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INFIDEL'S
TEXT-BOOK,
BEING
SUBSTANCE
THE
LECTURES
THIRTEEN
BIBLE.
THE
ROBERT
BY
"The
believe
and
"
OF
AUTHOR
THE
they
were
be
to
taught
^OOPER,
SCRIPTURES
HOLY
Christian
the Word
so
OF
from
world
God,
of
but
hardly give
can
because
their infancy."
FIRST
REPUBLISHED
ANALYZED,"
"
any
they have
Dr.
Isaao
THE
LONDON
At
BY
the
Office
of
J.
Boston
the
1858.
a-
P.
why
always believed
EDITION.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED
reason
Watts.
AMERICAN,
FROM
"c.
MENDUM,
Investigator.
they
it,
21?.
PKEEACE.
The
of
Author
the
has
present publication
long
of
of the
of the best arguments
summary
Infidel world
against the divinityof the Jewish and
a
in heterodox
was
a desideratum
Scriptures,
literature that ought to be supplied as
speedilyas
possible.With the view of promoting so desirable
Lectures are
a
consummation, the following
fully
respectsubmitted
to the consideration of the inquiring
public.
Christian
anxious
was
a
to
full refutation
a
many
furnish
Christian
of the
variety of
subject,he
of
works, one
instances,would
now
be
offered to him.
as
opponent with
has
had
which
expensive as
to
chase
pur-
only,
the
in
duction
pro-
IV
PREFACE.
"Infidel's
The
useful
as
Text-Book,"
it is
pocket companion
its
as
the
to
"
predecessor
hoped,
The
"
will
prove
sceptical community
Holy
Scriptures
Analyzed."
The
is
following
conceived,
are
embrace
the
the
whole
argument
:"
Lectures.
I.
Page.
The
History
of
the
Old
"
The
History
of
the
New
"
The
Character
"
II.
III.
and
IV.
"
V.
VI.
"
"
VIII."
"
X.
"
XI.
"
XII.
Fathers
Apostles.
39
Evidence.
79
of
Genuineness
the
97
Scriptures.
Prophecy.
117
Miracles.
135
The
Consistency
The
Morality
The
Philosophy
of
Influence
Morality
reader
is
order
it
contribute
Christian
21
External
Lecture
the
Testament.
61
"
The
the
Evidence.
"
XIII.
of
Testament.
External
The
"
VII.
IX.
it
will
is
to
of
without
the
each
they
are
will
general
to
177
199
Society.
on
221
Bible.
243
observe,
of
the
be
that
above
stated.
usefulness
1846.
155
Bible.
the
Bible
presumed,
the
of
Bible.
Bible.
the
to
which
the
the
please
devoted
in
of
separate
subjects, in
This
ment,
arrange-
convenience,
of
the
work.
and
THE
TEXT-BOOK.
INFIDEL'S
LECTURE
THE
OF
HISTORY
FIRST.
OLD
TESTAMENT.
Friends"
This
evening
demands
which
purpose
the
unflinching and
enlightenment.
mental
we
existence
most
to
enter
serious
friend
uncompromising
To
of
those
man
who
of
no
every
truth
to
solicitous
are
should
inquiry
an
upon
attention
longer
and
that
be
one
the
of
like
the
one
of
liar
pecu-
interest.
We
live in
when
age
honest
and
an
it has
become
imperative
to
declare,
independent man
fearlessly and unreservedly, the genuine sentiments
of his mind
involves
the
question which
upon
every
and
freedom
Too
progression of humanity.
long have
the
been
held in leading-strings. Too
masses
long
have
It is now
time
think
they thought by proxy.
to
for themselves, examine
for themselves, speak
for
themselves.
While
the playto admire
they continue
things
of their mental
refuse
to
exert
babyhood, and
the energy
and
become
their
independence which
upon
every
HISTORY
maturity, error
and
enslave
brutal
I
am
and
OF
imposture will
continue
to
delude
them.
grasp,
of opinion,that
long
as
"
"
be frustrated.
This
it
is, that,in
all ages,
and
all
countries, but
more
"
"
make
any
allusion
to it.
The
great Phoenician
to
the Jews
as
nation.
The
the
the
rian,
histo-
Christian
Bible, or
celebrated
Wyt-
TESTAMENT.
OLD
THE
reply to Josephus,(Opuscula,
that the Jews
into
vol. 2, p. 416,) shows
only came
the Great,
after the time of Alexander
notice in Greece
and that the historical monuments
preceding that period,
Jewish
make
the slightestmention
not
of any
transaction.
In short,he triumphantly establishes the
importantfact,so anxiously withheld by the Christian
unknown
to the toorld as
priests, that the Jews were
a
nation,until they were
subjectedby the Romans.
Yet are we
leged
to believe that
like the Bible, ala book
to be
divinelyinspired,"and so "essential"
of humanity at large;remained
to the eternal welfare
so
long in utter obscurity!
"
Professor
No
Cooper, of America, observes,
authentic
historian of ancient
times, Josephus excepted,
has
Jews
mentioned
the
ever
an
as
ent
independestine,
nation or state, or as
being in possessionof Palor
part of great Syria, before,or in the
any
time of Alexander.
As a nation,they appear
to have
been
to
entirely unknown
Herodotus, and all other
in his
tembach,
famous
"
"
"
"
Greek
historians.
Xenophon
only 150
He
wrote
What
had
become
of the Eastern
of them
Nations?
which
from
years after their allegedreturn
mentions
the Syrians of Palestine
as
the Persian
government,
Herodotus
mentions
but not
the
word
when
about
was
lon.
Babyunder
the Jews.
of the
invasions
Scythians,
of Egypt ; but acto the borders
through Syria,even
knowledges
Jews
Israelites.
In the fragments
no
or
which
remain
of Sanchoniatho,Ctesias,Borosus, and
ject
Manetho, they are not noticed,even as a petty or substate ; so that
the fullest negative evihave
dence,
we
that in the times of these historians,
no
part of
Syria was
a Jewish
Diodorus, in detailing
country.
the events
in that country, the Siege of Tyre, "c,
during Alexander's conquests, says not a word of the
Jews
forming a state or colony, or of their boasted
city of Jerusalem ; and he is equally silent as to their
existence as a nation, during the time of Alexander's
immediate
successors;
nor
have
we
any
account
of
'k
HISTORY
OF
ivhy
Macedonian
the
did not
he and
conqueror
historians
his
went
to
find them
the
east,
there ?
"
The
formed
plain and simple truth is,the Jews never
an
independent state ; and that part of Syria called
Palestine,was; in all known
ages, subjecteither to the
Egyptians, Assyrians,Babylonians, Persians,Greeks,
or
Romans, (accordingto the tide of conquest) as it
is
now
But
to
the
who.
Turks.'*
these
were
Jews
alone
wno
the
enjoyea
A great
Holy Word ? "
noble
people? No ; but on the
in sovereign contempt
held
by
nation
who
became
acquainted with them.
every
rian
Apollonius, as quoted by Josephus himself,the histoof the Jews, in his work
againstApion, said of
of all
the most
trifling
them, "they (theJews) were
the only people
the
barbarians, and that they were
who had never
found out anything usefulfor life"
admits
Dr.
Burnet, in his ArchcelogiosPhilosophic?.,
of a
of a gross and sluggishnature
that "they were
dull and
a
heavy disposition bereft of humanity
of men
vile company
an
assembly of slaves, brought
who
but
understood
art
no
out of Egyptian prisons,
"
bricks !
that of making
Josephus himself, even
preciousprivilegeof
a
philanthropic a
contrary, they were
the
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
so
have
illiterate as
held
never
intercouse
Indeed, no people of
ignorant,credulous, intolerant,
more
antiquity were
ancient
the
While
and
wretched, than the Jews.
mans,
Chaldeans, Arabians, Egyptians. Grecians, and Roof science and
erudition,
produced their men
added
Jews
the
nothing to the gloriouspyramid of
to believe, even
And
are
human
knowledge.
yet we
"
allin the nineteenth
century, that a being said to be
wise," and " all-good, selected such a race as his
"
TESTAMENT.
OLD
THE
were
solelyand
people/* the people who
What
divine word.;;
with
his
entrusted
a
specially
mockery !
"I hasten, however,
that the Jews themselves,
to show
their own
even
ignorant of the "divine
priests,were
centuries
law/' for many
subsequent to the time when
The
written.
it is supposed to have been
first time
is made
work
reference
to
answering the
any
any
in the year 628, B. C, when
Jewish
Text-book, was
"
a
a
Hilkiah, is stated to have found
priestnamed
"
chosen
"
"
the
2nd
book
The
of the law.7*
book
of
and
Chronicles, vs.
of
c.
that
they brought out the money
was
brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah,the
of the law of the Lord, given by
found
a book
priest,
30.
"And
"
Moses.
when
said
Sha-
unto
the
phan,
and
answered
Hilkiah
And
of the Lord.
the house
And
delivered
Hilkiah
the book
Then
Shaphan, the Scribe, told the
Shaphan.
King, saying, Hilkiah, the priest,hath given me a
And
book
it
; and Shaphan read it before the King.
the words
the King had heard
of
to pass when
came
the King went
And
the law, that he rent his clothes.
of Juup into the house of the Lord, and all the men
dah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,and the priests,
and the Levites,and all the people, great and
small.
to
And
he read
of the
"
King, the
priests,should
before
were
being
such
of the
house
in the
circumstances
connected
I feel it necessary
as
to
read
express
to
acquainted with
Hilkiah
manifested
found
book
to
with
remark.
"
exceedinglystrange if the
existed priorto that date (628),
scribes,the people,and, above all,
have
displayed such gross ignorance
of its contents,
Jews
was
of the
words
it appears
the
its
all the
which
of the law
upon
ears
two
are
first is,that
"book
the
There
story upon
The
that
that
covenant
Lord.,;
this
in their
read
it to
the
utmost
And
ment
astonish-
It is evident
"law
of the
surprise.
1*
them.
the
if
this
was
if the
Lord"
not
the
have
first
OF
HISTORY
Jewish
the
"
"
offered
his
word
own
its
being
lost
been
of his statement,
but
ites
however, that the Israel-
truth
Presuming,
with
found
at
the
"
book
the
by
of amazement
matter
have
familiar
were
to
of the
evidence
no
such
all,much
of the Lord"
priest Hilkiah,
a
rior
ante-
is it
preciousbook
less for
so
many
not
should
tions
genera-
There
lead
are
the
circumstances,
to
us
some
the
however,
of Hilkiah
the
which
ing
find-
people, is
mere
fiction.
I will
TESTAMENT.
OLD
THE
not
authority,would
world
the learned
require a full and particularaccount
undeniable
of the book, and the discoveryof it,and
believe
of its authenticity
before they would
evidence
Here
it ?
is a book
claiming to be the autograph of
the
the
only
lawgiver of the Jews
great national
and civil, the only authority
code of laws, religious
that ought to
of the priests a book
for the claims
been
h'ave
periodicallyread to the people, by the
been
that ought to have
clergy appointed so to do
of learning and rank
familiar to their men
produced
for the firsttime, after an
interval of 800 years, by a
I found
of it than
who
man
gives no other account
could be allegedin
it!
reason
Why, just the same
Book
the
of Joe Smith's
Bible
favor of the divinity
of the Mormons.
He pretendsto have fowid it.
and
land,
his
promulgated by
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Professor
Pentateuch,
to
the
of this
of
book,
Hilkiah
where
it
has
found
was
hidden
and
was
written,
kind
of
what
its
we
contents
were,
furnished
are
with
is any
reads
it off
Shaphan
All this is
of the
oning
but
the
Chron.
any
made
what
no
it
time
Now,
this
but
"
informed
was
graph
auto-
an
recent
copjr,
to read
it took
information
inquiry
ticate
authen-
to
made
xxxiv.
delivered
was
v.
17
"
questions asked.
to
without
observance
account, Hilkiah
of it.
had
"
them
in
check
or
It appears,
u
"
concerning it.
if it were
written
as
recently.
done under the very suspicious circumstances
workmen
being bribed by having no reckwith
them
to what
as
they had earned,
money
c.
referring
not
are
the
on
materials
it
found, on what
or
character, in what
dialect^
and
it,nor
We
book.
given
whether
preservationit was.
of the Jewish
lawgiver,or some
what
it ;
in
is
whatever
account
no
Letter
judiciouslyobserves,when
Hilkiah
findingthis book
very
account
his admirable
in
Cooper,
It appears,
enlisted
his
lump,
inquiry,
also,from
that
the
day,
2
or
Josiah/s
nor
law,
from
"
or
their
used
the
whole
pupil, the
young
HISTORY
OF
before
the
Christian
book
this invaluable
then
read for
short
time, and
to be recovered.
How
their
Godly
Text-book,
treasure
the
onerous
is detailed
that
we
believe
must
was
never
performed
So
era.
the
The
task
hi 4th
eight centuries,
subsequentlylost again,
chosen
people prized
?7
"
manner
of
in which
re-writingthe
book
of Esdras
"
Ezra
Jewish
a
book
He
dictated
by the Creek church.
the
days and
during forty successive
Holy books
were
continuallywriting.
nights,to five scribes,who
Thus, then, do the authenticityand genuineness of
the authorityof that one
the Old Testament, rest upon
priest,who might dictate to the scribes what he pleased
omit or
add^ or alter jiistlohat he felt disposed.
deemed
"
authentic
"
would
TESTAMENT.
OLD
THE
opportunityof indulging
is proved by the fact, as stated
in these liberties,
by
Brown, in his Dictionary of the Bible, Bishop Marsh
in his
Lectures," and in the 8th c. of JNehemiah,
lost their own
bylonish
that the Jews
language during the Baand
captivity,
spoke the Ohaldaic
tongue, the
priestsbeing obligedto expound the Holy books to the
people in that language, thereby affordingthem every
what
to introduce
matter
facility
they thought fit,the
polation,
multitude
being quiteincompetent to detect any interadmitted
omission.
It is now
or
alteration,
pilation
by most Christian writers of eminence, that the commade
which
by Ezra, is the authorityupon
have
to
Ave
depend for our translations.
Nay, the
father Ireneus,distinctly
declared
that the
Christian
in existence
of the Old
books
not
Testament, were
until
they were
fabricated seventy years after the
Babylonish captivity,by Esclras,"(or Ezra.)
he
That
have
every
"
"
This
is
fact of
and
moment,
some
one
which
with
"
There
written.
before
Ezra
He
lived
not
remark
flourished
who
composers
the real author
of the Old Testament.
were
many
"
"
ished
Orpheus flour900 B. 0.
and
Hesiod
Homer, 800, Zoroaster
and
Belus, 700, Lycurgus, Numa, Thales, Pittacus,
and
Bias, 600, Pythagoras, JEsop, Solon, and many
of the earlier Grecian
I shall
500
B. C.
philosophers,
only
400
the
upon
Arabians, Hindoos,
to
could
be
of
than
you,
our
refer
to
B.
years
ancient
and
them
that there
the
writingsof
the
synagogue
no
the
Old
under
of the
books
the
of
It is necessary
was
while
Chaldeans,
that
easilyshown
these
nations, are
own.
C,
the
proper
casion
oc-
it
ings
pretended sacred writmuch
greater antiquity
I
should
canon
Testament,
or
collection
until
Maccabees,
inform
here
which
the
time
was
of
of
only
10
HISTORY
about
to
200
this
liable
beforethe
period,the " Holy
years
altered
be
OF
of
appeai^ance
books"
were
Christ
scattered
Up
and
amended
just as priestsmight
! It is generallysupposed by the
determine
vulgar"
that the Bible always retained
its present form, but
such
idea is manifestlyerroneous.
an
It is a matter
of considerable
importance, at this
stage of our inquiry,to ascertain the character of the
to
or
"
'
of
drew
who
men
the
this
up
Jewish
canon
writings.
or
We
authorized
collection
know
must
whether
If they were
destitute of
they were
inspiredor not.
the
Holy Spirit it is possible,
according to the logic
oi the pious,they may
made
have
mistakes, and very
serious
the Jewish
and
ones, too, and thereby mislead
world.'
this viWhat
Christian
tal
says Le Clerc,upon
In his Diswriter.
quisition
point1 a first-rate Christian
"
be
It may
Inspiration,he remarks:
upon
said that the books in the Jewish
ought to be
canon,
acknowledged as divinelyinspired,rather than the
in it. I answer
that
were
first,
Apocrypha that never
that
clear reason
those
is brought to convince
no
us
the canon
made
who
or
catalogueof their books, were
had
guish
or
infallible,
whereby to distinany. inspiration
spired."
innot
were
inspired books from those which
the opinions of a writer
Such
much
are
admired
by Christians "opinions which go to prove
have
that we
only the tcstimon)^of falliblehuman
the most fallible
class
beings, and those of the worst
in favor of the genuignorant and cunning priests,
ineness
"
"
"
"
"
of
present
our
of the Old
canon
Testament.
were
Presuming, however, that these men
inspired,
I find,in reference to the same
Synagogue, several
which
tend, in no
extraordinary circumstances
very
slightdegree,to invalidate the authenticityand genuineness
of the
Old
Testament.
that
this
memorable
Talmud,
were
very
about
few
to
rejectthe
decent
books
are
the propheciesof
Testament,)
are
assembly
of
book
that
We
told in the
of
priests
Proverbs, (one of
to
be found
Ezekiel
and
the
in the Old
Ecclesias-
OLD
THE
11
TESTAMENT.
contradictoryto the
writings were
certain
law
of God, but
a
Rabbi, having undertaken
cal."
reconcile them, they were
to
preservedas "canoniHere, the three books, Proverbs, Ezekiel, and
altered
to us as
Ecclesiastes,are confessedly-presented
Rabbi
!
Notwithstanding,
by an impudent Jewish
craft,
writings thus mutilated,to suit the purposes of priestOh i
declared
be
the wo?'d of God !
to
are
thou
and
wilt
blush for thy blind
orthodoxy, when
shameless
credulity?
But this is not all
Samaritan
The
Jews, and the
ancient
Sadducees, rejectedall but the Pentateuch.
this period,a prodigious numThere
also about
ber
was
of Esdras, Daniel, and
other
of forged books
And
what
prophets in circulation.
authority have
the
that our
taken
from
not
we
present copies are
these
facts,it is obvious, the Jews
spurious? Prom
tcs, because
those
"
tliemselves
were
differed
genuine, and
of
amongst
opinion
the
most
as
to
which
has
which
learned
down
Jews
and
present
And
not.
were
existed
of the
to
our
canon
ence
this differ-
time,
Christians.
both
The
12
OF
HISTORY
fessor.
of
books
hold
of the
of the
"
real
sacred
Word
of
books
have
"
"
opinion
so
of the canon,
and
Testaments."
New
26,
page
in
inasmuch
sion
possesas
many
lost,and
absolutely
been
of that
passage:
have
He
author
of
Professor
was
"a
complete
of the
of the books
writers
From
vol.
memorable
"St.
"
Pin.
Du
Philosophy, at Paris,and
and
God/7
not
to
and
are
present
I less
neverthe-
of an
posterity. In confirmation
bold, and, apparently, unwarrantable, I
transmitted
never
genuine,
world
the Christian
that
work,
of
tory
his-
Old
1, c. 1, sect.
I take
the
8,
lowing
fol-
Eucharius
says, it is evident
which
the
the books
remaining
Holy Scriptures approve of, because
Judea, having
been ravaged by the Chaldeans, and the ancient
bibliotheque being burnt, there remaining only a small
why
we
not
of the books
number
which
Holy Scriptures,and
by the care
informed
that
and
burning
"
the
of
Word
books,
them
are
but
were
but
"Holy
But
before
"
God
in
of
present make
at
which
collected
were
of Ezra.;;
ravages
the
ancient
consequence
destroyed, and
snicdl portion of
and
of
of the
the
tablished
re-es-
Here, then, we
the
consisted
up
are
Chaldeans,
bibliotheque,the
of
great number
of that
event, many
those
have
we
what
once
of
remaining,
constituted
the
Book!"
I find that
the Jews
themselves
actually burnt
others.
Simon,
in
holy books, and lost
of the New
Critical History of the Version
his
tament,7'
TesThe
quotes St. Chrysostom as follows :
Jews
careless,and at others
having been at sometimes
of the sacred books
to be
profane,they suffered some
burnt
and
lost through their carelessness,and have
here
We
are
deliberately
told,by
destroyedothers."
several
of the
"
"
"
Christian
writers
of great
repute, that
the
Jews
were
"
of God
Word
that
grossly negligentabout the
of it is completely lost,and other portions they
much
actuallyburnt and destroyed! ! Burnt the Bible ! ! !
u
so
14'
HISTORY
gint,from
the
which, principally,,
have
of great
been
genuine, (but
was
case)
cannot
we
be
certain
modern
copies,the true
affirm,and upon
Septuagint is not a
the
Before
1 have
Will
this
the
we
text
the
not
was
possess,
of God."
Christian
version
Hebrew
shown
that
therefore,
matter,
presuming
which
tions
transla-
our
whether
ascertain
to
moment,
of
rest
It becomes
taken.
was
OF
in
our
I distinctly
Now,
authoritytoo,
that
translation.
correct
this
"
"
"
One
no
two
from
of the
translators
the
every
learned
would
Hebrew.
quite certain
that
most
Hebraists
agree
rendering
Godfrey Higgins
that I shall be
letter of
in
the
able
Hebrew
to
declared
has
show
verb
any
"
says
"
"
to
language
that
I
am
prove
has four,
"
and
ing
accommodatan
probablyJivemeanings." What
language for the priests,
truly!
Le Clerc
affirms,in his
Sentim," p. 156, that
"
of the Old
learned
The
at the
sense
merely guess
of places,which
in an infinity
Testament
produces a
of discordant
interpretations."
prodigious number
mentary
The
Christian
Father, St. Jerome, too, in his Comthe
40th
on
chap, of Ezekiel, states, that
into
When
the Hebrew
translate
we
Latin, we
As an instance
sometimes
are
guided by conjecture!
learned
of the guessing abilities of our
interpreters,
refer you to that chapter in. Genesis
I may
giving an
"
"
"
"
"
"
of Noah's
account
modern
version
kilhos
translates
of
The
Arabic
the
declares
materials
composed,
our
it
daubed
with
declare
commentators
ebony ;
was
; while
and
the
Dr.
brated
cele-
Geddes
distinguished
that it
Such
slime
The
wood.
stoutlycontends
Christian,Dawson,
of bid/rushes
been
Persian,pine
it to be tvicker work
affirms
to the
it to be gopher wood.
Oninterprets
of cedar ; Castellus,
it as being made
wood
Bochart
respect
is said to have
Juniper wood.
it to be box
With
ark.
the ark
of which
15
TESTAMENT.
OLD
THE
made
was
the
are
gular
sin-
brew
attendingthe translation of the Heand the contradictory
interpretations
given
words
by diiferent writers. It is obvious,
be placed in
can
facts,that no confidence
difficulties
text,
to
the
from
same
these
tongue.
any translation from the Hebrew
I should
While
this subjectit is necessary
mind
reupon
that,up to the 5th Century, the Hebrew
you
language
well
as
mass
of words
the true
Pin
utterlydestitute
was
order
without
was
signification
observes
"
of twenty-two
method
as
"
of any
The
next
well
was
To
system.
or
mere
ascertain
impossible. Dr. Du
alphabet is composed
to
Hebrew
letters, as
It
of punctuation,
of the Samaritans,
those
as
they cannot
determine
the
pronunciation,
invented
have
points,which, being
These
instead of voivels.
serve
put under the letters,
not
vowel-pointsserve
only to fix pronunciation,but
also the signification
the word
of a word, because
being differently
pointed,signifythings wholly different.
consequence,
the
Hebrews
"
This
is the
circumstance
which
has
made
the
of consequence,
antiquityof the pointsseem
and
hath, therefore,been treated of very
prolixly. Some have pretended that these points are
the Hebrew
ancient
as
as
language, and that Abram
questionas
made
use
of them.
to
the
of them.
But
Jews, is,that
the
Moses
Others
most
common
having
Moses
make
author
the
opinion among
learned
of God
the
the
true
16
HISTORY
OF
of Hebrew
pronunciation
this it appears
that
it
not
was
until the
11th
"
"
"
Greek
hath
version
been
have
and
observes
authors
"
we
revised
taken
correct
to
"It
divers
the
is
do, that
mere
It is certain
have.
now
times, and
that
that
several
it
thors
au-
trench,
libertyto add thereunto, to re"
further
He
divers
things!
superstitionto assert, as some
the Hebrew
text
which
we
have
at
17
TESTAMENT.
OLD
THE
present,is
not
"
the Bible.
In the
introduction
to
that
able and
orate
elab-
"
"
"
we
of
are
trained
Jeremiah,
hast
deceived
been
rendered
to
believe.
in the 20
c.
and
me,
"
O
The
of his
was
Lord, thou
"
exclamation
notorious
book,
deceived"
hast
"
Lord, thou
should
persuaded me,
have
thus
These
other
and many
Holy
persuaded! !
blunders,the learned Bellamy exposes, and concludes
by declaring that the authors of the Septuagint did
the Hebreio language. And
understand
not critically
of these pious blunit is the comoosition
yet, forsooth,
was
2*
18
HISTORY
OF
"
called upon
vine,"
Dito esteem
are
as
derers,which we
the infallible
truth and salvation ! "
guide to
What
!
What
a mockery !
a delusion
of vast
biblical acquirements,
Bishop Usher, a man
He
either Du
Pin, or Bellamy.
goes further than
maintains, as quoted by Bellamy in his Introduction
New
to the
as
Translation,that the version known
the Septuagint,is not only repletewith
the most
ous
seri! !
copy
errors, but that it is only a SPURIOUS
The
real Septuagint was
never
circulated,being lost
the destruction
of the Alexandrian
at
Library, in
which
it was
then deposited.The
Bishop says, "The
Septuaginttranslation continuallyadds to, takes from,
that
and changes the Hebrew
text
at pleasure" and
"the
lost long ago, and
originaltranslation of it was
what
since gone by that name,
has ever
is a spurious
tions
abounding in omissions, additions,and alteracopy,
of the Hebrew
If the opinion of the
text."
"
"
learned
world
of
"
Prelate
have
we
one
consider
may
of damjtation
that the
genuine word
forgery a pious fraud
"
than
circumstances,
these
at
Christian
rather
nearer
Infidel
the
who
truth
Bible
the Christian
who
been
How
salvation.
repudiates the
than
has
scheme
Infidel may
pitythe fate of the humble
After all,it is not quitethe "safest
The
the Christian
the
Bible-monger
believe."
to
"
altogether,is
disseminates
forgery a lie.
In concluding this discourse,
that
I purpose
to show
Greek
this famous
version,the Septuagint,has itself
suffered the most
villanous mutilations,
lated
on
being transChristian
into Latin, and other languages. The
Father, St. Jerome, alludingto the Latin version of
the Old Testament, taken
from
the Septuagint, asks,
"If they say the Latin copiesare to be credited,let
"
"
them
tell
me
which
differentcopies as
truth
be
searched
; for
there
for
there
are
among
are
almost
manuscripts,
so
many,
as
and
why
many
if the
should
THE
have
19
TESTAMENT.
OLD
Greek
in order
original,
the faults that have
to correct
proceeded either from
from unreaof the interpreters,
the bad translations
or
sonable
been
corrections
made
that have
by unskilful
critics,and alterations that have happened through
of the copiers." We
told by St.
the carelessness
are
Christian
Father,
Jerome, that Origen, the famous
Infidel Celsus, wrote
and
a
opponent of the ancient
from
Old
which
of
version of Ihe
Testament,
many
modern
clared
more
our
copieshave been taken. Jerome dethat in this translation,
Origen altered the Greek
text
most
abominably. The following are the words
"
makes
of Du
Pin on this point :
St. Jerome
frequent
of the additions,corrections,
and subtractions
mention
made
in the version of the Septuagint by Origen, and
not
we
to
recourse
the
"
of the
bars
and
astericks
he
made
use
of for that
'
When
pose.
pur-
was
Origen,'says Jerome, saw
the Hebrew, he did supply it
less in the Greek
than
from
the version of Theodotion, and
asterisk
put an
to it,to signifythat this was
star
to illustrate what
or
'
obscure
was
This
there
'"
informed
rome,
are
Theodotion, we
by St. Jewas
an
founded
conInfidel,and that his version was
with the Septuagint. The
French
Professor
"
of the transcribers,and
By the carelessness
says,
of those who
sometimes
set them
isks
asterto work, the
of Origen, being misunderstood, or entirelyleft
were
places,the additions of Theodotion
out, m some
the
with
version
confounded
of the Septuagint, which,
Jerome
to say, that
rupted
perhaps, moved
Origen had corand confounded
the version
of the Septuagint."
gen,
Thus, then, does it appear, that in the version of Orifrom which
of our present copiesare taken,
many
the
same
of Theodotion
words
with
God's
how
but
me
you
advise
again
words
do
are
you
! !
the
What
know
reading the
you,
for your
when
words
own
confounded
Infidel, were
medley
you
of
read
an
! Christians,
Oh
your
Bibles,
Infidel ?
sakes,never
to
Let
read
it
20
HISTORY
in
Curwen,
records
He
retire.
first
the
91st
the
shalt
of
Father
I
fear
have
unreasonable
now,
would
the
the
hands
Address,
the
Testament,
New
shall
those
which
moden
"
night.'"
by
is
version,
of
spoken
by
equally
the
meet
into
the
hasten
the
which
has,
with
testimony
subject,
of
downfall
hitherto,
error,
as
that
strewn
could
cant,
and
delusion
man
any
only
mental
you,
peachable.
unim-
ry
inqui-
court
of
scheme
the
to
and
it
ply
sup-
important,
challenge
adduced.
vast
with
read
respectable
believe
ignorance,
and
its
next
and
been
distinctly
have
of
connection
curious
as
Old
my
century,
evening
equally
I
present
as
this
retiring,
in
history,
the
In
Christians.
my
the
time
the
to
as
of
History
period
the
its
to
authority
upon
of
far
as
you
the
earliest
have
In
man
vermin
given
admit,
trace
facts
with
you
friends,
my
from
into
coming
to
afraid
following,
the
our
the
to
be
not
corrections,"
possibly
Testament,
and
in
given
as
Museum,
shalt
and
hugs
ere
turning
saw
late,
you
British
Thou
I
of
to
and
sa
Jerome.
time
as
'
"fcc,?
the
words
"
the
of
night,
not
the
suppose
one
by
the
in
which
press
submit
Vellum,
in
the
by
but
saw
"
instead
5,
v.
made
"
from
Journal,
cannot
printed
terror
Thou
writes
Bible
TESTAMENT.
OLD
been
which
Psalm,
for
have
fact
THE
published
his
extracts
many
OF
tend
to
imposture
pathway
!
of
22
HISTORY
OF
old
an
priestnamed
Hilkiah,in one of the houses of
Lord, and further,that in the interval between
translated
period and the year 287, when it was
had been lost
stroyed
Greek, the " book
absolutelydeduring the Babylonish captivity. In fact,the
the
this
"
into
"
Old
Testament
it is
as
cunning priestnamed
before
the
Bible
is not
"
the
We
"
by
an
years
that the
stated
portion of
small
paratively
com-
400
some
next
word
transmitted
Ezra, only
of Christ.
time
to
us, was
production, being written
modern
old
offered
now
books
were
never
of the ravages
and
profanity
posterityin consequence
of the Chaldeans, and the carelessness
of the Jews
themselves, who not only lost whole books
"
of the
We
Bible," but positivelyburnt others.
authorized
lection
color
no
proved there was
proper canon
of the Old
Testament, until the Maccabees,
which
was
only 200 years beforethe Christian epoch.
to
tament
Testhe translation of the Old
upon
into Greek
by order of Ptolemy Philadelphia,
We
commented
We
tion
proved that this translayear 287, B. C.
the most
could not be depended upon,
villanous
Text
mutilations
having been made in the Hebrew
in the
of " alterations,
additions,and
way
and that similar liberties had been taken
omissions,"
by
"
in translations
We
have
thus
Scripturesto
a
brought
the
historical
our
Christian
this
We
in connection
the New
"
"
word
with
the
old, a
of God"
have
is esteemed
introduces
us
to
sider,
con-
now
recent
more
This
Testament.
of the
review
This
era.
field of discussion.
new
of the
from
subsequently made
thers
Fa-
version.
famous
to
"
the
by
modern
the
by
duction
pro-
portion
Christians
important so much
so,
the
New
the Old Testament
that were
false,
perfectly
remains
Testament
absolutelytrue.
they conceive
Many Christians are disposedto admit, that just and
as
eminently
valuable
and
"
"
reasonable
and
doubts
may
be entertained
genuineness of
many
of the
books
of
ticity
authen-
the
Old
THE
but
Testament,
evidence
the
23
TESTAMENT.
NEW
of the
favor
in
New
To this opinion,however,
irrefragable.
I deny that the testimony
I mast
decidedly demur.
is unquestionable. I
Testament
in favor of the New
it is at all superiorto the
question indeed whether
they
is
affirm
In
Old.
advantage,
for the
of the
written
by
is said
to
Holy Word"
man
immediately connected
the
; but
Christ
never
wrote
the
he
Old
advantage
received
order
the
New
of the
his
any
book,
nor,
else
one
Testament,
Koran.
New
of the
the hero
"
line of that
ever
nor
important portionof
most
Mahomet
has
the
that
vision
di-
been
have
"
Moses
Pin, did
Testament
some
with
it
"
Testament,
according to
Du
it. Neither
to write
however,
declares
have
the
that he
Bible
worthless
character.
My friends,it
portionof the New
life of
Christ.
is admitted
on
Testament
The
very
was
all hands
that
no
written
as
earliest,
during the
stated by the
Christians
Lardner
maintains
againstheresies,in
1,) could
that
which
the
five
of
books
this reference
is
Ireneus
made, (vol.
this date.
published
Tillemont
and
Christian
Massuett,two great French
writers,think the more
tion
probable date of this publicaof
of the time
the latter end
was
192, about
Elutherus.
edition of Dr. Lardner's
(See the London
works, in 12 vols.,1788, vol. 2, 154 to 159.)
Had
these books
been
in existence
prior to this
3, c.
not
be
earlier
than
24
HISTORY
OF
tioned
period,it is exceedinglystrange they are not menof
fathers
the Apostolic
lived vat,
who
by any
or
immediately subsequent to, the time of Christ,nor
by the earlier Christian fathers,who flourished at the
of
close
and
first,
the
of
commencement
the
second
century.
"
"
"
"
"
"
year A.
The
D.
173.
learned
"
Dodwell,
in
We
at
have
Dissertation
his
upon
this
day certain
ecclesiastical writers of the times, as
authentic
Romanus, Barnabas, Hermas, Ignatius,and
Ireneus, says,
who
named
and
them,
But
Testament.
single
nor
named.
of
the
will
not
in
or
passage,
same
Hermas
you
of
mention
any
is any
of the
one
New
find
New
the
have
one
ment,
Testa-
Evangelists
"
is the
carp,
Poly1
the
order
ens
Clem-
wherein
in
wrote
most
firstwho
mentions
the
let
suppose
in
the throne
us
Charles
case.
1628
"
1846, for
that
now,
like
Ireneus
should
man
endowed
with
some
the
200
the
1st succeeded
years
Suppose
despicablepriest
firsttime, a
say
that
miraculous
certain
powers,
to
ago.
accounts
who
of
lived
in
miracles
worked
there,
1628, and who
Mark
Randall,
Bay,
were
published by Matthew
Luke
Faust, and John Johnstone, {persons net heard
by any other writer of the
of before,or mentioned
that happened under
time,) of something miraculous
London
in
Charles
the
1st.
What
credit
ought
to
be
given or
ascribed
such
to
25
TESTAMENT.
NEW
THE
narration
Yet
on
such
kind
of
!
founded
Christianity
whose
this Ireneus,upon
But pray who
ity
veracwas
Christian Father,"
much
so
depends? Why, a
of the most
and
one
ignorant and credulous,of that
cunning, and I will add, dishonest class
superstitious,
evidence,
is
"
of
men.
I shall have
occasion
"Infidels"
such
reason
we
are
farrago.
and
Be
it
to
so.
common
sense
because
Better
we
be
enables
the
him
cannot
believe
Infidel whose
to
repudiate
26
such
At
the
the
to
blind
and
"
OF
HISTORY
time
introduced
Ireneus
world,
it is notorious
accredit
were
gospels
Did
of
alone
the
Ireneus
with
Be
subject?
the
it may,
determined
that
Ireneus
such
contrary, he
was
Whitby
says, in
narrations."
of Ireneus
his
as
upon
show
as
except by
one
"
the
4th
it
vol., page
of
the
down
adopted
as
tradition,true
certain
or
some
nearly
of
the
to
no
on
from
one
that
at
to
and
which
century
were
had
before,and
set
followed
Thus
writer
to
became
purpose."
any
time
the
or
fathers
ancient
fused,
con-
certain
times,
own
the
vague,
gospels,there
of
their
false,passed
late to examine
said
so
eldest of the
The
Reports
another, without
four
to
when
time
or
their accounts
I have
the
published,are
discordant, that they lead
written
solid determination.
collected
from
quote
Introduction
the
antiquity, concerning
gospelswere
and
of
260,
will
"
accounts
writers
decided, I
was
Scriptures,second
"The
difficultyattending this
the
unsatisfactory
very
great
inquiry, and
our
in which
manner
these
four
these
perspicacity.And
the
On
?
a man
Confessedly not.
and
weak
credulous, and, as Dr.
the habit of writing fables and
ing
lyIt is evident,therefore,the authority
much
this vital point is just worth
as
you
portionof
them
what
logic.
To
the
teem
es-
spurious?
enlighten him
such
an
tant
impor-
faces"
four
high
rest
was
too
and
other
By
that
determine
genuine,
were
"cherubims
the
upon
did
then,
gospels
many
held in
were
gospels" in circulation,which
by the majority of the early Christians.
means,
it.
four
these
there
credulity
first mentioned
Ireneus
many
others
existed, we
were
are
considered
in circulation,
told, for
genuine
NEW
THE
27
TESTAMENT.
by
the
"
"
false and
which
true
are
these
books
you
have
said
Those
who
lived
at
the
have
appeared, or those
who
flourished centuries
subsequently? Undoubtedly
the former.
in this
Viewing the subject,therefore,
have
that
to believe
just reason
point of view, we
those rejectedgospels are
more
likelyto be true (if
And. oh. Christversion.
ians!
any are so) than our modern
if such
be the fact,in what
a
quandary are
What
a serious
rests
you placed?
upon
responsibility
You
shoulders?
have
your
pious
rejectedthe true
gospels,and allowed them to fall into utter oblivion
time
while
spurious
have
!!!
you
and
it you
afso
meet
are
to
sanctioned
How
many
millions
these means,
believe in these
by
with
mistaken,and
of
that
which
is false and
of credulous
perdition?
yourselves,you
the
fate !
unenviable
same
! What
unfortunate men
a
deluded
es
wretch-
Christians,
"
may
Miserable
motley
believers
semblage
as-
iii the
28
OP
HISTORY
gospel,will
wrong
behold
What
the honest
his arrival
on
the torrid
at
will
splendidrun of business
enjoy! What a monopoly of
No
"bad
times
"
"
"
of trade
lack
no
"
despised Infidel
regionsof eternity!
his Satanic
Majesty
departed spirits !
but
with
The
him.
