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':"■? •^'*- MKRCKOPV tBOUITiON IKT CNMf jANSI and no TBST CHAUT No. if ..8 1.6 ■•■?;^- 1 d ^JPPUEDJM/CBE In ^ 1S5J Edit Ugin SIrwl (7IS) 4«2-0300-PhoiW^ , "** ("6) 2a8-»aw-Fa» ' ■«'^™?^#;™f"^^r''5'''^"'°'^^^ ^^E™^''''^ir'P5'«7'»w*?spS*s H SKEPTICISM ASSAILED OK. The Stronghold of Infidelity Overturned. HKIVI". A I'OWI'KIMI, kl'I-RI'SIVNTATION Ol' TIIK DIVINITY ^F CHRIST ANI> TllK ■ ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES WITH ' ' *■ ' Facts and ArKuments in Evidence of the Object of ChriAt'« Mission on^arth. i^, Hon. Britton n. Tabor, ** OF THK NKW YOKK BAR. ' ■••,# •1 To WHICH IS AIlDKl) LORD LYTTELTON'S FAMOUS Treatise on the Conversion of St. Paul. J-- iNTKOlHICTtON IIV AND BlCXiKArHICAI. SKKTCH (If ; ^ '" THE aREAT APOSTliE OP ItEFORM, REV. DR. CHARLES H.PARKHURST, * OP NEW YORK. RICHLY ILLUSTRATED WITH HUNDREDS OV vSCKNES DKAW.N FROM THK WHOLH SCOl'l-; OK lUBLK HISTORY HY THK MOST HRILLIANT Af'TlSTS OP MODERN TIMES. J. L. NICHOLS & COMP Toronto, Qniario ^JT i ^m > CppvHKvnT, 1895, FRANK R. WRIGHT. 7 Rights Reserved. .i*i V •' J: •» . **" ■ ■ ' ■ -■ i" ' ■■ ■ ■ 1 > / •■ • \ 1 .lE^KT^ s:^l3' ■^^'w .B^is^sr ;^-- -"^v-s: -^ " TjEoar- -. -' ■ ■- =■' Li . »«" ^ V •i Ucdlcntlon. TO THE OVU WHO HAS nUKN MY INSIMRAJION -' IN THK PRHPARATION Ol' THIS WORk, WHO HAS ^ AIOK!) HY WISH cbllNSHLS. HKI.miv SUdOHSTIONS, iI'^RP? lahor of coularorating and transcrhuno, To ' THK ONE WHO IS THK SUNSHINK OK OUR IIOMK: To-My VAi'ifb, Shl» Volume l» ln»cvlbcd with tcndcvcst lowe, BY The Author. }< ■ 1 ^ ■ ■ " ' ■ ■ . ; k ?'■ •■ • • - ; ■■ - i* ■ 1 «• - .Ad.:. : - •-=... -^7 .,-•-. \ « .. '"/' " -'."•,.■' C^f) T 1 • r< 'V' < ^t^^^.Af. J^^Uz i BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF BRIHON H. TABOR. UK subject, of this Hketch, and the author of '* Skki'Ticism AssAu.Kii," wan born on June 2H, 1H48, pa ^ hirgc phmtatton in Mississippi, about fifteen miles from Oxford, the University town of the State. Here he passed his lK)yhood and early manhood in the pursuits and pleasures incident to the sons of well-toKlo planters of that time and section. 7 / In 1870 he entered the Law Uni- versity at Athens, Ga., from which he graduated the following year, with honors. To the natural tastes of the young man, and the natural l)ent of his mind — for even in those early days it was conceded that he- had lieen endowed by nature with abilities that pre-eminently fitted him for his chosen profession,-4)«i«g~?•» "^Si^w- '"'" "" -^Tw-^ S^^'^'- ^' pp"B' •"f-jr*-^ -^ ■*. ■?"?" , ," fr^^^SH • » ^^^ *'-^-^^^;^ «'-^E^K^Wi^^3V , VI BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF BRITTOK H. TABOR i 1 f.'! ., But a -wider field was desired, and in 1881 h^ removed to Fort • Smith, Arkansas. Here Mr. Tabor won for himself golden opinions from judges, juries, clients, friends and neighbors. He brought to the practice of the law not only an eagerness to excel in his chosen profession, but also the desire that«hi» acts should always be in accord with the higher principles of life," While at Fort Smith he was instrumental in organizing the American National Bank, one of the strongest financial institutions in that section of the country, of wliich he was elected the first jJresi- dent. But professional duties did not long permit him to retain this position, although he continued as its legal adviser until his removal to New York City. ' '' During his residence at Fort Smith, Mr. Tabor was so impelled by a desire to conclusively ascertain the truth of the supernatural as revealed in the Scriptures, and of Christ's divinity, that he surrendered for a time his professional duties, and removed with his family to a quiet cottage home in Nashville, Tennessee, the seat of Vanderbilt University, where, having gathered a large library bearing on this subject, he secluded himself from friends and clients and devoted nine months to a critical and exhaustive study of the authenticity of the Scriptures and the divinity of Christ. These questions were settled satisfactory to his own mind, .and then Mr. Tabor returned to the practice of law; but\Jiis leisure moments were passed in perfect- ing his arguments, and again and again traversing the field with which he had already so familiarized himself. Finally, ^nd without such an idea having at the outset even presented itself to him, the lawyer foutid that t^e manuscript for a book was in his hands ; and yet he hesitated to send the volume forth. In November, 1892, Mr. Tabor, desiring to enter upon a more extended field of labor, removed to New York City, where he has since gained a lucrative practice, He^is recognized here, as he was in the Southwest, as a man who carries his Christian convictions into / . •^ "W^^^', ''■^ fv^«»*-'T^,fl»l-Tn»*5<^''F'^a^i'^j*'KW?r'"'^'»^*^^ X^lf/ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HRITTON H.'TAHOR. VII >ved to Fort len opinions brought to his chosen ways be in anizing the institutions e first jJresi- ) retain this his removal so impelled imatural as surrendered family to a Vanderbilt ing on this nd devoted henticity of stions were returned to in perfect- : field with md without to him, the hands; and !pon a more ere he has , as he was lotions into his daily professional life. No lawyer has ever succeeded more perfectly and completely than has Mr. Tabor in convincing his clients that he always makes their cause his own. Before court and j ury he is fearless, earnest and convincing. The preparation and trial of lawsuits hasalw^ been to^ him a labor of love, and through his personal magnetilS, logic and persuasive power he has achived great success. He is a man of genial manners, of rare attractiveness of person, and one wlio in his home and with his friends is at his best. For over twenty years he has been a faithful church-worker, and since his, residence in New York has connected himself with St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church, the faith in which he was |ducated. Edwin AtlAI^ERRO. ?. !^- .. it I ,_*^*.?-S!fi,fc~ >^"!!^t 'H-n. t fe^l-*"-!? 'ir^'rs-V'-fl.f'-l •f^fp^^W^iJiriff^'r"''-' " % t>-.^-#nR -fffj^'^r-'f *!*«»• ^.f^ ^ .y^t ^4E-p-^j^^^ ^ p^-'x ,.^^^0^^ ^^'^)^^^fg^gp^yl■J^^ •* ^J)" 4j •Ml ST * r *>?: 'f».r i^ 1 '5= ' T r^v^'^*^) '^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF REV. CHARLES H. PARKHURST. WENTY-ONE years ago a youthful divine, Charles Henry Parkhurst by name, was called to preach in the little town of Lenox, Massachii- setts. To-day that earnest young preacher has become one of the leading forces in civilization, by his , fearless and successful assault upon the festering evils which long made the government of New York City a by-word of disgrace among Amer- ican municipalities. ' Mr. Parkhurst was bom at Fram- ingham, Massachusetts, April 17, 1842. Here his father served as a school teacher during the winter and worked in the farming fields during the summer. Charles completed his preliminary course of education at the age of sixteen, and after- wards served for two years as clerk in a dry-goods store. At eighteen he entered Lancaster Academy to prepare for college, and at twenty matriculated at Amherst College, where he graduated in 1866. In the following year he became Principal of the Amherst High School, • a position which he retained until 1870. ^ . ". Moved by a desire to improve l;js education, and particularly to prepare himself for the profession to which his thoughts now turned, he went tp Germany in 1876 for the purpose of studying philosophy and theology. Illnesi^, in the family, however, soon -■I'-frfyTariife,- m '^^'r'""' '" ''"'^.v.''^ ".i;,"*" .fVif'* '"*?.'■ r',>i;>' ^JW c" , M N X HIOGRArHICAl. SKETCH aK REV. CHARLKS H. PARKHUftST. forced liira to return home, and here shortly* afterwards, he became Professor of Greek and Latin in Williston Seminarj', Easthampton, Massachusetts. Two years afterward he married Miss Bodman, one of his former pupils at Amherst. Mr. Parkhurst now returned to Europe with his wife, and for two yea^s studied diligently in the Universities of\ Halle, Leipsic and Bonn. On his return he 'spent some months itWlns paternal home; devoting part of his time to the study of Saijscrit. His career in the Chfirch began in 1874, in which year he received and accepted a call to the First Congregational Church of Lenox, In this new field of duty his eiarnest and vigorous oratory soon won him a reputation, and in 1880 a call was tendered him to the Madison Avenue Presby- terian Church of New Y^rk City. This he accepted, and this pastoral charge he still retains. - In this new and broader field of duty Dr. Parkhurst made his power felt. He began to take an active interest in municipal and . national politics, and the force and eloquence Avith which lie expressed his views from the: pulpit on these topics soon attracted wide attention. Ten years passed, however, before he began that special career which ■has gained him world-wide fame. In 1890 he preached a sermon on municipal politics, in which he showed up the rottenness of the Tammany rule so vigorously that Dr. Howard Crosby, President of the Society for the Prevention of Crime, invited him to become a member of and director in that useful , organization. This offer was accepted by Dr. Parkhurst, who went/ to work so heartily in the duties of the direc^torship that, on April 30; 18^1, after the death«of Dr. Crosby, he was elected President of the Society. "' .'■ ■ •- ■ : ' ■ ;."'■,.■■ • ^7 ■■ It is in connection with this Association that Dr. Parkhurst's enviable reputation has been won. As President of the Society he bbgan a thorough study of the criminality of New York, gathered abundant data, and in 1892 preached a sermon on thp c r» rm pti<>n o f / «^^F&y;H«r»r' '*'j*^«'i'^ t 1-^ 'ff^tl^ V-ri ■*T-.%rf-^»"»^y «■'-' ' «<■*'-• I*- -I • . .,^^.,W'.,«i5,^^ i ;:■;-.< BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF RKV. CHARLES H. PARKHURST.X XI ■ New York City politics that struck fearlessly at men in high places, and the echoes of whose bitter arraingnient reverberated throughout the English-speaking world. The effect in New York was cyclonic. The ttold preacher was summoned" before the Grand Jury, who declared that his charges against the police and officials had no foundation in fact. Dr. Parkhurst was not to be so easily silenced. He at 6nct began, to gathet^naterials for another sermon, and to make sure this time Aat his facts should not be. questioned, he employed detectives, and even made personal \nsits ta saloons, jtolicy shops, gambling hells attd brothels, where he witnessed scenes of the lowest depravity. The results*^ of his research were given to t^ie public in anoth*er sermon that rang like the voice of doom in the ears of the uphblders of vice. ' ^ Bitter deprecation at once began. Tl>e feaj-less missionary to the haunts of vice was widely denoiinced. Many, however, strongly defended him. Heedless of praise or blame, he kept steadily on in the course he had chosen, and in March, 1892, was again summoned before the Grand ^Jury. This body could no longer question his facts, and were so impressed with his representations that they made a strong presentment, in which the police authorities were charged with " incompetence or cornaption." The matter could not rest here. The reform element in New York was by this time thorougWy aroused, and the final result was the appointment by the Legislature of the famous Lexow Committee of Inquiry. The results of the work of this Committee are public property. All we need say about them is that they are solely due to Dr. Parkhurst's unflinching: and persistent attacks upon corruption in high and low places alike, his arraignment even reaching the judiciary, while as a result of his assault on Tammany Hall, that strongly intrenched organization was completely defeated at the polls in 1894. To-day the old government of New York City is among the things that were, and is replaced by a new reform government ■^^r^m- K. r-.-'T -f «"S" .-i^? rj" -.ffi i 4 Xir BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF REV; CHARLES H. PARKHURST. ■ . ■ / , from which a radicallyg[nlproved administration is confidently ex- pected. • \ Dr. Parkhurst is no longer subject to/detracVion. Those who blamed him the most bitterly are now among his warmest defenders. ToKlay he is one of the most highly respected and prominent citizens of New York, while the crusade of municipal reform which he preached and whose forces he led is nowjnaking its effect felt in every city in the land, and is paving the way to the reign of a fresher and cleaner epoch of public morals in America. For this ^reat work all praise be given to the great Apostle of 19th '((Century morals, the earnest and unconquerable assailant of vice in hi^h places— Charles Henry Parkhurst. • \ - ■■\ . :■'-! L 'R/^'" " !-/.»«,-"- 't'4^t'>ilp''i^9f!'^' ■F"» ■■;» ■ PREFACE. ■ .*>fr ^HE system of alleged divine revelation as set forth in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament means everything or it means nothing. There is no conceivable room for a compromise position. This 'is so self-evident that it is inexplicable that in a period of so much earnestness of thought as our own there should be so isiderable a number of intelligent people who suspend judgment upon the m?itter of the Bible's claims to their intelligence and moral acceptance. My own interest in the volume to which these few paragraphs serve as a prefatory ndte is founded not only in Its subject-matter, but in just the candid i^nd deliberate way in which the author has interrogated the Scriptures, and has addressed himself to the two alternatives of acceptance and denial. In the midst of a busy professional life, he has taken time critically and thoroughly to investigate this all-important subject in vigw of the various skeptical theories that prevail, Ind for the final settlement in his own mind as to whether ttip Bible is a divine revelation or a human figment. I So well has this work been done that the book will, I believe, prove a revelation to verkr many who have been exceedihglj' anxious lest the foundations of their faith should be undermined, and who : will be surprised at the cherished faith in Christ unassailable basis of reason for their most (XIII) <-, •rrfT'fPK."^ f^w^j-^f:^ ^f^'^^mmi^^ W^fW^^^'Pr'"!!^''''-^!'^'^'^ ^'^^^^r/'^'-^^fP!^* ■ XIV PRKFACK. The author has brought to the Scriptures a spirit of sincere^ an^ deliberate inquiry, and h^s received, after exhaustive and inde- peiident research, an answer that thoroughly satisfies his own mind, and\that, too, a mind whose professional habit it is to estimate evidential values, and by the balancing of such values to attain definite conclusions. This volume is one more valuable illustration of the fact that the Bible is its own truest expositor and ablest advocate, and that the most thorough way of confronting the question of the Bible's trust- worthitjess as a divine revelation is not to appeal to tradition nor to rely upon the verdict of contemporary experts, but to come into "intelligent and personal touch with the Scriptures themselves, and to allow thiem to work upon heart and intellect their own original and native eJpFects. Ih view of the invincible array of evidence herein presented, it would se^m a thousand times harder not to believe in the divinity of Christ| than to believe any theory of Him yet propounded by skeptics. (^.<^. ^mJJL.,^. ^^^^I'.^^^^^M.^i^.^^^kie^ls^ld^^is^^'^ ^t INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. r*oB IV VIII Mr. Britton H. Tabor, . Rev. Charles H. Parkhurst, The Heavens Declare the Glory of -r God, . . • • 'X Athens in the Time «f St. Paul, > . The Garden of Eden, Lot Leaving Sodom, Jacob's Vision, Joseph Cast in the Pit, Josehp's Wonderful Dream, . Joseph Revealing Himself to His Brothers Ruins ot an Egyptian Temple on the Nile, . " . . Pyramids and Sphinx of Egypt, . Moses in the Bulrushes, . Ruins of Thebes, Destruction of Pharaoh, I Find No Sin in this Man, The Christ, I That Speak unto Thee, Am He, . Two Pages of an Ancient Scroll, . He Will Comfort the Broken-Hearted, , The Oak of Abraham, • • The Son of Man Appearing in the Clouds of Heaven, 63 \Daniel Interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's ;- Dream, . • • • • J5 .Pharaoh ErftiWing Moses, . .07 Moses and the TJiblit, . . Sarai and Hagar the^Jejjd Maid, Hagar and Ishmael Sent The Star in the East, ^^^ Jacob Wrestling with tl^^Hp^'' Siege of Jerusalem, ' ■ John the Baptist, ; The Annunciation, . Christ Strengthened by the Angel, Ezra Reading the Book of the Law, Ancient Sculpture Representing the Visit of the Wise M«n, . 10 at a4 a6 »7 3« 34 36 38 39 43 45 47 51 55 57 59 62 A Carpenter's Shop in Nazareth, . Glad Tidings, . ',.,'• There is Born a Saviour Which is Christ the Lord, . The Woman at the Well, Christ Blessing Little Children, James and John are Called, The Temple of Solomon Restored, Pilate's Judgment Hall Nicodemus Before the Chief Priests, Render Unto Csesar the Things Which are Ciesar's, Jesus Preaching in the Synagogue, Chapel of the Virgin Near Jerusalem, Jesus Instructing Htspisciples, Behold the Lilies, . ';; . I Pray that ThoU Shouldest Keep Them from the Evil, . . • • Christ's Feet Anointed, . . • He that is Without Sin, Let Him Cast the First Stone, . • Shepherd and Sheep The Good Samaritan, . . • • Mary Magdalene at the Tomb, The Wise Men Guided by the Star, The Town of Nazareth, . Scenery of Palestine, . *. • The Crucifixion, • ' • • • The Sorrowing Women at the Foot of the Cross, . ■ • • • 69 I Mount Sinai, . • • • 70 Peace on Earth, . • • • • 71 John the Baptist, r*oa 93 96 75 l^ary »"<* '^^ ^^'^^ Jesus, 79' Wh© 79 81 83 85 89 92 __ Reading Magdalene, The penitent Magdalene, The Weeping Magdalene, Mary Magdalene at the Tomb of Christ, The Mourning Magdalene, . . - St. Luke and St. Mark, . . • • St. John the Evangelist, . . . 97 100 101 105 107 108 109 •'3 115 117 119 IJ3 125 126 127 >30 13' 134 136 139 141 143 146 148 »5i 153 155 160 i6i 163 165 169 170. I -fxvV / * ji^^s^'^b. f. ^Wb L.«.Ul£i4JudLc^ ■. L.iCiSjli.- -fi^s^".-" » ^•F^^f^rvpw ^^~,^^ XVI INDKX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. Tomb of John the Baptist «* It Appeani at I'reaent Time Traditional Place of the Appearance to the Shepherds, . The Communion of the Apostleai , HarvcNt in Paieslinc, . . . .' The Light of the World, The Sower ,j) 184 187 190 >93 «95 "7a '7.1 '73 '77 '79 '97 aoi »3 «>3 XJ9 an 2'3 aai 73$ 338 The Tribute Money, TIjy Sins In; Forgiven Thee, . Christ, Cross and Crown, Christ Tempted by Satan, And He. BearinKl lis Cross, Went Forth, The Lord is Nt/Shepherd ; I Shall Not Want, /. Boatmen on Sea of Galilee, . Christ and the Sleeping Disciples, . Way of Cross, The Prodigal Son, ..... Modem Rome from the Banks of the Tiber, . .... . The Shadow of the Cron«^ . View of Jerusalem, . .' . * 317 St. Peter. ...."..' a,. The Battle Between the Powers of Light and Darlcness, Modern Scribes of Palestine, . Christ Healing the Sick, . , , ] Jesos Entering Jerusalem Amid Hos- annas, Worship Him That Made Heaven and Earth and the Sea. . . . The Raising of Lazarus, . Raising the Daughter of Jairus, Judas Bargaining with the Council Drink Ye. All of It, . '. Judas Casts the Pieces of Silver at the Feet of the Chief Priests. The Last. Supper. . , ,' St. John, . . . . Th^ Mount of Olives, as it Now Appears Peter Denying Christ. . . The Kiss of Betrayal. ... Christ's Entry into Jerusalem. The Last Ldok of Love, . ' . Unbelief pf Thomas. . . . . Descent of Holy Ghost, . And Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly, Sealing the Sepulcher, . Jesus Appearing to Mary in the Garden. 339 »33 237 341 245 347 ' .348 349 353 253 255 257 361 364 265 368 271 275 I 279 J Woman at the Tomb of Christ, The Journey to Rmmaus, Christ on the Sea Jesus Shows Himself to His Disciples, . Damascus' Gate, Prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Olives, (iideon ami the Fleece, . . , . Conversion of Paul The Street Which is Called Straight, . Paul Writing His Kplstles, . A Part of Jerusalem The Tal)ernacle (Complete, John Lending Mary from the Tomb, Paul Before Agrippa, , . General View of Daatoscu Jacob Tending the Flocks of Laban, . The Sheep Following the Shepherd, . The Angel Leads the Arhiy of Joshua, Moses Viewing the Promised Land from Pisgah, ...... Jewish Priest and Roll of Manuscript Embracing the Pentateuch. Priest and Furniture of the Tabernacle, Joshua Watching the Destruction of Ai, Solomon on His Throne, Every Good Tree Bringeth Forth Good Fruit, The Tabernacle. ..... j Aaron's Tomb, . . ! The Walk to Emmaus, . . . , ! The Rich Young Man. . . . . I The Sermon on the Mount. . . . Hagar and Her Sick Child. . j Escape of the Twa Spies, . * . I Aaron and Hur Holding Up the Hands I of Moses, ...... ■ The Silver Star Marking the Place of the Saviour's Birth, . The Annunciation, . . . The Shepherd's Charge. St. Matthew, . . . . . ' Mary and Elizabeth Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, . Jesus Commands the Tempest and It Obeys. . . ... . Jesus the Carpenter's Son, . . Jesus In the Home of Martha and Mary. Blessed are They Th^t Mourn, Peace on Calvary, . Christ and the Tribute Money, . r*aa 381 2*3 387 391 293 29s ' 297 . 398 ■ »99 • 303 ■ 308 • 310 3" 3'5 3'7 321 322 325 329 331 333 334 335 337 339 342 343 346 349 353 354 355 357 359 360 362 363 366 367 369 371 373 377 381 r" ■-,.|tgyte%^ -^^m iS^H/^ fV*. ,1^%^ l'-- ^t ■* j,rf *■ =* #,«) .1 INDKX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. XVII rAOB . J«I aSj . . a87 ' «clp|«i. . agt • a93 roiivm, 39S ' W . . >98 iRht, . 399 • 303 . . 308 . • 310 , mb, . 311 '. . 315 ' • • 3'7 bun, . 321 i erd, . 3« : Joshua, 325 -i nd from 4 • 329 J, luscript • 33> I '■rrnde, 333 ' of Ai, 334 ! ■"■ • 335 ■; 1 Good ,' • 337 1 • 339 ; • 34a .1 V- • 343 V • • 346 • -349 .: • 353 1 • 354 Hands • 355 ■ ice of 'i • 357 N • • 359 ; • • 360 ' • •• 36a ' ] • • 363 . .3^ -j ind It 'i • • 367 .369 ■ . Wary. 371 J • • 373 • 377 ' .381 ;•- of Nineveh, .Vt3 3»5 Jonah Waming ihe People Paul Prcnrhinx at Corinth, Ye Have Made My Father'a Hou4e a Den of Thievca, . . • jeauA Raising the DauKhler of Jalnia. . Jewaand llercHllana, The (ilory of Flowera The Boy Jesua, In the Home of Hia Pareati, Finding of Chriat In the Temple, Present Appearance of the (larden of Gethsemane 4<>5 Even So Must the Son of Man be Lifted Up Jesus Before Pilate Upper Stories and House Tops of Jeru- ■alem, Christ Teai:hlng Nicodemus, The Ascension, .Sea of Galilee, The Flight into Egypt, . Daughter, 'Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole The Transfiguration, .... 387 39" 39« 395 397 40 1 407 409 410 4n 4«3 417 421 4*5 429 rMia Shew Me Thy Wayi O I.«rd, . . 4,\\ Paul's Defense 437 Return of the Prodigal S Paul a Guest In the House of Felix Ex- pounding the Doctrine of Christ, . 4»3 Theater of, Dionysius at Athens. . . 4**5 St, Stephen Before the Sanhedrim. . 4K9 Lord, What Wilt Thou Have Me to Do? 497 He Slioolc Off the Serpent Into the Fire, 500 St. Paul Shipwrecked 50a I Am the Bread of Life, . . . . 507 w %% CONTENTS. "" " ' CHAPTER I. I Mam bv Wisdom Cannot Know Goo— Intnouuction 19 The EvmitNCB o> a PRooMKnipC^iif rrnati hal Rkvklation «| .J '(^ •I. CHAPTER III. The Vi(rP the BtOORAPHRKH and WiTNKHHRBUK CHRIHT'B SUPERHVMi^N V l.iKE Vindicated »« CHAPTER V. A At tiie Moment of the Retraval Judab Possebhed ■il|lill,QftNi'iDkNCE in ^ ji Jerub Chribt as the Meb1|||[^, and His M(>tiv^^^^U||^Mibjud«|^i^ aii* ■ «# CHAPTER VI. ' ^ > , '* . '"'*'*^'*'''-^ ^'-■*" THAT THE "RkBUKRECTION," THE GREATEST OK ^i&Li'« AtLsqiD Miracles, is a Sacked Reality j^ ^^ ■ -. CHAPTER VII. ShMvlv C^^^Ak that Chriht by a Supernatural Mamipestation f'^^'^*^'- ^"HJE^VK an Apostle to the Gentiles, 3^ I ' CHAPTER VIII. Gods Appearance to the Patriarchs, the Mosaic Authorship and the Divink Authenticity OK THE Pentatkcch, y . .x^. . . 330 CHAPTER IX. Christ THE Perfect Realization OF "Messianic Prophecy— A Summary, '. jjj " CHAPTER X Conversion ok St. Paul, . . . . ... . . . 43,. ~ (xviTT) tl:. ^ ■ . ■ ■■ ■ ■■ \* ■ - '■:: ■A ■ > i- > - ■ ■"■■■■■■■■:■ 6 . : .m- -^ ■ .^ .*.# i\ I SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. /■• <^It CHAPTKR I. I MAN BV WISm)M CANNOT ^NOW J&QD. J|_ f % I INTRODUCTION. N considering the evidence revealed in nature of a designing being, Fenclon said: .. " How profound ami wise must be h^yho makes worlds as innumerable a» tlw; gr\uns of sand on the Uem-shorc/ |nd^ mtIio .leads ^ all these wonderful worlds without diffkultf as a shepherd i lc.adshisflockl" / 1 Professor Peirce, the great piathematician, discussing the ideality in the physical sciwices, speaking of nature, remarks : * " It is imbued with intelligent thought amazingly wrought in the unconscious material world.* ' ^ When we consider the varied resources and manifest.^ purposes of nature as exemplified in the blades of gra§s . and budding flpwers, in the rain and sunshine, seed-titfit and harvest, in the exhaustless soil and numerous mineral ^ products, in the electric spark and roaring cataract; when we consider the innumerable products of animate and inanimate creation that are subject to inatfs control, and t that have been made to contribute to his civilization; when we ' consider man in his various relations— the adaptation of th% sexes, rearing of offspring and social environments ;.und when ^ie consider : ('9) ■■ ■■ ^-, #: ** %''^'Si^^^,, I ^^' • *! 1 .,i4 V 20 SKKITICISM ASSAII.KO. M*.«r->- the kingdom of God as but a hiKher and broader fielA for the development and perfccti\. Fj- :'^^: ./.■ 'I' ;,i i' I' It 1 1; ( 1 I'l hiiimSaiiSt,,.j,^ii "!S??»""TS F-fim^ lyv^K - V^'=^^^''"fT?<,4ir^'~^'""T^ "" 8KKITICISM ASSAILKI). 23 Xenophon declared that '* No one has discovered any certainty or will discover it among the gods." . • »u. The illustrious Grecian philosopher, Plato, in confirming the same contention, said : . , , • ♦u. „r..^„» - It appears to me that to know them clearly in the present life is either impossible or very difficult." . • Religious teachers and philosophers in all agps, in their hunger and thirst after knowledge of the gods, the origin of life aud of iiL's destiny, have despaired of ever obtaining any certain or definite information concerning these supreme subjects without the aid of. a diviJe revelation. St. Paul, tc^ whom God had revealed hi„.self, fouidan altar at Mars Hill dedicated "To the Unknown God." and iaid to the Athenians, '' Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you." Agiin he sifa, "The world by , wisdom knew not God." ., , i ^ ;ii„ The golden age of all nations and tnbes of people not illu- minated by the light of the Bible has been in their ^"f^y ^^^ ^^^ remote past. The Greeks appealed to their ancestors who h^ad lived in closer communion with the gods as their authority for what they believed and taught, gocrates speaks of "a light of heaven, which, as I conceive, the gods tossed among men by the hands of Prometheus, and therewith a blaze of light i and the ancients, who were our betters and nearer to the gods than we, handed down these traditions to us. , The numerous African tribes believe that formeriy heaven - >vas nfe^r man than it is now; that the highest god, the Creator Himself, formeriy gave lessons of wisdom to human beings but that afterward He withdrew Himself from them and now dwells in heaven. , . ^ „„ The Hindus teach the same,, and quote their ancestors as authority for what they believe regarding the gods. The faith of the Greeks concerning the Golden Age IS a reflex of common belief among all gentile nations. According to their > ■vjK»-*^jji&*'*a.juwtai F'-; ^■- ■•w "^p- n SKKITICISM ASSAILKI). tradition, i» the early ages of the world God was the shepherd of men and ruled over them ; life was free from care and jwiin ; the seasons were temperate, the earth brought forth abundantly, and what work was necessary was only pastime and not toil. In striking contrast witb the teachings of the gentile nations from the earliest historic times, the Hebrew and Christian nations, accepting the teachings of the Bible as a revelation from God, hav« looked :forward to the future for th''^r^)^ ^l^^fFT *OT^^S!^ a6 RKKITICtAM AfMiAII.Kn. I .-■ Japlict, but that Ham, the father of Canaan, wouUl be their acrvant This prophecy necctMrily had reference to the aeed and \x»- terity of Shcni, llani, and Japhct, and it httH been LOT LKAV4N(i HOnoM significantly ful- eiled. Hiblical his- tory records . that Abraham, who was the seed ofShenf and, lived about, the tenth generation after Noah, in obedi- ence to a colli niand fr(ju,i Go4, took .his L-« hiAMl^^ >>JUi;$^'y».tMJi^l]^i. Im^ M|^ ,rr ^!f^w- -"r ^ 'v - 'ir-' own and Ut'ii family, left home, country and th7>rBmttindcr of hii kindred, and went into the land of Canaan, where (; itaiidiiiK «*H»ve, aaid fi>n '* I am the I^rd God of Abraham and the CmhI of l«aac ; lli/ . land wherein thou lient to thee will I Rive it and to thy teed, and in thy wed ahall all the familien of the earth Iw hlensed." It in related that after Uai»c'ii death God appefirid to Jacob, with whom he renewed this covenant, ihongh witho*lj^i)Ccifically denignating which one of hiii twelve wms nhould Ik- th^iv^ifed one, a.H had l)een d►; ■ r r\ '^SS?^ ■ ■ ■■ -. ' ■" ■' '■'.' ,' r'" \- ' • i«»>^i.i'n t A.si IN 1 III li 1 ' 4 ■ Nv A\ .,; ■ CV/ i [ a ' •* . . . ' 1 ■^P PPi^l ^■^n "^HH Iflii^lHiiHl IHHHk »■ 1 ^,,'^fM^^ )^ , r^ '!\,^?, ^ , T , M^ap SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 31 . , Biblical history relates that God " was with Joseph," and that heVas prosperous. His master appointed him overseer over his ;> houXand over all that he had, and "the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house f^r Joseph's sake." - . ' ,, ■w,^- -^w i^"^ >V> V|=t.^?t,^rw^ <■ '.1 ^y vuS&^^t^-Om, >'•• \- ",. 32 SKErWCIgM ASSAILEP. King Pharaoh dreamed two startling dreams that greatly troubled him, and none of the nia,gicians or wise men of Egypt was able I to interpret them. Pharaoh then sent for Josejih, to whom he s lid: ' ';■ . ;- . / ,-, '• . '" .■ ■'■■,■ "I havf dreamed a dream and there is none that can interpret it, an d I have beard. say of thep that, thoti canst understand a dream to interpret it." . • , - - ' I Joseph replied : -^* . ) " It is not in me ; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." Phiraoh's first dream was as follows : While standing on the bank af a river there came up out of the water seven fat ahimals, and a U.rwtrd seven lean ones; and the seven lean animals ate up the selvren fat ones.- ■ • Iji the second, dream Pharaoh saw seven full ears of com on ope st ilk, aiid seven ears blasted .by tJie east wind sprang up after and the seven blasted ears devoured the seven full ea?s. Joseph' interpreted jthe dream to mean that the seyen fat s and the seven full ears of corn rejo-esented seven years of but the seyen lean animals and the seven blasted ears of com repres( lited seven .years of famine that would immediately follow the seven years of plenty ; and that . * i ' Iiulali. niiv ot" till- hrc-tlnvii, iIk-MI apinoai'Iud J(»>wi)li and saiil ; . "Wc haw a fatlur, an old man, and a child of Ills yhl age. a lili.fi' (»iif; and his brother is dead, and lie alone is left of his mother, ^ : c' " . U. u. X ■t C, ■ and liis father lovcth hini. -* f It shall come to passMvhen he '■•-"•» ^ ■ ^ i '• secth'tliat tlie lad is not with us, that he will die," * t ■■^W^''^''-- ]t: f^-^^ S. ' 34 ^KEITICISM ASSAILHD. Judah, one of the brethren," then apfproached Joseph and said : "We have a father, an old man, and a- child of his old £^e, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. if * * It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us. that he will die." . -: ♦ -S' d^^irf "S* ^ x^J"- v.iSWK^Vd^" *^ ■^\irt!fji^» ^TP " ^—^ fj^'-? ■?t ; t''? 'i SKElTICfSM ASSAILKl). 35 d said : 1 ^e, a notber, y M M M X a m 10' 5 BE. O K ■3 hen lie ^ ' Josei>hthen made himself known t6 his brethren amid such an exhibition of emotions that he was heard by the Egyptians. He . then sought to comfort them, say in,g : < . "I am Joseph; doth my fa£her yet live i" - . His brethren were sx) completely overcome by this unexpected revelation that they were at, first unable to repJy* Joseph patheti- cally said : V "Come near to me, I am your brother whott^ ye sold into Egypt. Be not grieved, for God sent me forth to preserve life and you a posterity, so" that now it was not you that sent me forth, but God. • Haste ye to my father and say unto' him that God has made me lord of all Egypt, and ye shall bring my father hither." ■ In the intensity of his joy, and with rekindled brotherly love, he kissed each of them, and it was heralded throughout Pharaoh's house that Joseph's brethren had come. - Y Pharaoh received the infojjpiation gladly, and at his suggestion Joseph provided his brothers with wagons and everything essential for their comfort, and sent them for hi? fatrie'r, their families, and all of Jacob's seed, promising them the best in Egypt. On reaching their father^they informed him of all that had occurred ; and when he saw the wagons, strongly corroborating their statements, he said ; "It is enough! Joseph, my son, is yet alive." ; , On their journey into Egypt God appeared to Jacob in a visionHby flight, and said : "I am the God of thy fathers; fear not to go down into Egypt ; I will go with thee and make of thee a great nation, and I will surely bring thee up again." y V Jacob took with him all of his sons and datlghters, ^nd at the request of Pharaoh, Joseph placed them in possession of the rich and fertile land of Goshen, where they prospered and multiplied exceedingly. / • ■ ^i r *» '■ « .,. Jacob lived in Goshen seventeen years aifd then died. Joseph took liis body with great ixnup back into Ganaaii, and* buried i| with .- Lv 3 his fathers. 5<>seph's brethren, fciaring, after their father's death, that he might be revenged toward them, fell down before him and 7'^il^^'^, *||^p!»* "i^' vSKi^.PTlCISM ASSAILKO. . 37 prayed for forgiveness. Joseph replied : "Am I in the |^lacsed to PharaohW daughter to bring a nurse for it. She replied : " Go I" And according to a preconcerted plan, the child called the babe's mother, and when she arrived Pharaoh's daughter saidr " Take the child away and nurse it for me, and I -Will give thee thv wages."' ' . , , By adoption the child became the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and was named Moses. At an early age Moses was earned to the king's palace, where he received every advantage of education and training, being taught with the king's sons amid all the glory^ splendor of Pharaoh's court, . .# X. X- ^ *1 iC< SKB^PlCiSM AJJSi^LED. »,^ ' IS ' 'w .v^ "' 'St 'Stephen tells -^s that Moses wiis ins^iic'ted 'iiin.all th? wisdom of the Egyptian^." I" "o country •bthat^day-iv^se^^^^ . ^ hifc^hly valued>s in Egypt, and tlie Scriptures tell us that Moses . . became "mighty in his words and deeds." ^ - -■' ' ' * > If Moses hi:d sodesired, he had before.hiiii in Eg^ypt a carcef- unsurpassed "by that of Joseph's , but before entering upon it he was obliged to^decide the great pi^elimin^ry question whether ^^ would cast his lot with the despised Hebrews-his own relative^; theVPple ' of pmmise-or with the splendor and ^ory of the Egyptian court.* - - It is evident that Moses' mother, who was a lineal descendant 6f Jaci. possessed strong ^aith in the God of Al^raham^ and in the fulfilment of the covenants and promises conceniing j»§ postenty, and that she had thoroughly imbued Moses' mind witK a knowk^ge of them and with the history of the Hebrew race, whose prophetic future was to culminate, in a golden era, No doubt she had often *; called his attention to Joseph's career and to the'oath he had required of the Hebrews, that when they removed out of the land of Egypt they would carry with them his bones. ^ . Therefore, notwithstanding the proud and idolatrous court, the, fame, glitter, and glory in which Moses had been reared, he pre- served in his heart perfect loyalty to and sympathy with the Hebrews, the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As conclusive evidence of this, we have the record of the slaying by Moses of an Egyptian whom he found cruelly abusing a Hebrew. The kihg. hearing of this occurrence, became alarmed, and sought to kill M^es, who escaped int6 the land of Midian, where he married and for many years followed the life of a shepherd. The Scriptures tell us that while attending hi« flock near Mount Horeb, God, appearing in a flame of fire out of a bush, called^ Moses, and made known to him that He was the God of Abraham, of liaac, and of Jacob ; that He had seen the affliction of his people in Egypt; had heard their cry, and had come to deliver them out of , ' M,A^. - •T , RUINS 'OF THEBES. 1 iE»*.. V-' r ^Bt^QyQh|y*" •'-f^.^S^^^^^Fr^Hj^E^^^^^^^H '2; -^^"-^ ^^ ^ ■riM^.»«^^<'O^MRnHUi -^p*- ■-';■ :i-'**» fm-. -n— »- kTiXS ( > i .T ll l-ll l s '*»■# <« M 't *ii** ? ^f^ *Tip'Tf~- T i ' #--'y«»-^j 4 «. <*/-■ ■ - ^» ^' K * "^ " - . vH^v -.i^V / I ■ > ■^ ^ . .i t •» I. ^■^ ' . . ■ . ■ ' - ■ ■ - '; ■^ - » J \ ^9B i 1 4 * J *•.' SKEjn'ICISM ASSAILED. ^ 45 \ . the hands of the Egyptians and bring them into the l^d of Canaan. God commissioned Moses to become their deliverer, which deliverance he accomplished with great triumph and glory. I ■ * ' '■ .! • ■ • ' . \ Moses ftd the Hebrews into the wilderness, where, under divine guidance fo f fo r ty y e ars, he train e d and e ducated them to ignore :i^-% t-'m •I •, '■l«^ the 1» he ;k- >■ 1 r f m^ ■ ^ ■ „^ . . "^ *» ,-■ O v."i>-« '^ l1^, w ■ • ■ >"■■■■ ,■■♦,■' ' >i ;i 'y ■ 1 \ -.■ ' V ' • ' ' . * • • ■■';'-- " .', "■ ', •■■: V -• x^'ihI tr ■ r ■ . ,-■ ■^ . '-:>-:". ,; , • ■"v ■ V ' ,, ■. 1 ./' ■ ■ -. ..;'; * ii^4yi'J«ij|ii| ifiiii^ M .SKI.l'TK'lSM A:^S.\ll.lvl». KS the Jiamls «.r the IvKvl)li;uis and briiiK' »'"■'>'> '"»'» ^^'V '•'"'' "i" «-":"<;';"> * * ' * -111' * (;.ul c(tnmiissi<)ncitMost's,l<) l>i'C«»im' tlair (U'livvrcr. wlivvlMkii.vinimv he ai-ioiuplislKcl with j;rcal triumph aiulgUjry. 9 Most'S k'd the I k-hrcws into the wihlcriK'SS, wTuTe. niukr (li\ ine .>fuidance Uix fortyyear^, he tniiiHtl and vdiuaud lluiii i" i.-^iion- ;i in \ iff t , 'im M 1- -- '. ..:■ 6a * ■ " i 46 SKKITICISM ASSAILKO. * idolatry and to worshipi thp one trne God, the God of their fathers, and prepared thtMu to eujler into tlie promised land'. v After Mose«' death Jasliua was commissioned as their leader, and he immediately crossed the Jordan, made a successful attack upon Jericho, vanquished every foe, and victoriously took possession of Canaan, the land of promise. . Commencing with this era, the covenant with Abraham to bless through the seed of Isaac the nations and families of the earth ww kept constantly before them as the select, designated people through whom it was to be fulfilled | The unprecedented history 6f this chosen nation from this period until the "alleged divine incarnation conclusively demonstrates that they possessed a consciousness of their special relationship to God, and that thej' were being used as a beacon set upon a hill to direct the gentile world to the worship of the only true God^ the God" of their fathers, Therefore, naturally, they bsecame pre-eminently a pation of priests, prophets, and teachers. Their entire literature, covering a period of more t|nan one thousand years, was written by not less than forty different authors, embracing mei^ of succeeding generations, and including kings, priests, prophets, statesmen, and herdsmen. In these writings we find a full and detailed history of this people, their polit- ical and religiohs regulations, and the history of noted influential characters, together with the most inspiring prophetical utteranqies ever recorded. , It is remarkable that, notwithstanding the Old Testament literature was written by so many difjferent persons and covered so many centuries, the idea erf a coming divine Messiah and the estab- lishment of a future ki^gde^ii of God "pervaded all parts of it ; and still more miraculous i^ the conceded fact that in the fullness of tinie " a person appeared who claimed to be til»e Messiah, in whose person and life, and in the kingdom which li e i established, we find realized / >. T. 1^ III \m Ptsf ^ T"'"?!^ 1^^) '%■ lose person ud realbed ' - » 1*' .■ . ,) I FIND NO jSIN IN THIS MAN. „« (47) " <5 ■ > *. *> •il^,i''*l%\ t FINII N<) SIN IN THIS MASfi (•ir^ , '^^yy.'^**^ T > -^^'^'^ '-»^T?5 f X /r <^. I "^\ ^ - '. ■ ■ . ; » "• , - 1 / *' ■ ' ♦ • 4> . - " .. ^* i % '- h') ' v' ■ fc ■ ■ ■ ■ ' ■ ■-' •. ♦■ !»■ ■ .0 f ■■♦ - ->• » •—J " _, P > k L ^.' ' ■ . ■ ■ - ' .< . -. ' ■ ■ ■ ; ^ . "i.-.. ■ ;* » .f^Vj . ■ ■ i . . »'-. . 'f- '•. - .■■■.■■^i^;:v..v'l" ^^^_ ^^ HT"' i^'-n? >• SKEPTICISM ASSAILED./" the complete fulfilm^t and perfect ideal of these predictions, types, - symbolic institutions^dnd the ardent anticipations If at characterized the entire literature. There is, therefore.no rapre interesting question than whether Christ was the 't)tt»phetic l^essiah— God in Christ making a more perfect revelation of Himself to man. Our contention in the following chapters will ttje in maintaining the affirmati^^e of this proposition. Mr. Ingersoll,'in his attacks on Christianity in a recent lecture, has indulged in harsh criticisms of Christ's character and teaqhings. Itis, however, a source of sweet coipfort to the believers in Christianity that J^r. IngersoU stands solitary and alorie even among atheists and skeptics in the theories he advances. As conclusive evidence of which, We shall briefly review the unapproachable 'character and teacliings of Christ as acknowledged by the most learned infidels and skeptics, as well a;^ others. . ' .^ , When Christ wii^s arranged before Pilate, the governor's wife sent him the following startling, message : "Have thou nothing to do with this just man, for I .have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him." When Pilate saw that he could not appe«i the excited popu- lace who were clamoring for Christ's execution, "he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ' I am innpcent of th« blood of this just man ; see ye to it 1'" Ju^s.the apostle who betrayed Christ, when he 4earned of ^; his condemnation, cast at the feet of the priests the thirty pieq^: iif ^ silver received far his betrayal, saying : ' . : ^ "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." 4; . - Spinoza, the great Jewish philosopher, fombly said : ^ "Christ was the temple qf God, because, in Him God has most fully revealed Himself." • . Cv- 'I^*»" "'««•'■»' I w .,*- »•«»». I, SKEITICISM ASSAlLlfD. * Rousseau, the famouf French philosopher, in discussing the superiority of Christ's teachings as compared with those of the philosophers, said : ; ^ , « • i. ^ ''I will confess to you that the majesty of the Scriptures ^ strikes me -with admiration, as the purity of the Gospel has its influence on my heart. Peruse the works of our philosophers vvith ^all their pomp of diction, how mean, how contemptible^e they ^L^redLl' h. Scriptu.^ yea,if th, life and death of Socra^ were those of a man, the life and death of Jesus were those of a^God. aall we suppose the evangelic history a mere fiction ? Indeed, my friend, it bears no mark of fiction. On the ^^^^'-^^y'^^^^^/"^ Socrates, which no one presumes to doubt, is not so wdl^sted as ' ihat of Jesus Christ. The marks of its truth are so stnking and inimitable that the inventor would be a more astonishing character , than the hero." " ^ ' . ,. • ^i, ««««i; ^ ^^ F. Pecaut, the skeptical Vrench author, in discussing the person of Christ, sa!id : m' . ' ^,, . . • u ^1 ' - To what height does the character of JesuaChrist nse above the most sublime and yet ever imperfect types of antiquitjrl Whatj xnap was ever kno^vn to offer a more manly resistance to evil ? Where] is such a development of moral power united with less seventy? Was there ever one seen who made himself heard with such royal authority ? And yet no one ever was so gentk^humble, and kind as He. What cordial sympathy ^^ the sight^f misery and the spiritual n^ed of His brethren ! And yet, even when His countenance is moistened by tears, it continues to shine in indestructil^eace. In His spirit He fives in the>ouse of His heavenly Father. He never loses sight of the invisible world,' and at the sametime reveals a moral and practical sense possessed by tjo son of the dust. In what great brilliancy and wonderful magnificence He appears to the spirit which is o^ to wisdom! On our part we do more than esteem Him ; we offer Him love." 4 ""•^x^**^^ «* % W"a?®ah* -' THE CHRIST. Z (rn>BHh«P«imingby M. BoMt. Pa*J» SJon.) (51) •i '--^6^.- i ii • a. / k ' / . ►i ' ' t 'J i^it », I T «1 I >'Y-^--.. THK iKruln the I'aiiit.n^ ti iiKisr. V M llbi.al, l\.tiS\^.ilon I / S3*.-; "^^ :^^^^^pA =, I ■ 'fl .;-.,^;;,.-,.,j£.. SKEPTICISM, ASSAILED. 53 Goethe, tUe most universal and the most highly cnltivatcd of Wts, who was an iionest, serious doubter, said : | '^■^ » I consider the gospels to be thoroughly genuine, for in them there is the eflfectiv^ reflection of a sublimity which emanated from the p^son of Christ ; and this is as divine as ever the divine appeared on eSth. * * * No matter how much the human mind may progress in intellect, real culture^ in the science of nature, in breadth, in depth, jt will ne;ver be able to rise abov? the elevation and moral culture of Christianity as it shines forth in the gospels." "^ ^ ' Thomas Carlyle culls Jesus "our divinest symbol," and farther says:" >. : . ■ ' a 1^1 •••IJigher has the human thought not yet reached. A symbol of quiet perennial, infinite charaqter, whose significance mil ever demand to be anew inquired into and anew made manifest." Dr. Palus, a rationalistic skeptic, in discussing the character of Jesus, said^:^ ^ %« ' ' " Believe me that I never look upon the Hbly One upon the a^oss without sinking in d^ep devotion tefore Him. No, He is not a mere man, as other men. He was an ' extraordinary phenomenon, altogether peculiar in His character, elevated high above the whole huminrace,tobe|Jnm|g5i^^ Christ is a miracle a ^net^oricstonewhPiflm#^^^ fi^vid^edrieh Straus^l follower of Dr. Baur, the fbutider of ^ ^ * ■■ ■ ■ ■■ '"-" ■ ' -'"^' ' >)^^ a .fini|lfed sch6lar/and a dktor of phUdsophy in Bau**s scliool. while follows:" :'^ \ the tiibinge Ahool of ilntheistic or rati6|rfisti«^ a finished sch61ar/and a d^Ktor of phildsophy in ^aut*s s^iool, whi disciiing^th^divinity of Christ has been forced m ^.^it as follow; " If in Jesus the union of the f^lif'T ' f?t-;f*^?'>' .■ ^r;.. ■r'^Mi ,;5*^ ';■*&<• be wiUimit rehgwrtl, w little miJ ","*', w^ iA^n^dVtidctfvwititotit I . - -.'f-h onSlrfr^^*«?^-Au ■«Aij.iones^'^^^^^ * WMtevei-maybe-the '^-^ ''-'■^^ sufering ^«i:melt aA «>oble.^ "e^ts ; all ^ges '»■•*'--■■ ^ .„";■"«- ;.,. V ■*. > .1: i-**-' I ' ;';^f' ■uJ" ■v K»f • '■♦ •"in" 8K(EPTICISM ASSAILRD. 55 ,m proclaim th»t among the «ous of men there is none born greater '''^^'tTe i^t«k.pM Wstona«.Ucky,in^W^^^ .oral, diaeriu, wjddy with the theories recenU y advanced .y^ "It was reserved for Christianity to present t6 the world an ideal ^i character, which^*||t '^^throngh all the change^»^f th«s eighteen .ycen- turies has inspir- ed the hearts of men with an im- passioned love, has shown itstelf capable of acti oil all ages, na tionsl tempera- ments, and con- ^ditio^j^; has been not only the high- est pattern of virtu?, but the stirongest incen- tive to its prac- tice, a»a fo ixerlsea so deep an influe*«that ,it may be «uly said that the simple reeoM of three short ye#«.( acge hfe h»s done more ^.tegen^rate and »>ften mankind t^V^^l||s.)U,s.t.ons of more ||h regenerate ana soiwu m*u.wii.« ^mm^ O phildsopters and all the exhortations of m;5^t^^ ^0^ ^■■■■i! I ^ ■ 1^ "'w^. «;, ■Jf V *' 56 ^\, in arguing against the total denial ©f the Kch no sane man ever ventured upon, supplies Theodore Vi existence ofJesUJi,''^, "" -rz:^^^^-' - - - '"r"- hv .be 3e has 8b.d upon it. Shall we benold such a man "° rJfC whole- Wy^is a ««? Suppose that Plato and .roiti «;/. b; «h! d^ 0... «o.»s a„^ti.o..h. ^. thoughts? It takes a Newton to forge a Newton. What man couK^^ have fabricate™.,- nf these bo(Jfcn4 theit accounU hive k " The mighty power of tnese ooww >| _ been tested aM pb«ed. TheyMve ov JfR-e ^gan.sm ; they have Xri'eece,- Rome, and barbarous ^rope ; they .r. ,« the way ■ rcolqu^g the worW. And the sincerity of the authors .s no less ' iCln'he power of the bcK,Us. We may contest the l^rn.ng , . and critical sagacity of the first historians "^ J«»» '^h., t,*u\a^- Lpossible to contest their good faith. It sh.nes from ''>- »->" V they iSKered what they said ; they sealed their asserttons wUh thetrV ''*°*"Theodo..Jteim,ih discussing the character of Jesus, re-. "'"'"^■The person of Jesus is not only a deed-'amdng the many .leeds of God. but the peculiar :wo.k, U.c sp e cific- reve lat. on of .1g^ ^*^ ' f " » t * rr ' * , ^^r?'? ^ "'iBKEPTlCiaM ASSAILED. S7 IS appears St. John vhole, the [is biogra- ;»ility,^^and g tru|^ful>^ \M ■-■'■■" nmts have they have in the way 5 is no less le Idarning it,-btft,it is leir works ; 5 with theirV I the many evelation of God A • ' Chri.tUnity U th. crown of the creation, of g4 wd It A the ch.«n of God, Hi, ^"^^ ''^'"^f^^^Z::^ Lie »nd World..hapcr in the history of nunk.nd. He .. the r..t. .„d He U the ay-wheel of the historyff the world W France. Power Cobb, author of " Broken. L.ght., m ,,i,c„„in~ the present condition and future prospecU of rehgiou. i,i.h, while denying the divinity of Christ, declare. : ' / TWO PAGES OF AH ANCIEHT SCROLL. » One thing, however, we may hold with apprp«mate certainty, and that is that all the highest doctrines, '-y--^^";^ ^j:"^'^ the most profound spiritual revelations -""l--*;- '*•' ^^^^^^^^ actually tlose of Christ Himself. The onpna to^of ^- Chr.^^' " movement must have been the greatest sonl of tlis rime, as of all rime. ° • The«ew which «ems to be the soul fitt.ng one for our ::mate of the character of Christ -- :- f- tfthfl^e :; tlie great regenerator of humanity. His coming 15 ^ : ^J : : . : L_ V ^ - - t^t^i-f;';-^- '^■' 58 IKSirrtCI^M ASSAILED. \ * llunisiuity what regeneration is to the life of the Indivi4ual. Thtsit not a conduiion doubtfully deduced from questionable Wogmpheri, but a broad, plai.n iufjprencc from the uniyersal history of our rft<;e» Wc may dispute all detail*, but th« grand result is beyond criticism. \ The world has changcd,,and thi*t chamge is Wttoricirily traceable to '\Chri8t" ■■ ■": V .^*v':v; -.' ^ '\ '> , '''^-''- ' -'■•^ - ' Notwithstanding -Mr/ ftigersoira unfounded criticisms, the -4tfe, character, and teachings of Oirist firill cVfcr xcmain the noWest and most fruitful study of matt, vlt i« admitted even by those of other faiths that He was the greatest of teachers. The Klohammedan world spoke of Him as the MeOTtah,and acknow^ledgcd Hrs^^uperiority . above all the prophets.. The Hebtews almost umyersally express admiration fOr His lofty character and teaclfings. Intellects like those of Napoleon, Galileo, Kepler, Shai^espeare, Bacon, Newton and ^ Milton "set the name of J«sUs above every Qther." ^ Napoleon, in discussing the divinity of Christ with. General Bertrand at St. Helena, aaid: / ; • . • . ' " I kniw men ; and I tell you \hat Jesus Christ" is not a man. .Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ, and the foiiftders of eiflpires an^ the gods of. othef religions. "Tjiat resenjblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and whatever other leligipns lihe distance of infinity." ' "^ He then compared Chrtst with himself and with the heroes of antiquity, and. showed how Jesns far surpassed them aH.» ^ .• N "I think," said Naipoleon, "that I understand somewhat of human natntei and I tell you all these were men, and I am ft man, but not one is like Him. Jesus Christ was inore than man. Alex- ander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded great enH»res, b^t- upon what did the creations of,, our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone foilnded. His empire upon love, and to this very day millions would die for Hijn." ' * ♦ I ':i'f#^S.'.. .*!♦-. : • hti m '.'■■ h^ ,: :';,■ HE WILL COMFORT THB BROKEN-HEARttD. »<») HK AVU.l. •(■<)MF^)T . In these severatVarticwaf s^the Chris- l tian religion present^fa irt^rked contrast , with all otheronoratod religious systems. As a idaht, it has grown and devield^d through the centuries in successive stages, in analogy ^itk^ i^bderut^eory of contiijjiity ■ ■ > ■■■'■".' ''V'"' :''■''' '■.'%' ■ ■ V' ' ■■"''''' '-' ■■' * in nature. ' ' - . ; ■ ^ ^i • No triith is morecapable of verificatiofi than that the several ;^ parts of the Bible were ,^ot only the woricof different authors, but that they were in some instances written at intervals of one or more centfei^s, and are linked togetlJ^r by a series of progressive r^x^la. '; tions,each fiaving grown out of that which prec^^d it without* a ^ #' lit^k in the chain of continuity. * f V ^^^'''-"^ As doubt ando^fusi<5i have been created by the various ; ^ ^refedj^Hpd^ systems of Ueplpg^ thai have been presented by th^ '^ iffer^Christian denomiStions, it is of the greatest importance that we keep before us tfie 3act that there is a marked difference letwin Christianity as a divine revelation, and Christianity as a J^m ■'*'-* .*f^ ' ■''.'■■'■■"" ■ ■' . - .■•,■■■' «r Wj, - *-"" -^s^s^. ; '-'-'m^ ■-' (61). '■ ---V--:" "".'^ *■ . •..>,•.• .^^ ... .. . .. -,, -■ -, • . ,. . -' ». . ,.>. . -%- :' i -Wi ■ ■<« ; %i '■ ' -iff "' :$ . d^t^PTICISM ASSAILED 62 ■" ' ... ,^ --. theology fo™..l'«ed out 4 iU data and teachings a, p««n.«l in the several conflicting creedsj " V , . , ^ .r,„. "^k ,„ the ibUowingi pages *e undertake .0 demonstrate that Christianity is a divine revelation, and that it .has been gradually ^e™ -n as he h4 advanced in civili.ati^ and the capac,^ rdprehend it. In i|s beginning ChristianityU not presen ^ rail nations alike; b^t God, appreciating the Wk that He had- „„:"tL« in educating the human family againW the per«.c.o„s "effects of idol w&ship;a»d in attracting^their ^''^'^P " ""^"P'^^ ^^porS^ceof worshiping the one tr^ God.-seWed Ab«^ -j V, entered into a *v«.ant>ith Him to bless the nations and families of the earth through the Seed of Isaac. _., . . This vie* i. sustained not only by the authors of the vanons' ■ hook; of tfe,OW Testament *«t by those of tHe J^ew Testament a* wdKby tire teachings of J.s«s ghristand by the progrp«vve ligbf ,' r \ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED St. John affirms that "In the begihnipg was the Word, and the Word was with GoS, and the Woid was God. The same was in th* beginning with God. AU things iei»^ade by. Him, and without "w^t^v Sij*--^ 'W^'^'^^V' f^O-TTV' ^.^ 63 [/•> TH«'$6N OF KAl* AFJ-JpAluftO Jk +h>l CtptfD* OF HEAVEN ■ " < " " j " ' * ', Him wis not' anything made that wak made. I« Him was life, atj4" " ' . thi§life'Wtheli^'tdf.nien:,fAMW'l^g^^/i«^^^ ; ' .«J *!,. S^h^s tfom^r^hended it M- '>*' * /'* ' ^^ t^e- ^i /r^^ /' ~n Tt ■„ <' „. .. y.,. r \,-' ■'. ;■/'' ■ ' .'"SKI-l'-rU 1>M ASS Ml. II'. .*'i^ ,".^ . ^ St. .J<'.1mi .vftlfmstii.a '•in t4u' bvginum ■■■■> •-■■.<■.' ' • ■ :,^'>S(^i\ ...-P 'fl -« -^; ■% n f . 7 -^ IP r ■*/! 11 I r \ 1 I \ .t Tllf- SON 1>I "MAN \lM'hvKI-Ml IN im I I. Ml' TTiiu was lurt aiivUini- luacU- ihat u.i- wiatK-. In Uiin w.15. life. fmiV ihis lite Was tlK lW^<>Pnu>n.. .\ii*l ^Y\}i^^'' ''^''^'''^^' '" .larknt-.s,- ^ am! ibe durkflcss conlpahvndrd .it noty,-/ . ^ ' And i1k-^\ nrd Nva^ w*...; ^# »^ ■ , . • '* •* i 81 M -> " (1 „ « a f| •ti^^B e , " '* " li 11 J^B A ^ * - LE ai ^ '<*- > * - ^ u tf'*' "ii,v,,*'ir> .;>-■-'• 64 Sif KPTtClSM * A^MiStK^. />» ..*- ^> f ♦ H^ck flesh and dwelt nmong us, fttij^ we belt?!^ '^^ K^o'^y '. {ofi of tile oiily. begotten of the l^tAhH-*^ : : : : ■ ; ^ " - 'je^i^r Christ; in declaring His pje-eafristence and divrnity, said : ; ^ " BeibT« AWhiim was, I aitt.'' And iti referrthjg to the progressive light '. twid-chergi/fng effect ^f I^is life, He cbmpared Itis work, influence, and kingdom" in its ])egiWning to a mi|stakd:aeedv saying in substance • -■ tl^atitwouy«ra4ual\yembr«calit#M^^^^ '•:. progress/peacUndTlghttoHsnessvr^l^na^ „..\ . lii pre^nting tAe evidente-ljjilt ^ulstains this contention we shall ixotehter i.nt0 afty extended di«^ti»sion oC th* Christian theory " * of^rplettM-3^i^*pi«^»<«*o^*^*='^*'*^ Neitlier shall we undertake ' . to show tlm^, notwhbataading it >vas wfitten by imperfect and fallible • • miii, it k absolutely. free (tbin any inacc^raeies or historical errc^rs; " not wVether as ai matl;et ^«^er^e was rescued by some other ,. -' interveiititms,, The trttk <» faj$ity # these questions does not ' '' materiilly «ietn»ct from, fcffect, dh impali' the evidential force of the a^umentthflt m^ntains Christanity SIS a divine revelation. , , Nor is tills argumwit affected by the question as to whether Moses wrote tke, Pentateuch in its present form, or whether subse- ^W^' quent tb'iiis death it was compSed from his teachings and from other sources; whether the Book of Daniel was written by the prophet Daniel or hy sonie one who succeeded him ; whether the writings of Isaiah ii^ere composed at different timefr--one part ^ an ^rlier, and tlie<*therat aktierdate. • Neither singly nor combined are these or any of the .other simiUr questions that have so long worried theologians of any special importance in settling the question of all questions, whether Chris- tianity in its growth and progress is or is not a divine revelation. The ascertainment of the truth of these disputfed and vexed que^ions is undoubtedly of special interest to the theologian, but in ^^ ■*(■ ' » ; SKKI'TICISM ASSAILKD. 65 tracing the evidence that maintains Christianity as a divind revela- tion these questions are of minor importance. ; in the beginning of this- discussion, we may concede that it would be impossible to inspire universal faith in the Old-Testament history as maintMning conclusive proof of a s%pe||kural revelation if we diseonnect it from the evidential force of%he^]fly|Testament, or from the divinely attractive life of Jesus Christ, an'^tf^^great influence and mighty effect which it has had in molding the civittzation of man. liisl islurv ;is ifi;iin taiuinu o)iK-lnsivf prool -•!' a su^k rnaiuial rvvclaluMi i if wt", (list-'ontici.: t it from ilii- vvif man. I.M *i 11 *■ .-^/. -rT^'T:;s:rTT>— •• _4 ; • * f 1 * ;♦■'"■' •" ' : •1 « . ■ \ * ■'•■ > ■ ■ ' . :' * ■ . \ • ■ 1 r ;• _,■.■■,. '; • ■• '• ^ * ':"'..';|' "■. ■•■■■ >*■-.. ' 1 ■ ■• ■ ^. . . " ■•■■■■ ! v/v- ' , V '■'', ' ' <^. r • _,■* • . ■■■: ■ ■ ;: -i " " ■ T- ' e . t ■"■'-" .;'>- ■" V ■ - , '. * ■■^ .- ■ «* ,- li .■■■' k \ " % ■ ■ X;;;; ; . ■ - * ■ „ , ;, . ■■'■■. ■ ' *'■ ■ ■" -'/ • , " . .-■'•-.■* ■ '■■■.■■'!"■' -■ «- ■ ■iX ■ ' ■ • . ., n ■/ ; / ■ . ■■ '■■ ■ -, "■■■ ■ ■ , ■ ■: ■ ■ » y ■,' ■ \ ' .' ""■ r •■•■■',' '* ' ■'- ■ '/ - ■ ■ ■ - . .- ' ' - /. - 4 ' y- ' . / , » ' , 4, " ' ,■ - ■ ' ■'■.■«■.;-. ■■■\- ■ ■ :■■ ■ .' -: . S . ( .'- ■ >j!Ki 4^^ - * " . ;/.-V<.^x-r- ;■■:;;■:; ■■/-^■:^-;-: ".; ^ ' *■': ^' - ' fi ^ / - i: - \_ \ . ■ , iSl'^k . ^^ MKIOCOrv MKNUTION THT OMt^ ' (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 3) 11.25 Ui|2£ |2£ U^ 1m 12.2 13.6 S ^ Kb 1 1.8 /APPLIED IIVHGE Inc 16S] Eott Main SlrMt Rochntw, NmrJfwti I4C09 USA (716) 482 - OjBP- Phoiw (716) 28a-MM-F» . ' ■•^^ 1 ''ft / 's' '"'t "^ i' * V .w?f""j""j 1 66 SKEPTICISM ASS.\1LKD. We, however, urge ih^, when the combined evidential force of the Old Testament is considered in connection with the New Tcstanieiit'^nd/cvith the energizing moral force that has sprung from Christ's lite, we shall have developed an invincible chain of evidence that conclusively establishes Christianity as a divine revelation. Beginning with God's covenant with Abraham to bless the families of the earth, we shall trace Him at work through the centuries without a break in the chain of evidence. In the fifteenth chapter of Genesis it is stated that God in- formed Abraham his seed would be carrie. X It is alleged that Moses led the Hebrews tc, Sinai, where.under ai.y;>Hdance, he educated them to cease the worship of ,dols. and wor.hipVGod of their fathers; that God gave to hnn the Ten !? ^""^.l„.r:>... ^. .„.urated sacrificial worship ; that Moses fo r forty years instructed this people, and that after his death, Joshua, Manoah, Gideon, Sam- uel, David and others in ,successive genera- tions during the devel(?pment of the. Old - Testament dis- pensation appeared and claimed to be di- vinely called prophets and teachers. i Skeptics, how- ever, to avoid the evi- dentialyfforce of ^hjs history, have denied its truth; but these denials are confronted with the cogent facts that this nation had perfect faith in the sincerity of these prophets and their MOSES AND THE TABLET. Lchings, and with the farther faet that if there had been any collu- sion in this alleged revelation and> the testimony of these witnesses, or if their testimony had been fse, it could easily have been detected and exposed. . V . — ,- — ^ — ^^ o ("- X SK^l'TKISM ASSAILHI). ^9 The faith of this people for centuries, when fraud and imposi- tion wpuld have been easily detected and coltesion was impossible, SARAI AND HAGAR THE BOND MAID.. raises a strong pres^imption in favor of the truth of this alleged history of God's dealings with this nation ; besides, the Bible contains ■;" '■'■*. 'Vlv if :■ • .\:\ ■■! 1^ l-'^'. \:i.! 11 -,,„,l,lui MMMsKMih^- lIr-Mnu-.i-Sni.n,wlHTv.uiMUr. •,,|;,1h,, lailu-,-; thaK^.M^an- m Inn, ilu- 'Un ill ( >nil j^', ,•;;•!, Ill, '.r.H-Ul^. .Ill .,,; ; V ^ , .;; -^ rtT-slMUU'd ,1,1. p< -;ii. . iiinl 'tli.il \V , ;,,,,. 1;,( '.idruu, Sam- ,1, \ 1 ),:\ ;,! .111(1 ..llu'VS 111 -ih 1 1 - -i\ <■ i:<"'it-'i'a- 1 ; ,,ti - (1 11 1 1 11 :-; I 'i •■■■ ,!.s^ ;..l,Mirli; -I' ill*-' ( )1,1 , 'l\M:iiiu-lil ilis- ]u-ll-.:il!"ll' :i]*K'arc(l ,.,iii,! , l.iiiiu'l li> 1k' -l(ir\ . li.i\r (U'uifd il-. truth.; I'Hl llu-sc (U-iii.iN .\\\- iniitroiUrct w It !i t lu- ni'^riil tacts ill, It llii-^ nalii'ii liai p,-«4'ril l.lijll 111 iIh' ■. ; in r riTv^.ot" tlu'Si- ■ i.tMplu t- a 11 il tiitJX .1 inauunrau..! sarvilu'ial u..rsliil.; H'^^t^nsr^^ loi \U>sl '^ AM' Till I AI'.I.K I- 1,:,,.^ ,in.i uitli tW^t^Tn^^vi- lad that if lluT. lia.l W.^^ anyoillu •l;i.:i;;,.^r.lMvvrlali..ii.^^n^ajrU'>tiinnny-rilu'..uUiu>s,-. 11 •:/ 1., ,;".',i , I \ ; II '"-'I fvf.nidiu' 1 l,„.l iKvli l"al>r. il rn^a^^Mly havrlRvli.l.Uvt.. A -\ i Hiiil^ r- '- vl.l I'll. 1-M \--\II.I 1' - ^^-^_ v'.n uouia liavr Ik.u /^iI v .M.vU .1 aiul .vJluMoU ua- iuilM.-.-il.If. SVKA1 ANH IIACAK Till- in iNH M Al l>. M- a stron- i.rrSnui]nir.n in f;ivnr nf ilu- trutli of tins al^vMl t,,rvot (;..(!"> (Icalin-suilli thi- nation ; l.rsi.lrs. ilu- Di'.a- > ..main ■ 1 M, i;. SKEPTICISM ASS.MI.KI). 70 Other iiUcrnal evidence, that, when applied to snbse(,uent and admitted history, confirms the testimony of these many witnesses. It relates prophecies concerning Ishmael and Isaac, and events that were to oqcnr in the fnture, that snbseqnent history, by a reflex w^' y^ i^: , 4.( '-t^-*' e,:¥H<*' evidential force, fulfilsand sustains. The result of these prophecies could not have been fore- 'seen by human in- tellij^nce withotit .