dential benignity, which laboured to rescue a favourite 
 and persecuted animal from the cruelty of the iraie, whether 
 in the shape of man or dog. 
 
 * Pp. 61. 82 libb, ii. & iii. edit, Spanheim'. Where 
 Cyril observes, that some ascribe the same sentiments to 
 Tlato, but that ZCKO and the Stoics unquestionably main- 
 tain them. , 
 
 2 " trivial, 
 
^2 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 « trivial, takes place without the divine appoint- 
 «' lAent and pleasure." 
 
 «' Nothing in the world comes to pass without 
 « a providence : for all things are full of t^e divi- 
 " nityt and it pervades the universe. So that all 
 *' events take place according to the will of God; 
 " and to this the appearances themselves bear 
 *' testimony. For the course of events, so regular 
 " as it is, affords a striking proof that these things 
 " are not by chanced" 
 
 REMARK VII. 
 
 Nor need the most sanguine admirer of Chris-' 
 tianity desire a more convincing demonstration 
 of the divine understanding of it's founder, a sharper 
 weapon against the rage or malice of the adver- 
 saries of revelation, than the symptoms of wisdom, 
 which display themselyes in the following Httle 
 histoiy, delineated with such lively strokes of truth 
 and nature. * 
 
 Then one said unto > him : Behold ! thy mother 
 and thy brethren stand without^ desiring 'to speak 
 with thee. 
 
 But he answered and said unto him that tpld him : 
 Who is my mother ? and who are my brethren ? 
 
 And 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 43 
 
 And he stretcht forth his hand towards his dis- 
 ciples, and said : Behold, my mother and my breth- 
 ren ! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, 
 which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, and 
 sister, and mother*. 
 
 The precepts of Jesus oppose no diftate of our 
 constitution, discourage no sensibility of nature, 
 dissolve no tie of kindred or affeftion t. But our 
 heavenly father is of more consideration than our 
 earthly; and the claims of purity, integrity, and 
 virtue, are superior and antecedent, in the eye of 
 reason and philosophy, even to the dearest attach- 
 ments of consanguinity, whether of wife, child, 
 or parent +. The full, unequivocal, and decisive 
 declaration, however, of this momentous truth was 
 reserved for Jesus Chfist, the word and wisdom 
 of the Creator. Yet impartiality requires, that 
 a philosopher of Greece,, whose vigour and com- 
 prehension of intelleftj whose sagacity of penetra- 
 
 * Matt. xii. 47. 
 
 + We may apply fo them what Themistius has so elegantly 
 commended in the Discourses of Aristotle : orat. xxxi. 
 I^yomamt ay a tit jji.it niaXha xai ex. asayxctta, u> airohuvet ra Smits 
 TO aiavaroi, va^axfHireiait re xat a9roKa6«p«»» wasreTw^' ia h oaa, 
 afi.rip(avtit ix'nT^vra xeu e|>t»X« itotiiijui, xch a^' iyxcjffifaxtat xai ct- 
 SiSvxit et ra /3k6«, ravral ^t s'sriKai7iAWfi»i te xeci iwtyMTAvteiect, xou 
 
 J Luke xiv, 26. 
 
 tion. 
 
44 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 tion, closeness of reasoning, iiiligence of research, 
 extent and variety of learning, have never yet 
 been equalled, should not be defrauded of his 
 . portion of commendation. Aristotle, in a beautiful 
 Hymn to Virtue, had already pronounced her to 
 be of more worth than gold and parents*- 
 
 And does not an obvious refleftion suggest 
 itself on this occasion ? Namely, that philosophy 
 approximates by the same advances to the perfect 
 tion of morality and to the precepts of the gospel ; 
 and that the great masters of heathen wisdom are 
 more and more, in proportion to their excellence 
 as teachers of virtue, almost and altogether Chris- 
 tians. And what wonder? Truth, though ex- 
 hibited in a different attire through the medium 
 of a thousand intellefts, refers her origin to the 
 inexhaustible fountain of all perfeftion; as the 
 rays of light, infinitely diversified as they may be 
 in colour and direOiion, all diverge from the same 
 candid and unremitting blaze of glory t. 
 
 * Xpuira Ie xfcaera xai yoviui/, 
 + Unerring nature still divinely bright, 
 
 One clear unchanged and universal light. 
 
 Pope, 
 It is a beautiful remark of Juvenal, xiv, 321. 
 ^unqudm aliud natura, aliudsapientia dicit : 
 Nature 0nd Wisdom the same doBrine teacl 
 
 REMARK 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 45, 
 
 REMARK VIII. 
 
 • I" 
 
 The love of money., says the Apostle, is the root 
 
 of all evil*. And a very superficial acquaintance 
 ■With life and manners must evince the power of 
 that sordid passion to corrupt every principle 
 of virtue, and'^ deaden the most aftive pro- 
 pensities of our nature to mutual benevolence. 
 « Cursed be the man," says the vpluptuous And- 
 cr^on, " who first set his afFeftions upon Money. 
 " This destroys the love of brethren : this extin- 
 " guishes the reciprocal regard qf parent and of 
 " child ; this is the source of war and murder t." 
 Energy of language laudably expressive of the 
 detestation of a generous spirit for such a grove- 
 ling appetite! an appetite, whose peculiar opera- 
 tion is to absorb every social feeling of the soul, 
 and convert the unhappy indulser of it into a 
 monster of selfishness and inhumanity. Our Savi- 
 our proved himself to have a clear insight into 
 it's incredible influence upon the mind; and has 
 
 * 1 Tim. vi. 10. 
 "j- AwoXoiTo WfUT©' avr®. 
 O rot afyvfon pt?nj(r«;* 
 A>a rtiToii nn ahjiCpti, 
 A"» TBTof B romH' 
 
 signified 
 
jffi EVIDENCES dF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 signified that total indisposition to the genuine 
 fruits of religion and virtue, it's uniform and legiti- 
 mate offspring! by one of those remarkable speci- 
 mens of figurative expression, so familiar to the 
 phraseology of th^ East : 
 
 It is easier for a ccmel.to go through the eye of a 
 needle, than for a rich man to enter into the king- 
 dom of God *. . 
 
 This assertion alone would afford a satisfaftory 
 proof, independent of a multitude of others, that , 
 the favourite disciple was not blinded in his j udge- 
 ment by any groundless partiality for his master, 
 when he declared of him,. that he knew what 
 
 WAS IN MANt. 
 
 , REMARK IX.'" 
 
 The following position in it's rigourous accep- 
 tation has appeared to many, no doubt, perfectly 
 unwarrantable, and destitute of all reasonable pro- 
 bability; a mere hyperbole of rhetoric; upon more 
 mature consideration, however, it will be found, 
 I am persuaded, striftly conformable to the expe- 
 rience of daily life, and an "undeniable demonstra- 
 
 * Matt. xix. 24, ^ John ii, 25, 
 
 tion 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRIS AI AN ITY. 
 
 47 
 
 tion of a most accurate intuition into human man- 
 ners. , ' 
 
 And he said : Nay, Father Abraham ! hut, if one 
 went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 
 
 And he said unto him : If they hear not Moses 
 and the Prophets, neither^ will they be persuaded, 
 though one rose from the dead^. 
 
 Nothing so clear and unquestionable, as that a 
 disinclination to be persuaded will always starl 
 some ingenious cavil, will always devise some se- 
 cret objeftion, to evade the force of the strongest 
 argument. It is impossible to contradifl; a propo- 
 sition, of which perpetual experience must furnish 
 to every observer such abundant and irrefragable 
 proof. As the excellent Joseph Mede somewhere 
 insinuates, it is certain, that more must go to con- 
 viftion, than reason and demonstration. Truth and 
 good sense can procure no access to the avenues 
 of the understanding through a heart enveloped by 
 mists of prejudice, or stupified by the callous in- 
 teguments of sensuality t. It is only the purged 
 
 * Luke xvi. 30, 31, 
 
 t See Matt, xiii. 15. Pars. Sat. 111. 32. 
 
 Sed stupet, hie vitio, etjibris increvit o^mum 
 
 Pingue. 
 Aristophanes, Plut. 6qo. has expressed this idea with un-. 
 common energy : 
 
 ear. 
 
48 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 ear, that listens; and the single eye alone, that de- 
 lights to see. Light may come into the world, but 
 men will love darkness rather than light, if their 
 
 DEEDS ARE EVIL*. 
 
 It might be of service to' be more circumstan- 
 tial in my illustration of this assertion of our 
 Lord, had not the subjeft been treated with ability 
 and success by others. In the mean time, a be- 
 liever of the gospel will congratulate himself on a 
 DEMONSTRATION from FACTofthc truth of this 
 maxim, which wears such an appearance of unr 
 natural exaggeration, soon after it was uttered. 
 That perverse generation, who could hear with 
 indifference or contempt the exhortations and re- 
 proofs of their heavenly instruftor, and could be* 
 hold with such obstinate incredulity his numerous 
 exhibitions of godlike power, were not persuaded 
 by the restoration of Lazarus to life t; and still 
 continued to resist the most unequivocal evi- 
 dences, openly displayed by the apostles, of the 
 resurrefltion of that. same Jesus, whom they had 
 crucified, from the dead. In this conneftion that 
 relation of St. Matthew, c. xxviii. v. 11 — 15. is 
 perfectly credible, and accurately consonant to 
 experience..' , -' 
 
 * Jolin iii, 19, + John xi. 46, 47. 
 
 Andi 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANixY. 40 
 
 And, as they departed, behold ! some of the guard 
 went into the city, and brought word to the chief- 
 priests of all that had been done : and they, after 
 assembling and consulting with the- elders, gave a 
 good sum of money to the soldiers ; telling them to 
 say, " His disciples came \by night, and stole him, 
 " while we were asleep" 
 
 The obduracy of wickedness has no limit to 
 it's progress. The cloud, at first no bigger than 
 a man's hand, soon involves the whole horizon 
 in obscurity. In such a case what alternative to 
 persuasion can be discovered ? The conduft' of 
 our Lord will ever recommend itself in Mw re- 
 speft also as accurately consonant to the princi- 
 ples of consummate wisdom*. ¥ ox 'this was the 
 invariable tenour of his condufl;; this was the 
 uniform language of his addresses to the people : 
 Whoso hath ears to hear, let him HEARt. 
 
 REMARK X. 
 
 The christian religion began to deviate at an 
 early period from the plain and exad standard 
 
 * Matt, xi, ig. 
 + It is sensibly remarked by Philemon: 
 Xaficvot axfoaltis airvvil®' xaflfi^ei®-" 
 
 set 
 
^d EVIDENCES or CHRISTI ANITVj 
 
 set fortlj by jfcsus and his Apostles ; and seculaf 
 policy was soon busy in exerting it's baneful in-^ 
 terference in the government of a kingdom, which 
 was expressly declared by it's establisher not to be 
 of THIS WORLD*. J?i^2c/im^, according to the pro- 
 phecies concerning him, made haste to usurp a 
 throne in the temple of God f himself, and presumed 
 to promulgate laws, as the vicegerent of heaven, 
 with a tone of absolute authority. This simple 
 requisite of evangelical communion—^/ believe 
 that Jesus of Nazareth is the son of God; — might 
 satisfy indeed that son of God himself, and those 
 messengers, whom he commissioned to preach his 
 name; but was deemed in no wise a sufficient 
 declaration of religious faith by the succeeding 
 hierarchs of the church. They were of opinion 
 truly, in opposition to the declared sentiments of 
 their master, that an unbounded liberty of pro- 
 phesying would inevitably produce innumerable 
 corruptions in religion; that truth forsooth! 
 would be injured by discussion; that the eternal 
 purpose of God himself would be unable to con- 
 tinue firm without the salutary assistance oi penal- 
 ties and restrictions, to enforce conformity. Ac- 
 cordingly, the prop of civil power was called in 
 
 * John xviii. 36. f ii Ihess, ii, 4, 
 
 to 
 
E'VlDENCfiS OF CHRISTIANITY.- gl 
 
 to unjte it's imbecillity with the pillars of divine 
 authority ; and an accession of new materials, of 
 rvood and hay and stubble* was thought necessary 
 to give strength and solidity to that adamantine 
 fabric,' already established on a rock., against which 
 thegaUs of 3.eath would be unable to prevail. The 
 most palpable injustice in a violation of the perfe^ 
 law of liberty t, and a sacrilegious usurpation of the 
 divine prerogative, were 'utterly disregarded by the 
 devisers of thfse wholesome' expedients as of 
 trivial consideration, ■vhen contrasted with the 
 possibility of mischierfrom an absolute freedom of 
 opinion. Nay, upon a subjeft immediately allied 
 to thisj Milton & discourse on th^ liberty of the press 
 is declared by a writer + of as 'strong faculties, 
 perhaps, as our own, or any other, nation has 
 produced, to' have occassioned a p/-oblem in poli- 
 tics, not solvable by the human understanding {. 
 
 * 1. Cor. iii. 12. t James i, 25. 
 
 J Dr. Samuel jfohnson, 
 
 § See Milton's Treatise, p. 7. and Archdeacon Blackburnt'i 
 Striftures on Dr. Johnson's Life oi, Milton: a most acute 
 but acrimonious performance, and a surprising instance 
 of intelleftual vigour in extreme old age! Our illustrious 
 bard cohld not h^ve found a more willing and able advo- 
 cate. His saltern accumulem donis ! for this, and especially 
 other services to the cause of religious liberty. 
 
 If 
 
^2 EVIDENCES Of CKRISTIASTITY. 
 
 f 
 
 If this be a true decision} where can. we sd 
 properly have recourse for the solution of a- dif- 
 ficulty, which thus mocks, it seems, the capacity 
 of the wisest men, as to that divine under- 
 standing, so conspicuously exerted in thewords 
 and aftions of Jesus Christ of Nazareth ? 
 
 Hear then, ye tyrants over the consciences of 
 another's servants, who must stand or fall to their 
 own master, and not to you*; hear the decision 
 of your Lord on this most arduous problem : a 
 decision, fraught with the wisdom from above, to 
 the copiplete exposure of your absurd ekpe- 
 dients, and the eternal confusion of antichristian' 
 policy. • ' 
 
 Let both grow together until the 
 
 harvest; lest, -WHILE YE GATHER UP THE 
 TARES, YE root UP THE WHEAT ALSO WITH 
 THEMt. 
 
 Be at least ingenuous enough to confess, youf 
 feelings in the words ,of the comic writer, adduced 
 under the preceding remark : « We will not be 
 " convinced, even if you should cowi/z^ice us."" 
 
 * Rom. xlv. 4. 
 
 + Matt. xiii. 29, 30. See Jeremy Taylor's observations 
 upon this text in numb. 6. seft. xiii. of that capital per- 
 formance, A Discourse on the Liberty of Prophesying : 2d 
 edition. Oh ! that more of those brother bishops, who ad- 
 mir^ the writer, would imitate the man ! 
 
 ■ But 
 
EVIDENCES 6t CHRISTIANITY. 53 
 
 But my zeal for pure unfettered Christianity 
 - 'will not allow me to diismiss this important argu- 
 ment beforp I have offered a few more refleftions, 
 that suggest themselves, to the dispassionate con- 
 sideration of my reader*. 
 
 Let us suppose some of the gr,eat philosophers 
 of antiquity to be sitting in a room before us : 
 Socrates^ for example, with Aristotle, Xenophon, 
 Plato, and, if you will, one or two more of the 
 same stamp ; children of reason and votaries of 
 virtue. I would thus address them : " Some of 
 *' our ancestors, Grcscian sages ! adopted certain 
 « notions of religious belief and polity, which 
 *' numbers of my contemporaries have been con- 
 *« tented to receive at their hands." — It is well ; 
 they might reply : " They have, no doubt, fully 
 " considered them before they assented to their 
 *' contents : every individual is possessed of an 
 *' indefeasible right to regulate his own belief, 
 «' and to profess those doftrines, which ,are the 
 *' deliberate and disinterested result of his con* 
 « vi6lion." — But then, I should rejoin; " Not 
 
 * Whoever wishes to see the whole subjeft of subscrip- 
 tion to articles of faith, most ably, elaborately, and fully 
 discussed, must consult a late work on this subjeft by my 
 most respeftable and much valued friend Mr. Dyer, for 
 Johnson, in St, Paul's Church-yard, -> 
 
 E " content, 
 
54 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 " content, ye free enquirers into truth! with 
 " professing certain sentiments themselves, they 
 " insist that others alsp either conform to thfe 
 *« standard of their doftrines, or be excluded, like 
 « aliens rather than fellow-citizens,, from the be- 
 « nefits and comforts of the community*, in 
 " which they live ; exposed in many cases also to 
 *^ fines and imprisonments." — Is it necessary now 
 to request a reader, impregnated with the noble 
 writings of these illustrious writers, to represent 
 to himself the surprise and indignation, which 
 such a flagrant and unrighteous tyranny would 
 awaken in their bosoms t? And yet we shall find 
 
 N * With good reason, I trow, has a facetious son of 
 orthodoxy, lately sung in the gaiety of his heart, Jilkd xuith 
 the food and gladness of the church, 
 
 £e MINE the grape's pure jtjice unmixt 
 
 With any base ingredient I 
 "Water to heretics I leave; 
 
 Sound churchmen have no need on't. 
 
 Salmagundi, 8vo. edit. p. 72. 
 Such are the exhilarating effefts oijat sops ecclesiastical /■ 
 SATUR est, ciim dicit Hpratius, Exioe! 
 
 + Hoc igititr, quo tu Jovis aurem impellere tentas, 
 
 Die agedum Staio. " Proh ! Jupiter ! ! bone," clamei, 
 Jupiter!;' At sese non clamat Jupiter ipse ? 
 
 Fersius, Sat. ii. 
 
 even 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 55 
 
 even scholars, who have boldly imbibed copious 
 draughts at the pure fountains of ancient ■wisdom, 
 {ah ! what unworthy disciples of such preceptors!) 
 stand forth as the hardy champions of ecclesiastical 
 domination and spiritual oppression in the face of 
 such a mass of overbearing evidence, both from 
 reason and from scripture ! Let others assign the 
 motive for this prodigious solecism of conduft in 
 men of letters and understanding. If my expe- 
 rience can at all assist them in the solution of this 
 intricate problem, I shall not hesitate to declare, 
 that I meet with not a single individual, at all dis- 
 tinguished for abilities and virtue, who is not 
 shocked and confounded at these horrible inva- 
 sions of liberty and conscience, except those 
 ALONE immediately engaged, or expefting to be 
 engaged, in promoting and enjoying the emolu- 
 ments dependant on this system of iniquity and 
 violence. 
 
 Again : The constitution of civil society in this 
 country would convince me, independently of 
 other arguments, and even that just stated, the 
 invasion of God's prerogative, that the present 
 condition of religion, as it generally subsists among 
 us, is neither more lior less than genuine anti- 
 christianism. Let me be as brief as possible 
 on a point inexpressibly harrassing to a doating 
 
 E 2 ' lover 
 
56 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. . 
 
 lover of the gospel as it is in. Jesus*. Look at 
 our civil governours : you will see rapacious de- 
 vourers of the wealth of the community ; profli- 
 gate and inefficient statesmenj direSing all their 
 efforts to aggrandise themselves and favourites ; 
 fettering the trade and commerce of their coun- 
 try ; grinding the poor, and benefiting by their de- 
 pravity, without one scheme for their comfortable 
 subsistence, their instruftion in useful knowledge, 
 their redemption from vice and infamy. — Then 
 turn your eyes from this horrid scene to our 
 spiritual guides and teachers ; and content your- 
 self with this single feature in the portrait: — 
 Bishops a|id Archbishops, the servants of the 
 Prince of Peace, atajun8.ure pregnant with 
 calamity, at a moment of importance to the fu- 
 ture happiness and liberties of the world, without 
 a parallel in the annals of mankind — voting for 
 WAR, in which even millions might perish by the 
 sword and the executioner, when no pacific me- 
 diation had been attempted to avert so terrible an 
 evil ; an evil that degrades the human character 
 BELOW the brute i !! ! 
 
 * For many walk, of XL-hom I have told you often, and now 
 tell you, even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of 
 Christ: Phil, iii, j8. 
 
 t IhSica tigris agit rabidd cum tigride pacew, 
 
 firpetuam : sptvis int^r se convenit ursis. Juvenal, 
 
 Now 
 
iVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY* gy 
 
 Now, I ask, can the religion of swcAa.state of 
 society, be the religion of the gospex.? 
 Are SUCH prelates the ministers of Jesus? Yes; 
 when light can incorporate with darkness — when 
 Christ can have fellowship with Belial — then will 
 such POLITY and religion meet together ; — then 
 will such PRELACY and chrisianity kiss each 
 other. 
 
 tJn si bas, si honteux, si faux Chrtstiamsmt 
 Ne vaut pas des Platans V cclaire Paganism, 
 
 REMARK XI. 
 
 If we survey the conduQ: of other fathers 
 of systems, founders of sefts, and heads of par- 
 ties ; — if we contemplate the means, which they 
 have generally employed to procure reputation 
 and allure followers ; the mode of afting aftd 
 teaching adopted by Jesus Christ will appear, 
 perhaps, in this respeft perfectly peculiar and 
 without example. No forgers of the gospel nar- 
 ratives in question (whose motives in the first 
 instance to such an imposition would not easily 
 be ascertained) could have discovered any in- 
 ducement, either from an acquaintance with hu- 
 man manners, or the operations of the human 
 E 3 mind. 
 
58^ fiVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 mind, to deliver such an extraordinary relation 
 of the cbnduS: ofjtheir hero. :Formy own.part^ 
 I am able to devise no other tolerable solution of 
 this difficulty, but this obvious supposition; — r 
 that' the gospel history is in reality an accurate 
 transcript from &trueoiii,ginal ; — that such a 
 personage as ^esus of Nazareth actually ap- 
 peared in the world; a genuine likeness of the 
 pifture, which is presented of hirn ; — that he came 
 with the express intention of publishing such a' 
 system of religion ; of executing that unprece- 
 dented projeft of founding an universal empire 
 over the afFeftions and cqnsciences of men, by 
 the gentle constraints of truth, and the soothing 
 captivations oipuri/y and love^ 
 
 Did jfesus allure his followers by ostentatious 
 promises of wealth, power, reputation, or any 
 temporal advantage whatsoever ? Or was not the 
 first and essential qualification of his disciples de- 
 clared to be a relinquishment of every worldly 
 expeftation ;— an abandonment for ever of the 
 very idea, I do not say, of power, interest, and 
 reputation, but even of ease and comfort ? After 
 his own example, who had not T^liere to lay his 
 hfi&d;— -who endured every hardship, every dan- 
 ger- and persecution, on his steep and rugged 
 road, to Ca/farji, where the bitter cup of his af- 
 
 fliftions 
 
EVIDENCES OE CHRISTIANITY. 59 
 
 fli6lions was emptied to the dregs ;— after such a 
 pattern of calamity and sorrow, the followers also 
 of this master were eXpeQ;ed, if the service of 
 the gospel required such a sacrifice, to leave house 
 and ■ land, and parent, and child, for his names 
 sake* — to encounter all those evils which the 
 malice and bigotry of their countrymen could 
 exercise upon them — to endure with patience those 
 insults and cruel rnockings, which have proved to 
 spirits of sensibility a severer trial than even per- 
 sonal oppressions and corporeal torment — and to 
 look daily, with a fearful expeftation inseparable 
 from humanity, as a probable event, for that same 
 baptism of blood, in which he himself had beett 
 baptised^. 
 
 I will not withhold from the English reader a 
 passage from the elegant LaBantius, in perfect 
 harmony with the preceding observations t. 
 
 " Besides, a disposition to fiftion and deceit is 
 « connefted with a lust of secular advantage, and 
 " a desire of gain; passions far removed from 
 
 * Matt. X, 37. Such was the language of Virtue to Her' 
 cuks, Xen. mem. ii. Ouk t^areenwa h a wpooijufois iJonif, 
 aX?i', riire^ Ji Seoi hi^cffcii, ra ona hvytiroiiai fisT »^5j9«»5. Ti»» y»f 
 ctTuv aiyaim xat Ka7\ut a^et atev irova y-cti eirijisfiUa; Sim StSbairir 
 a«Spa9roi{. See upon this subjeft Euseb. Dem. Evang. iii; 
 5. sub init. who argues the poiilt very sensibly. 
 i + Matt XX. 22. 
 
 + Lib. i. c. 4, De falfa religione, 
 
 « those 
 
6o EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAN ITYj 
 
 those holy men. For they so discharged the office 
 ' ' delegated to them, as to relinquish every thing- 
 " necessary for the support of life, withovit a pro- 
 *' vision, not merely for futurity, but the passing 
 "day ; contented with the extemporaneous suste- 
 « nance, .which God might supply: and not only 
 *' reapt rio benefit of gain, hut even tortures 
 " arid death itself. For the precepts of righteous- 
 *' ness are bitter to men of vicious and depraved 
 " lives. Those, therefore, whose sins were con- 
 " vifted and forbidden, procured their deaths with 
 " the bitterness of torment. These teachers then, 
 " who were free from the love of gain, were also 
 " free from every disposition arid motive to ira- 
 " posture." 
 
 how, or why, 
 
 Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie ? 
 Unask'd their pains, ungrateful their advice; 
 Starving their gain, and martyrdom their 
 
 PRICE *. 
 
 The intelligent reader will be able without ahy 
 assistance from me to draw suitable inferences in 
 favour of the proposition which I am maintain- 
 ing, from the following topics laid down by Aris- 
 
 * Dryden's Religio Laici. 
 
 toth 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 6l 
 
 iotle in his treatise on rhetoric, written to Alex- 
 ander *. 
 
 " When the witness is suspefted, it is our duty 
 " to shew, that he would not bear testimony to a 
 " falsehood from motives of favour, revenge, or 
 « gain. We ought also to explain 'the inexpedi- 
 « ency of testifying' to a lie : for the benefits are 
 " small, but deteftion is of serious consequence, 
 <' not only with respefl; to legal punishment, but 
 ** loss of charafter and credibility." 
 
 Our Lord also, on every occasion, most stu- 
 diously avoided /Oj&w/flr applame; nor did he he- 
 sitate to reprove with severity and boldness, before 
 all the people, those professors, whose name and 
 
 * Seft. 16. edit. Syliurgii. It is delightful to observe 
 the manly dignity with which our illustrious philosopher 
 addresses the Conqueror of the world, AjirortXiif AaeI**-' 
 J'fa £u w{«TT«». " Aristotle wisheth prosperity to Aiex- 
 ANDER." A tone of independance becoming a man of let- 
 ters ! How different from the adulation of a modern dedi- 
 cator to one infinitely inferiour in accomplishments and 
 greatness to the Macedonian monarch. To the sacked Ma- 
 jESTY~May it please your Majesty — Your Majesty's 
 most dutiful, most devoted, &c. subje6l and servant." A' 
 Grecian patriot would have eyed us fulsome reptiles with a 
 look of unutterable fcorn. One is almost tempted to ex- 
 claim with Horace, 
 
 -~ Hos utindm inter 
 
 Heroatnatum Ullus tm prima tuUsset! 
 
 influence 
 
6a EVIDENCES OP CBAlSTIANITY. 
 
 influencte would have been the most serviceable 
 in promoting his secular interest and establishing 
 his regal authority; and, in one instance, he te- 
 tired with secret precipitation before that torrent 
 of enthusiastic admiration, which would havef 
 borne him to' a throne** 
 
 By what model, 1 ask our adversariesj by^what 
 existing model could an impostor fashidn such a 
 cbaf after as this? What- {Principle of experience^ 
 what analogy of history^ what motive of hvmair 
 edion'i could furnish him with a suitable founda- 
 tion for a superstrufture so unexampled in all it'fe 
 parts ? 
 
 Until a direft and' explicit answer can be given 
 to this question, as saund philosophy has taught me 
 not to adjnit mare ^causes than what are sufficient 
 for the explanation of the phosnomena, I feel myr; 
 self compelled' to conclade^ that the life and 
 aftiorts of Jfesii's Christ, Cdtrespdndent to the re^ 
 cord transmitted of them in the. gospels, were the 
 undoubted prototype presented to the eye of our 
 evangelists ; and that this same Jesus truly was a 
 man, approved of God, by miracles, and wonderSi 
 and signs, and rose frofil the grave on the third 
 day, after he had been by mckei hands crucified 
 and slain f. 
 
 * Johiivi. *5. t Ada iii 22— *'25. , 
 
 RE- 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 6^ 
 
 REMARK XII. 
 
 That indireft method of conveying imtruBiorii 
 
 so frequently and happily employed by our Lord, 
 
 displays, in my opinion, a -wonderful combination 
 
 of discretion, dexterityj and acuteness; and is on 
 
 every account such as becomes the chara£ler of 
 
 a teacher sent from God. 
 
 ... "i. 
 
 In this view, what can be more admirable, than 
 
 that judgement and address,, \y|iich uniformly en- 
 deavoured to call forth into a£tion the reasoning 
 faculties of his audienre, and to invite the under- 
 standing to a due exertion of those powers, which 
 charafterise: and dignify our species: 
 
 ' aditus, et quse mollissima fandi 
 
 Tempora.i quis rebus dextef nuduu n 
 
 When he intended to restore a bdd-ridden^iz- 
 rffl/jyfjc to health and strength*, it were easy for 
 him to say, Arise and walk ; and the miracle itself 
 would have been equally complete. But the con- 
 stant obje£t of this watchful servant of Jehovah^ 
 was the accomplishrtient of a// the good within his 
 power; and the occasion he judged favoui-able to 
 an a:dditional enforcement of his purpose. With 
 an aft of benevolence to the body, he was willing 
 to unite an effort to illuminate the ioulj in calling 
 
 * Matt. ix. 2 — 7. 
 
 thav 
 
64 EVIDEKCtS Ot GHRISTlANlTlr. 
 
 the attention of the by-standers, by an indire8; 
 expression, to the nature of his charafter. His 
 language, therefore, to the sick person was mo- 
 'delled accordingly : Son! thy sins be forgiven thee. 
 A peculiarity of expression, calculated to draw 
 on ,the inquisitive and ingenuous hearer to this 
 conclusion; that the speaker claimed, by virtue 
 of a heavenly commission, that high prerogative 
 of the Divinity, the forgiveness of sins : and the 
 miracles, which he was enabled to perform, ought 
 in all reason to have convinced them at the same 
 time, that he did not exercise this prerogative up- 
 on yizifie pretensions; for riomani accoirding to the 
 just acknowledgerhent of the Jewish Ruler, could 
 do such things except God were with him*. 
 
 All the parables of our Lord furnish also abun- 
 dant proofs of the justice of this Remark ; and 
 may be considered as so many judicious lessonSj 
 drawn up with infinite address, and eminently a- 
 dapted to rouse the understandings, engage the 
 affeSions, and touch the sensibility of his hearers 
 by the most delicate strokes of nature and of pas- 
 sion. Indeed, we might almost venture an appeal 
 for the authenticity of our Lord's pretensions to 
 a heavenly designation, to his Parables alone. 
 
 * Joljn iii. 2. 
 
 All 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 65 
 
 All are beautiful; the truest delineation of human 
 manners, embellished with every grace wluch an 
 unelaborate lovely simplicity of diffion is able to 
 bestow; graces, beyond the reach of the most 
 studied artifice of composition: but two of the 
 number shine among the rest with unrivalled 
 splendor ; and we may safely challenge the genius 
 of antiquity to produce, frqm all his stores of e- 
 legance and beauty, such unaffe£ted specimens of 
 pathetic painting, as the parables of the Prodigal 
 Son, and the Good Samaritan. 
 
 But I forbear to enlarge upon this subjefl. The 
 gospels are in every body's hands; and the inge- 
 nuous student of the scriptures will find in eveiy 
 page sufficient vouchers to the truth of my pro- 
 position. Let him make the application for him- 
 self; and build up his faith with those materials, 
 which are so copiously laid before him. 
 
 REMARK XIII. 
 
 The. reception which the insidious contrivance* 
 and .the premeditated sophistry of the learned pro- 
 fessors among the established clergy of the jfews 
 never failed to meet with from our Saviour, c- 
 vinced a tranquillity of temper, which no provo- 
 cation could derange; a quickness of recolleftion, 
 
 whidsf 
 
66 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 which no artifice could surprise ; a sagacity of ap- 
 prehension, a solidity of understanding, which no 
 subtleties could divert or confound. 
 
 When the Pharisees ascribed his miraculous 
 operations to the confederacy of evil spirits, with 
 what simplicity and strength of reasoning did he 
 expose the despicable inconsistency and malig- 
 nant prejudices of these miserable cavillers ! A 
 family, divided against itself, cannot stmd.-'~" If 
 « TOji' miracles are the work of Beelzebub, by whose 
 " power do your disciples pretend to work them?" 
 — " Whoso entereth a strong man's house, and 
 " plundereth his goods, is stronger than fie *." 
 Truths of intuition: vaere axioms of morality. 
 
 But, without descending to an enumeration of 
 particulars so well known, I shall content myself 
 with direfting the attention of the reader to the 
 story of the woman taken in adultery f. 
 
 The 
 
 * Matt xii. 25, 30 Luke xi. 22. 
 
 To the fame purppfe Menander in Clem. Alex, 
 . Ei yap IXksi rot Stof 
 
 Ton KViiSaXotf atifuw®' ei; I |?»^clti») 
 O Tela Troiun strl* jji,ei^a>i t8 Sea. 
 
 f Johnviii. 3 — 12. There are, I know, some reasons 
 to suspefl: the genuiness of this piece of history in particu- 
 lar ; but the internal symptoms of authenticity incline me 
 to believe the faft, though, as it stands in this gospel, it 
 should be deemed an interpolation, and not the narrative 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY..! 67 
 
 The difficulty and danger of the dikmina, to 
 -whkh our Lord waa reduced by his captious 
 adversaries on this gmbiiFrassing occasion, are 
 extremely obvious. To have pronounced an 
 acquittal of the woman would have been not only 
 a flagrant opposition to the express injunftion of 
 the Mosaic law upon this point, but such a palpa- 
 ble encouragement of a most criminal intercourse, 
 subversive of all society, as must have totally 
 destroyed his credit as a moral teacher among his 
 countrymen. On the other hand, thb.ugh no judi- 
 tiaJ authority, as a public magistrate, was invested 
 in him, yet his popularity might have given his 
 determination all the efficacy of a legal sentence ; 
 and the populace, in all probability, would have 
 proceeded immediately to execute the punishment 
 of their legislator, by stoning the criminal to 
 
 of our evangelist. See the whole transaftion excellently 
 commented upon and explained in the second volume of 
 Bishop Hwrd's Sermons at Lincoln's- Inn; and some perti- 
 nent remarks in Mr. Paley's Philosophy, book iii. chap. 4. 
 a work, admirably calculated for utility, and propounding 
 principles, which lead to more extensive conclusions, than 
 the prudent author, for obvious reasons, was willing to 
 infer. When I read such produftions of such incompara- 
 ble talents, as those possessed by Mr. Paley, I breathe the 
 fervent wish of the apocalyptic mystagogue: I wouUj,hou 
 wert either cold or hot ! 
 
 3 death. 
 
68 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 death. Now the tumult itself, unavoidable in 
 this case, and much more such an infringement 
 of the authority of the Roman government, which 
 had taken the power of inflifting capital punish- 
 ments into their own hands, would have furnished 
 the enemies of jfesus with a very fair pretence for 
 an accusation of sedition, and rebellion against 
 the state. What measures then could be pursued 
 in so trying an emergency ? And what ingenuity 
 would not have felt itself at a Ices for an expe- 
 dient capable of securing it's own reputation, and 
 disappointing the malice of it's adversaries, with- 
 out affording any countenance to such a danger- 
 ous and sinful aO: ? Observe then, whether our 
 Lord did not display a presence of mind and a 
 dexterity of invention, which nothing can ex- 
 ceed*. Let him, says he, that is without sin 
 among you, cast the first stone at her. 
 
 Few 
 
 * With respeft to his writing upon the ground, the writ- 
 ten words might be something applicable to the occasion, 
 and have their share in the confusion which ensued. 
 Lightjoot (hor. heb. in locum) after observing from Num. 
 V. 17, 23. that the priest, who examined the suspefted 
 wife, was enjoined to bend himself, and gather dmt from 
 the JLoor of the sanfluary to mix with the potion ; and to 
 write in a book the curses to be pronounced against her— 
 subjoins : «« In conformity to these direftious, Christ also 
 
 bends 
 
EVIDENCES OF (jHRIStlANITY. 69 
 
 Few words, but fruitful materials for refleftion ! 
 ' — Tho^e sanftified hypocrites, the Scribes and 
 Pharisees, hereby received a just rebuke for their 
 uncharitable eagerness to fasten a stain on others, 
 when they themselves were dyed so deeply in de-- 
 pravity. The arrow reacht the consciences, to 
 which it was direfted. The subsequent condu£t 
 of these hypocrites bore testimony to the poig- 
 nancy of it's effeft. They went put one by one*. 
 
 " bends himself, uses the pavement as a book by writing 
 " something in the dust, levelled doubtless against the 
 " accusers, who were making trial of him ; analogous to 
 *' the curses written by the priest against the woman whose 
 '' charafter was to be tried," 
 
 Some remarks of the Scholiast on Aristophanes, Acharn. 
 3 1 . appear to me too pertinent to be neglefted on this- 
 occasion. 
 
 TfOi^u, xa^ariM\aiAMit'\ 'yfo^a [/.it, xaray fa(j>a, it ^ayfo^a, ecirt 
 W! yiS If"' ''■''' ^aitTu^w, 1) Tin T»18T« itaihus Tin®'. — Tavru h 
 vravra n-oiscriv 01 IIPOSAEXOMENOI ^eir Ti, .rov h }(fQt<» htvatfunsf 
 «5 earo^iat xai afiijj^atiaf, (*» Tvyp({»nnss TS «{o;Ji>xaftE»8 ^oyo'frt* 
 ire yag avrot eip' lavtut TtOi>rai ahvanef, xa> iitt yti; Sittyps^srir. 
 
 * Them thus intent Ithuriel with his spear 
 Touch' d lightly j for no falsehood can endure 
 Touch of celestial temper, but returns 
 Offeree to it's own likeness. Up they start, » 
 
 Discover'd and surpriz'd. 
 
 Pah Lost, IV. 810. 
 
 s Yet 
 
yd 
 
 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANItY. 
 
 Yet our Lord gave no sanftibn to adultery. 
 The woman's guilt is clearly acknowledged, when 
 . Jeave is given to the innocent to put the law into 
 execution against her. The inability of her ad- 
 versaries to accept this condition does not prove* 
 or imply, h^r innocence in the judgement of our 
 Saviour. The infidel can make out no just ex- 
 ception to our Lord's charafter upon this ground. 
 Indeed, he expressly tells the woman to go and 
 s I N wo more. ^ 
 
 JBut our antagonist will objeft ; " h e does not 
 condemn her" — Neither do I condemn thee : — " And 
 this," he will add, " amounts at least to an unpar- 
 *« donable connivance at her transgression." To 
 this it may be replied in the ^rst place, that he 
 came not, according to his own declaration, intd 
 the world to condemn the world*, and to execute 
 the office of a secular magistrate : (and it is but 
 reasonable to try him by his own professed prin- 
 ciples ; in which, we think, no inconsistency can 
 be found) — and, in the next place, any exercise 
 o{ judicial authority would have stood in direft 
 contradi£lion to that deference and subordination, 
 which he constantly shewed in his own person, 
 
 * Johniii. 17, viii, 15. xii, 47. Liuke xUi 14— 27* 
 
 and 
 
EVIbENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. Ji 
 
 and inculcated on others, to the power of the 
 tivil governour. 
 
 But I pass on to other considerations. 
 
 REMARK XIV. 
 
 Another incident, though comparatively tri- 
 vial in itself, supplies us with no insignificant 
 testimonial of a nobleness of mind, that will not 
 allow any selfish considerations whatsoever to in- 
 terfere with the respeO; antecedently due to pro-" 
 priety and merit. Sensible as our Lord must 
 have been of Martha's officious assiduity to oblige 
 him by providing a variety of dishes for his en- 
 tertainment*; his superior love of intrinsic ex- 
 cellence and the higher virtues induced him to 
 regard with sentiments of peculiar fondness and 
 approbation the conduft of her sister, who was 
 
 * Luke X. 38. This interpretation was first suggested, 
 CIS far as I knowj by Bishop Pearce, and is scouted by some 
 as ridiculously contemptible and extravagantly childish i 
 ■worthy themselves of ridicule, as exhibiting thereby a 
 pregnant proof of super-abundant ignorance of our Sa- 
 viour's habits, and the manners and language of that time 
 and country. 
 
 Derisor potius qudm deridendus senex,- 
 
 f z sitting 
 
72 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 sitting at his feet, imbibing with an eager fond 
 attention the gracious accents, that dropt from the 
 lips of her preceptor. The suggestions of vanity 
 could not soothe this impartial examiner of aftions 
 into a suppression of the truth; nor was the steady 
 light of so pure a judgement to be broken by the 
 obliquity of even personal attachment in union 
 with those suggestions. His approbation of Marys 
 wisdom comes attended with a rebuke gf her- 
 sister's indifference to more momentous objefts ; 
 but a rebuke gentle and kind and delicate, suited 
 to the sensibility of so affeOiionate a friend*., 
 
 Martha! Martha! thou art careful and troubled 
 about many things : hut one thing is needful; and 
 Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be 
 taken away from her. 
 
 REMARK XV. 
 
 The vigour of understanding, the undisturbed 
 firmness of mind, and the resignation of soul to 
 the will of Providerlce, manifested in that remark- 
 able crisis, the temptation of our Saviour, con- 
 stitute one of the most illustrious transactions in 
 a life, distinguished throughout by every species 
 
 * See John xi. 5. 
 
 of 
 
IVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 73 
 
 of wisdom, magnanimity, and virtue. In whatever 
 light the speculative theologian may be inclined to 
 view this apparently singular event, whether as a 
 vision^ a private meditation, or a real aBion; the 
 aequanimity and address therein displayed will be 
 precisely the same : and, if the unbeliever should 
 feel disposed to regard the circumstance as a mere 
 fiftion of the relator, the difficulty will continue 
 to pursue him; and some reasonable account of 
 such admirable readiness and sagacity, such strength 
 of argument, in a contemptible and uninformed, 
 Jew, will still demand a solution from the the- 
 orist and philosopher. 
 
 When the tempter urged Jesus to exert his 
 power for the relief of that necessity, which must 
 have been unusually pressing after so long an 
 abstinence*, our Lord did not deny his ability 
 
 to 
 
 * Admiring that judicious rule of Horace, 
 Nee deus intersit nisi dignus vindice nadus 
 Jnsiderit, 
 
 Never presume to make a god appear 
 Butjor a business worthy of a god, 
 
 Roscommon. 
 
 I always endeavour to find out a rational interpreta- 
 tion independent of miraculous interposition, whenever 
 I can discover any countenance either in the circum- 
 stances of the transadion itself, or in the phaseology cf 
 
 V Q the 
 
74 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 to perform the conversion of stones into hread; 
 but represented the propriety of submission rather 
 to the will and appointments of that Being, who 
 had placed him in such a situation; intimating 
 at the same time the absolute inefficicy in the end 
 of any expedient in opposition to the intentions 
 of the Almighty. Man shall not live by bread 
 
 the narrative. On this ground, it has sometimes occurred 
 to me, that the gospel history would be disencumbered of 
 no inconsiderable difficulty, if we could interpret this 
 abstinence as partial only, and not a complete privation of 
 food for the term oi forty days and forty nights. The baptist 
 abode in the wilderness as well as jfesus, Matt. iii. i . and 
 yet we are informed, that he sustained life with such nou- 
 rishment as the place afforded, locusts and wild honey. But 
 this information appears to have been merely incidental, 
 and is not noticed by Lv,ke : without it, however, if the 
 mere letter of scripture must restrift us, we should have 
 concluded, that the baptist not only fasted forty days and 
 .forty nights, but all the days and nights of his /K/e,! because 
 cur Lord himself has asserted, that John came neither 
 EATING N9R DRINKING." Math. xi. i8.— In much the 
 same unqualified language we are informed by 5^. Lvke, 
 Afts xxvii. 33. that the crew of their ship continued 
 WITHOUT FOOD thirteen days compleat. But do we not 
 immediately understand by this, that the ship's people 
 had not taken their regular and full meals throughout this 
 period ? See some striftures on this passage of the 4S* iw 
 ihe- fourth part of my Sika Critica, 
 
 along) 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 75 
 
 elme^ hut by every word that preceedeih owt of the 
 movih of God*. 
 
 A sublime sentiment ! dictating at once a most 
 serious and useful lesson to mankind^ and decla- 
 ratory of his own determination to obey his fa- 
 ther's injunftions in their utmost rigour; to be 
 ^oor himself, that his followers might ht-rich; to 
 exert his powers, not for his own benefit and con- 
 yenience, but for the good of others; fainting 
 himself with the extremity of hunger, whilst he 
 created food for multitudes in a wilderness. 
 
 The next effort of the tempter was not less in- 
 sidious; and in truth a most dangerous snare for 
 a vain and ambitious spirit. Had jfesus thrown 
 himself down from the battlements of the temple 
 among the crouds below, and escaped unhurt by 
 the sustaining arm of the Deity; such a miracu- 
 lous exhibition could not have failed to engage 
 the attention of the people in his favour, as vul- 
 gar minds are more easily captivated by feats of 
 ostentation than beneficence : and this admiration of 
 the multitudes would have opened a wide door 
 to any projefts of ambition. But, notwithstand- 
 ing the direft words of scripture, which were pro- 
 duced in justification of this proposal, our Lord 
 
 ♦ Matt. iv. 1—1,1. 
 
 r 4 was 
 
76 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 was too well acquainted with the terms of divine 
 favour and support, and with the uses, for which 
 his supernatural endowiiients were conferred upon 
 him, to be baffled and seduced by such an artful 
 insinuation. Thou shalt not tempt, says he, the 
 Lord thy God. 
 
 In conformity with this noble declaration, Jems 
 Christ was most cautious on every occasion to 
 render no interference of miraculous power ne- 
 cessary in his behalf. He never gave, way to the 
 enthusiastic admiration of the populace, who were 
 disposed to hail him as their King ; he provoked 
 no dangers, (from which only a miracle might 
 have extricated him) that could possibly bring on, 
 during the immaturity of his ministry, that ca- 
 tastrophe of his crucifixion before the hour ap- 
 pointed by his Father : and acquiesced in the de- 
 sertion of his twelve faithless cowardly disciples, 
 when a single petition could have called from 
 heaven as many legions of angels to his assistance. 
 
 The tempter made his last appeal to that passion 
 for power and grandeur and distinftion, which 
 has domineered with such universal sway over 
 the hearts even of the generous and noble, in all 
 times and countries ; and daily alienates the , af- 
 fections of so many thousands from the Creator to 
 the Qxeature^ The Apostle has remarked, with 
 
 equa,! 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY- 77 
 
 equal- truth and beauty, that the lust of the flesh, 
 and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is 
 not oj the Father, hut of the -world*. But that 
 pestilence, which destroys, to borrow Solomons 
 expression, so many strong men, and spreads per- 
 petual devastation both in the darkness and at 
 noon-day, was unable to communicate it's conta- 
 minating influence to the vigorous and healthful 
 constitution of this Man of God. The very idea 
 > of forsaking his allegiance to his Maker (the al- 
 most unavoidable consequence of enjoying the 
 kingdoms of the world and the 'glory of them) was 
 unspeakably oiFensive to this pattern of constancy 
 and faithfulness — this dutiful son and servant of 
 the most High God. He replies with the quick- 
 ness of a wounded and indignant spirit: Get thee 
 behind me, Satan ! Thou shalt worship the Lord ihy 
 God, and him only shalt thou serve. 
 
 From this last reply in particular it seems ob- 
 vious and reasonable to infer, that our Saviour, 
 during this temptation, had searched his own 
 heart with minute and diligent inspeftionj — that 
 he had consummated his determination to render 
 his future life in all it's circumstances corres- 
 pondent to his resolutions at the present crisis with 
 invariable adherence. Towards the conclusion of 
 
 * 1 John iii. t6^ 
 
 hi^ 
 
78 EVIDENCES 0"TF CHRISTIANITY, 
 
 his career, the impression, which the horrors of 
 an agonizing death are recorded to have made on 
 so lively an imagination and on feelings so trem- 
 blingly susceptible of agitation, appear to ha>ve 
 brought with it some danger of defection from his 
 uniform steadiness of conduft : but his willing 
 spirity after a temporary conflift with the weak- 
 nesses of the Jlesh, recovered it's serenity and 
 firmness. Arise, said he;, let us depart: " I am 
 *' prepared to do, and to suffer, the whole will of 
 « God. I will welcome even the cross itself, as 
 « the criterion of my obedience-^as my passport 
 » to immortality and glory," 
 
 I would riot williagly entertain an unreasonable 
 partiality even for the chara6ler of jfesus Christ 
 himself; but I should offer violence to my own 
 feelings and an insult to the truth, did I not in- 
 genuously declare, that his condud on all oc- 
 easions, but especially at a junfture of diJicuUy 
 and danger, excites within me ^ a mingled inex- 
 pressible sensation of astonishment and delight. 
 My heart, in the language of the scriptures, may 
 be truly said to leap for joy. It's inward emotions 
 correspond to the outward expressions of the 
 transported cripple, when he found himself healed 
 by the word of Peter ; as they are described in 
 terms, so lively and significant, as nothing ' less 
 than ocular observation seems able to have sug- 
 t gested : 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 79 
 
 gested : And the lame man tEAPiNc up, stood, 
 and walkt; and entered with them into the 
 temple, walking, and i.eaping, and pkaisino 
 God*. 
 
 REMARK XVI. 
 
 In the next place, let an impartial reader pe- 
 ruse the pages of gospel history, and observe the 
 treatment, which our Lord was perpetually re- 
 ceiving from his countrymen, in return for his 
 repeated and solicitous endeavours to " reclaim 
 them from ignorance and sin to the blessings of 
 evangelical salvation: — let hiip behold this meek 
 and peaceable, this affeftionate, and zealous pro- 
 phet of the glad tidings of mercy and immortality 
 — this gracious messenger of love, with health and 
 comfort attendant on his steps, — insulted for the 
 meanness of his parentage and occupation, the 
 obscurity of his native placet, the insignificance 
 
 and 
 
 * Afts iii. 8. 
 + It is astonishing with what sincerity we can condemn 
 this absutdity of the Nmarenes, and pursue the sanae con-. 
 du£t ourselves with the most perfect cordiality and com- 
 placency imaginable. I accidentally opened at the book- 
 seller's a day or two ago, a pamphlet in opposition to the 
 jjcw notions of governhient, &c. by Richard H(y, Esq. of 
 
 the 
 t 
 
80 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 and vileness of his followers, with an addition, no 
 doubt, of many aggravating circumstances not 
 recorded by the jjrief historians of his life, — many 
 
 the Middle Temple; and the first passage, which occurred to 
 my eye, was to the following purport : " It would be 
 " well, if the reader, before he peruses the works of 
 " Thomas Paine, would look over his life by Mr. Oldys," 
 Now this single sentence is enough with me to damn his 
 whole performance, independent of the suspicion, with 
 which every dispassionate and candid mind will receive 
 injurious reports against one, whom every tongue is em- 
 ■ploycd to calumniate, and every hand to blacken. Grant- 
 ing every idle story to be true, who asks such questions 
 as these. Can any good thing come from Thomas Paine? 
 Js not this the stay-maker? who asks these questions, 
 I say, but Nazarenes? A philosopher, and a genuine lover of 
 truth, but above all a Christian, who professes himself the 
 disciple of a carpenter's son, considers the argument alone; 
 and will disdain to embroil a political question with the 
 personal charaBer of the author. In my opinion, there 
 cannot be a stronger presumptive proof, that a reasoner 
 of this sort, who is like Mr. Hey a man of real understand- 
 ing, has either some interest in defending the reigning cor- 
 ruptions, or feels the arguments of his adversary to be in- 
 capable of confutation. I would recommend a view of 
 the condition of the common people, especially in the 
 metropolis, to these soothing advisers of acquiescence to 
 the established system ; and then let him ask himself, if 
 these are the fruits of, a free government, if these are the 
 symptoms of a happy constitutiok. None of your sophistical 
 loporijics for me ! 
 
 incom- 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 8l 
 
 incommunicable exasperations, that convey tlie 
 sharpest wounds to a generous spirit, but are ob- 
 vious only to speBators*: — then turn your eyes to 
 a series of harsher sufferings ; and observe him 
 more than once in danger of being stoned on 
 the spot by an enraged populace, and compelled 
 to conceal himself from their resentment; and 
 this only for attempting to remove their preju- 
 dices and lead them to an acknowledgement of 
 salutary truth, attested by numerous afts . of su- 
 pernatural benevolence : — finally, observe the 
 scoffs and ridicule, the bitterness of insult, the 
 brutality of usage, which the fruitful malignity of 
 triumphant enemies, both aliens and countrymen, 
 lavisht on him after his apprehension by the 
 Jewish officers : — but, above all, contemplate the 
 taunting pleasantries of those monsters of inhu- 
 manity, the rabbles and the clergy^ the chief priests 
 and scribes, over this innocent viftim of their ma- 
 lice, agonizing, as he then was, with the unspeak- 
 able tortures of the cross: — then, after such survey, 
 
 • XloKKa 7«j at iromaeiiv a tvinut, (and we may add o enti' 
 ocettuA — ill i iroAuv etta bJ »t airayyHhcii ^utaifl' Ite^s;, riJ irjiji- 
 fiart, la ^'ktii.^i.afu, Tj) (fa'n.—lama xim, rama E|irn<«» «»6p«7r8f 
 cuHut. Demosthenes in Midiam. — And the author of the 
 Epistle to the Hebrews, xi. 36. does not scruple to rank 
 cruel moekings among the most serious persecutions, by 
 which humanity can be assailed. 
 
 let 
 3 
 
82 EViDEMcfis or CHkI^fiANit¥^. 
 
 let the dispassionate examiner of this scene of suf*- 
 fering bring the matter home to his own bosom^ 
 and candidly ask himself, what his sensations 
 would have beeh in the same, circumstances of" 
 unprovoked and unrelenting persecution-^what 
 his reflexions in the midst of such indignities anc( 
 cruelties in return for such a conduQ; ? Surely, 
 without any violation of candour, without any 
 irrational partiality for a favourite charaSter, I 
 may presume to answer for our supposed arbiter, 
 that some emotions of Vexation and resentment^ — ? 
 some symptoms of human passion^ Would have re-» 
 belled in his breast, conscious to itself of every 
 generous and meritorious afFe6lion, every inten- 
 tion of benevolence and good-will to the whole 
 human race *. At least, one may almost venture 
 to pronounce decisively, that the predominant 
 sensations of his soul would not have been such a 
 calm composition of kindness, complacency, re- 
 signation, compassion, and forgiveness : nor would 
 his lips have found leisure, in such agonies of 
 body and perturbation of spirit, to present a pe- ' 
 
 * This hypothesis will receive some illustration front 
 the case of the apostle Paul, as related by his companion 
 Luke in Afts xxiii, ^.—^Pausaniai, iv. ii'. has a jiist re- 
 mark : ATTof »a Toi; AaKsJatfioiiiois xa,% ais avtrii 4) Jij xai ogyn •ymrsu' 
 
 tition 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 83 
 
 tition to the throne of mercy for his ■ maligflant 
 and unfeeling murderers: Father, forgive 
 
 THEMJ FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO*. 
 
 That GroEcian virtue may not be defrauded of 
 her deserved praise, impartiality demands the 
 produftion of a little piece of history from 
 ^/zflw, which will certainly be acceptable to every 
 reader t. 
 
 " Phocion, the son of Phocus, who had ofteil 
 " been commander in chief, was condemned to 
 ♦' death, and was going to drink the hemlock in 
 «« prison. When the officer held out the cup, 
 « his friends askt him, whether he had any thing 
 
 * Luke xxiii. 34. It may be no unentertaining addition 
 to this remark, if I bring forwards a specimen of very 
 different; deportment in circumstances not dissimilar. From 
 Lysias, for example, in his oration against Agoratus, p. 469, 
 edit. Reiske, Ztamioi St — «tX " In the presence of my sister, 
 •' Dionusodorus at the point of death was settling his pri- 
 " vate affairs, and saying of this Agoratvs, that he was the 
 " cause of his death, and charging me and this Dionysiui 
 " his brother and all his friends, to avenge him on Ago- 
 *' ratusj and charged also his wife, supposed to be then 
 " pregnant, to tell the child, that Agoratus slew his fa- 
 " ther, and to order him to take vengeance on the man as 
 " a murderer," 
 
 t Var, hist. xii. 49. where Perizonius observes, that 
 Plutarch also has recorded in his apothegms this answer of 
 Pkocion, 
 
 « to 
 
84 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 " to say to his son. Yes, said he ; ' / charge hifrt 
 ^^ to entertain no resentment against the Athe" 
 " nians for this pledge of their good-will, which I 
 « am going to drink." Now whosoever does not 
 extol and admire the man exceedingly, ap- 
 pears to me destitute of understanding and sen- 
 sibility ; says ray author. 
 
 The protomartyr Stephen* had so learned this 
 lesson also of his master as to praBice it in his 
 turn with complete efficiency. He knplt down' and 
 cried with a loud voice: Lord! Lay not this 
 SIN TO THEIR CHARGE I And, On Saying thisy he 
 Jell asleep. 
 
 REMARK XVII. 
 
 The influence of long and early associations 
 upon the mind unavoidably produces some degree 
 of attachment to our native country : but a mere 
 local afFeftion seems, in the eye of abstraQ; philo- 
 sophy, v entitled to no praise, and indeed rather 
 incompatible with true dignity of sentiment. The 
 regard which the great exemplar of wisdom t in 
 
 * A£ts vii. 60. 
 
 + quid virtus et quid sapient I A possit 
 
 Utile proposuit nobis exemplar ulyssem. 
 
 Horat. 
 
 the 
 
tj^e records oF antiquity expresses for his native, 
 island, apipears, as with most other menj a com- 
 pound of good sense and weakness. " My lihaca^' 
 says Ulysses, " is rough and barren, but an ex- 
 " cellent nurse of men : nor have I seen ih all- 
 " my wanderings a more delicious country*." 
 
 Our Saviour betrayed no. symptoms of itra^ 
 tional ittachirient or unmanly prejudice in this,re- 
 speft, but aSled up to the perfeft standard of wis- 
 dom and magnatimity. His conduftj ever uni- 
 formly noble, mayb e compared not unfitly to the 
 texture of his own vestment ; without searrii woven 
 from ihe top throUghviUf. At all times^ and in 
 
 every 
 
 * Oi. i. 27. 
 
 Low Res our isle, yet blest in fruitfiil stores : 
 Strong art her sons, though rocky are her shores. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 + Jolin xix. 23. woven for him, no doubt, by the ten- 
 der sdiicitude of his rtiother, or the fond hands of'some of 
 the female disciples, who attended him. 
 
 — — — nic ie iuafuriira mater 
 
 Produxi, pressive oculos, aut vulhera lavi, 
 y^ EST E tegens, tiii quam ■koEles Jestlna diesque 
 Urgebam, ei tela curas solabdr amies, 
 
 Virg. ^n, ix. 
 
 c J^ot 
 
86 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 every instance, an antecedent and innate regard 
 for worth and virtue superseded every considera- 
 tion of private conneftion with place or person:, 
 and called forth his testimony of unreserved com- 
 mendation. 
 
 The Roman centurion, though of a country 
 and a class of men most unfriehdly to the Jews, 
 (a nation inferior to none in their love of liberty 
 and their veneration for democratic principles) disr 
 played a conviftion of our Lord's supernatural 
 abilities, highly observable and eminently meri- 
 torious ; a conviftion, which seemed to pour 
 consolation and refreshment on the spirit pi Jesus, 
 wearied out by the perversity and obduracy and 
 malice of his countrymen. His feelings broke 
 out on this occasion in the warm language of ap- 
 plause and admiration : Verily I say unto you, I 
 have not.Jound so great faith, no not in Israel. And 
 
 Nor did thy mother close thy eyes in death, 
 
 Compose thy limbs, nor catch^.thy parting breath ; 
 
 Nor.bathe thy gaping wounds, nor cleanse ihegore^ 
 
 Nor throw the rich embroider' d mantle o'er : 
 
 The, work that charm' d the cares of age away. 
 
 My task all night,, my, labour all the day : 
 
 The robe I wove, thy absence to sustain: 
 
 Fi}r thee, my child! — but wove alas! in vain. 
 
 Pitt. 
 
 I say 
 
/ say unto you, that many shall come from the East 
 and West, 'and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, 
 and Jacoh in the kingdom oj heaven : but the chil- 
 dren of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer 
 darkness*. 
 
