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A. tf I M the nations he g^tKereri tttgether, and all the people bf as- ^mblcd : W hu among tUcm can declare this, uhd show u^ former things ? et ihem bring forth their witnesses, that ihiiS n^^*^ ^'^ justified ; or let )tvui ht-ar, and sajr, " ll is truth." "Ak. xlik. 9. Cndc qnori est, fnod nj. <** dtsitie tuta vereri : Deqv.< fide aria iit tlbi ccrtujidts. Ovid. I Mn!«llKAL: PRINTETT AY SfAilUM MOWER. 'I r ■ '4 'i J,' ■-.«- w^ ^i V ' t -■JMf-«i w ■M: # ^"IZO"^^ X i i ' \ OGT 9 1931 iii'AV . t •■•'t !i''^ li i.:.. " S^l 1. *9 ",- ?.T h ; /. ^^Y TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LOUD FREDERIC MONTAGU^ EEPRESEJfTATIVK IN PARLIAMENT FOR THE COUNTY OF * HUNTINGDON: IV ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE HAPriNES* DEBITED FROld THE SUPERINTENDENCE • OF HIS SUCCESSFUL STUDIES ; IN GRATITUD* FOR THE HONOUR, IMPLIED IN HIS CONTINUAL FRIENDSHIP J AND IN TESTIMONY OF THE ANXIETY FELT FOR HIS WELFARF, TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL *, THIS TOLUME IS INSCRIBED,, WITH THE DEEVEST REGARD,, BY ■^ THE EDITOR. Ilunmmihi;, Feb. 1, 1802. ^-'' 1 :W a r T I . • . t I h * ::?«2a»i^?xiiii ^V I '• W the ckar, that ti cilile that no was first put came to noih consists ofjt so that iftht Thus for en our resarrec cannot be de fact ; hit n U true^ the c fostle) ifth dfad rise ni The trvti attended wit have. Thci It is reqi (L) Th )udgeof; (11.) T lesses ; (in.) I up in memo (IV.) 1 romntence a And it ii Marks wee The ab Jones's P [ do not ] which he r thel>ui t) is beca nork whi( crent ace rritten fo iddressed mSBBS^ Preface. ' IK the former of these Tracts the argument is so short and clear, that the meanest capacity may understand it, and so for- cible that no man has yet been found able to resist it. When it was first published, some attempts were made ; but they soon came to nothing. It is briefly this. The Christian Religion consists of J acts and of doctrines^ each depending on the other ; so that if the facts are true, the doctrhm also must be true, Thusf-ir example, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact ; our resuriectim is a doctrine : admit the fact, and the doctrine cannot be denied. The ascension of Jesus Christ is another fact ; his return to judge the world is a doctrine : if the fact is true, the doctrine must be so likewise. For (argues an A- yostle) if'thc doctrine is n»t true, the fact must be false : if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. The truth of a matter of fact may be certainly knoxen, if it be ttended with certain Marks, such as no false fact can possibly \ave. These Marks are Four : It is required, (I.J That the fact be such, as men*s cutward senses can udge of ; (II. J That it be performed publicly in the presence qfvut- H€SS€S ' (III.) That there be public monuments and actions, kept tp in memory of it ; and, (IV.) That such monuments and actions be established and commence at the time of the fact. And it is Mr. Leslie's design to shore, that all these Four Marks meet in the facts of Christianity." The above is an abridged extract from the Rev. Mr. ONEs's Preface to a late edition of the first Tract ; and, if do not proceed to insert what he calls its history (in . hich he relates, that it was composed at the request of * the I>uke of Leeds of that time," who was converted by _t) is because Leslie himself, in the introduction to a short nork which he published in its defence, has given us a dif- crent accounf. He there expressly states, that, " it was irritten for the satisfaction of a gentlewoman (though it is iddressed as to a man) vfho had been staggered with the ar- ..:--^«c; I ipi .\ ▼I FREVACK. guments of Deism, eyen to distr jtion ;" and <* was pttN poscly freed from all intricacies, and suited to her capaci. ty j" and " by the blessing of God, had the desired e>ct." What Mr. Jones however has recorded, upon the au. thofity of the late Dr. Berkley (the son of the celebrated Bishop of Cloyne) on the subject of Dr. Mibdleton's persevering and unsuccessful hostility to this publication aught not wholly to be omitted : " Feeling him necessary it was to his principles, that he should some way rid himself of Mr. Leslie's argumentt he looked out for somef ,'se fasts, to which the Four Marks might be ap- plied ; and this he did for twenty years iogethert without being able to find one." ^ With regard to the history of its Author, a brief narra. tive may sutfice. He was the son of a Bishop of Clougher, of a good Scotch family ; and, as Chancellor of the Die. cese of Connor, rendered himself hfghiy obnoxious to the Irish papists by his ardent and able disputations. Want of sympathy in religion, however, did not alienate his al. legiance from his infatuated Sovereign (James I(.) upon his abdication : and he accordingly lost all his preferments at the llevaltttion. This may account for (he whimsical toryism of his sweeping assertion, that *' Whoever is ca. pable of entertaining heartily the notion of all power being in the people, and making them the original of govern, meot, falls most commonly (not to say, necessarily) into the other of Deism | so that they are almost convertible terms I" He afterwards joined the Pretender in France, and ac. companied him into Italy, with a view of converting him to Protestantism ! But finding his endeavours ineffectual^ and his treatment less cordial than he had a right to ex. pect, he returned to Ireland, where he died in 1722. Two folio volumes were the result of his controversial labours. His chain of inferences, from the great proof here addu. ced of the Scripture-Miracles, he gives summarily in the a. bOve-mentipned Vindication. "The Christian Faith is, to believe in Christ, as having made satisfaction for out sins by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself upoi the cross. And how shall a Deist have this faith, bnt by being convinced that Christ is this Saviour of the world ? And how j tifying thi shall he b such huma all other f< Upontl his Preface ter Qvei^ aj of Christia the first F< Christ, a were circu no, other f either hav( the cviden its glory : pel, liketi but obscu minaries, light, and that excelli *« To th who take ti short advic Chris tianit things, whi of it. He are as cert sound, am heavens si ments sha angels sha four wind .give accpv must be stu ing froTik i belief of C In the i I have chi \ " was pttN fo her capaci. Icsirede-Vct." , upon theau. the celebrated Miodleton's is publication I, that he should (, he Ivoked out :s might be ap- t •without being a brief narra. ) of C long her, >r of the Dio. loxious to the tions. Want ilietiate his al. MEs I(.) upon is preferments I he whimsical hoeyer is ca. 1 power being U of govern. :essarily) into st convertible ranee, and ac< onverting him s ineffectual^ a right to ex. 1 1722. Two sial labours, of here addu. irily in the a. ian Faith is, ction for our himself upop faith, Jbut by f the world ? 