(divine aid. It is evidentially clear that the alleged covenant and promise concern- ing Ishmael' and Isaac had reference ° to their po^erity as much as it did to them. The angel . of the Lord said to Hagar : " Return unto thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. * :i= * I will mul- tiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall tiot be numbered for multi- titude. * * * I will riiake Ighnjael a great nation." When God entered into His covenant concerning Isaac that \disinherited Ishmael, Abraham prayed to God, saying: "O that HAGAR AND ISHMAEL SENT OFF. i. J. Q-iki...^ /-.^A #' ■f > <:. M> I -^ J .if^J*',. i^'^S^W^^^W^^^^GP^^'ff^T'^^'^^ I KKhlTKISM ASS.Ml.l.h. 7.^ Muna. 1 ini^'lit live Mmc tluc! " (mkI uiiswcml : "Ah fur IsUiniul, I \\i\\\' lu-ura llu'i'. lUhold, I liuvc hlcsM-d liiiit aiul will make him fiiiilful and will umltiply Iiim exceedingly; twelve princes shall he hc^il, and I will make him a ^'reat nation." Tlu- L<»rd directed Abraham to ^^r^v not, hnt d<» as Sarah had e^mandcd, " for in I-iaac slmll Ihy seed he ealletl. And also (.f the son ofi tlic bonds- woman will I make a nation, U'causc he is «)f thy seed." When these different covenants and promises are constrncd in connecti(.n with each wilier, U in clear that they had special rcfcnnu* to Ishmael's ixisterity ; and fonr thonsand years of unbn)ken history confirms their trnth. Islimael and his imuiidiate descendant?* lived in a tribal rda- • tion in tents and hnts. He was circnmciscd at thirteen years (ir a^e, and his children and their children have continnonsly followed the same example. He had twelve sons, each <)f whom l)ecame rnlers of different tribes. . They have always lived in tribes ; they were bound toj^ather in the most .sacred confederacy; tluvhave nmintaitied their independence, and as a nation have never li^i-n concpiered, while the K^ryptiiins, As.syrians, Babylonians, IMnenicians, ('.recks, Romans, Medes, Persians, and all other nations and empires that came into existence dnring the developnient of tlie Old-Testament dispensation have perished, dissolved, and passed away before the advancing armies and powers of other nations, and are to-day known only in history. Ishmael's seed hoAjukveloped in mimbers as the sUirs of heaven, and into a mighty nation which has been protected, as it wonld appear, by strong supernatnral intervention. When these prophecies concerning Ishmael and his posterity and their confirmation are considered in connection with the covenant to bless the natiims and the families of- the earth throngh the seed of Isaac, \vtiich striking promise has been fulfilled, the evidence becomes morally conclusive. In the light of history, the skeptic admits : - *^' . ^ / st^ss*^ wp^:t Vj.TTw*~y^-u» "^iJ^^i!" ^" ^^■'"^(^ifS^f^ . ^■^pr 't 74 SKKITICISM ASSAILED. '2r'«^ That Christ by lineal descent sprang froni the seed of Isaac, and that His extra-hnnian life, teachings, and inflnence have done more to elevate, refine, and bless humanity than all the other com- bined influences a»d teachings of earth ; that He is to-day regarded as the' greatest historical character the \\;orl^ has ever prodixced ; that no history of any civilized natipn for centuries Has been written With- out Christ's religion figuring in it more extensii^ely than anj' other influence. Christ has entered into history, into legislative enactments, iirto arts, music, poetry, sculpture, painting, and philosophj', and into the hearts and brains of more men, women'and children than any and all othe^^lu»racters that have ever existed. Wherever He and His influence have penetrated, the kunian family has been refined, ele- vated and blessed. The reflex evidential force of these adn»ssions and established truths sheds a halo of light and glorj' upon- these alleged prophecies and this history. Especially is this true when the evidence is con- sidered in connection with Christ's solemn;declarations that He is the "only begoUen Son of God"; that "Before Abraham was, I am. :=: :!: Abraliaui saw My day and yvas glad." This means that He, Christ, had existed prior to Abraham, «and that Abraham had been informed of His dispensation as God incarnate, who would bless and elevate humanity. . , How did Araham see Christ's day and rejoice? The narra-^ tives are meager, but they tell us that God appeared to Abraham on several occasions and conversed with Him concerning this matter. When the.se narratives are read in the light of histor}', it becomes clear and manifest that the angel of the Lord often talked concerning these matters not only with Abraham, but also with isgac, Jacob, Moses, and others. " .. The evidence to this effect is clear when it is considered in the light of Jacob's prophecy declaring that " the .scepter will ndt depart ^- '■r^^- w"^?5 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 75 from Judah, nor her lawgivers from between her feet, until the com- ing of Shiloh, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." In the interpretation of this remarkable prophetic utterance it is essential that we bring to our aid a few admitted historical facts : JACOB WRESTLING WITH TMB ANGEL. First. The word "Shiloh" means peace; and Christ, the coming Messiah, was prophetically referred to in the Old Testanient as the '* Prince of Peace." / Second. It is an admitted fact that the tribe o^ Judah was not entirely deprived of her scepter and lawgivers until after Christ's MNl.l'l'lt. k^M \>^ \ll.l.l'. ' 7.- t'iDiii Itidali, nor luT lau.!^i\iT> IVdiu Ik'Iuih'M lur Url. until tlu- if llu' propK- 1k\" III llu- iiiUT])ivtali«>n of this ivfiiarkahk- piopluli*,' iiiu raiur it is (.sscnlial tlial \vc briui; to our aid a ffw adiuiltcTl liistnii^a.l tails ; • •■•#Hffiilii^*^iMa(*^vffe^ T en J j nil ■ ■ ■■ • ; J f--^l t It ; . ■ I,\C; Hirst. Tlie word "Sliiloh" iiK-ans jK-aii- ; and Christ, tlu' loniin.i; Messiah, was proplK-lically n-k-rnd t<> in thi; ( )1(1 'ristann.iU as tlVc " I'rincc- of IVatL-." . - .;^=Sc-(.-<)iid. It is an adniitlfd fact^lhat thr trilic- of. I udah was iim1 i-ntiix-ly dc-pri\t.'d ot' Ikt scrplfv and la\\.i;i\ e-is until atlcr Christ s ll -ii '-T iiiiiinnrMM in i W iiTr i- i r i T t\ "\m d U O ■.,;.,*»■.. ^ ■ • ';* ■• .Ts|>;.' \ SKKPTICIS.M ASSAII.KD. ai)ncar:iiice and the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, \vhich latter event occurred about forty years subsequent to'tlie crucifij^ion. In view of these undisputed facts, it is evident the prophet's nicani'nj^ was that the scepter would not depart from Jndah, nor her lawgivers from between her feet, until the coming of Christ, the "Prince of Peace." The prophecy is meaningless unless this inter- pretation is correct. It was uttered more than nvo thousand years before Christ's appearance, and its perfect fulfUJoirent, when weighed in connection with the other facts herein referred to, raises a strong presuniptiou that God/did appear to converse with the patriarchs, as related. Tlie evidence confirming the truth of these records, covenants, and promises continues 4n its cumulative force. Moses claimed that he talked with and w*s personally instructed by God. These are awful assertions ; yet we submit that no reasonable, unprejudiced nian can read his prophecies, that give with accuracy and minuteness the history, to occur centuries afterward, of this race and nation of people, and doubt any claim that he asserted" concerning li is personal contact with God. In the twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy is related an * an account that Mos^s gave in calling the attention of this people to the consequences that would follow their disobedience. He prophet- ically said : " Thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons apd of thy daughters. * * * The tender and delicate woman among you, which woUld not adventure to, set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, "'' * * for she shall eat them for want ,of all things secreth' in the siege and straitness wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates." This wonderful prophecy was fulfilled in the siege of Jerusalem ' by Titus. Josephus, in giving an account of it, tells of parents eat- ? ing their children, and of a noble woman who was rich and delicate SKKl'TICISM ASSAILKU. 77 killing and eating her suclcling child. In Josephns' acconnt of this woman, he says, when she had boiled and eaten half of it, she cov- ered it up and ate the test for another meal. Moses said: "Ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude." Josephns, in his account of this siege, says : " An infinite multitude perished by famine, and of the great number who had assembled in Jerusalem more than a million were destroyed." In Deuteron|my xxviii, 68, Mqkes prophetically declared : " And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with .ships, '"' * ''= and . there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen." It is related by Josephns that, when Jerusalem was taken by Titus, the captives over seventeen years of age wer ' '- R^'# "- »*^»S!W^»^ [Jv'T ■ jt^sySi^SE" 78 SKEITICISM ASSAILED. "t-'^'P* ' I" This startling prophecy is being fulfilled to-day to the letter, confirming Moses' testimony to the effect that God had called him to lead and instruct His people. Continuing thi|S prophetical description, Moses said that not- withstanding these afflictions God would not utterly forsake and destroy tliem because ^f His covenant which the Lord their God had made witn Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In confirmation of this ancient prophecy, God's chosen people, the Hebrews, fled in haste from Judali,Vhe promised land, and were scattered throughout eVery nation of*^- the earth, and during all succeeding centuries th^y have been looked Upon as a by-word, a proverb,' an amazement and a reproach; yet as a people they have miraculously -preserved tl^eir identity and nationality, j^ In this and other prophecies and declarations we have strong evidence that sustains the theory that this race of people has been blessed by divine gu,idance and protection. From a finaneial standpoint, the Hebrews h&ve exhibited more thrift and prosperity, according to numbers, thalji any other race of people ; and in com- parison with other national^ies, proportionately fewer of them have committed suicide or been ^ting, or have been convicted and sent to the penitentiary, or havei become inebriates, beggars, or tramps ; and fewer of their women haye fallen. ^, While it is true that th(ey have not generally accepted Christ's teachings as to the universal fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, yet between themselvlps they exhibit many beautiful acts of charity and self-sacrifice. Thfey are indeed brothers to each other in hours of adversity and afflictiop. It is an uncontroverted\ fact that they have been scattered ip fulfillment of this prophecy : as they have joumej^ed through the world they hav_g^been living witnesses to the fact that there is but one God, tlte God of Abraham,i Isaac, and Jacob, and that all idol woriship is debasing and corrupting. / /j *lki.-"- utterly destroyed them. Aiid if the Christian world would, in a spirit of charity, extend to them the olive branch of peace, many,, if not all, would a<*fcept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. IS^-^^^ffWl^ iSo SKEITICISM ASSAII.KD. Not only Moses, but Davjd, Jereuiiah^ Isaiah, Daniel and other prophets, who/tlaini to. have been 'divinely called instructors to aid in educating this people in the work of a supernatural revelation, pre- sent strong /vidence to confirm their testimony. Afte/ God's covenant with Abraham, this nation looked for- ward with/bright hopes and ardent anticipations to the coming of a •' Messial/" The Messianic prophecies cover a period of over fifteen centuriei/ The dying Jacob looted forward to a coming Shiloh, the Prince off Peace. Balaam sings of a coming star out of Jacob and a scepter font of Israel. David, Isaiah, and other prophets describe the coniin riof a " ^kssiah " in the form and likeness of man, whose reign of unilersal peace would be perpetual in blessing the families of the eiwth. When all these prophecies are eonsidere'd in their combined evideltial force, it will be seen that they describe in minute detail ChriJt's birth, birthplace, divine life, character, teachings, triumph- ant Jeath and glorious resurrection. They give a perfect picture of His life history as we have it portrayed in the New Testament, which wasfwritten not less than two hundred years after the Old-Testament prorthecies had ceased, and more than two thousand years after they had/ commenced. In the second Psalm, we have the Immaculate Conception the birth of Christ referred to ; then a " Son " "begotten " : the hieathen given to Him for His possession, and kings' and kingdoms' (ttention called to Him as the Son of God. In the forty-fifth Psalm, Christ, His coming and reign, are characterized and described as a divine King, reigning among men And blessed by God forever. " For He is thy Lord, and worship thou ini. * * * I will make Thy name to be remenibered in all genera- ons ; therefore, shall the people praise Thee forever and ever." In the seventy-second Psalm, His life-work and the extent of if is kingdom is giveii : "He shall have dominion also from sea to ai r't \ -^fr , ■»■ HKUITICIHM A8S.\ri.KtX Men, and from the river unto the ciuIm of i\w earth. • ♦ * H shaU muluro forever: Hia name shull be coiitimivcl um Un HJ hi in naflft. ti§ an tM 4>V;S # 84 SKEF*TIGISM .ASSAILED. Sttri, ^lid men shall be blessed in Him ; all nations shall call Hiu^ .blessed.'*; ^■■-■■':;:^':- . . . • ',■- ■ '. ".- '■ In the third chapter of Malachi, the prophet declares that the word of the Lord ean>e luito hini, paying : " BehoW, I will send My inessenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me ; and the Lord, whom; ye seek, shall suddenly come to JJis temple"; even the mes- senger of the covenant, whom ye delight in. Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts." Isaiah the prophet said : "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith 3'our God. * ''' "' The voice of Him that crieth in the wiMer- Jiess, Prepiare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a higlnva}' for our God. *'' * '=' And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." When these prophecies are read in the light of John the Baptist as a voice in the wilderness declaring the kingdom of God at hand, and also of his introduction of Christ as the " only begotten Son of God," whose " shoe's latchet " he was " not worthy to unloose," the fitness, fulfillment and evidential force of these prophecies become Sacredly manifest. , - In the seventh chapter of Isaisth^thQ prophet, in referring to the Immaculate Conception, says : " Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel," tneaning God with us. And in the forty-ninth chapter, in declaring what the I^rd had said unto him, he said: " Listen, O Isles^ unto me ; and hearken, ye people, from afar ; the Lord hath called me from the womb f from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my'Siam^. * * * And said unto me, Thou art My servant, O Israel, in whoni I will be glorified!''' The prophet Micah says : " But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto, me that is to be ruler in Israel, AVhose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." ' CHRIST STRENGTHENED BY THE ANGEL. (■S5) i^- .. Ja*^/= t-iS ■1, ',;.,. ., . if: ^ 9^ y» ^^.: / xfeS^"? CHKIsl sIKI-.Nf. I III.NKD r.\ lllll AN«.r.I. m J "^ f '• "fr 1^ "^fyifife'rMpT fi^'*?^^" i' 1 . \_ ", «! ■ ■ > i fi 1 ,-- " ■'' " V \ ■ ■ ■ \ ■ 1 ;■ ■ • . ' ' ■ : ' * .'■■-. . 1 * ' ,■ ■ ' ... ■ :": ■ • " ■-■ ■ ■ , . . ; * - ■ ■■ ■ - , j' ■ ■ '. -■ . "" m i' ' ■ , i^^s^^'Y^'-^f^^^'^y^^ry^^^^''wmw^^*\'' ^^"^ *^'> ." •Wf^^^^^l^^'T"'^'^'^* T . Jll^'-T^'-Wi^^'' SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 87 This unprecedented reference to Him as one " whose goings forth had been from of old, from everlasting," confinns what Christ said of Himself: "I am before Abraham was." Micah not only gives Bethlehem as Christ's birthplace, but announces that He shall " be great unto the ends of the earth." In characterizing the works of thje Messiah, Isaiah, the great prophet, said : "The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the > deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, aind the tongue of the dumb sing." The evidential force of this prophecy in the light of Christ's life canno^ be overestimated. Isaiah, Daniel, Malachi and others describe Him as coming in the form and likeness of man, but being Lord and God, and bringing with Hjift peace and righteousness. In the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah we have a review of the object of Christ's life. His sufferings, crucifixion, and the triumphant issue in His death, referring no doubt to His glorious victory in bursting the shackles of death and in declaring Himself tq be the resurrection and the life. The great' prophet said : " Who hath believed our report ? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Surely He hath borne our griefs. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth ; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before His shearers -is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was tajcen from prison and from judgment ; * * * He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death : because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. * * * He shall see of the traviail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." . In the twenty-second Psalm, Christ's exclamation, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me !" is given. : tj "g XETf' -'?''»T!*,T» ss skkPticism assailed. / In the sixteenth Psalm we have this language : " For Thou wilt not leaveMny soul in hades; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy (Ttle to see corJHfi)tion." • . , The literature of the Old Tj^stanienlf contains over three hun- dred well-defined prophecies describing the coming and character of a Messiah and the establishing of a future kingdom of God. * Our con- tention is that in Jesus Christ and His accomplishments we have the full prophetical conception of such a^Iessiah and kingdom com- pletely and Jiterally realized. This realization confirms the testimony and assertfen of each erf the prophets that they had been divinely 'called, and that their teachings were inspired by the Lord. In the discussion of this question we are i^ot unmindful of the earnest debate that has been and still is going 6n as to the date and autlprship o'Tthe Pentateuch and other books of the Old Testament. ' These questions, however, cannot possibly affect the evidential value of the prophetic argument, for the conclusive reason that it is universally conceded that the Pentateuch, which contains many of the Messianic prophecies, Imd been in existence and I'ecognized many centuries— at least from the date of Jeremiah or the reign of King Josiah— without any possible change, until the advent of Jesus Christ. It is also conceded that several other books of the Old Testa- ment, with' their present contents, were in existence prior to 600 b. c, and that the entire Old-Testament Scriptures as we now have them had been completed p?ior to 1 80 ij. c. Therefore, in considering the evidential force of this argu- ment, the only questions that can possibly be involved are : Do the Old-Testament Scriptures conltain clear and explicit predictions of a coming Messiah and of the establishment of His kingdom, and are these predicting realized in tjie person, work, and Church of Jesus Clirist? If so, tlte inevitable (lonclusion- must be that Christ is the prophetic Messiah, ai»d that Christianity is a divine revelation. "^ ^ " y^ J. .y "^-Ti-s aiSs^ie ' ^ t ^ -^'^^^^ ^• kviU oly uu- 3fa " on- the om- ach leir his een uch ;; t* ■ ■ . >'„ tial • ?, t is' ■ ,.; •■ r of my iiig ist. sta- . c, em gu- the fa are sus the • * • ^f"7* SSf?! '•'*■'", "J*^** * ''^w^T^^'^nps' '*^^f^s^"^rms^^^^lW'^ /' ' " ■■^O x EZRA READING THE BOOK OF THE LAW. - - - ■ s T ■ « -"0' ' II .' • a '^' ' i ■!|, ■ HI ■ WM ■ #'• ■' V ^;:;;| 'i Jt. • y : K/KA KlvMHX*; I'm; norsK- < "i' Tin: 1 ..AW. ■ si. 'W ijK- ■U ♦ \ SKBITICISM ASSAILKD. 9« It is an imcontrovcrted fact that the Old Testament, which we, hold in our hands and can examine for ourselves, contains many such prophecies. It is no less an admitted fact that several centuries after the utterance of these prophecies a spiritual kingdom, differing in influence and character from all earthly institutions, was actually inaugurated with Jesus Christ as Author, Ruler, and King ; and it is admitted that this spiritual kingdom for eighteen centuries has exeked the most potent and beneficent influences that have ever operated on the civilization of man. We therefore have two admitted facts: First. That the lit- erature of the Old Testament abounds in predictions uttered by various persons and at widely different periods of time, affirming in the most conclusive terms that such a kingdom would be established, with a Messiah as its Author, King, and Ruler. Second. The realization, after the lapse of several centuries, with such fitness and confirmation in their fulfillment as could not possibly have existed without the direction and aid of the supernatural. It is, we r<^at, immaterial whether these predictions were uttered two hundred or two thousand years before the Christian era. In either event, they clearly exhibit the existence and directing force ofthe supernatural. This conclusion is farther corroborated and sustained by the claims of Christ and His disciples that He was the full and perfect realization of the types, shadows, and prophecies of the Old Testament. Nothing is more certain than that the New Testament is founded on and has grown out ot the Old. Christianity has largely grown out of Judaism. Unless the Old Testament had been written, and the miracles it contains had been developed, the New Testament would never hav^ appeared or the claims of Jesus Christ been asserted. Christianity, therefore, correctly assumes the right to super- sedethe entire system of the Old Testament on the sole ground that IS*. f^^.f Si*w^" . r 9i HKKPTICISM ASSAILIiD. Jf.Mis Chrlut i« its complete reali/ation, and to such an extent as to largely render it iiugHtory. Tliis substitution has been effected wherever the Christian Church has l)cen established, and constitutes a prtwf that whatever was real in Judaism has Iwcn so fully satisfied by Christianity that the shadows and types are useless now that we are in possesion of ■^ "- :i^ .' >S^'X.tr '*-." .-«■ I. V' ^ i/:- V ANCIENT SCULPTURE RSPRKSBNTINO THB VISIT OF THE WifR MEN. the substance. So complete a supersession of one system by another, which has grown out of it, is without a parallel in history, and irre- sistibly brings us into the presence of the supernatural. " In avoidance of the. evidential force of this argument, the skeptics, among other suggestipns, have urged that Christ and His apostles evolved the conception of the prophetical Messiah out of the Old-Testament Scriptures and the Apocryphal writings, and contend that Christ went through only with the form of fulfilling the predic- tion concerning the Messiah, but that as a matter of fact Hel^s not the only begotten Son of God— the prophetic M e ssiah. — -. — - iSMss^ai^s^^^ «-> BW !"^ - .*■ l ,-Ji^ 8KKITICISM AHHAII.KI). 93 The conclusive annwer to this Nkepticnl contention in that the l)est educated, the most learned, andJ^te wisest of the sons of men in all the ages could not possibly have presented to the world, without divine aid, the phenomenal life which it is conceded Christ exhibited. lu the light of Hia life, and the light that has cnianatetl from ,it, skeptics admit that . He was the greatest among the sons of met and that He is the only human lx;ing who has ever lived that has exhibited a character worthy of being adored, and. that to tear His name and influence from the wtirld would shake it to its very foundation. These admis- sions, when considered in connection with Christ's profound con- sciousness that He was the Messiah, and in connection with 'His . perfect life, go far to pmv.e His divine char- acter and mission. Especially is this true when^we keep in view the fact that He was a man of limited acq.uired education. When He began in the syna- gogue at Nazareth to teach after en^ringf upon His mission. He f^ A CAIt»N-nR'« SHOP IN Ni^ZARETH; astonished the people by the display of Hi» wisdom that they asked ->■ "A X ■^^tt '*.''*♦ M^^r .,,^, ^ ^ I t . ^ ■a T ).. ' V a-,! h\.i\ m \l'- C; '->■'.. . SKi:i'TklSM \SS Xll.KD. J' "? t^"'i'i'' I- it-^ rninplcti' irali/alioii, and lo siu'h an rxti'iit as to I.:i';.'( . \' mi.lri ii 11 iiL;ai< )rv. ' ' ■ Tliis siil,stitiili..ii liaN Ikvii i-lkrli.l wlifivvfr liu^ Clirislian CImi;( h'has \kx-\\ islahlislu'd, anl'- Til K WISK M KN, ' ■ " . . ' - , i' . . llir sii'i^taiUH'. So complete a suj)ersession of one svstenr by another, whicli has -rown out of it, is without^i parallel in history, and irre- si-iih.y hrin-s us into the ])i-esence ofc' the supernatural. In iivuidanee of the evidential foree of this »i,Mnnent, the skeplus, ;wiion- otlier su-.i;estions, have nr<,rc-d that Christ and His"" anr,mles exolvid the coneeptiou of the prophetical Messiah out of the < tM-Testauunl .Scriptures and the .\j)oeryphal writiui^^s, and contend thai Christ went throu.i^rh ,,nly with the form of fulfilling the predic-" t;-n ...nccininu the Messiah, Imt that as a .matter of fact He was not tlicnly l.K-utii.ii Sou of God— the pro])lielie Niessiah. ' ^ ■■A-,,,..-^ •* M SKlI'l'K IS \l \SS\I(,1'I>. Us He Tlu' 1-. .lulusivt.' ;m>\\rr lo lliis ski'ptiial (.'(.ntriiti'in i-. that the ^t (.-(liR'ati-d, llic iiKisl Iriiinrd, ;iU(l llu- uisi."-( i<\ tlu' ^"IIn l |)(>s>i|)ly liHve. jiK'seiited In llir wi.rld. witln'iit dniiiu aid. llie plicuoiuvi lal-kfe whidi it- is eoiicedrd Chri>-1 i.\liiliiti la the light «»f His life, and the li.uht that has i iiianatrd lioiii it, skeptics ailinit thai A fAKI'ENTKK S SMol' tN NA/.AKKIII. n e was the 'Iratl'St uiUoiiiL^ the sons nl nuii, an]•(.•( 1 and tlial to liar Hi n a in e and luthu lu c Inmi the unv h\ \\ 1 iii.d s ha ki- lt Ic Its \rr\' hnindaliun. Ii I' s e aduii- SiiMis, when n >n^iurri u in eonneeticn u it li Christ's ,])rotuund enii- seinnsiless tli J 1 e was the Messiali. and in eonneetinn w M li II IS - jert'eet lile tar I. prove Hi s (livinr enar- a e t er and ni issKtn. Ivspecially is this' Irtie wlieiv we keep in view- the tact llial He was a man <»f limited aeiiiiirededneation. When He he^aii in llu- syna- .^oone at Xa/.;lreth to teaeh after entering upon His missioii. Ile^so astonished the j)eople hv the dis])lay (if His wisdom that they askrd • ,j; '^8^frriiSA^lfeif.*t'fJtA»Vi?it^Lii?'ir^gf' ti'. t"-^--w?lijig'r'. .^^^ r ■; 1 »f '40 94 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. '* Whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works ? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and A His brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence, then, hath this man all these things?'' If He had manifested only ordinary wisdom and knowledge, the skeptical contention would be plausible ; but in view of the extra-human life He exhibited, which cannot by any known principle or precedent be explained if He were not the Messiah, as great a mystery is presented as these prophecies and their literal fulfillment could possibly afford. Were He not what He claimed to be, this mysterious con- sciousness that He was the Messiah, together with the many stupendous claims He asserted, would present conclusive evidence that He was laboring under hallucinations. If such had been the case, He could not have maintained a character in harmony with these mjirvelous claims, which it is conceded He did. The conclusion to be drawn from these facts is that Christ, not only in form but in substance and detail, has satisfied the prophetical picture of the prophetic Messiah, who would bless ** the nations and families of the earth." ' It might with some plausibility be said that these predictions mnd their apparent fulfillment when Considered separately are not sufficient to inspire full faith in the divine authenticity of the Bible and the truth of this history. But when we consider these prophecies and their combined fulfillments in connection with the pjienomenal history of this select nation of people, and the -life and character of Jesus Christ, frn^"A son given*' whose name would be "Immanuel," "Wonderful," " Counselor," " The Prince of Peace," i,' The Mighty God," whose dominion and perpetual reign of peace would embrace both land and sea. When the angels In their proclamation of peace heralded from the sky the glad tidings that a Saviour had been bom, the.cry of - -r-r*^ "(95r ^->!W',i •( ■if'-"'^''^*,. SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 97 manifcstation of "God in Christ." -The union of -divinity and humanity i.s a profound mystery, yet its existence is sustanied by such a strong chain of positiH and circumstantial evidence that it should no longer be doubted. Accepting its truth, the mystery THBRB IS BORN A SAVIOUR, WHICH IS CHRIST THB LORD. •invoTved in Christ's miraculous entry into the Avorld and departure from it is solved, the evidence of its truth is overwhelming. • First It is alleged that'Ga!briel said to Ma»y, "Fear not, Mary.forthou haltfound faW with God." He promised that the •■ . f > < ' « » t:,) :li:- "» ' I .<>l ;.il 111 ^\i4. iiiil(..slali(»;i li;ul ln-fii, liiartl iiiuMi iviTv liilll(']> -.'uul in \\ is staU>I >lial wliiK- P;iul and I'.ariiahas wi-ii', *U I.\slra llu' lUiK- (Irs ?^?;rris^ ^' Tt €*v».-: •■/■Li' • liaiiralifas as an incarnation of Jupiter. Tlie people of Lyeaonia (. : inl : i" 'Pliv i^ods are oonie down to us in the likeness of inen." elearlv iiulir.iliny the expeetuncv of a (Hvine incarnation in liunum form. rriiu ni\ slcr.iou.s promise in the beji^inning had been the hope if :ji 1 . siucccdin,v; .generations, until its perfect realization in — the- ^^f ts^pm ir 111 ^ la 4e- I 1 main UstaliM A^>\l.i.i 1' hiunaiiily In a' i»n.louiul iiiy,sU'vy, Vi-t Us cxisUiut siiV li a stroiii; iliain ..f i)usitivi' and viuuin> taulial i\ idi-nci; that il .Uuul.l n.. lon^cT '^bc aunl.u.l. AeHvi^un^ u. null,, ilu- ^u.v.v.mn THKK.-, IS "OKN A SAVimR WHU-II IS CMKIST I^IlR I-ORB, . ► ^ i,;^! in Christ's ,niracul..ns culry im*. ih^^ NV^.rl.l an.l .UiKirlur. ; from ife^vccl. The evidence of its truth is .^erwhelnnn^. . ^ ^ I'irst. Mary, lor thou lutsj h. is allci^ed that (iabrie 1 saici to Mary, " l-Var'' u..l. f..niHl favor Vith (jod." He prounse il tluit.tlu V q8 SKEPTrCISM ASSAILED. /■ /,■ I' ■ ' * i Holy Ghost wQuld come upon her; that the power of the Most High would overshadow her; that she would conceive, and the holy Being that would be born of her should be called "Jesus, the Son of God." After the usual time of gestation it was proclaimed from the sky : " I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is bom this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord," It will appear from a critical examination of the facts th^t this celestial child was no star coming alone from hea.ven, no flower springing alone from the earth, but was both human and diyine, uniting heaven and earth. It is related that He developed in stature and in favor with God and man ; and when about thirty years of age, hearing of Johrf ^e Baptist's announcement that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, He calmly laid down his carpenter's tools, and drawn by the mi pulse of His divine mission, walked over to the Jordan, where 'John was baptizing. " » In introducing Him, John the baptist said : "This is He of whom I said, after me cometh a man which is preferred before me ; for He was before me. And I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God." ■ > , ' The Apostle St. John, who had every opportunity of knowing the facts, forcibly said : '* In the beginning was the Word, aMcthe Word was. with God, and the Word was God. * * * "All things were made by Him. * * * And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glor3^as of the only begotten X)f the Father." /-^ Paul declared that "Christ bein^ in the form of God, * * * took upon. Him the form of a servant." The apostles, who had spent three years in daily contact with Christ, had perfect faith in Him as being the Messiah. / Christ asked them ; — "— ■—■ . '—— r^yar y'"."gp'""''ti 'if^frrfwi y^rji ': .,• ■'y . ..; N ■. u/- ^ K^PTICISM ASSAILED. 99 " Whom do the people say I am ? " . They answered : v ' "Some say John the Baptist, some Elias, or onj^i^Ml^^^ ^'^'^- .V. '■ ■ /#>"' LIBRARY '*'^>>. Chnst then.asked : :; //^ "Whom say ye that r am >^? vl FEB 7 Peter replied : ^ ^ . "^^^^^ t=? "t^-^ ' '"Thou art the Christ, the Sort of the living God.'^^^Sisssj^^^g^--^ The unbounded faith of these witnessed strongly confirms the Virgin Mother story. Second. Christ possessed a mysterious consciousness that He had always existed, and by virtue of the Immaculate Conception He had come into the world as the "only begotten Son of God." In His intercessory prayer He said :' " I have glorified Thee on the earth ; I have finished the' work' which Thou g^vest me to do. And now, O Father, glofffy thou Me with Thine own self with the glory I had with Thee biefore the world was." In purging the Lord's temple, he cried with an authoritative voice: • ■ ' ■ " \ " Make not My Father's house a house of merchandise." In a conversation held with a Samaritan woman at-Jacob's well, she, amazed at his revelation, said: "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ ; when He is come. He will tell us all things." Jesus replied : " I that speak unto thee am He." . . When arraigned for Sabbath-breaking, as a defense He said : " My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." On restoring sight to one who wafe blind, Jesus inquired if he believed on the Son of God. ' ,. , The man replied : ; "Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him ?'* ■/■•'SI "Wj, ICX) c SKEITICISM ASSAILED. Christ said : " It is He that talketh with thcc." Oh other occasions Jesus said: n "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father 'may be glorified in the Son." "If ye love Me, keep My.- fc.T.-*c- A ». • ■•:%' 8KEIT1CISM ASSAIl-KU. lUI coinmandnicnts." "Ye are from beneath ; I am fnmi nlxne." *' I came down from Heaven." "The ho^ir is ccmii nK '" '" ■" w hen the CHRIST BLBSSING LITTLK CHILDREN. ■ ff \ J L J -^ ■^-pTT'^fl^ SKI.I'TUISM \.s.SAn,l.l». Ii In III ihal lalkclh with lliir.'' ( 'II ipi!u r uiiasius Huiil : i iti. . Ii ■t " \\1 Kit soever yc sliall ask in My iiaiiic. tfiat will I do. that tlic ' coiinn; «atiii» < / '/■ ':X.- I'.lll KT may he .i;lonfied ill the Son.'' "If yc hue Nfe. keen My Isl ■^^^^^w;'^- '■'i,'-^' »#. «ki iru inM \s>\ii.t n I' ■! c.imnaii.lmrms." •• Vc iiu IVmui l.iiu.iili ; I am l;..iii .il".v» ■ "I tamy «lovvti tV.mi llfUVrH." "TIk- IM.nr i->''"iir;ii" u!i. nih. V r*— ' r Ji I .;: iy CMKISI Ill.KNHl.Ni. l;li.V:ll 1 Illl.ltkl.S, .^•. r^i pf \ -.7"' ' ( ' . * ^' I02 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. dead shall hear the voice of tlie Son of God ; and they that hear shall live." "When the Son of Man shall conjle in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit on the throne of His glory; and before Him shall be gathered all nations." It is clear Christ possessed a sincere consciousness that He was the " only begotten Son of God," - ' In all civilized nations, fpr a man to assert such awful claims has been regarded as evidence of insksity. The authors on medical jurisprudence as well as law-^writers concur in this statement. Why is it, we ask, the world has not declared Christ insane? ThQ answer is clear. His life of intellectual, greatness, Wisdom, and perfection was in harmony with these stupendous claims. Skeptics freely admit that in perfection of His character and in original knowledge He has never had an equal. No one can read the Lord's Prayer, the Sermon on the Mount, Christ's parables and teachings, and for one moment doubt His intellectuaj greatness and wisdom. Renan frankly concedes that His Sermon on the Mount will never be surpassed. ^^ Christ's profound consciousness that He possessed a super- human character, and the consistent and corresponding life He . presented, distinguish Him immeasurably above all, other men, and raise a strong presumption sustaining the Virgin Mother story. Christ is the only person who has presented, to the world a perfect life. Infidels, appreciating the force of this fact, have sifted it in search of evidence inconsistent with sinlessness, and have been compelled to admit that the only alleged inharmonious acts they are able to point out are His language in denouncing the self-righteous iHiarisees, and His harshness in purging the Lord's temple, turning over tables,- pouring out money on the floor, etc. In their efforts to show these acts. to have been inconsistent with a sinless character, they have failed to appreciate God's attitude toward hypocrisy, sin, and desecration. - ■•■.■. m SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 103 "X The fact that skeptics can find nothing more tban these cited instances is an implied confession that "His life was sinless. This superhuman manifestation can not be accounted for on any natural theory. He called upon men to repent and follow His example. He claimed that power had been given Him to forgivfe sins. He held out the strongest inducements to sin no^ore. And during His public life, His acts and appeals to men involved on His part a-clear, sincere consciousness that His life was sinless. .--—/- Hq defied His eneiuies, saying : "Which of you convinceth Me of sin ? " He never reproached Himself or regretted anything He had .ever done. He never uttered a word' to indicate that He had taken a wrong step. On the contrary, He said : L ^r "I do always those things that please the Father." "The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in Me." | ^ Viewing this proposition from the standpoint of human obser- vation, it becomes clear that it would have been an impossibility for Christ to have asse^ed His sinlessness and perfection of character during His public career, in o^n conflict with His intensely critical enemies, who were the' leaders in authority, without detectiQ$i and exposure if His pretensions had been false. History records the life of manj^ Chrisrian characters and honorable men, all of whom have confessed faults. Abraham, Moses, • Elijah, Paul and others often repented and threw themselves on the tender mercies of God. We repeat, Christ's consciousness, coupled with *^ sinless life, is without a precedent in the history of the worid, andcrektesan impassable chasm between Him and all other men, which raises a. strong presumption corroborating the Virgin Mother story. u «. Fourth. Christ possessed a personal influence over men that -was miraculous. John's startling introduction of Christ caused some of His disciples to follow Him. Jesus met Philip and said: ■«r , *" ■ . 104 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. "Follow Me." ■ Philip obeyed. He passed the custom-house and saw Levi, called Matthew, the publican, who held the position of tax collector. Jesus said : ^ "Follow Me." . Matthew left office and home and became His disciple. In passing by the sea, of Galilee, Christ saw Simon, called Peter»^nd Andrew, his brother," casting a net into the sea, and He said T j *' Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets and followed Him. And going on from thence He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, in a ship with Zebedee, their father, mending Hheir nets, and He called them. And they immediately left their ship and their father and ' followed Him. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching- the gospel of the kingdom, and healing ail manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And His fame went through all Syria. * * * And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond 'Jordan." The manner in which He attracted the attention of the people, and their promptness in leaving ships, nets, office, home and parents at His bidding, is without a precedent. During the Passover season the holy temple was converted into a babel. - The members of the Sanhedrim, consisting of seventj'- "W judges, were there; tke people from all Judea, Perea, Galilee, alidXhe surrounding country were there attending the Passover ; and when Jesus appeared He found the temple being desecrated by money-changers, sacrificial animals, and dovecotes. The money was clicking, the cattle were lowing and the sheep bleating, which horrible spectacle filkd Him with holy indignation, and He entered with a whip, drove out the cattle, turned over the tables of the liioney- iMsi^daJd. ?ppnff?B*5fT« \ i- .4. IS^S ^M^ vHh y\ J Ames and john are callei J^^^^dttH "■ 1 ^Ps ■ ■ • H (105) ■" ■. ■ . 'n ■ ■ ■■ ! *^ ^^^ ■f>m:ipe^Jt^'$^, > <^J^^ >4 >-f^'" ^1* ^.Ai; -;.«,, -.^V'S" lAMtS AN1> J< )MN"AKi:,t Al.I.KlV .,« 1^ k ' < ^J — """i '- --^ 'II T1- 1 i\ j.,! ..ill y ■ytjf! ■■/■ /• ':^:^W"' v^ * V^''-^ -«jr^ ''0- /■•■■■%. m '■■-yr' ^'^ ' .. . ' "--^' 1 • ■; "•' ~rv-.- on - \ ■, •f ' I ,_ ^ J - u ♦ v^ _ ^ -* ^ * '». -V MM * ' * --->-,' • ' ^; .'.t*- 5^ i^^M^-W^-n f-^*? T^<^. T»* SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. X.O7 changers, and in the supreme manifestation of divine auttoity cried out: ^ , , , 'iTake these things fiencel ^Make n6t.My Father's hou^e a h*ou)?c of merchandise." This act of unprecedented heroism aii,d indescribable indigna- tion at their "desecration caused the -judges, officers of the law, and monfey- chaiigers to stand trembling iii awe, arid t^o attempt was made to check or arresl Hini- But wHen the officecs " had rebounded, from their shock, they approached anfl asked for a sign for the exercise of rfis authority. ' He replied: v " Destroy this temple, and in ^^^ three days I will raise it Up'' They interfered no farther, and He continued the Work of His ■*.:... '.'. divine mission.' I ^^ f\ ■: ' I ■ /^ t Chan cried \ « J-,^**5T»r««jpfe"^ 'W^^ti.V *^^»«4*1 •l % SKKi'tlCISM ASS.\ll.i:i». lO: changers and in the snineme niunifcsiation ..f .liNin.- ;nuh.uity crit'il out : *• >. ' > "Take these things Jicnec !,, Make lUit My I'alhu's house a house of nierehan«lise." ... , ^ , -^ IIIK TKMriK ui Si"oa(.;hed and iiisked t'Or a Mi^u I«t the e\,ereise-'()t" I li-i aullmnly. - , • lie replieil : • ■ • '■ _ ' ' „ "l)eslr<»v this UTUpie.' and in ■tllRi- (tiiys 1 win r:nsc' it IM'- • ' ■ - Tfcv iliUTliivil "" farUicr, ali.l llv .■..lUhiVu-.l \\u; w.rk ..I liis ■i 1:1 'II divine mission . 1 ♦ " > ) .!■ Ir jHiK|mi.-j;r^- !i^:''!i^-:'^^-fii.'_s'~- t" v\- '/ ^BPTICISM ASSAILED.' I08 ,As conclusive evidence of the efl^t this unearthly transaction had, Nicodemus, que of the^ judges, approached Him, saying: / - "^' mr^ ifiiakiiAiii ■..'■, . ' ■ 3-1 Ir ST' m. —-^~. ^-'^■':M^'L. ■ '.it. PILATB'S JUDGMBNT HALL. " Rabbi, we know that Thoa art a,teacher come from God :- for no man can perform these miracle^ that Thou doest except God be w i th Him/^ — - — — '— 1- ■f J ssAu t '^^^A. \^^ X^ ^< NICODEMIS BEFORE THE CHIEF PRIESTS. 1109) 'Jk> r ;_.:>^./^ •■ ^^^ "^m • ..,."'# . ■ ' ' . " ■ ■ ■- ^ ' ■■ ■.■■,..\ . . ' ■.■.•; f . ■ " ■ . '■■■.'■ '■ .. -, ■' ' , .', '' ' ' - „ ■ ' ■ ■ > ■ , "' < ■■ ■ - ' ■ . ■ ■ , ." ; ■ - ■ * " ' ■ . 7'. . '■■•■■• ' ■ ■ ' ' * ' ■' ■• .-. • .* : . . ■ '' / \ . . '■; ■ ;■" , ' ■. 1 '■ , • '-"-■,■ *■ ■ '. ' *■■• ^ ■ . " '■ '": - ■ ■ . ■ . ■ 1 ■ ' ..- ^x-.: ■ •■ - 1 *■ , ■ . . ., ' . ■ - ■ ■■?•■ ■ / ' ^ «"'■■ ■ ■ .• . ■ ■.."■,, N ■■■"■ , - ■■' "•: ■-■ -■ ..A ■ ' a\ ■■'':'' "■■' ■ I /■■ , ■. , ■• ■ . : ,: / ■ ...■ r . ;>■■ : , .•■ :-.:/^' . - ■..■:;,:,.;- ■•,,,;■• .•,|.- '' ■ ' ■ - .- '■■■■■.,■• ■■;•'' ■■ . - . i' ■■ ■ . ' - /-.■■■■■-■: fx : ■ A ■ ■-' :■ .■■-" ■.■,',;:■ V^^-V:- •..■■■ •■ ■ . ■ - -s ^ * ■■■• ■■ ■■ ' ■ ■ >. '^ ' ■'■■ I t-' ; 1 '■ ■ ■ , .■•■* v .\, . •^'. '■■■ ': ^ ■■,■.' :■.-■■' ^ ■.,■.■ . ■ - ' ■ ♦ ■ ..,"., ■■■ , _ ,' ' . < ■ ■ ■• ■ , ' "■ ■ .- • .■ ' ..-, ' , -s ; ■ ■ ^ - ; - '■ . •■■'.■ ■■.'■'' .■ ,- ■ • ■ '■ ' ■ ' ■ ■ 1 ,. • ■ ' • ' ■ ■ .' ■ " ' * ■' • ■ • - ■ " ' , .■■•■'» ■ '. ' ' ^* ' ' , • , . _• ■ . ■, , • . _ - . ■.,,-■.■ ■ ■. ■ ;._ . ■ ' -■ ' ■ ■ ■ * . , '■■-.■• • .'■ ■■ ■■'.■■, ■ ■ ' ' . * -■ ' ■" . " - • . ' ' * ■ . ■* ^ 9 ■ • ' ' ■ ^- . ♦ ' '■^. ■ ' ^\^^^ ^^\ — • " ' • • , ^ » ^ ,-■,_, . ' •=. r •:-^' 1 ^f- SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. ^4 111*' - Zacchcus, a back-tax collector, who had accumulated immense . weilth'by extortion, was anxious to#ee Christ, but on account of the cro\v^ had tp^climb into a sycamore tree. ' Christ- discovering I^is anxiety, said : ' , "Majce haste, and com^ down; for t<>day I must .abide at tKy house." , ' The Pharisees called attention to the fact that Jesus was going to dine with this publican and sinner. We do not know-all that passed, but this much is certain : Christ's appearance so completely captivated Zaccheus that he stood up and humbly said : . " Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the l)oor ; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him four-fold." * ♦ ; When this language of supreme recognition is re^d in the light of Christ's age and limited education, it demonstrates a mir- aculous power over men. Think of it! The appearance and words of this thirty-year-old mechanic brings a wicked man who had accu- mulated a fortune to his feet with words expressing unbounded faith : . "Behold, Lord!" Christ's attack upon th^ewish religion was revolutionary. The Sanhedrim appointed o&M and commanded His arrest. The officers found Christ discussing His kingly mission. His magnetism, words and teachings were so startling and made such a profound impression upon all present that the officers returned without , attempting the arrest. * _ When they appeared before the court that had appointed them, the chief-justice inquired : - " Why have ye not brought Him ?" ' The officers replied : " Never man spake like this man." , Officers shad never before made such^a return. They have returned that the defendant could not be found, or that he had made ' M^mifi ' ^^"^ '*'' "**''' ^ • I ■;■ i 112 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. H his escape, or sqme similar statenierit ; but never before had officers appointed -to malte a specific arrest retivmed, saying in substance that they did not make it because they heard the man discussing his claims and feared to attempt the arrest. In other words, the influence of Christ's speech and appearance diflfered so greatly from that of all other men that*they were amazed. The judges said : "Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him ? But these people who knoweth not the law ar6 cursed." . Nicodemus answered: "Doth our law judge any man before it heaf him and know what he doeth ? " The judges, in their confusion and an^ijJ^plied, saying : " Art thou also 6f Galilee ? " " %^ The court was adjourned in confusion, "and every man went unto his own house," leaving Christ discussing His mission. Who was i^iis obscuire Nazarene who overpowered officers and stampeded judges? St. Peter says : ' " Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." " This phase of Christ's life strongly confirms the truth pf the Virgin Mother story. , ' Fifth. In knowledge and wisdom man cannot be compared with Him. The leaders in authority sought to expose in Christ some weakness, that the people might not have faith in Him ; but their efforts brought them to shame^^^:_,They sent their wisest men to propound questions that n^ght call foi^ some declaration or state- nl^nt that would enable them to charge Him with treason. They said : "Master, we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, * * * is it lawful fof us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?" - Perceiving their craftiness, and without hesitation or reflection, He said:^; ■■'*'::■ ■ - •" .^. ■ .■■ -^ " Show me a penny." 'V He then asked: ^ V ♦ '"^^ \ ■ :SiS,^-.. ^1^ i- i SKEPTICISM ASSAILIsd. r " Whoseimage and superscription hath it ? " They answered : "Caesar's." He said : /" ^ ' r> ^ "RenderthereforeuntoCasarthethingswhich are Caesars, ^, and unto God the things which are God's." . j This lofty response, made without a moment's warning or reflectioij^soamazedthemthattheystoodinawe. ; 4^^ | RBNOBR UNTO CJESAR THE THINCS WHICH ARE C^AB's. Christ had been discussing His spiritual kingdom ; and in response to these designing priests. He availed Himself of this occasion to draw a vital distinction between material and spiritual worship. He in substance said : " Caesar is mainteining a material kingdom, and it is essential that he should have material tribute; God is maintaining a spiritual kingdom, and demands spiritual worship." \ ^Sifr4 ^usft*.**- ^r- ^ j*H. V^-'WJf-vljJ^far * .dsd^^i^A^^!^^ \\. ■ ■/ ' ■ 'at >fF * '!15'3?T'r! • A 114 SKEPTICISM, ASS^ILED.\ This sublinre announcement and demand upon the human soul was a new revelation to those learned priests. * / . The Sadducees, believing they could submit a question that would expose the fallacy of Christ's doctrine concerning the Resut(- rection, said :- , - /"iiiP ■ ■■ ■"• " '... "Master, Moses xirrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife. * * * There were therefore seven brethren : and. the . first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in ' like uianner the seven also. * * * Last of all, the woman died also. Therefoje, in the resurrection, whose ivife of them is she? Seven haiiher to wife." , Without a moment's reflection, Jesus made the amazing reply : " The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage ; but they which will be accounted worthy to obtain that wcyfld and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor ar^'pven in marriage. . Neither cfan they die any more : for they are equal unto the arigels, and are the children of God." ' Making clear the spiritual life, in substance He said that in the resurrection we would come forth spiritual sons and daughters, aud would be like the angels. No'such conception had been distinctly taught, and it is but natural that the priests, marveled at His answers and were silenced iit the grandeur , of His spiritual conce|)tions. - Christ asserted in substance that He was the author of the Teti Commandments. The Pharisees, amazed at these sacred claims, concluded to test His knowledge of them, and accordingly delegated a learned lawyer to propound questions, who said : "Master, which is the greatest commandment in the'law?" V ^ 'Without a moment's hesitation'or reflection, Christ replied: " Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all \hy uiind. This is the first and great command- '/ •■'* -i\- J"* ■ ^, ^_,. I ^;_ ^ ^,^_ lan hat ur- lie, lid he ok in so. en y- :e; he ?e. Is, in ly !rs he IS, ed ch iy --'* id- V 1 1 . .^ JESUS PREACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE / « ■ ^;-'~'T IP « '^■-^: N, \ f- ^1 ?'l jl ■I . ■! f ill ■' •^rir^^rc I 'n.yN.vi'» IK V CllA-* I If -.i- ;*■; H-; X '< ^^^■i ^^^■l , i 1 1 ■, t . . 19 1 s ^^^^H ^^H . ■ ■ ■ BH \-'\ ^^ 1 " ^^^ , ii^flP^X*' '*» V-* v.] "J. -y neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all' the law and the prophets." . ' , This prompt answer is strong, proof of the divine source of ChristS knowledge. If therq had been submitted to the Serines, Pharisees, o^ Sadducees the question of digesting the Ten Command- ments into two, they might have spent weeks, and would then have failed to give as perfect anSwer and digest of them as Ghnst did CHAPKI* OF THB,V1RG«N NEAR JKRUSAUgM. _ lithout a moment's preparation. His familiarity with all subjects, as shown by His perfect and immediate answers without a shadow of hesitation, and His triumphs in all intellectual contests with the wisest len of His generation, remove from the realms of doubt and" uncer- tainty the qUQiJtion as 4"^^, divine source of His information, and intensify the presumption W Sixth. Christ's '< Tiew" ^ new ]|g hl He brought int:^l|e >'■ fully appreciate this proposition, wc must keep before us CJjrit* - ;4,> ■t- !Mi i - ■%. V Ml -v.. 1 ^•^ .^>v'-:^ If* *■ ■ ri ■"■■-/ -::'^r?psRr' 6KEIT1CISM ASSAILKl). 121 Men have often appeared who, clinging to the traditions of the past, have said : » „ ^ • / " I klftw, and cannot be mistaken." 7 This spurious character of assurance is familiar ; but in^xannn- ing the records of Jesus' teachings, we discover a conscious ^surance that is unearthly. These positive statements and these ." venhes always relale to subjects on wlTich men have expressed he.ttay; which neither hJivc storehouse jjor bani, and God" feedeth them. How mijcji - n^orc arc ye bettct than the fowls ? " .. ^' • ' *. Consider, the lilies how they grow:,- |hey' toil not, they spin' not ; and yet I say unto yon, that Solomon in all bis j^ory was yiot ' arrtj^yed like one of these. If God so clothe ^e grass, which is to-day in the field and to-morrow is cast into the oven, how much more will .' He cfothe ye,^^ O ye of little faith ? !L_. \ /' Fear jiot them which kill the body, l^it aVe liot ahle to- "kill , . »the soul ; but rather fear Him which is able to dfestroy both soul and" - body in hades. Are not two sparrows soldior a farthing? and qne of "' them shall not fall on |he grpuiid withoufyour Father. But the very hairs' of your hea4 are all nnmbered ; iiear not, -therefore, ve are of n^^m value than many sparrows." ^ ) Christ makes clear the distinction between ^nl ^nd body — 6n€ - material, the dther spiritual and^temal — developing the grandeui" of " ' ' man, and of God's love for him. - He not only taught man's sacred Value, but also brought clearly to light God's ardent love and solicitude for the children of men. ,' ' % ' » ^ . ' " ' Hes^d: ' • ■ • , ^ • « >./" What ma*i 1of you, having an bundled sheep, if He lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, ahd go ' after that which is lost until he findit ? "And when he'hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ' And when he cometh homlf - '} he calleth together his friends ^^id ileighbors, saying unto. them> Rejoice with me, for I' have found my sheep which ^Nk^ \mt. ^ s^y ' unto. vQu, that likewise joy shalUbe' in lieaven oyer one^si-nher that*^ ; repeiiteth> m^x^ than over ninety and nine just,,.persou'^ y^vdk need ■ no repentance." '."-.. s •. ,. ' -^ i' '^v 4*^"" %r ,. ^' "f ■ ■ ■■•, ^ ." . * If ,r // i \ i\ H /I u w II /I 'V. 'U/ f < ) 1^ " II «> ■* n k l^ijfl 'K'i y ril ^ »J?i3 l^k w« "W I! X^' A\ *r AiSK T It " ■• -^^ •• -* f , . - % ■ - » -\ "t. • -J » . /■* • i, *■ . , O " ^"- -' V ■* r ?* T" «^ r n*"" I ' w i'^ SKKPTICISM ASSAIl^KD. las ,p ■ " What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the hon»e and seek diligently till she find it ? And when she. hath fonnd it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have fonnd the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say nnto you, there is joy itt. the presence of the angels in heaven over one sintier that repenteth." • * in the parable of the „ Prodigal Son, we have a pa- , thetic exhibition of God's love for earth's prodigals. It , teaches that the farther man wanders from God the mor^' intense is His desire to reclaim him, as is the shepherd's for his sheep. Fourth. Christ has ' erected a high and exalted plane npon which man o»g^t A to Ifve in his dtolings with his " fellows, beyond^vhich he can- not ppasibly ascend. After he h^ spent three years in the exhibition of uiij^recedentC^ , solicitude for humanity, He said^ " A new commandment M^: I give unto you. Love one another as I have loved you.^ This eomraandment, considered in connection with the parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, has shed divine light on the meaning of the word neighbor, and man's duty toward H im. The ■keynote of this new and inspiring revelation centers in the fatherhood :of God and the broyjjerhood of man. ♦ V -s,v-f^'^^*l-;*' ^!1=f-B!!^^^ .«'T.';*.^W.^--*"^ ■ 'i -- 126 SKKITICISM ASSAILED. '=t^- :/ ^ J. The Scribes and Pharisees brought before Christ a vvonmu who had Ih.011 taketi in the act of sin, and said : - " Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned." It was only the stern law they had in their niinds ; they had no compassion for the poor fallen woman, or any proper concqjtion of her great pos- sibility of beconi' ing in likeness to the angels. Hence Jesus^, knowing their w i c ke d 1 i v e s ^ turned and said : "He that ' is without sin among you let A him first cast a stone at her." Pricked to the" heart and wretched at their public exposure, they fled before this piercing re- I buke. Christ, looking tenderly upon the poor, trembling woman, appreciating her great possibilities, expressed flis Father's pity and forgiving^ love in 'saying: ■■ ■• ^'V- ■■ ' -. .. ■ ^ ■" % ..• ■■•"~' " Neither do I coildemn th^ ; go, and sin no raore.^^" ;^ • CHRIST S FBBT ANOINTED. b , fy ^ l»^ :" »> ■ ■ ,* " ■ ■ „ ' '' 1 . ».:-* ' m >> ►' ■■ ^/* -;,:., It, i ■' I,'- . ■ . " 1^ ■.,-.>•. ■■ ■ ' -if • 11 ^il'^HI .■.^^.;„v :--■■' ■■ ^'" '''■''■'■:■■' •;•./',*'•' •frJ^ |m| M ,' • ■ ^^i • , . . ^ ' "^f '< - .^^^ ^^k^E >■ tf ' " ■ ' ■ k ■ • ■*' i • " 'H. ^^ ^^^^^^K u • » !■'. . '"'• ■' -.^#' r . ■ -,■■ ■ !'■ ■ ;ll*v- • m ■PMV, -' |. '•''■■• '■:' '.■/■^ •■•■■■ ■ '» - . . ' ■ ■ *■ ' '- ■ . '"'"■. ■■- *■ ■ ■ ■.. ' . . . ■ ' * ^ '■■■: r • "^ ^ ' ■ ■.:,N-' ..M; i • ..•■-''■■ I ' ' 1' '.t. >* ^ " •■ ;,:'-■•■ - ..- ■•; >^ .^•':::«-:^^:-,'^-.--^^-^. . ■■■' .■ *. " . * .. -— — .■ 1* ■ • ■ ■•■/■■ '' ■■■ ■■ ■ -■ ' " . ■ ;'.-"■■ -S: ■.''." ■ ■■■ ..:. ^ -# • - - # ^ »^ . \ :•# » ■ '- - t^^ ' ^ \ "-1* - t •. ; •♦ . ■" \ ''^ ', ^ MKMcorr MWtunoN ran OMtr (ANSIandlSOTEsfCHAIITNQ.2) - ■? 1.0 u ■ 10 102 116 14:0 12.0 I I 1.8 IL25 11.4 iini|.6 1^1 ^ /1PPLIED IN/MC5E In? I6U Edit Hoin SIrMi Rochnlfr, Nm York 14609 USA (7te) 482-0X0 -PhoM (716) .2«e- 8989 -Fo» v ^ l\'\ \ • ■ V. i : • ■1 / •*. /■ ' c a \ - ■/ i' ' _ • , . — c If \ -■"" ."" " ■ - • ■ ' ■ - J- ■ .'•■-■. -' * . . ' ■ - ! -. m-.^ ■"':: A-::,',', . X. , • 'a. ' ' ■.: ■ • SKEPTICISM A-SSAIUED. 129 No doiTbt there then shone for the first .time in her heart a clear visioij of God's love for her as^His erring child, and ttiat she resolved henceforth to obey His commands, and be perfect as He was perfect. Or take the case of the fallen wonihn who, throngh the^story of GodVlove for the prodigals of earth, came pressing her way through the crowd to" annoint Jesus' feet as He sat at the rich ^ Pharisee's table. Christ's recognition and treatment of her srf ^ shocked the haughty crowd that they cried oiU : '* This man, if he were a prophet, woujd have known wlio and _ what manner of woman this is ! " . - 1 "WJiat manner of woman?" And then her story comes, the story of her love for her Rescuer, the story of her tears and kisses on His feet, and the spilled ointment whose fragrance yet filled thp room. It was so told that the poor woman herself, while she neces- sarily cowed witl? shame and glowed with love, thrilled through and through with a knowledge of lierself wholly new— told so that no figure of woman anywhere in history is to^ay more clearly presented. Phillips Brooks appropriately said:. "After the day when Christ told them the story which they could never forget, of how there was a man with an hundred sheep, and how one of them wandered from the flock and got astray among the hills, and of how the shepherd left all the rest and went and found that one, and came down out of the hills singing, with the rescued sheep across his shoulders — after that keynote of the vpr^Jousness of the individual had been struck, itWer ceased to be liferd through everything that Jefeus said and did. "When He sat at rich men*s tables. His proud hosts knew thi it was not because they were rich, but because they were men, that He had come to them. When He entered poor men's huts, they knew that it was not their poverty, but their manhood that He honored." \ ?%-4^^^^^ p ^■n 130- SKKI'TICISM ASSAILED. ■C ' Prior to Christ^s teachings, tlie world had no intelligent appreciation of Ciod's spiritnal kingdom, spiritnal resnrrection, or of man's sacred valnc and great possibilities ; bnt this Galilean Teacher, as tlic "Light of the world," brought them to light. And He was %m ■-3k.'' -^*ife•^ ],, ^ ^ ■>Oi < \U ^^^Ww/SmwlS SHEPHERP AND SHEEP. the first who taught the distinct doctrine that the earth, together with the burning stars, would pass away, bnt that the priceless soul of each individual would rise above thciif wreck and ruin and shine as brightly as the angels. SKHlVriCISM ASSAII.KIK >3I new light and beai^y. He taught that keeping them -.to the ktti^i , aiid not from the heart, \#uld not free man from sjii ; that all unriglit- eous desires of the heart were violations before God. •.. 132 SKEITICISM ASSAILED. He adopted the comniandineiit, " Thou shall love thy neighbor as tli\self," but the word " neighlx)r " gave a new and sacred meaning. He taught that it included all humanity; and as an example for all to follow, when in the very articles of death, He tenderly and tonch- ingly prayed for His enemies. Christ's " Sermon on the Mount," the praj'er He formulated, His parables and other teachings revealed a system of original doc- trines containing incentives to nobler life than had ever before been ^ presented. Hi§ method of teaching differed from that of all other men. He ueveJF reflected before giving an answer to the most intricate questiouf, but whatev(?r He said seemed to spring from Him as the living^fountaiu of truth. He never referred to secular history, poetry, ' rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy, natural science, discoveries, inven- ./Hr tions, or any branch of learning. He confined His teachings to - religion ; but iu doing so. He threw radiant light over the entire history of man and the world, that has acted as a mighty inspiration to nobler thoughts. He, taught the world as one who never learned aiV^thing from it, and 'was under no obligations to it, , « The more closely we examine the grandeur of Christ's exalted / eonceptions and profound teachings the more clearly it appears that He \\ as what He claimed to be, and that the iinm^iate source of His information was of God, who was revealing and'manifesting Himself "" to the world in and through Christ^^ Prior to Christ's appearance all nations yearned for abetter system of morals than the philosophers had presented. The}' had for generations .struggled to discover a system that contained incentives that would reclaim the fallen, but their efforts had failed. The learned philosophers, Socrates ^nd Plato, undertook to originate a code of morals that would incite men to higher and nobler living. When their labors had end^d, a complex system was pre- sented that abounded in close arguments and metaphysical discussions rAy^-^-^ ~i> T ^ j^ta^ifai ±..,£^SpBZ^ x^' >B1> j<^' SKHPTICISM ASSAILED. 153 that could be appreciated by only the educated, and did not Ixjnefit . the masses. They encouraged men who desired to live virtuous and better lives to retire from the world and lead an ascetic existence. These greatest of philosophers did not suggest anything that would be an incentive or that would have a regenerative effect upon the prodigals of their race. They discovered nothing that would call the abandoned to repentance or reclaim the fallen. Socrates and Plato taught the doctrine of immortality, but taught it as a vague, indefinite, and dortbtfirl theory, so that it accom- plished but little if any good. They suggested nothing that could aid man while continuing in the conflicts and temptations of life among the masses, and at the same time enable him to resist temp- tations and the evil influences with which he was brought in daily contact. What these philosophers could ^*,-^ .jTaT^-*^!