 To those but slenderly acquainted with Jewish 
 antiquities, the inveterate antipathy of this people 
 and the Samaritans to each other must be well 
 known. Sufficient proofs indeed of this enmity 
 may be discovered in the gospel history itself. 
 Even two of our Lord's disciples, James and 
 John, had profited so imperfeftly by the bene- 
 volent precepts, the gentle dispositions, the kind 
 aftions, the complacent forbearing spirit, of theii: 
 master, as to express an eagerness to call down 
 jire from heaven^" upon a village of Samaritans^ 
 who refused to entertain them. — And, on another 
 occasion, the same disciples could not dissemble 
 their astonishment, that Jesus should continue 
 talking with a woman o^ Samaria: nor does the 
 woman herself appear to have been less surprised; 
 for we are told by the evangelist, that the Jews 
 had no dealings with the Samaritans'^; and that 
 the woman said, Why dost thou, who art a Jew, ask 
 water of me, who am a Samaritan ? 
 
 * Matt, viii, lo— I3t + Luke ix. 52, 
 
 + John iv. 9. 
 
 c 2 Yet 
 
Yet in opposition to this hereditary and deep^ , 
 rooted aversion to each other, imbibed with life 
 and confirmed by education, our Saviour not 
 only endeavours by animated rebuke*, by ex- 
 postulation, and an express parable t to this 
 purpose, to rouse the shame, to sqften the ani- 
 mosity, and to enlarge the conc!eptions of his fol- 
 lowers : but seizes with avidity, as it should seem, 
 every opportunity of placing the Samaritans in 
 the most favourable point of view, by a difeft 
 contrast with the behaviour of his countrymen. 
 Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine ? 
 There are not found that returned to give glory to 
 God, save this stranger. And he, we are informed, 
 was a Samaritan'^. 
 
 But notwithstanding this elevation'of soul, which 
 lookt beyond the low attraftibns of casual con- 
 neftion to the wide range of universal philan- 
 thropy ; that pure and aftive flame, which warms 
 and animates the feelings of a genuine patriot, 
 was not unkindled in the breast of thp founder of 
 the gospel. Nay, jfesus manifested even that uh- 
 equivocal symptom of affeftion for his country, 
 that demonstration of patriotical solicitude, which 
 the sublime satyrist considers as the noblest proof 
 
 * Luke ix. 55. + Luke x. 30. 
 
 J Luke xvii. 16 — 19. 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 8g 
 
 of the charafteristical sensations of humanity*. 
 His agony of soul, excited by the melancholy 
 prospeft of the impepding desolations of Judea, 
 and the destruftion of that city, which was the re- 
 sidence of Jehovah and the glory of the earth, 
 could find no relief but in a flood of tears t; suc- 
 ceeded by this most tender and impassioned apos- 
 trophe : ! Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! thou thai kil- 
 lest the prophets, • and stotiesi them which are^ sent 
 unto thee! ho'co .often would I have gathered thy 
 children togither even as a hen gather eth her chickms 
 under her wings ; ,andye would not*. 
 
 We may observe also in passing, his perfe£l; 
 superiority to every suggestion of pride, passion, 
 arid resentment, in thus commiserating a city, 
 which had exercised towards him such contumely, 
 such injury, and ingratitude in fornier instances; 
 and, as he well knew, would "in a few days, with 
 an accumulation of insult and (yuelty, consum- 
 mate their malignity by nailing him to a cross. 
 
 * Juv. Sat. XV. 131. 
 
 . ■ ■ ■■ mollissima corda 
 
 Humano generi dare se ndtura fatetur, 
 
 Qu(Z tachrymas dedit : hcec nostri pars optima sensus, 
 
 + Luke xix. 41. f Matti xxiii. 37. 
 
 G 3 Nor 
 
go EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Nor would an advocate for the supreme ex- 
 cellence of our Lord's charafter hold himself 
 justified in letting slip so fair an occasion of in- 
 culcating, how great an ^ accession of lustre it 
 receives from this rtielting sympathy of dispo- 
 sition, exemplified also -in other junftures bf his 
 life*. That eritertg-ining and useful compiler 
 Suidas has preserved for us an excellent hemistich 
 of an unknown writer to this efFeft : "- 
 
 > ayaSoi ^ afi^eatpm; av^psf^ 
 
 'Tis a sure sign of worth to melt in TEARS. 
 
 It is, therefore, with perfeH propriety and from a 
 just insight into truth and nature, that Lycophrov, 
 has aggravated an odious chara^er from this 
 topic t : 
 
 Hard wretch! of brow austere^ bys- smiles unbent. 
 By tears unwet; estranged alike from both. 
 
 Let the reader, therefore, determine for him- 
 self, whether the account, \i\iich. Fbrphyry'^ has 
 
 ♦ . 
 
 * See my Silva Critica, part ii. seft. xcvii, 
 
 Kasi ^eut'fV vr,i; J' ert "»' rrirufji.it®' 
 
 A^^oiv. Cassand. vers. 117. - ' 
 
 • J Vit, Pythag. seft; 35, edit. Kuster. 
 
 delivered 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. gi 
 
 delivered of his hero Pythagoras., be in this fespea: 
 so creditable as the biographer, no doubt, sup- 
 posed, to that truly great and venerable philo- 
 sopher-, in- my opiqion, the most illustrious per- 
 sonage of heathen antiquity, that has come dowa 
 to our knowledge. 
 
 " His soul also, conformable to the invariable 
 " temperature of his bodily appearance and con- 
 " stitution, bespoke always the uniformity of his 
 " manners and affeflions from his countenance. 
 " For neither did it receive any diffusion from 
 " PLEASURE, nor contraftion from uneasiness ; 
 " nor was he ever discovered under any agitation 
 " of JOY or SORROW. No man saw him at any 
 
 « time EITHER SMILE- OR WEEP." 
 
 Our moral poet declares his sentiments in more 
 commendable strains; 
 
 In lazy apathy let Stoics boast, 
 
 Their virtue fix'd : 'tis fix'd as in a frost*. 
 
 But 
 
 * Pope's Essay on Man. — Dr. John Jtbb, lost alas ! too 
 sooi> to his friends, to his country, and mankind ! thus 
 expresses himself, in his sermon on the Excellency ef the 
 Spirit of Benevolence, with a pathos beyond all praise, and 
 highly symptomatic of his own tenderness and sensibility. 
 
 " Glory not in the ferocity of thy nature ; nor steel it 
 
 " against the soft sensations of pity and compassion. 
 
 "♦' Setter for thyself, as well as others, that thy heart shoi^ld 
 
 -J " overflow 
 
§2 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 But the disinterested magnanimity of the pat 
 TRiOT beamed forth with a lustre still more con- 
 spicuous at a time, when the sensations of huma- 
 nity, without 6nda,ngering an imputation of selfish- 
 ness ?Lnd degeneracy, might have been pardonably 
 absorbed in the solitary contemplation of it's own 
 
 *' overflow with the milk of human kindness ; better that 
 " thou shouldest melt at every tale of woe ;— than possess 
 •' that unfeeling temper, which forbids thee to rejoice 
 " when thou hearest the voice of gladness ; or withhold 
 "thy TEARS amidst the djistresses of a creature of like pas- 
 " sions with thyself.'' 
 
 Nor can I deny myself the pleasure, notwithstanding 
 the tedibusness of transcription, to communicate some 
 elegant criticisms of Eustatkius to the reader: in Iliad, 
 p. 87. edit. Bas. 
 
 oya9s ijSaj TO TiiaTo* wagass-asTiM*. — The poet's heroes are full of 
 sympathy, and prone to zoeeping, which is a symptom of good 
 dispositions. 'He then subjoins various proofs of his. asser- 
 tion froni. Homer, and adds : K.»> *Wi«s h, it tpaatv a^ ira\euot, 
 
 f*eTf iowa9u{. — 6 ^EV Toi iraqa, ta So^idcTiei Aias;, bJe eir\ Toij ^syi- 
 foi; TWH naxm, sJaxfi/crsi/" t^fpiSi)^ y«g sxaj©., xai ftEyaXoSuft^, ansi 
 fiana; cyyvf. Besides, as ancient critics haye observed, it is no 
 strange thing if Jchilles weeps; for the good mam is not unfeel- 
 ing, but of mild affeBions. — Yet Ajax in Sophocles did not weep 
 even at the greatest misfortunes : for he was violent, of a haughty 
 spirit, and bordering upon madness. ' 
 
 Hominis est enim ajici dolore, sentire, resistere tamen, et so- 
 latia admittere ; non, sohtiis non egeie. Plin. epist. viii. 17. 
 
 absorbed 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 53 
 
 calamities*, ^ni Jemso^ Nazareth felt and thouglit, 
 spake and afted, lived and died, for the good of 
 OTHER s+. His heart, which was truly human'^ 
 sympathizing with all tt\e concerns of his fellow- 
 creatures J, and only qeasing it's benevolent sen- 
 sations with existence, was tremblingly alive to the 
 interests of his country. His own sufferings, exqtii- 
 site as they were, and whatever commiseration they 
 might excite in others, could not seduce his atten- 
 tion for a single moment from wjiat was to him a 
 
 * The judgement^f the most finished poet in the unl. 
 verse has made a very apposite use of this topic in'hic 
 incomparable description of the plague among the beasts: 
 Non lupus insidias explqrat ovilia circum, 
 Nee gregibus nofturnus obambulat : acrior ilium ' 
 CuRA dgmat. / Virgil's Georg. iii. 53.7. 
 
 Aristotle, rhet. ii. 8. points out the topic with his cus- 
 tomary perspicacity. Mnr' uv (potanitoi a-lpa^(if « ya^ it^fnirm 
 at ai'senf^yiyfieiioi, ^i« to etfM vtf^ ru oMna ira^et. 
 
 In this view, our Lord's attention to his disciples during 
 his own dreadful conflift between /ear and duty, is strongly 
 recommendatory of a benevolent and disinterested heart. 
 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit 
 indeed is aiiUing, iut thejlesh is weak. Matt. xxvi. 41, 
 
 + Nee sibi, sed toti genitum se credere mundo. 
 
 LiipAN. ii. 383. 
 ^ Heb, ii. 17. 
 
 § Homo sum : humani nihil 4 'me alieMm puto. 1 
 
 Terence. 
 
 mfw.f^ 
 
94 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 more momentous objecl. Amidst the wailings and 
 lamentations of the surrounding multitude*, the 
 mind of Jesus -continues unshaken and serene, 
 vacant to the operations of every finer feeling of 
 benevolence; negleftful of itself, and wholly en- 
 grossed by the tenderest solicitude for the welfare 
 of his countrymen. Worthy indeed of so divine 
 a charafter was that pathetic address, (pathetic be- 
 yond all example, and fatally prediftive !} of this 
 dying patriot t 
 
 J)a%ghiers of Jerusalem! weep not for me, hut 
 toeep far yourselves and for your chil- 
 dren. For behold, ! the days are coming, in -which 
 they shall say. Blessed are the barren, and the wombs 
 
 * This part of the gospel narrative holds forth a promi- 
 nent feature of authenticity, in signalizing the lamenta- 
 tions of the women on this occasion : Sophocles in his Ajax 
 truly says : 
 
 ■ x'asgra Toi ^i^oizTifoi' yviri. 
 
 Most prone to pity is the female breast. 
 
 And the same most noble writer dwells with circum- 
 stantial description on the~supposed sorrow of the mother 
 of Ajax upon hearing the news of that hero's death, 
 
 H 7t8 TaXmm, "ninJ hrav kXv^ ^anif 
 
 Hfr« i^iiyaii xuxvrot iv waari inhei : V. 866, ' 
 
 When she my sad catastrophe shall know. 
 
 The streets will rin^ with shrieks of frantic woe. 
 
 In this view, Matt, xxvii. 55, 61, to which I refer, will 
 appear extremely natural, 
 
 ihat 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 95 
 
 that never bare, and the breasts that never gave 
 suck* I 
 
 In connexion with the foregoing illustrationsi, 
 some further positions of the incomparably saga- 
 cious philosopher of Stagyra, "whom we have be- 
 fore called to our assistance, will contribute to 
 display the vast superiprity of our Saviours' af- 
 feftions above the movements of vulgar minds. 
 *' Those, whose situation is entirely ' desperate 
 " and irretrievably calamitous," says this com- 
 prehensive speculator of human manners t, " are 
 *' not inclined to commiseration, which has always 
 *' a tacit reference to the possibility of similar suf< 
 "fering, contemplated in others^, to ourselves: 
 *' for they have already proceeded to the extre- 
 « mity of misfortune." 
 
 But this position, however applicable to the 
 generality of mankind, was not realized in the 
 the conduft of our Lord. Though on his road to 
 Calvary, and certain of speedy crucifixion, his 
 sensations of social benevolence and compassion 
 
 * Luke xxiii. a8, 29. 
 Of the same nature, and equally illustrative of our 
 Lord's compassionate disposition, is that beautiful apos- 
 trophe, Matt. xxiv. 19. But alas! for them that are with 
 child, and them that give suck, in those days I 
 ■ ^ Rhetoric, lib. ii. cap. 8. 
 
$6 EVIDENCES or CHRISTI ANITV. 
 
 were alive in unabated vigour. Even then, in that 
 sad houi- of personal affliftion, whicli filled up the 
 measure of mortal sufferance; he transferred his 
 (Eyes from the scene of present calamity to the 
 future miseries of his countrymen. Daughters of 
 • Jerusalem I weep notjor me, but xueep for yourselvci 
 and far your children. 
 
 Again : when we consider our Lord's situation 
 in another view, as detached from many of the 
 most endearing ties of domestic connexion and con- 
 sanguinity, a subsequent remark of the consum- 
 mate rhetorician will conduce to recommend the 
 charaSler of our hero : for these ties are the great 
 handmaids of pity and compassion. 
 
 "They also, who have parents, or children, 
 «' or wives, are inclined to pity ; for these are a. 
 " man's own, and are liable to suffer misfortunes." 
 
 REMARK XVIIL 
 
 T HZ friendship also, which our divine master 
 entertained for his disciple John, is a topic too 
 important to be entirely overlooked in this attempt 
 to exhibit the' excellencies of his charafter*. 
 
 ' AWk' es"i ^ T(; aWio; it |SpoToi{ t^ai, 
 
 YvpC"? ^""'ajj ffu^(0t&' ri, xdya,9tig. EuripideS. 
 
 The race of man another love controuls. 
 The love rejin'd, of pure and virtuous souls. 
 
 3 ' However 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. gy 
 
 However excursive the range of benevolence 
 inay be, embracing with extended regards every 
 objeQ; of rational, and even irrational, creation j 
 still she will require some fond bosom, as the re^ 
 pository of congenial sentiments, as the asylum 
 from the perturbations of the world, as the pillow 
 for her head, languishing with the sorrows and op* 
 pressions of mortality. The general sense of man- 
 kind has universally concurred in approving those 
 generous spirits, that have distinguished them'- 
 selves among their species by the ardoUr and fide- 
 lity oi friendship. Let the union of John and 
 ■J-esus be hereafter celebrated among those illus- 
 trious pairs, who have descended with such en- 
 comiuilis down the stream of time from the ear- 
 liest antiquity to these late ages of the world. 
 This pattern of pure christian friendship* .^ (and 
 much does it redound, I think, to the honour 
 t)f our evangelist to have harmonized in congenial 
 affeftions with such a spotless heart !] this pattern, 
 - 1 say, of true christian frien,dship, were lovely in 
 their lives, and in their deaths, though divided in 
 body, yet, in spirit and the continuity of love, they 
 were still united through the medium of an objefl; 
 equally endeared to them both. Jesus seeing his. 
 mother f, and the disciple whom he loved, standing 
 
 \ 
 
 * John xiii, 23.— xxi. 20. t John xix. 26, 27. 
 
98 
 
 E-viDENCEs OF Christianity. 
 
 by the cross, aftive as ever to beneficence and ten- 
 derness in the midst of torture ! saith unto his mO' 
 ther : Woman'! behold; thy son. Then he saith to 
 the disciple : Behold ! thy mother. And from that 
 very hour the disciple took her to his own horned 
 
 Such is -the alliance between true wisdom and 
 unsophisticated nature, that the gospel exhibits, but 
 with additional incentives to attachment and per- 
 severance, the same afFe6lions which aftuated the 
 bosom of virtue in the early days bf primitive 
 simplicity, or the later aera of philosophical refine- 
 ment. For . the proper office of philosophy con- 
 sists in rectifying the deviations of the mind from^ 
 it's original rule of right, and in rekindling those 
 sparks of intellect and virtue, which the oppressions 
 of depraved habit, the smother of false knowledge^ 
 and the mists of artificial manners, have conspired 
 to obscure. In this view, even the dispensation 
 of the GOSPEL itself, -w^hich is stiled in scripture a 
 RESTITUTION* of things — a reconciliation f of the 
 alienated affeBions of relatives and friends — may_ 
 be regarded in some respeft (but in connexion 
 
 '* Afts lit. 21. Matthew xvii. ii. 
 + Luke i. 17. Malachi iv. 6» 
 Nor think in nature's state they blindly trod. 
 The state of nature was the reign of God. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 with 
 
EVIDENCES OF, CHRISTIANITY. gg 
 
 with an indubitable ascertainment of immortality 
 by the obedience of Chrisi unto death) as a repub- 
 lication of the LAW of natufe — as the mean of 
 restoration to the primaeval purity of patriarchal 
 manners, exliibited in the early periods of the 
 Mosaic history j the memory of which was pre- 
 served by tradition among all the posterity of 
 Adam, and consigned to written recqrds, as men 
 emerged from barbarism, in the memorials of the 
 golden age. - , 
 
 An excellent passage from Themisiius shall close 
 the observation of this SeBion*. 
 
 " For these reasons I have: enlarged on this 
 *' topic. I suspeft, that you are laughing at the 
 " philosophers, and think of them ^vith disrespeQ:, 
 " when ye see them fondly attached to their sons 
 « and daughters, like other men. I must tell you^ 
 « therefore, that these very feelings are of the es- 
 " sence of philosophy ; and, as far , as they ac- 
 " tuate the breasts of others, are derived from no 
 «* other source, inasmuch as Nature hath ira- 
 '« planted in every man some elementary princi- 
 « pies of philosophy t." 
 
 REMARK. 
 
 * Oral, xxxii. 
 
 + It forms one of the most amiable traits in the charafiter 
 • of Sir Isaac Newton, who was indeed all-accomplished be- 
 
 * ydnd 
 
iOO EVIDEKCES OF CHRISTI ANITYi 
 
 REMARK^ XIX. 
 
 I HOLD it to be an indisputable proposition* 
 that the grand objeQ; of all the dispensations of 
 God's providence towards the inhabitants of the 
 tarth, is their consummation in purity and virtu6 
 — the reilluniination of thfe dim and marred visage 
 of debased man to the brightness of his own cofe^ 
 lestial countenance, refleded in full lustre upoii 
 
 yond any of his species, that he was fOnd of little children^ 
 and delighted to see them playing about his study. Such 
 was the simplicity, the sweetness, the condescension of a 
 mind, that CQuld expatiate through the universe, 
 
 And pass thejlanling bounds of place and time! 
 
 resembling in this respeft also the afFefltioriate tenderness 
 of the Nazdrene : who fondled tittle chiitlrert in his arms, laid 
 his hands upon them, and recommended their innocent and 
 artless manners to the imitation of his disciples. — And yet 
 .(that, I may lose no opportunity, of shaming corrupted 
 Churches, which make and love and believe a lie (2 Thess. ii. 
 11. Revel. XX. 15.) and of disgracing antichristian prin- 
 ciples, wherever I discover them} these Very infants are 
 strenuously maintained by sound divines, the spiritual pas- 
 tors and teachers of this goodly land ! to be CHILDREN of 
 WRATH and BORN in sin, 'till the hallowed drops from 
 their disinterested fingers have purged away the defilements 
 of nativity, and made the creature fit for the acceptance of 
 it's Creator .' ! I ^ 
 
 the 
 
EVIDEI^CES bF CHRISTIANITY.' iBi, 
 
 the votaries df the gospd freihlht face i^ yesUi 
 Vhrisi*. AH thai the 'Creator haS requirfed df hf* 
 creatures In every period of time is a conformity 
 to the diftates -of" their consciences^' and a'n ob^ 
 Servance of the rules of reflitude commenstiratd 
 to the respeftiv« portions of their knowledge- 
 It is highly honourable to the christian systemi as 
 "laid down hoth by Jesus' and his apostles, that pu- 
 rity of hfeart and a&ii^e virtue are set forth by 
 them as the criterion of merit and the condition of 
 divine acceptance. Kind alFeftions and beneficent 
 ekertions .are the sacrifices, ^ith which God is 
 pleased. Frivolous oblations, tedious ceremo- 
 nies t, canting prayersj with all the trumpery of 
 your superstitious Mummers ^rid creed-mofigers of 
 the churches, are excluded from the ternjjk of 
 gospel worship, whose foundation and super- 
 Strufture are in the heart — Whose pillars afe can- 
 fidenct"^ in heaVen^-whose materials are gcod- 
 wor^i'— whose builder and contriver is God him- 
 
 * 2 C6r. ivi 6. iii; j8j 
 f When ouf Saviaur came into the world, the feligioii 
 6f the greatest patt of it ran out into a mtiltitude of little 
 titesj weak observances, boijily postures ; and he appoints 
 a religion direftly opposite ; plain, simple, rational, lif^ 
 and spirit ; ■voiioSe main design was to employ and perfeS 
 the mind and Spirit of a man; Spencer on Pf-adigiu. 
 $ mnr^faitk— reliance upon God, 
 
 M selfii 
 
102 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 ■self. He^ that hath my commandments, saith our 
 hord, and keep eth them; he it is that loveth 
 ME*. And his favourite apostle : In this we know, 
 that we have a knowledge of God, if we keep his 
 commandments t. 
 
 Now, according to my apprehension, as a con- 
 trary doQrine would have been highly derogatory 
 to the gospel^ it is not only no trivial recommen- 
 dation of the Christain doftrines and the chara£ler 
 of their preacher, to agree so harmoniously with 
 the sentiments and positions of undepraved 
 Reason, as she addresses these later ages through 
 the mouths of the great and good, the venerab'le 
 philosophers of Greece and Rome; but Constitutes 
 moreover with me a satisfaftory demonstration of 
 the pure antichristianism of the present establish- 
 ments of religion, and the modes, generally pre- 
 valent among us, of praflising and inculcating 
 the faith of Jesus. All is ostentation, ceremony, 
 commutation, and filthy lucre ! Nay, the majority 
 of modern professing Christians have been per- 
 suaded, that the Father of mankind, who ran to 
 
 * John xiv. 21. 
 + 1 Epist. ii. 3. and many other places. Compare also 
 with tespeft to the reasoning of this article Rom. ii. 13—* 
 16. which.is adverted to below. 
 
 meet 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. IO3 
 
 meet his repentant son, when a long way off*, 
 could not possibly , deliver from perdition the 
 children, who so strikingly resembled his own 
 perfedions; such as Socrates, Plato,, and all 
 the luminaries of Gentile virtue. ^ut, what 
 is still more worthy of admiration ! our own 
 Church^ has the audacity (the impiety I should 
 
 * Luke XV. 20. We have been lately furnished with 
 another decisive proof of the correspondence of our 
 tcdesiastical establishment and the spirit of our rulers with 
 the meekness and' gentleness of Christianity. The King's 
 proclamation calls upon us to confess our sins and implore 
 the proteflion of the Almighty, when we are fitting out 
 ^eets and armies for the murder of kis creatures; as if the 
 shedding ef human blood in company with a confederacy of 
 royal butchers chz.xa.&.e.r\stdt. the disciples of the prince 
 o^ PEACE. What are common bifisphettiies and ordinary 
 murders in competition with such transcendant enormi- 
 ties as this ? 
 
 When we consider the conduft of Great-Britain in the 
 East and West-Indies, in the Slave-Trade, and in the laws 
 at home, so peculiarly adapted to corrupt and debase the 
 manners of the people ; and all this under a pretension of 
 reformed religion, and a happy .constitution j-— certainly the 
 national guilt of no great empire since the creation of the 
 world, if knowledge and opportunity be taken into the ac- 
 count, was at all comparable to our ovvn. Yet we can 
 talk of French profligacy and French atheism ! as if corrupt 
 Christianity had not much to reform before it arrives at 
 that limit of neutrality, where we place the French, 
 f In the thirteenth Article of Religion, 
 
 H 2 have 
 
104 EVIDENCES Ot CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 have said) to require ^1 her sons, to, dicppse bj?- 
 fqre God on oatl^ in t,h(2 vei:y ^egtja, ojf Cjur Sio^ 
 viour* and S:(.. Paul, that thf gqod wo;(i5s. oS 
 hpathens are npi pleasant to (r9D, hfl4kav£ the 
 NATURE OF siK !— Whcsj \v;ill the mind of man. 
 tljrow off ihis deba;sing bondage? "Wiheix. will bis? 
 dpnuiant powers sta;Kt fropi, th^ir trange of stupe- 
 fatlioi), and level this hay and stubble — this vile 
 rubbish of ignorance and supineness, of craft and 
 peculation — with the ground? 
 
 Happy for us dissentients, ifhat -v^e. Ga,n sus,tain 
 ourselves, in the interval of a patient w^ting for 
 the will of God 'till hi-s dpe season, with the con- 
 solatory oracles of divine wisdom ; and are able 
 to confront with this ccejiestial a,rmour the un- 
 blushing dogmas of artifice g,rid. folly : Gopsqipfi^ 
 as we are, that viriuoui sin,, blind, to the exeglr 
 lence of , these establishments, is more precious in 
 the sight of God, than all the illuminated knavery 
 of gospel-churches. How far the ^ood sense of an- 
 tiquity gives us Gountenanc£,, independent of the 
 express, testimonies of the evangelists, t\it follow- 
 ing extra& will sufficiently evince ; which appear* 
 
 * And .1 say , unto you, Many shall come Jrem the eg,st and 
 west, and will sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, atid Jaci^ 
 in tht kingdom, of heaven, 
 
 to 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. iCSg 
 
 to me remarkably pertinent fo the subjett be- 
 iFdte ils* 
 
 " DwgiHes may be properly eniployed agains't 
 " Sophocles also ; who hath stricken many myriads 
 *' of men i^ith despondency by the following Verses 
 *' concerning the mysteries : 
 
 '< Thrice happy they ga dcwtin into the gra'Vei, 
 *' Whose eyes ha'i/e witriesseiithh sacred sight f 
 " Fair these alone in that dread region live : 
 " The rest immerge in darkness all, and woe. 
 
 " l^ow Diogenes, lipoh hearing something in 
 *■' this strain : Whit say you? says he. Will Pa- 
 ^^'tcEcidh the thief fare better j when he dies, For 
 *' having been initiated, than EpdminondasP" 
 
 Let me be perihitted to recommend also a most 
 admirable passage of 'ah early Christian father to 
 the consideration of bigots and fanatics of every 
 denomination t; and to entreat from them, as an 
 
 edifying 
 
 * Plutarch, dcaudiendis poetis,n.zi. edit. Xylandri. 
 
 + Irenceiis, adv.h*r. iv. 39. eAit Grdbe. ■ Non ehim prop- 
 ter eoi soibs, qui temporibus Tiberii Cizsaris credideYwit ei, venit 
 Christus; nee propter cos solos, qui nunc sunt, /tomiHes, pro- 
 videhttau fecit Pater; sed propter Omries omnivd homines, qui 
 dS initio secundutnvirtutenisumn, in sad generationi et tifiiuerurit 
 ef dikxerunt Deum, et juste et pic conversati sunt erga prox- 
 
 n 3 iivos. 
 
106 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 edifying exercise of their private meditations, the 
 comparison of his sentiments with those of the 
 compilers of our articles and the leading rahbics 
 of the Church of England. 
 
 " For hot merely on account of those, who 
 *' believed on him in the times of Tiberius Caesar) 
 " did Christ appear; nor did God ordain his pro- 
 *' vidence for those only, who are now alive; but 
 *« for all men without distinClion, who from the 
 *' beginning have feared and loved God accord- 
 *' ing to their ability in their generation ; and 
 *' have conducted themselves righteously and af- 
 •' feftionately towards their neighbours, and have 
 *' desired to see Christy and to hear his voice. 
 « Wherefore, all of this description "^Vill be first 
 " raised from sleep at his second coming, and he 
 " will res.tore to life as well those as the rest, who 
 *' are to be judged ; and will settle them in his 
 « kingdom. Inasmuch as it is the same God, who 
 
 imos, et toncupierunt jvidere Christum, et audire vocem ejus, 
 Qtiapropter omnes hujusmadi in secundo adventu prima de somna 
 excitalnt, et eriget tarn eos, qudm reliquos qui Judicabuntur ^ et 
 cohstituet in regnum suum. Quonidm quidem unus Deus, 
 (Rom, iii. 3Q.) qui patnafchas quidem direxit in dispo- 
 sitianes suas ; justificavit avtem cireumcisionera ex fide et 
 prgeputium- per -fidem. QucmadmodiiM enim in primii noi 
 prajigurabamur et prcenuntiabamur ; sic rursus in nobis i>lli de- 
 foimantur, hoc est, iniciksidi ft ucipiant mercidevi pro his 
 qme laboravcrunt, 
 
 « direded 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. lOJf 
 
 « direfted indeed the patriarchs into his dispen. 
 *' satjons, a.nd justified circumcidon upon faith^ and 
 *' uncircumcision by faith. For as we were pre- 
 " figured and foretold in the ancients, so they, on 
 " the other hand, ^are completely formed in us, 
 *' that is in the churqh; and receive a reward for 
 *» their labours*." 
 
 REMARK XX. 
 
 No trait more conspicuous in the features of 
 our Saviour's charafter or more consonant to the 
 previous ideas of dispassionate philosophy con- 
 cerning a teacher commissioned by the gracious 
 parent of the universe, than the benevolent ten- 
 dency of the gospel miracles. It was, we are told 
 by the historians, the meat and drinjt of Jfesus to 
 go about doing good, in imitation of that God, 
 whose tender mercies are over all his works. 
 
 The alleviation of human misery in all it's forms, 
 unconnefted with every symptom of interest, va- 
 nity, and ambition, was the invariable end, to 
 
 * The author seems to consider the Christian churcfi as 
 a colURive body, consummated by the joint operation of 
 all it's members, in whatever period of time this operation 
 may have been exerted. • ' 
 
^8 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY, 
 
 3*?hich all bis supernatural endowments appear to 
 haye been djrefted*. He refused to exhibit signs 
 from heaven^ or- call ^down fire an the Saviaritans; 
 or pray for pwelve legions of angek, to create mere 
 ^stonisHmeiH and admiration, and' to siibserye an 
 Intemperate ambition. The few and slight ob- 
 jeftions, whfch the busy ingenuity of unbelievers 
 has beei> able to raise in opposition to the present 
 
 * Nusquam kgimus miraGulum alifuod d Christo patraiuifi 
 circa honores, aut pecunias ; s?d tantiim circa corpus huma- 
 num, aut conservandum, aut sustendandum,, aut personandum, 
 Bacon de Augm. Scient. L,, iv, G. 2., In the English^ 
 vol. i. p. 68; edition of 177-8, and the reason may be 
 assigned in the words of A'kxander the Aristotelian, apud 
 Cyril, contra jfulianum. lib. iv, p. 132. I^io yaj 'Tumr®^ ^ymha, 
 TO aiptXm. for it is the peculiar property oj every good bti-ng. 
 to confer benefits. 
 
 The recognitions of Clement, lib. iii. jeft*. 59, 60. furnish 
 some |ood observations on this topic in favour of the gos^ 
 pel miracle^. JUe, qui 4 malo est, &c. " He. that is from- the 
 '" evil one, shews signs of no profit to any man ; but the 
 '' aftions of a goo4 inessenger are servipeable to ^11. For 
 <' tell me, I pray, what is the use of making statues walk ; 
 " dogs, cf bl-ass' or marble, bark ; ffiountsins dance, and 
 «' fly through the air,, which- yesay Simon Magus did ? Bu;; 
 !' what proceeds from a good man has respeft to thp wel- 
 " fare pf mankind ; like the anions of our Lord ! whq 
 !' made^ the, blind to see, the deaf to hear; set on their 
 :' leg^ the weak and lame; drave away sicknesses an^ 
 ; i raised up the dead," 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. IO9 
 
 Remark, is of itself a noble testimony tO' tJiis irt- 
 gjredient in the composition of our Saviour's cha- 
 rafter. The destruftion of the herd of swine may 
 be justly Fegarded, perhaps, as a proper punish- 
 meni of their owners for keeping such animals in, 
 direft violation of the Mosaic institutes ; and as a 
 suitable interference' in the anointed servant of 
 the Jehovah of the Hebrews, whoi came not to de- 
 stroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfil*. — 
 
 And even infidelity herself might blush at her 
 poisy cavils upoi) the blasting, of a barren fig- 
 tree by the waytSide; neither an invasion of 
 private property, nor afty injQry to the contuYju- 
 nity at large. But the lesson, which this- emble- 
 madc aftion djclated wich peculiar efficacy and 
 jmpression to our Lord'« disciples, and now dic- 
 tates to ourselves, is of the first impotttince to 
 every man alive ;^^to the deist, as well as the Be- 
 liever in revelation. Jf the opportuHitjesj^ which 
 
 * Cyril (lib. vi.) has preserved a curious attestation of 
 the Emperor Julian to the Christian miracles,, which will 
 not be unacceptable to the English reader, 
 
 " But JesuSj having persuaded a few 'pf the vilest of 
 f your rabble, has had no fame beyond three hundred 
 "years: nor did he perform during his Jife any woric 
 M worth hearing, ijnless a man fancies the healing of 
 f MAiMBp AND BLIND MEN, an'd'the cxorcising of dxmoHS 
 *' in the villages Beehsaida snd SuHany to be mightv 
 
 ff FEBrORMANC^^.'' 
 
 PpcI 
 
no EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 God has given us for the purification of our af- 
 fections ■ and the improvement of our virtue, be 
 neglefted or misemployed ; — if we be found un- 
 fruitful in good works, and inattentive to the pro- 
 motion of human happiness in proportion to our 
 ability; we must expefl. to be wither cd^ like the 
 barren jig-tree,, before the fiery breath of his dis- 
 pleasure, when he cometh to judge the earth*. 
 
 REMARK XXI. 
 
 The manner of our Lord's defence, when ar- 
 raigned at the tribunal of the high-priest, imme- 
 diately before his crucifixion, is highly consonant 
 
 * Ml) yEvoiTo yap ita, iii i/A»» yEmToti xara t»j» atca^irtif lyMrw 
 vvKiii, ft,Yi wort £?iSb» Inj-a; y.at yvi xccrafcttrvirat Jia rut ay.aftrtat. 
 Cyril; Hieros, catech. i. 4. May that of the barren Jig-tree 
 not befall us ! lest jfesus, coming at any time, should curse nom 
 also on account ofunfruitfulness. 
 
 Christ whips OX! K fruitlessness in the innocent fig-tree ; 
 like as the manner zuas among the Persians, when their great men 
 had offended, to take their garments and heat them. John 
 Hales, ii. 51. 
 
 To the same purpose also Cratc in his essay on the life of 
 jfesus Christ, p. 48. 
 
 Omnis enim, quicunque Deo nil fertile putrit, 
 Ceu sterilis truncus, lignis sequabitur ustis, 
 
 SeduUus., 
 
 to 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. Ill 
 
 to the general excellence of his charafter; a noble 
 combination of wisdom and intrepidity, strongly 
 declarative of conscious innocence and of high 
 desert. 
 
 The high-priest askt Jesus concerning his disciples 
 and his dodirine. 
 
 Jesus answered: I spake freely to the world : I 
 hdve constantly taught in the synagogue and in the 
 temple, where the Jews resort from all quarters, and 
 in secret have I spoken nothing. Why dost thou ask 
 me? ask my hearers what I spake unto 'them, Bc' 
 hold! they know what I said*. 
 
 It cannot indeed be affirmed with justice that 
 such an apology is a proof of innocence and vir- 
 tue ) but we may reasonably maintain, that no in- 
 nocent and virtuous person could have adopted an 
 apology more conformable to such a charafter. 
 The evidence, therefore, in favour of our Lord, 
 is the rational evidence in the eye of philosophy, 
 resulting^ naturally from the circumstances of the 
 case. 
 
 The demeanour of Socrates in a similar situa- 
 tion, as delivered to us by his great admirer and 
 worthy disciple, Xenophonf, is most happily pa- 
 rallel to that of Jesus, 
 
 * John xviii. ig — 2a. 
 + Apol, Soc. i. 2, 3. And in Mem. iv. 8. 4. tlic same 
 account is delivered somewhat more at large 
 
 « Her- 
 
112 KVIDENGES of CHRIStlANITYr 
 
 " Herfhogeiiest, observing Socrates to diseoursi 
 " about every^ thing rather than his triaij said to 
 « him : But, Socrates^ was it not propei' for you 
 « to consider also what apology you shall make ? 
 « To which he answered first : Do nOt I appear 
 »' to you to make my apology by an attention to 
 *' the whole conduB of my life ? How ? said Her- 
 " 7mgen6». By pElsfiing through life, feplied he, 
 "without £l single aftion of injustice: which \ 
 « regard as the best consideration of an apology." 
 
 There is also a striking resemblance in another 
 circumstance, mentioned by J^enopkeh* concern- 
 ing Socrates, to the account just quoted from 
 the ivangelisf. 
 
 " I wonder at this accusation, which Melzttes 
 «' brings against me : for at least, when I sacrificed 
 " on the common festivals and the public altars, 
 " both the rest, that were present, used to see the, 
 " and Melitus himself, if he had chosen it." 
 
 It gives me pleasure to illustrate and honour, as 
 far as 1 am able, the" virtues of the great Athenian^ 
 whilst I endeavour to set forth in the proper' pbint 
 ■of viie^fr" the charafter of Christ. The, reason or 
 ■Coord of Gbd, that unchangeable and universal 
 energy of heaven, which spake by various poHions 
 and in various manners in the days of old to the JeW' 
 ishjatlwrs hy the prophetsi, and in the last days by his 
 
 ? Nfern. i, j— lo. 
 
,E,VID|;NC?S of CSRISTiANlTY. llj 
 
 beloved 4oa*, spake also, io it's prf)(pQrtiQn, to the 
 me^ of 4iii'<ns by the mouth of Sgert^e^; who 
 ni?.y be justly deemed a light, skinmg in a dark 
 fl(/>c6, ^tillthe dt^y should' dawn, and the mermng^cff 
 ariije im iJk 4e«??^i t ©f the GeniHei. 
 
 REKARK XXII. 
 
 Jews CsRisT is introduced, in several pas* 
 sag^Si ^f ;hjs .hJS^y> recommending his own ex^ 
 atnfik as a pcofier mojdel for the imitation of his 
 diseiplea- Such self-.eommendation may be, no 
 doubt, the ^mpteuxk of a -weak and ignobl<e mind; 
 and is in fa£t not unfreqiienAly found in more im- 
 mediate connection with incapacity and meanness: 
 but, accompanied by certain circvmitmces and 
 eaiphayed for certain ends, it is merely the genuine 
 ebullition of a soul overflowing with great and 
 generous sentiments. 
 
 *' AfhiiUi," says Eu&taihim'^, " in thus speak- 
 " ing of himself, and stiling himself the bqst of 
 « the Greeks, is influenced by a sense of honout 
 "and of high desert. Now it is plain, that self- 
 *« applause is not always censurable as it was in 
 
 * Heb. i. 1. + 2 Pet. i. ig. 
 
 J In II. p. 71. lib; A. upon what AckilUi replies to /f^*« 
 memmn, 
 
 e^thc 
 
114 EVIDENCES OF CHRlStt AN ITV* 
 
 *' the case of AstydamuSi celebrated in the pro- 
 •' verb*; but, on some occasions, a symptom pf a 
 " high sense of honour' and rriagnanimity; as ap- 
 *' pears from the case of Ajax in Sophocles., and 
 *' the PhiloHeks and Hercules of the same Poet, 
 " and ten thousand other instances." 
 
 A celebrated moralist of antiquity t has consi- 
 dered in a distin£l essay, in what circumstances 
 a man, without an imputation of impropriety, may 
 be allowed to commend himself. It will be worth 
 while to make an application of some of the phi- 
 losopher's remarks to the conduft of our Saviour. 
 
 A consciousness of superiour merit, attended 
 by an aftual manifestation of thife merit, is allow- 
 ed to be one privilege for Self-Commendation. 
 Arid surely the claim, which the moralist puts in 
 for Pindar, on account of the excellences of his 
 poetry, the christian may very pardonably advance 
 in behalf of the multifarious and transcendant 
 virtues of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Our moralist grants also, that a political cha- 
 rafter, with no insidious design of vanity and po- 
 pular applause, but with an honest intention of 
 inciting others to an emulation of his exploitSf 
 
 * The proverb here alluded to is this ; 
 
 Xomrrtt tvcuyet^, wgwej Aft/^;**} wore* 
 which see in Suidas with the incidents, that gave it birth, 
 i Plutarch, in his morals, 
 
 may 
 
EVIDENCES or CHRISTf AN ITY. I15 
 
 may be indulged in proclaiming his own praises. 
 Could this candid judge have disapproved, shall 
 we suppose, themodest exhortation of our Saviour; 
 or rather would he not pronounce it to be the 
 undoubted effusion of a conscious magnanimity ? 
 Learn of ue; says this unafFefted votary of true 
 •wisdom: learn of me; for I am meek and lowly 
 IN heart: and ye shall find rest urdo your souls*. 
 
 No suspicion surely of conceit and pride will 
 easily suggest itself to the reader, when humility zxid. 
 meekness are the highest merit, which is claimed : 
 a ipecies of merit, for which many would not feel 
 the smallest inclination to dispute; and which a 
 Greek or Roman hero, and a modern bravo, would 
 even think a degradation to the dignity of a man- 
 ly charafter. 
 
 Self-Commendation is allowed also to be even 
 necessary, when we are called upon to apologize 
 for our conduQ;, and to repel the attack of an ac- 
 cuser t. Such occasions were often presented to 
 
 * Matt. xi. 29. 
 + Plutarch in Themistocle : Hht Je xcu rat i[(Anm Si* to p$o- 
 
 auTU 'ir^a^iav cv ru S'^jjuf •naM.euctf /liviijuoyevo/.cEi/ui'. See also De- 
 mosthenes de corona : p. 132. ed. Lutet. and the following 
 admirable, but indireft, vindication of himself by Epami- 
 hondas, one of the very greatefl: characters of antiquity, is 
 related also by Cornelius Nepos, seft, 8. — The reply, which 
 Scipiogzvz to a tacit charge of peculation, is well known. 
 "ii was on this day^iAlAhCfthat I coisi<i,vzR&vt Hannibal" 
 
 our 
 
11-6 EViiiEiJCts OF cUklsTiANirVi 
 
 our Lord by the malice of his enemies,. WitH 
 good reason might he say : Which of you convinc- 
 eth me of sin*? Many good works have I shewed 
 you from my fafhef : for which of those works 
 do ye sionemef ? — " Such entoniiims of himself,'" 
 to adopt the words of my instruftive author, 
 " not only keep clear of arrogance and se'lf-su'ffi- 
 « ciency, but betoken an ele-Oated spirit and art' 
 " exalted virtue^ that will not suffer itself to be 
 « trampled on by the foot of envy/' And to this 
 observation Jie subjoins a little piece of history 
 very pertinent to our present subje£l; and whiehj 
 whilst it cannot fail both to entertain and instrilft 
 the reader, may serve to invalidate that plausible 
 objeftion of the Pharisees : Thou bearest record of 
 thyself: thy record is nottrue^. 
 
 « When the Thelans accused their General 
 " Pelopiias fot making an irruption into the tef- 
 " ritories of the Spartans, and for restoring the! 
 " ruined condition of Messene, after the expira- 
 " tion of his office; his abjeft submission and en- 
 's treaties with difficulty procured his acquittal* 
 " Epaminondas, on the other hand, who had been 
 « his coUeagwe in this expedition, pronounced 
 « before his Judges a magnificent panegyric of 
 « their mutiial exploits, and profest himself reaHy 
 «* to suffer death, if they would declare aloud the 
 " reasons of their condemnation; which would^ 
 * Johnviii*46. + John x. 32. % Johriviii. i3« 
 
 «' hav© 
 
BVIDENC£S OF CHRISTIANITY. I.17 
 
 « have been neither more nor less" than an enu- 
 *' meration of the great services performed for 
 *' their country. The whole audience was stricjien 
 *' with admiration of his magnanimity, and in- 
 " stantly acquitted him." I will subjoin to this 
 remark another quotation from Xenophoris ApXilogy 
 for Socrates, geft. 5. 
 
 " Can you think it strange, said Socrates, if even 
 ' God judges it better for me to die now ? Dost 
 ' thou not know, that to this very time I have 
 ' yielded to no man in virtue of deportment ? I 
 « am conscious of the most pleasing source of 
 ' satisfaction, in having passed through a life of 
 « holiness and justice: so that, whilst I felt a 
 ' strong approbation pf myself, I found my 
 ' friends also bear the same attestation to my 
 « virtues*." 
 I cannot conclvi^e this topic more properly 
 .than with some exquisite observations of De- 
 mosthenes, strongly corroborative of all that has 
 been alledged under the present article f. 
 
 * In my humble opinion, this ingenuous frankness is 
 infinitely more laudable than the whining piety of J^o^n 
 Wesley and such men; who, at the same time that they 
 think highly of themselves (and justly too) and wish ajl 
 mankind to think highly of them, speak of themselves, 
 with a stupid and false humility, as the vilest of all 
 sinners. 
 
 + Ilift cMTaJiWf, p. Jop, ad imum, T»ut» yi(*i»— xtA.— 
 
 t '« Now 
 
Il8 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 " Now these things it has been your fate to exe-' 
 « cute not from any natural inferiority to your an- 
 «' cestors, but because they conceived nobly of 
 «« themselves, and ye, . O Athenians ! have lo^ 
 " these sentiments. Now, in my opinion, it is 
 " not possible, that men, whose aftions are tri- 
 " vial and mean, should be ever aftuated by 
 *« great and spirited ideas; nor, on the other 
 *' hand, that the authors of illustrious 
 
 " AND HONOURABLE EXPLOITS SHOULD IM- 
 *' BIBE MEAN AND GROV'lING SENTIMENTS.: 
 
 " for correspondent to their pursuits, of neces- 
 " sity will the conceptions of all men be.'* 
 
 REMAftK XXIII., 
 
 An extraordinary penetration of intelleO;, and a 
 deep insight into the recesses of the human heart, 
 were never more decisively demonstrated than 
 by the following observations, both of the same 
 tendency. 
 
 Can the children of the bride-chamher mourn as 
 long as the bride^~room is with them ?. But the days 
 will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken Jrom 
 them ; and then shall they fast *. 
 
 J have'yet many things to say unto you, but ye can- 
 not bear them nowf. 
 
 * Matt. ix. 15. t John xvi. 12. 
 
 S ■ The 
 
EVIDENeES OF GHR tSTI ANITY, lig 
 
 'The, sUdderl transitions, here disapproved, are 
 heither authorised as prudent by the decisions of 
 (experience: j nor adapted in thfemselves to the pro- 
 duftion of beneficial and permanent effe^s. The 
 instantaneous transformation of Demea in the co- 
 medy from a parsimonious churl to a gay and libe- 
 ral and affable old-fellow, I could never esteem 
 1but as a most Unnatural representation of life and 
 manners *. A much truer pifture of humanity 
 is presented to us in the eharafter of Hazael 
 by the unafFeSed penman of the Jewish his- 
 tofyi Whilst the prophet -was enumerating to 
 the Syrian messenger some shocking instances 
 of his future cruelty, his heart revolted with 
 horrour from the very idea of such enormi- 
 ties ; and compelled him to exclaim : But what, is 
 thy servant a dog., that he should do this great thing f? 
 An access to the height' either of vice or virtue 
 must be gradually progressive, and was never yet 
 aeeompUshed by a single step J. The path of the 
 
 just, 
 
 * Agreeably to the juft precept of AHstotle: -pofet. cap* 
 icxviii. KaV ya| awftaA®' Tf? jj, o/«as o/*a^«j rt«Of4«Ao» Sh avou. 
 + 2 Kings viii. 13. 
 J E^i T»f Xbj»@i rat Afslat iscmt 
 
 Ava'aj/SeSoii sin 7relf«i;.— K^^. SiBionides* 
 Nevio repente fuit turpissimus. Juvenal; 
 No man e'er reachi the heights ofvici dl gnce, 
 
 I 12', Ses 
 
120 -EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Just, says Solomon, is as the shining light, that shineth 
 'more and more unto the perfeB day. 
 
 Pursuant to the intrinsic wisdom of these max- 
 ims, founded on the immoveable basis of experi- 
 ence and philosophy, our Lord connived at many 
 ■prejudices of his disciples, and treated their infir- 
 mities of mind, and prepossessions of education, 
 with invariable indulgence. He removed every 
 obstruftion to their improvement with a gentle 
 'and patient hand; by converting even the most 
 minute and incidental occurrences into so many 
 Useful lessons of morality ; and by introducing, 
 with assiduous attention and reiterated efforts, the 
 grand truths of his religion into their minds, by 
 the most artful indirect address, and every effort 
 of winning insinuation. He knew the dangerous 
 warfare, in which they were going to be engaged j 
 he knew, that nothing but lenient discipline, and 
 an easy transition from truth to truth, trial to trial, 
 in orderly succession, could enable them to with- 
 ^ Stand efFeftually the rough encounter of that evil 
 
 See to this purpose some excellent observations in Spen- 
 cer de Leg. Heb. 111.2. a book, which, as a rational use- 
 ful and learned publication, has seen, in my opinion, no 
 superior since the revival of learning in Europe. Lord 
 Barrington, in his Jourth essay of the second volume of hi» 
 Miscellanea Sacra, pays our learned divine a very handsome 
 and deserved compliment. 
 
 day 
 
EVIDENCES OE CHRISTIANITY. I2J, 
 
 day which was approaching. And this method, of 
 procedure, though abundantly recommended: by 
 it's own independent wisdom, received a full con,- 
 firmaiion of it's propriety in the event itself. These 
 simple Galileans^ so rude and timid and inexpe- 
 rienced at first, gave full proof of the excellence 
 of that preceptor, at wlxose feet they had been lec- 
 tured, and by whose example they had been trained 
 up, in a fortitude and perseverance unsubdued by 
 suflFerings, and undismayed by deatL 
 
 Such consummate prudence, such reach: of 
 foresight, we see,^ was contained in that reply o/ 
 our blessed Saviour to the question of Johns dis- 
 ciples : Why do we and the Phan'iiees fast ojt^ but thy 
 disciples fast not*? In corroboration of these spe- 
 culations, I shall stay to produce some authorities 
 on so important a topic, equally just and enter- 
 taining, 
 
 *' We can never do more injury to truth, than 
 " by discovering too much of it on some occa- 
 " sions. 'Tis the same with understandings as 
 «' with eyes: to such a certain size and make just 
 «« so much light is necessary, and no more. Wh^t- 
 *« ever is beyond, brings confusion t. 
 
 Fuller, in his usually quaint but sensible man- 
 ner, thus expresses himself on this point t. 
 
 • Matt. ix. 14. 
 * Shaftsbary's Charaft. i. Treatise ii, Seft. a, 
 + Church History, v. 3. 31. 
 
 13 " Some 
 
122 EVIDENCES op CHRlSTr^NITY. 
 
 « Some zealots of our age will condemn tho 
 <f Laodicean temper (alluding to Rev. iii. 16.) of 
 « the protestant bishops, because — they might have 
 " set forth a more pure and perfeft religion, 
 ^' Such men see ih.^ faults of reformers, but not 
 *« the dijtculties of reformation. — The generality 
 «' of the people, being misled in ignorance and 
 *« superstition, could not on a sudden ejidure the 
 *« extremity of an absolute refbrmation. Should 
 *' our eyes be instantly posted out of midnight 
 *' into noon-day, certainly we should be blinded 
 «« with the suddenness and excellency of the 
 *« lustre thereof. Nature, therefore, bath wisely 
 <' provided the twilight as a bridge, by degrees to 
 *' pass us from darkness to light, Yea, our Sa- 
 ^' viour himself did at the first connive at the 
 *' carnality pf his apostles, and would not put new 
 " wine into old bottles, for fear of breaking. Yfca, 
 *' he had some commandments, which as yet they 
 *' were not able to bear. — Thus the best of artists 
 *' do not always work to the height of their own 
 *« skill, but according to the capacity of the sub-» 
 *' jeft, whereon they employ theinselyes*," 
 
 °? The reader, ■vvhq is so disposed, may see some furthap 
 Remarks to the same purport in p. 27. of rrtf) address to tlfc 
 (lergy., prefixed to my enquiry, into, the opinions, of the early 
 Christian writers concerning the person of Christ : and at p. 11, 
 gf my treatise ori public worship, 3d edlition, 
 
 REMARK 
 
IVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY,' I23 
 
 REMARK XXIV. 
 
 The answer, returned by our Lord to the 
 messengers of John, is not observable merely for 
 the extreme delicacy of the reproof, which it con- 
 veys, but indicates a dignity of charafter corre- 
 spondent to our previous conceptions of a divine 
 teacher of religion *. 
 
 John the Baptist, like our Lord's own disciples, 
 and the rest of the Jews without exception, ap- 
 pears to have entertained a most mistaken notion 
 concerning the nature of the Messiah's kingdom ; 
 presuming that he intended to ereft a temporal 
 monarchy at Jerusalem, to deliver the country of 
 Judea from the Roman yoke, and extend his vic- 
 torious empire to the extremities of the earth. 
 This messenger of the expefled prophet had been 
 
 * I follow in this remark my own interpretation of 
 John's message to Jesus, proposed some years ago in my 
 Commentary on St, Matthew, which I believe in many re- 
 spefts to be entirely new, and which certainly sets this 
 whole transaftion, the fruitful parent of much criticism 
 and debate, in a very plain, advantageous, and becoming 
 light. A late author, however, has published a volume upon 
 this subjeft, and delivers the same interpretation as his own, 
 I think myself much indebted to the candour of the Ana- 
 lytical Reviewers for their intention of doing me justice on 
 thit occasion. Matt. xi. 2—7. 
 
 I 4 now 
 
124 EVI'DENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.' 
 
 now confined in prison for some time by the com- 
 mand of Herod, where the reputation of our Sa- 
 viour's mighty works had reached him, and ex- 
 cited no little astonishment, that such a personage, 
 exhibiting such undeniable testimonials of a hea- 
 venly commission, should suffer his forerunner to 
 languish* and die in captivi^ without redress. Full 
 of these erroneous ideas, he sends two of his dis- 
 ciples to Jesus, with a message declaratory of his 
 entire persuasion, that he was/ the Christ promised 
 by the prophecies to their fathers ; and that ev^ty 
 expeftatibn on this head was accomplishfed in his. 
 person. Thou art he tvho xvas to come: Can vie 
 expeSi emother* ? 
 
 Our Lord dived immediately into the whole 
 tendency of this messagfe, and gave a reply, than 
 which, I think, nothing more beautiful and striking 
 can easily be conceived. 
 
 ' He began with healing in the presence of John's 
 messengers a variety of diseased people, who had 
 been brought to him for that purpose ; and to many 
 that were Hind he gave sight t. A sufficient proof 
 this! of the benevolent and salutary nature of 
 his commission ; — that he was not come, like the 
 military murderers of ancient and modern times, 
 to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Go, says 
 
 * Matt, xi. 3. * Luke vii. 21. 
 
 this 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. rtg 
 
 this champion of love and truth; go, and sfieto' 
 John again those things^ which ye hear and see* The' 
 blind receive their sight, and the lame walk } the 
 kpers are cleansed, and the deaf hear ; the dead- art 
 raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached t<y 
 them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not he of- 
 fended in me. 
 
 The latter parts of this answer are worthy of 
 particular attention: The poor have the gospel 
 preached to them. " The lower orders of man- 
 " kind, who are treated with such indigj^ity and 
 *' contempt, as the refuse of the earth— ^/Ae pro- 
 *' fane vulgar *-^the cursed people t — are thie more 
 
 « immediate 
 
 * Hor. Od. iii. 1. 1. 
 f See John vii. 49. 
 
 Denominated with no less emphasis of late by the right 
 honourable Edmund Burke, the swinish multitude, in lan« 
 guage as opposite to that of our Saviour, as the tempers of 
 the Nazarene and Briton, as gentleness to rage, 33 sobriety to 
 Janaticism, as tenderness to insult, as tondescension to contempt, 
 as benevolence to malignity. 
 
 There is extant a divine passage on this subjeft in a eo» 
 pious extraft from a work of Diotogenes, the Pythagorean, 
 preserved by Stobceus, which I will present to my reader. 
 
 " But we ought to carry ourselves without an ovefbcar- 
 " ing insolence to all men, but especially to our infE'- 
 •' RIORS in happiness and station. For they, like the sick, 
 " can endure nothing grievous. And, in observing -this 
 " conduft, we shall imitate th^ispositions of the gods, and 
 
 «' especially 
 
125 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAWITY. 
 
 *« immediate objeSs of wj> regard and favour. I 
 *« am not come to debase mankind — to trample 
 « On the rights and happiness of the human race — 
 « to encrease their miseries and strengtheii their 
 « oppressors — but to relieve and comfort, to illu- 
 *' minate and purify, to vindicate and exalt, these 
 *' degraded children of a common father — these 
 «' lowly sons of poverty, distress, and ignomi- 
 « ny; whom I am not ashamed to call my hre-^ 
 *' thren *. " 
 
 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not he offended in 
 me. " Happy is the man, who shall be convinced' 
 " of his erroneous preconceptions of the Messiah's 
 " charafter, nor feel himself scandalized at the 
 
 " especially of the supreme ruler, Jupiter : for he, though 
 " so venerable for pre-eminent rank and superlative vir- 
 *' tue, yet is kind, and beneficent, and a giver of good 
 " things ; so as to be truly, as he is stiled by the' Ionian 
 •' poet, r 
 
 " The genuine father both of men and gods," 
 Sedulius says very beautifully, pa^ch. hym. ii. 
 
 - — >— viros ex piscatoribus aptos 
 Discipulos jubet esse suos; t<tlesque supemas 
 Conciliat vitas, quos non ventosa loquendi 
 Gloria, nee vanl de nobilitate superbug 
 Sanguis alat) sed fama tacens humilique refulgens 
 Mente nitor coelo faciat de pleee propinquos. 
 f Heb. ii. i2» ^ 
 
 « , lowliness 
 
EVlDElfCES OF CHRISTIANITY. tif 
 
 ** lowliness of my office, and the insignificance of 
 *f my outward station." 
 
 This idea of the whole transaftion furnishes also 
 a most obvious, andj in my judgement, most sa- 
 tisfaftory interpretation too of that extraordinary 
 assertion of our Lord to his disciples^ after JehrCi 
 messengers had left him. 
 
 Verily I $ay unto you, among them that are born of 
 women, there hath not risen a greater than John the 
 Baptist : notwithstanding he, that is least in the kingr- 
 dom of heaven^ i$ greater than he. " '■ 
 
 As if he had said : " Great as my fbrerunner 
 " John may be, and how eminent soever his rank 
 *f among the Jewish teachers ; I assure you, that 
 »' the least disciple of my heavenly kingdom, which 
 *« he fancies intended to resemble the kingdoms of 
 *' this world — the very meanest among you all, who 
 «? entertains just sentiments of my designation and 
 *« the genius of that gospel, which I am preach- 
 f ' ing, is greater than he* ," 
 
 * I have since found the same interpretation in Light-- 
 foot's Hot* Ilebraicce on this passage ; and, as 1 read this au- 
 thor at an early period of my theological pursuits, and had 
 been out of the way of consulting him for many years, so 
 »s to lose all recolleftion of any specific criticisms proposed 
 by him; it is by no means improbable, that I originally 
 watered my understanding from that spring, and after- 
 wards, out of mere forgetfulness of the fountain-hdad, dif- 
 tribute4 this rivulet ^mong the piiblic as my own. 
 
 T wish 
 
128 EVIDENCES or CHRISTIANITY-. 
 
 I wish the reader to obs'erve,r that our cbrii 
 elusions are not formed upon the strength of 
 owe or two deduftions; but, we think that so 
 fnany repeated proofs of siiperiour wisdom and 
 dignity of mind, in all varieties of circumstance, 
 in one charafter, compbse a force of argument, 
 which no stubbornness of incredulity can rea- 
 sonably resist; and whi<:h might extort from in- 
 fidelity as well as heathenism^ the exclamationr of 
 the Roman soldier: truly this man was a 
 
 SON OF GOD. 
 
 REMARK XXV. 
 
 An incidental attestation in favour of our Lord, 
 in St. Matthew's Gospel*, is too pertinent to be 
 passed by unnoticed. 
 
 And, when Jesus . had finished these words, the 
 multitudes were aUonished at his doSrines, for he 
 taught them as one hating authority: and not as the 
 Scribes t. 
 
 What was the mode of teaching adopted by the 
 Scribes, yie may coUefl; from various passages in 
 the New Testament. 
 
 * C. vii. V, 28, 29. So Mark i. 22. Luke iv. 32, to the 
 same effeft. 
 
 + Under this term the Lawyers, Pharisees, and Saddiicees 
 also, who composed the tribe of Jewish doftors and in- 
 stru£l:Qrs, I suppose to be included. 
 