9tLtSJLCZf ti> And how sl«aU he be so convinced, but by his works tes. tifying that he was sent of God for this end ? And how shall he be satisfied of the truth of these wor^s, but by such human testimony as is accessary to evince the truth oj all other facts ?" ■ • v Upon the subject of his second Tract, he observes (iqt his Preface to the Vindication) that, in tlunj(ing th« mat«- ter Qvei^ again, he found there were Four additional Marks of Christi^^nity, highly deserving of attention — " not that the first Four do not sufficiently demonstrate the facts of Christ, and distinguish them from any false facts that ever were circulated in the world ; but the second are such, as no, other facts how true soever, not even those of Moses, either have had or can have." The former set establish the evidence of the Christian Religion, the latter exhibit its glory : and their joint effect proves, that " the Gos- pel, like (he sun, not only dispels the darkness of error, but obscures all other truths ; which, like the inferior lu- minaries, disappear at the approach of its more shining light, and have no glory in this respedt by reason of the glory that excelletk." *• To those (to adopt Mr. Jones's awful conclusion) who take this little volume into their hand^, J have only this short advice to give. I beseech them to remember that, if Christianity be true, it is tremendously true. All the great things, which this world can show, are as nothing in comparison of it. Heaven and Hell are the issue. ItsfactSy yet to come, are as certain a." those that are past For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised (I Cor. xv. 52.) ; the heavens shai< pass away with a great noise, and the ele- ments shall melt with fervent beat (2 Pet. iii. 10.) ; the angels shall gather together the elect of Christ from the four winds (Matt. xxiv. 31.) ; and every one of us shall .give account of himself to God. (Rom^xiv. 12.) A man must be stupified, if he can think on these things without flee- ing frorii the wrath to come : and there is no way but in the belief of Christianity, which this hook teaches." In the alterations, which I have ventured to make in it, I have chiefly laboured to exhibit the argument in its most 4: 1 v^; ■pp m^mm ▼iU PACPACE. eoTnpEA ou He some on ruth of th< ingui^h it f o Deities : od be obIi| aoQ reasob eason of tl )roof as no irore Chris annot but iroof, beca me reason i nd, if suffii reatcs cool Sir, you ould perfo )ur sight is cctly, but ;ether^ B\ uch aproo J and plair I suppo5< rill be suffi )f Christ i niracles, if The same m he children ither \rond( >f Exodus, oo : thes( md which e rimself had }f this cau& »f fact. C-:4m'> neons matter of expression^ to preserve, its continuity '■ the good for vhom a larger lal, ny prin. /. IK >•' ^/satviiw ^W- Y< I. A SHORT AND EASY METHOD WITH THE DEISTS. OU wtt desirous (you inform xne) to recrire from ae some one topic of reason, which shall demonitrate th« ruth of the Chris i^in Religion, and kt the sane time dis* ingui^h it from theimpostures of MAUOUET.and th^ Heath, o Deities : that our beisttifiay be brought to this test^ fid be obliged either to renounce their rcasQn and the com* Qon reasob of mankind, 6r to axJttk the ctett proof from eason of the Revelation of Chrtst ; which must be srch a )roof as no imposture cai> pretend to, otherwise it will not >rore Christianity npt to be an fanposture " And '' voo annot but imagine (you' add) that th^re most be such a iroof, because every truth is in itself one : and therefore me reason for it^ if it be » tmii reason, must be sufficient ; nd, if sufficient, better than many : because multiplicity reatcs confusion, especially in weak judgments.'^ Sir, you hare imposed* an hard taijc npoti me ; I wish I lould perform it^ For, though every truth be one, yet >ur sight is so feebfe that we cannot always, come to it di. ectly, but hy many inferences and layings of things to. ;ether^ But I think that, in Che case before us, there is uch a proof as you desire, and I will set it dowo' as short* f and plainly as I can. I suppose then, that the truth of the Christian Doctrines rill be sufficiently evinced, if the matters of fact recorded )fCHRisT in the gospels are proved to be true; for his niracles, it true, establish the truth of what he delivered. The same may be said, with regard to Mosss. If he led he children of 767-ae/ through the Rcd.Sea, and did such ither wonderful things as are recorded of him in the book >f Exodus, it miist necessarily follow that he was sent by SOD : these being the strongest evidences we can require, ind which eveiry Deist Will confess he would aduit, if he rimself had witnessed their performance. So that the stress }f this cause will depend upon the proof of these matter*- »f fact. f^ r v.\ & / fj^- r t laydowi»,su!C^^:Mai:^5,,A5.|Q,^i!?fi truth of matte onMihett^'.s* general ;"t hat Whfere they «!P m^t such matters ^ ol»serv*iic ot be false ; aai, - ^^e j the d 2. To show that they all'do meet ia tlj^pj^Jter^ of fa )p«awp5r « "Moses, and of Christ ; and do not 'meet iii th^se- ij j" chile , w - — .-.-_. _ Jt^ „. iceS had ef( [.:io ] With rTicw/t^ferefAr^i-to thie^pro^r'liaiatr procee *''^ ^*^"»«^ I. To' ■ • ^' ^«...l..-'e, of fact in fact cannot be false 2 ofM -foisted of Ma:H qM EX -.wd ^f - ,the^» {I^t Jie^ ^^<*^ ^fli" Ci epps^biyrieet ip ^ny ii?i.pqi^ur« whatao.eipr^* '.. , _'" "^*^'^ f®^_f I. Tie Marks-m ii^e*. . , _^ .:. . '- h^*°';i;.rf'*^j|^ eveiy tas little liTtg( y man th and vou ,_ , itw jiip.ln mepipry oflJi^nUt'"^ I f"^ '^r - ^ T i - : ^^^^ -^ ^^^j ; (JV.j iThatMiyr^mbnumoa^anjJactJons^^ ifttradict m< ,aad cow^^^e flf /^^^ ^W^^-^"^'^' 1 , . /'' '^^'^ ^"8^^ ^ the tw,o first of <^Ve|p\wvSsjF^^ il nft!- matter « 'fals^ faf;t to be i^a^p^sVCHp'^h ,i3)Q|Ij at, thp time, when it w |2. Let wi Said to hedar^l^^^a»|5,(^v^y rajj^N'seris^^^ wojald t^pix^^ aM these ;!^jpt ijt.T jPox iE^p^d^; Jjpjpi^p^4//1E: ;sWu Id pretend t}il»y and of C •'yesterday \ 4|v%<* tW.7A«7',(r^>.in j^'e ■presen.ie of- ^1, tpA^oMET ui '.people of Lo^c^Oy anS 'le4 the w|iple ptjr over tn.^oai;ittajL on dry land, the' waters stfiudin^Jik^waUs on e^casidp :- As to IVios ,it wouldj^ B0Qrr4I)jj|mjP|(^5sible'^^;^^^ to convince ti irsuadid sis jp^opld of (^owrfej*, t|>J»^ tjjmw^s tVup ; when eT«{ry map, ,wo *ni out of i man, and child conid contradict me, and afllnii thajt thej '^'* roifacuU Jiad iiot$ec» the/?%#ief,sodivi^.edy nor been led over h ''^^*'' ^^*^**^."* liSoutJmark ^ dry land." I take it then for granted (and, '''^° c6rit«-iid ^appr^henij, _ jivitji .the, allowance of ,^11 the I)ebts in t|i( larks, world; thftt i>o.su£h i(m.ppsition coulf^ b;Q put upon ipan, F«r t^he sai kind at th« time, wlxen.su ch njatt^r^f ^acl was Siiid to bi We for him fdpae. ', 5 .; f. - • f ; ^Je, which .u* Bu^ t^e if^ct raloJtit be ifircTitfid. ^^a?» the mm pf thai '^s, if they ^enera<^^ion, jn wJuch \t wjw sfvid to |>e dpijq,, were aU pv' ^^Jy ^^ *P*^ ^wd gone ; and xUe credulity of jtfter-ag'es m|j;lit Ija indpcw "'^ ^^^ ^^y to b/eliuve, thait, tlurus; bad besn narformjed in eflT'i«f time!. «ve not* ku( to b^liaye, t^a,t, tli^t^S; l^a^ ^p |^|jrqr^ m .p|-i^^, J^i,^^^ .which itad not i! the tv. a first in tlie fdrraer case/ r Or"' wlieoever ^upli | ^ h:t kuo ■^he-LoRD' d his stref d iiw» ■■ ■ ■ . .