Infidel may
he is snugly reposing
rest
assured,when
in his infernal domicil,that he will not quitebe "lone
in his
To
idle
to
glory."
convince
you
surmise, or
the
not
am
celebrated
some
indulgingin
banter, I
uncourteous
writingsof
that I
will
mere
refer
Christians.
you
This,
all my
"sins," for if you can
expunge
Christian
priestin favor of any proposition,
received
with
it will be
acclamation, while,
opine,will
only cite some
the
were
esteemed
statements
same
to
Infidel,'7
they
come
from
one
would
who
is
instantlybe reprobated
as
"blasphemies." I have affirmed,then, that
of these
held
in high
rejectedgospels were
many
to the
not
consideration,
only before,but subsequent,
learned
sanction of our
Nay, many
present canon.
had
of recent
have
in
times
men
strong predilections
favor of many
of these discarded
books, considering
version.
canonized
them
as
genuine as any of our
Dr. Whiston, in
Listen to the opinionsof the learned
his
Exact
Time," page 28. He has declared that
less than twenty-seven of these books
are
no
genuine.
"be
weak
to
Can
so
as
imagine
any one," says he,
were
Mark, and Luke, and James, and Jude, who
of them
than
more
none
companions of the Apostles,
sacred and unerring guides,while Barnabas,
to be our
Thaddeus, Clement, Timothy, Hcrmas, Ignatius,and
P lycarp,who
were
equally companions of the same
The
Rev.
Apostles, to be of no authorityat all?
of Religious Enquiry,"
Rationale
J. Martineau, in his
the gospels
could recover
observes, "If we
of the Hebrews, and
that of the Egyptians, it would
should not form
be difficult to give a reason
Avhy they
actually
a part of the New
Testament; and an epistle
exists,by Clement, the fellow-laborer of Paul, which
an
"
"
"
"
"
"
30
OF
HISTORY
would
canon
have
been
like
forgotten,
of
many
the
books.
ra?^-rejected
Is it not, my
friends,very
extraordinary that a
book
like the New
Testament, claiming to be of
"divine"
scurity,
so
long in oborigin,should have remained
from
and
eternal oblivion
last only saved
at
through the presumption of a cunning and despotic
and
be genuine
to
by the
finallydetermined
priest,
dicta of a council
of priests,equally deceitful,
mere
himself?
and arbitraryas
This
simple fact is alone
sufficient to convince
that
every unprejudiced mind
the Bible has no more
to do with
Deity than Gulliver's
Travels
An
Tom
or
important question
canon
God
Thumb.
the
of Laodicea
New
here
decide
Testament
that
is the
present
our
of
word
true
Did
from
they receive a special message
heaven
the subject
?
No, indeed,but this vital
upon
decided
decided
matter
was
as
solelyby vote
your
Town
Council
decide
a
might
policeforce,or
upon
of Commons
the House
tariff. It might have
a
upon
happened the majority had voted against our present
"
authorised
version, and
And
books.
we
esteem
now
denounced,
the
"
in
favor
what
then
Word
of God"
of
some
Why,
would
of the
that
jected
re-
which
have
been
repudiatedcopies,"as mere
fables and lying narrations,"and we
should noiv
have
been promulgating as the
that which
Holy Word"
then declared
to be false and
was
spurious. William
Quaker, in arguing that the
Penn, the celebrated
Bible cannot
be the rule of faith and
practice,
says
if they are well assured
I demand
of our
adversaries
as
the
were
"
"
"
clared
collected,embodied, and dethem
(the Scriptures) authentic, by a public
of Laodicea,
which
read was
in the Council
canon
we
held
360 years
after Christ," "I say, hoxo do they
know
that these men
true
from
rightly discerned
of the Scripit is,that some
Now, sure
tures
spurious?
of
those
first
who
men
"
taken
in
by
one
council,were
rejected
by
another
THE
NEW
31
TESTAMENT.
left out
by the
apocryphal,and that which was
for apocryphal, was
former
taken in by the latter for
canonical.
Now, visible it is, that they contradict
that they hath erred respecteach other, and
true
as
ing
vol.
belief."
the present
1, p.
(Penn's Works,
302, 303, 304, London, 1782.)
matter
rests
It is manifest, my
friends,the whole
dicta,and not divine interposition,
merely on human
therefore
the pretensionsof the Christian
world
and
the divinity of their
Sacred"
to
oracle,are alike
iov
"
tuitous
and
absurd.
mode
of
a legitimate
Presuming, however, this was
determining the divinityof Scripture,a further question
has
who
be considered, whether
the men
to
composed these councils were
competent to decide
such
critical matters
be assured
? We
must
they were
enlightenedand unprejudiced,and disposed to discuss
the subjectdispassionately.We
be certain they
must
all the evidence,
examined, minutely and deliberately,
pro et con, in reference to the different Gospels,Acts,
Epistles,and Revelations,claiming to be genuine
not
Scripture. For if they were
persons of this high
character, acting in the enlightenedspiritproposed,
no
confidencecan be placed in their decisions.
They
be calculated
would
only to mislead, to confound
"
rather
Now
than
I
to
settle the
controvesy.
most
"
'
32
HISTORY
OF
i
bishops,because he
of any council,but
never
saw
and
good
happy
end
'
heard
but
of
and
"
"
genuineness of
our
Bible
O,
rests.
Christians
credulity? Little
the deferenceyou
pay to their rational and enlighteneddicta !
Listen again if you please, to the opinionsof Tindal, as to the character of these
pious assemblies.
of
Council
to the memorable
Alluding,in particular,
the Emperor
Nice, held in the year 327, at which
Constantine
presided,he observes : " And if these
cil
and libels which
the bishopsat the Counaccusations
of Nice
the Emperor,
another
to
give in of one
should
have
we
were
now
extant, in all probability,
such
rolls of scandal, that few would
have much
son
reato boast of the first (Ecumenical
council, where,
and
the
with
such
fury,
Bishops fell
heat, passion,
peror
fold on one another,insomuch, that had not the Emmemorials, proby a trick burnt their Church
bably
!
After
confusion
in
have broke up
they must
the Bishops made
that Council
so
was
great a
over,
bristle and disturbance, and were
so
unruly, that the
"
that if they
forced to tell them
good Emperor was
would
be more
not
quietand peaceablefor the future,
he
would
no
longer continue his expeditionagainst
the Infidels,
but must
to keep them in order.''
return
will you be ashamed
do these " geese and cranes
when
of your
"
know
"
"
"
NEW
THE
"Indeed,"
so
were
33
TESTAMENT.
disorder
says
that it sometimes
to blows
came
Synods,
instance,
for
as
their
words
while
while
quarrel
we
authors, while
none
that
Lord
of the
creed
new
:
u
We
decree
The
faith
They
moment
And
It
nay, every
is altered.'"
Flexible
remind
you
! his face
when
that
varied,tillI
(Ifthat
Have
of
me
he
had
known,
had
pronounced
of the
change
men,
gentle-
words
the
of
him
one,
think
mother)
he shifted
so
his
mother/
own
would
from
followingfact, mentioned
of
"Synodicum of the Council
valuable
worth
all the preceding,
The
year
almost
"
Presto
every
is
concerning God,
our
moon
things
in parties,there
about
doubtful,and
contend
we
novelties
about
questions
about
is Christ's.
indeed
Byron
raise
we
her
one
son
to
t'other. "
by Pappius
Nice"
and
in
his
is, however,
curious
though
34
OF
HISTORY
the
be.
they
true
memorable
This
Council.
under
placing
the false at
done,
\tas
jumped
under!
"
What
of truth!
test
that
he, "by
says
communion
the
upon
in which
manner
table,and,
inspired books
remained
ones
What
proofof
!
It is quite a stirring argument.
Who,
inspiration
doubt
after this, will venture
of
the authenticity
to
the Scriptures?
From
St. Cyril's Letters
learn that when
the
we
informed
of
that the Fathers
people of Ephesus were
the council had declared
they might call the
Virgin
Mother
of
the
Mary
God," they were
transported
of the bishops they
with joy ; they kissed the hands
embraced
their knees, and the whole
city resounded
!
After
with
acclamations.
Happy creatures
this,
"
surely no one will doubt that
ignorance is bliss."
their squabbles
Enough, however, of these councils,
"
"
"
"
and
their
they
cannot
freaks.
It
by any one
upon
and if these councils
intelligence,
have
we
upon,
of the immense
which
and
divine
of
state
must
After
there
were
406,
and
thingswhen
363,
hasten
now
the
Council
two
other
the
several
of
to
be
ascertaining
Gospels,Acts, Epistles,
the book
is said
are
be of
to
origin.
We
"
of
not
are
of
means
number
dinary
possessing or-
if any
or
Revelations, are reallygenuine,
is confusion, doubt, and
uncertainty !
All
curious
no
all of you,
to
be relied
depended
so.
evident
be
must
but
to the
of
ry.
histo-
our
of
other
in 680.
books
deemed
the
conclusion
council
The
council
canonical
of 680
again
Sacred
by
363,
year
of 406
the
restored
jected
re-
council
them
"
Writings the
"
from sect to
of God"
Word
tossed like a battledoor,
sect, and altered as the spiritof faction might dictate.
From
this period (close of the 7th century) to the
of God "
the "word
15th, when
printingwas invented,
to
the
canon.
Thus
were
the
"
THE
remained
in
Monasteries
The
pious
the
in
in such
35
TESTAMENT.
It
seclusion.
was
locked
up
of
Monks.
possession
exclusive
to read
forbidden
peoplewere
detected
NEW
it.
If
they
in
"
were
"
authorized.
When
general,the Bible,despite
printingbecame
accessible to the
the anxiety of the clergy,was
more
the consequence
? Did it decide
laity; and what was
of these numerous
the grand question which
tures
ScripIt
enhanced
were
only
genuine? By no means.
confusion
which
the doubt and
previouslyexisted. It
petty
splitup the European World into numberless
of
a
ll
which
sectaries,
politelypromised each
very
there
other eternal damnation.
Up to this moment
of the leading sects of Christendom
who
two
no
are
of the versions or books
entirelyagree upon
any one
Luther
of the New
Testament, or even of the Old.
the Epistleof James.
And
Erasmus
himself rejected
and
Calvin
doubted
of the Revelations.
The
rians,
Unita-
headed
even
those
are
said
to
"
abound
with
manifest
thew,
Gospel of Matrejectsas
Mark, and John, he coritemptiiously
"
spurious fictions of the second century."
The
Swedenborgians admit only the four Gospels
and the folThe
German
and Revelations.
Baptists,
and
numerous
The
interpolations."
36
HISTORY
lowers
of
Servetus, do
and
Matthew,
denounced
OF
receive
not
learned
the
Gospel of
the
Professor
Bauer
in
St.
1803
absolute
an
as
"
'
"
"
J?
"
hell."
We
exposed in
false translations
in the
false translation
according to
means
the
and
had
Old
I time
New.
blunders
many
been made
in the
last lecture
which
Had
Testament.
ones
our
For
could
instance,a
in
appears
Mark
learned, the
cable rope,
not
word
camel.
point
out
ludicrous
10,
c.
similar
of
case
25, where,
in the
original
In the notion
of
cable
and
going through
ridiculous.
that
John's
1st
the
Calmet,
7th
and
the
8th
famous
Bible
verses
of the
clares
critic,de5th
of
c.
"
38
HISTORY
I shall
with
OF
the
observation
followingstartling
of the distinguishedChristian, Le
Clerc.
He
curiously observes, in his
Disquisitionon Inspiration,"
There
is no heresy in rejecting
a book
p. 27,
of the Jewish
neither is it to rejectone
as
canon,
of
sum
up
"
"
our
; at
own
Luther
least, the
for
heretic
Protestants
have
not
called
Epistleof James
is an
than they have
Epistleof straw, no more
many
of the learned for not receivingthe Second
Epistle of
critic (James Scaliger) styles
Peter, which a famous
fiction of some
ancient Christian
a
misemploying his
a
saying that
the
leisure
have
time.'
received
The
Jewish
into their
Sanhedrim
books
canon
easily
may
that
had
vine
di-
no
,"
authority
Here
we
told that it is
are
of the sacred
writings,and
easilyreceived
into the
Old
no
that
heresy
the
to
doubt
Jews
Testament
may
books
any
have
which
are
of divine
"
"
time
and
of
be far
not
distant,when
goodness will
men
encircle
the
sacred
the minds
halo
and
of
the
reason
hearts
THIEB^
LECTURE
Friends
APOSTLES.
AND
FATHERS
CHRISTIAN
THE
OF
CHARACTER
"
In
our
with
earliest
times
record,
history I had
to
on
the
furnished
preceding discourses,
history of the
compendious
two
you
the
from
Bible
In
present age.
oping
devel-
facts
occasion
to
"
facts
"
and
Christian
world
book
touching
the
and
perfectly unwarrantable
to
supply you
necessary
are
deemed
it
in order
that
of
Divinity
with
this notorious
absurd.
this
history
enabled
be
take
to
an
parties may
of
accurate,
comprehensive, and, therefore, just view
this great and
important question. It has too often,
all
unfortunately,been
to
confine
themselves
consideration
of
the
of
this
practice of
to
vast
very
Biblical
limited
subject"
to
the
disputants
and
narrow
possibility
of some
miracle, the fulfillment
foolish
obsolete
torian,
hisprophecy, the testimony of some
the freaks
of some
or
fanatical, impudent, and
this mistake, however, I
cunning priest. To obviate
am
endeavoring, in the first instance, to familiarise
with
the general bearings of this extensive
topic*
you
On
this occasion, it is our
intention
to
expatiate
ridiculous
some
upon
.portionof
our
inquiry
which
is
intimately and
40
CHARACTER
OF
THE
era,
the
when
no
of
books
authorised
canon
New
Testament
the
or
lection
colwas
established.
this moment
will more
at
My remarks
especially
the
Divine
Word," as I
apply to this portionof
have
tion
already partly anticipatedthis subject,in relaThe
to the Old
Testament, in my first address.
I shall,in the first place,more
partiesto whom
ticularly
parChristian
the
and
other
allude,are,
Apostolic
"
fathers.
It is
matter
of the utmost
to ascertain
moment
if
men
were
You
is undermined.
must
that it is
remember
"
u
the authorityof these
we
are
Holy Fathers
upon
called
the Scripturesgenuine. If,
to believe
upon
that their authority
it can
be demonstrated
therefore,
is
exceptionable,we
at
once
of the argument.
It is necessary
I should
the very
overturn
inform
here
dation
foun-
you, in order
the veracity of
much
depends upon
explain how
of the New
these holy fathers,that the originals
lost. We
and absolutely
Testament
are
irrecoverably
tament,
Testo the New
to the Introduction
find,on referring
German
Professor,
by Michaelis,the famous
the
ancient
most
translated
as
by Bishop Marsh, that
of God"
Word
were
MSS.
of this portionof the
that is,nearly
writen
so
latelyas the 6th century,
said to have
500 years after the time the originals
are
ment,
Testabeen composed ! The
originalsof the New
indeed,have not been seen, says Michaelis,by
to
"
FATHERS
CHRISTIAN
do
any writer extant, nor
their contemporaries had
fathers
"
do
themselves
AND
they record
seen
41
APOSTLES.
that
them.
any
The
of
one
"holy
have
the
seen
profess to
Professor Michaelis further observes,"None
originals.
of the most
early fathers,as Ignatius or Tertullian,
and Professor
them ;
had
seen
or
appeal to the originals,
Du Pin, in his
History of the Canon/7 "c,
not
"
"
remarks
of the
"
"
We
do
not
two
greatest
men
mean
"
"
"
4*
42
THE
Pin, have
of
been
CHARACTER
THE
OF
depend
by
seen
but the
upon
"
would
be received
not
of law
in any court
frivolous case
in Christendom
the most
upon
that
do I aver
liberatel
imaginable. Deimposture and deceptionwas
their common
dissimulation
practice. They esteemed
and
and
falsehood
vices
not
as
as
as
excellencies,
excellencies to be imitated, not as vices to be despised.
To
deceive
the people, they considered
a
positive
Not only did they think
infamous
such
virtue.
tices
practhe
but
to
success
of religion!
actually
necessary
In short,if there were
honorable
time
to it.
at any
deceitfid
one
body of men, as public teachers,more
the
dishonest,and despicablethan another, they were
I am
class of whom
now
speaking, the class upon
world
the
Christian
whom
depend foi the genuineness
of their Scriptures.
ration.
declaa rash
This, my friends,may be considered
Let those, however, who
labor under
such
a
conception,listen to my proof. I shall first quote
"
"
"
from
the
able ecclesiastical
most
Historian
and
of modern
"
German
historian
the
"
'
AND
FATHERS
CHRISTIAN
43
APOSTLES.
maintained
when
religion,
and adhered
to after proper
admonition, were
able
punishThe
and corporealtortures.'
with
civil penalties
of long
maxims
former of these erroneous
was
now
standing ! it had been adopted for some
past,
ages
of ridiculous
and had produced an incredible number
and pious frauds ! to the
fables,fictitious prodigies,
in which
unspeakable detriment of that gloriouscause
be frankly confessed,
employed. And it must
they were
view,
that
of this
that
was,
the
of
evident
were
this
such
to
and
greatest men
century
infection
in
errors
more
less tainted
or
as
attentive
an
the
with
will
corrupt principle,as
look,with
saints
eminent
most
appear
their
to
eye,
We
would
willinglyexcept
writings and actions.
and
from
this charge Ambrose
Hiliary,Augustine,
is
Jerome
and
Gregory, Nazianzen,
; but truth,which
more
fathers,
respectablethan these venerable
obliges
He
them
in the general accusation."
to involve
us
further observes, as translated by Vidal,
At a time
when
he (Hermas) wrote, it was
established maxan
im
"
"
with
of
of the
many
if
deception,
and
fraud
conduce
towards
good."
"And
"
that
with
they
the
it
of
of
Honorable
Fathers
to
the
mightily affects
earliest
it their
considerable
the
he, again,
to
deceive,
truth,were
business
of
cause
than
censure!
Christians
Exemplary
French
"
Holy
own
lend
inventions
be
These
officious
see
how
to
in
that
by the wise
lies,they said,
received
the
the
the
were
It
in
were
it
help of
doctrine
new
among
"
"
considered
heavenly truth
order
there
many
who
of the church
times
might
Protestant,Casaubon
to
me
capitalexploit to
their
of any
Listen
the
likelythey would
was
commendation
men
themselves
considered," says
was
promoting
deserving rather
it
avail
to
attainment
made
who
view
Christians
Gentiles.
devised
for
no
where
the writers
to be
met
of church
with
in such
history."
abundance
as
among
44
CHARACTER
THE
OF
in his Critical
counterfeit
to
when
acts
have
they
that
none
true."
are
Dr.
Middleton,
Conyers
in his able
Cambridge,
at
into
Church
most
in
elaborate
of these
and
in God."
are
bare
ivord"
not
to
In
be
work
"We
they
find
did
tricks
been
never
them
"
Use
peached,
im-
of the
(the fathers)
themselves
not
given
believe.
witnesses
believed
book
Christian
on
quiry
En-
Free
of the
expose
I refer
his celebrated
Fathers," plainlysays,
of the
it is easilyto be obtained.
as
itself,
whose
has
learning and impartiality
in
"
Centuries,"has
unanswerable
Fathers
"
Powers
Three
First
the
entitled
work
Miraculous
the
distinguishedProfessor
1, chap. 6, he
observes, upon
Origen, Methodius,
"
authority of St.
Jerome,
written
Eusebius, Apollinaris,have
largelyagainst
their manner
and Porphyry.
Do but observe
Celsus
of arguing, and what
slipperyproblems they used.
lieved,
They alleged against the Gentiles not what they beJerome
but
what
they thought necessary.
the
"
"
adds, I forbear mentioning the Latin writers,as Tertullian,Cyprian, Minutius, Victorinus, Lactantius,
to
accuse
others,
Hiliary,lest I should rather seem
defend
"
11
from
which
these
extracts
are
taken.
Protestant,in
Blondell,another learned French
that there was
his Epistleto Arnold, 1701, states
more
aversion
to lying,more
simplicityin adhering to truth,
M.
and
more
fidelity,
among
profane
than
Christian
au-
46
CHARACTER
Origen who
Testament,
was
New
of Laodicea
What,
collected
and
receive
we
cil
the Coun-
Word
of God."
of this person,
from
Scriptures?
Bishop
present
our
"
of the
canon
ipse dixit
the
as
character
in his
Horsley,
present
whose
upon
the
was
THE
our
adopted it
then,
whom
OF
"
"
of
Now
Word
the Divine
fathers
the ancient
He
Eusebius
or
of
to
write
to
and
have
scarce
wrote
fourth
authority
siastical
Eccle-
declares,in his
first ages
at
that
had
of
out
"With-
that
edge
knowl-
any
Christianity,
All
time.
the
the
What
his labors.77
whom
upon
honorable
as
honest
who
this individual.
than
volumes,
of
Few
eminent
very
of 16
of the
of the
authors
Eusebius
add
history
authors
the
Greek
should
we
Tellimont
work
of Csesarea.
celebrated
is considered
History, a
of the
Bishop
more
are
Christians.
among
the
Eusebius,
character
dependence is placed?
his predecessor's.
He was
thought falsehood such a
such
as
meii who
such
is the
In the
virtue.
12th
Book
of this man,
Why,
one
it is
of those
convenience
of his
"
gelical
Evan-
he devotes
whole
a
chapter to
Preparation,77
it
proving that falsehood ought to be used whenever
the
the 31st chapter with
is required; and he heads
far it may
be proper
to
following question "How
of those
falsehood
as
a
use
medicine, and for the benefit
who
Strange medicine, this !
requireto be deceived"
of their
An
admirable
bolus, truly, for purging men
"
virtue
and
!
integrity
In another
place Eusebius
says
FATHERS
CHRISTIAN
of himself
"
related
I have
"
AND
47
APOSTLES.
whatever
redound
might
to the
I have
and
glory
tend
;;
of the character
Christian
another
says
Baronius, who
Christian
faith,calls
priest?
of
the
of
Ecclesiastical
was
him
"
of
this
esty
honwhat
ous
virtu-
advocate
sincere
the
much
great falsifier
had
summate
History a wily sycophant a conhypocrite a time-servingpersecutor, who
or
life,
writings,to support
nothing in his known
the
belief
"
"
"
that
himself
he
believed
in
the
Christian
"
"
foundation
St.
of the
Jerome,
of the
Translation
by
I do
from
the
author
Bible,
"
Catholics,
not
"
find
hatred
the Christian
fault
towards
faith."
revelation.
stands
who
man
earlyfathers,and
the
"
Christian
of the
the
high
Vulgate, or
very
translation
now
among
Latin
ed
adopt-
declares that
positively
with
which
an
error
proceeds
the Jews, and a pious zeal for
(Oper.;torn. 4, page 113.) Acvery
"
"
48
CHARACTER
cording to this
of religion,an
as
he
honest
OF
if it is only for
priest,
individual
thinks
THE
proper
may
!
utter
The
as
Our
forefathers
and
doctors
of the
benefit
hoods
false-
many
Bishop
the
of Constantinople,
''-Divine,"
the
"a
littlejargon
the
people.
they admire !
church
"
have
often
"
"
"
"
had
but
the
forehead-
find
none
one
eye,
and
What
of the progeny
that situate
next?
How
of this
in the
middle
strange
singularrace
we
of
can
FATHERS
CHRISTIAN
for the
Now
of
one
mas"
honest
spake
never
St. Hernias
is taken.
passage
lived
word
true
and
all men,
credit to my
truth
to
gave
no
man
it looidd
are
and
Were
the
answer
and
denounce
I have
but
me,
which
should
Well
be
all
which
be believed,
to
ticity
authen-
to
knowledge
ac-
characters
such
with
what
world
Christian
better
"
ashamed
do I know
the
for
but
had
veracitythe
Bible depends !
our
lie
self
addressinghim-
truth ! !
as
ways
al-
exclamation
he
up now,
it would
come
productionwith
contempt
"
whose
men
connexion.
any
"
affirmed
was
well
as
Christian,I
a
a
had
time
upon
genuinenessof
was
This
following
Lord, /
the
life;
To
Hermas
lie
which
contradicted
words."
Paul.
St.
exclaims
in
the
Such
of
my
dissimulation, and
in
St. Her-
apostolicfather
the
gospel,from
49
APOSTLES.
fellow-laborers
the
wrote
man
of
case
AND
ultation
ex-
would
issued
rested
which
by the Sceptics,
its evidence
the testimony of such
unblushing
upon
impostors. Soon would
they exclaim,with all the
bitter scorn
so
peculiarto them, "away with such a
book !" "it is a disgraceto the age!
"an
insult to
!
God !
And
"a libel upon
religion
why will they
do the same
with their own
not
book, when
they find
its evidence
resting upon such infamous
testimony?
O ! but I presume
their book
is for the
promotion
of religion
That
IP
alters the case.
Being for a
"good" object,such conduct is deserving rather "of
of censure."
than
commendation
efit
Being for the '-benof the church," it is an
act of virtue to deceive
book
"
"
"
"
"
and
lie."
My
abound.
assert
that
of
in
such
Cod,"
While
those
to be
are
found,who
deemed
who
vile
is "divine,"
artifices,
will"
"revealed
5
it
upon
virtue"
men
the
currency
lation
dissimu-
of
"
an
the
can
the testimony
to
indulge
"Word
omniscient
of
and
50
OF
CHARACTER
munificent
Deity
and
Not
deceivers
Burton's
been
impostors,but
common
so
St.
that
church,
before
and
Christian
the
were
Expositor," thatihe
"
had
crimes
the
rogue
only, however,
of
race
every
find
impostor may
his apology.
every
"
THE
thority,
au-
fathers
learn
we
practiceof
from
unnatural
the
of
dignitaries
sermon
preached
among
Bernard,
his
in
"
"
And
who
his wife
drowned
Crispus ;
son
he 'I
was
in
and
the
father-in-law,Maximinian
of
son
this
years of age ! And
of Christianity!
grand system
This
was
confined
not
to
his
husbands
of his
ters,
sis-
; murdered
his
to
put
Hercules,and
Constantia,
sister
his
boy
the
was
man
the Christian
in
his
nephew,
only twelve
first royal patron
and
fathers.
the
own
of
of dissimulation
themselves, indulged
He
death
two
Anastasia
form.
human
boilingwater
murdered
Constantia
in
monster
same
delusion
The
pious
tles
aposfreaks.
infected with
this corrupt
Nay, Christ himself was
the highest to the lowest, prevarication
principle. From
been
their "modus
and deceptionseem
to have
Testament
itself of
operandi" What
says the New
I will
will see
notorious
these
personages? We
Peter
and
take
Paul
as
specimens of the Apostles.
without
the two
whom
the leaders
men
They were
Christianitywould have died in its infancy.
In the 2nd Corinthians,c. 12,v. 16,
First,of Paul.
"
"
"
he
in
being
burden
it so, I did not
crafty,I caught you with
3rd
of
says,
the
But
c.
be
Romans,
v.
7, he
you,
theless
never-
abounded
through my lie
ner
sinI also judged as
a
his glory, why yet am
unto
St. Jerome, the learned Christian
father,says
7
u I will
of this Apostle,in his apology,
produce the
the
truth
of God
hath
more
"
"
CHRISTIAN
AND
FATHERS
51
APOSTLES.
I never
Apostle Paul, whom
peruse
his
I
hear
that
without
thinking
thundering rather
Consult
his epistles,
read his words.
than
larly
particuthe
to
Romans, Galatians, and
Ephesians,
You
will
in the
he disputes continually.
where
see
proofshe borrows from the Old Testament, with what
his subject.
address, what
dissimulation,he manages
him
Let us charge this upon
as
a
crime, and say to
used against the Jews,
him, the testimonies
you have
and
other
heretics, have
one
significationin their
and another
here
in your
see
writings. We
original,
aid
examples forciblypressedinto the service which
of this
example
victory,but
in gaining a
you
from
books
which
Corinthians, c. 9,
resorted
and
all men,
all. that I
as
''
under
the
under
are
without
that
To
to
the
to
law, (being
the law
22,
To
might gain
admits
Paul
them
And
that
of
having
deception
them
that
not
without
the
to
might gain
weak,
the weak
law
; I
became
made
am
free
unto
that
them
without
are
be
Jews,
the law,
under
might gain
1st
the
unto
are
the
In
of
system
more.
Christ,)that
law.
them."
taken
though,'7says he,
I made
myself servant
that
law,
law.
the
without
Jew,
to
force in
no
"I
For
yet have
as
have
wholesale
might gain
became
under
v.
most
hypocrisy.
from
I
the
to
you
19
have
are
law, as
God, but
them
that
weak,
as
all
things
that
I might by all means
some."
all men,
save
! mighty honest, truly !
Indeed
In Acts, 9, there is
to
long
and
and
particularaccount
his
stay
among
of Paul's
to
lem,
Jerusa-
the
disciples;while
that
solemnly swears
of his conversion,
Galatians, c. 1, v. 17, he
did not go!
In the account
given in Acts, c. 22, v. 9, Paul
with
the
not
were
him, heard
spake to him, while in c. 9, v. 7,
the
c. 23, v.
High
3, he abuses
judgment over
he
afterwards,)
v.
27, he says,
visit
says,
voice
he
in
he
as
the
men
who
of
him
who
they did. In
Priest for sittingin
in v. 5. (only two
verses
him, while
In c. 22,
pretends not to know him.
is a
he
Roman, but in c. 23, v. 6,
says
52
CHARACTER
declares
he
him
he
Such
is
OF
his
Pharisee, as
honest
was
THE
Now
Paul.
parents
before
for honest
Peter.
of
whom
he
virtuous
the
man
"
divine
senior
the
apostle,and
he
had
in company
whom
been
only a short
before !
The
Then
took they
runs
passage
(Christ)and led him, and brought him into the
personage
with
time
was
"
"
him
High
And
Priest's
when
he
sat
An
admirable
down
But
together,Peter
maid
certain
of the
midst
fire in the
afar off.
followed
Peter
kindled
sat
were
them.
among
had
they
hall, and
And
house.
down
sat
him
beheld
as
him,
by the fire,and earnestlylooked upon
and
he
him.
And
also with
man
was
said, This
denied him, saying, Woman,
him
I know
And
not.
after a little while
another
saw
him, and said,thou
art also of them.
not.1'
And
Peter said, Man, I am
My
until
friends,if
I believe
become
Christian
not
am
such
I
when
one
for
character
apostle! !
Christian
be
to
esteemed
Christian
I shall only
prevaricatingpriests,
to love truth, and, like the
cease
fathers,consider
it
virtue
deceive
to
and
he.
Jesus
Christ"
-I have
said
that
of the
his
unblushing dissimulation
principalapostles,and the
successors
the
"
fathers.
;J
he, also,was
which
characterizes
of
eminent
most
guilty
In
their
Mark, c. 4, v. 11
it is given to know
God, but unto them
and
the
"unto
12, Christ says,
you
that
mysteries of the kingdom of
are
without, all these things are done in parables,that
seeing,they may see, and not perceive,and hearing,
they may hear, and not understand, lest at any time
given
they should be converted, and their sins should be forthem."
charitable ! These
How
words, we are
of the world
Redeemer"
uttered by the
told,were
"
"
he
error
who
of
sent
was
their
ways,
bliss !
their
errors,
to
to
lead
Strange
allow
the
into
mode
them
human
the
to
from
race
fold of truth
and
convince
mankind
to
hear
and
yet
not
the
lasting
ever-
of
under-
54
OF
CHARACTER
ience
to
"
promote
party
or
THE
sectarian
purposes,
that
is
no
"
"
i:
"
and
the
M.S.S.
Alexandrian
sioarm
with
cor-
Or igen,
inter
"
"
"
of the
of
others,or
additions
and
Here
that
to
or
left out
we
are
we
it
who
those
audacious
the
to
the
correct
perversions
by arbitrary
text
oftentimes
have
omissions,
put in
convenient."
as
they thought it most
of the fathers
told by one
themselves,
left
of
the Bible,
out"
in
were
or
put
who
"
"
matters
just "as
much
scribes,or
was
have
most
to
depend
of 'the Word
This
convenient."
upon
of God.
shows
the fathers
Du
Pin
for the
how
rectness
cor-
remarks, and
CHRISTIAN
he
is
high authority,as
very
occasion
"
"
into
the
next
AND
FATHERS
It
cannot
Scripturesby
transcribers,or
be
5^
APOSTLES.
I observed
said that
no
on
fault
former
has
crept
the
negligenceor inadvertency
of the
even
by the boldness of those
who
ventured
have
to strike
out, add or change some
words
which
they thought necessary to be omitted,
Then
we
added, or changed." Necessary, indeed!
believe that God
he
had said that
which
must
ought
have
he
to
not
said, and omitted
saying that which
ought to have done, or in other words, priestsknow
better than God, what
should
be in the Bible ! What
I entreat
friends,
listen,
you, to the words
of James, the Librarian
of the University of Oxford,
In his work
warm
a
on
partisanof Protestantism.
the
Corruptionof the Scriptures,"page 272, he says,
let us pass a step or two
er
further,and inquirewhethnot
they have
corrupted the Bible in like sort, or
worse
a
rather, if it be possible,
degree of impiety
beyond the degrees of comparison, and yet so plainly
but
he that hath
to be proved againstthe Papists, as
one
it,and thence be
eye to see, shall plainlydiscover
induced
of desolation spokto suspect the abomination
en
of by Daniel
the prophet,sitting
in the holy place,
and
the Holy of
above
admiring himself as it were
But,
my
"
"
Holies.
He
and
Bibles
as
are
observe
infinite
ties,
varieties,contrarie-
and
contradictio?is,
set
commanded
shall
forth
to
by
be
mentioned
two
read
in
oppositionsbetween
Popes, within two years
and
the
followed
briefs.
upon
You
; both
forms
such
shall
two
see
the
56
THE
OF
CHARACTER
ly
edge, and his tongue speak no deceit,hath audaciouspresumed to add and take whole sentences, to change
the words
of the holy writ, into a clear contrary meaning,
white black,and black ivhite ! "
it were
to make
as
This
practice of alteringthe Bible to suit party
confined
is by no means
to ancient
times,
purposes,
"
to
first four
the
centuries
of the Christian
It has
era.
The
Mr.
Rev.
distinctly,
"
Cooper, in
Were
Tracts,page 521,
his
to make
Socinian
says
lation,
trans-
new
guidance of his
Socinian
opinions,and properly." This is actually
translates the Bible, he need
a person
saying, when
adhere
not
to the real text, but
give what
tion
interpretahe thinks proper.
Oh ! ye pious translators,
how
admire
must
we
your honesty !
This
Christian
is the charge which
the
sects
bring
that
altered
the word
they have
against one another
and not adhered
of God
to suit their peculiaropinions,
with
the Rev.
to the original. If so, we
must
concur
Mr.
Nolan, that we cannot
depend upon any one of
he
would
translate
under
the
"
them.
of your supposing that
preclude the possibility
desirous
of giving you
I am
assertion
without
mere
of the leading
proof, I shall here quote from some
of this course, 1
sects.
Hitherto, during the whole
have
given you my authorities for every affirmation I
To
made.
have
Dr.
I shall continue
Jones, in
Unitarian
organ)
nor
referred,
the
We
never
whole
idea of the
the
do
so
to
the
close.
says
that
Trinitarians
tvill refer to
Testament
doctrine
to
which
never
have
singleplace throughout
could
ever
suggest the
in one
sides
beessence
persons
the controverted
verse, the 7th of 1st John, c. 5."
are
told,in the celebrated Unitarian
Reply to
of three
AND
FATHERS
CHRISTIAN
57
APOSTLES.
ous
Magee, published in 1813, that this text is u an impiless
be
it
little
than
to
forgery/7 and,
appears
is represented
blasphemy to retain it in a book which
made
be inspired." Similar
to
by the
charges are
in the first chap, of
Unitarians
against all the verses
Luke
whole
of the second
after the 4th.
The
chap,
"
the
is denounced
to serve
as
spurious/7 and only
"
of certain sects.77
purposes
of Matthew,
after the 17th
verse;
the second.
inculcate
These
miraculous
The
passages
with
same
and
is denied
conception,which
whole
of
doctrine
of
the
the
the
by
first
the
rians.
Unita-
to his
Campbell, in the introduction
translation of the Scriptures,makes
some
marks
restrong
Beza, who
published the edition of the
upon
Testament
which
modern
Greek
from
our
English
is taken
version
have
Here
we
a man,77
:
says he,
have
not
"who, in effect,
acknowledges that he would
translated
he has done, if it
some
things in the way
that he could
blow
not
were
thereby strike a severer
which
ward
off a blow
an
or
against his adversaries,
How
ient
convenadversary might aim against him !
this Bible is,truly!
The
celebrated
Clarke, in his
Methodist,Dr. Adam
Commentary on the Bible, protests against those passages
in the third chapter of Genesis, which
declare
that
Eve
He
it
asserts
was
tempted by a serpent.
not
was
a
a monkey, and
serpent that tempted her.
A monkey, indeed ! a most
to tempt
bewitching animal
The
Rev.
Dr.
"
"
77
"
any one
Mr.
!
declares
Bellamy
Testament
Balaam
about
and
misinterpretation,
He
as
follows
such
concludes
"
"
childish
upon
spoke
would
it,that,whatever
in the
ought
his
days
To
be
story in
the
and
Really, it is
notions.
conclusions
that
his
be
to
remarks
time
say
a
they
you
any
waste
may
of Balaam.7'
Old
complete
vised.'7
immediately rethis
subject
upon
ass
"
is
the
should
more
get rid of
such
on
of time.
do noio,
asses
surd
ab-
Depend
never
58
CHARACTER
I could
detain you,
THE
OF
more
which
and
and
innumerable
that, too,
only book
the
And
less different.
or
such
my
differences
serious
of
guide us
apprehensive
to
most
about
book,
learned
against the
which
this
is to
our
exist,
is
race,
everlasting
it Avill prove
a
joy ! I am
blind
contradictory
guide, for if there are so many
readings as declared by the Unitarians,it will be 149,999 to 1 if we
the
the rightone.
Who
will run
have
truth
and
risk of eternal
,
But
The
an
salvation
it may
be
upon
the
or
damnation
said,people
matter,
and
can
exert
judge
at
their
for
odds
such
own
that none
say, is so self-evident
it. It is so
Infidel could
mistake
that
"
one
any
who
runs
says,
in his Introduction
may
Not
so,
to
the
tellect
in-
themselves.
Bible, they
abandoned
read, and
but
pable
palso
my
friends.
New
ment,
Testa-
No
"
"
man
is
59
APOSTLES.