 One 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. iSiQ 
 
 One affeftion, by which. they were aftuated ip 
 
 their ' addresses to the people, was fear. They 
 
 •declined, for instance, to give one answer to our 
 
 Saviour's question, because they feared themuUi- 
 
 'tude*. 
 
 Another motive, which influenced the doftrines 
 of these people, was worldly interest. This 
 appears from the charge of rapacity and extortion 
 brought against them by our Lord t; a charge, 
 which the state of manners among the jfews, as 
 delivered down , by other authors and their own 
 'countryman jfosephus, will not allow us to consi* 
 der as malicious and unfounded. 
 
 To these motives we may add, an inordinate 
 CONCEIT of their own attainments, and an exces- 
 sive vain-glory, and desire of popularity, which 
 led them even to counterfeit miraculous perform- 
 ances without the ability of atchieving one : — all 
 which particulars are ascertained by the evangelical 
 historians +, and other authorities beyond exception. 
 
 It is easy to suppose what impediments these 
 unworthy motives must have thrown in the way of 
 such preceptors in their addresses to the people; 
 and that the corruption of their manners, exem- 
 
 * Matt. xxi. i26. Luke .xx. 6, 
 f Matt, xxiii. I4r-r25.. 
 J. Matt, xxiii. 5 — 8. John vii. 49. Matt. xii. 27. 
 
 plified, 
 
igO EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 plified, ho doubt, in a variety of other follies and 
 enormities, must have incapacitated them for 
 much moral service as teachers of religion. No 
 heart so depraved, but admires in others that vir-' 
 tue, which itself has lost: no understanding so 
 slender) but is able to advance the forcible 
 apostrophe of the men oi Nazareth: Physidaui 
 heal thyself *4 
 
 Without much difficiilty, thet-efore, may we 
 draw our inferences from these topics in favour 
 of our Lord. If the authority, with, which he: 
 delivered his doftrines, made such an impression 
 on the minds of his hearersj it must have arisen 
 from those causes, which alone are capable of se- 
 curing such authority to the teachers of wisdom 
 and morality; namely, truth and innocence — 
 veracity oi pretension, and integrity of life. 
 
 Had an ignominious /ear of popular insult and 
 indignation ;^-had any mercenary views of tempo- 
 ral interest or advancement ;-i--had a servile adula- 
 tion, or an arrogant pretension to powers not pos- 
 sessed,— predominated in the mind of Jesus, or 
 swayed his conduft; — had his deportment in pri- 
 vate life been degraded by vices of any kind, of 
 his genef^al demeanour destitute of respeft; — it- 
 Would have been impossible, that our Lord should 
 have so suspended the attention^ commanded the 
 
 * Luke iv. 23. 
 
 reveren^ej 
 
EVIDENCES Of CHRISTIAN ITV. igl 
 
 reverence, and excited the admiration of such 
 large bodies of the people at various times and 
 on various occasions. Nor was the current of 
 popular approbation ever turned against him, but 
 by the insidious misrepresentations and clandestine 
 management of depraved priests and interested 
 rulers, or by their own abaUrd mistaken eJcpefta"- 
 tions concerning the nature of his charader, wheii 
 the vexation of disappointment converted the ve- 
 neration of their capricious minds into sentiments 
 of revenge and cruelty. 
 
 REMARK XXVI. 
 
 But, perhaps, a more unequivocal proof of 
 pure intention and undisguised simplicity of heart 
 in the gospel historians^ and consequently of the 
 veracity of their histories, is in no one circum- 
 stance more conspicuously displayed, than in the 
 accounts which three of them have given of our 
 Lord's agony at Gethsemane. It is not conceiva- 
 ble, that men of sinister purpose would represent 
 their hero in such a state of extreme dejeftion, 
 solicitude, and horror, at the prospefl; of approach- 
 ing death J especially at an sera, when a contempt 
 of life and a readiness to sacrifice it even by sui- 
 cide, particularly to escape the ignominy of a pub- 
 lic 
 
Jg* EVIDENCES OF 'CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 lie exhibition as a criminal, however honourable 
 it might be thought, was esteemed less honour- 
 able, than cowardice on such occasions was stig- 
 matised as base and servile in the extreme. A re- 
 lation, therefore, so little conformable, to popular 
 opinion, and so little likely to attraft applause, 
 must loudly proclaim it's own authenticity to 
 every dispassionate examiner; and the circum- 
 stances themselves, upon a closer consideration, 
 will be found perfeftly suitable to that humanity 
 of constitution, that participation of all the native 
 affeftions and propensities of man, which is spoken 
 of as essential ingredients in consummating the 
 charafter of the Saviour of mankind. 
 
 But the question is; " What could be the cause 
 •' of our Lord's extreme distress ? And what was 
 «' the cup, which he besought his Father to re- 
 *« move from him ?" — This proposition appears to 
 me a point of much importance, and of no little 
 diihculty : and has exercised my thoughts very 
 often for ,a many years; nor have I been ablcj 
 'till of late, to give myself entire satisfaftion on 
 the subjeft. I once thought it to be death itself, 
 ,that^e5W5 was desirous of escaping. "ZmX. death 
 . in the cause of truth he seems to have expcfted 
 from the first thtoughout, as an essential article 
 of his mission : and the writer to the Hebrews*, 
 
 * C.v.'V. 7. 
 1 \fho 
 
EVlfiEKCEs- Of CHRlSTlAiriTY. I33 
 
 who expressly tells us, that his ptiytr was heard, 
 is irreconcilable to that hypothesis. I am now 
 convinced, that not death itself, but the tor- 
 menting death' of the cross, was the citCuki- 
 stahte, which appeared so formidable to his ima- 
 gination, arid overwhelmed him with extremity of 
 angttish. — -Let us turn a more accurate attentioh 
 to this affefting subjeQ;; which^ iri my opinioHt 
 throws a flood of lustre on the chsrafter of JfesuSf 
 and places the veracity of the evangelists in such 
 a luminous point of view, as Will establish with 
 abundant conviQion the votaries of our religion 
 and perplex her adversaries. 
 
 There occurs a most beautiful passage iri l§t. 
 Mark, strOngly distinguished by features appairently 
 taken off from ocular observation ; arid which, I 
 think, no power of artifice could possibly have 
 reached. 
 
 And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem: 
 and Jesus continued going before them, and 
 they were amazed, and followed him with fiar.. Arid 
 he took aside the twelve again, and began to tell them 
 what was going to befall.himi " Behold! we are 
 « going up to Jerusalem : and the son of man will 
 «« be delivered up to the chief-priests and sctibe^,, 
 *'■ and they will condemn him to death, and deliver 
 *' him up to the Gentiles, who will' mock him, 
 
 K " and 
 
134 EVIDENCES or CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 " and scourge him^ and spit upon him, a,nd kill 
 "him*." I 
 
 What a pifture have we here of a mind haunted 
 with a perpetual horror of approaching pain; and 
 yet, with an impatience, arising from occasional 
 fits of resolution so natural in such cases, eager 
 to proceed, and anxious for a speedy termination 
 of it's suflFerings ! There cannot be produced, in 
 my opinion, from any author, a more pathetic 
 incident, or more exaftly consonant to the docu- 
 ments of experience and the didates of philosophy. 
 " Some, says Pliny t, were lamenting their own 
 « infelicity; others, that of their friends; Some 
 "were imploring death from the MM-KZ 
 " terror of it." So true is that assertion of our 
 incomparable child of nature : 
 
 present fears 
 
 Are less than horrible imaginin'gs. 
 
 And Ccesar has observed, that « we shall more 
 «' easily find thosC} who are ready to suffer deaths 
 
 * C. X. V. 32—35- 
 
 + Epist»vi. 20., 14. Hi suum casum, tHi su'orum misc- 
 rebantur : erant qui metu moktis, mortem pREeA-REtf- 
 Tu R. See also Dion Cassias, frag^ cxxxvi. 4. p. 57. vol. u 
 •dit> Rtimceri, 
 
 « thaa 
 
fcVIDENGES or CHRISTIANITY. .135 
 
 " than thosd, who can endure uneasiness and 
 ^' fain*:' 
 
 We may discover also another proof of the per* - 
 petual presentation of the approaching catastrophe 
 to his thoughts, and of the magnitude, to which 
 his affrighted imagination had enlarged the terrific 
 spedre. 
 
 Ye know not what ye are asking; he replies to 
 the sons of Zebedee. Can y e drink the ciip, which 
 I am about to drink ; and be baptised with the bap-- 
 tisTTii that I am going to be baptised with t ? 
 
 And again : / have a baptism to be baptized with : 
 ^md HOW AM I STVi.An:Etfs.D,until it be accom- 
 
 plishedX ? 
 
 By the cup^ therefore, I understand that par-^ 
 ticular excruciating deaths the death of the cross^i 
 and the assistance, which he received, represented 
 in St. Luke by the appearance of an angel from, 
 heaven strengthening him,—l judge to be a re- 
 collection of his spirits, an infusion of fortitude, 
 which determined him to a resolute submission to 
 
 * De Bell. Gall. vii. 77. Qui se ultr6 morti obferant, 
 facilius reperiuntur, quam qui dolorem pdtienter ferunt. 
 
 + Matt. XX. 82. 
 
 j: Luke xii. 501 
 
 § Mentioned with such 6niph<tsis Heb. xii. 2i Phil. ii. 
 8. atid elsewhere, as peculiarly formidable^ 
 
 X 2 hia 
 
136 EVIDENCES 09 CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 his fate; a determination: not a little forwarded by 
 the nearness of the event. When his fears had 
 been exhausted in the previous agonizing conflidt 
 between duty and apprehension, between the in- 
 firmities of the Jlesh and the willingness of the 
 spirit to accomplish the will of God; — when his- 
 bodily vigour was impaired by the struggle, and 
 now relaxed to acquiescence through a" copious 
 sweat, which flowed from his face, as Meod issues 
 from a wound*; — he appears again to his dis- 
 ciples with a calm settled magnanimity. He seems 
 even eager for the accomplishment of his ministry, 
 and hastens to a close of this scene of suffering. 
 Arise, \says he to his languishing companions; 
 arise; let us be going. 
 
 The whole relation is to me inimitably majestic 
 and affeSing: the reader, however, must not judge 
 from my inadequate delineation of it, but have 
 recourse to the narratives themselves, which deli- 
 ver the transaction with a simplicity and pathos, 
 that cannot be exceeded. 
 
 But I forbear to enlarge on this subjeft of our 
 Lord's agony, because it has been discussed with 
 much good sense and perspicuity by my venerable 
 friend the Rev. Timothy Wylde, Vdte- master of the 
 
 * See some observations on this account of Luke xxii. 
 
 44, in my Silva Critica, part ift. 
 
 free-school 
 
free-school in Nottingham, in a sermon preached 
 almost sixty-tliree years ago at that place, upon 
 Matt, xxfvi. 39*. from which I shall quote the 
 three reasons asssigned for this extraordinary 
 emotion of our Saviour. 
 
 1. The first ground oi Christ's fear and agony 
 I shall mention, is his knoiteing befordiand the par- 
 ticular circumstances of his torment and death. 
 
 2. Another reason of our Saviour's fear and 
 disorder was, the remarkable severity of his suf- 
 ferings, and the many circumstances of cruelty, 
 with which his death was attended. 
 
 3. The only other reason I assign for our Sa- 
 viour's fear of death (and what I principally rely 
 on) is his. sense of the important consequenctSj 
 which depended on his dying well. 
 
 Thus far this intelligent preacher, who reasons 
 on each of these proportions in a rational, con- 
 vincing, and instruQive manner. 
 
 REMARK XXVII. 
 
 There is yet one circumstance more in the 
 history of our Saviour, to me more beautiful and 
 
 • The author'is still alive,' and has the full enjoyment 
 of his intelleft in extreme old age. The sermon well de-- 
 serves republication. 
 
 K. 3 affefting 
 
igS EVJDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 affeSing than I am able to express ; upon which 
 indeed, such is my opinion of it's inimitable ex- 
 cellence ! I would even venture to rest the whole 
 ^Yeight of the Christian fabric, if I might appeal 
 for judgement, not to the philosophical theorist, 
 the cold reasoner, the dull pedant, or the con- 
 ceited scoffer; but to the ingenuous inquirer after 
 truth-^to the breast of refined sentiment — to the 
 heart that answers at the call of nature — to purity 
 of taste, and delicacy of feeling, 
 
 When Qur Lord, at his last solemn conference 
 with the apostles, previous to his apprehension 
 and crucifiAion, expressly declared before them 
 all, that they would forsake him that very night, 
 and be scattered abripadlike sheep, which had lost 
 their shepherd; Peter, in the warmth of attach-' 
 ment. Was offended with such an impeachment 
 of his fidelity and resolution. Though they all 
 forsake thee, he replies with the eagerness of a 
 Wuunded spirit; yet will I never forsake thee. 
 
 The subsequent history ha^ told ,\is the>x;en^ of 
 these boastful and positive pretensions. It cor- 
 responded exactly to the prediction. ThU faithful 
 cJherent, this intrepid fhampion, this affe^ionate; 
 disciple of his master, not only forsook him in. 
 the hour of distress and danger, but disavowed 
 Ihj'ee several times,, with the most solemn pro- 
 
 ie5ta,t|on?j 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 139 
 
 I 
 
 testations, all conneftion with J''«i4i of Nazareth: 
 
 I KNOW NOT THE MAN. 
 
 After our Saviour's resurreftion from the grave, 
 he appeared, we are told, to his disciples at the 
 §ea of Tiberias*t as they were .fishing. They 
 seem, from the circumstances of the narra- 
 tive, to have been sensible that it was their 
 master, whom they sawj but their astonishment 
 at so extraordinary an interview appears to have 
 overpowered their inquisitiveness ; and none qf 
 them ventured to say, Who art thou? — (For the 
 reader must be careful to remember, that, not- 
 withstanding the repeated and express prediftions 
 of Jesus to this purpose^ his disciples had settled 
 as yet in their own minds no decided conviftion 
 of his resurreftion from the grave.) — He dined 
 with them upon some fish, which they had just 
 taken; and after dinner, as they were placed 
 round him, absorbed in admiration and respe£lfu) 
 silence, afraid to question, from a consciousness, 
 it is probable, of their , blameable inattention to 
 the reiterated prediftion of his own death; — this 
 benevolent and forgiving master suddenly turns 
 to Peter, and with accents of ineffable compla*' 
 cency and an unexampled delicacy of reproofj-r" 
 Simon! son of Jonas, says he, lovest thou me 
 
 • John xxi. 
 
 K. 4 mor-t 
 
140- EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 wore iAd!« THESE? pointing at the same time to 
 the rest of the disciples^ -who were sitting by. 
 " Thou didst indeed profess a determination to 
 " continue with me, whatever might become of 
 " them. What dost thou say now ? Are then thy 
 *' fidelity and thy love superiour to their' s ? 
 
 Now, can the imaginatioiji of man conceive any 
 "thing more delightful and affeQing than this in- 
 cident ? What nobler demonstration can be de- 
 sired or imagined, than this gentle expostulation, 
 of a sweet, compassioiiate, and forgiving temper; 
 ■^of a magnanimity superiour to all animosity and 
 resentment; — of a sympathetic consciousness of 
 the extreme difficulty of obedience in human na- 
 ture with the prqspeQ; of death jaefore it? Could 
 the Saviour of mankind be represented, by any 
 contrivance of ingenuity, in a mOre amiable point 
 of view? Certainly, it -were impossible.^- 
 
 We may figure to ourselves the confusion of 
 the whole company on this occasion, and the 
 peculiar pertvirbation and shame of Peter. His 
 usual vivacity summoned, however, presence of 
 mind sufficient fora reply: Yea, Lord! thpu knpvieit 
 that I love thee. 
 
 Now? at this period of the transaftion, let any 
 One determinfi for himself, upon the maxims of 
 experience and the ordinary operation of human 
 feelings, whether, if he were ^placed in the same 
 
 circum- 
 
EVIDENCES or CHRISTIANITY. 14! 
 
 circumstances with our Lord, his answer to Peter's 
 declaration of love would not have been attended 
 with some^elfish symptoms, some expression of re- 
 seniment, some severity of reproof. 5ut the heart 
 of jfesus was thoroughly refined from the dross of 
 all sordid and ignoble passion. He saith unto kirn: 
 *' Feed my lambs. I require no sacrifice to ap- 
 *' pease my vanity, no public acknowledgment of 
 *' thy fault, no abjeSl submission^ at thy hands. 
 *' I shall be satisfied with thy future services in 
 »« return for \}i\y former infidelity. Shew thy love, 
 «' if not in adhering to thy rash pretension, in 
 *' being at least a faithful pastor of my fiock. If 
 *' thou couldst forsake their shepherd, in the hour 
 *' of danger, forsake not them." 
 
 It seems probable, that neither Peter himself, 
 nor the other disciples then present, apprehended 
 the full force of their master's expostulation. He 
 therefore thrice repeats his affeGting question; 
 Simon! son of Jonasy lovest thou me more than 
 these? alluding, with most exquisite address and 
 pathos, to Peter's threefold denial- of him *. This 
 repetition produced the effeft, which it were na- 
 
 * This propriety did not escape Sedulius, pasch, hymn> 
 iv. fin. 
 
 Hoc terno sermone monens, ,ut Urna negantis 
 Culpa recens farili numero purgata maneret. 
 
 tural 
 
142 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 tural to have expefted from it. Peter at least ap- 
 pears to have felt the full force' of this delicate 
 appeal. He was grieved at the third, proposal of 
 the question ; and felt desirous of putting an end 
 to so embarrassing a conversation. Lord ! he re- 
 plies, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I 
 love thee*. 
 
 As a suitable appendage to the whole series of 
 the preceding remarks, the following passage from 
 £usebiusf appears to me worthy of presentation 
 through the medium of this little work to the Eng-- 
 lish reader. 
 
 " Thpse unbelievers, therefore, who stile Jesus' 
 '^ a deluder and imposjtor, and a thousand other 
 *? reproachful names, may be reasonably asked, 
 *' Whether their researches have informed thena 
 «« of any other deceiver, who has led his deluded 
 *« hearers to gentleness, moderation, sobriety, and 
 ** every other virtue, by his doftrine : — whether 
 *' they are authorized in stigmatizing with such 
 « atrocious epithets one, who did not allow even a 
 
 * That incident also, recorded in M^tt, xxvi. 23. is 
 wonderfully touching ; and all the circumstances qf that 
 night breathe a spirit of melapcholy grandeur, to which I 
 ]cnow no parallel in the literary monuments of manHipd, 
 
 i I)emonst. Evang. iii. j. 
 
 <«look 
 
BVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. i^^ 
 
 * look of lascivious design oh women : — whether 
 «* he could be an impostor, who delivered the 
 « perfection of philosophy, by instructing his dis- 
 « ciples to communicate their substance with the 
 ** needy ; by inculcating a submission to hard- 
 *^ ship, and ^l social feeling of beneficence as of 
 '* prime importance : — whether he could be an 
 « impostor, who endeavoured to withdraw man> 
 « kind from the low and promiscuous and riotous 
 «' intercourse of a rabble to an application of their 
 *s leisure in studying the oracles of God : — he who 
 *f departed from all falsehood; and recommended 
 *' truth as of superiour excellence to all other 
 «^ things ; who discouraged even swearing in a 
 *i just cause, and much more perjury; — ^how can 
 « he be justly, called a deceiver"? But why need 
 *^ I enlarge in this place, when the tenour of his 
 *? doftrines may be learned from what I have be- 
 *« fore advanced ? which will incline every lover 
 « of truth to regard him, not as a deceiver, but 
 « a truly godlike man; not as a teacher of a frite 
 «« and vulgar philosophy, but of a divine and 
 «« holy system; endeavouring to revive* the pri- 
 «« mitive manners, v?hich had disappeared among 
 •« mankind, of those Hebrews of old time, the fa- 
 •♦ vourites Qf God. Such in short is the spirit of 
 
 * This idea has an ?igreeable correspondence with that, 
 >vljich I §ug^f sted aboye, p. ^8, 
 
144 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 « his morality. Let us now consider whether 
 *« the leading points of his doflrine, relative to 
 « cpiniom, entitle him t<i the appellation of a 
 « deceiver. _ 
 
 " Js he not then described as devoting himself 
 « to the only sovereign God of heaven and earth, 
 « the creator of the universe ; and attaching all 
 « his followers to the same great being ? And do 
 K not the words of his doftrine to this day carry 
 *« up the understandings both of Greeks and Bar' 
 « larians to the supreme God, to the disregard 
 « of all visible existejaces ? Did he not prove his 
 « sincerity t>y disallowing tlie worship of a mul- 
 « tiplicity of Gods to the Gentiki beguiled and 
 « fallen in reality from the only true theology ? — 
 « Whv should he not be called rather an admira- 
 » ble teacher of piety than a seducer, who distri- 
 « buted, through the recommendation of a divine 
 « power, among all mankind, the truths known 
 '« only to the Hebrews; so that just conceptions 
 « ©f God are no longer confined to a few, but 
 '• to multitudes of Barbarians before uncivilized, 
 « as well as Greeks ? — Or, will they call him a 
 « deceiver, because he did not direfl; his disci- 
 « pies to know God 'with the sacrifices of ani- 
 *' mals, with blood poured on , altars, or vege- 
 " table incense ? looking upon these things ^s 
 
 " low 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. t^j, 
 
 *' low and earthly, and in no wise suited ta an 
 •'immortal nature; but regarding^ as more ac- 
 " ceptable to God than any sacrifice, an upright 
 " observance of his commandments; by which 
 " he taught his dkcipks, through the purification 
 «' of body and spirit, and the ornament of an un- 
 *' sullied mind and pious opinions, a resemblance 
 " of the Divinity; ex'pressly sajin^^ Be ye perfeB, 
 *' as ymr Father is perJeB" 
 
 To- sum up. the result of th^e foregoing Reifiarhs 
 in few words. In the preceding detail of argu- 
 ments, r have touched on some > striking circum- 
 stances of our Saviotir's charafter, which appeared 
 to me peculiarly worthy of admiration : b^t the 
 short volumes of his history will furnish . many 
 more proofs of wisdom and virtue, to those, dis- 
 posed to search after them ; which, if my fond- 
 ness for the subjefcl does not mislead my judge- 
 ment, the colleftive annals of our species would 
 endeavour to parallel in vaim Every individual . 
 must be left to his own determination in this 
 case, and undoubtedly will feel impressions pe- 
 culiar to himself; impressionsy unavoidably di- 
 versified by a thousand particularities, that elude 
 conjecture, and set calculation at defiance ; par- 
 ticularities of natural constitutionj education, 
 
 and 
 
146 XVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 and modes of life : but let him be careful to de* 
 cide without passion, -without prejudice, without 
 conceit ; and to report th6 true verdift of hi» 
 conscience. For my part, . expatiated as I have 
 through almost the whole compass of ancient li-^ 
 terature, I declare in the most serious manner 
 and the most unreserved language, that I per- 
 ceive in the gospels more unequivocal marks of 
 authenticity, than in any similar work whatsoever, 
 moral ox historical^ whether of ancient or modern 
 times:— I protest, that the very idea of their 
 spuriousness, as a forgery of some impostor, con- 
 stitutes to my mind a problem of far more dif- 
 ficult solution than the proposition, which it is 
 intended to oveTthrow,: — I believe accordingly, 
 that ihe Evangelists must have given us, from 
 OCULAR ATTESTATION, faithful narratives of 
 the life and aQions of Jesus Christ of Wa- 
 iareth, the Messiah of the. Jews, the Saviour 
 of mankind, and the belpved Son of God. 
 
 REMARK XXVIII. 
 
 Upon a mature discussion of the superior' ad- 
 Vantages accruing from it, the low condition' oi 
 life, in which J^cws oi Nazareth was placed, will 
 be found one circumstance of the Christian dis- 
 pensation, eminently declarative of the wisdom of 
 
 > iti 
 
SVIDENGES OK CHRISTIANITY. l^y 
 
 it's author. The great and noble are compara^ , 
 tively few in any nation to the general mass of the 
 community. As, therefore, it seems unanimously 
 agreed by theologians, and, in my opinion, upon 
 principles of good sense not to be controverted, 
 that the example of the anointed prophet was a 
 point of principal importance ; an inferiour con- 
 dition comes recommended strongly, in the first 
 instance, by it's adaptation to the circumstances of 
 the majority of our species. 
 
 The topic, suggested also in the epistle to the 
 Hebrews*, is applicable to the present proposition, 
 and is of no secondary consequence. Elevated 
 ranks in society t, so far removed from the wants 
 and distresses, to which the generality of men arc 
 perpetually exposed by the vicissitudes of for- 
 
 • C. ii. V. 17, 18. ' 
 
 + This argument is illustrated with the customary good 
 sense of that excellent writer Archbishop Seeker, in the ■jth 
 Sermon oi vol. ift on 1 Cor. i. 22, 23, 24. 
 
 Jfuvenal has delivered a maxim pertinent to the spirit of 
 the present disquisition : Sat. viii. 73. 
 
 Rarus enimjcrme tensus communis in ittd 
 
 Fortund. 
 By which he means, that the favourites of fortune are 
 usually llrangers to those sympathetic affe£lions, which 
 extend to our common humanity, and operate in universal 
 undistinguishing benevolence, 
 
 CunCf 
 
14-8 EVIDENCES OJT CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 tuTie, are not the stations for suitable improve- 
 ments in those afFeftions, that peculiatrjy become 
 humanity. A more humble sphere is the soil best 
 fitted for the sympathetic virtues; they of en fairest 
 in the sequestered vale, and are seldom found to 
 flourish, but when engrafted on the stock ofexpe- 
 riwentul suffering*. Many bright parts of our Sa- 
 viour's charafter could never have beamed forth to 
 enlighten the path and direO; the stepjs of his faithful 
 followers, had he not learned from those distresses 
 and embarrassments, in which his condition al- 
 most unavoidably involved him, to feel for the 
 miseries of man from their impressions on him- 
 self: nor could he have accommodated his doc- 
 trines to the world at large without an ability of 
 entering into the affeftions, sentiments, and feel- 
 ings of the majority of his brethren by a partici- 
 pation of their Condition: not to mention that 
 pre-eminent accomplishments and true nobility 
 of charafter have in all ages been formed in the 
 school of rigid discipline under the tuition of ad- 
 versity ; and that the hill of Virtue., steep of as- 
 cent and rugged in it's progress, can only be 
 climbed by toilsome perseverance up the'steps of 
 Sorrow. 
 
 * Whence that of Dido : 
 
 Non ignara mala mistris succurreri disco. 
 
 Moreover, 
 
EVIDENCES Ot CHRISTIANITY. 149 
 
 Moreover, this appointment is conformable to 
 the pretensions of an authentic revelation from 
 the Deity in another respeft. The personal inr 
 fluehce of a subordinate member of society, des^ 
 titute of secular distinftions, family attachments, 
 and the allurements of opulence and grandeur^ 
 cannot be supposed to have gained many prose- 
 lytes to an institution, which afforded rather a 
 prospeft of 'affliftion, than of ease and comfort; 
 a state of warfare more than a station of enjoy- 
 ment: whereas many disciples might have been 
 suspefted, with good reason, of seduftion, by fa-i 
 Vour, gratitude, or expeftation, to the party of their 
 patron and benefaftor. The friends and followers of 
 a teacher, circumstanced as Jesus was, will counte- 
 nance no suspicion of influence from indireft and 
 unworthy motives. In what could their devotion 
 to such a master have it's origin, but in the attrac- 
 tions of unendowed virtue and the efficacy of sim« 
 pie trvih ? 
 
 REMARK XXVI. 
 
 Those charafters, which exhibit themselves in 
 the aBions, speeches^ and discourses of the various 
 personages brought upoa the stage of history, 
 have been deemed by the most impartial and ju- 
 dicious critics more removed from every semb- 
 
 It lance 
 
igO EVIDENCES OF CHRIST*! AN ITYi 
 
 •lance of design and artifice, and more significant 
 of authenticity and real nature, than such as writers 
 delineate in elaborate descriptions composed for 
 the purpose*. In the former case, your mind is 
 presented with the spontaneous exppsition, which 
 the naked circumstances alone deliver; in the 
 other, you read the studied opinions of the pro-' 
 fessed authoi:, in which can hardly fail to betray it- 
 'self a propensity, inseparable from writers, to ex- 
 aggerate or disparage, according to the exigencies 
 of the particular purpose . under contemplation. 
 Indeed it is evident at the first sight, on which 
 side of these diffei-ent processes the superiority 
 must lie with respeft to the probable authenticity 
 of a narrative. And, in this view, the works of 
 Homer, undoubtedly the most ancient composi- 
 tion of heathen genius, deserve peculiar commen- 
 dation ; for in them no violation of this mode of 
 pourtraying charafters, if we except' one or' two 
 trivial instances, can be found : an assertion, 
 
 • Expressior videatur necesse est et perfeftior eorum 
 imitatio, qui noH rem gesfam referunf, verum quodain-> 
 modo gerunt ipsi atque agunt, cum dissimulata persona sua 
 alios introducunt, qui coram speftatoribus res ipsas sistant. 
 The late professor Cooke's Prsleftion. p. vi. prefixed to 
 his edition oi' Aristotle's Poetics, published at Cambridge, 
 with notes that display an accurate learning and a saga- 
 cious insight into the sense of his author. 
 
 which 
 
Whidh would not be justly niade of any othet 
 Grecian or Roman aUthoi', to thd best of rtiy re- 
 coUeftion at this hionient. In Homer's poetry, 
 all is aftion, and animation, arising from crouded 
 events and busy charafters : 
 
 Quicquid agunt homines, votum, timor, ira, voliiptasj 
 Gaudia^ discursiis. 
 
 The poet never appears in person, and only ppei- 
 rates, like the mind in the corporeal frame, ^vith 
 a vigoroiis energy, but undefineable and unseen*. 
 The same observations are striOtly applicable also 
 to the histories of the Old Testament ; and it is to 
 me a,n agreeable consideration, that two works df 
 such indubitable antiquity, as the Bible and Ho^- 
 mer, should thUs agree in' a circumstance highly 
 consonant to the simplicity of primaeval manners^ 
 in wearing so plausible a mark of authenticity^ 
 with regard to the pretensicJns of an early origin, 
 stamped on their features. But the most superfi-i- 
 cial observer need not be told, and the most for- 
 ward caviller cannot deny, that the historical parts 
 of the New Testamtnt ought not to concede the 
 palm of superiority to any writings whatsoever 
 Upon the subjeQ; of this innate recommendation 
 
 * Homer describes no qualities or virtues, censures no 
 manners ; makes nO encomiums, nor gives charafiers him- 
 self, but brings his aftors still in view. 'Tis they Who 
 shew themselves. Shaftsbury's CharaBcristics, i. p, 197^ 
 
 t 2 pf 
 
152 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 of veracity. Now it is manifest, that laboured 
 encomiums of the personages introduced, or mi- 
 nute and balanced estimations of their worth, and 
 philosophical investigations of their motives to 
 aQion, are the proper produSions of students, 
 schooled in rhetoric and exercised in oratory; 
 neither suited to the taste, nor attainable by the 
 powers, of plain uneducated men. A simple de- 
 tail, therefore, of occurrences, divested of these 
 artificial and adventitious ornaments, seems not 
 only more accordant to every rational idea of 
 honest intention and authentic report, but is per- 
 feftly correspondent to the reputed authors of the 
 gospel histories : so that the stile and colour oF 
 these narratives is at once more favourable in it- 
 self to our preconceived notions of veracity, and 
 harmonizes also with the political condition of 
 the writers. Indeed, a review of the authentic 
 ,city of the gospels may be most fitly compared 
 to our progress from the fountain-head of a river 
 along it's banks. We find, as we proceed, a per- 
 petual influx of auxiliary streams contributing to 
 augment the torrent. — I will corroborate these- 
 sentiments by a pertinent quotation from a most 
 useful and important w,ork*. 
 
 « If 
 
 * Lord Montioddo's Origin and Frogrtis of Languages : 
 a perforuuincej not capable of being relished by superficial 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. I53 
 
 « If a narrative is much ornamented, it has 
 *' not the appearance of truih.) but of a tale^ de- 
 *' signed either to impose upon the hearer, or to 
 " make an ostentatious shew of the author's ge- 
 " nius. Hence it comes,' that the narrative of 
 " Homer is more credible than that of Virgil; -not 
 " only because it is more circumstantial, which 
 " also gives a great air of truth to a story, but 
 *' because it is less ornamented." 
 
 Hence we may learn more fully the propriety 
 of that apostrophe, so feelingly addressed by the 
 Son of Man to bis omnipotent commissioner * : 
 
 I thank thee, (I entirely assent to thy conduft in 
 this respeft) ! Father, Lord of heaven and earth, 
 for hiding these things from men of -wisdom and 
 knowledge, and revealing them to babes. 
 
 This is a sentiment replpte with wisdom : and it 
 is most indisputable, that-lhe evangelical histories 
 would have been assailable by very serious objec- 
 
 and conceited readers, but in my estimation worthy of 
 much greater approbation than it has received from the 
 public, notwithstanding some capital errors in the theory, 
 and various inaccuracies arising from a confined know- 
 ledge of modern publications and too partial an acquaint- 
 ance with the Greek literature at large. See Part ii. 
 jBook 4th. Chap. 10th. 
 
 — non ego paucis 
 
 Offendar maculis. 
 
 * Matt. xi. 25. / 
 
 L 3 tions, 
 
154 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY, 
 
 tions, had they been composed by men of elo« 
 quence and learning; and the dispensation itself 
 encumbered with peculiar difficulties, if it's pri- 
 mitive teachers and professors had principally is^ 
 sued from the mansions of the rich or the sphools 
 of the philosophers. We have reason to rejoice, 
 that not many wise, not many mighty^ not many noble^ 
 ■were originally called, *, 
 
 REMARK XXIX, 
 
 There are some extraordinary circumstances 
 in the charafter of St. Peter, so entirely conform- 
 able to human nature, as enhance the supposition 
 of imposture to a very considerable height of 
 improbability, and are an able advocate for the 
 genuineness of the gospels. 
 
 This apostle put in praftice on every occasion 
 the advice, which Peleus gave to his son Achilles^, 
 ■Vyhen he dismist him to the Trojan yia.T t : 
 
 Aiev apicrlimv, xai MTtupo^ov ififxivai aTAuv. 
 
 A brave pre-eminence above thy peer^ 
 B( thy anibitioft, 
 
 Wheii Jesus (to illustrate this remark by instan- 
 ces) v/as walking on the sea, Peter alone had the 
 
 * \ Cpr. i. 26, + II. A, 782. 
 
 f^spliat^oi^ 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. I55 
 
 resolution to quit the vessel, and trust himself to 
 , the surface of the waters *. Peter had the honour 
 of giving the only true answer to that arduous 
 question of our Lord, Whom say ye that I am ? 
 Thou art the Christ, says our apostle, the Son of 
 the living Godf. — Feter undertook to reprove his 
 master, amidst the silence of the rest of the disci- 
 pies, for talking of his sufferings and death +.-— 
 Peter alone ventured to deliver his opinion upon 
 that extraordinary circumstance of our Lords 
 transfiguration on the mount §. — Peter had the 
 courage to enter the sepulchre, when John, as it 
 should seem, was afraid to venture; with a view 
 of examining the place where our Lord had lain||, 
 — Peter alone, after the resurreftion of Jesus, cast 
 himself into the sea, to join his master upon the 
 shore H. — The Jews themselves appear to have 
 considered Peter as the most aftive and forward 
 and most favoured (as Matt. xvii. x. Mark v. 37.) 
 of all the disciples. The coUeftors of the mone,y 
 for the teinple apply to him for our Lord's con- 
 tribution, and he reports their inquiry to his mas- 
 ter **. — His inquisitive temper distinguishes itself 
 
 * Matt. 14. 28, + Matt. xvi. 15, 16. 
 
 :f Vers. 22. ^ § M'att. xvii. 4. 
 
 II John XX. 6, 1 John xxi. 7. 
 
 ** Matt, xvii, 24, 25. 
 
 I. A. also 
 
156 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 also on other occasions of less moment*. — And, 
 when Jesu^ was apprehended, Pel^er gave good 
 proof of a seemingly determined resolution tQ 
 defend his master, and to fulfil his late protesta- 
 tions of adhering to him, though all his fellow-, 
 disciples should prove faithless : for John has ex^ 
 pressly informed us, th?it it was Simon Peter, tvha 
 drew his sword, and smote a servant of the highy 
 priest, and cut ojff M^ right earf. 
 
 « Yes ;" most men will be apt to say, « such 
 " a character as this, who made such liberal pro, 
 " fessions of loye and service, and moreover 
 *' appeared to entertain juster notions of his 
 »' master's person and office than the other apos- 
 " ties, might naturally have deserved more de, 
 ♦' pendence to be placed on him in a tirap of dan-, 
 ". ger, than those,, who by their silence had suf-, 
 *' ficiently declared themselves to hp possessed 
 " of kss forwardness and res6lutiori : especially 
 *' too after the voluntary, the public, and unre-, 
 " served avowal of his determination to be, likg 
 *^ another Abdiel, 
 
 ~. r" faithful found 
 
 " Among the faithless,' faithful only /z«+," 
 
 * Matt. XV. 15. Luke xii, 41. Matt, xviii, 2i, 
 jiix. 27, John xiii. 6. See also Luke y, 5. viii. 45, 
 + xviii. 10. 
 
 M'W WfojewoB Ttirov, Soph, Eleft, 
 
 In 
 
KVIDEHCES OF CHRIStl ANITt. 157 
 
 In this train, I say, most men would be dis- 
 posed to reason on this case : and, if a Galilean 
 fisherman, unpra8:ised, as one of his solitary occu- 
 pation and insulated life must inevitably be, in the 
 study of human manners, had spun this history from 
 the thread of his own invention, I cannot entertain 
 a doubt but Peter's condufl; would have been uni- 
 formly- preserved through the jaece, in a manner 
 correspondent to the former delineation of bis 
 charafter and the boldness of his pretensions. 
 But the pifture, now presented to our view, ex-? 
 Iiibits a much more probable representation of 
 real life i and is indeed so accurate in it's resem- 
 blance, as to appear beyond the ability of inven- 
 tive ingenuity; proclaiming the designer of it to 
 have worked from an undoubted original before 
 him. If not, let our adversaries give some 
 reasonable account of that comprehensive imi- 
 tator, who surveyed this exa& transcript of life 
 and manners in the confined limits only of his 
 own bosom. 
 
 We are told by a surgeon of eminence in his 
 profession *, that it was judged necessary to am- 
 putate severally one of the arms of two boys in 
 the hospital, of the same age and similar consti- 
 
 * I recoUeft perfef^ly well to have read this account 
 in some volume of the 4nnual Register, but have several 
 times attempted in vaijj to find the passage. 
 
 tutioQs, 
 
158 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 tutions. One consented at once to the operation 
 without betraying any symptoms of timidity, M'hen 
 the opinion of the surgeon was declaired to him 
 on the preceding night. The other was with much 
 difficulty indeed persuaded to acquiesce, and 
 shewed signs of the utmost horrour and dejeftion 
 at the thought of the approaching catastrophe. 
 What was the event? The boy, of so much readi- 
 ness apd spirit, sunk into timidity; and endured 
 the operation with no degree of firmness : the 
 pther supported his severe trial with a true manly 
 resolution*. — The relator observes, I think, that 
 he had been witness to a similar issue in other 
 instances of this nature. 
 
 And here let me notice, before I quit this sub- 
 jeftj with what propriety and beauty our Lord 
 addresses himself to this apostle, as well on account 
 of his usual forwardness, as the vehemence of his 
 late protestations : And he cometh to the disciples 
 and Jindeth them asleep, and saith to Peter: 
 
 * " Mention is m^de in the epistle of the church of 
 " Smyrrfa, and in other ancient records, of some rash and 
 " presuijiptuous Christians, who offered themselves fo mar- 
 •' tyrdom, and who, when they were condemned, lost all 
 " courage and deserted their cause ; whilst others, who 
 " had been diffident of themselves, and had retired, being 
 " discovered and seized, died in <i most Christian manne^^," 
 JoKiia's Remarks, Book n. Parti. 
 
 SOi 
 
ZVIDENGSJ OF CHRISTIANITY. 159 
 
 $0, could ye not watch with me one hour * ? K fine 
 reproof of his temerity, and a secret intimation, 
 as it were, of the approaching dereliftion of his 
 engagement : and especially, as the circumstance 
 is recorded specifically by Mark: And he Cometh^ 
 and Jindeth them sleeping; and saith to Peter: 
 Simon! art thou asleep? Couldesf riot thou 
 
 WATCH one HOURt? 
 
 This account gives me an opportunity of point- 
 ing out a parallel mark of authenticity, from a 
 conformity to real life, in the history of our Sa- 
 viour, 
 
 His agony of spirit on the nearer approach of 
 his crucifixion could not be exceeded, The elo- 
 quent physician has exhausted the powers of lan- 
 guage in his description of it. But the heroism, 
 with which the Saviour of the world, notwith- 
 standing this previous dejeftion of soul, si4p- 
 ported the exquisite tortures of the cross, ennoble* 
 Dur common nature, and furnishes the most illusr 
 trious example of fortitude and magnanimity, that 
 has been exhibited since the foundation of the 
 world. And, I believe, it will be found true from 
 observation, that minds of a fine and delicate tex- 
 ture, not only not deficient in spirit and resolu- 
 tion on other occasions, but on the contrary dis- 
 
 * Matt. xxvi. 40. t C, xiv. v, 37. 
 
 linguishedi 
 
j60 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 tinguished for their intrepidity, are agitated with 
 a horror proportionate to their sensibility, on the 
 near prospect of bodily pain. The conduft of 
 Socrates, at the conclusion of life, ' reflefts the 
 highest honour on that admirable man : but, not 
 to insist on other circumstances of superiority on 
 the part oi Jesus, a. draught of hemlock, and the 
 anguish of suspension by the hands and feet, perfo- 
 rated with nails, will admit of no comparison. The 
 Athenian was in every respeO; truly great * ; but 
 we do no injury to truth and him, when we assert, 
 that our Nazarene was greater than he. 
 
 * Porphyry-, with a view, it' is probable, of establishing 
 the superior virtue of his master Pythagoras (a charafter 
 in reality not less exalted, as far as we can judge from the 
 accounts delivered of him, than 5ocrflto himself ) Porphyry, 
 I say, propagates some calumnies against the illustrious 
 Athenian, which are eagerly caught up by Cyril, to the dis- 
 grace of this Christian apul'gist. Neither Christ nor Pytha-^ 
 ,^oras wish to build their praises 
 
 On the faU'n ruins of another's. fame. 
 
 See Cyril, cont. Jul, p. 186. 216. to whom, perhaps, his 
 own refleftion on Timceus, p. 208. is applicable ; th^t his 
 ?' ill-will to §ocrates irnpairshis credibility," 
 
 REMARK 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. l6l 
 
 REMARK XXX. 
 
 The manner, in which the apostles, with all 
 simplicity and freedom, mention their own fail' 
 ings, and in which Matthew and John make no 
 Exception of themselves from the number of those, 
 whom their master reproves for their faithlessness 
 and stupidity ; must be allowed by every candid 
 person to carry with it a pleasing air of impar- 
 tiality and veracity *. Indeed this acknowledge- 
 ment of infirmity, error, and miscondu£l in life 
 and in opinion, is charafteristic of noble minds, 
 and could hardly be expefted from men of mean 
 acquirements, low birth, and probably contraSed 
 hearts, without some powerful extraneous princi- 
 ple ; such a principle, for instance, as Chrisiianityt 
 whose enlightening doftrines are so plain as to 
 accommodate themselves to every capacity, and 
 are calculated to exert their ennobling influence 
 alike on the highest and lowest orders of society. 
 
 I have always been much delighted with a pas^ 
 «age in Celsm, which falls in very cxaSly with the 
 
 * Pisides apud Suidam. 
 
 traia 
 
l6a EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAN ItY. 
 
 train of these ideas. " Hippocrates," says he *^ 
 " has informed us, that he once mistook the su^ 
 *' tures of the skull for a frafture : in the true spi^ 
 « rit of a great genius, conscious of his extraordi- 
 « nary accomplishments. For the qualifications 
 " of little minds are but a small amount, and will 
 " admit of no deduftion. Indeed the simple 
 *' confession of a&ual mistakes is peculiarly be- 
 «' coming such accomplished charafters,, who can 
 *' easily spare a little from their copious stores : 
 *' and especially a confession upon those points, 
 *' which may prove beneficial to posterity." In 
 this view the following remarks oi Eusebius will 
 give strength to the argument before us : 
 
 " Matthew, the apostle, was not conversant with 
 « men of honourable occupations in his former 
 " life, but came from among tax-gatherers and 
 
 * Cels. Lib. VIII. C. 4, The passage alluded to occurs 
 in Hippocrates de Morb. Vulg. v. 7. 27. Julian also refers 
 to it in his 59th epislk : and Plutarch, ii. p. 83. And equal 
 commendation is due to our countryman Sydenham for a 
 similar confession in his Treatise De Hydropt. Equidem- 
 probe memini, &c. p. ^Sj.Edit. Lugd, Bat. — Claudian sings 
 •with great sweetness on this topic, de sext. cons. Hon. v. 
 592- 
 
 Nil cumulat verbisque nihil fiducia celat : 
 Fucati sermonis opemMEm conscia laudis 
 Abnuit. 
 
 extortioners. 
 
EVlDEt^CES OF CHfelSTlANltY. l6g 
 
 t 
 
 " extortioners. This appears from none of the 
 •« evangelists, not even from his fellow-apostle 
 " jfohn, nor yet from Luke,- nor Mark; but Mat- 
 " thew himself proclaims the disgrace, and be- 
 " comes his own accuser. Hear how expressly 
 " he mentions the circumstance in the gospel 
 " written by himself : jfesus passing by thence, saw 
 " a man sitting at the receipt of custom, named 
 " Matthew*. And afterwards, when he enu- 
 " merates the apostles, he says: Thomas and Mat- 
 " THEW THE PUBLICAN t." And thesc obser- 
 vations are succeeded by others, which the reader 
 will not ,think unworthy of consultation. 
 
 It is superfluous to mention a particular so 
 well known to those conversant in these subjefts, 
 that the same recommendation arises to Mark's 
 gospel from the specification of Peter's name in 
 several instances peculiar to that narrative; be- 
 cause we are told by the early writers o( Christian 
 antiquity, that Peter assisted the author in the 
 composition of his history. 
 
 The disinterestedness of the evangelists will lose 
 no reputation by a contrast with the two tiisto- 
 rians of antiquity, between whom and them a com- 
 parison may most properly be instituted; Xeno- 
 phon and Julius Cxsar, The sacred penmen cer- 
 
 • C. JK. V. 9. + C. X. V. 3. 
 
 tainly 
 
l64 EVIDENCES Of CHRiStlANlTt- 
 
 tainly keep more aloof from personally and exdg^ 
 geration^ thati either of these celebrated writers 3 
 q( whom it will be sufficient to remark on this oc- 
 casion, that the Athenian evidently shews, himself 
 through the latter part of his history ; and the jRo- 
 Vian, beyond all controversy, from the testimony 
 of other historiaps, dissembled the truth in his 
 own favour, respefting) for example, the invasion 
 of our country. The insinuation of oUr most fi- 
 nished poet' is not more satirical than true: 
 
 Casar himself might whisper he was beat. 
 
 REMARK XXXh 
 
 The manner, in which the gospel-historia/hs havd 
 tekted the death of Juias *, appears to me so 
 singular, that I am persuaded no iwo writers could 
 possibly deliver such apparently differing accounts 
 of the same transaftion, who had not the reality^ 
 itself undpr contemplation at the time ; and, seeing 
 no difficulty or obscurity themselves, (which is a 
 case of perpetual occurrence) could have no sus-" 
 picion of creating difficulty and obscurity to 
 
 * The readerj who feels himself so inclined^ may read 
 some further remarks on this circumftance in my Memoiri^ 
 p. 381. and the second part of the Silva Critica, on the text, 
 'sect. 84. 
 
 Others 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 165 
 
 Others by any diversities of expression. My ar- 
 gument upon this topic carries with it, I must 
 confess, irresistible conviftion to my own mind ; 
 and I shall rejoice, if I so conduQ; it as to com- 
 municate an equal impression in favour of the 
 books, which contain it, to the mind of the 
 reader. 
 
 Now my conclusion in favour of the authenti- 
 city of the gospels, from the two accounts of the 
 death of Judas^ is founded upon these two suppo- 
 sitions : . •■ 
 
 1. That, whether the later historian of the two, 
 Matthew and Lule, had seeri or- not the history of 
 his predecessor, the circumstin'ces of the false 
 apostle's death must be, in all probability, gerfe£tly 
 . known to them both : though the more reasonable 
 supposition certainly is, that Luke, from his con- 
 neftion with Paul and the leading men in the 
 church, and indeed from the close union of all 
 it's members at that early period, must have been 
 acquainted with the gosfel of St. Matthew ; whom 
 I should judge^ for many reasons to be the earlier 
 writer*. * ■ 
 
 * An early date of ATafMiftu's gospel, is countenaiiced, in 
 my judgement, by many and high probabilities -.^ and I am 
 of opinion, that the other' hypothesis, of a late publication, 
 has not a singlp probability to support it. See Mr. Town- 
 scn'i exceIlent*work on the gospels. 
 
 M 2. That 
 
l66 EVIDENCES OF CH RI ST I ANM T Y. 
 
 2. That the immediate cause of the death of 
 Judas was a dysentery, brought on by excessive 
 sorrow and pert,urbation of spirits. 
 
 As to the j?)-.si;, position, it is scarcely possible 
 to imagine, that the last circumstances of the life 
 of Judas, who had afted such an extraordinary 
 part, could have been unknown to any of the first 
 disciples : circumstances too, so extraordinary in 
 themselves, must have been the subject of fre- 
 quent coi.versation and enquiry in the church. 
 Indeed St, Fcttr, or rather St. Luke, has expressly 
 told us, that the death of Judas was a matter 
 of public notoriety to all the dwellers at fern- 
 salem *. 
 
 My sfcond position I find myself able to esta- 
 blish upon very solid ground; and I thereby bring' 
 the sacred writers to a perfefl; consistency of nar^ 
 rative. This is, in my apprehension, a very im- . 
 portant point indeed : for no ingenuity of man 
 can ctrain the two accounts of this transaflion to 
 a satisfactory reconciliation upon any other sup- 
 position ; and I cannot but thinlj, that a strong 
 suspicion would lie against the general, credibility 
 of the evangelists, if they could be proved to have- 
 given Cfnir^'/jc^orv relations of so remarkable aii(| 
 notorious a fact. 
 
 * A£ts i. ig.. 
 
 Matther^ 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. ' iSj 
 
 Matthew tells us, that Judas cast down the money 
 in the te^nple, and went and hanged himself; 
 as our translation has it : but I say, And went and 
 DIED WITH anguish: ditsK^oiv UTcviy^eiJoi says the 
 original*. This word is on/y once used by the 
 Greek translators in the canonical books of the 
 Old-Testament, and then in the account o( Ahitho- 
 fheVs deatht; who is supposed to have put a pe- 
 riod to his existence in the same way with Juias. 
 The Hebrew word employed upon that occasion 
 is '^>T\, which is also adopted by all the other 
 oriental versions, to which I have access, both 
 here and in St. Matthew, except by the Coptic and 
 Persic; who seem, however, to have followed 
 the usual acceptation of the passage. Some of the' 
 Rabbins interpret that word of choaking with sor- 
 row, and attribute the death of Ahithophel to the 
 gradual efFefts of disappointment and vexation. 
 And this interpretation is rendered extremely pro- 
 bable by considering that Tiir\ is the word used in 
 a great variety of passages for hanging, and that 
 p]n is never once clearly employed in, this sense. 
 I make no accoiftit of a passage in Job, where the 
 reading, I think, is not genuine ; and, if it.be, our 
 present translation is improper, 
 
 * Matt, xxvii. 5. +2 Sam. xvii. 23. 
 
 'Ma It 
 
l68 EVIDENCES OF CHR ISTIANITY- 
 
 It is observable, that in the history of Saul's. 
 distemper*, which was certa-My n melancholy f, the 
 Septuagint says, that an evil spirit from the Lord 
 cHOAKr HIM : employing a word exaftly equi- 
 valent to that used by Si. Matthew. And J'osephui 
 says, that certain aJfeBions and dcemons invaded 
 Saul:, bringing upon him suffocations and 
 STRANGLINGS+. And my sense of the Hebrew 
 word, is corroborated by the Targums of Jonathan 
 and Jerusalem on Gen. xxii. 20. which say, that, 
 when Sarah was told of Abraham's intention to 
 sacriiiCe /5fiflc, she was suffocated, and died 
 
 THROUGH ANXIETY^. 
 
 It is evident from these authorities, that St. 
 Matthew's expression will not only bear the tran- 
 slation, which I propose, but, considering that he 
 was a Jew, rather requires it. 
 
 As to St. Luke's relation of this matter, it is a 
 just and classical description of a man exhausted 
 and perishing by the violence of a dysentery. 
 The following is a proper translation of it. 
 
 * 1 -Sam. xvi. 14. 
 •J- See some observations on this point in my Sitva Cri- 
 tica, part'i. scft. 12. 
 
 uai o-lfKyya.: «{ evilpt^ovla. Ant. VI. 8. 2. 
 
 § KPN p nn-airpinu'Ni.. See Alexis in Athen. Deip. vi. 2. 
 and IX. 12. and others to the same purpose. '• 
 
 ■ 3 He 
 
•EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 169 
 
 He Jell Jlat upon his face, and made a noise by 
 bursting in the middle; and all his bowels were 
 poured out*. 
 
 The Trpvivvis yivofAjv^o of our Evangelist ma|' 
 be well illustrated by this passage of Euripides., 
 Alcest. 141. 
 
 Not unlike this is — pv^^f; uulss Trpvjvfif. Sap; Sol. 
 IV. 19. 
 
 The phrase — sTuz^vja-s (j.e<r^ — is admirably vin- 
 dicated by a gloss of Hesychius, which I long ago 
 corrected from this expression of St. Luke : Meiro- 
 (Ps^Seiv, MEE04.AKEIN. — To the same purpose 
 
 this of Plautus Cure. ii. i, 7. 
 
 ■* 
 
 Nihil meiuo, nisi ne medius disru'mpar miser j and 
 that of Virgil ^ * • 
 
 ' ■ ROMPANTUR Ut ILIA Codro,' 
 
 and many others of the same kind, derived from 
 the Greeks. So Aristophants, Ran. 955. QCpeKss 
 
 And that the words — E^e^wfl*! tkvIk t« a-xA«y%vK 
 uvl* — suitably describe the effefls of a dysentery^ 
 
 • Aftsi. 18. 
 
 M 3 the 
 
lyd EVlt>ENCES OF CHRISTlAf^ITV,. 
 
 the learned reader may be convinced by consult" 
 ing the Scholiast on Aristoph. Vesp. 604. 
 
 It seems pretty clear, that Jehoram died of 
 this distempen In 2 Chron. xxi. 18, 19. the fol- 
 lowing account is given of it. 
 
 Jehovah smote him in his howels with an incu- 
 rable disease; and his bowels came out, and 
 he died of grievous evacuations. 
 
 Twv eviffwv fHpuevlfe'V, s'^ys, Josephus in his relation 
 of this malaay._ Ant. ix. 5. 2. 
 
 Dr. Mead's testimony is very explicit and satis- 
 fa£tory- 
 
 No7i alius, id mihi viietut, fuit hie morbus, qudm 
 gravis dysenteria. In hdc enim intestina exulce- 
 rantur ; — nonnunqudm etidm carnosa qucedam ra- 
 menta simid descendunt, itd ut ipsa intestina ejici 
 videaiitur. The last particular I have known my- 
 self to take place in this disorder. 
 
 The account, given by Josephus of the death of 
 Arisiohulus, is very much to our purpose. 
 
 Remorse for his crime brings a distemper upon 
 Aristohulus; and, his mind continually dwelling upon 
 the murder, he wasted away, and discharged much 
 blood, as HIS bowels were torn by exces- 
 sive SORROW*. 
 
 *TO?»A?i£(. Bell. Jud, I. 3. 6. Comjiare Ant, xiii. 2,3. 
 
 Another 
 
SVIDEXCES OF CHRISTIANITY. I7I 
 
 Anbther passage of the same author is too perti- 
 nent and striking to be omitted. It was intended, no 
 doubt, for a description of the same disorder; which 
 the preceding circumstances of the person's history 
 might lead us to attribute also to the same cause 
 of sorrow and vexation. Indeed experience abun- 
 dantly shews, that these passions physically operate 
 upon the bowels : and from this faft, many Jigu- 
 rative expressions both in the Old and New 
 Testament are derived, and in profane authors 
 also*. " ■ 
 
 Zenodorus, his bowels bursting and a large 
 ejjusion of blood' ensuing, dies at Antioch in Syriaf: 
 
 It is very sensibly suggested by my friend 
 Mr. Walker of .Nottingham in his second sermon 
 on the chara£ler of Jadas, that " the traitor 
 ^' was designed by his employers td have* atted 
 " a still farther part, ai;^ had himself intend- 
 '^ ed to have appeared a more considerable ac-* 
 " tor, in the transaSions of the succeeding day, 
 " if his sudden and unexpe8;ed repentance had 
 «' not defeated tl^e design. 
 
 * Angor est animi vel corporis cruciatus ; proprie a Qrcgco 
 ffvva.y^-n, id est, strangulatione diftus. Unde et faucium 
 dolor an^z«a vocatur: .Festus in v.angor. 
 
 Ant. XV, 10. 3. , 
 
 M 4 « It 
 
172 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 " It would have been a great point gained, 
 «' in order to support the appearance of disin- 
 " tcrested justice, and turn the popular preju- 
 " dice against hiniy if one of his own disciples 
 " should stand forth his accuser, and give tes- 
 " timony to the supposed crimes, which they 
 « meant to alledge against him." 
 
 In connection with this extremely probable 
 hypothesis, \fe may see the reason, in a detestation 
 of such perfidy, of the uniformly degrading terms, 
 in which Judas is spoken of by the evangelists : 
 the propriety of recording that circumstance of 
 his throwijig down the money, as the act of one, 
 who had not performed his engagements ; and the 
 reasonableness of such extreme remorse, as to be 
 productive of so violent and unusual a disso- 
 lution. 
 
 My two propositions have thus been established, 
 I presume, to a very high degree of probability. 
 Now the proposition deducible from these pre- 
 mises is obvious and simple ; namely this : No 
 two persons in their senses, who had set themselves 
 to fabricate a JiBitioiis history, would ever have 
 given, ituo such accounts of the same transaction. 
 Impostors, always on their guard to avoid a 
 suspicion of collusion and deceit, would cer- 
 tainly ,have studied to adjust their relations to a 
 
 greater 
 
' EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. l^g 
 
 greater appearance of agreement and consistency; 
 nor have trusted to the ingenuity and uncertainty 
 of criticism for future vindication. There could 
 not liave arisen, in my judgement, more decisive 
 evidence of an artless unsuspefting integrity, de- 
 livering to posterity the record of a real tran- 
 saBion within the compass of their oxmi knowledge. 
 Such a degree of obscurity, and so much appear- 
 ance of inconsistency, is highly advantageous to 
 the cause of truth. The relations are very dif- 
 ferent, but, on a closer inspeQion, evidently de- 
 scribe a similar mode of death: as in arithmetic 
 and geometry, numbers and Jigures very distin£t 
 are in both sciences brought into relation with 
 each other by the inter v.ention of a third*- Every 
 man's experience will inform him, how apt we are 
 to omit in a relation little circumstances, very es- 
 sential to give another a clear insight into the faO;, 
 which ownperfeft knowledge of it leads us to dis- 
 regard ; not reflefting, that an entire stranger to 
 it cannot possibly possess the same train of ideas, 
 that ocular observation has infused into our own 
 
 * An observation of Straio's relative to the geographical 
 inconsistencies of writers is very applicable to the present 
 case; but on axcour^t of it's length, I forbear'qiiotation, 
 and content myself with referring to it^: p- 41. ini. edit. 
 Amsti 
 
 minds. 
 
174 . EVIDENCES OF CHR :Stl AN ITIf. 
 
 minds. No error more natural than this ; no 
 presumption more customary both in books and 
 in comirion life. — But it is time to leave the rea* 
 der to his own reflections. 
 
 Yet I cannot conclude ihis article without spe- 
 cifying another argument in behalf of the authenti- 
 city of the gospels from a seeming contradiQion and 
 a real agreement, respefcting Matt, xxiii. 27. and 
 Luke xi. 44. as reconciled by Dr. Fococke in his 
 not. misc. cap. v. quoted also by Mr. Townsony 
 p. 97. 4to. edition; whom the reader will do 
 well to consult. 
 
 REMARlC. XXXII. 
 
 From the peculiar complexion and phraseology 
 of St. Johns gospel a critical observer may de- 
 duce no inconsiderable argument in behalf of the 
 Christian revelation. 
 
