for an old religion; and all that is requisite, is to increase that veneration, and turn it to the advantage of the deceiver: but in the other case, that veneration is to be created, and there is nothing more difficult.

To suppose that a few obscure mechanics and fishermen of Judea should conceive the idea of forming a new religion, which opposed itself to all the world, which was entirely to supersede Judaism, and totally destroy every species of idolatry, seems far beyond the limits of probability. They had no precedent. The authors of the different systems of pagan mythology were men vested with authority, who had the sword in their hand to give force to their pretensions; or they were persons of profound learning, and unspeakably superior to the barbarous people whom they would persuade to believe what they said; and they were regarded as oracles.* But for men of inferior stations in society to attempt this, men who had no power and no pretensions to learning, and who were looked down upon as grossly illiterate by the chiefs of their own nation, is quite a different thing. The world had furnished no instance of this before; nor did history (though it is most probable they were acquainted with no other than the Old Testament) emit one ray of hope of success. The revelation of God's will to the nation of the Jews, by the ministry of Moses, bore no resemblance, and afforded no encouragement, to such an attempt. The nature of the Christian religion renders the supposition of their attempting it still more unlikely. Do I lay undue stress on this consideration, if I say it is not probable that such men should conceive such a thing?

SECTION II.

The Divine Origin of the New Testament may be inferred from the talents of the Writers.

If a man puts into my hand a weak and superficial treatise in philosophy, and says, "That is a work of Sir Isaac Newton," so soon as I have perused it, I reply, "It is impossible; you are

Perhaps I should not say that they invented two systems, for the ground-work and substance of all of them was nearly the same; and as there was a general veneration among the people for received opinions, they took advantage of that, and merely added a few new distinguishing rites and festivals, or altered and modified a particular branch of the old system. In this view, the reasoning acquires still greater weight.

grossly mistaken." On the other hand, if a book be read to me, full of the noblest ideas and the most profound wisdom, far superior to any thing I ever met with, I ask with eagerness, "Who wrote it?" the answer is, "Some boys at school." I wish to see them. They are brought; and I ask, "Is this your writing?" They say, " It is." "I cannot believe you, for it is not the work of boys; it would do honour to the maturest age." "You mistake us," they reply, "the writing and style are ours, but the sentiments were dictated to us by our master." This explains the matter at once: what confirms me in the truth of their declaration is, that there are some things which they do not appear fully to understand. All this is natural and easy according to the laws of moral order.

To apply these remarks to the present case, here is a book of a superior kind, which gives the fullest information in every thing that relates to the highest interests of the human race. It was written by some plain illiterate men in Judea; but it leaves all the writings of the ablest philosophers infinitely behind. Compare what it says of God, his nature and government; of man, his duty and happiness; and of a present and future state of being; and you will be convinced. How came these men so far to excel all others? I put the question to the writers of the New Testament. "It is not we that speak," they say, " but the Spirit of the Father which speaketh in us. The language is ours; but the truths were revealed by God. They did not proceed from the energies of our minds; we received them from above." Why will you not believe them? The things revealed are worthy of God. As I observe some things in the book, which they themselves apparently did not fully understand, it renders their account still more probable. If you will not believe them, you are reduced to this difficulty, which is a breach of moral order; namely, that these persons, without education, and without study, wrote a better book than all the ablest men in the world, with all the advantages of learning, have been able to do, either before or since.

SECTION III

The Penmen of the New Testament wrote with ease on every Subject.

THERE are some subjects on which it is exceedingly difficult to write; the strongest mind is seen to labour, and the theme

to be too great for its energies. The apostles treated the highest and most difficult topics on which men can employ their pens. But their manner fills me with astonishment. They are always at their ease; they never appear embarrassed, or at a loss either for ideas or for words. The necessity they sometimes are under to add expression to expression, in order to convey their ideas fully, is not owing to any defect in their minds, but to the insufficiency of language fully to convey their thoughts. Whether they speak of God or of man, of things past or things to come, of heaven or hell, of the divine purposes or acts, they appear quite at home, and are fully acquainted with their subject.

This is no common attainment; and when we consider who the writers were not learned sages descending from the schools of philosophy, but fishermen from their boats, at the lake of Tiberias; and that in treating the most difficult of all subjects, they discover the hand of a master drawing his sketch with inimitable ease—what shall we say? At least that they were very extraordinary men. As there were many united in composing the book, and all appear to have possessed this quality in an equal degree, the case is still more remarkable. Let it be thrown into the scale of evidence; it will be found not destitute of weight.