AND
FATHERS
CHRISTIAN
7th,
parallelpassages.
and
the Old
Testament
consult
If this fail,
Septuaand
used
the
be
word
the
where
:
8th,
gint,
may
the
the Fathers
classic writers : 9th, and
: 10th, and
ancient
version, modern
scholiasts,annotators, and
the etytranslators : 11th, the analogy of faith,and
mology
caution."
of words, which
be used with
must
In addition to these,or similar generalrules,the Rev.
nishes
furMr. Home, in his Introduction
to the Scriptures,
with
rules for investigatingthe original
ten
us
meaning of Scripturewords, five for that of emphasis,
the Scripture abounds, and eight for parwith which
allelisms,
of which
then
kinds
three
are
specified;
rules for discovering
the sense
seven
by the subject
for
more
by the context, and seven
matter, and
discoveringit by historical circumstances, including
the order,title,
such
ten
as
date,author,
particulars,
alysis,
place where written,chronology,occasion,scope, anbiblical antiquities,
for investigat"c. ! Then
ing
the scope itself,
for the analogy of
six rules,and
faith,eight! Then
again for the historical interpretation,
rules:
for
of
the
seven
interpreting figurative
rules is,that " the
language, twelve ; one of which
literal meaning of the words
is to be given up, if it
be improper,or
involve
is conor
trary
an
impossibility,
have
If this fail,
to
common
Then,
in
to
recourse
!"
sense
addition
to
all
these
rules, numerous
for
are
of
Bible
given
doctrines
And
is self-evident !
life-time before
all,may
"
narrow
and
!!
few
be
he
can
mistaken
yet
Very
we
; for
understand
!
Well
man
may
that
the
live
that
the way
leadeth
there be that find it ! "
is
told
are
to
everlastinglife,
62
EXTERNAL
and
EVIDENCE,
and
Christianity,
infer
thence
the
Christian
is divine.
scheme
ity
Popular though this mode of determiningthe divinof Scriptureundoubtedly is,its unsatisfactory
and
fallacious
manifestly
doctrine
can
is apparent.
incompetent to decide
Such
character
Before
system.
or
be received
as
the
truth
testimony of
conclusive
first
evidence
it
must
writers
this
of
is
any
nature
be shown,
in the
"inspired" or
in the least degree liable to
a
questionof this kind, must
be received
with consummate
circumspection,if it be
of the exthe whole
not
ternal
altogetherrejected. Were
evidence
usually adduced
by the Christian
world
they have
unquestionably true, I still maintain
established
the divinityof their book.
If it can
not
be proved that the Bible contains absolute
falsehoods,
contradictions,and immoralities,(as will be shown
all the external
in subsequent lectures,}
in
evidence
the
world
is of
no
avail.
No
were
external
is
evidence
can
ent
palpably false that consistthat moral
which
which
is grosslyinconsistent,
or
The
is manifestlyimmoral.
therefore,
insufficiency,
the question at issue,is
of this evidence
to decide
Dr.
obvious.
Middleton, a distinguisheddivine of
eminent
the last century, though an
exponent of
"
Examining the
Christianity,admirably remarks,
evidence
is certainlylosingexternal
time, and beginning
all
at the wrong
on
end, since it is allowed
be shown
hands
that if any narration
to be
can
false,
immoral, 'tis not all the
any doctrine irrational and
external
evidence
in the world that can, or
ought to
make
that
true
which
"
"
convince
The
us
that
celebrated
such
doctrine
Dr. Vescimus
Knox
u
comes
also
from
God."
in
confesses,
the
that
It is certain
Philosophy,that
argumentative mode of addressingunbelievers,and a
reliance upon
external
evidence, has hitherto failed,
them.
and will never
convince
Notwithstanding the
stupendous labors of the writers of evidences,con-
his Christian
tinned
with
little
63
EVIDENCE*
EXTERNAL
the great
intermission,
cause
which
they maintain
is
on
the decline.
of
!
John
imbecility
Wesley, the founder
Methodism, is also obliged to admit that " traditional
for Christianity
evidence
is of an
cated
extremely compliand
so
nature, necessarilyincluding so many
of strong and
various
considerations,that only men
clear understanding can
be sensible of its full force."
tain,
(Letter to Warburton, p. 108.) Such is the uncerof external
dubious, and unsatisfactorynature
evidence,as admitted by Christians themselves.
I now
proceed to show, however, that the external
which
evidence
ces,
instanthey do adduce, is, in many
so
completely spurious,in some
questionableas
to be utterlyinadmissible,
and
in others tells against
rather
than for the Christian
system.
Before I enter
the subject.
I deem
it advisable
upon
the profane authors
flourished
to name
who
during
"
the
first
who
are
two
said
centuries
of the
Christian
era.
Those
Christianityare the
following: Josephus, a. d. 40, (see Jewish
ties)
Antiqui; Pliny,a. d. 107, (see letter to Trajan); Seutonius, a. d. 110, (see Lives of Nero and Claudius);
Tacitus, a. d. 110, (seeAnnals) ; Adrian, a. d. 138,
(seeEpistleto Scrvianus); Lucianus, a. d. 176, (see
Dialogue on the Death of Peregrinus); Cclsus, a. d.
17G, (see Essay on the True
Word, as quoted by
luded
are
supposed only to have alOrigen.) Those who
Christians
Dio
to
Pruseus, a. d. 98 ;
are
a. d.
Martialis,
100; Juvenalis,a. d. 100; Epictetus,
a.
d.
Apuleius,a. d.
109; Arrianus, a. p. 140; Lucius
164; Aristides,a. d. 176.
be likely
the
Those
would
writers
who
to refer to
but who
have not done so, are
Philo, a. d.
Christians,
40 ; Pliny,the elder,a. d. 79 ; Seneca, a. d. 79; Diogto
have
mentioned
"
"
64
EXTERNAL
Laertius, a.
enes
Mela,
EVIDENCE.
79
d.
Pausanias,
123
79 ;
79 ;
Pompon
Justinius,a. d.
d.
a.
Appianus, a. d.
;
Those
who
less
140 ; and
were
Elianus, a. d. 141.
likelyto allude to the Christians,and did not do so,
are"
Lucanus, a. d. 63 ; Petronius Arbiter,a. d. 64 ;
Italicus,a. d. 64 ; M. Lucanus, a. d. 65 ; Flaccus, a. d.
65; Papinus Statius,a. d. 90 ; and Ptolemseus, a. d.
a.
d.
130.
discussion
In this
writers
who
actuallysaid
are
to
consider
only
to
have
mentioned
In reference
that it is
have
we
very
silent upon
to
those
tianity.
Chris-
just
they
remark
should
were
subject. Some of them
writers
and
of
could
the greatest
not
antiquity,
bly
possihave omitted
noticingall extraordinaryevents.
If Christ and his disciples,
therefore,
performed such
asserted by their modern
wonders
as
followers,why
are
they not noticed, favorablyor unfavorably,by
historians ?
these distinguished
nent
emiPhilo, the most
remain
the
"
historian
with
the
Jews,
and
and
Caius
the whole
Caligula,
"
when
This
ambassador
as
if such
rius,
Augustus, Tibeperiod embracing
very
but
makes
the
not
life,
either in contempt
Christianity,
"
great fact"
that Philo
is
was
remarkable
more
sent
by
the
person
as
Christ
was
Jews
after
to
of Christ.
death
to
remember
we
of
state
of Christ's
extent
otherwise.
the
of the
account
afflictions under
their
slightestallusion
or
elaborate
Christ,gives an
contemporary
the
to believe
it must
crucified,
have
been
at
the
very time of
his miracles
Christ, and
in the
place in which
said to have been performed, together
are
of other eminent
the taciturnity
with
clusive
writers,is conproof that the pretensionsof Christians to the
divine influence of their master, are perfectly
tous.
gratuiWith
respect
to
those
writers
very
who
are
said
to
have
mentioned
This
great
"
of 93.
The
Jewish
lived
time
Jesus,
wise
is
man,
man
was
pleasure. He
with
This
Gentiles.
at
in
alluding to
It
Antiquities.7'
as
"
born
was
man
during that
his
famous
of the
is that
and
Christ
drew
condemned
conceived
him
to
follows:
as
the
that
if he
received
as
to
chief
the
"At
"
be called a
may
He
works.
wonderful
over
cross,
affection for
an
the
him
the Christ.
was
of
instigation
the
65
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
men
and
Jews
many
And
when
Pilate,
us,
had
before
had
amongst
they, who
him, did
truth
the
not
to
cease
adhere
For
him.
Christian
the
was
This
I
conduct
gave
Faber,
the third
on
is
Father
quitein
and
historian
consonance
with
of him
Eusebius.
the
last discourse.
in my
distinguishedChristian critic,was
that
of this
"
ter
charac-
Tranquil
the
first
lowing
forgery. The folsecond book, chapter 12, of
Eusebius's
Ecclesiastical
History, will give you an
idea of the singularintegrity
of this
Holy Father,"
and the deliberate,unblushing audacity with
which
he himself wrote, and
which
he refers to this passage,
not
Now, when, as this historiographer,
Josephus :
(meaning Josephus) by blood an Hebrew
born, hath
to
accuse
pious rogue
quotationfrom the
"
"
6*
66
EXTERNAL
of old delivered
EVIDENCE.
in
fained
have
$."
commentaries
It is evident
its influence
Well
might
might
be used
the
in
as
of this learned
his
silencing the
he
inquire
!
"
the Christians
Jew,
Heathen
and
Jewish
these
legation
al-
Eusehius
medicine
anxiety of
to
practicedthis
Josephus'sgreat name
might
forgery,thinking that
have
contrary
enemies
"
how
Dr.
to
of Christianity.
far falsehood
ting
Lardner, admit-
obtain
the
mony
testi-
1, page 166, of
testimonies, "" They (the
says,
vol.
"
owned
it.
"
needs embrace
he must
Christianity,
We, therefore,
certainlyconclude, that the paragraph
the truth
of
Josephus, who
where
was
as
much
Jew
as
to
ac*
him, is made
religionof Moses could make
as
knowledge Jesus as the Christ,in as strong terms
could do it,is a rank forgery \ and a very stupid
words
Le Clerc, Du
too"
one
Pin, Blondel, Vandale, and
bon,
Lardner, have also repudiatedthis passage ; and Gib-
the
in his
"
Decline and
Empire,"
EXTERNAL
it as
denounces
indeed,
"
vulgar forgery."
no
entered
has
67
EVIDENCE-
into
elaborate
an
Dr.
and
Lardner,
laborious
of this
"
"
with
whp
had
the
transactions
received
so
and
favors
many
bo overlooked
writer
because
as
than
notice
This
he
critic.
"
three articles
of
that it
think
century
"
read
Tins
which
I make
and
own
country,
from
Vcspassian
or
neglected by
was
wanting
passage
seen
were
by Photius
distinct article of
revised the
works
this passage.
this
of Josephus
He
less
no
Whence
wanting in his
it genuine. But
the
paragraph concerning
was
of his
it may
be concluded
copies,or that he did not
former
Jesus
is
more
likely.
interruptsthe
"
course
"
63
EXTERNAL
'
EVIDENCE.
of the
thus
"
And
about
Jews
the
the
same
sad
time, another
ity
calam-
That
great uneasiness.
calamity
less than
was
no
banishing the Jews from Rome, by
order
of the
Emperor Tiberius, occasioned, as he
of some
Jews
in that city/
says, by the misconduct
This
sephus
not
in Jowas
paragraph, therefore,
originally
from him, but is an interpolation
; it does not come
afterwards."
inserted
Such
is
by somebody
the powerful and irrefutable reasoningof that learned
unChristian,whose
arguments to this day remain
gave
in validated.
Some
Christian
writers
have
maintained
noticed
have
Josephus must
Christ; but the
Jews
had suppressed all such
which
spoke
passages,
of
inadmissible
him.
favorably
This, however, is an
that Josephus
supposition, since it is well known
published his works out of the reach of his countrymen,
while
the
residingat Rome, and living under
special protection of the Roman
Emperors. If he
did speak of Christ,we
it
reasonably suppose
may
would
all his
be in contempt, as Josephus remained
life-time
the Jewish
to
religion,
sincerelyattached
of
shows
the
and
himself, in
whole
his work,
course
that
zealous
follower
of the law
of Moses.
But
there is
ble
copiesof Josephus, favoraor
unfavorable,in reference to Christ, as stated
by Bigen and other ancient Christian writers,who,
having attentively
perusedall the works of Josephus,
their surpriseat not having found the slightest
express
Christ.
mention
made
If, then, the
of Jesus
testimony of Josephus is to be given up, the main
no
passage
prop
to
in
the
Christian
earlier
evidence
is
annihilated.
The
70
EXTEUNAL
EVIDENCE.
I ordered
them
to be
confession,
executed,for I
did not
be of any
sort
doubt, let their confession
and inflexible obstinacy
whatsoever, this positiveness
of
deserved
have
been
to be
some
punished. There
I took
this mad
notice of in particular as
sect that
that
Roman
citizens,
they might be sent to that city.
After some
time, as is usual on such examinations,
and
the crime
more
came
cases
spread itself,
many
A
libel was
before me.
an
sent, though without
names
(of persons accused.)
author, containingmany
These
denied
Christians
that they were
or
now,
had
been.
the
ever
Gods, and
They called upon
be
1 caused
to
supplicated to your image, which
for that
frankincense
with
brought to me
purpose,
of which
and
wine; they also cursed Christ, none
are
things,as it is said,can any of those who
really
be compelled to do ; so I thought fit to let
Christians
their
them
libel,said they
some
was
of them
Others
go.
were
that
years, some
many
that said he had not been
these
our
Gods;
assured
worshipped
me
mistake,
was
these
your
also cursed
that the
main
; and
more
so
these
image,
of their
one
to
be
there
twenty
and
Christ.
the
in
ceased
had
Christians,but
three
All
named
were
the
years.
of
image
However,
fault,or of
wont,
on
they
their
stated
examinations
made
such
conventicles.
think
the
what
it necessary
to inquire by torments
servant
I did of two
maids, which
was, which
truth
me
71
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
called
were
than
examination
further
affair
the
danger;
rank,
every
hereafter
danger
of
account
for
there
and
of
likelyto
for
this
have
well
be
to
seems
on
in
and
are
both
be called
anyfor
you,
of those
of
many
every
which
sexes,
off
pecially
consultation,es-
number
the
are
that
and
now
to
are
and
age
account, and
to
more
gant
extrava-
to
recourse
worth
no
in
be
gion,
conta-
to
how
suppose
amended,
I
if
have
great
am
The
multitude
given
tediouslylong, in
I
anxious
to
order
that
suppress
no
the
men
may
be
be admitted."
of
whole
of
this
letter,though
partiesmay
real facts of
presume
the case.
Christian
elated when
much
champions are
adducing Pliny'sevidence.
They think it conclusive.
But what
German
enlightened? The
say the more
literati have long been of opinion that this letter is a
it is found
in one
ancient
forgery. They maintain
only,and not in the rest.
copy
Dr. J. S. Sender,of Leipsic,
of the most
learned
one
of the
German
adduces
nine arguments
professors,
against the authenticityof this letter. His celebrated
work
Ncue
VerIt is entitled
appeared in 1788.
"
suche
die Kircheuhist.or.ieder
aufzuklaren."
be
ersten
Jahrunderte
this
upon
Semler
246.
His arguments
mehr
subjeptwill
72
EXTERNAL
EVIDENCE.
favor of the
authenticityof this
and
letter is,that it is cited by Tertullian
Eusebius,
the
considers
MS.
that
and
Aldin
containing it,
Tertullian
and
Eusebinearly as old as Pliny. Now
both
us
were
guiltyof pious frauds, especiallythe
books
that time
at
not
were
latter,and, moreover,
a new
edition,
printed,but written.
Every copy was
in which
the transcriber
might make what alterations
few
he thought fit,
people,comparatively,possessing
them.
of
The
Tertullian,or a little before it,
age
was
notoriouslythe age of Christian forgery. Nor
there
in the interpolation
of
was
difficulty
any more
this letter than in the interpolations
in Josephus and
this last century, have
Longinus, which, till within
the Christian
been
world,
successfully
palmed upon
of the fathers
xlt present, indeed, when
the character
of the church, and
their propensity to lying and
and
acknowledged, no
forgery is universallyknown
will venture
these
to defend
clergyman of eminence
During the century interveningbetween
passages.
and
Tertullian
that is,between
Pliny the younger
and
time
113
216, a. d.? there was
enough, and
opportunity enough, to propagate the forged copies of
the disposiwell know
there existed
tion,
Pliny, and we
and lie/7
"a virtue to deceive
it being esteemed
lead an
The
enlightened
circumstances, then, which
and unprejudicedinquirerto rejectthe boasted
mony
testithe undeniable
of this celebrated
scholar,are
fact that the first Christians
the greatest forgers
were
the ignorant and
that ever
existed
not
that it was
practiced these
vulgar, but the best scholars who
inconsistent
forgeries that religiouspersecutionwas
of the Roman
character
with
the just and philosophic
and
that so moral
amiable a people as
government
the primitive Christians
are
representedby their followers,could not have been the firstto provoke the
its universal
Roman
im
maxto depart from
government
of toleration and indifference, that such persecution
Christians
allegein
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
was
nuite
inconsistent
with
the
humane
and
character
dignified
to
of
Pliny
"
Christians
suppose
73
EVIDENCE,
EXTERNAL
were
it is unreasonable
that
found
in
had
not
in the
the
rest
most
epistleis
the
"
learned
men
in
the
remote
acquired
any
that
the passage
copy only,and
of the
declaration
so
German
world,
ati,
liter-
that
this
"
the
Now
this
Christian
would
have
been
custom
of which
no
have
Pliny's or Trajan's time, would
been
have
regarded it with
guilty. They would
horror,as blasphemy. The earliest Christians,were
Jeioish
in
Christians
"
the
Ebionites
and
JNazarenes.
"
Their
Jerome, as
by Epiphanius and
gospel,seen
first
themselves
the
did not
contain
two
they
relate,
The
chaptersof Matthew.
early Christians
among
the Jews, did not believe
that Jesus Christ was
thing
anythan
more
mere
man.
a
They rejectedwith
abhorrence
first Gentile
The
his equalitywith God.
Gnostics, the Corinthians, Marcienites,"c., did not
advance
the notion
that Christ
God, or equal
wras
with
the EbionGod.
ites
Their
the same
as
gospelwas
in this respect. The
the multitude, were,
many
in full persuasionof the modern
during three centuries,
belief of the
Unitarian doctrine,
in this respect. The
"
settled
and
venture
since
the
great controversy
between
ley
Priest-
74
EVIPENCE.
EXTERNAL
that
as
of
Christians
the
"
"
"
allow
the
Christians
for
make
to
the
of
best
this
writer,
if the passage
against the divine
be
"
"
"
"
will
either of
boast
not
ancestors/'
of their
Life
his
in
of
"
the "wisdom
has
Seutonius
Claudius,
is
tue
virsage
pas-
quoted by
Alluding
Emperor Claudius, he
"
another
which
evidence-manufacturers.
Christian
the
or
the
to
was
not
does
Christians
and
Dr.
let
benefit
their
of the
leader
and
or
Lardncr
that
satisfied
5th
century, who
pretend,however,
not
the
However,
"
of the
writer
passage,
"
the
this
Jews
says,
relates
Christians
their
who
that
to
of
and
what
system
!! !
doubt,"
to
quotes
know
whether
thus
were
':
learned
the
Here
men
pelled;
exare
Christians.""
time
our
this
have
compliment
is
the
to
Christ,the
EXTERNAL
of, and
son
Rome
yet co-partner
the
as
poor
driven
were
Are we
ago.
riotous and
a
at, so
exhibited
similar
in Britain
in
he would
from
of his
many
been
We
must
testimony
and
hasten
now
of the
to
classical historian
Rome
time
to
be
followers
Christ
the north.
remark
the
upon
evidence-makers
Christian
cashire
Lan-
appeared
improbable that
with
the oppressed
incarcerated
.starvingoperativesof
and
not
ignorant
more
of
such
was
It is
propensities.Had
1842, it is by no means
have
and
their founder
that
out
localities a short
their
disorderlypersonage
wondered
kicked
with, God5
rioters of Staffordshire
believe
to
75
EVIDENCE.
Tacitus.
Few
"
favorite
the elegant
writers
of
have
enjoyed more
just celebritythan
this distinguishedand
accomplished author, and,
is highly esteemed
therefore,his evidence
by the
It is considered
to
Christians.
a triumphant answer
all
unbelievers."
have
posed
disCertainly,when
you
of Josephus and
is the only
Pliny, Tacitus
ancient
"
great author
whom
evidence.
And
as
his
"Annals,"
15th
Christians
what
will
venture
is his evidence
1
after
to
quote
Listen.
In
describing
Rome, during
reign of Nero, he
But neither all the human
observes,
help,nor the
of the Emperor, nor
all the atonements
liberality
sented
prethe
to
gods, availed to abate the infamy he
Jay under of having ordered the cityto be set on fire.
Nero
To
therefore,this common
rumor,
suppress,
procuredothers to be accused, and inflicted exquisite
rence
held in abhorpunishments upon the people,who were
by
for their crimes, and were
commonly known
tion
of Christians.
the name
They had their denominafrom
Christus, who, in the reign of Tiberius,
was
put to death as a criminal,by the Procurator
This
Pilate.
Pontius
though
pernicioussuperstition,
and
for awhile, broke
checked
out again,
spread not
of this evil,but reached
Judea, the source
only over
the city also,whither
flow from all quarters all things
that
vilQ and
shameful, and where
are
they find
the great fire at
u
"
the
76
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
shelter and
apprehended
afterwards
of
condemned, not
burning the city, as
Their
mankind.
them
covered
torn
the
daubed
been
lightsin
as
up
with
for
their
Nero
death.
made
Some
with
the
were
combustible
of his
to
to
as
Some
were
beasts, and
crucified ; others,
materials,were
wild
use
all
enmity
contrived
so
of
sect;
for their
much
contempt.
skins
were
by them,
so
was
and
piecesby dogs.
haying
set
execution
derision
to
over
to
discovered
multitude
vast
were
of
expose
confessed
who
which
crime
encouragement.
burned
thus
garden
own
as
to
tre
thea-
spectator, in the
habit
chariot
times,drivinga
of
himself.
charioteer,at other
Till,at length,these
plary
though really criminal, and deserving exemas
punishment, began to be commiserated
ple
peothe
of
who
not
out
to
were
destroyed,
regard
publicwelfare,but only to gratifythe crueltyof one
men,
man."
Such
heard
a
is
much
so
u
that
contrary,
believe
passage
of which
have
we
es
told furnish-
which
passage
of
confirmation
Christianity."I deny,
it confirms
Christian
"
beautiful
however,
the
celebrated
the
it does
Tacitus, so
the
the very
far from
are
we
system
If
reverse.
we
to
are
Christianitybeing
on
"
vine,"
di-
"
"
"
78
EXTERNAL
The
EVIDENCE.
6th
These
hold,
to
objections
unanswerable.
are
If
them.
meet
world
have
of
Tacitus,
testimony
challenge the Christians
ian
be
refuted, the Christ-
the
to
they
cannot
evidence
adduce
Christian
probable
forgery
to
above
the
as
to
amount
in
While
rest.
divine
the
but
scheme,
to
as
worth
naming.
have
proved to be forgeries
tells against
Christianity ; and
no
Josephus and
Pliny, we
Seutonius, if genuine,
Tacitus, not
only invalidates
the
all
certainty
is
"
Me
Philo"
of
character
probability
so
"
great
as
who,
ivriter
noticed
in
have
to
detail,
others, ought
and
the
favorably or unfavorably,
doings of Christ
resident
in the
his
dupes, he being a contemporary,
devoted
and
of
their
seat
having
movement,
very
all
three
of
and
of
have,
fabric
it shall
be
of
of
the
worked
have
mention
We
the
to
volumes
five
sufferings
stated
no
his
the
at
matter
the
history
of
the
Christ
time
very
wonders,
state
"
is
makes
all !
submit,
evidence.
external
to
the
Jews, at the
supernatural
therefore,
razed
to
ground.
given
In
our
fatal
next
blow
to
address,
FIFTH.
LECTTJEE
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
Friends
"
discourse*
The
series
important
there
does
It
deemed
is
yet
impious,
of
more
are
ject
sub-
no
upon
irreconcilable
such
exist
examination.
questions
Few
interesting, and
more
or
fifth
the
is
deliver,
to
Bible.
the
upon
rise
antipathy
laudable
not
to
"
of
truth
the.
not
beneficial, to test the
dangerous,
concede
called
You
to
are
Scriptures.
upon
thing
everyis the
la no
case
question nothing.
argument
is
so"
it
is
because
"made
"it
more
easy,'*
so,
is the Word
of God
Bible
because
legitimate. The
is the
it is the Word
This
of God.
summary
way
"
"
"
in
the
which
Christians
dogmatic
inquisitive sceptic. We
such
longer to tolerate
with
examine
pretensions
Nay,
In
of
of
last
inquiry
proved,
Bible
at
the
should
denominated
view,
we
is of
cited
the
no
more
Evidence.
(as
the
evidence,
such
the
decide
book.
searching.
that
portion
upon
External
that
outset,
Lectures,) that
external
be
to
the
other
any
no
fore,
greater, and, there-
are
entered
we
indifference
would
we
as
utterly incompetent to
for if it could
be shown,
the
and
pretensions
address,
the
resolved, however,
antiquated conceit, but
freedom
investigation
our
our
the
silence
to
are
much
fox its
more;
the
as
wish
we
question
shall
show
evidence
internal
avail.
In
corroboration
authority
of
Dr.
Con
vers
We
if
true, is
issue,
at
in
quent
subse-
is
of
false,
that
Middle-
80
EXTERNAL
EVIDENCE.
evidence,which
Christians
conclusive.
means
no
the
evidence
was
to
as
be
On
the
Rev.
John
that
did
than
The
of
in favor
the
external
adduce, was
contrary,
completely spurious,some
utterlyinadmissible,and
against,rather
Wesley.
of that
much
so
by-
able
question-
others
of the Christian
told
scheme.
Josephus we
proved, in the caustic
"a rank
language of Bishop Warburton, was
forgery,
and a very stupid one, too."
^The
Pliny,the same.
evidence
of Seutonius, we
pugned
imremarked, distinctly
the divine
origin of Christianity.So did
insurmountable
Tacitus,though there were
objections
to the genuineness of his evidence.
We
the next
duced
now
proceed to meet
testimony adPontius
Pilate.
For
by Christians
many
the
of
Pilate was
held
in high
centuries,
testimony
the most
learned
teemed
Christians,being esrepute among
so
conclusive,that it placed all doubt beyond
It was
first quoted by Justin
the range of possibility.
hundred
Martyr, in the second century, nearly one
testimony
"
fore,
Holy Fathers," and, there"all
honorable
men."
Eusebius, of all the
of "pious frauds," the most
extensive
manufacturers
and
successful,seems
perfectlyenraptured with the
testimony of Pilate,esteeming it the grand stronghold
if
the
of Christian
evidence.
testimony
Certainly,
relied on, it might have
have
of Pilate could
been
had some
weight, as he, above all others,having sat
the case, ought to be familiar with
in judgment on
the real facts of the matter.
Unfortunately,however,
for the Christian
world, the testimony of Pilate,- the
sostom, and
others,
"
all
"
direct
most
takes
and
its
valuable
place
among
that
could
the
have
category of
been
"
fered,
of-
pious
frauds."
The
supposed testimony
is contained
in
some
of this memorable
letters"
ter;
charac-
(Fabricus,in
his
EXTERNAL
Coclex
Apocryphus,
it
five) which
capacityof Governor,
says
Tiberius, Emperor
to
are
are
that
of
is
"
In
Rome.
stated
addressed
those
epistles,
Pilate
the
81
EVIDENCE.
deemed
it
"
virtue
to
deceive
and
lie."
Permit
me
"
"
"
'"'
there
not
was
and
mad."
Such
so
the
much
Roman
as
one
of them
soldiers
extraordinary
went
and
staring
vulsion
unparalleledconis only mentioned
in these contemptible epistles.
No
lived at
the
historian,
great or small,who
an
82
EXTERNAL
makes
time,
flourished
EVIDENCE.
it.
period,and who,
this
at
to
Josephus, who
as
Jeta,took
culiar
peof his countrymen,
is perfectly
would
which
have
been
subject,
the
impossible if such
elder Pliny, who, about
The
time,"
History of his own
u
the
was
the year
75, wrote
the
in
thirty-onebooks, and
of that period,is
historian
celebrated
most
reallytranspired.
events
to
next
which
occurrence,
have
escaped
had
his observation.
The
ter,
wriSeneca, too, a voluminous
younger
then about
of age, and
who
was
thirty-nine
years
have
been at Rome
at the time, makes
must
no
tion
men-
of
wonderful
this
the
Gibbon
phenomenon.
greatest contempt and indignationat
statements,
and
denounces
It is
them
alike
as
that
clear,therefore,
presses
ex-
these
and
false
those
epistles
of Pilate, so
highly prized by that distinguished
forgery manufacturer, Eusebius, is nothing but a
signed
cunningly devised fable" of the Holy Fathers, defor the purpose
of deluding those
whom
they
their
tordiscover
too ignorant
thought were
impostures.
I am
enlightenedChristian
happy to say that the more
preposterous.
"
evidence-makers,
ashamed
now
are
of
the
audacious
Holy" predecessors,and
impositionsof their
Some
as
decency will permit, discard them.
"
Du
Ecclesiastical
eminent
most
Pin,
of
Prance,
and
vol., c. 7, of
We
ScriptureCanon,"
in
the 2nd
"
"
ographa
to
next
the
Pilate,as written
same
things; but it
whether
whether
this be
this
it
how
was
letter
not
his elaborate
have
was
extant
are
have
Pin
work
on
in the Orthodox-
to
difficidt
in Eusebius'
from
forged
it will,there
is
the
times,
letter
Tiebrius, which
to
of
England,
epistles.Du
epistleof Lentulus, a
to
the
of modern
far
of
Lardner,
memorable
alreadyrepudiatedthese
says,
the "
historians
as
tains
con-
determi?ie
]s
time, or
his narration.
several
learned
tributed
at-
men
Let
who
has
is
it
likely that
of
man,
? and
death
Pilate
should
whom
he
the
things to
the
man
among
of
relation
rius
Tibe-
number
?
governor
agine
thing, who can im-
such
would
Senate
such
write
to
himself had condemned
might have done so, yet is it
should
have
proposed to the
he
though
"
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
submitted
have
it ?
to
absolutelycharge this
with
narration
falsehood,yet it may, at least,pass for
a
doubtful piece." Yes, very doubtful^Dr. Du Pin !
But his brother
and historian,Dr. Lardner,
Christian
does much
than
more
doubt; he declares that "the
of Pontius
Pilate and his letter to Tiberius,which
acts
we
now
have, are not genuine, but manifestly spuri-r
/" (Vol. 1, c. 2, p. 316, Jewish
monies.)
Testiand Heathen
ous
Wherefore, though
So
in favor
I"
then, for
much
"
this
glorious"evidence
of Christianity.
for another
Now
cannot
we
piece of
evidence
ous
equally "glori-
It is that of Publius
Lentulus, Roman
Pilate,as procurator
at
individual, was,
or
Govern-
of Judea.
predecessorof
The
one
testimony of this
time,
the
Christians.
peculiar favorite of the orthodox
of Christ,
Living, as he did, during the early career
in which
and officiating
of the very locality
as
governor
his movements
said to have
are
occurred,his evidence,
of course,
deemed
was
pre-eminently important. It
will be found
in the History of Christ, as
originally
It
written
in
dressed
Zavier.
form
of
is
the
a
by
letter,adfollows :
as
Lentulus, Prefect of Jerusalem,
and
Senate
to the
people of Rome, greeting." 'i he
letter proceeds to furnish us with a most
scriptio
glowing deof the person
of Christ, which, if correct,
would
some
lead us to believe that he was
really a hand"
the
"
fellow.
there
with
say
hath
"At
letter commences;
appeared, and still lives, a man
The
great powers,
that
the Son
he js
of
God.
whose
is Jesus
name
mighty prophet
"
He
restores
his
the
this
time
endowed
Christ.
Men
call him
disciples
dead
to
life,and
84
EXTERNAL
is
He
of
man
of
cast
as
effect,
fear him.
the
has
His
botto?n
down
his
from
without
lower
the
his
radiation
part of
his
and
it is
ears
his
from
top of his
head
it is
his
forehead
diseases.
certain
ears,
downwards
Nazarenes
and
hair
of
to
of ailments
sorts
stature, proportionallytall,and
induce
to
straight, and
curled
all
countenance
of
to
from
the sick
heals
EVIDENCE.
parted
after
is smooth
fashion
the
and
of the
clear,and
his
certain
with
perate
tema
pimple, adorned
redness, his countenance
gentlemanlike and
and month
agreeable,his nose
nothing amiss, his beard
color
thick, and divided into two bunches, of the same
his hair, his eyes blue and uncommonly bright. In
as
reproving and rebuking, he is formidable ; in teaching
and exhorting,of a bland
and agreeabletongue.
He
of person, united with serioushas a wonderful grace
ness.
No one
hath ever
him smile; but weeping,
seen
of
indeed
He hath
a
they have.
lengthened stature
body, his hands are straightand turned up, his arms
In speaking, deliberate and slow, and
delectable.
are
the Qnost
sparing of his conversation
beautiftdof
^
the
countenance
sons
of men
among
face
without
"
Who
?
after this
I
am
lamentation
sure
that
will
not
it must
be
be
of Christianity
enamored
a
matter
of
unspeakable
of the
dence-man
evileading Christian
fied
of our
day, are growing dissatiswith
this flattering
testimony of Lentulus, and
endeavor, very ungraciously,to throw it overboard.
The
French
ecclesiastical historian,Dti Pin, regardless
of
his
of the admiration
forefathers, disposesof
this celebrated
letter in the following slashing and
need of showing
is no
unceremonious
There
style:
the falsity
of a letter attributed
to Lentulus, written
and people of Rome, concerning the acto the Senate
tions
of Jesus
Christ, since the forgeryof it is selfsome
"
"
evident."
In what
an
off-hand
manner
these
reverend
88
EXTERNAL
EVIDENCE.
abandoned/'
toisely
now
doubt
"wise';
I
the
not
now
Christian
abandon
to
to
come
towards
the rest.
consider
of
opponent
of
testimony of the
He
Christianity Celsus.
the
brated
celeished
flour-
of the second
middle
the
He
century.
distinguishedphilosophersof his
of the early Christhe pretensions
tians
day, and combatted
with
consummate
a very
ability. He wrote
elaborate
True
work, entitled,"The
Word," as an
of Christianity,which
answered
was
by the
expose
Christian
Father
tian
Origen. We are informed
by Chrisone
was
the
most
evidence-manufacturers
that
in this work
brought about
they were
the
Egyptian
Christ
tells
learned
in the
Scriptures
that
they were
lieved
through divine interposition.He beproduced by magic, as the tricks of
priesthood,from whom, he affirms,
the
art of imposture.
secret
Origen
admitted
Celsus
that
us
Celsus
"
Christ
born
that
of
the
lived
have
to
virgin," that
Holy
scended
de-
Ghost
baptized
by John, and that a voice appeared declaring him to
what
1 ask upon
Now
of God.
be the Son
authority
that such
that Celsus admits
to believe
are
we
things
a
dove
in his time]
mentioned
were
like
Jesus
on
when
Have
he
we
was
of
the works
have
We
only
Confessedly not.
those portionswhich
Origen, his antagonist,thought
works
of Celsus were
The
fit to furnish.
destroyed
fact
will
which
by the Christians, publicly burnt, a
the early proindelible
an
stigma upon
remain
ever
testimony, therefore,
pounders of Christianity. The
of Celsus
rests
solely upon the ipse dixit of Origen.
Celsus
consult
to
"
And
we
is he
who
can
place
bare
not
facts
An
reliance?
honest
one
man?
who
one
would
upon
not
whom
terested
feel in-
in
would
EXTERNAL
trary, he
virtue
was
of those
one
and
deceive
to
alone
induce
would
and
would
to
best
Allow
of
friends, to remind
Origen, as given in my
my
of
developing the conduct
Fathers.
Bishop Ilorsely,in his
was
Priestley,
says that Origen
the
when
was
; which
fact
tage,
advanas
tohat
argument
of the
you
real
third, discourse,
Christian
early
celebrated
"
in
me,
character
he
unfair
every
it
opponent's meaning
his
represent
deemed
moreover,
of Celsus
take
to
who
And.
lie.7;
him
0,
men
adversary
acknowledged
the
EViDEl\UE.
not
he believed
reply to
serting
incapable of asnot, and
that
"
"
"
"
"
"
in
an
like the
examination
present.
not
be
"
direct
heaven
to
Egypt,
lest you
as
if the
you
should
great God
who
and
be
your
taken
had
relations
up
and
already sent
to
put
two
flee into
to
death,
angels
88
EXTERNAL
upon
oion
of
account, could
your
in
son,
Christ
safetyat
from
caught basely
those
EVIDENCE
home
"
his
"
he says,
Christ was
pursuers,
lurking and flymg, being betrayed by
he called
whom
have
not
his
disciples."Speaking of his
crucifixion,he observes, "If not
before,why did he
and deliver
his divinity,
not
self
himnozv, at least,exert
from this ignominy, and
those
served,
treat
as
they dewho
behaved
ignommiously both towards
himself
and his father 1
He further remarks,
You
washed
by John, there lighted
say that when
you was
"
the
upon
you
witness
from
voice
"
of
appearance
said that
has
he
declare
heaven
"
this, or
saw
you
he
What
bird.
to
be the
able
credit-
heard
of
Son
the
God,
then,
observes, "Well,
Again
except yourself?
let us grant that all these things were
done b}r you
similar
done by
impostures were
they do such things,must
because
be
them
to
that
they
God's
were
sons
the
or
the
Egyptians,
we
therefore
must
not
we
artifices of wicked
and
esteem
rather
say
miserable
and
men
Celsus
also
"
"
carpenter who
her
of
had
espoused her,
adulterywith
soldier
"
"
put away
he
having
named
of
mother
The
by
the
ed
convict-
Pantharas.
wandered
in
having
there
shameful
obscure
an
in
Egypt
some
himself
her
by
husband,
till she
manner,
place; and
for
such
charms,
as
and
that
he,
livelihood,and
fond
are
learned
of doors
out
put
about
89
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
set
the
tians
Egyp-
ing
then, valu-
himself up
for
god."
of
give you more
displayno little abilityand
not
permit; and, moreover,
I could
irrelevant
hasten
to
which
objections,
Celsus's
time will
my
be somewhat
but
acumen,
it would
I
question in debate.
the allegedtestimony of another celebrated
expose
opponent of Christianity Porphyry, who
to
immediate
the
"
flourished
about
century
after
Celsus.
He
was
of extraordinary
philosopherof the Platonic school, and a man
He was
and virtue.
inent
emtalent,learning,
in all the departments of knowledge" literary,
and
historical,
philosophical.As a writer his style
and chaste
was
a very
singularlyelegant, dignified,
So
to that of his pious adversaries.
pleasingcontrast
renowned
he for his probityand morality, that
was
surnamed
The
Virtuous
he was
an
appellation
few of the Christian fathers could justlyclaim.
which
Dr. Lardner, a Christian, says of Porphyry, the
and
Heathen
Infidel,Vol. 3, page 124, of his Jewish
stances
Testimonies, and this is one of thje mosjt glorious inof disinterested
phyry,
"Porhumanity on record
named
as
a wife
Eunapius assures
us, had
he
Marcella, a widow, with five children,to whom
he says
he marascribed
of his books, in which
ried
one
her not
for the sake of having children
by her
himself,but that he might educate the children which
she had
his friend.
by a former husband, who was
Which
showed, (says the Dr.) a virtuous and generous
t
he
indeed,
Nor,
(continues Dr.) do
disposition.