 It is well known from the account o^ John him- 
 self, delivered with a modest simplicity that re- 
 pels every suspicion of partial misrepresentation 
 from the narrative, that he was the disciple, on 
 w.ijm our Lord reposed a greater conhdeneci 
 and whom he regarded with sentiments of pecu- 
 liar friendship and affection. When Jesus had 
 declared, tinat one of the apostles Uien at table 
 
 with 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. I75 
 
 Vith him would -be his betrayer to the ^ews, we , 
 are told, ihdX' Simon Peter beckoned to John, who 
 was leaning on Jesus' bosom, to ask him of whom 
 he spake*: a- question, which implies, no less than 
 jfohn's situation at the table, a more intimate fa- 
 miliarity with his master. Besides, our Lord's 
 recommendation of Mary to John's proteftion, and 
 the manner of that recommendation, is a further 
 proof, independent of the apostle's own express 
 testimony to the same effeO;, of mutual esteefm 
 and love. And this reciprocal attachment argues 
 of necessity a. congenial temper and a similar frame 
 of mind. 
 
 Add to this, that John was called to be an 
 apostle in an early perio.d of our Lord's ministry : 
 a longer time, therefore, of ' attendance on the 
 public hfe of Jesus, as well as more frequent op- 
 portunities of private' observation, would una- 
 voidably operate in ptoducing a more exa£t re- 
 semblance of charafter between them. 
 
 Now what is the natural, and indeed necessary,' 
 conclusion from these considerations ? Truly, that 
 the, gospel of this Be,loved disciple must contain, 
 in all probability, a more true and lively repre- 
 
 * See John xiii. 23, 24. xxi, 22, 
 
 sentailon. 
 
176 EVIDENCES Of CHRISTIAIJJTY. 
 
 imtation of the life and conversation of his master, 
 than those written by evangelists differently cir- 
 cumstanced in these respefts. If so, and Jesu^s 
 Christ be that word and wisdom of God, which the 
 writings of the New-Testament declare him to have 
 been, St. Johns gospel will be likely to contaia 
 more and clearer marks of authenticity, — to weai" 
 a complexion eminently charafteristic of it's ori- 
 ginal, — and to comprise an intrinsic usefulness 
 and excellence, above the rest. 
 
 And such, I am strongly persuaded in my own 
 mind, is the fa£l. This position, however, ad- 
 mits of little reference, but to the ^private judge- 
 ment of the unprejudiced and competent exa- 
 miner. Yet I must be permitted to declare my 
 opinion, that St. Johns gospel is the least under- 
 stood of all the four : and that a more close and 
 critical perusal of it will gradually disclose its 
 excellencies with increasing illustration, and will 
 continue furnishing additional corroboration and 
 clearness to the argument advanced in this Re- 
 mark. " Time," says an illustrious ancient, 
 "overthrows the fittions of opinion, and esta- 
 " blishes the decisions of Truth and Nature." 
 
 REMARK 
 
EVIDENCES or CHRISTIANITY.. IJJ 
 
 REMARK XXXIII. 
 
 The multiplicity of little incidents interspersed 
 through the gospels, so consonant to real afction 
 and the acknowledged operations of the mind ; 
 such an artless mention of circumstances seem- 
 ingly trivial, but in reality, upon discussion, of 
 the highest moment ; — not, only remove every 
 suspicion of forgery frdm illiterate tax-gatherers 
 and fishermen, but clairtTthe* legitimate pxtratUon 
 of integrity and truth. I will endeavour, to se- 
 leO; a few particulars out of many, that seem ,to 
 me not ill adapted to illustrate and confirm this 
 observation. 
 
 J . What can wear a more natural appearance 
 in every feature than the following relation? or 
 . yhere shall we find a more faithful description 
 pf that mean jealousy and eagerness to depre- 
 ciate superiour merit, so lament^ibly observable 
 in the world ? 
 
 And, when he was come into his own country, he 
 taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they 
 were astonished, and - 'said : Whence hath ■ this man - 
 this wisdom arj-d these mighty works ? Is not thistht 
 carpenters son*? 
 
 * Matt, xiii. 54 — 58. 
 
 I cannot 
 
178 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 I cannot forbear quoting- on this occasion an 
 epitaph on the poet Aeschylus, as the tenour of it 
 falls in so pertinently with the subje£t of this 
 
 Remark'^. 
 
 This tomh proclaims renowned Mschylus^ 
 Far from his native soil, reposing here; 
 Hard by Sicilian GelJs limpid stream^ 
 TFloy wilt thou thus, invidious Athens /' why 
 Still persecute thy best and noblest sons? 
 
 2. No study and ingenuity could easily have 
 given us such a lively representation of the sus- 
 picion and uneasiness of conscious guilt, in the most 
 elaborate piSure, as this single stroke of a plain 
 unaffected copier from nature: 
 
 At that, time Herod the Tetraj'ch heard of the 
 fame of Jesus, and said ,unto his servants: This 
 IS John the baptist; he is risen troj^ 
 
 THEDEAot. 
 
 * Aiax^y^o' '1^^ 'lEyEi r'a(pivi >,iS©' EiSaJt XEKrSaj, 
 
 ©>3ff*£(5'«; aya9wj/ EyKol^ aiiv eve* ; 
 " The 'AUieniajis are blamed, says Eustathius in II. p. 934, 
 " as harsh to all ; peculiarly addifted to envy, to abuse 
 « to banish, to condemn; and especially their best citi, 
 " zens : witness Aristides, Alcibiades, Socrates, and a mul- 
 •' titude of others." 
 
 t Matt. xiv. 1—3. 
 
 The 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. , 1 79 
 
 The deliberate and unprovoked murder of a 
 righteous man, whom yet he loved and respetled*, 
 to gratify a malicious wicked woman and his 
 drunken nobles, filled his mind with perpetual 
 alarm. Wherever he went, the phantom still 
 pursued his steps with unrelenting perseverance ; 
 Bo incident so immaterial, no event so exrraor- 
 dinary. with which his imagination did not equally 
 associate the frightful subjeft,of his cruelty. Even 
 the established laws of nature, he thought, might 
 easily be superseded for one end at least, the dis- 
 turbance of his repose: — It is John the bap- 
 
 TIST: HE IS RISEN'FROM THE DEAD. 
 
 The copious description of the sublime sa- 
 tirist, noble as' it is, does not furnish a more 
 lively" idea of the horrors of conscious guilt, than 
 this short ejaculation of the Jewish ktrarchf, 
 
 3. Numerous particulars, in these histories, de- 
 void of all art and ostentation, 'seem to indicate 
 pejsonal appeararxe and ocular testimony. And 
 this circumstance gives also, as I have intimated 
 before, much coHfirmation to Mark's' gospel, in 
 relation to the testimony of the ancients, that 
 jn the drawing of it up he \vas assisted by St 
 J^eter. 
 
 * Mark vi. 20. 
 
 + Juv, XIII. '210^236, 
 
 Matthevi 
 
l80 EVIDENCES or CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Matthew says in general, that the disciples had 
 forgot io take bread with them*: Mark tells us, 
 that they had a single loaff. And whosoever 
 shall be inclined to a minute comparison, which 
 any reader may easily perform, will discover many 
 particulars admirably conducive to the ascertain- 
 ment of this position+. 
 
 4. When our evangelist informs us, that the 
 woman shook together the alabaster box of oint- 
 ment before she poured it on the head of Jesus\\, 
 he not only uses the expression of an eye-witness, 
 but of one, who was acquainted with the mixed 
 fey-fumes there spoken of, and must therefore have 
 written, probably, when such boxes and such oint- 
 ments were in use J. 
 
 5. It was night at the time of our Lord's exami- 
 nation before the high priest : and therefore an 
 objeftion might ar'^'se with some to the account 
 given of Peters conduft, who followed at a dis- 
 
 * Matt. xvi. 3. + Mark viii. 14. 
 
 + Matt, xxvii. 55. is a circumstance, which no artful 
 fabricator of a fiftitious story, aware of the malice of man- 
 kind, would have invented. 
 
 II Ch. xiv, 3. 
 
 ^ I forbear to transcribe, what I have before endea- 
 voured to confirm by various passages from ancient au- 
 thors ; and accordingly shall refer, for the sake of brevity, 
 to some observations on this text in the Theological Reposi- 
 tary, and my Silva Critica, Part I. mentioned above, 
 
 tance^ 
 
KVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. i8l 
 
 iance*i and could not easily be distinguished in 
 the dark. But we are informed, that there was a 
 ^re ill the hall of the high-priest, and that Peter 
 sat and warmed himself there^ Hence it is, that t 
 the maid-servant is said to look, upon him, be- 
 fore she speaks : plainly intimating, that she was 
 examining by the light of the fire, whether it really 
 was Peter or not. 
 
 Other strong presumptions, as they strike me, 
 of ocular testimony may be produced both from 
 him and the other evangelists. 
 
 The following account, for example, has every 
 symptom of a real transaftion circumstantially re- 
 corded by an observer of the natural representa- 
 tion of the relator. You see the aSion in a de- 
 scription so truly animated. 
 
 For I also, who am a man under authority, have 
 soldiers under me: and I say to this, go, and he 
 goeth ; and to another, come, and he cometh; and 
 to my servant, do this, and he doeth it*. 
 
 To which this also may be properly sub- 
 joined : 
 
 And there was following him a certain young 
 man with a linen garment thrown about his naked 
 body ; and the young men lay hold on him : but 
 he left the garment behind, and fled from them 
 naked *. 
 
 * Mark xiv. 54. + Ver. 67. J Mark ,\iv. 51, 52. 
 
 N The 
 
iSz EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 The description is well suited to the case of a 
 person suddenly rouzed from sleep by the tumult 
 in the street ; and of one aftive, and curious to 
 acquaint himself with the particulars: which are 
 all very probable circumstances, and delineated 
 conformably to such probability in the relation. 
 Had the person mentioned been old, or with all 
 his clothes on, our attention would not have beea 
 particularly excited by any prominent features in 
 the narrative, declaratory of the time and singula- 
 rity of the incident. 
 
 I shall only add, that, if any of my readers will 
 take the trouble of comparing together the several 
 accounts of theybitr evangelists concerning the sepa- 
 rate denials of Peter, he will discover, if I mistake 
 not, such numerous indications of veracity, as 
 will impress a most agreeable conviflion on his 
 mind. To me, at least, they appear highly cogent 
 and satisfaftory. 
 
 6. This artless relation of St. jfohn amounts of 
 itself to an ample confutation of that idle ca- 
 lumny, that the disciples came by night and stole the 
 body of our Lord *. 
 
 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and 
 went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen cloaths 
 lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not ly- 
 ing with the linen cloaths, but wrapped together in a 
 place by itself f. 
 
 * Matt, xxviii. 13. + John xxii, 6, 7. 
 
 Are 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 183 
 
 Are these appearances of composure and regu- 
 larity at all suitable with the hurry and trepi- 
 dation of THIEVES, when an armed guard too 
 is at hand, plundering by night * ? — The histo- 
 rian, we may observe, does not dwell upon the 
 circumstance, as if it were specified with a direEl 
 view of removing some secret difficulty; as a 
 forger would probably have done : but delivers it 
 with all the simplicity of an unsuspetling relator 
 of truth; and thereby leaves it with far more 
 weight of evidence, than if it had been accompa- 
 nied by a multiplicity of reasons and a laboured 
 explanation. Pindar observes, with his usual 
 pregnancy of wisdom, that three words will be suf- 
 Jicient in a good cause *. 
 
 * With a similar view, and with exquisite dexterity, 
 Cicero says of Milo, to prove the purity of his purposes ;— 
 domum venitj calctos et vtstimenta mutavit,&c, for the passage 
 is well known to every one at all conversant with ancient 
 literature. 
 
 Sedulius comments on this text with equal force and vi- 
 vacity; Hymn. Pasch. iv. 
 
 — — anne beati 
 
 Corporis ablator velocius esse putavit 
 Solvere conteftum, quam deveftare ligatum, 
 CumMORA sit FURTis contraria ? Cautius erg6 
 Cum domino potuere magis Sua lintea tolli. 
 Menti^a est vox vana sibi. 
 
 * EuWJ'y/AOl' £J OIKXV 
 
 N 2 A cir- 
 
184 zVlDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 A circumstance significant of authenticity, and 
 of a nature exaflly similar to tliose, which have 
 been produced under this remark, occurs in the 
 third book of Thucydides, towards the conclusion; 
 and will serve to elucidate the scope and perti- 
 nency of this mode of reasoning. 
 
 A herald came from a small state of Greece, de- 
 manding a truce for the burial of the dead, that 
 had been slain in an engagement two days before. 
 Upon seeing, with much astonishment, a number 
 of slain far beyond his expeflation, and enquiring 
 the reason from another herald, who was sent by 
 the opposite party for the same purpose, he learnt, 
 that another detachment of his countrymen had 
 been cut off' the day before. Notwithstanding the 
 importance of his errand, (for nothing was more 
 reverenced in those days than the rites of the 
 dead) his mind was so entirely overpowered by 
 the shock of this unexpefted and unequalled cala- 
 mity, as to leave him no leisure for other thoughts. 
 He raised a loud cry of lamentation, and went away 
 without executing the purpose of his rnessage. 
 
 REMARK 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 185 
 
 REMARK XXXIV. 
 
 The gospels hold out a representation of the 
 manners of the common people, v/hich has it's ac- 
 curacy ascertained by uniform experience and the 
 general voice of the histories of mankind. 
 
 Whether (which is now my own decided opi- 
 nion) the attachment of the multitude to our Sa- 
 viour were weakened by the disappointment * of 
 that universal expeftation among the Jews, that 
 their Messiah would eretl a temporal kingdom; 
 or any other undiscoverable cause wrought the 
 change on the humours of the mob ; (for our own 
 times have given many proofs of these capricious 
 quick transitions t, and how great a fire one 
 
 spark 
 
 * They were looking for some great miracle previous 
 to his possession of regal power: compare Matt. xxvi. 
 53 — [J. John xii. 17 — 20. 
 
 + The disposition of a populace is, to embrace any no- 
 velty and to abandon it on the slightest motives, particu- 
 larly the will of their superiors. Thus the Londoner} wel- 
 comed with shouts the return of, James the Second, and 
 immediately suffered him to depart with perfeft indiffer- 
 ence. The veneration of the Parisian^ for the'iT great king, 
 was changed at once into contempt and insult. See Quint, 
 Curt. ix. 4. 22. and the commentators there : Dion. Cass, 
 liii. 24. Iviii. 11. Ixv. 1. Seutonius in many places; Poly- 
 
 N 3 HjiSf 
 
l86 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 spark of popular rage can kindle) whatever, I 
 say, the cause might be, the people at large soon 
 manifested so much conformity to the wishes and 
 sentiiTients of their rulers, as to demand the ext' 
 cution of him, whom they had so lately followed 
 through the city with Hosannas, and saluted as 
 the king of Israel. 
 
 The account, which the Roman poet has given 
 us of the conduQ; of the populace to Sejanus, the 
 favourite of the emperor Tiberius, might serve as 
 a comment on this part of the gospel-history. All 
 they knew was, the emperor's displeasure and the 
 favourite's degradation. But this was a sufficient 
 ground for thea immediate alienation, and for 
 every species of insult. " If," says my author, 
 " the minister, on the other hand, had contrived 
 " to take off his master, this very Sejanus would 
 " have been, at the moment of his execution, 
 " with equal cordiality and as much reason, sa- 
 '• luted emperor in his stead by the same popu- 
 " lace 
 
 » " 
 
 iim, x\. 27, well says: ITa; o^>.@^ iwa^ccXoyir^ iTra^^ei, xai 
 •iTcf^ Ttccv iva.yuy<^. So Demosthenes, p. 229. lin. 21. ed, 
 Lutet. Julian, p. 455., Phil. J. ii. 350, 17. These sudden 
 turns are influenced also by general profligacy of manners 
 and monstrous ingratitude, too incident to the vulgar from 
 the depravity of governments, inattentive to the virtuous 
 discipline of their subjects. 
 
 * Juv, Sat. X. 61. 
 
 But 
 
EVIDENCES or CHRISTIANITY. 187 
 
 But, if the mistaken notion of the Jews respect- 
 ing the nature of the Messiah's kingdom, really ope- 
 rated in producing this sudden change in the be- 
 haviour of the populace, it had scarcely produced 
 such a general eflFeft as might have been presumed 
 from the disappointment of an expeftation so 
 agreeable, so universal, and so deeply rooted: 
 which makes the fickleness and depravity of the 
 vulgar still more flagrant, or, in other words, more 
 exaftly correspondent to history and experience. 
 The seizure o( jfesus by .night strongly counte- 
 nances this opinion, and cannot otherwise be ex- 
 plained *. When the multitude solicit the release 
 of Barahhas and the execution of Jesus, they do 
 not appear to express their free unbiassed opi- 
 nion, but to have listened to the instigations of the 
 chief priests and elders t. 
 
 Howsoever this may be determined by the rea- 
 der, one circumstance attending the apprehension 
 of Jesus appears to me very material, and from 
 which I would willingly draw a most important 
 inference; and in this I think myself counte- 
 nanced by the spirit of the narrative, and the total 
 absence, to all appearance, of such a remote in- 
 tention in the mere letter of it. Let the reader 
 decide impartially upon the reasonableness of my 
 conclusion. 
 
 * See Luke xxii. 1^7. + Matt, xxvii. 20. 
 
 N 4 Jesus 
 
l38 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Jtmi said unto them : Whom seek ye ? They an-! 
 swered hmi: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto 
 them : I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed 
 him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said 
 unto the?!!, I am he, thly went backward, 
 
 AND FELL TO THE GROUND*. 
 
 Now, whetlier we suppose the Jewish ofEcers 
 to have afted in this manner of their own accord, 
 or to have used this caution at the instance of 
 Judas, their condufl; is an undeniable evidence of 
 their fear ; which, as far as I can discover, could 
 arise from no other cause than a conviSion of 
 our Lord's miraculous power. Let any inan 
 assign a better reason, if he can. For my part, I 
 shall continue to consider this transaftion, 'till I 
 can see a more probable solution of it upon other 
 principles, as a most pltasing incidental attestation 
 to the MIRACLES of Jesus. 
 
 In this Cii^e, as in that of the expulsion of the 
 traders from the temple, an ascititious circum- 
 stance, which explains and reconciles a seeming 
 difficuky of a rational historian, ought in all rea- 
 son to be regarded as bordering on truth, unless 
 seii LOMrsdictory, or repugnant to the suggestions 
 Dl comnifjii-jc-iioe. 
 
 I must observe still further upon the subjeft of 
 
 * John xvili, 4 — j, 
 
 this 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. l8g 
 
 this remark, that the behaviour of the populace of 
 Jerusalem, in whatever point of view it may be 
 contemplated, and upon whatever principles it 
 may be explained, exhibits another charafteristic 
 feature in the manners of mankind at large: I 
 mean that abominable selfishness, and insensibility 
 to the concerns of others, which is the foulest stain 
 that can sully the human charafter, and of all pos- 
 sible vices the most incompatible with the essence 
 of Christianity, a system of universal and un- 
 bounded love. Let me be permitted to relate a 
 little piece of history to this purpose *. 
 
 " Whilst Demosthenes was pleading the cause 
 " of a person accused of a capital offence, he 
 *' saw the audience in a state of confusion, and 
 " totally inattentive to the business, which was be- 
 " fore them. Upon this, he earnestly entreated 
 " their attention for a few minutes, and began to 
 " relate," how a certain young man hired an ass 
 to carry his clothes and provisions to Megara, ac- 
 companied by a driver, who was to take care of 
 the animal and bring him back. The day proved 
 extremely hot ; and, as there was no tree, nor any 
 kind of shelter near, to protect him from the vehe- 
 mence of the sun's rays, he prepared to lay himself 
 down under the shadow of the ass. This the ser- 
 
 * See Suidas in Ow CKt», 
 
 vant 
 
I go 
 
 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Vint of the owner would not allow, maintaining, 
 that he had hired the ass only, and not his shadow. 
 H-reupon a most violent altercation arose be- 
 tween them. " When our orator had proceeded 
 *' thus far in his story, he perceived the assembly 
 «' to be grown attentive ; highly delighted with the 
 «' tale, and impatient to hear the conclusion of it, 
 «' Instead of proceeding in his relation, the ora- 
 *' tor reproved them with great severity for their 
 «' childish curiosity and eagerness about the sha- 
 «' dow of an ass, and their scandalous unconcern 
 *' for the life of an innocent person, whom he was 
 « defending." 
 
 Upon the whole, we may challenge any man to 
 produce an instance of afittitious narrative, which 
 contains such a multitude of incidents, of more or 
 less magnitude, so conformable throughout to the 
 exemplar of human life and manners *, as are sup- 
 plied by the short historical writings of the New 
 Testament. 
 
 * exemplar vitce morumque. Hor, 
 
 REMARK 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 19I 
 
 REMARK XXXV. 
 
 It is a good symptom of authenticity in any 
 person pretending to a prophetic charaSier, if he 
 lays down the circumstances, under which his^ro- 
 phecies will receive their completion, with particu- 
 larity and precision. The correspondence of the 
 gospels to this test is wonderfully striking and sa- 
 tisfa£lory. 
 
 Our Lord foretels not only the progress of the 
 gospel, but, the future 'persecution of his disci- 
 ples ; and his own death, with an enumeration of 
 many specific circumstances* — that he should be 
 betrayed by one of his twelve apostles t — that parti- 
 cular insults and ill-usage would attend his appre- 
 hension — that he should be crucified — that he 
 should rise again from the grave — and that, on the 
 third day after his interment. — He foretels also the 
 descent of the Holy Spirit, and the desertion of 
 his apostles — that James, and John, and Pcter^ 
 would suffer martyrdom for their adherence to his 
 religion : — ihdljohn would live to the destruflion 
 
 * Matt. xi. 2. xiv. 15; 
 •|- BsAo/«£v©- — -J/^a; Ttai^cvo'ai rnv 'TTfoyvaa-tv aula, XEytC Afiviv, 
 afiry, hiyo) 'uj4.tVy bit h; fl iz/jiuv wa^a^affet jME, Apost. Const. 
 
 r. 45. 
 
 of 
 
iga EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 o{ Jerusalem; — this destruBion * itself, to be ac- 
 complished before the generation then existing 
 should be removed from the earth, — and by the 
 Romans; with a discriminate detail of many other 
 very remarkable peculiarities, whose completion 
 is minutely recorded by Josephus. 
 
 It is this precision, which in Jeromes opinion t, 
 who indeed only follows Josephus'^^ gives Daniel 
 a manifest superiority over the other prophets of 
 the Old Testament. Aristotle remarks with his 
 
 * The aspeft of this prophecy on the genuineness of the 
 Christian religion is of the very first importance, and wonr 
 derfully satisfaftory : but it has been well displayed by a 
 variety of writers, and of late by Mr. IValktr of Koitingham, 
 in his sermons. The reader will find also, if he thinks pro- 
 per to consult them, some remarks on the subjeft in my 
 notes on c. xxiv. of St. Matthew. — On this topic of our 
 'Lord' i prophetic power, consult also Euseb. prasp. Evang. 
 i; 3- 
 
 + lllud in prirfatione commoneo, nullum prophetarwn tam 
 APERTE dixisse de Christo. Non enim solum scribit eiim esse 
 ■oenturum, sed etidm quo tempore venturus sit docetj et reges 
 PER oRDiNEM digerit, et annos enumerat, ac manijestissima 
 sigva prcenunciat. Prooem. in lib. comm. Dan. 
 
 nfO(py!lou, a\\(x nat KAIPON flPIZEN. . Ant. x. 11.7. 
 
 Kai yap TKTo avSpaTT®- loiov km a Mtvov TOtw 01 /xzv yap aMct 
 cXafiVEf, orav ti ^zu^uJVTat, aopira nai aaaip-r] Trsi^uvrai ^Eysiv, 
 foSn/^m 10V ehsyxor kta, Aeschines cent. Ctes. 
 
 usual 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. igj 
 
 usual accuracy and penetration*, that '■^pretended, 
 " prophets express themselves in general language. 
 " In a game at odd and even," he observes, " a 
 " man may say, whether the number be odd or 
 " even, much sooner than what it is : and that 
 " such a thing will happen, than when. There- 
 '= fore our oracle-mongers never define when." 
 
 Nor must an acute remark of Cicero's to this 
 purpose be omitted t. " If this be foretold, who 
 " is the PERSON meant.? and what is the time? 
 " The writer has conduced himself so dextrously, 
 " that any event whatsoever will suit his pro- 
 ^' phecy, since there is no specification or 
 
 " MEN AND TIMES." 
 
 Horace ridicules with great humour the solemn 
 and pompous nothingness of the Heathen oracles + : 
 
 « Son 
 * Rhet iii. 4. 1. Ed. Oxon. 
 
 i" Hoc si est in libris, in queii hominem, et in (JUOd tem- 
 pus est? Callide enim, qui ilia composuit, perfecit, tit, quod- 
 cunque accidisset, pmUidum vidcretur, hominum et tem- 
 
 PORUM DEFINITIONE SUE LATA : Dc Div. ii. 24. 
 
 TO yap aTToSaiviiv Tiva nara t;iv tve^yetav iiv TTf oXsysOTV oi jjuxiirsiff 
 a T8 iJ.a'jTim]/ EOTirn/i/tw mat cru/xEiov av eih, aK^^a th Ttjjixw; auji- 
 mTTTHV Tai; Tr^oayo^wata-i aufAipmag ra; iKQaatiS- Diogenia- 
 nus apud Euseb. prsep. evang. iv. 3. 
 + Satii. 5.59. 
 
 0! Laertiade, quicquid dicam, aut erit aut nons 
 Divinare etenim magnus mihi donat Apollo, 
 
 To 
 
194 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAN IXV, 
 
 " Son of Laertes ! what I now foretel 
 
 " Will either come to pass, or it will not: 
 
 " For Phcebus' self inspires my oracles." 
 
 My argument upon this point, in behalf of the 
 gospels and the prophetic charafter of our Sa- 
 viour, would be sensibly affefted, if the liberal 
 concession of Bishop Hurd to Pagan divination 
 in his fourth Sermon on Prophecy were at all ad- 
 missible. But to call the prediflions there spe- 
 cified, authentic^ important, and circumstantial, be- 
 trays, I think, such a want of judgement and 
 
 To the same purpose also a ludicrous epigram of Luciliu} 
 in the Anthologia, from which Ausonius has taken his 93d 
 epigram : 
 
 To ask the Libyan God three champioris came, 
 JJ each should conquer in the Olympic game : 
 To whom the God with due solemnity : 
 " A CERTAIN VICTORY awaits all three, 
 " If thou take care that none outstrip thy feet ; 
 " None thee in wrestling, thee in boxing beat." 
 Hence, I think, Mr. Markland proposes at Stat. Silv. 
 V. i. 11^. an injudicious alteration of the prophecy of Nereus 
 in Horace from a general to a specific declaration : 
 Post CERTAs hyemes uret Achaicus 
 Ignis Iliacas domos. 
 The most remarkable prediftion of the heathen writers 
 appears to me that of Homer, II. Y. 307. 
 ttvv h ^n Aivnso jSii] T^uicci a»a|«, 
 Kat vraih; nen^un, Toi xe ^cTovicGt yttancu, 
 
 good 
 
KVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. igg 
 
 good sense, I had almost said, so much credulity^ 
 as might have altogether ruined with some the 
 credit of a less accomplished writer. I, however, 
 will not be disgusted with a few blemishes amidst 
 so much excellence ; and shall therefore neither 
 repeat nor enlarge what I have said on this sub- 
 jeft in another place*. 
 
 The very sagacious and learned Spencer, in his 
 Treatise on the Vanity of Vulgar Prophecies, dis- 
 parages, for the same reasons, which had occurred 
 to myself, that Prophecy of Seneca. As the passage 
 is short I will stay to produce it here. 
 
 " That famous speech of Seneca the tragoedian, 
 
 venient annis 
 
 " Ssecula seris, quibus Oceanus 
 " Vincula rerum laxet, et ingens 
 « Pateat tellus, Tithysque novos 
 " Detegat orbes, nee sit terris 
 « Ultima Thule : 
 
 <' hath been concluded the voice of God, a pro- 
 «« phetic instinft referring to the discovery of 
 *' America in these latter ages : which was indeed 
 " but the voice of a man; a rational conjefture, 
 « proceeding upon a probable persuasion, that 
 
 * Sec my Commentary on St. Matthew, C. xxiv. V. 34. 
 
 «« so 
 
igS EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 " SO great a part of the globe of the earth waj 
 « not all sea, and so would in time be found." 
 
 REMARK XXXVI. 
 
 Such a circumstance as the following 
 
 Joseph of Arimathea went in boldly unto Pilate, 
 and craved the body of Jeiui. And Pilate mar- 
 velled^ if he were already dead * : 
 ^such a circumstance, I say, as this, no histo- 
 rian of any tolerable sagacity would have inserted, 
 who was not conscious of it's truth and of an in- 
 tegrity totally devoid of all wish and intention to 
 deceive. A dextrous impostor (and no incon- 
 siderable dexterity a forger of the gospels must 
 certainly have possessed) would immediately have 
 discerned, that this declaration of Pilate s wonder 
 at the speedy dissolution of our Lord must en- 
 courage a suspicion of some contrivance and de- 
 ception in the matter; and countenance an insinua- 
 tion that one, who had never been dead, as was 
 probable, might appear again, without any miracle^ 
 to his disciples. " Besides," (would an impostor 
 be likely to reason with himself) " why should 
 
 * Mark xv. 43, 44. 
 
 3 " Jesui 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. igj 
 
 ** yesus expire before the two malefaBors who 
 " were crucified with him ?" 
 
 And yet such satisfaftory reasons may be as- 
 signed for this efFeft, as refleO:, independent of all 
 other corroboration, the highest probabiHty on 
 the narrative. 
 
 Not to insist on an opinion, which receives some 
 countenance from scripture*, that J^^iMs was ac- 
 tually fastened to the cross before the robbers; 
 his earlier dissolution is sufficiently accounted for 
 from the low state of mind and body, in which 
 his extreme agony in the garden, and, doubtless, 
 the frequent anticipation of his sufferings on other 
 occasions, previous to that extraordinary conflift, 
 must have left him. It is unnecessary to look, out 
 for any other reason: or we might infers upon pro- 
 bable grounds, an imhecillity of body and a delicacy 
 of constitution, promoted, or produced, by a life of 
 meditation and abstinence, of hardship and fa- 
 tigue t. The solutions, which some writers + have 
 given of this difficulty, are dishonourable to our 
 Lord, detrimental to the evidences of Christianity, 
 
 * See Matt, xxvii. 38. 
 + See Matt. viii. 20. John viii. 57. 
 + Origen, Eusebiu.! (dem. ev. p. 108) and some moderns, 
 from Matt. xx\ii. 50, on which place see my Commentary., 
 a/td Silva Critica, Part iv. 
 
 o without 
 
198 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 without foundation in learning, reason, or scrip- 
 ture; and shocking to common-sense. 
 
 REMARK XXXVII. 
 
 The backwardness of the disciples in believing 
 the resurreftion of their master, and the very 
 scrupulous incredulity and inquisitiveness of Tho- 
 mas in particular, are not only perfeflly consistent 
 with their temper and turn of mind, as set forth 
 in other parts of these histories, and on that ac- 
 count probable from uniformity, but derive a fur- 
 ther appearance of veracity to the historian in 
 question, if we consider that a forger of the ^05- 
 pels would have apprehended some detriment to 
 his grand objeft, the resurrection oi Jesus, from an 
 indisposition and unwillingness in those, who knew 
 him best, to acknowledge their Lord again. Such 
 frankness and simplicity of narrative arc striking 
 presumptions of the reality of this capital event, 
 which is the corner-stone of Christianity; and in- 
 direftly prove the entire conviftion of the apo- 
 stles themselves, that our Lord had a&ually ex- 
 pired on the cross. All the circumstances of this 
 part of the gospel-history cannot fail to make a 
 very considerable impression on every reader of 
 impartiality and discernment. There is a certain 
 
 limit 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. igg 
 
 limit to which an impostor, aided by ingenuity and 
 experience, may be allowed to proceed with little 
 danger of deteftion) but an undeviating consis- 
 tency with itself, in striking conjunftures, in which 
 the arts of sophistry would have often dictated 
 another conduQ;; and a strift conformity to the 
 maxims of experience, through a circumstantial his- 
 tory of a great variety of extraordinary transaSions, 
 is, I think, beyond his ability, and seems only at-, 
 tainable by the honest undesigning votary;, of 
 
 REMARK XXXVIII. 
 
 There occurs in the gospel of St. Luke hy far 
 the noblest specimen of what, by the courtesy of 
 criticism, I would call the sublimity oJ- si- 
 lence t, that human genius has been able to pro- 
 duce. Certainly nothing but an aftual report from 
 an eye-witness could have suggested such a grand 
 and pathetic image; ah image, that humbles the 
 highest flights of ppe,tical inspiration. 
 
 * Abfuit ergo ab his fingendi voluntas et astutia, quo- 
 niam rudes fuerunt. Aut quis possit indoftus apta inter se 
 ct cohaerentia fingere, cum philosophorum doftissimi Plato, 
 et Aristoteles, et Epicurus, et Zeno, ipsi sibi repugnantia et 
 contraria dixerint ? Haec est enim mendaciorm natura, ut 
 cohaerere non possint. Laftant. v. 3. 
 
 + Xtaiin //.iya kch iran^ i-vj/u^orejof Pioys. Longin. de sub. 
 sefb. g. 
 
 o 2 And 
 
200 EVIDENCES or CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 ■ And all the people, that came together to that sights 
 beholding the things which were done, smote their 
 breasts, and returned *. 
 
 Their sensations were too big for utterance! 
 
 The sullen silence of Ajax in Homer is well 
 known, and deservedly extolled by Longinus. I 
 will quote Virgil's admirable imitation of it, in 
 Mr. Pitt's translation, for the entertainment of the 
 reader: which, however, falls very short of the 
 majesty of the original. 
 
 " Nought to these tender words the fair repllesj^ 
 
 " But fixt on earth her unrelenting eyes ; 
 
 "^ The chief still weeping, with a sullen mien, 
 
 " In steadfast silence, frown'd th' obdurate queen, 
 
 " Fixt as a rock amidst the roaring main, 
 
 " She hears him sigh, implore, and plead in vain. 
 
 " Then, where the woods their thickest shades display, 
 
 " From his detested sight she shoots away." 
 
 Nor will I let go the opportunity of giving a 
 little variety to this work by producing a delight- 
 ful passage of the same kind from the father of 
 poetry, not noticed by the critics t. 
 
 * Ch. xxiii. V. 48. 
 t Horn. Od. A. 537. 
 
 AchilleS) 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 201 
 
 Achilla, after some other conversation with 
 Ulysses in the shades, inquires into the conduft of 
 his son. He received such an account of his bra- 
 very and exploits, as could not fail to be highly 
 acceptable to such a father. The effeft of this 
 intelligence on Achilles is thus nobly imagined by 
 the poet: 
 
 " I spake : Achilles straight, without reply, 
 
 " Stalkt o'er the yellow mead of Asphodel 
 
 " With stride majedic; flush'd with joy to hear 
 
 ♦' Such glorious feats of his intrepid son." 
 
 REMARK XXXIX. 
 
 The miracle of the conversion of water into 
 wine is related with every symptom of veracity. 
 The easiness of the narrative, and the probability 
 of the several circumstances accompanying the 
 miracle, must be either the result of truth and 
 aftual observation, or the atchievement of the 
 most ingenious and subtle impostor, that ever 
 exerted his skill for the deception of mankind. 
 If the latter alternative be the more reasonable 
 supposition, it behoves our adversaries to give 
 some account of this sagacious plagiary; some 
 little insight into his charader — who he was — when 
 and where he existed. Until a few particulars of 
 o 3 this 
 
202 |;yiDENCES OF CHRISXrANITYi 
 
 this kind can be made but, they must indulge the 
 friends of revelation in their partiality for the cloud 
 of witnesses, that encompass them ; and in their re-; 
 spefl; for those innumerable marks of internal pro- 
 bability, discoverable in the scriptures of their 
 religion. Should the deist call this attachment to 
 their faith puerile, and irrational, unvorthy of a 
 philosophical turn of mind ; though decency will 
 not suffer us to Oppose the names of many now 
 alive to this groundless and conceited imputation, 
 yet surely, without alledging instances from the 
 clerical profession, we may be Jtllowed to cite the 
 names of Bacon, Milton, Boyle, Newton, 
 Locke, and Hartley. In competition with these 
 heroes of our species, if the dispute must be de-. 
 cided by the preponderancy o^ genius and accom-, 
 plishments, such men as Hume * and Gibbon are as. 
 
 * I have often been shocked and mortified at the com- 
 mehdalibns, which Mr. Hume has received from respefta- 
 We writers, on account of his history. Qf his other quali- 
 ties as a historian I say liothitig ; my present concern is 
 vath his stile. In a seleft company of friends I once as-: 
 serted, thst he was a WRETC^iED writer. The opinion 
 was not admitted, and his relation, of the massacre in Ire- 
 land was mentioned as a fine specimen of composition. It 
 was immediately producedj and after a slight disseftion 
 given up as truly pitiful. This history, and especially Mr, 
 Gibbon's, shews the author more thaa the suijeS ; and, instead 
 
 of, 
 
EVIDENCES OF GHRISTI Alf ITY. SOg 
 
 the small dust of the balance against the mountains ;— 
 as the malignant glimmerings of a taper to the ef- 
 fulgence of a mid-day sun. 
 
 These self-important gentlemen know nothing 
 in reality of the evidences of revelation. It is as- 
 serted by Dr. jfohnson in Mr* BosweU's Memoirs 
 of him, that Hume owned to a clergyman in the 
 bishopric of Durham, that he had never read the 
 New Testament in a dispassionate and inquisitive 
 manner. And " upon this occasion, I cannot 
 " help calling to mind what once past between 
 *' the renowned "Sir Isaac Newton and the famous 
 '' Dr. Halley. This latter throwing out some in- 
 " decent reflexions upop Christianity, Sir Isaac 
 •' stopt him short, and spoke to him in these or the 
 *' like words : Dr. Halley, I am always glad to 
 *' hear you, when you speak about astronomy, or 
 *' other parts of mathematics ; because that is a 
 *' subjeS you have studied, and well understand : 
 *« but you should not talk of Christianity, for you 
 " have not studied it. I have; and know you 
 «' know nothing of the matter*." 
 
 of the perspicuity, simplicity, and- purity of narrative, yoU 
 are presented with all the pomp of oratorical tumour and 
 laborious ostentation ; with every species of vicious affec- 
 tation and ridiculous verbosity, absolutely insupportable 
 to men of taste, and to such as have been schooled in the 
 natural language and pure composition of ancient history .- 
 * Emlyn's Life, p. 55. 
 
 04 To 
 
204 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 To return to the subjeQ: of this Remark*. The 
 absence of all contrivance and collusion could 
 not be more happily implied, than by the manner 
 in which the discovery is signified to the conir 
 pany. The servants alone were privy to the pro-. 
 cess of the miracle; and were desired hy ^esus to 
 carry some of the new wine to the gowrnor of the 
 feast. According to the usual praftice on those 
 occasions, mentioned too by the governor, the 
 wine, which they had been drinking last, was not 
 remarkable for it's excellence. His attention was 
 immediately excited by this fresh supply, and he 
 gives his attestation to the miracle in so natural 
 and easy a way, that I cannot hut esteem it be- 
 yond the reach of artifice and the ingenuity of 
 imposture. He called the bridegroom, and said: 
 Every man at the keginning setteth forth good wine^ 
 and, when men have well drunk, then that which is 
 worse ; but thou hast kept the go.od wine until now. 
 
 This incidental testimony carries, with it all the 
 air of authenticity, which could possibly be de- 
 rived from the'unafFefted mention of such a cir- 
 cumstance, \ 
 
 I cannot dismiss the miracle before us, without 
 calling upon the reader to contemplate the compli- 
 ant and amiable charafter of our Lord and the reli- 
 gion which he preacht. Christianity, he will observe, 
 
 * John ii. 1—12, 
 
 does 
 
EVIDKNCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 2O5 
 
 (does not disdain to indulge the innocent enjoy--, 
 inents and temperate recreations of humanity. 
 We have here inculcated nothing of puritanical 
 sourness, nothing of the rigorous austerities of 
 Stoicism. It enjoins no fastings, no painful mor^ 
 tifications of the flesh. It's spirit is in unison with 
 the unadulterated affeftions of our constitution. 
 The author of nature and the giver oi grace is one 
 and the samcj Gpd unchangeable and ever-' 
 lasting, 
 
 REMARK XL, 
 
 The expulsion of the buyers and sellers from, 
 the temple is such an extraordinary trans'aftion in 
 itself, and so very different from the customary 
 conduct of our Saviour, that an impostor of any 
 penetration and address (and surely prejudice it- 
 self will not deny a forger of the gospels some 
 portion of these qualities) would have thought it 
 madness to leave such an account, unaccompanied 
 by any allegations to vindicate the behaviour of 
 Jesus, and any reasons for the implicit deference 
 of the traders to his authority. No : we have un- 
 doubtedly the authentic narrative of a historian, 
 conscious that he was employed upon (he truthj 
 jnd no farther solicitous th'ap to record it; con- 
 fiding 
 
ZCS6 evidences' of CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 fiding in the general tenour of the history at large 
 for consistency and corroboration. 
 
 A consciousness in the traders of the indecency 
 and profanation of their proceedings, in prosti^ 
 tuting the courts of the Lord's house to the accom- 
 modation of their worldly purposes in so de- 
 grading a manner, would not, I think, in itself 
 account for this ready acijuiescence in our Lord's 
 eonduft. And yet daily experience is sufficient 
 to certify the , advantage, which this principle of. 
 nature can give the we?tk over' the strong. But, 
 if we connetl with 'this an idea of his miraculous 
 power, (without which indeed the cooperating 
 ijause, that is, the great multitude of applauding 
 s^eftators, who accompanied him, cannot . easily 
 be accounted foi;) all difficulties will be removed ; 
 a beautiful coherence is discovered, and. the at,- 
 testation of a singular event, will accede to the 
 divine legation, as well as tihe prophetic charafter *, 
 of our Saviour. The whole, transaftiqn appears 
 to me most mysterious and perfeftly unaccoun- 
 table in ?ny other view > but plain, and rea- 
 sonable, and consistent, and satisfactory in 
 this. 
 
 * See Bishop Kurd's most excellent Discourse on this 
 Subjeft in his^Sermons. 
 
 Now 
 
EVIDENCES OJ CHRISTIANITY. 40/ 
 
 Now the unanimity of all the Evangelists in re- 
 cording this piece of history is a sufficient proof 
 oi their opinion of it's importance; and this con- 
 stitutes a presumption of the justness of the pre- 
 ceding ideas respecting it, which certainly give it 
 this importance. 
 
 I discover another mark of siinpUcity and truth, 
 another presumption against all collusive manage- 
 ment, in the different relations, which the Evan- 
 gelists have left of this transaftion; and of such 
 force, as, I flatter myself, cannot be resisted. 
 
 When our Saviour declares in the narratives 
 of Matthew, Mark, and Luke: My house is thi 
 house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of 
 THIEVES*; an allusion is not intended to a nest 
 of robbers indiscriminately, of any description^ 
 but is particular and precise. A comparison is 
 not instituted between the traders and a band of 
 robbers; but between a den of robbers and the 
 Court of the Temple. By a deni& here meant the 
 favity of a rock, a subterraneous habitation, or some 
 ,such place, where robbers were accustomed to 
 secrete the cattle, which they had stolen, I 
 cannot better illustrate my meaning and the per- 
 tinency of the appellation, than by producing a 
 passage from Virgil, immediately tq the purpose, 
 
 * Matt. xxi. 13, Mark xi. (7. Luke xix. 46^ 
 
 m 
 
208 IVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 in which the cave and. rapine oi Cacus is de- 
 scribed*. 
 
 " Alcides came, and here his spacious herds 
 
 " Spread o'er the valley and the river's bank. 
 
 " On wiles and mischief Cacus still intent, 
 
 « Four beauteous heifers and four stately bulis 
 
 " By fraud drives off; and, that no steps direft 
 
 «' Might indicate their course, he backward drags 
 
 « His struggling plunder to his gloomy den." 
 
 Now I maintain, that the phrase a den of thieves. 
 is perfeftly unintelligible as it is related by these 
 three Evangelists, because there is nothing in the. 
 context, that can lead to an explanation of it. 
 We niust have recourse to St. Johns relation for 
 satisfaftion upon this point ; which is this ; 
 
 * M.x\.viii, 203. 
 
 Alcides aderat, taurosque hdc viBor agebat 
 Ingente.! : vaUemque bdva amnemque tenebant. 
 At furiis Cad mens efftra, ne quid inausum 
 Aut intraQatum scelerisve dolive Juisset, 
 Quatuor a slabulis prcesianti corpore tauros 
 Aver'tit, totidem Jormi superante juvevca! ,• 
 Atque hos, ne qua forent pedidus vestigia reElis, 
 Cauda in spehncam traSos, versisque iiiarum 
 Indiciis raptos, sdxo occultabat ofiaco. 
 
 This just explanation of a den of thieves, if I mistakft 
 -not, is Mr.'Markiand's: a man of true simplicity of mind, 
 adorned by a souiid judgement and exquisite learning. 
 
EVIDENCES OF CttRISTi ANitY. aog 
 
 He drove them all out of the temple, arid the 
 
 SHEEP dwi iAe bXEN*» 
 
 Here is the key to this den of thieves^ dropped 
 indeed very incidentally, as it should seem, and 
 without design i for it is extremely observable, 
 that our Saviour's charge in this Evangelist is 
 not — Make not my father's house a den o f ^ 
 THIEVES-^ but — 'Make not my father's house a 
 HOUSE OF MERCHANDIZE.-'— So thfen thosehJs- 
 torians, who employ the peculiar expression under 
 contemplation, leave it wholly unintelligible in 
 it's proper acceptation > and that historian, on the 
 other hand, who had actually given the explana-i 
 tion, does not use the phrase. Now I defy any 
 man to imagine a more decisive and unequivocal 
 proof of persons, writing from the- simplicity of 
 their hearts, unaccom.panied by the slightest symp- 
 tom of artificial contrivance and collusion, — 
 without the least appearance of any solicitude be- 
 yond a plain narration of the truth, — than what a 
 comparison of our Evangelistr ex\iihks in this in- 
 stance. The conclusion is obvious ; and the evi- 
 dence is almost irresistible t. 
 
 The reader will discover the propriety of the > 
 same inference in favour of the freedom of the 
 
 * C. K. V. 15. 
 + Sine 3ubio in omni re vincit imitationem Veritas ; 
 Cicero de orat. iii. 57. 
 
 Evan- 
 
aid EVIDENCES OF CHRISTI A^ JtlT.- 
 
 £v(ingelists from all partial purposes^ if he will 
 take the trouble of comparing Matt, xxvi, 68. 
 with Mark xiv. 65. and Luke. xxii. 64. He will 
 observe that the jirst writer uses the expression. 
 Prophesy unto us — without mentioning what the 
 other two have inserted, and what is necessary to 
 explain the phrase ; namely, that the face of Christ 
 was covered. And this confirms also another re- 
 OTiirjJ, which I have had occasion to make before j 
 How natural it is for those, fully acquainted 
 with a circumstance, to overlook particulars as 
 if of no importance, but which are in reality es- 
 sentiial to convey a proper insight into the tran- 
 saftion to one not already acquainted with it. 
 
 To this purpose also is John ii. ig. with Matt-i 
 Xxvi. 61. The particular there specified has no 
 application in the former Evangelist, and no pre- 
 vious mention in the latter. There cannot be, in 
 my opinion, more probable indications of honest 
 and disinterested purpose. 
 
 REMARK XLL 
 
 If a Jover of the gospel should refleO; on the 
 cowardly disposition oi the. Apostles, of which they 
 gave such unequivocal proof by forsaking their 
 master in his last extremity, and consulting only 
 
 their 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAN ItY. 211 
 
 their own preservation : and should observe, on 
 the other hand, their forwardness and intrepidity 
 within a yew days after ; it is not improbable, that 
 some emotions of embarrassment and mistrust may 
 arise from a transition apparently too sudden to 
 be conformable to truth and nature upon any 
 assignable operations of the human mind. — The 
 Apostles were indeed destitute of all the customary 
 incentives to great and'faazardoiis undertakings : 
 ineloquent, unexercised in public life, without 
 friends, without influence*. How then is this 
 extraordinary condufl; to be explained .»• I reply : 
 
 a PERSUASION OF THE RESURRECTION OfJeSUS 
 
 Christ, upon the evidence of their senses, was 
 an adequate cause for so great an alteration of 
 condufl; and such intrepidity of temper : and fur- 
 nishes a complete solution of the problem. When 
 I contemplate every circumstance of their situ- 
 ation, I feel convinced, that no ingenuity can 
 devise another countervailing principle equal to 
 such effefts. To take refuge in supernatural in- 
 fluence, when so reasonable and satisfactory a 
 cause can be assigntd of sufficient efficacy, is 
 both unphilosophical and inj uriaus to Christianity.' 
 This, I maintain, was that advocate, who 
 would defend these uneloquent and unlearned 
 
 * See Arist, Rh€t. i. 22. 
 
 Galikans 
 
212 EViti'E>feEs or cmrisi-ianity. 
 
 Galileans with such strength of argument, suck 
 energy of conviftion, before rulers, and kings^ 
 and councils*: — this was thdit mouth' and wisdom^ 
 which all the power, and policy, and malice of 
 their ddversaries wauld be unable to gainsay and 
 1-esistii Observe the ground upon which Peter 
 &nd John build their determined resolution to 
 preach the gospel in spite of every impediment. 
 We cannot, say they, but speak the things, which 
 we haXie seen and heaiCd J, 
 
 Upon this plain and obvious principle, thalt 
 jjiromis^ in John xiv. 26. admits a most satisfaftory 
 explanation. But the holy spirit, that advocate, 
 which the Father will send in my name, he will 
 teach you all things ; and will remind you oj all that 
 I said unto you : that is, (if I have been able to 
 acquire any ' insight into the phraseology of the 
 scriptures) " That extraordinary energy of the 
 '•'■ holy spirit oi GoA^, my resurreQion from the 
 " grave, v.hich is to be the subjeft'of your preach- 
 " ing, will be, from your certain conviftion of 
 
 * Mark xiii* g. 4 Luke xxi. 15.- 
 
 My learned friend Dfi Edwards, of Cambridge^ has^ 
 in my opinionj entirely misconeeived this point in his 
 sermon before the University, on the PrediElions oJ the Apostles 
 concerning the End of the World, page 7. 
 
 J Afts. ivi £o. § Rom. ii 4* 
 
 "it. 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTI AN JTY. 2I3 
 
 ** it, your defence and encouragement, and will 
 " shew you the importance of my death; a faS;, 
 " of which I, for this reason, so repeatedly fore- 
 " warned you*, and which ye were so backward 
 " to apprehend." Compare also John ii. 22. 
 xii, i6. as strongly illustrative of these ideas. 
 
 The foregoing remarks will appear to the com- 
 petent and dispassionate examiner, if L mistake 
 not, of considerable moment, and calculated to 
 remove much difficulty from the scriptures; for 
 we cannot discover from the subsequent cpndu£l 
 of the apostles, as delivered in the second history 
 by St. Luke, that ,they spoke or reasoned with 
 more sagatity after the death of Christ than before,' 
 or in a manner at all superior to that of common 
 men. The single faB alone of their master's re- 
 surreBion inspired them at once with argument and 
 fortitude. What they had seeh, they taught. It 
 ■Was not they, who spake ; but this' miracle of th& 
 holy spirit of their father, -which spake in themf. 
 
 And this constitutes, we know, the essen- 
 tial. distinction between the testimony of the 
 apostles, and the case of those, who have laid 
 down their lives for the truth in other instances^ 
 
 * Matt. xvi. 2i. XX. 18. John ii, ig, 
 t Matt, X, ig, 20. 
 
 p and 
 
«l4 EVIDENCES OiP CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 and in the succeeding ages of CAn'sifzam^j;. Orf 
 one side, mariyrdom was the result of a parti- 
 cular persuasion, according to the different sen- 
 timents of the individual, derived from the writ- 
 ten records of the gospel, respe£lihg transaftions 
 unknown to him through any other medium ; li- 
 able, therefore, t6 endless diversity, and conse- 
 qiiently to endless error and 'misconception. On 
 the other side, martyrdom attended a conviftion- 
 ofwhat had been nEARnand seen, and handxed 
 of the word of life*: in which case there was, of 
 course, no possibility oi misapprehension and 
 mistake. We have, in one instance, if I may be 
 allowed this technical illustration of my meanings 
 the exemplification of an axiom : in the other, no 
 more than a theoretical demonstration of sin- 
 cerityf. 
 
 * 1 John i. 1 . 
 
 A + I would fecommend to the reader some judicious rea- 
 sonings of Eusebius, Dem. evang. iii. 6. p. 137. et seq. 
 which are rather too copious for insertion in this place, 
 at a time when publications of this nature are so preca- 
 rious in their issue and so certain and exorbitant in their 
 cost. He may consult also to great advantage Origen against 
 Cdsiis, lib. ii. p. 65. edi Cant, 1658. 
 
 REMARK 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 215 
 
 REMARK XLIL' 
 
 The miracles botli of the Old and New Testa- 
 ment, if they imply nothing absurd and contra- 
 diftory in themselves, nothing inconsistent with 
 our most approved conceptions .of the Supreme 
 Being and the wisdom of the divine administra- 
 tion ; the miracles, I say, of revelation, in these 
 circumstances, proclaim their own authenticity, 
 upon this plain principle; — that no man, con- 
 versant Qfaly with the occurrences of common 
 life, could have originall)* entertained notions 
 so unauthorised by experience, and utterly inca- 
 pable of admission into the mind, without the in- 
 terference of some extraneous impression, with- 
 out the existence of the reality. Nay, we may ex- 
 press this proposition in still stronger terms : — 
 The very singularity of the subjefl; is, in this, 
 
 * tOjtytt ya^ aim rut Mofxalon ra nhx iiyeiaiiu^hetrateit, mu 
 itivtaTot' ra jitv ya,^ tm/jMra (puai,^ tOftoBsttiinctTec Ef 1, ra, ^ eth», 
 u ir(i^!)8sTi)f*aTa, a^^a |3Aflsri)(*aTa. Hippocrates irc^t nxf^S' 
 
 Nunquam corpus umbra, aut veritatem imago pra;cedit : 
 
 Tertul. Apol. 47. 
 
 £/Mi $< }«(« yinirBcu vctnu, to. f^.tyofiha. £> ya^ otoftet fumt 
 lyiimno, f<oy&' J« (1- ^n) srsj' avrut aSei; virn^^it' a>3\a ^fort^oii 
 T« sgy»,ei6' BT»5 i Pkoy®' wtgi xvrut. Palcephatus init. which 
 is exaftly correspondent to my own ideas. 
 
 F a and 
 
Sl6 EVIDE-NCES OF CMRISTI ANlTIT. 
 
 and. all such cases, a high presumption of the 
 TRUTH of the transaftion*. 
 
 Herodotus informs ust, that « NecHo, king of 
 « jEgypt^ sent some Phoenicians on a naval expe- 
 " dition with orders to sail through the pillars of 
 " Hercules into the Northern sea, and so return 
 " to Mgypt. The PJioenicians accordingly set sail 
 *' from the Red Sea towards the South. In au- 
 " tumn they went on shore, sowed their seed, 
 «« waited for the return of harvest, and then pro- 
 *« ceeded on their voyage. Thus they went on 
 " for two successive years : and on the third year, 
 " doubled the pillars of Hercules, and came to 
 " yEgypt. They brought back a strange account, 
 "perfectly incredible to me; another may 
 " believe it, if he pleases ; that, when they sailed 
 " round Libya, they-had the sun on their 
 *' RIGHT hand;!;." The same honest author, seft. 
 
 25. 
 
 * To the same ■puv'posc' Aristotle: RHet. ii. ig. 2 fin. 
 AXX©", sx Twn ^axumtu fi^t yiyveerGai, ainruv h' oTf ax at i^a^at, 
 « ftl) vt, ' 
 
 + L. IV. feft, 42. Which I suppose is the earliest ac- 
 count upon record of the doubling of the Cape of Good 
 Hope, about six hundred years before the Christian aera, 
 
 % A similar assertion proves the account oi Nearchus in 
 Arrian to be true, hist. Ind. seft. 25. ed. Gronov. " As 
 " they sailed by the land of the Indians, Nearchus says tha't 
 
 "the 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. ZlJ 
 
 *' 25. -will not believe " that men -with goat's-feet 
 " inhabit the northern extremities of Europe ; and 
 '* that' others near them sleep for six months." — The 
 latter fiftions arose from men in those high lati- 
 tudes having been seen in beasts-skins, and so 
 compared to satyrs; and from the attdal expe- 
 rience in travellers of the length of. the day in 
 summer. 
 
 It is evident to a demonstration, that these 
 Phoenicians did aftually perform this expedition; 
 that they past the tropic of cancer, and possibly 
 the line and the southern tropic. But such a 
 strange idea of going beyond the sun, which, we 
 see, gained no credit with our grave historian; 
 such an idea, I say, as this could not possibly be 
 a mere fiftion of the sailors, an effeH without a 
 cause *; — it could originate in no other source but 
 aBual experiment and ocular observation. 
 
 Let us illustrate these important positions by an 
 exSmple or two. I have but little doubt in my 
 own mind concerning the truth of the following 
 
 " the shadows were different ; but, when they had ad- 
 " vanced considerably to the south, the shadows also were 
 " turned to the soiilh:" and other fafts, all demonstrating, 
 that he had aftually been between the tropics. 
 
 * Aoy®' ya^ e^yn cum, x«T« Ayi/jLoxflloi : for words are the 
 shadow of adions, says Democritus, Plutarch. 
 
 p 3 remark- 
 
2l8 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 remarkable event*. It is impressed with strong 
 charafters of authenticity, and is easily reconciled 
 to credibility and redeemed from extravagance 
 by one or two very reasonable postulata. 
 
 " Two friends, Arcadians^ were ti'avelling Xo- 
 " gether ; and, when they arrived at Megara^ one 
 " took up his lodgings at an inn, the other with 
 " a friend. In the night, the one, who lodged 
 " with his friend, fancied that he at the inn en- 
 " treated him to come to his assistance, as the 
 " inn-keeper was preparing to murder him. Im- 
 '' mediately he rose up from sleep in a fright ; but, 
 " on recolleftion, thinking the vision unworthy 
 *' of notice, he laid himself down again. His 
 *' friend seemed in a second appearance to beg 
 " him not to leave his death unrevenged, as he 
 *' had foreborn to assist him whilst alive : adding, 
 " that he had been murdered, thrown into a cart 
 « by the inn-keeper, and covered with dung: he 
 " wisht him therefore to watch the cart as it went 
 *' out of the gate in the morning. He went ac- 
 « cordingly, and askt the driver what he had got 
 " in his cart; who ran away terrified at the ques- 
 *' tion. Thp body was found at the bottom, and 
 *' the inn-keeper capitally punished." 
 
 The faO; I judge to have been as follows : The 
 survivor, either from the bad polity of the coun- 
 
 * Cicero de divin. i. 27. and taken ftbm him by Valerius 
 Maximus, i. 7, fin, 
 
 try. 
 
EVIP^NCES OP CHp.IST'IANITY. 81^ 
 
 tr)', tbe charafter or look of the inn-keeper, or 
 some other uijkpo>yn appearances produfiive of 
 $usplcion, yjis apprehensive for the safety of his 
 friejid .at the inn. Fyll of these apprehensions, he 
 went to sleep, and dreamt, as was natural, that 
 his companion was mi^rdered- On going to the 
 inn iji the morning; and, meeting with some un-' 
 satisfactory excuse, his suspicion led him to have 
 the cart examii^ed, and thus the murder was de- 
 tefted. — The additional circumstances are pro- 
 bably adventitious to the true relation, in conse- 
 quence of passing through various hands, and a 
 prevalent disippsition in mankind to enlarge and 
 aggravate remarkable occurrences. 
 
 :Of this kifld is that remarka,ble phcenomenon, re- 
 lated by /Ar«c evangelists, the transfiguration oi 
 j£i,%s upon the Mount : which the d,tist<, perhaps, 
 like the prudent histpfiap, will not choose to cre- 
 dit ; though, like him also, he inay believe a mul- 
 titude of other strange things, against all reason 
 and probability. As philosophy and experience 
 -have vindicated the chai'a£ier of the Phoenicia^. 
 sailors againgt the insinuations of their journalist; 
 so we are convinced, that sound reason and pro- 
 bable dedu£Uon will bear us out in our belief of 
 the miracles of scripture against the objeftions of 
 our ablest and most insidious opponents. 
 
 p 4 The 
 
220 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 The 'general pretension of antiquity to miracles 
 and the unanimous persuasion of their 'reality in 
 all ages and amongst all nations, proye decidedly, 
 in my opinion, some miracles to be trv,e. Let 
 then the deist point out those from the great mass 
 on record, which can establish so fair a claim to 
 'the -charaOier of authenticity, as those connefted 
 with the Jewish and Christian revelations. 
 