* H ri! ]] -2iall rrocee ^ wifeltfvwited, If it ^er« sts^tcd .thwt not bnly publu ruth of matff onMttieft'jSontJrcnaainwl, but Ukelwi8ethi»tp;ibU<;a£tionj bliC ruth of inattJ^'^'"^'"^^''*'^'"^^^^^"^^' '^^^ imunuse iiini p^out: attions such matters obscfifVAiiCcshaKt been kept up ip nwinaory of.it iiver nee ; the d^eit must be detected by rwi such monumenU, mattlets of fa ^W^'^tny^^d^ythe eKiicrience ;6f every m^, wonifta et ui" th-MQ- B '^ chile, who must know that. no sji«h actions or obserr-i iaitieti ife a '^^^'^ had eecr lakeft- iila'co; For exiii\plief , , Suppose I '^ •'- ' lou-ld tt^ow febricate a story of something dotxc a thdusandr 1 s.io r,rn.. . jarsa^o, I might perhaps: get a few pcBSJona to bcJieve; ' ' * '^\^''- c; but if! w^ere fuiither to:addj that from that, daj/ to ^«4^i'*(^^«d ds eveiy man at the age of tweflve 'yoa.r» isad a joint of . ' ■ • ' Uittle linger cut oft iti me'molyj of it5ia*»d.tlsat'(of course) &e' Jp'r^sSrfce ery man then living actaally wanted a joi^toiUhit ftng.' rfc"' -1 n .: ,^ j^j^j. vQ^ched this institution; iri: xx)nfirmi()ion ' of its U^^''^^^c^ i^^) as to the circumstance of cutting off a joint m '• ■iy--r'i*^}jg ^,jgj.j. . and that, tliuiug an esiieiitial part of my ori- p5|i$l0 for aipial-matter of ftict, must prove the whole to be false. whenit.^#2. Let us now come to the ; second pbiut, and show le, would 6o;ntr#8^t aHthtfie Marks do meet ia the matters of fact of Mo- (pretend t}i#»y ttnd^i" CoiR-dsi*' j-affd do not meet in those reported of i6e of- A/V tWA^yoMiiT uifi of the Heathen Deities, nor can possibly sr tnJ5oai;ittirl*5t ja any Jm|DOSture ^Iw^^ n e^cii, sidp .- As to Mjses, he (I take it; for f; rah ted) could not have- convince tl ^rsuadt^d six hundred thousand men, that he had brought ?^ry map, wo "J*^ o^* ^^ ^-^iP^ ^Y ^^^ Red-Sea, fed them forty years irm that thej '^'^ miraculous manna, &t. \i it had not been true : be. n led over h ^^^^ iht^'^ienfeis Of evciy raaa, who was then alive, would panted (and, '''^^ cOrit^adlcted him. So that here arc the two first J:)ebts in t|i( ^'^-^^^ : t upon ipan^ F«r the same reason it woulu have been equally impos- ras said to bi ^^ ^^^ ^^n^ ^^ h^ve made them receive his Five Books as ^je, which related all these things as done before their ■9S~HiM t^^Wi 'V^ "o^^liwow'n and which have not seen the chastisement f'^lv . ' ''^^et^oRD your (jod, -his greatness, his mighty hand, g^s jnuch al '^^''^ s*'"*^^^*^^''^-'^^^ ^^rfil, ^nd his miracles,* •••but your o^ver^upi j "^ h^vc sL€«jn aft the §relt act* of .the Loud, which ho ;■ / ,.# I of them, 1 other ittst But th< Books of truth, the contain tl of their ii yer, for it [. 1^ ] dia,'»&c. Htece ve most admit it to be :iittpos£ibletb t*iese Book5 (if written by Moses in support, of an iropo tjire) could have been put upon the people ^^ho werci Hve at flie time, when such things were said to be done. But they might haye been written in some age afti Moses, and published as his »' ~o i - To tWsl reply, that, if it were so, it was impossib taey should haye been received as such ; becauise the speak of themselves as delivered by Moses, and kept i the ark from his time (Drvt. xxxi. 24—26.) and state thi ,• a copy of them was likewise deposited in the hands of tl A°^? "r king, « that ho might Jearn to fear the Lord his God, t ^''^^'^*''' keep all ihe words of this law and these statutes to d *, . them?" (Deut. xyii. 19,} Here these Books eipressl *^'' P^A", represent themselves as being not only the civil historj ^^^"«^,*^' but a so the established municipal law of the J»' U not, with »ihat face ca», they .^ay..t|iii was appo ly whom that it wa that their cent robe broast-plj out, and judges, e^ Hence might hav gained ar have madi eUe expert Books 1( them M'he own child had circui whole mil had neve meats : tl '"-4^ S».^, [ 13 1 :HttiJOS£ible, tb ^^f^^ law-books of the Jews ? Why will they affirm th^t orttof an iiapo pie nho werei d to be done, a some ag« afti was impossib ; becaitfe the Es, and kept .) and state ik he hands, of ti KD his GoD^ t se statutes to d Books express le ciril historji ie Jejcs^ bindin er age thereloj it was impossi ; because the] e ark, or wit hey were firs :hqy had neve of them, which they admit never to have happened in any other instance ? But they must be still more unreasonable. For the Books of Moses have an ampler demonstration of their truth, than even other law-books have ; as they not only contain the laws themselves, but give an historical account of their institution and regular fuifiinient : of the Passo- ver, for instance, in memory of their supernatural protec- tion, upon the slaying of the first-born of Egypt ; Om Dedication of the first-born of Israel, both of man and beast J the preservation of Aaron's Rod which budded, of the pot of Manna, and of the brazen Serpent, which re- mained till the days of JItzekiah (2 Kinj;s, xviii. 4.) &c. And, beside these memorials of particular occurrences, there were other solemn observances, in general memory of their deliverance out of Egypt, &e. ; as their annua! Ex- piations, their New-Moons, their Sabbaths, and their or- dinary Sacrifices : so that there wore yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily recognitions of these things The same Boaks likewise further inform us, that the tribe of Levi their book by which tha lan »t this dii] fnd, and maJi;i statnit^s whicl 5 it for these to have been be, viz. the n to hate per. m, since the (hey .^ay..tl»iJ was appointed and consecrated by God as his Ministers, ly whom alone these institutions were to be celebrated ; that it was death for any others to approach the altar ; that their High-Priest wore a brilliant mitre and magnifi- cent robes, with the miraculous iTrim and l*humniim in his broast-plate ; that at his word all tl»e people were to go oat, and to come in ; that these Levites were also their judges, even in all civil causes, &r Ilence too therefore, in whatever aoe after Moses they might have been forged, it was impossible they should have gained any credit ; unless indeed the fabricators could it. 1 ■ D . . - \.^^ have made the whole nation believe, in apite of thdr inxuri' IS, before they ' r ! ' ■; 1* ] i could he r same resuic u\d must ] matters of marks. I priesthood to administer in it (confined to one parficiilj Jnbe) andasuperintcndantHigh-Priest, whose death a lone could deliver those that were fled to the cities of ref wge ; that these priests were their ordinary judges, ever , , w civil matters, &c.