"
"
"
"
"
reflection made
any
in his answer
Cyrill,of Alexandria,
we
meet
honorable
with
of
mention
8*
Marcella,as
his conduct.
upon
to
a
Julian,makes
woman
of
phi-
90
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
of
losophicalturn
by Porphyry."
Such
How
defenders
Let
of the
good
was
different
me
for that
and
mind,
to
not
the
great opponent
the
Bible-heroes
hear
again
that
priesthood
"
no
that
of Christianity.
and
Bible-
impudent
Infidel
can
sumption
as-
be
man.
About
the year
esteemed
reason
Christian
from
system.
It
and
produced,
as
very
luminous
vo-
exposure
might
be
the
of
high character and attainments
the writer, a strong sensation, so
much
the
so, that
holy fathers were
quite frightened from their
poor
What.
it they could
not.
propriety. Answer
theny
!
the
do
O
?
must
not
priesthood were
they
long in
refute the writings of
which
should
devisinga scheme
gratiate
Porphyry most effectively. Having, by this time, in-
presumed
themselves
into
Theodosius, whom
addressing in the fulsome
the
great !""
"
Theodosius
peror
good graces of the Emin the habit
of
they were
language of "Theodosius
the
the
wise!'7
"
Theodosius
that fanatical
impartialI" "c., they prevailedupon
despot to issue a decree against the writings of
this enlightenedand good man
; and, wrhile they were
it advisable
ness,
to complete the busidoing, they deemed
by includingthe writings of every individual who
had
had, the "audacity" and
"impiety" to oppose
of Porphyry, and all other
Christianity. The works
in the market-place.
thus publiclyburnt
heretics,were
from the decree, as given
The
followingis an extract
"We
decree,
by Dr. Lardner, Vol. 3, page 111:
therefore, that all writings whatever, which
ry,
Porphyor
else,hath written against the Christian
any one
they shall
religion,in the possessionof whomsoever
would
to the fire ! for we
be found, shall be committed
to come
to
suffer any
of these things so much
as
not
to wrath, and
tend to provoke God
men's
ears, which
and
of the pious.71 O ! kind
minds
the
offend
to
the climax, the same
! To cap
Christians
generous
decree proceedsto enforce a belief in that sillydocthe
"
EXTERNAL
trine,the Trinity,and
believe
it, "that
not
9i
EVIDENCE.
declares
that
besides
the
if any
person
will
condemnation
of
they must
justice,
expect to suffer the severe
authorities,guided by heavenly
penaltieswhich our
O !
wisdom, may think proper to inflict upon them."
those were
a
gloriousdays for the priesthood! What
How
have
lamentable
revival !"
a
pity we cannot
that the writings of an
Owen, a Volney, a Voltaire,a
Paine, a Gibbon, and a Hume, should be allowed "to
offend
to men's
to wrath, and
come
ears, provoke God
of the pious !"
minds
the
Why are they not burnt
it not
be a
publiclyin our market-places? Would
Carlton
thur's
Hill, or Arglorious"sight to behold
your
Seat, blazing with the writings of these great
and good men?
But, alas! those days are
by.
gone
Thanks
A new
has dawned
to the glous.
era
rious
upon
divine
"
"
of mind
advancement
and
Thanks
civilization.
of
chanic's
knowledge as diffused by our Meence.
Institutions,our Lyceums, our Halls of Sciof the printing
Thanks
to the
mighty power
O ! it arose,
and
The
priestcrafttrembled.
press.
bondage fell from their hands,
rusty chains of mental
of free inquiry flew from their iron
and the bright spirit
from
its debasing
grasp, arousing the intellect of the world
!
slumbers
Dr.
Jortin, in his Ecclesiastical
History,openly charges the fathers with the common
practice of perverting, defacing,and destroying the
works
of their adversaries, and
those of each
even
to
the
progress
other.
To
show
the
tact
oppositionto the
few specimens of
be the
way
of salvation, the
who
believe in him
they only
come
of the
rather
at
to
the
who
men
awkward
lived
can
be
beforehis
question,and
it is not
life, and
the
truth, and
saved,
what
coming
to
be
"
he-
wondered
that
the
"
92
EXTERNAL
EVIDENCE.
not
to
see
the
in
inconsistent
those
writings,and
of these
recommendation
themselves,
such
should
not
absurdities,but
of
their
"
He
as
own
and
unsuitable
only
afford
be
to
dication
vin-
likewise
particularopinions."
a
Greek, and educated
"
"
was
Origen, who
the
sentiments, learned from the Grecians
method
of explainingthe Greek
mysteries,
allegorical
which
he cunningly applied to Jewish
Scriptures."
of Porphyry's, was
The
written
12th book
against
he states
the book of Daniel, which
written
not
was
whose
who
it bears, but by another
name
by him
lived in Judea
in the time of Antiochus, surnamed
Epiphanius, and that the book of Daniel does not
foretell things to come,
but relates what- had
already
happened ! A curious way of prophecy'ing,certainly!
find fault
Christians
Porphyry again observes, "The
sacred
and incense, and
with
rights and sacrifices,
other things in which
the worship of temples consists.
And
yet they allow that this kind of worship began
in ancient times
by the appointment of God, who is
refers
He
also representedas wanting first fruits."
"
to
Genesis, c. 4, v. 3, as proof. Christ," says he,
do
threatens
everlasting punishment to those who
believe in him, and yet in another
not
place he says,
says,
in Greek
"
'
ith what
measure
you
meet,
it shall be
meeted
to
is absurd
and contradictory."
you again/ which
what
1 will now
remark
is called the evidence
upon
"
of Porphyry in favor of Christianity. The
Holy
so
94
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
philosopher,and an enemy
Porphyry's, a heathen
of
to
Christianity,but a Christian, and a Patron
" It is the
! ! !
^artificeor forgery of
Christianity
the
some
Christian, designed and contrived, to save
wise
in general,and possiblylikeinterests of Christianity
of some
particularnotion of the author itself.'7
Alluding to the priestwho forged it,the Dr. observes,
"
rect
having formed a design to exhibit a corpage 221,
testimony in behalf of Christianity,in the name
of some
learned
Heathen, and to bring into it oracular
of Heathen
he supposed that no fitter
answers
deities,
could be taken than that of Porphyry, who
was
name
had
in great repute for learning, and who
published
the bitterest invectives
against Jews and Christianity,
of
"
and
the
against
the
work, to overthrow
Christians,which
ever
been
leged
al-
done
friends, is the
Such, my
have
that
strongest arguments
so
much
mischief."
historyof
this
audacious
I have
exhibited
We
in my
last three
addresses.
dence
reviewed, at length,the external eviby Christians in confirmation
usually adduced
of their system.
I observed, at the close of my
last
discourse, that the facts 1 had then submitted, gave a
fatal shock
fabric of Christian
to the
evidences, and
it to
to raze
that,on this occasion,I should endeavor
the ground. 1 ask, respectfully,
is it not fairlydemolished
have
now
Where
is the
will attempt
person who
whole
of this evidence
but
is the
it up 2 What
of perversion and fraud
tell you
Were
it necessary
to
prop
mass
I could
of other
"
"
selves
such
evidence
other
book,
in
derision
of
My friends,was
in favor of the divinityof any
excite unspeakable disgust and
of every
enlightenedand philosophic
ashamed
now
are
adduced
it would
mind
the
inquirer.
95
EVIDENCE.
EXTERNAL
I make
not
them.
these
statements
Christian
opponents, but to induce
my
of delusion and
open their eyes to the scene
in which
they haye been so long confined.
tate
irri-
to
them
to
imposture
Let
them
of their narrow
beyond the boundaries
prejudices,
contemplate the illimitable field of inquiry. Let
look for truth, not merely within
the little confines
dark creeds, and
of their own
mas,
inexplicabledogMoore
it can
but
be found," for as
wherever
look
and
them
"
exclaims
u
"
When
from
the
one
lipsof truth,
mighty breath,
Shall,like a whirlwind, scatter in its breeze,
The
dark pileof human
mockeries
whole
;
Then
shall the reign of mind
commence
on
earth,
second
And
fresh
from
as
a
birth,
starting
the
of
world's
in
sunshine
the
new
spring,
Man,
Shall walk
holy thing.;7
transparent like some
For
that
state
External
The
the
best
Evidence
Bibliotheca
Casius
Lewis
of the
the information
on
the
Ellis Du
works
reader,I
to consult
in
of
Christianity,are
of Fabricus, the small
Canon, in quarto, the
Pin's
should
wish
to
discussing the
the following:
of Bishop
work
translation
of
clesiast
History, the Ecof Basnage
work
Ecclesiastical
LECTURE
SIXTH.
GENUINENESS
THE
Friends
We
OF
THE
SCRIPTURES.
"
this
purpose
evening
to discuss
the
genuineness
necessarilylead us to
of the
will
Scriptures. This
duced
adconsider, more
particularly,the internal evidence
in support
of their
by Christians
inspired
is unquestionably the most
This
text-book.
important
I
"f
the
discussion, for, as
formerly observed,
portion
7?
"
if the
If
avail.
no
evidence
internal
be
cannot
we
can
be
false, all
from the
prove
of divine
the
book
origin,the dispute
is of
external
itselfthat
fairlyset
is
it
at
rest.
We
affirm,then,
of the
books
by
and
Old
whose
on
of
and
the
were
principal
ten
writ-
not
the
the
Deuteronomy.
constitute
Scriptures,and
principal
especialconsideration.
My first objectionto their genuineness is,that
there
the
Jewish
the
fore,
there-
no
of
These
merit,
division
affirmativeevidence
There
not
that
Moses
declare
he
wrote
is the
them,
author
that
of
Jewish
Testament
New
names
of
place,that
atim,
serigenuineness of the books
as
given in the Bible, beginning with the books
Moses, viz., Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
We
is
those
in the first
98
that he
prove
and
Jews
of them
whole
the
has
Moses
But
facts?
neutral
writer
if
historian
"
challenge both
If he
not
done
written
are
third person.
the
were
books, why
of these
the
SCRIPTURES.
THE
OF
GENUINENESS
THE
honestlystatt?
On
so.
the
in the
They
thor
au-
trary,
con-
styleof
written
are
a
as
was
"
"
"
"
"
and
"Johnson
natural
language
would
other
There
is the
under
further
no
of
author
such
Such
is
and
circumstances,
the
any
the
for
reason
Pentateuch,
Moses
believingthat
than
his
that
name
very
"
reason
Jackson?"
unto
be absurd.
is
occurs
"
said
well, upon
wrote
that of Scott's.
Napoleon
To
to
"
We
doubt.
he
might
In
were
Numb.
Moses,
were
on
Think,
suppose
nothing.
are
followingqueer passage
3, it states, "Now,
chap. xii. ver.
The
we
"
was
my
that
'!
friends,of
that there is
himself!
to
"
above
very meek
the face of the earth."
man
world
right
the same
thing
prove
of these books, what
the author
of the
think
much
just as
Both
not.
If Moses
to
have
no
idea
meek
man
all the
men
declaringto
the
that
the
earth
meek
as
as
upon
person
is paradoxicallypreposterous.
GENUINENESS
THE
If Moses
very
and
did
OF
THE
99
SCRIPTURES.
that passage,
it proves
he was
he there assumes
opposite character to what
hence,
write
in
writing, such
violatingthe
been
I have
often
expressionmust
an
of his
convictions
the
;
have
mind.
own
heard
phrenologists
speak of the organs
of benevolence, wonder, veneration, "c,
eased,
being disthe author
but if Moses
of such language,
was
I should
of modesty was
deranged.
say his organ
In Deuteronomy, the stylestrikingly
the impossibil
proves
of Moses
The
is
manner
being the writer.
The
writer
the subject
essentiallydramatic.
opens
with
an
introductory discourse,and then introduces
Moses
in the act of speaking; and
when
he
has
as
made
Moses
finish his harangue, he resumes
his own
forward
part, and speaks till he brings Moses
again,
;
and
last closes
at
death
This
four
end
burial
and
of
in this book
ver.
with
scene
speakers
:
from
5, it is the writer
Moses
an
account
occurs
no
of the
of Moses.
interchange
times
of
the
in the
ver.
who
1 of
less than
chap.
speaks ; he
i. to the
then
troduces
in-
of
deliveringhis oration,
and this continues
of ver.
to the end
40, of chap. iv.
the writer
Here
drops Moses, and speaks historically
of what
in consequence
done
of what
was
Moses,
when
living,is supposed to have said, and which the
writer has dramaticallyrehearsed.
This
of chap, xxxiii.,
the end
to
style continues
when
the writer, having now
the
rehearsal
finished
the
forward
and
on
speaks
part of Moses, comes
of
the
whole
the
last
He
begins by
chapter.
through
went
tellingthe reader that Moses
top of
up to the
Pisgah, "c, and died in the land of Moab, and that
the Lord
that
in a valley, and
buried
him
no
man
this day, that is, unto
knoweth
of his sepulchreunto
the
time
book
at
as
which
the
of
Deuteronomy.
possibly be, that Moses
act
writer
It is
as
lived
clear
is not
the
who
as
the
wrote
language
writer
of
can
these
books.
Who,
that is in his
rightreason,
would
believe
that
100
GENUINENESS
THE
OF
SCRIPTURES,
THE
"
So Moses, the
composed the followinglines:
in the land of Moab,
of the Lord, died there
servant
And
he buried
according to the word of the Lord.
in a valley in the land of Moab, over
him
against
of his sepulchreunto
knoweth
Beth-Peer, but no man
Are
that Moses
to believe
wrote
this day?
we
an
death and burial?
and
of his own
account
that, too,
the
last
quent
subsefrom
is evident
line, many
as
years
Moses
"
to
his dissolution
The
would
who
man
low
swal-
indeed
most
a
absurdity, must
possess
capacious appetitefor the wonderful.
Paine
cluding
quaintlyremarks, when
alludingto the conjustquoted, which states,
portion of the verses
"
of his sepulchreunto
this
knoweth
That
man
no
the speaker, would
Moses
be an
To make
day
self,
improvement on the play of a child that hides himfind me
find
and cries,nobody can
nobody can
such
an
"
"
"
"
"
Moses.
I
other
proceedto propound
Moses
that
was
books
these
that
I hold
the
objectionsto
author
were
sition
poPentateuch.
of the
written
the
centuries
after
of the verses
concluding sentence
just
first proof:
read is my
of his sepulchreunto
this da}?-."
knoweth
"No
man
Does
it not imply the lapse
does this mean?
What
the day of Moses's
death
of a long interval between
this passage
the periodwhen
written?
and
was
is based
Genesis, chap,
argument
My next
upon
The
time.
his
"
xxxvi.
31
ver.
"And
"
the
these
there
before
are
of
Israel.''
It is evident
until
here
as
modern
several
force and
"
not
to
have
been
reign over
ten
writ-
Israel,
until
nay,
could
this passage
Now,
were
had
clearness
any
"
dateless
writings to
be
found, in
102
THE
it
cause
far
was
with
GENUINENESS
OF
from
THE
Zidon,
and
SCRIPTURES.
and
had
they
it
was
in the
friends,that
no
historian
ness
busi-
no
valley that
And
lieth by
they built a cityand dwelt
And
of the city,Dan,
therein.
they called the name
of Dan
their father,who
after the name
born
was
of the city was
Israel : howbeit, the name
unto
Laish
of the Danites taking posaccount
at the first.7' This
session
of Laish, and
it
is
to
Dan,
changing
placed in
of Judges
the book
immediatehj after the death of
of Samson
The
death
Samson.
occurred
1120, b. c,
and that of Moses
ing
1452, b. c., and, therefore,accordto historical arrangement,
the place was
not called
Dan
until 332 pears after the decease of Moses.
It is
manifest,then, that he could have nothing to do with
the authorship. Again
written
Could
Moses
have
the 8th
of the 38th
verse
chap, of Exodus, which
speaks of
only
glass was
looking-glasses"when
invented by Benedict, an English monk, in the seventh
than
2000 years
(the year 674) more
century
after
any man
Beth-rehob.
"
"
Moses
It is
of
dead
was
clear, my
credit,whose
historycontains
conformable
phrases, not
Such
he speaks.
objectionsto the
which
and
book,
expressions;
time of
furnish
of
genuineness
abounds
the
customs
any
table
irrefuancient
in such
discrepancies.
tained
Suppose a play published as Shakspear.e's,conthat
allusions to the Battle of Waterloo, is not
enough
it not
with
anachronisms
the Pentateuch
worthy
anachronisms
gross
subsequent date, or to
subsequent date, or who
employs words,
and
refer you
the
Would
to
to
other
justpointed out.
uIn
is
to facts of
"allusions
of
anachronisms
Dr.
of the
Francis
as
has
gross
as
noticed
I could
any I have
several.
"
Old
"
naanite
was
then
in the
land,' which
we
learn
from
GENUINENESS
THE
THE
OF
103
SCRIPTURES.
he
Nebor,
great
in
out
show
"
"
There
'
and
There
could
passages
and when
there had
age,
posterior
Mount
upon
chap, xxxiii,
in Judea,
was,
could be pointed
never
such
that
died
In Deut.
of it.
expression
prophet as Moses
places.
many
He
Jordan.
eastward
the
to
the
find this
we
so
passed
never
such
needs
no
comment
only
be
written
been
several
to
in
ets
proph-
after Moses."
What, however,
all the
than
been
may
be considered
sive
conclu-
more
as
Pentateuch
could
not
written
in
common
There
use.
being used
long time
for
common
Herodotus
writing in
after.
use
that
states
the
till the
was
is
the
no
the
writer
of
time
Moses,
in Walsh's
Egyptian
time
of the
evidence
of the
papyrus
papyrus
for
nor
Ptolemies,and
first historian
who
view,
Re-
American
was
could
not
in
that
have
104
GENUINENESS
THE
of it.
made
use
word,
such
the
as
of that
Moses"
of
in the
been
of
name
years 'I
written
could
It is
on
farce
swallow
such
book
of Genesis
must
have
could
no
could
i. and
ends
ii. v.
4, and
of
quite
different
chap. ii. v.
at
ends
different
other
of
Lord
that
books
writers.
One
God
"
evident
work
one
chapter.
have
must
it
invalid.
stories
of this
fact,that
memory,
these
opinion that
by
with
the
chapters, detailing
different
two
to
with
The
them.
history
historians,
of Moses,
so
write
wrote
Bible-reader
event,
he
objectionswere
is
be the
not
former
There
the creation.
says
respect
it
particular,
written
by two
even
With
nonsense.
therefore
least,and
the
if Moses
but
none
"
by
elaborate
an
in
been
in my
first time
the
or
talk of
materials
such
sand
thou-
plaster,and how
could such
a
prodigious
lost,and that for 800
been
to
Why.
stone
sense
have
ten
writ-
remember
that the
upon
common
of materials
mass.
at
years
it ! indeed
long
one
mentioned, was
after Moses, who
ever
800
have
must
will
you
was
priestHilkiah,
found it. Found
it,it
material, about
You
I informed
Lecture,
law
after Moses
years
SCRIPTURES.
THE
OF
Dr.
chap,
chap,
Eichorn
been
is
composed
story speaks of
God,
the
and
tellingus 'man
other begins, with telling
us
not, (chap. ii.
they were
One
and woman
created
gether,
toman
were
v. 5.)
says
was
vchap.i. v. 27,) the other that the woman
cording
sometime
made
afterthe man, (chap.ii. v. 18.) Acto the firststory there was
no
name
given to
the first man
and
woman.
According to the second
to
one
they have names
given them
they were
says
with
"
have
dominion
their dominion
over
was
the
whole
limited, to
earth
"
the
other
the
garden.
of creation
"
One
other
that
tive
narra-
(chap.ii.
OF
GENUINENESS
THE
v.
countries, while
the
THE
if there
as
no
105
SCRIPTURES.
only one
were
mention
second
appears
after
countries
later,
of any
to have
day.
particular
been
ten
writ-
and
places had
mentions
writer
the
as
Havilah,
acquired names,
Ethiopia, Assyria, the Euphrates, the land of Nod,
and other places.
the
My friends,it is a curious fact,if Moses was
of the Pentateuch, or if these
had
author
books
been
in existence
at all,at so
early a period as alleged,that
the slightestmention
be
should
of them
in
made
not
of the Old
Testament,
any of the subsequent books
until the return
from the Babylonish capof the Jews
tivity.
From
Joshua
the second
book of Kings,
to
it gives an
written after the captivity,
as
(which was
of that event,)there
the most
is not
account
remote
allusion
to any
writings answering the Pentateuch,
and
of Moses
the
!
From
even
name
rarely occurs
all these
warranted
we
are
considerations,therefore,
could not have
in affirmingthat the Pentateuch
been
written
until after the Babylonish captivity,
least
at
that is,nearly one
thousand
years
to
subsequent
Moses.
It is higlhy probable Ezra
the real auwas
thor
of these books, and
he lived onlyfour hundred
The
Talmudists, and the Jewish
years before Christ.
In
writers generallyascribe the Pentateuch
to Ezra.
on
a former
casion,
ocNehemiah, we are told,as mentioned
"
that he was
write
the
Jewish
inspiredto reas
Scriptures,
they had been absolutelylost during the
tured,
manufacwas
then, the Pentateuch
captivity. It was
them
must
esteem
as
paratively
comwe
and, therefore,
many
years
"
"
modern.
can
be
made
and
as
we
are
referringto them,
by the Ptolemies
of these, the Greek
is the only one.
before
fact.
cited
Of this
for the
certain
until
"
the
occurred
only
priesthood
defy
The
opinions I have thus given upon
is stronglyconfirmed
by the fact,that
Christ.
the
to
writer
collection
Alexandrian
version, restingon
This
no
school,
rity,
autho-
no
300
years
overturn
these
many
this
tings,
wri-
of
106
GENUINENESS
THE
OF
THE
SCRIPTURES.
declares
angels,and
The
even
of
book
Jews
the
that
borrowed
the
after
It is
not
until
have
belief among
Christians, that Genesis
book in the world.
A
more
egregious
vulgar
oldest
is the
done
book.
that
written
the
their
could
been
have
not
people,which
the captivity. Moses, therefore,
could
that
of
names
prove
that
there
were
men
records
and
of
the
astronomers
Chinese,
in
that
would
suade
pervery time, the stupid Jews
of
the
the
Noah
inhabitants
all
world,
except
us,
drowned
the
his family, were
by
deluge ! Souceit
country
and
astronomical
The
Moses.
at the
in the Chinese
eclipseof the sun, recorded
before
history, which
happened 2155
years
is but 256
after the deluge,at a
Christ,which
years
the earth was
the Bible informs
time when
habited
us
only inby the progeny of Noah ! while Egypt, at the
cities could
then so peopled,that many
very time, was
less
the inhabitants,and China
not
was
not contain
populous.
The
Hindoo
astronomical
observations, as far as
learned
nomers
astroby the most
they have been examined
Gen til,and
of the age, Bailhe, Le
others,
four and five thousand
carry their antiquitybetween
mentions
an
THE
GENUINENESS
THE
OF
107
SCRIPTURES.
ten
beyond our era, as may be seen in a paper writby the late Professor Playfair,of Edinburgh, and
of the Philosophical
recorded
in the second volume
years
Transactions.
I
leaving this subject,
In
of
of the
some
shall adduce
the
writers,in corroboration
been maintaining.
Eben
Ezra, a celebrated
of the
authority
and
Jewish
distinguished
most
tian
Chris-
positionI
Jewish
have
of
author
the
work
that Moses
to prove
twelfth century, wrote
a
of the book of Genesis, or of
could not be the author
attributed
mous
the fato him; and
any of the five books
Jewish
the sixteenth
Eben
Ezra,
philosopher,Spinoza,who flourished in
century, after quoting the opinions of
shows
book
hundred
than
one
from
the
the
years
Bible
did
Maccabees,
after the
exist
not
which
was
of
return
as
more
Jews
the
"
"
affirm
and
Isaac
of
the
Christian
not
that
Newton
that
Moses
admits
and
was
that
Ezra
the
author
wrote
of the
those
teuch,
Penta-
books.
Sir
Lord
"
"
to
the
easy
to
time
of
David
disprovethis
and
Solomon.
position."So
say
It is not
I.
very
108
GENUINENESS
THE
The
Christian
distinguished
asserts, that
the
Le
that
modern
the
it may
composed by
Babylon to instruct
great deal
was
and
tament.7'
Tesmates
inti-
quoted by Dupin,
Pentateuch
Moses,
of the Old
of the books
been
from
Professor,Dupin, positively
not
certainlyassured of
Clerc, also, as
than
have
are
of most
authors
true
"
we
SCRIPTURES.
THE
OF
be
Jewish
some
the
more
conjectured to
Priests, sent
of
inhabitants
new
Palestine.
i must
of the
time
hasten
now
to review
the
Pentateuch,
brief with
Joshua
the
books
remaining
devoted
Scriptures. Having
to
the
so
of
much
be
shall,necessarily,
we
our
what
some-
rest
"
of Gaash."
The
is
priesthooddeclare,that Joshua
of a book
How
the author
containing this passage.
matchless
is the
impudence and stupidityof these
!
In the following verse,
men
read,
(the 31st,)we
"
of
all the days
And
Israel served
the Lord
Joshua,
"
Joshua.
and all the da3^sof the elders that overlived
Christian
In the
of
name
people
what
heaven
In
it be Joshua
could
reason
had
done
who
he
alter
ages
here
was
lates
re-
in
?
the
passage
modesty
27th
which
Moses.
"So
the
wrote
condition
same
It is
chap., there
6th
if Joshua
shows,
in the
was
language:
of the
ver.
given
Lord
was
in
the
with
as
occurs
it, that
his
of his decessor,
preclassic
following
that
Joshua,
and
his
110
CtENUINENESS
THE
SCRIPTURES.
THE
OF
to the year
recorded, is brought down
occurred
four years
1056, to the death of Saul, which
2nd Book
The
begins with the
after that of Samuel.
Saul, and continues
reign of David, who succeeded
did not
the history until David's
decrepitude,which
his death
is
43
after
decease
the
of Samuel.
occur
until
These
years
conclusive
written
not
by that proud
they were
and
brutal priest.
As
four following
and
the
to Kings
Chronicles
I
books
to be
they are acknowledged
anonymous.
need not, therefore,notice them, only to remark, that
after the Babylonish
have
been composed
they must
captivity,as the 2nd Book of Kings gives an account
of that event.
This proves
them
to be comparatively
evidence
that
"
"
modern.
Ezra
"
book
may
be
"
did
who
in
was
who
lived
Esther
at
"
not
his
least
The
live until
Some
grave.
a
100
century
years
after Nehemiah
wrote
one
after Nehemiah's
followingbook,
is
this book
time.
confessedlyanonymous.
The
not
are
remaining books of the Old Testament
much
a
so
as
historical,
compound of proverbs, songs,
and prophecies.
I shall speak at length when
Of the latter,
I discuss
the question of prophecy ; of the former, I may
soon
dispose.
Job is evidentlynot a
Jewish
composition ; it has
no
affinitywith any other book in the Bible ; it stands
alone
in its glory." This
the opinion of some
was
of the most
learned Jews.
Ezra
Eben
and
Spinoza
"
have
declared
there
is
no
evidence
to
prove
that
it is
GENUINENESS
THE
THE
They maintain
from
another
language
genius of the composition, and
is not Hebrew, and that some
a
Jewish
OF
that it has
book.
Nevertheless,
into
this is the
Ill
SCRIPTURES.
the
Hebrew
only
lated
trans-
the
; that
of the piece
drama
Gentile
been
the
be
must
book
decent
thor.
au-
in the
Testament,
with
the
"
"
Where
live?
"
blasphemus."
The
There
did he
of
book
We
must
Proverbs
is
we
are
proceed with
ascribed
ing
grow-
ject.
sub-
our
Solomon.
to
is every
reason,
those
proverbs are
that
sayings, taken
and
But
from?
come
Solomon's
"
This
of the 25th
opinion is confirmed
by the 1st verse
chapter, which asserts that, " these are also proverbs
of Solomon, which
the men
gf Hezekiah, king of Judid not live until
dah, copied out."
Now, Hezekiah
250 years
after Solomon.
How
then could they certainly
know, at that distance of time, with no press
Solomon's
?
What
to transmit
them, that they were
lutely
Absoauthority do they give for their genuineness ?
none.
Psalms
should
"
have
These
been
pious
noticed
in
songs,
after Job.
point
The
of
order,
of
mass
ascribe
David."
them
to
Bible-readingChristians
Hence, the general title in the Prayer Books, "c.,
':The
the
Psalms
137th
of David."
Psalm,
which
I wonder
refers to
an
if David
event
which
wrote
did
112
THE
GENUINENESS
OF
THE
SCRIPTURES
defunct ! I
happen until 400 years after he was
the
mean
Babylonish captivity. " By the rivers of
bered
Babylo?iwe sat down, yea, we wept when we rememWe
Zion.
hanged our harps upon the willows,
in the midst
thereof, for there they who carried us
requiredof us a song, saying, Sing us
captive,
away
not
of the
one
admit
David
that
Psalms.
Some
no
penmen,
an
"
error
or
The
about
composed only
ascribed
are
to
learned
more
Moses
men
third of the
and
other
godly
It is
less than
fiftybeing anonymous.
to speak of
imposition, therefore,
the Psalms
We
of Zion."
songs
them
as
of David."
now
in the
was
There
is
no
year 182,
conclusive
in existence
were
some
or
before
learned
192.
say
satisfactoryevidence
they
other
gospels,but
not
"
Not
date.
that
men
of the
one
which
they certainly
current.
They refer
degree,do
Mark, Luke, or John.
in the most
remote
of sottishness
neither
and
agreement
discordant
nor
connexion
relations
between
that
there
them."
is
He
further
It is thus
"
remarks,
TKE
OF
OENtttNENESS
THE
113
SCEIPTURES.
that your
predecessors
Lord
Scriptures of our
many
his
things,which, though they carry
name,
agree not
with
his doctrine.
This is not
surprising,since that
have oftenproved these things have
been
not
ten
writwe
but, that for the
by himself, nor by his apostles,
greatest part, they are founded
upon tales,upon vague
but I know
not
what, half
reports, and put together,
Jews, with but little agreement between
them, and
which
they have, nevertheless,published under the
name
tributed
of the apostles
of our Lord, and have thus atinserted
have
in
their
them
to
the
for
polite,
certainly,
wish
to
who
formed
own
and
errors
Christian
lies !
!
Bishop
"
Very
Those
who
refer to
verify these important extracts may
Boulangef'sLife of Paul, who states that he has taken
from the writingsof Augustine against Fauste.
them
another
astounding statement
Boulanger also makes
"The
in the 2nd chapter of his work.
Manicheans,
a
sect
numerous
very
of
at
the
ment
commence-
false
the
all
books
rejectedas
Christianity,
of the New
other writings
Testament, and showed
quite different, which they gave as authentic.'7
M.
in his
Simon, the learned French
theologian,
"
Critical History of the text of the New
Testament/'
"
have no solid proof in antiquiassures
ty
us, that, We
to
make
it appear
head
of every
who
are
to us, that
gospelwere
the
thereunto
names
at
set
prefixedby
the
those
authors of them."
the
Du
gospels.
Those
who
heard
what
weight
himself, from
the
Fathers
to
give
at
to
my
this
credit
Address
their
testimony.
will
know
M.
Simon,
I have
justquoted, alludingto
sily
ought not too eatime, says, "We
of churches,
first originals
to the
give to
whom
Third
their
no
quity
anti-
scruple
114
such
on
have
OF
GENUINENESS
THE
occasions,
that
none
to
acts, when
counterfeit
To
true"
are
SCRIPTURES.'
THE
they
rest, therefore,your
lief
be-
in the
of such
Let
genuine, which
evidence.
Matthew,
If he neglect to hear
gospelsare
external
"
says,
thee
unto
there
"
as
is
heathen
church
no
was
Church
is
not
Greek
man
of
volume
in the time
word.
worth.,
The
of Jesus
Matthew.
or
assembly
of the people
This
expression
Athens, styled itself ecclesia.
the
in
was
Christians,
only adopted by
of
process
of
time, when
they had obtained a kind
government.
of
book
"
"
Second
the
that
the
as
to
the
and
Third
of John."
Paul, and
spurious. Dr. Du
Hebrews, "has no
of
Acts
He
several
Pin
also
others,were
affirms
certain
mentions
name
that
the
as
jected
re-
tle
Epis-
the
real
author."
"
"
to
accredit
many
the
rest
GENUINENESS
THE
"
pious fraud.
less
no
THE
learned
of these
One
115
SCRIPTURES.
Christians
is
dria,
than
Dionysius, Bishop of Alexanperson
flourished
His
mony
testiin the third century.
who
has
been
repeatedlycited by
whom
amongst
OF
Christians
professor,Du
Christian
is the
modern
The
Pin.
Divers of our
bishopbroadly affirms that
cessors
predeand
have
this
book,
rejected
wholly refused
and by discussingthe several
chapters thereof, have
found
it obscure, and
void of reasons,
the title
and
not
John's, nay,
forged! ! ! Again, they said it was
it was
covered
revelation
with
at all; which
was
no
so
gross a veil of ignorance,and that there was
none,
either of the apostles,or of the saints,or of them
which
belonged to the church, the author of this book,
but Corinthus, the author
of the Corinthian
heresy,
of John, for
this as a figment in the name
instituting
further credit and authority.7'We
have
dence
internal evibeen written by
that this book could
not have
John ; for the writer refers to the church
of Laodicea,
and
its sloth
and
corruptions,consequent upon its
not
was
Now, this church
great riches and power.
"
established
100
nearly
clever
until
years
John
man
events
a
after
which
the
have
must
did not
after he had
century
world
middle
the
gone
of the
of
time
been
"
century,
John.
truly,to
happen
to
second
until
another
have
very
tioned
men-
upwards
and
of
better
"
have
"
tested
the
"
"
THE
ready
sit
dauntless
and
friends
of
mental
will
be
delusion
will
now."
be
as
the
seen
enlightenment.
when,
effort
and
liberty,
The
as
hateful
will
dismal
and
totter
will
short
the
on
the
glorious
day
few
them.
unremitting
and
ruins
around
loosely
116
SCRIPTURES.
THE
OF
GENUINENESS
then
Shelley
observes,
and
unprofitablej
and
that
perstition
su-
its
and
have
falsehood's
as
on
reason
really
"
the
of
temple
of
edifice
of
part
fall,
of
years
rived,
ar-
trade
of
truth
is
118
PROPHECY.
of human
reach
Thirdly,the
in the event."
In
show,
that
to the rules of
Scripturepropheciesdo not conform
learned gentleman, and therefore,according to his
be
cannot
"
that
of the
many
obscure,and
and
Christ
so
his
few
Discourse, page
31,
that
connection
the
even
sagacityto
now,
some
propheciesand the events."
These
gument,
ar-
latter
far from
only,
show,
the
received.
declares,in
Sherlock
Bishop
the
extracts, from
Christians
between
of
mean
no
the,priesthood
celebrity,
clearlyevince the great difficulty
experiencein attempting to establish the divinity
of their Scripturesupon
prophecy.
Hence
find that
we
of the most
some
laborious
and
voluminous
volume
of
with
pages,
Bishop Newton
816
subject;and
with
a production of
and
yet
informs
his
brevity!
I probably may
exercise
of
learned
men,
such
complete waste
1200
Dissertation
has
pages
readers
be considered
patience
I say
of time and
when
and
upon
the
presentedthe world
the same
on
question,
he
that
has
studied
ungrateful,after the
research, by so many
that
paper
I deem
"
works
such
mass
of
religious
rubbish.
Were
the
whole
of
they adduce, in
these ponderous volumes, irrefragably demonstrated,
I still maintain
they have done nothing to decide the
all that these
to concede
question at issue. Were
we
learned
that
to allow
we
gentlemen require were
the
arguments
"
119
PROPHECY.
of the
one
every
fulfilled to the
were
done
bold
somewhat
Genesis
to
the Revelations
I nevertheless
letter,
absolutelynothing to decide that
very
of God.
is the word
the Bible
a
have
they
aver
propheciesfrom
and
This
be
may
unwarrantable
deemed
assumption
on
my
of
idea
an
at
of
and
"
divine
incongruous
prophecy leads to
once
therefore
What
revelations"
cannot
"
and
a
The
absurd.
reductio
be considered
of God"
"words
ad
"
ment
argu-
absnrdum,
conclusive.
that it is
Prophecy ? Dr. Johnson
says
sl
and to predictis to "foretell" Now, 1
prediction,"
affirm that the power
of foretelling
or
prognostication
is in the possessionof every
human
being, according
the
of
and
his intellect,
the extent
to
of his
capacity
knowledge and experience. There is scarcelya day
is
i20
PROPHECY.
but every
passes
I will
appeal
have
you
to
your
every
propheciesmore
or
less.
not
circumstances
instances,
individual
at
?
far
So
cording
verified,so far, acpredictionwas
ot the orthodox, were
to the logic
you inspired.
such
comes
circumstances, beProphecy, therefore,under
an
ordinary rather than extraordinary event
rather than a super-huma?z attainment
a human
; and,
legitimately
consequently,not one by which you can
determine
of
the divinity
Scripture.
But
I may
be told that the
only
pious" mean
of years,
extend
those predictions
which
to hundreds
and not to mere
local and
Granting
passing events.
for precisethis,it still does not improve their position,
ly
of
view
the same
will
this
bear
against
arguments
I can
the subjectas the other.
cite cases, if it be necessary,
where
prophecies have been made by men
who
had
no
pretensions at all to divine inspiration,
which
have
which
pened
hapevidently related to events
centuries
subsequent to the time of prediction,
See the case
and which
of St. Cesaire,
did happen.
Bishop of Aries, page 542, given in a book, entitled,
verified at the King's
has been
Liber Mirabilis,which
there is an
Library, at Paris, where
original. His
Revolution, and
prophecy is in relation to the French
is quite as remarkable
in the Bible.
It is as.
as
any
The
follows :
administration
of France
shall,at a
future and distant period,be so blinded that they shall
as
your
"
"
"
"
it without
leave
itself over
defenders
; the
them, and
hand
likewise
of God
shall
over
deprived of
dignities division shall spring up in the
God, and there shall be two husbands, the
all the
nobles
shall
be
church
"
and
the
flight.
an
other
adulterous
There
shall be
effusion of blood
as
"
the
former
shall
great carnage,
in the time
tend
ex-
of the
one
be
and
of
true
put to
as
great
Gentiles.
"
121
PROPHECY.
The
universal
the
ruin
church,
of
and
the
whole
ivorld shall
plore
de-
celebrated
"
?;
"
of citizens and
menials
arose
to
power
and
potism
des-
At
dreadfullywas this prophecy fidfilled.
the black eagle,the ensign of the northern
length,even
and the lion,that of Britain, gained pospower,
session
of
of Paris,the self-dignified
philosophy,
city
ment
strippedher of her ill-gotten
spoil,and, as a punishother States,caused
of her abuse of power
over
been
have
her a king, that may
again to reign over
to the dust"
even
trulysaid to have been humbled
This prophecy is worth
all the Bible-prophecies
put
Not
fulfilled
of
them
so
one
are
together.
literally.