 The present existing Condition of Judaism^ 
 Christi'aHity, and Mahometanism, (which is founded 
 on the two former revelations and proceeds on a 
 supposition of their authenticity, or it would never 
 have gained converts,, sensual as it is) appears to 
 me a demonstration of miracles exhibited at some 
 former period, and not otherwise to be accounted 
 for from any known principles of human aftion. 
 Large bodies of men neither originally accept, nor 
 long retain, a system of religious institutions, 
 which restrains the unruliness of passion and car- 
 nal indulgences, accompanied also by a multi- 
 plicity of temporal disabilities and embarrassments, 
 without some mirt.ciilous attestation to the cha- 
 racter of the founder*. History is uniform in 
 
 * Sedulius, pasch. carm. i, a poet ef much elegance ; 
 
 Indicio est antiqua fides, et cana priorum 
 Testis obigo patrum; nuUisque abolenda per asvum 
 Tejnp oribus constant virtutum signa tuarum, 
 
 her 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 221 
 
 her testimony to this effefl;*; But J^etus and 
 Chrutians have adhered to their respeftive sys- 
 tems through a series of ages, environed by dif- 
 ficulties and assailed by temptations-; nor have 
 they shewn themselves more tenacious under the 
 gloom of ignorance, than in the sunshine of let- 
 ters and refinement t: they have remained stedr 
 fast, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, rustics 
 and philosophers. Their respective institutions} 
 
 * Omnium primuin, rem .ad multitudinem imperitam, 
 et illi^ sasculis rudem, efiicacissimam Deorum, metum in- 
 jieiendum ratus est : qui, quum descendere ad aniijos 
 
 SINE ALIQUO COMMENTO MIRACULI NON POSSET, simulat 
 
 sibi cnm. de%. £gtrid congriessus nofturnos esse. Liv. i. ig, 
 which is applicable also to other founders of a religious 
 polity. 
 
 .+ Conjpare this statement of a most observable and 
 consoling faft with the case of the Church oi England, and 
 other such human contrivances and engines oi state-policy : 
 and see whether they gain, like the gospel, more fervent 
 patrons and admirers in proportion to the discussion of 
 their principles by inquisitive and learned men ; notwith- 
 standing the potent attraftion of the golden bait. Beyond 
 all dispute, ii these establishments are true, the best 
 argument for the genuineness of Christianity is effeftually 
 gone; and I wish some charitable dignitary would take 
 pity on us and our religion, and supply an equivalent evi- 
 dence in it's place. Deans and Bishops, encrease our 
 faith I 
 
 therefore, 
 
424 EVIDENCE* OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 tfeeFefore, at their origin, must iiaye been esta- 
 blished -on 'piracies *. 
 
 Indeed ev^ry day, that passes by, teems with 
 fniracles. All, that our eyes behold, — all the 
 whiffing scene before us, is a mass and series of 
 miracles. And what ^hall prevent the Supreme 
 B&i-ng from diversifying his plans and adorning 
 his arrangement with. additional interference, for 
 specific and important ends? Is it not the same 
 omnipotence, that operates, whether by continuity 
 of influence, or occasional accession ? The evidence 
 Jilone is the proper objeQ: of our discussion : for 
 who shaU diftate the measures of procedure to 
 .CONSUMMATE WISDOM? Or ho)v shall man un- 
 dertake to decide on the expediency of the 
 means, or the original motives, oi providential ad~ 
 ministmtionf P 
 
 * 2 Pet, i. 16. 
 
 Hear then, quoth hi, the tenor of my tale. 
 
 In sort as I it to that shtppear.d told : 
 No LEASING NEW, Tior ,gT andamc' s fable stale, 
 
 But ANCIENT TRUTH, Confirm' d with credenceold. 
 
 Spencer's Colin Clout. 
 
 + Neque enitn, quia se divina mortalib^is dedignantur 
 fateri, idcirco, quae visa non fuerint, dubitabimus fafta, 
 _ quum fafta videamus, quae dubitaverimus esse fdcienda. 
 Pacati panegyricus Tlieod. Aug. seft. 39. 
 
 JIEMARK 
 
EVIDENCKS OF CHRISTIANITY. H^^ 
 
 REMARK XLIII. 
 
 But the whole New Testament does not record 
 a more extraordinary faft, than that, which SU 
 John declares to have been exhibited under his 
 own inspeftion. 
 
 B^U when they came to Jems, and iaw, that he 
 was dead already, they brake not his legs. But one 
 of the soldiers with a spear pier (t his side, andjQrih- 
 tuith came thereout blood and water. And hs 
 who saw it, beareth record ; and his record is true*. 
 
 Dr. Hunter's preliminary dissertation to his ana-' 
 tomical leBures sufficiently shews the very imper- 
 feft knowledge of anatomy, that obtained in ages 
 long posteriour to the days of Christ. And, 
 in any case, our unlettered ^sherman, of an occUt 
 pation, as ancient history abundantly shews, re^ 
 puted the most vile and wretched, will not easily 
 be suspefted of an acquaintance with this subjeQ: 
 more accurate and extensive than that of his con- 
 temporaries, eminent for their attainments in learnr 
 ing and in science. The argument in this view is 
 very cogent. Nor can it be thought, that an itjj^ 
 postor would hazard an assertion respefcling cort- 
 gequences, which, could it be supposed to enter 
 bis mind at all, greater experience 'and maturer 
 
 * C. xix, V. 33—36. 
 
 informa- 
 
224 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. . 
 
 information might evince to be absurd, or even 
 impossible. Stronger evidence, as it appears to 
 me, cannot be desired in a case like this. The 
 reality of the fa£l seems unquestionable. It will 
 stand to the end of time an irrefragable demon- 
 stration of J^oAw's veracity, and of the authority 
 of his gospel. 
 
 Now this effeft here described, the flowing out 
 fef bhod and water, is an indubitable proof, that 
 Jemi. was actually deadj and, therefore, that 
 he could not sIkw himself alive to his disciples 
 afterwards but by a resurreBion from- the grave : 
 ■which event is the foundation, as I have before 
 observed, that ' supports the whole fabric of the 
 Christian revelcttion. This appearance, I say, was 
 B fireof oi death. The water, mentioned by our 
 evangelist, was the lymphatic Jluid from the peri- 
 tardium* and the intermediate parts, added pro- 
 bably to a defluxion from the mucous glands of the 
 lungs; all which could not fail of being con- 
 siderably lacerated by the passage of such a wea- 
 pon, as a Roman spear. Had any life still re- 
 mained in our Saviour's body, and, the circulation 
 of the blood not yet ceased ; so great an effusion; 
 I presume, must have taken place, as to prevent 
 all discrimination of the lymph and similar fluids, 
 
 * See Hippocrates de corde, init, 
 
 that 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 225 
 
 that issued with it. The transaftion is wonder- 
 fully striking in every view, and replete with 
 evidence and cohviftion. 
 
 Under this Remark I shall take an dpportunity 
 of explaining from this text a most remarkable 
 passage in the epistles of the same author, upon 
 which I presume the reader would have recourse 
 in vain for satisfaftion to any commentator, and 
 which receives immediate illustration and cer- 
 tainty from the preceding observations. 
 
 The passage here meant is, John v. 8. and should 
 be thus translated : 
 
 And there are three, -which bear witness on the 
 tarth, the breath, and the water, and the 
 BLOOD : and the end of these three is one. 
 
 The circumstance, which is proved by these 
 iAree things in conjunftion — the breath — -the water 
 . — and the blood — is the death of christ. Our 
 evangelist had said*, that Jesus gave up Az5 b r e at h. 
 But we all know, that life is recoverable in many- 
 instances after respiration ceases. The breath 
 alone, therefore, would not bear efFeftual wit- 
 ness. But the concurrence of the water and the 
 blood, issuing from the perforation of the spear, 
 makes the testimony quite complete, and consti- 
 tutes an undeniable demonstration of the cessatioa 
 of existence. 
 
 ♦ John xix, 30. 
 
 I might 
 
-£26 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 I might subjoin also the testimonies, which^ewt 
 have borne at different times to the life and cha» 
 rafler of Jesus and his ajiostks, in vindication of 
 the truth of our religion; but as nothing new 
 and importarit has occurred on this point from 
 my own researches, I shall content myself with 
 referring to some important remarks to this effe£); 
 Bcatterfed up and down the works oi' Light/jjot^ 
 and to the note in Bishop Lowth's Isaiah c. liii. 
 V. 8. 
 
 Some may be inclined to think, that I have 
 dwelt upon too many, particulars, and not all the 
 most important. But it is well known, that what 
 appears of no weight to one man, is convincing 
 to another; and situbborn persuasions are not 
 easily overpowered, but by a circumstantial and 
 copious detail of evidence *. Such as this exe- 
 cution of a good intention may be, I resign it to 
 the candour of the learned and intelligent, who 
 alone are competent to decide. 
 
 With a most exquisite observation of our Lord 
 himself I shall close these Remarks respefting the 
 internal -Evidences of the Christian Revelation. 
 
 * According to a just remark of Hippocrates : Atayxv 
 
 Tov axovTiz SK. Tvi^ •ffotp yvu^riq ^irotrfi-^otiif rofg lorvTU te Xayoi^ iretff^y 2 
 P-514- 
 
 But 
 
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. 227 
 
 But all these things will they do unto you for my 
 name's sake^ because they know not him 
 
 THAT SENT ME*. 
 
 In other words, ignorance and vice are the 
 
 GRAND ENEMIES t)f REVELATION. JuSt Sentl- 
 
 ments of the supreme being and a rational 
 system o^ natural religion, operating in purity and 
 integrity of life, Contrary to all fallacious systems, 
 will, I think, invariably condu6l an ingenuous 
 inquirer to Christianity ; that truly moral dispen- 
 sation of faith and praftice^ which conf,inues to 
 gain an accession of evidence from the researches 
 and disquisitions of it's votaries, in proportion to 
 the impr'ovemtnts of philosophy and the advancenwrd 
 of the human understanding. Whether there can 
 be such a person as a virtuous and conscientious 
 deist of competent literature t, who has examined 
 with a dispassionate attention all the evidences of 
 the gospel, is a question, to which / should not 
 hesitate to give an answer from the text, just 
 quoted, upon the authority of Jesus Christ. ' 
 
 * John XV. 21. 
 
 T TsT» 0, H im tu ayufyu, a tpeumai' Jtarffw y»§ if'i'j^fl'ij'af 
 xa> Sicf^'tvet&iat n-otn 'itt^Jt ra,- Trfuxrixa; a^p^os;' are ^yf^ot>, in a^v 
 turtt (pfotijMt mai, fdn orrU ayaiiv, Al'ist. eth. Nic. vii. 12. 
 
 THE END. 
 
Of J. Deighton, Holl)07-n, may be had the fol- 
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NEW TRANSLATION 
 
 OF THOSE PARTS ONLY OF THE 
 
 NEV/ TESTAMENT, 
 
 WHICH ARE 
 
 WRONGLY TRANSLATED m our COM- 
 MON VERSION, 
 
 B Y 
 
 GILBERT WAKEFIELD, B.A. 
 
 And late Fellow of Jefus- College, Cambridge. 
 
 And Phi/if /aid: Undcrjlandejl thou.tohat thcu readeji f 
 ■/inibs jaid : How can I, e)<apt fime Man fiould guide me ? 
 
 Ails viii. 30, 31,. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 :Sold by J. Deighton, No. 274, Holbourn, 
 
 M.DCC.LXX'XIX. 
 
T O 
 
 The Rev. ROBERT TYRWHITT, M.A. 
 Of Jefus- College, Cambridge, 
 
 ASA 
 
 TESTIMONY OF FRIENDSHIP, 
 
 A N D A 
 
 TRIBUTE OF RESPECT for his ABILITIES 
 AND VIRTUES; 
 
 THESE CORRECTIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ENGLISH VERSION of those SCRIPTURES 
 
 WHICH HZ HAS STUDIED WITH SO MUCH ACCURACY 
 AND SUCCESS 
 
 ARE AFFECTIONATELY "i 
 
 INSCRIBED BY THE 
 
 AUTHOR. 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IN this little Work the Reader will find no of- 
 tentatious Difplay of elaborate and learned 
 Criticifrrij but a ftudied Attention to general U- 
 tility and Convenience. It profeffes to be an amen" 
 ded 'tranjlation of thofe PaflageS of the New 'teftu' 
 tnent, where the Senfe has been either impaired or 
 miftaken in our common Verfion : and, to reduce 
 the Size and Coft of the Performance as much as 
 poffible, the Quotations are of no greater Length 
 than was neceffary to point out their Connexion 
 with the Context. MereClumfinefsof Conftruc- 
 tion, obfolete Phrafeology, or other fmaller Im- 
 proprieties and Inaccuracies, which are innume- 
 rable, have been difregarded, except when they 
 occurred in the fame Paflage, that required an 
 cffential Corredion j from which they are diftin- 
 guilhed by Italics, as that is from the received' 
 Text by Capitals : fo that the firft Glance will 
 difcover what Alterations have been made. 
 
 A 3 With 
 
( vi ) 
 With the fame View to general Convenience 
 and the immediate Accommodation of the un- 
 learned, al! Remarks whatfocver have been fup- 
 preflcd; and a few occafional References only 
 inferted at the Bottom of the Page, either to fpe- 
 cify where a fimilar Correftion ftiould take Place, 
 or to give fome Corroboration to the Amendment 
 from parallel Paffages of Scripture. At the fame 
 Time, I am fenfible, that my Reputation is but 
 ill confulted by this Plan, as many capital and e- 
 ven indilputable Alterations will appear to the 
 greateft Difadvantage, unaccompanied by fuch 
 Proofs and lUuftrations, which miglit have been 
 produced in their Behalf : but the Temper of the 
 Times holds forth no Encouragennent to Jacred 
 Critici/mj nor indeed to tbeclogical Performances 
 of any. Kind 5 and I fhall truft myfelf to the Can-? 
 dour of the difcerning few, who alone are capable 
 of relifliing and comprehending many of my Im- 
 provements, which depend upon a minuter Skill 
 in the Greek Language and a more intimate Ac- 
 quaintance with biblical Pbrafeokgy. Some of the 
 CorreSions indeed havebeen already propofed and 
 (defended in feveral of my Publications, and par- 
 ticul^ly in one now in the Prefs, entirely of a 
 critica! Complejdon ; biit a more ample Difcuf- 
 f«in of thefe Points is appropriated ro my Mi/cel- 
 Untous CrUkifms on die Old and New Teflamm^ 
 
 whicji 
 
( vii ) 
 which I flatter myfelf are calculated to recom- 
 mend the Bible to the Attention of Scholars and 
 Men of Tafte, as a Volume worthy of all their 
 Ingenuity and Abilities to illuftrate and explain ; 
 and which I hope fome Day to meet with Induce- 
 ment to publifh. 
 
 Laftly, with the fame View, I have foreborne 
 to fwell the Work with perpetual Acknowledge- 
 ments of my Obligations to former Critics j for, 
 though my own Produce is not inconfiderable, 
 I have colledted a plentiful Harvcfl from other 
 Labourers. Literary Plunderers are, in my O- 
 pinion, of all others the moft deteftable ; and I 
 ■would ever lliow myfelf the firft to pay the Tri- 
 bute of Applaufe and Gratitude tofuperiour Learn- 
 ing and Ingenuity. 
 
 Some of my Alterations will appear at firft 
 Sight unimportant and even trivial, which, if 
 confidered in their Connexion with the PafTage 
 and compared with the received Tranflation, will 
 be difcovered to remove fome Difficulty, or to 
 throw Light on the Argumenrof the Writer. But 
 in fome Inftances, no Doubt, my Amendments 
 may be purely imaginary, or, from mere Want 
 of Difcernment, totally miftaken. 
 
 I have often found it extremely difficult to give 
 
 the clear Senfe of an obfcure Paflage in Language 
 
 of fufficient Simplicity, partly from an Accumu- 
 
 A 4 lation 
 
( viii ) 
 lation of Phrafe peculiar to the Oriental Stile ; 
 partly from the confummate Art, with' which our 
 TranQators have condiifted themfelves on fome 
 Occafions; and partly from our Familiarity with 
 theprefent Verfion, which ftfangely Indifpofes us 
 to any Correction of the Sentiment and Expref- 
 fion, however judicious and even neceffary it may 
 be : when moft certainly, if the propofed Alte- 
 ration had been the Original, the Subftitution of 
 the ptelent Tranflation would appear truly fhock- 
 jng, and be inftantly exploded. The Difficul- 
 ties in this Refpeft will not eafily be apprehended, 
 or even underftood, but from aftual Experience. 
 Some exceptionable Paffages of our Tranfla- 
 tion are left untouched, where my Ideas of it de- 
 pended on remoter Niceties of Criticifm, and 
 might have been thought at beft but unimpor- 
 tant : and fome, where any Alteration could not 
 have failed to expofe me to an Imputation of pre- 
 judiced Attachment to a particular Syftem o^ Di- 
 vinity. I had indeed no Defire to raife againft 
 me on this Occafion the loud Clamours of that 
 numerous Tribe, the Selfilb, the Bigotted, and 
 the Dull : which, perhaps, even now I have been 
 attempting to ftop in vain. For in one 'or two 
 fuch Places I have yielded to the Cloud of Wit- 
 nejfes, that furrounded me ; and have facrificed 
 xh& Timidity of my Scruples to the Truth, when 
 
I fliould not have hefitated a Moment at adopting 
 fuch Alterations in a Paflage not exceptionable 
 in that Refpedt. Without this Degree of Forti- 
 tude, I could not have afhed the Part of an in- 
 genuous Critic, and a confcientious Tranflator of 
 the Scriptures. My Learning and my Opportu- 
 nities, it is true, may be circumfcribed, my Abi- 
 lities feeble, and my Inferences inconclufive : but 
 of my Sincerity I have always been, and am flill, 
 ready to give that beft Proof * required by the 
 GLORIOUS Founder of our Religion from his 
 true Difcipks. 
 
 Should the Reader complain, that fome Parts 
 of the New Teflament ftill continue in Obfcurity, 
 he mud recoiled, that, even were I capable of 
 explaining them, a mere Change of Expreffion 
 will not always convert Darknefs into Light j and 
 that I now appear in the Charafter of a 'Tranfifftor 
 only, and not of a Commentator on t]\iScT\^iVirts. 
 
 But the prefent Work, with all- the difadvan- 
 tageous Circumftances.of it's Appearance, and all 
 it's Imperfeftions, which undoubtedly are nume- 
 rous, I can affirm, with much lefs Violation ot 
 Truth than of Decorum, to be the mod com- 
 plete of the Kind yet exhibited in our Language. 
 It may ferve as no mean Specimen of my own pi- 
 ligence and Accuracy in the Study of the Scrip- 
 tures, 
 
 * Luke xiv, 26. 
 
( X ) 
 
 tures, and as a pregnant Proof of the deplorable 
 deficiencies of otir vulgar 'Trhnjlatim ; Deficien- 
 cies, which loudly proclaim the Neceflity of a 
 Revifel. And, if our Verfioh of the Chriftiafi 
 Scriptures is fo abun'dantly incorrect, I can aflure 
 the Reader, thai the poetical und prophetical Wfi- 
 tihgs of the Old Tejlameiit are much more inade- 
 quately reprefehted in our Tranflation. I aflfert 
 what I can prove, arid therefore without Hefita- 
 tion, that I have yet feen no Specimens at all an- 
 iwerable to my Ideas of a complete Versiow 
 of the Bible. Bishop Lowth is a great Name 
 in this Province of Scfipture-Critiet/m, and any 
 Infinuation to his Difparagement may be thought 
 the Efi^eft of Ignorance, or Malice, or Conceit. 
 Bur, as I am confcious to myfelf, on one Hand, 
 to ufe the Words of the incomparable Mr. Hales, 
 of lio " Diftemper or Malignity j" and, on the 
 other, of fome Skill in the ancient Languages j 
 I fcruple not to affert, that his IJaiah, though it 
 be a Work of great Tafte and very confiderable 
 Learning, fo as to have made him the Mercury 
 of our modern Lycaonians, who bring Oxen and 
 Garlands in Abundance to his Altar; his J/aia&y 
 I fay, is no adequate Exhibition of the great 
 Hebrew Prophet. Perhaps his oriental Know- 
 ledge was not fufEciently univerfal : perhaps his 
 Elegance of Tafte was more to be admired than 
 
 his 
 
( xi > 
 Ills critical Penetration : perhaps he was not fuf* 
 ficiently attentive to thofe Peculiarities of Eaftir» 
 Compofition, with which he was undoubtedly ac- 
 quainted. However this may be, as he deferves 
 great Commendation for many other Excellen- 
 cies, fo particularly for not arrogating to himfelf 
 more than he poffcfled. Not like a celebrated 
 Oxford Profeflbr, who, in his Contiparifon of the 
 Faflages from the Old Teftament quoted in the 
 New with tlie Verfion of the LXX. and with th* 
 original Hebrew, mentions the Variations of the 
 ^raer and other Verfions, and at the fame Time 
 very gravely and modeMy informs us, that he does 
 NOT UNDERSTAND THEM. What is this but^»v/^^- 
 ing wirjehjes beyond our Meafure, multiplying 
 Books without Ufe, and often confirming and 
 propagating Error ? 
 
 Should any Man now put the Queftion, " What 
 ** conftitutes a competent Tranflator of the Scrip- 
 ** tures ?" I will give him the beft Anfwer in 
 fny Power. — An Acquaintance with all xktEafiern 
 Languages, the Verfions in which may very pro- 
 perly be confidered as the Reprefentatives of MSS 
 much more ancient than any now in Being ; a 
 mod intimate Knowledge of the Greek and Roman 
 Authors, particularly with the Poets, who are of 
 admirable \}k. in illuftrating and exemplifying the 
 Phrafeology of the facred Writers ; a diftinS Ap- 
 
 prehenllon 
 
( xii ) 
 
 prehenfion of the Force and the Peciiliarities of 
 the oriental Stile, fo very different from that of 
 modern Compofition, and fo confpicuous in every 
 Page of the New Tejiament ; a confirmed Skill in 
 conjeSiural Critici/m, which not only enables us to 
 feleft the beft Readings of the MSS and Verlioris; 
 but often detefts the genuine Reading beyond all 
 Controverfy by it's own Habit and Ingenuity j 
 and to crown all, unwearied Diligence, and a re- 
 ligious Veneration for Truth, fuperiour to all 
 Temptation. But I will maintain, that no one 
 Man, be his Qualifications what they may, is by 
 any Means equal to that arduous Undertaking, a 
 COMPLETE Translation of the Scriptures. 
 It muft be the joint Produftion of many learned 
 and judicious Critics with all the Means of Infor- 
 mation in their Power. This is a Point well wor- 
 thy of the ferious Regard of our Rulers. The 
 Poor have the Goffel freached to them : but many* 
 Stumbling-Blocks will retard the Progrefs of 
 Chrifxian Knowledge, until! an improved Verfion 
 of the Bible is executed and admitted by public 
 Authority.. Surely the Continuance of the prefent 
 erroneous Tranflation is as difgraceful to thefe 
 Times, as to thofe of our Fathers to have no Ver- 
 fion at all in the vulgar Tongue. This' would 
 alfo greatly contribute to conciliate Sceptics'and 
 Unbelievers of various Denominations ; whofe 
 
 Pre- 
 
( xiii ) 
 Prejudices, it is probable, are fometimes founded 
 on Objeftions, that would have, no Weight a- 
 gainft the original Writings ; which Men of this 
 Defcription are not always capable of confulting. 
 IffufEcient Encouragement might be.expeS:- 
 ed, by which I m^an limply an Indemnificdtion 
 from Lofs, I fhould have no Objieftion to give an 
 entire Tranflation of the New Tejiameni, and to 
 contribute my Endeavours to a more perfect Re- " 
 pr^efentation of the Old by fuch a Work as the 
 prefcnt on the Hagiographa and the Prophets -, 
 for the hijiorical Parts, from very obvious Rea- 
 fbns, are not fufceptible of fo much Improvement. 
 But this would be a Tafk of greater Pains and 
 Perfeverance than will eafily be imagined, and 
 ■will therefore not be raftily undertaken by any 
 Map, who has Reafon to confider other Lofs be- 
 fides that of his Time and Labour. 
 
 A fmaller marjageable Edition of the Greek 1'ef- 
 tament with an irnproved Text would alfo be an 
 ufeful Publication j to whjqh I flatter myfelf that 
 the prefent Work would eflentially contribute. 
 Scholars at prefent are greatly perplexed by the 
 Ijnauthofifed Phrafes, the falfe Punftuation, and 
 the abfurd Divifions of the Text, as it is exhibi- 
 ted in moft Editions. But it is in vain to projedb 
 Improvements in fuch a lukewarm Age, fo go- 
 verned too by Falbjon even in this Refped. Mr. 
 
 Bowyefs 
 
' ( xiv ) 
 
 B^wyer's Edition, for InftanGe, has many Admi- 
 rers ; for what Reafons they ftiould Inform tis : 
 I cannot difcover. It remedies none of the In • 
 conveniencies juft pointed out, and is abomina- 
 bly incorrect, there being no fewer than /ear or five 
 grofs Errors of the Prefs in the Gofpel of St. 
 Matthew only. Nor can fbme of his other Pub- 
 lications lay claim to greater Purity j- his Pindar 
 in particular, in fome Part of which I recolledt 
 the Omiffion of an entire Verfe. A Difgrace in- 
 deed to any Editor, who makes the leaft Preten- 
 iion to Learning and Exaftqefs ! 
 
 I£ our Clergy and others would find Time and 
 Inclination to read the Scriptures- in their original 
 Hangttages more than they do, and not conSde fa 
 entirely in the common Verfion, we might fooW 
 expecS: a more accurate Acquaintance witb the 
 Dodtrines of our Religion, than feems at prefent 
 to prevail. It. is very lamentable, that moffi Di- 
 vines never attend to the Originals aC all ; and 
 fame too, who ftep fdrwards as Gontrover- 
 fialifts, and fit as Didfetors upon religious Toi* 
 pics, uninitiated even in the Rudiments of PhilCM-- 
 logy, and Criticifm ; withanEfFronteiy commen-- 
 furate only to their Ignorance. They derive^ dieir 
 Knowledge, perhaps, from Infpiration-: yes^ no 
 Doubt, from the Infpiration of their Mother Eu~- 
 nice and their Grandmother JLoii. 
 
 In 
 
( XV ) 
 
 In the prefent Publication a new Turn is given 
 to feveral capital P^affages in St. John's Gofpd, 
 ■which were before either abfurd or unintelligible. 
 Indeedj this l^aft Review of the New Teftament has 
 given additional Strength not only to my Con- 
 vidion of the Truth of Chriflianity, but to my 
 Perfuafion of the fuperlative Excellence of thaiC 
 Gofpel. It prefents us with a more exa^ft Repre- 
 fentstion of the private Chaxa,^er of our SavioiMV 
 of his Reafonings with the JewSi and his Con- 
 verfttions with his Difciples. The more clofely 
 k is ftudied, the. more clearly will it's Merits ap- 
 pear, which are not yet by any Means fufficiently 
 apprehended. Indeed fuch a priori ought it's 
 Charader to be, from the particular Atter^ion 
 Jhewn to our Hiftorian by his divine Matter. A 
 very pleafing Confirmation of the Truth of our 
 Religion ! But the Simplicity of the evangelical 
 Narratives will not be reliflied by the Admirers of 
 that contemptible Scoffer Gibbon ; whofe Hiftory, 
 I coijfi^ently affirm, no Perfon of Tafte could 
 fcarcely endure to read, but for the FaSfSt which 
 are not acceffible to all : whofe Antipathy to our 
 Religion, as that of moft other. Cavillers, is the 
 legitimate Offspring of Ignorance, Depravity, and 
 Conceit : whofe fabricated Compilations are as 
 nearly allied to the Authenticity of Hiftory, as 
 Jjis artificial Compofition and turgid Did^jon to 
 
 the 
 
( xvi ) 
 the unafFedted Charms, the fimple Dignity, the 
 native Eloquence of Xenophon, of Cafar, and the 
 Gofpels. If Gibbon be a fine Writer, thofe He- 
 roes of Antiquity, his diametrical Oppofites in e- 
 very Charafter of Compofition, who, have carried 
 avjay every Vote of every Man of Tafte in every 
 Age, were the mereft Bunglers in their Profef- 
 fion. G?^^(?« may write well, but then , moll un- 
 doubtedly Xenophon, Cafar, and Luke, are con- 
 temptible Hiftorians. 
 
 Any Inaccuracies of the Prefs the Reader mulfe 
 candidly excufe, as the Author's remote Situation 
 rendered him incapable of preventing them.' 
 
 N&tthtgham, Bee, i, 1788. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 GOSPEL of St. MATTHEW. 
 
 ■bhiip. vir. 
 
 i. I. AN Account of the Life of Jefus Chrift i 
 .i~jL ASonofDavidj a Son of Abraham. 
 ig. UponthtSf Jofeph herHufband, being a righteous 
 Man, BUT not >viliing to expofe her, refihed to 
 difmifs her privately. 
 
 ii. I. Behold! Magi of the East came to 
 
 Jerufalem, faying, 
 
 2. ——— for we yaw his Star at it's Rise.*— — 
 
 3. When Herod the King heard thisy he was dis- 
 
 TtJRBED. 
 
 iii. 8. Bring forth therefore Fruits fuitable to this Re- 
 pentance. 
 1 1 . whofe Shoes I am not worthy to carry 
 
 AWAY.f' 
 
 14. But John EARNESTLY ENDEAVOURED T9 PRE- 
 VENT him. 
 
 j^. __« Suffer ME now. — — 
 
 16. And, when Jefus was baptifed, as soon as Jie 
 weqt up out of the Water, the Heavens were 
 opened unto John. 
 
 B iii. 
 
 • So again, ver. g, f So John, ai. 6. 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 Hi. 1 7. This is my Son, that beloved Son.i — =• 
 
 iv. I. Then Jefus was carried away Jy the Spi- 
 rit.-^ 
 
 3. — command, that thefe Stones bfr made 
 
 7- 
 
 Loaves. 
 -_ It is written dN THE other IIand.^-« 
 
 21, _____ PUTTING their Nets in Order.* — —> 
 V. II. Be ye HAPPY, when Men reproach you, and 
 REViLEf youj ^.nAJpeak all Manner of Evil 
 againft you. — — ■ 
 
 14. Ye are the Light of die World. As a City fet 
 
 15. on a Hill cannot be hid ; tind as Men do not 
 light a Lamp, and put it tinder the Bufliel, 
 
 16. but upon /^^ Stand, that it mayjhlrteto all in 
 theHoufe: fo let your Light fliine before 
 Men. 
 
 ig. — — but whofoever fhall do and tea,di accor- 
 dingly, A^fhall be greateji in the Kingdom 
 of Heaven » 
 
 21. Ye have heard, that it was faid unto|| -the Art'* 
 dents, — ^— 
 
 28. that whofoever looketh on a married 
 
 WoMAN,yi as to luft after her in his Heart, 
 he hath already committed Adultery widi her» 
 
 29. And, if EVEN thy right Eye cause thee To 
 
 SIN. 
 
 36. for thou canft not make one white 
 
 Hair black. 
 
 v, 
 
 J So xvii. 5, Marki. 11. ix, 7. Luke ui. zz. \x. 35. ix. 13. 
 
 * So Mark i, 19. 
 
 f So V. 12. 44. Rom. xii. 14. i Cor. iv. 12, Gal. v. li. 1| So.T.i7,33« 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 Cliap. veri 
 
 V; 37. Biitjet your Worp Yea be Yea ; yoiik Kayj 
 
 BE Nay : for wh^t is more than thefe, is of 
 
 TilE Evil O^E.fl 
 47. Andi if ye falute ^ur Brethren onlyj what 
 
 Good witi it do you ? Do not even the 
 
 Publicans :^i? tkus ? 
 Vi. ji Take Qire net. to do your AlmS in the Sight of 
 
 Men, .that ye may ieobferved l>f them-: other- 
 
 vjife, ye have no Rew^d with youi: Father, 
 
 who is in Heaven. 
 if. Giyfc us this yDzy the ^xe^d sufficient foiI 
 
 us.* 
 ig. — — — where Moth and WoRikiJ confumeth.-^ 
 25, Thetfifcre I fay unto you, Be not anxious about 
 
 your Lif§, what ye -fliall e^t ; nor aboui joui 
 
 Body, what yerfhall put. on. 
 27. Jiid ishich of, you hy his Jnxiety can add afmgU 
 
 Cubit to his A{;E?t 
 ^. Be not anxious therefore, <?^i9a/ the Morrdw^ 3 for 
 
 the Morrow .will be anxious about the Things 
 
 of itfelf. hzT each Day ^e satisfied with 
 
 it' s ownY.\\\, 
 Vii. 3; Why obfer^eji thou the .S.]ykiNTER|| in thy Bro* 
 
 ther's £ye.— ' — > — 
 ' 6. Give not the Sacrifice unto the Dogs, nei-^ 
 
 thei' fcaftyoiur, Pearls -Jjefore Swine : J?ft the 
 B 2 .Swine 
 
 C §0 Vt 39. vi. I }> xiii. 19. 38. Lake zi. 4. John xvii. ij< I Cor. 
 •V. J3. Epic w. 16. a. ThefT. iii, 3. i Jdin ii. J3. 14* in< w. v. 18, 
 
 »9- , 
 
 * So Luke xi. 3. ■ 4j« yj »o» f ^9 lake xil. 25. 
 
 I SoLiikiE vi.4f< 
 
( 4 ') 
 
 Chip, verr . ' 
 
 divine trample upon them with their Feetj'arftI 
 the Dogs' turn and teas. you. 
 
 vii. 17. So every good Treie beareth good Fruit, as the 
 
 badTree. r—-- 
 
 2 1. No Man for faying unto me, Lord ! Lord ! fliall 
 enter into the Kingdom of Heaven ; bat fir 
 doing the Will.i — 
 
 viii. 9. For even li* who am a Mai> under Authority, 
 have Soldiers under myfelf ; and I fay to oney 
 
 go: and he goeth, 
 
 II. and fliall SIT down to Meatj- with 
 
 Abraham. 
 
 ix. 5. For which is it eafier to fay, ," Thy Sins be for- 
 given thee ;" or to fey^ " Arife and walk ;" 
 but diat ye may know, that the Son of Man 
 hath Authority upon Earth to forgive Sins ? J 
 6, Then he faith to the Paralytic. 
 
 16. No i9«^.putteth a Piece of new Cloth to an old 
 
 Garment; for it takes away from the 
 Entireness of the Garment, and a 
 WORSE Rent is made. 
 36. ■ becaufe they :feinted and were laid 
 
 DOWN 
 
 X. 10. nor two Cbafs, nor two Pair of Shoes^ nor 
 
 two Staves.—— 
 
 17. But beware of the Jews,— — 
 
 ^15. Let the Difciple be satisfied in being as his 
 
 Matter - 
 
 xi. 
 
 * So Lake vii. 8. ' -f- So Luke xiii. zg. 
 
 J So Mark Ji. 9. Luke V. 23. 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 Chap. Y^. 
 
 xi. 3. — — ^Thou art he, w'ff was ta come : Can 
 WE look for another ? II 
 jg. ■ But Wifdomwa^ u/ttxsrjTi juftified by her 
 
 Works, , 
 
 20. Then he began to reprove the Cities. — 1 — 
 jti. Alas! for thee, Chor^zin ! alas!' for 
 
 THEE, Bethfaida ! — <~ 
 26, Tea, Of Father, I thank thee, because* it tbui. 
 feemed good in thy Sight, 
 xii. 32. Even Hi, wjjo fpeaketh a Word againft the Son 
 
 of Man, tnay be forgiven. 
 
 • 44. • findeth it ready for his Reception, 
 fvvept, and put in ORDER^f 
 
 jcii;. 40, -. fo will it be at the End of this Age. J 
 
 44. « , ■' is like unto a hidden Treasure in a 
 Field, which a Man found out, and kept se- 
 cret.—— 
 56, And his Sifters, are they not all like us ?§— — 
 
 xiv. 13. and, when the Multitudes heard thereofj 
 
 they followed him by luAtjn^ from the Cities. 
 
 15. ■ this Place is a JPe/art, and the Day is 
 FAR spent. ■ 
 
 35. And the Men of that Place knew him again, 
 and fent out.- 
 
 xvi. I. asked him again ta fhewthem a Sign 
 
 from Heaven. 
 
 B 3 . xvi. 
 
 II So Luke vii. 19. 10. *SoLukex. 21. f SoLukexi.zj, 
 
 X So V. 39. 49. xxiv. 3. xxviii. %o. Heb. ix. z6. § S9 Mark vi. 3. 
 ^[ So Mark vi. 33. 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 Cnflp* vet* 
 
 Xvi. 5. And the Difciples, when they were coriie to th* 
 
 other Side, f mind thai they hadforgdtten to talfo 
 
 Bread with them, 
 20. • that they fhould tell no Man, that he 
 
 WAS THE Christ. 
 22. Upon this, Peter, when he ^Wtaken him Aside,* 
 
 began to rebuke him.— — — 
 
 xvii. 4. - — - Lord, it is JBrTTERf for us to be here.- — 
 
 Xviii. J, Tlie Difciples came up to Jefus ^t the veSt? 
 
 MoMENTj X 'i^hen they were di/puting, which. 
 
 was greateft in the Kingdom of Heaven. ■ 
 
 5. And whofo fhall receive , one hiK^ this little 
 
 Child.- • 
 
 12. ' doth he not leave the iiinety and nine 
 UPON the Mountains, ajid go to feek thai 
 which is agone aftray ? 
 15. ' go and coNyiNCE him «/^his Fault.r-^— 
 
 22. — — I fey unto thee, not until feven Times.—- 
 
 23. — — ? who wijhed, tt fettle his Account^ with his) 
 
 Servants. 
 xix. 14. - J . far of those hke them is the King^ 
 
 dom of Heaven. 
 25, . What rich Man^ then can be fayed I 
 sx. 12. arid hast thou mside them eqtia:! unto 
 
 MS ? - 
 
 XX, 
 
 * SoMarkviil, 32. 
 
 f So XXVI. 24. Mark ix. 5, %\v. ii.' L(ike xiv. 34. i dor. vii. i. t. i6, 
 J Soviii, jj. ix. 22, x. 19. xv, 28. xvii. 18. xxvi. 55. Mark xUi, i;. 
 suid other Places. 
 ^ S""'. 24- tw. 19. f So Mark X. 26, 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 Chap. Ter> 
 
 XX. 15. May I not do as I pkafe in my own Con- 
 cerns ? 
 
 23. ■' is not mine to give, except* to them 
 
 for whom it is prepared by my Father. 
 
 '26. , But LET IT not be fo among you. 
 
 jfxi. l6. thou haft prepared Praife. 
 
 33' — »— ^ and went FROM Home. t 
 
 36. Again he fent other Servants, of more Digni- 
 tyJ than thefirft. 
 
 40.4.1, what will he do to thefe Hufbandmen ? 
 
 He will miferably deftroy thofe wicked ^len, 
 gnd will let out the Vineyard to other Hufband- 
 men, who <(vill render him the Fruits in their 
 
 43. Seafons. Therefore I fay unto you. The 
 Kingdom of God fhaJl be taken from you, and 
 given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits 
 thereof. 
 
 42. Jefus faith moreover ynto them. — — — ^ and , it 
 
 44. is marvellous in oqr Eyes. And whofoever ftiall 
 
 fall on this Stone.- — 
 
 yxii.2I. the Things that are Csefar's, A5\yegive 
 
 unto God the Things that are God''J. 
 
 36. which is the greatest^ vommand'- 
 
 mentin the Law? 
 l^sxiii, 7. ——and to, be called ^ Men, Mqfter ! Majler! 
 8. ButbeJiotyecall.aif^^r; for one is your Maf- 
 ter, even /^^ Chrift. 
 
 B 4 xxiii. 
 
 • SoMarkx.40. t Soxxv. 14.15. Markffli. i. Lukcxv. 13. xx.9. 
 
 J So vi. 15. xii. 41. 44. Mark xii. 33. 
 
 \ So Mark »i. 17. H So v. 38. 
 
C 8 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. ^ 
 
 xxiii. g. And call no Man your Father upon the Earth j 
 
 for one is your Father, who is in Heaven, and 
 
 ALL YE ARE Brethren. 
 
 10. Neither be ye called Guides ; for one is your 
 
 11. Guide, even the Chrift., But let him,* 
 who is greateft among you, be your Servant. 
 
 15. '-~ ye make him a Child of Hell more de- 
 ceitful than yourfelves, 
 
 24. — ' virho STRAIN OUT the Gnat, bift fwallow 
 
 the Camel. 
 
 32. JndYE FILL up accordingly the Meafure of your 
 Fathers. 
 
 36, All THIS Blood fliall cpme upon this 
 
 Generation. 
 
 xxiv. I. And Jefus went out of the Temple, and 
 WAS GOING AWAY J when his Difciples came 
 to him.— ^ — - 
 
 12. And becaufe Iniquity will be multiplied, the Love 
 
 of MOST of my Difciples will become cold. 
 
 24: ■ and WILL PRoposEf great Signs and 
 
 Wonders. '• 
 
 43. But YE KNOW this. J; 
 
 51. And will cut him in two.|| 
 
 XXV. 10. — ' went in with him, to the Marriage- 
 Supper.^ 
 
 26. Didst thou know,§ that I reap, 
 
 where I fowed not ? 
 
 xxvi, 
 
 * So Mark ix." 35. x. 43. 44. f Jo Mark xiii, :?, 
 
 J So Luke x!i. 39. || SoLukexii. 46. ^ So xxj'i, z. 
 
 § So Luke xjx. 22. 
 
CJiap. v^t. 
 
 xxvi. 2. Ye know," that after two Days is the Paflbver^ 
 t/HEN the Son of Man will be delivered 
 UP* to be crucified. 
 
 45- Do VE $TILL SLEEPjt and reji your- 
 
 fehes ? 
 
 56. But all this IS come to pafs, 
 
 64. — — Thou ha&fpohn truly. Moreover^ 
 
 I declare unto you. 
 
 74. Then he hegan to curse himself and to 
 
 fwear. 
 jcxvii. 5. ..I and went away, and died wi'th 
 
 Grief, 
 42. Hefaved others; cannot he|| fave hJmfelf ?— 
 
 65. .1 - Take a Guard: go, fecure it as ye 
 know hejt. 
 
 Kxviii. 2. And behold ! a great Alarm had happened,— — 
 4. And throughFezr of him the Iveepers were a- 
 
 lARMED. -1 
 
 St. MAR K. 
 
 i. 12. ' the Spirit leadeth him out. 
 
 13. And he continued there in the Wildernefs forty 
 
 Days, and was tempted by Satan. — — 
 
 314. Saying : Hah !§ what hast thou to do 
 
 WITH us ?^r 
 
 ii. 
 
 • So 5cvi!. 12. f So Mark xiv. 4t. J So Luke xix. 27, 
 
 II So Markov, ^l, § So Luke iv. 34. 
 
 % So V. 7. Matth. vili. 29. Luke ir. 34. John ii. 4. 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 Cfiap. yer, 
 
 it. zi' ■■ ■' •• ' •■ if/^i the new Piece taketh away from 
 TpE Entireness ^ the ol4jand a worse 
 Rent is made. 
 
 Jii. 5. ^nd, when he had looked round about upon thenij 
 
 BEING ANGRY AND AT THE SAME TiMB 
 
 SORRY for the Blindness* of their Hearts, 
 
 he faith untp the Man. 
 ?l. And when hia RelAtip-ns heard f&V, they went 
 
 out to SECURE hkfi I for they faid, He is rajhi 
 
 even to Madnefs^ 
 iv. 5. 0. — — and it fprang up imnjediately ; AND, 
 
 when the Sun was up, because it had nq 
 
 Depth of Earth,-}- it was fcorched. — — 
 
 27. hnA Jleepethby Night, and rifetlf, by Diy. 
 
 36, And they left the Multitude, and take him 
 
 WITH THEM. And WHEN HE WAS in the 
 3.7. Veffilf (other little Vefeb alafp were with him) 
 
 there cometh 2i great G«/2 of Wind, andircAST 
 
 the Waves ii\to the FeJJely fq that it already^ 
 
 BEGAN TO^ILL J 
 
 ,41. Who THEN CAN this be ? ■. 
 
 V, 23. that fhe may recover^ and live. 
 
 38. — _ and feeth them in Cenfitjion^ weiring and 
 
 MAKING A GREAT NolSE. 
 
 39. -w Why make ye this J)ifiurlqfl(ie Tfoi La- 
 mentation ?■ 
 
 vi. 19. 5fl/to Herodias wasENRAQED/^A/OT. — — 
 46. And he separated himself from them, and 
 went into the Mountain to pray. 
 
 vii. 
 
 * Sovl. 52. viit. 17. -{■ So MattJii-xlii. j. 6. % So I^ike viii. t%* 
 
Phap. ver, 
 
 vH. 9. rr-TT»'r-YgEWTiRELTreje<3!th«C<}m«iandniaijt 
 of God,— — 
 
 rg. " but into the Belly^ and gnth forwards in- 
 
 to that Part if thf Modjis, which- casteth out 
 all the Ftod. 
 
 22>. Thefts, EXCESSIVE Desires.*— — 
 
 viij. 18. 19. and do ye not remenrberj when I 
 
 brafce the five Loaves among the^ five thouiand 
 Peofie^ bow many Ba&ets iu& of Fragments 
 
 YE TOOK UP ?■ 
 
 $4» -rrr — r'lfeeMen, like WAtKiHG Trees. 
 
 IX. 3. And his |lalment became bright like Snovit, 
 exceeding white, fo as no Fuller upon Earth' 
 can whiten, 
 
 %o. And they caught that Saj^ng, and debated 
 AMONG THEMSEijVEs what that rifing from 
 the dead could mean, 
 
 J2. • Elias indeed cometh firft to reflare all 
 
 Things, and {as it fs alfo written concerning the 
 Spn of Man) to suffer many Things. ' 
 
 xi. 13. — — . if haply he mightlind any Thing upon it ; 
 for the Time of gathering Figs was not yet. 
 And, when he was come to it, he found No- 
 thing but Leaves. 
 3a. But, ifwefayofMen, we are mTifiViGZVifrom 
 the People. " 
 
 ^?cii. 4. — — and at him they caft Stones^ and speedi- 
 lY fent him away fliamefully treated. 
 
 xii. 
 
 . • An4(b in all Places inftead of Ae Word Ctvetiuftufi, 
 
( 1=1 ) 
 
 Chap. TCr. 
 
 ^ii. 12. And they fought to lay hold on him, for they 
 
 knew that he /pake this Parable with a View to 
 
 them :, but they feared the Multitude ; Je they 
 
 left him, and went away. 
 32. > — Mafter, thou sayest well : for 
 
 TRULY God is one, and there is no other 
 
 but he. 
 
 wii,25. And the Stars willrAhh from Heaven. 
 
 xiv. 3. a Woman came, having an Alabafter- 
 
 Box of MIXED Perfumes, pure* and very 
 
 (ofily ; and, when fhe had shaken the Box 
 
 TOGETHER, Jhe poured them out upon his 
 
 Head, 
 i£. -. ., .1 ■■ ' a large Upper-Room, spread with 
 
 Carpets! and prepared. 
 30. i Verily I fay unto thee, that thou thjs 
 
 Day, this very Night. 
 
 31. if I mujl therefore die with thee, I vvill on 
 
 no Account deny thee, O ! my Master. • 
 
 54. «! and he was fitting with the Servants 
 
 wiTiiiN the Sight of the Fire,J and 
 
 warming himfelf, 
 68. '■ 1 do not know Mm.^ neither underftand \ 
 
 what thou meaneji. 
 
 72. And he began to weep much. 
 
 XV. 2. And he anfwering faid unto him : I am.[[ 
 
 ^13. And they cried out in Anfwer to him. 
 32. Let this Chrift, this King oflfrael. — — 
 
 XV. 
 
 * So John xii. 3. ■}■ So Luke xxli. 12. 
 
 \ So Luke xxli. 56. || So Matt. xxvi. 64. xxvii. 11. Lukexxiiij. 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 Chap, yet, 
 
 "xv. "39. . r- faw, that he expirid AFTER. CRViiT* 
 
 OUT so loudly. — . 
 
 43. — — — came, and had the Courage to go in to Pi- 
 
 late, and ajkfor the Body of Jefus. 
 
 44. And Pilate wondered, that he Jhould he dead alrea- 
 
 dy : yS Ai? called tile Centurion unto him, and 
 afked hiffl, ^he had indeed died fome Timejince. 
 
 xvi. 3. " Who Ihall rpU us away the Stone from 
 
 4. the Door of the Sepulchre ?" for it was very 
 great. 
 
 And they looked up, and faw, that the 
 Stone was rolled away. 
 
 15. preach the Gofpel to the whole Creation. 
 
 16. but he, who believeth not, will be con- 
 demned.* 
 ao. — — — and confirming the Word by those 
 Signs attending them. 
 
 St. L U K E. 
 
 Even as they delivered them unto us, who were 
 
 'Eye-Witnefles of them from the Beginning : 
 
 Itfeemeth good to me alfo, who have ex- 
 
 aiily ATTENDED to every Particular in Or- 
 
 DERfrom the very firft,— — 
 
 * So I^om. »T. 23. 
 
Chap. va. 
 
 L ,24. JindihejCEPT the M^Stter kkcRttRvi 
 
 Months. 
 45. Aai happy ie flie, ,w^j b.elj^eyed that there" wiJl 
 
 be.' ' " ' I ' 
 511. — ' a.nA/catterethahsadthep,ivho 0e p^ffedu^ 
 
 BY the Imagination of their Meant. 
 |a. -He tdketh down .the mighty from .their Thrones^ 
 
 zsAjucalt'eih xiiE humble. 
 7a. To SHEW Mercy TO. our Fathers.-^ — 
 77. To give a Knowledge of Saltration .to his Peopleij 
 ^78. WITH a RemilEon .of -their ySihs through th^ 
 
 tender Mercy ,of our'God j where'by theDay- 
 
 &pr-ing.— — 
 ^;. (I. .that.all-,the World-ihoulH ENROLL- T.HEMJ 
 
 SELVES.* 
 
 3a. A Light to MAKE KNOWN the* Gsntfe, and 
 
 TO GLORIFY thy People Ifeel. 
 iXi. And the Child imas filled with Wifdom, as he 
 
 GREW And gaine0Stren6th. 
 
 49. -H&W'eeuMye 'he -fieki^-me? Know ye 
 
 not, that I muftbe in My Father's H6use ? 
 
 52. And as Jefus advanced in Age, he advanced iri 
 
 Wif^mj and Favouir with Cod arid Men. 
 
 iv. i. — — — and was carried by the Spirit into the 
 
 ?i Wildernefs FOR forty Days, tempted by 
 
 the'Devil. 
 ^. Since thou ARTf rfSoa of God, com- 
 mand this Stone to became A XoAF.. 
 
 * So V. a. 3. 5. Heb.xij. aj. f Srfy. $. Matt. i*. 3<fo 
 
Chap. Trt. 
 
 ir. 3ti. ——— find CONST ANtiY taught* tliem <sa 
 
 the Sabteth-Days. 
 36. What zJirange'TaiiiG is this ? for with 
 
 Authority. •_ 
 
 V. 6. — " and their Net vnvs ready to break. 
 
 3(6. -■' — — No Man^iMeth'aPiece of a newXJar- 
 
 ment to anxyH Garment : ifjfa, hf both ma- 
 
 keth a ReM m the tmw Garnietrt, and the Piece 
 
 _^ffm the new agreeth not with the old. 
 Ti, 9. ' J ' - 1 wilJ^fk you a ^^im -: WfJETHSR is 
 
 it lawful." ■ ■ 
 X2. «— — and he COJS«in«ed AWAXE aH Night in 
 
 A HoaEFg'E OF ^AYE« toGod. 
 42. — and reproach you, and ^6i of you tif 
 
 'wiekidMen. — — 
 
 35. and4eBd, DisAPPorNTruc no Man.— 
 
 40. y/ Difcipk is not abope Ws 3«w^ 5 biiit let* 
 
 every 4)ifci^ S£ duly prepared as hl» 
 
 Viu 4. — — ^ He is worthy to whom Tirou sHould- 
 £&T do tJiis. 
 30. rejeded the Intentian of God tow^ards 
 
 T«ErM.— '— 
 
 47. Wherefore I foy unto thee. Because mant 
 &tvis ARiE F&RQiVEN H&K, {he Jheuod miich 
 Love. 
 f'aufl'i* -BUT have M) Roi>t, beliemng onfyjor a 
 
 r&«fe 37w?, and in « Time of Te^iptation fal- 
 ling away. 
 
 viii. 
 
 • Tliis error, of not giving the true Power of the imprfeB Tenfe, runs 
 §irough the Whole of our common Verfion. 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 Ctiap. \ttt 
 
 vJii. 27. —^A Man. OF the CiTY.met hltii. 
 
 ix. 4. And whatfoever Houfe ye enter, Jia;^ there, and 
 
 LEAVE IT NOT* .—-. < 
 
 18. ■ ■ as he was praying in a RETiitEii 
 
 Place. — ^ 
 
 32. -but, waking risr the kean Time, 
 
 they faw his Glory.' ' 
 
 48. for the leaft of you all fliall be great- 
 est. •-: rb 
 
 61. biit firft fujfer me to settle my Af- 
 fairs at Home. 
 X. I. appoihted SEVENTY others^ 
 
 18. — — I beheld Satan/fl/4 like Lightning, from 
 
 Heaven. 
 
 30. A certain Man of Jerusalem was go- 
 ing down to Jericho. ; 
 
 41. ~ — —Thou art anxious and tfoublefl th/jfelfz- 
 t . , bout many Dijhes, when only one is necejfary i 
 
 BUT Mary hath chofen .that good Employ- 
 ment. — ^- 
 
 xi. 7. — and my Children ANf) mYself are in 
 
 Bed. 
 
 35. Consider therefore, whether the Light, 
 which is in thee, be Darknefs. 
 *^ 36. -^ — • — as when the Lamp enlighteneth thee with 
 it's Brightnefs. 
 40. i» D»/>E? not he, wHo maketh the Out- 
 side CLEAN, make the InSJDE CLEAN al- 
 
 iol ' 
 
 xl. 
 
( 17 y 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 xi. 41, Rather give Alms accordikg to yodr Abi- 
 lity.—— 
 
 44. ■ and Men ajre not aware when they walk 
 
 ui)on them. 
 
 49. . - ^ and fome wiH they drive aiuay^ and kill 
 
 fome. 
 
 5g. ■ began TO be greatly ENRAGED,and 
 
 to URGE him to fpeak rashly upon other Mat- 
 ters. 
 
 xii. 15. ,. Take Car^ and keep yourfelves from Ex- 
 
 cessive Appetites ; for no Man's Life 
 confilleth in the Superfluity ®ihh Pojfef- 
 fiom. 
 JO. ■ this -aery Night this Soul of thine is de- 
 
 manded from thee. 
 34. -__ there i-ETf your Heart be alfo. 
 
 49. and what wijh I rMre., if it hath been al- 
 ready kindled ? 
 
 50. I have a Baptifm. ■ — 
 
 54. ■ r- ye fay, It will be Rain immediate- 
 ly. 
 
 57. And why do ye not of your own Accord judge 
 right? 
 
 jtiii. 33. But I muft continue to,-day and to-morrow, 
 
 and on the next Day DEPART. 
 
 yiv. 7. how they were choofmg out far themfehes 
 
 thejfr/? Seats. — — 
 
 10^ — .. Friendj come higher up to mty 
 
 C xiv. 
 
 • So 1 Theff. u. 15. ' ■)• So Matt. vi. zi. See Col. ii >». 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 Ctap. ver, 
 
 xjv. I4t Becaufe they caniiot recompenfe thee : and ha^ ^ 
 PY wilt thou be, for thou wilt be recompenfe^ 
 in the Refurredion of the juftt 
 18. And they all began to make thje s^m?. Excufe.— 
 
 35. It is not fit EVEN TO MANUIIE THE LaND, : it, 
 
 is thrown away. ^— 
 
 :^v. l6.. And he was eage?i* <a ^7/ his Belly wi;th the, 
 Offals-, which the Swjne were accuftamed to eat \ 
 for no Man gave him any Food, 
 
 xvi. 2. ■ Give up the Business of thy Stew- 
 
 ardfhip : for tho,u muji be no longer Steward. 
 Q . — ~r~ that, vfhen ye die, ye may be recei- 
 VED into everlafting 'tabernacles. 
 xvii. 7. — will fay unto him as soon a^ he re- 
 turns froni the Field, Come in, aijd fit dowi\ 
 to, S/leat ? . ' ' 
 
 9. Does he owe. any Favour tn that Servant ?— 
 ?i. ■ for behold ! the Kingdom of God is in 
 
 the Midst of you. 
 ?3, And, IF they fliall fay unto you, Behold!, he is^ 
 here 5 or. Behold ! he is there 5 go not out, nor 
 feek to find him, 
 2J' -7— — and in the fame Manner, le,t npt him, who 
 
 is in the Field, turn back. 
 34. — - — two Men at the same Tarle.^— 
 xviii. 5. left by her coming flie weary me out at 
 
 LAST. 
 
 7. And will not God, though he has delayed 
 50 i^QNG, avenge his Ekd ? — , - 
 
 xvijj, 
 •? So xvi. 2|. 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 chap. ver. 
 
 xviii. II. The Pharifee, standing by himself, prayed 
 
 thus. 
 
 13. ' - - would not even lift up bis Eyes to Hea- 
 
 ven ; but finote upon his Breaft, and /aid : O f 
 God ! be thou merciful to Hie, that finful Crea~ 
 tttre / 
 
 29. there is none of you,* who hath left 
 
 Houfe. 
 
 30. and in the AGE,f which is coming, ever- 
 
 lafling Life. 
 
 31. Then he took the twelve aside. 
 
 — — : and all thofi Things, whifh have been 
 
 written by the Prophets, will be accompli fned 
 IN the Son of Man. 
 
 34. ■ — < and THE Matter was fi hidden from 
 
 them, that they knew not ivhas was memt^ 
 
 ^Ix. 9, And Jefus faid concerning him.— — — 
 
 13. — : ' Trade with them 'till I come. 
 
 %i^. — — — and give it to him, who hath tt:e ten 
 
 25. Pounds : (though they faid unto him. Lord, 
 
 26. he hath ten Pounds already) for 1 fay unto 
 yOu. 
 
 28. And as he ^wsjpake, he went s,traight for- 
 WARDS.J > * 
 
 37. And, when he was NOW coming nigh, at the 
 Defcent of the Mount of Olives. ■ 
 
 43. . " and compafs thee round, and keep thee 
 
 44. in on every Side and thy Children with- 
 
 C 2 m 
 
 * So Mark X. 29. ■]■ So Mark x. 30. See Matt, lux. zS. 
 
 % S0V.4. 
 
( 20 •) 
 
 Chap. vcr. 
 
 IN THEE, and will leiiel thee with th? 
 
 Ground. 
 
 xix. 48. But could not tell hew to. a£t. ■' ' • "■ • ■. • - •' 
 
 XX, 19, —fought to lay Hands on him 5 (^but 
 
 feared the People) for they perceived. =- 
 
 20. And they fent Spies, who pretended to be righteous, 
 
 Men, TO WATCH him,- 
 
 27 . Mofes hathjhewn, when he calleth the 
 
 Lord AT THE Bush. — ' ■ 
 
 Xxi. 8. ' faying, Izmpie Chri/i : and, The Time 
 
 is at Hand. < 
 
 13. And this will coxne to. pafs., thai ye may bear Tefiir. 
 piony before them. 
 
 19. And BY your Patience ye will preserve 
 
 YOUR Lives.* 
 
 ^5, Diftrefs of Nations, perplexed by a 
 
 26. Noise And Motion of the Sea : Men'^ 
 
 Hearts failing them through a fearful Expec 
 
 tation of thof? Things, which are coming on, 
 
 the World. r— 
 
 30. When YE see them shoot forth, ye know.— 
 24. -' your Hearts be oppressed with Intern^. 
 
 perance and Drunkennefs.— — — 
 j£xii. 24. Now there had been alfo. a Contention among 
 
 them.- . .. 
 26. But DO not ye act thus. — r^-i 
 29. And, as my Father hath granted unto me a 
 
 20. Kingdom, I grant unto you to eat and 
 to drink at my Table in this my Kingdom.— >» 
 
 * See Matt, xxiy, 13. 
 
thap. yeh 
 
 sckii. 31. — Satan hath obtained Leave to fift yoi| 
 
 like Wheat : 
 .32. But 1 have prayed for thee, that thy Faith may 
 hot UTTERLY forfake thee ; and, when at 
 LAST thou haft turned ttgairiy ftrengthen these 
 thy Brethren. 
 
 42. — ^ — Father! Oh! that Tttou wouldsT 
 
 "remove this Cup from me ! Tet not my Willj 
 
 but thine be done. 
 46. And faid unito them : XVriAT ? Jreyeajleep? — 
 47* a Multitude ; and Judas, who Was spo-i 
 
 KEN OF above, one of the twelve. ' 
 
 70. ♦■^ ^ Ye fay trm ; for I am» 
 
 "x'Xiii. 5. 1 beginning from Galilee, and teaching 
 
 through all Judea to this Place. 
 