-But this would surely have beei l"*'^'* * impossible, if none of theae things had been practised ; m ^'l'"^ '""^^ it would consequently have been impossible to circulate ^^^^''-^R^^' as true, a set of Books which affirmed that they had prac tised them, and upon that practice rested their own pre, pensions to acceptance. So that here are thje two lattei But (to advance to the utmost degree of supposition) tftese things might have been praeti&ed, prior to this alledg. ,ed forgery ; aad those Books only deceived the nation, by making them believe that they were practised in memory ot such and such otcurrenceis, as were then invented !' In this hypothesis (however groundless) the same impos. SibiJities press upon our notice, as before. For it implies, tnat the Jews had 4)reviousIy kept these observances hi memory of nothing, or without knowing why they kept tiiem ; whereas, in all their particulars, they strikin<^ly express their original : as the Passover, instituted in mcni. ory of God's passing over tlie children of the Israelites, yvhcn he slew the iirst-born of Egypt, &c. Let as admit however, contrary both to probability and to matter of fact, that the^- did not know why they kept these observances ; yet was it possible to persuade them, that they were kept in memory of something, which they had never heard of before? For example. Suppose I should now forge some romantic story of strange things done a long while ago ; and, in confirmation of this, should endeavor to convince the Christian world, that they had regularly from that period to this kept holy the first day of the week in memory of such or such a man, a Casar or a Mahomet; and had all been baptized in his name, and sworn by it upon the very book which I had then fabricated, and which of course they had never seen before, in their public courts of judicature ; that this book likewise con. tamed their law, civil and ecclesiastical, which they had ever since his time acknowledged, and no other ;— I ask any Deist, whether he thinks it po8f;ibIe tint such' a cheat Let me } the Stonehc biicR, or ht or in mcmi Now su i^ate in it ^ oraMaho ^nd shouk time when themselves received as credit in n known in stent to be 4id teach i when we y Deist, pas! any othpr stead of be Let us ( tenge, as : OilgaL (J( why they ^ews in 9.{ told them, which thi luch, as 04 people at i less miraci fioQS, and (iii. 5. 15. infidel sop Now, t( pever was W ' [ 15 3 one Tjarrc !* ^^^^^ ^^ received as the gospel of C&ristians, or not ? The rhn«o%ief.fT.^ !! same reason holds with regard to the books of I^Ioses ; md must hold with regard to cTory bouk^ which contains mattwrs of fact accompanied by the abof e>mentioned four marks. For these mark^ conjunctrrely secure mankind from imposition^ with regard to any false factj as well in after-ages, as at the time when it was said to be done. Let me produce, as an additional and familiar illustration, the Sionehaige of ^aUsburtfptain.- Alnioat every body has ifeen, or heard of it } and yet notody knows by whomj or in memory of what, it was set up. Now suppose I should write a book fOimorrow, anc| ^^te in it that these hugh stones w?re erected by a Caesar or a Mahomet, in memory of such and such of their actions : ^nd should further add, that this book was written at the time when those actions Mere perfonued, and by the doers themselves or by eyewitnesses ^ and had been constantly received as true, and quoted by authon pf the greatest credit in resular succession eter sinice : that it was well Icnown in England, and cren enjoined by ^ct of Parlia- Rient to be taught our children ; and that we accordinji^ly 414 teach it our children^ and had b«en t^pght it ourselves when we were children ; — would this, 1 demand of any Deist, pass current in England ? or r^ither should not I, or any otfapr^erson who might insist upon its reception, in. stead lOf being beliered be sent to Bedlam ? Lei us compare then this rude structure with the Stone.^ tenge, as I may call it, or ** twelve stones" set up aC Q?'lgaL (Jtosh. iv. 6.) It is thet-e s?id, that the reason why they were set up was that, when the children of the ^ews in after-ages should ask their meaning, it should be told them. (iv. 50—25.) And the thing in memory of which they were set up (the passage over Jordan) was fuch, as could not possibly have been imposed upon that people at the time, when it was said to be done ; it Mas not less miraculous, and from the previous notice, prepara., ^OQS, and other striking circumstances of its performance (iii. 5. 15.) still more unassailable by the petty cavils of infidel sophistry, than their passage through the Red-Sea. Now, to form our argument, let us suppose that there jpever was any such thing as that jpassage over J ordan ; hose death e cities of ref judges, ever rely have beei practised ; am 5 to circulate hey had prac heir own pre. ; thjB two lattei jf supposition) ' to this ailedg. the nation, by d in memory nvented !' hesameimpos. For it implies, observances in \hy they kept ley strikingly ituted in mcni. the Israelitesj robabilify and hy they kept rsuade them, ?, which they e- Suppose I t range things of this, should hat they had the first day >, a Cassar or ne, and SMorn 1 fabricated, ore, m their likewise con. ich they had her ; —I ask such a cheat I I I \ I I /' I >•*'.'■""■ ^•..' i'i f A [ 16 ] tnat these stones at Gilgal had bern set up on some on- known occasion j and that some designing man in an af. ter-age invented this book of Joshua, affirmed that it was Avriften at the time of that imaginary event by Joshua himself, and adduced this Stonage as a testimony of its truth ; — would not every body say to him, " We know the Stonage very well, but we never before heard of this rea- son for it, nor of this book of Joshua ; where has it lain concealed*all this while ? And where and how came you, after so long a period, to find it ? Besides, it informs us that this passage over Jordan was solemnly directed to be laughf our children, from age to age ; and, to that end, that they were 'always to be instructed in the neaning of this particular monuraept : but we were never taught it ourselves, when we were children, nor did we ever teach it our children. And it lis in the highest degree improba- ble, that such an emphatic ordinance should have been for- gotten, during the continuance of so remarkable a pile of stones, setup expressly for the purpose of preserving its remembrance.'