And
is
who
had
it
made
no
pretensions to
by one
yet
divine inspiration
1200
than
too, more
years
; made
"
so
"
11
122
PROPHECY.
referredto,occurred! Taking,
beforethe circumstances
ed
then, the word prophecy, either in a limited or extendof the orthodox, based
the arguments
signification,
neutralized
that kind of evidence, are
and
validat
inupon
testimony of prophecy is
inadmissible
in deciding the divinityof the Bible, we
shall proceed to prove
that, even
granting that this
evidence
is conclusive, the Scripture prophecies are
Having
not
of
I have
shown
nature
that
to
the
demonstrate
four distinct
that
objectionsto
the
these
book
is divine.
prophecies:
written
1. That
of them
until after
not
were
many
the events
propheciedhad occurred,which I conceive
to be a very
good objection.
and
indefinite character, proving
2. Their
vague
that they could not be given by inspiration
from
niscience.
om3. That
"
tinct
prophecieswhich are clear and dishave not been fulfilled.
of the Bible prophets.
4. The
lying character
In reference
evidence
to this last objection,ample
in its support, in Hosea, chap, ix.,.verses
will be found
as
a fool and
a
7, 8, where the prophet is denounced
5 and
verses
snare
11, where it is
; Micah, chap, iii.,
and
said the prophets only divine for money
deceive
of Jeremiah,
the people; Lamentations
v. 14,
chap, ii.,
vain
told
and
they
foolishthings ; Isaiah,chap, ix.,
15
and 28, verse
verses
7, it is said they teach lies
and are drunken.
tian
(This quite agrees with the ChrisDodwell's
selves
statement, that they prepared themto prophecy by drinking wine.
They might
"
indeed
well get drunk.
They were
spiritualists."}
2 and 4, gives the pleasverses
Zachariah, chap, xiii.,
ing
will
them
root
all
intelligencethat the "Lord"
them
ashamed
of themselves
out
of the land, and make
22, 23; Ezekiel,
; 1 Kings, chap, xxii.,verses
chap, xiv.,v. 9 ; Jeremiah, chap, xx., v. 7, God himself
is representednot only as deceiving the prophets, and
causing them to err} but instructingthem in the art
those
123
PROPHECY.
mystery of lying!
and
What
confidence
can
be
will be substantiated
in the
the
respectivepredictions.
the more
notice
important.
the
minor
fall with
of my
remarks
on
1 shall,of course,
only
Jf these be invalidated,
course
them.
The
such
We
that
the
the
not
was
have
Pentateuch
fact.
proved,
was
Babylonian captivity,and
writer
of these
Moses
not
did
in
write
teronomy.
Deu-
previous addresses,
mentioned
that
not
Ezra
have
been
books.
"
which
arose
would
would
attempt
easily succeed,
they
and
Jews,
brutality,being
audacity
It requiredno divine
naturallycowards.
inspiration
As strikingprognostications
to foretell such
events.
have
been given in relation to other nations,by writers
not presuming to miraculous
which
agency, and
the
with
all their
124
PROPHECY.
have
the
to
letter,
by
very
filled
ful-
If
prophecy, therefore,
This
proved true.
no
establishes
means
the
divinityof Scripture.
Unfortunately,however, there are parts of this prediction,
which
have
and
they are the most
explicit,
fulfilled. In verse
been
not
64, it states that the Jews
when
er
neithscattered shall worship other gods, which
wood
and
they nor their fathers had known, "even
stone.77 But is such the case
? Do
they worship such
that they are
scattered ?
On the contrary,
gods now
is it not proverbial,that the Jews
the most
cious
tenaare
of the religion
of their forefathers of any people
earth ?
upon
And,
again, in
15,
verse
we
told
are
Jews
that the
shall
It
national
them
that
to
their
Has
there
done
he
has
so?
been
an
their
with
present condition.
considerations,this prophecy
these
Jews
Are
idle
he
the
restored.
are
Lord
them."
True,
led
cannot
are
from
combined
causes,
character,that
Apart, however,
We
these
was
"
will
hath
gather
scattered
Jews
restored?
abroad
rumor
"
of
late,
partieswere
going to purchase Jerusalem,
in which
the Jews
might assemble, and thus verify
the prediction. But
don't they wish they may
get
If
?
has
it
the
somewhat
as
vulgar
adage
it,"
they
that propheciesare marketable
do it only shows
modities
comthingsthat may be bought and sold. Such
depend for fulfilment,not upon "their
prognostications
their "divine
value
not
spiritual,but money
upon
but upon
what
inspiration."
they will sell for no
some
"
"
"
"
more.
In
which
has
been
there
twisted
is the following
by
our
priests
126
PROPHECY.
Messiah."
derstand
Jews, themselves, who ought to unly
solemnthe meaning of their own
book, most
deny that this prophecy refers to Jesus Christ.
"
"
Israel vindicated,"
These prophecies,"
say they, in
1823, " have repeatedlybeen shown
by our Rabbis to
have a different meaning from that given them
by the
take
Christians,which it is impossible for any one to misis not
mind
whose
predisposedto shut out the
lightof truth."
They charge the Christians,in Sol.
Bennett's Reply, 1809, with having
changed, in the
original,nouns, verbs, tenses and meanings !
The
"
"
"
The
real
of this celebrated
nature
will be
passage
will perceive that
You
reading the context.
it has
the slightest
reference to the coming of a
not
Messiah
700
some
subsequent to the time of
years
local and immediate
events.
Isaiah, but only to mere
The
plain meaning is simply this : The
King of
Syria, and the King of Israel,(for,at this period,the
Jews
divided
under
two
were
kings) made war/om%
their aragainst Ahaz, King of Judah, and marched
mies
The
towards
Jerusalem, the capitalof Ahaz.
with his people,were
alarmed
latter,
; and, according
to
Their
hearts
verse
2,
were
moved, as trees of
seen
on
"
"
Wood
moved
are
the
parlance,
cant
him
that
against him.
the
the
"
two
"
kings
should
Ahaz
that
convince
Isaiah
Isaiah
Lord."
to
this
moment
the
in
Ahaz,
Lord,"
of the
name
requested him, as
the prophets at that period,to ask
however, stating, as a reason,
case,
At
himself
The
these
To
wind."
addressed
Isaiah
prophet
usual
with
succeed
not
should
this
suring
as-
be
practiceof
sign. He declined,
the
was
a
that
then
he
said,
would
not
given in
verse
14, Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you
a
sign, behold a virginshall conceive and bare a son,"
tempt
the
as
"
and
know
to
which
states,
refuse
thou
of
and
16
verse
abhorrest
come
And
shall
Israel),
it shall
"
before
choose
this
the
(meaning Syria
be
forsaken
to pass,
that
shall
good, the
and
of both
the
child
Lord
the
her
land
kingdom
kings ;
shall
hiss
127
PROPHECY.
(why
of
whistle
not
Egypt,
?) for
and
better
do !
to
"
that
Lord
"
are
in the brooks
are
in the land
could
But
have
of
found
"
ria."
Sy-
thing
some-
In the
that is
day shall the
that is beyond the river,by the
hired,viz.,by them
King of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet,
same
and
it shall also
consume
the
beard."
strange
name
the
of Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
Thus
was
predictionverified.
The
hood
evangelist,Matthew, and the Christian priestafter him, pretend to found
the theory of what
they call the gospel,upon this sillyand indecent tale.
They pretend to apply it to the birth of a person who
lived 700 years subsequent to this period. Is not such
ed
gross perversioncalculated to sicken every enlighten1
mind
with Christianity
Book
It is only necessary
to read
2, of Chronicles,
chap, xxviii.,where the rest of this story is given, to
Isaiah practisedupon poor
find the impositionwhich
Instead of these two
Ahaz.
sured
kings falling,as he asAhaz
beaten,
himself was
they would, Ahaz
and his army
destroyed.
is as
To
say that this prophecy refers to Christ,
this absurd
and
much
assert, that
as
to
obscene
Isaiah
would
tell Ahaz
that
two
128
PROPHECY.
We
shall
remark
now
"But
name.
be little among
shall he come
; whose
forth
rael
that is to be ruler in Isme,
goings forth have been from of old, from
unto
everlasting." The
evangelist,Matthew, pretends to
in chap, i.,though he quotes it in
quote this passage
and appliesit
and bungling manner,
incorrect
a very
birth of Christ
to the
seen,
however, by
and
not
pay
in Bethlehem.
who
one
any
other
will
for
men
It is easy
his own
use
for
thinking
be
to
tellect
in-
him,
to
be ruler in
Assyrian
tread
in
shall
shall
Israel,)
into
come
our
be at
when
the
peace
land ; and when
he shall
shall we
raise up against
palaces, then
him, (thatis,againstthe Assyrian,)seven
shepherds
and eight principalmen."
And
in ver.
6, it states,
"
And
of Assyria with the
the land
they shall waste
of;
theresword, and the land" of Nimrod, on the entrance
thus shall he, (the person
spoken of,) deliver us
from the Assyrian,when
into our
he cometh
land, and
when
our
he
treadeth
within
evidentlyrefer
Christ.
mean
of,and
were
and
was
him
land
each
military chief,and
circumstances
in which
These
Christ
of the
lived,
are
times
in
sages
pascannot
spoken
tion
contradic-
the Romans,
Strange to say, it was
different people,)who
the Assyrians,(a very
not
in the land of Judea, and
in their palautrod
ces,"
is said to have
been
born
at the period Christ
died ; and, so far from
he driving them
out, it
under
them
that he suffereddeath.
They drove
and held possession of the
out pretty effectually,
lutely
These
facts,therefore, absolong afterwards.
falsifythe prophecy that it appliesto Christ
to
and
those
The
to
borders."
our
other.
"
129
PROPHECY.
it is
propheciesof
prophecy
no
at
this book
of
all.
We
will
the Jews
did
take
not
years
to
to
Jerusalem.
This
event
placeuntil
after Isaiah's
from
circumstances
Isaiah,was
return
170
the year 536, b. c, about
three
deduce
death.
I, therefore,
this fact.
him.
the book
called
Secondly,that it could
after his
been written until nearly 200 years
not have
time.
And, thirdly,
being composed at that period,
of the famous
the prophecy of the demolition
city in
ring
question,could not have been given until either duthe catastrophe,or
quently,
subsequent to it ; and consethe ChrisHow
be no prediction
tian
at all.
can
have the audacity to present such
a
clergy can
I
evidence
of divine inspiration, know
as
an
passage
these points,the points of religion,
not, except that upon
they are destitute of all shame !
In reference to the prophecy of Daniel, chap, ix.,
24
ver.
27, about the seventy weeks, and its application
of which
to Christ
Christian
priestshave
talked so exultingly littleneed be said to show
its
untenability. Dr. Francis has set this question at
rest.
My time,I am
sorry to say, will not admit of
not
written
First,that
"
"
"
by
130
PROPHECY.
commandment
until
the
seven
supposed
are
Longimanus,
to
mean
seven
weeks
each,) how
years
be
to
does
off?
be cut
with
covenant
Jesus
Christ
confirm
any
,;
"
He
live
than
more
with
covenant
shall
27.
ver.
400
the
Did, then,
Or, did he
years
for
many
confirm
seven
years
"
Most
prophet speaks.
that the
and
met
chronology,and
their minds
Christ,in
at
Christian
prophecy
Matthew, chap.
xxiv.
of Jerusalem.
There
all remarkable
Those
in this
He
is that
given by
is
nothing, we
prediction. Any
have
the mistress
then
Europe
with
still
was
blood
was
quite
and
natural
crush
it with
She
had
an
of the
Rome
deluged
desolation
"
and
have
the
predicted
would
have
been
every
Christ, or any
that
might
man,
disposedto
of the insolent
it
darkened
"
world.
of the
ceive,
con-
such
anticipated
might
ordinaryforesight,
consideration
the character
event, taking into
Jews, and the positionof surroundingnations.
of
was
who
arrived.
have
favorite
The
what
to
of
not
Jesus.
to
evince
cabees,
Mac-
Christ,
Alexandrinus, Calflatlydeny the application
lose sight of
affirmative,
the
maintain
Clement
of Daniel
of the weeks
and
"
writers
Christian
other
it is Judas
that
demolition
miracle
had
other
person
It
of Jerusalem.
it not been
destroyed.
131
PROPHECY.
What
the fact ?
was
Roman
The
Jews
rebelled
against the
being,their city
the consequence
authority;
scattered.
Is there
destroyed,and they were
Is there anything
anything extraordinaryin this?
Evidently
requiring divine inspirationto foresee ?
But
that
this
what
have
not.
we
proof
prophecy was
the
I challenge
Christians
to
given beforethe event?
this
that Matthew, in which
know
produce it. We
predictionis recorded,as well as the other gospels,
mentioned
not
were
as
having existence earlier than
the year
divines held,192, a. d., as
182, or, as some
shown
second and last address.
This
at lengthin my
was
would
be
than
more
Jerusalem,that
to
state
not
was
How
event
that
book
of
est
modwhich
after the
years
actuallyhappened ! How
easy
till
known
than
more
100
predictedhad
under
such
stances
circumto manufacture
a good prophecy
! I may
be told,Matthew
is supposed to have
Yes
been written
a. d., 64.
supposed, and a very
supposition,I should think, for the safety
necessary
of the prophecy. But is mere
conjectureto be taken
as
proof? Of course, when it suits the interests of
priests. However, we will suppose as they desire in
and
what
then ?
this instance
Why, it brings the
been
written only six years before the
book to have
event
propheciedtook place! What
ty"what
wonderfidsagaciof
it would
a largedose
inspiration
require
event
"
"
to
foresee
of time!
such
What
an
event
at
such
an
immense
distance
132
PROPHECY.
moon
from
; and
shaken
of
son
man
earth
shall
there
; and
heaven
in
man
of the
then
and
mourn,
the clouds
coming in
glory,and
they
shall
of heaven
he shall send
the
see
with
his
of
son
and
power
with a great
angels
of the trumpet ; and they shall gather together
sound
end of heaven
the elect from the four winds, from
one
great
to
the
shall
other.
not
Verily,I
pass
Here
say unto
till ALL
away
is a prophecy
you,
these
this
things
clear and
so
generation
are
filled"
ful-
distinct that
it fulBut was
mistaking its meaning.
filled
Is the world
?
destroyed? Your presence here
Not only has
this moment
is a living denial.
that
generation
passed away," but many, and still the
there
is
no
"
world
is not
at
an
end.
The
has
sun
ened,
dark-
been
not
nor
the
ceased
moon
to
"
what
say
appear
as
you
of
predicted in
in
the
this
clouds
prophecy?
of
heaven
Did
Advent?
Second
the
the
"
siegeof Jerusalem,
Was
with
Christ
he
"
seen
power
elect"
and
ing
com-
great
from
the
glory?" gathering together
end of heaven
four winds, from
to the other ?
one
No ! He never
appeared. No such phenomena were
And
all these things" were
exhibited.
to happen
yet
!
How
before that generation had passed away
such
fulfilled !
to affirm
to be
monstrous
a
prediction
such
but priestsor their dupes could commit
None
an
audacious
sense.
outrage upon experienceand common
One
In Mark,
more
prophecy, and I have done.
chap, xvi.,Christ is representedassaying, "Go
ye
the
"
"
134
Mr.
PROPHECY.
Faber
in wholesale
engages
discoveries
kind, while
his
"
this
of
in the
tail
re-
ble
considera-
"
"
'
LECTURE
EIGHTH.
MIRACLES.
Friends
The
this
"
subject
upon
is
evening,
which
Miracles.
I propose
The
mass
address
to
of
you
Christians,
the
"
"
"
"
concluded
that
such
evidence
carried
falsehood
on
the
136
MIRACLES,
argument."
miracle,supported by
properlya subjectof
In this sentiment
most
any
rision
dedially
cor-
decided
dence
opinionbeing,that the eviis utterlyincompetent to decide
the
same
ferring
requestion. The
distinguishedwriter,when
of
the
the
bly
to
credulity
ignorant,very admiramultitudes
so much,
remarks, Nothing convinces
that which
as
they cannot comprehend."
The
Christian
defather,St. Chrysostom, positively
"
miracles
are
cles,that
proper only to excite sluggish
and vulgar minds
of sense
have
no
sion
occa; that men
for them ; and
that they frequently carry some
outward
them."
The
suspicion along with
great
in
his Eccles. History,speaking of the early
Mosheim,
and the miracles
pretended to be
ages of Christianity,
wrought in those days, observes, "The
simplicityand
ignorance of the generalityin those times, furnished
concur,
my
of miracles
"
the
and
most
favorable
the
occasions
for the
of
exercise
of fraud
contriving false
impudence
impostors in
miracles, was
artfullyproportionedto the credulityof
the vulgar ; whilst the sagacity of the wise, who
ceived
perthese cheats, were
into silence by the
overawed
their lives and
fortunes, if
dangers that threatened
they should expose the artifice." Thus, does it generally
in
attends
human
when
that
life,
happen
danger
the discovery of truth,and the professionthereof,the
prudent are silent ; the multitude believe, and impostors
triumph. The ingenious arid learned Christian,
Dr. Middleton, in his famous
"Free
Inquiry," when
quoting the authorityof St. Cyprian, as to the frauds
of the Christians
lows
in the third century, observes,as fol"
From
all these considerations
taken together,
:
it must, I think,be allowed
that the forgedmiracles of
the fourth century, give us just reason
to suspect the
pretensionsof every other age, both before and after
for a Christian
it." This is a most
important admission
"
Doctor.
\
"
if
not
possible,
only
con-
137
MIRACLES.
This
but
it is
may
one
by
declare
They
and
these
appear
divine
have
no
a
means
the
that
somewhat
been
elucidation.
in
Deity is infinite
strange averment,
difficult of
infinite
of nature
all his
an
are
attributes,and
"
fections,
per-
effectof
must,
fore,
there-
the
"
in
either of which
cases
his character
as
God
would
be
To
suppose
that God
12*
can
of
138
MIRACLES.
do
wisdom
will and
"his
best
that
is, so
and
of those
of
course
be
can
that
and
be
must
alter them
could
be,
the
it is
make
them
his
agreeableto
is not
they
better,
Neither
worse.
If the
best and
test
fit-
offspringof perfect
wisdom,
God
can
nor
laws,
he
being
in
under
the
make
God
was
alter
cannot
some
of
direction
in
degree, without
any
is
can
"
in that direction?
be allowed
must
an
divine
by
them
measure
change
it settled
he
as
attributes.
the
not
if he is
for
them
not
are
immutable
as
to
make
to
nature
that
perfectbeing ;
they
alter them
will not
to
most
of them,
he cannot
the author
(which he must
suppose," says Palmer,
mutable,
of the
laws
formed
had
perform a miracle,) is
to
the
he himself
which
nature
eternal
; therefore,he
he is ;
is,necessarily,whatever
to
necessarilyexists,and
it is not in his own
to change himself
therefore,
power
it is his perfection
For if his nato be immutable.
ture
could possiblychange, it might err, for whosoever
is changeable is not perfect.
must
Besides, an eternal and perfectnature
rily
necessabe unchangeable ; and so long as the first moving
all subsequent and secondary causes
is the same,
cause
can
never
vary."
"
Voltaire
observes,
For
"
what
would
purpose
God
"
To accomplish some
perform a miracle ?
particular
design upon livingbeings. He would then, in reality,
I have
be supposed to say,
been able to effect by
not
"
of the
construction
my
universe
"
by
my
divine
crees
de-
able
"
to
This
his power
an
do
by
of
means
would
be
; it would
inconceivable
an
them.
avowal
appear,
contradiction"
of his
weakness,
indeed, in
such
not
of
being
139
MIRACLES.
reasoning,the validityof
this
From
controverted,it
be
miracles
that
of their
book,
The
is obvious
are
orthodox
the
evidence
an
which
argument
of miracles
repeat, therefore,miracles
in
of the
a^e
taining
main-
divinity
sions.
preten-
own
is indeed
suicidal.
admissible
not
are
cannot
as
than
character
Testament
gion,
reliproof of the divinityof one
they are of another, and, hence, the heathen
tian
religionsare just as likelyto be genuine as the ChrisIf miracles
are
more
; nay,
so, because
extraordinary.
more
estimated
The
their
value
miracles
of
much
are
miracle
is
be
to
but improbability.
by its probability,
The
more
a miracle
be, the
improbable,therefore,
may
for
better miracle it is,and the more
likelythe religion
of which
it was
the advancement
performed, is divine.
Of course,
more
a
astounding miracle would
require
of a stronger dose of divine inspirthe administration
ation
if
that
I
miracles
show
the
can
; and, therefore,
not
"
of the heathen
"
the
Permit
that
acceptance
me
to
remarkable
more
I prove
Christian,
worthy
are
of
adduce,
than
divine
they are more
miracle-mongers and
miracles.
Christian
the
Hindoos
of
for many
years,
and
becoming acquaintedwith
had
more
"
cle-believe
mira-
few
pious
doo
Hin-
French
lived among
every
their
of the
those
nity
opportu-
opinions,hab-
140
MIRACLES.
He
remarks, The miracles
superstitions.
of the Christian religion,
however
extraordinarythey
must
to a common
understanding,are by no
appear
to the Hindoos.
means
so
Upon them they have no
effect. The
exploitsof Joshua and his army, and the
of God,
prodigiesthey effected by the interpositions
its,and
"
in the
seem
to
them
ments
unworthy of notice,when compared with the achieveof their own
Kama, and of the miracles which
attended
his progress when
he subjectedCeylon to his
into
dwindles
yoke. Tte mighty strengthof Samson
nothing when opposed to the overwhelming energy of
Bali,of Ravana, and the giants. The resurrection of
Lazarus
itself,
is,in their eyes, an ordinary event, of
which
monies
they see frequent examples in the Vishnu cereof Pahvahdam.
these examples
I particularize
because
more
they have been actuallyopposed to me
than once
in my
with them
by Brahmins
disputations
on
religion.'5
From
this
miracle-dealers
and
never
the
of
more
it is evident
extract
"hide
must
attempt
divine
We
said
will
can
to
that
the
their diminished
heads,"
portionof
superiorstock
that
Christianize
manufacture
Christian
wonders."
mention
now
the famous
Grecian
miracle,
of Apollo,
performed by the priests
before the temple of Delphos.
Bishop War burton, alludingto this memorable
nomenon,
pheThe
of
this
desolation,
remarks,
prediction
of
the
with
the faith due to the best
by
priests Apollo,
human
to supstrangelyconcurred
testimony,which
port
the fact,were,
I presume,
the
which
reasons
the excellent
inclined
Dean
it
Prideaux, to esteem
to
have
been
"
miraculous"
He
"
says,
Brennus
went
on
with
his
towards
rocks
upon
"
them."
142
nius
MIRACLES.
Roman
the
"
we
the
are
told,cured
of his
use
honored
of
historian"
celebrated
who,
miracle,
by
many
tell you
I could
the
a
as
miracles
blind
; and
arm
recorded
as
man,
by Livy, thg
of Vespasian,
and
er
anoth-
gave
in consequence,
who,
was
god.
of the
miracles
said
to
have
been
and
one
miracles
said
to
have
"
"
143
MIRACLES.
months,
seven
or
60,000
The
that
these
their favor
of the
this
attested
was
"by
at
least
peatedly
voluntarilydeposed that they retheir own
the prodigy with
eyes."
edilor of the
Official Memoirs," declares
"moral
miracles
have
more
certainty in
who
persons,
beheld
Rev.
and
"
than
any
We
fact
'
in the
whatever
annals
are
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
is to be
but
and
this
"
that
from
deduced
miracles
have
been
religionsin
the
these
world,
"facts."
said
What
be
wrought
and sections
great religions
and
that
to
each
of these
144
MIRACLES.
The
of
argument
miracles,
like that
of
prophecy,
of the
Christian.
religionsan
opportunity
their
ground,
Christian
The
religion is divine.
public, therefore,
of miracles,or neutralize
the argument
abandon
must
their own
position,either of which will establish the
I am
least so far as
at
point for which
contending
that
"
this argument
is concerned.
Moore, in his u Veiled Prophet/7 when
alluding
the
to
establish
to
"
**
of incredible
faith enshrines
Who, bolder
By nonsense
the
creeds,
which
monster
think
than
e'en
it
breeds,
to rise
Nimrod,
to the skies;
heaped on nonsense
Ye shall have
sound
ones
miracles, aye,
too,
but
true."
heard,
everything
Seen,
attested,
It is
in the
that
evidence
rational
no
this evidence
Do
is
mind
I
find
conclusive
more
rejectit.
can
Old
where
ask,
is this evidence
repeat, where
it in the
conclusive
so
"
The
Testament
is
only
evidence
in favor of these
miracles, is, that they are
recorded
in a book, composed by the priests of the
most
ignorant and credulous people in the world.
What
sensible
will accept such
man
testimony ?
we
"
Are
to
we
believe
that
the
evidence
in
wonderful
repast of the
angels
with
marvellous
tale of Jonah's
three
days7
whale's
into
belly
the
pillarof
salt
"
Sodom
upon
and
through
and
attested
and
multitude
than
the
"
Red
the
Abraham,
residence
the
in the
of Lot's
conversion
of the
wife
the
Gomorrah
the
of Samson-"
sudden
support
"
Sea
"
Herculean
the
stoppingof
of other
numerous
Popish miracles,when
monstrous
the
ments
achieve-
by Joshua,
sun
fables
"
is better
of the latter
are
con-
145
MIRACLES.
firmed
"
mentioned
300
in
book
which
before
Christ
heard
not
was
of
until
book
belonging to
for their impostures,their
of priests,notorious
a race
and their ignorance. The
enlightened and
credulity,
thinking minds of the nineteenth century, are really
called upon
to acknowledge the stupid fables of such
of impostors,who
only invented these
a heard
pious
wonder
of
excite
and
the fear
frauds"
to
a
people,
illiterate !
In the aband
barbarous, superstitious,
it unnecesof all collateral testimony, I deem
sary
sense
the subject.
to pursue
about
years
"
"
of the New
What
more
Testament
? Not
satisfactory
assumption
happens,
when
there
propositionis
With
is incontestable
divine
to name
at
all.
of course,
but mere
miracles
all the
that
The
Christians,
incontrovertible
It
is not
argument.
is less
proof,that the
dogmatic.
more
Is the evidence
exultation
the
evidence
So
in
generally
of
asserter
it is
of the
in this
stance.
in-
Christians,it
support of their
statements.
historians
Not
of those
one
times
of the
can
writers
numerous
be
and
quoted in
elder
and
support
of
Pliny, the
philosophersof that age, do not refer,
great natural
ness
in the most
remote
degree, to the preternaturaldarkfrom their graves,
and
the risingof the saints
of Jerusalem, mentheir walking through the streets
their
pretensions. Seneca,
"
13
the
146
MIRACLES.
tioned in Matt,
have
been
Pliny
devotes
performed
had
which,
ses,
chapter to extraordinary eclipthis astonishing phenomenon,
whole
notices
but
of the wonders
said to
any
of spectators.
thousands
before
xxvii.,or
it
not
occurred, must
have
been
alone
we
known
to
him.
It is
to the
for the
only
and
Christian
accounts
have
we
their isolated
be admitted
cannot
converts
Were
veracity.
as
and
of such
amazing prodigies,
unsupported testimony
sufficient
this to be
indebted
are
to
establish
their
them,
the
allowed
on
own
same
of the heathen
admit
the miracles
we
ground must
credited
lawgivers and founders of sects, as they were
by millions of followers,and are so to this day.
The
selves
only collateral evidence which Christians themhave
ventured
to
adduce, is that of Josephus,
Pontius
dence
Pilate,and Publius
Lentulus, and this eviity
we
proved, on a former occasion, on the authorof Dr. Lardner, Dr. Du
Pin, Bishop Warburton,
and other distinguishedChristians, was
forged.
We
to
know
been
have
to
a
that
these
miracles
Christian
author
are
said
predisposed
cept
nations, exbelievers in supernatural
Le Moine, in his Essay
All classes
them.
philosophers,were
The
events.
time
accredit
few
the
at
were
and
never
was
Miracles,is obliged to admit that there
fraud in point of miracles,
a
greater corruption,more
and a more
lieve
general propensity to tamper with, or beanything of the kind, than in the period which
elapsed from the death of Christ to the destruction of
Jerusalem.
The
credulity of the early Christians
much
unbounded
tian
so
was
indeed, that the Chris; so
Mosheim, who is esteemed
by the pious
professor,
"
on
;?
the
as
beau
them
and
in his
an
ecclesiastical
Eccles.
Hist.
v.
ces
historian,denoun-
i. p.
102,
"a
as
gross
ignorant multitude."
Yet,
we
ideal of
have
it is upon
to
the
veracity of
such
of the
rely for the credibility
miracles
multitude,
New
ment
Testa-
147
MIRACLES.
The
pretensionsof
similar
were
and
to
veneration, to deceive
powers
obedience
secure
supernatural
to
considered
lawgivers. They
other
in order
of
those
to
Christ
the
to
their
it necessary
laws,
This
vulgar.
and
maxim
',
inspire
was
"
"
"
"
and
not
before
death,
related by
his
wisdom,
as
witnesses
many
is sufficient
who,
men,
seem
to
to
prove
instead
be remarkable
as
that
were
present
those
things are
of being inspired by
only for ignorance and
superstition.
With
respect
to
the
at
ascension,it appears
that Mark
148
MIRACLES*
this,too,
in
make
that
it
; while
contradictorymanner
occurred
ever
rise from
would
in
very
and
not
The
the
dead,
public: why, then, was
to
present, do
been
have
inform
it,nor
declaration
after three
thew
Mat-
Jesus
that
days,
us
made
was
pretended performance
the
before
made
private? The declaration was
who
required their doubts to be removed:
persons
and his
why, then, did he only appear before women
who
were
ready to believe or to assert
disciples,
thing
anycredit
best
of
The
?
the
their
to
sect
tending
made
in
"
of which
evidence
his
was
did
be
"
all truth
story is
the
is but
one
wine,
he
"merry!"
selects
the
When
he raises
the
friends
from
all her
puts away
process.
he
"
to
answer
of
or
"
he
why
imposture, devoid
an
probability.
When
Christ
was
transfigured,"he
he
him
only his three favorites! When
into
mit,
ad-
would
case
in Jerusalem
appearance
place? There
the whole
given
of
nature
public
this take
not
the
takes
him
cleanses
aside
time
When
from
when
he
with
takes
turns
water
his witnesses
were
daughter of Jairus,
suscitating
witnessing the re-
cures
the
public observation.
blind
man,
When
he
the
"
"
"
"
"
"
laughable, that
the
whole
ground-work
of the
divi-
150
MIRACLES.
,
likewise
universe, was
Leatze
declare
The
"virgin."
became
of
followers
by
pregnant
pregnant
"
the
of God."
Sons
Such
delusions
the
are
is
posture
im-
of Christ's
!
The
superstition
story
equally as preposterous as
and
of
that
of
ception,
con-
Plato's.
intimately,
longest,and
miraculous
to
1, 2, 5;
fact,too, that
men
of sense
ver.
when
in
the
best,gave
and
he
work
in
It is
44.
iv.,ver.
refused
credit
seen
as
power,
John
no
to
his pretensions
Mark
a
vi.,
curious
miracles
his
before
and
always preferring,
intelligence,
before the public, to perform them
he did come
of the ig?iorantand credulous midpresence
to
titude.
But
there
of
respect
character
opinions
to
of
among
His
Christ.
as
been
have
to
matters
many
him
"
appears
mere
trariety
singular con-
the
early Christians,
involving the miraculous
own
man,
Jewish
while
converts
some
in
garded
re-
of
his
heathen
"
"
"
151
MIRACLES.
continued
ment
period of the establishThe
of Popery."
Christian
apostle Barnabas,
in his gospel,translated
by Archbishop Wake, in his
that
Jesus
Apostolic Fathers," expressly asserts
and
down
to
the
"
crucified,but
not
was
that
Judas
crucified
was
in
stead.
another
Bassillides,
primitive teacher of
declares
that it was
neither Christ nor
Christianity,
Judas
who
was
crucified,but Symoji of Sirene!
The
to the
Ebonites, saj^s Dr. Hug, in his Introduction
New
Testament, (a numerous
body of earlyChristians)
denied the miraculous
conceptionof Christ,and with
him
the Nazarenes, looked
only as an ordinary
upon
man."
They also denied that he suffered on the cross.
and asserted
! ! an
that he had flown away
to heaven
achievement
worthy of a "God," than
certainlymore
that of allowing himself
between
to be murdered
two
his
"
felons.
Before
of
I
retire,
deny myself
cannot
from
quoting some
passages
of Woolston, on miracles.
wish
be
to
read
for
amused
few
the
the
pleasure
celebrated
Those
would
who
hours, would
courses
dis-
do
well
admirable
predilections.
Alludingto the story of Christ tellingthe woman
five hundreds, "c., he
of Samaria
that she had
marks
rehimself
makes
"Christ
here
a
wandering
:
and
I much
fortune-teller,
der
wongipsy, or Bohemian
themselves
the
that
our
gipsies don't account
with
the
genuine disciplesof Jesus, being endowed
and
he him*
arts than
like gifts,
exercisingno worse
Jesus
when
self practised."He
tempted
compares
by the devil,to St. Dunstan, who seized the devil by
he gives the preference to the Saint,
the nose, and
for instead of parleying with
him, he remarks, M If
had
him
taken
Jesus
by the collar,and thrust him
there chained
into his dungeon, and
him, and closed
hell's gates upon
him, I appeal to honest Christians
to
these
"
such
whether
pleased them
In
the
Herculean
labor
would
have
not
well?"
he
story of the fig-tree,
remarks,
"
Jesus
152
MIRACLES*
himself
conducted
like
before
who,
turned
he
friar
mendicant
that
on
casion,
oc-
fieId-preacher,
was
no
better
"
he
has
some
facetious
very
He
comments.
observes,
"John
to drink
still
were
excited, as
as
The
certain.
implies she
he
fond
was
the
of her
is not
company,
lady with a
bottle,and
her
soldier
son
was
'
thee?J
Mary
of
familiarity
mother
his
of the
others
were
and
mother
when
Jesus
affected
somewhat
his
Whether
more
It may
inferred
be
from
these
words
that
her
not
virgin,and that Jesus was
Had
it been
thus have
not
son.
otherwise, he would
insulted his father and
mother, in violation of one
not
was
of the
sacred
most
concludes,
mother's
and
Lazarus
he
raised
justly,that
an
universe
the law."
He
he
of it."
"so
The
treats
with
brimful
of
it must
wrote
Woolston
been
he
he
as
of
commandments
however,
punch
denounces
to be
"
request;
makes
of
when
have
story of the
tion
resurrec-
ineffable derision,and
absurdity,that
outlived
his
St. John
!
senses
directs
"
very
man
restored
have
attention
and
"
dead
object of
; that
to
said
life would
astonishment
magistrates,and
to
the
more
made
the most
have
minute
especiallyPilate,would
the most
and
obtained
authentic
investigation,
sitions
depoTiberius
enjoined all pro-consuls and
; that
inform
to
him, with exactness, of every
governors
that took place. But so far from these wonders
event
153
MIRACLES.
till
the
mentioned,
being
than
more
of
date
show
100
the
Josephus,
or
the
Roman
had
which,
nations
in
But
occurred,
really
they
amazement
of
enough
ther
Nei-
them.
nor
Greek
any
prodigies,
these
notices
the
individuals
Philo,
all
at
them
from
away
recording
learned
historian,
about
obscure
some
writings
the
nor
rolled
had
when
events,
nothing
knew
years
another
one
world
held
have
must
all
"
these
these
monstrosities
pious
"
"wonders,"
"
The
we
day
is
now
and
The
Swift's
after
the
of
let
rays
placidly
the
mysteries,
melt
the
age
glorious
and
delusions,
away
"
is
has
and
The
the
practical
the
baseless
"
rational.
"
scientific,
of
and
mankind,
of
of
vision."
and
its
shed
science
impostures
fabric
tured
ma-
"
pre-eminently
upon
as
them
outgrown
"
Like
read
be
Travels.
luminary
freely
will
they
mind
"
spirit
understood."
Gulliver's
real
the
be
when
enlightened
once
will
to
approaching
peruse
aspires
heavenly
Too
the
the
world
NINTH.
LECTURE
Friends
I
before
BIBLE.
important,
altogether uninteresting inquiry, into
the Christian
Scriptures. On this occasion
appear
and, I trust,
the divinity
we
previous
not
of
propose
subject
We
THE
"
again
the
OF
CONSISTENCY
THE
than
was
our
our
resume
consider
to
it
to
you
of
more
province
details
the
do
to
in
of
our
address.
shall
proceed
into
the
consistency of
from
that
I hold
book
the
Bible.
an
emanating
any
omniscient
sistent
Deity must, of necessity, be perfectly conin itself in every
possible particular.
such
To
crepancie
a
production as containing dissuppose
and
incongruities, is virtually to admit
be
it is liable
that
to
and, therefore, cannot
error,
infallible
our
certainly not our
guide
inspired, and
to
to
inquire
salvation.
To
imagine,
omniscience
for
could
moment,
contain
that
revelation
contradictions,
is
from
itself
show
the
Bible
tains
conIf, then, 1 can
inconsistencies, I prove, beyond the possibility
be
divine.
It will
of refutation, that
be a
it cannot
in his
remarks,
Discourses,
proof, as Dr. Wardlow
"
the
Bible
is not
that
from
sufficientlyconvincing
God."
therefore, that all my
previous
Presuming,
in this arguinvalid, if I succeed
reasonings were
ment,
I irrefragably establish
the
that
position
my
Bible
is an
imposture.
contradictio?i.
"
156
THE
OF
CONSISTENCY
THE
BIBLE.
tion
Campbell, in his Preface to the TranslaIf anything
of the Gospels, confesses, that,
affirmed
that is self-contradictory,
were
or
anything
that
have
sufficient
is
internal
immoral, we
enjoined
evidence
that
such
thing cannot
proceed from the
Father
of light,which
all the external
proofs that
could
be produced on
be
the other side,would
never
Professor
"
able
surmount."
to
The
Rev.
S.
Scriptures,2d
real
Introduction
his
the
to
edit. vol.
contradictions
proof that
in
Home,
it is not
divinely inspired,whatever
tences
preit may
make
to such
inspiration."
I unhesitatingly
friends,that there is no
aver, my
book
extant
no
production,ancient or modern, more
replete with contradictions
contradictions,naked,
sion.
palpable,and absolute,than the book under discusIt is one
to
tissue of incongruityfrom Genesis
Revelations.
Had
its alleged authors
wrote
solely
contradict
to
themselves,they could not have been
"
"
successful.
more
Considered
is
of
the Bible
contradictions,
masterly performance. It
book
admirable
most
as
and
if
The
"book
in every
not
fact
of
in almost
themselves
present
every
or
congruit
in-
chapter
verse.
is, anything
may
be
or
proved
from
indifferent.
this
It
is,
It is one
of
things to all men."
the
cameleon-like
most
productions ever
composed.
Its color varies, justaccording to the chapter you are
it possibleto read two
verses
only
perusing. Were
"
emphatically,
from
heard
this book
of
they
been
Certain
to
would
from
I
am
two
any
Bible
the
taken
all
at
the
individuals
same
that,in
had
never
could
pledge my reputation
have
not
declare they could
composition.
before,I
once
who
the whole
course
of my
read-
158
THE
THE
OF
CONSISTENCY
BIBLE.