 15. •* '— Nothing worthy of Death A«f been done 
 
 BY himi 
 18. —— — Let this Man die,* and releafe unto 
 
 us Barabbas': 
 
 43. Biit they were urgent, demanding with loud 
 
 Voices. — '— 
 
 22. two others^ who were Malefaftors.— — 
 
 ^Iv. 124 ■- the linen Cloaths lying by themfelves^ 
 
 and WENT Home, wondering at what, had hap- 
 pened. 
 
 X'j, ■ What are thefe ThingS, which ye are de~, 
 
 bating with each other as ye go fhng ? — — 
 
 |8< ■• 'Art thou ALONE so GREAT A STRAN- 
 GER in Jefufalem, as nqt to K^'ow the 
 C 3 ' Things^ 
 
 • So Jahnn.^. ijj 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 Chapi rer. 
 
 Things, that have happened thefe in thefe 
 Days ? 
 xxiv. 25. Oh ! foolijh Men, and s/" a Heart JlvOt 
 
 in believing all thofe Things, which the Pro-' 
 
 phets have fpoken ' 
 
 26. TVdsit not necejfary,* that the Chrift hy fufferin^ 
 
 thefe Things fliould enter into his Glory ? 
 
 27. And he began and expounded unto them Fkoii 
 
 Mofes and allthe Prophets.—! 
 
 31. And their Eyes were opened yi that they kneW 
 him AGAIN : and he left theMj 
 
 34. Who faid : Is the Lord then rifen indeed, and 
 
 hath he appeared unto Simon ? 
 
 35. Upon which they related what had happened in thfl 
 
 Way. 
 
 37. But they were confounded and affrighted.— :— 
 
 38. and why do Doubts arife in your Hearts ? 
 
 41. And while they Jiill di/ielieved thraugh Joy uni 
 
 Wonder. — - 
 
 44. This IS the very Thing, which I Wjy 
 
 you, while I was yet with you.——— 
 
 St. J O H N. 
 
 i. 3. All Things were made by «V, and without it/ wM 
 jNothing made. 
 
 i. 
 
 • So ygrfg 4& 
 
Chap. ver. 
 
 i. 4* What was made had Life in itj and 
 
 5. THIS Life was the Light of Men ; and this 
 
 Light fhineth in Darknefs, and this Dairk- 
 
 hefs CONFINED it not. 
 
 g. Which was that true Light, which Cometh into 
 
 the World to enlighten every Man. 
 14. — — (and we beheld his Glory, A Glory from 
 the Father, as dian bhly-begotteh Son.) — ^ 
 
 15. " He, Hjuho is earning behind me, is indeed 
 
 before me 5" for he is greater than /.* 
 16. Andof This FuIneiFs we have all received, and 
 FAVOUR IN Abundance. 
 
 ^5. Why baptifeft thou then, since TriotJ 
 
 ART neither the Chrift. 
 
 34. And I faw it., and testify that this very Man 
 
 is the Son of God. 
 42. —We have found tlie Mefliah : (which is, 
 
 being interpreted, the Chrift. )t 
 52. — . — and the Angels of God coming iackwards and 
 firwards TO the Son of Man. 
 ii. 9. - calkd TO the Bridegroom. 
 
 18. What Sign fheweft thou unto us ? Why 
 
 doeft thou thefe things ? 
 
 24. A for Jefus, he did not trujl himfelf unto them, 
 
 25. becaufeTHEY all knew him; and he needed 
 not the Tejlimony of any Man, for he himfelf 
 knew what his own Power was. ^ 
 
 iii. 3. Except a Man be born FROM ABOVE. J 
 
 C 4 iii. 
 
 • N. B. This Verfe breaks the Conneftion of the Paffage, and ftould be pla- 
 ced after v. iS. — So render alfo v. 30., 
 \ There fljouldlbe the fame PwHiShsfis in V. 43. iv. S15. J Sot. 7. 
 
Chap. ver. , - 
 
 iii. 13. — — For no Man.— • — , j^ 
 
 20. left his pfieds fliould be discovered* 
 
 21. — ,~tl>ait his Deeds maybe made manifeft': BE- 
 i-'ijjijsE they are wrought in God. 
 
 31. he, who cometh from Heaven, is above all, 
 
 32. and te/tijiethwhathehit\} feenand heard ; but no 
 
 33. Man receivetli this Teftimony. He, who doth 
 receive this Teflimony, hath declared his 
 
 ; Belief that God is true. 
 34 The Words of God declare vfho it is, whom 
 
 St •. God hath sent: 
 
 :v. 6. Bo Jefus, being wearied with his Journey, 
 
 was ON THAT Account fitting at the Well^ 
 7. (and it was about the fixth Hour) when a Wo- 
 man of Samaria came to draw Water* • 
 
 g. — — " Why dojl thou, luho art a Jew, ajk Drink 
 of me, who am a Samaritan Woman ?" (foi' 
 the Jews have no Dealings with the Samari- 
 tans.) 
 
 20. in this Mountain: and do VE say — - ? 
 
 29. Come, fee whether a Man, w^i? ^aj told me all 
 
 that ever I did, be not the Christ ? j 
 48. Except ye fee Signs and Wonders, will 
 
 YE not believe ? 
 
 v. 6. Doft thou deftre to be healed? 
 
 42. — * — Which is the Man, who faid unto thee — 
 
 \']. My Father worketh constantly j ^/S*^;?*- 
 
 fore I also work. 
 18. — — making himfelf like* unto God, 
 
 Vt 
 
 * So Matthew laci 12. 
 
i i5 ) 
 
 V. 20. — ^-- greater Works than thefe, /i as to make yan 
 mender, 
 
 15. and thofe^ who obey, fliall live. 
 
 27. And hstili given him Authority to execute Judge- 
 ment alfo, hecaufe he is a* Son of Man. 
 31, 32. Though I te/iify of myfelf, is Norf my Tef- 
 timor^ txaei There is, however, another tuho 
 Uftifieth of me.— — 
 
 35. — — BUT ye chofe to rejoice for a short Timb 
 
 enlyX in that Light. 
 
 36. for the Works, which the Father ^az/ir me 
 
 toperform, these very Works, which I am 
 
 37. doing., tejlify of me, that the Father fent me ; 
 so that the Father himfelf, who fent me, 
 tejlifieth of me. 
 
 38. Ye neither hearkeneD§ To his Voice at any 
 
 Time, nor beheld his Form :\ and have not his 
 2)tf<f?r/w abiding in you, because ye. believe 
 not on this Man, whom he hath fent. 
 
 39. Ye search the Scriptures, hecaufe ye think that 
 
 ye have in them eternal Life : yet, though 
 they teftify of me, ye will not come to me, that 
 ye may have life. 
 45. Do ye think, that I Jhall accufc you to the Fa- 
 ther ? — 
 yi. 27. ->- — for to him hath the Father, even God, given 
 his Authority. 
 
 vi. 
 
 * Thatn, fl A£«B;-fee Heb. ii. iS. f See vlii. 14. 
 
 J See Matt. xj. 1 8. Luke vii. 30. ^ Sovi 25. viii. 43. iff. 27. 
 
 I SeiMatt. V. 8. Heb.xii. 14. and JoiUi vi. 46. 
 
Chap. ver. 
 
 Vi. 32. —i~i— It was not Mofes, iuBo gave you that Bread 
 
 .of Heaveh, biit my Father, who »oii; giveth you 
 
 the triie Brejfd of Heaven. 
 33. Fdr the Bread of God is that Bread, ivhiS 
 
 tometh dowh frdni Heaven ti gtve Life untd' 
 
 the World. 
 
 35. 1 am tHAT Bread of Life. 
 
 36'. Nowl have told you ibis, BfeCAUste^ THOUGH ye 
 
 havb feen me, ye believe not. 
 
 45. — Every one therefore, who Keahth the Father, and 
 
 RicEivfiTH HIS Doctrine, cometh uiitb mei 
 
 46. Not that any bns can fee the Father ;' fave he, wha 
 
 IS from God, hefeeth the Father.' , 
 
 50. This Bread, which conierh down frdm Heaven,' 
 IS SUCH, that,, if A Man eat fhereofi he will not 
 die. 
 
 55. For my FleQi is the true Meat, and my Blood 
 is THE true Drink. 
 
 58. Such is this Bread, which is comedown from Hea- 
 ven ; not like that M.3.nnz,which your Fathers 
 aiSy and died : he, who '6&teth this Bread, will 
 live for ever. 
 
 5g. Thefe Things he faid, as he taught in the Syna- 
 gogue AT Capernaum. 
 
 60. This is a harjh DoSlrine i who can UNDER:'-' 
 
 STAND it ? 
 
 70. Have not I chofen you, the twelve ? Yet 
 
 71. one of you is a Devil, He meant Judas. a 
 
 «Ii. 4. For no Mah, ivho w'Jheth to be publicly knownj 
 
 doeth any Thing in a secret Place.* Since; 
 V thow 
 
 * Soxviii. lo. Matt. vi. 6. Lukexi. 3J. 
 
Tilou GANST DO thefe Things, fliew thyMf to 
 the World. 
 Vii. 12. And there was much PRiVATfe Dispute cortft 
 
 terning him among the Multitudes. 
 
 15. — — Whence had this Man./afi Learnins, -^hd 
 
 was never taught it ? 
 S.I. Idid^«/ one Workj and do ve all wonder 
 
 AT IT ? 
 
 22. Mofes gave you Circumeifion. 
 
 23. becaufe I made an entire Man Well on the 
 
 Sabbath-Day ? 
 26. jire the Ruletis reaS^ Convinced, that this 
 
 Man is imieedthe Chrift ? 
 a8. — — So then ye know me, and know al/o whence 
 
 I am : Vet, though I am not come of myfelf, 
 
 ye know not him, that fent me, who is worthy of 
 
 Credit, 
 
 33. Then faid Jefus : Yet a little While.—— 
 
 34. and whither I go, ye cannot come, 
 
 38. He, who believeth on me As the Scripture* 
 
 HATH COMMANDED HIM, _fi>all have Rivers of 
 living 'Water flowing from his Belly. 
 
 39. ■ — fof the Spirit was not yet given. 
 
 50. Nicodemus faith ,unto them^ (he, who came i9 
 
 HIM by Night) being one of them. 
 
 51. Doth our Law condemn the Man, without firjt 
 
 hearing him, and knowing what he hath done ? ■ 
 
 5a. 1' Dost thou alfo stand up for Galilee .^ 
 
 Search, zwA thou wilt fecy thai no Prophet hath 
 
 erifen out of Galilee. 
 
 viii. 
 * See Deut. -xmu. 15. 
 
( a8 j 
 
 Chap. ver. , 
 
 Viii# 14. Though I tejlify (A mykXf, yet this Tcfli^ 
 
 mony is true, that I know wheiice I carae^ 
 and whither. I am going ; and, that ye kttout 
 
 not. s 
 
 16. - — ^becaufe /f « riot I Alone, thtt judge: but 
 
 I and the Father, who fent me. 
 Ig. As y6 knew not me^ so ye know not my Fa- 
 ther.—— 
 21. — — \-{im go'iAg away ; aridj though ye Jhoitld 
 feek me, ye will die in your Sins j for whither 
 I am goingj ye cannofcome; 
 
 i 1^5. — ^ I HAVE INDEED, AS I SECLARfi UNTO 
 
 26. you, MANY Things to fay, and to judge ««- 
 ciming yoii! but he, wAa' fent rae is the ti\i6 
 Judge^ and I fpeak in the World oAlft thofe 
 Things, which I htdLxAfrom him. 
 
 ;^8. then ye will know, that I am he ^ and tha^ 
 
 I do Nothing of myfelf, but declare fuch 'fhings, 
 
 Qg. as my Father taught me ; and that he, wht ■ 
 fent me, is with me. • ■ 
 
 31. If ye continue T'RtrLY irt this my Doc- 
 
 32. trine, ye Jhall he my Difciples, and know thfe 
 Truth, and this Truth w/// make you free. 
 
 37. becaufe THis DbElrine of mine doth not, 
 
 THRIVE in you. 
 40. T— — Abraham did nottfif? 'rrias; 
 43. Why do ye not underftand my Difcourfe ?" Be-, 
 
 caufe ye cannot listen to my DaHrine. 
 
 vur. 
 
 "* %at^ i^ iti. 17*. 
 
( ^9 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 viij. 44: The Devil is your Father, and accordingly ye are 
 r^ady tsperfarm the Lufts of your Father. He 
 was a Murderer from the Beginning, and con- 
 tinued not in the Truth, becaufe there is no 
 Truth in him, When any Man speak- 
 £TH A Lie, he speaketh suitably to 
 HIS OWN Kindred ; for his Fat^^er al- 
 so IS A Liar, 
 
 52. — — and dost thov say, If a Man keep my 
 DoSlrine — — f 
 
 54> 55" '■ of whom ye fay, that he is your God, 
 
 THOUGH ye know him not. — ■ 
 
 5^, Your Father Abraham eagerly desired to fef. 
 THIS my Day.— — 
 
 58. before Abraham was, I am he.* 
 
 ix. 7. Go, wafli THY Face in the Pool of Si- 
 loam. 
 
 8. Upon this the Neighbours, and they, whohiA feea 
 before when he used to beg, faid. 
 
 J I. rr—. — Go to the Pool of Siloam, «7nd wafli 
 
 THEM.f ■ •• 
 
 17. ■ I What fayeftthoit of him, inasmuch A|he 
 opened thine Eyes ? And he faid, that he is a 
 Prqphet. ,.. , 
 
 ig. —7 — If this be your Son, vAiom ye affirm ta 
 have hfeVi born blind ; how doth he now fee ? c 
 
 21. a(k him ; let him anfwer for hinafelf. 
 
 27. — — I have told you already, and ye did: not RE- 
 GARD IT' — ^ 
 
 ix. 
 
 * S(jL«ke*ti. 8. Johnxiii. ig. and other Plates. f Sav, 15, 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 ix. 28. — — Be thou his Difciple. -^ 
 
 29. but we do not know from y^9^* this Matt 
 is come,^ 
 
 30. — — This one Thing is wonderful.^ that ye knO'wc. 
 
 not ^FROM WHOM he is capey though he hath 
 opened mine Eyes 
 
 33. he could ha-qe done so such Thing. 
 
 X. I. the fame is a Thief and a MijRDERER.f 
 
 9. — — I am the Door : through me if any Sheep en-j 
 ter, itwiUhsft^e.— — 
 10. I am come, that they may have Life, and A-^ 
 
 BUNDANCE OF ALL GQ&p ThI^NGS. 
 
 14. — — and I know my Sheep, and ami known !>% 
 mine, as the Father knoweth me, anb I know, 
 the Father. r— 
 
 21. Others faid: Thefeare not the Actions of one-^ 
 
 who hath a Deemon.—— 
 
 22. And it was at Jerufalem the Feaft of the Dedica- 
 
 tion : and the Weather was rainy, so, 
 that Jefus was walking in the Temple, in So^v 
 lomon's Porch. 
 24. — , — How long wilt thou i^.ill us wzVA Doubt .^— 
 26. But ye beHeve not, becaufe ye are not of my 
 Sheep: FpR, MX Sheep, as! told you, hear 
 my Voice. 
 '30. I and my Fathei; are the same Thing.J 
 
 xi. 4. ^This Sicknefs is unto Death, ojjly for the. 
 
 Glory of God,— - 
 
 xi., 
 
 * So vii. 28. viii. 14. ix. 30. xix. 9. 
 
 ■]- So V. 8. See xtU). 40. Liike xxiii. ip. AQ3 iii. i^ 
 
 J Soxvii. II.Z2. I John V. 7. 
 
( 3X ) 
 
 xi.' io. he ftumbleth, becaufe the Light is mt iK 
 
 THE WoilLB. 
 
 |6. Must we alfo go, and expofe ourfelves tq 
 
 Deftru£lion* with him ? 
 ^8. — — and called her Sifter !Mary, fayjng to her fe-r 
 
 cretly. — . 
 33. he VEHEMENTLY REPRovEpf his Spirit^ 
 
 -and STRUGGLED WITHIN HIMSELF. 
 
 48. — — and will DESTROY both TjSis TempleJ 
 
 and oyr Nation. 
 49. faid unto them : Are. ye so, entirely 
 
 IGNORANT AND DO YE NOT COnfidcr ? 
 
 xii. 6. and kept the Bag, and carried A.Wi^Y|| 
 
 what was put therein. 
 ■ 17. Moreover the Multitude, whieh was y^ith him, 
 
 TESTIFIES THAT HE CALLED LazarUS OUt of 
 
 the Tomb, and raifed him from the dead. 
 iS. For this Reafen alfo, a gsr^eat Company had goi^e to 
 meet him, ivha^ heard that he had done this Mi- 
 
 1 
 
 racle, 
 
 ^7, ii^ and WfHiCH fhall I fay ? " Father ! deliver 
 
 •" me from this Hour !" But for this Caufe 
 
 28. am I come, with. A View to this very Hour. 
 / will fay therefdre : " Father ! glorify thy 
 " Son I", Uponwhich a Voice came from Hea- 
 ven : " I have both glorified hiyriy and will glo- 
 ^' rify him again." 
 
 31. Now w/Z/this World pass Sentence ; now will 
 the PrJHCOfl of this World be scornfully re- 
 jected. 
 
 xii. 
 
 • See V. 8. f S9 v. 38* J See A&s vi. 14, 
 
 H Or Jlile. ' ^ See jcvi. 1 1^ Rev. i. 5. 
 
C 32 ) 
 
 6bap. vii'. . „ 
 
 xii. 32. And, WHEN \Jhall have heen lifted up, from fee 
 Grouridy I Jhall draw all Men unto myfelf. 
 
 40. and DARKENED their Heart. — 
 
 42. — biit did not ovi^N ^T becaufe ofihe Phari- 
 
 fees, — • — • 5, 
 
 42' -^— \ judge him not ; (for I came ntot to judge 
 48. the World, but to fave the World) inasmuch 
 AS THE Man, ijuho rejedeth nie and receiveth, 
 not my Words, already hi.i\i one to judge Kim: 
 the DoStrine^ yjhich I have delivered^ that will 
 judge him in the laft Day. ' 
 
 4g. he gave, me an Order what I fliould coMrt. 
 
 MAND, and what I fliould teach. 
 xiji. I. — • — as he had ever loved his own, who were with, 
 him in this World,* he Jhewed his love for tl\en\ 
 at the last. 
 
 3. Accordingly, vA^tsn Supper was ended. ^ 
 
 3, 4. and WAS GOING to God ; rifeth up af-^ 
 
 TER Supper, and taketh off his Upper-Gar-^ 
 
 MENTS,' . 
 
 6. art thou going to wafh my Feet ? 
 
 7 1 Thou knoweft n,ot now what I tp^ak h^da-. 
 
 ing this. 3^ but tho\^ flialt kjiow, ivhen I have^ 
 dope.-i 
 
 XO. 1 As he, who is waflied, hath no Need to ■wz.ib. 
 
 any Thing (axe his Feet, but is clean all over \ 
 so are ye clean. 
 12, — — Consider what I have done unta you- 
 
 xiii, 
 
 • SeexvB. 13. f See v. 14. 
 
H ( 33 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 kiii. 31. Since God is glorified iy hinij God will liCogivi 
 
 him Glory of himfelf, arid wiS Immediately giti 
 
 him Glory. 
 35. All Men will know that ye are my Difciples, if 
 
 ye have sueH Love one to anothen 
 *iv. I; — — ^ Put YOUR TRUST in God } put.youA 
 
 Trust alfo in me; 
 
 2. In my Father's Houfe are many Martfiohsi Be- 
 
 3. HOLD !- I TELL YOtlj THAT I am going tO 
 
 prepare a Place for you : and^ when I have 
 
 ££EN TLXid prepared z. Place for you^ I will come 
 
 againi— ; — '—^ 
 gi Havelbeeii fo.lortgwith you, artd bo YE 
 
 not ifwa; me ? He, who se^th* tne, Philip, 
 
 SEETH the Father;-^— 
 iOi The Words, which I fpfedc uhto you, I 
 
 fpeak not of myfelf, bUt my Father 
 
 SPEAKETH : the Worksj which I do, he^ 
 
 who qhideth in mie^ doethi 
 i2. becaufe I am going unto nly Father, and 
 
 13. whatfoever ye fhall alk in my Name, that I will 
 
 14. do. If ye fhall aik^y Thing in loiy Name, 
 so THAT the Father may be glorified in the 
 Son, I vnil do It. 
 
 }5. and he will give you another Advo« 
 
 CATE»t —'*— 
 i-j. That Spirit of Truth, whom the World Witt 
 
 not receive, becaufe it cannot difcern faim tior 
 D know 
 
 * Sov. 7. f Se f. «6. )CT. »6. «vi,7' J JehnU. t> 
 
( u ) 
 
 Chap, vM. 
 
 i«8!»KiH6; but ye WILL -knew him, hecai^ 
 he WILL aiidi with ywi md be in fba. 
 xiv, i8. I will not leave you desolate : 1 am coming to 
 
 19. you IN A LITTLE TiME : aftdj t'hough the 
 WorM w.iSLL BfOT BisGERNf* 11% ye will 
 
 DISCBliSWie, THAT I AM ALIVE, ami TtiAT 
 
 ye«;»7/livealfo. 
 
 20. InihatrDay^i^yewill he. cMvineid thit I am 
 
 in myi Fathec-'i-^ 
 
 04. THOUGH IKDEED the B^oStthKey which ;»« 
 
 Eear^isnot mine.. ■ iv .. M 
 
 27. — wto I give unto yotr, is not ^/fefA as the 
 
 WorM mil give :f let nbtj however, your 
 Heart he tEOubled, not difttuiyedt 
 
 28. If ye loved me, ye would j&af^ rejeicedy be- 
 
 GAfsfi I Awt GOXNG to the Father.— — 
 
 30. I will hottaHc with you much longer now ; for the 
 
 Pfihcef of this World is coming foon : and I 
 
 31. HAVE Nothing now to do, but to con- 
 vince the World, that I love the Father. 
 
 XV. 2. Every branch in me, that beareth not Fruit, he 
 will tab away : and every Branch, that beareth 
 Fruit, he will prUne^ that it may jkear mor& 
 Fruit. 
 
 3, Now are ye Hie ^ runfed 'Branches through the 
 
 4. DoStrine which I have declared \into you, A- 
 bide tberefbrie in me, and I wiU abide in you. 
 
 ,;;\.' XV, 
 
 • See V. 22. -f See xvi» 35; 
 
 X Seethe Koleatzii.ji. See alfo v.' t2< oJ^chis Chapter ; rii. iS, xviit 
 Z, PhiL-ii, 9. Sk, 
 
ctiap; vSh 
 
 xV. 5: — — tlie (ame ieareth iiiuch Fruit ; hutyjepafd- 
 
 ted from nie, ye can b e A& No Fruit at all, 
 6. Whajsevir alldeih not in me, iiaUl be caft flM;«y 
 
 //if« the Branch, that is withered ; which Men 
 
 gather ib the Refl^ and caft iiito a Fire to be 
 
 biirried; 
 
 8; This is the Will cIf my Father, that ye bear 
 niuch Fruit, and be my Difciples; 
 
 II. -^-i— — that /Ar Joy,' which I HAVE of yoUj 
 may continue^ and that yolir joy may be com- 
 plete. 
 
 15; I wilino more call you Servants, iecdufe the Ser- 
 Vaht itnoweth nbt his Mafter's Bufinefs : btit I 
 tall yott FriehdSi hicaufi I have made known 
 lintoyoii iWthe BireCHanSy which Ititeivedfrom 
 liiy Father* 
 
 i&, Yefe^hotmej biit I ci&^ you ; and^i placed 
 yoii in the Fine, that j^^ may go on hearing Fruitj 
 ^nd that Til is Fruit mr?}' continue } thatwhat- 
 foevtr ye afk the Father in my Name, he may 
 give it you. 
 
 ^']. This I a^ain coitirtiand you, diaX^e loVe one arto-" 
 ther, 
 
 18. If Ae Woj-U hate ydUj consider, that lijirjl 
 hated mfe. 
 
 BO. — — SINCE* they peffccuted m(b, they will per* 
 fecute you alfo i *ince they abused my Doc" 
 trine they will abuse your's alfo^ 
 
 « S« Matt. X, S5< 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 chap. vcr. 
 
 xvi. I. Thefe Things have I fpoken unto you, that ye 
 may nolforfake the Faith,* 
 
 13. and WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT IS 
 
 NOW COMING TO PASS.f 
 
 aa. —■ — and THIS Joy no Mzn Jhall take from you. 
 
 23. And in that Day ye wiU have no_ need to a(k me a- 
 
 ty Thing : for verily.- 
 
 24. and 'ye Ihall feceive so as to have your 
 
 Joy complete. 
 
 30. and there is no Need that any Man fliould 
 
 aflc thee:); again. 
 32. - that ye will be fcattered every one his own 
 
 Way. 
 
 xvii. I. — — that thy Son alfo may glorify thee by gi- 
 2. viNG eternal Life to as miny as thou haft given 
 him ; inafmuch as thou haft given him Dominion 
 over all Flefli. 
 
 11. As I am no /ff>^«r in the World, but they are in 
 
 the World, and I am coming to thee; keep, 
 holy Father, in f Ay Name. — ■ , 
 
 12. While I was with them in the World, I kept 
 
 THEM, WHOM THOU HAST GIVEN M£, in thy 
 
 ' Name: I kept them, and none of them is 
 
 '■' Joft. 
 
 13. and thefe Things I (peak whil/i. I am yet in 
 
 the World, . " . 
 
 17. Sanftify them for § thy Truth. — — ^ 
 
 - ; * a:u .•..'■- xvii. 
 
 • So in all thofe 1*13085* where the common Verfion ufes the Word offeud. 
 rorthecontraryIdea,feeMatt.xxiv. 12. 13. Rev.ii, 10. 
 f Luke xiciv. ^5.26. JSwv. ig. §Sov. 19. 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 ehap. TM. 
 
 xyii. 21. that the World may beKeve, that thou 
 
 didfl fend mty and that thou gav^st me 
 
 THE GX-ORY, WHICH I GAVE THEM : that 
 
 2e. tiiey may be one as we are one ; I in them, as 
 thou in me, fo as to be perfeBed in one : that 
 the World may know, — 7— — 
 
 24.. — — that they may behold my Glory, which 
 THOU GAVEST* ME, becaufe thou lovedft me, 
 before the foundation of the 
 World. 
 xviii. 20. ■ whither all the Jews refort. 
 
 36. my Servants also would have strived, 
 
 that I might not be delivered to the Jews. — — 
 
 37. — « — Thou fayeft truly ; I am a King. • 
 
 ■ ■ that I might bear Witnefs to THisf Truth, 
 Every one, who is of this Truth,J heareth 
 my Voice. 
 
 38. Pilate faith unto him : What is Truth tome?^-" 
 xix. II. < i J Thou woulde/l have had no Power at all 0- 
 
 ver me, unhfs I h^d been given up to thee 
 from above, . hlh ■ ■ 
 35. And he, who faw this, beareth Tejlimony of itj that 
 ye may believe : and this Teftimony is true ; 
 and Je§us himself knoweth, that hejpeaiet^ 
 Truth, 
 xjc. 8.9. — — 2ind he &w, and believed : for they did not 
 understand till then that Scripture, 
 that he was ta rif^ from the d^ad. 
 
 D 3 XX. 
 
 • Seev. 5. f SeeMstt. iv. 17. i Tim.vi. 12,13. 
 
 I Seewii. 4J. § See Afls xviii. ts^. 
 
{ 38 ) 
 
 €hap. ver. 
 
 XX. 17. Meddle not zf M me miv ; (for I am noit $H 
 
 ing up to my Father yet) but go tv^medlately tq 
 
 my Brethren,-^ — r-r-^ , 
 
 19. ■ and the Doors, where t{\e Difciples vj^ere 
 
 aflembled, being shut for Ftii^R of the 
 
 Jews.- 
 
 29. Thomas, becaufe ^o^Jeefi me, dost thoi[ 
 
 believe ? — — — 
 xxi. 15, - — -loveft thovi ipe more than thefeothe;- Difcif 
 
 pies lo%if me F* • 
 ^5, I doKot think that tl^e World even then 
 
 WOULD RECEivEj- thp Books, that wml^ be 
 
 written. Amen, 
 
 The A(as of the Apoftles. 
 
 5. 2. unto the Apoftles, whom he had ch.osekj 
 
 3. BY the Holy Spirit : to whom alfo, after 
 his Faflion, he fliewed himfelf to be alive 3j( 
 many Pfopfs durit^Jbr^ f^^y/t being feen by. 
 them.— — •■« 
 
 4. but wait for the Promife of the Fadierj 
 
 5. which ye heard from me, THAT Jphn' indeed 
 baptifed with water. 1 ■ 
 
 i. 
 
 • See Matt. xxyi. 33. 
 
 f Sec Amo^yii. 10. lf?tt. xix. II. Johnxii. 37. 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 i. 8'. Butj tch&f« (he {foljr SpiTit is cdmc Hpe»i jtoii^ ye 
 fiiall receive Poiwert X»ir Witnefies unto me. — 
 14. Thele all cont!t)i|ed with one Jiceos:^ in Prayer, 
 vnihjime^ Women..— ^ — - 
 
 ii. I. And, when the Days of Pentecoft were acctm-' 
 
 3, And /A#y j/«w Jtie Tonguet of Fire, distribu- 
 ting TiiEMSEI.VESj and j/^<///«^ upon each of 
 them. 
 6. — — the Multitude came togethfef in a coKfu- 
 SED JiIanjier, becaufe evCrfSlah heard them 
 jpeaking in his own Language. 
 
 22, Jefus of Nazareth, who has been pro- 
 
 TEP TO BE A Man sekt to you from 
 GoD^y Miracles. 
 
 3i3» -«-^ ye iook^ and, when ye HAD RiDictJLED, 
 flew by wicked Hands. 
 
 2^, — — my Fl?fh alfo fhall ^ell la Hope that 
 
 27. thoy wik not utte5,i-y leave my Life in the 
 Grave.* 
 
 30. that of the Fruit of his Loins he would 
 
 sjT upon his Throne, 
 
 33, .11 jnd having received from his Father the 
 Promife of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured it 
 out : the very Thing, which ye now fee 
 and hear. 
 
 ^3. — — because manyWondets ?ind Signs. 
 
 D 4 ii. 
 
 r 
 
 X See IT. 13, 31. 
 
 • So MaWi.». »3. ten. 18. Luke *. l J. wii. aj. i Cor, xv. 55. Ret. 
 ]. IS. vi. 8. W^i' W 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 @hap, vcr. 
 
 ii. 46. -^ — and at Home breaking Bread, ^«f- 
 took of Food with Gladnefs. • 
 
 47. ' — ^ And the Lord was daily adding thofe^ whtt 
 (^cepud Scfbuition, to the Church. 
 
 )ii, II. And, as he kept Holdof Peter ai^d John, - 
 
 12. . ■ a$ ifhy Qiir own Powe^ or Ability 
 
 we had m^de this A^an walk? 
 
 13. — . — ^ hath glorified hjs" Servant^ Jefus, 
 
 16. J^i by. Faith in his Nan^e hath he made this Mai^ 
 
 llrong, whom ye fee and know ; his Name, 
 / fay, ancl Faith THROUpH it, hath given 
 him. ■ ■ . . , ■ 
 
 17. And now, Brethren, I ^ww, that y? did it with- 
 
 out CpNSIDERATION.f ^ 
 
 jtj. —— that yqur Sins may be blotted out, anix 
 Times of Refrejhment may come vnto you 
 
 ^0. from thp Prefence of the Lord j and that: he 
 nia^ fend Jefus Chrift, %ij})o wus preord^in- 
 
 ED FOR YOU. 
 
 ai. — r- 'till the Times of Reftitutlpn of all 
 
 Things, AS God fj^ake by the Mputh of his. 
 
 holy Prophets.— r — -n 
 22. — r^ HEAR YE him in aH Things. — p— 
 i^. Ye are the Spns 0/ the|e ProphepiesJ and| 
 
 of that Covenant, 
 
 26. For you firft God appointed. his Servant JefuSyand 
 
 fent him. — 1 . « 
 
 • So V, j6. iv. 17. joi 
 
 f Sq xiii. 27, xvii. 23. 30- Rom. !i. 4. i Tim. !. 13. Heb. ix, 7^ 
 
 J Sec Rom. viii.i;.^ ix..8, Matt, yu'. i:i«. *" 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 CIwp. »er. 
 
 jv, 21, ^ they let them go, not being able to punHh 
 
 them /« any fVay^ becaufe of the. People.-^ 
 
 Ji4. "- / Lord ! thou Gpd, who madeji the Hea- 
 ven and the Earth.—— 
 25. didft formerly fay. » 
 
 29. So NOW, Lord ! — — — 
 
 30, 3y flretching forth thy Hand to Healing., and by 
 
 Signs £ind Wonders being done through the 
 Name of thy holy Servant Jefus, 
 V. II. — !— and upon all who heard thefe Things. 
 
 12, 13. And they were all with one Accord in Solo- 
 mon's Porch. And after this no one 
 
 DARED TO HINDER THEM ; but the People 
 
 14, magnified them : and Believers were the more 
 12. added to the jLord, Multitudes both of Men 
 
 and Women. And by the Hands of the A- 
 poftle? were many Signs and Wonders done a- 
 
 15. mong the People ; so that through every 
 Street they brought forth the fick. 
 
 20. Go, ftand, and declare m the Temple to the Peo- 
 ple all THIS DoSirine of eternal Lik. 
 ^4, ■■ they doubted HOW THIS Matter 
 
 COULD BE. 
 
 JO. - ■ ' whom ye flew by hanging*' on a Tree. 
 
 33. But they, upon hearing thefe Things, lyere ex- 
 ceedingly ENRAGED.f— — 
 
 35. — ^ what ye do against thefe Men. 
 
 38. And I aitoife you on this Occafton, Have Nothing 
 to do with thefe Men, -— 
 
 V. 
 
 * So X. 39. f So vii. Si- 
 
{ *2. > 
 
 Ohap. y*r. 
 
 V. 39. But, ifitbeof Godj ye tvUt be unable ta de/froyitt. 
 andwiMhefiunialfii to fight againft God. 
 ij,2. ——and preach Jefus tp' be the Chrift. 
 ti. 2. — — TVe ditiotchoofe to h^ve, the Word of God 
 to ferve Tables, 
 
 *r. and agreat J4a/ftVi^^^ our of Todea ^*- 
 
 f«»?* obedient to the Faith, 
 
 10. — and the Spjntj WHiCHfpake inhim. 
 
 n. Then they fuborned Men to say.' 
 
 Vii. 2. And he fejd ; Brethren,*^ and Fathers, heark- 
 en, u ■ . 
 
 6. Thy Segd^f// fojourij in a ftrange I,and, 
 
 unckr Bondage aijd Hi Treaiment, fouir hundred 
 Years, — -^ 
 8. — — and uiider this Qtve^ant he begatlfeaC; » 
 
 10, -r— !». and gate him the Gift o» WisBOMf 
 in the SigUtof Pharaoh. ; 
 
 17. And, as the Time of the Promifcj^ yfhich God 
 Jware to Abraham, approached^ the people hep, 
 thriving and muhipli^iiig in iEgypt. 
 
 19. The feme dealt unjustlyJ with our Racty antt 
 ill-treated our Ji'athers, so as ro,MA.J^^ THRivt 
 call oi^t their In/ants^ - 
 
 24. " — he affifted him, and avepgpd Wm, tf/ien he- 
 was QVERPOWSREB, hy.fm^ipg tiic JEgyp- 
 tian. 
 
 26. And the next Day he favj fw<t ef thepi fight- 
 ing, and endeavoitred to receneik theai, faying» 
 Ye are Brethren : why do ye hurt each ether? 
 
 vii. 
 
 * Soi. 16. ii.29. jodi. I, and mother Plwes. 
 
 f So Rom. J. J. J See Exod. i, 14. v. 7, 
 
-< 43 ) 
 
 Rhsp. ver, 
 
 Vfj. 30. — — in a Flame of a ^ush on Fire.* 
 
 31. and as hg waf drayjing near %o cossipERt 
 
 it. , .■ . ■ 
 34. I hayp carffulhel>Jerve^i\ks ill Treatment, of 
 
 my People.—— 
 36. He brought fheiii put, i\NP performed Won,r 
 
 ders.-; — T 
 37. A prophet wi// the l/ord your God raife up 
 
 for yoii oiit of your Bre^jiFeni as be raised 
 
 M^.X Hearken «n/9 him, 
 38. This. is he, wbpy in iJie Church in thg Wildfcr-j 
 
 nefs, was with the Angel, wko {pake to him 
 
 in the Mount Sina, and with our Fathers ; 
 
 i^ha received the Oracles ef Life tp give unto 
 
 us. 
 ^I. and made themselves jijERRY§ with 
 
 the Works of their own Hands. 
 42. Then God gave them up aga|N|| to worfhip the 
 
 Hpff of Heaven, - v " . ■ 
 45. Which alfo our Fathers received from him, 
 
 tfWbrought in with Joshua, whet^ hepjfsffei 
 
 the Nations, which God continued to. drive out 
 
 before the Fa9e of pur ip'athers unto the Days 
 
 of David, 
 52. Which of those Prpphets i{\d not your Fathers 
 
 ferfecut£ and Jlay, who fox^old the Cpmjng of 
 
 THAT ri^hteoits Mian. .". > 
 
 vii. 
 
 9 See Exod. iii, z. 
 
 + So T. 32. Matt. vii. 3. Luke vi. 41. xii. 24.87. xx. 231 "Jamet f. 
 zj. 24. I So iii. 22. 
 
 § So Luke xii. 19. xy- 23. || $0 liv. £• 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 thif, xtr. 
 
 vji. 57. ^>id, as HE cried out with a loud Voice, they 
 Jlopi their Ears.' 
 
 58. ax)d PREPARED TO STONE* him. 
 
 59. And they ftoned Stephen, fiill appealing t$ 
 
 ihem,-\ and faying. — — 
 
 viii. 5. And Philip went down to a City of Samaria, and 
 
 preachedunto them THE Chrift. 
 
 ^. Now a certain Man, Simon iy Name, had been in 
 
 that City feme Time before., exercifing Magic, and 
 
 aftoniflnng\^ the Nation of Samaria. 
 
 ;io. -t Thy Money perifli with thee ! Thou haft 
 
 2j, neither l*art nor Lot in this Doctrine, fir 
 txpeiiing' to procure this Gift ofGodw/V/&Mo^ 
 
 ney. <- 
 
 22. — — if this Deceitfulness of thy Heart 
 niay thereby be forgiven thee. 
 
 30. Do/i thou under/land then what thou art 
 
 reading ? 
 
 38. And he toldhXxA to stop the Chariot. — -* 
 
 39. — •<— the Spirit of the Lord took\ away Philipj fi. 
 
 that the Eunuch faw him no more, but went 
 on his Way rejoicing. 
 Ix. 3. And, as he journeyed, when he was coming near 
 Damafcus, a Light from Heaven fuddenly 
 fiajhed\ around him, 
 8. — — and, when his Eyes were opened, he coulek 
 y««f Nothing ; fe they led him by the Hapd fo. 
 Damafcus. 
 
 ix. 
 
 * So John X. jz. -f- See v. 56. 57'. 
 
 ^ £ov. II. ' § Ses Matt. IT. I. Mark t. is \ Soxxii, 6. 
 
^ +5 ) 
 
 Qhap, ver. 
 
 ix. n. for behold! vihilfi he was prayiHgy hi 
 
 1 2. faw in a Vifion. 
 14. And Is here . with Authority from the Chief- 
 
 Priefts to bind all, who call themselves 
 
 BT* thy Name, 
 ig* Then Saul, as soon as he had been with the Dif- 
 20. ciples /« Damafcus^m^ Days, constantly 
 
 proclaimed in the Synagogues, that Jesus is 
 
 the Son of God. 
 
 23. — — the Jews were contriving to kill him, (now 
 
 24. Saul i9iew their Intention) and iept watching 
 the Gates. ' 
 
 29. And feeling great Confidence in the Name of the 
 
 Lord Jefus,, he both talked and difputed zvith the 
 
 Grecians. — — 
 31. — — and Samaria ; and went on, editing and 
 
 multiplying^ in the Fear of the Lord, and the 
 
 SuppoRTj-ofthe Holy Spirit. 
 33. BECAUSEj of a Palfy. 
 
 35. And all tie Inhabitants of Lydda and Saron, who 
 
 faw liim, turned to the Lord. 
 
 %. II. a /ar^r Sheet, let down by a String at the 
 
 four Corners to the Earth. 
 17. Now, when Peter was come to himself, and 
 
 was doubting what this Vifion.—— 
 ai. Then Peter went down to the Men, and faid. 
 
 36. That Doifrine, which God fent unto the Children 
 
 of Ifrael preaching the Gofpelof Peace through 
 Jefus Chrift, belongs equallv to Ai,t. 
 
 * S0V.21. Stsxi. ^6. Jion ii. 7. 
 
 y See Jobn ht. 16. J S* xvij, \%, 
 
Cliap; M 
 
 x. 37. FbH _y^k^6^<^ tHAT Af frXift of jisus of MA- 
 ZARETH, whicfi took Place throughout all Ju- 
 
 38. dfea, beginHlrig fiorii Galilee, after the Baptifmi 
 Whick ]diti {Jfeached : hoW God anointed him 
 Vtrith the Holy Spirit and with Power j HOW 
 he ■^eht dbout dolhg Gdbd.' 
 
 3g. ' " • "• ■•' ' and irt Jerufalem. 
 
 40' Hint thftugh they flew by hafigirig 6n a 't'recj 
 THIS VERY Man Geld raifeid Up on the third 
 Day ; and SuJ-FERED HIM /i^^w himfe^; 
 
 42. i that it is he, who is dpplinted by God to be 
 
 Judge of the Itmhg arid the deadj 
 
 47. — ^ that thefe, whs have received the Holy Spl- 
 ritj fcouid tjdt ht SaptIsEd as W£ll as^ 
 WE ? 
 
 jtf. 4. Ahd P6ter /aMthe Matter i>/«r'f theifi /» Order, 
 faying. 
 
 15. And AFTfcRt tiAB ifBdtr^* to fpeak. — — 
 
 16. Then I called ta Mbidr^PiTC Declaration of 
 
 the Lbrd.' 
 
 17. Forafmuch then ds God gaVe them, who belies. 
 
 ved on tfie Lbi^ Jefus Ghrift, the like Gift as 
 to us ; vi^as I a Man able to hinder God ? 
 ig. ——the Pti-Kctifiori tRjtt aroffe tiPON th( tfeath 
 of Stephen. — — 
 
 jfii. 4; irtfertdrng after firi; PaSsover.-^ — ■ 
 
 8. — ;— Gird ihj Ci/a(oUUrthee, and tie thy San-", 
 dih. And he did ft. Arid he faith unto 
 •him : Gaft thy UppeiL-Garment about thee^ 
 and follow me. 
 
 • ffeex, 44. 
 
i 47 ) 
 
 •Sdj. II. TriEiSt Pstctjtameto himfelf", and faia.— — 
 
 1^ aiid he -Mrent down from Judea, and coN» 
 
 TINNED II} Caeidrea. 
 kill. I2> -- — was atloniflied, and SEtisvED THE Doc- 
 trine of the Lord. 
 
 i8. Andy&rthe Space of forty Years fed them in th» 
 Wildernefs. 
 
 25. r ii ■ I am not the Matu, whom yefiippofe me t$ 
 be. 
 
 27. For the Inhabitants o^Jerufalem. and their Rulers, 
 
 NOT ATTENDING TO THIS WoRD, nOr tO 
 
 the Voices of the Prophets, which are read 
 every Sabbadi-Day, fulfilled them by condemn- 
 ing him. 
 
 33. God hath, fuliilled the fame unto their Children, 
 by RAISING UP* Jefus for us. — — 
 
 36. For David indeed^ alter serving the Will of 
 God in his own Generation;;' 
 
 42, And^ as they were going outj sqme of. the 
 Synagogue of the Jews defired that the 
 SAME Words might \)ifpaksn to them on the 
 next Sabbath. 
 
 48. tljey were glad^ and glorified God ; and 
 
 as many as were so PURPOS£D,t believed 
 unto eternal Liee4 
 
 50. — — the devout Wteneh oar hich Rank. —— 
 
 «iv. g. This Mart was. lijrHiingt»'Pii,M\ as^freaihed. — 
 
 • V • - jfiv. 
 
 • So V. 37. Skv.^. rfi,jy, •, 
 
 f ^s.ifi. ». Jijr i C«f- "^S '5' t See I Tim. i. ift 
 
vbap. ver. 
 
 xiv. 10. Said with a Ipiid Voice : I command TriiE, ii^ 
 THE Name of t»e Lokb, Jesus Christj 
 /S ftand upright on thy Feets 
 13. But the Prieft or Jupiterj 'i'HE Guardian- 
 God if their City.- 
 
 15. — — We too are but Meri, of Hice Paffidns with 
 
 yourfelvis, declaring iinto you glad Tidings^" thai 
 ye may turn from thefe Vanities ilnto God, the: 
 living God, ' -^' 
 
 16. — — fufFered all the Geiitii-es.*— '— 
 
 17. -T-,— in that he did us'GCOd FroM HEAvfe'tJ iy 
 
 giving Rain alid fruitful Seafons. — — 
 ig. - — "ondj whenihey had STiKKEia Wp the Mul- 
 
 tiiudes, and ftoned Paul, thg dragged him out 
 
 of the City.—- — 
 
 XV. 4. ~. and they declared all Things, that God 
 
 5. had done With them ; AND how certain of 
 
 the Seft of the Ph*ifees, who believed, rofe 
 
 up, andfaid. ' ' ' "» 
 II, But /believe, as these MfiNf also do, that 
 
 they are faved through the Grace of our Lord 
 
 JefusCbrift. 
 %%. with the wrholeChufch, that they should 
 
 CH00SE| M.zn from chong.themfelvei to feild to 
 
 Antioch. — — ' -■■./;' 
 
 26. Men, who have DEVOTED their Livel. 
 
 ajr. We have fent therefore Judas and Silas with 
 
 THEM, who w///' tell you the fame Things 
 
 by Word of MoMXh. 
 
 * 9a Ron), 1. j. xvi. 26. f That is, PaulsaiSarnatei. 
 
 J So7.»5. 
 
f 49 ) 
 
 vhaij). ver. 
 
 XV. 31. JdnS, when they had read it, they rejoiced at 
 
 THIS EnCOUR AGKMENT.* 
 
 Xvh 13. by a River-Side, ^vhelre iherefeemedto'he 
 
 • A HqUS£ oV PRAYfeR.t 
 
 18^. -And he came out ai that InStAnt.J 
 
 i^. '^^'— anA dragged them into the Market- Place, 
 ■20. and brought them hefsre the Magiftrates, fay- 
 ing. • . 
 
 '22. and brdehdlthem to be beaten WITH Robs. 
 
 30. — ^'What muft-Iido to be safe ?§ 
 
 34. and ji« with all his Family rejoiced exceed- 
 
 ■ INGLY upon believing in God. 
 
 27, .• I and now thfey are for finding tis away fri* 
 vately, Notjo indeed : but let them come them* 
 felves^ ,and tonduSI us out. 
 Stvii, ^. —— .3a,d/«r three. Sabbath-Days4C««//««f^ /» r^ff- 
 3. fan with them from the Scriptures, explaining 
 them znd PROVING, that it was necesSaky 
 roR THE Chrilt tofuffer-, and ts rife from the 
 xlead : and that the fame Jefus, wh6m I declare 
 unto you, is this Chrift. 
 »;. — *- and" foughtyar thern, in Order to bring theBi 
 
 out.- — ^ 
 8. And the Multitude and the Rulers of the City -Wire 
 fomewhat alarmed uptn ^^fln«^^thefe, Things. 
 
 il» ^ and ^n^«zVf^;^ the Scriptures daily, whe- 
 
 12. • ther fii^ Things were fo: so That many of 
 them believed.- — - 
 
 E xvii. 
 
 • Sec V. »o. w. 31. t See Luke »i. 12. 
 
 J ,S«e V»K, XYui. ». § ^e«». »?• Matt, xxviii. 14. 
 
c so ) 
 
 xvii. 19. — — We cannot understand what this 
 new Do(3:rine, whereof thou fpeakeft, is. 
 
 22. -—Ye Men of Athens, I perceive, that ye are 
 
 23. ALL very much given to Superftition. For, as 
 I was gmng about and taking Notice of your 
 Deities, I found among the Rest an Altar 
 with this Infcription, To An unknown God. 
 Whom therefore ye reverence without knowing 
 him, the fame declare I unto you. 
 
 25. Neither requireth he any Service from the Hands 
 
 of Men*. 
 -26. — — having fixed from the firfl the appointed 
 
 Times and Bounds of their Habitation ; 
 
 27. That they might look for God, since hy feeling 
 after him THEY would find him ; inas- 
 much AS HE is not far from every one of^ 
 us. 
 
 Jl. .1 by A Man, w^om he appointed, as he 
 
 hath given Proof to all by raifing him from 
 the dead. ^ 
 
 xviii. 5. And, when Silas and Timothy were come down 
 6. from Macedohia, the Spirit of Paul was vio- 
 lently moved by THE Oppojiiion and abu-' 
 five Speeches of the Jews, as he teflified to 
 theth that Jefus was the Chrift ; so that he 
 THREW dPFt HIS Upper-Garment, and 
 faid uhto them : Your Blood be upon ^our 
 own Heads ; I am clean from this Mo- 
 ment : I will go untjp the Gentiles. 
 
 xviii. 
 
 * See T. 29. Exod. xx.4, 'f Setxxiii 23. 
 
(51 I 
 
 chip. ver. 
 
 •xviii. 9iid. --,-=. fieiirnot ; fbfl am With thee, and«llo 
 
 Man fhall lay Hands on thee to hurt thee : but 
 
 fpeak and be not ftlent, becaufi I have much 
 
 People in this City, 
 jj' This Man perfuadeth our People to wor- 
 
 fhip God contrary to the Law. 
 
 i 7. — — an,d beat him before the Judgement-Seat it- 
 
 felf; and NONE OF THEM REGARDED GAL- 
 LIO. Jl 
 
 45.. and teing ferve^nt in the Spirit, used to 
 
 fpeak and teach the Things concerning JesuS, 
 bj4 NOT EXACTLY, knowing only the Bap- 
 tifm of Jdhn. 
 
 a.;/. :; who, when he was come among them.,' con- 
 tributed to the faithful by his Gift ;* for he 
 coKFUTEp the Jews publicklyit;/V^^rftf/iP«w- 
 rr, (hewing by the Scriptures, that Jefus was 
 THE ChriA. 
 SfiXi 2. — — We have not fo much as heard, whether 
 the Holy Sprit be yet. 
 
 7, And they were all Men, twelve in Number. 
 
 20. Injuch a Manner did the Word of God mighti- 
 
 ly THRIVE and GROW STRONG. 
 
 21. — — Paul refohed In his MiND.f — — 
 
 24> furnijhed no fmall Employment to the 
 
 Artificers. 
 45. i^~— ye kpow, that our Profperity arifes from 
 
 this Employment. 
 
 E 2 xix. 
 
 • See T. 24,25. t So Mark ii. 8. See Ada v. 4. 
 
( 52 ) 
 
 Cha;*. ver. 
 
 xix. 27. is in Danger of Detection, — -^ 
 
 33. And one Alexander stept roRTHframthe Mul- 
 titude. — ^ ^ 
 
 37. For ye have brought thefe Men as Criminals,* 
 though they have neither committed Sacrilege'^ not 
 hlafphemedyowc Goddefs. 
 
 40. For we are in Danger of biing accufed of Sedi- 
 tion FOR THIS Day's Assembly, as there 
 is no Reafonyir iV : a eithzk /hall we be ablt 
 to give any Account of this Tumult. 
 
 xX. 4. And there accompanied him Sopater of Berea : 
 
 BUT Ariftarchus and SeCundus of the Theila- 
 
 lonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy^ 
 
 and Tychicus and Trophlmus of Afia, went 
 
 5. BEFORE, <7«i tarried for us at Troas. 
 
 8. For there were many Lights in the Upper-Room, 
 
 where we were ajfembled. 
 
 9. *! and, as Paul was long in his Difcourfe, 
 
 \ having leaned backwards as he flept^ ht 
 i fell down. 
 
 13. " I ' meaning himfelf to go by Land. 
 
 18. in what Manner I have behaved among yofl 
 
 all THIS Time. 
 
 20. How 1 forbore to declare untoyoa and to teach yoQ 
 
 21. Nothing, that was profitable ; Testifying 
 both in Public and in private, both to Jews 
 and Greeks.—————. 
 
 23. faying; Bpnds and Afai<aions<7M;fl»> thee. 
 
 XX. 
 
 * So Mark xiii. i K 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 3{x, 24, But I rnah no Account of any Thing, nor do I rr- 
 gard even my Life as of any Value to myfelf tit 
 
 Comparifon withfinijhing my Race with Joy. 
 
 . aS. to feed the Church of the Lord.-^^- 
 
 34. — — thatthefe very Hands wholly supplied 
 
 my own Neceflities,jand tkofe of my Con^a- 
 nions^ ; , • 
 
 35. I have given yoa an Exaritple^ that even hy la- 
 
 bouring in this Manner ye ought to a(Jifl the 
 weak, ■ 
 xxi. 7. Butwe> TO FiNisp^ ouf ^oy»7^*, from Tyre came 
 
 to Ptolemais. 
 
 15. And after thofe Days we made ourselves 
 
 READY t'O go up to Jerufiilem. 
 22. What then mujl be done ? A Multitude will f^r- 
 tainiy come together. ■ 
 
 37, 38. — — Dost thou then fpeak Greek? Art 
 not thou that ^Egyptian-, who fame Time ago 
 STIRRED UP znd led. away into the Wilder- 
 hefs THOSE four thoufand Murderers ? 
 
 39. — I— I am a Jew,* of Tarfus. — — 
 
 xxii, 3, iaf brought up in this VERY City, in/lrud-, 
 
 edy after the StriSinefs of the Law of our Fa- 
 thers, at the Feet of Gamaliel, zealous to- 
 wards God.; t ' 
 
 g. And they, who were with me, faw indeed the 
 .Light, but UNDERSTOODf not the Voice of 
 him, who wasfpeaking to me, 
 
 £ 3 xxii. 
 
 • So'x»U. 3. t Sec ix. 7. 
 
( 51 ) ■ 
 
 Chap. vcr. 
 
 xxii.29. — ' — and the Ghief-Captaiii was afraidj wheiti 
 
 he knew that he was a Romaji, becaufe he had 
 
 bound him far Scourging.* 
 
 30.. Arid on the Morrow, ivifiiing /» know from; 
 
 THE Jews the Certainty of what he was ac- 
 
 cu'fed. — — % 
 
 xxiii. 5. — — I was not AWARE, Brethren. — — 
 
 6. concerning the Hope OF a Refurre<Stton of 
 
 the dead I am now judged. 
 
 9. We find no Evil in this Man : and- what 
 
 • if a Spirit, or an Angel, haVe fpoken to him f 
 
 15. — — and we are ready- to kill him b^re he gets, ta 
 you. 
 
 27. and HAVE Jince learned, that be js a Ro-> 
 
 '' _ man. 
 
 30. I fent HIM Immediately to thee. — — — 
 
 35. I will give thee a full Hearing.—— 
 
 xxiv. 3. That we 6njoy great Peace through thee, 
 
 and thst great Profperity has been derived to this 
 Nation at all Times and in everv 
 4. Place through thy prudent Mminijirationy we 
 refpeSffully acknowledge.^ moft excellent Felix, 
 with all Thankfiilhefs. 
 
 15. which they themfelt?es alfo Ent^rta^n.— • 
 
 16. And this one ThIng I ENriJAvoi/R, to have 
 
 always. ■ 
 
 18. At which Time certain Jews.' 
 
 20. Or let thefe very People fpeak^ EiTfliR, if they 
 
 found any Crime in nie, while I ftbod before 
 
 the 
 
 * See the next Verfc. 
 
f 55 ) 
 
 Chap. vet. 
 
 the Council ; or with Refpt^to thU one De- 
 claration.-— 
 
 zxiv.22. And, when Felix heard thefe Things, he put 
 them off, and faid : When I have gained 
 a more ^Ai-iaJf Knowledge of this Way, and Ly- 
 fiss the ebief-Captaia « come down, I will 
 enquire fully into this Bujinefs. 
 
 25. Felix WAS ALARMED 
 
 XXV. 2. — CONCERNIN,G* Paul. 
 
 3. INTENDING to lie in Wait a;^ kill him en 
 
 the Road. 
 ' b. And cfterjiafjing anjoog them not more than ten 
 Days.— — 
 II. — - but, if vjhat they accufe me of is No- 
 thing, no Man can gratify them at 
 
 MY ExPENCE. 
 
 J2. -^— Thou HAST appealed unto Caefar : to Cje- 
 far thou Ihalt go, 
 
 15. — — r«J«/r;»J^^«C0NDEMNATION.t 
 
 16. To whom I anfwered, that it is not a Cujlom 
 
 with the Romans to give up any Man to De- 
 
 Jiru£}ion AS A Favour to another ; but 
 
 that he, 'who is accufed, mujifirji ht.ve the Ac- 
 
 cufers Face to Face, and an Opportunity of de~ 
 
 fendir^himMi from the CSiargf, 
 
 18. — — they brought NO capitalJ Accufation as 
 
 19. I expeiied: but had againft himfome Queftioris 
 of their own Religion. > ^ 
 
 E 4 XXV. 
 
 • Sot. 3. and iCor.xr. 15. t See v, 24. 
 
 X See xxviii. 28. 
 
( 56 ) 
 
 Chap, ver. 
 
 XXV. 20. And, becaufc I was at a Lifs upon fuch a ^e^ 
 
 tion. •• ' • 
 
 ■xxvi. 4. jfsto myhifejificemy Youth, which Ifpentfrotik- 
 5. the firft among mine own Nation at Jerufa-.. 
 
 lem, all these Jews, who wen acquainted with 
 
 me many Tears ago, know, if they-virould own, 
 
 it, that after theJlriStefi Seft of qui; Religion 
 
 I lived a Pharifee. 
 8. What? It is thought incredible ^ji vou, thatt 
 
 God fhould raife the dead.. Verily I also wai, 
 
 once of Opinian. 
 
 10. ' and I gave my Voteagainft thofi^ ii^/^a were. 
 
 put to Death. 
 
 11. And BY puNismNG them oft in every S^na-v 
 
 gogue /compelled them to blafphenie. 
 
 12. As I was going to Damafcus ALSO ypoN THI% 
 
 Business; — ^ 
 j8. To open their Eyes, that theY'May turn frprni 
 
 Darknefs unto Light, — — . 
 
 21. the Jews in a Bpny seized me.* 
 
 22. I CONTINUE witnessing unto this 
 
 Day. 
 
 23. That the Chrift was to fuiFer, and to be th^: 
 
 firft, who fliould proclaim a Light to the Peon 
 
 pie and to the Gentiles by a Resurrection 
 
 FROM THE DEAD, 
 
 xxvii.14. But not long after our Purpofe was eppofed by a 
 tempeftuous Wind, called Eurqclydon : 
 
 xxvi.it 
 
 * So Matt. xxvi. 55. Mark av. 48. Luke xxii, 54. Afls 1. 16. r-wi% 
 
C 57 ) 
 
 ■er. 
 
 }£XVii.i4. So ihe Vejfel being forced from hir Qiurfey andiwa 
 
 able to f age the Wind. tt 
 
 21. ■.and to h3^y%favedi\C\s Danger and Lofs. 
 
 23. AN Angel of THAT God, whofe I am, — 
 
 33. This Day is the fourteenth Day that ye^ 
 
 ^(?»//«KMN Suspense without Food. 
 
 34. — — for this concerns your Safety. 
 
 38. and caft out the Provisions into the Sea. 
 
 39. with an even Shore, in which they refolved^ 
 
 if it were poffible, to preserve the Vejfel, 
 40. So they cut away the Anchors, and left 
 THEM IN the Sea. ■ 
 
 44. fome on Boards, and, feme on Things 
 
 BELONGING TO the Vejfel.- - - 
 jtsviiij 2. ^nd the Barbarians fhewed us no common Bene- 
 . volence : for they received us all, after kindling 
 a Fire becaufe of the Rain at that Ti/ne, and 
 becaiife of the Cold. 
 3. ta yiper, driven out by the Heat, 
 came ^nd faftened on his Hand. 
 - I^.. but Paul was fMfFered to continue vtherz 
 
 HE PLEASED. ■ ■ ■ ■ 
 
 21. f — - Neither any Lettbrs, that we recei- 
 ved from Judea concerning thee, nor any of 
 the Brethren, who came hithery have rela- 
 ted 01 Jpoken any Harm of thecj 
 
 25. — -■«- f 0NCERN1,NG* YOHR FathejTS." 
 
 Epiftle 
 
 « SoHeb.:. 7,8. 
 
C 58 > 
 Epiftle to the Romans. 
 