* • If then, for these reason?, no such fabrication could be put upon us, as to the Stonage in Salisbury- Plain ; hoTf much less could it succeed, as to the Stonage at Gilgal ? If,' where we are ignorant of the true origin of a mere naked monument, such a sham origin cannot be imposed, how much less practicable would it be to impose upon us in actions and observances, which we celebrate in memory of M'hat we actually know ; to make us forget, what we have regularly commemorated ; and to persuade us, that we have constantly kept such and such institutions with re. ference to something, which we never heard of before ; that is, that we knew something, before we knew it ! And, if we find it thus impossible to practise deceit, even in cases wiiich have not the above Four Marks, how much more impossible must ii; be, that any deceit should be practised in cases, in which all these Four Marks meet ! In the matters of fact of Christ likewise, as well as in those of Moses, these Four Marks are to be found. The reasoning indeed, which has been already advanced with respect to the old testament, is generally applicable to the xiny^. The miracles of Christ, like those of Moses, w*"^ »^^ • tttCh is T j)erformed history of And it is time (Act (iv. 4.) w selves saw that they were the t And, w Lord's Si things, no were said from that t self also o: his Sacran end of the torious a] were amoi appointm( rative had time of its selves froi would hai And the.t otherwise soever th« ricatcd) n lie clergy ing impos nysu^h t equally ii cessfuL— mankind, them in a . be do^e. The iq; Heathen jbj which )iimself, J no mirac! )n soDie on lan in an af. d that it was it by Joshua timony of its We knou' the d of this rea- re has it lain w came you, it informs us lirected to be to that end le neaning of jver taught it we ever teach free improba," are been for- \l)\e a pile of I reserving itsi tion could be Plfiin ; hoif t Gilgal ? If; I mere naked mposed, how ! upon us in n memory of what we have ! us, that we ons with re. ' before ; that ' it ! And, if 3ven in cases iv much more be practised I IS well as in found. The ivanced with licable to the Moses, wp^ t ir ] tttCh is men*? outward senccs could judge of ; .^nd were j)erformed ;;M6//f/y, in the presence of those to whom the history of thciii, Contained in the Gospel) was addressed. And it is related, that " about tliree thouiiaad" at one time (Acts ii. 41.) and *' about five thousand" at another, (iv. 4.) were converted in consequence of wliat they them- selves saw achievod in matters, where it was impossible that they should have been deceived. Here therefore were the two first Marks. And, witli regard to the tvro latter, Baptism and thp Lord's Supper were ipstitnted as memorials of certain things, not in after.ages, but at the time when these things weresaixl to be done; and have been strictly observed, from that time to this, without interruption. Christ him- self also ordained Apostles, &c. to preach and administer his Sacraments, and to govern his church ** even unto the end of the world.'* Now the Christian clergy are as no- torious a matter of fact amongst us, as the tribe of Levi were amongst the Jews ; and as the sera and object of their appointment arc part of the gospel-narrative, if that nar- rative had been a fiction of some subsequent age, al the time of its fabrication no such order of men, deriving them- selves from such an origin, could have been found ; which would have eflfeetually given the lie to the whole story. And the .truth of the matters of fact of Christ being i^o otherwise asserted, than as thfre were at that time (when- soever the Deists will suppose the gospel to have b«?en fab- ricated) not only public Sacraments, bi^t like\vise a pub- lic clergy of his institution to administer them, and it be- ing impossible upon this hypothesis that there could be a- nysu^h things then in existence, we must admit it to be equally impossible that the forgery should have been suc- cessful. — Hence it was as impossible to have deceived mankind, in respect to these matters of fact, by inventing them in sifter-ages, as ut the time when they were said to be do|ie. The njattcrs of fact, reported of Mahomet and of the Heathen Deities, do all want some of these Four Marks, jbj which the certainty of facts is established. Mahomet himself, as he tells us in his Koran (vi. had comp sequence ■tSHMP* ^MnI^ olous legends, and Philoso4pl>r^t*^^* t Markjs ; y from Mec. were not per. ur indeed' of the two lattc iation, of the ury's stealing bull, &c. be. iigate adven. ore enlighten, lies involving f '-writers hate is true, thcss ss, and other burth Mark, s, which they Hence they )m imposture, rat \ht perl, example, ami I after thee. •Juno, Mars, cities, but ap. ir honor, and r preternata. orTd to show Four Marks, the Old and eived, if they ! of Levi and Passover and ttism and the IS descending sctive institn. e to persuade cised or bap. A [ 1$ ] ized, haJ'arcumeised or baptized their children, and cel- so^brated Passovers, Satjbaths, and Sacraments under the foi ministration of a certain order of priest*, if they had done none of those thin|>s ; as to make thrm believe at the time, without any real fuundation, that they had pone through seas on dry land, seen the dead raised, &c. But, without such a persuation, it was impossible that cither the Law or 4he Gospel could have be6n receiveil. And the truth of ihe matters of fact of each beinir no otherwise asserltd, ^han as such public ceremojiies had been previously prac- tised, their certainty is established \\\)(iViihQ full conviction of the senses of mankind. .::: • • I do not say l-liat every thing, which wants these Four .Marks, is false j but that every thing, whichhasthcm all, mnst be true. I can have no doubt that there was such a man as Ju- lius Caesar, that he conquered at Pharsalia, and was kit- led'in the Senate-house ; though neither his actions, nor his assassination, be commemorated by any public obser v., ances. But this shows, that the matters of fact of Moses, and of Christ, ha;ve come down to us better certified than any other -whatsoever. And yet our Deists, whowouW consider any one as hopelessly irrational that should ofler to deny the existence of Caesar, value themselves as the on, ly Tnen of profound sense and judgment, for ridiculing the histories of Moses and of Christ, though guarded with iri- falliable marks which that of Caesar wants. Besides, the nature -of the subject would of itself lead to a more minute examination of the one, then of the oth- er : for cf what consequence is it to me, or to the w orld, whether there over were such a man as Cassar ; whether he conquered at PharsaUa, and was killed in the Senate- house, or not ? But our eternal welfare is concerned hi the truth of what is recorded in the Scriptures ; and there- fore they would naturally be more narrowly scrutinized, when proposed for acceptance. How unreasonable then is it to reject matters of fact »o 'important, *o sifted, and so attested ; and yet to think -it absurd, even to madness, to deny' other matters of fact-^ f'whiijh have not the thousandth part of their evidence, hate had comparatively Ut*k4n*e»tigattQnj.and^ aiKj of ao ceA- sequence at all 1 «Mtf their dalJ f"*BiltT ha *Tkb g?ea lounced to toly-Propk {Luke i. 7C The firsi imtnediatel; il. 15. and He was i sii. S.xviii ixvi. 4.) 