"
"
;?
of iron."
For
parallel passages,
Exod., c. xxxiv., v. 14;
In Acts, c. i.,v. 24, we
all-wise; "he knoweth
see
and
are
Corin., c. i.,v. 25 ;
Gen., c. xxxii.,v. 24-30.
told,God is omniscient,
the hearts
of
all men;
"
yet
CONSISTENCY
THE
read
OF
THE
159
BIBLE.
in
the 1
"
"
"
"
"
"
of
like
barbarous
nature, but
I forbear.
read
I advise
you
to
"
160
CONSISTENCY
THE
Other
OF
THE
BIBLE.
trine
equallyincompatiblewith the docin Gen., c. vi.,v.
of immutability,will be found
11 ; 2 Sam., c. xxiv.,v. 16; Jer.,
7 ; 1 Sam.
c. xv.,
v.
c. xviii.,
v.
8, and 10.
We
of which
to his incomprehensibility,
now
come
read
in Colos.,c. i.,v. 15; Rom., c. xi.,v. 33;
we
and
it calls him
Isaiah, c. lv.,v. 8. In Colossians
the invisible God; and
still,in Exod., c. xxiv.,v. 9,
and
10, it states, that the seventy elders of Israel
the God
"saw
Amos, c. ix.,v. 1, of his
of Israel."
"
the
the Lord
book, declares, I saw
standing upon
informed
altar."
In Exod., c. xxxiii. v. 11, we
are
that Moses
face to face;" and
the Lord
we
saw
read of several pious impostorswho
pretend to have
honor."
See Gen., c. xxxii.,v.
enjoyed a similar
30 ; c. xxvi.,v. 2 ; also,Deut., c. xxxi., v. 15.
We
will now
speak of the dogmas of Trinity and
read, " For
Unity, In the 1st John, c. v., v. 7, we
record
there
bear
in heaven,
the
three that
are
While
we
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost,"
there
is one
v.
5, that
discover, in 1 Tim.; c. ii.,
and man
the
God
between
God, and one Mediator
Christ Jesus; ;; and in Isaiah,c. xlvi.,v. 9, the
man,
Lord
is representedas saying,distinctly, I am
God,
passages,
"
"
"
"
"
"
aud
there
is
first of these
Both
none
else."
The
Trinitarians
quote the
two
last.
"
other
pretend to cite numerous
mous
The fain favor of their respective
dogmas.
passages
Trinitarian
Pastel, as given by Dr. Jortin,vol.
11,000 proofs in
iii.,
p. 100, declares,that there are
favor
of the Trinity, in the
Testament
Old
alone,
when
rightly; that is, etymologico-mysinterpreted
The
Unitarians, as stated by
tico-cabalisticallyP
than " two
sand
thouLindsey,affirm that there are more
in the New,
thousand
texts in the Old. and
one
thus
demonstrating, that
supporting Unitarianism
;
of inconthis point, alone,
thousands
gruities
there are
upon
in the Scriptures.
sects, however,
"
to
few
more
passages
in reference
THE
CONSISTENCY
OP
THE
161
BIBLE.
"
"
"
"
"
"
162
THE
CONSISTENCY
OF
THE
BIBLE.
"
"
In
Lord
Prov., c. xvi.,v. 3, we
"in
read
that
of the
the eyes
place"
In Gen., c. iii.,
find Adam
could not
in
v.
9, God
In
Paradise, and had to ask, where art thou?"
informed
that the
are
1st Kings, c. viii.,
v.
12, we
"
thick darkness
in
Lord dwelleth
;" but Paul, in his
1st Epist.Tim., c. vi.,v. 16, says, that no
one
can
of his "great light."
approach him on account
I have occupied sufficient of your time with
gruities
inconconnected with Deity; I will now
enumerate
In Matt. c. v., v. 22,
few in relation to his Son.
a
"
Whosoever
shall say, thou fool
Christ says,
\ shall be
and
the
in danger of hell fire ;
yet, in identically
17
same
v.
19, he exclaims, "Ye
gospel,c. xxiii.,
fools and blind." In John, c. iii.,
soever
Whov. 15, he says,
hateth his brother,is a murderer
and stillwe
;
told by the same
are
Luke, c. xiv.,v. 26,
personage,
that we
be his disciples,
unless we
hate"
cannot
our
"
but our
brethren,"and not only our brethren,
wives,
life
also
children,parents, nay, our own
glorious
;
consistency! humane
philosophy! In Matt.,c. xxvi.,
said Jesus
unto
v.
52, it is stated,"Then
them, put
for
all
sword
into
his
place,
they that
up again thy
take the sword, shall perishwith the sword."
In Luke, c. xxii.,v. 36, it states, "Then
said he,
he that hath a purse let
unto
(Christ,)
them, but now
him
take it,and likewise his scrip,and he that hath
no
sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
In Luke, c. xii.,
v.
4, the followinglanguage is atare
every
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
tributed
have
THE
163
BIBLE.
I say unto
friends,
you,
my
that kill the body, and after that
Christ,"And
to
afraid
be not
OF
CONSISTENCY
THE
of them
that
do ; "
and
in John,
still,
c. x., v.
39, we read, Therefore,they sought again
but he escaped out
take him, (Christ,)
to
of their
hands?"*
And
after these things
And
c. vii.,v.
1,
in
walked
Jesus
in Galilee, for he would
walk
not
In John,
Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him"
In
c. x., v.
30, Jie says, "I and my father are one."
c. xiv., v.
28, he says, "My father is greater than I."
He
observes
again, in Matt., c. v., v. 39, But I
that ye resist not evil,but whosoever
you,
say unto
shall
smite
thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the
In Luke, c. xvii.,v. 1, he declares
other also"
"it is
but woe
unto
impossiblebut that offences will come,
We
told in John,
him
are
they come."
through whom
God
his Son
into the
sent
not
v.
c. iii.,
17, that
condemn
world
the world, but
that the world
to
self
through him might be saved; and yet Christ himto send
declares, Think not that I come
peace
I
send
but
sword"
to
not
on
come
a
earth,
peace,
A strange mode
of saving the world, truly! Save me
more
no
they
can
"
"
"
"
"
"
from
"
such
"
salvation
"
"
and
only
of God
in the character
in this "infallible"
from
me
save
friends."
my
few,
of the inconsist
and
tained
Christ,con"inspired" volume, I
and
purpose,
point out
doctrines.
We
will
c.
of
the
"Thou
God
have
c.
shalt
thee
doctrines
says,
3,
v.
Gods
and yet
beforeme;
book, Exod., c. vii,v. 1, I
other
same
God
u
Let
there must
second
moral
the
read,
implying,that
the
no
the
first commandment
have
in
declares,
made
17.
"
The
Jews.
odus,
Ex-
Commandments,
laws
i,v. 26, we
In
v.
xx.,
These
the Ten
begin with
to
us
And
Pharaoh"
make
be
man
in
our
pluralityof
commandment,
the
in
Gen.,
image
Gods.
Israelites
were
"
164
CONSISTENCY
THE
THE
OF
strictly
enjoinednot to make any
likeness of anything that is
any
that is in the earth beneath,or
in
BIBLE.
"
images,
above,
graven
in heaven
the
under
ivater
or
or
the
earth"
"
"
The
above
heavens
commandment
same
thy God,
"
am
upon
generation of them
read
we
shall not
bear
I, the Lord
iniquitiesof
and
the third
fourth
me."
hate
that
in
"
us,
visitingthe
jealousGod,
the children,
unto
the father
But
informs
the
son
shall
the
bear
the
"
"
more."
The
fourth
should
day
of work
Mark,
do
what
this,
"
Sabbath
The
father
c.
work
conceived
we
good,
book,
blameless
are
we
it
ful
law-
was
the
on
bath
Sab-
"
mother
in
trine,
doc-
that
in
to
us
"
c.
In the
while
and
and
our
that
manner
no
to
held
He
5.
hi.,v.
demurred
fifth
Luke,
and
himself
do
must
of
justification
have
that on
ye not read in the law, how
days, the priestsof the temple profane the
Now
Sabbath,
in
We
kept "holy."
Christ
insists
day.
Matt.,c. xiL, v. 5, he remarks,
In
the
be
; but
in
to
commandment
"
sixth,
told to
are
"hate
be his
told
not
thy
by Christ,
our
father
disciples."
shalt not
kill;"
said, "Thou
xxxii.,v. 27, of
"put every man
it is
Exocl^, c.
are
"cannot
we
we
"honor
the
very
his sword
same
by
166
all turn
the
it
CONSISTENCY
THE
to
dust
distinctly
says,
perish
to
In
that
earth ; in that
the
BIBLE.
THE
again"
soul-mongers
returneth
OF
very
his
day
thoughts
"
find
of the world, we
opposite doctrines promulgated. Eccles.,c. i.,
very
and
v.
one
4, says, that
generation passeth away,
another
ever."
generation cometh, but the earth abidelh forBut
end
v.
Matt., c. xiii.,
49, talks of the
of the world,77and about
the angels coming forth,"c.
And
v.
10, states,
Peter,in his second
Epistle,c. iii.,
In reference
duration
the
to
"
"
"
that
the earth
shall be burnt
also
and
the works
that
tip !
In
v.
Romans, c. iii.,
28, it is said," a
by faith,xoithout the deeds of the
v.
James, c. ii.,
24, it is remarked,
in
"
that
how
by
faith only,"
grace
in
are
ye
therein
are
"
works
law."
Ye
justified
But,
then,
see,
and
justified,
is
man
is
man
by
not
"
In
For by
v.
8, it says,
Ephes., c. ii.,
ed
saved, through faith." But it is affirm-
James,
c.
faith without
"that
xi.,v. 20,
works
dead"
told in
are
Respecting the Sabbath, we
Exod., c. xx., v. 10, that it is the seventh day in the
told it is
week
in John, c. xx., v. 1, we
are
; while
to believe?
the 'firstday. Which
we
are
The
pancies.
followingexhibits a few other glaring discreIn Micha, c. iv.,v. 3, we
read that "they
shall beat their swords
into ploughshares,and
their
into pruning hooks, nation
lift up a
shall not
spears
sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war
is
any
And
more"
In 1
of
the
said, "God
they
ordered
are
of this
reverse
is solicitous
is
we
do
to
cally
diametri-
v.
10, "Beat
Joel,c. iii.,
ploughshares into sivords, and your
pruning
I am
into spears,
let the weak
strong."
say
assured
Lord
the
that
are
v. 4, we
Tim., c. ii.,
the
your
hooks
yet
should
that
in
all should
truth"
should
believe
"come
But,
in
send
them
lie I"
the
unto
Thes.,
c.
ledge
know-
v.
ii.,
11,
strong delusion
In
Prov.,c.
it
that
iv.,v.
7,
CONSISTENCY
THE
we
advised
are
"
yet
"in
18, that
v.
THE
we
in
is much
wisdom
much
and
assured
are
167
BIBLE.
"get wisdom"
to
and
OF
standing;
"get underEccles.,c. i.,
grief, and he
that increaseth
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
and
In
Exod.,
shall
man
informed
c.
in
him.
xxxiii.,v. 20,
the
see
Gen.,
and
Lord,
the
"
with
dined
that
"and
c.
and
him
with
fought
life
his
no
are
saw
was
preserved."
references.
heaven
it says
27,
But
in
created
was
it
was
In
Gen.,
on
the
created
be
will
inconsistencies
Further
v.
Lord
assured
are
we
on
i.,v. 1, it
c.
firstday,
the
second.
it is
found
in
it is
while
in
the
states
in
lowing
folthat
6-8,
In Gen., c. i.,
his own
image.
v.
asked, "Who
is
168
like
Lord?"
the
Gen.,
In
THE
OP
CONSISTENCY
THE
c.
BIBLE.
28, God
i.,v.
blesses
who
are
"
"
"
man
divided
was
chapter, v. 11, we
next
earth
was
God
viii.,v. 15,
In
heart.
me
48,
eat
Exod.,
we
are
xiv., v. 21,
In 2
Pharaoh
v.
xxv.,
dwell
in."
are
Sam.,
c.
c.
in
in
20,
And
his
it
c.
own
"Make
says,
in
not
that
21,
heart, but
Yet,
lusteth."
very
whole
the
iv., v.
c.
8, God
xii.,v.
warned
the
hardened
dwelleth
Deut.,
thy soul
we
Exod.,
c.
told God
whenever
flesh.
to
that
Pharaoh's
that
In
hands.
flesh
c.
we
sancturay
with
read
informed
In
hardened
in
tongue, while
are
tongue.
one
states, that
v.
after his
Acts, c. vii.,
temples made
"
it says,
Eat
yet in Rom.
it is not
good
to
she
had
five ! ! !
that
God
moved
In 2
David
THE
Israel
number
to
CONSISTENCY
that
Satan
God
and
and
provoked
Devil
the
In
THE
OP
169
BIBLE.
him
number
to
were
and
one
them.
the
Perhaps,
in those
same
read
that David
v.
1-5, we
ii.,
made
to
went
Hebron, and was
king of Judah
only,
while
in 1 Chron., c. xi.. v. 1-3, it says, he went
to
In
all Israel.
made
Hebron, and
was
king over
Resist not
to
Matt., c. v., v. 39, we are commanded
evil ;
but in James, c. iv.,v. 7, it bids us to
resist
"
the Devil;
but, perhaps,the Devil is not an evil
his
to make
certainlynot the parsons1 for if he was
be gone." In Gen., c.
exit,their "occupation would
cursed
the Lord
iv.,v. 13-14, we are told that when
Cain, and sent him as a vagabond through the earth,
him
Cain said that every
found
would
who
one
slay
one77 be, when, achim.
could
cording
Now, who
every
then
ence,
existin
the Bible,there was
one
to
no
father and
Abel
being murdered, but his own
land
mother
In v. 16, 17, it says Cain
went
?
to the
of Nod, and
did he
get her?
got a wife. Where
days.
Sam.,
c.
"
"
"
"
"
"
There
female
no
was
mother.
own
The
in existence
then
same
verse,
17,
that
says
his
Eve"
but
Cain
inhabit
to
was
it, pray ?
city. Bat, who
fant
There
were
only himself and his wife, and his inEnoch
son
population
living a very numerous
to
requirea city for their home ! I hope they had
room
enough. But did Cain build the city himself?
built
"
he could
That
workmen
Such
production to
The
God
be
and
manifold.
that
they
my
Where
the
this
would
did
then
word
find the
he
discrepanciesand
book.
infallible
called God's
I do
dictions
contra-
not
pretty
know
is ashamed
historical
confine
are
crowd
which
whether
do.
not
to
own
filla volume
animadversions
of themselves.
to
the
New
I must
Testament
,
These
books
Gospels.
portion only
record
the Pedigree, Miraculous
Conception, Birth,
of
Career, Crucifixion,Resurrection, and Ascension
and
to
one
"
15
the
170
OF
CONSISTENCY
THE
THE
of the
BIBLE.
afford
They
one
most
"
1000
reconcile
to
years
them,
learned
English divine
celebrated
lectures,
his
reconcile
of
the
tion
the contradic-
resurrection
with
of Mark
to
and
"
"
of Jacob.
son
One
a
of these
spoken
then, in
gentlemen
must
have
made
If Matthew
mistake.
have
infallible
the
case,
there
must
be
"
nay,
it is
false-
THE
CONSISTENCY
OF
THE
171
BIBLE.
hood
if we
to believe Matthew, c. i.,
are
altogether,
v.
These
18.
evangelicalhistorians quote these genealogies
that Jesus is of the family of David.
to prove
We
the pedigree of Joseph up
trace
to
David, and
infer that Christ being the son
of Joseph, he descended
from the man
after God's
heart.
own
Now, in
the verse
just referred to, we are told that Christ was
the son
of Joseph
but the son
not
of a ghost ! What
blunder ! What
! These
accurate
a
genealogists
tlemen
genshould
have
given us the pedigreeof the wilyghost, not that of simple Joseph. What
a pity it is the
world
has not been suppliedwith such a curiosity
!
Let us speak of the miraculous
raculous,
conception; and mi"
indeed,
the
it is !
angel appeared
him
of
Matthew
says,
Joseph, in
unto
i.,v.
c.
dream,
and
20,
told
but Luke
good fortune
says, c. i.,v. 30
the old gentleto 35, the angel did not
unto
man,
appear
but unto
Mary herself. Which
story is correct?
I am
afraid it is all a dream, and a very stupid one
his
"
too!
In the
account
there
are
many
tells us,
there came
c. ii.,
v.
contradictory
wise
1, that on his nativityin Bethlehem,
of the east
Luke
to worship him
men
states,
; while
of
v.
c. ii.,
8, that it was
ignoraht
only a number
and
who, instead of coming
shepherds who
came,
from the east, only came
from the immediate
borhood.
neighMatthew
observes, c. ii.,v. 2, that these
directed
Bethlehem
to
by a star ;
strangers were
an
Luke, however, states, c. ii.,v. 9 that it was
angel who led them.
statements.
I have
affirmed
that
the
career
of
Christ, from
his
birth
to
his
death,
is
"
avoid
who
Luke
Herod's
mentions
states,
172
THE
did not
Christ
CONSISTENCY
OF
remained
go, but
THE
BIBLE.
until after
where
they were
that they went
circumcised, and
up with
him
to Jerusalem, to present him
in the temple, the
most
public place in the kingdom, and almost into
Herod's presence ! ! 1
What
consistency!
Calling the apostles. Matthew, c. iv.,v. 18, tells
that Christ was
us
walking by the sea of Galilee,and
Peter
was
when
ships fishing,
he called them
Luke
affirms,c. v., v. 5, that
; but
Christ himself
was
sittingin their ships teaching the
out
washing
people on shore, and the fishermen were
their nets.
John's
story, however, c. i.,v. 35 to 42,
these
is different from
both.
He says nothing about
the least allusion
is there
men
being fishermen, nor
to
merely
fishing. He informs us that they were
followers
of John
the Baptist.
Another
is the
case
callingof an apostle,whose
Matthew
Matthew
name
; but
says, c. ix.,v. 9, was
and
Levi
Mark
was
declares,c. ii.,v. 14, his name
not
an
list,there was
yet, according to their own
!
apostleof that name
and
Andrew
their
in
were
"
Christ's
sermon
this famous
he delivered
c.
thew,
in Mat-
is mentioned
the Mount
on
sermon
Matthew's
standing in a plain.
statement,
of his deliveringit while sittingon a hill,
is
therefore,
while
inconsistent
this
memorable
2, that
i.,v. 40,
he
v.
that
he
to
him
and
Luke
Similar
his
sent
viii.,v.
c.
of him
says,
for
wife
the
to
Which
when
"
was
casting
herd
mention.
he
of
centurion
and
heal
7, that
the
will be found
"
concluded
remarks, c. viii.,
Mark
records,c.
cure
come
vii.,v.
g.
him.
Peter's
this
Capernaum,
at
inconsistencies
curing
had
he
was
throughout Galilee.
are
informed,that
5, we
synagogues
begged
; but
only
performed
arrived
Christ
When
discourse, Matthew
cleansed
a
leper; but
preaching in the
In Matthew,
when
Luke's.
with
out
the
came
his
vant
ser-
rion
centu-
fact?
in the
of
swine, and
story of
devils,and
other
tales
174
CONSISTENCY
THE
THE
OF
BIBLE.
"
he
crucified
was
thieves,who
Luke
but
the
accounts
of
I have
I must
who
time
not
to
the
states, that it
came
that
them
for
companion
also be detected
so
in
other
many
them.
in the
over
matters,
the
but
First, of those
sepulchre.Matthew, c. xxviii.,v. 1,
resurrection.
was
him
reviled
who
superscriptionplaced
enumerate
the
it
says
both
the
Christ,reviled
his
will
also
of
speak
came
who
to
the
John
is true?
account
given of
Christ,and
us
of
one
rebuked
inconsistencies
Similar
with
only
was
other
Which
doing!
head
it
; but
informs
executed
were
says
and
him,
Matthew
sixth.
the
was
at
ry
Mathe
other
and
who
Marys, and Johanna
women,
while, according to John, c. xx., v. 1, Mary
came;
there
be a
alone ! ! Well
cessity
neMagdalene came
may
for prieststo write "harmonies
to the gospels."
Matthew, c. xxviii.,v. 2, observes, that an
angel
the
and
from
rolled
back
descended
stone
heaven,
n
from the door,and sat
it ;
while
Mark, c. xvi.,
upon
not
v.
sittingoutside, but
4, mentions, that he was
the right side. We
learn from
inside the sepulchre,
on
Matthew, that the visitants went away from the sepulchre
but
Mark
somewhat
abruptly;
they went
says,
declares
that they
into it. When
they entered,Mark
clothed in a long white garment,
one
saw
man,
young
do not
we
a shirt or
surplice,
learn.)
(whether it was
Luke
gives an opposite
sittingat the rightside ; but
two
"
statement
"
he
says,
there
were
two
young
men,
and
they
were
"
"
THE
CONSISTENCY
OF
THE
175
BIBLE.
to the
"
"
"
believe it.
19, that
Incredulous
Christ
ascended
lohere the
c.
apostleswere
xxiv.,v. 50, that
and
that there
In
Luke,
c.
man
into
Luke
out
to
the
place
affirms,
Bethany,
took
ascension
his
; but
xvi., v.
c.
says,
heaven, from
at meat
sat
he
Mark
xxiv., v. 13, we
place.
read, that
day as his
Christ's
cension
as-
resurrection
place on the same
understand
from John, c.
in the evening ; while
we
several
xx., v. 26, that he appeared to his disciples
the earth
times, and remained
days ;
upon
'many
wonders,5'
(some say forty,)performing so many
that John
if they were
written,the WORLD
says,
the books ! ! !
would
be large enough to contain all
not
took
"
"
With
this marvellous
and
verily it
is
statement,
a
closes
John
his gospel,
closer !
"
ble
infalliinspired and
evangelists
indeed, scarcely to agree in any one
historians,
number
Were
the same
on
particular,
any subject!
of incongruities,
equally gross and palpable,exhibited
in the land,
court
by four witnesses,in the meanest
the most
frivolous case
imaginable,their testiupon
Consistent
"
"
"
{C
176
CONSISTENCY
THE
would
mony
be
Why
in
relation
to
be,
of
Blind
credulity
and
sense,
moral
the
Monstrous
inconsistencies
I
what
could
sufficient
less
much
That
of
would
who
the
in
Bible,
is
incongruity,
is
of
render
him
get
is
to
"
get
understanding."
of
be
to
uphold
this
set
truth,
and
wisdom,
the
and
have
duction.
pro-
of
offered
book,
any
inspired.
the
prodigious
lity
infallibiof
mass
naught
at
few,
modicum
divinely
all
and
but
of
to
would
evidence,
rational
common
precious
credibility
face
of
criterion
and
myself
flatter
venture
who
one
of
presented
alleged
the
"
this
in
the
which
one
man
invalidate
to
infatuation
few,
only
have
adduced^
be
and
now
observable
Though
both
perversion
reviewed
have
momentous,
Strange
principle
friends,
My
of
everlasting"
proclaimed
and
humanity,
tempt.
con-
admitted
be
solemnly
sacred
of
and
evidence
are
most
welfare
life
through
the
BIBLE.
indignation
such
which
others,
the
involving
should
matters
all
THE
with
scouted
then
to
OF
all
established
best
with
ciples
prinI
advice
all
knowledged
ac-
thy
can
ting,
get-
LECTURE
MORALITY
THE
Friends
OF
evening
Bible.
in
its
exhibiting
discuss
shall
we
Believers
this
every
other
omnipotent
they return
Deity
after
the
book
excellencies
from
driven
THE
BIBLE.
"
This
of
TENTH.
are
this
in
of
morality
remarkably
the
fond
When
respect.
to
it is
say,
exultation
must
and
which
than
any
should
that
except
weakness
upon
deficiency, by
generally make
the
I
other.
the
the
on
seventh
day,
quite "refreshed."
bravado
astonishing, such
exhibited
be
a
point,
upon
vulnerable
Scriptures are more
encounter
somewhat
conceive,
resting
cannot
for
account
Christian
such
world,
in
paradox,
their
knowing
desirous
the
this
to supply
head, are
and
Things
dogmatism.
assumption
when
the
they are most
greatest noise
empty.
My
friends, if
controversy
is
an
there
clearer
immoral
proceed, that
sprinkling of
is
than
thing
another,
one
publication.
there
a
are
few
good passages,
connected
it is that
with
the
this
Bible
will
allow, before
redeeming
qualities
in
what
book
(and
"
I
a
is
178
THE
there
MORALITY
OF
THE
BIBLE.
"
written.
were
I shall
Do
unto
at
comment
others
unto
as
you
would
wish
others
to
do-
you."
Thales
"Avoid
"
"
you,
not
and
be
do not
done
unto
unto
alone ; it is the
24.
rest."" Moral
another
what
you
would
should
those enas
forced
exactly the same
by Christ 500 years afterwards.
defence of AbMr. Dunlap, in his justlycelebrated
ner
Freethinker, indignantly
Kneeland, the American
Was
there no morality in the days of Homer,
asks,
Cicero and Virgil?
Pythagoras, Solon,Plato,Aristotle,
Was
there no
morality in the vast, populous, and
These
"
sentiments
are
MORALITY
THE
civilized
empire of China
Was
there
no
morality
the
where, before even
'mid
of
thunders
the
accused
of
offence
an
THE
OF
time
in the
the
in
179
BIBLE.
Confucius?
of
of
kingdom
Egypt,
commandments
were
given,
Mount
Sinai, Benjamin was
of
against morality, because
in his sack?
found
was
Joseph which
Was
there
nations
the immense
no
morality among
from
of the American
continent, stretching almost
lumbus
pole to pole,till the loftyand daring genius of Coimpelled him to the discovery of the New
World
the ear?
there been
Has
liest
no
morality from
the
of
cup
times
in
the
those
dwellings of
Not
any
of
seats
and
innocence
?"
Brahmins
the
plation,
contem-
Granting,
be a few moral
precepts in the
may
borrowed
but
second-hand; and,
"
are
to
recorded
indebted
to
any
but
Christianity,
in the
"
for
one
to
men
these
greater
Word.7'
Holy
original,
but many
them
are
utterlyimpracticable,and,
be
to
therefore,useless ; nay, some, if they were
asmuch
be actuallypernicious^infollowed, would
literally
as
they would
destroy the physical and
ine,
mental
industryof man, and inevitablylead to famignorance,and misery. For instance, in Matt,
c. vi.,v.
25, 26, we are told to "take no thought for
life,what ye shall eat, or what
your
ye shall drink,
Is not
nor
yet for your body what
ye shall put on.
the life more
than
meat, and the body than raiment?
the
Behold
fowls of the air,for they sow
not, neither
do they reap, nor
gather into barns, yet your heavenly
only, however,
are
these
precepts
not
of
father
feedeth
Are
ye
not
much
better
than
practice of such a
doctrine
Utter confusion, want, and
this ?
as
dation.
degrathe
to
people were
adopt it
Supposing
to
hibit
begin to exsupposing the working classes were
such
pious indifference to things carnal,and, in
of that virtuous
to
resolve,were
acquaint
pursuance
his Grace
the Archbishop of Canterbury that they
they?"
What
them.
would
follow
the
"
180
MORALITY
THE
OF
BIBLE.
THE
so
trulypenitent for having so long committed
their bread
(and his bread.)
grievousa sin as to earn
of their brow," and
that now
by the " sweat
they
were
Christians,
being good
reallydetermined
upon
in
should
what
not
to
as
they
caring
eat, or what
they should drink,7'but that they and he, and the
of the community, should
pend
derest of the idle drones
for their subsistence,"like the fowls of the air,"
how
he
their
would
heavenly father,1'
upon
queer
for adopting
look, and how he would
laugh at them
knows
the very system he is paid to teach !
Heaven
it would
be a fortunate thing for the starving millions
if this doctrine
could
be really practised
! Many are
are
now
precluded from producing food
they who
I would
either to "eat," or to "drink."
advise them,
therefore, to shirt their eyes, open their mouth, and
God
what
will send them," and never
be so
see
more
wicked
and irreligious
to wish
to work
to
as
provide
were
"
"
"
for themselves
and
Again, in Mark,
But
enemies."
You
but
long
so
love
should
man
dislike
that
c.
who
v.
v.,
44,
it is
do this?
can
said,
It is
"
Love
your
possible.
morally im-
them,
-forgive
pity your enemies
they are your enemies, you cannot
may
as
It
them.
families !
is
"
inherent
human
that
nature
which
imparts pleasure,and
produces pain. You
might as
like that
which
in
commanded
been
well, therefore,have
destroy you, as
viper that would
love
to
the
enemy
the
who
would
ruin you.
From
these instances,it is
morality
the
Bible
contains
absurd.
or
Considering
this
favorablepoint of
production.
will now
We
glance at
most
and
dark
and
grows
which
indeed
it is I
it details.
the dark
What
scenes
side of the
of
view
to
our
open
I think of
horror when
obscenity
cold with
in the
oracle,therefore,
view, it is but a miserable
notorious
picture,
ery,
crime, butch!
My
blood
the atrocities
182
out
THE
him
to
take
MORALITY
in
tho
thousand
one
world, and
from
which
book
Listen
believes
he
would
not
nay,
priest should
it here
that
BIBLE.
read
THE
OF
be
ashamed
God
inspired by
was
read
to
of Richard
extraordinary declaration
Lalor
of the Whig
ministra
adShiel, Esq., M. P., member
and
of the privy councillors
to the
one
In the Church
of Ireland Magazine for 1825,
Queen.
the following language is ascribed
that brilliant
to
in Scripture were
written
orator:
Many passages
with
such
force,and he might say, with nakedness
of diction,as rendered
them
for indiscriminate
unfit
in
perusal. There were
parts of the Old Testament
which
presented to
images of voluptuousness were
the mind
the imagination of a youthful female
which
on
He would
ought not to be permitted to repose.
the
to
"
"
to
venture
display more
The
luxury
history,and
of
kind
virtuous
woman
could
that
of
of the
the
more
which
man
hu-
holy writings
narration
of facts of
in the
of
presence
Should
be mentioned
not
not
Testament.
atrocityat
Part
did
combine
imagination,or
shuddered.
nature
of Anacreon
details of
contained
Bible
consisted
of
than
associations
sensual
the Odes
that
assert
she
would
she
die than
tremble
kind
world
of
revolve
book,
it be the word
blush
at
her
domestic
what
she
friends,
imn
what
board
would
rather
"
perusalof which,
Can
excitinghorror.
read in her chamber,
hear
to
and
over
con
utter?
What
the
permitted to
be
Shall
without
woman
at
their
of
my
virtuous
God
mind
Ah
effrontery,and
that
at
shudder
must
! let the
cease
be,
to
Christian
exclaim
and
impiety.7'
Having explainedmyself upon this subject,I shall
of those passages
which
culcate
inproceed to consider some
connive
at
or
immorality. I shall begin, by
of the Bible
the
describing the leading characters
of this improbable tale, the favorites of the
heroes
against
blasphemy
"
Bible God
OF
MORALITY
THE
183
BIBLE.
THE
These
characters
record.
on
first of these
The
is Noah'
I shall name,
Scripture paragons
only individual,with his family,who
worthy of being saved at the Deluge.
the
"
considered
was
we
personages,
Surely,
he
read
in
Gen.,
c.
such
state
of
was
moral
moral
Very
man.
that
he
drunkenness,
was
that
for
found
we
in
I forbear
If there
Noahs
in
were
quoting the passage.
many
the world, teetotalism,
be at a disI apprehend, would
count.
I will ask, was
the part
it a moral
act
upon
of Noah, to curse
his own
?
See Gen., c. ix.,v. 25.
son
If all fathers
affection
to
were
would
take
Noah
as
pattern, paternal
be unknown.
his wife
Gen., c.
of
one
was
"
he'r child
and
sheba."
his
to
wander
in the
"
wilderness
in
out
her
of Beer-
The
unfeeling brute !
Isaac,the son of Abraham, another very prominent
character
in the early history of the Bible, followed
the virtuous
In Gen. c. xxvi.,
example of his father.
7
The
v.
9, it states that he, also, denied his wife.
story is trulyobscene.
of Isaac, and
the person
son
Jacob, the favored
Lord
read
in Malachi, c. i.,v. 2, 3, the
we
whom,
loved so much, endeavored
his own
to deceive
father,
robbed
Gen. c. xxvii.,v. 19.
his
ther,
broown
He, also,
Esau, as stated in v. 36 ; and in c. xxix., and
"
xxx.,
crimes
and
we
read
that
adultery.
"
184
the
Moses,
OF
MORALITY
THE
THE
man"
"meekest
BIBLE.
in
history,and private
deliberate murderer
a
Bible-God, was
a
wretch, who, in this country, would be deemed
In Exodus, c. il,v. 11, 12, we
unfit to live.
read,
"
And
it came
to pass in those days, when
Moses
was
his
he
that
went
out
unto
and
looked
brethren,
grown,
he spied an
their burdens, and
on
Egyptian smiting
And
he looked
this
an
Hebrew, one of his brethren.
the
to
secretary
"
and
way,
that
he
no
man,
sand."
Moses
when
and
he saw
way,
slew the Egyptian, and
that
there
hid
him
was
in the
is
This
But
absolute,unqualified homicide.
also, an instigatorto murder, on a large
was,
in Numbers, c. xxxi.
He
scale, as seen
particularly
evidenced
as
likewise, an inciter to prostitution,
was,
in v. 17, and 18, of that chapter. The
indeed,
butcheries,
committed
the instance
at
of that divine
ite,
favor-
unparalleled.
Joshua
well worthy of his meek
was
predecessor.
in the name
The
atrocities perpetratedby him,
of
the Lord," are
truly frightful"I decline quoting them.
are
"
refer
of
book
Joshua, c. x., v.
if you are
disposedto gratify
your curiosity.
the beau
Samuel, the next Bible hero, was
You
may
priest.
To
to
the
with
reason
loss of time.
his
could
He
"
26,
ideal of
he considered
opponents,
best
17
disposeof
their
jections,
ob-
itself
that it extended
Saul
orders
all that
both
ass
body
A
of
another
woman,
who
men
read,
brutes.
not, but
spare them
infant and suckling,
camel
ought
to
to be
be
He
stroy
utterlyde-
and
pretty command
given by
examples
to
slay
and
of
one
their
low
fel-
creatures
We
smite
they have,
and
man
!8
go and
to
"
the very
Amalek, and
to
in 2
Bible
littlechildren
Kings,
hero, and
"
in the
name
v.
23, 24,
ii.,
of
"man
God,"
c.
of the
that
Elisha,
cursed
Lord,"
for
some
simply
OF
MORALITY
THE
exclaiming,in. their
childish
THE
185
BIBLE.
frolic, bald-head
5?
"
and
the
Lord
very
1;
the
brick-kilns
the children
be
and
thus
of Aramon."
surpassed.
David
did he
unto
Cruelty like
exhibited
his
this could
natural
not
ferocity
of character
his very death-bed.
even
ing
Speakupon
of the son
of Gera, a Benjamite, he enjoinshis
fore,
son
Solomon, almost in his last breath, " Now, therefor thou art a wise man,
hold him not
guiltless,
what
thou
and
knowest
oughtest to do unto
him;
down
the
thou
but his hoary head
to
bring
grave
with
blood ! "
1 Kings, c. ii.,
Did ever
v. 8, 9.
tal
morDid any
die with such a curse
his lips?
man
on
mission
father,at such a moment, exhort a child to the comof such
crimes ! Oh ! what
an
example to
the world !
What
humanity !
morality ! What
Solomon's
career, though he is proclaimed to be the
wisest
man"
that ever
lived, was
only that of a
Were
the human
to
race
voluptuary and debauchee.
follow his brightexample, virtue and
chastitywould
of
be mere
convince
To
names.
you of the justness
that in 1 Kings,
remarks, I need but remind
you
my
"
16*
186
THE
OF
MORALITY
THE
"
BIBLE.
he (Solomon)had
xi.,v. 3, it states, "And
hundred
wives, princesses,and three hundred
seven
c.
and
wives
his
from
turned
His
songs,
been
are
the
You
them.
c.
The
may
vii.,v. 1-4.
Old
the
of
Those
read
reviewed
the
New
them
I
have
to
of
would
style,
disgust
will
constitute
not
quote
the
"great
pretty lightsthey
Jesus
are
ought
!"
yourselves,particularly
and
Testament,,
heart
correctness
for
them
here
characters
lights" of
are
which
his
away
his "wisdom"
cubines,
con-
Christ
and
"
his
In
principalapostles,Paul, Peter,and John.
occasion
third address, I had
to speak at
length
my
former
of Christ and the two
apostles,as illustrative
of the system of imposture pursued by the early
I beg to refer you.
observations
Christians,to which
I need
this occasion,occupy
much
not, therefore,on
three
of your
time
I may
with
ask, however,
following account
"
the
above
remarks
"
Saviour
all other
of
of
what
the
the
these
upon
passages.
morality is there
in the
of
Christ,
genealogy
world
beings,should
one
"
have
Jesus
whose
been
origin,
honorable
language of Dr.
Alexander
on
Walker, in his work
"Woman,"
p.
writer
Christian,
eminent
not
a
as
a
an
330,
Infidel.
Had
made
such
observation
been
of my
an
by one
been
denounced
class,it would have
"blasphemous."
"It is remarkable," says he, "that, in the genealogy,
have
of Christ,only four wompn
been named!
Thaof her late husband;
seduced
the father
who
mar,
Rachel, a common
prostitute;Ruth, who, instead of
marrying one of her cousins,went to bed with another
and Bethsheba
an
adulteress,who espoused
of them
What
David, the murderer
of her first husband!
of God," too!
for the "Son
and
1
a
pedigree!
should
be ashamed
of such
an
origin. No wonder
that our
virtuous
aristocracyare so indifferent about
! In Luke, c. xxii.,v.
their "illustrious"
ancestors
and
illustrious?
I will
quote
the
"
"
"
"
THE
MORALITY
OF
THE
dupes a command
Iron Duke/7
"But
"
"
the
let him
take
it ; and
he
now
that
hath
forth
is cast
and
gather them,
burned"
Again,
to
come
and
me
wife
and
own
life
absurd
as
them
in
Luke,
not
children,and
also, he cannot
and
v.
and
detail
which
c.
his
purse,
let him
v.
xv.,
in me,
is withered, and men
man
and
brethren
be
my
was
not
sisters,yea,
his
disciple.57If
followed, all
this
would
be
mestic
do-
annihilated.
Luke, c.
v.
34, 35 ; Mark, c. xvi.;
11, 12; Mark, c. xi.,v. 1-3,
to
would
abide
affection
iv.,v.
c.
In
of
taste
into
relative
passages
49-51 ; Matt, c. x.,
16; Mark,
doctrine
inhuman
other
xii..
v.
cast
sword,
John, c.
no
7J
and
branch
hate
comfort
For
to his peaceable
suit the
may
he that hath
which
"
187
BIBLE.