 Chap. vejr. 
 
 i. I.— — a CAiLED* Apoflfe..-— — • 
 
 3i— — who WAS of tiieJScedof BaviJ. ' — 
 4. WhoivasTKortJ) to be. the Son of Goi througSt 
 the Power of theHeiy Spirit by a Refarredions 
 from the dead. 
 ■^."-Tfsroi^g^ whom we received ftjie Favaur ov an 
 Apoftfeflrip-TO^(fA(»^ of his Name, for Obe- 
 dience to the Faith aftiong all the Gen:- 
 
 TILffS." 
 
 9. "—— hcfwl in ake Mention of you without Cea- 
 
 to. 'fing in -hry Prayers, -requefting, l^at I may by 
 
 fame Means at lengfli, through the' Will of 
 
 God, HAVE THE Happiness of coming 
 
 To TDU. 
 
 14. As I am a Debtor both to Greeks and Barba- 
 
 15. rians, bofti to the lifrife and unwife; so am I 
 ready to preach the Gdfpel to you at Rome 
 alfo. ■ ' 
 
 16. TcH- 1 am not afliamed of this Gbfpel : for it 
 
 ■is'.''7*-^ 
 
 17. * The Just BYFAiTHf ifhilMive. 
 
 18. For the Wrath of God will be*^ difplayeU hom. 
 
 Heaven. — 
 
 * So 1 Cor. i. I. Compare John vi. 70. with Gal. i. 15. 
 tSoGal.iii.il. Heb.ii.j8. J SceHcb.x.z;. 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 chap. ver. 
 i, 19. Becaufe what, may be known of G<A, (for God 
 himfelf fhewedit unto them) is not mani- 
 fest IN THEM. 
 20. Far his inTifible Praperiies, even his eternal Pow- 
 er and Goilhead, when considered in his 
 "IVoRKS, are clearly manifejl ever Jince the 
 Creation of the World : fo that they are 
 ^ 21. without Excufe, as they knew God, /ar not 
 glorifying him as God and being thankful ; but 
 ^.^yhecame vain in their Reafenings, and their 
 JiUrpid Heart was darkened. 
 
 22. Profefling ta be wife, they proved themjdvei 
 Fools. 
 
 %^. thePreature, and not the Creator. —— 
 
 28. And^ as tiiey did not use their Understan- 
 dings so AS TO ACKNOWLEDGE God, God 
 
 gave them over to an unjudging Mind. — — 
 
 ii. 4. -t-^-i- not observing, that this Kindaefs is 
 leading thee to RepAitance. 
 
 14. For, when the Gentiles, who are born with- 
 
 out A Law, do the Things of the Law.*^ 
 
 15. , -BOTH by the Tefliinany «f 'theix Con- 
 
 fcitnce, and BY tAeir ReascJNings be- 
 tween EACH OTHEft, when they dcijife ethers 
 or defend ihenifehes, 
 
 17, Behold ! thfau callest thyself a; Jew. . 
 
 18. •and CANST discern the Things that 
 
 are excellent. *• - •• 
 
 27. And Ihall not this Uncircumcifion, ir iT ful- 
 fill THE Law ;by Nature, mdenut thee, 
 
 WH» 
 
Chap. Tcr, 
 
 WHO HAST A WRITTEN COMMANDMENT 
 
 AND Circumcision^ and ^et doft Usnfgrefe 
 the Law I 
 
 jji. 8. ■—— whoft Gindmnatipn is juft^ 
 
 g. What then ? We are better than. they. Not 
 IN EVERY Respect : for we have before^ 
 hrought a Charge of Sin both ogoin^ Jews and 
 Greeks^ 
 
 19. - ; Jo thqt every Mouth muft be flopped',^ and 
 
 20. the whole World be ftihjeSi to the J/udgemertt of 
 God : y^rby the Works of any Law will no, 
 Flelh be juftified inhvs Sight j for by A Lavf 
 
 - is a CoKw^isn of Sin, 
 
 21. But now, independent* «/" A Law, a "Jujlificatiork 
 
 22. /raw God, teftified hy th& Law and the Pro- 
 phets, even a fttjiification from God through 
 Faith in Jefus Ghrift, is manifeft unto all^ 
 
 23. ■ who believe : (for there is no Difference, be- 
 
 24. caufe ?iA. have ^ finned, and are fallen ihprt ef 
 the Glory of God) who are juftified freely, 
 by his Grace through the Redemption, which 
 
 25. is in Chrift Jefus ; whom God hath fet forth 
 to be a Mercy-Seat through Faith, by his 
 BloOd, for the Remiffion of pafl Sinf. 
 
 . y^. Since it is the fame God, who will ]uKiiy QlX". 
 cumclfion that hath ■ Faith, and Uncircumci-» 
 fion through the same Faith. 
 
 iv. I. What Advantage then fliall we fay" that Abra- 
 2, ham our Father had as to the Flefh ? For, 
 
 '"■'■ iv. 
 
 • So iv. 6. 
 
t^ap. Ven 
 
 jV» 3. iif Abraham were juftified by W«rks, h6 may 
 boaft. But HE CANNOT BOAST before God* 
 For what faith the Scripture ? 
 
 II. And he received Circumcision As a Sign 
 AND Seal of the yujiijkation by that 
 Faith, which he had in Uncircumcijian.—— 
 
 16, Ijf. iXrho is the Father of us all ; as it is 
 
 written, I have made thee a Father of many 
 Nations : which he was even then irJ THE 
 Sight of him, whom he believed. • • 
 
 t8. Who, when he had no Hope, hopid and believed 
 that he Jhould become <? Father of many Na- 
 tions.——^ 
 
 ig. Nor was he so weak in Faith as jo rs- 
 GARD his own Body. — — 
 
 45. Who was delivered UP. 
 
 V. 2. Through whom indeed we have received Admjfian. 
 by this Faith into the gracious Gofpely* where* 
 in we iland. 
 
 5. And THIS Hope will not CISAPFOINTf 
 
 us. 
 
 7. For fcarcely for a righteous Man will any one die : 
 
 (fcarcely, Ifay ; for perhaps ioms one may pave 
 
 8. Courage even to die for a good Man) God, 
 however, commendeth his Lotc for us. — — 
 
 9. ■ after being juftified. 
 
 10. — HOW MUCH MORE, ^f^r being rccoficiled, 
 "' SHALL WE BE faved by his Life ? 
 
 V. 
 
 * See John!, 17. Kom. vi. 14. &c. f SceEph.i. 131 14* 
 
t e^ ) 
 
 Chap, ven 
 
 v» 12. ^^— fo DeJith pafle4 also upon dl Menj |£-i 
 
 EAUSE aJl finned. 
 
 i5» ' ~ for the Judgemejit was ff/"one /S/« td 
 
 Condemnation. - ' ' ■ 
 
 17. For, if by TStE single Transgression of 
 
 ONE Man Death reigned. 
 
 18. Therefore, as by one TranJ^reJJion all, Men came 
 
 into Condemnation : io alfo byONECi^ACiouS 
 Decree witi all Men m»J£ unto Juftification 
 of Life* 
 
 Vi. 5» For, if we have conformeo to the Likenefs 
 of his Death, let us alfo cenfirm to the Like-* 
 nefs of his Refurre£lion. 
 6. Conjidering this, that our old Man Was crucified 
 with him, that the Body qi Sin might be de- 
 ftroyed, and we no longer be Slaves to Sin. 
 12, thatye fhould obey thp Lusts thereofi 
 
 17. But Thanks be to God, that, though ye were! 
 
 Slams to Sin, ye have obeyed from the Heart 
 
 18. that Form of Doflrine, to which ye were 
 TRANSFERRED V and, aftef ye were fet free 
 from Sin, became Slaves to Righteoufnefs. 
 
 19. fo YE HAVE now YIELDED your Mem-= 
 
 ' bers. 
 
 21. What Fruit therefore had ye then iri thofd 
 Things ? J Fruity of which ye are now a- 
 (bamed. — — 
 vii. I. . that the Law hath Power over a Man, as 
 
 long as IT IS IN Force ? 
 
 VJi. 
 
t 63 ) 
 
 vii. 6» But how we As^* beenfet at LiliMy ^sv Death* 
 from THAT Lam, by which we were hold- 
 en.—— 
 S. But Sin, having recdwd an Opporlunityf 
 
 WROU&HT IN ME BV THE CoMMAND- 
 
 MENTf all Manner of Concupifcence, — — 
 y. ——S'inrimvedfreJhLife.——' 
 
 II. —— SEDUCED ME BY THE CoMMANDMENT, 
 
 and flew me by it. 
 13, Di^thea this good Thkig came, that it fni^t be 
 
 Deaith to me ? By no Meant; but that Sin 
 
 might bejhewn to be Sin from working Death 
 
 to me.by THIS foarf Thing. 
 15. For / am not aware what lam Jaing.- 
 21. I find ther^ore that^ when my Mnto is wilUng to 
 
 perform.THt. good Frece^ of the Law<, E- 
 
 vil is clofe unto me. 
 24. —— who will deliver me froiji this deadiy 
 
 Body ?J The G,Racje o-f God through 
 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord. — r-r 
 viii. I. There is thepefpre now no Condemnation to 
 2. them, wA» arein-Chrift Jefus : for the spiri- 
 tual Law of Life in Chrifl: Jefus.' 
 
 -3. — r— God, i^ fending his own Son In the Likenefs 
 
 of a finful Ba^ on Actountif Sin, condemned 
 
 THIS Sin by THAT Bady. 
 .17. — — so TJiAT, if we fuffer with him,, vrejhall 
 
 alfo be glorified together. 
 
 viii. 
 
 * Seer. 4. f See v. ij. } See viii. ii> 
 
( 64 ) 
 
 thap. vir. ' 
 
 yiiiv20; For the Creation j'j fiibje£lto Variity, (ndt^ViP 
 21. lingly^ but by Reafoh of hiai, who brought it 
 
 into thii SubjeiSfion) IN Hope, that THIS 
 
 VERY. Creation will bie delivered. ——^ 
 24i expeSiiHg an Adoption of Sons for our Dim 
 
 liverance from the Body. 
 z6. — —for we KNOW not as we otrcrtTi whai 
 
 to pray fon^ ' — 
 
 ''—i— with secret GroanSi 
 28. And we know that the Spirit worketh iH all 
 
 Things for Good with them,, who lovd 
 
 God. 
 33. Who (hall bring an Acctfation againfl God's E* 
 
 lea? 
 341 SHAiL God, who jtlftifieth \ Who/hall con- 
 
 demnthem ? Shall Christ, who died ? — 
 
 ix. 2,3. and continual Sorrow in my Heart, (for 
 
 Ialso was once an Alie^ from Chrift) 
 
 ON AcCoUiST OF my Brethren. - ' 
 
 5. Not that by any Means the Word Of God hath 
 
 failed : fot thej^,' who fprahg from Ifrael, ard 
 
 not all the true Ifrael. 
 
 10. And not only this, but zV Wff^ THE sAme with 
 
 • 11. Rebecca alfo, w^» had conceived by our Father' 
 
 Ifaac : for, when the Children were riot yet born 
 
 and had done neither Good nor Evil, that the 
 
 Purpofe of God according to EleiSion, (nfet of 
 
 12. Works, but of him, «;/&<» call^th) iflight 
 
 ftand, it was faid unto her,- 
 
 Sif 
 
Chap. yir. 
 
 ix. 23. That he might make known. ■ ■' 
 
 24. Whom he also called, not only us, tvha ere of 
 
 the Jews, but them of the Gentiles alfo. 
 
 X. II, 12. No ONE, wAo believeth on him fiiali 
 
 be afhamed : for there is no Difference be- 
 tween Jew and Greek : all have the feme 
 Lord, rich.— — 
 
 20. I WAS SEEN ly them, who fought me not: I 
 
 WAS FOUND hy them, who aiked not after me. 
 
 xj. 2. ■ his People, wha?n he inew ef old. 
 
 how he SPEAKETH unto God concern- 
 ing Ifrael. — — 
 
 II. Have they ftumbled so as To fall ? 
 
 18. Boaft notagainft these Branches : but, if thou 
 wilt boaft, knew^ that thou. 
 
 21. — — the natural Branches, perhapi he may not 
 
 fpare thee. 
 
 25. that Blindnefs is come in Part upon Ifrael, 
 
 26. only until the Fulnefs of the Gentiles be come 
 in ; and fo then all Ifrael will be faved. — — 
 
 30. For as ye alfo once were difohedient to God, but 
 
 31. have now obtained Mercy during their Difo- 
 bedience : fo alfo have they now disobeyed 
 THE MEKCyJhewn to you, that they alfo may 
 hereafter obtain Mercy, 
 
 35. fo as to receive only a Recompence a- 
 
 gain ? 
 xii. I. - your Service of Reafon. 
 
 3. For, through the Authority^ given unto me, I 
 CHARGE every Man among you. —— 
 
 F xii. 
 
 * S(ei. 5. 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 Chap. vfr. ' 
 
 xii. 10. irfjiflwr brotherly Love i^ « NATURAL Affec- 
 
 II. Tion for each other : i^ more forward /^fl« 
 
 each other in mutual Refpe£l i not backward 
 
 TO DILIGENCE : fcrvent in the Spirit : fer- 
 
 ving the Time. 
 
 14. Blefs them, who revile* you. 
 
 16. 15. Have the fame Difpojiiions towards each other, 
 
 so AS to rejoice with them, luho do rejoice, 
 arid weep with them, who weep. 
 
 16. Be not high-minded, but Under the Go- 
 
 , vernment OF Humility. - 
 
 17. Purfue what is honourable, if ye can, in 
 
 18. the Sight of all Men.f As much as lieth in 
 you, he at Peace with all Men. 
 
 ig. '^— but give WayX to the Anger of another. 
 
 xiii. 4. for he is an avenging Minister un- 
 to Wrath to him, who doeth Evil. 
 6. for THERE ARx Minifters of GoA attend- 
 ing to this very Duty. 
 II. EspECiALLY§ love each other from conftdering 
 THIS Season, that now is the Hour of ari' 
 ftng from Sleep ; for our Deliverance is nearer 
 now than when we firfi believed. 
 13. Let us walk orderly as in the Day-Time. 
 
 xiv. I. Him, who is weak in the Faith, assist ;|| not 
 with a View to Distinctions by Reason- 
 ings. 
 
 xiv, 
 
 * See Matt. v. 1 1. f See Phil. iv. 8. 
 
 ' J See Luke xiv. 9. § Sec Matt. xxiv. 12, 13. Luke xxi. aS. 
 
 H Or, k'mdly rece'fue : fo xv. 7. 
 
f ^7 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 xiv. 2. For one has Faith to eat any Thing ; but ano- 
 ther. • 
 
 4. Who artthouthatjudgeftAKOTHER'sServant? — 
 6. He, who regardeth the Day, regardeth it unto 
 
 HIS Master. • 
 
 9. ' both died, and rofe again to Life. 
 
 13. but determine this rather, that no Man put 
 
 a Stumbling Block in his Brother's Way. 
 
 16. Let not OUR Privileges be the Occafion of Re- 
 
 preach, 
 
 21. ' nor any Thing, whereby thy Brother 
 ftumbleth. 
 
 22. Haft thou Confidence in thyself ? Have it be- 
 
 fore God. Happy is he, who condemneth not 
 himfelf y«r his own PraSlices. 
 
 23. — — is condemned^ if he eat. ■ 
 
 XV. 2. — — in ivhat is good for Edification. 
 
 4. For vvhatfoever Things were written aforetime 
 FOR OUR Instruction, were written 
 THAT, through Patience, and the Confolation 
 of THOSE Scriptures, we wary have Hope, 
 15. Neverthelfefs, Brethren, with a Fiew of reminding 
 youj I have written to you with greater Bold- 
 I nefs uponfome Points becaufe of the Authoritf* 
 
 given to me by God. 
 
 17. — ' — in Chrift Jefus towareis God. 
 
 20. So ambitious am I to preach the Gofpel ! 
 
 22. Therefore.) though I have been often hinder- 
 
 23. ed froni coming to you, yet now, as I have 
 no more Scope in thefe Parts. ■ . 
 
 F 2 xvi, 
 
 • See xii. 3. 
 
Chap. ver. . > 
 
 xvi. 3. my Fex.,lo,w-Labourers,* in Chrift J&. 
 
 fus. 
 
 5. the firfl: Fruits of Asia in Chrift. 
 
 6. vfholabouredmuch TOR Yov. 
 
 Z()_, — :— Bat has been now made manifest b.y the 
 Scriptures of the Prophets, and publifiied to 
 all the Gentiles, according to an Appoint- 
 |/[ENT of the everlafting God, foi: their Obe™ 
 clience to the F^ith. 
 
 The firft Epiflleto the Corinthians. 
 
 i. 5, 6. " ^ ■" in all Dollrine and all KnovP;ledge, ac- 
 
 COROING TO THE STRONG ProQF OF thq 
 
 Teflimony of Chrift amons you. 
 y. __ — -waiting for the Manifejiation of our Lord 
 
 Jefus Chrift. 
 g. ,God, by whom ye were called ta a Communion of 
 i5. his Son Jefus Chrift our Lord, is faithful j 
 
 who will alfo, ESTABLISH YOU BiAMELESS 
 
 unto the End, unto that Day of ouif Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, 
 
 1. 
 
 * Sav. o. 2 Cor. !. ia. 
 
( 69 ) 
 
 fch-api vcr. 
 j. 12. I MEAN THIS, xhnteachoi you faith. 
 
 ill. 
 
 1 8. For the t>o£lrine of the Crofs is to them, WHO 
 
 ARE LOST, Fooliflinefs. 
 21. For, after that the World by this Wifdom 
 
 knew not God, it pleased God in his 
 
 Wisdom to fave by this Fooliihnefs, which 
 -22-. we ppeach, them, who believe : for, whil/i 
 23. the Jews demand a Sign and Greeks require 
 
 Wifdom, we preach Chrift crucified.^— 
 26. For ebferve thofe, who are called among you-, Bre- 
 
 Thren. — — 
 
 30. But YE ARJE OF HIM BOTH JUSTIFICATION, 
 
 and Sanftification, and Redemption in Chrift 
 Jefus, who is become to us Wifdom yraw God. 
 
 I. in declaring unto you the Mystery of 
 
 God. 
 
 6. Rut we proclaim a Wifdom That is perfect. 
 
 7. which was hid and preordained by God 
 
 before the Ages unto our Glory. 
 
 12. — ^— that we might under/land the free Gift of 
 
 13. God: which we declare alfo. — ^— — ex- 
 plaining fpiritual Things in spiritual 
 Words. 
 
 15, Andhtfwho is (pmtm\difcerneth every MAN,but 
 
 16. is himklf difcerned by none : for who fo knoweth 
 the Mind of the Lord as to be able to inftruft 
 THIS Man ? And we have the Mind of 
 Chrift. 
 
 'ij 2. — but as unto carnal. I fed you with 
 
 Milk, as Babes in Chrift, and not with 
 F 3 Meat J 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. , 
 
 Meat 5 for ye could not then bear It, neither 
 
 iii. 3. can ye now," for ye are yet carnal. 
 
 5. but Minifters through viYiom ye believed? 
 
 And, as the Lord gave to each of us,* I 
 planted, Apollos watered; but God made it 
 grew. 
 
 S. are THE SAME Thing ;t and each will 
 
 receive his own Reward. ■ — 
 
 13. — —' — for that Day, when /Vu revealed with 
 
 Fire,J willjhsw it.' 
 
 14, 15. IT will receive a Reward. — '■ — it iv'ill 
 
 BE lost. — - 
 
 18. If any Man have the Reputation of wife a- 
 
 mong you, let him become a Fool in the Wij- 
 dom of this World, that he may be wife. 
 
 20. the Reasonings of the wife. 
 
 iv. 3)4. yea, I do not even judge myfelf; for I 
 
 am conscious to myself of no Evil. § — - 
 
 7. Should any one call thee to an Ac- 
 
 count, what haft thou, which thou didft not 
 receive ? 
 
 8. Are ye then already full tvith Plenty F Are 
 
 ye already become rich ? Do ye reign as 
 Kings without us ? 
 
 9. For I think, that God hath brought us the A- 
 
 poftles laft upon the Stage, as devoted to Dejlruc- 
 tlon : for we are made a Spedlacle unto the 
 World, to Angels and to Men. 
 
 iv< 
 
 ' Soiv. 5. XV. 23. -f- So I John V. 7. See Johnxvii. 21. 
 
 J Sec 2 Theff. i. 7, 8. Keb. x. 27. 
 
 §Secv. 1. aCor. xi. 23. i Tim.i. 12. 2 Tim. iv. 7. 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 jv. II, 1 2. ——and are driven from Place to Place, and 
 endure Fatigue by working with our own 
 Hands: when revil^, we blefs ; when re- 
 proached,* we take it patiently, 
 
 15. ^ ten thoufandf Guides. 
 
 17. ^— who will bring to your Remembrance my 
 
 DocTRiNEsJ inChrift. • 
 
 21. Which^ do ye chaofeP 
 
 V. I. Is then Fornication certainly reported to be 
 among you, and fuch Fornication as is not e- 
 VEN athongft the Gentiles ? — — 
 
 2. And ARE YE puffdd up ? 
 
 5. Deliver this Man unto Satan. 
 
 7. ■' for Chrift is the Paflbver that was Jlain for 
 
 us Gentiles alfo. 
 
 11. But THIS IS WHAT I WROTE tO yOU, nOt tO 
 
 keep Company with any Man, who calleth him- 
 _i felf z Brother, if he be a Fornieatot, or un- 
 
 just.— — 
 
 12. Is it my Concern to judge them, who are without ? 
 
 No:' but JUDGE YE them, who are within ; 
 [for them, who are without, God will judge), . 
 and remove from among you that wicked Per- 
 fon. 
 
 vi. I. Doth any one of you, having a Difpute with his 
 
 Frient), venture to go to Law ? 
 
 2. — — but, if the World will be judged by you, 
 F 4 , THESE 
 
 • See Rom. jji. 14. f See Gal. Hi. 24. 
 
 X See Ails xxii. 4. xxi*. 2Z. § See John xii.i?. 
 
( 7^ ) 
 
 Chjp. »cr. 
 
 THESE MEAN TrIBONAIS BECOME YOtT 
 NOT. 
 
 vi. 4. Wheriy therefore, yburfeives have TRiBUNALs/ir 
 the Affairs of this Life, do ye rmke fudges of 
 thofi, wiiaare of no Efleem in the Ghurch ? 
 7i Certainly, however, there is feme DefeB a&iong 
 you, that ye go to Law with each other at uU. 
 Why do ye not rather bear Injuries ; why do 
 ye not rather fiifFer Lofs P 
 
 12. under the Power of any Thing;. 
 
 20. glorify God therefore with your Body; 
 
 vii. I. It !S BETTER* for a Maanot to marry, 
 
 2]!. Wert thou a Slave, tiihen called ? Let it give: 
 thee no Concern: yea,, even if- thou canffi 
 be free, continue as thou art. 
 
 13. Had ye bought your Freedom ? Become- 
 not Slaves; to,. Men. 
 
 2% Nowconcerniag younts unmarried PEOPLE-,f 
 I have no. Commandment of the Lord ; but I 
 will give an CfpiHign^ as one, -who hath beem 
 FAVOURED wsth A TrustJ from the Lord. 
 
 26. r thini therefore this to be good Advice on Account 
 of the Difficulties of the Time, that it is bet- 
 ter for every one TQ.C0NTINUJE AS, THEY 
 ARE.§ 
 
 29. But this I fay, B/ethren, ina&much as the 
 Time henceforth is straitened, that 
 
 tfaejf^ 
 
 * So V. 8, 26. f See Rev. xW. 4, . 
 
 X See Rom. xii. 3^. § So v. 40.. 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 Clwp. ▼«■, 
 
 they, who have Wives^JhauM be as though they 
 had none.- 
 
 Vii. 31. And they, who ufe this World, as not usiNO IT 
 
 32. TO EXCESS : for the Faffiion of this World 
 
 pafieth away ; and I ivifif you to Be free 
 
 FROM its' Anxieties., The unmar/ied Man 
 
 is anxious ftir the Things of the Lord, how. 
 
 33> 34' how he may pleafe his Wifej and is 
 
 DISTRACTED. ThE WoMAN ALSO, THAT 
 
 is UNMARRIED, and /A* Virgin, is anxious 
 
 for the Things of the Lord. 
 
 36. But, if any iVian think, that a Dishonour a- 
 
 RJSES FROM HIS VlRGINITY,* if HE be pafi 
 
 HIS Prime, it ought so to be, let him do 
 what he wijl, he flnneth not, let fuch marry. 
 
 yiii. I. Now concerning the Tlungs Jkcrificed unto Idols, 
 
 DO WE UNDERSTAND tktS Matter EECAUSK 
 
 we all have Knowledge? This Knowjedge 
 
 puffeth up, but Love edifieth, 
 3. But,, if any Man love God, HBf kno-W^TH 
 
 this, Matter truly. 
 4. we know, that a worldhy Idol is Nothing 
 
 AT ALL,, and that there is no God but one. 
 5. For, thaugh there be Gods, both ceeleflial andter^ 
 
 rejirial, by Name. 
 
 y. for fome, FROM BEING ACCUSTOMED TO' 
 
 the Idol 'till this. Hour. 
 
 viiJ. 
 
 * So V. 37.- 
 
 ■\ Compare V. it| Ki ijj with' » John iT,jo,c2i. Rom. xir. B5. 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 yiii. 8. 3ut Meat will not bring us into Judge- 
 ment BEFORE God : for neither, if we eat 
 ^OT, Jhallv/e gain any Advantage. ^ neither, if 
 we SAT, Jhall v/efuffer any Lofs. 
 ix. I . Am I not a free Man F Am I not an Apof- 
 tle ? 
 
 2. For ye are the Seal of my CommiJJim from the 
 Lord. 
 
 5. Have we not Power to take with us a Wiie, ip 
 SHE BE A Sister,* as well as the other A- 
 poftles. 
 
 6. have we not Power to dejift from labour- 
 ing? \ 
 10. and he, who threflieth, in Hope of par- 
 taking. 
 
 11. If we have fown fpiritual Things in jrou, is it a 
 
 great Matter if we reap from you carnal 
 Things ? 
 
 12, If others, by this Authority, be Parta- 
 
 kers OF you, ought not we rather ? 
 jy. but, if I AM entrusted with a Dis- 
 
 18. PENSATION AGAINST MY WiLL, what is 
 
 my Reward then ?— — 
 — — that I use not to the utmostJ my 
 Privilege 'in the Gofpel. 
 
 22. — — I am all Things to all Mert, that I may fave 
 
 ALL. 
 
 23. And ALL this I do on Account of the Gofpel, that 
 
 I way become A Joint-Partaker with others 
 of it. 
 
 ix. 
 • See vii. 39. f See iv. iz. J <n e vii. 31, 
 
( 75' ) 
 
 CKap , ya, 
 
 ix. 26. I therefore fo run, as one, who ivouM not run in 
 
 27. vain ; I fo fight, as ent^ who would not Jlrlke 
 
 the h\ronly ; but I bruise my Body and keep 
 
 it down, left, after proclaiming others to 
 
 be Conquerors, I myfelf fhould lofe the Prize, 
 
 X. 5. But will MOST of them. 
 
 13. but, with the 'Temptation, will alfo give 
 
 YOU Strength to bear the Effects of 
 
 IT. 
 
 14. Jhun this* Attention to Idols. 
 
 xb. is it not a Communion with the Blood— 
 
 A Communion with the Body ? 
 
 17. Because the Bread is one, we, who are 
 many, are but one Body ; for we all par- 
 take of this one Bread. 
 
 18. Have not they, who eat the Sacrifices, 
 
 Communion with the Altar ? 
 
 20. and I would not Ziaw you /« Communion 
 
 with Damons. 
 
 28. eat not, becaufe of him,^who informed thee, 
 
 29. and thy\ Confcience -."hut I do not mean thine 
 own Confcience only, but that alfo of thy 
 Brother : for vihyjhould my Liberty be con- 
 demned by another Man's Confcience ? 
 
 30. But, i( I partaie with Thahk.fvlhess.—' 
 
 xi. 14. it is a Shame unto him; but that, if 
 
 a Woman have long Hair, it is a Glory to 
 
 her? 
 
 16. But, if any Man BE contentious. ■ 
 
 xi. 
 
 • Seerni. i, 10. f Se v. 27. 
 
CliSp. v6r. 
 
 Xi. 19. For ittJeeJ there mlift be Divijions aihbflg y&U. »=» 
 2i. Becaufe at the eating of ii^ every one TAKEtrt 
 
 FIRST his own Supper. '■^=— 
 
 22i. — '— andlhame triE Poofe ?— 
 
 23. that OUR Lt)rd Jefus the famfe Nightj iit 
 
 which he gaVe himself up,* took Bread. 
 24» — "= — this is mv ^ody^ Which is given for 
 
 you.^- — - 
 
 25. This Cup Is the new Covenant bt my 
 
 Blood : this io in Remfembrance of me. 
 
 26. ■' MAKE theteby a Declaration of the 
 
 Lord's Death. ■- 
 
 29. — — eateth and drinketh Condemijtation to 
 hirnfelf, not dijilnguijhing the Lord's Body. 
 
 32. But, being condemned by the Lord, we 
 
 fuffer Chgftifement^ that we tnay not be finally 
 condemned with the "VVorldt 
 
 33. Whereforcj my Brethfen, whett ye dome toge- 
 
 ther to eatf the Lord's Supper., wait for each 0- 
 ther i and, if any one be hungry., let him eat at 
 
 Home : that ye. » 
 
 xii. I. Now concerning fpiritual Persons. ——- 
 
 3. that no Man fpeaking by the Spirit of God 
 
 ■willfijy, that Jefns Jhould be rejected. < 
 5. And there are various DiftributionsX of Services, 
 but the fame Mafter. 
 
 7. to each, as it is expedient. 
 
 15. it IS by no Means on this Account not of the 
 
 Body. § 
 
 xii. 
 
 * See JohnxvUi. 4, 5, S. f So v. 2i. 
 
 I So V. 4, 6. See V. ii. AGs ii. 3. § So v. 16. 
 
( 77 -) 
 
 Qhsf. ver. 
 
 jcii. 26, So THAT, IF one Member fuffer. — — 
 
 29, 30« Have ALL Miracles ? Have all Gifts 
 
 of Healing? ■ 
 
 31. But YE ARE AMBITIOUS* OF the beft Gifts : I 
 •ufill fliew you therefore njtill better Way. 
 xiii. 3. And though I confume all my Subftance, in feeding 0- 
 thers,f and give up my BodYjJ so as to 
 HAVE Cavse of Boasting, and have r^ot 
 Love, it will avail me Nothing. 
 
 4. Love QUARRELLETH not J Love is not 
 
 RASH, is not puffed up. 
 
 7. Is CONTENTED at all TlUZS, FULL OF CON- 
 FIDENCE at all Times, full of Hope at all 
 Times, patient at all Ti^zs. 
 %, liOve will never fail, whether Prophecies come tit 
 Nothing,, or Tongues ceafe, or JCnowledge be 
 deftroyed^ 
 lU Whilft I was a Child, I tdied like a Child, I had 
 THE Dispositions, OF a Child, I reasoned 
 
 like a Child, 
 
 \%. For now indeed I fee through a Glafs with 
 
 Uncertainty, but then 1 Jhall fee Face to 
 
 Face ; now I know imperfeSily, but then I fhall 
 
 know others^ as they alfo have known me^ 
 
 xiv. 2. — — for no aK^ underftantfeth him, ^»< he fpeaketh 
 
 3. Myfteries to his Spirit :§ whereas he, wht 
 
 prophefieth, fpeaketh unto other Men. 
 
 7, In LIKE Manner^ Things Virithout Life. 
 
 xiv» 
 
 * So xiv. I, II. + See I Tim. v» 10. Hcb. xili. 2. 
 
 \ See Dan, iii, z8. Afls xv. 26. Rom. vUi. 32. Phil. i. 2*. i John 
 iK.ii, &c. § SKV..4, ;i8. Soalfomorepropcrly V. j^tifi. 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 XIV JO. There are / know not how many Kinds of Lan- 
 guages in the World. 
 18. I thank God, I fpeak with the Tongues of 
 you all. 
 
 24. be is led to ConviSlion by all, he is led by 
 
 25. all TO AN Examination of himfelf: the 
 Thoughts- oihh Heart are made ; and according- 
 ly he will fall iovfn upon .his Face tfH(f wor&ip 
 God ; SHEWING THEREBY, that God is truly 
 amongft you. 
 
 26. What then, Brethreti, is to be done ? When ye 
 
 ajfemble, every ONE of you, hath any 
 ManaPhlra hath he an Interpre- 
 tation ? Let all be done unto' Edification . ' 
 31, 32. ■ that all may teach, and all may 
 33. be exhorteb, and the Spirits of the Pro- 
 phets BE subject to the Prophets ; (for God 
 has Nothing to do with ConfuJion, but with 
 Peace) and Jo in all the Churches of the 
 Saints. 
 
 37. If any Man be a Prophet, orfpiritual, he must 
 
 acknowledge.—— 
 
 38. But, if any Man know not this, HE is unknown 
 
 as a Prophet. 
 40. But let all Things.' 
 XV. I, 2. But I fay unto you, Brethren,- to what Pur- 
 pose preached I unto you that Gofpel, which 
 I did prea,ch unt© you, which alfo ye received, 
 in which Too ye continued, by which al- 
 fo 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 fo ye muftbe faved, if ye maintain it notT 
 IF NOT HOWEVER, YOUR Faith* IS vain. 
 
 XV. 3. For I delivered unto you as the principal 
 ^ Thing, such as I indeed received it. — — 
 
 12. But, fence Qhi'iA is declared to have rifen from the 
 dead, why fay fome among you — ? — 
 
 1 5. — — that he raifed up Chrift, whom he did not 
 
 16. raife up : for if the dead will not he raifed, 
 neither was Chrift raifed. 
 
 18, 19. Then they alfo, who have fallen afleep in 
 Chrift, are lost : and we, if in this Life 
 we have no Hope but in Chrift.. 
 
 ao. But, ON THE coNTRARYjt Chrift hath teen rai- 
 fed from the dead, A Firft-Fruits of them, wh» 
 are afleep. 
 
 21. For, BECAUSE by Man came Death, by Mai^ 
 alfo will be A Refurreflion of the dead. 
 
 23. But EACH in his own Order.- 
 
 24. Then will the End be^ when God the Fa- 
 
 ther WILL deliver the KingdomJ fa 
 him, DURING WHICH he' will havs dejlroyed 
 
 25. all Dominion, and all Authority and all Pow- 
 er : for he yjill reign. — — 
 
 26, 27. Even the Enemy Death wiU be deftroyed at 
 laji ; BECAUSE God hath put all Things under 
 the Feet of Chrift. Now, when the Scripture 
 faith, that all Things are put under him, it is 
 
 manifeft, 
 
 • See V. 17. 
 
 -f- So Rom. vi. 22. I Car. xii. iS. £ph. ii, 13. Heb. riii. im xi. 16, 
 
 J See R«v. xx. 4-14. Heb. ii. 8. x. 13. 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 chap. vsr. 
 
 manifeft, that there is a Subjection be- 
 sides that TQ niUfWho put aU Things un- 
 der him. 
 
 sfj 29. Besides, what Advantage ABOVE the sf/J^r 
 dead will they have, vi^ho fubmit to Bap- 
 tifm '?* And why Jhould they fuffer this Bap- 
 tifm, if the dead will certainly not be 
 
 30. raijed? 'Why ftiould ws also expofe ourfilves 
 
 31. to the Danger of it every Hour ? (Indeed I Da 
 die daily, I proteft by the boastful Con- 
 fidence, which I have in Chrift Jefus our 
 Lord.) 
 
 32. And, since I fought, as far as a Man 
 
 COULD, t with Beafts at Ephefus, what Ad- 
 vantage Jhall I have ? If the dead will not be 
 raifedf let us eat.-^ 
 
 34.. Be sober unto Righteoufnefs, and err not : 
 for fome have not a Knowledge of God : I 
 fpeak this^w- your Reformation. J 
 
 35. Why are the dead raifed up I And with. 
 
 what Body WILL they come ? 
 
 32. and another of Birds, and another of 
 
 Fifties ? 
 *" '41. ——even one StardifFereth. 
 
 42. Man is fown UNT0§ Corruption, he is 
 
 raifed unto Incorrupt! on,* — — 
 
 XV. 
 
 ♦ See Matt. xx. z2. Luke xii. 50. .Rev. xx. 4.' 
 
 ■\ S«e Afts xix. 30, 31. 2 Cor. i.8, ip. } So 1^5. 
 
 ^ So throughout the Pillage. 
 
( 8i ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 XV. 44. if* is fown an ANIMAL* Body.— — 
 
 45. For the firft Adam, as it is written, became a li- 
 ving Creature ; but the laft Adam U a 
 Spirit, that giveth Life. 
 47. The firft, a Man from the Ground, was 
 Dust: thefecond, a Man from Heaven, 
 
 is HEAVENLY. 
 
 50. I MEAN THIS, Brethren, that Flefli and Blood. — 
 
 51. We fliall not all die indeed, but v/e fliall 
 
 52. all be changed, in a Moment, in the Glance 
 of an Eye. 
 
 55. O ! Grave, where is thy Viftory ? O ! Death, 
 where is thy Sting ? 
 
 57. who HATH GIVEN US the Vidory.—— 
 
 58. '— be ye ftedfaft and immoveable. — — 
 
 xvi. 1, 2. —— fo do ye a^o on the firft Day of the 
 Week. Let every one of you lay by him in 
 Store, according to his Ability. 
 
 3. whomfoever ye Ihall approve, I will send 
 
 WITH A LETTER..—— 
 
 4. But, if your Contribution be WORTHY of my 
 
 Going alfo. — — 
 
 5. — — when I HAVE GONE through Macedonia; 
 
 for I AM GOING through. ' 
 
 9. For a great Door of Employment is opened 
 unto me, ■ 
 
 II. fori and THE BRETHRENf are expeSiing 
 
 him. 
 
 G ^''" 
 
 * Sov. 46. ii. 14. Jam. jii. 15. Jude, 19, 
 ■J- So V. 12. 
 
c fe > 
 
 Chap. rer. 
 
 Xvi. 13. FORTIiFY YO^URSELVES, 
 
 15. But I exhtrt'i ycm^ Brethren, wiTra Respect 
 
 TOi ths Famiif o( Stephanus, (for ye know, 
 that it is the Firft-Fruits of Achaia, and that 
 they have given themfelves uptomtnl/ier unta 
 
 16. the Saints) frfubmit yourfelves unto fuch, and 
 to everyone, thathelpelS^iiS imauit Labours. 
 
 22. let him be- separated trom yotj. Our 
 
 Lord is coi^iing.* , 
 
 The fecond EpiiMe to tke Cotiathians.^ 
 
 i. 6i Forf if we be afflifbedy it is for your Encourage- 
 ment and Salvation : andyifvie he. comforted, 
 it is for your Encouragement^^ which, shew^th 
 ITSELF in'the enduring of the fame, SuiFerings, 
 which wealfolliiFer., 
 
 8. — — that «V lay, e^tKcedingly heavy- upon usy above 
 
 our Strength. — -r ' 
 
 9. But we had this C»w/5/«« of Death, ivit^in our- 
 
 felves, thztwsmigj)i.learn.notio truft «/««; our- 
 felves.— — — — 
 
 10. Who delivered us fr»m fo great a Death ; and we 
 
 11. tm&iahim, that he will ftill deliver : you al. 
 
 fo 
 • See Matt. xxJv. 33. PHI. iv. 5. 
 
( 83 } 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 fo ta-Bperating for us by Prayer ; that, as this 
 gracious Deliverance was beftpwed upon us by 
 the Means of many, Thanks might be returned 
 by many on our Behalf, 
 it 13. — — than what ye know and acknowledge. . 
 
 14. As indeed ye acknowledged us, in your 
 Turn, to be your Glory, as ye alfo will be 
 our'st 
 
 17. — ■- that MY Yea should not be Yea, and 
 MY Nay be Nay ?* 
 ji. 5. — «— he hath caufid it not to me only, but mutu- 
 ally TO YOU ALL. 
 
 6. That I may not add any more Burthen, 
 
 that CENsuRE/r»/n the Majority pall Juffue 
 for fuch a Man. 
 10. — —for INDEED if I forgave any Thing, I for- 
 gave it for your Sakes, before Chrift. 
 
 14. who leadeth us IN Triumph always 
 
 in Chrift. — ' 
 
 iii. 2. written in your Hearts. 
 
 3. Shewing yourselves to be an Epiftle of 
 Chrift, delivered hy us ; and written. ■ 
 
 7. But, if that deadly Miniftration of the Let- 
 
 ter, engraven on Stones, was glorious , 
 
 10. For indeed that Glory zvas no Glory, in Compari- 
 
 fon with the exceeding Glory of the other. 
 14. . for untill this Day the fame Veil remaineth 
 upon the Old Teftament, not discovered 
 TO BE done away in Chrift. 
 
 G 2 iii. 
 
 * Sk Matt. T. 37. 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 iii. i8. But we all, with unveiled Face, beholding as 
 in a Looking-Glass* the Glory of the 
 
 Lord, TRANSFORM OURSELVES AFTER 
 
 THAT Image. 
 
 iv. I. Wherefore., as we have been graciously ENi- 
 
 2. TRUSTED wiTHf this Miniftry, we conti- 
 nue not in Wickedness ; but have renoun- 
 ced the DARK Practices of Shame. — — 
 
 2,4. — — it is hid through those destruc- 
 tive Sins, by which the God of this 
 World hath blinded the Minds of the Unbe- 
 lievers, so that the Light of the glorious 
 Gofpel of Chrift, who is an Image of God, 
 IS not risen upon them. 
 
 7, that our extraordihary Strength may in 
 
 ALL Things appear to be from God, and not 
 
 from ourfelves. 
 
 8. We are pressed, but not straitened ; per- 
 
 plexed, but not totally at a Loss. 
 15. But ail these Sufferings are for your Sakes, 
 that, the Gnce of the Gojpel abounding in 
 many, the Tribute of Thankfgiving may a- 
 bound to the Glory of Cod. 
 
 V. 2. For INDEED, whil/l in this Tabernacle, we 
 
 groan vjith an earneft Dejire ofdoathing ourfelves 
 
 3. with our heavenly Habitation : if fo be, that, 
 
 when W£ have put off this Tabernacle., \Ve 
 
 ihall not be naked. 
 
 • 'See I Cor. xiij. I2. -f- See 1 Cor. vii. 25. 
 
, ( 85 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 V, 4, ' . I groan with the Weight; not that We 
 wijhfo much to unchath ourfelves^ as to put on a- 
 nather Garment. 
 
 5. But he, who will accomplish for us this 
 
 VERY Thing, is God; who hath given us 
 the Earneft of the Spirit. 
 
 6. For this Caufe, we have Confidence at all Times ; 
 
 THOUGH we know., that, whilft we continue in 
 
 7. 8. the Body, we are abfent from the Lord : (for 
 
 we walk hy Faith not by Sight) vet have we 
 greater Cgnfidenge and Dejire to be abfent fronj 
 the Body, and prefent with the Lord. 
 
 10. ——that each may receive according to his 
 
 Deeds in the Body, whether Gopd or E- 
 
 VIL. 
 
 11. • ■ and act openly* before God. 
 
 13. For, if we were extravagant iti our Boaji- 
 
 ing, it W(is to God.-^ 
 
 14. then were all under the Dominion of Death, 
 
 17,18. behold ! the whole Creation is 
 
 come new from God, who reconciled us 
 
 to himfelf by Jefus Chrift, and gave us the 
 ig. Miniftry of this' Reconciliation : for it is 
 
 God, who reconcikth the World fo himfelf in 
 
 Christ. 
 
 20. We therefore are Ambafladors for Chrift : 
 as though God were exhorting you through us, 
 
 G 3 we 
 
 * S«c iv. 2. 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 we pray you in Behalf of Chrlft, be ye recon>: 
 died unto God •.\ 
 
 vi. I. -^nd we alfo, cooperating with God, exhort you 
 not TO HAVE RECEIVED the Grace cf God in 
 vaip. 
 
 4, But in every Refpeli approving ourfejves as MI- 
 
 nifters of God, by much Patience in Afflic; 
 tions. ' ■ 
 
 5. — — in Imprifonments, in Wanderings.* — : 
 
 9. As IGNORANT, but FULL OF KnOWLEDGE.J — ' 
 
 14. Be not Yoke-Fellows with Unbelievers.' 
 
 15. — — So what Part can a Believer have with aq 
 
 Infidel? 
 
 16. ^nd what Agreement can A Tem|)le of God have, 
 
 with THAT OF Idols I ' 
 
 vii. 8, for perceiving, that ye, were made forry 
 
 9. by that Letter but for a Ihort Time, I now 
 
 rejoice : not becattfe ye were made fgrry, but 
 
 lecaufe ye forrowed to Repentance ; for ye 
 
 Jhewed a godly Sorrow^ 50 as f? need no P.unijh- 
 
 ment at all from us, 
 
 10. For godly Sorrow produceth a Repentance, that 
 
 will not change it's Mind, unto Salvation. — — 
 J2. For indeed I wrote unto you, not fo much on his 
 Account^ who had done Wrong, nor on his, 
 who fufFered Wrong ; but that the Earnefinefs 
 of yauR Concern fqr me might he made 
 
 manifejl 
 
 f N.B. The Chapter fliouldeu4 with thUVerle, and Ver. 21 follow the 
 jgth. 
 * See J Cor. iy. 11. J Seexi. 6, 
 
^ ^7 ) 
 
 Gnap. ver. 
 
 Vii. 13. manifejl in the Sight of God. Wherefore viZ 
 
 were comforted : and an abundantly greater Joj 
 
 was added TO our Consolation by the Joy 
 
 of Titus. 
 
 14* y^ ^«w me no Cauje tih be ajbamed: but as 
 
 we. 
 
 viii. 1. — — We^^ni/y unto you the divine Genero- 
 sity, that has been di/played by the Church- 
 es.——— 
 
 a. ,How, during z great Trial of Afl|i6iion, the A- 
 bundance of their Want, and their deep Po- 
 verty, fiemed to contribute to tht Plenteoufnefs of 
 their Liberality. 
 
 3, 4. and beyond their Power, they be/ought us 
 
 OF their own Accord with much Entrea- 
 ty, that we would accept this X^iberality* and 
 Communication of Service to the 
 Saints, 
 
 5. And not as we expected, but much more; far 
 
 they devoted thsmfelves to the Lord firft, and 
 then to us. 
 
 6. -^— fo he would finifh AMoiiG you also this 
 
 Liberality. 
 8. — — but to try the Sincerity of your Love al- 
 so by the' Forwardnefs of others. 
 g. For consider the Kindness of our Lord Jefus 
 
 Chrift. 
 
 10, But I give my Advice in this Matter-, as condu- 
 cing to your own Advantage., who began before 
 G 4 not 
 
 ^ So V. 6, 7, 9, 19. , 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 not only to BE WILLING, but alfo to per-> 
 
 FORM, a Year ago. 
 viii, II. But now _/?«//& the Performance als,o ; that as 
 
 there was a Forwardnefs from being willing^ 
 
 fo there may be a Finishing alfo out of your 
 
 PRESENT Plenty.* 
 12. ——according to what irhs.^, andnotaccor- 
 
 Eording to what it hath not. 
 19, 20. — — to the Glory of God himself, at 
 
 MY Desire, cautious as I am in this Refpeii, 
 
 that no Man fliould blame me in the Service of 
 
 21. thefe plentiful Contributions; taking CaR5 
 TO be iiireproachable not only. — — 
 
 22. I have fent therefore, I fay, with Titus that our 
 
 Brother, whom I have experienced on many Oc- 
 cajions to be zealous, but unufually zealous on this 
 Occafion ; with much Confidence in your 
 
 23. Treatment of him, as my Companion eften-\ in- 
 stead OF Titus, and a Fellow-Labourer with 
 him to you ; and of them: both, as our Brethren, 
 Apoftles of tlie Churches, a Glory of Chrift. 
 
 jx. 3. left our Boafting of you IN this Respect 
 
 fhould appear groundlefs ; that ye may h^ found 
 prepared, as I fajd;;^ were, 
 4. — — — we fhould be difgraced (^ot to fay you) 
 byfuch a Falling-Off. 
 
 your Bounty, which ye signified 
 
 fo'me Time fffffj that the fame may be ready as 
 
 * Seev.13. •{- See aTim. iv. 10, II. 
 
( 89 ) 
 
 Chap, ver. 
 
 a Bounty in ReaiitYj and not as extor-. 
 
 TED FROM YOU. 
 
 ix. 6. Now he, who fowetl^, in this Matter fpa- 
 ringly. 
 8. And God is able to make all your Liberality 
 abound unto your/elves, fo that in every Thing at 
 all Times ye may have all Sufficiency, and a- 
 bound in all Goou.* 
 
 10. May he therefore, whofuppUeth Seed tothe 
 
 Sower ANP Bread for Food, fupply and 
 multiply THIS Seed ofyour^s, and caufe to thrive 
 
 11. THIS Produce of your Liberality, by enrich- 
 ing yotf In every Thing unto all BountifUlnefs j 
 SUCH as now caufeth through you Thankt- 
 giving unto God. 
 
 I?. ■ but alfo FLOWETH OVER IN many ThankC 
 givings unto God. 
 
 13- for your Subjeftion to the Profession 
 
 of Chrift's Gofpel, — r- 
 X. 3. For we walk in the Flefli, not after, the 
 4,5. FLESHjf and carry on a War, ('awiif the Wea- 
 pons of THIS Warfare, ) cafting down 
 
 Reasonings.— r; 
 
 7. Consider what is before Yoy.J Ifany 
 
 Man. 
 
 ^. 1 SHALL not be difgraced by what lean do a- 
 
 mongyou^. 
 II, — — Such we were alfo in Deed, when prefent, 
 
 X. 
 
 • See Matt. vi. 33. Luke i. 53. x!i, ^9. f ^^^ ^'""' ^'"' '1 4- 
 
 1 See I Cor. iv. 15. a Cor, xii. u, § See v. 1 1. 
 
( 90 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 X, J 2, but ARE NOT AWARE thgt they, are mea- 
 
 furing themfclves by tljeHifelves, and compa.- 
 rJTig theimifelves with themfelves. 
 13. — but according to the Meafure of that 
 Rule, which God PORTIONED unto us. 
 
 XI. 4. - ye might even then have eafiy born with 
 5. me : for I conjider myfelf as no Wife inferiour ta 
 
 the vtry greateji Apoftles. 
 8. — — taking Wages of them/ir the Support ofmj 
 
 Miniftry among you. 
 17. What I am going to fayy I fay not after the 
 
 Lord.-^ 
 
 •^0. For ye endure, if a certain Person.*—— 
 5ti . I amfpeakingwith RefpeSi to my Reproach, as that 
 
 Iwasfo w;eak,t 
 
 23. in Stripes far exceeding them.— 
 
 25. a Night and aDay I have floated in the Sea^ 
 
 26. Often, ON MV JouRNiES, in Dangers of Ri- 
 
 vers. ■^— 
 ^']. In Labour and Wearinefs. 
 2^. Who is weak in the Faith,X and I faint not with 
 Sorrow ? Who ftumbleth,^ and I burn not 
 with Zeal? 
 ■^u. I, But it is not expedient for me to boaft of thefe 
 Things^\ Shall I come then to Vifions and 
 Revelations of the Lord ? 
 2, I know^ a Man, when he had bee>i in Chrift 
 FOURTEEN Years, — — 
 
 xii« 
 
 * And fo throughoul die Verfe. ' f See x. IS. 
 
 J See Rom. xiv. 21, i Cor. viii. 9. So i ThefT, v. 14, 
 
 ^ See John xvi. 1. |1 See xi. 30. fl 59 v. 3. 
 
\ 91 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 »i. 4. — -^ which it is not possible for a Man to ut- 
 ter. 
 
 6. Buty if I were willing to hoajl, I Jhould not appear 
 
 foolijh ; for I will tell the Truth : — but I ibrr 
 bedr, left any Man fliould think above what he 
 feeth IN ME, or he^eth of me. 
 
 7. hy the Greatness oi fuch Revelations.— 
 
 9. ' for Power is feen to Perfe£iion in Weakf 
 
 nefs. 
 
 ?0. in Infirmities, in bodily Hurts, inNe- 
 
 ceffities, in Perfecutions, in Imprisonments* 
 
 for Chrift's Sake. 
 
 19. — before God ii^ Chrift we speak ali;, 
 
 THESE Things.—— 
 ^0, 21. ■ Swellings, Seditions amovic you : left 
 ipe, ON THE OTHER Hand, when I am 
 COME UNTO YOU, my God Jhould humble j 
 and I fhould bewail. 
 ;4ii. I. This is the third Time, that I am pREPARiNtt 
 
 TO COME unto you,- 
 
 ji. I /aid before, and I foretell the second Time, 
 as if prefentj though abfent and by Letter, to 
 them. — ;r^ 
 4. — but we fliall prove ourselves alive 
 
 with him. - 
 
 7, But I pray unto God, that he wpuLD do un- 
 to YOU no Evil at all : I pray not, that we 
 may appear approved, but that ye may do what 
 is right^ and ourfilves appear of no EJlimation. 
 
 xiii, 
 
 * So Rpi;a. vii!. 35, 
 
C 9^ ) 
 
 CKap. wr. 
 
 xiji. II. Finally, Brethren,, rejoice,* make yourjilves 
 perfeft, exhort each other.: — r- 
 
 The Epiflle to the Galatians. 
 
 i, 4. '—— according to the Will of God our -Father, 
 
 6. I marvel, that ye are fo foon transferring 
 
 7. YOURSELVES FROM Christ, who Called you 
 by Grace, to another Gofpel : Vfhich.- indeed is 
 not another ; but there are fome, who dijlurh 
 
 . you, zaA.wiJh to alter the Gofpel of Chrift. 
 
 8. preach the Golpel differently from what we 
 
 preached unto you, lethiiirbe REjECTED.f 
 
 10. For- do I nov/ STUDY the Approbation of 
 Men, or fff God ? • 
 
 12. nor FROM MY OWN Knowledge. 
 
 J4. above most of my Contemporaries 
 
 in mine own Nation. 
 
 l6. To reveal his Son by me, that I might preach 
 his Gofpelaxnong the G^«if//^j-; immediately, 
 without having Recourfe to Flefh and Blood, or 
 gging up ^o Jerijfalem to them, who were A- 
 
 poftles before me, I went into Arabia. 
 
 ii. 
 
 * Sceii. 7, vii. 8. •{•So v. g. 
 
f 93 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 ij. 2. — — — but privately, to the chief ySpoftJeSy not 
 AS THOUGH I were running, or had run in 
 vain. 
 
 3. But Titus, who was with me, though a Greefc, 
 
 4. WOULD HAVE BEEN Compelled to be circum- 
 cifed BY SOME falfe Brethren, who had craftily 
 introduced themfehes to enjhare our Liberty, 
 
 5- • that the true Gofpel may continue among 
 
 you. 
 
 10. Only that we would remember our poor Coun- 
 trymen; FOR WHICH Reason I was very 
 zealous in that Matter. 
 
 15. We, who were born Jews, and are not of the 
 Gentiles, being Sinners, (for we inew,thzf. 
 a Man will not be juftified by the Works of 
 ANY Law, but by Faith in Jefus Chrift) even 
 we« 
 
 17. But, if we, wh/) feek for fujiification in Chrift, 
 
 place ourfeives in the Capacity of Sinners. 
 
 18. ' I place myfelf in the Condition of a TranC- 
 
 greffor. 
 ig. For I, who was under the Law, died to 
 
 20. the Law, that I might live unto God ; and 
 have been crucified with Chrift, so that I 
 live myfelf no longer, but Chrift liveth in 
 me. 
 
 21. I do not reject this Grace of God ; for, if 
 
 Juftification were by ANY Law, then Chrift 
 died in vain. 
 liL J. — before whofe Eyes Jefus Chrift crucilied 
 wasfo clearly reprefented. 
 
 iii. 
 
( # f 
 
 Ciiap. ver. 
 
 iii. 4. Have ye learned* fd many Things in' vafn f 
 If inchid it be in vain. 
 
 10. whs SHALL not perform; all 'THOSE 
 
 Things. ™ 
 13. But Chrift hath redeemed us from that* 
 
 Curfe of the Law.~ 
 
 16. — — He faith not, And to thy Seedsj as of 
 
 •many ; but. And to that Seed »/" thiney as 
 
 of one ; which is Chrift. 
 20. But this Mediator hdih no Concern with one of 
 
 the Parties :\ and God is but one of the two. 
 22. that the Promife by Faith might be given 
 
 to them, who believe. 
 23.' ■ we were kept fliut up together under the 
 
 Governariee of \hs Law agalnji that Faith, 
 24'* which -was /«'be revealed : fo that the Law was 
 
 our CtfNDUCTORj unto Chriftj.^ 
 
 iv< I. But what I mean is,§ that the Heir. 
 
 2. Bttt is under Guardians and Stewards. < 
 
 4. — — God fent forth his Son, born of a Womari 
 
 5, (born under the Law to purchafe the Freedem\ 
 eftbofe under the Law) that we might receive 
 the Adoption of Sons. 
 
 8. ye were Slaves from the Circum/iances of 
 
 your Birth to thofe, that are not Gods. 
 
 9, 10. to be in Bondage ; and obferve — — 
 
 and Years ? 
 
 VT. 
 
 * See It. II. -f- That is, the GetiiUes t fee v. 8. 
 
 J Soy. 25. § See iii. 23, 24. 
 
 II See Rom. viii. 2. 
 
{ 95 I 
 
 Chap^ ver. 
 
 iv. 13. Ye -know mth what Infirmity of Eocly, ' » 
 
 14. Buxyeirrfnot de^ife nox rejeSi that Affliiiion 
 
 in nty Flefh. 
 
 15. How GREAT THEN WAS MY HAPPINESS IR 
 
 YOU ! 
 
 j5. So then I am become your Enemy yj> deal- 
 ing TRULY w«V/5youJ 
 
 17. They have a Zeal for you not for your Good, but 
 from a Defire of excluding you from my Affec- 
 tkn^ that ye may have a Zeal for them. 
 
 1 8', It is good indeed to have a Zeal at all Times for a 
 good Perfon. — 
 
 20i ■ for I AM DISTRESSED FOR yoU. 
 
 24. WKich Things have a further Meaning ; for 
 
 thefe Women fignify the two Covenants. One 
 Covenant is from Mount Sinai, hearing Chil- 
 dren unto Bondage j which is meant by Ha- 
 
 25. gar : for this Hagar Jignifies no other than 
 Mount Sinai- in Arabia, and anfwereth to the 
 
 26. prefent Jerulalem, which is in Bondage with 
 ifs Children. But the Jerufalem, which is 
 a:bove, is Jignified by the free Woman, 
 who'vs the Mother of us all. 
 
 V, I. and ENTANGLE nOt YOURSELVES»Wlth A 
 
 Yoke of Slavery. 
 4^ — — whofoever of you feek fuftification by the 
 Law.— — 
 
 5. For we accept a Hope of Jujiification under A. 
 Spirit, which is of Faith.* 
 
 V, 
 • Sseiu. z. 
 
( §6 ) 
 
 Chap. vet. 
 V. II. ■ Is THEN THAT StUmhUng-Block of til9 
 
 Crofs done away P 
 
 12. I ivipy that they, who unfettJe you, may la- 
 ment IT ! 
 
 17. and the Spirit isagainii theFlefh. 
 
 20. Idolatry, Poisoning.* 
 vi. I. — — left thou alfo be overtaken. 
 
 2. ■ and ye will truly fulfill the Law of 
 
 Chrift. 
 
 3. For, if a certain PERsoNf think himfelf to 
 
 4. be fome Thing, he deceiveth himfelf. And 
 let every Man examine his own Performance., 
 and then his' Boasting ivill be confined to 
 
 5. himfelf, and not be direSied againjl the other^ 
 Let every Man carry the Burden, which he is 
 able to bear. 
 
 6. Let him, who is taught the Word, make his 
 
 Teacher a Partaker of all his good Things. J 
 g. And let us not be weary of this good Ser- 
 VICE.§— — — , 
 
 11. See IN WHAT large Letters. ■ ■ 
 
 12. They,' who waa/i^conftrainyoutobecircumcifed, 
 
 wijh to be well thought of in the Flefii, that they 
 may not fufFer.' 
 16. And as many as shall walk according to this 
 Rule, Peace will be on them. 
 
 Epiftle 
 
 • SoRev. IX. zi. xxil. 15. f See 2 Cor. xi. 20. 
 
 J See a Cor. U. 8. ^ §,Stev. 6. So v. 10. 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 Epiftle to the Ephefians. 
 