*^:^ '. 'i.ywi^'nct^ - V' " JK'BI^itJ^^^?^^,'' 1 .)■» s > SKEITICISM ASSAILKI). (lenuuistratcs the regenerative force of Christ's ne\v teachings. On the (lay'of Pentecost five thousand were converted. .Since then ninlti< plied niillion*^f fallen men and women have Injen refonned through His life and teachings, and there are millions to-day who would willingly die rather than deny their Lord and t|ieir God. MAKV MAGDALENS AT THE TOMB. We press the question, How is it that a man of obscure birth, parentage, and of limited education, without divine aid, has accom- plished more than Ihe combined eflForts of all other teachers and philosophers of the earth ? ^ Socrates, with a finished^ducation, spent his life in an earnest desire to present to the world a better system of morals, but failed to "" TW^*^" ,^ ^ " SKKl'TICISM ASSAIl-Ki). •I »35 do what the ixK,r Na/.arcne accomplished in three sh..rt years of His public life. Plato, a learned Grecian philosopher, a s4iulent ..f SKTates, wlu, had received the iK-nefits of his preceptor's learninK and research and who had spent about ten years of his life in the investiKUtio.. of the different codes of morals, fiud who n.. donhi had stud,eenefit only the educated and rich. How can this astonishing fact and contrast be explained .m ordinary natural principles whett^We keep before us Christ's obscurity, His early education, training, and the convictions of the people with whom He was brought in contact, and especially when we remember that His teachings were entirely new, and could not have been learned or received from His generation, or from tH^past, from any Ikh.U or other source save from Himself as their origilal Author? It is only when we accep^fc truth of Christ's statements as to the divine source of His knowle^that we have a satisfactory solution of the phenofm- enon herein developed, "it cannot be explained by any known precedent or principle that operates in tlie development of man. „ By the aid of science the world has made rapid strides since the time of Christ's appearance and teachings. It has progressed in the modes and speed of travel, in the convenince and rapidity of communication, in the discovery of different gases, means of illumi- nation, and in new inventions, that added glory to our civilization ; but no man has improved on Christ's attractive teachings or His incentives to repentence and reformation. Improvements and discoveries have been made in every other branch of learning, but no teacher, philosopher, or moralist has ever attempted to improve on "Christ's teachings ; and during the last eighteen hundred years all have frankly conceded that they could not be improved upon, that they were sufficient to satisfy for all time the moral longings and spiritual aspirations of the human heart. It J"' '• f I J w PPWPfW K\(> SKKITICISM .\.SS^\II,J•;I». 1^ is adtiiittcd that no tnaii can arise in the fnturc who will surpass or even e(|ual Christ, and that Mis moral teaclMtigM, and incentives to •V V %' reformation are sufficient to satisfy the aspirations, not only of this, but of all subsequent generations. ■ • \ I I sKi;rri»^isM ash.mi.ko. 137 .In li.c liHlit of these iist.nnuliUK f-'^t^ ^^^' '''>^^' ^'''" ^""''^^ airre.U of skeptical ..pinions, presenting one nuKhty ehorns proehvtn.. in« Christ to Ik: the wisest of all reli^^ions teachers utnl the greatest <.f the sons of men. Hut they atten.pt to aeeonnt for ll.s greatness on the theony of exMtecl KCtuus. The assent of tjj^.keptieal wc.rUl has been voieed l)v Leckey as f(xlU)\vs : First. "It was reserved for Christianity to present to the world an ideal character, which thronKh all the changes of eighteen centuries has filled the hearts of men with an impassioned h.ve." , vSecmd. " That He has shown Himself capable of acting <•" all a^rcs, natiims, tcniperaments, and conditions." Third " That He was not only the best pattern of virtue, but the hiK^hest incentive to its practice, and has exerted .so deep "Wu inflnencc that it may Ik truly said that the single record of three short years of active life has done infinitely more t.. regenerate ami soften mankind tlu\n all the dis(|uisitions of phih.sophers and all the exhortations of the moralists c(mibined." / Konrth. "Amid all sins and failingsMvun^l -^^^ priestcraft, persecutions, and fanaticism that have defaced the Churc),. it has preserved in the character ami example of its founder an endnnnR principle of regeneration.'* Rou.ssean, iu discnssiuK^ the ^rrandeur of Christ's leaclunj,^s, declared: ; , o • '♦I will confess^iQ^you that the majesty of the Scriptures strikes me with adi^iration. as the purity of the (^..spel has its innu- ence oil my heart. Peruse the works of our philosophers, with all their pomp of diction ; how mean, how contemptible are they com- pared with the Seripture.s! Is it possible' that a ftook at once so simple and so sublime shptild be merely the-xvork of man? Is it possible that the sacred per.sonage whose history it contains, should be Himself a mere man ?" Goethe, after a thorouK^h investigation jifoclaimed : ^ It / 1 i, St; H. ' I • Ui^ ,. SKEI'TICISM ASSAILED. " No matter how much the human mind may progress in intellectual culture, in the science 6f nature, in breadth and depth, it will never be able to rise above the elevation and moral culture of Christianity as it shiiie^in the gospels." David Friedrich vStrauss, the distingujshgd skeptical philoso- pher, admitted that : "To the historical person of Christ belongs all in His life that exhibits His religious perfection, His discourses, His moral action and His passion. =" =" '^'^ He remains the highest model of religion within the reach of our thought, and no perfect piety is possible without His presence in the heart." Theodore Pivrker, bearing on this question^ remarked : " In estimating the character of Jesus, it must be remembered that He died at an age when man had not reached His fullest vigor. The great works of icreative intellect, Uie maturest" products of man, all the deep and settled plans for reforming the world, come from a period when experience gives a wider field as the basis of hope. Socrates was but an embryo ^age till long after the age of Jesus : poems and philosophies that live come at a later date. "Now, here we see a young man, but little more than thirty years old, with no advantage of position ; the son and companion of rude people; born in a towk* whose inhabitants were wicked to a proverb ; oX a nation above all others distinguished for their super- .stition, for national pride, exalt^on of themselves, and contempt for all others ; in an age of singular corruption, when the substance of religion had faded out from the minds of its anointed ministers, and sin had spread wide among the people— turbulent, oppressed, and down-trodden. ".\ man ridiculed for His lack of knowledge among this nation of forms, of hypocritical priests, and corrupt people, falls back on simple morality, simple religion ; unites in Himself the sublimest precepts and divinest practices, thus more than realizing the dream of prophets and sages; rises free from all prejudices of His a^^ _ ri^iv^;^aaf7fi-^^.-r^-^---Blgdi^giia"T";^;^^-°^ SKKPTICISM ASSAIUKI). »39 nation, and scci ; gives free range to the spirit of God in, His breast ; sets aside the law, sacred and time-liouored as it was, its forms, Us sacrifices, its temple, and its priests; puts away t^^e doctors of the law, subtle, learned, irrefragable, and pours out a doctrine beautiful "s^i^^^^^S^^ ' ^ = ''^c'^ ^^m idi^S II ■i- -1 • III : «4' 140 SKEPTICISM ASSAILKD. as the light, sublime as heaven, andytnie as God. The philosophers, thfc poets, the prophets, the rabbis — He rises-above them all. " Yet Nazareth was no Athens, where philosophy breathed in the circumambient air; it had neither porch nor lyceum ; not'even a \school of the prophets. There is Godwin the heart of this youth." Renan said: "In Him was concentrated all that was good and elevated in our nature. ''' * * Will great originality be bori^ again, or will the world content itself by following the paths opened by the bold, original mind of antiquity ? " We do not know. In any case, Jesus will not be surpassed. His worship will constantly renew itself. His history will provoke endless pious tears. His sufferings will subdue the toughest hearts ; all ages will proclaim that aniong the sons of men no one has been born who is greater than Jesus. "He saw in His death the salvation of the world; He lost sight of the hideous spectacles spread at His feet, and irrevocably united to His Father, He began upon the divine life which was to enter into the hearts of humanity for all eternity. "Jlest now in Thy glory, noble founder ! Thy work ife com- plete ; Thy divinity is established. Fear no more to see the edifice of Thy efforts crumble through a flaw. Henceforth, stripped of all frailty. Thou shalt aid, by the exaltation of Thy divine peace, the infinite fruits of Thy acts. At the cost of a few hours of suffering, which have not eyen tinged Thy great soul, Thou hast purchased the most complete immortality. " During thousands of j^ears the world will extol Thee. Ensign of our contradictions, Thou wilt be the standard around which will be fought the great battles. A thousand times more loving, a thousand times more ioved since Thy. death than during the days of Thy pilgrimage here below — Thou.^^lt become so com- pletely the comer-stone pf humanity that to tear Thy namje from ,3(1«-r-^ Hi-j" ■'iT*-^ r tf* y^-" ^v SKEITICISM ASSAILED. 141 this world would be to shake it to its foundations. Between Thee and God, men will no longer distinguish. Complete vanquisher of death, take possession of Thy kingdom', whither shall follow Thee by the royal road Thou hast trodden ages of adorers !" Christ has not only presented to, the world a life, character, and code of morals which have unmistakably accomplished more than the combined efforts of all other teachers, but He has succeeded SCRNERV OF PALESTINE. in giving a correot^ detailed prophetical history of the influences and effects of His life upon all succeeding generations. If the Virgin Mother story is true, and Christ was the "only begotten Son of God," it is but natural that He did possess a super- natural knowledge of the future; but if it be false, then there is no possible theory that can account for this mysterious fact. ■ When the time was approaching for Him to go-to the cross, and when, all the combined powers of His nation were arrayed against •^ S^'*' f 1 142 \ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. i Him, He prophetically expressed the most unbounded faith' in the triumph of His kingdom and in the spread of His Gospel. Hut a short time preceding His crucifixion, His disciples com- plained of the useless expenditure and waste of Mary Magdalene in pouring upon Him a box of rich ointment as an expression of her love and devotion for Him. He replied : ^ « " Let her alone. * * * She is come aforehand\o anoint My body to the buryiug. Verily,' I say unto you, ^A^J>eresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the \v;Jiole \\'orld, this. also that she hatlrdone shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." In confirmation of this prophetical utterance, what she did has been told as a memorial of her more or less frequently in all Christian Churches for more than eighteen hundred years. Again He said : " I 51m the LigHt of the world ; he that fol- loweth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." These declarations again bring Christ's knowledge of the future to an evidential test of fact^ and in confirmation of them we have before us the admitted facts of history, that there has emanated and shone forth from His life, character, and teachings, more light tjian has been manifested by all the combined teachers of the world • and Uiat for eighteen centuries of crucial test it is admitted that every man that hatk followed Him has not walked m darkness, but has had " the light of life." - ' The best evidence that the sun is shining is to turn and behold its beams; and the strongest and most conclusive evidence that Christ is and for centuries has been a moral a^d spiritual sun is to turn to every page of modeni history and see the light He has emitted. His lifework and influence have entered into and lighted up eXery noble and civilized event and influence that have affected man's highest and best interests, and if to^ay it could be extinguished, the Christian world would be left in comparative darkness. He propheti- sstmsissmeismiismmBms ' ■ . ■ . ^ " -■ ■ ' ■■.;". ..,'■1 ■• .*' ;t}| ■ ■ " ■ „ ■■-:.•■ '■■ - ' 4 ¥■ ■ ; . ■' .» .:..:■.; , . '■^u .^..- .'-'\",.,y'- . ..;..::_ • -^ -^ - . ' J^ Ar '■ .'S —■-*•■« -•" - ^ *"««*l« '-7'"'' 1^ , 1 * --< ■: -^' 1 1 / J|i 1' t \ 4 vt -'"■■' J^fci 4 k. 1 : ■' i /jhL ' ''"^^- \k il , . 1 KW 1. ' 1. ■■ ■ • ■ ^~ -« t»'» •^^ ¥ ^ a HHV MJiV'jr (► ■f i.i !i'> Tni: CKrciiiXKtN. 1 1 SKKITICISM ASSAILKI*. 145 clly said -. ■• 1. if 1 be lifted <-P 'rom the earth, will draw all .««. ""'" ^ He was lifted up, and the divine, attractive, self-sacrificing spirit that He exhibited npon the cross had shed a halo of dmne Iry upon His life's work ; there has been centered u. tins act of Ihs life a divine attractive capacity that has touched and drawn the hearts of n.ore „>en. women, and childrc-n to Hin. for ^'K''^" 7"'"" '" a spirit of love and devotion than has been called forth by all .the other leaders and teachers of this world. Other founders and leaders have Wn much adnnred and have had millions of followers ; but not one of then,, or all combined have succeeded in calling forth from his followers the impass.oned, self- sacrificing love and devotion that Christ has inspired .n the hearts of men, women, and children. He compared His new spiritnal kingdom in its Wguuung to a mnstard-seed. but prophetically said that it wonldj grow and spread until it should envelop the kingdoms of this earth./ Subsequent history verifies the fact that for eighteen centuries this spiritual kingdom ha^ grown and spread until it embraces all the progressive nations of man, and that all other religions are in a state of retrogression before its advancing civilizing light. It is an admitted fact that Christ's spiritual kingdom is to^ay making greater conquests in evangeli/ing the world than ever before ; that recently all the different evangelical denominations have met in coVn, and declared that within this generation the Gospel of Christ shall be carried " into all the world." ■ ..^_ It is an evident fact that the light of Christ's life and influence is being more p^ly felt and attfreciated to^ay than ever before;, that it is graduallT^rowing and ilB^ing in attractiveness, and that men are now willingly contributing hundreds of dollars for the advancement of His kingdom where one dollar was given fifty y^rs ago Until within this generation there had been written but few y 146 SKKITICISM ASS.VII.KU. ^v/- iMM.ks devoted exclusively to the evidence tlint |K>int.H to and eMtahHshes His siiperlinman, divinely attractive character; hut those now written would fill ii library. , . If Christ had made only one incidental rcfereiice to the future K'rowth and development of His kinKdotu, the evidential force of this proiHisitiou woiild not he so conclu- s i v e ; hut t h v many prophctiarf declarations ttiat arc sustained and have l)eeu ful- filled in detail clearly and un- mistakably estal>- Hsh the conclu- sion that Christ IM)ssessed a super- natural vision of the future pro- gress of His king- dom. Through- out His entire public career He expressed perfesui Klorifi^''!" NotwithHtsiiuliiiK the fact that Christ knew Ho was t«) HufTerun i^rnoiuiuious death without precedent in hintory, He instituted the sacrament <»f the Lord's vSnpiKT as one of the means of iKriK'tn;itinK^ the memory of His life and death, and in jK-rfect confidence and faith that in each successive j{enerati(m millions would he j^'lad to partake of this sacrificial communion as a manifestation of their faith in Him as theic Lord and their (itnl. When on the cross, in jK'rfect assurance and faith of His triumph, He extended pardon to the thief, and as a pattern to Ik- followed He pathetically prayed for His enemies. When standing' l)efore the ccmncil that condemned Him, the chief priest adjured Him to tell whether or no He was the Christ. In the supreme manifestation of faith, He replied : " Hereafter yc shall see the Sou of man sitting' «n the riKht hand of jwwer and comiii^ in the clouds of heaveJi." At that awful numient His faith in the triumph of His kinyfdom and the spread of His Gospel was calm, perfect, unconquered, and unconquerable. Never before or since has there been such a perfect manifesta- tion of the divine ! Wc therefore press the question, On what rational theory can this unfaltering assurance of triumph, sustained by a divinely attractive life, Ixj accounted for, if we deny that there was manifested in Christ a union of both the divine and human ? The combined evidential force of these facts leads to the lo^ncal and inevitable conclusion that Christ is divine, that His rclij^fion is divine, and that the Virgin Mother story is a sacred reality. It has, however, been suggested that Christ's knowledge of the future, independently considered, was not concln.sive evidence of His divinity; that Moses gave accurate information of futnre events that occnrred centuries after^vard. But the distinguishing difference between Christ and the prophets is manifest. Christ's teachings . fejj^^i^^!;;'-!' — T" r ^^f'Wm M^ AKKPTICISM A»ttAItKl>. i >* cnu'iiatt'd from Him txn their orijfinul miiircc, while th«r prophet* w- mliuiftitl iuHtruiiieut* in the hfttidn of the I^nl to j^ivc ti pro t • ■ ft- vision of the fntnre progress of His work in making a revelation' of Himself toman. Renan admits that: ,<* w % JlisirtAJLciE. - -^- HKRITICJHM AHfAIUKI). H9 '•Jc«n» jwd tu> viMiouH; r.'''. ; lJ_^ J ^ [ ■' 1 ^ A > ' " V.,. I U v» • "s^j^^r^^^i' .'^^sjpr^:^ m'^-fii^f'^'^f^mvm^^'^f "*• * , ^ '^^'i^-wfs'^ tp^ i-^-*, f-»s"«s-i ■^ ■^£^"'^;^=i-w'.x>^!Jp^tw9p' ■ "H-- V 150 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. m Prior to its announcement Jacob prophetically referred to the coming of a Prince of Peace. i » Balaam sang of a Star that would rise out of Jacob, and a scepter out 'of Israel. • Isaiah and other prophets Announced a conception by "a virgin," .'* a child born," " a Son giv^n," whose nanie would be called "Immanuel," the "Wonderful Counselor," the " Prince of Peace," the " Everlasting father," the " Mighty God," and that He would be bruised, scourged, and put to death ; but that the *' Holj' One" would not see corruption, and in the issues of death and the grave He would triumph and be glorified. . ' It is impossible to read this prophetical literature in the light of the Virgin Mother -story and Christ's, phenomenal life ^^vithout keenly appreciating its evidential force. The testimony of John the Baptist cannot be overestimated in the light of the prophecy of Isaiah : " The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway, for the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the'mouth of the Lord hath spoken it," When construed in the light of John as a voice in the wilder- nesi[ announcing Christ's coming, this prophecy creates a strong pr^ative link in the chain of evidence that tends to sustain the Virgin Mother story. John emphatically declared that Christ was the "only begotten Son of God," whose shoe-latchets He was not worthy to unloose. These facts, when considered in coHuection with the mysterious prophecy that a virgin would conceive and bear a son, whose name would be called " Immanuel," the "Prince of Peace," the "Wonderful Counselor," tht *' Mighty God;" and the equally unprecedented prophecy of Micah, "But thou, Bethlehejn Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He "■*,!>* f-^^ 'V F^ ""^■"■jSfttJf^ " pr I'-il Mm ">r--''?f|?f*l^- SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 153 come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel ; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. * "^ * For now shall He be JOHN THB BAPTIST. ''V hav / /^ I V V , vjun^jf^v^-w^f^i ^ '^'t'' V --It SKIU'TKISM ASSAM. I'D. ' S. 'lili I'. \U ',1 «■ f; 1 ^ ■'t t.' ■ H lOMN THE ItAI'TIST. I V »54 SKKI'TICISM ASSAII.KU. ■\ Si j^^rcat unto the cuds of the world ;'' and also in connection with the pictures of Isaiah, David, Daniel, Mal.ichi and other prophets describing His coming, and giving in detail His form, likeness, attributes, character, life, work and mission, would Ik; absolutely meaningless and wholly inexplicable in the light of history if thej' did not have specific reference to Jesus Christ as the " Messiah." Did Micah, without divine -hid, conceive the idea that there would arise a Ruler out of Bethlehem, whose goings forth had been "from everlasting?" If. so, what suggested such a thought, and. how can the miraculous fact that the historic Christ is in perfect fulfillment of this' prophetical conception be fexplaiued or accounted or on reasonable or rational grounds ? Jesus Christ Himself expressed a profound consciousness in . corroboration of these prophecies. In His intercessory prayer immediately preceding His death, He .said : ' /' I have glorified Thee on earth : I have finished thie work which Thou gavcst ]\Ie to do. And now, C) Father, glorify Thou Me with, Thine own self, witli the glory which I" had with Thee before the world was." Again, when standing before His critical euemies,' He^fear- lessly said : • -" " I am before Abraham was. . . . Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he .saw it, and was glad." * : This consciousness of a pre-existence, together with the many manifestations of the superhuman, make it evidentially clear that Micah, in uttering the prophecy, was not making an idle procla- mation, or indulging in guesswork, but that he was supernattirally inspired. ' '' Iflsaiah were not divinely inspired, how and on what possible . theory can his prophecy tlift a^. virgin would conceive and bear a son be solved, especially when read in the light of its fulfillment in the Virgin Mother story Und the sacred life that has emanated frnm Jt ? ^ SKErriCISM ASSAILKI). >55 / There is no answer to these qnestions so reasonable and satisfactory as that given by this great prophet, in ^asserting that what he said was by the word of the Lord. Did some impostor forge MARY AMD THE CHILD JKSUS. (After the Paiotlng •>» M<"'"») or guess the miraculous fact that through the seed of Isaac the nations and families of the earth would be blessed ? If so, why did he give God credit for this alleged covenant and vision t5f the future ? A ^,-.-.-— ■ .'',.>• • 156 SKKITICISM AHS.M1.KI). \ \- Ciin the rviiHoning ol Leckcy, Rciian, and other skeptics m to the solitary j^rcatnesH and grandeur of Jesus Christ Ik' solved on the theory of exalted genius in the light of this prophetical picture and of His admitted supreme life? If the evidence developed mere man in all the ni?" »'»« ^»» '^^^l*^ *" *'*'*"* Huch HtupendoUH claimn without th«w*nria riuhtfully JcclarinK him ■ \* insane. Such awful claimn are absolutely incmisiatent w^^h intellectual greatness and wisdom when asserted by man ; and therefore the fact that Christ has lieen able to so earnestly asser.t them, and at the same time present and maintain a character in perfect harmony witlj them, raises an irresistible presumptioh that He was what He claimed to K If this conclusion is correct, this consciousness was but natural ; but if not. there is no reasoning, precedent, or principle that can ejiplain it, or tell why it was that He could not only possess it, but at the same time maintaiiwa character consistent with it. Kvcry claim He asserted, every act of His life, every supernatural manifes- tation, His daily teachings, prophetic knowledge of the future. His Oo^-like death on the cross, are consistent with and blend into a perfectly harmonious, symmetrical, divine life. Christ possessed the best. opportunity of knowing the truth of these sacred claims ; .and He, having been found sinless and truthful in everything else that He assertlrd, and the evidence otherwise pointing so strongly to a supernatural manifestation, it is more .reasonable and credible to accept His version of this mysterious problem than that of the clashing, conflicting theories of the infidel and skeptic. • . > ^ , We repeat, if it be insisted that th^ Virgin Mother stol-y is unnatural aii^ miraculpus, we^urge and insist, on the other hand, that Christ, if He be not the prophetic Messiah, presents in His life and character a miracle that is more difficult to explain than that of His divine incamatii&n. „ " .. We have shown that the incarnation of God in Christ had its foundation in the demands and necessities of human nature, and for centuries prior to His appearance , such a manifestation had l)ee n ardently anticipated, and since His appearance every phase of Hii> J aMitMi^j^t^ a, I ilk- ivS SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. u If* » ! chtiractcr authenticates and confirms His claims. He sjiid : "The prince of this world cometh and findeth nothing in Me; " and that He always did those things that pleased the Father. Christ claimed that He possessed power to forgive sins, and His entire public career was either an expressed or implied assertion that His life was perfect, free from fault, sinless, and without spot or blemish. ' No sane human being has ever possessed sucli a consciousness : on the contrary, all have admitted their weakness and imperfections^, and have freely confessed them. Chrisjf's unprecedented manifesta- tion of character is in direct conflict, with the consciousness of all other men, and it can be solved only on the theory of the Virgin Mother story. Accepting its truth, a,ll ^ clear ; rejecting it, we are at once confronted by a miracle — ^^a problem that the ordinary' laws and principles of nature cannot explain. This proposition cannot be overestimated, especially in view of the fact tha,t the observation and experience of all ages demon- strate to a moral certainty that no man has eyer asserted or claimed equality and oneness with God, that he possessed power on earth to forgive sins, and at the same time exhibited a character in harmony with these claims. ' ' , ^ ■ - ■ • • ' , -Ji -,'■■. On the contrary, in every instance, the individual who has so asserted has been found to be demented or insane, his character has been" inconsistent, ando,in every respect out of harmony with such ' pretensions. We repeat, urge, and insist that this consciousness^f great- ness, sinlessness aiid divine perfection could not have so perfectly, consistently and harmoniously blended with the life and character^ that Christ has presented if it had been spurious and false, ot if He had not been divine. 1 This evidence diflferentiates and separates Him as high and far above all other men as the burning stars are above the earth. if, -T-. " T.~ =-., i;. ^vii-'sa."--^ -^^ -i'W ■^^S^^^i. »«"•.-♦' SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 159 He has not only presented a life in harmony with this consciousness but has by it fulfilled all prophecy of the coming Messiah, and placed in operation refining, softening, elevating and regenerating influences that for eighteen centuries have energi/ed and operated mightily on civilization and on man's highest and best interests- ana to 'such an extent that skeptics, with scarcely an exception, frankly admit that He is the greatest among the sons of men, and the duly one worthy of being adored ; ¥hat to tear His name from the world would shake it to its very foundation, and that between Him and God men will no longer distinguish. The logical conclusion irresistibly and inevitably confirms and sustains the Virgin Mother story as a divine reality. ■ 1 - As a valujible appendix to this chapter the jollowing article ■ from Munseys Magazine Jor June, 1895, is quoted : TYPES AND LEGENDS OF THE MAGDALENE. AUTHEXTIC AND TRADIT^IONAL RECORDS THAT TELL THE PATHETIC • STORY OF MARY OF MAGDALA— THE MANY TRIBUTES PAID HER BY MEDIEVAL AND MODERN ART. » No saint has come so near to the human heart, has^ seemed so deeply in sympathy with the sinful, throbbing wot d, as that ovuig oenfteKnner, Mary Magdalene. She stands for all a^es as she who was for^ven Lcau^i she^loved much, as the type of frail humanity redeemed through childlike faith and dependence. Pamters o aU aSsTave been flscinated by the sweetness and borrow of her dramaUc Story, and each successive ^school of art has chosen some part of her ^^"^'^^h^^S tradition made Mary MagdaW and Ma^ of Bethany the sister of Martha, two distinct personages ; but the legend that S been used by the artists of Europe is th^ one which BiWe students have gathered from the^cattered fragments p ^^^^ ^e New Testament, and from the mass of legendary incidents ^hat ^ surrS every one of the early Christians. This storj^says that slie ;Ta native of' Magdala, a district on the shores -^ tjie f ea °^^^^^^^^^ Sh^was the sister of Lazarus and of Martha, and the three uvea i '^fTiR'"'''*W'"f !?"*^^ ^ '.'"«* ?rT«~l SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. l6l together'in their^ticestral castle of Magdalmv^ Soine kgeiids say thit the three were of royal parentage, the children of Syr us. O n V THE PENITENT MaUDAUSNE. (From tht Palnlinf by CiUdo Reni.) death of their father they inherited vast Al.es, jew^^ the land, besides a great position. Lazarus became a soldier, and Martha ■ ., l< / v^ '^ 1 \ » t ! / ^ 1— I I .1 Jll m 1#^' .sKi.i'rKi>M .\ss.\ii.i:i>. lOI • ilx-clhc^ in lluir ancestral .asllc ..f Nlavi-lalnn, Smu-; IvjJn.U sav :• llul llK. llMvc were of v.nul. lurunaK-.- U.c duUlr.n ..I >> rn>. < »'■ >!• 'II s- ^ •rilK I-KNIIKNT M.\.NK '%Kroin ilie l'aiiitiilRby<.."i'!.) Km, , ■V. ihcWath of their tathcrthvy inliOritv^l vast vWh...j'^y^^. '''7'^''^u\ lamuVlcsidcs a Kvc:^t positi...., i^unrA.. hccanu- a n.Uhcr. an, not even the love of her crucified Lord could entirely take away. For thirty years she lived in the desert, fasting, studying, praying, and ■:(\ 'fl^'3p^^fFf'!Bf?W^»K**»*«-^B#S'i^*^ ^-^♦^"-►■^ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 163 Visited by angel^s Sl»e had long been regarded as dead by the people- 't)f the city, (jft' day a hermit, wandering in the desert, saw a » THB WKBPING MAODALBNB. (riommi*ho»of«»phie Company •ftitth.P.lMlnj by >IaH^^^^ . wonderful sight. Midway between heaven and eai|h angek supported her, that she might be comforted by the music from the skies. He :4.:.;„,^^„L^.,i_v ■v^'^^"^^ '^l^'^fW^^Kf-W^-^ ^f^J^ •V / i. w- >*• SKi"\a'TlClSM ASSAM. 1. 1 ». '"3 != "visilc-a l)v ;inK<-'l^' SIk- iKul Hong l)c-cn.RK'i' ^l'^' l""l'!^' of the city. .Uuc tliiy ii lii:¥inil, wiiiuWriUK m iIk- Xltscrl, >;i\\ a THE WF.EMNr./MAGnAI.K'NH. > (From a phot.^raph l.y the licrliii I'liotographic C.>ii.|...ny ..flpr the l'i.i..iii.B l.y Miiritlo.) ^ ".*■■■""■ ■""..■ - . " •■■ y ■ - - -f _ ■ . -■ .■_../■ - ■ Jf' ■ woiulcrful sijrht. Midwav iK'twceii heaven and earth annals sui>i)()rte(l die n ii gl^r he ecMnforted by the innsie from the skios. lle% her, that she n I! ■ rljl • ( I M Pi 1 -W^- ' "■"ft (' 'J^rsf^i-si'^F-! ' ' 164 c SKEITICISM ASSAII.KI). n reported what he had seen, and the saint was broujjht Ixick to Marseilles, where she died. " History shows, now and then, a ecntury which has lx?cn donjinated by religions fervor. The tliirteenth was one of these, in the sonth of France. The people thonght of nothing bnt pilgrimages, penances, and relics. It was a most propitious time to find the bones of Mary Nlagdalene, and some discoverer announced that her grave was at St. Maximin, near TJonlon. A church was founded on the spot, she was made the patron saint of the ruling prince, and became the object of passionate adoration. Sinners who did not dare lift their eyes to the Virgin in her stainless purity could bow before the shrine (jf a sister woman who had fallen and arisen. With tjie men there was a certain sense of chivalry iii their devotiotj^to the Magdalene. " The most splendid altar eve?>rected in her hoiior is the great Church of the Madeleine in modem Paris. It is binlt on the model of the temple of Jupiter at Athens,\and in form and^ii dedication it is a commentary upon Paris. ** No artfst has ever succee4ed in giving^ us the perfect Saint Magdalene, We have her as she might have kfoked iii her early girl- hood, before the awakening of her soul, juid we have her as a wretched, thin, and wasted figure, mournirig in the desert, as well as the devotional saint, sorrowing, but forgiven. " The characteristics of every coiintry are brought out in the representation'fii^ the Magdalene. Her hictures at various epochs might almost read the history of the timesy\ The Magdalenes of Florence iiave a light intelligence, with pleasiiig\ fates, like the women of the Decameron. Those of old Venice ^are Venetian courtesans. France has given us pictures of vvomenAho have repented but might sin again. The ^lagdalenes bf Robens arel fleshly and vulgar; those of the Dutch and English schools^are stiffly conventional. "Guido Reni was regarded as the painter above all others when his subject was St. Mary Magdalene. BVt in these days his figures seem more like classic Niobes than types of the woman who. like Davidson's nun, is ' sister/to the stars.' " The Magdalene 4af the legend had t^n the gamut of life's scale. She k^ew the heights and the.depths, arid she had chosen the heights. This noble; digliified eomprehension few painters have succeeded in giving her. Yet Miiriflo has put hope as well as sorrow into his Magdalene. There/are several ' reading Magdalenes,' and in most of these pictures A skull i^ introduced asl an emblem of mortality . ■t^:- npnsciu li^u". WIk-ii slic is\n-r)ui)0(l with ollicfs, it isalniost always ;is l.iv:ikiu.n the Im».\ of jiintmcut owr the feet of the Saviour, as sup- purtiug His inother at the f(X)t of the eross, or in that strikiiijj: seeiie TlIK M?yrKNlN<; MAODALENE. ^l null thi- I'.iinliiii, tiy I 1 llenmri :«t iIk- l(;inl) wfien Christ reveaU-d Himself to her in the one word, ' Marv!" • b »' i66 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. represent her. When, she is grouped with others, it is almost always as breaking the box of ointment over the feet of the Saviour, as sup- porting His mother at the foot q!' the cross, or in that striking scene tHE MOURNING MAGDALBNB. (From tlM PaiBting by J J. Hcnacr.) at the tomb when Christ revealed Himself to her in the one word, 'Mary!' - ' ' j» -v t '• • VH^ »*i»j^» t*«t <- ?">«'\p«ri ^ ,??'■.'' ^ 1^ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 167 « Tln^ro «re somfestrantre legends of miracles4)eff orated by the -r is^ sWr i^S„ s-|.La ^^^^^^^^ was answered. But the ""^^^^r^ .1,^ _„*^„ son was bora^ and the ^^e^rnVSerSer^^t J.;^^^^^ and .. a miraculously savrfpaW »h»g^^^3 Sn aThid under its a^l ^foI'vipoV wh^'srt'rL^nd. spoK .^^^^^^^ Magdalene." ^ Margaret Field. r <:| ( ^l ' '" 1 r ■■.'■'■ . I ■ -i^^'- ' ■ ■' ■ . . # ■ (.■■■■■... ■ ■■■ ■'1 . .. ■ . ■ . • y ;.- ■ 'l-^'-: . , - , ■ ' ■'' .■; ' '.'■.■ i . ■ ■ '" ■'■■ V ( .-., ;.^' :'.■;■ -V :■-:■: ' Gr4» * * ■ • ; j?i" - ■ ■ ■ ■ '■ ' s , ' ■ . . ■ . ■ ■. I - ^afe?U^" .. a2rf-i A*i ^aa I ; W . >^^ v3»^ •ir { ■-<■* ' ' CHAPTER IV. «• ■ i ■ ■ ' ^ . ^ \ '"«■'.■■ '■ THE CREDIBILITY OF THE BIOGRAl^HERS AND WITNESSES OF - CHRIST'S' SUPERHUM;\N LIFE VINPICATED. ^ ■ .. ■■> ■■• . ■, ■ , ' .■■ , ;'• , ' O avoid ihi evidential force of prophecy and its fulfillment in the character and teachings of the historic Christ, ''skeptics have attacked from yarious standpoints tfife credibility qi the biographers of His attractive char- acter as delineated' in thfe gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and joljn. Previous to this generatioii many urged- that the Christ of the New Testament had never- existed, and that His allege^ histofy was J)ut a mytfi or legend. On a more thorough investigation, however, it is now freely conceded that He was a great religious teacher, though it is contended By some that His phenomenal life and character may be accounted for on the ground of exalted genius.' . Other skeptics urge that .the gospels were written the latter part of tile. second century. after Christ's death, and claim that the. character therein delineated was largely constructed from the Mes- sianic prophecies and from Apocryphal writings during the first and second centuries^ It is evident, therefore, that skeptics disagree among- themselves as to the base? of their attack. ► Let us suppose the. following case in, a court of justice: The testamentary capacity of A being involved, B, C, "and I> are called as experts to disprove It. '*. . ; 68) •V V * Ct CI / IS le . - < r- • ■ -i~; Is • . \ a. > ' ( le. V ■ '' • d, f a rh r ly ' * ;d . ■ t '. -iff^'^TT'^rBf^ ^ SKKI-FICISM ASSAILKD. 1 6^ B testifies ti.at.inJus option. A d^^ capacity,^ gives mitail the reasons foi^such opinion. * ■ I y>^.^~ with those a:ssign^d:hy B. ' a X. / - ' / cis ' ■■ ■■■■.-' •» ■ ■ ■• .-'^ ■ — ,. ■ .-r-:. - .; -^ : ■' — . ,;■■-,. — -:^ — — - 4 -^ 1 >« t ' ^ » sJvii^:^ ^dGsSi:^^ ^^ ^g| gp ^^1 > 170 SK¥;i>T|CISM ASSAII.KD. D agrees with both B and C, and as the ba^is of his 9onclusion9 enumerates reasons tliat are in conflicUwith those of both B and C, ST. JOHMf HE KVANGKtIST. (Prom th» PaiMiitg by FralBtiMt.) In view of such evidence, an intelligent court wo^ld probably rule that it is not safe to follow opinioi^ based upon reasons that are in hopeless conflict. — — -■ :"— ^ — — ■ , — — — — -,^t-^;-, \. SKKITICJSM ASSAIUKD. I7X \ * - - If we examine the reasons alleged by different skeptics for their attacks npon 'the trnstwortliiness of tlit history of Christ, we «hall find that in giving the basis of their opinions they present clashing and irreconcilable theories, thereby weakening' the force of each other's arguments. "' * , ' The* history of Christ' has befcn written by fonr different men* The anthor of the Book of St. Johii asserts that he was an eye-witness tp Christ's wonderfullifei '■ ; »■ ^ V V • It is generally believed that the Apostl^Iatthew and St. John wrotQ two of these biographies ; that Luke, the companion of St Paul, and Nferk, the friend, of thus Ap6stle Peter, wrote the other two. The primitive Christians confirm this view^ as will be s?en by reference to Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and others. Three, if not all, of these • writers were eye-witnesses 6f Christ's phenomenal life.' , . It is a general rulr that witnesses when closely pressed on Examination will either corroborate or impair the force of their mdin testimony by 'the incidenttT statements embodied in their narratives. Accordingly, if Christ's biogiraphers^are trustworthy, the incidental facts referred to b^^ them will SBWoborate their ,main testimony ; and we allege that, on a thorough exanjin^tion^ they are sustain,ed by a chain of positive and circumstantial evidence that, on well-established rules in weighing the testimony of .>vitnesseis,, ^should confirm their ' ■ ■ . ■. ■-.■..•'-.■ ' " credibility. * , First. Christ's biographers tell us that He was preceded, by John the° Baptist, whp preached repentance and baptism, and was beheaded by order of Herod. The Jewish historian, Josephus, who wrote at an early date after Christ's death, confirms these statements, ' °Sf cottd. Christ's biographers alkge that Hewas put tx) death •by order of Ponrius Pilate. V Tacitus and Josephus both confirm this statement Tacitus wrote during the generation that survived Christ; and in referring to the persecutions of the Christians by Nero, 64 A. D., says: , — -^^— — . '' ' ^. '-., •:.' -' : •- . V [■ ' i i f" i # 17a 1 / SKBPTICISM ASSAIUtD./ t^ ■■! "With this view, Jie [Nero] inflicted the moat exquisite tor- tures on these men, who derived their name (itid origin from Christ, '^:i >?tiWt,%4^ 'Tih -igssfiaasuiasmiir;. TOMB OP JOHN THE BAPTIST AS. IT APPBAIIS AT PKJtSENT TIME, who, in the reign of Tiberius, had suffered death by the sentence of ' the procurator, Pontius Pilate." Ms- '# w 8KKPTICISM ASSAILED. »73 ^ Third. Christ's biographers tell us that He had a brother *whow name was James. Josephus, in alluding to the death «f James at the. instigation of Ananias, strongly confirms tliese witnesses, by saying : ** So he assembled the Sanhedrim of Judges and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James." TRAPITIOMAU PLAC* OI> THE APPEARANCE TO THE SHEPHERD*. Fourth. Christ's biographers incidentally tell us about a well over in Samaria, near which a temple had been built. Josephus confirms this statement, which is also corroborated by the strong evidential fact that the well is stUl there, and had existed longjnoi- i 'IS.. to Christ's advent. Fifth. Christ's biographers t^ll us of the rivers, lakes, and seas of that country, of the Brook of Kedron, of Bethany, of the ■ -4 W ^^» I M^ in SKI'fTMSM ASSAM. Kl». • Willi tilis viiw, he [N'crn] intliiU'd the nii»Ht v\y the seiUemt.' of m n lliv ]>riitur.itor. I'milius Pilate." ■■jK'-'-" I' ftKKI'TieiSM A»i}VAII,HI>. «;.\ *!SJ> Tl.ir.l. Glirisl'H hi..«rai.hiTs tell hh tli^ Hi- ha.l (t l.rntlur vvhuHC uan.c was .U^fe, JoWphus. in ullmlinK to th. .UatlK-.f Jauu's At tlic ii\Hiiji:it \\\ saying: r "t^J nuint' wu* Jamo^." ;uuas, Hirortjs'ly coitlinns ilusc \s\iiusst-«. I.Ud tin- Saulii.lriin ..I" .r\i«lKi"'#«l ''IuukIiI of Jcsuii, who was calU'.l Jf''^^^^ wIimsc tK.U..n..NA.. I1.AI.. ... a,K AIIMAKAS.I ^<> I IIK; SMI P(l HKI»S. Kourth.- Clirisl's lM..-rapluMs iiui-U'iUallf UU tis aV.unl ;i w^U over in Sun.aria. luar wlvis^. a un.pU- l.a.l Wc-n Wuih. -.l....pl,u. o.nnruis this stalcmrnl. NvlliVli is al.u c..nnlM.vuV..l Uv llu M,..,i^- cviclcntial lavt lliat;hc well is^slill thcv. an-l l.uUsi-^W -1 Ion.; pn..,- In Christ's advent. , • - » Fifth. Christ's hioiiraphc-vs tell ns of the rivers, hiki^. aii.l ,casof thai uMintry. of the nro..k .'j Ke.lrnu n| \Wj\vu^y, »\ the |5 Ml ^«1 on *• se i^Ay % '§ it 174 y SKEPT^jJISM ASSAILED. Mount of Olives, of the Mount of Crucifixion, of the roads that traverse that coiintry, and of the towns and villages and their relative positions to each' other — all of which are admitted historical facts/ ^ Sixth.' Christ'^ biographers incidentally^tdl us that Judea . was largely under the control of Roman power. Th^ also tell us of Pontius Pilate, of the Sanhedrim, of the customs, manners and architecture of that country, that the people were divided into dif- . ferent religious and political factions whose tenets and doctrines they separately characterized ; and it is universally conceded that these alleged historical facts are true, and that they corroborate anu sustain the evidence of these witnesses. Seventh. For oV^eighteen hundred years Christ's birth has been , annually observed by making Cli,ristmas gifls and by holiday rejoicings. The records of both profane and sacred history state that the origin of this beautiful custom is the act of the Three Wise Men presenting ^fts in honor of the appearance of the Messiah, which event has been graphically described by Christ's biographers. Eighth. Christ's biographers tell us^plf the Virgin Mother story, about the institution of the'Xord's Supper and the resurrection. And St. Paul, who had evesy opportunity of ascertaining the facts, in corroboration of these witnesses Said that Christ emptied Himself of the form of God and took upon Him the form of a servant. \ " God, who at sundry times and in divers 'manners spake in time past untp the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last yflays spoken unto us by His Son, VJiom^He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." \ Paul also* affirmed that Christ appeared to Him, a»d that .fivt - hundred persons at.otte time saw, the Lord after the resurrectioti*^^, that while soine^ had fallen asleep," the greater portion of tjiem were then Ijving witnesses to His resurr«, ., / ; This. statement contains strong inherent ^Vidente of its truth. Had it bcten f^lse, Paul could" easilj? have been expose^AS au' impostor, A ^ . V- A-' SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. .■^ ^'4 175 and thus the greatest herald of Christianity the worid has ever produced.would have been silenced. No man with PauVs s«rr9und- Ligs would have written this open, puRic letter, especially m view of >.^ -^< M S H ■ b. O K O as X o u u X •K, .■'■;X"":V ^^>-^. 'y*H^_^-- 5^^^^^^!!^„dea, had the« teeft^any J^ibUUy . :"^^■v V, '^ §1 ■i' ^:i^.^. V- ■; -V l*> SKKPTICISM ASS.MI.KI''. "75 and thus th. ^rciavsl i.craUl of Christi.uniy the woHa has ever UkIucccI would have been silc,u:cd. No man with PalU s surnuuuU 'Ls would Imvo wriUcn this <#», public letter, especially »u vuw ul the bitter enunty of Judea, had there boeu any p<.ssibimy.«fit^bcinK contradicted: , c . - . t^ i»lr It •J M i" - . ■ *» • 'M , ,' • 1 ■■■■A-:'-^^ « ' ■■ -I " ' i,. ' i S ''•-.:-'"' \L II /• — T?«'- 176 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. When this evidipnce is considered in the light of observiltion," and in connection with the visible Christian Church, which immedK- ately sprang into existence and has maintained an uhprecedented growth upon the truth of the iHcamation and Resurrection, it pfesents the writers of the four gospels strongly com>borated and sus- tained. ■ . ^ . • ■».,■'. " In the eleventh chapter of First Corinthians, Paul refers to tHe institution ofi(the Lord's Supper in the following emphatic words: "For I have received of the Lord that which also! delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the" same night in which He was betrayed, took bread ; and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said. Take, eat ; this is My ISody, which is broken for you : this do in^membrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, tlrhen He had supped, sa)dng. This cup is the New Testament in My blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the _J»ord's death till He come." ^ Wheij we read the narrative of this ttiiprecedented tran^actipn, written so soon after Christ's death,^ and in an open public letter to an organized Church, when exposure would have been easy and certain had it been false, its weight as evidence caniiot lie over- estimated. . \ Ninth. Christ's biographers tell us that pribr to His i^eath and resurrection our present Saturday was observed as the Sabbath day; and alt subsequent-history, in confiltoiatioii pIlEthis truth, states that the Sabbath day, now called Sunday, w^s changed from Saturday to the first day of the week and observed \vl commen^pratio|i of the resurrection of Christ. . v \ ^ • They also tell us that Christ earnestly sought tp abolish the idol worship that had perme^^ied the surrounding- gentile world. If to-day we ask what had banished this idolatry, its priests, and its temples, evefy historian, both sacred and prpfane, will answer that it ■4i ^i! *. m \ha Tc % %■■' ¥ ■ W{ ■ t E ■f*. V%: t, M^'sr'.^b-jr ■ f' <*!» • J,? !'• /'. *v A SKEPTICISM. ASSAILED. J3 ^ • ■ ■ J 77 has bel *^he<^^rouili ^he mfiuence of the Christ of the New tI^L^. corrobora'dng the testimony of His biographers. ^ Tenth. Christ's biogiiphers tell us that He is the prophesied l^essiah. and quote.His declaration that the hour had come when it 1 «ot necessary^ man to go to the mountains of ^i^^r ^ Jerusalem . w it h sacrifii cial animals ' to worship: ' that God is spirit, and as such may be worshiped anywhere— ^ at home or abroad. History, in • corroboration of these wit- , nesses, tell's 'us that, com- jencing" with > iriSt's ^e 'Jnd ^^^™^" ving^^^ugl* all siibsequent centuries, mil- lions of each generation have, been blessed by wotsfiiping God as a spirit. They also recordChrist's repeated affirmations that He came rSClgur^tel spiritual reign and l^gd^, which h^lflcened to the mustard-seed in its tiny beginning and marvelous growtV ^ # HARVEST IN VaLESTIMB. -'#?;■ ■/■ If ^iil^-^ ?fc '1 I ] three years 9(,ChAt^j^iIblifeirdlf^ \^ ^ growth? th^j^^^t^^turSes 7- jii«t6ry tfell us !that ^ active moral lipotf/^the world hajd l&^origin in the . . , , ,^ , ^_^.pachiiig:ij of Christ- History iBtas that this larif %c^|tir?i4 fi& s^n a* a light in Pal^stiiieW |l|Ubllc cai^ftti and tnat i^ has growrf brighter and ;pena|i^ted farther itfto the geiA worid as ye^ra have parsed, again corrolj^ating these ^psips*^hl have Hcordie^ Christ!s alleged deckrati^MAs that His 1*1 «f spiritual trutji woijil^, become .a light' untpth« jptitiles*.v r ff.^W '^i^^^**'^- Chnst's bio^i^phers allege tbat^ He taught the ' fath|^i;hood of Gdd, thatmaDr-isjiimmotta^, arid % ^ing. God's will ; ^can 'Hyef^ith; the hojy an^fe forever. In cbrrribp^ion of these ^^^' TWlttiesses Paul ^feserts that CJhrifet 'brought to light i^e doctrine of ^ ^mJE>r^lity>\uid profane history demonstrates that iprio^*to Christ's ' , \ t^aiijttg^it b'M n^ver been proclaimed as an establi^lied doctrine, V tjiou^h; S!Oci'ates,4*lato and others had taught it as a vague, doubtful ^Hlbeary. Christ^s church in its begitining» was constructed and has *ice been ^maintaine<]i upon faith, in theresurrectulfi jand in '*'" «l } immortality of tl^e soul as its chiefs tbmer-stone, I; - , it is to-dfty admitted on every hand that His attractive life ha^Hbne more to advance bined efforts pf all tllfPIKer religious teachers <■" world has'ever known. •V. lan says: • "This sublime man, who still presiijts eai history of thie-'^orld, * * * has caused His race to advance toward the divine." „ Twelfth. Christ's biographers tell us that He said : Hings and than the coil- ilosophers the !|r 6v€3- thfe e the.greatesitv \ n i • :JJ^_ -,■■ / ■ *^. :\ y ■^ "» % Y »»t , ; SKEPTICISM ASSAIL 179 . ' " I am the Light of the world. He that followeth Me shall jiot witk itt darkness, but shall have th^ light of.life." _ Sucli an assertion was a bold oie, for it removes His claims oirtW the realm of the theoretical and irings them Vrithin the range of a pr&ctical test of facts. \ v' ^ . /^ If in the history of the past and present we cannot find clear and indubitable proof that an illuminating light has been and is shining forth from the person and teachings of Chnst, then the author of the Fourth Gospel has stated facts that impeach His testimony. But, on the contrary; if we find that Ghn.t has for eighteen centuries beenman's great moral and spiritual illuminator, then we have this witness corroborated and sustained by veritable testimony that is unimpeachable. ^ - ■ TUB LIGHT OF THE WORLO. f at lhisroWfc»f#J^i»h carpenter would exert a greater l.ght and influetc, on successive Knmtions,t|,an the combined efforts of all ■rther\(rise,greatandig^meii. ,„»#^ . - -• Y -^ , ■■ ' It is a fact verified hy hiftonr that ChristwastHe' author of a new moral and spj^ttlal ligJ^tlhaVhas .iHumjtfated.gk progressive ra«s and nations for eigtoncenturi^. This fact ,sso_«W.sU^^^^ • blished that a mighf choruAf,t^|kepticslnvorld Wdesu » >tthithasemanatea*iiHi45oria.d^h.nf^entered ,„,_Jbnns snd phases of lifoVIt «id^ Sn^Ui-g and shying «lM«l, benevolent apd civilizing institutions and inspiring all the ■,V' ■.'■ >iV ■ ■ Lit'' ■ ■ ■* \ : ■■■,■. m^:. ■ ■\:./:i-*----- . wr^;!;i"^1T"*", •\ ■ --Wi^, -■•'■ «• ; '.*?;■■ •ss 1 80 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 1 ennobling thoughts, actions, and aspirations of men. Were His mighty influence and every event and interest that has been affected by it stricken from history and civilization, all that is beautiful and attractive in human thought 'and character would disap|pear. It would comparatively empty our libraries of all that is softening and refining, and take from our homes their purest and most elevating principles. ' But while the most civilized and progressive influences are in "S^a anarked degree characteristic of all nations dominated by the Christian religion, it should be noted as a fact of the greatest import- ance that all people who are entirely removed from the influences of* Christ's teachings are in a state of retrogression. ,. , Christ declared that His little mustard-seed would Ultimately" embrace the kingdoms of the earth, and 'Christianityilt)eys and is controlled by laws of growth and development that are in harmony with all the other laws of nature. * ' In this respect it is like every other oood work that has been accomplished — it has been progressive. Tms is the idea underlying our Lord's parables, among which are the " Parable of the Sower," •'The Wheat and Tares," ''The Mustard-Seed," and that of "The Leaven." All teachings that have their foundations in the moral laws of nature are gradual and onward ; and the day will come in the march of civilization when Christ's dominion and teachings shall be /universally re<^ognized throughout the kingdoms of the A^prltl'^s the progressive light of life. " ^'^,; • Thirteenth. Christ's biographers tell us that fi^ demands supreme love : that whosoever loveth husband, wife, father or mother more than Christ is not worthy of Him ; and He said : " I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me," nieaning that willingly submitting to death upon the cross as an exj^ression of God's" love for humanity, would in all ages attract and draw men to Him in love and devotion. ^_ M ■ >: y ■ m lis ted nd It ,nd ng in - he >rt- pf » is ny en r," he ■■■ -:M ral he be he ' \ ■ ds ■••*: ler be -^ : of to SR. (i8| -»-«i!L * W, '.'•»-v.f,».^ ^^Jf^"^ ^> iHi: SOWKK. IM. ■r ^lS:s ;ith an im^sloned iove and^^ith a. iu te nsc d e sire tn V perfect, as He was- perfect. _ __ .ML ^ •'';\:- *■ ■-■■.v- ,y,\ v»::-::: .V/<» .. :f- *y A •> A- ■A « ■ V' , :,■:•' »,r-:" ,;:-,;>:,■ IV-. l\l 1- :?:l S IE ^.m^.m<^ -.all font! to,«y de«.....n cvm,«r,«,«.. %».p^.et...l "f illSiferii.g to Christ verified ...d eo„fin„ed hy the history ^ t S lt^S«t ; ,u.d «e l,av.shi.«.i « it »o,l.d have bee,, ■ ;f 1 S^.^.s!bility for any of thi^se .it,.,sse~. t. '-^a, d O^c ^ ^It'of Ad, and alt ofthesrdifterent profth^ces, or ..f U,C nuijuy , . e"e« npon the hearts pf ,nan and upon eivib.atu,,, for the past,,«l. . ' ''^" '"^ttJ'^illi.fore; confronted w.th the auJrnate pn.^.sition.: , : Fi.st 1 t ChH.. eah;r posssessed t,t,s ,.o,d,et^d..,s,.. or^ ! ,d that (bese -witnesses possessed it .and gave Htn, eredlt | Trins latter alternate is i„,,„.lia.>le and not. e.,Ue„ded^ fo, b, , ""^ ""; i. theref.#e:evidentiaUy .Lr that ChfSm...p%-:-^' • - attribn i.;^- o Hin. thes.- difterent/propbetiea. .h.c,arat,ons ha.«. ; ■ honestly and fai.bfnll,' givH, a .h.e- and correct h«t,.y^,.i Hvs ^ pCnenaUUfe. .Xo character of testi.nony con.* n-ore st.on^ly^. ^ I \ > •if 4 .1 V V-ll i -si *. * -**- « • .;- ' •*<■■ ■V y I -T- ■ ,f . 1 ■ ■ '-■" ■ - 1 >: " 4 F t - >'. ■_ •' ■ ;'!*'-.^ ' s. ! ' ' 1 • < * • ■ ' ', » m 1 r •' * ^ . r 7 iJ6 SifeE J*T(^lClSXi A t».S. ^ 1 1. 1 II. confirni the cfedibflitiy" of tfecs^^^ than the evidential force of ' ^^heseniany welj defili^ They also r(^Cord Christ's assertion that He possessed power Q?i earth to forgive sins. , < < • The many evidential rays of divine manifes^tions that havfe emanated from Him lead to the in^itable conclusion that God was in' • Christ, revealing and manifesting Himself to the world. • We have shown: First. That it is conceded by both Christians and skeptics that Christ, iii|,tellectually and 'in the original light that He has manifested, is presented to the world as exalted far above all the* „ greatest, and wisest of men. This" strong evidential fact, being admitted, requires explanation. Can this phenomenal life be satisfac- - torily accounted for by the ordinary/ forces and influences that , energize in men ? If not, then the natural presumption is that it was •.the result of an extraordinary or supernatural power. When a proposition is in hanjiony with universal experience, we attribute it to the ordinary operations of the laws of nature ; but when it is umoiistakably true that a given manifestation is clearly ._ . . .._. ^ . - -- ■ ■---- -'■" --^i. :-._.. i-:T^-.- - ■ .^ vr -^-s^iS^jvr A*- 1 ■ "TU^' S-IVSBl.' |'()R«.tV''l iVii'if^ BPHV W' F. ■■''V% 1) V \ . i .. _■■' . I Li ( >* o " ) 1 -a-«.,.-W,»«, , .. a _«a!i«i?:j ''_..' V.^;i»»£-.r:Q:«. — U t^ .,..1 ... ^ ', A),:; ■ A - ■- • --ifjMti**! IJMiMjM^Mtj « • « » ..■ i ^ t T«/j X ^' {.yl'M*"^ ^■: Ki ' v„. a .■7 -^ 1' ] VI :fi. SV-,^-11 Kv 'v> «>•> i\ ^»^ *. * >r *:^- .:* 'i*\' ^ *' ■ » * - v '^S ' 1 r ■«..■ >l^ <» -Si, - -. o. i ,.• / . ) >- * T L, 1\' I SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 1^9 II ,' uLa the «alms of h»«a, experience in all a^e,, «e have p«««t«^,jU ■ rSe^y that can he acconnted for only o„ the theory of . .^pe^:,,^^ ■'^:'"''^rthat .o.e .e« posses- gr«iter intellect ^i^'^ V ^isdon^hl^Lrs, buAhepast history ..>.., verifier the^^ 1^ „" a limit to intellectual greatness and supenonty, and ttm..^ • ^^U, however exalted hi, «™"^-'"*,^" "tS^l^-! emancipate Wmsdf from theiondkions s„rro«nd,ng h« b>rtWfn.,^ , . T 1 A =„m«.al atmosphere in which he;was educated. ; •"^ "°^S:i tti one can exactly define the^rati^.^ . ; or theltent of the law. of natnre «^ich regulaje^e P;;^"-^;-. «nius vet theuniversal experience of man establishes tta^ed nord...ary h^U Th« answer does not meet the ,..estion or s,l« the mys- LZTLblem. Jesu. Christ was either the product of ..ord,nary, ' tZl ^ or He was the manifestation of the snpetu^tnra • H.s iTsIa" character that has perfectly and successfully ,g..o«d ; n«nts of^ birth and education, and ^^J^^;^ A- .i,;. fort that He. was born atnd. educated in .pie narrow . — L^S exclns-veness^nd .li«iou,3H«otry and; "fanaticism. v.' 4« /' 7 ^ s •*^ ,' - «*■ ^■^,^:-< .:: -O' ^■]i i 'iM; '■--Ui. ■I '\ l*«' 190 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. Mohammed was a great teacher, but he never emancipated himself from the limitations of his birth and education. The Koran clearly proves that despite his remarkable genius he was unable to cut loose from the influences of early environments. His entire teachings are stamped with tlie strongest impress of the Arab mind. - '* In the case of Socrates, of Plato, and all other great teachers, we have the same fact "Clearly demonstrated: not onfe of all the number was able to entirSy free himself from the moral and spiritual atmosphere that he breathed. . v" V 1 , ^^\ ^- ' » •■.' — . — ^ • * „ . y 1 J ■ J ^aea^n^ /a •m^ .'r^f^Kftmt' 'jr . ".■".■■"'7^»yjf .,£*S:S-« C* ^-W-^pf^ '", !-<«aji5'|!- *'- t l» /■ SKEPTICISM ASSAILKD- 191 All were nati6nal »nd local W«. and except th. Gal.l.an . t«lch^*ho at one bound freed HimaeU from every «-."»".«« iSented to the world in Himself the only great cathohc leader - orhum." ty. All others c6„fined their teachings to the.r own nat.on Id Tnetf the striking contrast, between Chost and the ancent pwtlher. is that His mission was as broad and comprehens.ve ^ h„,;rry itself, while theirs were confined to the ril.^.»w l.mus of their own people. • , — - > :^ s, .\ ^j 41,0;, tMrh- Another ^Ung contrast is that t1.ey addressed th«r "ach i„„ "t^ those of mankind who have a n.tnral tendency toward v^rtne" They despaired of ever accomplishing any good u, behalf . „ t^' mor^ly dei^Lved. Jesns Christ, on the contrary, w.th calm,. assulTe affirmed that He W come" not to call the nghteons but assurance am ^^ML, the supreme consciousness of bemg trr l^TthX «gene3all reWatibn. He con.menced His t; af ^ S icaS -Hinners. In His thrilling charge to the, ISipltHl commanded Lm to go -into all the world and preach Hfs £.el of peace to " ev^y creature." baptising thein m the name ^f "tVie Father, the Son, an* the Holy Ghost." . °'- %Lc:n;e^ianstha^h^^^^ en— d concerning their t..pe«tive missions were as. widely separated as at^e he ITes The phil^phex^^ission was to their own nat.on wh.e the po es. P F" ^ confessed their inabiUty to Christ's was to the worW. iJtt.e> ircc jy imnrove or benefit the morally corrupt or degraded, while h|e eXsed -boundedffaitK in beix^ able to put into operation .noral r^n.! forces sikcieiit to rescue the lAost depraved sons and and spiruua forces Ijg^^^^^^^^^^^ holy to higher ■ t:^^tc^^slK-^ He has miraculously triumphed.: de^es y hoi ne^^^^^ original light that Chnst The intelle % 9^ ^^ ^ ^^ ^^^ ^^.^^^^^ encrgt.ing Icenturtes exerte^ upon civilization, brought into the worl^ effects they have for eig m ^-•i^x-Mz -"•s^" '~~ ■ ifyngW' ■ ■ f^% . ^W^'T^B^ ^^t —mmnr^^ It. % % I 192' y 8Kl{»>TICISM ASSAILED. greatest and wisest w6n, and thereby raising a clear presumption ' tliat this phenomenal life was the result of a superhuman mani- festation. / "• ' Second. , Christ possessed a profound consciousness that He V was #ie " only begottett Son of God," that God' dwelt in Him and He iu God. According to the universal experience of man in all ages, no individual, save ahd except "^Christ has ever possessed such a con- sciousness without being declared insape. In all history He stands solitary a^d J^^one i|S||e rational possession of such consciousness, ' and iit the -'^^"^ JwUSp presents a character in harmony with these awful claims. ''"^H^^w In this statSipit of admitted facts we are presented with a moral miracle that cannot be accounted for by any ordinary known law. If, while possessing the greatness, wisdom, and original knowl- edge that is to-iday conceded to Him, Christ were the product of j;he ordinary laws that energize in n^nkind. His consciousness would i have been in harmony with the fact, for the self-evident reason that if His consciousness were false anfilipurious it would have been the result of an insane delusion or hallucination that would be absolutely inconsistent with such solitary greatness and wisdom. We are, therefore, forced to the conclusion that Christ was not the product of the ordinary forces that energize in man, but that this /mysterious consciousness and phenomenal life were the results of a superhuman origin. . r. Third. Christ's life was God-like, perfect, without fault or sin-, ai)d was therefore in harmony with His intellectual greatness, wisdom, and profound consciousness of a divine relationship. ^ , Testing His lifcf^y the natural laws that apply to all other men, it would have beep an impossibility for Him to have possessed this consciousness' unless His life had been sinless. All other men have sinned, and have possessed a realization of their imperfeclions^ This phase of Christ's character .ushers us into the presence of a . WF ^A te* '" ^^Mf^Hii* ^^^ ^"TT^t^srEf "1 s. CHRIST TEMPTED BY SATAN (»93) ' ~ I r.ii iiiiiUiiiliBttfe^ Tiwfiii iiii ' : ' : .. f.., ^f \ ■ ■ , ,• - ""1 ^^■ ! " . * »i • '.' . . ' . • ' ' '.. '.'• ■ '; .'• ' '': ,* ■ . ■ . • , rf .' 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" ' ?"n ' ■ ■■ • / * ,j;j ''■■■''■■"■ ■•■^' ■ ■" '■^'"♦"'^"■■-■'•^^'^ ■/ .'.•■•:■•:/. ;_■:■■ 4 . . r:t'^,.^^ H,^ ^ an fif*- Q ■«??■ MMMCOrV MMNUTION mr CMAIT (ANSI ciVid HO TEST CHART No. 2) 11.25 U 1.4 1^1^ A /APPLIED IM^OE Inc 16M Cost Moin StrMi Rochntn. Nm rork 14609 USA (716) 462 - OJOO - PlKlM (716) 268 - SM> - Fo« r t\ Jt» \ (■■ - i , ■ " • 1 ^ . r ■ «• - ■ J • ' • ■ * ' ■ *■ < - ■' ■ » h " ^H — ■ m\ ^^^■HH MMM^HMj ■^Hl j^ljUuullJljlUJL^un B B ^ .i '> jZ^ 111 cc ni / s«. 1. .J>'^' '* •/ ffl-vi-rrci ^Ki* j*)"*-Tf^ T am, -ff\-"^^T *■ f SKKl'TICISM ASSAILED. 