SECTION IV.

The serious Spirit with which the Apostles write, gives
Weight to their Testimony.

It is exceedingly remarkable that men should be able to infuse their spirit into their writings, as we daily feel them do into their conversation. It breathes from their pages upon our minds, and we perceive what manner of men they are. In this quality there is no book which excels the New Testament, and no writers who more clearly display their true character. The image of their souls is stamped upon their hallowed volume. Every attentive reader will observe that their habitual frame in writing is, what I know not better how to express, than by the word seriousness. Other authors of those ancient days show a diversity of temper. Sometimes they are lively, sometimes grave; sometimes we observe seriousness, at other times levity. But these men of Galilee are always serious and in earnest. They feel the influence of God upon their hearts;

they are constantly devout; and their writings breathe the most fervent piety. Not a line escapes them which discovers the absence of reverence for God.

It has been frequently observed, that men who write with the greatest seriousness, are apt to discover a severity of disposition towards others, which has much of the appearance of dislike, or even hatred. But the writers of the New Testament, to the deepest and most constant seriousness unite the purest and most fervent benevolence. Love is never a stranger to their breast. They express the tenderest pity for those who are destitute of just sentiments on divine things, and good dispositions towards God and man; and display, in union with their reverence for God, that exalted spirit of genuine philanthropy which the world had never seen, and which no books written since, in similar circumstances, have ever displayed. If these men be not faithful witnesses, who are?

SECTION V.

No little or evil Passions are betrayed by the Writers of the New Testament.

WHEN men write histories, or memoirs, or letters, in which they themselves act a considerable part, we see their character and disposition pourtrayed in the manner in which they speak of themselves, and of others with whom they are connected in the way of intercourse, friendship, or enmity. Persons who are brought up in simple habits of life, till they ascended the station which displays them to the world, show their hearts most openly. Such as have been habituated to the manners of polished society, learn to conceal what the others tell without reserve; but through the veil we can still discern much even of their real character and predominant dispositions.

The writers of the New Testament belong to the first class, and display all their soul on the pages of their book. As they were mostly plain men, had they been like others of the same station, we should perceive the giddiness of exaltation to public notice, the pride of authorship, the vanity of success, a contempt of such as differ from them, a hatred of those who reject them, and an undervaluing of qualities which they do not themselves possess. But not one of these little or evil tempers so much as pushes forth a bud. In writing, their only aim is to convey truth. There does not appear a thought of gaining

honour to themselves by saying fine things. Though successful beyond conception, not a single expression of self-gratulation falls from their lips. "Not I," says one of them (and he speaks the language of all), " but the grace of God which is in me." Contempt of others, because weak or wicked, they do not appear to feel: they are full of love and pity for the worst, even for the most inveterate enemies. They give to every good quality its due commendation, whoever may possess it; and to all kinds of useful knowledge their due praise. -Where shall we find such another book?

SECTION VI.

The Humility of the Writers of the New Testament.

PRIDE of knowledge, and pride of goodness, how common are they in books! Compositions of the nature of the New Testament, where the writers are not only the penmen, but also in part the subjects of the history, give peculiar scope for displays of this kind: but we seek for it in vain in the disciples of Chrst. Never did authors keep themselves more out of sight than the writers of the gospels; it is surprising how little is really theirs, and how much comes from the lips of others. In the course of the narrative they tell their faults with the greatest frankness and naivetê. They record without disguise their ignorance, their prejudices, their errors, and their faults. Some writers have told us of their own faults, but in such a way that we can see their aim is to solicit praise. The language of the heart is, "See what a humble man I am," or, " These are all the faults I have; are they not little ones and few?" Nothing of this artifice do the apostles show. It is honest integrity, simply relating truth; not pride under the mantle of humility, soliciting applause.

From their office, as the apostles of Christ, they had great authority in the church. They performed the most wonderful miracles; sickness vanished at their word, and death gave up his prey. By their ministry, disciples were in considerable numbers added to the society of the faithful. How apt are all these things to swell the heart with pride! But the apostles discover nothing of such a spirit. One of them, when compelled to defend his character against the enemies of the cross, enumerates his sufferings and his labours, 2 Cor. xi. But the passage breathes nothing but humility and self-annihilation;

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