 Chap, ver; 
 
 '• 3> 4- " i" ^^^ heavenly Difpenfatlon in Chrift : 
 
 as he chofe us in him before the Foundation of 
 the Jewish State,* that we might be holy 
 and without Spot in the Prefence of him- 
 
 5. SELF : having preordained us for himself 
 IN Love unto an Adoption of Sons by Jefus 
 Ghrift, according.——— 
 
 6. • of his Grace, which he freely be- 
 
 7. stowed upon in that beloved Son ; in whom 
 we have the Redemption, the RemiJJion of 
 Sins BY his Blood; 
 
 9. I according to his gracious Intention (which 
 
 10. he afore determined in himfelf w/VA ReJpeSi to a 
 
 Difpenfation of the Fulnefs of Times) to colleEt 
 
 IN himself all Things, both in the Heavens 
 
 and upon the Earth, under one Head\ in Chrift; 
 
 13. In whom ye alfo, who heard and believed the 
 
 DoSirine of the Truth, the Gofpel of your 
 
 14. Salvation, were fealed ^y the Holy Spirit of 
 the Promife, (who is an Earneft of our Inheri- 
 tance,) tfj-a/n/?* Redemption oftheAquiftionX 
 unto the Praife of his Glory. 
 
 H i. 
 
 « SeeCoLii. 20. Heb.ix. i. f Seev. sz. 
 
 X SeiAflsxx. aS. 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 Chap. rer. 
 i. 1 8. and what the ^/an'uKJ Riches of his Inheri- 
 
 19. tance among the Saints ; and what that Por- 
 tion OF HIS Might, which fell to our 
 Share, who believe, in that Operation of 
 
 20, his mighty Power, which he wrought in Chrift, 
 when he raifed him from the dead, and fet him 
 at his own Right-Hand in the heavenly Dijpen- 
 fation.* 
 
 5i, J, ^ who ARE dead TOf Trefpafles and Sins. 
 
 2. - according to the Will of the Ruler 
 of the Empire of Darkness, that Spi- 
 rit. 
 
 8. — — WE are faved.— — not of ourselves. 
 
 g. so that no one canJ boaft. 
 
 12. separate from§ Chrifl: — ^ — and Stran- 
 gers to the Covenants, having no Hope of 
 THE Promise ; and without, God, Men of 
 13. THIS World. But now ye, who were once 
 afar off, are come near by the Blood of Chrift, 
 i;^. and hath broken down that Sign ofEn- 
 
 15. mity, THE YzvcE. of the Partition-Wall, ha- 
 ving aboliflied by his own Body\\ the Law of 
 Commandments with ifs Ordinances, that 
 he might create of THE two one new Man in 
 
 16. himfelf by making Peace betiveen them ; and 
 might reconcile them both, now become one Bo- 
 dy, unto God, having flain the Enmity by the 
 Cross. 
 
 iii. 
 
 * See V. 10, 12. So a. 6. f See Rom. vi. 2,, 1 1 . Sov. ^. 
 
 J So I Cor. i. 29. § See John xv. 3, and below v. 13. 
 
 il See Col. ii, 14, 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 fchap. ver; 
 
 iii; I. I Paul am the Prifoner.- 
 
 2. Inasmuch as ye have heard. 
 
 5- fo dearly as it hath been now revealed to his 
 
 holy Apoftles and Teachers* by the Spi- 
 rit. 
 
 6. and Partakers of his Promife through the 
 
 Gofpel. 
 
 7. ■ according to the gracious Appointment of 
 
 God, given uiito fne, and according to the O- 
 peratipn of his Power. 
 
 9. what is THAT Dispensation of the Myf- 
 
 tery. 
 ii. According to a Predisposition of the A- 
 GEs, which he made in Chrift Jefus our 
 Lord^. 
 
 13. Wherefore I pray, that I may not faint in 
 
 14. these my Tribulations for you, which are 
 
 15. your Glory : and for the fame Caufe I bend 
 my Knees to the Father, by whofe Name\ the 
 whole Family in Heaven and upon Earth is cal- 
 led. 
 
 ig. And to underjland (which is far better than 
 that Knowledge) the Love of Chrift, 
 that ye may be filled. 
 
 20. according to the Power difplayedX in us. 
 
 iv. 3. Earnestly endeavouring to preferve the Uni- 
 
 4. ty of the Spirit by the Bond of Peace ; that ye 
 
 5. may be one Body and one Spirit, even as ye 
 
 H 2 iv. 
 
 * So I Cor. xii. 28. nv. 29. and other Places. 
 
 ■f-Seeii. 19. Johoi. iz^ij. Rom. iii. 29. ;{ See i. 19, zOr . 
 
( 100 ) 
 8hap, ver. 
 
 iv. 6. ^vere called unto one Hope ; even as there is one 
 Lord, one Faith, one Baptifm, one God and 
 Father of all ; who is above all Things^ and 
 through all Things, and in all Things. 
 8. Wherefore the Scripture* faith. :- 
 
 13. to a grown-up Man, to the full Size of the 
 
 Stature of Chrift. 
 14.. tolled LIKE Waves, and carried about 
 
 vi'ith every Wind of Doflrine, according to the 
 
 15. Unsteadiness of some Men, by their Craf- 
 tinefs, BY TiiE Contrivances of Error : 
 
 but, DEALING TRULY IN ALL ThINGS, may 
 
 16. grow up in Love unto him, who is the Head, 
 even Chrift : from whom the whole Body, fitly 
 compaSied and conneSled by it's several 
 Joints, procureth it's Increafe according to 
 the Operation of every single Limb, unto 
 the Edification of itfelf in Love. 
 
 21. Inasmuch as ye have heard him, and were 
 
 22. taught, according to the Truth in Jefus, to 
 put off the old Man of your former 
 Conversation, who was corruptible, the Man 
 
 23. according to the Lufts of Error; and to renew 
 
 24. ,yourfelves in the Spirit of your Mind, and to 
 put on the new Man, the Man according 
 TO God, fa/hioned in Righteoufnefs and Holi- 
 nefs, THE TRUE Man. 
 
 26. If ye be angry, fin not — — 
 
 tv. 
 
 • So'Jaraes iv, 6, 
 
( lol ) 
 
 Chap, ver, 
 
 iv. 27. Neither give any Occaftm to the Accuser.* 
 
 28. procuring with his Hands the good Things 
 
 of Life 
 
 29' " but that which is good for the Fur- 
 therance OF TME Business in Hand, that 
 it may Jie acceptable to the Hearers, 
 
 32* FREELY forgivingt one another, even as 
 
 God IN Christ hath freely forgiven you. 
 V. I. Be ye therefore //n/fa^urj of God, like dutiful 
 Children, 
 
 4. Neither what is shameful, nor unchaste 
 
 Conversation, nor unseasonable Le- 
 vity ; but let there be rather giving of 
 Thanks 
 
 5. For BE assured of this^— of the Chrift of 
 
 God.J 
 . 8. For ye were once Darknefs ; but now, being Light 
 
 in the Lord, walk as Children of Light. 
 J 8. And make not yourfelyes drunk with Wine, in 
 
 which is A SHAMEFUL Want op Order J 
 
 hnt fill yourfelves with the Spirit, 
 20, 21. to his God and Father, fubmitting 
 
 yourfelves to each other^ in the LovE of 
 
 Christ. 
 ^3. — — even as Chrift is the Head and Saviour 
 
 OF THE Body of the Church. § 
 
 H 3 y. 
 
 • See I Tim. v. 14. i Pet. iii. i6. So Eph. \u lu i Tim. iii. 6, 7. 
 a Tim. ii. 2S. i Pet, v. 8. 
 
 •j- SeeLukeviJ.4a. Rom. liii. 32, i Cor. ii. iz. So Phil. ii. 19. Col., 
 ii. 13. ii!. 13. 
 
 % See Luke ii. 26. ix. 20. § See Col. i. 18, 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 V. 30. — — we are of his Flefh,— — > 
 
 32. This is THAT great Myftery : I mean the U- 
 
 NioN OF Chrift and the Church. 
 
 33. However, let every one of you.— — 
 
 vi. 6j 7. but FROM THE Heart, with Good- 
 Will, as Servants of Chrift doing the Will 
 of Go(J 5 thus SERVING THE LoRD and not 
 Men. 
 g. And, ye Matters, DEAL equally with them. — • 
 10. ftrengthen yourfelves with* the Lord, and 
 WITH the Power of his Might. 
 
 13. — and, AFTER DESTROYING EVERY y/c/wr-; 
 
 fary^ to ftand. 
 
 ]6. Befides all thefe. — ' the fiery Darts of the E-. 
 
 viL One. 
 
 i.g, that Utterance may be given me with an o-> 
 
 pen Mouth, to />«<:/<?/« WITH BoLDNESS the 
 Myfl:ery of the Gofpel. 
 
 20. that I may fpeak it boldly. »■ ' 
 
 22. Whom I have fent unto you for this very Pur- 
 pofe, AND alfo that he may ki*ow your Af- 
 fairs. 
 
 . 24. inPuRiTY.f 
 
 Epiftle 
 
 * So a Tim. ii. i. f See 2 Cor. ii. 17. 
 
( J03 ) 
 
 Epiille to the Philippians. 
 
 chap, ver. 
 
 i. 3. I thank my God ALWAYS upon every Remem- 
 
 4. brance of you, in every Prayer of mine for 
 
 5, 6. you all ; making Prayer with Joy because 
 
 OF your Fellowfhip in the Gofpel ; having 
 THE SAME Confidence from the firft Day un- 
 till now, that every one among you, who 
 hath begun a good Work, will go on to finijh 
 it, 
 
 7. — -— becaufe ye. have me in your Heart, and 
 
 both in my Bonds, and ??2y Defence and Con- 
 firmation of the Gofpel, ye were all Sharers 
 ■with me in my Minijiry.* 
 
 8, with the AffeSiions of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 g, 10. more and more, with Conviction, 
 
 and all Understanding in di/iinguijhing the 
 Things that are excellent ; that ye may go on 
 WITH Discernment and without Stumbling 
 unto the Day of Chrift. 
 12. Batl wijh you to know. Brethren, that with Re- 
 13- fpeiitome the Gofpel hath been greatly promo- 
 ted ; fo that the whole Palace and all others 
 are certified, that my Bonds are in the Caufe of 
 H 4 Chrift ; 
 
 * See Rom. i. £• 
 
( 104 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 Chrift : and many of the Brethren, receiving 
 
 GREATER CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD from 
 
 my Bonds, proclaim the Word OF God with- 
 out Fear. 
 i. 15, 17. ■ and fome of Good-Will and of 
 
 16. Love, knowing that I am appointed for the' 
 Vindication of the Gofpel : but they, who 
 ARE coNTEtjTious, prgach Chrift with no 
 pure Intention, 
 
 icj. that thi? Imprifinmenf ivill end in Oiy Wel-r 
 
 fare. 
 
 20. that in Nothing I fhall difgrace myfelf. 
 
 22. But, if THIS Life in the Flefh be to\me A 
 
 23. FRUITFUL Work in the Gofpei., which \Jhouli 
 choofe in this Cafe I know not ; for I am per- 
 pkxed hetv/\xt these two Things : I have a. 
 Defire tp depart and to be with Chrift, and 
 this were far better FOR me. 
 
 2-5. for your Gratification, zni for the Advance- 
 lit, ment of the Faith : that your Glorying of 
 
 me in Jefus Chrift may be abundantly encreafed 
 
 ty my coming to you again. 
 
 27. or abfent hear of your AfFairs, ye may 
 
 28. continue in one Spirit and in one SouL, con- 
 tending together, unterrified by all Oppofers, for 
 the Faith of the Gofpel ; which is to th^m a 
 Demon/iration unto Deftruliion, but of Salva- 
 tion unto you. 
 
 29. And this Kindnefs hath God vouchsafed tq 
 
 you with RefpeSi to Chrift, not only. 
 
 ii. 
 
( 105 ) 
 
 Chapi ver. 
 
 ii. I. If therefore Exhortation in Chrift, if the 
 Confolatian of Love, if a Communion of the 
 Spirit, if Kindnefs and Compaffton have any 
 
 2. Power, fill ye up my Joy by having the fame 
 
 3. Difpofitions, the fame Love, the same Soul: 
 MINDING Nothing/roOT Strife. _— — . 
 
 4. Let each be anxious not for himfelf only, \>wtfor o- 
 
 thers alfo. 
 6. ■ did not think of 'EhG^^\.Y retaining 
 ^. THIS Resemblance to God ; but emp- 
 tied HIMSELF* «f «V, taking the Form of a 
 8. Servant ; and being made in the Shaps of 
 Menjf and having the DispositionsJ of z 
 Man, he humbled himfelf, in his Obedience., un- 
 to Death. ■ 
 
 12. as ye always obeyed me with Fear and 
 
 Trembling. 
 
 13. ■ I ' promote the Welfare of each o- 
 
 THER :§ for God is working in you both to 
 be willing and to perform. 
 
 14. Do all Things with good Will, without 
 
 Murmurings. 
 
 15. That ye may be Children of God without Spot, 
 
 blamelefs and uncorrupted even in the 
 Midfl of a crooked and perverfe Generation : 
 among whom shine ouf|| like Luminaries in 
 
 • See Matt. iv. 4-1 1, vili. 20. yxvi. 53. John vi. 15. 
 
 f See Luke xxiv. 39. Heb. ii. 14. 
 
 J See Matt. xxvi. 38. Heb.' iv. 15. 
 
 § Seev. 4. II See Matt. V. 16. 
 
( io6 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 ii. i6. the World, holding fast the Word of 
 Life. 
 
 17. Yea, EVEN if I be poured out upon the Sa- 
 
 crifice and Offering of your Faith. — — — — 
 
 18. In the fame Manner. — — 
 
 20. who will /^«/« SINCERE Concern for your 
 
 Affairs. 
 28. I was therefore the more d^firous of fending 
 
 him. 
 
 iji. 2. Beware of those Dogs, beware of those e- 
 vil Workers, beware of their biting you. 
 
 3. • and BOAST in Jefus Chrift. 
 
 8. — . and count them but Refuse, that I 
 
 . might gain Chrift. 
 
 9, 10. the Righteoufnefs _/>•»»? God ; fo as to 
 
 know him, and the Efficacy of his Refurrec- 
 tion, conforming myfelf by a Participation of 
 II. his Sufferings, unto his Death, if I «(7y by any 
 Means attain a complete Refurre<5tion from 
 DEAD Works. 
 16. But, as far as we have gone, let us walk in the 
 
 fame Path. 
 ig. Whofe End is to ruin others,- 
 
 20. But w^a« Citizens «/" Heaven. — — 
 
 21. Who took upon himself the Fashion of 
 
 our vile Body, that it might be made like.— — 
 
 iv. 4. Rejoice in the Lord : I fay again, always re- 
 joice. 
 
 5. Let your Equity be known unto all Men,-^ 
 
 6, Be anxious about Nothing. — — 
 
 jv. 
 
( 107 ) 
 
 Chap. yer. 
 
 ^v. 8. ——are true, whatfoever Things are respec- 
 
 TABLE. — — 
 
 10. that at length your Concern for me, which 
 
 indeed ye had before., but without Opportttnityy 
 hath revived. 
 l8. I have received nil. — — 
 
 J 9. But my God will f 11 up all yout Wants according 
 
 to his GLORIOUS Riches in Chrift Jefus. 
 ^0. Now unto OUR God and Father. 
 
 The Epiftle to the Coloflians. 
 
 2. To the holy and faithful Brethren in Chrift at Co- 
 loffe . 
 
 12. — — who thought us worthy* to be Partakers. 
 
 13. — — zni. transferred our Service into the King- 
 
 14. dom of his dear Son, by whom we have this 
 
 15. DELiVERANCE/rflTW Slavery, even the Remif' 
 fion of Sins : who is AN Image of the invifi- 
 ble God, A Firft-born of the whole Cre- 
 ation. 
 
 17. And he is above all Things.——. 
 
 i.. 
 
 * So a Cor. Hi. 6. See 1 Tim. i. iz» 
 
< io8 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 i. i8. And he is the Head of the Body of the Church 
 hy being the Firft-born from the dead ; that he 
 might be the fir/i in all Things. 
 
 22. to prefent you holy, and without Spot, 
 
 and blamelefs, before his Prefence. 
 
 23. If ye WILL continue. — — 
 
 2^. and am filling up in my Flefh the Remain- 
 der of my Afflidions in Chrift. 
 27. To whom God was willing to make known the 
 GLORIOUS Riches of this Myftery towards 
 YOU the Gentiles, which is Chrift, the Hope 
 of Glory. 
 
 ii. 2. and mall the Riches of the i^Al ConviSiion of - 
 
 the Underftanding, unto an Acknowledgement 
 
 of the Myftery of God the Father in Chrift; 
 
 3. in whom are laid up all the Treafures of 
 
 Wifdom and Knowledge : which I tell you^ 
 
 that no Man. 
 
 7. AND, as ye were taught. — — 
 
 8. Beware therefore, left any M.zamake a Prey 
 of you. 
 
 10. And BE YE filled with him. 
 
 11. ^j) /Zi« putting oSofour fleshly Body.' 
 
 13. And you, become dead Tof Sins and to the Un- 
 
 circumcifion of your Flefti. 
 
 14. And, having blotted out the Hand-Writing of 
 
 OUR Debts in the Book of Ordinances, which 
 
 15. ' flood in our Way, he removed it, and nailed It to 
 
 the Crofs : by which, after stripping 
 
 HIMSELF 
 « See V, 8. f See Eph. ii. 1, 
 
( 109 ) 
 
 Chap, veri 
 
 HIMSELF for the Combat^ he made a public 
 Difplay in Triumph of Principalities and Pow- 
 ers, 
 ii. 7.1. Eat not, taftenot, touch not. 
 
 23. — > — and a bodily Abstinence in Things not 
 
 HONOURABLE, but necejfary to the Satisfying 
 of the Flefli. 
 
 iii, 5. your Members as to these earthly 
 
 Things, Fornication. 
 
 8,9. Malice, Abv SEyJilthy Talking. Lie not 
 
 with your Mouth* to one another. 
 
 12. AffeSiionsoi Pity, Kindnefs. > 
 
 13. — — FREELY forgiving each other., if any one 
 
 have Caufe of Complaint againft another. 
 
 14. And over all thefe, put on Love, which is die 
 
 PERFECT Bond of Union. 
 
 15. And let the Peace of Christ, unto which ye 
 
 were called, govern your Hearts f as in one 
 Body.—— 
 
 16. Letthe Word of the Lord- - and admo- 
 
 nifliing yourselvesJ finging with 
 
 Thankfulness. 
 
 i^. __ — in the Name of our Lord Jefus Christ, 
 
 giving Thanks to God the Father through 
 
 him. 
 22. ■ as fearing God. 
 
 24. • for Chrift is the Master, whom ye 
 
 ferve. 
 
 iv. 
 
 • See 1 Pet. ii. 22. Jude, 16. i Kings xxU. zz. 
 
 f SeeEpij. iv.4. % SeeEph.y. 19. 
 
C lio ) 
 
 chap, ver. , 
 
 iv. 6. Let your Dtfcourfe be always gracious. 
 
 12. Epaphras, who came from you r ; , . that ye may' 
 continue perfeSl, and in full Confidence iii 
 
 EVERY Will of God. 
 
 14. Luke the Phyfician, the beloved Brother.- 
 
 Firft Epiftle to the ThefTalonianSi 
 
 i. 2, 3. —in our Prayers WITHOUT Ceasing, re- 
 4. membering ■ in the Sight of our God 
 
 and Father ;* knowingj Brethren beloved by 
 
 God, your Eleftion. 
 8. a fo that we have no need to Jay any Thing 
 
 OF YOU. 
 
 g, to ferve a living and true God. 
 
 10. Jefus, car i)^//wr^r from the Wrath, which 
 
 is approaching. 
 
 ii. 3. notof Error, nor of Uncleannefs.f —— 
 
 4. But, as we were thought worthy by God to be en- 
 truJtedWith theGofpel, we fpeak accordingly. — > 
 6, 5. ■ neither of you, nor of others ; nor 
 
 ufed ANY Pretence for extorting Mo- 
 ney^ (God is Witnefs) when we might have 
 
 beeii 
 
 * So z Theff. ii. 16. f See v. 5. Pfalm.xxir. 4. 
 
( III ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 been burdenfome in this RefpeSi,* as Apoftles 
 ii. 7. of Chrift : but we behaved among you with the 
 Simplicity of a Child. 
 8. As affeStionate for you^-i.% if a Nursing-Mother 
 were cherijhing her Children, we were willing 
 to impart, — 
 g. For REMEMBER, Brethren, our Labour and i!"^- 
 tigue ; working Night and Day, that we might 
 not be burdenfome to any of you. 
 10. Ye are Witnefles, and God is Witnefs, how 
 holily and uprightly we preached unto you the 
 Gofpel of God ; and were without Blame 
 
 • II. from you, who believe : exhorting, as ye know, 
 
 and comforting each of you, as a Father his 
 Children : and charging you to walk worthy of 
 God. 
 
 14. For ye, Brethren, are become like the Churches.— 
 
 15. and DROVE us out from them. 
 
 17. being deprived of you our Children at 
 
 a Moment's WARNiNO.f' ■ ■ 
 
 19. For what will he our Hope, or Joy, or Crown of 
 
 20. Triumph? TVill notys alfo ? For ye 
 
 are already our Glory and Joy. 
 
 iii. II. But may he, our God and Father.-—— 
 
 13, against the Coming. — — 
 
 iv. 5. Not in li^/iful Pajftons, as those Gentiles, who 
 6. know not God : fo that he injure not his Bro- 
 ther, nor INDULGE inordinate Desires in 
 this Matter. 
 
 iv. 
 
 • Ssev. 9. I Cor. ix. 14, 18. f See v. 15. Afts xvij. 5. 
 
( "2 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 iv. I2» That ye may walk with Decorum.*—— 
 
 14, fo muji we believe that God THROUcrf 
 
 Jefus will bring with him thofe alfo, who are «-.■ 
 
 Jleep. 
 i5, with a Command, with the Voice of an 
 
 Archangel. 
 17. and fir ft fliaU the dead rife again inGhrist: 
 
 ^eii we.- 
 
 V. 5, 6. and Children of the Dayi So then, as 
 
 we are not of Night nor , of Darknefs, let us 
 not fleep. ' 
 10. ■ ■ that whether we live or die.-^— — 
 13. And to regard them with the utmoft Fondnefs of 
 AffeHion ; and for the Sake of their Office^ 
 
 LIVE WITH THEM IN PEACE.f 
 
 18. At all Times give Thanks. 
 
 The fecond Epiftle to the Theflklo-- 
 nians. 
 
 i. 5. A Prsfff of the /^Judgement, in -Oouchfafing uH- 
 to you that Kingdom of God, for which ye 
 
 can jEVEN fufFer. 
 
 i. 
 
 « So Rom.xui. 13. I Cor. vii. 35. xlv. 40, f See Heb. »ii. i/' 
 
( "3 ) 
 
 Chap. vtr. 
 i, 7. He villi ALSO to you, who are ii^iiied, give Rq^ 
 with us. — — 
 
 10. and to be admired on that Day in all them, 
 
 who believe that, which was establish- 
 ed BY Proof among you, even our Teftimo- 
 ny of Chriji* 
 
 11, that God would make you worthy of your 
 
 Calling, and fill you with every Dis- 
 position FOR Goodness, and with a pow- 
 erful Operation of Faith. 
 
 ii. I. ' CONCERNING the Coming and our. — 
 
 6. And ye know what now hinder eth him from being 
 revealed i^re that Time appointed for himt 
 
 g, 10. with all Imposture of Miracles and 
 
 Signs and Wonders, and with all Sedu£iion of 
 Unrighteoufnefs among them, who are lojl.- 
 II, 12. fo that they w/// believe T«is lying Pow- 
 er, and will be all condemned, — 1 - ■ — 
 
 15. . and hold the Doctrines DELiVEREDf 
 
 to you, whether ye were taught them by our Dif- 
 courfe or our Epiftle. 
 iii. I. . may run z.vA gain Glory, even as with you. 
 
 5. and into patient Hope in Chrift. 
 
 I2i that they labour, and eat their own Bread 
 
 IN Peace. 
 
 16. -: — always IN all Things.— —* 
 
 1 The 
 
 * 9eeiCor*i.6. fSoiii.fi. 
 
( "4 ) 
 
 The firft Epiflle to Timothw 
 
 etap. ver. 
 
 i. I. ■ by AN Appointment* of God our Sa- 
 viour, ■ — 
 
 2. To Timothy my TRUEf Son in the Faith.' 
 
 8. if a Man ufe itfuitably to it's Purpofe. 
 
 9. I — - for the unholy and impure.' 
 
 10, II. to THE wholfome DoiStrine of that^ 
 
 ' , glorious Gofpel of the HOLY J God.— —^ 
 12. And I AM thankful§ to Chrift Jefus our 
 Lord, who GiVETH me Strength, for count- 
 ing me faithful.——" 
 ii. 2i For Kings, and all in high Stations ', that they 
 may pass through Life in Tranquillity and 
 Peace, with all Godlinefs and Respect. 
 
 4. Who wiLLETH all Men to be in Safety, and 
 
 to come to an Acknowledgement of the Truth. ' 
 
 5. and also one Man, a Mediator between 
 
 God and Men. 
 
 6. 7. THAT Mystery|1 in it's proper Time, 
 
 of which I WAS ordained.' 
 
 8. without Resentment and Debates. 
 
 9. ' in A BECOMING Drefsy with Modejly and 
 
 Sfibermindednefs, — 
 
 llr 
 
 * f So Rom. xvi. 26. Tit. i. 3. f So Tit. i. 4. 
 
 J Sovi. 15. § So z Tim, i. j. 
 
 !| SeeRom. xvi. 25, 26. Eph, iii. 2, 3. Col, i. 26, 27. 
 
Chap, veri 
 
 ii. 10. But in a Manner fuitabh to Womefr, who profefs 
 
 TO SHEW THEIR PlETY BY gOod Works. 
 
 14. And Adam was not deceived, but became a 
 15; Tranfgrejfor through the Error of the V/o- 
 
 man. Notwithftanding, he will be faved 
 
 with his Offspring, if they continue in 
 iii. I. Faith, and Love, and SanSlification, with Sober- 
 
 mindednefs. This a Doctrine worthy of 
 
 Belief.* 
 
 2. — — a Hufband of one Wife, yZ^^r, of a found 
 
 3. Mind, respectable, a Lover of HotpitsHtyi 
 ready to teach, not riotous, no Striicer. 
 
 4. Ruling his own i^'fl'Wf^ well, ««i having his Chil- 
 
 dren in Subje<Elion, with all Decorum. 
 6: he fall under the Reproach of the Accu- 
 ser. f 
 13. procure for themfelves am honourable Sta-^ 
 
 tiom 
 
 15. that thou tiiayefl: know, hovtr a PillarJ 
 
 of the living God and a Support of the 
 Truth, ought to behave himfelf in the Hdufe of • 
 God, which is the Church. 
 
 i6. — <— great is this Myftery of Godlinefs, which 
 was manifefled in Fhih, vindicated^ by the Spi- 
 rit, feen by Angds,\\ proclaimed among the 
 I 2 Gfenj 
 
 • So i. 15. iv. 9. aTim. ii. 11. Tit. iii. 8. 
 f So V. 7. See v. 14. Epii. iv. 27. 
 , j See Eplii ii. 20j az. I Pet. ii. 5. 
 § See John ii. 19, it. Rom. i. 4. 1| Seeliukexav. 23^ 
 
( "6 ) 
 
 Chap. yer. 
 
 (jentileSj^f was believed in the World,* Was 
 taken up xvith Glory<§ 
 
 iv. I. ■ '— toDocSrines about dSad MEN.f 
 
 2. Through the Hypocrify of Liars. 
 
 3. Giving Prohibitions about Marriage, about Abfti^ 
 
 nence from Meats, which God created to be 
 
 4. partaken of with Thankfgiving by them, who 
 believe and acknowledge this Truth, that 
 
 - every Creature of God is good. - ■ ■ 
 
 6. Lay thefe Things before the Brethren, and be 
 
 a good Minifter of Jefus Chrifl ; nourijhing 
 
 THYSELF up in the DoSlrines of the Faith 
 
 and IN THOSE good In/iruSlions, which thou 
 
 haft FOLLOWED. 
 
 8, 1 1 ■ profiteth for a short Time only, but 
 
 Godlinefs is profitable for ever. 
 
 12. in Love, in Faith, in Purity. 
 
 14., which was given thee for the Purpofes of 
 
 TEACHING. 
 
 15. • may appear in all Things. 
 
 16. znd perfevere IN thy Doctrine j for ^/ 
 
 doing this. 
 
 v. 12. Incurring Censure, for reje£iing their firft De- 
 termination. 
 17. — — worthy of double Reward. 
 2 1 . — — that thou obferve thefe Things without Pre- 
 judice.——— 
 
 vt. 
 
 ^ See Afts xi. li, * See Matt.viii. 10. Rom. x. 20. 
 
 ^ SeeAfts i. 9, Matt. kxU. 30. 
 
 -J- So I Cor.x. 20, and many other Places. 
 
( "7 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. * / / 
 
 vi. 2. — ~-but/tff thmy AS Partakers of the fame Be- 
 
 nef t, do them mere hearty Service.^ i 
 
 3' of ourLord JefusChrift, and is blind to 
 
 4. THE Dodliine e/" Godlinefs, knowing No- 
 thing, but. 
 
 5* •— • — fuppoling that Godlinefi is Gain. ■ 
 
 15. Which will be mariifejied in «'j proper Time by 
 the Holy One, and only Potentate. - 
 
 16. dwelling in Light, which no one can ap- 
 
 {jroach. — — 
 17, Charge the rich not to be lifted up by the 
 Things of this WoM.—— 
 
 yg. a VERY good TREASURE againft the Time 
 
 to come.— — — 
 
 The fecond Epiftle to Timothy. 
 
 3. —— in my Prayers Night and Day, inasmuch 
 , AS I have an unceajing Remembrance* of 
 thee, 
 7, ——« Spirit of Inactivity.— — 
 JO. — — and hzxhjpread abroad the Light of Life and 
 Immortality by the Gofpel. 
 
 I 3 i- 
 
 • See I Theff. Ui. 6. 
 
( "8 ) 
 
 Chap', yer. 
 
 i. 13. Hold FORTH, with Faith and Love in Chrifl: Jer 
 fus, a Pattern of wholefome DoHrines-, which 
 thou haft heard/r«7K me. 
 
 ii, 5, In the Games alfo, no Man is crowned, except he 
 contend according to the Rules. 
 
 6. The Hufbandman muft labour before he be Par- 
 
 taker of the Fruits. 
 
 7, 8. — -. and the Lord give thee Underftanding. 
 
 On all Occasions keep in thy Remembrance 
 Jefus Chrift, who was raifedfrom the dead 5 of 
 
 the Seed of David. ~ 
 
 •21. If a Man therefore thoroughly purify himfelf, 
 he will be thenceforth a Veflel unto Ho- 
 
 nour. - 
 
 25. if God will turn their Minds^* fo that they 
 
 26. may acknowledge the Truth, and recover their 
 Senfes to perform his Will, after being 
 RESCUED ALIVE BY the Servant of the Lord 
 out of the Snare of the Devil. 
 
 iii, 3. fierce, Enemies to Goodness. 
 
 6. ' and lead Captive Men of effeminate 
 
 Minds.— TT — rr— 
 16. Every Scripture divinely infpredi% profitable.- 
 iv, 2. confute, reprove, exhort. 
 
 7. I have contended honourably in the 
 
 Games ;f I have finiflied the Race. 
 14. the Lord will reward him. • 
 
 The 
 
 • SeeHeb.x'ii. 17, ' f So i Cor. «. 25. i Tim. vi. is. 
 
( ng ) 
 
 The Epiftle to Titus. 
 
 Chap, ver. 
 i. 2. before the Times of the Ages. 
 
 8. — — a Lover of Goodness. - 
 
 9. — — that he may be able both to encourage yo/ns 
 
 by his wholefotue Dodlrine, and to confute* 
 others, who contradiSi. 
 
 14. of Men, who have departed from the 
 
 Truth. 
 
 2. ^fober, venerable, steady.. 
 
 7. — — in Do(Slrine,'iMPARTiAL,f refpe£lable, un- 
 corrupt. 
 II. For the Grace of God, which bringeth Salva- 
 tion UNTO ALL Men, hath appeared, 
 
 iii. I. and Pdv?ers, to be ready to obey them in 
 
 every good Work. 
 
 7. we /night hope for the Inheritance of eternal 
 
 Life. 
 
 8. . -ftudy to be the YOVii.MosrX in good Works. 
 
 Thefe are the Things, that are honourable 
 and. 
 
 I 4 The 
 
 » Soil. 15. + See i Tim. v. 21. J So v. 14. 
 
( lao ) 
 
 The Epiftle to the Hebrews. 
 
 chap. ver. 
 
 i, I. God, who By fuiidry Portions, 
 
 2. by whom alfo he appointed tl^e AfiES, 
 
 6. the Scripture* fiiith. ■ 
 
 y. —— Who makethhis Angels Winds.' 
 
 8. But OFt the Son the Scripture faith ; God will be 
 
 THY Throne for ever and ever. 
 
 ii. 2. received a Reward IN Punishment. 
 
 4, and D'lflributions, according to his own 
 
 Will, of the ff oly Spirit. 
 
 5. tht future Dispensation,;}; of which ■vm 
 
 orefpeaking, 
 
 9. For we fee that Jefus now crowned with Glo* 
 
 ry ai^d Honour, who was made a little lower 
 
 than the Angels with a View to the SufFefing 
 
 of Death ; that.-^ 
 
 JO. — — and by whom are all Things, to make the 
 
 Captain of their Salvation, the Conductor 
 
 OF many Sons unto Glory, perfqdl througl^ 
 
 Sufferings. 
 
 II. zte of one Father, 
 
 J5, And deliver from Slavery them, who were 
 
 all their Life-Time subject to the Feai^ 
 
 pf Death, 
 
 * So V. 7, and more properly y. 5, and jv, 4, 7, 
 t Sov. 5, t So i, 6, 
 
ehap, 
 
 , ver. 
 
 ii. 
 
 l6. 
 
 jii. 
 
 5- 
 
 
 6. 
 
 
 14. 
 
 
 15- 
 
 ( 121 
 
 ' he HELPETH not Angels, but helpeth.— ' 
 
 — — to declare thofe DireSlkns, which Jhould be 
 
 given to him. 
 if we hold faft our confident and glorious Hope 
 
 unto the End, 
 if we, hold the Principle, onwhieh wejland, 
 
 firm unto the End ; according to the Declaration ; 
 
 To-day, 
 J 6. For WHO, when they had heard, provoked him f 
 
 Did not ALL, who came out of ^gypt under 
 
 Mofes ? 
 iv, I. We therefore rnay be afraid, left any of us, bt 
 
 ^lEGLECTiNG THE Promife of entering intq 
 
 his Reft, fliould at last come fliort of it. 
 
 2. For we have received glad Tidings, as they-alfi 
 
 did. 
 
 3, For we, who have believed, are to enter into 
 
 that Reft, (as the Scripture hath faid — — 
 
 my Reft) that Reft indeed of God after the 
 
 Works were finifljed at the Foundation of 
 
 the World. 
 8. For, if Joshua had ^rflfar^rf them Reft.— — 
 g. There remaineth therefore a Reft, like that 
 
 OF the Sabbath, to the People of God. 
 II, that none of us may fall INTO the fame 
 
 Pattern of Disobedience. 
 15. but tempted, and in all RefpeHs LIKE 
 
 ourselves, without Sin. 
 j6, — — and find Favour for our feafonahk Relief. 
 
( I" ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 V. 2. Who can make Allowance for the heedless and 
 mijlaken ; inafmuch as he- alfo is cloathed with 
 Infirmity. 
 
 7, 8. and was heard.; yet, though he were 
 
 9. a Son, FROM HIS pious Reverence didhs 
 ZfflrK Obedience, and, being made perfect 
 BY THE Things, which he suffered, 
 
 became. 
 
 ji. Of whom* we have many Things to fay, and 
 bard to be explained,-^ — — 
 
 12. — — ye have Need on the contrary that 
 
 SOME one teach you the firft Principles.— —— 
 
 13. ' is unacquainted with the DoSirine of yuP- . 
 
 tijication. 
 
 vi, 5. And have heard of the good, Word of God 
 aiid the Miracles of the future AcE.f 
 
 6. -— feeing they crucify for themfelves the Son 
 
 of God, and expofe him to open Shame. 
 
 7. — that Cometh crfit upon upon it from 
 
 GoDjf and bringeth forth Herbage ufeful to 
 them, by whom indeed it is tilled, receiveth 
 
 8. Praise : but, when it beareth Thorns and 
 Briars, Men rejeSi and are ready to curfi it ; and 
 the End of it is Burning. 
 
 10. to forget that Proof oi your l^ove,——— 
 
 11. And we wijh each of you to fliew the fame Ea^- 
 
 neflnefsy ACCORDING to the Confidence of your 
 Hope, unto the Ei^d. 
 
 * That is, Chnfi. f See ii. 5. 
 
 I See Aftsxiv. 17. Zech. x. i. 
 
( 123 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 vi, 17, Imvhich Vtew^ God ——— interposed an 
 Oath. 
 19. ■ an Anqhor of the Soul, both fast and 
 
 STRpNG.-T-i 
 
 vii. 3. and^XiVe thpSonofGod, continueth aFiieS: 
 
 for ever- 
 
 14. For IT Was foretold, that our Lord was to 
 
 fpringfrom Judah.' — 
 
 15. And < Am is_/?/// far more evident, if another Prieft 
 
 WERE TO arise after the Likenefs of Melchi- 
 fedeo. 
 
 18. For jaieyir/w^r Commandment Indeed is fet afide., 
 
 jg. becaufe weak and unprofitable ; (for the Law 
 made Nothing perfeft) but a better Hope is in- 
 troduced. 
 
 24. hath a Priefthood, that is never transferred 
 
 to another. 
 
 28. — — a Son, made perfect and continuing for 
 ever. 
 
 vili. 4. For indeed, if he were over earthly 
 
 Things, he wouldnot have been a Prieft. 
 
 8. For, finding Fault with the former Covenant^ he 
 
 faith unto them. 
 
 13, • Now what is going to decay from Old-s 
 
 Age, mujljhortly difappear, 
 
 jx. I. ■ and THE sacred Furniture, 
 
 8, 9. while the firft Tabernacle had it's EJia- 
 
 blijhment; (which was a Figure unto that 
 Time, which is now corn's.) under viKich are 
 pfFered both Gifts and Sacrifices, which can- 
 not 
 
C 124 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 ix. 10. NOT make perfefl: as to the Confcience him, 
 who performeth his Service only with Meat and 
 Drink-Offerings. - 
 
 11, 12. of THOSE good Things to come, en- 
 
 tered, not by the Blood of Goats and Calves 
 but by his ovirn Blood, once for all into 
 the Sanctuary* through that greater and 
 more perfect Tabernacle, not made with 
 Hands, that is, not of the fame Workman- 
 Jhip.—-^ 
 
 16, 17. — ^- the Death of thaty which makes the Co- 
 
 venant. For a Covenant is confirmed ov^Vi. 
 DEAD Things ; elfe, is it of any Force at 
 all, whilfl: thaty which makes tie Covenant, ii 
 alive ? 
 
 ig. ■ and Hyflop and die Book, and fprinkled 
 
 all the People.f 
 
 26. — — but now once at the Conclusion of the 
 Ages.- 
 
 28. So the Ghrift, having been once offered up to 
 
 bear away the Sins of many, will appear a 
 
 fecond Time, without any Offering for Sin, ta 
 
 thofe who expeSi him, unto Salvation. 
 
 X, I. — — — Year by Year, make the Worjhippers ^x~ 
 
 fe£t FOR EVER. J 
 
 2. For then they would have ceafed. 1- 
 
 12. But he, after offering for ever one Sacrifice.— 
 14. For one Offering hath made perfeS.-—— 
 
 17. He AJ.SO faith ; Their Sins. — • 
 
 X, 
 
 * So 24( -I- See Exod, xxiv. 7. % See v. 14^ 
 
( 1^50 
 
 Chapi ver. 
 X. 19. — — FULt Liberty to enter the SanSfuaryhy 
 
 the Blood.' 
 23. Let us hold faft the Declaration of our Hope.— 
 25. Not forfaking Our Association in the Go/pel, 
 
 as fome do. 
 
 27. But a certain fearful ExpeBation of Puniflinient, 
 
 and a raging Fire, which will devour the 
 
 Adverfari.es. 
 37. For yet a very little While, and he, who is to 
 
 come, will come without Delay : and the juft 
 
 BY Faith will live ; but, if he withdraw 
 
 himfelf^ TAKE THOU, my Soul, noPleafurein 
 
 him. 
 
 xi. I. NowFaith is the Foundation of Things hoped 
 for ; the CanviElion of Events not yet feen, 
 
 3. — — that the Ages were fo ordered by the Word 
 of God, that what is now feen did not arife 
 from what then appeared. 
 
 4, yet fpeaketh of himself, 
 
 6. muft first believe. 
 
 7. •^— not feen as yet, with pious Reverence 
 
 prepared an Ark and obtained the 
 
 Deliverance according to ^zV Faith. 
 
 10. For he was expelling that City, which hath 
 Foundations ; whofe Contriver and Buil- 
 der is God. 
 
 13, 14. — — and Pilgrims in the Land. For they, 
 who thus /peak, plainly Jhew, that they are 
 feeking their native Country. 
 16. ^— to CALL HIMSELF their God. — — 
 
 xi. 
 
C 126 ). 
 
 chap. ver. 
 
 xi. ig. Having reafoned with himfelfy that God was able 
 even to raife him from the dead : whence* 
 indeed, comparatively fpeaking, he received him* 
 
 32. And WHY do IJlill gQ on ? 
 
 53. wrought Deliverance. •}■ 
 
 34) 35- P^^ *° Flight the Armies of their Ene- 
 mies, RECEIVED FOR WoMEN their dead raifed 
 to Life again : and fame were killed with 
 Clubs. 
 
 37. they were fawn afunder, they were TiiRUST 
 
 THROUGH WITH StAK£S. 
 
 38. They, of whoni the whole World was not wor- 
 
 thy, wandered. 
 
 xii. I. Wherefore let irs also, who have fo great a 
 Cloud of WitneSIesfurroiindiHg us, lay afide.-^ 
 
 2. Looking forv\^ards unto Jefus, the great 
 and- PERFECT Example of this Faith.—; 
 
 ■i. left ye faint with WTearinefs of Soul. 
 
 4. Ye have not yet refifted Sin unto Blood, iii 
 
 5. your Struggles with it: and have yel forgot- 
 ten ? 
 
 y. BEARjyjar Chajiifement with Patience : God is 
 dealing with you as with Sons. — ' 
 
 g, And, if we have had. 
 
 lo. For they indeed, WitH A viEW^ to a few ibays,- 
 after their own Humour, ufed to chq/life \xs. — 
 
 15. left any Root of Bitternefs and Gall 
 
 fpring up, and thereby. — 
 
 xii> 
 
 * See Geo. xxU. io. f See v; 7. Judges ii. 26. &« 
 
( ^27 ) 
 
 chap. ver. 
 
 xii. 17. ■ for he found no Way of changing his Fa^ 
 ther' sM.xtiViy though he fought it earneJilyWith. 
 Tears. 
 
 18. For ye are not come to a Mountain spread o- 
 VER z.nAburning with Fire. 
 
 22, 23. A heavenly Jerufalem, and to a general 
 
 Affembly of innumerable Angels, , and to a 
 Church of firft-borh Sons enrolled ii:i*Hea- 
 
 ven.- 
 
 25. — — who rfcfufed the earihly Mejfenger of God, 
 much lefs fhall we, who rejeSl his heavenly Mef- 
 fenger. ; 
 
 xiii. 4. Let Marriage be honourable among you all, and 
 let your Bed be undefiled : for Whoremongers 
 and Adulterers God vn'^punijh. 
 g. Be not carried aside. — — 
 
 15. the Fruit of Lips, /Aaf coistfess his Name. 
 
 20. who brought up from the dead that 
 
 Shepherd of the Sheep, made great by* the 
 Blood of an everlafting Covenant, our Lord 
 Jefus Christ. 
 
 22. — — fufFer this Word of Exhortation : for in- 
 deed I have GIVEN you but few Com- 
 mands. 
 
 The 
 
 • See Ptjf. i!. 8, 9. 
 
y 
 
 ( 128 I 
 The Epiftle of James. 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 i. 6. — — movedhythe Wihdj and tossing iTSEtfi' 
 
 ABOUT. 
 
 5^, '8. For let not that Man, double-minded, urifta- 
 ble in all his Ways, think that he will receivd' 
 any Thin^. from the Lord. 
 12. ■ for, when he has been provedj — — 
 
 13. for God IS UNACQUAINTED with Evil. — ' 
 
 14. But every Man is tempted by his own Luft, be- 
 ing drawn out by it's Bait.* 
 
 15. and Sin, when HEjt full Time is 
 
 GOME. 
 
 17. ——with whom is no Parallax, nor tropi- 
 cal Shadow. 
 22. But be ye Doers of the Law^ 
 
 I. My Brethren, hold not the GLORiousf Faith 
 of our Lord Jefus Chrift with Refpedl of Per- 
 fonSi ' - 
 
 4. Do ye not then wake Di/linSiions among yourkheSj 
 and form your "Judgements upon wicked '^v.k- 
 
 SONINGS ? 
 
 5. rich ill Faith, "iro be Heirs of tthat King- 
 
 bi dom— — love him : and' ye hz.\tdi/ho~ 
 
 mured the poor Man ? Do not the rich Do^a 
 
 MINEER OVER yOU.— 1 
 
 II. Y o^L Tnz fame Law f which faith,' ■ 
 
 lu 
 
 * See Matt, iv.sf, f See iTim<i. ji. 
 
( "9 ) 
 
 Chap. wr. 
 ii. i6. — ——'Be ye tuarm with Qoaths, and HWedxuiib 
 
 Food. 
 
 2i when he carried Kaac his Son to the 
 
 Altar ? 
 V 26. For, as the Body without Breath is dead. ■ 
 
 iii. 6. And the Tongue is a Fire, the Varnisher. 
 of Injujiice ; that Member, which defileth the 
 whole Body, andfetteth on Fire the Wheel 
 
 of Life. 
 
 10. Do Blefling and Curfing come out of the fame 
 Mouth ? 
 
 12. — — So neither can a salt Spring fupply 
 
 frejh WateK 
 
 13. the Works OF his Wisdom with Meek- 
 
 nefs. 
 
 14. — — MUST YE glory and lie againft the Truth ? 
 18. And the Fruit of Righteoufnefs with Peace is 
 
 fown hy them, who promote Peace. 
 
 iv. 5. Do ye think, that the Scripture fpeaieth to us in 
 
 6. vain ? Hath that Spirit, which dwelleth 
 
 in us, the Dejires of Envy ? It rather giveth 
 
 greater Grace ; wherefore the Scripture faith. 
 
 iTt, There is one Lawgiver and a Judge, who is 
 
 able to fave and to deftroy ? Who art thou, 
 
 that judgeft thy Brother ? 
 
 15* Inflead of faying. If the Lord willj and we live, 
 
 then let us do this or that. 
 16. But now ye loaji in your Presumption : all 
 fuch Boajling is evil. 
 
 K V. 
 
" C 130 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 v- 3- - will eztjoar Tlelh :, ye have heaped k^ 
 
 Treafure, yo be as Fire jIn the laft Days, 
 5. ——as in a Day of Sacrifice. 
 
 6. fi«r« is no Oppojithn* to you. 
 
 7* — — ^ Behold ! the Hufbandman, who expeSieth the 
 precious Fruit of the Ground, waiteth patiently 
 over it, untill he receive both the early and the- 
 latter Fruit. 
 
 i%. -left ye fall into Deceit. 
 
 16. — — theJS^/5? of a righteous Man's 'Prayer is 
 
 very powerful. 
 20, Know YE, that he, who converteth A Sinner 
 from the Error of his Way, will fave His awN 
 Soul from Death, r 
 
 The firil Epiftle of St. Peter. 
 
 2. Ele£l: according to A Predetermination of God the 
 
 Father with SancSification of the Spirit, unto 
 Obedience according to the Sprinkling of 
 the Blood of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 3. unto a Hope of Life.' 
 
 6. For which Reason ye greatly rejoice even in 
 being troubled^ now, if Need be, for a little 
 Time by various Temptations. 
 
 i. 
 See Luke xxil. J3. -j- See Rom. v. 3. 
 
( 131 ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 i. 8. Whom, thaugh ye VLi^EW not, ye love. 
 
 13. and PLACE A FIRM Hope UPON that 
 
 14.. Grace, which will be Jhewn unto you at the 
 Revelation of Jefus Chrift, r':c ob dient '.Chil- 
 dren : not confirming to the former Lufts. 
 
 17. And, if ye call him your Father, who will 
 judge without Refpeft of Perfons according to 
 every Man's Work, pafs the Time of your 
 Pilgrimage in his Fear. • 
 
 2, — ^— defire that pure Milk of Reason,* that 
 
 3. ye may grow up thereby unto Salvation ; 
 SINCE ye have tailed. 
 
 5. D o ye alfo, as living Stones, build yourselves 
 up, a fpiritual Temple for a holy Priefthood. — 
 
 7. To you therefore, who believe, it will be an Ho- 
 
 8. nour ; but to the difobedient, a Stone of Stum- 
 bling and a Rock of Deviation ; who {tumble 
 through Dif obedience to the Word. 
 
 5. ■ I .■ a People acquired, that ye might proclaim 
 his Virtues, who called you.— — 
 12. Maintaining yont Converfation among the Gen- 
 tiles blamelefsy that, wherein they fpeak a- 
 gainft you as Evil-DoerS, they mzy from their 
 own Obfervation glorify God on Account of your 
 good Works In the Day of Exarrfination. , 
 
 16, As free, and notufing this Liberty for a Cloak 
 
 17, of Mischief ; but, as Servants of God, be 
 
 FRIENDLY UN;TO ALL MeN : love. 
 
 K 2 ii. 
 
 * See Rom. xii> i. 
 
( 132 ) 
 
 Chap, ver, 
 
 ii. i8. — ' but alfo to the froward and the pse-., 
 
 VISH. 
 
 21. fufFered for us, leaving us a Mark behind 
 
 him^ that WE might follow in his Footjieps. 
 
 23, 24. but DELIVERED HIMSELF UP TO THg 
 
 UNJUST JuDCE, and carried up our Sins 
 in his own Body to, the Tree, that we might 
 die to Sins, andlive by his Righteoufnef?. — 
 
 }ii. I, that even if fome conform not to the Word, 
 
 they may be won over without disputing by 
 the Behaviour of their Wives. 
 
 3. and of wearing Gold about it. - 
 
 5, 6. fubmitting themfelves iinto their own Hufr 
 
 bands, (as Sarah, whofe Children ye are,* o- 
 beyed Abraham, calling him Lord) living vir-, 
 tuovjly, and alarmed by no Terrors. \ 
 y. Likewife, ye Hufbands, Uve according to Know- 
 ledge as WITH THE weaker female Veflel j 
 giving Honour to them also as Joint-Heirs 
 of the Gift of Life. 
 10. For let him, who wifietfi Life, and DESIRETH ^« 
 
 fee good Days. 
 
 12. and his Ears towards their Prayer. -^ 
 
 13. if ye be zealous of Goodnefs ? 
 
 15, 16. of the Hope that is in you ; having a 
 
 good Confcience with Meekne.fs a^d Reve- 
 rence, that wherein they fpeak againft you 
 as Evil-Doers, they, who injuriouslt 
 
 treat 
 
 * SeeGal. iv, 31. •}■ See Gen. xjj. 13, 15. xx. z. xxvi. 7* 
 
( 133 ) 
 
 chap, vefi 
 
 Treat you, maybe confounded By yowx good 
 Converfation in Chrift. 
 
 ill. 19. In the Power of which he went forth alfo and 
 preached unto the Minds of Men in Prifon ;* 
 who were difobedient in former Times, when 
 the Long-fuiFering of God.— — 
 
 iv. 1. Chrift therefore having died for us in the Flefli, 
 INASMUCH AS he, who is dead in the Flefli, 
 
 2. hath ceafed from Sin, do -ye alfo arm yoiir- 
 felves with the fame Mind, fo as no longer to 
 live the Reft of your Time. — 
 
 3. — — of your Life may fuffice you — when 
 
 YE walked— ■^^ — ^and lawless Idolatries. 
 
 14, • for ihe glorious and powerful Spirit of 
 
 God. 
 
 v. 3. Neither as domineering over the Heritage. 
 
 5. AND all of you ckths yourselves with 
 
 Humility towards each other.— 
 
 8, — — becaufe your slanderous Adverfary, as 
 a roaring Lion. 
 
 10. who called us through transitory 
 
 SuFEERiNGs to his eternal Glory in Chrift Je- 
 fus, make you perfedt. ' 
 
 R 3 The 
 
 • See Luke iv. I, 18. Roun. vii. 23. 
 
( 13+ ) 
 
 The fecond Epiftle of St. Peter. 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 i. 3. Since his divine Power hath given us all Things 
 that pertain unto a Life according to God- 
 linefs, through the Acknowledgement of him, 
 tU;^« called us BY a glorious Virtue. 
 5. With this View, employing all your Earneft- 
 nefs, furnijh your Faith with Virtue. 
 
 10. Wherefore, Brethrert, endeavour with greater 
 Earnejinejs to make by good Works your 
 Calling. ' - ■ 
 
 19. And we have hereby the Word of Prophecy 
 CONFIRMED J to whtch yc do Well that ye at- 
 tend, as to a Lamp. . 
 
 ao. Confidering this particularly,* that no Pro- 
 phecy of Scripture gives it's own Interpre- 
 tation. 
 
 ii. I. Vifho will craftily bring in destructive 
 
 Opinions.—^ — 
 
 2. And many will follow their Impurities.—— 
 
 3. And through Greediness will they make a 
 
 Gain of you with Ji£?iiious Doiirines. 
 
 12. But thefe, Hie dumb Animals, made by Na- 
 
 ture to be taken 
 
 13. — — indulging themfelves to Excess by their 
 
 14. Craftinefs, zuhen they feaft with you ; having 
 
 Eyes.. 
 
 * So ili. 3. 
 
( I3S ) 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 Eyes fuH of ADULTEROUS and perpetual 
 Sin ; enfnaring unftable Souls j having a Heart 
 exercifed in Injustice. ^ ' 
 ii. i8. thole, wAfl iflrf FOR A LITTLE Time efca- 
 
 . pedk — — 
 
 iii. 2. and of the Commandment of our Lord and 
 
 %2iS\Q\xr fpoken by us the Apoftles. 
 
 5, 6. For this they wilfully overlook, that in their. 
 Time, the Heavens and the Earth, which had 
 been conjiituted of old out of the Water and by 
 the Water by the Word of God, the World 
 as it then was, periflied by a Flood of Water. 
 
 ^. — — are treafured up Fok Fire, referved againft 
 
 the Day of Judgement,--— 
 Ii> ——-what 5«rt of Perfons ought ye to be? Te 
 eughty in all holy Converfation and Godlinefs, 
 to expe£f and hq/ien that Comijig.— — 
 l6. — — fpeaking in them concerning thefe Things ; 
 upon which Subjeii are fome Points hard to be 
 underftpod. — — 
 
 K 4 The 
 
( 136 ) 
 
 The firft Epiftle of St. John. 
 
 Chap. \et. 
 
 3. and THAT our mutual Fellovirfliip may b& 
 
 with the Father. 
 
 y. ' as he is, in the Light, God and we have 
 
 Fellowihip with each other.——- 
 
 ii. I. — — we have a justifyinq Advpcate with the 
 Father, even Jefus Chrift. 
 8. — — vvhich Thing i§ Truth from him and is in 
 you ; THAT the Darlgiefs. 
 
 20. ■ and know every Man. 
 
 27. ■ but, as the feme Anointing teacheth you 
 
 concerning 2X[lS/izT<t, and is true, ^nd is not a 
 Lie: so, as it taught you, continue in 
 
 IT. 
 
 z8. So THEN, little Children.— 
 29. If ye know, that he is righteous, be assured^ 
 that every one. 
 
 iii. I, Behold ! what great Love the Father hadt 
 Jhewnfor us. . 
 
 2. that we fliaH be like him, that w& fliall 
 
 3. fe,e him as he is. And every e«^, who, placeth 
 this Hope in Him,— — — 
 
 5. so that there is no Sin in him. 
 
 iii. 
 
( 137 1 
 
 Chap. ver> 
 
 iii. i8, 19. — ~- — and in Truth j FOR hj this we 
 know. 
 
 iv, I p. -— that, thftgh \fe Iove4 nst Goc^ God loved 
 us. 
 
 18. ■ fothat he, whe feareth, is not made perfe(3: 
 in Lovct 
 
 19. Let us iQve him.— — 
 
 V. 2. By this we know, that WE are the Children ©f 
 God, when.— — — 
 
 20. — — and hath given us Dlfcemment to know the 
 
 true One ; and we are in the true Ow, by bf 
 in^ in his Sott Jefus Ghrift. He is that 
 true God and eternal Life. 
 
 The fecond Epiffte of St. John* 
 
 ver. 3. — WITH Truth and Love, 
 
 8. that YE lo/e not what YE have doHe, but 
 
 receive a full: Reward, 
 
 The 
 
( 13^ ) 
 
 The third Epiftle of St. John* 
 
 ver, 5. Beloved, thou witt no fuitably to the Fdith^ 
 whatever thou shalt do for the Brethren and 
 THE Strangers. 
 
 The Epiftle of Jude. 
 
 ver. 4. — — .-— who were before! w'ritten of /or this 
 
 Gondemnation.-^— 
 5~ — — though ye know that the Lord, though he 
 
 ONCE faved.— — 
 8. j'lnd indeed in like Manner thefe Dreamers de« 
 
 file the Flefli. 
 
 11. — and are going to DeJlruSlion in the Gain- 
 
 faying of Core". 
 
 12. — — feafting with you without Fear, de- 
 
 luding THEMSELVES ; Clouds." 
 
 15. — — and to convict all the ungodly. — — 
 
 22. Aai^mah a Difference, bv rebuking some, 
 
 ver. 
 
( 139 ) 
 
 ver. 23. hy having Compaffion on ethers ; and others 
 
 fave with- Fear. 
 
 The kevelation of St, John. 
 
 Chap. ver. 
 
 i. 9. '■ your Brother, and a Partaker with you 
 
 in THE AffiiEtlms and Patience of J«fus 
 Chrift.— >— — 
 
 14. — — ^ were white like whit£ Wcoi*, like 
 
 Snow. 
 
 15. unto fine Brafs, which had been heat- 
 ed in a Furnace. 
 
 18, And who was alive, and became dead, and 
 behold ! live for evermore ; and have the 
 Keys of the Grave* and of Death, 
 ii, 17. — — of the Manna, which is laid up.f— — 
 
 Ig. and thy last Worlcs to be better than 
 
 the firft. 
 
 20. . to teach, and my Servants to be de- 
 ceived.——— 
 
 22. Behold ! I will caft her and the Adulterers 
 with her into a Bed unto great Tribula- 
 tion.——^ 
 
 iii> 
 
 • So throughout for Hell. \ SceExod. xvi. 34. 
 
C *4<> } 
 
 Chapk ver. 
 
 iij. 7. — who hath the Key, the Son of Da- 
 vid.——— 
 14. — — the CHIEF* of the Creation of God. 
 19. As many as I love, I prove by Chqftifement : be 
 thou therefore eager to repent. 
 iv. 6. were four living Creatures full of Eyes. ^ 
 
 V. I. — -^ written within, andfealed on the Back 
 with feVen Seals. 
 
 4. worthy to open the Book, mr to look 
 
 therein. 
 
 5. to open the Book and it's feven Seals. 
 
 12. —— to receive Abundance of the Riches^ 
 bath of Wifdom, and Might. • 
 
 vi. g. — and for the Tefiiniony of THE Lamb, 
 
 which they gave., 
 
 10. ' WILT thou delay Jurfgertient, and to a- 
 
 "venge our Blood. - ' 
 
 1 1 . ■ - , and they were told to reft cdntented yet a little 
 
 Time. -< ' 
 
 vii. 17. — — vidll feed them lih Sheep. — — 
 
 ix. 21. of their Murders, nor of their Poison- 
 ings. 
 
 X. 6. that there fliould be no longer Delay. 
 
 xi. 2. Biit make no Account of the Court without 
 the Temple. — — 
 
 xiii. 8. whofe Names were not written from the 
 
 Foundation of the World in the Book of Lifa 
 of the Lamb that was flain. 
 
 xiv, 
 
 • See Col. i. 18, 
 
C HI ) 
 
 Chap. vcTf 
 
 jciv. 10. of the Wrath of God, of the strong 
 
 Wine that hath been mixed in the 
 Cup of his Indignation.—— 
 
 XV, 3. thou King eternal. 
 
 xviii. 4. and that ye receive not of her Stripes. 
 
 xix. — r — See if I be not* thy Fellow-Servant.—— 
 jixi. 2. And I faW the holy City. 
 
 8. But the WICKED and unbelieving.—— 
 
 jfxij, 1. and of the River, which flowed MA. around 
 
 fV> vias A Tree of Life.— — 
 
 * Soxxii. 9. 
 
 THE END. 
 

 lV, 
 
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