195 A 'f- \ - V^. /'v:>>^; moral n.iracle that widely separated Him from all other me«. The conclusion that this exalted shining character is a superhuman^ manifestation of divine perfection is irtevitable. ^^ \Fouhh. It is conceded that Christ has not only presented*. -\ ' -— ^"^ perfect pattern of virtue, but that |, He has by His 4ife of love and self-sacrifice in- <(pired the great- est incentives for *^ others to follow the pattern. Many men haye W^ a limited degree become patterns of vir- tue; but during the entire his- tory of man we have only tliis one character that has been the great, inspiring motive and in- centive to lits practice and to AND HE, BEARING HIS Cft0SS, WENT FORTH. ^ thc attaiunieUt of a life of holiness. Only 4 the theory of the supernatural can this unique and solitary manifestation possibly be accoujited for. Fifth. Christ said: " I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men untc^m*- We have shown that His attractive life and/ >.* .,. ^.•.- T^- '-^-_-.«^ ;,iK^i^is;m^.z \ ■1- /■ ■■.'»•'. , t- 196 ,x. SKEI'TICISM ASSAII.KI). willing olTcrinjr of Himself upon the cross have inspired impassioned self-sacrificing love in a far grqatcr degree than, has been called forth by all the other leaders and teachers of men conlbined. This alone creates l^etween Him and them so wide a chasm as to strongly indicate a superhuman manifestation. " Sixth. It is conceded that by His life, c.haracter and teachings Christ created aikl inaugurated a spiritual reign and kingdom that ' started into operation moral and spiritual influences that, energizing as a mighty force, have accomplished more in advancing man toward the divine than have the influences of all other philosogljers, statesmen, religious teachers and founders. These unparalleW characteristics miraciflously separate and differentiate Him from all other men. T Sevehth. Chrisf, with His divinely- attractive life, is the only great teacher who cannot be separated from His teachings without impairing thqir force and value.'^ He said: "I am one that bears witness of Myself," clearly meaning tliat the supernatural which shone forth from His God-like character was evidence of ^lis divine mission. Therefore, to disconn^t or .separate His divinejife from His, teachings would greatly impair their value. >^ Again Christ said: ' ^ / "I am the light of the world ; he that followeth IMe shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." This light does not originate alone from His moral teachings. It is true that niany of His teachings were new. and original ; but take from them the evidential facts tending to prove that thej' have emanated from a divine source, and the Christian Church, with its missionary and evangelizing spirit, never would have existed. The central fact in Christianity, that -differentiates it from all other religious .S3stenis, is that its entire inner life and cohesive force have been maintained upon the divinely attijactive character and history- of Christ. ' ^ • «*■ A , \4^- f-±lSi-M!ki^'a N-. A ■^ ^»^&r-il fe J ig'i Ajj^ tef'JJii.jX ."y h\ tV fc i'M SKKl'TICISM ASSAM. HI). 199 Christianity is unlike all other religions in that .t does not depend t.pon a compilation of moral precepts or dogmas, or m a r.tnal, bnVthat it derives its life force from the evidential r:^s of d.v.ne light that center in and emanate from Christ's character. It .s tins that has given to His precepts, teachings, and commands energu.ng force, and that has clearly and nnmistakably elevated ChnstuuMty above all the other religions of the world. • . j ' Moral and religions institutions without «uml)er have existed. Take, for instance, Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and Hrahmanism Two of these have known founders whose memories are held in great respect and reverence, yet the essential life of each o these systems is so completely based upon «r embodied in a col- lection of moral precepts and dogmatic '^ungs that the persona founder might be disconnected or remo^' without ,n the least impairing their fundamental principles^or their moral regenerative effects The same may be said of all other religions except ^V Christianity; but take from that the attractive history of Jesus Christ; and the rays of light that have emanated and are te removed, its arch and its whole superstructure would lose their cohesiveness ' and collapse. . • t. ^ ni ■ f If history verifies any one fact as a certamty, it is that Llinst has exerted and is to^ay exerting the most potent influence that has ever existed. We therefore press the argument that the sole reason ^ for this is because He alone Kas been able to present to the world a divine attractiveness that is capable of penetrating the human heart and exercising over it an irresistible moral force. It is this that has rescued multiplied millions of the abandoned and depraved prodigals of earth, that has inspired the holy to higher degrees of hohne^, and that has caused the wisest and greatest of men to bow before Hun aS Lord and God. I > 2t)ft SKHPTICIS.M ASS.XII.KI). il It is tlK'r\^<)rc clear that the imM>f cnihmlics many evidential rays centering' in and emanating from the person and character of Christ, and that each of them presents a mystery that the ordinary known laws will not acconnt for. When the many difTerent phases of Christ's character that so perfectly blend, harmonize with, and snpport ^'ach other, maintaininjr His divinity, are considered in their combined strength, a chain of evidence is developed that clearly snpports the credibility - it) I correctness of these narratives \\x all mtmia . ,,, • .v . f ; ... f l.-it whit thev tell ns concermuK Chnst h raises a strotjy? presumption that wnai uuy life character and teaciiinns is also true. , , • . , , But 0,0 <,uos.i.... .s to »1,v..K.r .his ,,iogr..,,hu-.>l h.s.n.y .«.■ t„,c „r se aJs .u.t ..s. .ta.c up.... .he cvi.U.„.iaH..r«. .....1 v., uc ;.h,s ,,r.s,.,up.io« ; for in .heir ac.U..eu.i..us o f Chr.sC, h.s.ory H.s BOATMKN ON BKA oil qALILfB. - - - »■ ■"■■■'''■■.,". biographers tell us what He taugUt, giving in'detail His f rabks, t™uLd prayers, Senuon o„ the M«uut precepts, c«..,,c...s and the doctrine of His new spiritual k.ngdon., wh.ch tne, .jlkgc '■""'Tliave shown that prior to Chrisfs career no suchluingd™. teachings, or doctrines had ever l>ee.. announced ; and n .^conceded '^emm'^ T»i ao3 HKIvITKISM AHH.VILKI). hy all that it would have 1 hav e ori>{inatc(l and attributed tli K'cn an in«|K)s.sil)iIity for tlicse wit nCHHC.H to sscs accomplislu'd this would 1 the part of these witne cnl histories; and tht "one. Indeed, the tl cm to Christ as the author. To ha \e lavo re<|uired collusion and c«w)|)eration o»i in the writing of their respective hioKraphi- re is no fact more certain th an that there was «e<)ry. In the light of the concl re is no basis whatever for'snch a supposition or nsive evidence bearing on thi.-« question, the grejit skeptic, Renan, has forcibly said. "Jesus founded the religion of humanity just as Socrates fonnded ph.losophy, and Aristotle science. There was philosophy before ScKTate.s, and .science l)efore Aristotle; but since the times of Socrates and Aristotle, philosophy and .science have made inunense progress. ■" - ■■■ Sitnilarly, iK-fore Jesu.s religion had passed through "•any revoluti.ms, and since Jesus it .has achieved a great conquest- yet we have iiot advanced and never will improve «pf [cHUH. Heuce the iuimense su- / ]Wriority of the gospel H among the writinj^'s of the New TestiP mcnt. Hence the painful lower- ing of sentiment we cx|K"riencc in passing from the history of Jesus to that of the apostfes. The evangelists them- selves, who have transmitted to us the image of Jesus, are so mucli beneath II i m o f w h o m they speak that . they constantly disfigure Him, CHRIST AND THE SLKKI'INC DISCIPLES. / not being able to attain to His height." ' Miss Frances Powet Cobb, in discussing the genuineness of th e gospels and the sublimity of Christ's teachings , said : — __ 1 / \ '^■*\,^^ '# 'i e^'r'-^'"i?^Vli^|^?-^-<'n-Tfc-KrT5«-^?s^qT#rmr'i^^ ^ w *' r^ 204 ^KK1TIC7SJI ASSAILED. ^ ' T'"""K"..-.t..roft.,c Christian movcnu.,,. ,„„.„ l,„o been c. greatest so,, of Hi. ,i,„e, a. of all .i„,e. ,f He did not speak tl,„se words of w.sdo,,,, w.^o eo„,d have recorded the,,, for H.C >" In the words of Theodore Parker: . . ' " It would have taken a Jes„s to forge a Jest's •• ' .en..rkfd''""si;'an'" '"""""^"^:' ""''^^^' ''"''- «-«• f-^'y iTdee^ ,nv frti ,-IT"""" '"=' ™"g^"-> '-'ory a ,nere fiction? indeed, ,ny f„end, ,t bears no ,nark of fiction. On the eontrarv ,1,. 1-tory of Socn.tes, which no one presn,nes to donb is t, To 'w" attested as that of Tesiis Chri.t « i ^^^ ■ shifts the ^,ffi u . ^""^'^ ^ supposition, in fact, only snitts the difficulty without obviatiim if it is mnr. ; ,^/ that a number of persons should ajel^ X 1. 1 T"t that one should furni.h the subject of it Th Te " ' i '^ "^ incaoablp of fl,» r .• ''""J^" »» 't. 1 he Jewish authors were ncapableof the diction, and strangersrto the morality contained in occasion by the following unexpected speech,'that a ilh^d- hi hearers and produced a prolonged silence • :^-^tonished his ' either il'XL""'''' ^"'^"""'' ^^ ^ -"^^^M 1^ now nobody, either in France or anywhere else, who could write and sne.t , .l -e an and talent. Notwithstanding all the bl^lt^ ^^ fnd a th ' '" 1 """^' '' ^" here-to prepare a tale so simp^ and at the same time so sublime and so touching, as the tale of t^.' passion and death of Tesns Chr-;.^ u- u , *"^ • which nint ' '''^'''^ producer, the same effect i::.rs «-- r=; -r - '•'- - •- . ative ff !! "^V '°"'"'"' *■"" """ "" ''"= ""■Wned and cooper " ative efforts of the p-rpifpcf o«^ • .. ,. - «-o-oper- ^ I tne greatest and wisest men who have ever appeared -^ ■1 . + 1 \ i ! €: J fC„ =i*i iff'M»i' "^ ■ '^t>9) -^r. U : •r^'^^t "Ti t ■mtzvn' ir ClVl trir ^ llw' ■ f ... .■■. ■ ' . ■ t . ■ L^ ' . 1 i ■ ■/' ' ■ • • " . . ; ■ ■ **'^ \ . 4^ ' 1 \ . ' 'f ■ ■ ■ -^ . 1 1 ^ -s. if- '^ ' ■ ■ b • ' ■■ . - : • ' " ... 7 , . ■ be 1 1 A:. ' .'"."■ "rf^ '.■ ' ";■'..':. ^'-r^ ■■.:-:'■. 1 '^ ' * ■ . ■■ - '■.,■■ ' ■ ■". Li :■ ■ .. - '"'.■■;,■ |A|iajgit 1 ^■^■rxi-vBW ¥"" "■'Wipn^" ^■B;^p^WE'nn sKKi'TicisM A.ss.\n.i;r). 1 1 "Third.— All the civili/iitidns of the past and all existing civili/utious tcKlay worthy of the name have been based on the doc- trinal and moral principles of the Bible. " It is time enough to surrender our Christianity when some better system is brought forward to supplant it. # ■'^i^i w 3^f-iSBP ' "* ^ ^'^^s^y - - - ■» -i-,s!s?^s,-gii|^ z. --™^^-^': '■T-v;^^ ^3Ksi!5m..s^j] ai3 «| iff- r I 8KKITICISM ASSAILKI). •' I^t un transport ourHclvcs in Hpirit to the dawn of tnc ChriNtian era, and let ua stand in inmgniation on one of^pjitfan Rome's seven hills. We sec at our feet that immense cityleeHinitf with a popuhition of aljout three million inhabitants. We «*ftserve that city dotted here and there With idohitrous temples, an(14mhes to ' false Kods arc erected at the comers of the streets. In tlfe words o^ « ' the aix)stle of the gentiles, 'Thev changed the glory of 'the incor- ruptible (;, f f y the Jen of -t cle but V ere rid to lat Its , .' ni ; ..; .. ^-^ ■ me . ' d's au * ■■*. 1 |. :„• 4, ■ THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS. (ai3) » T"- .'J - ( T- .11 Ml : liV ^*4v I .i>^ tllK StlAlM >\V MK rilK C+COSS , ^ ^i^i*.r» ■" ■- |~ » . • "i'-^ir^ -»- *»'» J^i■^^^■JPVly^'tf^i^^tr■^^lf^!mm'^/l^e^'^^ ^w ,><}:*'.' fi'r^l/'f - > " . a tl 1'" - i: ' V. -.." , ■ . - • e ■ ii s 1^ J ■ ' . • . - ■ ■ ; I I c . £ i i'. ■ i ■ ' ■ . " ' ; • ■ " •' -, ^ - t 1 r «. J 1 .1 f- * -j' V* ■ i . ■ - ■; . . ' 4 ' T ■■■■ ■ ■' ■■' '' JH ■ ■ ■- ■ / 1 '' "■" .: '. •'' ■ ..' ■■■■''. ■ ■ ■■ '■■■ _ .' i-.t -■■• ■.;■ ■■ ■' .,, ' ' ■ ■ ■;,■ ■ „ ■ ■ k-r /■- ' ■ ■ ■ ' . .' ■ . ' .M^l BMHl SKEITICISM ASSAILED. 215 "First, the Christian religion gave the pagan world a rational idea of God. It proclaimed a God essentially one and self-existing, a God existing from eternity xim eternity. It spoke of a God who created all things by His \^asdoln, and whose superintending provi- dence watches over the affairs of nations as well as of men. ; It spoke of a God in6nitely just and merciful, infinitely holy, infinitely wise. , "Second, the Christian religion not only gave man a sub- lime idea of his Creator, but gave him also a rational idea about; himself. Hitherto man was a mystery and a riddle to himselt. He knew not whence he came or whither he was going. Ihe Christian religion gave not only life to his understanding, but peaee as well to his heart. It brought him that peace of God which passeth all understanding and which springs from a conscious^possession ot the truth. It brought him a triple peace— peace with God, by teach- ing him to keep the commandmejits ; peace with his neighbor, by en ioining the virtues of justice and charity; peace with himselfWjy instructing him to keep his passioits subject to reason, and reason subiect to the law of God. r ^1 " But it will profit us nothing to be enrolled in the army ot the Lord in the Church militant, unless we are personally clothed m the panoply of Christian righteousness. The only victories to be put to our credit are those that we personally achieve. . • . '• Ail the works of God have one striking charactenstic, they all bear the divine stamp of individuality. There are no two stars alike in magnitude and splendor ; there are no two leaves of the forest alike ; there are no two grains of sand absolutely, identical ; there are no two human faces alike. In this vast congregation before me there are no two dispositions in all respects identical. Every one of you is a world in yourself. " God loves each of you personally. H^ does not contemplate the human family in the mass as we regard a heap of sand. He has loved each of you with an eternal loye. I always admire the remark- able utterance of St. Paul: 'Christ loved me and delivered Himselt up for me.' He does not say Christ loved us, but me, as if to remind US that Christ's love for Paul himself was as strong as if concentrated on himself and not upon the whole human race. And as God s love is centered on us, so should we center our love on God. \\ e know where Christ is to be found. Let us ask Him to come aM reigu over bur souls— intellect, will, memory." ./ '-jfJUI- '' •>■( yt:,n'y^U I ..^'" > CHAPTER V. / AT THE MOMENT OK THE BETRAYAL JUDAS POSSESSED SUPREME CONFIDENCE m JESUS CHRIST AS THE MESSIAH, AND HIS MOTIVES HAVE BEEN MISJUDGED. HEN John the Baptist announced the Kingdom of God at hand and. mtro- dpced Christi?as the son of God, the Hebrew nation was ardently antici- pating the coming of a Messiah. The superhuman manifestation of Christ's life inspired his disciples with lin- bounded faith in Him, but the aggressive^course pttlisued toward the doctors 'of the law and the leaders in au- thority brought Him in conflict with the rulers. They had construed the prophetic "Messiah" to be a divine King, who as a couquenug hero would come in the name of the Lord, re-establish Israel, and niamtain a throne of imperial splendor. They believe that Jerusalem, with her buildings constructed of marble and her gates of pearl, would be the capital, from which would issue a reign of universal peace and righteousness that would embrace all nations But contrary to the ardent hopes and expectations of the rulers of ^ this people, Christ denounced their modes of worship, their tradi- ^ tional teachings and ordinances, and declared it to be a perverse wicked generation. He appealed to the common people to ignore ■ ' ■ ■ - . (216) .• . O n n c > r l\ B-IR^ V'?'"'*'^^^^'-*^ T»iW^»F' ',»V"-'5 . Christ's achievement of unprecedented victories intensified the faith of His disciples, and He inquired of them : * Mi^>J 8T. PKTER. r ,-^?3r^^w^ ^^-^ * 2 20 SKEPTICISM ASSAIKKD. Il "Whom/ do men say that I am?" . " r. They replied : - J^, " John the Baptist ; but some say Elias, and otliers i^f the prophets." . „ He then asked : •' Whom say ye that I am ? " Peter, knowing the disciples' opinion, rtplicd • " Thon art the Christ, the Son of .the livin!^ » ^ ^"«"^°din«. the Passover immediatdyprec^^^^^^^^^ he disap es exh.b.ted unbounded faith by spreading in the highl; SaS: '' ^^'"^' ^"' '^.^*°^"^"^ '-'r^^'^ ^" " Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord • peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." *• Christ was requested to rebuke them, but knowing their antici- pations of royalty in the coming Messianic kingdom, He replied • r " I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out?' This expression of supreme recognition of Christ as Kine coming in the name of the Lord, exhibits on the part of His disciples not only.evidence of their boundless anticipations, but is conclusive hat they entertained erroneous convictions as to the nature of the Messianic kingdom. They believed that the course He was pursuing as a teacher, and in the performance of miracles, was a ^ means of inspiring faith in His followers, and of authenticating His divine mission preparatory to the inauguration of His kingdom then supposed to be near at hand. _ As an evidence of the popular belief among Christ's followers that His temporal reign as king was about to be established, it is recorded that Salome, with her two sons, James and John, approached Chnst and requested that He permit them to sit on His throne, one on the right an^the other on his left hand. This intense manifes- THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE POWERS Ol^ LIGHT AND DARKNESS. (121) ■ ■ ■ W" •\ > l?PI ■ i •• f!jH| N ' > ■' ■ ■ 1" ■ ^ \ '•*•■ 1 • . ,.1 ii A *- ' ' " ,■ " •■ - ■ V ' ' ■>* f :J 1- ■ ■ "■ ■ :; 1 ■;■■ *■. ■••■ - **» . ' ■ '. ■... • t\ 1- i,' /• ■ . . , . • i 1 • ■■ ■ ■ ' . , ■ ■ - ' t • ir 1 • r . .■ ■*" . - ■ * s- . ■ 1 i ■ ■ i ., r .^ ■ ^ , ■ ^ .■* - I ■ tc i ' " - : ■ ai 1 ., '• . * . ' . • '■ •■ ;' ' , "; ■ ■#■' .-'«'' ■ '* - ■ 1 I - s «■ \ . ■ ■ ^ * ■ ■ ■ \ :• ■ ■ . * ' a' ' ' "■ C( * - , "; X 9 ' ■ ■ > ^' P 1 '•# ■• s ~ ' ■> ■■ *^ ' ■ > ' . ■: f< j # r " ■/ *, . . ■ ■'; ■ ■ -.\ . _ .* ■ . . : .. ■■ ;..•■ , • c t V . h ■ . . ^ ■..■-' '■ ;■ * ■, s 1 - • ,.'■ « '■■. "^ :..;■■ .1 - ■■■■ / '\'.: \ ' ■" - ■ I ♦ '. *. """* ■ \- . . , . . " 1 ■ ■;■%, *} ' ■* ., ,^-. ■' ^ '>*/■'' ■;>'^' .'.'-' •■ -•#'.''.•' ^ '■-■-■ .'■ # , , . -•^:->:-r" ■ )_'»,- ■',. ... Tvi— - , f . ■ " ■. ;.,;_-.:^;/'- „...%■. .v.. >• '"■ ■■ ;'':■ ■ '■-■■■. * ■"-- ^ ' . >■■■ ^' "'■-,■"; ■ ^ - ■ " " A,/' :■---—■ ... - '-^. 'j^^mKKk'' ■ ^ •■-■'. . ■<^tfe-)aiWtif.Vtffi ■■Mm^m ^^^ ^^ n^^T' '^^'^^''^ ^gFf*'^'%'''*l"'T' -' *= » •'V'.* / SKKPTICISM ASSAILED. 223 tation in seeking royal preferment, together with the wrangle among some of the disciples on another occasion a^ to their positions in His kingdom, and their enthusiastic and triumphant entry with" Him into Jerusalem are a few of the many evidences that render it mprally certain, judging their actions as we would those of ordinary meij, that they expected the establishment of a kingdom" in harmony with Jewish anticipations, and that Christ would inaugurate it during the Passover then at hand. The all-important question, therefore, presents itself: Had Judas at the moment of the betrayal lost faith ? The facts, we afhnn, not only establish the manifest conclusion that he had not, but also thfi assumption that at this supreme moment it was exalted. The theory that love of money incited the fearless act cannot, in the light of the evidence, be maintaineid. Mark says : * "Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests to betray. Him unto them. And when they heard it they were glad, and promised to give him money." Matthew says: < " ** They covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver." There is no intimation that Judas demanded money as a condition precedent to the betrayal. We submit that no one on a proper consideration of the facts that form the res gesta of this stupendous transaction can believe that it was prompted by the desire for money. Fleetwood, in his " Life of Christ," says : "Others think that Judas betrayed his Master through covetousness ; but if we understand by covetousness the reward given by the priests, this opinion is equally defective, for the sum was too small for the most sordid wretch to consider as an equivalent for the life of a friend, especially when he expected from him the highest po^ts and advantages." .. 224 SKEI'^ICISM ASSAILED. Ill' hi" I- ^^. This conchisfon is sustained by the facts. Those in authority had become alarmed at Christ's teachings, movements, and the influence He was wielding over the common people. Judas had seen them make several ineflFectual attempts to arrest Christ, which He had evaded as if possessing a charmed life. Hd had seen Christ overawe officers by the power and heart-searching effects of His words, and had seen a crowd of money-changers rush from the temple before His scathing rebuke, leaving the judges and other officers trembling in amazement without any attempt to check Him. ' Judas had seeo. the daily supernatural manifestations of Christ's life, and wa^ familiar with the burning anxiety of those in authority to end His career as a means of prfeserving their old institutions, which were as dear to them as life itself. He was also' " informed as to the wealth at their command, and He knew the chief priest and rulers would gladly pay any reasonable price to insiire . indemnity against Him and His influence. V We ask, can ij, with any degree of plausibility, be insisted in the light of these facts that .the calm, calculating Judas accepted fifteen dollars as the inducement to the betrayal ? If money had been what he desired, this intense, anxious crowd, with so much involved, would have given thousands of dollars, if it h^d been demanded as a condition precedent, as cheerfully as ^ they did the fifteen ; and this no one knew better than Judas. To fully appreciate this question, we must keep promin^ly before us Christ's phenomenal life and character Skeptical scienftsts, however,, tell us that tliey do not believe in the supernatural;' therefore, they have no faith in Christ's alleged physical miracles. In all ages there have existed men whose dispositions, character, and natural biases have in a great degree inclined them ' to skepticism ; and there are others who doubt because they have -'i 1 ■ 1 1 i V V : i^ 1 * j f ■ ■ ■ V " • ■ ' f ■ ■ •^ '. . / ',. ' ■ . . u ' c \ \ ■ * »■ ^ . * f ■'^ ( . . ■■ 'v . ■■ ■■ t ^. *■ « V . *■ ■■ . ' , I ,:.'^ > ■ ■ ■-' ■^- ■ . ■ i ■" ': c y ' • ;«a\. ' ' 1 ■" ■ * ■ ■ V .• ■ .. '. ■ •¥ ' t >J % g ^ ■ 1 ' £ 1 * . ■^ ■. 7 . » *. \ .' ' ' . "- : • " » -- " se , . -^ c * « ;L « fe< * * tt.' . W * * 4 i ^j SKEI»TIC ISM ASSAILED. 227 faiied to examine the evidence bearing on this, the question of all questions. v This isVbusy, commercial age ; and it is unreaspnable to ask this generation to accept any phenomenon when its, truth cannot be sustained by satisfactory evidence. It may be expected that intel- ligent men will not accept the Christian theory of a progressive revfelation unless if can be maintained by evidence that logically establishes its truth. ' . We are in perfect harmony with th is sentiment and reasonable demand. If the Christian religion cannot be vi-ndicated by satis- factory evidence, when its probative force is analyzed and coi»SWet;ed, as we weigh evidence establishing any other. fact, then it should be rejected ; but if it! can, it ought to be accepted." , * Some say they do not believe in the supernatural because they have never seen a clear, tinmistakable manifestation of it ; and yet it is a kn6wn fact that they are daily surrounded by evidence wh'ich logically and irresistibly establishes the existence of miraculous e phenomena which cannot possibly be accounted for or explained on any Known natural law or principle, if we reject the existence 9f the supematuraU ' In the origin, of life 'there -is presented a mystery that the skeptical scientists haVe not and never will account for exqept on the thebry of a designing God and a supernatural revel^tioij. They tell us that life is the antecedent of present life, and that is ^^s .for as they ' can go, as much as they can iilform us of its origin. ^ - They are "confronted with the admitted fact that the/e was a time-in the formation of the earth when it was nothing but a mass of hot fluid, where animal life could not possibly exi$t.' When the earth cooled "and was prepared for life, it came; bu( whence, and how, no ^law of inorganic^matter can account or explain, s , The skeptical scientist has said that it is possible life came^on some meteoric stone from another already formed and inhabited worid. ' :I ' I'll If' It 228 SKKI'TICJSM ASSAII.KD. But tins suggestion demonstrates that its origin is still a mystery and ,t involves a miracle equally as great as ai^ tl.at has been attributed to Jesus Christ. The truth is, the origin of life and the *•■ -V ipHKIST HKAUNG THB SICK. author of creatioS have always been shrSded in deep mystery . jxeept as light has been shed upon them by a progressive and super' natural r evelation. . - ^^ j#i.->^ 3 -,rft«tfyr»^H- w^ff^ A "M h i * i :■.. L ..' ,' s MnI ri u i^M \-,-> \ii I |,; •""' " '"^"'^'■' ■' '"""'• -l<'..II.v ..s ,.:..,„ ,. ,„, ,,,,.( I,,,. Ihvm ■'"^■'"""'•".1 — '-ChriM^Tlu. irut^, ,..,1,.. .„„, hu. ,„.l lllc «.1IKIS£^ilKAI.!N«; TJIK srCK. atiHiur of' crcati.,n havv always hcvn shnvmlct i„ deep niysterv vNocpi, as l,^^,t \us- b een slu-d „p..„ tlu-n. ],y a progressive a,urs„iKT- natural revelation. 'r. '■(■■ 4V 4: r t. i ^ 4«i,n ■fn ■i / . r ■' 111 :JI ( .1 1 V ?^w^r- ■ ."MiilPI ■ * ' \ r ' . * f ... 1 J • - - ■ -— 1 • >> i * • • I 'ft. 1 ■ .1 - f #■■ ..*■■ ' ■■■' . '-',. ' ■ " »• ■ • - ' "I flk ,, t^ ■ ■ . ««♦ ,f : ■ . ■ . ;^ • ,, , . 1 I, •■ ■ ' . ' I ,, . , . - ^ 'h: ■ J - ■ . . . -^ v. "■■^■' ■■ ^- f- . ■ ., ■3 •..■..■■ . ■ ^ . .■»* ... - . • - » ^ ;■■■"/;■ . :":■.,■ S'.; 1. . / • _: :.•■ ■ ■■. . ■ 'A. ■. . ■ . c ■ . ■ - ■■ C". • '"■' ■■.;.'■ -;^' .; ;■■ ■'■ ■■■ .. .^ ■■■.- .,„;, . «-s»\ k^^^^^wMi*s^^m SKKITICISM ASS.MI.Kn. aji If th? doubtiuK skeptic touhl have cxfstca at a ix>iut ..f time prior to all crt-ution, utul couUl have seen, i.i rtsixinsc. to the Kraduulb' proKroHsivc laws of nature, the myriad w.»rhls, the hurninK ^tars, the mix and m.nm, come into existence and assnme their appropr.atc pUices ill creation, maintaininK and continninR in iKanty and harmony for all the ages, it wonld have apiK-ared us a snhlime manifestatum of the snpc.ruatnral, i.wolviuK' a problem that wonld have hecil infnntely harder to explain, comprehend, or mulcrstand than thai of .Christ raising Lazan^fTOMi death and the jrravc. ' Th^lRple of this generation have not Seen Christ i^rfonti any iiU^f^ miracles, Imt they have the evidential facts of history that c..rroT5.>rate the miractilons character delit.eated by the writers <,f the'N«w Testament, which dtA^lops a phenomenon that is eqnally as mysterions'as that of feeding TT^ thousand people with a few loaves and fishes. ■ ^ : Christ's divinely attractive life, and the nnpreccdcnted and. .miraculous influences that have emanated fr.mi it, coupled with His consciousness of greatness. His .divine relationship and i^erfect life, by t its inherent evidential force should be sufficient to inspire faith in any well-authenticated miracle that has been ascril)cd to Itim. A miracle performed in the moral and spiritual realm is equally as mysterious,and inexplicable as a miracle performed in the physical Jttniverse; ati^ if there e«sts a God who is able to perform miracles in the one, there can 1k> ho reason why He may not do the same m the other. r r> i If Christ was the Messiah, the only begotten Son of Cod, it is but natural to believe that He did make a supernatural manifestation of the fact by an exhibition of His divine power In the performance of physical miracles as a means of authenticating His divine mission. Forcibly bearing upon this question, ?le said : "I am one that bear witness of \fyself, and the Father that sent Me beareUi witness of Me." "If I do not th«MVorks _of My ■ k \ .■ % )i m, 23* v^ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED, 'If. ■ Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works : that ye may know and believe that the Father is in Me and I 'in Him."' ^ These statements clearly show^that Christ was consbious that He possessed two distinct sources of divine power, both of which plamly attested His mission. The first was His self^videncing superhuman character of intellectual greatness, wisdom and sinless perfection; and the second was the consciousness of His divine relationship, that He felt and claimed should be sufficient to authenti- «5ate His divine mission and inspire faith in His teachings. He said: / - ^xrw ."f""^ because I tdl you the ' t^uth, you believe Me not. Which of you convinceth Me of sin ? And if I say the truth, whydo you not believe Me ? " . ^ ^^'^^^s^n this connection that He strongly affirmed His divinity by saying: * "Before Abraham was, I am." * But when the people, failed to believe Christ, even after these manifestations. He appealed to His works, which He declared bore evidence that the Father was in Him and He in the Father The ' works afluded to were no doubt the physical mii^cles that His biographers so graphically and in detail describe in their delineations of His remarkable career. ;,. J^^^^" J°^"^^^ ^^^ h^dheen cast into prison, he sent two of his disciples to Christ to know as a matter of certainty whether or iiot He was the Messiah. " . :^ Jesus said : « Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the d^f hear, the deadare raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them." ^^ This self^videncing chafer has been tested for centuries. The clear light that reflected fn>m Christ, and that is energizing and Y>.' ^^^ l£tiES«^» ^^» Y»' fjf<:Y:Xi\^- 7- / *«. »rr. •I^.^t:. i^.fr :r. ' :4. f „ ■^-' •itl'i ~ r*^ •■ » V *1* / ** "ffl ' 'ill lis-* 5. - ; » 5 -^ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED, 235 'i, shining to^ay, enables us to comprehend and niipreciate His dmne character more perfectly than His disciples could have done without the aid of physical miracles. This test is more convincing to the present generation than is that of His alleged,miracles. But the' Hebrew.nation had been taught that the great test of divine power was manifested in the performance of pfiysical miracles. iTherefore, tU evidential force ef Christ's life and all the light that las emanated from it make it credible, we urge, to believ^e that His biographers have given a correct delineation of His miraculous works, and with these works Judas was daily in contact. Hence, judging His motives in the light pf this superhuman life it is reasonable to believe that the insignificant, paltry sum of fifteen dollars was no part of the inducement that incited to the betrayal'. It is^videntially clear that Judas was dominated by a more laudable motive, and one that culminated in results that are in harmony with Christ's plan and divine mission. .. If money did not inspire the betrayal, then what did prompt It? We have shown that Christ's disciples had looked forward to the inaugufation of the Messianic kingdom at the Passover, when niultiplied thousands were gathered together, and had anticipated a movement that would dethrone Roman rule and establish Israel, with her dominions embracing both land and sea. Bui to their disappointment, Christ made nt^ aggressive move- ment. On the contrary. He continued, as formerljr, His work as a teacher The crowd became restless and disappointed, and Judas no doubt was impressed with the idea that the supreme moment had arrived in which to commence the desired acti^, and that any delay might prove fatal. ^ He therefore resolved tor^^ig about a movement that would precipitate the matter, believing that if Christ were deliv- ered iuto the hands of His enemies it would result in a glorious display oT divine power, and inspire the people to come to His aid. No doubt Judas reasoned in this wise : s •■ ( " f '"^ '. 1'.» < »36 SKErriciSM asSailed. NotwKhstanding that orders for Chrisfs arrest Save been out for laore than a y^r, He has snccessfnllyoveriiwed officers, and has openly cont,n«ed His. mission. I have seen Hin, cleanse helepT restore srght to the blind, cause the dumb to speak and the deaf.^ hear,:«,rac*„sly feed five thousand peopk .ith a fbw loaves and fish« ; and now, tf },y the betrayal a conflict shall be Brought about wth such an all^dnquering general, thJre can be no d6ubtl .^ the -resA If any of His soldiers should Ue wounded or killed, Hecai bas^estor^ them to life. lf,prov&io« shonld be exhauAed; Hfs creative power rs'. boundless. C^sar, with his mighty arijy, rfl , remWe,.qua,l aUd surrender at His command. With such^^^Jd^, ' imt" r't'^W' "'" ""'l^'""' """ ="^ - ".-h desired . .. W.11 .be consurnrnated. The twelve aposlfes, as privy councilors, will a^drn ruhng. the world from sea to sea, and ti the uttermost partstf the earth. With such alluring antidpaiiorrs, Judas' felt justLd it. • attempting to precipitate the movement ' • in .h.'lTt-'^!7'"rT- '"'>"'''' J"'''^ * betrayChrist cannoV .nh^h^htof^hesur^^ings, be sustained; But the theory above out ined/is rr^sistibl., when the evidence is weighed that sheds|ight on the motive that inspired the fearless act. ., ^-.v. J'-'^/''*I ""' *^ =^«<=tive temptation for position, t^upled' '■ ^^fZt^T"?^'^ 'o put Christ'to death wo^M " result ma Godly display of His divine powers and a triumphant .s^n^em^heest^lishment of the Messianic kingdom, promp^St^- • ^ As convincing evidence bgiring on this theory, Christ often, .Irt the pre^ce of His disciples, before any steps had been takei^ towardthe betrayal; graphically inferred to it, together With the effec" of the Cross in drawing all ineii to-Him. • ' Again, in talking to His disciples, H'e said- . . th,'^ " ?»r°'"'' '!;" "^'^ '"'° ^^^ the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man IS betrayed to be crucified" .' . <^^ '^~ A^i £i SEA fe,j ia a •1 III K \IslN<. Ml I \/ \K1 ^ •♦C' -i \ • <* . -J , •! ■ . * '"*- V ■ ^ "'I *> ;■■ . ■ • ■■ ' \ • B--' ■■';'■-■ ■ -' - ■ ■».■.. • ■ " *■ r • ^ ■ ■,:,..- > -.:::.-i,,.l.;:--;.:;i::,M: ■. ■ . r >v O' ■w • '■■ ■ .■■'..:' ''-'^ ^v ' ** fr ' '-.- ■' '■ '■ ■''■- ' ■ ; ■ • ■ • ■"^ <-. ■ t . -^ - ^ -1 - * - f — ' r • ^ ' \ - ^ _ " _ . 1 ^ • fRSW" 8" if A "^\ ■ ■ 3 to^ ,/ 'V "f" SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 239 N At th« supper-table, the night of the betrayal, He said : "Verily, verily, 1 say Unto you, that one of you shaU betray Me.'N / - / - ' r *i,i.«, .. The disciples expressed great sorrow, alid^ every one of them began to ask : >: • ,• "Lord, is it t?"; ' J " " / Jesus, »nswferingi said;' . „ . .^ - .< \ ll >'He that dippeth hisliand with -We in the dish, the same shall betray Me.'' v ^ j ivt ..„" "Then Judas, which betrayed Htm, ans>Vered and said, Master, is it i>, ■■ . ■ . '■ ' ' :. : • •:... "■'■■.'■'-■■■■' '^:- " He said unto l>im : 1 >, "TJiou hast said, * * * That thou doest, do quickly. . * Jtidas no doubt was electrified and inspired by this imperative commanAof ipprova^He took only on^ more morsel, and in obedi- .ence to Christ's request left the table and went in haste for Jesus enemies beliewng that H«i^s'anxiously awaiting the conflict as one^ that would result in the crowning victory ot His earthly career. St. John records that immediately after Judas left the table, Tesussaid: * ,' , . i -r s "J^ow Is the Son of Man glorififed, and God is .gbnfied in^'Him'" " ''^ "• j' "* '' ■ . it may be possible that Ghrist's prior reference to His betrayal made'the impression upon Judas that it was apart of the divine plan to be enacted in the inauguration of the. Messianic kingdom. It is, 'however, clear that Judas had a. sincere^ conviction that no iiijury would result to his Lord. • > , / , / One fact is certain ; It, was X:hrist who fii-st thought of and mentioned the betrayal; and that immediately ^fter Judas entered upon the execution of his agreement; Christ triumphantly said : ' "Now will the Son of Man be glorified, and God will be glorified in Him. /. r r( -^"^v n « ^ -if* t'"*W*l •"^* fv 1240 SKKPTICISM ASSAIi^KD, u * These triumphant expressfoiis, fci connection with Christ's connuand to Judas to cjuickiy enter upon his mission, and the imme- diate introduction of the* sacrificial snpjKT, are sijfuificant. The contention that Judas' kiss, as a means of identifyin^r Christ to His enemies, was hypocritical is without 'the slightest foundation, and had its origin in a misconception of this apostle's motive. Christ in substance said to Judas that He was aware of his agreement of Ijetrayal, and commanded him to enter quickly upon its execution. V No doubt Judas thought that the most appropriate manner of pointmg out Christ to His enemies in the incipiency of a conflict that he believed would result in a triumphant iss^e and crowning glory was by an afTectionate kiss. There could hsxvk been no l\ypocrisy in the transaction, but it exhibits strotig evidence of an aflFectionate disposition an4 regard for. Christ,. and maintains our conclusion as to/ the motives that inspired the act; No transaction after the agreement of betrayal could have been more open, and Mo friends could have , dealt with each other in a more candid and frank maimer than did Christ and Judjis. | / The theory that it was an act of hypocrisy involves deception on Judas' part, when, as a matter of fact, there is no view that can be taken of the purpose and object of the kiss that tvould confirm this theory. Clearly, at that dreadful .moment, Christ perfectly uitder- stood Judas' movements, and of this fact Judas was futly aware, and believed that Christ was anxiously awaiting His coming. Great light is shed upon this pathetic tragedy when we keep before us the fact, that the crucifixion was an original, vijtal,- and ' essential part of the Messianic plan and mission, and that Christ regarded it as the crowning act of His eartlily careen When all the evidential light is tume4 upon this transaction, it is clear that the ' kiss was mspired, and bom in love for Christ. Judas' conduct after seeing Christ willingly going to His cross and death farther' "*•% \ '" •^ RAISING THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS. SJCW^T"" < pB^^ r ^# i 4^^^ - * r*3Jg' _ ^ y M^^ W * [^^^fi£ii'_ r'nUMH' =-■ iffi'y - - (»4l) .-1 • • f^f k m #{? a.- SKKI'TICISM ASSAII.KD. 243 corroborates this, view. When he liard Christ say, in rcplyiuK^ D Pilate: , ' " '. '^ " My kingdom is not «.of this Vorld ; if My kingdom \verc of this world, Hhen wouldMy servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews." * Theii, for the first time, no doubt, the true meaning of Christ's raystGrious words : " I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto l^Ie. I am the resurrection and the life," dawned upon Judas with crushing and withering eflfectraiid he was like a majestic oak struck by liglitning. ' The consequence of his misguided judg^nent, involving the life of hisinnocentLord, and th(? blasting of his own ardent antici- pations, presented to him an appalling picture. In haste he: rushed to the chief priests from whom he had received the money, and de- clared to them that he had betrayed innocent blood, and pi^thetically pleaded for Jesus' Telease. .When it was refused, with a broken heart he hurriedly sought the silent chamber of death. • If we appeal to the entire history of the w'orld, not one prece- dent can be found where a man Jps premeditated and committed a crime who from remorse alone Mniediately took his life when there was no fear of punishment involved, as in the case of Judas. It is a well*stablished fact that meri who commit premeditated crime never immediately resort to suicide from remorse; though men «ften, thinking their agency will not be detected, on discovering their error' and. then realizing the consequences that must follow, commit suicide, not from remorse, but to escape the consequences, preferring death by their own hand to the punishment and" disgrace that must follow. ; ». . A knowledge of the wickedness of crime often fastens itself into the heart and conscience of the criminal,' and, while brooding over it for months and sometimes for years, he will finally in despera- tion resort to suicide to rid himself of its effect.. \ «... -^ — ^ -ft : r- . ■ : . '-■ h^- — ■#." « <»«>^ ■^ « 244 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. / / I Sometimes" men premeditate murder to be immediately fol lowed by suicide. In these cases the suicide is not from remorse, but as a means of avdiding what appear to be the unbearable surround- ings that have inspired and led to the murder. Suicide has been resorted to froniAdisappointment in love or from blasted anticipations. Men who have aecumulatedf fortunes, and have arranged for comfort, ease, and pleasure, sometimes, as the result of a misguided step, have seen their castles crumble and fall at their feet, and the effect has been so disheartenipg as to result in desperation and suicide. R is clear that Judas had bright anticigatjons ik regard to -aiding Christ in ruling the Messianic kingd^jij^pd wlien the hor- rible picture arose before him that involved the 'certain death of ^ Christ and the blasting of his earthly hopes, we should not be surprised at the result. . .« ' ■ ■ '1 . ■ ■ ■ ■ ." . . We confidently assert that -no case can be found in history of a man who has contemplated crime and thep committed suicide from rembrse alone before the consequences of his act had been fully accom- plished, when therc^existed no fear of detection and punishment. Judas well knewthat he was in the hands of the dispensing power and leaders in authority, who' would of necessity and naturally lionize rather than punfsh him. But he had no sympathy with these people, whose Jives he had often hear^Jesus denounce; besides his , love ior and devotion ta Christ were, ji^so^ut^^ly irr^conciUle with the spmt that could appreciate c'- ■'»'' ,»'■;■■';■/' ■<.'■''...■ e // ' - ■ ^.^ ,'^V: it ■■^^■" ,^' ^-i:^' '\' / If '■■■.!■ , tl "^" ll ,*> « \- -^'. .; — ^ aWBPBW'^gf' *% ^j*iy«'.'^(. "".-vsp'/ r.tils^S ^F ^^^ SKKl'TICISM ASSAll.KD. 247 tat clocst, ao quickly." One more luorsel, and he «« quickl>^" leaves his supper and enters upon liis Hiissiou. ,^ / .' AIM. iu Ihis couueelion, on discoveriujc U^it Chnst uas willin..ly ^oin., U> ibc cross, he rapidly rushed hefore the Sanhednm wiimio'^ o .- ^^j^j j^,^ ciirnest plea iu 1)ehaU of Chrfst's iuno: ccucci Ihrowiuj; down the money at I heir feet, and pailiclically pro- claiming to theni and to the world that j»e had \x- trayed innocent bl(M)d, and tliat death was a bliss^ fnl refuge fr<«u such heart-aching self-reproaches as would follow him ihrough life. There never has been pre- sented to th9 n^rld amure piti- ahld ^ictureHlum DRINK." VB, ALL OK IT, /eriug his fatal error.:'- Ko thatVof Judas on sincSety regretted ™|^ie depths ^f Itis l«iirt, c,r waa nu^re cSmi^letely crushed, than . :^ ll^das on discdveriiig tliat his inistaHeni^tdgmeut and rash act 1^ _^^liadiw^lvedsuc|isadccnlsequeuceiiv\ \ i- MS®:_ — ^iT y ' . — . . .■ ■ ' ■ V- ^ -J \ ■, ' '*\W/ --l ■■■.:■■- ■■■•'■■';:■ .' "• • .rv' . -■. • .V: ■vM Lv. ,, - -A \ -,\ - i ■ \A- - "~-g^ ff^^'-f'-vs;^,-"-^ ■''i.V \I 'ii 248 SKKI>TICISM ASSAItED, arises Whv didi, """ ""7 '° ■* "'"'^ "'"''"''•«'• "■' 1»"«°» anses, Why did he accept the money? > . - • i . The answer to this question is simple and plain. Tlie leaders mautl...y^hadag.edtomaU^ - ^ ^^ after the Pass- over, fearing , an uproar of ^the people; and if Judas had refused the money, it would at once have destroyed the confidence of . Christ's ene- mies in him as a bona-fide betrayer. The surroundings necessarily forced upon hini the ac- ceptance of the money as a means««of in- spiring faith and confidence in his proposed act, and 10 give plansibility to hi/conducf wro,,. ^VT w T^^ '■ "" """"'"' •" '"^™^''«> "■" his act was MTon^ ^t he had imperiled the life of Christ, he rn.W >. t h . JVDAS CASTS THE PIECES OF SILVER AT THE PEI :etokthe chief i>ribs|^. ■ ■ i ''■■^k- -----i ■m. - / . ' **/ ■;■■ •. - , 5-H » S ■ 7". §..r- i^. ?.H r«2 1 G, <:' • • 8; . ' ^ *" V ■; ■- ■ .- . > ■ ^ ^0 X-^ . (P .:v^;r'-. ion » ers to 'I In §• "0. <: i: -...-.otiiui ,iJil^^ 4 ■ -^^^^ * , "■*- , ' *, * ■ * *i -* \: ■ , ■ ■> ■.■.».„ . '■ '■t. j.'/V ■" ,* \.,: '- 4rJ /?•• ;^.* 'MpWF^gp'*"™ SKKPrk'ISM ArtSAn.KD if^^^- •■<.*#-^» :*fi. chief priests mid cKUth and ploacUHl for-llin puiilon ; jiiul x^tictj bin pica was iKuorcd, he threw the money at thejT feet* and hurriiMlly tcK)k his own life. ^ . - / If this theory is not cornlct, tUihi there Was no reason ov motive for the retnrn of the money, for the plea in Mialf "f Christ's inno- ' cence, or for the suicide that imnudiutely followed the refusal of those in authority to accept it or to extend paMoij. . Technical students and readers of the .^ible have snid much ' alK.ut Christ's declarations : '^ \Voe unlo that niAn hy whom the S«)n of Man is betrayed! It had Ikcu ^,^mkI .'fof that tn'aKi if he had not , been born." "^ '" * " Have not.I choseii you twelvc,:*«d one of you « is a devil?"., '[1 ' '■ The flfHt of the alx)ve quotations was certainly nothing more ,nor less than a prophetfCal dcclarhtioii that the consequences of Judas' misguidjjj judgment, when fully realized, would so shock and crush his tender, l6ving heart tliat he would prefer death. As to the expression, " One of you is a devil," we do not ktuiw fully what was meant by it, nor do we, know exactly what Christ meant when He used equally harsh language to Peter ,"saying; to him, ♦* Get thee'Wehiifcrn^-, Satan!" • . It i.s^iWvi.T, certain that when Christ chose the twelve' apostles, He had about sixty faithful follcHvers from wh(m» to select, gi^aiul had every opportunity of knowing tlie character of eac^Ji »^^^ ,'And soon thereafter, no doubt at Christ's suggestion, J udair^s lelected to the iionorable and trusted positi(M> of treasurer, ajj^l" from that day to the hour of the betrayal there nev^r was heard one \wrd of suspicion or complaint against him from Christ or from any of the disciples. Several of them have no such complimentary record in j^^ ',•-?* ■_A_ their.favor,/ '■ ; >, - -/ ■ ; * ■ ," '■ -_;„mq;- ^ ' ~ The^ record of St. John, who wrote so harshly about judas, ; after pubVlc sentiment had been infuriated against him, is wicked and cruel as /Compared with that of faultless Judas— outside of his conduct T^ '■i '^ ::l J^ .•"V '&. ■..<»■ V, ■■•»♦, './■ r- /J m m. Av< yur^ 1 Hg^ . T •9 ■». 252 SKEPTIcteM ASSAILED. in the betrayal, whicWie tKoroughly repented of on discQyering his error and mistake. . '. • X < o ■•'" •• JO- '■* ■" ^1 : ' h ^ ♦ ■■ ■ 1 ■ V ' * " , - " '.-' , ^ 1 ■ L. M ^> > '" "■ ', '. .♦ •-1; - 4 * . b 4 t ' MB ia |iM| m his \ * • •> • ■'■ -.■■■■ .( t>. ■ - t ■ . ■ . '• * * m ."* - V ♦. ■ (■ . ..-^ ■ ■*• ^ *• H S '' w -—--■» r-i y .."■- *.%*■■ 'i c 2 " "■■ • ' H , "^ - •IJ 'i^'-k--^ -f ►H ' ^^PJ^M* < - *\ - li J; T- * . =1 z ■ ^ ■ '<^ '.. Hi 'w-' ¥ i;.-' ■•(»: ;. ,■•. SKI.I'TK'If.M X'^^MI.Ma,. t'fjof and ijiisi,iki\ ' ' ' ' ^ ■.♦f- « r .... •\ .. ■iy SKKITICISM ASSAlLKh. 255 ' ' St. j^itn at one time ^thoujrht ttiat the citizens of jj^^amaritmi village had wronged the disciplcS, and he appealed to Christ t A call down fire from heaten and cruelly consume thetn, to satisfy hi^ \vJ5dced auger and malice. Christ har^lily rebuked him for enlertain- kjg so sinful a thought. * ' >^ i>eTER neNYiNr. jurist, 9^ On another occasion, Jolni and liM>r(Hhcr James nppvoochcd^ Christ through the influeiuc of ilidi- moilior,' vSiilomc, who was Christ's aunt^ and through their rivalry "and unholy aml)iti()u pleaded for first positions in the anticipated new kingdo,ni. Peter vva» not only designated by^Chrih^t as being Satii^; but " he denied his Lord on. the niglvt of tp betrayal, and .-xhibh^id a". wonderful propensity for lying and t^nvi^rdicc. "' ' -'; . .1-, r 'M' '«•'> n ■*v- :'• : SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. ■'■'.. None ot the disciples until after the res,>,»|jtiona„d ascension hIs kL'' ^'"•"T^P""" of Christ's mission or of the character of H,s kingdom. Prevons to the „.surrecti.i, th^ ekhibi'^a spirit of , nvalry and selfishness, and »ni,g,e^.Uh cacb\her bveTthefrlT ^ons in the anticipated kingdom. & - Again, °tiv« that led to the betruyd,h«ls svtmmed .p the German View in hantiony withiis own In aMnding to tliis G^an theor,, ^ said that J«*. was not ^a-tnutor ma bad sense; a«l tht hkmo^^nepts duragtiePassove^ wc«r aot Kitended t^n.^ or irtaH, but ^er lo advance Christ's mfls. a^^^u^ria«.^i^ x^^ing w^ faKacnms, as subsequettt etents ! • ,-^'" 5V *'_ (1 ' n ^.*' 1) " <^ , /) .:• ,,'' "''. \N " , .. "„. , '\ < • • >Ti.- ^ , i ^ ,.>ft " A u ff •■ ' 3 l^- ^^ of .; at V. ■ THE KISS' OF BETRAiYAIi ■-■^ /• p.'«-«_,-w»^CTC' f'*! |1, .&■> ;*• ^S,K.-», f'F 1 1 I >V| X >,s. \ |.Q.; J i \ <»Ilf o fjl'*' 'HNcijt(v*^j4,inl.afU:r il Had ;iliy I'V<»pVl- o»iU;y{4U,,i|t .<,vr Cll i*'.n^^>jrri-ttiHfi1^art»|-asii-ii>i..ti ;■ '» ■ •. . jfers -Muifvi '■•J 1 1 f:^valj•y ;iM(LMl^Ulii H">'», < wO I Wp;tTtiV{iil,„jtKVMVli.t,tl ih ■\.. tl l.a.c- iniPN,,c.felHa„rcMl„. c-.l.te^iVl,.,,J^.#^^v.f ^i?i;7a.t^asa,v n..u- ft':--:' '1 , If \' il). 259 theory in regard to Judas' motivclm* made thousandn of skepticH. Men have reasoned in this wise : Judas wa« with Christ for three years and was hon«)rcd by Him and the disciples with the trusted position of treasurer. Not one word of si^spicion was heard against him up to th* time of the ^betrayal. If he. could sec nothing attractive in Christ's life and character, and had no confident in Him, but believed Him worthy of dcath» or if he was willing to aid in taking His life for such a paltry siMn, then the whole history of Christ's cjfeer has been exaggerated. From our standpoint, there is a great deal of plausibility in this position ; but on a calm investigation of all the facts and circum- stances, the evidence becomes coucliisive that Judas' faith in Christ was suprenie.and unbounded at that moment. The only difference between him and the other apostles was that he wa» ambitious and progressive, and had the nerve and courage to act on his convictions. When his intense hopes and anticipations were blasted, and there stood before him Jesus Christ condemned to death in consequence of his misguided judgment, the shock and dis- . appointmeut crushed his tender, loving heart, and in his humiliation and amazement he invoked the mountains to hidfc him, and sought rest under the dreamless sod. 9- ■ *'. t1 fl--^y J'- i\ Qfi */<■:! © «?•; Miaocorv nnbumm im own (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHAUT No. 2) 1.0 ■a 12.8 1.1 u I ill I u 16 M 12.0 ■ 25 1.8 1125 i 1.4 i^ I 1.6 >./■ ^ J S-i \ -,L« SKKI'TICrSM ASSAIKKD. 26.^ entire lifef character and mission. No one act of His life. lu.kn.K t« the^ object 'and purpose of His mission, is more radiant with chv.ne wisdom than that manifested in the resurrection. Durmg H.s life He made many references to it. Luke says : * " Then He took unto Him the twelve and said unto them :, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that were written by the prophets concerning the Son of Mau shall be accomplished. I'or He shall be delivered unto the gentiles, and shall be mocked, and. spitefully entreated, and spitted on. And they shall scourge Huu. and put Him to death : and the third day He sliall rise agam And they und^stood none of "these things >= * " * which were spoken.^l Christ accomplished everything undertakeir^vhilc Ining, and was sinless, perfect and truthful. Therefore, wheii^^ said He would be put to deat^ ^nd on the thjrd day would rise again, it is but reasonable to conclude that these events occurred. It is imiversally admitted that on the morning of the third day His body was missing from the toinb. Prophecy considered in connection ^with the open grave, the ndssing body, together with Christ's repeated declaration that He would rise, 'His sinless and otherwise superhuman life and character, and the intensely exciting report that He had risen, goes far to establish the truth of the res)[irrection., ./ Mary Magdalene, Mary (Christ's mother), and Salome followed His body to the sepulcher, then returned to their homes, prepared, spices and ointmentr^nd rested on the Sabbath. But early, the next morning, in aecordaiice with the Hebrew; custom, they went to the sepulcher to anoint His body, and found the tomb ooen and the body gone. rr • 1 j Some one in a white robe said to them : " Be not afFnghted. Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which xyas crucified ; He is risen." Peter and John agitated by this report, rushed to the open and vacant tomb and found the report confirmed. T^'b' tl^^ body was gott^. r:;-^. * :i. Y^ 264 SKKI'TICISM ASSAII.KD. 1 f; • ^ The same clay two <,f His followers o.i the road to K„,ma„s were d.scussu.K the report that He had risen, uJ.en Jest.s appeared and entered nito eonversation with them. He said : • "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ■ " Onght not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory ? And be- ginningat Moses and the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures . the things cbfl^ cerning Him- self." Retnrn- nfg to Jerusalem, they found that 'wltile the disci- pips were: in the temple discuss- ing the resurrec- . tion Christ had appeared among them, saying: ^ " Peace be unto you. * * /i' Why are ye troubled ? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? Behold My hands and My feet that It IS I Myself^; handle Me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh THE LAST LOOK OK LOVE. K^i* M * ' .i ■ ^'M i "^r*" 'g°;|WBfw»wiwv-^» F^n" - SKKl'TICLSM ASSAII.KI). 267 ntul iKitics, ns ye sec Mc have. "' * '" These ari^thc words whiih I spke unlo you while I was yet with you, that all thiu^'s uiust he fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning^Ic • * * Thus it is written, and thus it l)eluK)ved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third • day. And that repentance ami remission of sins should Ix: preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye arc witnesses of the.se things." Thomas did not believe the report. But when Jesus api^ared in the temple, after a full view of Iliin, he exclaimed, " My Lord and my God," thus expressing perfect faith. St. Luke, referring to Christ's appearance to the disciples, ^id : "To whom also He showed Himsel^live after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them Yorty days, dud speaking of the things d|B^"»g t" the kingdom of G(k1 ; And being assembled together with wflm, commanded them that they should not depart from Jeru.salem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence; * '" * and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the nttennost part of the earth. And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken np ; and a clttud received Him out of their sight." Sti>Paul, referring to the resurrection, said: " He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at oilce ; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but .some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James ; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." Paul's testimony contains strong inherent force. The dijitance from Corinth to Galilee, where these alleged witnes.ses to the resur- rection resided, was not great, and it would have been easy for this , Js ^ s^ .*^ i'^L^,^4^?f&3* '^J^'^'i'^i^'^^Js^iitil^iaJfJ^^ie- <3^'>i^\>. - 36.S SKKi-rrii!<\r Assiir.Ki). 'z :; '7""*- " " ' "■•■■■ '»'-• < >.• »".a ..... five , I,':: «r...u.r p,.r, of ,„c..„ „.„c «.,I1 living ; „„d ,„ .,ff„,,, ,„ ..^ ^, „ .^ to Ko ...la ,i.veH»K.U. for ..,c„.«.|v..h if .hcy doubtod hi„, ■J^. I>M?IINT 0¥- HOtV OMOST all uS"'"' '""t •'"" """'^''"^'"^ =•-- -on His disciples "were all, «U1, o„e accord, ,„ one place. And suddenly there came a ZZ .o..ues ii.e as of H^^^d i^ Z:.:^:^.:^^: '- an filled .i... e„e Ho,y ..„ ., .„ , C . . . o s j ! ::.. JT SJ^^ iki^s^^^iti-ii'- 'f.d have )tit the I them tvere »und 3use •veil lore I KKWITKIHM^ASSAII.F.D. 3(m) :^ Great excitement wuh creatctl thnmj^hoiit jiTusalem ; the |)e«iple were umn/.e on the night «f the ferayal had exhiliited great eo^lildice, jK'rsist- ently denying his U)rd, was now inspired with the courage «Ta lion, and said : / "Ye men of Jndea, ^nd all ye that dwell at Jernsalenj, U- this known unto yon, and hearken unto my words : Vnr these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is hut the third hour of the day. "• * * Ye men of Israel, hear these words : Jesus of Na/areth, a man approved of God amoug yo»i, by miracles, and wonders and signs^ which Ci A lij^^st' =fr5 ri4*%t^5^*^e6.^ «^' V s:^-|i^•^^d^/w N....'. " f.a^ .,J.*wtol*J , , .1 ►■■pjw? W^fim V" ,^TFi^ ■rvim'^'wy^''^ ' ] »7o SKKITldsjl A.SSAII.KI). I H- ! f«r if .1 '"^ " ,° ^"",' "'""""f™"' ""=« """and let then, alone; But . u be of God, ye cannot „verth™„ it , lest happily ye be found even to fight against (Jod." ff j- je ■» louna nn^.l ^' '■"""'""'''''" P«" P^ved himself a great coward. He and the other apostles then regarded their Cause as hopeless and separated, each n.an returning to his own vocation. No. wffi ,d them banded together with invincible ho,Us of steel and with cIm „f o . ' and possessing the courage of lions, Unquestionably something' had happened. What had so revolutionized these men? They e"! he lafhT'Tr^"'™ "'"' '^'■7''^ P*™-' appearances to "'em had shed new light on the object „/His^,ission. . The first theory urgM against the resurrection was ihat the aba„don^^:i'^r;' '^'^ 'TT^'r^' ''!' '"""^ "- ^ , uecause 111 the light of human experience it would have been an rmpossibilityfor the apostles and Christ's disciples „ ha e cause and to have so earnestly advocated the resurrection, sealing "ir "'"''^'"" '''" ''-'' «-^ •" -"^"^ ^ Their enthusiasm and faith could not have been built upon a ttres^T'- ";"<"'->— -«y-". 'be vindicatCo thanes hat afterward prove incorrect ; but in such cases they always believe them actual realities. , J"""ajs CO M ?"'^°''°' '^ "" '"'"'"' "' J'^"^ ''=«» ^'o'™ *e body'' they ould not, under the inspiration of a known falsehood, have i Ir "fseKrrch 7"^"'°^ "--"■^"•'^"-i'i-^'ed^i^i theinsel es such enthusiasm Ind faith which they, confirmed and Stole the body IS not adhered to. "' -i»k' - jtikt^ „-„_j— If ^ tTTMiiitaQiift, j^ ifciw^ AND PETER WENT OUT AND WEPT BITTERLY. (m) f:J..j i-<-w I •', M \ J [ ^jUHKtfSii^* , SKKI'TICISM ASS.VrlTKD. f >4'-»'f:r-i*s^'y^W^''Y''^^^'!^-^^w^!^ ^i The truth is, no one can read Peter's intensely brave and solemn assertions of the resurrection, and his dedaration that he would seal his testimony in martyrdom rather than deny it, in con- nection with his and the other apostles' subsequent lives, and yet doubt their sincerity. The second theory was that the enemies of Jesus had stolen His body ; but the same reasol^g aud principles involved in the first proposition disposed of fchis theory. It is now admitted that if they had stolen the body they would have produced it as a means of at once and forever ending the spread of this religious enthusiasm that was ruining their sacred hopes and institutions. It is also admitted that the Christians would not have been put to death for what their persecutors knew to be an honest and sincere faith, which they had themselves created by their own stealth and concealment. Hence this theory has been abandoned. The third theory was that Christ only swooned on the cross and did not die; but tliat, after being lain in a cool tomb and embalmed'with spices and ointment, He finally revived and again appeared among His disciples. The fallacy of this theory is patent, for it was not over forty hours after Christ had been taken from the cross, with nail holes punctured through His feet and hands. His back lacerated with scourges, and His side pierced with a spear, before He apparently had quite recovered from the effects of His awful wonnds and from His sufferings upon the cross. He was pronounced dead by men who had every opportunity of knowing and whose duty it was to pass upon the question of His death, and yet less than forty hours had elapsed before it was rumored that He had risen, before the grave was declared open and vacant, and it was announced that His body had disappeared. What miist have been the appearance of His wounded, swollen feet, hands and side ! And could He have so easily moved about from ■tr^ T- , r '■^w s» ''«Tg- Tp-5'W?»^g^«F'™Tj"^'!' «74 SKKPTICISM ASSAltKI). . p^ace to place, and would such a manifestation have appeared to H^ discples as the "Prince of Life." the "Lord of Glory," the Bnght Morning Star," inspiring their hopes, aspirations and wild enthusiasm? Hear St. Peter's anthem-like outburst : "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesiis Christ from the dead " Again let us note the sacred, solemn words that John Jieard Jesus utter; A A " \ T^^'^ ^''' ^"*^ '^^ ^^'' ' ^ ^"' "^ '^^' liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore." The swooning theory was therefore soon disposed of '^ Step by step the skeptics have been forced to abandon these heones, which they now frankly admit cannot be maintained in the l.ght of the evidence on any known principle of human action; but as a last resort, they have advanced the theory of a hallucination or vision. The basis on which this has .been constructed is substan- tially as follows : It is claimed that Mary Magdalene v^s a very excitable woman, who had been cured of demoniacal possession through the aUeged mfluence of Qhrist, and who was ardently devoted to Him. In her sad distress over His death, she visited His sepulcher and there mistook the gardener for Jesus. Remembering that Christ, had said If He were put to death He would rise again, she became excited, and m wild enthusiasm hastened to the apostles and the other disciples and proclaimed that she had seen Christ. It is-claimed that this announcement so affected the disciples' emotional natures that they mistook every noise, such as the rattling of a window the shaking of a door or the whistling of the wind, for he voice of their adored Lord ; and that in their excitement they fancied they saw Jesus in floating cloud and shadows % SEALmc THE SEPULCHER. (275) ,.^^ •^ "\ ■<^p^■^^ '-'^^ fn^^chw^^^™. , / C'\ n ■^^^"■"^^^^W'T'S^ "|T^-™741^^'^»«"^ -TT-^ -|W|^» ^"^ *^ •«! SKIUTICISM ASKMI.KI). a77 Rut Mtronjrly confronting thin theory wc have the aduiitted fact of Christ's death, His burial, the ojkmi ii^rtivc, and the nuHHiuH: and unaccounted-for Ixxly. Nor can the theory that Christ's Uxly was stolen or that Me had simply swtMtned he nr^ed to maintain it. Kither of these contentions would l)c destructive of the visionary theory, for it is manifestly clear that if the friends of Jesus had stoVen and hidden the Ixxly they could not j^ssibly have imagined they had seen, walked and talkef tlicin for'tflidr futur« work in proclaim iuK the rcHurrcctioii aud curryiiig lUv/^osyK'] iuttf all the world. * ( - i* ' Briefly re-Htated, the arKunicut is as follows : SiKTulative skeptics first uudertfe iaid in the tomb. W, , Hut the fallacy of this iK)sition was simi exposed, and it is now frankly admitted that unless the visionary tl^ttru^e correct, the Christian theory of the resuriH^ion has Ik'cu e ^ SW^BjjjL^ ^^A We nu)st confidently as.sert that in thUpfWIRc evidence ' the visionary theory cannot l)c maintained, l)ecause f^irst,— Prophecy and its fulfillment in Christ's life raise a rej>"J!i»ptio" that in the issues of the cros.s, death and the ^///>4 This prophetical picture and its fulfillment the ^4j^'it^''y theory. ^»^1- — Chrflir? .sinless, divinely attractive and extra-human life, the origimil light that He brought into the world, and its effect on civilization, coupled with His repeated (k'clarations that parts of His mission were, the cro.ss, death, grave and the resurrection intensify the presumption that He did arise. Third^The admitted facts of Christ's phenomenal life, the cross, death and burial, the open tomb and mi.ssing body, the report burning and leaping from the hearts of those who had investigated the fact that He had risen— all these cannot be explained on the trti .tf y Th- &aM;a Tt^^^W^ — - raise a JESUS APPEARING TO MARY IN THE GARDEN. ( »7V) r*>**|j" ■ » 1 1 'I r-' ■/ /! <,Vi««g 4 X/i ij%si S AI'I'KAKINii IC) MAKV IN Till: »..