Christ
colt
"
an
see
act
for which
man
be
now
"
land
the main
Paul, who, after the death of Christ, was
champion of Christianity,unblushingly declares in
his 2d
Epistle to Cor., c. xi., v. 8, "I robbed other
In Rom., c. hi.,v. 7, he
churches
to do
ye service.77
"
exclaims, For
through my
unto
his
hath
ed
abound-
more
glory,why yet
am
I also
188
THE
judged
as
"
the
said before,
other
any
following
so
say
doctrine
would
In
again,
if any
than
that
it
were
become
guile."
with
doctrine
monstrous
now
16, he
How
Gal., c. i.,v. 9, he
unto
excellent, that
Cor.,c. xii.,v.
you
you,
accursed."
be
let him
world
caught
honorable!
How
honest!
so
BIBLE.
THE
2d
In
sinner?"
Being crafty
says,
OF
MORALITY
"
:"
pounds
prowe
preach
men
have
ye
Excellent
As
ceived,
re-
morality !
"
generally practised,the
of
scene
strife
and
xxii.,v.
54-
moral
enmit}^
Peter's
58,
is of
of
denial
like
Master, Luke,
his
character
to
c.
and
Abraham's
Isaac's
lowed,
example folwould
all truth and sincerity
be destroyed. I
of Peter, deliberately
shall say little at this moment
drawing the sword, and cutting off the right ear of
the
The
act
priest'sservant; John, c. xviii.,v. 10.
cruel and
ed
it defendis so flagrantly
unjust,that were
denial
for
of
Christian
their
wives;
moment,
country.
and
one's
no
their
were
life would
be
safe
in
"
"
would
become
an
arena
of the
most
relentless
rance
intole-
are
those
whom
we
are
trained
to
admire,
revere, and
the
to take
!
infamous
Were
we
deify. How
Bible prodigiesas our
ing
models, instead of our advancin toleration,
humanity, and enlightenment,we
almost
190
THE
"
What
Egyptians.
if that
become
"
c.
to
For
If every Englishman
o' cakes," on
"land
the
adopt
would
things."
societywould
scene
both
other
practice,the
this
look
feel most
and
examples, see
Cor.,
24
v.
x.,
in
were
Scotchman"
unutterable
BIBLE*
followed
was
Irishman
THE
virtuous
example
and
"cannie
OF
MORALITY
Let
In Psalms, cix.,v. 10, it says,
Vagabondism.
be continually vagabonds, and
dividual
his children
beg;" innow
who, in this Christian
country, are
"
treated
criminals.
as
The
17.
Deut.,c. xxi.,v. 15
sage
pasfit to quote.
"illustrious"
the
not
See, also,
of Solomon, 1 Kings, c. xi.,v. 3.
A more
blushing
unmired
of bigamy cannot
be cited than this adcase
See
Bigamy.
is
instance
"
Bible-hero.
Seven
hundred
had
three
the
"wisest
concubines
of
man"
I admire
boast.
hundred
But
And
boot !
he
this
Bible-readers
the
whom
their taste.1
Prostitution.
to
wives
is
can
"
See
Hosea,
These
passages
I will read
c.
2, and
i.,v.
Judges,
c.
12.
v.
are
"
kill every
But
him.
and
by lying with
man
that
have
known
not
man,
"
hath
that
woman
all the
known
children,
women
What
yourselves!
the
Lord
threatened
the
Adultery. This crime
Their
dren
chilBabylonians their wives should suffer.
ed
v.
16,) shall be dash(says he, in Isaiah,c. xiii.,
shall be spoiled,and
houses
their
to pieces,their
What
See also Matt.,c.
ravished."
wives
a threat !
alive for
"
"
"
i.. v.
18.
I find
Marriage,
them
him
to
to
curious
some
which
the
issue
and
I will
consideration
doctrines
here
of
the subject of
upon
I commend
introduce.
Dr.
Wardlaw.
work
he
I advise
on
tution,
Prosti-
mentions
as
THE
MORALITY
OF
191
BIBLE.
THE
I may
therein
quote.
When
and
it
he
I will
We
next
uncleanness
some
might
refer
you
told
that
married
favor
no
to
were
there
are
find
we
man
wife, and
that she
found
hath
granted, a
taken
to pass
come
because
hath
man
if
that
state
her,
in his eyes,
in her ; then
let him
ment,
(the man
himself)write her a bill of divorceand give it into her hand, and
send her out of
his house : and when
she hath
departed out of his
wife ! "
man's
another
be
house, she may
go and
This
needs
extract
comment.
no
passages
says, in 1
in silence
in
them,
churches
; but
to
also
1 Tim.
also
In
thy bondmen
have, shall
of
you,
be
them
Moreover,
families
that
you
to
permitted
if
And
speak in
and
Eph., c.
to
unto
will
they
home,
at
the
v.,
lence
si-
under
be
to
their husbands
church."
22, 23.
v.
support of that
In
from
passages
many
the
shall
ye
heathen
of
children
them
for
the
round
are
and
about
bondmaids.
strangers
that
buy, and of
they begat in
shall ye
you, of them
with
are
you,
inherit
that
bondmen
buy
which
"
keep
ask
land, and
take
learn
women
them
quote
Paul
Cor., c. xiv.,
law.
12 ;
Trade.
the Slave
of the
sojourn among
in 1
the
women
abounds
women
commanded
are
system, I could
this book.
and
your
it is not
for
v.
ii.,
c.
Slavery and
monstrous
the
saith
for
shame
they
anything, let
for it is
See
}'
ble,
Bi-
gentler sex.
"Let
v.
ii.,
11,
c.
subjection
;
4CLet
exclaims,
speak
obedience,as
learn
the
all
he
the
of
contempt
Tim.,
with
34, 35,
v.
in
The
of Women.
Testament,
possession.
for your
And
ye
children
possession,they
do
their
your
shall
after
shall be
192
THE
OF
MORALITY
bondmen
THE
BIBLE.
What
iniquitoustraffic
also Joshua, c. ix., v. 21, and
life!
See
in human
the " Lord
Joel, c. hi.,v. 8, where
exclaims, uAnd
and
1 will sell your
sons
daughters, into the
your
of Judah, and
of the children
hand
they shall sell
Sabeans
the
to
them
to
a
people afar off; for the
hath
Lord
spoken it." The American
parsons
may
sanctions
well say that the Bible
slavery!
and
oppression. In Heb., c.
Apology for tyranny
to
are
told,explicitly,
xih., v. 17, we
"obey them
that
rule over
submit
yourselves; and in
you, and
1 Peter,c. ii.,
commanded
Submit
to
v.
are
13, we
for the Lord's
of man
yourselves to every ordinance
your
forever!"
an
"
"
sake."
and
doctrine
convenient
most
The
all
to
tyrants
audacious
mands
priestthus comus
in
v.
18, "Servants, be subject to your
only to the good and the
masters, with all fear, not
But these
are
gentle,but to the froward !
modest,
Let
of
the
Paul:
compared with
followinglanguage
soul be subject unto
the higher powers,
for
every
there is no power
the powers
that be are
but of God
ordained
of God; whosoever, therefore,resisteth the
of God, and
resisteth the ordinance
they that
power,
usurpers
same
"
"
"
resist
shall
1-3.
What
other
passages,
xii.,v.
damnation
receive
a
doctrine
How
Titus,
see
I"
Rom.,
like
the
Bible
ii.,v. 9, and
c.
v,
xiii.,
c.
For
Hosea,
c.
7.
much,
Discouragement of virtue. u Be not righteousoverneither
make
wise, why shouldst
thyselfover
In
16.
thou destroy thyself?" Eccles., c. vii.,v.
Rev., c. xxii.,v. 11, it is stated, He that is unjust
let him
be unjust still,
be
and he that is filthylet him
of finality
is the doctrine
with a
filthystill." That
"
vengeance.
says,
world
"
But
to
God
be
ignorant."
hath
confound
But
"
chosen
the
wise"
And
the
Paul,
error.
if any
in
c.
man
be
i.,v. 27,
in
norant
ighe
THE
it is
make
and
they
and
see
their
with
xix.,
v.
the
their
eyes,
with
See
also
and
their
c.
and
193
BIBLE.
of
this
shut
heart
heavy,
ears
understand
healed."
be
Make
ordered,"
THE
OF
MORALITY
hear
heart, and
v.
lxiii.,
17:
people fat,
convert,
and
arid
Exod.,
c.
12, 13.
In 2
Encouragement to Lying and Falsehood.
for this cause,
Thess.
c.
v.
ii.,
11, we are told,"And
shall send them
God
strong delusions,that they should
in 2d Chron., c. xviii.,
And
believe a lie."
v. 21, the
I will go out and be
is representedas saying,
Lord
of all his prophets."Ezek.,
in the mouth
a lying~s\"\x\t
c. xx.,
v.
25, informs us that the Lord set a very good
told that he "gave
are
example to the world, for we
that
them
not
statutes
were
good, and judgments
whereby they should not live." See, likewise,Gen.,
12 ;
15 ; c. xxvi, v. 7
v. 19 ; c. xxviii.,
c. xxvii.,
v. 13
Jer., c. xx., v. 17 ; and Ezek., xiv.,v. 9.
Encouragement to Hypocrisy,and an exquisite specimen
of moralityit is. In 1 Sam., c. xvi.,v. 1, 2, we
said unto
the Lord
read, "And
Samuel, How
long
have
for Saul, seeing I
wilt thou mourn
rejectedhim
from
Israel ?
Fill thine
horn with
oil,
reigning over
I will send thee to Jesse, the Bethlemite,for
and go.
1 have
his sons.
And
provided me a king from among
Samuel
said,how can I go? If Saul hear me, he will
the Lord
And
kill me.
said,take an heifer with thee,
"
"
and
say,
am
come
to
sacrifice
"
to
the
Lord."
In Num., c. xiv.,v. 30
34, the
of Faith.
into the
Lord
observes, Doubtless,ye shall not come
make
I swore
dwell
to
land, concerning which
you
therein,save
Caleb, the son of Jephannah, and Joshua,
of the days, in which
the son
of Nun, after the number
the land, and fortydays, each
day for a
ye searched
even
fortyyears, and ye
iniquities,
year, shall be your
What
shall know
breach
a
ous-spec
gloriof promise !!
my
of honesty and good faith !
unjust and pernicious
Primogeniture. This most
law is strictly
enforced,in Deut., c. xxi.,v. 17, "But
Breach
"
"
"
17
194
THE
OF
MORALITY
THE
BIBLE,
born,
acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstby giving him a double portionof all that he
hath, for he is the beginning of his strength,the right
of the first-born is his.;J For other instances,see Gen.,
e. xvii.,
v.
14; 1.Sam., c. vi.,v. 1 21 ; 2 Sam., c. xxi.,
1
v.
14; and Gen., c. iv.,v. 15.
If there be one
Persecution.
thing more
unjust or
immoral
than another, it is persecuting a fellow
more
differ with
he may
being,because
you in opinion.To
brutal
invade
the precinctsof conscience, is a
most
he
shall
"
"
often
act, and yet how
In Deut., c. xiii.,
6
v.
commands
is it recommended
"
Bible !
in the
9, one
of the
is in
reference
diabolical
most
persecution
are
told,
thy brother,the son of
opinion.
thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife
of thy bosom, or
is as thine own
thy friend,which
soul,entice thee, secretly,
saying,Let us go and serve
other
gods, which thou hast not known, thou nor thy
shall not consent
unto
father,Thou
him, nor hearken
unto
him, neither shall thine eye pity him, neither
shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou
conceal
him, but
thou
shall be first upon
shalt kill
him, thine hand
afterwards
of
him
the hand
to put him
to death, and
Here
all the people! ! ! "
are
we
actually commanded
to murder
our
own
so?ts, wives,and daughters,if they
for
will
We
believe
not
Christians!
blush
given,
ever
can
as
we
believe
you
read
to
If
"
I tremble
such
with
horror.
and
passage,
not
raelites
Josh.,c. xxiv., v. 20, protests, that if the Isdared
to worship other
gods than were
posed
pro-
to
would
"
consume^
them
! O
"
"
right of private
libertyof conscience,71what
"
teristic,
Many horrible passages, highly characjudgment !
might be quoted from Deufc, c. xvii.,v. 2. ;
Exod., c. xxxii.,v. 10; 2Chron., c. xxviii.,v. 6 ; c. xv.,
6
v.
v.
13; Deut., c. xiii.,
13; 2 Kings, c. x., v. 29;
In the New
and
Deut., c. xvii., v. 12.
Testament,
what
"
there
of which
I have
read
some
passages,
speaking of Christ, Paul, and John, as given in
are
when
Luke,
c.
many
and
John,
c.
THE
MORALITY
OF
THE
195
BIBLE.
"
"
house
we
are
soul
dust
I say unto
of Sodom
for that
oif the
city,shake
or
"
How
city!
told, "
and
shall
which
from
hear
not
of
judgment, than
v.
Acts,c. iii.,
23,
In
to
come
pass,
that
prophet,
people." What
the
among
day
!
horrible
it shall
of your feet.
Verily,
tolerable for the land
that
every
stroyed
shall be deChristian
charity!
read,
we
to
In
recommended.
Suicide
"
When
thou
is before
what
diligently
thy throat,if thou
be
c.
And
thee.
knife
given
appetite.''
In Judges, c. iii.,
v. 15
put
to
man
countenanced.
Assassination
xxiii.,v. 1, 2,
with a ruler,consider
Prov.,
sittest to eat
tion
revoltingstory is told of the assassinaof Eglon, king of Moab, by Ehud, the deliverer
ed,
informof the Israelites;
and this " deliverer"
we
are
"
Lord
selected and
self.
himwas
appointed by the
I forbear quoting the passage.
In c. iv.,v. 21,
similar
crime
is committed
a
Jael,
by the woman,
Sisera, the captain of the army of the king of
upon
"
23,
most
"
While
Canaan.
asleep,says
softlyunto
went
After
Murder,
nevertheless
you,
great
"
are
the
"
his
30:
of
and
hand,
ples,
tem-
"
land
of
heinous
in the
"
took
dren
chil-
Bible.
crimes,
Listen, I
following astounding
the
x., v. 11
of the house
and
"
"
"
most
it is defended
to
ground
assured
is the
the
smote
prospered!
This
c.
men
and
in her
hammer
it into the
this,we
of Israel
Kings,
him,
fastened
and
took
story, she
the
So
Ahab,
Jehu
in
slew
passage,
all that
Jezreel, and
but
treat
en-
2
mained
re-
all his
he
196
MORALITY
THE
left him
Jehu,
because
which
is
right in
house
of
Ahab,
the
.on
he
O!
could
xlvni.,v. 10, a
murder,
the
To
and
to
it
me.
this
on
r"uch
mine
do
act
an
for in
for
was
fended
de-
Cursed
"
it.
Jer.,
mitting
com-
he
but
instance,
be
is
he,"
To
address.
misfortune
it my
was
of crime,
constrained
do
to
through such
butchery, as I was
mass
call
atrocities,and
such
in
Aye, even
so,
merely rewarded
above
Never
occasion.
wade
this
was
the
here
expose
unto
that
passage,
O!
wh at
I will
in the
"
blood."
done
aggravated, or
more
if he will not
actuallycursed
says
be
is not
as
unto
executing thai;
hast
because
crime
man
said
unblushingly
more
in
all that
to
murderer"
Lord
fourth
the
of Israel ! "
was
"right."
c.
of
well
and
eyes,
according
children
throne
because
mine
BIBLE.
the
done
hast
thou
THE
And
remaining.
none
heart, thy
OF
book
which
obscenity, and
in
compiling
contains
divine, which
and
countenances
ages
encour-
obscured
too: is
and
To
confirm
the
the
see
to
"My
my
supply
"The
rupted,
cor-
good
of
reader
the
in
with
Bible.
the
a
For
preceding
few specimens
more
ticulars,
par-
Scriptures Analysed,"
viously
pre-
to.
stink, and
wounds
foolishness.
lovers and
be
and
virtuous
was
made
the
Holy
my
are
corrupt, because
filled with
loins are
my
soundness
there is no
For
disease,and
My
that
the
"
would
amelioration
statements
obscenities
referred
darkness
die !
wither
lecture,I beg
an
intellectual
everything
Would
of
and
of human
tide
and
to
moral
in
glorious
afford
to
in my
my
of
some
loathflesh.
sore,
198
THE
OF
MORALITY
THE
BIBLE.
shalt
and
dig,
Deut.,
xxiii.,
c.
"Then
the
his
and
feet,
"Then
virginity,
Deut.,
if
"And
him,
be
Neither
"
xxi.,
v.
Can
that
the
sel's
dam-
the
in
city
her
the
gate,"
all
wash
even,"
he
or
c.
in
xv.
for
his
from
and
water,
16.
v.
dead
any
out
go
flesh
Lev.,
father
his
his
into
go
copulation
body,
file
de-
nor
Lev.,
mother,"
c.
11.
by
the
should
of
and
of
token
off
9.
v.
xxv.,
damsel,
the
in
from
shoes
c.
the
of
seed
the
for
inspiration
of
and
daughters
sons
be
beastialities
good-breeding,
(and
language
such
written
elders
shall
shall
himself
the
man's
until
unclean
forth
his
Deut.,
of
him,
15.
v.
any
he
then
face,"
bring
unto
xxii.,
c.
thee,"
unto
come
loose
father
the
and
take
mother,
his
in
shall
and
elders,
the
spit
wife
brother's
his
of
presence
from
cometh
13.
v.
shall
which
that
cover
trained
are
to
found.
if
not
it
is
God?
When
good
It
of
revere
is
truly
sample,)
in
the
be
monstrous
civilized
book
will
sense?
only
country
which
Christian
such
learn
LECTURE
OF
PHILOSOPHY
THE
Friends
ELEVENTH,
BIBLE.
THE
"
that
announced
this
evening
should
we
consider
I candidly
edge
acknowlPhilosophy of the Bible.
I apply the
term
philosophy, in relation to this
it otherwise.
use
book, derisively, I cannot
the
To
of
talk
and
the
Philosophy
would
of
the
Bible,
in
serious
be
truly comical.
of
The
Bible
book
is a
mysteries, incongruities,
of
not
obscenities,
absurdities, and
atrocities, but
For
and
its bulk
science
(and, if that
philosophy.
of its divinity, it is rather
be an
in favor
a
argument
book
which
is
has
solid
there
less
extant
to
no
one,)
of
latter kind
do
with
the
questions. Recording and
and
vices-"
butcheries
detailing all degrees of crimes
and
machinations
is the
intrigues and
impostures
In that it quite excels
when
forte of the Bible.
; but
the
it attempts
scientific,the philosophic, or the rational,
of water
it seems
like a fish out
quite away
from
Some
its natural
element.
theologians in the
ventured
boast
to
plenitude of their simplicity have
of the
pompously
learning of the Bible, and
nounced
protone,
in
earnest,
"
"
"
it
world.
in
which
If
be
to
it
some
be,
of
ignorant."
distinguished an
the
most
"learned"
book
in
the
"
200
THE
and
OF
PHILOSOPHY
THE
BIBLE.
the Giant
Killer,Tom
Seven
Champions of
Thumb, Mother
Bunch3
The
Christendom, Cinderella
and the Glass Slipper,
Baron
Munchausen, Little Red
Riding Hood, Babes in the Woods, and other nursery
the scientific
take their place among
stories,
may
ductions
proof the age, and
the writingsof a Lawrence,
the shelf
be put upon
an
Arago, and a Herschell may
infants ; for certainly,
fit only to amuse
the stories
as
of Jacob's
and
his Ass, Joshua
and
Ladder, Baal am
the Sun, Elijah and
his Journey to Heaven, Lot's
Wife
his Rod,
the
and
and
Pillar of Salt, Aaron
Samson
of an Ass, David
his Jaw-hone
and
and his
Achievements
the
light fantastic toe," and
upon
Jonah
the
and
learned
more
Fish, are much
ductions
pro"
than
any
exhibit, I
and
those
literature,
written
it,must
our
have
There
the
is
first erudite
enlightened
a
to
be
man
few
have
author
that
the
rated,
enume-
intimate
he
in
quaintance
ac-
!
philosophical
learned
are
book
in
alleged to
learned
men.
very
is
for instance, who
Moses,
such
a
Bible, was
thought nothing of
of the
thousands
massacred
been
here
more
of it.
doubt
no
not,
Bible
the
course,
doubt
works
and
the scientific
with
Of
in the
detailed
of men,
women,
cold blood; and,
and
so
very
manding
com-
dren
chil-
modest
scended
condeenlightenment, that he even
fellow being -with his own
hand.
to murder
a
writer
in the Bible, was
a
man
Joshua, the next
of such
extraordinary attainments, especiallyin the
was
he
science
sun
to
in
his
he
of astronomy, that
it did
when
stand
still,
even
stand
commanded
still.
of such
the
Samuel,
science,
a
man
inspired author, was
in practicalanatomy, that we
are
more
particularly
hewed
told he
Agag to pieces before the Lord in
skilful style. David, another
Gilgal," in the most
and rigid a philosopher was
Bible
author, so grave
the
Lord
read of his " dancing before
he, that we
Solomon's
wisdom
with
all his might."
so
was
are
informed,he maintained
transcendental,that we
another
"
PHILOSOPHY
THE
of
retinue
hundred
seven
and
concubines,
THE
OF
and
wives
hundred
three
last,declared,as
at
201
BIBLE.
proof of the
vanity."
"
get down
safety,as
our
portion
of
thirst for
down
of
had
Testament,
knowledge,
that he
much
as
would
leading author
the
New
the
throat,with
animacule
an
Paul,
own.
fish's
doctrinal
such
exclaims,
if
of
that
the
"
ease
great
a
a
be
man
an
ignorant, let him be ignorant," and so intense
of science
and
anxiety for the progress
philosophy
"
he
that
wisely remarks,
Beware, lest any
generally,
man
spoilyou through philosophy"
There
is no
authors
are
question all these eminent
-'learned"
very
"
arts
men,
sciences."
and
and
of
great promoters
world
The
is
the
highly indebted
in that respect !
lest any one
But, my
imagine that I
friends,
may
intend on this occasion
to indulge merely in sarcastic
to
them
ridicule,or
idle
serious
is the
where
scientific
?
it may
learning of
principlesit
Where
is advanced
and
other
will
be
what
some-
ask, then,
Where
elaborated
upon
these
absurdities,which
completely exploded.
any
blunders
has
to
the
and
ful
use-
lished
estab-
have
errors
is
We
subject.
the Bible ?
indeed,
little,
has
this
upon
endeavor
will
banter, we
in
volume
am
not
volves
questions, in-
modern
aware
existence, in
science
that
which
there
more
the
Bible,and to
verse
designate its authors
inspired and infallibleis to reideas of truth and
and
our
falsehood,fallibility
It shall be our
province on the present
infallibility.
could
be
detected
than
in
occasion
to
expose
few
of these
blunders,and
to
PHILOSOPHY
THE
esteemed
We
will
"
"
World.
the
of
Christians
of
6000
that
maintain
There
ago.
years
pretend,in
them
all.
however,
are,
tend
circumstances, which
upon
phy
according to the Philosoevent
transpiredonly some
Bible, this
the
I cannot
BIBLE.
how
show
THE
OF
to
multitude
invalidate
that
of
position.
brief
one
shall
address, to comment
under
be
the necessity of
ble.
remarkaonly of the more
cursorilyreviewing a few
First, then, of the records of other nations.
The
Old Testament, you
is put forth as
are
aware,
of the Jews, and
it is upon
the record
this record,
that the Christian
world base their cosmogony.
Now,
if the records of one
nation
are
competent
authority
th6 question at issue,the records of another
are
upon
have just as much
equally legitimate. We
right to
believe
them
familiar
than
world
were
collection
"
as
Jews
the
the
with
few
subject before
of the
The
us.
nese,
Chi-
empires of the
more
enlightenedor civilized,have a
of books, consistingof 150 volumes, called
whom
ancient
before
Sir
Great
Annals,"
which
ours.
Phillips informs
R.
Facts,"
is
that
as
the
good
Hindoo
as
the
us,
in
his
"
Million
of
mony
priesthood(and their testiJewish
"claims
priesthood,)
PHILOSOPHY
THE
of
Brahma
Hindoo
the
"
203
BIBLE.
the
since
years
THE
of
time
theological
OF
God
that
state
millions
seventeen
was
"
millions
doos
creating." He further remarks, The Hinastronomical
begin the creation as a mere
epoch,
in Aries, or
when
all the planets were
nearly two
millions of years since, and, taking in the nodes and
three hundred
apsides,they extend it to four thousand
and
twenty millions,which
they call a Calpha,
or
day of Brahma."
informs
Pomponius Mela, the great Egyptian historian,
that the Egyptians in their annals, reckoned
us
three hundred
and
thirty kings extending through
Herodotus
thirteen thousand
a period of
years, and
of the Egyptians, which
carries
gives a statement
the antiquityof the world
still further.
Herodotus
that the reignof their kings extended
states
through
R.
thousand
Sir
lips
Philof
seventeen
a
period
years.
that
the Egyptians reckoned
observes
fourteen
thousand
to the
Vulcan,
years
age of their original
of
"
years
"
and
thousand
ten
years
before
Menas
and
Sethen."
Sir
infinite
antiquity."
than
more
So
thousand
two
did
also
five
the
Greek
the
an
schools
hundred
years
ago.
thousand
hundred
two
wrote
two
Plato,who
years
island
of
that
the
states
Atalantis,filled
since,
great
absorbed
nine
with
cities,"fcc,was
by the ocean
thousand
years
before
his time.
philosopherof high
by Berosus, the historian
Alexander
that city when
dred and
of the earth
But,
of
our
traditions.
will
the
stand
We
our
arguments
evidences of science.
cian
Gretold
was
who
was
in
"
the
axis
will
upon
cosmogony,
the
than
demonstrable
take
he
says
Babylon,
visited
the Bible
and
We
and
take
renown,
years
to
parallel
was
will
we
records
to
thousand
two
Calisthenes,a
base
objections
something more
ble
palpaof
pretensions
priests.
from
the
our
incontestable
204
THE
The
PHILOSOPHY
discoveries
THE
OF
effected
BIBLE*
during
this last
century in
could
never
have
detailed
been
such
creation
answerably,
un-
take
that
all,as
at
the
in
to Moses;
writings attributed
solute
that, in fact,such a thing as absolute creation or abis an
destruction
ty.
absurdiimpossibilityand an
The
fundamental
principlesof geologicalscience,
and
as
others,
developed by Lyell,Mantell, Phillips,
that
far
this
from
show,
being only some
globe,so
six thousand
antiquity.
years old, is of incalculable
It
one
must
have
taken
the
various
Dr.
to
evidence
of
earth, from
in
inch
The
occurred
have
which
or
of
animated
it unfolds
to
as
the
fact
that
to
be
that
formed
lutions
revo-
of
but
beyond
strata
shoals
sea
us
about
the
an
century.
science
of
the
whole
teaches
chemistry
of matter
single atom
destroyed; that it can
and
the
the
in
have
we
of the
of
that
vast
so
has
ous
numer-
finite
our
of the
assume
but
events, each
earth
Geology, then/7
does
Geology,
of
to
venture
plished
accom-
thousands
first creation
the
BEGINNING,
of
succession
not
"
his Wonders
disclose
; it does
nature
it discovers."
have
the
"
Phillipsremarks,
each
elapsed between
Mantell, in
affect
not
which
changes
have
years must
which
formations
says
to
R.
Sir
undergone.
of years
millions
which
can
that
be
there
either
only experience
of the
substance
is not
created
change,
universe
is
tinually
con-
composit
gradually undergoing composition, deand
re-composition, and that, therefore,
created
idea of the world
having been created
of nothing, too, as
taught in the Bible, is absurd
book,
told,in this learned
impossible. We are
and
the
out
and
"
that
the
and
void," oiyin
which
universe
is "without
was
other
form
at
time
one
words,
and
"
without
form
non-entity,for that
void," must
necessarily
a
206
PHILOSOPHY
THE
whole
OF
ponderablematter
the
with
united
in
dissolved
in
only
air, and
BIBLE.
THE
far from
charcoal
the
or
world,
and
it.
is
Yet,
become
only
in
so
the
form
of
main
bination
com-
active
an
wax,
new
The
of astronomy
science
evidence
science
against the
propounds that
manufactured
been
Mosaic
the
table
indubi-
most
Cosmogony.
This
the
on
for
affords
periodextending infinitely
beyond the calculation,or even
conceptionof man.
i
far
from
Its formation
being instantaneous,
too, so
stated in Genesis, must
have
been
as
imperceptibly
of the leading
and gradual. Dr. Nicholl,one
slow
of the
of the day, in his
Phenomena
astronomers
Solar
explains
System" remarks, that
astronomy
losity,
that the solar system onCe
existed,as a. diffused nebuof constates
densation,
which, passing through various
ant
central luminary, and
its attendformed
a
a
"
"
planets." Sir
the
various
stars
constellations
in various
of
masses
almost
more
opaque
have
as
having attained
arc
gone
they
a
these
certain
that
surrounded
by nebulous
from thin,shapeless
matter,
evidences
through
become
discovered
has
stages of progress,
highly transparent
From
opaque.
Herschell
John
he
to
stars
infers that
this progress,
older ;
growing
and, that, at last,
opacity,they
will
decay,
PHILOSOPHY
THE
and
and
slowly
207
BIBLE.
resolved
former
the
to
THE
be
gradually
similar
matter,
OF
chaotic
into
state, when
they
will
of the
Bible.
According
Again:
that
believe
must
the
universe
this
is the
earth
the
that
"
Genesis
the
to
Ave
in
principalbody
and
moon,
sun,
creation,
stars,
were
ten, and
Uranus
four and
half.
to
direct
rushlightsto
shows
that
other
systems
they
In this learned
the
with
my
informed
are
book
the
all.
It is said that
not
lightfrom
divided
once, proves
of science
or
by
be
cannot
of
the
will
be
to
are
-which
ignorance
divided,
light. Again
and
sun
not
nected
con-
admit
of
"
our
of the Bible
lightfrom
They
the
similar blunders
lightproceeds,
fourth day, yet the Lord
darkness
the first
on
day. This,
the utter
at
is
divided
of
centres
"
worlds.
time
I may
three
was
detect
we
Lord
suns
of other
creation,but
them
alludingto
night, astronomy
themselves
are
luminaries
"
the
during
us
moon
as
darkness
Astronomy
we
measure
idea
editors
of
dividing
absurdity.
only the privation
to the
is
teaches
time
that
"
it
days,
were
stated, there
yet, as above
years, "c. ; and
three days before either of these celestial bodies
were
created
months,
208
THE
learned
most
that
OF
PHILOSOPHY
book
THE
BIBLE.
this,indeed
We
also informed,
are
second
on
That
science
demonstrates
that
there
can
be
is
dividingspace, but the universe
partition
endless series of worlds, all revolving in their respective
an
spheres; and that such a thing as absolute
is a mere
and below, as applied to the universe,
above
such
no
illusion.
But
is it not
should
small
a
requirefive days to manufacture
speck like our globe, and then create millions of other
worlds, each of them so immeasurably larger than our
God
own,
and
all in 'one
day
This
fact alone
shows
the
utter
The
Jews
themselves, from
whom
the
book
emanates,
"
THE
PHILOSOPHY
OF
THE
209
BIBLE,
V
IT"-
,"
^
but
the seventh
on
of
"
the
cloth"
may
of their brow."
sweat
Buckland
Dr.
discover
not
of the
day
in the
world
Christian
How
! what
gentlemen
by the
awkward
an
unfortunate
depth
of your
to
become
were
the
their "bread"
earn
and
week,
"
that
take,
mis-
did
you
if the
sagacity,that
and
Bucklandites,
"
man
"
of
age
The
barbarism.
a
endowed
story
with
He
so
most
would
individual
who
could
knowledge
ac-
be
ridiculous,must
exquisitely
inordinate
moon
"
was
vellous."
mar-
made
of green
A
of
moment.
some
Its consideration
will enable
me
is
to
show
been
discovered,
of Buflbn,
researches
and
through the observations
Blumenbach, Cuvier, Fleuren, and other physiologists
and
species arc divided
naturalists,that the human
us
believe
to
otherwise.
and
It
has
Blumenbach
classifies
as
lows
fol-
can,
Mongolian, Ethiopic,Ameritinguishe
disMalay varieties. M. Fleuren, a most
that the difference of
maintains
naturalist,
18*
210
to
that
prove
they
colored
and
the white
between
structure
BIBLE.
THE
OF
PHILOSOPHY
THE
of different
are
cient
is suffi-
races,
stocks,
or,
distinct races."
essentially
it,of
expresses
of the
in the structure
difference lies principally
he
be
which
colored
the
the
is not
shows
In
man.
the
in
same
of
case
in
as
Europeans, tinged
web
is
mucous
rays,
ed.
is affected,becoming, as it were,
slightlycolorNo degree of exposure
the
can, he thinks, confer
by
what
coloringlayers
He
the
to
exposure
sun's
skin,
white
the
as
This
"
of the
dark
other
and
Negro
"African
that the
remarks,
the
Moors
who
races.
"
lived
have
acquired
Negroes for centuries,have never
and
been
it
has
the coloringapparatus of that race
;
observed
(Captain Lyon among
by travellers,
others.)
of African
of a
Caucassians.
that the Isuricks,
a race
dark brown
complexion, are nearly as white on these
beside
the
parts of
covered
bodies
their
up
from
the
sun, as most
that
the progeny
might have been
at first.
was
regions of
constitution,seem
the
warmest
black
man
without
exposed
black
to
similar
the
white
and
the
when
were
that
is
the
breaks
under
their skin
time
in the
and
they must
have
white
in
and
The
nity,
impu-
made
M.
distinct
in.
other
many
enumerate,
if
man,
with
sun
these
and
sun,
blisters.
exertion
to
general
A
hottest
under
constitutional
various
the
burning
From
not
the
to
out
sinks
man
I have
facts,which
prove
globe,and
heat,
labor
can
localized
are
self
him-
he
as
circumstances."
such
races
adapted
lie naked, exposed
can
injury, while the skin of
man
but
black
white
Fleuren
ence
differ-
of
mankind, which
from peroriginally
sprung
fectly
races
of the
Bible
philosophy
this subject:
"
bers
Cham-
nonsense.
"In
observes, upon
only two
varieties,the white
recognized or thought of, it was
former
and
the
times,
black,
supposed
that
THE
PHILOSOPHY
complexion was
simply
sun's
This
rays.
being observed
white
idea
OF
result
would
211
BIBLE.
THE
of the actions
from
darkened
naturallyarise
that exposure
to the sun,
tended
seclusion
while
to
person,
of the
its
a
bleach
or
In the story of
Serpent was
its belly. This
of that
nature
constructed
to call
and
is
its
its
unfortunate
by nature,
it
to
curse
so
that the
of
going upon
grossest ignorance of the
reptile. It is evidently
in that position,
to move
the
evinces
it is stated
as
curse
it go in
if it did not
make
that
manner,
always go on
curred
locomotion, before it inbelly,how might it exert
the " divine
displeasure?" Upon its head or
been
tail ?
have
natural
some
Truly, there must
But, pray,
misnomer.
I must
and
upon
of the Bible
"
consider
vii.,we
read
next
that
evidence
Deluge. My
brief,as I have
I retire.
ere
the
necessarily be
must
to
the
remark
now
great learning
matters
world
in the antideJuvian
curiosities
few
In
Genesis,
thousand
of
the
vations
obserother
c.
years
vi.,
ago,
cept
deluge,every livingthing,exof
Noah
and
his family,and a pair of each race
in a wooden
existences
animated
; they being saved
floated upon
the waters,
box, called an ark, which
and which
were
so
deep, that they covered the highest
there
was
universal
mountains.
the
first
place
This
absurd
with
the
story is inconsistent
fundamental
in
principlesof
212
THE
PHILOSOPHY
THE
OF
BIBLE.
natural
whole
the
deluge
not
earth
to
the
into
height
of
water, could
ordinary
an
house.
Let
us
Bible
the
it
description,
feet ; 50
525
about
cubits,or 52
vessel,of snch
thousandth
into
it to
and
female
only
necessary
to
months.
The
serve
87
or
According to
cubits
long, or
300
1-2
feet broad
high. It is manifest
dimensions, could not
part of what
of all
itself.
feet
limited
include
Ark
was
cubits,
1-2
30
of the
speak
now
Noah
must
been
that
of
his
this
marvellous
contain
stowed
children,and a
livingthings,together with the
for so long a period as
them
writer
and
have
; and
male
story,
food
five
ex-
214
to
p.
to
PHILOSOPHY
THE
BIBLE,
of stowing
impossibility
the
show
THE
OF
in
away
en
wood-
of livingbeings.
number
box, such an immense
Dr. Burnet, in the ArcheologisePhilosophise,
c. iv.,
take
it would
40, says that the quantity of water
the
cover
tops of the highest mountains, as stated
in this
"
story,
of
eight
quantity
must
least
at
oceans."
further
He
exceed
the
admits,
"
magnitude
so
great
found, though we
exhaust
of water
all the treasures
in heaven
or
earth,
and add
besides
the subterraneous
water,'7and that,
gious
howsoever, or from what place soever, this prodithe earth,
of water
mass
was
brought upon
there could be no means
ble
of removing it,or any possifound
of
such
method
out
a mighty
taking away
From
these premises the learned
heap of water."
Doctor
not
that our
concludes,
present earth was
subjectto a deluge,nor is it capable of it by its shape
of water
can
where
no
be
"
"
or
elevation."
The
set
however, of modern
discoveries,
geologists,
the questionof a universal
deluge completely at rest.
that the changes of the
They incontrovertibly
prove
earth's surface
been
have
not
produced by a general
and heat.
flood,but by the gradual operationof water
the tops of mountains,
The
marine
shells found
on
and
other elevated
have
been forced there
situations,
by igneous agency, and are not, as conjecturedby
will
of Noah's
flood.
Time
theologians,the remains
admit
of my
teresti
not
giving you any facts from that inI must
science.
leave the subject,by quoting
from the poet Coleridge.
I
the followingwords
it absurd," says
think
to
Talk,"
he, in his "Table
much
the deluge. An
to
attribute
so
inundation,
the
left an
olive-tree standing, and bore
which
up
its bosom, could
Ark
scarcely have
peacefully on
"
"
been
the sole
on
We
book
-There
have
which
are
cause
the
of
the
and
rents
dislocations
servable
ob-
reviewed
contains
numerous
portion of
that
the
other
cream
of
passages,
its
"
this
learned-
philosophy."
however, which
THE
display the
same
PHILOSOPHY
lack
OF
of scientific
information.
should
passages,
composed that
be
no
From
rain.
it is clear
that
215
BIBLE.
THE
the
Kings, c. viii.,
up/' in order
this,and many
learned
men
who
the
earth
bring
forth
Now
been
it would, at least,have
grass,""c.
little more
a
rational,as well as "philosophical,"to
the earth produce
have made
tion
grass" after the creaof the sun
instead of before it. In Gen., c. ix.,
v.
read, that the Lord, for the first time,
12, 13, we
in the clouds
a
as
nant
hung a rainbow
sign of his covewith
the people after the deluge. The
science
is but
of opticsproves
that the rainbow
natural
a
It is merely the result of the refrangiphenomenon.
of the rays of light. It could
bilityand reflexibility
been the first time a rainbow
not have
was
produced,
existed such a phenomefor so long as lightand vapor
non
have been produced. Either,therefore,
this
must
else priorto the deluge there could
or
story is false,
in either of which
have
been no
light or no vapor
have
life would
been impossible.
cases, animal
told of the buildingof the
In Genesis, c. xi.,we
are
of tongues.