3 Jacob e? tionof"S 10.) Bali ot'd him ^^ (Numb, x; er than hit iii. 22.) of " Mess It was 1 vii. 14.) ii Qf Jesse (1 poverty at t 'V' |K4lM|te^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ...J [ 21 ]; )tltY This 'a'ptiliea- Mron^ly to the books of Moses, in whieh" otonly the history of the Jew3, but likewise their whole w, siculttr ami ccct«*iia8tical, was contained. And tho' om f Re ekHy e5Xt€ni1oh and destined universality of tho. hristian systeiA," itcotttd Aot %itholit unoecebsary confu- m fuTiilsli Jin irniform civiUodo to all its various follow- rs, who were' already under the Govei-nment of laws m ome deoi*oc a Ah' en tire statu te-hwk. in one par-! i«ular''nation)*tkan -that all the ilations oiClmsUndom- hould havd unanimously conspired in the forgery. But rithbut sufh a^onspiracy.such a fori^ery could never have ucceeded, as the Gospel uuiverBally formed a regular part. >ftheir dally ^11 bite ^fifces; i.ili) •tr.i:iuLri. . - h-'Biit Iha^tdfl t'0thd*/it^A Mark, of Prophecy. . . > *IU gfoat^fact if'^Cttris^'s coming was previously an^, lounced to the Jdws in the Old Testamcat, '* by all th© toly-ProphetB, which Ivave bcea sincq the wojld began.'^ {Luke i. 70.) , .. * j The first promise upon the subject was made to Adam, immediately after the Fall. (Gen. iii. 15. Compare Co/,' il. 15. and //e6. ii. 14.) .•.•;. He was again repeatedly promiped to Abraham, {Gen. lii. 3.xviii.l8.xxii. 18. applied Ga^ iii: 16.) to Isaac (Gen, xxtI. 4.) andto Jacob. (Gen. xxviii. 14.) , Jacob expressly propkesied of him, under the appella, tion of" Shiloh," or him that was to be sent. (Gen. xlix. 10. ) Balaam also, with the voice of inspiration, pronoun. oed him «< the Star of Jacob, and the Sceptre of Israel.'* (Numb. xxiv. 17.) Moses spake of feim, as One " great, er than himself." (Deut. stviii. 15, 18, 19 ; applied Act* iii. 22.) And Daniel hailed his arrival, under the name of " Messiah the Prince." (ix. 25.) It was foretold, that he should be born of aTir<;in(Isau vii. 14.) in the city of Bethlehem (Mic. v. 2.) of the seed Qf Jesse (Isai. ?ii. 1, lO.) r—that he should lead a life of poverty and suCfcriug (Psal. xxii.) inflicted upon him, aot are comni^ii t t, i now 10 thrve last lered, facf5, containt ong,s ; I need, for tha and, by tripes, both om tlie carlics ire such, as to or hdarers to n Mnivasai dt- Italy discussed supercede tbc s it impossible jpoQ any peo. rg€ a code «f fc term : could i people that rhicii all thdr irts for SQ ma. 'Ught to this, s, which the; 1 so familiarl/ that this new was thai old ^tmnster-Hall ii the orifioali J .,,j^j^g^,,S*i-^ ill'; I' \ p 22 J' ^forhfmseir' (Dan. ix. 2«.) but for theslw o/ •tfi« *. • (Iiai. liii.); and, after a short confinement in the e rave* . I?, should rise again (Fsal* x»i« 10, applied Act« i'u 27, 31 ""' md xiii. 35-^37.) r— that ht^houli " sit upon tl.«thron .T.^^^^^i of Ddrid for erer, and be calltjd** themiiht/ God" rlsal ««,<'*<'"' " :. 4t «v « 4i iu- ¥ _^j. »^. » . ./ , _ ^ finulfl trover i«. 6. 7.), *< the Lord our leLord our Righteousness*' (Jet. xxxiii ^'^T ^ 16.), ** Iramanuel, that it^ God ^fith us" (Isai. ▼«. l| '* ^y^o^ej a applied Matt. 1. 23.), andby Darid hicnsell, whoce soi ..rf he was according ta the flesh, Lord (Ps*I. c*. I. applie, ™,"'*; ^^^ to Christ by himself Matt xxa. 44. and by F^ter Acts U T'.^ **' '°" 34.) ^ ^ «* jjgjy \rires The time of his incarnation was ityhty before " thi " J^*^" C Sceptre should depart fromJudah»' Gen. ilia. 10.) durin. 'Jo / • the continuance of the second Temple (Hmi, ii. 7. 9.)! »f 5»"«<>"»" and within scTcnty weeks or 490 days, i. e. acc^irdin;? to !^ the constant interpretation of prophecy, 490 years from ». ksererftnn THaA • .^^ <» l 1 ' [CSted ks erection. [Dan, ix. 54.] 5ttlf ainst" the All OTor. is sul or ca fi That he wa« likewise the eitpectation . „ mconfom^ity to the prophecies ^f Gerfe xii*. lO.aiiiif".'^^'''^^' lagg. ii. 7. where the terms " Peoplei"^and " Nations," ["<^f '^'^", Ifeftnft* #K/i Wd»i*A«n «»/iK4,n:« •«:.bi.»i.i... *t,, : r A. m th-: vh time of his actual advent, may be inferred from the nunu »<^^ompa:T)in Ber of false Messialw, who about that period iMde th^ij '^"?'**"!i'f appearance. 1"^ additK of the Gentiiej '"^' 'j^^' ^j^ |ers winch n cf ul foreseen 'by sefri 'i>y ihf or they wo prophecies and thei'cfi thoy crucif Obserre. de&otb the HertAen wdrid} is erinlced by the coming of the wise- men from (he East, kc: ; a story, yriixh would of. course have been contradicted by some of the individuals »0 dlsj^ractef^ully concerned in it, if the fuct of their arrival, and the con^fequfent massacre of the infants [l] in and about BetWchemj h^ not been fresh in every one's naecaory : by them, for instance, who afterwards subornod false witnes. »esaoainst Christ, an i i^'.\3 lars:© money to the soldiers to conceal [if pa8sib?e'f t.* J-c' *. of his resurrection ; or them,. (1) Thijia'alludedtci nt //! if robio* who relates Adgtstuj, Greek pun upon the occasion in a taiiguftg(>, in'which it entirely loses it«pohit! OumaUditset mttr jtuetas qn»» i« Syria HerodesrciJudaBoruminfrpiima- timju.mt interjici,jilium, am^e gus occisum ; ait. " Meliii.f est Herodis porcuta esse, quara filiunV*^ {Saium II. 4.) i. e. GretcC, urie nioh ivxii Anellec. " It ia bcttfr to be Ihfrods siaine than las s«fi ;" dn accduM •me a^itioeUee ofthc Jews frgta tb at animal. ♦^Qiitoi^' (2) — rcgcm revsuiste, AV ( tiahcreiit yuo t itraritim defer (3) Pf rr/rf (H) tfiTiporc 1^1 \\) V\^rxh ir ' leiiipow; entiir. Hac K^uJlt « ;^n I in the eraye ct« ii. 27, 31 y God" (Isal (Jer. xxxii (Isai. yii. I| l| whose so: :i|. I. upplie JP'Cter Acts i before " thi X. 10.) durin* m^ ii. 7. 9.) . according t 90 years froi ^»f vas itation of th« turitjT) «tlhe om the nunu d ifittde thf / * the Gentiies iiix. 10. and " Nations,": coming of the Kk would of i6 individuals their arrival, j in and about menory; bjr false witnes- le soldiers to oa ; or them,. tiglstas, Greek y loses it«pohit! Oram intrfihima' uliiifestHerodij an'e nioh ardi i;" tin account r 23 ] ho in stilf la'ler ^'hom thoy crucified as an im poster. 4 Observe, then, how literally many of these predictions /2) rcp-cm ;7op«'o Romano l!uiVLT!impartxirxf.re : fcvatum estirrititm revsuisfe, ^fifuis ilhnnno ervitustducaretitr ; fos qui gravidas uiores fiahrreiit sque spem traheret. curasse r.e seniituscovsultum ud ararivm delirretur. (Suet. Aug. (>4.) _ ^ (3) Petcri-thuernt Orievtr itiU,vrtuf ct cfnstcmf epiwo^ ffie mfcht, «» «) temporo r« ai compare Matt, xxvii. o4. They ^mae kihi vinfgar iu drk mifigled wif/i ga//.--Aga.in, it is said, Psal.vXxii. TQ— I, " They pier'^ed h.y hands und my feet —they stand sta inland looking upon m€. , They part my garments mono them, and cast Jots upon mv vesture ; [3] as if had been written after John. jrlx. 23, 24. . It is said lik wise, Zech. xi. 10. " Thoy shall look upon mc, who they have pierced ;" aad we ar^ told, John.owx. 34,.tl( vfie uf the soldiers •wilh'id }>pear\pitrxid^ki5 side,kc.<^> Ir ■>-, Compare also Psal. xxii. 7^ 8. *<;Allf they, that s me, laugh mc to scorn : thiey shoot oUt their lips andshal their heado, sayin^j, He trusted in G{>d, that he m^ouI^ 4 liver him ; let him deliver him, if he will have him-^wil Matt, xxvii. 