\KHKN. ■ j:'(| \ .-*» ^i^ s , /tr^ '^n » "^« wj-m. fi-f m> 1 ». '^^^^ ^'Wi wl 1 "::': .■■■ ■■■ .xt ■' m ■ '' lib I; ll. ■ - ■ HI ■f «'' [1 tf 1 i B 1 ■ ' • . * — > ■■ , ■ Rlr 1 ■ ■ ■ ■ ' ^■"'' X " . / I'" ■ ' ; ^' . ■■ .-. « . ' ■ - ^ -. ..■ f? ■ f! ■ ■ ' " i f ' ' . • ' . - . ■ 1 ] . ■ ■ - i . . ■ ■ ■ . , ' ■ - ^ i ., . • : ■ -'' ' 1' . ' ! ■ ■ ■ \ ■ ■■' . ■ ■- • X ■ . . ■ ■■'''■' - ■■■■-.' ' '} ' ' ■ ■ . . . ■ ■ :. ■ . ■ ■ ■ ; ■ ■ ■ ' . ■ . * ■ . ; ■ ■ ■- ■■■'.. \ . ■ ■ ' ; * • \ \ \ "' ■ ♦ ';-, - ■ ■- * .'• ■ ■: '■■.■- . ■ ;-x. "/,■:■■>■ ' '■' I . ■■■ :' XX*. ■ X -. - X. , ■ ■., ■ • SKEPTICISM ASS'AILED. 281 visionary theory, especially in view of the fact that the highest interests and dearest hopes of all the leaders in Judea demanded that His missing body be account^ for. Fourth.— The alleged resurrection of Christ is supported by the evidence of a cloud of witnesses, who had seen Him, had walked, WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF CHRIST. talked and eaten with Him, and who had separately and collectively been instructed and taught by Him. , The accounts of Christ's appearance subsequent to the resur- rection give in detail the purport of His conversations, instructions and commands, that were followed by such an immediate and radical revolution in the lives, conduct, hopes,'aspirations and purposes of " - - ^ >i : .-,l; ' ' ti " ■^''S } «J>--?Ta^»|"^»» -T <-? »3[^«i^ ' f "f'fiMSIft.'^'^'^^^^^^OTJBgS' 282 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. those to wlftifi He appeared that the greatest cowards were inspire(J witJf martyr blood, with lion courage and with invincible' and uncon- querable faith, based on the truth of thd evidence of their own s«nses. All this most convincingly sustains the resurrection, and equally oppose^ the visionary theory. > Were all of these witnesses mistaken ? Skeptics admit that Christ's followers were honest in their convictions and in the belief that He had risen. They say, however that His alleged appearance was an imaginary or visionary conception of overwrought minds, caused by the startling reports that the Lord had risen, and by the high hopes and anticipations in which thev had indulged. , ' In direct conflict with this theory is the undisputed fact that the disciples' understanding of the Messianic mission was the est^b- lishment of a temporal kingdom which they had confidently expected to aid Christ m ruling ; and that at His crucifixion and death their hopes were blasted and their cause lost. Peter denied and cursed Him, and all the disciples had dis- banded with the view of returning to their different vocations. When, on the morning of Jhe third day, Mary Magdalene shouted across the valley and over the mountain tops of Judea the report that Christ had risen, Peter and John hastened to the tomb found It empty, and the body of Jesus missing. . * It is clear that what they there discovered was not a visionary conception, hut a stem and sacred realit3.; They found the report of Mary confirmed by the strong evidential fact of the open grave and the missing body. -- .Chi the same day Christ appeared to two of His disciples who were on their way to Emmaus, joined in their conversation and ex- pounded to them prophecy that explained why they should believe the resurrection report. They sat at the supper table and saw Him bless and break bread. ^ THE JOURNEY TO EMMAUS. (283) . :..( ;k: •I I'M •11 'i; m |t >- 1 . ■■■1 g| 1,! V'T '-iJ^W, ^f'''*^''f^^^^j '^^P^J^^'^^'T^Tr''^'''''^^*^^ 2 o 1 " mnw 1 ' ■ 1 . t / •f , / / \ »' J ■ ■ ■ . i ■ r^ ' •■ - • ■ '•> ■ 1 . ■ 1 -''■*■'- * » ' i '' . , , A-- » t :>■"'' ' , i ■ 1 . » B ' . ■ t' ^ •»' ■ ! \ 1 * / • 1 ! ^ . . 'v i 1 , ■ • r** ^' V ' • ■ ■- , i J ' >. • ■ * ' ■-" . , ■'' ' <* ^ » ■■,,'■ /■ > . , / Si- .. ■ ■ •- ■ ; - . •" ; • ■ ■ 1 ' ^ ; /' ' ' -^ , *■ 1 f — ■ . ■ ■ ' ■, •^' -/ -, ' v'r - • ■ ' .8 . ■^ ' ' ' _ . . . . ♦ •..■•■. ■ » - "; -V t> ■ * ■ ■ . ■.« v*../_,.■ ■;>■ ■ ,■ , , ■• J,- ■ ■ '.J .'■ ■•■ ■ ^^^m , . • " ^^'^ — -'.:/ i-H^mi^mmmmw' SKKITICISM ASSAILKD. 285 / Christ appeared to the disciples in the Teinplc, He ate broiled fish, and explained to them the necessity for death and the rcsnrrec- tion, that repentance and the remission of sin might \k preached in His name among alt nations, beginning at Jernsalem. Christ appeared to five hundred at one time ; He instructed His disciples as to His mission and spiritual kingdom, commanding them to go up to Jerusalem, where it is alleged they were endowed with power from on high. In the presence of the cross and .the open grave, aroused to the highest pitch of excitement over what they regarded as the appearance and supernatural manifestation of the Holy Ghost, Peter declared the resurrection; and the result was the conversion, within a few days, of ten thousand people. Based on faith in the teachings of Christ and in the resurrec- tion, millions of men, women and children in each successive genera- tion for eighteen centuries have been elevated, refined and blessed. When we consider the fact that this, the grandest work of the ages, has been accomplished through Christ's teachings and through the infiuence of His superhuman life, confirmed by the evidential rays of prophecy and His oft-repeated declaration that He would be put to death and on the third day would -rise again, the report that He had _r^isen, coupled with the open sepulcher, the missing body and the \ifluence on subsequent generations that has emanated from these facts, furnishes strong presumptive evidence. To be asked to accept all of these important historical events and results as fatuous dream- ings of more-timn five hundred disordered imaginations is to make • an incomparably greater demand on our creduli^ynhan is made by the most stupendous of miracles. . . ' When the cumulative force of this testimony is considered, it forges a mighty chain of evidence before wliich the visionary theory vanishes as a mythical phantasm and as a doubting .skeptical delusion. t s f" ^;:ie:-::j^s---*r '■ 'r'./i^: --^ii?r:i-;4*d- ■. .'y- '■'•-' "_• '-" '::-i^-: v^r wfp-^-^;^^'^;m:^^m^mw^m!^^^ It 1- 286 SKF%PTICISM ASSAILKO. Newma^i Smyth, in his bv^r hillside, and valley, along the way to Emmaus, over the beach of Ga^^rana the slopes of Olivet, a new, unearthly light Vas shed/and the e^rth lay before them transfigured with a new hope, and the brightest spots in it were those where but yesterday the deepest shadows rested— its' place of burial, . ' "Something happened upon the morning of the third day which changed the most sacred associations of a large company of men, and the religious habits which had grown with their growth from childhood. ' ' " A wonderful revolution was wrought in the transference of the sanctity of their Sabbath to the Lord's day. The Christian S\inday is still the great circumstantial proof of the resurrection upon the first day of the week. What teaching coufd change our day of worship, a day hallowed from childhood, and made sacred by the traditions of our fathers ? Yet something happened in Judea on that first day of the week which naturally, spontaneously, without ' conflict and without discussion, so readily that hardly a trace remains of the process by which it was accomplished, did change the whole religious habit and the most sacred associations of Jews exceedingly tenacious of the old traditions. There is nothing accidental in history— the light which put the glory of the Sabbath into shade was the glory ot the^hsen Lord. ~ ~ ~ • . CHRIST ON/ THE SEA. (a87) ■: V \ W: I»» I «".» jmi ^%-iS'i>^^-^$--, -T '^fwr **'^ I T ?^p^^-^!^«(fs^^^Ty^^fs -si^ -i^ t- eF»r '■''rT--?i!^pff^-^j:a?fe9ii^^ i fi r ^ *- ;: it;' ■ %- ■ ,,.■ ■ '_ V,, ■ ■■ Uf;) ■ • ■ " - , ' ■ ■ "^ it! '; ■ '■' * 1 » V • . " * ■V ' 1 1; .. ■ . ■ .- "'■ > jt-;. ' '•- \r"-.--- - ^' i'i " *« ■ '■ • ;■■'■■ ' ^ ..' ' ' i' . '. ' . ■ - (I ■ -•■, • ■, 1 ■ , ;■ '.;■■• - i' ■' .. ■ ' ■ ' . t t !■ ■ r . . ■ i .■■ ■■ , . . -■ ' • S • Or f 8' " f \ ('■ . V' ■ 1 ' ■ ■•■ '■ ^■" ■' :. r . ■ , ' ■ , '■ '-'H . ■. ■ ■! ■' :"■" \ ■ -< - ' ■ *.:■.■ 1- . ^ . ■•' - -- • it: . V _ - ■ . ■ ' 1 /> ■■ . s-'/^.;' ■.• ■ ■ ' > • -^ ■' ■ V— . ■■ - ■■ 1- " ■ - ' :• -.•r'' ' • j ■ .' < • . - r i ■ i ' ■ •} ■ ■ ■ 1 ' '. * ' - ..' " ■ ■■■ ,..- '■— . .■ ■■ » . • J- ... 1 . .':*' ' . ■ ■ . ■ ■» - 1'" • -'■■'"""^*^^' «i » 1 - ^.«?gr--* •: ^ *" 1 1^ *r ,ni ^^^^^jlafeiMtfs iirtWi^teiifc. ■ ^M ■ ifb. w^/cir* 1 J. .,.-T .. i SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 289 •• Something happened then and there which has changed this world to all succeeding generations. . Something wonderful and recreative in its power took place upon that Easter morning, the enduring results of which are Christian homes and morals, Christian society and culture, Christian laws and liberties. "Something happened over eigliteen cei^JQ^es ago in Judea, on the morning of the third day, Which hasTTanged the whole current and flow of history ;— men's lives, the rights of children, the lot of slaves, the position of women, the whole order of society, all things human are taken up into, and swept along by, a new, resistless movement, which still bears upon the crest of its advancing wave the hope of the world'a future." , ^~g3^1j^ I ''_ ___. ••^"fiiJ t r^y "'^^.f ry t»- ij i ■" 'Y^* ■Jfi^Sv.-^-'f ''i^jraf^I^l^^^fiaOT""^," I I »/ .-» « CHAPTER VII. IT IS EVIDENTIALLY CLEAR THAT CHRIST hV A SUPERNATURAL MANIFP:STATI0X invited PAUL TO HECOME J' AN APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES. AUL was a Jew, educated under Gamaliel, and at an early age became a rabbi of distinction. He possessed a bright and massive intellect, was a finished scholar and a magnetic orator. He was devoted to the old traditions of Judea, both social and religious, was popular, energetic and enthusiastic in all his undertakings. He lived contemporaneous with Christ, and was in sympathy with the opposition that existed against Him. At an early date after Christ's death he became a zealous and destructive persecutor of the Christians. He voluntarily applied to the leaders in authority for a commission to go to Damascus for the purpose of arresting all Christians and bringing- them to Jerusalem for trial. ;He honestly believed that he was doing his duty in attempting to check what he regarded as a growing evil that was threatening the social and religious institutions of Judea. But on arriving within sight of Damascus, He and his followers were overshadowed by.an unearthly light that brought them helpless to the ground, and from the effects of which Paul was led blind into Damasciis, and there converted to Christianity. i^ ^^ It is universally^ admitted that something occurred near Damascus that imAediately changed Paul from the persecuting Pharisee to the grandest herald of Christianity that has ever ap- peared, who afterward establjshed many Christian churches and who wrote to them several of the letters that are attributed to him in the New Testament. — (290) JESUS SHOWS HIMSELF TO MIS DISCIPLES, ' %..\ ■—".■y "-^r •" -■•^. 1 "'A 1 '■L: I 1 l*^'- ■-^' 1 m ^ ^ /::^ •>^v M(l 'l 1 1 V #x^% ii-.srs SHOWS' iiimsi.i:1' n* his uisi ii'I.ks f29l) ■fl^* -^BJtWift* -jwtf., rm Jt^/'T-aR!^"*'^-^^'^^ "ij ■ ^. t.,: * "< \ \ -.^■. '•r\ '■^Wgjfl^TyTT' ' ^■t.-- 1^ SKMl'TICISM ASSAILKD. 29^ - It is conceded by all that Paul wrote the letters to the Roiliaiis,' Galatians, Corinthians, and perhaps others. It is farther admitted thathe was not\an intentional impostor^ but honestly believed that Christ had made a personal manifestation of Himself, and had called him to thISr work; that his life of iincoiiquerabte fakh and energy, ttfe exposing of tfimself to stripes, perils and martyrdom in the vindication of his religious convictions were conclusive evidence ot the honesty of his purpose. ' ^ ^ > ^i^^^^^w^? ^5™^* .; i' 294 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. Hut skeptics contend tliat as a matter of fhct Christ never appeared to him ; that the dyhig faitli of Stephen and other martyrs had made so profound an impression upon his excitable, nervous nature that when approaching Damascus, while wrought to fever heat and unsettled in mind, a natural phenomena occurred— probably a thunderstorm and flash of lightning or a falling meteor— and tliat Paul, in his excitement fell to the gronnd terror stricken ; and whilt in this abnonnal condition his excited imagination created the image of Jesus and caused him to fancy that he had heard the voice of Him ' who had been crucified and who, it was alleged, had risen ; that farther meditation caused him to join the Christian Church, and that the same nature which had made, him a vehement persecutor, con- verte^im into a most active, zealous and enthusiastic missionary and herald of Christianity. ^ On the other hand, the contention is that from the call of Abraliam to Christ's appearance, God had been at work ma'kihg a progressive, supernatural revelation, and that in connection with this work whenever He had needed a man to aid Him He had called him i;i so unmistakable a manner as to leave no doubt regarding the divine manifestation, and vVhich at once inspired him with kn unfaltering and unconquerable faith that qualified hini for the woHc in which he was needed. It is cohtended that in God's call to^ Abraham the supernatural was manifested to swch an extent that Abraham fell upon his face and worshiped God, and that his subse- quent life exhibited the highest and most un^estioning faith and obedience. ^ It is contended that when a leader was needed to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, God, by a divine manifestation, ^ appeared in a flame of fire out of a bush and called Moses to this work. Aly, that after Moses' death/ God appeared \vith a drawn sword to his successor, Joshua, preceding his attack upon Jericho, PRAYER OF JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF OLIVES. (>9S) I^!l' 1"!^ - ( ■ s ' ■^ "4 ^ 1 -C ^^-i I'K.WI-R (VK IFSnS IN Till i..\kl)hN uK OLIVUS.7 v-iys) 8KKITICISM ASSAILKO. 297 «: and announced that he was the Captxiin "f the host of the Lord. Joshua wprshipcd Him, and went forth to battle with a coMrat?v an^l and heroism that was invincible. ■'^■'^ It is alleged that God appeared to Gideon, Manoah, Samuel and others during the Old Testament dispensation, and qualified each for the work He desired him to undertake. "■/ f !•• >- I' lit:- I 'pi PI il ■"^,--- •i ■ ^,^ SKtl'TK I.>^M ASSAII.l-.D. Al'tir Christ's (K-:ith and ivsiinvciioii tbc-iv was not o'uc ' i>i His aix.stUs Nvlu.sr lial)its i,\, lill- and e'dnL-ation fitted or (jnali- N l"u-d hint in tlu- ■ lii^i^^lwj'st Avi^ix-v to pn.tlaiin Clirist's Ccsptd to tlK- Ctntilys. and t(. write and prescm- a jncnK.rial of liis own work and stUTcss for the- nsc- and iVncfit <)f the Churcf hi snccccding ..'iLTcs. "■OW l-.KSIuN . . w ■ \. ,..[[■'-,.■: '[\ :., ,.. CONVERSION • OP PAUL. . V. -^ .;■" ♦ ■ ■ ■ Paul'seducalion and training preeminently fitted him for this work; and as Christianity demanded his service it is contended that Christ by a divine manifestation revolutionized his faith and con- victions,, thus qualifying him for the Jabors which he entered upon with zeal and prosecuted with untiring energy, triumphantly and ■# -v. J :liis hat :on- pon° ind , ■. - «' ; . . ■ ' - % THE STR6ET WH^H IS CALLED S1;RAIGHT» (a99V ^ Mf^wV** n'T'^'r-in * i ■<■» ' ■--'.* a. N^ 4 . ■; r'-r^ '-Y^y: :^ *■ V-* V J ■■■■. . 'S ■ « »T5#Tp«g«yTr' ""s^- :, * / ■ ■i- SKF.PTICISM ASSAII.KD. 301 ctieerfully meeting opposition, difficulties alid perils wjtir the spirit of'; Chri^ enthroned in him. ^ f ,^ ' • Therll<^ the only conflict to^af between the skeptical, of" dowBting >Yorld ^id\he adherents of Christianity is limited t.o whi^ _ . toolc place Hear Damascus tjiat so suddenly revolutipnized Paul's man'njBi of life, his religious faith ^ndspint. » •^- ' . ' / ^^Luice, a former companton of St. Paul,/Jlib' as, aji edntated physician had every opport^uiiity of .ascertaining J]ie facts that led _ to -' Paul's conversion, said ;v ' - /" i . ■ . ' .. " " And as he journeyed, Jiecame'near Dariiascus : and suddenly thefe sliined round al^ut him a light from, heaved? ■■ "Arid he fell to the earth, afld heard avoice'saying^unto hint, Saul, Saul, why persecu|egt' thou ^lei? •/ •''.■ ,"' " "And 'he gaid. Wh6 art^Thpu, Lor^? And the Lord sjj^d, I* am jesuV,whom thoii p^rs(fecuteth ; it is -hard for thee t9kiclc against ,thepnck»., . ^ y .; . ^^ * ; '' '♦And he, trembling and astojiished, said, ;Lord, what wilt Thou , * ' have ^e to do?' And tli^ Lord siid unto him. Arise, and go into the •city, and it shall be tdld the6 what tlioumust do. * . " . ■ "Arid the "men- whicH journeyed with him, stood speechless," ^ hearhig a»voice, but seeing/ho man^ ^ . "And Saul arose from the earth; and when, his eyes wer^ opened, he saw no man ; but they led him -by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. " ' . , '.- . "And he was three days withftlit sight, and neither did eat ' nordrink. ^ "And there was a certain disciple at Jlaniascus, named Anaiiias ; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he "said, Behold, , I am here, Lord. " > , • i ^ "And" the Lord said^ untp*®to. Arise, atid go inito" the street which is called Straight, arid enquire in the ltp,Use of Judas for one ' called Saul, ol Tarsus'; for, behold, "hfe prayeth. ■4 ^». ■ft ''■WW^^ / iotk. SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. i ' "And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias comn^ in and puttmg his hand on him,nhat he might receiVe his sight. •' Then Ananias answered,'Lord,.I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem : And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all^at call on Thy name. • ' i " But the Lord said unto him, Go' thy way ; for he is a chosen' vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel :' For I will shew him how great things he must suflFer for My name's sake. ' ' ' "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house • and puttiiit his hands on him, said. Brother Saul, the Lord, ^vea Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me' that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. \ "^ "And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had leen . . scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was' baptized. • " And when he had received meat, he was strengthened Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus " And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, tlTat He' is the Sou of God." Paul in his defense befbre the Sanhekrim on a charge of heresy also in his letters to the different churches, openly and boldly con- firmed Luke's evidence. St-Luke having been a companion of Paul It IS reasonable to conclude that he had received a statement of the facts directly from Pkul. l^ This view is farther corroborated by the necessity for such a - man as was Paul at this special juncture of time to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles, to preserve a memorial of his own evangeliz- m^ work and teachings, and to Hasten- tfffe establishment and progress of Christian churches. .WS.-' — ' '^J ■ •■■ v- SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 393 / These writers are also strongly corroborated by the pnor miraculous history of this nation, by God's deal iirgs with it, and by .the necessity find demand of Christianity in its beginning for a man w^ith Paul's special fitness for this work. They are also confirmed , Uy Paul's subsequent earnest Ijfe-work, and by the martyr faith and courage with which' he met perils and dangers. , In Paul's defense before, the Sanhedrim, he refers to ttie bright light and to it^ effect upon hiTh and his coconspirators, and that they led 1iini into Damascus to the house of one Judas, giving the story in substance as Luke has related it. - \ These co-persecutors wete from or near Jerusalem, and it is x:lear that it was the effects of \ this wonderful phenomenon that '*caused theifl to cease their ftiission and return to their homes. It is a farther natural pi-esumption that the deputies who had accompanied Paul to aid in arresting this entire church were many in number, that they lived in or near, Jerusaleln, and' that after thi^ mysterious occurrence they' returiied to their, homes and did not hesitate J;o speak of what had taken pldce.": • . It is also clear that Paul would never- have made this public statement concerning the knowledge of what occurred while jbumey- "ing towar^. Damascus, had he not beeii absolutely certain that if these deputies were^ called 4s witnesses th^y would confirm his state- ments: The fact that tliey were not call^, when all of the ^acred interests of Judea and its old reljgious institutions and teachings were involved, creates a clear presumption t,hU the leaders in au- thority, who had comniissiohed Paul and these deputies, knew that they would not impeach or contradict him. « The fact is that no intelligent man before -any court, when so much* was involved, would have piiblicly made siich a statement and referred so explicitly to those men and what they , knew^ if he had not been certain of the truth of his statement. The evidential force of the presumption that necessarily arises from '■» ^\-' -*- 5^' ■ wy 304 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. I these facts strongly corroborates St. mul and St. Luke as to wlrat did occur. ' If Paul's blindness had been caused by a Stroke of lightning, or by the falling of a burning meteor, or by sofeie other such natural cause, why was it that Ananias appeared on the scene the third day in response to a connnahd received through a vision, to go into the street called Straight, to the house of one Judas, and there inquire ^ for one caUed Saul ? And why was it that he*placed his hands on Paul, saying: ' , , f _ ''Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared tinto thee in. the way as thou caniest, hath 'sent me that thou niigh test receive . sight and b„e filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately he arose, and seeing, was baptized." li in these statements Paul was not telling the truth, it would have , been quite easy for Anatjias and the family of Judas to have • been sent for, artd Paul's statements proveivTalse. PauFs acts, conduct, and his entire subsequent life, writings and teachings strongly coiifirhi his testimony and establish the fact ^hat he was a man of giant intellect and great wisdom: it is clear 'at he would never have made such a statement had he not been rtain that the families of Judas and Ananias would corroborate and tain him if galled upon. ; m^^F^ The fact that they never were produced to prove Paul an • impostor and thereby check the spread of Christianity raises a strong presumption that Paiil was relating the. truth. The Sanhedrim no doubt had heard enough from the ^o-persecutors who were with him to satisfy them that ?aul could not be contradicted. ' When we keep before u& the intense and ardent desire of this people to silence Paul and check the spread of Christianity, the " .' probativeforceof this evidence is unanswerably. ^ As farther corroborative evidence, Paul, in one of his published letters to the Corinthians, ^said that he h ad seen Christ s ince H is TO^g^^ j ^y - .^- "ss^ TTO T rw^ p? ^ ^ !(.SS^ffi!S:.Jt^. II; H l(fl f. m I -I 11 .^ _• . h. ' ", SKEPTICISM A88A1LKI>. t) 307 to jDthers who had seen Him t^ic, the greater poft pf in one oni he resurrection; aiid Inatancc five hniulj declared were still ^ In his lietter to^c Galatians, Paul said [ • •* But i certify you, brethren, that the Gospel >vhich wp preached of nic is not after man. For I neither received it o^- man, neither" was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jciui Christ" ' These anH other ^wsitive declarations of similar import 'con- tained in Paul's public writings, and his original testimony Jiefore the Sanhedrim that included definite statements and/references to men, acts, time and places tliat if false could easily have been disproved^ settle forever in our mind all questions of the hallucination or visionary theory, or that what occurred near Damascus was a natural phenomenon. <_^i 3 ~ iS^ ■ Ananias either appeared and wSft ' " Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight^ and b^ filled with the Holy Ghost," or Paul is the greatest of impostors. And if it be admitted that Paul is not the greatest of impostors, it clearly follows that his conception of what occurred on the road to Damascus when he was stricken blind was anything but an hallucination, such as skeptics claim it to have been. Clearly it was a supernatural revela- , tion of the risen and ascended Lord to Paul, as a means of inspiring/ his faith and calling him as an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul's teachings are in perfect hannony with and in substance embrace the teachings of t)ie four gospels. Paul declares it to have "been three years after his ton version before he met or kliew any of the apostles ; that he then saw Peter and James, the brother of Jesus ; and that what he knew 6f the Gospel of Christ was not received by him from men, but by a direct revelation made to him by Jesys Christ. This statement is either true or knowingly false. In any case it would be absurd to contend that Paul had only such a conception ::'0' «.i3 "'it ■ ■t'-l m t '"- , , #-- .•y»,'«'".f' •"^•'"V" "" , »F •ft 308 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. of Christ's teachings as were given in the four gospels. Christ either made a direct ^rsonal revelation to Paul, or Paul has intentionally imgosed on the wofld, which is not believe^^r contended for • by any infidel or skeptic of to^ay. It would be unreasonable and preposterous, in view of Paul's life-work, perils and martyrdom, to contend that he was not honest in his convictio*ns, teachings and career. . p. K PART OP JRRUSALRM<^" ■ ^ < ' - ■ ' Paul's friends pleaded \yi5h him not to go. up to l^rusaleflR They told him of a conspiracy tq bind him, and that it would be certain death ; but he answered : 'f . - . "I am ready riot to be bound only,l)ut also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesiis." ' ; From the first day of his conversion until his hqad was severed from his body, Paul's veins were filled with martyr blood, sealing and ^igit^wm^mfm^imt ^5 •' t' « 4 fe^ s^jp" ' < H f ^^''iiir^^j^^^ ^f4 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. *< 309 solemnly vindicating- *tlie tnith of his Ine-work as a zealous, honest herald of the Gospel of glad tidings to the Gentiles. We^ will briefly exaniiqe &ome otnter admitted facts that are not controverted^ by either skeptic or infidel, and which in our judg-, ment strongly confirm this testimony. ' ' First. — When Paul received hiscommission to go to Damas4(is he was a Pharisee of strong convictions and thorough education. His aversion to Christ and His religion was intense and bitter. He had no sympathy for any one who followed Christ or who opposed himself. He had aided in stoning Stephen to death, he had persecuted men, women and children, and had a heatt of stone. But in three days' time w6 have the character of the man completely revolutionize^ through the influence of the mysterious incident that occurred near Damascus. . . ^ . He at once renounced his past religious education and cOn- - victions : and his stony heart, that had delighted in persecutions, was changed into one of love and sympathy, not for Judea only, hut for all humanity. We find him in perfect accord witt the^ cause he had hated, and ready to shed his life blo.<*'■' 4 II I * , i ),nn i k f">Sh}f. ' K " " " I ' l i' iy Ifill nil I«IIMI I . ^^-^.^fr--.*; JOHN LEADING MARY FROM THE TOMB. ^:,. (3M) ' .-:<^" '".■■ *■ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 313 ' '^ ' leaTtied and influential in his Church, as his high position in early life ^learly indicates. Christ's followers were hated ^nd despised by , ill those whose good opinion Paul had hitherto respected. Paul's life as a member of the Sanhedrim and as a rabbi was brilliant with promise of future greater distinction; and he must have known that to espouse tht Christian faith would bring upon him tiie hatred.and contempt of his Church, and the opposition of all religious and political influences. . . - V , - Paul must have known that it would separate him from home, father, mother, relatives and friends, and would also expose him to the perils of land, sea, and to death. ^ the consideration and motive that induced him to take this step could not have been the hope of increasing his fortune; on the contrary, he knew that it would cer- tainly entail the loss of all that he possessed, and the abandonment . - of al1!"h#e of acquiring more. His former friends had wealth,' dignity, and l^e dispensing powef of Judea, while the cause that he > espo^ed was socially p^tracised, and its followers unlearned, indigent and with no prospect or hope of improving their fortunes. '* From a human standpoint, the cause of the Christian religion Mtela|, hopeless. Its Leader was dead; and without «nni ... ,^f^ Sfe»-^^, there was nothing to encourage any one to espous^it^ ' merelfore, Paul^ could not have been animated by the love of i^r, unless jtA^s po^ei^ over l^fl^k of sheep, as it were, being^riven to the slaughter, wlfos^hephfetd and I^der had ^n put to death as a malefactor. ^ \| *• ° . *v; V - ;^^ I| is, therefo^V certaln%at, from a worfdly standpoint, Paul hid nothing to gain, but i^ything' to lose ^ this, movem^l He ^^apj^inQ|easingr^gputation iVeirf3^'^and eveU certain ^rrender popularity, ne,,tQ face persetution* iobking at the mattei; lf«m a worldly stand|loint, why, we ask, Pai jl give up so much for such a hbpelfess jcause ? ^^A \ \ 1 \ ■fi \ ■ , pliimjp'ify'i*?!.'-) ' t'.\> 314 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. The only rational answer is the one he has giveii. It is certain that his own account of what occurred that brought about • this miraculous change has none of the indications of a natural phenomenon or a visionary or subjective conception of Christ. Paiil refers to dates and places, to Judas' hotne and to his family to Ananias and to the witnesses who were with him at the time he was overshadowed with the light, and who led him into Damascus, blind ^from Its effects. • In his different letters he refers to a revelation that was in perfect harmony with Christ's three years' teachings, which he de- Clares was personally revealed to him by Christ. This transaction as narrated by Paul, removes it from all speculative on visionar; ^^ .¥ and sur- ftelds when considered in connection with all the fact! roundings. As already noted, Paul as a witness was in the highest decree competent. His testimony relative to his con|^sion was full, explicit and positive. It is sustained by his open public letters, and by the testimony of Luke, who was at one time Paul's companion, and who Had every opportunity for ascertaining the facts. Paul's testimony is farther corroborated and sustained by his reference to Judas' home and family, to Ananias, and to a large crowd of c^onsi«rato«, and the facts they knew and to which tl|fey C9uld testify. What ^aul renounced to espouse the Christian cliVhis hfe of sacrifice and peril, and his martyr death are in th^^st degree confirmatory of the truth of what he relates concer&g his conversion. ... ^.Mg ui* In the eariy miraculous history of the Hebrew nation, cul- 1 minatmg in Christ's divine life, death and resurrection, in perfect fulfillment of prophecy, and the absolute necessity for a man of Paul's nature, education and fitness to become an apostle to the gentiles, and m all th^ Paul has told us with reference to the matL, we h"e P^seflH^r ha m of posjtiAfte and c ir c umstantial testimony that is .. ^ ap f ■' (•■ SKKITICISM ASSAILED. 3'5 \ overwhelmling, and that confirms the story of the Christian "theory of Paul's conversion. i- . Even the learned Baur, who was the founder of the niodem school of skepticism, from which Strauss, Renan and others sprang?, has struggled with great earnestness to take rfrom Paul's evidence'- and that which corroborates and gives force and value to it, all thgt is supernatural. But it is to Baur's credit that in his. work on the Christian Church he has said : '^/ .'W. - " Neither physiological or dialectical analysts can ||||y re the mystery in which it is claimed God revealed rd, grant me a peaftfj^i ijl^iMly ^^ This final weakenijJfJP' ^Ai t%|pi»4^^ ^f the modem schodb^i^kepticism, has^ alwat^ i^fle^^^Upon and, weakened the i^|M|| tekepticism, has» alwayg yfl' eftioi^of Strauss, ^mm an^.A^JS^i assertions support of their thedries. . £ ,,'• 316 »-^%,v- ♦•..'. i SKEPTICISM ASSAILKa "^ • tAfli Lyttleton knd his friend, Gilbert West, were botlt men of knowu tfj)ility, who had become skeptical on n superficial study and in^igation of the Bible. They both entertained the idea that the Bible was an imposture, and entered into an agreement to expose what^^hey assiuj^pd to be its fallacies. It was decided that West should write anjittack on the resurrption, and Lord Lyttleton one on the conversiori of St. Paul. * JL Both entered upon their chosen tasks with the avowed deter- niinati«|i to opp '" f *■ » .**- "' V * ••» . » » ■ " .- -if- ."''■ ' ■, »i' • ,v^>... ; - 1.*^ ^' * - ' t ^ , < __■ „^.._.;;; '.,^^...:....:_ ....■ ■J "^^ s«^^*» ^Mas ^^^**^' % il ' ^'"'™*'f?'^> h li 9 ■V ll " r 7 ,,N- T.\Ti:i\\ii. . \ 'K know a»iii];;rrativi-ly little of tlio oW9^,]i(A^Mmr'^^i(Xmf'ilr '"'""'^''' "\ <'«»4 /,^ > ^i^:u -^ -«- ; ~ %,:-o3» < * ■■■ - •is- "» mMy^ < K,j ■rW.. '•*% .^■"i-\ ■ 1,4 1 \t- .' MnI rri>> 1 -\i \^- \ii I 1'. It is ivlalid'^li'at ii\ CmtT-- iliiiiiMi.uiCi- to ll,i-.i! m 111 ;■ \<\\\y distress , site iiiogiii/i d t'lic l.ul llful .slu- Ir.iil mvm < .'■< m1 .iiid t.i'.ki il 1 , J ' 1 ] , < 1 A, l" \ • ,, ' 't /t ■ flu' •• -> .. .:* ;. <:- ' „ I'Wt II '1 l" 'I 1 St »N ^^^a^fi^u t^^^Hinl- -II.uc-I .-Vm' fu M->.li '1V.1>. ItO '''>,fc . ,. ^ -r^U >,-. t*"^ I «». >'/i» tf "<5i«tl 4V *• '^ h'/t " '^'' ,Y I. ill ""ini*^ " , *," : '»^- 1 ". 1? -^ .t 11 J •»; 1*1* I 'P, " )^' % i»4. » V SKKPTICISM ASSAILED. In the alleged supernatural apjjearance to (^t||eon, to Daniel, le father. of John the Baptist, to the mother of Jesns, to* m r fe. r ¥'W ^ -•■■ -I'M i,. a M w X B, bl Z M X O 2 i 3 S X a) M X td X h '^;# -..J*^" - the sj^pher^ at Christ s birth, an4 to Panl,- the ma ai festatioa ^ inspired and qualifesd eacl| of, these persons with an tmfakex- ""• *' " l» "v. •4V ■■)■■" \;-;' -'^Vi;^■^i^■'•'' :^,^. -..-1.;r-,\; SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 323 *> ^ S.A ing aiid an unconquerable faith for his or her divinely appointed mission. , . But in speaking' of God's appearance, we do not mean that-. God the Father in His es^ntiai mature appeared and talked with man face to face, as God is„ ail invisible Spirit. It is reasonably clear that in all of th^se ma,mfestations it was God the Son, the one Mediator between God and man^^ i ,, in appearing as .God incarnate, God Ithe Son said : ;■ "i **J am befoi^ Abraham was. J* * f Your father Abralmm rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it attd was glad." ^ Agaiiji, "when weeping Wer Jentsalem, He said ; _ . "O. Jerusalem, Jerttsallem ! thpii that killest the prophets, and Ston^st them that ai^ sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children tdgether, even as a hen gathereth Her chicke^is under her,:wings,^nd ye would not.'! ' ' ' , ' This language^ was the summary of the long past history of onr'Lord^s-4'e«Uiigs with |H^s chosen {)t^o^k. The contestt c^rrwfs V Hfe word* '^'h!6w' often" W^k to the day ^f righteous Abel, the- typ^pdlproto martyr witness to tM atdmng death. , .• ^ ' Thtie diflfereht expressions of, Christ would imply that He had been, actively at work with Hfk. chosen people long prior to the ' j^minenoemeiit of His appearance in the world as God in Christ, ^nd Ihis view 15 strongly sustained by St. Paul. * " V, t^t. Joljn, in speaking of the Lord God the Son, paid:' - ," In Him was life, and the iife wai^ the light of mifen. And thp l%htx9ittBetH in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not/ "* * * .jI/Mt was -the true Light, which lighteth every mitn that Cometh iiito the. world. jHe was in the world, and the world was \ madcby^Hijii, and the, w-orld knew Pim uot" , ~ i, • . V, ,THis clearly impli^" that God had made the \YpTld ^sA wa^^ ■- operating in th# world a^th* true light thereof prica- to His apixjafi* Ince as the Messiah. •• «'" •^'' - •. „> :- . ", •,v. r- W VI \J , U V »V.V\' vi 1 « ,', ' i . •/>• u I: i ■ i I. : ^ ^' \ 324 SKICHTICISM ASSAILED. Trajan, the ettiperor of Rome, said to Rabbi Joshua: " You teach that y6ur God is everywhere ; I should like to see Him." " But He cannot be seen," replied Joshua ; " no mortal eye can behold His glory." The Emperor persisted, until Joshua finally said ; " Well, let us try first to look at one of His ambassadors." Trajan consenting, the Rabbi led him into the open a^r at noonday, and bade him look at the sun. "I cannot," said Trajan, "the light dazzles' me." "Tho^u art unable," returned Joshua, " to endure the lif^it of one of His dreaturds. ^^o\v, then, canst thou w .\-/^*.. •^^ \V\ >le during generally ■s, and by rbutHii I we h^ve imsQ^ the \ ■ ■ m ^ iX « il'i n I y.' ^IJl :m ■ " :.*^' - iiBi-ii Jfa A .f ■' ':>! kiil ■ t«3' \ 1 ■ - / 140 u 1.25 HI 1.4 2.5 22 2.G 1.8 n^i 1.6 . 'a. -,' if'*' ^ /APPLIED IIVHGE Int; rj 1653 Egst Main SIrwl ^ Rochmttr. Nn York 148M USA (71») 482 - 0300 - Phoiw . <7I6) 2n~iM9-Fa> •^--'-■• (. r SKEPTICISM ASSAILKD. 327" Skeptics have ridicnled tlie idea that God 'appeared to and had colloquial intercourse with this one nation of people and ignored all others. Bishop Watsoij, in reply to Paine's "Age of Reason," in discussing this question, said : ^ " The Supreme Being selected one family from an idolatrous woHd; nursed it up, by. various acts of His providence, into a great nation ; communicated to that nation a knowledge of His holiness, ^ justice, mercy, power and wisdom; disseminated them at varioivs times through every part of the earth, that they inight be *a leaven to leaven the whole lump ; ' that they might assure all nations of the existence of one Supreme God, the Creator and Preserver of the world. * * * • ' "You have ridiculed things held most sacred, q,nd calumniated characters esteemed most venerable ; you have excited the scoffs of the profane, incfeased the skepticism of the doubtful, shaken the faith of the unlearned, suggested cavils to the ' dis||p;^rs of this world,' ^nd perplexed the minds of honest men who wi^^ worship the God of their fathers in sincerity and truth. '^[ ' "This and more you have done in going through the Old Testament. You have not so much as glanced at the great design of the whole, at the harmony and mutual dependence of the several parts. Y^ have said nothing of the wisdom of God in selecting a ' particul^ people from the rest of mankind, not for their own sakes, but that they might witness, to the whole world, in successive ages, His existence *and attributes ; that they might be an inst;pument of subverting idolatry, and of declaring the namte of the God of Israel throughout the whole earth. " It is through this nation that the Egyptians saw the wonders *of God ; that the Canaanites (whose wickedness had been a reproach to human nature) felt His judgments ; that the Babylonians issued their decrees * that none should speak 'amiss of the God of J[?rael, that all should hear and tremble before Him;' and it is through /i %a g e^ ->- -sr -^ li' ^i ^uS -^^ ' -opajTO^wpp^' i i ll 1i u a if-' \ .• • •*■■ 328 SklvFriCISM ASSAUUED. them that you and I, and all the' world, are not this day worshipers of idols. Y " You have said nothing of the goodness of God in promising that through the seed of Abraham all the nations of the earth were to be blessed ; that the desire of all nations, the blessing of Abraham to the gentiles, should come." Skeptics, appreciating the evidential force and influence of the first five books 6f the Old Testament, known as the Pentateuch,, in maintaining the Christian revelation, have made many attacks upon them. They have denied the 'Mosaic authorship and its divine authenticity, and have^ assigned the date when they were^ritten to a period long subsequent to Moses' death. ,.., 'mK It is generally conceded that there have Ijeen ^^additions to the Pentateuch since Moses' death. During ther 'great spiritual revolution in the reign of King Josiah, about 626 b. c, through the influence of Jeremiah and others the TenVf)le was being repaired under a commission from Hilkiah, the higlf priest; Shaphan, the king's secretary and minister of finance; Joah, the keeper of the king's archives ; and Manasseh, governor of Jerusalem. While these com jfiissioners were engaged in their duties in removing the money gathered to repair the temple, Hilkiah found a manuscrijit-roll that proved to be a copy of the book of the law of Jehovah, by the hand of IMoses. The exact place in which it was found is not stated, but it is highly probable that it was discovered in the ark of the covenant, which Manasseh iad thrown aside in some of the cells or chambers around the templfe, where it had remafhed unnoticed until the eager, searching eyes ofWilkiah discovered it. What portion of the Pentateuch as wd now have it was found has been and is the subject of much contention. Many scholars believe it to be the book known as Deuteroi^omy. Others claimed that it not only included this book, but embrWed a greater or less \portion of other divisions of the Pentateuch ; \ihile still others claim 'W MOSES VIEWING THE PROMISED LAND FROM PISGAH. (329V j ^l ~ - S^^.^> &fri^ r ; \^' MOSK8 VlKWINt; rHi: I'KoMlSi:i» 1.AN1»:1K>iM IK'lAll •i'l ii ..l. ^■■\ I ■Jx T. '■•«•.».*•?*•• VAtitvuiHttvi •il'.liti y *' -'k J »?i^~'-, r 'PS^J™^^." I it- ■ f V ! I L4. ^ . Mm^fflp.JMp^ '«s^'"'vvf^ip'- *^l- -^^-^ MP,*^'»J||spK9f^S*^,'"^w^"''W?-^a(7''jp'r •■'if SKKmciSM ASSAILKI). 33' and conteiul that it was a collection of Moses' writings, from which has been compiled the Pentateuch in its present form. It is, however, clear that a l)ook known as the writings of Moses was in existence JEWISH PRIEST AND ROLL OK MANfSCKII'T EMHRACINO THE I'ENTATfctCll ilfe W'A» ■ ".' -i^tgiwffijfy^^^i^if^iTi-" ■- ' tvf.- ■M m'' ■ h m' •• 1 m !• if Hi! j i li ft 333 > SKEJ'TICISM ASSAILKD. long prior to the reign of King Josiah ; and it is very proMblc that Jeyeniiah and Hilkiatt, aided by others, compiled thC Pentateuch in its present form from Moses' writings, adding some other and later historical facts. Hut be this as it may, it is evidentially manifest that the first five4x)oks of the Bible are composed largely of Moses' writings, and that they are of divine authorship. We are assured that after Moses' divine call, and while edu- cating the Hebrew face, he was engaged in writing the facts connected with their joumeyings in the wilderness and of God's dealings wit1i them, and that his writings were sacredly preser\ed. lu the twenty-fourth chapter of Exodus, it is Stated that Moses while in the wilderness of Sinai wrote all the words of the Lord, and read from the book of the covenant to the people, and that they responded : "All the words which the Lord hath said will we do." It is related in the thirty-third chapter of Numbers that Moses wrote an account of the departure of j^he children of Israel from Egypt, and of their joumeyings in the wilderness, giving many details, " by the commandment of the Lord." In the thirty-first chapter of Deuteronomy it is recorded: "And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a boojc, until they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against them." In Joshua' we have the positive statement that Moses had written God's laws and words in a book. In this book was a com- mand even to Joshua to build an altar at Mount Ebal as a memorial to the Lord. The Book of Joshua contains internal evidence which makes it clear that it was written during the life of the g ^nprat ion o f p eople 't&SSiSi^^S^., SKKJ'TICISM ASSAII.HD. 333 V who were led by Joshua out of the wilderness into the land of Canaan, and probably not more than thirty or forty years after the death »>f Moses, for its author said : "And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dvvelleth in Israel even unto this day." — — ¥> 1 i r . I '! IJi: 334 SKKITICISM ASSAILKI). ■'"*:' In the fourth chapter the Jiaiiie author says : "And Joshua set up twelve Mtouts in the luidst of Jordan, \v\ ■ ■'•■{ JOSHUA WATCHIMQ THE OttTRUCTION OF AI. the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood : and th e y arc, there unto this day." — — 'if. ' wv^f'^'^-''^' "nwiiypsi!^ / 1 • 4' \ SKWriCiSM ASSAII.KU. .V^5 I \ Thc»c quotntioiiH nhow that the IkkjU «»f J(»shua wan wTitten cither by Joshua or by some one who lived duriujj his generation. Tlie author recogui/es and re(jy>< to "the Jxxjk of tlic hiw" MUattcn by Moses, that coufi'nns all allusions i«» Kxodus, NunjlK-rs antk. Deuterononiy to his writings. He also refers to niany other facts mentioned in these lx)oks. In Kxodus, Moses is commanded by the Lord to write in the book of the covenant au account of Joshua's victory over the .»f SOLOMON ON HIS THRUNK. Amelekites ; and in Numbers, he is commanded to write a nf story of the jounieyings of the children of Israel out of Egypt and while in the wilderness, giving the details of stations and places. In Deuteronomy, an illusion is made to Moses having com- pleted the writing of the book, of the law ; and in the twenty-fourth chapter of Joshua, in his summary of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and of His dealings with, promises to and his ■■'?, i ' I I fs,^i^^^^\J^A,m4'lM^^^:^i«'ehi^^^^it>P^^«£± . .^ ^i^ f~: J !!': "f n ■ 'r--'*i Cr I'' ii^ i-R :P ■ ♦ 1^ ^ •i*«^v-55ii^'^ I 3.>4 .S K4iJ 'Ir I CI S M A SS A 1 1. 1; I ). Tn tKc fou'rtli cliaiHer the same author savs : "And Joshua set up twcive stones, in the midst of Jordan, in .lOSHVA WATCHING THE DESTR^•CTIp^f OK Al. the plaee where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood : and they are there unto this day. ,r " /■ SK.i:r'i"itisM \ssAii.j;n, .vv** 1/ These quotatunis show that the hook (.f Joshnii was wrillvii either by Joshua or hy some one wh«) lived (luriii}^ his generation. The author reeoj;iii/es and refers to "the hook of the law" written 1)y Moses, that eonfirnis all ullnsions in Mxodus, Xuinhers and Deuteronomy to' his writings^^Ie als(» refers to niany other facts mentioned in these hooks. • In Ivxodns, Moses is comntanded hy tlie Lord to write in tlie l)o<»k of. the covenant an account of Joshua's victory over the i ,. ■ SOLOMON ON HIS THRoSK. _^ Amelekites; and in Xumliers, he is commanded to write a history of ' the journeyings of the children of Israel out of I^gypt and while in the wilderness, giving the details of stations and places.'' lu Dttuteronomy, an illusiim is made to Mo^es having com- pleted the writing of the book of the law ; and in the iweut\ -fourth chapter of Joshua, in his summary^ (j^fiod's covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and of His dealings with, promises to and his -I fill m '■J ■I- '. 4 III .If i m y •^ '.?^™' Itmfi- '■?i^»f5 . '. "/■r**ii«^^"» f "^^ ^^ '"%'* *^ ifti^'r* 336 SKEITICISM ASSAILED. pfotection of the children of Israel, the author also alludes to facts we ^d recorded in Geuesis and Exodus. S In the second chapter of the First Book of Kings, David, in his charge to his son, Solomon, who succeeded him, said: "I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong, therefore, and show thyself a man ; and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His com- mandments, and His judgments, and. His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou may est prosper in all that thou doest." , In Jeremiah, reference is made to the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Chronicles, Judges and Kiitgs as containing authentic records of the Hebrew nation from the time of Abraham until then. Bibical references to4fie same effect can be multiplied. It was the opinion of the Jews during the centuries of the accumulation of the Old Testament that Moses wrote the Pentateuch. Their testiinony bearing on this question is of great value. The evidltace contained in the first five books of the Old Testament clearly proves either that Moses was their author, or that they in their present form had been compiled largely from his writings. Few can read the addresses and advice to the children of Israel that are attributed to Moses after leaving Mount Sinai and just previous to his death, reviewing his past life-work and God's dealings with His people, and for one moment seriously doubt that they are, the genuine productions of this great and grand leader. They contain all the freshness, originality and inspiration that such surroundings would naturally inspire. Surely no man or combination df men could have manufac- tured this miraculous history, could have forged and written these wonderful documents, and been soiccessful in palming them off on. any succeeding generation as genuine and as a true history. "^'^ff 'i5jpir(» JJ*-"'*, r w « •- Tjs!* /afm- ■• , . ^ "*' "S '^■aHpF*' *"5«''^^ .■■ '^'*"ia\^^!^TF='™r»s«»'^!-JvK''^»!P"a(«« JKvery <;|ood tree (337) . IJ-t . ^ ^fKO, - ^■?^)?^fW^ I I tl .K^^Ci^,^,-.ii , h^-hHSti ' d • s, . SKKI'TICISM ASSAII.KO. 339 Suppose that these wonderful statements contained iii the Tentateuch had been written several centuries after Moses' death, and that this alleged history had been manufactured- and was false: could it possibly have been palmed off as geniiine? The l)ooks of the Pentateuch relate minutely to God's covenants and dealings with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ; the miracnlqjj^ deliverance of this chosen race from Egyptian bondage; their education, training and forty * ,, , THE TADEKNACI.E. years' history in the wilderness, and give in detail a code of laws, ordinances and instituted modes of worship, their origin and the facts connected therewith, and indeed the complete history. of this nation for centuries. If it were false or forged, the imjiosition could and vvpuld have been detected and exposed. * These books mention the strong evidential fact that as Moses wrote this history the records were placed in the ark of the covenant I =7' 340 SKEPTICISM ASS.VII.KI). , \ for safekeeping, Tliej- also refer, and in niinute detail, to so many ifiiniculous events and iijiportant historical facts that, if spnrions, they would have been detected upon the most sujjerficial inve!i?tigation. We ask,'conld such , an imposture have been made upon anv nati(m of people, jiispiring Itheir enthusiastic faith in its truth and genuineness? Would not anjy people liave said. We have examined th»; vaults of the ark of the covejiant, have conversed with tlrose who havz charge of it, and have investigated the wondeif ul history these books claim to relate, only to find ihat it is all false, and therefore we must - pronounce the lxx>ks themselves forgeries ? Suppose that to-day a volume were to bt published, with \V'ashington as its alleged author, and that it gave in detail the fafts connected with the Revolutionary War: could such an imposture i>e credited by this or any other generation ? Would not every hitelli- gent man and woman say. It cannot be true that George Washington wrote such a book, because i^ was jiever before heard of, dnd because it could not possibly have been written and preserved in the manner designated without something concerning it having been known and the work eagerly sought afte^? Therefo^e, it must be a forgery and an attempted imposition. ::,"■"' Ijii the entire records of the \yorld, who ever heard of a book^ containing the history for cjbntnriesi of a nation, with a system and code of laws, instituted mod^s of worship and ordinances, giving in detail the origin of the latter and the facts connected therewith, having been forged and palmed off on any nation of people, arid of its inspiring their ii"plimited and boundless faith as has the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Old Testament? ^ As we have before stated the Book of Joshua contains strong internal evidence that it was written during the generation that sur- vived Moses, and this generation was well acquainted with all the facts connected with the exodus and with the forty years of wanderirig in the wilderness. 1 , • i^&tSS^e^^jiisiXiifi •*' "W^ SKKJTICISM ASSAII.KD. 341 It relates tliat Rahab, who had protected Joshua's spies, for which she and her family were spared in the siejje and destruction of Jericho, was still living among them ; that the stones placed in the Jordan where the priests stood with the ark of the covenant yet remained there. It refers in detail to much that Moses wrote, his speeches, laws, ordinances, and modes of worship, and to the history of this race for centuries— all ih confirmation of. the contents of the, Pentateuch. • Not only is this true, but the Pentateuch contains internal evidence, when applied to subsequent history, that conclusively proves that it is not a false and spurious document. It enumerates covenants and promises alleged to have been made l)etween God and Abraham concerning tbe posterity of Ishmael and Isaac, tliat were miraculously fulfilled. It relates the fact of Moses alleging that he was a servant of God, divinely called to aid in the work of a progres- sive revelation. We have shown (by Moses' prophetical picture of the future of this race to be realized centuries afterward,, and which wa^ fulfilled in perfect and minute detail) conclusive evidenle sus- taining the assertions in regard to having been divinely called or appointed. No human foresight or intelligence could, without super- . natural aid, have so accurately forecast the history of this nation for centuries as did Moses. These facts carry with them strong probfiHive evidence that supports the Mosaic authorship and the divine authenticity of the Pentateuch. . The Pentateuch relates the beginning of a miraculous history and the work of a progressive revelation which, continuing for centuries, culminated in the divinely attractive life, character and teacfeings of Jesus Christ. These prophetic portrayals cannot be explained by any ordinary kmown law or influence : they present a miracle for which skeptical scientists can never account on any other theory so reasonable as that of a supernatural revelation. By accept- 343 ^SKEPTICISM ASSAILKI). I. [rfl r l^d ye believed Mo«c», ye would have »)elievcd Me', for he wrote of Me. But if ye Injlieve not hi.s writiuK«, how nhall ye Ik'Uovc My words?" The writin^H here referred to clearly embrace the Pentateuch, for it i« conceded that duriuK Christ'H public career tlic PAtatcuch was recoKuij^cd aj* the writinjjH of Mosch. ^ I St. Luke also tells us that after the resurrectioif Christ appeared to two of His disciples on the road to KrniualiH, aiul "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He exponfided unl|> thcni , 4 in all the Scriptures the ^hiiigs concerniuK Hfiniself." A little fartjjer on, referring to the recognized threeft»ld division of the Old-Testanicnt Scriptures, Clfri.st makes use of the words, "that all things must l)e fulfilled which were written in the tmw of Moses, and m the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Me."* The cincumstantial and positive evidence that supports the divine aut!i«iticity of the Pentateuch and tlic Mosaic uuthorahip raises the conclusive presumption either that Moses wrote it or that it has been compiled substantially from his writings, and that it is a faithful record of God's dealings with His chosen race, who in the' beginning of His work. of a supernatural progressive revelation were used as "a beacon set upon a hill," to light other nations to the only true God. Skeptics have also hurled harsh critici.snis against tlu^biblical account of Abraham's temptation to offer his .son Isaac. They have „asked what motive a righteous God could have had in .so barbarously tempting His righteous servant. What motive? We answer, a ( S ^ ft ,'f' *f^: ,b(4 •*(■■',;: ( / rt ,,. 'i.i' I I V SKIJ'Tli !S.M \S>,.MI.I,Ii 346 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. sublime and inspiring one. God was beginning the ^stablishmeijt of a religion that was to elevate and bless tpankind. The foundation of this religion is perfect faith and obedience. Knowing that sufficient evidence to inspire and call forth such faith had been presented to Abraham, God, in this simple way, tested Abraham that an example \ » 4 r'*'>.•;d»lf9"^ . . .^l^^'^ ff- ^ iti4S^ t "itCi^ ^/^ t^ ok'ii^fr.^jf- *>|BB|OW»^"5?'*»Wf^:5^jn!i9e^^l*r^^« ^" r« 'f^i'^J"" ','*'; f, SKEPTICISM ASSAILED, 347 V for all time to come might be given of the faith and obedience that Were essentials of all true children of God. Again, by this simple transg^n God effectually set the seal of His disapproval upon the then heathen practice of offering the first bom as a sacrifice to appeaSe the gods, and substituted brute in place of human offerings. From that time to this the barbarity of sacrificing children as a religious observance has never been practiced among God-fearing nations^ Faith and obedience were rigidly taught by Christ after His incarnation as essential in every one of His recognized disciples. When a young man appeared before Christ, desirous of knowing what he must do in order to become one of His faaiowers, Christ repeated to him a few of the commandments, ^^^ch He instructed him to keep. The young man replied : " •>. " AH these have I kept from my youth up." ^' Christ, reading the heart and knowing the love for earthly possessions to be greater than was the desire to become one of Hi§ disciples, applied the crucial test by telling the young inquirer to sell all that he had, distribute it to the poor and follow'Him. But this man's faith was not so perfect as had been the faith of Abraham. He did not obey and hence was rejected. In establishing a test of di^cipleship, Christ s&id : "Whosoever he be of you thatjorsaketh not alt that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." \ - Again He stretched forth His ha"^ and said : . ' 'k , "Whosoever shall do the will rof*"^ Father, which is in ^ heiv-en, the same is My brother, and sifter, aiM^other." \ At the present day Christ. 'doeJ not reqim^ His followers to convefl their wealth into cash and distribute it to the poor, though He does require them not to live alone to themselves, but to follow ^-IJis example of self-sacfifice and benevolence. The example of the — -^'-^^ . .-•' . ^ ^ ^i- 1 ^ '• *v -K. J^'^A > ^ ^ ^ Z-J} * i fj- Si-J*- " -L^ ™ s s£t '•i- i^*'>« vs 1-*^ JVrll^ii!.i*i,iy*A^AlC*^-ffd'j.^-Ji^i«ie^SW. ' 'W'' • ' -.'"i'^^i ' "' "^Z 'i»./^;'^'*'X-»i**^**^ '. *^^'';^«5f?r "tr' ■if!^«(-/v* ;]^*^'--"<' t™- ^ • V^' P" ■'^|^^!?»i> ^" 348 SKEPTICISM ASS'AILED, HI rich young^nian was employed like Abraham's temptation, to t?ach that it is our duty, at any sacrifice, to obey Go^'s commands. • The spirit of Abraham's temptation was exemplified by Christ when, in the Garden of Gethse mane, the suflferings of the cross and cruel death were before Him, H< said: "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt," Throughout Christ's teachings He constantly and solemnly appeals to every one to do the will of His heavenly Father. Christ is not to-day calling on us to sa:rifice son, or to forsake father and mother or sister except when t ley interfere with our obedience to His commands. ' * In the twenty-fifth chaptW of Matthew, Christ explains how wc may secure His full approval and become members of His spiritual kingdom. He says : ; " Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand. Come, ye blessed of My Father, Vijiherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the worl^ : For I*was an hungered, and ye g^ve Afe meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a strange?, and ye took Me in ; naked, and ye clothed Me ; I was sick, and ye \|isited Me ; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. /'Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying: Lord when saw wf Thee an hungered, an(f fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink ? When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in ? or naked, and dothed Thee ? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee ? [ / "And the King shall answer and say unto them. Verily I say unto you. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. " Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye Cursed. * * * For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave IMe no drink ; I was a strangerj, THE SERMON ON THE MOUt^. iM9> J.- ' '. „ - vi X ^ ^ A \\ s-t^Sl^^^S : • SKEPTICISM ASSAILHI). 35 « and 4'e took Me not in ; naked, and ye clothed Me not ; sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. *' Then shall they also answer Him, sayinjjj : ' Lord, when saw we Thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee ?<^ " Then shall He answer them, saying. Verily I say unto yon. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me." The great lesson Christ taught was that we should love one another as He had loved us; and He gave His earthly life as an example for us in our intercourse with others. Christ said : "A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another ; as I have loved you ; that ye also love one another." Many think that an outward appearance of morality and a public nteintenance of the means of grace, such as attendance upon and support of Church and Sabbath soliool, make them full-fledged Christians, but this is a lamentable error. d The Sabbath school' and Church are but meank of religious instruction and worship. In them we may learn of God and how to best serve Him. Being a Christian, however, includes not only such knowledge and a willing obedience to the first and great command- ment, biitSdso a practical recognition of the brotherhood of man by liberally assisting ip clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and those in prison, and giving water to those who thirst. If our movements thro«gh the world are inspired with the right spirit, our ministrations will truly exemplify the life of Clirtst and the animating principle of >th< father of the faithful," wh.) sub- limely ojaeyed 'the will of God. i^. " rw»ffT^ »jw"p» *T"'' ■ J CHAPTER IX. CHRIST THK PERKKCT REAUZATION OF MESSIANIC FROPHECV. / A SUMMARY. |T [was revealed through inspired prophets at the beginning that man's arch eneniy^ie \ serpent — sin— would- be overcome by the seed of woman. In making this revelation more specific, the divine pledge was given to AJbraham that this prophecy would be realized through his seed, and subsequently he was informed that it would be through the seed of his son Isaac, and not through that of Ishmael. After Abraham's death, the covenant was renewed with Isaac, and subsequent to the birth of his two sons, Esau and Jacob, it was again renewed with the promise that the ac- complishment would be through the seed of Jacob, excluding that of Esau. Jacob had twelve sons, and after Isaac's death the covenant was renewed with him, though no special one of his sons was designated. The divine decree was thus unfolded, that through the seed of Jacob, generally, the nations and families' of the earth would be blessed. ^ , As a means of preserving the identity of Jacob's seed as a selev-L uiid chosen p«^ple, through whom this covenant was to be (35a),. \ 8KEITICISM ASS.\Il,ED. 353 jKrformed, Jacob luul his entire fjunily were separated from their relatives and the snrroundinK inhabitants, led into Egypt, and phiced in possession of the fertile fields of Goshen. Here they remained for four genet^tioni as "strangers in a land /not their own." Dn ring this sojourH they preserved their identity, and developed into a great race, nunitlerin^ perhaps two million people. : ~ > K I I 1 U . M \ •- ". \ 11 I r! ii= ViKi', lUiniliiTiii;^ jM.rlia]>-> Iw" niilli<'ii p (II Ki\t ■' ■' lip .u:m 354 SitEPTICISM ASSAILED. At the close, of this prophetic period, Egypt trembled in amazement as this chosen people were miraculously led out of Egypt and into the wilderness, where Moses and others, under divine direc- tion, instructed and watclted over them preparatory to their eiitry into the promised land as worshipers df the one true God, and as a nation to become as " a beacon set upon a hill " to light other nations to the sanctuary of the God of t)ieir fathers. Tlie triumphant manner in which this people we^ delivered from their Egyptian bondage, and their victory over/the Ammonites, attracted the atten- tion of surrounding nations, especially the inhabitants of the Promised Land, as evidence of which Rahab said to Joshua's spies : -V r i"^i^ti3' ^^^^^^oeH-^fT^f^H-^ ■-„-s->-'-^ v-^jr-^f » -^ t-i ^^.^letf Ii^lflS^ '^ Y^ ■' ,^ ' '' ■^- .»«^fj^«* SKEPTICISM ASSAI I,KD. 355 ^I know that the Lord hath giv-lMivvou the hiiul, and that your terror is\allen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because qi you. For we liave heard how the Lord dried up the water \- of the Red Sea for you when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Aninionites, that were on the other side \ > f f "^ '■ V / „ 'fST''^ j%«BT»r-^ ■^■Sif'7^^ 356 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 1 Vi- ol Jordan, Sihon and Ogg, whom ye nttem^ destroyed. And as ^oon as \ve had heard these things our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any i^an, because of you ; for the Lord your God, He is God in heavei^ above and in earth beneath. J' \ After this people, uiider the leadership of Joshua, had been emancipated from Egyptian bondage and had triumphantly taken possession of the land of Canaan, the numerous covenants, and prophecies were often rehearsed and were thus kept fresh in the memory of this people. ' These included both the covenants made " with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the prophecj' of Jacob concerning the coming Shiloli — -the Prince of Peace — the prophetic proclamation of Balaam that there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and the prophecy of Moses referring to a coming higher dispensation, in which a leader'Vould rise from their midst greater than himse]f. This nation, therefore, naturally became a God-worshiping people who looked forward to the* coming of a golden era, which in its ultimate and beneficent realization would banish idolatry and bless the whole earth. They also became conspicuously a nation of priests, prophets and teachers. Their literature, covering a period of national and mirdculous history of more than two thousand years, was written by over forty men of different generations, and abounds in prophetic^ — utterances concerning the coming of a divine Messiah and- the estab- lishment of a universal kmgdotn of God, to bfe ruled in peace and righteousness. • ' . • A reference to Christ as being the Son of God is made in the following quotation from the second Psalm : . ^ ^ " I will declare the decree ; Thou art My Son ; this day have ft begdtten Thee. - * * * Blessed are all they that put tfieir trust in Him." V^ '^^i^^jf^rt^ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. ■357 . In the fifth chapter of Micah, the prophet, in referring to the birthplace of the coming Messiah, also allndes to Him ^ one ' whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting," and who shall •*' be great unto the ends of the earth." In the seventh chapter of Isaiah, the ii^imacnlate conception W '*'» ^') <^Sf.\-- A^ THB SILVER STAR Marking THE PLACE OF THE SAVIOUK'S BIRTH. ■ and the birth of Christ as the son of God are foretold in the following langnage:. , , , "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name ImnianueV' meaning, God is with ns. <'4&j£3^^i^.WMi^r.!£^^i:^£t&.%£^''J^4>9^rL>- ^'^•iC^it^'^Ai^^i^^M^'. ^!ia,^>iS^^^^^^^'&t.^i^A^^'at^t4^Mir^:^ •- .^nk^ C^^i^-sA/it^^fift^. rv SKI.l'l'kl>M \>^> AI1..1 !'. Ill tlu- iiUli (.liaptcT of Mil-all. llu- iMoplut.'in %Krnll; lit tlu birthplact.- nf thf riniiini^-'Mi'S.sialK aUn al idr^ li> I rim a^anu' ' w ii>>sf •iii'-s forlli haw lu i-n tium mI nld, lldiu iv'ti ■l.L-^liiiCr! •iVul \vU(*>'-l'ialI iiiii i J :l , < -rig- A 1 llic Uirtli 1)1 Christ as i.hi- son >,\ ("km,! arr' fofii^iihl in t.h.- t am *■ Jan>'ua>'t' 1 1, .1 1\\ 11 n„ f ~ lU'hold, si" \iri;in diall >tU'*-i\i' :iii(l'!.ra'' a s.iii; awA L-hal his iiaiiu- Tmiilaum-l." -im-aiiiii-, < '.(»! i^ \\iili u ,f f. f^^^ ^■^i^^^^'fiy, * ^^^ f - - 1 -r* ^ ' ' !^jp^ . f tj r*f I rtJHjl ^1 f f*^ ""^^ ^'""^^T' '*"■ ' F •'■"■. ./:.. 358 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. In the ninth chapter, in describing in more minute detail the im- ' maculate conception an|l character of the Son of God, the prophet says : "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given : and the government shall be upon His. shoulder ; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlastingl«'ather, the^Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace -- tliere shall be n6 end." ' ■V These prophecies and' the types and shadows of a coming ^lessiah describe a divine person, begotten by God, conceived by a . virgin^ and who \yould appear in the form and likeness of man to suffer- for the sins of others, ^yet to be "The Prince of « Peace," "Wonderful," "Counsellor," "The Mighty God," "The everlasting . Pather," " whose goings forth had been of old, from everlasting," and whose kingdom wbuld embrace all nations and endure fqrever. / Prophecy declared that Christ would be preceded by a fore- runner ais 9 voice in the \vildemess.' The prophet Malachi, to whom " the burden of the Lofd to Israel " came, said : ' ** Behold, r will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the- 'way l^foire M*'; ^^nd the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenTV come to His temple, e Veil the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight ' in : behold, Hie shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts." Isaiah confirmeid this same statement. He said: , ' * ^* ,**Goriifort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God. * * * The vmce of him ^hat crieth in the wildeniess, prepare ye the way ^ of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. *■ * ^ And, thej glory of the Lo^ shall be revealed, and all flesh ■ "shall see it tdget-her: for the mouth of tlie Lord hath spoken it." ' There a?e no chariacters.in history except that of John the V Baptist,'as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness," announcing th,e KiAgdom of God at hand, and Christ, appearing as the "only ■'begjotten Sop» of God," to whom these prbphecieis could have the ilFNjT slighteg^ r e f e r e nce. .' ' "'1' ■*. x^ yr\ . ■«* », ;1. f: Ki'TicisM assaili-;d. 359 Ka\ Abput two hundred ryeafs after the close of the Old Testaineitt Scriptures, it is recorded by St. Luke that while Zacharias, a priest, ''wasofficiatiHginthe teiiiple, the augel Gabriel appeared uuto hini , > aud said: ' "tV-ar not,' Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard ; aud thy wife Eliza- beth shall bear , thee a soli, aud thou shalt >:?ill his .name John. * * * 'For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord." * * * "And he shall go before Him * * * to make ready a 'people prepare'd for the Lotd." Follow-" ing this an- nouncement*, Elizabeth's con- cept i on and J J[ohn)s Ijirth is related^ About thirty yea^s afterward, John appeared preaching baptism and repentance, and announcfed " the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." The conception and birth of Christ as recorded is still THB ANNUNCIATION. A •pr;:^:^!*:- 1 -^ jt^_s^ ^ ^r-^ 2;i?«^^ ■^S'- 360 SKEl'^ICISM ASSAILED. \ 'more niifaculous ami thrilling. It is xelated that. in six months after the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharia»»n the temple he was seijt to a virgin n^nied Mary, who was espoused to Joseph, to whom he said : '■■■''.'/■ .' I*.' SKEPTICISM ASKAILKD. 361 ovcrshadow^Uiee : thcrctore al^o that holy, thiuK which shall he iK.ru of thee shall be called tht? Sou of God. Aud NIary saicl : HehoUl the handmaid of the Lord ; Ait unto me according to thy word." * In dnp time Mafy V brought forth hei- first born and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes ai\d laid Him in a ni^nger," when au^nngcl- with outstretched 'pinions atid a countenance radiant with celestial iight appeared to the shcphWds watching their flocks^ by .night, . and said; / \ , - • ■ • " Fear not ; for, behold, iXbring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is b ' city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord,? .• " ^ And suddenly there appearM a multitude of celestial beings "in a triumphant outburst of heavenlVmusic, singing "Glory to <^od * \n the highest, and on eartl^ peace, gcWwill toward men." ' Mr. Ingersoll, in enunciatingjiis skeptical suggestions, hd^s . said : " If Christ be the Son of God aiM not the son of Joseph, why did St. Matthew trace out his genealogy Vrom jAbraham,. and wliy did y^_ St. Luke trace it back to Adam ?'' . X . Why this was done we may not beAable to give a saiisfaetory reason for, but one fact is certain, that iti ^ginning to trace out- His genealogy St. Luke remarked: " And Je^^ Hiiiifeelf began to be » ^ut thirty years of age, being (as \ya3 suppo^dV the Son of Joseph." "That is to say, the .people generally recogniz^ Christ prior to His ^ . public career as the son of Joseph ; ^ut St. Luke fully explodes the _ fallacy of this understanding by giving in minMedetdl ^the facts concerning Mary's conception by the Hol| Gliost, and Christ's entrance into the worid, as above set forth ; is the )>nly begotten ^^^^^^^^ . of God, and it is clear that St. Matthew, in giving tl^e genealogy, did not intend it as evidence of Christ's being the son of Wph. . ;^ ■ The assumption that Joiteph w?as the father Vf ChHst was emphatically repudiated by St*. Matthew in the foUdwing strong, , - graphic language : ~ ^^ ' . ■' i ■ y * J Vj \yj -ri^r*?" I ^ T! !"fB- c 1^^'^fi^i ' iW^*"^"^'^ 363 SKHI'TICISm! ASSMI.KI). :t,m:4: i et;:fr-', "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, Iwfore they came together, she was found with child of the Holy GhostA Then Joseph, her husband, Ueiufj a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was^'minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dreani, sayihg : Joseph j thou son of David, fear ndt to take imto •fi^: r^.-.-ri.-" ,' '"(^ ■ VT* I t , * MARY AND ELIZABEXH. (3f>i) '-■■I- r < t 1 ^.ft^ m 'U (iT ■. \ I ,1 ■' ■ ■; i ! . •■ t ■ it; / .v» ■■/ SKI I'Yli I>M \.s> MM !►. Hi " \n\\ till Imtli it|'/|i>>\\ this wist-: Wlu'-ii Is iiiuilii r Miii\ \\ .Is IS ;is j>"iiisi(I lu j.isi|ili, IkI'uii' ilii-y laiiii- jiiMiiIu f. sin was ii.mid with i|;Hil ..j' ihi'-IIuly ('•hnsl. Thiii Josiph, hii hiis!i;iiiil. hiiiiu a )nyi tiiaii, niiil \uA \\ illiiij^ U> iiiakv lur a piililii «c exaiiij)k', \v:H iiihuk'd to put 'lier awav piivily. ! Sut wh'ik' he tliiHij^rht W.\KY AM> M l/.\l'.Klll. L1''W 51 "«| I - ■ • > ■■!*-, *■ o ■■«. ^ ,TTjp,.5W1 *. \. ' '. ■ »* ,^ " ' ' ■ ■ v^.;--,- «. ' ■ ■*. ■f '/■ :":.-. _ ■ ' • , ■ / *1 ' ■ " ■ %; - * m .' ■ J~-:.r Jt' ■7 • . » 4J J- ■ -^ ■ V . ■ -: ^ ■ v.". ■-'■^ " . -I* y. • .«■ /■ ■ -. ■r'^ . ■;- » ■ ■ ■ i .^: - -,%l^V: 9 . -;, 1 .- ;/■..__ 0' > f^m^^rfvi f Wf^ »^"» 1* lf<'l». S. ,>■ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 365 thee Mary thy wife : for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring fortti a son, and thoU shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their >» * ■ sms. . • The entire history of the immaculate conception and Christ's birth, with the attending circumstances as related by St. Matthew and , St. Luke, maintains with the most positive assurance that Christ was the Messiah, the divine Son of God. The worship of the infant Christ, as described in St. Matthew, by the three wise m^ represents Jesus as the true Lord and Saviour of humanity. The greetings addressed to Mary, His mother, by heavenly as well as by earthly visitants confirm the same conclusion. . " The Lord is with thee ; blessed art thou among women. * * * He {4ier son] shall be great, a«d shall be called the Son of the Highest; * * * and of His kingdom there shall be no end.' Elizabeth echoed the ang^ words, " Blessed art thou among women." " Mary, the Virgin Mother, already knows that all generations shall call her blessed, for the mighty One has done great things with her. And as the fruits of her incarnation unfold themselves before her prophetic eye she proclaim^ that the promises to the fathers are at last fulfilled. Zacharias rejoices that 'the I^ord God of Israel' hath in the new-born Saviour ^visited and redeemed His people.' This Saviour is the Lord, whose forerunner has been announced by prophecy. He is the day star from on high, bringing a new morning to those who sat in the darkness and death shadows of thfe world. Simon desires to depart in peace, since his eyes have seen his Lord's salvatioii. The, babe whom he takes in his arms belongs not only to ' Bethlehem Jrid Nazareth, He is the destined inheritance of the wo^ld. He is the divine Saviour. All nations are interested in His bitlth. He is to be the pride and glor>' of the new kingdom." ^.,- *:- ^^H*'i>^'m^^:f^ ffv^^-fi^,^ ^ ..,„^^,„^^_y^ SKEITICISM ASSAILED. 367 were passed. John the Baptist bears strong evidence that Christ, his cousin, was the Messiah. James, the brother of Jesus, who witnessed His public career and was instructed by Him after the resurrection, suffered martyrdom rather than deny Him as being Lord and God^ ie twelve disciples, who had every opportunity of learning from iviiiy manifestations of His life and also.from His mother, JESUS COMMANDS T^P TEMPEST AND IT OBEYS. had unbounded faith in Him as being the Christ, the Son of the living God, aijd as such, worshiped Him. ' ^^^ , • St. Paul, who also had every opportunity of knowing the fi^ts, who had conversed with James the brother of Jesus, and who claimed to have been "personally instructed by Christ after the resurrection, worshiped Him as GodT He declares that Christ ]iad emptied Himself of the form of God and taken npon Him the form of a servant. He said: : ^ ■— ^^^^P^J-^S^f^^,^* SJ'^SlsEjT^.lSl^rii^w);' S^^'fl^lL. JiH 1! 4 II !|: m ill w 1 ■ * % ■ • -' » <* • «8 « '•* i' ■ ■*• ► - • .. ' ■» t ' . . f • ^ .,1 < U-iU ' SRl-l'TICISM ASS \|1.1.1>, , 1 .It is chaj- that :\lr.*4^i.i;<:rs-<»ll's. skc-jnic-il su-.^vstimV, t«> \\hw}) ulhmioii has. Ikl-u niadi-, must v;6iish l.i-f«.rc tlu- li.uht of vhc c-\ idc-mi' > . ■■>■ • ■ .■;••;,' " .- '■■■■»'. J, hi-aniiiLj im this qiif^tjoii. "•' • '' ' ' . • • •! '> It is uiKlisi)Utihirs iuotht.T. and Mary, the ■.«-" \ l! . ' ■ ( \ ■ C ■< N J-,' ■. \ ■ ■ K ■-'. e- - ■« «; • ' . i* 'o' ■ ^ ' \ ^niullrrrOf |csuK«<>t'eii;o;ir blood ri-1ali«iiiS'alid destcjulantK of David,, w ho >\as of thy ^ccd of Abl'ahaiu, lsa:\c:«H(i Jacol). "^'i; • „^ ' \ ' • II is n-hilfd that aft<-T Mary's coiicciU ion she visitctl UH/abi-th, f the- hiirh-honor tha\ h\l brt-n bosfowVd upon tlicitl and salutations n m ^r -A SKI^'I'U ISM \>> \ll.l 1'. to uhivljl c"\ i(lcm%' [arv, tlu- i". ■. \\c'U' ])assci I. Jj.lui-Ou- i;.'Hiai.sl Ikmi^ Nivon- f\Hlviuojtli:a' Clvri \: ;')" ivs /J .» ro iisiii. was ihv Mv>sta h. lanus, llir l>rollu r uf J.si;n. \di.) NA'iVjjfv'^sOU His p nil)li(.- larcc t- aiitl \vas*insint«.-tV(l l>\Jlim at'ur llic n ^ilirivii on, .wlYfrctl 1 inartvnl.mi i^lliiT tliaii (^ny Him ;Vs Uih- -Lovd anil ( 'Vji Phr Uwlvr nis.iidi:s. wlu. liacl t-via-y (.j»pi'i:t-innly ..I .Iraritiu^^.'--^ ■« \v ir< nil the tlailv iiianilVstatinns < if ilts' HU^ afhl al>>i^h.)m I l**|noVlK'U, ^, „ -Tr: ^ V. ■ A -< u. a. u. Ik*' V': it <\ .' ■^r'-. ■a:>. .^!, il ■( ... - _ • . ill/abc'th, {K)ii tlicm ]n«l unb»)ivii^(i(KU al'ul :, . : St. Vaul. wIkMi.kJ (.onxei'sf-c [^s^ >. I UMMANI'"* lilt' •TKMl'KSI AN1» if '>H!»>VH: faitit in Hiiir iis/U:itiy'":tte.v'i^1iri>t-;' iJiKJ^ojyTtf •IIk';^^ V¥- tt *..:.■. :'"■". ,'■ ^■*"'-'--- ■^■. ;;v i -■'•;;, •■'A'.-''.; •' :>".."•■ ./••..■ ■""„■; ■; .->■.,, :is-fCudt woi slupcdiliuj;. .,';■>, ■■-:^-,/ "H^'^ y:% '^^y-''" .'''''' '/'l-U:''- ' "";:„ w ho aKo ha^;f»<>% -'■;;;;;. ^- : 1 w uh Jaintv.tltvl»v«4%i*"<>f"iiv^fvs^ ;1,iK^^ ' ,.' c,t • . • '' ; ^^ to htuc'htH't. J^li souaJ-]\ iu^lrntlc.)"\ln->1ii;(^^^i^^^^^ " \\oi4iiK-a Uiin4-(V"1- 'Ff^ .tvi%re^:lh4;Vl;irn^ ^^'N "V '-of tlu- fi.nu .H'k^iul litul uktMi' n]H.n ■ Riii^:!^^^^^ Ik s';li(); ±, -«x "^\ \>, Sv* '^ 'i*/'' '■V*, '^n .- i ['*• " 4 368- SKEHTICilSM ASSAILED'. "Great is tn« jnytery jof'^godli^ess :- God was, manifest jn the flesh." ".: ■■.■■.•■■: ■ ; ■ J ■"■••.^:-.;^ ' '^■■^- ,■'■■ <'■■■■■-. ,- These expressions of,' fiiith, and many other similar declara- tions, are inexplicable'txc6pt' on the theory.crf the sacred realitv/)f the divine incarnation.^ | > .* Ill ; confirmation of thil testtmony, Christ possessed a deep, mysterious consciousness that! He was the Messiah, the only begotten Son .of God, 'ia'nd that God dwelt in Himr^nd through Him was being •revealed to the world. To th^ Samaritan woman at Jacob's well,»He announced that He° was the Messiah* To Nicodemus He declared Himself to be the only begotten Son of God. He said: " I jsame down from heaven. * * * Before Abraham was,- a ami" ■'■■' ■ :.:' ■ . ■■' ..' In His initiatory prayer. He said : * ' "And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self, with the glory I had with Thee before the world was." « Christ's life of unparalleled wisdom, and the many rays of divinity that emanated from Him, confirm the reality of this con- sciousness and the testimony of His witnesses, all of which is corroborated and sustained by the evidential force of prophecy and its perfect fulfillment in Christ's life. „ , As further corroborative evidence of - this contention, Christy stands not only pre-eminent but immeasurably so in aim and m^thoct -, as a teacher when contrasted with other religious teachers and the philosophers. Firi^t. — ^No On^ else has ever appeared who approaches His earnestness and methods of teaching. The first thing that attracts the attention of every; -discriminating student of Christ's recordedfjlife is His intense earnestness and the sacred reality of His utterancies. The studeiit is at once forced to appreciate His contact, with a power y ■ • . ■ . . whose purposcjis to bring him under subjection to moral obligation and duty. ' "~ '\ ~ ^ ' ~ ^A :^r.^. J^ • > ^v *■ 1 I t.'. 4i«-«- ^•~^yw-,>^'^'^;^?ip'i>SS'i^^^rfiiffiij^if^'m'wi^ii^^ ' SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 369 In no single instance did Christ indulge in pietaphysical Ijiiscussions of tliie theories of moral obligation, such as "have char- acterized the work 6f all other philosophers and teachers, who, in striking contrast with Him^have spent niuch time aitd ardent labor It ir trying* to reason out the basis of moral obligation 'and duty. These Jesus Christ as- sumes to exist ahdto be known by every enlight- ened conscience as. a part of the f^imate and nioral '■.■■■-■ . . ■ " J. » constitution of each individual, and that this ' element of man's being is testified 'i^o* by 'his con- science. ^ The iin^ \' _ ■• \'' ■■•■■'■ '^^ ■' :^^ ^'\' ■■■■■■'-/•;' ■■' mistakable^coiH-" trast betweeiS the method of Christ's teachings aria that of the philosophers has given to Christians a moral 'force and catholicity that ca,nnot be found in any other system. As a means of enforcing. man's obedieiice to moral obligation and duty, and as a meaiis of JKSUS THK carpenter's .SON. \ ■ ■ y-'U. .:^ W^ / ■ ■ '^ ^^f^[ ifrw^ mn"' ■*^^. T'W^ *". '5. 370 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED, '#' ^- /. creating in each individual a desire for holiness, Christ appeals to , every ennobling and inspiring principle that oporatps on n^an's moral nature. He c^lls man's attention to the lovfe of God as exemplified in His own unparalleled life of self-sacrifice, and employs it as an incentive to .righteousness. He appeals to the. principles of benevolence, to man's self-love, and to his love for others ; to his sense and appreciation of truth, justice, anjj of what is honorable; to his •self-respect, and even to his desire for prtiise^. These, He assumes, form a constituent part of > the moral nature, an^ are attested by the conscience of every individual. . \ SI. Paul, in exemplifying the spirit of Christ's teachings, appeals in one 'sentence to no less than seven of these principles. He^says : .■■■,■ ^' . ' ' / . . ; ■;. .■; ' -1 ■ "Finally, bretliren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are, honesty "^vhatsoever things are just, wh^oever things are,, purtf, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are x)f goo(i report; if there be anyvirtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.^ - striking contrast with all ttiis ate the methods that have^ ued, by phildsdphers and moralists! Instead of appealing to ijcjples ;^n arid as these Comparatively unimportant questions have been determined in one way or another, great systems have been constructed in which otlier and far more vital principles of man's moral nature have been ignored. In other moral arid religipus systems some of these principles have been repudiated, while still others are characterized by theories involving local, social, sectional, or national bias or prejudice. . • -,- ^ .• - ;-.,,■ /' ■'. . . ■■■*,■■■ ;,. ...,..■ - .-^^-^^ ,. --^^^S % ■■\' , \ SKKPTICIStf ASSAtLBP. 37* Christ's teachings, on the contrary, embrnftc and exemplify ^U of the elements and principles inherent in man's nidral mature, attd' areas broad, comprehensive, and catholic as hnmanity itsd^» ' "^ / ^ • The conclusion is inevitable thi^t Chrisfs method .of teaching - » . < .' *■ iuid the 'prin^^ '• pks.He ipnunci- \ atcid and relied / upon as inwtJ» .^ . tives * to moral' • obedience and ^ the practice of./ v viftue,\wpre '■■. oiiriginal,and that \f He did tiotiearn ^ [ thenv from the hot^-bedp "ot. aaJtoW'-xriinded' > ! religiott? bij^try ; ; - wttich He had " ' ■ •■■■■'.'■■ ''■ ' f' .." breathed from H'is' ^atliest " xchijl^hood^ ; , . ;/ :■;;■•■ fe/attri-'-'V bUte'Sudi hi^h v 'achieveraents to ' exaked^enius is , " ^Xq^ (cdnfess :6ur ', iittipr inability tOv^; acCDitnt fpr this. phenomenal contrast on: any 'known principle ' o*, force that has operated or energized in <)theT human -beings. Therefore the pre-^ , sumption is. that Christ wks what He claimed to b e . — '-^ f^. — ^ — ^ — J ».„ ;PSUS IN t'iIE liOMV OF MARTHA AND MARVi •' ^.' " ' . *• ^ '€ • f ■ % c 37a SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. Second. — The teaching? of Jesus Christ have established the religion of hiinianity. One utterance alone of His, which is applicable to all tribes, races, and nations of' people, has placed the foundation of His religion on a basis that will endure forever. I refer to His great and all-comprehensive utterance to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. * " . ' "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh,- when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship * the Father. * * * But the hmir cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall- worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a spirit ; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." . This utterance was a complete refutation of all that was local, national, ritualistic, and outward in the midst of which Christ was bom and nurtured. And upon this announcement rests forevermore the worship of God as our Heavenly Father in spirit and in .truth, and not in form, animal sacrifice, ritualistic service, or ceremonials. We -ask and press the question. How can the insight and originality of this Galilean Teacher be accounted for, especially in , view of the religious fanaticism with which He was environed? If skeptics answer exalte^ genius, then we say it must be a genius illuminated by the supernatural. Third. — The relative importance that the teachings of JesUs Christ place upon the milder virtues as compared with the political and heroical, is in striking contrast with the estimations of the philosophers. In all their systems the political and heroical virtues rank first in importance. Christ, however, reverses this order, and , places the milder virtues firSt. In the opening sentences of the Sermon on the Mount, which is conceded to be the magna charta of Christ's teachings, He said : ' ' ;- "Blessed are the poor in spirit : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted. rww ir**5?i-«^l^-T' ' ~'^''^^m^^^f^''^y^"' '■' *r ^^ /<■ i* •«^ •«/ '' • ' - " " '^.i ■ T* • - ■' ■ ...v ■ ' " . ■ m . ■ •■; ■ --jf : \ . o ^ ■»■".' ." ■ \. ■'•■[■_- • . '.■•>\ ' ,- ■ ■ . m ', i / " ' ' ■■ *^- .: " • " . ' .■■'■# ■ ' ' "^ J. ^ - V. ' ./ ■ .■ ■ ■ • - y A "•.;■-. ^ ./ u ■,. , " 'ir ' ■- 1 '- ■ * ' . ^"^^^ •'. ': ■ '■.. ■' ■ <^ ■ ■■ , ^ , . ; ' ■ . ■....-'.;"'' .■■'"" ■ '' ■/ '- ■'. ^■* * . t . .■ ■ . . '' ' ■ ' ■ * '■ ■ " ■' » . ' • ■•♦■.■ '•■''' \ ■V , • • ' . . . T.' \" » ^ ■• l' a , ' ■ . • . . ^iiiii ' '- ' "" '» ■" /,' . ^ . ■li. .i.^;^; & . ' - • M Tb«j cjt i~^*B^BF* "^.fsrv"* •f- .lip . i '•- "S3«ij" r-'} ^f^f^ " it SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 375 Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit th^ earth. Blessed are they which do hungeir and thirst after righteousness r for they §hall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they^ shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure hi heart : for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers : for they shall be called the children? of God. Blessed are they whijch are persecuted for righteQUsriess' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. * * * Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father. which is in heaven." i But while Jesus has laid special stress upon the milder virtues, 'fehd has earnestly enjoined their observance, the world presents no • grander example of courage and self-respect^tKan that of |Iis life. It exhibits a perfection of conscious dignity and moral courage that is without a parallel, and it eclipses all the theories and examples of the philosophers. And while Christ's disciples have not written any lengthy disquisitions on the virtues of courage and heroism, yet by their lives they have exhibited bright examples, encouraging its practice when necessary in the discharge and vindication of con- scious duty. Jk Assuming that Christ has changed the order of the milder, virtues by giving them the first place, and has emphasized this change of order by being the first to bbserve them in the conduct of His own life, the important question is, Has Christ, in advocating and exempli- fying this ^course, displayed greater insight into human nature and greater Concern for the public welfare than all other philosophers and moralists ? Bearing on the solution of this problem, it has been appro- priately said: , ♦ "If this question can- be decided by authority, there .cannot be a doubt that since Christianity has pronounced in favor of the milder virtues an overwhelming majority of the wisest and holiest of men have accepted its decisioh as the correct one. i.. ^ ' ^ .4 *•- '48- 376 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. " There can be no doubt that if during the last three thousand years the niilder virtues hatd occupied in man*s estimation the place which the heroic ones have held, the happiness of mankind would have .been increased many fold. Take, for example, the three great political virtues of courage, patriotism and ambi- tion, which "have in all ages commanded the most unbounded adnliration. . "When we calmly survey the pages of history, is it, I ask, too niuch to affirm thlt a large portion of the crimes with which they have been stained has been due to the unrestrained actio^^ these three qualities— qualities noble in themselves, but whlcM^s^come simply pernicious when uncontrolled and iWregtilatedljy the predomi- nant influence of the milder virtues ? Political and heroic virtues are higtily valuable wheh kept in proper subordination to the milder qualities of the human mind; "but when they reign supreme and alone, as they' have generally done throughout the ages of the past, the pemiciousness of their influence has been only in proportion to their greatness. ^, "I claim, therefore, that in reversing the order of the import- ance of the virtues, 'Ghrist showed a profound insight into the realities of human nature, and that He is right in assigning the first place to the fruits of the spirit of God." • ,^^^~~. The skeptical Lecky-eaid : " (Jurist has doUe more to soften and regenerate mankind than all of the disquisitions of the philoso- phers and than all of the exhortations of the moralists." ^ . Fourth.— The teachings of Christ are free from an attempt at political legislation. The universal practice of thfe ancieut teachers , and philosophers was exactly the reverse. Their only hope for the ' r^genet^ion of man was based upon whiat they i-egarded sound politi- cal and social in&thutWs. Hence, in their moral dissertations they often sketched an ideal republic or other political institution, never to be'j»?^lized. ,. ,i . . lyJ... '^:e w^^m^^'^ vr^' '"^-^T\r It- V ¥} ->,'* if.f^ at . r€ ir S( di ■■./■ \v r< , tl c« > C t< .'■ SI o ■" V '\ * ■'c ' m t * ■ . ■ i ■ ■■ V- \ i ■;^ ■ ■ 1 ■■' ', • v - «i .- ■■ ■ ' . \ - ■ \'w^^«m^ pr^ r-j^^T^ Pr^'^"* J !^-^ 'p^'^T £■"" ''' ■f.. ^p^^?^^'^^^F1'^^^^^,ri f r»-*S)^, -J* % SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 379 vm \: The Hebrew nation paid but little attention to philosophy or any systejm ;of morality; but they entertained the most pVofound reverence and respect for the teachings of the Old Testament Scriptures, which not only presented a political systenr of- alleged divine authority^^Jut the teachings of their priests and prophets were addressed generally to Israel in its cot^rate, political capacity, oyer \vhich it was belileved Gftd ruled as King. ^ \ _ ___1_^^ Now it /is clear that if the teachings of Jesus^^ist in this respect had been evolved out of 'Jewish or futile conceptions and i theories, this marked contrast could not possibly have existed. This contrast grows more startling when we^lceep before us the fact that > Christ claimed to be the founder of a new kingdom, and yet His teachings were free from political or social questions. The kingdom, which He established was totally different from any other ever suggested or proposed, being spii^tual, and was based upon con- " ' victibns, persuasions, and supreme love for its founder as an adored Kmg a'nd Lor^. > For eighteen centuries this kingdom has steadily grown in capacity and beneficent, ii^uence 4 and J;o-day it is accomplishing Tnore in yplHi%^4£^|P|f<^^^^^ mankind than the combin i^ortSf^f Siother it|stil||ti6w^^ %The only irejgOrded pplitidaUallttsioa tl^a| Christ m^de during . His public career ^^s " Render to'f aesar -the l^i»#s that are Cfaesar's, jp and to God the things that are ^'s.'! T^i^ characteristic utterance fosever emancipated the conscipi^e of eaj^ in4ividual frbm the control of the state, assigned to each its r^pective prqyince, .a«d established individual Uierty. -^ \ > »*^ ■ : ■ -■ iTOefjiLf Prist's educatiofi aOT^ma»feientS «¥^k, HoaT ,^ wa^ it thalNHpj^sessed the insight rtiat en^ and \M leaven which has emanated from these great j^rinciples has, revolu- tionized the entire dominion of Christian thought, until aft^ra severe struggle continued for centuries, sUvery h$^s finally become extinct in every country that pays allegiance to the teachings, of Jesus - Christ. ■- ■• ■-•:,"•■.., ■•■ ^'\'\ ' "'. . .Thef^fte character of- evidence tljat can be more convincing * .1 ' m e: siablishi s JO I > 35 U P, '^«l CO supernatu r al insight .o/'Christ thag His s yisdoj 0^ ■-.41 ^' 'iHi 3 1 ■ n wt ^^H - %■: ■: ^91 n * 7-'m ^: ' * ■■■,-J .-■■ ^-r 1 < .■■-* ♦ : , _____: — - — ; •■ : ■ " ■ _ ■>/ '■ ' ' ' . ■ »■■■■* ^ ■ f * .' . * ■ -J ■ '.A - y . ' ' '■ . ■■ •/ •■ ■■ :' ■; ! /-^V ' ■;■■■ . • ■ ■ '-"•■<*'■: V .:•■ .-r^'''^---.i'l-\''.'A:A'^^- ^^'1 k • ^ ..^v:.... V- 7,; j> • ■ ; t ' «■'-'.■ ^ J . 386 ■ ,-SKKfTIcisM ASSAILEDt "a '■•: ^ fie perfection of Christ's teachiijgs strptt|:lly^orroboTates this consdousness. His disciples, ^ho saw the daily )t^ifestations oi His life, had perfed and unWpded confidence iajtll^i^nless perfec- iionV His character/ - ; € v(\ St. John said: *' In Him is no siii." v- >^ f^^^^ 3t. Peter said ^^''^ Who did no sin,„ neither. AV^^^i^ found in His iribiith. '■') ' '""''•'^ ' ■■'•■^•Ovv St. Paul said : '. " Who is h^ly, harmless^ u«id0ed, separate frofii sinners, and made higher than the heavens. "J^iSvas in all poyiis telnpted like as we are, yet with<)ut sin. Who Icft^ no sin." ' " In His thr^e years as a-pulj^id te?icher Christ ;^^i;ai)pealed to ' men to sin n , ^ • v' Applying -the crucial test of ^he pu^st and 'beStm^ti- in ^11 ages, Christ i?^ alone in possession of the rtiraculous JU^nifesiation ofO^ a consciousness of being peffect a^d' sinless, sustained b^^ an outer Ufe in harmony with it. When t^ie consciousness o£ grtaftiess and of divine Mati6nship-i|(;!p^^ered in connection Ayith'ft^^^ ^ei^ te^cliii^gs, corroborated ^nd sustaiiied by a "^tles^, sinless, '. ^^Gl^r, tiie evidence becoittes inyinc^ a"<^ t:srttstaiii^,,§ac^|i!^2aity*f « " fchrist exhifeted ano^er phase of character— an influence over men that to out mind is eqitally convincing.- The manner in which He gatbelred His disciples about Him, and irt^ired their perfec.t faith in His divine mission and relationship to G^i, is marvelous ; and when these facts are considered in connection with the grandeur of His elm vaster, and the heroism displayed in triumphantly and «iirac- ulousty purging the Lord's t<^^^,His .divine, magnetic influeuce and power grows upon us» ' ^ •,' ^ ^ w . ..^Jk . II #/- li ' tt» Mfi'jtT.-'ii "5 »T^'*§W SKKI'TICISM ASSAILED. 3«7 € The occasion was the Passover. By long custom the Temple had been misused, desecrated, and converted into a Babel by consent of the leaders in authority. Stalls hgid been rented for cattle, sheep, and dovecotes, and offices to money^hattKers. There had gathered people from Judea, Galilee, Perea,^nd all the surroundjug country. Exchanges of money apd sales of sacrifi- cial animalswere going on. The oJRcers of the law, the judges of the,, highest court of Judea, • the ojv3iers of the^cattle, sheep, doves and money , the priests, leitders in authfif ity, and many thotisand visitors and specr* tators, wer^ ait- tendiiirg the Passover, paying ^eir vows and disehalKing their annual religious duties. ( %i So far as -was generally kn6>i?n, Christ was without parental distinction or 'prestige, ^e had but a short time prior to this laid HOUSE A DEN 01? THIEVES. ■ ^' -J-*- •i * |H W» %i ;^\ dr '388 ■f- '« SKEPTieiSlf ASSAflvER yoW« Hti Carpenter's iools, with which He had been honorably work- ing as a mechanic. He ha4 gathered around Him but few followers, and they consisted of illiterate fishermen and uneducated women. In other words, when Christ approached the desecrated Temple, He was, humanly speaking, unsupported and unaided. ' — ^ With these\\irroundingrs, with a cdnsciousness of supreme authority, and armed with only a small whip. He entered the temple in the presence of the mighty concourse of people, officers of the law, judges in authority, and the owners of the catVle, sheep and money, and with His whip uplifted drove out the cattle ^nd sheep, overturned th^' money-changers' table^, and cried out in a^ authoritative voice that had tlie effect of an dfpiftric shock : '"Hike iJhese things hence; make not'My Father's house a house of merchandise!" «> p The claims He assumed and the diviae authority He mani- fested thrilled with awe the entire-^ssemblage, and in their amazement no attempt was made.to check or arrest Him. ^ ^ ^ ^ J__,ii4:_\ ^^ *' ' The owners of the sheep, cattle, doves and moiiey appreciated the fact, it would seem, that no other punishment was to be inflicted. The judges, officers of the law and rulers trembled as their consciences ;were pierced by His acts. His commands and His exercise of ^iithority. As conclusive evidence of the consternation this act of divine heroism produced, Nicodemus, a doctor of the law and a judge of the . Sanhedrim, still laboi-ing under its influence, several hours later approached Christ, and said : ■^ *' Rabbi, wi know that Thou art a teacher come from God : " for no man can do these miraclfes that Thoii doest except God ^)e with him"."' ','.••, . The more we contemplate this stupendous act of heroism and the marvelous 'effect that it produced, the more Christ's divinely" ' attractive life manifests itself., "'- "" " „ A. recent craze his causej^ nien in tlie Wes^, especially in 'the Indian Territory, to band themselves together, . and witli. . .sixteen ' , '/ --^"v/-^ Ji / J» '.^' ,^ fy ' f t f y !■■■.'■ •'■-"■ -■■ ;!• \' ^epTicism assailed. 389 repeating WiiiGhesters hold up and rob unarmed travelers, and to entef small villages and rob banks in tlie presence of unarmed officials : but ne\'er before or sinte in the history of the world has an uneducated i;iechatiiq,'Mrithout parental prestige, without any material support from his followers, and without kny wcapoti more dangerous tMn a scourge of small c6fds, dared to enter upon such an expedition as this, in the prestuce of such an array of judges, offi^cers of the law, owners of the property aad such a concourse of people. , , \ 'Phe stalls for the c^tle, sheep and doves, and the offices for the money-changi^s had been t^fed and pdn for, un^er the approval of the leaders in authority. By long-continued usage, the unques- tioned right to do these things had acquired an authority which was the equivalent of a legislative' enactment. The: defiafice and public rebuke of so august ^ body as the Jewish Sanhedrim and its officers, and the summary dispossession of so many tenajits under such humiliating circumkances, present a picture of unparalleled triumph. And when this untearthly transaction, in absolute defiance of the ' authority and power of the nationjls considered in connection with Christ's uEtparallekdowisdom and perfection a>s a teacher, His divine, sinless character, and sincere consciousness of His greatness and divine power^ the ai rhieveanent is nothing inore or less than should : be expected. . ' < , ^The divine manif^statiolTof his chkfacter accumulates in its evidential force. As W)/have| previously shown, the Hebrew nation expected a Messiah, mit one who would gome as a conquering hero. Their jprophetiq, Shiloh was expected to reestablish Isijael,, conquer ati "nations, aridjfoundla universal kingdom witli.feui^l^ih aslt^ capital* ©r'-center ofdispensmg^po^eT. ;;-'>' ' "■' - (But Clirist!i qoUTs^Was i^n direct con'fli' . II coiir^e Hti,bf ought. 'Himse|f iu^ ')se xA\Q ' Qq;\tiVd\hd ' tlic'n mttioii'af . I .^ ' i,A' Trt-oi n-.^ Ji. -Tnr .w^ t? O i n ii'l .,**.<- ^'^ >■ '>, , ( ■ ' r . \i- -. , . if *v\- ^e^T' ■" t^ 7^- •JW'-- • 390 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 1 ^^ \ "} •"A, >.,% .."■■5 V ,- *' aV . ( ' i- 11 I \ -i , //>/i afFaiT|»>'^^Mili|6 thty met in council and resolved thatj in tlie interest of tlfli^piuationof their nation and their tijme-honored religiou%^^; institSj^SJ^ Me. should be put to death. To^h^t end the Sanhedri^i, vi ' consisting^^B^venty^e judges, convened and (jrdered His iipjediatc /t .arrest. Theoffir ters found Him stat^iiding before : a large assenl* blage of, pepple discussiing the claim?, of His ^' divine^ mission' ..41 "^ and th^yefietrat- ing i^sa^t^t-seai'ch- x. ing doctrines of His' kingdom. c^ The power and majesty with which He pre- sented His claims and the grandeur of Hi^ teachings so- amazed ai»4,over- avvcd tf^e officers that they fearetl . even to< tii j^c or .ar- ■ir' *'^- ^ ^ y/^ ■ H i / ti'irjV .^ ''• r'v .J|ii,US **SiSa«& THE 2^UGHTER OF AlRi S. I j|ttte^^ipt His. a o jjest, and when, . -. "returning" to Jhe c«rt, the clikf-justioe cried :ever'niaii stoakelike thi^.niQal* ..-'■-',..' « ," I ■> ; — »' jiw p^ no '> If ,0 ' • .■ (1, 'W?"^ rest III ,7/ .*t l.r:* - ■%■ /•>•«. "!^. " ■■i' ' ^°" '■% '■7 ^■'- '' .'■• V ' ifeave ly ipB JT ' -^v .:',f;:^* ■^ 1 _■ ., "■<:#■■ a ■** y "■": ■-:. ^\ » - ' ". 1 , . - ■ l>' *"* !.> , /» - .\ (1 ..^ \ -. - * •■ « " ( ■ . "*> "1^ -'^^ '". ■ " V- ' ■. • * • :• -■.' ■ ''" .< "-"'"'i.'-'' '„ \ »» ' _ ■ . - ■ -. \ ♦ 1. ^,. ■ %<■■._■ ;." e ■■! \ ^\ ,J j-i " • B . . '.'• ^ ^^ .. ■ \ ^ ^ L ■ ■'■ :■. 1 * ■ 1 . . m. . r. • > *■ -;.. -?' \' > ■.> - • i ._.^, ^V^: - „ .■ ' ' . '* .- -■*Vr-;-. ■ .-' * ."" - ^■:'J\ ■ '?'■• •■ ■ \ ^ (■'' ■'.■ wT •• ■■■■ * ■ " <* ', '~' ' "^^ ' . " "t,- , '; ^ ^" . \ #. ■'-'rK |:::;.. ■'* "A''-. " -'" ■ • . -?: '"■'t ;.-■■,'■■ ■ ■ _ ."• ■•.-, ' ^' \ '' ■. . ', ■l p A . ■ 1 ; 'li-'. ,.;■-■■■• -■ : - ' ."_?/■/ ■ .' ' ;' , S \ ■ ■*, SKElTltlSM ASS^l 393 Tlic Judge then inquired as to whether or not any "f the Pharisees l)clicved in Him, and th.en dc^'larcd that those who did were cpndenuM>tl by their law, ^ ^ ' Nicodemus, who prior to this had had a persiinal interview with Christ, and. who had witnessed His signal victory in purging the I'emple, replied that under their law qondemnafion could lutt Ih? pronounced until an opportunity had been given for tlit? accused to "be heard and he had been r^jgularly tried. The other jud^c?! Ijeconi- ing deniorali/ed, impatient, and angry, turned t4 Nicodeinus and cried out :' ;, ".Art thou also from Galilee ? " ' , In^ confusion the court adjourned, *aud each judge retired, leaving dhrist, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to continue His • "divine mission. We repeat : The manner in which Christ gathered His disciples and their perfect faith in Him, His heroism and miraculous triumph ' in purging the Temple, together with His display of divine power, . personal magnetishi, and. unprecedented conduct in overpowering officers ai,id stain pedmg a court consisting of seventy-one judges. His , perfect teachings and sinless character, fully justified His conscious^ ' ness of 'superhuman greatness and a divine mission, and are in perfect harmony with it. ' - dhrist„presents a striking contrast with the philosophers and all other teachers it His estimate of human life, and by the views •He entertained of^the object and extent of Piis mission. A?lljnatiire%tpsts the -fact that tliati'was not' only the inspira- tion but the eoi:pnation of all creation. But nature cannot tell us the origin pf life, or t^e spuFce of man's exalted intellect and reasoning power. This, Mr. Darwin, the champion of evolution, coricedes. In responding to this question, he said : . "I have nothing to do with the origin of the mental powers ■ any more than I have to do with the origin of life itself, hi what <"..■■ A -.A'. .<>► ■;•«?-■: ^^^^^H ^^Bl ■ ■ P .'■■■'■•■'.- ' ■■ ' ' .-^ ',■,'.■■■.. ■• ■ . ■ .• ■ ■ ■ ■■;■■ '■■'■'■■■ j- ■ ■■ ^^B F^ * . < ■ ..'.■ - ■ ■ . ■■' /> ■*■- *^' .■■■■/ ■ ■ ■' . * ■ r^ fa* ■:■■'•■ " .' ■ ' 1 ■ , * ■ .. ■.' ■■^' f -■' " ^ * "^ . '■ ■ ^'' ■. ■ ". -. ■ ■ • ■ " .\ ' •" ■' .' ', . V ^ ■-■■X-^^'^r ■-■* -» 11, . '^K • *■?, , * ". ■ e /■ \-.;' './ ': -««^;'^ » ■ ■- ' '% ■■/■■.' ■/■•■■ - ■■ • : .■■■/ V ■-.■..•- / ■ .-■■ -■'■ ■ ' ■*•''■ ■-• *• . - ..''W---'^- ■■'■■■.■'. ^- • , '■, . . '■ .'■\ •■ ■.;..,'■;" '■rrrSi. ■- ':r :./'■:■■ '■■'-' r-J..^-^^^ If '.._•" w : ' \ ..■.•-.■'■ ^" '■'■'■' ■' .. .' '• ' . .' '•'^ - - . . . ■* ■ ■\;-- /■ . . '■■;■, ■■':■'■:■ • '','■' "* '■ • ■',,«' ■ . " ■ ' ■ '■■• ' ' * '' ^ - , ^ ' ' / • • ' , ^ .•'■ tt ■ -^ ' < ■ i . ' . . iff * \ C9 d f' : , "* ■■wUi i iO M mr aum (ANSI oitd Bq TEST CHART No. 3). :-: -J- ■■■'■■■: - 4 1.0 Ih Mim lift 112 IM 1.8 |jg|U IJ2 ^ /APPLIED HVHGE W leu Eod Main SIfMt RocllMlar, Km Yotk I4«>> USA (7ie) 4(2- 0300 -PhonT^ (7lf),2M-SM»-Fa> •*' * ,, ..* r 394 SKEPJICISM ASSAILED. manner the mental powers were first developed in the lowest organism is as hopeless an inquiry as how life itself first originated." The contention of the evolutionist is that the biblical account of creation as related in Genesis is an inspired figurative expression. Drummond; advocating this view says : "From the lips of the prophet another vision, 'an old, and beautiful story, was told to the childhood of the earth, of how God. made man, how with His own fcands He gathered the Bactrian dust, modeled it, breathed upon it, and it became a living soul. ' , "Later, the insight of the Hebrew poet taught man a deeper lesson. He, saw that there was more in creation .than mechanical production. He saw that the Creator had different kinds of hands and different ways of modeling. How it was done he knew not, but it was not the surface thing his forefathers taught him. The higher mystery broke upon him. Man was a secret and wonderful thing. He was curiously wrought in thje lowest parts of the earth. ^ "When science came in, it was not to contradict the old versions! It but gave them content and, still a richer meaning. What the prophet said, and the poet saw, and science prpved, all and equally will abide forever. For all alike are voices of the Unseen, commissioned to different people and for different ends to declare the mystery of the ascent of man." % By nature man has, in all ages, possessed a conviction more or less strong that this world was not" his abiding home, but that beyond the dreamless and speechless grave there awaited him a • higher and happier destiny. . Christ, in confirmation of this wide conviction, and in recognizing and establishing man's supreme position in creation, has given some graphic and distinguishmg chai'acteristics. He sai^ : ^ " * " Who is it that hath an ox or an ass that would not on the Sabbkth day loose it andlead it to water?'' a^ then declared man to be of more importance than the ox, ass or sheep. He said : ^ ' ' 1 ^J^s ~.^^^.^i^l^i^i :/v^ .- •*.'. V- • SKEl'TICISM ASSAILKD. 395 lie " Consider the ravens : for they neither sow nor reup; which ither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedcth them. How ■ afacAMgy. i>«i.T ^'v C. THE GLORY OK FLOWERS. much more are ye better thSi the fowls? ='= '"^ Consider the lilies how they grow, they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, 4fuU^U«^Gi^L4Aa:^,«^ i)&^S^i0(s, t^? s"*OT^ ^^"^ ("T-t- ijt-'v 17'*';!' ' \i 396 SKKITICISM ASSAILKD. that Solomon in all his. glory was not arrayed like one of these." " If, then, God so clothe the grass which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, how much more will He clothe yon, O ye of little faith ! " " And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul : but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both the soul and body in hell." " Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on, the ground without your Father's knowledge. But the very 'hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value Jhan many sparrows." ' in discussing the shd|IJM:d rejoicing over his lost but found sheep, Christ said : ' . "I say unto you, tbjat likwise joy shall be in heaven overdone sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no rapjfentance." The ancient philosophers entertained no such lofty conception of man, nor were they even able to advance any theory or accomplish anything t>iat would aid in regenerating, redi^iming and reforming / the prodigals ttf the human race. The teachings of all philosophers and moralists prior to Christ's apt)earance were directed to the educated, and -to those whose tend&ncy was tP virtue, or who possessed wealth sufficient to retire from the inaSses'ahd reform by living aesthetic lives. It was while the Scribes were repeating the «ayiiig of Hille, " No uneducated man easily avoids sin, no man of the people can be pious," that Christ appeare(^ and declared that His mission was to the abandoned and fallen prodigals of earth. He associated with publicans and sinners, and the common people heard Him gladly. ^He said that the well needed no physician ; that His mission was to the sick and fallen, the moral \^recks ; and He expressed full faith >in accomplishing the object and pjirpose of His mission, and absolutely reversed the theories of all the philosophers and teachers who had ever preceded Him. >« . .■'-o- ;*t' IHIH |p^^-2=— r f^ __^.«J:rf^ ^^^^m^^S^^^^^^y"^'^^^^^ ■1 • =-==f=— _^;r-gz--: :-- THE BOY JESUS, IN THE HOME OF HIS PARENTS. ^'(m) ' ■' ■ ' ■ . "■' " '■ ■■ ■ \-\- "<^ .""■'«'"*„ T^'T-^ «5. 'V-^K 'Wm^ ±r^^-::^^'StS.JiiSK^i ..s-J^SkSJ ttaS^it^ja; ■i}"^] : •"'^n^p^l^^' _l .,^-f -J^^^^^jpgl^ SKEI'TICISM ASSAILHD. 399 111 connection with this, the most significant and inlercstiiiK pro- position that can possitly command our attention, and one that should never be lost sight of, is that Christ's entrance into this^ world was amid poverty, and that ^lary, His mother, was of the common people. Unlike the sons of royjalty and.i^'ealth. His advent was not ushered in amid unbounded luxuries and with wealthy dignitaries attending. He was born in a stable and cradled in a manger. Hut in the estima- tion of Go^, Hirt Father, this fact did not in the slightest degree detract from His futn re possibility and greatness; and since the creation of the world, when the morning stars sang together for joy, no other son born of woman or any other occurrence has so attracted the attention of the heavenly host, prophetic of future blessing and glory, as was bestowed aujjpj the Son of Mary." The greatest 111 ufBinis in the heavenly courts were commis- sioned to proclaim His birSi ; but it will be noted that the heavenly visitors were not sent to earthly kings or to leaders of nati()lt^^, but to the shepherds, who were of the common people, and who possessed faith in the God of their fathers. The fact that Christ manifested so much solicitude on behalf of publicans, sinners, the sick, poor ajjd afflicted, is but natural and Godlike. It is the sad consequences of sin, the reformation of prodigals, the possibilities of each individual, whether rich or poor, that most concern the redeemcdOf Heaven as- well as our Creator and Saviour. It is not royal dignity, but purity of heart and character, that secure the attention and the ardent appreciation of God our Father. A Not only was Christ's birth heralded by a concourse of celestial beings praising God ou high, and prophetieally proclaiming peace on earth and good will toward men, but by a Vjlazing star in the heavens which attracted the attention of three of the wisest men of that century, who at once left home and traveled a long distance to offer gifts and pay honors to the child whose future mission was to elevate and bless humanity. , ., i.,a^feTf^io^^iBkfafeiiT?i^feV#i aA a.i .j ^t i •m^ffp"^^ ■v j^. > i :*■ 400 SKKITICISM ASSAII-KD. Wc have but limited infonnatiou conceniiuK Christ's early childhood. St. Luke tells us that " the child k-w, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom ; and the grace of (kxl was npc.n Hnn And that when twelve years of age, He was found " .n the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, IxUh hearing then., and asking .hem questions. And al4 that heard Him were astonished at H.s understanding and answers." < , „ t 1 1 r, ,1,.,,, When His mother inquired of Him why He had left them, He replied: , , • :>.. " Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business ? When this reply, "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business," is considered in connection with His subsequent prayer " I have glorified Thee on the earth, I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do; and now, () Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self, with the glory which I had with Tliee before the world wd^," and with His touching expressioft wMe in the articles audV«i-s o( death on the cross, "It is fiijished, -it becomes clear that at the age of twelve He possessed a consciousness „,ore or less strong of His divine n^ission. His display of wisdoin in asking and answering questions, considered in connection with His future career, will not bear any other construction. • ^^ ^ This being true, the question has been asked, Why did He delay His mission until He was thirty years of age ? The answer U> this is plain, whea we keep in view the fact that Mary, His mother, ■ and Elizabeth, the mother of John, were closely related and intimate with each other, and that after the angel Gabriel had appeared to Zacharias and announced tjie birth of John, and to:J^aj#announcing the birth of Jesus, that Mar>^ immediately visited Elii^^eth, and th^t salutations were passed iu honoi; of the' fact that th.y had been highly favored among women. - _ . It is related that John did not enter upon his mission until specially directed by the word of God, and it was an understood fact , C. Utf^^V:^ cC^. -i^^ r- ^ *^' i.^'M .y.,^ ""il i^ .«-. 'i. ..:=^- ^:^:^.-^, '*'■'• ^-i* ••-*» m ?*•% i.^ -< \*»J '^y ▼ J I* , i^i^s^^i-w,^ ^-^ >>r Tf^VAT^t $ "" •* ■9^JWF';^,T'' -T J..: W^^rT^ ^nfi^'^^V^^'''*^^'''*^^!*" - ' ■n:&?P''^»'H, 404 SKKi'TIClS>J ASSAILKI). ), • By this Christ meant that He would he the propelling and invigorating force of His kingdom and teaching to the end of time. \ p(K>r woman paid Him homage as an jexpression of her love for Him as 1 ord and God. With a perfect confidence and calm assurance in the ^ triumph of His Gospel and kingdom, Christ simply announced that ;.the^aand example of tli is woman wonld be told as a memorial of Hiin throughout the world, wherever the Gospel was preached. Hfe spoke as one who had l)efore Him a perfect vision of the long, checkered future, in the forejVround of which was Hi* own death on the cross, and He talked as one nho is absolutely certain that His A\'ork was indestructible. He said : -The gates of hell shall not. prevail against it." ' Heaven and earth shallpass away, but My xv^ords shall not pass away." The originality and boldness of Christ's plan is absolutely unique and wonderful. He deliberately claims the right to be the center of human affection, to rule all human ^thought, to be the lawgiver of humanity, and the object of man's devotion. He places Himself l^fore the world as the true goal of its expectations ; pbints to His proposed work as the one hope for its future, and assumes that the world needed the universal religion that He as God incaniate had come to reveal. He exhibited the attractiveness of His person and character with an assurance that it would give life, activity and . energizing force, which were essential to its success and final triumph over every difficulty and opposition, - From the beginning of His public career Christ expressed a consciousness that the cross was an essential part of the Messianic plan as a means of expressing^ His love for humanity, and as a magnet to d^raw the world unto Him ; and that the resurrection and ascension were essential as a means of banishing skepticism and inspii3ng faith in the immortality of the human soul, and in order to fasten the thoughts of men on heaven as their ultimate and abiding home. " itS. 1 AMi>^^iSim*.^B£^ ^i^ll-Kl^i^^^it^ail^b^ "*» 1 fsnrr- r^TST^^ ■'sw-sp - / 4^'^ '-i i' ^ - ^-u*^ ^.^wli. r-^ "« - * ♦ SKF.ITICISM ASSAILKI). 407 It IH clear that Chjnst's death on the cross wan dcsi^ined to touch the tender chords of i the liinnun heart, and to inspire hnc for Him as an attractive andleffectual uR-thcKl of enforcing ol)edience to God's will, and as an in<(entive to riKhteousness. Donlitless thi« " lifting up" of CJiris;t upoii the cross was agreed upon in the eternal councils of God before man's creaticm as one of the attractive features of the Messianic plan That John the Baptist had some kno\yledge of this jnatter is shown by the fact that in introducivg Christ as the Messiah he said- / ■ I "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away |the sina of the world." 1 This language, considered in connection with other facts, can mean but one thing, and that isjthat Christ had Ijeen provided as a lamb to be s^ain, ^^ '*" expression of God's love for men, ajid as an effectual remedy against sin. The seitpent made of brass by Moses, and set up on at pole by the command of the Lord, to be looked upon as a means of healing those bitten by a serpent., was typical of the cross of Christ as an object to contemplate as a means of inspiring obedience and holiness. In con- . firmation of this view, St. John said : '^ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so muSt the Son of Many be lifted up." Chris^t, in calm assurance of this truth, said:* * "I, if I be lifted up, will draw alfmen unto Me." The blood of all heifers, bullocks, sheep and other animal.s and fowls that have been shed as a sacrificial offering from the days of \.,V .«. ., ^^^i. ^imJ^.^t\ ^^/: • wf^ '»« igw" *^-if ' ' ■f^^^^f^twf^j'^hmfis^rrs '-"^ ^w ' %T 40« 8KKITICISM ASSAILKD, riRhtcoiw Abel until the bUxl of the Uinb of 0- When »tnndinK^)cf<>rc the council that coiulcinmd Him, consciouH of the fact that He hatl at His coiuniancl the rcsourccH of hiavcii, He Haid: I " My Icinylom U npt of thia wor l d; if My kingdom were of t^hiM world, then would My Hervant.H fight that I Hhoitld no( he delivered to the Jews." Pih^le said: "Art Thou u kijig, then ? " Jesus answered : "To this end was I born, and for this cans c came I into the world. Hereafter shall ye see the Son <»f Man sittin>^ on the rifjht hand of power, and coming ini- the clouds of heaven." While on the cross, .stilt clinging to His-djvine mission, He extended pardon to the thief who expressed faith in Him, and pathetically set the example of praying for our enemies. And when, in the articles and agony of death, conscious of the fact that He had .ii^^M^^h!i^f^i^s£d&,s,s4'^&li^ *K I r I !> ; -w > ■ \ 1 1 ijll \\'!i. n >l iiiiiiii.' I.il'.ii fl im> ;1 i!ii» . ■ tiiK irn' ■' I! ItM, 1 >iii-.» toii-^ ■•! ill' I t> t til. 1 1 III' li I'l »i 111 «' •mm III" I I'l' '• "111 I lu:i\i n, I It -<.inl : "My t4iiiK«t«»ni t^ lint nf tilin wnrhh n Mv iiiiwui.nt xm t, ,>f I li I . w " I ! .1 , I li t ti \\ " n ! ■! M\ -i I \ nil . hV.lit itiil I -.ji.iiil.j ii"i '•< <|»1 i \ I 1 1 "I I ■ • lln |« \\ ■■ i.l i;,ii.- ■ \ ; I Hon I I. Ill', lllt'll .IllsW V ll lilt-, t ii'l n I I Im.III. Mill hr' t I I I raillr 1 llN n »■ I <■ ■! Ti > I I ll . >"H ..I M III 111 111'. Mil Mil liaiul til iiiiuif. ami (utiiinv iii llu- ili'inh '<\ liia\tii. W litic ipii tllr 111 ^l1ll liiiiv'ltlv: l'> I ll-- 'Iniiii' nil- -!"ii I'Ntiliili'd |i:im1iiii (ll tlir llijil wlln i \ ]>;(,'s-,i d IimIi l>allictiiall\ --vt tile isaiii|iK- 111 jn.iv iui; lur ill till- arliili's and avuiu n|' di'iitli. < < in,-i inii- Ml I I 1 111, .lllil -ffWfT-- '^ p«nh«.cd U.r uorM'H love, un.l ihal \\\.^y .Hin-^ion rtf f».«cri.»K wnM vikU'U. He ixclrtlmcd '* It ii finishvti." / An ccU|,Hc \vm\ vciUa the fucc {f Ihc nunMint tlic HH.ttmauii were nimlo lo t«.»hlc by a.. c«rth«,«ukc llml rent the veil of the Temple from un> to IkiUoiu. ,» „njL„ WhoilSrc cnmtlH wlu. were walchiiiK J"U» huw IIi» (..Kl-like death, and that keaven and earth were UluR couvt.Ued in Kym,KUhy. with HiH dyi«K aKonicH. they liecame alurn.ed, and the centunon cried out : "Truly thin was the Son of C.mI!" The conster- nation that ^lecen- sarily folWwed anions those who had aided in con- demning, abusing, {jcourjjjing and put- tin)^Gl>rist to death, ill ^^'*^f ti»<^ ^y"- piitliy that was iH-'ing vrr** HToHihH ANi. iiojiHB TOMi or JliHWtALBM. iKit ivtnaiwasoeiug ., , , i • t «» ,.«., ;„;.„ifc.s.c..l Ky luavon ««<1 earth in tK-l.alf ..f the dymg Lord, can Ik- Ik-Hit iniaKi""! Ihau i«;curalc-ly dcscnlK-il. A...n. Ibis linu-, !l^.sc-pl,. who was a a-unclor, a rich and a i„s. man of Arima.lu-a., who was a lK-li.v.r in Christ's nnss.on and vho was a. hear, one of Mis aisci,,les„a,,,K-ale'l ... I'.la.e f..r the IhkIv^. His plea was Krante.1. N'icHlen.ns, who was one ..f .ho H^es .,f : ^.nhedrin' an., who had expressed fai.h in Chns.'s ,vn.e „,issio„, in the evc-ninK af.er .he Ten.ple ^"^^V^^'f;^ wh..se interference in Mis iK-half an.l jn .Ua. ..f ll.s (..Ij^wers. on .he ik. w «»tt«»ioii of the rciwrt n( lilt oflficvrH tl\«( " NVwr iimii," which n?inillc«l in thy"iifM?»i"»i niul iidj"Mniwi< uIm) appeared wilh a »«'»*% "^ "».vrrh uiul aloe*, llic prc|Kinitit)n and b#ialW iht-lnHly in Jmi|»T»%, m MSN ill the Kurdeii near the p||c« of crwcifixiim. Oil the day folU»wiilK |he hiirl#. the thief prle »ccM reminded Pilate Uiftt Chfinl had naid tlwut if lie k« thin t'le t'i»urt, J.xph ill t^whieh %hftri. ptti to CtlKlttT TBACIIINtt NICODKMt'lk death He would riiseiiKain on the third day, therefore tJic sopuliher was sealed and jrliarded. Union the morning? <.f the third day, an angel " whose countenance was like lightning, and his' raiment white as snow," broke the seal and rolled awaA' Uie st(»no. The frightened guards rushed to the elders and hi.uh i)riests and made known what had occurred. After full eon.suUation the Is 'LA-'„^^^,^0kmiaS-'*^^Mit^&M&U.*ri^£;2S^ . '■■".'