39, 41, 43. ^"i' t/iey that passed br/_rexik him, waggi7ig their heads and saying, Come down from t cross. Likewise also'the Chief-priests mocking him, uith I scribes and elders, said. He trusted in God : let him delix him no-u, if he will haxx him ; for he said, I am the Son (5) The soldiers did not tear his coat, benuvse it was mthout sea woven J'rom the top, throughout ; and therefore the^ cust lots for it. B this was entirel_y' ,'iccitlental : with the passage in the Pialms, asK " mans,' they were hot very likely to be acquainted. The same rcniai 1 applies to the next instance, Jioia Zechariah. And here it may be suggested (in reply to those, wlio insidious ir,agiufy " the power of chance, the ingenuity of accommodation, ai the industry o{ research." as chiefly supporting the credit of obstu prophecy) thdt greater plainness would enable wicked men, as fre agents, to pr^-vent its accomplishment, when obviously directed apaii theraseivea.. The Jews, not understanding w t,;t Ciirist meant Iv k ^ •« lifting-up" (John viii. 28, xii. 3g, 3.^.) and not knowing that he hi foretold his crucifixion t6 his opoMles (Matt. xx. li).) instead oi fini ly stoning Imn—the death appointed by their law (Levit. xxiv. IS for blaspbeniy..(iMati XXVI. 6,').) more than once mcnaciBd against il Saviour (Jo)in viii. 5''. x. 3:5.) and actually 'Jillicted npon Stepbi f (Acts vii. .5b.) lor that oft'ence — unconsciously delivered him toll predicted Romaij cross. Again. The piercing el his side was no pa ; of the RouitUi sentence, but merely to ascertain his being dead, prtr ously to tnki'ig him down from the cross • " that the body might iii jrenjain there on tl>eSabbatli..d:iy," wUick cowmpnced {hat evening, few hours after the crucifixion. Frxrni his earl^ givivfr up the ghm howtjvcr it was not necessary that. a bone of hiai slioukj he broken (Exod. xii. i6 Numb. ix.. 12. Psal, xxxiv. 20,) like those of the t« thieves, his fcliow-suflerer*. ^Joha xix. 35?, 3<3.) God. Hi! ey, previg ed, in per XXV ii. 6, ' predicted learned oi ed by the foretold t and with rightly ti improbal: thieves [J tomb of ti Thus I variation of Christ few bricl Those specified and ^^H *4a - r a n( before '' fulfilled foundati Rufus. the man the ruin xxiv. 2i ed that i led the learn fr B. J. V tion, th Tilus, ' Itw< the dis] of his disadva (OT cumstim greeable but with :,.mm. "g Psal. Ixix. t to drink ;" ai vinfgar iu drin 1. vxxii. TQ— I they stand sta my; garments ire ; [3] as if , It is said lik ipon mc, -who hn.jtix. 34,. til lf,.&C.. M Ic -.- If they, that s ii- lips andshal at he m;ou1^ 4 have him-^wil passed by rexik e down from t hiniy •with I lei Aim ddix J ajn the Son t was mthout sea\ '.list lots far It. B lie fialms, asK The saiuc rcnm yte, wlio insidious ccomniodatioti, ai le credit of obst uktd men, us fre sly directed apaio Ciirist meant h\ k lowing that he hi .) instead oi fini (Levit. xxiv. IS cnacKd against ll ted npon Stepbi livered him to tl lib aide was no pa i being dead, firer ihe body might iii ■ed t'lat evening phivir xip the ghm ilioukj |)e broken le those of the u A [ 25 ] nod His Tcry price and the mode of laying put the mon- ey previously specified Zech. xi. 13. are histoncally stat ed in perfect correspondence Avith the prophet, Matt, xx'vii 6,7. And his riding into Jerusalem upon an as«, predicted Zech. ix. 9. [and , referred by one of the most Fearned of the Jewish pJ-abbie., to the Mess.ah] is record ed by the same inspired historian, xxi. 9. Lastly, it was foretold that " he should make his grave w;th the wicked, and wth the rich in his ueath" [Isai. Un.OJ ; and thi., riltTy translated, [6] was precisely verifiet by the very ]^Lo iucidetus of his being cruc ftec' tetuccn tw. ;XL [Matt, xxvii. 38.] and aflerw-ards /..J u. the nr. tomb of the rich man uf ArimntheA. [ib. 57, OU.J Thus do the prophecies of the Old Testament, without variation or ambiguity, refer to the person and characU i of Christ. His own predictions, in the xNcvv, demand a few brief observations. , .. , Those relating to the destruction of Jerusalem, which specified that it should be" laid even with the ground and " not one stotneleft upon another' [L.ke xix. 4 .J before '' that geuevation passed" [Matt. xxiv. 34.J ^^tlt> fulfilled in a most suri-risingly-literal ^^"""' ^fjf,;^^;^- foundations of the temple being ploujihed up by lurnus Rufu^. In another remarkable prophecy he announced the many false IVlesiahs, that should come after l^;n>, and the ruin in which their followers should be invol-d [Matt, xxiv. 25, 26.1 ; and that ^reat numbers actually assum- ed that holy character before the final fall o the city, and led the people into the wilderness to t^^^.'l'jf "f ""' ^,^ learn from Josephus. [Antiq. Jud. xvin. 1\ Yj'nfatu R T viii 31 1 Nay such was their wretched infatua. ti;n,*that' under this delusion they rejected the offers oi Tilus, who oourted them to peace. [Id B. J. vn- ^^- J It would be sufficient barely to mention his foretelling the dispersion of that unhappy nation, and the triumph of his Gospel over the gates of hell, midev every possible disadvantage ; himself low and despised, his associat«s on- (f) This pr ssnge, which in the common translation '"^'"^V^^f.^'^- cuLIncis!..- Christ's pasMon. is by Dr. ^^^'^ ^^ ^^^^^ greeable to them : - And h.s grave was appointed wUh the wicheu, but with the rich man was his tcmb. ' c I — — >• ..- ,[Gen. XX the angel [8] IJeni taaieiit) in I were not tali 33. ike.) J tlie people (2 Chroii > Hence t ^ *« their tity ' dealV; of ih rifue for sir come, thut t the anti-tyi (9) Mor to have be' t_ni up I' liiitidiil ■«^«ai*.>j5 [ ?7 1 ihed,] and hli ,f life, that came down from hear en;" [John ti. 31.— bits, interests, |5.] 5. The Rock, whence the waters flowed, to supply • irink in the wilderness ; " and that rock was Christ.=» 1 Cor. X. 4.] 6. The Sabbath, <^ a shadow of Chria" Col. ii. 16, 11.] ; and, as a figure of his eternal rest, lenominated " a sign of the perpetual covenant," [Exod r [if possible] For whatever oracular pre. 1 never aflect. txxi. 16. 17. Ezek^ xx. or rescmblan. •r in individu. Uiuiie, till (he ero of a two. )f the former fiee [7J may ef, appointed •stroying Au» ' passed over )d of the Pas. e eaten with ' the unlcav. e annual Ex. i^rJL'St entered , Exod. XXV. d of the sac. p_. xiii. 12.] ; ins, for ever ] ; and sec. f Israel were i^y. xvi. 21.] fiich the peo- rpents ; and , interpreted ross. [John. '« the bread the principle, waetradidon- nnd llie Decii, igofMoab. [2 others. 7. The Temple, where alone these shadowy sac- rifices were to be oftered, because Christ (" the body"> was to be offered there himself. [8j 12, 20.] And lastly, lo omit relations 45.-49. and 1 Cor. xv. IS marked, Rom. v. 12 — end, 2. Noah, who '^ saved by water ; the like fii^ure whereunto, even baptism, doth now save us, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (I Pet. iii. 20, 21.) 3. Melchisedec, king of Salem, Mho was made " like un- to the son of God, a priest continually." (Heb. vii. 3.) 4. Abraham, " the Keir of the world" (Rom. iv. 13.) " in w hom all the nations of the earth are blessed." (Gen. xviii. 18. 