■J? -'^^'i/i i'* . M n . f '/ i / f \ W '''ii ».,2 • SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. guards were paid to say tliat the friends of Jesus had stolen the body while they were asleep ; and perfect indemnity was guaranteed them against the death penalty for sleeping while on duty. Mary Magdalene and others went early to the sepulcher for the purpose of anointing the body, according to the Jewish custom of that day, and there an angel approached them, saying : "Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen. * * * Go quickly. And tell His disciples." ■' - . w»t, "^mim ^ And as they went, Jesus met them, saying : All hail ! and they worshiped Him. He said unto them, " Touch Me not, fo^ I am not yet ascencled to My Father." -, . Jesus afterward met His disciples and assured them that He was the risen Lord, at the same time exhibiting His lacerated feet, hands and pierced^side. *And ^fter satisfying them. He said : « Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suflfer, and to rise from the dead the third day ; and that repentance and remis- sion of stns should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. A;id ye are witnesses of these thm^s." After instructing His disciples for many days in reference to the nature and character of His kingdom, and in regard to their duty in preaching the ©ospel, finally, while in the act of blessmg them, " He was parted from them and carried up into heaven." Skeptics, to avoid the force of the resurrection as evidence of Christ's divinity and po^er, have denied its reality. Though admit- ting His death, burial and the open, vacant sepiilcher, they have urged th^t Christ'-s disciples had stolen the body. But this theory ■ has been exploded by the great revolution made in His disciples conceptions as to thenature and character of the Messianic kmgdom, and of Christ's mission, together with the- enthusiasm and courage they manifested in the vindication of their faith, so that men like Peter, who immediately " previous to Christ's resurrection had beea i^. ■5*: r-ft" ' ■5'»'«'j('"5:i»*«.% ,y\-ir^-r^~ .?■ i \ i'''^i>' 'iaw "^«A V'^T-^ . . '1 ' ' -'<^l ' ' ' '^1 ■ ;•■'■'', 11 *«*' ^;l'1|i^|P!)9l||^^^^^^^^H ""^ -■-flfc, Jfe./ Jff ■ ^^ ,'^ :.—»■»' . '. ^^^1 . ^ ^H / H . ""■;;/^: /^4 -.'■'' -.;...:■■ ,.- ■■-. ■ "fe. In 'V / ■■".-' ', .■ 'the ASCENSION, (413) : ■ •■)■ ■'.' ,.., /..\ ' V , -v^.. ' " ' .y. ^ t 1 Ill ,/■ m'&^f^^-T''^,wy'r^^ i" ' CT*>f "M -W " / SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 415 cowards, were in defense of their faith in their risen and ascended Lord soon afterward inspired with the courage of a lion and the spirit of a martyr. At the present day it is conceded by all who have stiidied the natnre of men and the inflnence that is absoUitely essential to iiispire such enthusiasm, faith and martyrdom as were displayed by the disciples that these could not have beert based on a known falsehood ; and therefore the honesty and sincerity of Christ's apostles and immediate followers in the resurrection and ascension are conceded. In the light of the evidence it is admitted, even by skeptics, that if the visionary theory which has been advanced as an excuse for or justification of the fa^ and enthusiasm of Christ's disciples cannot be maintained, then the Christian theory becomes a conclusive; proven truth. \ As we have already stated, the cross, resurrection and ascension were but integral and absolutely essential parts of the Messianic plan. The halo of glory that has shone forth from the cross of Christ for eighteen centuries as an expression of God's love and as a magnet to draw all men unto Him, could never have existed without the train of awful circumstances that began with the betrayal and crucifixion, and ended with the resurrection and ascension, and thus conclusively established the divine Sonsbip of Christ. From the time of Christ's entrance upon His public mission to the date of His visible ascension. He declared to His disciples in the most positive terms that all things that had been written of Him by Moses in the Pentateuch, and by others in the Psalms and propheciesof the Old Testament, would be fulfilled. , It was distinctly and specifically iterated and reiterated that He wMild be betrayed, scourged and put to death, but that the Holy due would not see corruption, but in three days would rise again, d^laring Himself the resurrection and the life. ■.'\ 'f . 1- > . / ■ i -■ f 416 ^SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. " Christ had said many uwnderful thirigs during His life that His uneducated disciples did not at th? time comprehend, but which subsequent events recalled and indelibly , stamped ifpou their memories. For instance, on the morning of the third day, when Mary Magdalene with shouts of praise and rejoicing rushed across valleys and over mountinS proclaiming the risen Lord, the great truth of the resurrection for the first time commenced to, dawn upon His disciples. And even then they did not appreciate the nature and character of His kingdom and Messsianic mission, for they afterward approached Him and said : " Lord wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?" ^ . After Christ, subsequeiit to the resurrection, had spent forty days in instructing His followers concerning their dufey as His disciples and as witnesses to His life, death and resurrection, and had finally and visibly ascended to His Father, Peter and the other disciples appeared on the day of Pentecost, courageous and thoroughly revo- lutionized inxfheir conviction, and stood in the presence of the cross ' and the open grave, and boldly preached Christ and the resurrection in defiance of those who had .crucified Him. As a result of this preaching, of facts that must have been largely of public note and record, over ten thousand persons were converted and became stead- fast fdUqwers of Christ and members of His kingdom. '^^. It was^at such well-authenticated dates and iinder such notable ■ historic circumstances that the Christian Church had its birth. In the light of the admitted facts the' visionary theory cannot possibly bfe maintained on any known principle or precedent. Individuals • have often suffered with hallucinations and have had visions of A6n-existing objective' realities:. But in the case" before us, if the I visionary theory be maintainable, we must believe that a body of men \iet together for a common purpose, and that each of them at the same time must have had a vision of their risen Lord, and at the same time must have received elaborate instructions, all of which / ^'j«.vt % vj m d '^Jk tv i \3 'ft^'-tr' • -^jTsr?*' r;^f*^B^i^»'^«P" '■■^t 1^ A > <(\ ^ T' \\ , 1 L .', »■. ■• ' » r •■ r " s 1 « . • " - .^ ■ .. ■-:-- .- ■ ■ ' - - " ■ *• w o ,: '."'y , ,• ■" 1 „ ■ ■/ "■ . ■ '"*';*«■ "'^a^" X ^"''Wy ' ■ . f 1 , ^ 8KKITICISM ASSAII.KU. 419 were undcrstcKKl alike by eacl> ; on other occasions they had eaten and talked with Christ, and had been fairly instrncted by Hiin as to the nature and character of His mission and kingdom and their duty as His disciples. Snch a species of hallucination is without a precedent. Although individual lunatics have often mistaken visions ..for realities, such an cKcurrence among a numl)er, who Ijclievcd that they had each seen the san»c person, talked with and Ixjcn instructed by Him, each understanding alike what had occurred, when it was all a visionary, subjective conception, is unknown and is absolutely beyond the range of possibilities. i^ In considering this question, the cxistci^eB- of the Christian Church, with its mighty influence, which has had a historic life from the day of Pentecost until now, and has been established and niain- tained on the basis of faith in the resurrection and the risen Lord, cannot be overestimated in its probative force as an actual reality in exploding the visionary theory. Especially is this true in view of the fact that the Messianic conception upon which it was constructed was new and wholly different in character from that which was at the time entertained among Christ's disciples ; and the tcmpofal-kingdom idea which was replaced very soon afterward by the entirely different conception of ChiSst's spiritual kingdom formed the bond of union prior to the crucifixion. His death on the cross forever exploded th6 old Messianic conception, and His disciples regarded their cause as forlorn and hopeless. As a society they were disbanded by the crucifixion. But immediately after the resurrection we find them again banded together with invincible courage and love in the prosecu- tion of one common cause and purpose. Within a few weeks something wonderful had happened, something which to the disciples changed the entire view and aspect of Christ's kingdom and mission ; something happened on the morning of tlie third day that forever changed their plans, hopes and aspirations; "something took place' w hich changed this earth, the w hol^ aspect of life and death to them ; ^20 8KKITICI8M A8.VlI.ia>. s' Love thy neighbor as thyselt.' tA into jvcr li of ihcd nt of good pics, and F the « stian been ieuce more t has in all y ttie y the vance- ciples. a, the es in teenth thati a ythias, Rations corner- i based oi ly selfr ■ 9- V:r^ ■ £j^ ■ . "■•"'■ • , ^»^ ^^M ' j^^Li ■ M ■ ■ . ■ ° '.'i ■ "■::■••;■..■■■■■ -.il. r' '^^1 ^ yo* ■..--' - '■ :] '■-■'■ ' ■ ;■;■ ;! m ■ ■ ,, - • ■ ■:'■'■ riJii t^-;mM^^'€i^&,'^f ~ WWV- "^ • ' r y #■. e 'JjJP'^IB^"/ 3,12 ^ '#f O-WTJ^* rjl \ -1 > ' t > ■;.-" '■" . -yip»^f: ■^s^ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 423 And through the influences of these orders and other semi-Christian as well as Christian agencies, the world is rapidly improving, and man's desire to attain to a higher and a nobler life, and .to observe the sacred duties that have been enjoined upon him to love his neighbor as himself, have been intensified. # . In all heathen and gentile nations man has maintained the great inferiority of woman as a fact not to be questioned. Aristotle, for instance, thought of her; as occupying a position- intermediate bet\|ireen freemen and slaves. '*" fioth women and slaves may be good," he said, " though perhaps of them the one is less good and the other wholly bad." But since the night the star pointed to Bethlehem's - manger, and the angel sang of the birth of a Saviour bom of woman, the misconception that had for centuries degraded womanhood and motherhood has been exploded, and the mountain-peaked error forever doomed. To-day in every land, in proportion as Christianity prevails, the appreciation and honor that is paid to woman everywhere increases and intensifi^es. And through the elevating effects of Christianity, woman's noble an^'untold influence for good is everywhere felt, realized and properly appreciated. In the Church and Sabbath ischool, in women's aid and missionary societies, in hospitals, moral, benevolent and philanthropic institutions, at the bedsides of the sick, in the homes of the i)oor and the needy, and wherever suffering humanity can be found, sympathizing woman can be met with ; and she is conceded to be the finishing touch, the lily work of God's creation. As the beautiful, budding flower unfolds its tints to the golden rays of the morning sun with kisses of love, contributing to the beauty and attractiveness of God's vast creation, so the gentle, wooing, purifying influence of noble woman is contributing to the advance- ment of Christianity, the elevation of man and the happiness of - the worid. ,-■■■.■ ■■^■#■ - The many agenties that are at work in theHpterests of Chris- tianity have developed during this generation a gr^lft^Jjnissionary > \ .m^-r-i) 424 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. spirit: than ^ad ever been inspired during aU of xthe^. preceding centuries-. ' Through this missibnary spirit a greater nufi^ber of Bibles have been printed and distributed, and more literature pr«^ntj|ig the evidejices of the divine origin of Christianity and the divine^ attrsjc- . tive life of Christ, than in all the past ages. - yf The press has accomplished nye in advancing Christ^nity during' the last twenty-five y^ear^ than during all of its previous existence. If the trend of Christian ciyilization cau be relied upon, it is clear that the day is not far in advance when suph papers as the New York V/^ra/«r, Wor/d, Tribune, :S««, arfd other great dailies will become fearies^ agencies in advancing aqd pushing forward Christ's teachings and kingdom. s' , There is no event in the future history of« €hr]sti^it|. tj^at should be^ looked forward to with greater anticipation tban the day yrhen the secular press shall fully realize that itis a part of its great mission to energ^cally and systematically advocate and press Christ's cWms and kingdom, as there is no secular agency more effectual in operating upon, molding and shaping the civilization of pian than this instrumentality might become. • la the history of the Christian Church, events, " like the pendulum of the clock, have swung backward and fonvard, while the ^^ "index upon the dial has recorded the progress. Tl^e bdnzon of the^ •Christian woi-ia has widened, deepened and expanded. The characterC of Christ and His teachings has gradually ^rWn in beauty an4 attractiveness, an^. Christianity .is now appropriating every civilizing ' agency known ttf man in directly of indirectly advocating an^ advancing its claims. . - ' J^ " It is to i, 'y^'\:*- j!;? \J\ ..»vt,^McVV^\ ifc^ mMiFm; _<™1^™T3 ^'^\. ly-'. X ?'|^sr.. %rf \\ SKKI>TICISM ASSAILKI). 427 never heard of or taught prior to the appearance of the great Galilean ' teacher. Since His appearance no inj;in has ever added anything to or improved npon the simplicity, sublimity and divine attractiveness of His teachipgsv, These skeptics do not always give credit to this great instructor as t6^ author of many of their beautiful theories and charming announcements, yet it is a fact that they are preaching Christ's teachings of peace^and love. Dr. Drumraond contends that even the ethical forces of nature are at Work hand in hand with Christianity as a mighty factor in this onward progress in evangelizing and Christiani/ing the world. He says : " Evolution- iis less a doctrine than a light; it is a light revealing in the chaos of the past a perfect and growing order, giving mieaning even to the confusions of the pre&ent, discovering through all the deviousness around us the paths of progress, and flashing its rays already upon a common goal. *' Men begin to see an undeviating, ethical purpose in this material world, a tide that from eternity has never tunied, making .. for perfectness. In that vast progression of nature, that vision of all things from the first of tinie, moving from/low t© high, from incom- pleteness to completeness, from imperfection to perfection, the moral nature recognizes in all its height ^nd depth the eternal claim upon itself. Holiness, perfection, 'love, — these have always been i-equired of man. But never before on the natural plain have they been pro- claimed by voices so commanding, or enforced by sanction so gre^at and rational^ • •- , "Up to /this point no word has been spoken to reconcile Christianity with evolution, or evolution with Christianity. And why? Because the two are one. What is evolution ? A method of Christianity. What is the object? To make more perfect living • beings. T^hrough what does evolution work ? Through love. Evo- lution and Christianity have the same author, the same end, the <■■ ■■ y^ c I»*fc ^-' tvimF j ^ ! / 428 SKEITICISM ASSAILKD. same spirit. There is no rivalry l^ctween the two processes. Only by shuttinK its eyes can science evade the discovery of the roots of Christianity in every j^rovince that it enters. And when it dcn^s discover th^n, only by disfiguring words can it succeed m disowning the reUtion!ship. There is nothing , unscientific in accepting that relationship; there is much that is unscientific in dishonoring it." The divinely attractive life, character and teachings of Jesus Christ and the leaven that has emanated from them have by their energizing force entereJ'into and are molding, shaping and directing every civilizing interest and movement of this progressive generation. The period is not far distant when Christianity shall have evangelized all of the nations and kingdoms of this world. The many mightily effective agencies and instrumentalities that it has created, utilized and appropriated cannot fail to ultimately achieve the glorious results promised. - /-»i. t, , ^ St. John, in his apocalyptic vision, saw the Chnstian Church triumphant in the full realization of the conquest of the world, and he beheld a new heaven and a new earth. Again he heard the voices of many aftgels, in number that no man could count, around the great white throne, singing with a loud vpice : " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And ev*ry creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea and all that are in them, heard J saying. Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne; and. unto the^ Lamb forever and ever." Again, in another vision this inspired prophet " Beheld, and, lo! a great multitude, which no man coujd nvimber, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne, a^d before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms m their hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying. Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood « ^3 rjuj^lm- I ■^ite'ir'. ''^^'' -i;%f , ^\\ -, ^\ti i-^^i- ^-i « 'S.. IflWjtW ■' . ■-. ' ■i'' ■ ■. C ■^' . .' 7 ." ■ - / : , - - 1 : * . / / ■■■n' •. ■ ,< •" " t; .-■ . »• ', ■ .' '■ 1 ' / ; \ ■* ^ . /*•■ ^Hl^ ^ * i sy; -■:■'"''' '(Jftjf w^ r r-sn- ^f -' 1 ^- •■ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 431 round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts, fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto our God forever and. ever, Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they ? And I said unto him, Sir» thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great I tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of Gtod, and serve Him day and night in His temple : and He that sittih on the throne shall divell among them. They shall hunger no /more, neither thirst any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from tfceir eyes." , ' . \- I- ' J«^^;:fi^:;p;., f¥^ CHAPTER X. THE EVIDENCE OF AN (^BJECTIVE REVELATION RESULTING IN TH CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL, BY LORD LVTTELTON, ONE OF THE GREATEST LAWYERS AND . JURISTS THAT ADORNED THE ENGLISH BENCH. !T is statk by Rev. T. T. Biddo$h, that Lord . . Lyttelton and his friend, Gilbert West, Esq., both men of acknowledged talents, had imbibed the principles of Infidelity from a superficial view of the Scriptures. Fully persuaded that the Bible was an imposture, theyVere dfetermined to expose " the cheat. Lord Lyttelton chose the Conversion of Paul, and Mr. West the Resurrection of Christ for the subject of hostile criticism. Both sat down to their respective tasks full of prejudice ; but the result of their separate attempts was, that they were both converted^* T)y their efforts to overthrow the truth of Christianity. * They came togeth'^^, not as they expected, to exult over an imposture exposed to ridicule, but to lament over their own folly, and to felicitiate each other on their joint conviction that the Bible was the word of God. Their able inquiries have furnished two of the most valuable treatises in favor of revelatioii, one entitled* " Observations on the Conversion of St. Paul,'J and the other " Observa- tions on the Resurrection of Christ." iJ *. Ti^'waJ^Si ,jlFfi^??^j»ss»"''*s»^W'*fS'^^C^M?„, 'tiEc y»i(ia^n^-r^^^j?«f^«ws^|:f-vs^ UX^) ^^Sm. • « ^ - - 1 !•.- '^■- ■■/ i - ■V-: ^ ..J' A, ,* V \ ^ J..- t V »■■ ',<■■■' ;■■■ •■: ■■• ■ 1 ■ ■ • . ■ « sii^kit * * * . V .. •• Q n 1^ 1 / ■ -ji.m^^K-^s^ *"" W*,l«» ' t SKEITICiSTkl ASSAILED. 435 V a'. Sir: — In a late cc^versation w« had upon" the subject of th?^ Christian religion, I tol^ you, that; besideii all the^roofs of it which Imaybe drawn from the prophecies .of the Old Testament, from the X necessary connection it has with the wholW sysfeni of the Jewish • religion, from the miraeles of Christ, Jand ffi»m the evidence guren di His resurrection by art the otWr, apostles, I. thought 'the conversion and the apostleship gf St. Paiil' Albne, diily considered, was of itself «: demonstration sufl&cient to proyfi' Christianity to be a, divine revelation. ' '' ' '^As you seemqd to'thirik that so-compendtbus a;proof might be - of use- to cqtlvijjce those unbelmyers that will not attend to a longef , ;"*• . seri'eSof argun*6nt6, I haye^tlirow.n together the reasons upon which ^•^ I^supp6rt4:hlat pErbpositiort.- ^.' . ♦ " I .. ' * * ■ : ' • ^ ' *I^ thc^twlbnty-sixth cTiapter of the Acts of the. Apoi^tles, writtefn J ^by^ QOtempprary authbr, and a companion of'^t. Paul in ^rjeaching, the <^spel (as appears, bij^ tj^e bobk itself, chap. 2b: 6, 13, u.-di'ap. ■ ay: i^ e,tc.),?3t. Paul is liaid* to have, given, himgelf, this account of . • his conversion ajad'preachingj to king Agrippa and Festus the Roman " ' governor. " My manner of life; froiu my youth, which was, at the ifiVst, among mine own nation atr Jerusalem, know all the Jews, which knew me. from the beginning, (if they would testify) that after the straitest sect of our religion, J lived a Pharisee. , And ilow I stand . and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God untp our fathers: nnto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to coiue; for which hope's sake king Agrippa, I am accused By the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible* with yotif that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought do.many things cpntrary to the nam^ of JeSus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem, .. and>many of ^thpcsaiutp did J shut up. in prison, having received ' ' authority, froni'the chief priest$ ; and when they were put to death, I * gave- my voice against them.' And I punished them oft, in every ' "synagogue, and ccgripelled them to blaspheme j ajid being "exceedingly — '■ ^T^T — ^ — TT—— — ■ '- — ■ — '- — ?-^ -' ■■ r ^ ■dsisfjs-jLii^j „ -3^"'- ^- «« i^g 5 .4 i ■j: ,-J ■ "Jf^^^fp-I-S^fW,- 436 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. ---\ mad against 'them, I persecuted tVem even unto strange cities. Whereupon^ as I 'went ^o pamascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at mid-day, O king, I saw in the way a light - from heaven, above the brightness of t]^ sun shining round about ^ me, and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all' fallen to the earth, I hfeard a voice speaking unto nie, arid saying in the Hebrew .tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? It is ^ hard for thee to kick against pricks. And I said, who art thou, Lord ? And He said, l am Jesus whom thou persecutest. ' But rise, stand upon thy feet; for I have appealed iinto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister, and a witness both of those thipgs >yhich thou hast Seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee ]^ delivering thee from the p«ople and from , the Gentiles unto whom I now send thee, to opentheir eyes, and to tkm them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; Xhat they may re^M0^' forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, 1 was not, disobedient to the heavenly vision: but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout aH the coasts of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do^ works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the Temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small aiid great, saying none other things than those which Moses and the prophets did say should come : That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise frort the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a louA voice, Paul thou art beside thyself : much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also — I speak f r eely; for I am per s uaded th a t none of these things are -♦• , ^?f.. ? '' % \ . : '*■- tt--/. ■f^m^ ' les. ion / , ghf ' . ■■■r\ . out A. alir- , .■-.■" 9 , ■ : is ^ rd?-™-i-^ . . - . .■ » and ♦ • * T hou lee;^ m I s to ified ■ '\ ■ notv m .■ *;.-■ ■. ti of dea, ddo ". le'in ■ j * : . ■ ined •if aiid .'■■-'. tlie ... vi H:hat 1 ' \ ■ lould ■ ■■ '} pake / eside ■■■: -i 11 not ; 1 ^'S. : . and\ r-"'- \' I also i ": s are . .^._^l.,. 4V % •* ~W»^»- Ml- l^.. •in it :^'^ i I Ai F'Ari.s i>km:nsk m M 4'M w •w: '% i f V , . 1 i-. ff ' \ ■- . «■ < « - ' ■ / • ' - ■' / "' ■ / / / * ■■■': ■ » ' 1 ', - "S ^ . * . *" ' / _ £-?. , , f^'- > ■ ^ . ' i / / ;-f ■ V • • • / » / / , * w- - m ♦ / i •Mi fc...,.fl^ ttg i / 1 « t #*- iff^^m'fnm^^ ' ^ 8KKPTICI8M ASSAII.KD. 439 hidden front him; for this thing was not done in a comer. King Agrippa, bclievest thou the proi>het8? I know that thou bclicvcst. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuadest me to l)c a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I amAxcept these bonds." In another chapter of the same book, he giv^^ in substance the same account to the Jews, adding thci^ furthe^/ particulars : "And I said, what shall 1 do, Lord? And the Lord s/iid unto mc, arise and go into Damascus, and there it shall he told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that wel-e with me, I camp into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout maii, adcording.to the law, having a goo4|^port of all the Jews that dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, brother Saul, receive thy sight : and the same hour I looked upon him. And he said, the God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldst know His will, and see,. that just One, and shouldst hear the voice of His mouth. For thou shalt be His witness unto all men, of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou ? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the namjB Cof the Lord." Acts, 22 : 10-16. ' ' In the ninth chapter of the same book, the author of it relates the same story with some other circumstances not mentioned in these accounts; as, that Saul in a vision saw Ananias before he. came to him, coming in, and putting' his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. And that when Ananias had spoken to him, immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales. Acts, 9 : 1 2, 18. And agre^bly to all these accounts, St. Paul thus speaks of himself in the epiWes he wrote to the several churches he planted ; the authenticity of yhich cannot be doubted without ot^ertutning a* rules by whicTi the kuthority and genuineness\of any writings c be proved or confinne I • m^ '"^^ 'w y. 440 8K«ITICISM ASSAII.KD. To the Galatiani he nays, "I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is-not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesui Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that Wyond measure I persecuted the ChurcK . of God, and wasted it ; and profited in the Jews' religion aboVe many , of mine equals in my ovm nation, being more exceedingly /ealou^, of the tradition of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's lyomb, and called me by His grace to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among th<; heathen, immediately I confered not with flesh and blood," etc. Gal. i : ii-i0. To the Philippiafis h as of oitc born Juc time." i Cor. 15: 8. f^ f Now, it m#lt of necessity lie, that the Pp«'» attesting these things of hiitisclf, and of whom they arc related in so antheittic a mituner^ either y/M an imi-ostor, who said what he knew to Ik: falsc» with an intent to deceive; or he was an knthisiast, wlio; by thfe force of an over-heated imagination, iinfiosed on himself; or he was DKCKIVKD by the frand of others, and all that he said must be. imputed to tlie power of that deceit ; or what he declared to have been the -cause of. his conversion, and to have happened in conse- _ quence of it, did all rkali.v hapPRN ; and, therefore, the- Christian . religion is a divintJevelation. *•■ #■■ •■\ t I. PAl'I. NOT AN IMPOSTOR. ,: * «•. Now, that he was not an impostor, who said what he Icnew to be fdse, with'^n intoiit to deceive, I shall endeavor to prove, by showing that he could have no rational nfrftives to undertake fiuch an imposture, nor could^hrave possibly carried it on with any success by the means we know he employed. „■ First, then, the induce»^t to such an imposture must liave ^ been one of these two : either SiThope of advancing himself by it in his temporal interest, credit, or power ; or the gratifitation of some of his passions under the authority of it, and by the'nieans it ' • . afibrded. .;.!■ ■;/ .'■ -:■■■ ' ■. ■ '■.,"■;'■. . • Now, these were the circumstances in >vhich St. Paul declared his conversion to the faith of Christ Jesus ; .that Jesus wlio called ^ Himself the Messiah, and Son of God— notwiths|andiug the innocence and holiness of His life ; notwithstanding the miracles by which He - — attested His mission— had been crucifie the heat of his zeal, with persecuting the Christiahs who were at Jerusalem, but breafhing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest and desired of him letterslo Damascus to tli^^ spiagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring thim bound to Jerusalem. Acts, 9: i, 2. His request was complied with, and he went to Damascus, with authority and com- mission from the high priest. Acts, 26 : 12. At this instant of time, and under these circumstances, did he become a disciple of Christ. What could be liis motive to take such a part ? . Was it the hope of increasing his wealth ? The certain consequence of his taking that part was not only the- loss of all that he had, but of all hopes of acquiring more. Those whom he left were the disposers of wealth, oi dignity, of power, in Judea ; those whom he went to, were indigent men, oppressed and kept down- from all means of improving their fortunes. They, among them, who had more than the rest, shared what they hadilth their brethren ; but with this assistance the whole community was hardly supplied with the necessaries of life. ^ And even in churches he afterwards planted himself, which were much more wealthy than that of Jerusalem, so far was St. Paul from availing himself of their cjiarity, or the veneration they had for him, in order to draw that wealth to himself, that he often refused to take any part of it for the necessaries of life. Thus he tells the Corinthians : " Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst ;" and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place, and l^or, working with our own 'hands." i Cor. 4 : 11. \ ^ In another epistle he writes to them, "Behold the third time I a^ ready to come to you, and I will not be burthensome to you, for I seek not yourS, but you; for the children ought;, \'S -* ; . 444 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." 2 Cor: 12 : 14. . To the Thessalonians he says, "As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which' tnieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, nor a cloak of covetousness ; God is witness; iior of men sought we glory, neither of y6u, nor yet of others, \yhen we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. For ye reniember, brethren, our labor and travail : for laboring night and day, because we would not be char^l^e to any of you, we preached unto you the Gospel of God." Anfli^ain in another letter to them he repeats the same testimony of his disinterestedness : " Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught, but wrought with labor and travail day and night, that we might not be chargeable to any of you." "2 Thess. 3:8. And when he took his farewell of the Church of Bphesus, to whom he foretold that they should see hini *no more, he gives this testimony of himself, and appeals to them for the truth of itf " i have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, you yourselves know, that these hands have ministered uiito my neces- sities, and to them that were with me." Acts, 20: 33, 34. It is then evident, both from the state of the church, when St. Paul first came . into it, and from his behavior afterwards, that he had no thoughts <»f increasihg hi^^ wealtirbylbecon""^ *• Christian; whereas, by Con- . tinning to be their enemy, he had almost certain hopes of making his fortune by the favor of those who ^e at the head of th6 Jewish state, to whom nothing could more recommend him than the zeal that he showed in that persectiUon. As to credit or reputation, that too lay all on the side he forsook. The sect he embraced was utider the greatest and most universal contempt of any then in the world. „ The A, chiefs and leaders of it were men of the lowest birth, education, and rank. They had no one advantage of parts, or learning, or other human endowments to recommend them. The doctrines they taught "Wf^'^i^^S^l'^l^ ■""*-, ly^ ^fgji-^ssar-T *'g^^p--'"fySe5^'t*^- '^J^^^^f^'^l'^'T^mhW^ '^•^'' *"" —.""ir* "t «r*%.~*^'5^**jP«'»~ ■* ^^ "*■' ■t: SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 445 were contrary to those which they who were accounted the wisest and most knowing of their nation professed. The wonderful works that they did were either imputed to magic or imposture. The very Author and Head of their faith had heen condemned as a criminal, and died on the cross between two thieyes. Could the disciple of Gamaliel think he should gain any credit or reputation by becoming a teacher in a college of fishermen?' Could he flatter himself that either in or out of Judea the doctrines he taught could do him any honor? No; he knew very well that the preaching Christ .crucified was, a stumbling-block to the Jews, and io the Greeks foolishness. I Cor. 1 : 23/ He afterwards found by exi|erience, that in all parts pf the world, contempt was the portion of whoever engaged in 'preaching a mystery so unpalatable to the world to all its passions " and "pleasures, and so irreconcilable to th^ pride of human reason. We are made (says he to the CorinthiansV.^^////' of thi ^or^ the off-scouring of all things unto, this da^^^^ot. 4:13- ^^^ went on as zealously as he set out, and was not ashamed of the tospel of Christ. Certainly then, the des.ire of glory, the ambition of nrnkipg to himself a great name, was Hot Ms motive to embrace Christianity. Was it then the love of po\^r ? * Power ! over whom ? over a flock of sheep driven to the slaughter, whose Shepherd Himself had been murdered a little before! All he could hope from that power was to be marked out in a particular ttnanner for the same knife which he had seen so bloodily drawn against them. Could. he expect more mercy from the chief priests and the rulers than they had shown to Jesus Himself?' Would not their anger be probably fiercer against t-he'deserter and betrayer of their cause, than against any other of the apostles ? Was power over so mean and despised a set of men worth encountering so much danger? But still it may be said, there are some natures so fond of power "that they will court it at any risk, and be pleased with it even over the mjeanest. Let us see then what power St. Paul assumed over the Christians. Did he . •' ■ '• ' ' . • , ^ ■ .iM&'ii^i'ji^^'i^'^etya ^^^^^iM^.^Ai^if X^T itW T, [•ywf T ♦^instrument to them of the grace of God, and preacher of the Gospel, not as the head of a sect. To the Corinthians he writes in^hese , ^ words : " Now this I say, that every one of you sai^h, I am of pPa^ and I of Apollos,and I of Cephas, and J of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crtfcified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of ' Paul?" I Cor. i: 12, 13.' And in another place, "Who then is Paul, and who is ApoUos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? " i Cor. 3:5. „" For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus Jhe Lord, and ourselves your servantr for Jesus' sake." 2 Cor. 4= 5- . t- All the authority he exercis^^ver them was purely of a spiritual nature, tending to their instruction and edification,^ without any mixture of that civil dominion in which alone an impostor can find his account. Such was the dominion Required and exercised through the pretence of divine inspiration, by many ancient legis- lators, by Minos, Rhadamanthus, Triptolemus, Lycurgus, Niima, Zaleucus, Zoroaster, Xamolxis ;- nay, even by Pythagoras, who joined ' ' legislation. to his philosophy, and, lil^e the pthers, pretended to miracles and revelations from God, to give a more venerable sanction to the laws he prescribed. Such, in latter times, wa? attained by Odin among the Goth's, by Mohammed among the Arabians, by , Mango Copac among the Peruvians, by the Sofi family among the Persians, and that of th^ Xeriffs aihpng the Moors. - To such a ' *" dominion did also aspire the many false Messiahs among the Jews. > In short, a spiritual authority was only jdesired as a foundatioh for ' temporal power, or as the support of it, by all these prefenders to - divine inspiration, and others whom history mentions in different ^ „x. J- j^y ... ' p-,'«l)ir» II 'V "•% SKEPTICISM ^SAILED. 447 ages and countries to have used the same arts. But ^t. Paut ionbvated nothing in government or civil affairs; he meddled not ^yitS legislation; he formed no commonwealths; he raised no sedi- tions;' he affected no temporal power. Obedience to their rulers (Romans. 13) was the doctrine he taught to the churches he planted-, and what he taught he practiced himself : nor did he tise any of those sooAiuK arts by which ambitious and cunning men recommend ^ * « themselves to the "g^favor of those whom they en- deavor tb subject , to their power." , Wlj^atever was wrong in the dis- ciples under his care he freely \ reproved, as '!£• he- native a teacher ifrom God, of which^ numbeflessjin statices ^re t ^u»d in all ^ Tfepistles. ^^^^^« jjQuiuJti&ID PRiaCILLA LISTBNIHG TO THE TEACHfNO OIOHJI; ^aS aS ^fflSP ^f t4m when he had^eft 0ein> as while he resided among th^^micK ^ an impostor would hardly have been, Avhose ^nds were centered all in himself. This .is the manner in which he writes to t^^c Philippians : "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, "o ^^ ^my presence only, but now'^ch more m my absence, work iWyour own salvation, with ftar and trembling:" Phil. 2: 12. And > little after he adds the cause why he in^rested himself so much ife their ciinducl, "That ye may be blameless^an4v#»niles_s, the sonB^otGod '. , '. : : — , : : : — i 1- — I c , — 3^B6 *«/ » ^. V «' ■^;i ■■t#-;: •*•? SK^I^I*! 6f,^li cti&0|ced an^^perv|^ip|atloi^m^F^«|j ye s ,^ ^, holdhig "fo%'^ %JJl of \ik ; tliat I may lir 'of Christ that I Juive not run in vain, neither ; Yea, and' if I b?,;fl|FeredMipoh the ^crifice and , _ ^ faith,'! joy and rejojce^feth you all?' Phil. -2 : 15-17. J./V^f'i&i^l'^c^e the words of an impostor„'#fsiring nothing but temporal H/* .ppwd^? ,|s[oj they are evidently -v^Titt^i by one who looked bejrond '4^ the ^uii^s of this life. But it may be ^^d that he affected at least 'mdn absolute ^iritual power over thl^ ctiuiif||ies' he formed. I answer,, "■^M^ pfMfkectfKrist JesuSf ami not Ai'ms^^ Christ was the /lead, he : oiily th^^i««j^^s,r an^ for siich only Ji^^ye himself to them. He • ^called ^ose"wiii|pssisted him in preaching the Gospel, his, /ei/ow ' laborers ii,pd/fl/(^ *" ' M ;. i, ' V $(D»larw4s he from taking any advantage of a higher educa- J* * ti^n, sriperior iEjartting, and more use of^tlie world, to claim to hii^self ?'•', any supremacy aboVe the other 'jipostVes,*.. that he made light of all ' ;."'thes^ attainmetlts, ^d declared /fta/'iS)f! . ',:■ - ri"! f,. -■\ ^ r . \ . SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 449 e o I a 4 pit' ^i t: m ^^r We see that tlie bishops of Rome have claimed to themselves a primacy, or rathet a monarchy over the whole Christian Church. If St Paul ha^ been actuated by the same lu^t of dominion, it was much easier for him to have succeeded in such an attempt. It was much easier to make himself head of a few poor niec4ianics and fishermeli, \yhose superior he had always been in the eyes of the world, than for the bishops of Rj^me. to reduce those of RaveUna or Milan, and oth€r great metropolitans, to their obedience. Besides the opposition they met with from such potent antagonists, they were obliged to support their pretentions in direct contradiction to those very Scriptures which they were forced to ground them upon, and to the indisputable practi.ce of the whole Christian Church for many centuries. These were such difficulties as required the utmost abilitiei^ and skill to surmount; But the first preachers of the Gospel had easier means to corrupt a faith not yet fully known, and which in many places could only be known by what (hey severally published thenj^elves. It was necessary, indeed, while they continued together, and taught the same people, that they should agree, otherwise the credit of their sect would have been overthrown ; but wlien they I^^B^rated, and formed different churches in distant countries, the, •^if^ necessity no longer reiiiained. \ It was in the power of St. Paul to model most of the cljurches he^nil^, sJjk as toJ||vor hi$ oVlfti ambition; for he preached the Gosj^l in partfof the wOrtd wheres^io lother apostles had been, w/iere Christ mas no^titniect tilUfee brought the knowledge of Him, avoid- mg'/o dutia^pott. anolhef ^tail's foundation. Rom. 15 : 20. Now had'heW^li an iifipplstOf,jvould lie have confix himself to just the same G6s|H#|fc. \y^ Jeferg^ W^t apostles, where he had such a latitude %bi|^^ch'!wh|r^ pleased without contradiction? Woftld he noThave twisted and warped the doctrines of Christ to his own ends, tP the paitipiilar use ind expediency of his own followers, and to the peculiar support; and increase of his own power? That /■■- / ■- //• \ . V!- 450 / SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. ' ■ /' ' •■ ' ' ' . '■ this was not doite by St., Paul, or by any other of the apostles in so many various parts of the^ world as they traveled into, and in churches absolutely under their own direction ; that the Gospel preached by them" all should be one and the samt, the doctrines agreeing in every particular, without any one of them attributing " — more to himself than he did to the others, or establishing anything even in point of order or discipline different from the rest, or more advantageous to his own interest, credit or power, is a most strong and convincing proof of their not being impostors, but acting entirely by divine inspiration. , „- ' * If any one imagines that he sees any difference between the* doctrines of St. James and St. Paul conce^^ng justification by faith or by works, let him read Mr. Locke's "excellent comment upon the epistles of the latter ; or let him only consider these words in the first Epistle to the Corinthians, chao. 9:27. '''But. I keep under my body^ and bring it into subjectiotSjflest that by any means, when I have, preached to others, I myself should be a cast away.^'' / if St. Paul had believed or taught that faith without works : was sufficient to save a disciple of Christ, to what purpose did he keep ^nder his body, since his salvation was not to depend uport//w/ bein^, subjected to the power of his reason, but meriely upon the faith h^ professed? His /a/VA was firm, and so sitbn^ly founded upon th^ most certain conviction, that he had nS'^fe^^on to doubt its continu- ance ; how could he then think it possible, tfiat. while he retSJlled that saving faith, he might nevertheless be a Mt awayf Or if he had supposed that his election and calling was 0f siich a nature, as that it irresistibly impelled him to good, and restrained hiiii from evil, how could he express any fear, lest the lusts of his bpdy should prevent his salvation ? Can such an apprehension be made to agree with the notion of absolute predestination, as destroying the\motive t^ood works, by some ascribed to St. Paijl? He could have no do'^bt that j;he grace of God had been given lo him iii the most d xtraordinary i^s^^ ^ SKKPTICIS>f ASSAII.IHI). 451 numncr; yet we see that he felt the necessity of continual watchful- ness lest he HhouW fall, through the natural prevalence of Ixnlily appetites, if not duly restrained hy his own voluiitary care. Tliis single passage i's »a full answer, out of the month of? St. Paul hiujself, to all the charges that have Wn made of his depreciating gotxl works in what he has sajd concerning grace, election, ari4 justification. If, theii, it appears that Str Paul had nothiiig tp gain by taking this partj^kt us consider, oji^fie other hand, what mK GAVK rv and wiUt hk had rkason to Ftv ^Jj^ e gave up a fortune, which he w^s then iii a fairtwaj' of advai»J^^ he gave up that repu- tation which he had acquired h^ the labors and studies of his whole life, and by a behavior which had been blameless, tduching llic right- eousness which is in *^he lata. Phil. 3 : 6. He gave up bis frifends, his relations, and family, from whom he estranged and banished himself for life ; he gave up that religion which heJiad profited in, above many his equals in his axon nation^ and those traditions of his fathers, Tj^'hicli he had been more e-MfSftJy'' jealous of. Gal. i : 14.^ Howliafdrihis si^cri^^^ to a mai^t pis warm temper, and abpve all men, to a Jew, is worth consideratiofi. That nation is known to have been n^e tenacious of their religious opinions than any other upoiPthetfee of^^he earth. The strictest and proudest sect aiiipng them was that of the PhWisees, under whose discipline St. Paul was bred. The departing, therefore, so, suddenly from their favorite tenets, renouncing their pride, and from their disciple becom- ing their adversary. Was a most difficult effort for one to make so nursed up in,the esteem of them, and whose eariy prejugces were lonty hese so strongllniconfirniied by all the power of habit, all th of exampie, ijd'all^e allnrfments of 'honor ai^inter . tad to make in' becoming*i**^hri! «aj|c were the » us now sei vengeangg^ of'^fhojue Ir^ on harde: bear^ ces he had to fear : th Serted ; tjiat sort of cont ■ tempt of those whose' good o r ^ ^(- ■■ ■ .. ■ " ^\r' -^M^ • 'I •:m^mmm • 1 452 ttKKlTlCISM ASSAILED. most eagerly Hotight, and all those other complicated evils which he detscril)cs in his second Epistle to the Corinthians, chap. ii. Evils, the least of from the m '^ich were enough to have frighted^any impostor even 1S4 ,_ hopcf §! and profitable che a t . Rut where the advantage proposed bears no proportion to the dangers incurred, or the mischiefs - I 'D \:d «• he even nta ge »;*""-. w^ : '■% '■ .[• :■' f » % 8KKITICI8M A9SAtI.KI». «* /! - I endured, he must l)e ab^lutely oiit of hi.n sfnvxs who will cither, engage ill ftii imposture, or, being engaged, |)er»cvere. ' Upon the whole, then, I think I have pnncd that the dc»irc of wealth, «r fame, or pf |K>wer, could be no^ motive tc» make St Paul a convert jto Chfint; but that oft the contrary, he muHt have been checked bJ' that desire, an well an by the just apprehension of many inevitablcjand iiwupportable evils, from taking a part so contradictory to his paal life, to all th^ principles he had imbibed, and all the habits he had contracted, >' '• - It ionly remains b be inquired, whether the r.RA,TiFic.\Tir)N oK ANY OTHKR PASSION" uAder the autl^ority of that religion, or % the means it afforded. Could iJe his inducement. That there have been some impogjof-s, who have pretended to revelations from G ;"'■ «!,• , - o ■' K ^v^'! :•»: > ^-K ■:■" ■rv //. . .«"'^/.' »i Abho' ^ XJod) "Si P^l: • caUeatheui);we.sho\iiahave'P«*^lfettMK-i4^ ,,r* , and Philemon, his l^iii fri«*ds and^isdiMB^ W^^^^ . M are exactly the same in fhiim, as those *em^ thcl'iChtti^eS. J^ y^Wmiil^^*^'';^ ^' ■• •. proof of his.being no impo^or ! Sttrely.M**«|l".WC. h^'voul^Wft.**^^ Wfte in , , . v these private letters of the cheat they were fcarry^rt^B^iid sbpi\<*rf^t d.^«t»»ifj^tui»^ ,t to j - ^ :. some worldly purposes of;,one kindw anotJuSr. But «^>uch'tljy4is to>fouqd Jn an^ one of;^ ^ .^ them. The same disinUi^ted, holy, and divine spirit brefttbte^lT^H. these, „M| m <«]^^ othcr«- ,— ^ more puh^ic epjstles "--^'H-;;,.'-!\<''" ■■■- . , . •.■■ • -i\y , ,.■■'■ '' -" - , . , - • «■ A. b • '. :.' ^- ,::'■■.■ ■■■ "■ "\t V ■'■■.. ■■■■■■-■."■'..■■', y^'fr':r "(' Co V ^^ PV^r^-'fJ" ,/l^t«^ -l^wvif^v-^fB^r V- :^*:; ';>■■,,.■ t.^'^ ■XW -''"'- '■' S'* ' ■■'■ ^''' ■■ «.■ ■ ■ "■■■" Skepticism assailed. 435 '' lA //; . •f'l'he first reformers of savage, itnciviliiied nations, had no other i^^jf ^ tame t^ose barbarous petople, and to britig them to submit tp ■^ utive <\,. ' . >tS in ■■;,,: , ■«' .; it'to;|'; /:), me of-'." _j| . other^- / 'A *S ■ •o^^fer aw^* government; but by the r«»('ererice whic^ they / acquired ^, ffrom tJiis pretence. The fraud was therefore alike beneficial- bolLfj. to ' j^. the deceiver and the deceived. "' And in alt other instances Avhich^an* - . Vir ■ *^r « |, i.. ■■ r ■ ■ ■ ■ j- !'■• -' •■■ ^ ■■ •fg' i -"^r ■ym\ ' * 456 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. "be given of good men acting tliis part, they not only did it to serve good ends, but were secure of its doing no harm. Thus, wheil ^ Lycurgus persuaded the Spartans, or Numa the Romans, that the laws of the. one wWe inspired by Apollo, or those of the other by Egeria; when they taught their people to put great faith in oracles, or in augury, no temporal mischief, either to them or their people; could attend the rec^tion of that belief. It drew on no persecu- tions, ho enmity with\the world. But at that time, when St. Paul -undertook the preachihg of the Gospel, to persuade any man. t» — ibfe\ a Christian, was to Wrsuade him to expose himself to all the (tala,mities human nature could suffer, T^is St. Paul knew; this ^e not otily expected, but warned those he taught to look for it too. I Th^ss. 3: 4; 2 Cor..6: 4;5;'Eph. 6: 10-16; Phil, i: 28-30. The only support that he had himself, or gave to them, was, "That if they sufered with Christ, they should be 'also glorified together :^^ And that " he reckoned that^the sufferings of the present time were not worthy to be compared with that glory ^^ Rom. 8 : 1% 18. So likewise he writes to the Thessalonians : "We ourselves glory in yoti. In the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure; which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy, of the kingdom of God, for which also ye suffer. Seeing .. it is a righteous thing with God to recompense (or repay) tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with f/is mighty jangels, etc'' 2 Thess. i : 4-7. And to the Corinthians he says, <*lf in "this life only we have hope in Chist, We are of air,inen most miserable." How much reason he had to say this, the hatred, the ' contempt, the torments, the deaths endured by the Christiitns. in that , , age,.a*i4 long aftetwards, abundai^tly prQve. Who^v^r professed the Gospel und^r .these circumstan, <: t (V ,K^. *%■.";,; 1 j^** ^ ^^♦'V •• 4 ^^ <4 "f ve en J he by le, u- ul to he lis JO. he if ire So in )ur est ted ng ion us, *(;' ys, ost the bat the itS' ade, ■V! « i' t « > n . " / '"'*''','■' ' • '.' «.'•', others, prof^Ujt'by^^'^tttl or dbceit/ h<;' m«5>t have l)eeu >vorse than mad; |i^ ttiitsjf hav* share thcra,rwtth thcis^'^he deceived^ in ^^r^er to advatt>o -Jpng .ow.'a^'JliWpn that, upon a Iittl«^, " J ■ -/'„ >''■'" refl«(itiox<, «?o»^^ itself. '' «>^ / ,. ^ ^',"V ' "V ' / ^''^"'' " r ". ^ f -noSld oiv^y, add^t^ ^h4 ^frtlier^.^Mfs ^ Havti given, tlurt St» .>' i. f /./ -. ^^ Paivf^^conVd have no miionat tiioti'^fc' tti 'become, a dis^pl^**^ Chm|" .^^ v"^ . j ^^ ;.,, uftte'^^ he ^iti\:et^ly'beHeved '1ix,mi!i; tUi^ obWation ■^^Hat wliereas'^ ^; \;'J (, , ;J it iiUy^e dbje'e^ed to the oaitr-?i'iK)stl^s;b3(|iios^ \vho.\'^rti r^edlve^. '.ii Cm.'I^J .." ^ ' hi , '^' h^vilirgon^i'Voo'rrar \q go l?ack :; thi?, cani^y.^jome^ns be ^stiid-'of ^t.^i^aid: ' ^()tvth^^' contrary, whafcexer for^e there maj? be in that waly .. ^, „ . ,, „ ^^>'of reasotJ-W^, U a'H tcudi. to ^coiivipc^ vs ,that Str Paul ^nust hxiye . ;::;-;•; •' uat|it" 4ifFer«nte was. that they, -by quitting their Mii^ter after His (^M'h,- « might haxe preserved theftiselves ; wliereas he, by quitting tjy^ Jfews,_^ and taking np.lH" cross of Christ, ^rtainly, brought ()m hi.s'^^'n destruction/ »' ',. "' ' ^ ^Aj'ti^efas^, n^ rational >motiv<^ appears "f^^r ^t. P^urs em- ^ bracing ttie faith ,Mo (^^i^U v^th^xd' ^v^^in^ -}^^^ , re.iny',ciftivin^ea.of ^:"''.. o ; /; -^M \ n ^ /? *# « A II n \^'" t: %l 458 SKKITICISM ASSAILKD. m' tW truth of it; but, on. the contrary; /Mef>' thing concurred to deter him from acting that' part; one might ver^ justly conclude, that ■when a man of- his understanding enlbracthat faith, he was in ■reality convinced of the/truth of it; and that, by consequence, m was not an impostor, who said w^t he Icnew to be false with ati int^ijt to deceive. / * ? But that no shadow .<)f doubt may remain upon the im- possibility of his Having been /such an impostor, that it may not be said, " The minds of men are^ sometimes so capricious that -they will act without any rational motives, they know not why, and so perhaps might St. Paul:" I shall/next endeavor to prov^, that-if he had been so unaccountably wild and absurd as to undertake an imposture so unprofitable and dangerous both to himself and those he deceived by it, he couUD NOT possibly havk carried it on with any SUCCESS by the means that we know he employed. ^ First. — Then, let me observe, that if his conversion, and the part that he acted in consequence of it, was an imposture, it was such an imptxsture as cou/d not be carried on by one man alone. The faith he professed, and which he became an apostle of, was not his invention. H¥i?tth Jesus, who was the Author and Head of it, h# had never !iad 'any communication before iiis> death, aor with His apostles after His death, except as their persecutor. As he took on himself tlw office and cbaxacter of an apostle, it vas absolutely- «ecesstf|0r frar him to have a precipe and perfect knowledge of ^11 tlie facts, coniaiBed ia the GfiBspel, several of which had only passed "hctween Jean HiwseM a^d His tw«lve a^ostks, and others more jmvately :rt^ ao tkat thej' ce«ili V knwwn b^t to very few, being ' not yet made puUic by' any writings ; otherwise he would have exposed himself fee Ti8ju«!a ^l 1 / I I ■" I« -* ^> >% , / ^''^w^ ■^ T -^ s^*t""lKll T^rp-'^i "^ 1 ' ST F' SKKITICISM ASSAII-KD. 459 have been different in point of fact, and many of theit doctrines and interpretations of Scriptnre repngnant to his, frbni tlieir entire dis-' agreement with those Jewish opinions in which he was bred tfp; either they mnst have been forced to niiil. his credit, or he wonld have mined theirs. Some general \noticesJ}6 n\ight,«aiavc gained of these matters from -the Christians he pcrsecnted, bnt not exact or extensive enongh to qnalify him for an apostle, whom the least error, in these points, would have disgraced, and who must have been irui'ned by it in all his pretensionsi to that inspiration from whence the apostolics^J atrthprity was chiefly derived. It was, therefore, impossible for him to act this part but in confederacy, at least, with the apostles. Such a confederacy was still more necessary for him, as the undertaking to preach the Gospel did not only require an exact and particular knowledge of all it contained, but an apparent power of working miracles; for to such a power all the apostles appealed in proof of their mission, and of the doctrines they preached. He was, therefofe, to learn of them t)y what secret arts they so imposed on the senses of men, if this power was a c^eat. But how could he gain these men to become his Confederates? Was it by furiously persecuting them and their brethren, as we find tWt he did, to the very moment of his con- version? Would they venture to trust their capital enemy with all the secrets of their imposture, with those upon whigh all their hopes and credit depended? .Woula they put it in Ms p©wer *o take away not only their lives^ but the honor oi their sect, whicA they preferred to their lij^es, by s© ill-placrd a confidence? Wo«M men, so secret as not to W 4hkpB by the most severe persecutioifis to say one word wkich could convict them of being im^stors, confess themselves such t© their persecutor, in hopes of his being " flj fr accomplice' This is still 'more impossible than that h^ -Tifoulil. attempt" tc engage m their f ra»d without their consent and '■'A^ % i ^. ■,» . 1 ■• ~ J ;' 1 . » f^ t ^ assist^tu^e. -#?.- ■>\: 46o SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. «* We must suppose then, that, till he came to Damascus, he had no communication with the apostles, acted in no concert with them, and learnt nothing from them except the doctrines which they had publicly taught to all the world. When he came then^ he told^ the Jews, to whom he brought letters from the high priest and the synagogue against the Christians, of his having seen in the way a great light from heaven, and heard Jesus Christ reproaching him with his persecution, and commanding him to go into the city, where it should be told him whw he was to do. Btrt to\account for hia choosing this method of declaring himself a convert to Chjist, we must suppose, that all those who were with him, w^hien he pretended' he had this vision, were his accomplfees ; otherwise iflie story he jtold could have gained, no belief, being contradicted by them whose testimony was necessary to vouch for the truth of it. And yet how can we suppose that all these men should be willing to joiii in this imposture ? They were, probably, officers of justice, or soldiers, who . hkd been employed often before in executing the orders of the high priest and rulers against the Christians. Or, "if they were chosen particularly for this expedition, they tnust have been chosen by them as men they could trust for their zeal in that cause. What should induce them to the betraying of that ..business they were employed in? Does ft even appear that they had an ^connection with \km man they so lied for> before 0/ after this time, or any reward from him for it? This is, tfereforA, a diffi<;ulty in the ^irst twitaet o%^Mm ' imposture not to be ovefcomei . ,v , '* ' ', But, further: iie was to be instructed % one at D^mascn*, 1* ■ •• • ■ ■ -, . " I Tli£^ instructor, therefore, mu« have 'been his accomplice, though. they s^peardi to be absolute strangers to one* another; eM. thongl^- : - lie was a i|ian of an excellent character, loho had~a:g0odrep6rtof'all\ Uke lews thai dwelt al> Daniascuiy and_so wasvery utilikely td"hav%*; , «nga^d in such an imposture. Notwithstanding these itaprobabili- „ ••ties, this man, t Say^milst have-beetr his confident .and accomplice . 1 . I c c J: >(tv ,1. ' ft •" r-r •vA" .; « I •'.i^^PW /; SKKPTICISM AS8AII.KD. - in canying'on this fraud, and the whole matter must have U-cn previously agreed on between them. Hut, here a^m the. same objection occurs: how could this man venture to act such a dangerous part, without the consent of the other disciples, especially of the apostles, or by what means could he obtain their consent ? (' And. how absurdly did they contrive their business, to make the ceuiiSl-sion of Saul the effect of a miracle, which all those who were with him must certify did jev€r happen 1 How much easier would it have been to have made him be present at some pretended miracle , wrought by the disciples, or by Ananias himself, when.nonc were ;,, able to discovei^igie fraud, and have imputed |his cotiversion to tliat, or to the argu»ts used by some of his prisoners ^hom he might have discours^^ith, and questioned about their faith, a^d the grounds of it, |n order to cplor his intended conversion.! As this Vas the safest, sol it Was the most natural method of bringing about such a change, instead. of ascribing it to an eyent which lay so open to detection. For, to use the words of St. Paul to Agrippa, thistillhtg was not done in a corner, Acts, J26, but jn the eye of the\wrld, and subject immediately to the examination of those who wonld be the, most strict in searchtn^g into the tr\vth of it, the Jews at DamaJKl. Had they b^fi able to bring any shadow of proof to .convict him of fraud in this affair, his Aviiole scheme of impostuie must' have been nipt in the bud. Nor were they^at ^ : • Jcrusalefcjjyhose commissii^i lie borfe," less concerned to discover so .' ■ iJrovok-ilHlfceat. But we find that, many years afterward-s, when ;- they haSHyie time and means they Qould desire;to make thq " st^ctest ij^^J. he was bold eliQiigh to app4l to Agrippa, in the Acts^-26, upon his knowledge of the tfiith of hiK,, w ;ontradict him,, though he had certainly ,.lleard J^ll ; allege against the credit of it in ^iiy particular^" "\ , a very remaiiable, proof, bdth Of the notoriety, of the/ fact, and t^«r Z'; mtegrity of the man, who^,wit!rW fearless a confidence, cOtttd caU ■ /; ^ — -^ ., -', ' . '" '>•/.'• ' ^^— ^ -^^ : 1 — -r- —-^ . .; « """ -■:■" ^' presence <£ F * stoVy; who di thstt the Jeyirs ....:'4i k;:. •?»-;- 1 yi'. ■!> A*^'-*" Ji'^'i- ■ 'm r ,. if' . V' &^$ .■ ,;>r^ .J n«'n . . ■.•ft /v ■ ■l,,fl" -"'■ i ■■ .. ^,r- ■ ■ - ^^L 'f^^r^-^ y 462 ^•^- r V * *■ SKKPTICISM. ASSAILED. upon z^ king to give testiinonyfor him, even wUile he wall sitting in. j,udgment upon him. " ' . ,, ■ But to rptitm to Ananias. Is ii not stratige, if, this story had been a» imposture, and he -had been joined with. Paul in carrymg it on, that, aiFter their • meeting at Damascus, we never sliould hcar.o^ their consorting together, or acting in concert; or that the former dred^lil^ benefit from the fnehdship of the latter," when he! became Iprable among the Christians? Did Ananias engage and'^ in such a dangerous fraud without any hopes or desire of privaiPadvaiitage? OV was it safe for. Paul to shake him off, .and risk his resentment ? There is, I think,., no other way to get oN-er this difficulty but by supposing that Aitanias happened to die soon after the other's conversion. Let us^ then', take that for granted, without any authojity eitlver of history or tradition, »hd let us sec in what manner this wondrous imposture was carried on by Paul himself. His first care ougki to have been toget himself owned and received; as an apostle by the apostles. Till this 'was done, the bottom he stdod upon was very narrow, nor could he have a^ny probable meat of supporting himself in any esteem or credit among the disciples, intruders into impostures run double risks; they are ijj danger of -being detected, not only by those upon whom tliey attemj)t to practice their cheats, but also, by thpse whose society they force themselves into, who must always be jealous of such an. intrusion, and much more from one who had always before behaved as their -enemy. Therefore, to gain the apostles, and. bring them to admii him into a partici|>ation of all their mysteries, all their designs, and all their authority, was absolutely necessary at this time to Paul. The least delay was of dangerous consequence, and might expose him to such inconveniences as he never afterwards could overcon^ip But, instead of attending to this necessity, he went into Arabia, an J then returned again to Damascus ; nor did he go to Jerusalem till three years were past. Gal. 1 : 17^ 18. ' ^ _u ■ y ;\-.: _^ .r ^ fl'TIClSM A8SAILRD. Now, thiM cRduct may be accounted for, if it be triie tlint (as be declares in his Epistle to the Galatians) " he neither received the Gospel of any man, neifiier was he taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."* i: 12. Under such a Master, and with the assist- \ 'I:' \. # *f T- ■ . .': V , _ ^1 * * - » / 1. *■ • \ a • -Jtos ^. » * 4 ' '^^*li -^ -. 'rt>%J maoum nmunoN nsr oum \| \N>.\M.l Now, tl'.i-- rniidiut ni:i\ Iw ;ur< Mililit I \<>r, :l it '»■ 1' IK- 1 ll.ll hv lirrlarr-^ \\\ ill-- l'",|)istlr lo iln- ( ".iilaliau-'i " If luitlur !» > ' :m tlir I'l I C.ospol.of any ifijm, lu-itluT was^ic triUA;lit it. Ixil 1>v llu' ivvrlat Jesus Christ." i : i- UndcT .sucli a Ma>tc-r, aiitl w ion ot itli llu- ^i^swi- i * la- ^r-j-ir^. 