5. Isaac, in his birth and mtended sacrifice, "whence [9] also his father received him in a figure" (Heb. xi. 19.) i. e. of the resurrection of Christ. He too was the promised seed [Gen. xxi. 12. and Gal. iii. 16.] '' in whom all the na^tions of the earth were to be blessed." (Gen. xxii. 18.) 6. Jacob, in his vision of the ladder .[Gen. xxviii. 12. and John i. 51.] and his wrestling wih * " ' ' ' '^" ' obtain- the angel whence he, and after him the Church. [8] Hence the sin of the Jf ws (so often mentioned in tlie Old Tes- taniei.t) in that llie high places, wlicre they used to sarnfice iilei;ally, were not taken (nvny. (1 Kings xv. 14. xxii. 43. '2 King* xii. 3. xv. 4, 33. ike.) But they were removed by Hezekiuh (2 Kings xviii. 4.) and tlie people directed to worship and burn incenbe at Jerusalem only. (2 Chron xxxii. 12. Isai. xxxvi. 7.) Hence too by the cxpatr ation of the Jews, and the destruction of »• their tity and sanctuary" (piettirted to take place foon ai'ter the ' death of the Mei 4 I ■■ki s a( . ' C 28 ] cd the name of Israel. (Gen. xxvii. 24. & Matt. xi. 12 The GcntiJc world also, like Jacob (I. e. a suj)i)lante. Gen. xxvii, 36.) gained the blessing and heirship fro their elder brethren the Jews. 7. Moses (Dent, xviii. ] and John i. ^^5.) in redeeming the children of Israel out Kgjpt. 8. Joshua (called also Jesus, Heb, ir. 8.) in i quiring for them the possession of the Holy Land, and Lieutenant to '< the Captain of the hosts of the Lord. [Josh. T. 11.] 9. David (Psal. xvi. 10. and Acts li. 3 — 35.) upon whose throne Christ is said to sit (Isai. ij 7.) and by whose name he is frequently designated. (Hoi iii. 5. &c.) in his {jastoral, regal^ and prophetical capac ty. And, 10. Jonah, in hig dark imprisonment of thre days, applied by Christ to himself. (Matt. xii. 40.) The %r/^M and last Mark is. That the facts of Chris tianify are such, as to make it impossible for eitlur t relators or the hearers to believe them, if false, withoii supposing an universal Deception ef the senses of man Kind. For they were related by the doers, or by eye-witnessr? to those who themsol'ves likewise either were or raif;ht hav- been present (and undoubtedly, knew many th'at wer presoU) at tiieir performance ; to this circumstance, in deed, both Christ and his apostles often appeal. And the were of such a nature, as wholly to exclude e\ery cha of imposition. What juggler could have given sight him, " that was born blind ;" have fed five thous»„u hungry guests'with " five loaves and two fishes ;" or havi raised o^e^ who had been " four days buried," from grave ? When then we add to this, that none of the Jewis! or Roman persecutors of Christianity, to whom its firs teachers frequently referred as witnesses of those facts ever ventured to deny them : that no apostate disciple, un der the fear of punishment or the hope of reward (not evei the artful and accomplished Julian himself), ever pretend ed to detect them : that neither learnino nor ingenuity -' the King lapse of eighteen hundred years, have ^becn a to show their falsehood ; though, for the first three centii ries after their promulgation, the civil j^overnment str.-ng. ly stimulated hostile inquiry ; and that their ori. inal rela. )rs, after li ad death in ine the pos !i)ionstratt( It now re e\r claim i dduce some jw to be tr imilar to tl ame time b( atters of f ut this, th< lone, so m ard to test Let them lomet. (I.) Per an judge 5 (IL) Pu (in.) ii re kept up (IV.) Ir (V.) Re be identica !ontaIning i (VI.) A very p (VII.) . 0th of a ci iest ages ; (vin.) ather the re supposing i Again — J e-witness ced by an e leath in its [as unp( aided by ar me trium mankind : no t( f'*"' hat hi ^ blijt 'l^' sa- ,X3 X'l. iiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii»j|..f^ :.jmm- I Matt. xi. 12 e. a suj)|)Iantei heirship fro Dent, xviii. 1 of Israel out ( )rs, after lives of unintermitted hardship, joyfully incur- ad death in defence of their truth — we can "arcely ima- ine the possibility of a more perfect or more abundant enionstration. ' It now rests with the Deists, if they would vindicate ?'. '7'. .'.-^ '" ,*' seir claim to the self-bestowed title of men of reason, to dduce some matters of fact of former ages, which they al- )w to be true, possessing evidence superior or even ly Land, and i I of the Lord. and Acts Ji. 3 to sit (Isai. ij ihetical cajmci nraent of thrc t. xii. 40.) facts of Chris for either ' false, withoii senses of man ti ' eye-witnesspj e or raif;ht hav any that wer curastance eal. ; eyery chano given sight five thous shes ;" or havi c;d," of the Jewisf whom its firs And the t( te disciple, un , ever pretend. • ingenuity ive been abli st three cent 11 rnment stro r ori C 29 ] imilar to those of Christ. This however, it must at the ame time be observed, would be far from proving the Si. \5 jatters of fact of Christ to be false ; but certainly, with, ut this, they cannot reasonably assert that their own facts lone, so much more unfavorably circumstanced with re- ard to testimony, are true. Let them therefore produce their C«sar, or their Ma- omet. (I.) Performing a fact, of which men's outward senses an judge 5 (II.) Publicly in the presence of witnesses ; (III.) In memory of which public monuments and actions re kept up. (IV.) Instituted and commencmga; the time of the fact: (V.) Recorded likewise in a set of books, addressed to he identical people before whom it was performed, and ontalning their zi;hole code of civil and ecclesiastical law ; (VI.) As the work of one previously announced for ^*'" hat very period by a long train of prophecies. havi (VII.) And still more peculiarly pro-figured by ti/pes, trom fli|,oth of a circumstantial and persoiial nature, from the ea^ . iest ages ; and, lastly, (Vill.) Of such a character, as made it impossible for . atherthe relators or hearers to believe it, if false, without ' !. .^*', ' supposing an universal deception of the senses of mankind : Again — Let them display in its relators, themselves too ^!!1^„ "^itl^i" ^c-witnesses of the fact, the same proofs of veracity evin ced by an equally-patient endurance of certain distress and leath in its support ; and in some doctrine founded upon it [as unpopular in its outset, and in its progress as little aided by arms, or learning, or oratory, or intrigue] the It strong jj^^g triumph over the united prejudices and pas-"" *■ mal rela. „,nu:„H . issions of mankind S i I -i»f«.' v«pi«ias«ii»w-— ;iW V* I* !• 'if :Vi ',W- C 30 J Finally— Lot them exhibit, amongst it believers (unl assed by any supposed professional partiality) the minut ly-inyestigating spirit of a Boyle, the profound unde standing of a Locke, the dispassionate reason of an Adij son, the discriminating judj?ment of a Hale, the subliD intellect of a Milton, and the only-not-divine sagacity of Newton : Or let tiiem submit to the irresistible cehtaini OF THE Christian Religion. believers (unli lity) theminut rofound unde son of an Add lie, the sublic ine sagacity of lBLECEKTAINI