464 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. ance ot Mis aivine power, ne nugnt go on Domiy without |any human Associates ; but an impostor so left to himself, so deprived of all help, all support, all recommendation, could not have succeeded. Further: We find that, at Antioch, he was not afraid to withstand Peter to his face ^ and even to reprove him before all the disciples^ because he was to be blamed. Gal. 2 : 1 1-14. t^f he was an impostor, how could he venture so to offend that apostle, whom it so highly concerned him to agree with and please ? Accomplices in a fraud are obliged to show greater regard to eacli other; such freedom belongs to truth alone. , ^ ■ But let us consider what difficulties he had-oio encounter " AMONG THE Gentiles themselves',jjM|be enterprise he undertook of going to them, making himself thlifPRstle, and converting them to the religion of Christ. As this undertaking was the distinguishing part of his apostolical functions, that which, in the language of his epistles, Ije was particularly called to; or which, to speak like an unbeliever, he chose and assigned to himself; it deserves a particular consideration. But I shall only touch the principal points of it as concisely as I can, because j'oii have in a great measure exhausted the ^bject in your late excellent book on the resurrection, where you discourse with such strength of reason and eloquence upon the difficulties that opposed the propagation of the Christian religion in all parts of the world. r - Now, in this enterprise St. Paul was to contend, i. With the policy and power of the magistrate. 2. With the interest, credit, and craft of the priests. 3. With the prejudge and passions of the people. 4. With the wisdom and pride of the philosophers. That in all heathen countries the established religion was interwoyen with their civil constitution, and supported by the magistrate as an essential part of the government, whoever has any acquaintance With antiquity cannot but know. They tolerated, indeed, many different worships (though not with so entire ■«■■" " ^^ :r*jf|PBEir SKEPTICISM ASSAILKD. 465 •w" fc^- a latitude as some people suppose), as they suffered men Ut difipmirse very freely concerning religion, provided they would submit -to an exterior cooiformity with • established rites; nay, according to- the genjns of paganism, which allowed an intercommunity of worship, they in mo^ places admitted, without any great diflfihilty, new gods and new rites ; but they no where endured any attempt to overturn the established religion, or any direct opposition made to it, esteeming that an unpardonable offence, not to the gods alone, but .to the state. This was so universal a notion, and so constant a maxim of heathen policy, thgit when the Christian religion set itself up in opposition to all other religions, admitted no inter- community with them, but declared that the gods of the Gentiles wrtr not to be ivorshipcd^ nor any society suf- fered between them and the only true ^ '^ Hh^hHIhHH^ God; when this new doctrine began to be propagated, and made such a pro- gress as to fall under the notice of the magistrate, the civil power was every where armed with all its terrors against it.. When, therefore, St. Paul under- took the conversion of the Q.eMtiles,He-^cnew^vcry well that the most severe persecutions must be the consequence/ of any success in his design. ' ^ "^Becond. — TJhis danger was rendered niore certain by the opp<)^ sition he was to expect fibm the interest^ credit^ and craft of the priests. How gainful a trade they. With all their inferior dependants, made of those superstitions which he proposed to destroy ; how nuich credit they had with the people, as well as the state, by the means of them; and, how much craft they employed in carrying on their impostures, all history shows. St. Paul could not doubt that all these men would exert their uthiost abilities to stop tlie spreading of PAUL PREACHKS IN ATHENS. 466 SKEPTICISM ASSAII.KD. the doctrines he preached — doctrines which struck at the root of their power and gain, and were much more terrible^o them than those of the most atheistical sect of philosophers ; because the latter contented themselves with denying their principles, but at the same tinW de- r clared for supportin'g their practices, as useful cheats, or at least'' acquiesced in them as establishments authorized by the sanction of law. Whatever, therefore, their cunning could do to support their own worshij), whatever aid they pould draw from the magistrate, whatever zeal they could raise m the people, St. Paul was to contend with, unsupported by any human assistance. And Third.^This he was to do in direct opposition to all the prejudices and passions of the people. Now, had he confined his preaching to Judea ailone,' this difficulty would not have occurred in near so great^^a degree. The people were there so moved with the miracles the apostles had wrought, as well as^^by the memory of those done by Jesus, that, in spite of their rulers, they began to be t^orably disposed towards them ; and we even find that the high priest, and the council, had more than once been withheld from treatin g th e apostles with so much severity as they desired to do, for fear ofthe people. Acts, 4: 21, and 5: 26. But in the people among the Gentiles no such dispositions could be expected: their prejudices were violent, not only in favor of their own superstitions, but in a particular manner against any doctrines taught by a Jew. As from their aversion to all idolatry, and irreconcilable separation from all other religions, the Jews were accused of hating mankind, so were they hated by all other nations ; nor were they hated alone, but despised. To what a degree that contempt was carried, appears , a$ well by the mention made of them in lieathen authors, as by the complaints Josephus makes of the unreasonableness and injustice of it in his apology. Wh^t authority tlien could St. Paul flatter himself that his preach- ing would carry alorigjwith it, jmong people to whom he was at once .■via -■/■ ' ' SKKI'TrtiSM ASSAII.Hl). 4^7, r ' • " . both the objA't of national hatred, and national scorn ? Hut besides this popnlar prejndice against a Jew, the doctrines he tanjjjht were snch as shocked all their most ingrafted relifj^ions opinions. They agreed to no principles of which he conld avail himself to procnre their assent to the other parts of the Gospel he preached. To convert ,tlie Jews to Christ Jesus, he was abfe to argue from their own Scrip- tures, upon the authority of books which they owned to contain divine revelations, and from which he could clearly convince them that Jesus was the very Christ. Acts, 9: 22, But all these ideas were new to the Gentiles ; they expected no Christ, they allowed no such Scriptufes, thfey were to be taught the Old Testament as well as the New. How was tlils to be done by a man not even authorized by his own nation ; opposed by those who were greatest, and thought wisest, among them ; either quite single, or only attended by one or two more under the same disadvantages, and even of le^s consider- ation than he? - The light of nature, indeed, without express revelations, might have conducted the Gentiles to the knowledge of one God, the Creator of all things; and to that light St. Paul might appeal, as we find that he did; Acts 14: 17; 17: 27, 28. But clear as it was they had almost put it out by their superstitions, having changed the glory of the incorriiptibie God into an image made like to corruptible man^ and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things, and serving the creature more than the Creator. Rom. 1 : 23, 25. And to this idolatry they were strongly attached, not by their prejudices alone, but by their passions, which were flattered and gratified in it, as they believed that their deities would be ren- dered propitious, not by virtue and holiness, but by offerings, and incense, and outward rites; rites which dazzled their senses by magnificent shoAJt's, and allured them by pleasures often of a very impure and immoral nature. Instead of all this, the Gospel proposed to them no other terms of acceptance with God but a worship of Him ' Itl 468 SKEPTICISM ASSAII.KD. V /■;/ spin'/ ant/ /// //■«///» sincere repentance, and perfect submission to the divine laws, the strictest purity of life and manners, and the reuounqing of all those lusts in which they had formerly walked. How unpalatable a doctrine was this to men so given up to the power of those lusts, as the whole heathen world was at that time! If their philosophers cotjTd be brought to approve it, there could be no hope that the people would relish it, or exchange the ease and indulgence which those religions in which, they were bred allowed to their appetites, for one so harsh and severe. But might not St, Paul, in (Jrder to gain them, relax that severity? He might have done so, no doubt, and probably would, if he had been an impostor; but it appears by all his epi.stles, that he preached it as purely, and enjoined it as strongly, as Jesus Himself. But supposing they might be persuaded to quit their habitual sensuality for the purity of the Gospel, and to forsake their idolatries, which St. Paul reckons amongst the works of the flesh, Gal. 5: 19, 20 for spiritu'al worship of the one invisible God, how were they disposed to receive the doctrine of the salvation of man by the cross pf Jesus Christ ? Could they, who we«^ bred in notions so contrary to that great mystery, to that hidden ivisdoni of God, which none of the princes of this word knew, i Cor. 2 : 7, 8, incline to receive it against the instructions of all their teachers, and the example of all their superiors ? Could they, w hose gods had almost all been powerful kings, and mighty conquerors — they, who at that very time paid divine honors to the emperors of Rome, whose only title to deification was the imperial power — could they, I say, reconcile their ideas to a crucified Son of God, to a Redeemer of mankind on t/^e cross ? Would they look there \ox Him who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature ; by whom and for whom were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, whether they be thrones^'of^domtnions, or principalities, or powers ? Col. i : 15, 1^6. i':^d< most surely the natural man (to speak the words of St. PaUl, / ^ \: -"SX' . ./.:■ i'-.-JV^CiKi-i: r -J-. '?* SKKrriCISM ASSAILED. 469 / I Cor. 2: 14) received not these things, for they are foolishness to him ; neither could he knoiu them became they are spiritual ly dis- terned. I may therefore conclude, that in the enterprise of converting THE WORSHIP OP I'itttMUZ. the Gentiles, St. Paul was to contend not only with the policy and power of the magistrates, and with the interest, qredit, and craft of the priests, but also with the prejudices and passions of the people. s3:^ir:u*^2i~j3Diirr **^i» 470 SKKPTICISM ASSAII.I'.I). Fourth.— I am next to mIiow that he was to expect iu» IchJ opposition from the wisdom and pride of the p/iilosop/urs. Antllr though some may imagine, that n>en who pretended to l)c raised and refined alwve vulgar prejudices and vulgar passions, would have been helpfiU to him in his design, it will he found up^- HcHidcH the contrariety of their tenets to those of the Gospel, the priilc that . was common to all the philosophers w!#»f itself an alinost invincible obstacle nKiiinst thV admission of the evangelical (IcKtrines calcnlated to humble that pride, and teacli them, that pro/rssiu/r llunischfs to be wist\ Ihey became fools. Rotft. i : 23. This pride was no less intractable, 'no legs averse to the ins^uctions of Christf«»r of His ajiostles, than that of the vScribes and Pharisees. St. Paul was crefore to Contend, in his enterprise of converting the Cfentilc^*, with all the oppi)sili()n that could l)e wade to it by all the different sects of philosophers. And how formidable an opjxjsition this wa.s, < let those consider who are acquainted froni history with the ^reat credit those seqts had obtained at that time in the world ; a credit even superior to that ^ the priests. Whoever pretended to leatnit^ or virtue was their disciple ; the greiitest magistrates, generals, kings) ranged themselves Under their dTsciplinc, were trained up in their schools, and professed the opinions they taught. All these sects made it a maxim n<)t to disturb the jMjpular worship, or established religion ; but under those limitaticms the^' taught very freely whatever they plea.sed .and no religious opinions -t. were more warmly supported than those they delivered w(J^c by their followers 5^e Christian religion at once overturned t,hc1r sevy-ral systems, taught a morality more perfect than theirs, and establish^id it upon higher and much stronger foundations ; mortified their pride, confounded their learning, discovered their ignorance, ruined their credit. Against such an enemy, what would they not do ? Would ^ not they exert the whole power "of their rhetoric, the whole art of their logic, their influence over the people, their interest with the great, to discredit a novelty so alarming to them all ? If St. Paul had had nothing to tru.st to but his own natural faculties, his own - nnderstanding, knowledge, and eloquence, could he have hoped to l)e ■■t «)| Haiii.ili.iN, .111(1 Sila.H, and Tiuio theiiM and TitnH, to have erected a monarchy np i allnl. 1 lu- sulTcriiios lir !iKl willi fU llial aOVount. lu- (.•lu'irruliN- Imrr, ami rwii (ihstrmlfd his t tiis/ntsitiott in those whom they are desij^ned to im|K>se u|K)n, and a ptnoVrfu/ ron/t'drraty to carry on and aU't the cheat. Both these, circum- stances, or at least one of thetn, have always accompanied all the faUc miracles, ancient and nuKlern, which have obtained any credit 'anuuig mankind. To InUh these was owing the general faith of the heathenflworld in oracles, atispices, auguries, and other im|K)stures, by which the priests, combined with the nuigistrates, supiwrted the national worship and deluded a people prei)os.scs.sed in theijf favor, and willing to be deceived. Hoth the same causes likewise c«H)jK'rate in the belief that is given to Popish miracles among tlvo.se of their own church. But neither of these assisted »St. Baul. What jjrejxj.s- scs.siou could there have Ixen in the minds of the (ientiles, either in favor of him or the doctrines he taught? Or, rather, what larly rting 1 the iiV.1 his doctnne to save nis me, auu au t:nini*^i.u^i wum^x «»»». ^^^^^ "-- life without trying to save it by innocent means. St. Fault did neither the one nor the other ; he availed himself of an altar whi/h he had found in the city, inscribed to the unknown God, and pleaded that he did not propose to them the worship of any new God, but only explain to them one whom their government had already received ; whom therefore ye ignorantly worship:, Him declare I unto you. By this he avoided the law, and escaped being condemned by the Areo- pagus, without departing in the least from the truth of the Gospel, or violating the honor of God. An admirable proof, in my opinion, of the good sense with which he acted, and one.that shows there was no mixture of fanaticism in his r eligion. — — Compare with this the conduct of Francis of Assisi, of Ignatius Loyola, and other enthusiasts sainted by Rome, it will be found the reverse of St. Paul's. ''He wished indeed to die and be with Christ ; " but such a wish is no proof of melancholy, or enthu- siasm ; it only proves his conviction of the divine truths he preached, 8 02 X and couches, that at th^ hast the shadow of Peter passing by might mrr shadow some of them. Acts, 5 : 15. Here was, therefore, a good foundation laid for Paul to prtKCcd upon in pretending to similar nnraculous works ; though the priests and the rulers were hardened against them, the people were inclined to give credit to them, and there was reason to hope for success among thrm both at Jerusalem and in all the regions belonging to the Jews. But no such disposi- tions were to be found in the Gentiles. There was among them no matter prepared for imposture to work upon, no knowledge of Christ, no thought of His power, or of the power of those who came in His name." Thus, when at Lystra, vSt. Paul healed the man who was a cripple from his birth, Acts, 14, so far were the people there from supposing that he could be able to do such a thing, as an apostle of Christ, or by any virtue derived from Hipi, that they took Paul and Barnabas to be gods^l their own, come down in the likeness of men, and would liave sacrificed to them as such. ■ Now, 1 ask, did the citi/ens of Lystra concur in this matter to the deceiving of themselves ? Were their imaginations overheated with any conceits of a miraculous power belonging to Paul, which soQ jj— m ihVil ' ? ' •*; . |S ■■flH|ffl \w r 1 •% > ^^^hI^IvHb ' ' Ji '-\ • 1 ■H ^j ^^^^^^^hI^^IH^E^I^I *Mv U- ■'; > ^^^^H^^^l ^A '^ / i • ^,.■--^'^^ II •• ^I^^h^^^I^kI /* /'\ - ' " , 1 ' ^ ^^^^^K^^HHEqi VjT^^J "^ i 5 y> ^^^^k^^^Hh W ' is 1 r : .: ..HHIH i 1 ■ -^ ^>i > H' ^%' -' ii I ' ■ HH," 'v^kv ' ' / 1 Hi . " . ' ■*■ s £■3^1 . 6^-- f i f WM' ' ' ^ L pr U S|;i V ■ e ^B ^ ^.- l&t- nili ',.. ' ;■. . e ; :''^KI ^^4^5? - ' •s.: .■.■■'_ i- ^«m>, % ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M ^C r, "( : ■'t ■. ■ . •" '•■■ . •■ ^ ' ' ^^^^^^^^^1^' ■■ t'. -.•:. 1 --'■^';-' ^ J 1 . ' ■. .. ■■ >■" .. \^^^^H||L Is .,_.,^,-,. -,-'HH^/ rfh ■■:-:,■ , . "■■.■ ;• - _ Qjy ■ 10 t, t ts • a Ul id «» er ed cU ■ « ca fi * fc carried the Gospel, it may he proved to demonstration, that he could find no disposition, no aptness, no bias to aid his imposture, if the ^ .£dL« »'a«^^a^^ iL^ AiM^'^,e^[mi.^»Si^ c.inii I 1 i)u' Coviul. it iu:i\ hi' i.iMS,.l \,> .l.ni..nsii..n..n, ilm 1m ...ti'. hU'l 11" (li-lM.s|linll. II" .ipi in 1 ! 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 ^ I ' ' • I '• 111 ^ iiiiix' lii!« , ;l t lif inw. m pixa^n^ng \» \»^ vn:n\tmt, h^ wa» unicu aivniv, laivt) \^rrn~ more than two or three conipaiiioui or roUowfr«.v Wan thin a con- federacy powerful enough to carry on ftuch f cheat, in no many different parts of the world, againxt the unftcd oppoaition of the magiMtratea, prieata, philoHophera, people, ail combined to detect and expoae their frauda ? . « Let it Ik alxo c^nnidered, that thoae uptm whom they practiced thcHc artH were not a grosa or ignorant people, apt to miatake any uncomtuon operations of nature, or juggling tn not in prison, but returned and made this report: ''The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing witlwd^ before the doors, but when xve had opened ive found no man withinP And that the council was immediately told, that the men they : had put in prison were standing in the Temple, and teaching the \ t o - TV ^^ -^ ^ ^ g* ** » g< p ^-a . £ g y Up thtt p*rt of the church where the tomb of ilu? muni, who wan Huppotwd to work them, wan placwl t Jxwm after thin wtw cUme, a paper w«« fixed on the wall with thin inNcripttou : \ lla fair* mlfMrl* »n «• tt«u. fly command of Ike king, 6W /« forbidden to mtrk any niorr miracles hrre. The pait Iw defeated by building a wall ? When all the rt|)ostleH were Mhut up in priMon to hinder their working of miracleH, the ougcl of the Lord opened the prison door«, and let them out. Acts, 5 : ifv-26. Hut the power of Abl)c Paris could neither throw down the wall llmt excluded his votaricM, nor operate through that imi)e back to the times nearer to St. Paul's. ^ possibility of doirbt, could have ov.ercome his unDenei. Vanity or self conceit \% another circumstance that, for the most part, prevails in the character of an enthusiast. It leads men of a warm temper, and religious turn, to think themselves worthy of the special regard and extraordinary favors of God ; and the breath of that inspiration to which they pretend is often no more than the wind of this vanity, which puffs them up to such extravagant imaginations. This strongly appears in the writings and lives of some enthusiastical heretics; in the mystics, both ancient and modern; in many founders of orders and saints, both malfe and female, amongst the Papists, in seyeral Protestant sectaries of the last age, and even in some, at the present time.* AH the divine communications, illuminations, and ecstacies to which they have pretended, evidently sprung from much self-conceit, working tog^her ♦Seethe account of Montanns and his followers, the witings of the counterfeit Dionysius the Areopagitc, Santa Theresa, St. CaUierin'c of Sienna, Madame Bourignon, the lives of St. Francis of Assisi, and Ignatius Loyola; see also an (ficcount of the lives of George Fox, and of Rice Evans. ' . ..,' . I ' ■ '■ ' .. ' - . ' ■ .■ -.■■■-■--, I \ uhucamc to ummiU him J.itrthcr iiiuclcH, iImI wcrr mI ih^i uuic m the highcNt voKMc ; by which mranii h« engaged them aII to ittpinirl the rvpttution vA hU, and aliet his iutpoature. He apuke with ihc greateat reapcct of all the necia of philoaophy, except the Kpicwreana, who from their piinctplea he waa aurc would deride and oppoae hia fraud; for though they preaumed not to innovate, and overturn catablinhed rcligi^nn,' yet they very freely attacked and expoaed all innovationa that were introduced under the name of religion, and had not the aulhc^ty of a legal eatabliahment. To get the better t>f their oppoaitlon, M well oa that of the Chriatiana, he calletl in the aid of pcraecutiofi and force, exciting the people against them, and answering objectitma with stonea. That he i»ight be sure to get money enough, he delivered this Oracle In the naojie of hia god : / command you to grac* with gifts my prophet and minister : for I have no regard for riches myself, bnt the greatest for my prophet. And he shared the gains that he made, which were imn^nsc, among an infinite number of associates, and instruments, wlijom he employed in carrying on and supporting his fraud. When Any declared themselves to Ikj his enemies, against whom he durst not proceed by open force, he endeavored to gain ai^^i&Ai^f^JiLl ' i^lriirt[^t# ST. STEPHEN BEFORE THE SANHEpRIMi (489) ^ Rutiltanu* obcyr.1. and by \m -Ui-m* ^^uml llu» .m,»kl..r r.-.u «ny cUngcr .rf puni»hmciii ; l> Ro»«" gt»v«rn«r of MilhjhiiA mMl^ IHmliiii txiuwttg hiniM-ir on thai ftwmiit from doing jtiMi^ up.Hi him. when Lna«n and .cvrr-l Mhcri. .>ffcml lh«m»clv«» »"\!fj;^ He never quilted that ign«»rmnl and Urb^roun country, which he hrul made choice of at firi»t a« th« filteat place to pUy hi- Irkkn in nndiactH^ered ; but reaidlng hlm^jlf among th.me Miperalitiou. and credulmu people extended hi. fame to .a great dUunce by the emiaaariea which he employed all over the world, especially at Rome, who did not pretend themaelvli to work any miracle*, but only pr»> mulgated hla, and gave him Intelligence of all thai It waa ^aeful for hlnr^know. . ., , . 4|Theae were l||^method» by which thla remarkable fraud waa conducted, every one of which la directly oppoaltc to all thorn: used by St Paul In preaching the Coapel; and yet inch method* alone could give aucceaa to a cheat of thla kind. I will tH»t mention the many debaucheriea and wicked enormitlea committed by thia falnc prophet, under the ma*k ..f religion, which in another charactertHt.c AHMtiii or ROMAN orrtcmiK IN tNS timb or mnioik ..A \ JL, i l»ifc *, lUvitig ilirii klitmit iliitt Si. Piial UaA «»•» /ii//i»i#a/ «m.'//». i i«» Im^rtttr an |irMr lluU lliv »•»*%■»••'♦ In- tititliHibtctlly lia«l ill firratliinK lliv «l, wa* an rfTnl *4 llic «li\iiu- l»mcr attriuling hi* niininlry, I niiglit ttnl all niv |m>o( of iliv Cliri*. tian rrligiun, Wing a divini? rtrvclttli«i«, uimn llic argnimnu i|ru\»rn frtmi llii» head al»nc. Bui lo connidcr lliin i»iil>j«?vi in uU |»o*>il»U' lighU, I fcliall purmic llir |»ru|iin»ilion \iliicli I wl oiii \»itli, tliroii^li cttchof ilimrvcral portu; and having |>r«»vitl, an I lio|n-. lu ihc o.il- victi»m of any imjwrtiiil man, ihal Si. Paul wan iioi an iin|>iw»lor, wlu» Raid whal he knew to be fal»c, wiih an litUnl !•• «Uici\c. I ioinc iicxl lo amaidcr whelhrr he wan on enlfimia$t, who, hy the force of an overheated imagination im|MMed u|M»n hiniM'If. Now, thcH« are the ingrt — -.• ■ •■»- 4ici«tv«t»C rvttwm -f t ; Witditig |U ntiikHt* •imI Huimi»r» lo thffini, M> rlt|Ml (^HHlf iCViMkHi ; « cJkUct neither ajMHtippi thmU0ktv^*W m tttgtr and wttnM, but ivmpcfvtl with (imdcttcv, And *^9n with th« , ciyilitira ttml (kconim* of life, •• •|»nc«r« hy hi* tMrh«vi<»r l« AkH(>|i«, And F«ll» ; n«it ih« blind, in«t»n»idtnite, iu*ltt-ttit iimI oC «n tet |j^fw»w MM if any mt« of thou* other quilitka whl K pcrformiim of thotr npiNitoticiil dittit* tu wh^ch h« wan cttUr -■- Mlilv M.ilM-sU'.l in \\u -mipluitx ..| a •.— 1 lit. . .iixl ll'- niiu- .••-■l r.;.. vd.. 'MI'S' '1^ pcrfonnaiut.- uf ili(iM'-7:i])((stwlii;il dulir^ t" wliirli lie \\,i^ (.iIU:fl. I lu sunVriii"S he nut with .ui lli.il .lOr.iinit. ln' iluTrtul'.N' \«>Vi-. aiul < \rii ■•pe^H-fY^M'^k* ""P!?^!^»»*^p^bi^jp^?'^™p?w^- ^ ^ ^'Y'V^'WVf^va^ ' 4I4 ^ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. rejoiced in them for the love of Jesus Christ ; but he brought none on himself; we find, on the contrary, that he pleaded the privilege of a Roman citizen to avoid being whipped. I could mei^on more instances of his haying used the best methods that pri^|||^e could suggest, to escape danger, and shun persecution, whj;0K^?| it could be done without betraying the duty of his office or tha nc«|^r of Cod. A remarkable instance of this appears in his conduct among the Athenians. There was at Athens a law which made it a capital offence to introduce or teach any new gods in^heir state. Acts, 17, and Josephus cont. Apion. i. 2 : c. 7. Therefore, when Paul was preaching Jrsiis and the resurrection to the Athenians, some of them carried him before the court of Areopagus (the ordinary judges of criminal matters, and in a particular manner entrusted with the care of religion), as having broken this law, and being a setter forth of strange gods. Now, in this case, an impostor would have retracted his doctrine to save his life, and an enthusiast would havp lost his life without trying to save it by innocent means. St. Paul^ did neither the one nor the other ; he availed himself of an altar whi/h he had found in the city, inscribed to the unknown God, and pleaded that he did not propose to them the worship of any new God, but only explain to them one whom their government had already received ; whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you. By this he avoided the law, and escaped being condemned by the Areo- pagus, without departing in the least from the truth of the Gospel, or violating the honor of God. An admirable proof, in my opinion, of the good sense with which he acted, and one^ that shows there was no mixture of fanaticism in his religion. Compare with this the conduct of Francis of Assisi, of Ignatius Loyola, and other enthusiasts sainted by Rome, it will be found the reverse of St. Paul's. ''He wished indeed to die and be with Christ ; " but such a wish is no proof of melancholy, or enthu- siasm ; it only proves his conviction of the divine truths he preached, J 1*2 I ^^rw w^^*-f 1^^^ '^^i^"!!^'' If" •Vl > f. • -gPB»-<*»,-r' RKKITICISM ASHVM.KI). 4H7 and of the happiness laid «p Un him in those hlessed alxKlcs which had l)ccn shown to hi.n even in this life. l'|K)n the whole, neither in his actions, nor in the instrnctions he gave to those under his charge, is there any tincture of nicluncholy ; which yet is so essen- tial a characteristic of enthusiasm, that I have scarce ever heard of any enthusiast, ancient or nuKkrn, in whom some very evident marks of it did not appear. As to igmmnu,-, which is another ground of enthnsiasni, St. ♦ Paul was so far from it, that he api)carH to have l)een i^^aster not of the Jewish learning alone, but of the Greek. AnA' this is one reason why he is less liable to the imputation of having Iwen an enthusiast than the other apostles, though none of then» were such any more than he, as may by other arguments be inviicibly proved. I have mentioned credulily as another characteristic and cause of enthusiasm, whi(^i, that it was not in vSt. Paul, the history of his life undeniably shows. For on the contrary, he seehts to have Wen slow and hard of belief in the cxtremest degree, having paid x\0 regard to all the miracles done by our Saviour, the fame of which he could not be a stranger to, as he lived in Jerusalem, nor to that signal one done after His resurrection, and in His name, by Peter and John, upon the lame man at the beautiful gate of the Temple; nor to the evidence given in consequence of it by Peter, in presence of the hi^i priest, the rulers, elders, and scribes, that Christ was raisid from the dead. Acts, 3. He must also haye known that when all the apostles had been shut .up in the common prison, 'and the high priest, thf council, and all' the senate of the children of Israel had^ sent, their officers to bring them before them, the officers came and found them not in prison, but returned and made this report : ''The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, but xvhen we had opened jue found no man within.'' And that the council was immediately told, that the men they^ had put in prison were standing in the Temple, and teaching the 488 HKKin*ICItiM AHiiAII.KI). ^ ptiyple. And Ikal bring brought from Ikfnct be/or* the countil, they had «pokc the«« mcmoniblc word*, ''Wrought to obty God rather than »un. Thf God of our fathers raised upf Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree, Ilim hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Sakour, for to give repentance to Israel^ and forgiveness of sins. And we are //is witnesses of these things, and so is also the //dly Ghost, whom Gmi has given to them that obey //imy Acta, 5 : 18-32. "IjJl thin he re«i»ted, and was consenting to the ninrder of Stephen, who preaf:hed the same thing, and evinced it by miracles. Acts, 8 : i. >So that hit" mind, far from beinj} disposed to a crcdulons faith, or a too eisy reception of any miracle wotked in proof of the Christian religion, appears to have been barred against it by the most obstinate prejudices, a» much as any man's could possibly be ; and from hence we ma5r fairly conclude, that nothing less than the irresistible evidence of his own senses, clear from all possibility of doifbt, could have ovicrcome his unbelief. Vanity or self-conceit is another circumstance that, for the most part, prevails in the character of an enthusiast. It leads men of a warm temper, and religious turn, ^o think themselves worthy of the special regard and extraordinary favors of God ; and the breath of that inspiration to which (hey pretend is often no more than the wind of this vanity, which puffs them up lo such extravagant imaginations. This strongly appears in the writings and lives of some enthusiastical heretics ; in the mysticii, both ancient and modern ; in many founders of orders and saints, both malfe and female, amongst the Papists, in several Protestant sectaries of the last age, and even in soffie at the present time.* All the divine communications, illuminations, and ecstacies to which they have pretended, evidently sprung from much self-conceit, working together •Seethe account of Montnnus anc writing* of the counterfeit Dionyniuii the Areopaj{itc, Santa Thcrtsii, vSt. Catherine luf Sienna, Mailunic lU.urignon, the liven of St. Francia of Aaaiai, an*! Ignatiuii I^yola; »ce ulwi an jiccoutit of the lives of George Fox, an.l of Rice Kvuns. , '■ , , . / ^ at. } * l^fcoS'M ' J- » « ■'i* 4.1, is, *' ^-fc dijikfi ^„«i,)S- 4^j(&W ait'V^i tev-Vj.rfa"f *-i*ib.i^iI.f-&jfe^tW!S^**"*-^ f Ud^j / \ ST. STEPHEN BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM r (489) ,^ ■♦• ^ , "^^^"■^WffiP"-*^' '■JT'-W^ y ^''^TW'^ '*r^' KKKmimM AMMAiLKIK 49* ^ , wUli th« v^porn .4 mclii^ tpywgl S> - 492 SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. depended. But how did lie do it ? Not with that wantonness which a vain man indulges, when he can get any opportunity of commend- ing himself: not with a. pompous detail of all the amazing miracles v^hich he had performed in different parts of* the world, though he had so fair an occasion of doing it; but with a modest and simple exposition of his abundant labors and sufferings in preaching 'the Gospel, and barely reminding them, "that the signs of an apostle had been wrought among I hem in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." .2 Con 12; 12. Could he say less than this? Is not suci hoAsiing humility ttself f And yet for this he makes many apologies, expressing the greatest uneasiness in being obliged to speak thus of himself, even in his own vindication. 2 Cor. 11: 1-16; 19-30. When in the same epistle, and for the same purpose, he mentions the vision he had of heaven, how modestly does he do it^ Not in his own name, but in the third person, / knew a man in Christ, etc., caught up into the third heaven. 2 Cor. 12 : 2. And immediately after he adds, dut now I forbear, lesi any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he hearethr of me. 2 Cor. 12 : 6. How contrary is this to a spirit of vanity I how different from the practice x)f enthusiastic pretenders to raptures and visions, who never think they can dwell long enough upon those subjects, but fill whole volumes with their accounts of them! Yet St. Paul is not satisfied with this forbearance; he adds the confession of sonle infirmity, which he fells the Corinthians was given to him as an allay, that he might not be abcWe measure exalted, through the abundance of his revelations. 2 Cor. 12: 7. I would also observe, that he says this rapture, or vision of paradise, hapiiened to him above fourteen years before. Now, had it been the effect of, a mere enthusiastical fancy, can it be supposed that in so long a period of time he would not have had many more raptures of the same kind? would not his iinagination have been perpetually carrying him to heaven, as we find St. Theresa, St. Bridget, and St. Catharine 1 Me& 1 ij«.i»A!S«S^«iiT UiC ji ^L^ "^mms^m^mwm^i. ■'■^'^ -^UHsii ^'■-^^a' * ^"^^ ■ I 'V^^fif^^^ . - . ^ ^'-"TfJFW, ■^^^mPtP^H^f^' SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 493 W^- i \ were carried by theirs? And if vanity had been predominant ni him, would he have remained fourteen years in absolute silence upon so great a mark of the divine favor? No, we should certainly have seen his epistles filled with nothing else but long accounts of these visions, conferences with angels, with Christ, with God Almighty, mystical unions with Go^, and all that we read in the works of those sainted enthusiasts, whom I have mentioned before. But he only mentions this vision in answer to the false teacher who had disputed his apostolical power, and comprehends it all in three sentences, with many excuses for being compelled to make any mention of it at all. 2 Cor. 12 : i-i I. Nor does he take any merit to himself, even from the success of those apostolical labors which he principally boasts of in his epistle. For in a former one to the same church he writes thus, " Who then is Paul, and who is >tpollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." And in another place of the same epistle he says, "by the grace of God I am what I am, and His ^race whichwas bestowed upon^me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all : yet not /, but the grace of God which was with ine^ I Cor; 15: 10. i I tiiink it needless to give more instances of the modesty of St. Paul. Certain I am, not one can be given that bears^ny color of vanity, or that vanity in particular which so strongly appears in ill enthusiasts, of setting their imaginary gifts above those virtues which make the essence of true religion, and the real eKcellency of a good man, or in the Scripture phrase, of a 5fl/>i/, In his first Epistle to the Corinthians he has these words, " Though I speak . witi the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all J c"j:.'':j''_"t5%^jiLqSS;'/r j^^tTi^--^^^ ■ i 494 '/■ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. •^«-. knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove fountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." i Cor. 13 : 2-4. Is this the language of enthusiasm ? Did ever enthusiast * prefer that universal benevolence which comprehends all moral virtues, and which (as appears by the following verses) is meant by charity here ; did ever enthusiast, I say, prefer that benevolence to faith and to mtraclesy io those religious opinions which he had embraced, and to those supernatural graces and gifts which he imagined lie had acquired, nay even to the merit of martyrdom ? Is it not the genius of enthusiasm to set moral virtues infinitely below the merit of faith; and of all moral virtues, to value that least which is most particulariy enforced by St. Paul, a spirit of candor, moderation, and peace? Certainly neither the temper nor the opinions of a man subject to fanatical delusions are to be found in this passage; but it may be justly concluded, that he who could esteem the' value qf charity so miich above miraculous gifts, could not have pretended to any such gifts if he had them not in reality. Since, then, it is manifest from the foregoing examination, that in St. Paul's disposition and character those qualities do not occur which seem to be necessary to form an enthusiast, it must be reasonable to conclude he was none. But allowing, for argument's . sake, that all those qualities were to be found in him, or that the heat of his temper alone could be a sufficient foundation to support such a suspicion;- I shall endeavor to prove, that he could not HAVE iMPciiED ON HIM3ELF by any power of enthusiasm, either in regard to the miracle that caused his conversion, or to the consequential effects of it, or to some other circumstances which he bears testimony to in his epistles. The power of imagination in entfiusiastical minds is no doubt very strong, but it always acts in conformity to the opinions ^^t'iiS^^^^:i^«Mi^ * i4-J..#i^i ...H^rt^^MAai^S^ '-'*.'-" v^ rlf^ym^ ^ SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. 495 "n imprinted vpon it at the time of its working; and can no more ac against them, than a rapid river can carry a ^at against the curren of its own stream.- Now, nothing can be more certain than hat when Saul set ont for Damascus, with an authority from the chief priests to bring the Christians which w,re there, bound to Jerusalem Acts, 12: 2, an authority solicited by himself, and grantedio hnn at his own earnest desire, his mind was strongly possessed with opinions against Christ and His followers. To give those opinions a niore active force, his passions at that time coiicurred, being inflamed in the highest degree by the irritating consciousness of his past conduct ♦owards them, the pride of supporting a part he had voluntarily \ngaged in, and the credit he found it procured him among the chief priests qnd rulers, whose commission he bore. If in such a state and temper of mind, an enthusiastical man had imagined he saw a vision froni hJaven denouncing the anger of God against the Christians, and comfianding him to persecute them without any mercy, it might be accounted for by th. natural power of enthusiasm. But that, in the ve y instant of his being engaged in the fiercest and hottest persecutioi against them, no circnmstance having happened to change his opinions, or alter the bent of his dispo- sition, he should at once imagine himself called by a heavenly vision to be the apostle of Christ, whom bnt.a moment before he deemed an impostor ^d a blasphemer, that had been justly put to death on the croVs, is in itself wholly incredible, .nd so far from being a probabk effect of enthusiasm, that just a contrary effect must have been . naturally produced by that cause. The warmth of his temper carried him violently another way ; and whatever delusions Jus imagination could raise t« impose on his reason, must have been raised at that time agreeable to th. notions imprinted upon it and by which it was heated to a degree of enthusiasm not in direc cLradiction to all those notions, w^ile they remained in their full force." . :;3uU^Vi'n'?f»ffe"^piiitelli8^' ^•■' V ■ VJ-.«J.«"Z-^ ■ 4 496 SKEPTltiSM ASSAILED. This is SO ckjar a proposition, that I might rest the .whole argument entifely-upon it ; 1)ut still farther tq show that this vision/ could not be a phantom of $t. Paul's own creating, I beg leave to observe, that he was not alone' when he saw it ; there were manjf oiherf in company, whose minds were no better disposed than his ta the Christian faith. Could it be possible, that the imaginations of all these men should at the Same time be so sttangely affected as to make theni believe that thty saw a great light shining about them, above the brightness of the iun at noon-day, and heard the soUnd of a voice from heaven, though not the words which it spf^ke, Acts, 9:3; 22 : 9, when in reality they neither saw nor heard any" such thing ? Could they be so infatuated with this conceit Of their fancy, as to/ fall down together with S^ul, and be speechless through fear,>liciSy' 26: 14; 9: 7, when nothihg had happened extraordinary eithdr.to - tliem.or to him ? Especially, considering^hat this apparition did not happen in the night, whei|the senses are more easily imposed upon, but at mid-day. If a sudtflen frenzy had seized upoW.SauJ, from any distemper of body or mit^d, can we suppose his whoM company, men of diflFerent co^stituJtioriS(8lnd understandings, to^hp^:M)een at once affected in' the same manner with him, so that ^ttol'^e distemper aloneibutthe effects of it should exactly 'agree? |f all had gone, mad together, would not the frenzy of sp^ie have taken a different turn, and presented to them different objects? This supposition is so (contrary to nature arid all possibility, that unbelief mUsjt^^d some ' other solution, or give up the poipt. , • f I shall suppose then, in order to try to accdtinV for.this vision without a mfraclej that' as Saul and his company werrP journeying \,along in their ^vay to Damascus ^n extraordinary meteor did really happen, which capt a great light, as some meteors will do, at which /they, being aflfrighted, fdlto the ground in the njanner related. This might be' possible.; and fear, grounded on ignorance of sucli phenomena, might make them imagine it to be- a vision of God* ■ ] M " '^^^i3r^"^ffr^ fW^' SKKPTICISM ASSAILED. 497 Nay even the voice or sound they heard in the air, might be an / explosion attending this meteor; or at least there are those who would rather recur to such a supposition as this, however mcredible, '-^ ^ f/-*w ' ^s 4* i I. lord: WHAT 4fT TftOU HAVE M«.TO DO? \\ / ^ ■ •'.^ ■ ■ ■ ; . ■%:;■,.■ ' '^ than acknowledge the miraclte. But hovT will this ac%iint forthe distinct) words he^d by St. pkul, to whicli;he made answer? How ^11 ii accountfor ^^at followed upon it when he came to Damascus, M ■■ % ■ ■'flli "^^S^W^^SHJia- ■ >) ^;^gSW^J^ „w»|H^5 49« 8KKPTICISM ASSAILKD. v f ii,«-i. words whith he heard? How came affreeably to the sense of those woras wmcn riiaa'to go -'■* *■ •=''^\j^"»'^i!B(*'"' V 1 ^ _,?■"■ ~»^ -^ , V* f*-^ ■ b> »r*y«'_,j5^" ■».»^BtT»i^(™p,H^g^Kw^ 8KKITICI8M ASvSAILKD. 499 o/ Chriai, wiih mighty signs and xvonders, wrought by the pmver of the Spirit of 6W, to make them obedient to his preaching, as he him- self , testifies in Ms Epistle to the Romans; Rom. 15: 19; and of which a particuiat account is given to us in the Acts of the Apost^s; signs a.nd wonders, indeed, above any power of naturts to work, or of imposture to counterfeit, or of enthusiasm to imagine. Now, does not such a series of miraculous acts, all consequential and dependent upon the first revelatitm, put the truth of that revelation beyond all possibility of doubt or deceit? And if he could so have imposed on himself as to think that he worked them when he did not (which supposition cannot be admitted, if he was not at that time quite out of his senses), how could so distempered an enthusiast make such a progress, as we know that he did, in converting the Gentile world? If the difficulties which have l)een shown to have obstructed that work, were such as the ablest impostor could not ov^come, how much more insurmountable were they to a madman ? It is a" much harder task for unbelievers to account for the success of St. Paul, in preaching the Gospel, upon the supposition of his having been an enthusiast, than of his having been an impostor. Neither of these suppositions can ever account for it ; but the impos- sibility is more glaringly strong in this case thalTin the other. I could enter into a particular examination of all the miracles recorded in the Acts to have been done by St. Pai^l, and show that they were not of a nature in which enthusiasm, either in him, or the persons he worked them upon, or the spectators, could have any part. I will mention only a few. When he told Elymas the sorcerer, at Paphos, before the Roman deputy, tliat the hand of God was upon him, and iue should be blind^ not se^eing the sun for a season ; and immediately there fell on hiin a mist and a darkness, and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand, Acts> 13, had enthusiasm in the doer or sufferer any s^are in (his act? If Paul, as an entljiisiast, had thrown out this menace, and the effect had not followed, instead of : -'■-■/ 1 y.'*^ c -1,1 \'\ ;- :-M \-- \:i I ii •^ iin\ . .1^ ^^« AU I'Ml 1 lint hi «ii'i. ti>' n,,ul"" I" l\H-nv;t;s y^nltl n<«t Ik- '■imsi ,1 1,v euthusiasm in Paul. nuu-1i less i an it l)c imputed lo ail «.• ni luisiastic iKlitf in ihal pLTsuu hinisell, of his / -^Mzm ^j^ 8KKITICISM AJWAU.KD. c.„ivcr.i«« .l.r .tcputy. ..^T^ «"M «hS iS dld,l.c would h.v. dm«.. .... l.im«clf hi. rage, .nd conl.mpt. But Ih. eff«t upon s A. s ;' M e i ' \.w^ 8 Elymasc^t^d not W caused by enthu^^^^ Paul, much less ca^ • .. L :^«„»-^ tn .n enthusiastic belief iu that person himself, of his it be imputed to an enthusiastic ^■1 i„i 'ji mp.^^ w iu>^. p4 i» ' ■Ji ^ e mr-'-'^ig" i .. .xu-t^. »||iyi SKKITKIHM AHHAILKII. 5«'« an lis !)cinj( ntrwk h\'uu\, when he wan not, by ihcuc wordn of a man whcme preaching he Htrcmmtmly nml bitterly opponctl. Nor c«ii wc ttNcrilx* tlie converHloti of Scrgtun, which hap|K'tietl upoti it, to any cntluiMiaiini. A Rohmii pro>con8ul won not very likely to lie an en^j thuHiast ; but, had he Ik'cu one, he must have !)een bif(otek off, an4^felt no harm. Acts, a8, was that an cffeot of tnthusiasm ? An enthusiast might perhaps have been mad enough to hope for safety against the bite of a viper without any remedy l»eing applied to it; but would that hope have prevented his death? Or were the barbarous islanders, to whom this apostle was an absolute stranger, prepared by enthusiasm to expect and believe that any miracle. would be worked to preserve Jl^im ? On the contrary, when they saw the viper hang to his hand, i^they said among themselves, " N9 doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live." I will add no more instances : these iirc sufficient to show that the miracles told of St. Paul can no more be ascril)cd to jBUthu- siasm than to imposture. But moreover, the power of working miracles was not c^hich diid not discover itself by any . outward distinct operations or signjs, they might mistake the impulse of enthusiasm for the inspiration if the Holy Ghost ; but they could not believe, against the conviction\of their own niinds that they spoke toi^ues they did not speak, or hekled distempers they did nofheal, or worked other miracles when they worked none. If it be said the Corinthians might pretend to thdse powers, though the Quakers do not, I ask whether, in that pretension, they were impostors, or only jtacnthusiasts ? If they were impostors, and St Paul was also siich, how ridiculous was it for him to id vise them, in an epistle writ onl^ to them ^ Q.n6. for their own use, iiot to value themselves too highly upon those^ gifts, to pray for oie rather than another, and prefer charity to them all \ Do associaues in fraud talk such a language to one another?-" But if we suppos(i their pretension to all those gifts was an effect of enthusiasm,, let us consider how it was possible that he an& they could be so cheated by that enthusiasm, as to imagine they had such powers when they had not. - - Suppose that enthusiasm j^rtridmake a man- think that he was able, by a word or a touch, to ^e sight to the blind, motion to the lame, or life to the dejid.: would that conceit of his make the blind see, the lame walk, or the dead revive ? And if it did not, how could he persist in such an opinion ; or, upon his persisting, escape being shut up for a madman? But such a madness could not infect so ,, * ..■ •mi ■f 4-' J 'TEy; i . .' rip ( fcgTt.(,„JriS3 i Bj^ , ^(^^a , » «• » - prr^ '%' ^ . . ."'T rr^ „,••'.• SKEPTICISM .AiiSAILEDv V ! , "• * .: ' ■■■5P4; . --: ;, ^ ;■ . -' . _ \^ ^ ' . . • V- many at once> St. Paul supposes at 6orintij to have been endowed^ withthe'giftof healing or a«y other miraculous powers. One of the ' „>iracles- which they pretenaedto >i.as the speaking of languages they • never had' leanied; and St Paul says, he possessed this gift m^e than thnfW rCon 14: la. If this had been a: delhsion pf fancy, if Ihey had spoke only gibberish" or unmeaning sounds, it would soon ^e appeared, when they cWe t^ make use of it where it was ^^saty , vi^ : in the conWrtin| of those who tmderstood ^ot a^y . ' language they naturally spoke. St. Paul particularly, Vjho traveled „ ' so L upon that desigiwandhad such occasion to u.e i^ must soon ^ liive discovered that this imaginary gift of the ^irit was no gift at \\\ but a ridiculous instance of frenzy, which had possessed both ; him and them. But. if those he spoke to in divers tonguds ^n4e^r stood what he said, and were converted to Christ by that means, how could it be a delusion ? Of Ml the miracle^ recorded in Scripture none ^re more eW from any possible imputation .of Wng the effect ■o£^n eriUiu^iasti^gination than this: for how coirid any niau think that he had it, who ha^ it ^ot ; or, if he did think so, not b< undeceived when he cape to put his gift to the proof? ^ , . ■' .. If then, St Paul and the Church of Corinth weie. not deceiy^, in ascribing, to themselves this miraculous power, but really had it . there is the, strongest reason to think that neither were they deceived in the ot^er powers ^6 which they pretended, as the same Spirit ^hich . gave them that equally, could and probably would give th^m ^he . ' others to serve the same Wly ends for which that was given. And, by consequence, St Paul wa^ no enthusiast in what he wrote upon ■that head to the Corliithians, nor in other similar instances wh^re he " ascribes to himself, or to the churches he founded, any supernatural ,• graces and gifts. Indeed, they Hvlo would impute tP im^uation effects such as those which, a Paul imputes to the power of God ' attending his mission,^^ ascribe to imagination the sameomniiK>.. tence which he ascribes t '^ \ -^ K ^ i'.^ / ^f i \ •^' V. HISL- •" .' III. PAl'l/NOT-l>KCKI^ia> HY^^kK^^^^ ' Having thus, I flayer myself,: skfactorily^shdw^^ tlmt St. P^l could not be an enthusiast,^^vho,by the foi^ce.of an overheated imagination, imposed on Irimself, I am,dext ^o iiiqWre whether he; was deceived t,y the fraud of others, aiid Whether ^1 that he saM of . himself can be impijted to- the i^W^^r.of thi^t deceit ? Bitt I HeedTsay little to show tlie^sugdityU>f this sUpposiW.. It wa^ motally ^m- possible fo; the dtscipleVof Chrftt to conWe such, a thought, as Siat of tuming'His persecutor into His. apostle, and t9. do- this by a frau»; in th^Very instant of 4^1^ greates^ fury against, then; and their UrA. But told the;kl^e»,^ so exijravagant as to conceiv^ suck rthQ««lit, itSvas phj^sioally impo^Bli for them to eocecute^ m the mWr^e tow? conversion to havA been eif^ted. Could. :they4»roduee a light in Vthe air, wWclvat mid)fi#^ was brighter than tha;t of tke sun? Could^e^ ipalce Saul hear Vords from out oft^, • ii^t,' Act5i, 22: % which-wore not heard by theWof the company? Cquld t¥ey makeliiti blind for three days afterUhat yision,^nd then Uake scales fall from of? his eyes, >nd restore hW to his sigjit by a word? Beyond disprfte, no fraud could do the^^ things; but much " ' less sthi coul^ the fraud' of other* produce those piracies, subsequent to his conversion, in which he w^s not passive, bu^ active ;^which he ^d himself, and^ appeals to. in his episrtes as pWs of his divine mission. . ■. . - f '. CONCLUSION. • ' • 1 shall th^ take it^ for granted, that he waUot dfeceivdd by the fraud of others, and that what he said of himself Wn na more be ' imputM to the power of that deceit, than to wilful Wstttre, or to enthusiasm: an4ften.it follows,. that wh^t he related to have. been ^the caused his cfersion,an^& have Bappened iff cWseque^^ * it did :all really happen r ^^ iherefpre lAe CArh^^an^eligton tsra ' ^ti^f'ne revelation. ' ,. > ••,«r ■ ■ ■' '., ■ -■■>.%-»■ % 'TU •' ■ ... y ■ f V «» ]\tUjiip i iii|tliW i 506 -■ j" SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. < * ' \f' V J That this concWsion is fairly and undeniably drawn from the premises, I think mus't be oWned,.n^)ess sofae proteble canse can be Lsigned to account for those facts so anthenUcally related m the Acts of the Apostles, and attested in hisepistles bj.St Paul h.mseH, other than any of those which Ihave considered; and.th.s I am con- fident cannot be done. It must 'be therefore accounted for,% the power of God. That God shonld work miracles for the estabhshmen bf a most holy religion, which f™« the insuperable dtificulUes tha^ stood in the way of it, could not have established .tself without such assistance, is no way^pngn^nt to human Reason: but thatw.tho»t any' miracle such things sho«ld have happened, as no adequate natural causes can be assigned for, is what hnman reason cannot "believe '-''* ■ ■* ■ ' To itnpute them to magic, or the poWer of demons (whidh, was the resource of the heathens and Jews against the notbriety of the miracles performed by Christ and His disciples), is by _nq means agreeable to the notions of those who, in this age, disbelieve Chps- tianity. It will therefore be needless to show the weakness of that supposition: but that supposition itself i^ no inconsiderable argu- tnent of the truth of the facts. Next to the apostles and evangelists, thc.stnmgest witnesses of the undeniable force of tha^. truth are Celsus and Julian, and other ancient opponents of the Ghnstian religion, who were obliged to solve what they could not contradict, by such an irrational arid absurd imagination. -; | _ The dispute was not then between fait^ and reason, but between religion and superstition. Superstition ascribed to caba- listical names, or magical secrets, such operations as earned along witk them evident marks of the divme power: religion ascribed theln to God, and reason declared itself on that side of the question. Upon what grounds then can we now overturn that decision ? Upon >vhat grounds can we reject the unquestionable testimony given by ca lled by Ood to be a disciple and apostle of St. Paul, that he was tU' 1 I T I < - ^.^ . - «<1»- v~ 4 LS"7» * W^ III! ij||y . " ""(US'" "t^H*_ i'^*4sPB>f^' .4 <• w l- ■«■ I ♦ .:* - ■ • ■-. . . / '* <•.• • '4 *. / /■ -/ ■" •s ■r^—- 1 ■■■'■■- r- -/ — -" 1 « * ,-X- ■ t - tJ ^- -Jlfe^ c ^-""^^ «. 1 # -■ 8KHITIC1SM A!«»All.Kn. It lia« llMI' »!"•»". that wc oaniKil impuu- it cither to Clirist «ntlm,i.sm or fraud : how »haU «e th« r.».« u,e w .™ ....••-•■ a proof? noes the doctrine he preached c„..tu... any precept aKU.ns h' Iv of morali.,., that natural law writteu VyCod „. the Leans -J .uankind ? If he did; I confer that ,.„..e of the -K""''"^^' "»«•■ n««l. «»eof could prove such a d.Ktrinc to come r.,n. // »/. Bo tht is «. far from being the case, that even those who rc,«^ C isUanity as a divine revelation, acknowledge ''■-"'fV''^';;':* by Christ and by His apostles to be worthy of God Is u then on account of the mysteries in the Gospel that the facts are deturf^ though supported by evidence which in all other case, would be S to Luin the clearest conviction, and cannot m th., be „ieL without «dueing the mind to a sUt. of abso ute skepj.sm .nd overturning Iho^ rules by which' we judge of all ev.deuc« and Z the truth or creSbiUty of all other facts? But th,s ,s plamly to give up the us. of our undersUnding where »<=/" "W"" "^ "' , most property, in order to apply U to things of wh.eh « .s not a :„:peu„ri.^ge. the motives a«d reasons upon -^-l- «'-"; wisdom m.; think proper to act, as well as '^e »-"«.« wh 1 acts mnst often lie or.t at the reach of our understand mg but the^ motives and reasons of human actions, and the manner ,n wh^h hey a« performed, are all in the sphere of human knowledge, and upon jherwe may judge, «ith a well-greunded conftdence, when they are %irlv oroposed to our consideration. ^■ It U ineomparaWy more probable that a revelaUon from God, • eonceming the ways of His providence, should corrtain '- ' ~ above the capacity of our minds to comprehend, than that St, Paul, rindeed any of the other apostles, shomd have acted as we know that they did, upon any other foundationsthancertam knowledge of -cLsfsling risen from the dead; or should have succeeded m «« wk they undertook, without the aid of miraculous powers. To the TnLer of these propositions I may give my assent without any direct 1^ % '* = J^L_ ^gg-^- ^ L r .,l'->._.^a^;^^ -. C..":^ .fr- "^ ' :Tli51ifry 4' 'Hi 510 SKKITICISM ASJ4A11.KD. opponition of muion to my faith ; but in admittifiR the latter, I mtut believe against all thoHc probabilities that iOt the mtional groundi of assent. Nor do they wtio reject the Christian religion Ix-cansc of the difRcnities which occur in its mysteries, consider how far that. • objection will go against other systems, both of religion and phil- osophy.which they themselves pfofess to admit There are in lirism ^ itsetf, the most simple of all religious opinions, several difficultici, , for which human reason can but ill account ; which may therefore be not improperly styled articUs of faith. Such is the origin of evil under the government of an all-good and all-powerful God; a ques- tion so hard, that the inability of solving it in a satisfactory manner to their apprehensions, has driven some of the greatest philosophers into the monstrous and senseless opinions of manichtism and atheism. Such is the reconciling the prescience of God with the free-will of man, which after much thought on the subject, Mr. Locke fairly confesses he could not do,* though he acknowledged both ; and what Mr. Locke c<)uld not do, in reasoning on subjects of a metaphysical nature, I am apt to think few men, if ^ny, can hope to perfonf. Such is also the creation of the world at any supposed time, or the eternal production of it from God; it being almost equally hard, according to mere philosophical notions, either to admit that the goSness of God could remain unexerted through all eternity before tbe^e of, such a creation, let it be set back ever so far, or to conceive an\emal production, which words so applied, are incon- sistent and ciadictory terms ; the solution commonly given by a comparison to tl^manation of light from the sun not being adequate to it, or just; for iW is a quality inherent in fire, emanating from it ; Whereas matter is^^ quaUly inherent in or emanating from the divine essence, but of a diffei^flf*t^tance aiid nature; and if ' not independent and self-existing, must have.Wn~a«at§d, by a mere "See his letter to Mr. Molyneux, p. 509, vol. 3. - — - . , ~ T"^ t .; 5 i *\ » „ i* ll )^ ■•w ■'►^t. ^aivine wilh ft«cl. if created, then rfot eternal, the idea ^of iiuK a time whtn the mbstance crealtd did not tmst. Jd of this difficulty, we •have ^ourse, as many of the ancienwmi/Lphcri had. to the indrprJ^t fxislnue of matter, then TmuHt admit Im ,rlf-.xistiHg priuaphs, which in qu.tc mcou. iistent with genuine theism or natura,! reason, r^, could inai « admitted, it would not clear up the doubt, unless we suppose not only the eternal existence of matter, independent of God. btU that it was from eternity in the .rr/.r and beauty we Wit in now. w.thou any. ^ ■ agency of the divine power; otherwise the same difficulty will always occur, why it Was not before put into that order and state of perfection ; or how the goodness of Gcxl could so long remain .u a ; state of inaction, unexerted and ««.«;;*/.v.^.^ For. were the time of. such an exertion of it put back ever so far. if, instead of five or A.x thousand years, we j|^o suppose millions of m.lhons of ages to have passed since tW^orld* was reduced out of a chaos, to an harmonious and regular form. Still a whole eternity must have . preceded that dat#during which the divine attributes did no^ exert 4emselves in that beneficent work/so suitable to theMi, that the conjectures of human reason can find no cause for it. be.ng delayed. Btit because of these difficulties or any other that may occur in \he system of deism, no wise man will deny the being of God. or His infinite wisdom, goodness, and power. wWch are prpved by such evidence as carries the clearest and strongest conviction, M <^annot be refused without involving the mind in far greater difficulties, even in downright absurdities and in^possibilities. The only part, there- fore, that can be taken, is to account in the best manner that «ur weak reason is able to do, for such seeming objections; and where 'that fails, to acknowledge its weakness, and acquiesce under the •Bvthewortd I do not mean this earth alone, but Jhe ^holem.teriaJl«nl,^.wW^ll if inhabLnU tvcn c^ted .piriU fall under the «n/rea,o„inR ; for they must al«, have La llS^nrng. and before U«.t thinning an et««ity must have prcced«^^ t ■>, t> %' ,^ J^l ■■I m '■•i-' #' ^ 'm'^ "sOTRut**"!* i^^r^'^cf^^^ • m'l tf>v, , tf ^f i 51a SKEPTICISM ASSAILED. ■» certainty ihat our very imperfect knowledge or judgment cannot be the measure of the divine wisdom, or the universal standard of truth. So likewise it is with respect to the Christian^ religion. Some-diffi- culties occur in that revelation which humin reason can hardly clear; but as the truth of it Stands upon, evidence so strong and convincing.that it cannot be denied without much greater difficulties - than those that attend the belief of it, as I have before endeavored to prove, we ought n<.t to reject it .upon such objections, however morti- fying they may be to our pride. That indeed would have all things-^ _ made plain to us, but God has thought proper to proportion ourg knowledge to otir wants, not our pride. All that concerns our duty % ' is clear ; and as to other points, dther of natural or revealed religion, if He has left some obscurities in- them, is that any reasonable cause »Qf complaint? Not to rejoice in the benefit of what He has graciously allowed us to know, from a presumptuous disgust at our incapacity of knowing more, is as absurd as it wquW be to refuse to walk be- cause we cannot fly. , <^ From the arrogant ignorance of metaphysical reasonings, aiming at matterF above our knowledge arose all the speculative impiety, and many of the worst superstitions of the old heathen world, before the Gospel was preached to bring men back again to the primitive faith; and froffi the same source have since flowed ^ome of the greatest corru^ions of tbe evangelical truth, and the most inveterate prejudices against ft; an effect just as natural as for our eyes to grow weak, and ^n blind, by being strained^o look at * objects too distant, or not made ^•';■ ■ <•.) f> V «*. j-ifM^wr * '-^tf-t' ^^^ -.. > i fe . t A«;s;;a^ f. ;;, 1 e ■ * » ^xt^ 1 > k '■ ' 1 ^^s, ' iq f A I, ^ ,|s' *■ - i •■* '>i,;,W. 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