The
Tower
of Babel, and the confusion
Bible chronology placesthe buildingof this tower
only
of mankind
after the destruction
115
by the
years
How
was
can
yet alive.
flood, and even while Noah
"
"
these
two
stories be reconciled ?
It is
survived
the
and his family who
only Noah
they have multiplied so rapidly,in
deluge. Could
that short time, as to populatea city}and erect
such
were
216
an
THE
It would
tower
enormous
OF
PHILOSOPHY
THE
BIBLE.
have
mense
im-
required an
ledge,
of persons, with
great scientific know(the result of long research^)to raise so loftya
number
estimated
pile.
height was
ridiculous
could
work
forward
the
suppose
been entered
upon,
stated, at
extent
such
that
to
have
to
at
prodigious
less carried
much
after
date
early a
was
only
so
one
period we are told that there
family
existence
Such
of human
in
!
a
beings
story is only
The
ever,
worthy of the Bible.
greatest absurdity,howbe
is in supposing that God
should
afraid that
the people would
accomplish their design of building
whose
tower
a
Pray, to
top should reach heaven !
did the builders of this tower
what
point in the heavens
did they purpose
intend
reach
to
going ? and how
If to the moon,
that is the nearest
there?
as
objectin
taken
the heavens, it wonld
have
a builder, going at
the rate
of four miles an hour, night and day, without
either
sleep or refreshment,seven
years to reach the
destined
rials
point, with one singleload of buildingmate-
the
!
him
If
the
to
3,000
ambitious
have
taken,
one
Why,
fourth
made
all
have
been
star, and
behind
suppose
would
of
going
the
load of lime.
one
to
that
if
they
had
rate, it would
same
the
rate, 48
at
of
at
to carry
years
were
it ! !
sun,
firstfixed
But
the
mile
if
they
star, it would
of years
foundation
millions
made
take
reach
to
of Babel
in
circumference, and
bricks
the
and lime, they would
than
little more
half way to the first fixed
fixed star is supposed to be as far
the next
the
square
earth into
first as
all these
arise,when
the
surmounted,
builders
earth
a
approached so
than
forcibly,
new
near
But
one
the
from the
heavenly bodies as to feel more
of attraction.
In this case,
earth, the power
men,
and
with
all
their
and
other mabricks,
tools,
terials,
mortar,
would
fly off in a direct line to the moon, and
PHILOSOPHY
THE
for
The
the whole
The
217
BIBLE.
ashamed
of
Bible,it
would
volition
and
which
character
callingsuch
of
little of moral
known
ject
pro-
of the
impossibility
God."
"intelligent
enlightened editors
an
have
follyand
story with
Christians
of
THE
ever
OF
appear
sensation.
thing stamp
ought to make
this divine
the
heart
Esdras
says,
story
To
philosophy.
that
the word
nonsense
was
c.
must
read
the
the
seat
of
xiv., v. 40,
other
Innumerable
understanding.77
however,
might be quoted. The discoveries,
passages
of Lawrence
and Gall, in the sciences
of Anatomy,
Physiology, and Phrenology, establish that the brain
is the seat of thought and
None
of the great
sensation.
naturalists
of the last 100 years, Cuvier, Blumenbach,
or
Buffon, have taught such a notion as the one
pounded
pro"
my
heart
uttered
in
the
Bible.
It is deemed
too
absurd
to
notice.
In
Genesis, c. vi.,v. 4, we
are
informed
that
there
"
"
to
that
absurd
and
severe
treatment.
craft.
speak of that fatal absurdity, WitchIn Exodus, c. xxii.,v. 18, it is enjoined,"Thou
in 1 Samuel, c.
and
shalt not suffer a witch
to
live,77
and cunning priest
xxiii,v. 7, we read of that savage
My friends,if there
consultingthe Witch of Endor.
the igwhich
than another
be one
thing more
exposes
I shall
here
19
218
THE
THE
BIBLE.
of the Bible
norance
OF
PHILOSOPHY
There
witchcraft
such a
was
never
prohibiting
thing as a witch,no more than there have been ghosts
or
now
hobgoblins. All enlightenedmen
repudiate
Even
the idea as a mere
the
imposition.
"vulgar"
Well
had
it
been
for
to
laugh at it.
mankind,
begin
if the delusion had ended
nately,
in mere
but unfortubelief,
law
been
"
murdered
too, under
the
junction
in-
brutal
beingshave
ating
humili-
most
and
follies and
The
revoltingcircumstances.
cruelties,
indeed, committed
through the influence of
such
writers as the Bible authors, are
incalculable,
will humanity become
and never
enlightenedand
are
good until the productionsof such men
nently
permaand absolutelydiscarded.
It would
be a pity to omit noticingthe precioustale
of Jonah
and the whale, in this list of " inspired absurdities
It is such a glorious
ing
specimen of the learnof the Bible, that it ought to receive honorable
when
remember
that the
we
mention, and especially
hero of the story was
a prophet.In Jonah, c. i.,
v.
17,
this
that
informed
with
a
we
are
prophet-monger met
The
that "the
account
states
singular misfortune.
Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow
up Jonah,
and Jonah
in the belly of the fish three days and
was
three nights." This fish,Christ tells us, in Matt., c.
he will be a competent authority,)
xii.,v. 40, (and I presume
whale !
a
was
Why this fish should have
"
been
selected
the
prophet,I
any
know
of
domicile
the
presumed that it
largestfish, it was
have the largestthroat, and
consequentlythe
of access.
convenient
Unluckily, however,
have
anatomists
discovered,that though the
is enormously large, its throat is exceedingly
is the
whale
would
most
modern
animal
small
than
more
"
diameter
small
so
that
How,
it is
not
an
inch
and
half
might, probably,have
been
like
some
of
our
in
who
modern
rotundity,
THE
OF
PHILOSOPHY
THE
219
BIBLE.
succeeded
in
his way
making
"
to
editor.
Bible
Having proceeded
draw
must
we
have
been
to
happy
far with
thus
close. Had
to have
allowed,I should
you with a critique
time
amused
and
and
years
Christ and
stars
the
rain
"
six
months
the
and
fig-tree"
"
observations,
our
on
Sun
"
and
Ezekiel
the earth
fallingfrom
for three
heaven
his
"
"
tanic
Sa-
"
he
majesty to the top of the mountain, whence
all the kingdoms of the world, which
the science
saw
of astronomy
shows, from the sphericalform of the
earth,to be impossible Ezekiel and his being lifted
up by a lock of his hair into the midst of the heavens
Tor his advice to the man
the angel receiving
wages
Tobias
the ass and the lion talkingwith the "marts
voice"
mentioned
in Exodus,
the " glorioustimes"
from
when
rained bread
the Lord
heaven," and
I will give you, howother Biblical wonders.
ever,
many
one
more
specimen ere I conclude. It is Ezekiel's
That
learned
visit to the valley of bones.
prophet
v. 1
vii.,
10, The hand of the Lord was
says, c. xxx
of the Lord,
in the spirit
out
me, and carried me
upon
of the valley,which
and
down
in the midst
set me
full of bones, and caused
to pass
me
was
by them
round
in
about; and, behold, there were
very many
the open valley; and lo,they were
dry. And he
very
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
said
I
unto
answered,
he
said
unto
Lord
Son
me,
O
Lord
of man,
God,
can
thou
these
bones
knowest.
live ? And
And
these
bones,
me, Prophesy
hear
!
the
O
word
them,
ye dry bones,
!
God
Thus
the Lord
these
saith
unto
unto
unto
Behold, I
will
cause
breath
to enter
you,
and
again
and
of
say
the
bones,
ye shall
220
THE
live,and
I will
fiesn upon
up
breath
PHILOSOPHY
lay sinews
and
you,
upon
cover
BIBLE.
THE
OF
and
you,
with
you
will
bring
and
skin,
put
and
that I
ye shall live,and know
you,
commanded
the Lord.
So I prophesiedas I was
;
am
into
a
and, as I prophesied,there was
noise, and behold a
shaking, and the bones came
together,bone to his
bone.
I beheld, lo, the sinews
when
the
And
and
flesh came
them, and the skin covered them,
upon
above
he
; but
man,
Come
these
breath
no
Then
in them.
said
me,
commanded
and
was
unto
he
there
they lived,
great army
The
!!
the
stood
?J
of the
lovers
and
me,
and
This
breath
wonderful
feet,an
something like
need
story.
Baron
consult
not
them,
ing
exceed-
their
upon
is
into
came
Munchausen.
friends,if
puerilerhapsodies,(and the
in such
Bible abounds
passages,)are to be esteemed
as
philosophy, science,learning,then are the outpourings
of fanaticism
the only criteria
to be considered
of human
and
enlightenment, and the deep,patient,
the wise, must
elaborate
researches
of the great and
My
be
scouted
as
In former
Bible
I
as
hallucinations.
I felt it my
lectures
of
standard
of
standard
In
mere
deem
now
such
duty to repudiatethe
consistency and morality.
it incumbent
upon
to
me
discard
it as
philosophy.
I
decision
am
"
all the
various
and
arts
with
sciences
which
it. Before
in condemning
me
acquainted,warrant
book
must,
authority, this "learned"
its diminished
and
head
"
sink
absurdity,and never
error, mystery, crime, and
to
more
its
erelong,
native
own
involve
delusion
is
man
such
hide
littleness
humanity
in
222
INFLUENCE
they
could
have
not
the purpose
It is, as
OF
than
I
Old
ON
BIBLE
produced
the
SOCIETY.
immoral
most
licatio
pub-
revoltingand
the
apologistof
It has
been
despicable purposes.
the tyrant in his oppressions the conqueror
the inquisitor
butcheries
the
in his tortures
in
"
and
"
in his revelries
the
Were
oblivion
the
the debauchee
"
his
holder
slave-
"
"
in his cruelties
for
Testament.
support the
to
adapted
better
one
formerly observed, an
served
It has
THE
of
memory
the dark
man
cruel
and
which
scenes
would
diate
be accomplished for the immedepicts,more
enlightenment and morality of mankind, than
has
done
been
by the efforts of the boldest and
mightiestreformers.
But I forbear
proceeding with this portion of the
with
at once
commence
subject,and shall,therefore,
of the Bible
the Influence
during the Christian era.
This
will refer,more
Testhe New
to
particularly,
it
mament.
Solemnly
influence
more
and
and, as a consequence,
bloodshed, than any
more
during the
single cause
bold and
tion,
unqualifiedasser-
other
period. This is a
and
requiresstrong
same
This
confirmation.
of the
Christ
We
to
find in
and
shall
of
progress
the
enmity, intolerance,and
in
distinct evidence
render, by taking
Christianityfrom
the
time
its
view
re-
of
present age.
the New
that
itself,
Testament
early
as
ousies
during the lifetime of Christ, envyings and jealwere
growing up amongst his disciples;nay,
the
even
apostles. In Mark, c. ix., and
amongst
told that
are
Luke, c. xxii., we
they " disputed
so
"
"
among
in
themselves
Matt., c.
xx.,
who
that
should
they
and
ambitious, and
OF
INFLUENCE
expressed their
Mark,
c.
of
anxious
to
sit
glory ; and
it, began
read
that
223
SOCIETY.
John
and
James
In
other.
each
against
resentment
we
x.,
ON
BIBLE
THE
were
lege
by having the privibeing distinguished,
in his
the right and left hand, of Christ
on
the remaining ten, when
that
they heard
"
be
to
and
James
displeasedwith
much
John."
after the death
Soon
Paul,
in 1
Cor., c. i.,v.
of
Jesus,we
11, 12, that
are
informed
contentions
hitter
Christians.
the
among
sprung
up
For it hath been
declared
to
me,
my
He
had
"
them
who
contentions
every
house
amongst
of
one
pollos,and
v.
lii.,
3,
whereas
in the
are
you
of
you.
saith I
Cephas,
he
remarks,
there
is among
"
am
and
For
you
there
Chloe, that
I
this
Now,
of Paul, and
ye
are
envying
says,
brethren, by
of
I of Christ
by
that
say,
"
and
are
of
Apin
c.
and
strife,
men?"
walk
carnal
and
as
divisions; are
ye not
"
In c. vi., v. 6, 8, he again observes,
Brother
goeth
"
to law
with brother,and that before the unbelievers
;
ren.''''
and
"nay, you do wrong,
defraud, that your breth-
of his
entirelyforgot to tell them
bearance
own
squabbles. He could preach charity and forother
like
many
pretty eloquently, but
Christians, forgot to practice it. In Acts, c. xv., v.
36-40, a very edifying quarrel is reported between
him
and
The
his brother
tention
conapostle,Barnabas.
between
so
was
them," says the story,
er."
from the othsharp, that they departed asunder one
It is supposed that the real cause
of this memorable
between
difference
of opinion
a
rupture was
Paul
and
Barnabas, as to the crucifixion of Christ.
Paul
nabas
that Christ
maintained
crucified,and Barwas
But
Paul
"
that it
Those
was
Judas, and
not
Christ.
224
INFLUENCE
serted
that
Christ
divine
OF
THE
was
character
BIBLE
ON
mere
SOCIETY.
another
man,
that he
tion,
admitting his resurrecothers
denying it ; some
supporting the story of
the
miraculous
conception/'and others repudiating
it. Paul, the champion of the divinityof Christ,was
the
and
regarded as an impostor by the Nazarenes
"
esteemed
idle
Ebionites,and his Epistles were
as
tales and
The
uninspired reveries."
Corinthians,"
also says Epiphanius, "had
the Acts
of the Apostles
with various
is accused
Paul
additions,in which
of the artifices of a false prophet." Bishop Marsh, in
his famous
Lectures,alludingto the division amongst
the early disciples,
So numerous
heretics
were
says,
of different opinions,) in the
(meaning Christians
first and second
ages, that all the primitiveChristians
was
some
"
"
"
to
seem
been
have
included
under
one,
other
or
nominati
de-
of
the
"
day
one
on
to
was
eastern
alleged that
other
; the
former
; the
Philip, the latter
day
"
the
"
quoting
Peter
and
it should
western
their
of
division
One
observed.
be
"
be
on
held
another
authority John
Paul.
the
and
celebrated
This
cruel
much
persecution. Victor,
dispute occasioned
all the
excommunicated
eastern
the
Roman
prelate,
them
cursed
churches
as
heretics,and denounced
with them.
all intercourse
Thus, by the anathema
of God," were
the people of the eastern
of this "man
from
those of the western
world,
entirelydissevered
the other
each
as
enemies, and
party looking upon
all
and
fostering the most
implacable animosity
Testament!
through a sillystory recorded in the New
Early in the third century, a most puerile,though
"
"
inveterate
as
to
the
controversy,
nature
was
of Christ.
started
This
among
Christians
controversy, which
the
bitter,and
most
until
terminate
beings
had
the
been
ON
BIBLE
225
SOCIETY.
with
centuries,raged occasionally
for several
lasted
THE
OF
INFLUENCE
animosity, and
of,at least,300,000
brutal
lives
sacrificed in the
did
not
human
Euse-
contention.
bius
informs
us
that
"
"
At
of
the time
Rome,
Christians
substance
there
of Constantine'
was
violent
ascension
the throne
contention
the
among
Godhead.
the doctrine
to
out
of
The
which
of the
Trinity,was
brieflythis.
One
dria,
by Alexander, Bishop of Alexanparty, headed
is always, and
maintained
that uGod
the Son
time the Father, the same
time the
always, the same
The
Son.
Son co-exists with
being
God, unbegottenly,
The
ever
begotten,being unbegottenlybegotten!
other party, headed
ander,
by Arian, the presbyter of Alex"
there was
time
when
there
a
asserted,that
Son of God} and that he, who
was
before was
no
not,
sprang
"
;'
226
INFLUENCE
afterwards
OF
THE
ON
BIBLE
SOCIETY.
he
was
whatever ^
made, just as any man
This
sillydispute gave rise to the most
unseemly
the
in
Dr.
church.
in
his History
squabbles
Chandler,
of Persecution,edited
that
by Atmore, states
"the bishops of each
side had
already interested the
people in their quarrel,and heated them into such a
and
and
fought with, wounded
rage, they attacked
destroyed each other, and acted with such madness
the greatest impietiesfor the sake
to commit
of oras
thodoxy,
and arrived at that pitch of insolence,as to
oifer great indignities
the imperial images." He
to
concludes, by remarking, that their animosities were
furious
be appeased." The
learned
too
Dr. Moto
"
sheim
himself
determine
admits
that
of the
which
"it
would
exceeded
two
be
most
difficult to
the
bounds
of
At last,in the
probity,charity,and moderation."
of the Chrisconvened
tian
a council
year 325, Constantine
tory,
functionaries,distinguishedin ecclesiastical hisof Nice,for the purpose
of settling
the Council
as
Such
the humility and
this disgracefulschism.
was
Christians"
this
on
forbearance displayedby these
which
memorable
occasion, that the riot and uproar
have
would
existed
during the whole of their sittings,
Those
of
disgraced a pot-house. Theodorit
says,
subtle
and
the
Arian
crafty,and, like
party were
"
"
'
shelves
under
water,
their
concealed
wickedness.
"
"
of a quarrelwere
party, some
Amongst the orthodox
of the
accused
several
temper, and
ling, malicious
bishops, and then presentedtheir accusatory libels to
Tindal
the emperor."
states, in his "Rights of the
and libels
Church," p. 195, "that if those accusations
in of
the bishops, at the council of Nice, gave
which
now
another
to the Emperor, were
extant, in all
one
rolls of scandal, that few
should have
probabilitywe
would
have
menical
fury, the
scene
for
much
council,where
bishops fell
bishops !
to
reason
How
with
foul
boast
such
of
one
another."
characteristic of the
rich
system !
INFLUENCE
THE
OF
BIBLE
ON
227
SOCIETY.
issue
of
this
"
"
if any
man
be found
to
hide
or
conceal
any book
forth the
made
same
by Arius, and not immediately bring
and
deliver
it
be
that
the
said
burned,
book,
up to
For
offender,for so doing, shall die the death.
as
he is taken, our
soon
as
pleasure is, that his head be
stricken
God
off from his shoulders.
keep you in his
"
What
tuition !
a
Indeed, I think so.
sample of
Christian
honorable
to
charity! How
Constantine,
and his priestly
advisers !
O ! what
does not tremble
with horror
at
good man
such
monstrous
intolerance,and regret the day that a
should
have
book
into existence, about the dogcome
mas
of which, such
atrocities have
been perpetrated?
Well
at
might the Emperor Julian declare,(who was
time a Christian,though he subsequentlybecame
one
of the best Emperors that ever
a
Pagan, and one
reigned in Rome,) that "he found by experience,that
beasts were
cruel to men,
not
even
so
as the generality
of Christians
Chandler,
and
what
into
to
were
in
his
one
another."
The
History, exclaims,
calamities
rapines and
the world, under
"
ruins
what
murders
the
"
have
and
"
Rev.
What
sions
confu-
desolations
been
Dr.
"
introduced
228
INFLUENCE
it sickens
the
to
me
the church
OF
"
she
was
not
be born
God,
who
old."
"
the
of her."
once
"I
by
of Christ."
fifth century,
occasioned
in his
the mother
not
of
by
declaring
God; that
and, therefore,God
cannot," says he, "call
would
He, therefore,
mother
the
schism
above
not
was
In
SOCIETY.
It consisted
of Nestorius.
that the
ON
record "them.
distracted
was
heresy
BIBLE
THE
two
only
This
three
or
consent
him
months
call
to
doctrine
could
her
ed
consider-
was
that a council
called
frightfully
was
heretical,
it.
This meeting
at Ephesus, in Greece, to suppress
proved such a boisterous one, that Mr. Tindal informs
before quoted,that " Dioscorus,Bishop
us, in his work
of Alexander, cuffed and kicked
Flavius, Patriarch of
Constantinople,with that fury, that three days after
he died.*" Mild bishops,truly !
decision of this Synod was
The
against Nestorius,
so
which
"
was
the
of
occasion
irreconcilable
hatreds
so
bishops and people,who were
enraged
there
was
no
against each other, that
passing,with
cause
one
province or cityto another, beany safety,from
pursued his neighbor as his enemy,
every one
and revenged themselves
one
another, under
a
upon
the
amongst
pretence of ecclesiastical
that
Greeks
"the
called
zeal ! "
Mosheim
this council
tells
band
or
us
sembly
as-
of
Dioscorus
deposed
Dioscorus
banish
"
!"
Choice
Dioscorus
"
Christ
language for
hath
pious
230
INFLUENCE
have
arrived
now
shall
hastilypass
order
that
well
dreadful
this
SOCIETY.
the
world
Christian
was
blood.
and
tenth
Reformation,
of the
cause
frightful
was
moral
of
same
century,
of
scene
as
I may
ages.
the sixteenth
bowlings
savage
sixteenth, in
Protestants
the dark
to
one
Europe
the
among
the
We
century.
after the
church,
from
that
tenth
period to
that
show,
may
Reformed
the
at
remark,
the
from
we
the
as
ON
casioned
Archipelago,under Leo TV.,and oction,
throughout Christendom, before its terminadeath of at least 50,000 human
beings.
the
under
BIBLE
THE
of the
the islands
We
OF
rance
intole-
wilderness,
the bigot and
"
"
groaned beneath
priestsdared babble
Earth
And
E'en
while
their
religion'siron age,
of
hands
God
of peace,
red with
were
guiltless
blood,
while,uprootingevery germ
Of truth, exterminating,spoilingall,
Making the earth a slaughter-house."
the
Murdering
this interval
During
of the
enacted
were
the
Crusades, the
the
Waldenses,
too
horrible
the
to
bloody tragedies
the
Inquisitions,
Albigenses,and other
butcheries,
glory of
enumerate
of
massacre
"
"
!
We
God,7'and the vindication
now
approach the gloriousReformation.
Calvin, one
the
of the principalactors
Christian
stage at this
upon
obtained
and influence,than
period,no sooner
power
he began, like the Catholics,to persecute those whom
he
deemed
heretical.
be
burned
in
Geneva.
He
caused
He
wrote
Michael
a
Servetus
Declaration
to
to
maintain
the
true
OF
INFLUENCE
THE
ON
BIBLE
231
SOCIETY.
the
to
Knox,
from
vindictive
rage and
follower and coadjutorof
furious
worthy
rance
intole-
Calvin,
I take
of Scotland.
the
Reformer
the
"Edinburgh Magazine
and
lowing
the fol-
Review,"
It is an
of John's
from one
extract
July, 1771.
Addressing himself to
prayers against the Catholics.
God
against his enemies, he charitably exclaims,
sume
Repress the prideof these blood-thirsty
tyrants, conthem in thine anger, according to the reproach
which
they have laid against thy holy name
; pour
forth thy vengeance
hold
bethem, and let our
eyes
upon
the blood of the saints requiredat their hands.
O Lord, but let death devour
Delay not thy vengeance,
for
"
"
Let
in haste.
them
go down
amendment.
let them
their
the
earth
swallow
quick to hell,for
The
fear
and
from
is quite banished
holy name
therefore,
yet, again,O Lord, consume
them
"
in thine
Reformer
"
O ! what
anger !
!"
What
them
hope of
of thy
reverence
their hearts ; and,
there is *no
them
a
and
up,
"
Christian
consume
what
"
language of Luther,
Glorious Reformation,"when
the great father of the
The
speaking of the Catholics ? Listen
Papists
all asses, put them
form you please,
in whatever
are
boiled,roasted,baked, fried,skinned, beat, hashed,
The
asses.
they are always the same
Pope was
full of devils,lies,
born out of the deviPs posteriors,
blasphemies, and idolatries ; he is Anti-Christ,the
of churches, the ravisher
robber
of virgins,the greatest
of Sodom."
of pimps, the governor
What
former
Reblackguardism for a Christian,and a
!
When
the Protestant priesthood
had emancipated
from
themselves
the iron yoke of Popery,
it was
not
a
despotism
long ere they established
equally brutal and iniquitous. All Dissenters were
the
persecuted with as much
inveteracy,as under
Catholic
hierarchy. During the bloody reign of
Henry VIII.,an act was passed,"abolishingdiversity
a
is the
"
"
"
"
"
232
INFLUENCE
OF
THE
BIBLE
ON
"SOCIETY,
of
"
the
same
and
said
my
renounce
of my
be
do
ask
former
damnable
most
God,
before
and
his
detestable
church,
and
mercy
sies,
here-
for
do forsake,
recant, and
errors, and
and I abjure them
from
the bottom
them;
heart, protestingI certainlybelieve
And, further, I confess the whole
established
and
to
published in
is received
the Church
of
in the Dutch
the
trary.
con-
doctrine
England,
Church,
according to God's
true, and
London, is found
in all thingsI submit
myself,and
Word, whereunto
of the Dutch
will be most
Church,
gladly a member
and
and
henceforth
forsaking
utterly abominating
all and
Anabaptiscalerrors." Crosby, vol. i.
every
in
"
p. 68.
states
THE
OF
INFLUENCE
ON
BIBLE
233
SOCIETY.
then
shut
to
The
his
Richard
manner
thee
Richard!
poison
and
to
the
old
an
load
knave
thou
cart, every
of
might say,
treason, as an
enow
thou
been
ago,
it had
preacher
of
foot in the
what
been
the
grave,
and
thyself,
began; but, by
to
thee.
a
to
I know
see
doctor
what
will
of the
grace
hast
to
wilt
party
at
will
hear
"
low,
old fel-
an
books
written
sedition,I
; hadst
be
hast
thou
as
one
begin to think
give,but, leave thee
go
to
on
hast
thou
as
of
the brotherhood
become
pretendestto
peace;
for thee
thou
the
At
follows
is full of meat
Thou
intendest
see
II.
we
art
in the
thy writing-tradefortyyears
it is time
thou
of
great many
as
full of
as
egg
happy.
gospel of
thou
account
of
out
hast
one
whipt
think
Richard, thou
"
decision,
James
him
thou
this
treated
was
addressed
remainder
thanks.
lately as
dost
Court
God
Baxter
so
trial,
Judge"Jeffries
Richard!
hearing
on
and-returned
celebrated
infamous
most
"
Bishop Laud,
his cap,
for the
confinement
in close
up
pulled off
pay
after
I
see
in corners,
awaiting
mighty don, and a
thy elbow; but, by the grace
of
their
of
The
the
Dissenters
themselves
were
persecutors
they acquiredpower.
during the Commonwealth,
Puritans,
20*
having
234
INFLUENCE
OF
ON
BIBLE
THE
SOCIETY.
"
General
how
lash
7;
of "divines
Assembly
had
they
formerly
of
persecution, declared,
be opening a gap
would
perpetual
published by
a
division
this
in
Westminster,
at
smarted
"
that
under
granting
getting
for-
the
tion
tolera-
make
work,
following
the
"
poison, such
is the
doctrine
of
an
universal
toleration
were
enlightened sentiments
religion.77 These
reciprocatedin a publication issued in Lancashire,
sent
AsHarmonious
the same
about
period,called the
in
"
of the
in
London.77
Lancashire
The
ministers
with
of
this
authors
affirm,unblushingly, that
"
their
brethren
precious
toleration
would
work
be
INFLUENCE
putting a
poison into
sword
in
235
SOCIETY.
madman's
of
firebrands
city of refugein
ON
BIBLE
hand
the
with
madmen
THE
OF
in
hand; a cup of
child; a lettingloose of
their hands, and appointing
men's
souls
to
after banishment.
should
such
return
as
upon
enacted
of most
succession
sanguinary laws were
death
A
against them,
ears,
such
bo?%ingthe
Quakers
were
banishment
the introduction
as
actually executed
If
we
of
consider
our
Bible
for
returning after
the effects resultingfrom
religioninto our colonies
has produced the same
shall find it
generally, we
home.
Did
at
as
sectarianism, and bloodshed
strife,
horrible
time permit, I could refer you
to many
most
I must
and revoltingfacts.
content
myself with only
two
one
or
examples. Mr. Garrison, t\\o distinguished
the Antiat
abolitionist,in a speech delivered
time ago,
some
Slavery Convention, held in London
mentions
the following horrible
tian
Chrisspecimen of
He gives an
from a letter,
civilization."
extract
"
236
INFLUENCE
giving
of
account
an
BIBLE
J. Brown,
Mr.
by
written
THE
OF
missionary
Liberia,
at
of
attack
recent
SOCIETY.
ON
300
natives
the
upon
"
is
come
of
out
he
is
war
bed
and
Brother
immediately, and
returned
bed
!'
come
in
load
and
the
for
guns
told
war
Harris
hand.
at
knees
slippedon my clothes,and
ask God
to help us.
By that
to
within
was
enemy
Brother
Harris
shot, and
from
In
and
up
from
the
two
like
Z.
Jarvis
was
and
stood
snap,
of
Nichols
them
hundred
could
hand
this,the
into the
from
him
one
minute
and
the
they
the
in the
were
ning
run-
three
the
were
enemy
their ground, and
had
only
and
chamber
the
them
cut
Meanwhile,
Bro.
where
eighteen
would
knew
rods
Bro.
hive.
the
the
first
muskets
about
Harris
(forwe
we
time
muskets
around
bees
into
came
which
powder,)
upon
loading
cutting grass.
mowers
one
was
as
on
the
twelve
or
front,between
both
chamber,
and
ten
Brother
loading muskets
in the
keg
thick
them
gave
picket fence
the
in
They
house.
than
down
stood
who
down
less
house, as
Dormory
Bennett
by
while
enemy,
chamber.
and
answered
was
the
down
was
of the mission-house.
musket-shot
went
of
I immediately
arose,
my
But
be out
to
me
was
got
in town.
out
went
minute,
one
Simon
go
muskets
at
every
and a
ready made cartridges,
of lead down
poured a stream
windows, as fast as two
boys
loaded
enemy
broke
yard
like bees.
In the
muskets.
through
the
Brothers
midst
fence,and
Harris
and
of all
poured
Dormo-
238
INFLUENCE
OF
when
What!
we
THE
ON
BIBLE
SOCIETY.
told in
Galatians,c. i.,.v,
8,
from
heaven
angel
preach
are
though we, or an
have
we
you than that which
any other gospel unto
are
we
not
to
preached to you, let him be accursed"
?
When
we
are
told,
say that it sanctions persecution
in c. v., v. 12, "I would
which
even
they were
cutoff
to affirm
trouble you," are we
that it sanctions
not
told in Matthew, c. x., v.
we
are
persecution? When
shall not receive you,
hear
nor
15, And whosoever
or
city,
your words, when
ye depart out of that house
off the dust of your feet. Verily,
shake
I say unto
you,
"
that
"
it shall
be
in the
Gomorrah
we
are
of
I
of the fourth
for that
than
city,"
persecution?
it sanctions
have
admitted
that
it
in defence
a book
century, wrote
of the very passages
quotes some
and
you,
the President
in the eleventh
recommended
mentioned
others
to
of the
of
Synod
translated
century,
it
was
Then
and
in my
Lecture.
Bogarman,
But
judgment
of Sodom
Christian
persecution.Beza, a distinguished
persecution,and
have justread to
Tenth
of
the land
themselves
Christians
sanctions
author
day
to insist that
not
But
for
tolerable
more
Beza's
Dart, held
book, and
magistrates,which
the
mendation
recom-
adopted.
I may
be told that Beza
listen to the opinion of the
was
Rev.
Catholic.
W.
"
Fulke,
clergyman of the
seventeenth
against the Papists,
century. In his work
tions,
of parishes,excommunicahe says, "for the division
suspensions,solemnizing of marriages with the
and the punishing of heretics
laws thereof,
by death,
they are all manifestlyproved out of Scripture! ! !
Protestant
distinguishedEnglish
;?
Let
What
are
the effects
of this book
in
mankind
Has
nearer
come
now
me
our
home.
own
it bound
age ?
them
Has
?
fraternity
Ah, no ! It has splitthem up
of petty sectaries,and sown,
of love
and
the dissemination
produced by
it tended
Has
togetherby
it made
into
in
an
to
sweet
men
endless
unite
ties
brothers
number
plentiful
profusion,
INFLUENCE
the
bitter
by
prove
Christian
OF
seeds
of discord
the
showing
sects
entertain
ON
BIBLE
THE
and
hatred.
opinion
of each
239
SOCIETY.
This
which
other.
the
"
I will
various
Calvinism,
"is a tremendous
doctrine,which
Unitarians,
it reallybeen
taught by Jesus and his apostles,
their gospel might truly have
been denounced, not as
the doctrine of
of
peace and good will,but a message
and
wrath
of terror and despair." It was
injustice,
viewed
gance
by Dr. Priestly,not only "as the extravaof error, but as a mischievous
compound of
discourse
impiety and idolatry." (Rev. J. Belsham's
Dr. Priestly.)By the Arminian
vinism
on
Christians,Calis representedas
a
system, which, says Dr.
without
creatures
liberty,
Jortin,consists "of human
say
had
the
"
doctrine
without
sense,
faith without
reason,
and
without
"
"
"
"
"
240
INFLUENCE
thodox
Church
its
both
the
Devil.
ist
Mulock,
BIBLE
ON
for
1802,
Magazine,
origin and
"
THE
OF
its
SOCIETY.
from
name
326, derived
p.
Methodism
the
of
The
in
"
are
miserably-misledfanatics,
awfully alienated
from
all knowledge of the true
God.
Their
ences,
experifound
when
tried by Scripture,
to be details
are
of the pollutedworkings of the imagination in minds
stimulated
asts.
enthusiby the ravings of the hot-brained
vulsive
They have contrived what may be termed con-
other
and
Christianity,a system of sighs, groans,
sensual
impulses, to supersede that gloriousfaith.
tian
Looking through the annals of Methodism, the Chrisfail to notice the subtletyof Satan, in thus
cannot
"
seasonably providing a
hour
of its decline.
for
substitute
It retains
Popery in the
everything of Popery,
and
ritual
its gorgeousness
depraved deference to human
but
same
The
observances.
it
nature, stamps
nature."
whole
The
religionof corrupt human
body of Protestant Dissenters, in Godolphin'sReport,
"
denounced
to the
as
accursed, devoted
p. 625, are
as
the
separated from
Devil, and
The
Christ.7-
Rev.
Mr.
by
drunkenness, and
Devil, and the curse
than
worse
the
them
all !
denounced
"
The
his Remarks
and
most
en
Mr.
1834,
holiness
Binney,
"
as
an
in the
as
by
obstacle
the
land,
and
to
heavily on
Dr.
Priestly,in
idolatrous,
gospel of the
Calvinists,through
from
quoted
actuated
in return, is
England,
through
Blackstone, p. 171,
deviation
are
rests
Unitarians
kind,7'and
criminal
of God
of
Church
consequently a
the Rev.
and
the
by
its followers
in
"as
the
the
Christian
server,
Ob-
of truth
the progress
that it destroys more
The
pudiated
Papal religionagain is rein
his
Principle of
by Bishop Warbnrton,
Religion, as an "impious farce;77and by the Rev.
Mr. Cecil, as
quoted in Cunningham7s Apostacy, p.
the masterpiece of Satan
a
140, as
complicated
soids
it saves."
than
"
"
INFLUENCE
and
almost
and
may
OF
THE
BIBLE
ON
241
SOCIETY.
blasphemy?
system of idolatry,
incredible
I not
"
of the
ministers
Devil."
"
Romish
ix.,and Heb. v. i.
Such, then, is Bibleism, as
and
mankind.
which
animosities
Dr.
Testament
Such
it is.
it has
John
on
sions
dissen-
the
engendered
among
"
Glorious
prospects these
for the
How
believers !
stupidlottery!
have thus
given a hasty sketch of
of the Bible during the Christian era.
the Influence
I ask, has not that influence been pernicious
? Do not
be
truth and
that it should
humanity alike demand
it stillcontinue to spread mental
repudiated? O ! must
a
"
desolation
flowers
Must
men?
to make
which
among
dark, dreary,barren,
be strewn
might otherwise
of freedom, knowledge, and
spiritof
the
it still be allowed
forbids
it !
Man
with
truth?
and
the
cold,
bright
No!
the
releasing
has
himself
He
from
of priestcraft.
iron grasp
heard
in the distance,
of Free Inquiry,and
the song
will he
till he has joined in its glorious
rest
never
chorus.
Let
the
not
religious despots of the age
imagine that they will suppress this spirit. Let them
not
imagine that they will confine its loftysoul within
the bars
of a prison-house. Let them
conceive
not
that their denunciations
will deprive
and
anathemas
!
mortals
it of its vitality Viain and presumptuous
Victims
of a system of falsehood and imposture ! No !
age
the
is
now
"
21
"42
INFLUENCE
bid
let
them
be
still,
OF
the
the
their
in
Or
that
the
priests
the
on
fed
from
the
them
it
their
wrecks
swords
on
of
depths
and
faith
that
of
sceptres
of
for
cent
quies-
ever,
with
thousand
rages,
their
surge
remain
mighty
tainted
and
foams,
the
rule
bloody
have
they
be
ocean
shall
brink
earthquake
the
mind
No
the
the
calm,
human
tyrants
of
waves
Around
Like
the
SOCIETY.
powerless,
grasp.
not
Whose
And
the
not
stand
They
is
be
be
unholy
Fear
It
whirlwind
bid
ON
BIBLE
thunderbolt
but
stagnant,
THE
river,death
dells,
and
I
eternity.77
swells,
floating
see,
THIRTEENTH.
LECTURE
Friends
of
"
address
the
In
the
Bible,
recently delivered
observed,
that
original
transcendental.
or
many
from
the
"Word
writings of men
of
who
God,"
Christian
the
alleged
and
vices,
I gave
future
the
appear
There
is
Bible
was
should
were
have
left without
through
This
the
of
ocean
with
which
the
like
not
was
tainted
amongst
of
views
any
idea
no
means
before
centuries
Bible,
notion
and
composed,
no
exceptionable
un-
crimes
pollution.
was
redeem
vulgar
few
as
reputation
the
I would
to
now
lived
mention
very
instances
in
occasion
never
of
that
by
were
of
mass
good, and
be
better, could
quoted
knew
who
nothing of the
whose
authors
few
there
be
and
era,
found
Passages
much
instances,
in
be
these
but
the
characterized
immorality which
production, there might probably
passages,
Morality
the
on
amongst
and
obscenity
BIBLE,
THE
WITHOUT
MORALITY
of
right
rudder
moral
morality
without
that
and
or
that
Christians
wrong.
compass
before
Bible
the
We
to
the
we
should
steer
us
of life.
absurd, as it is gratuitous
and
the
before
Morality existed
presumptuous.
Bible
the Bible
existed, and morality will exist when
is obsolete.
We
find
of the
that
can
morality, and
notion
I hold
to
be
as
244
V/ITHOUT
MORALITY
and
highest
character
purest
BIBLE.
THE
mixed
morality utterlyunthe obscenities,
ties,
barbari"
uncorrupted with
crowd
the
mysteries,and incongruitieswhich
of the
Holy Scriptures,"in the writings of
of those precious
could
have
known
who
never
and
"
pages
men
lucubrations.
Morality,therefore,is perfectlyindependent of
Jewish
and
We
Christian
the
that
"
He
was
of
one
philosophy,
said
of
so
remote
livingat
with
ardent
so
gave
Science
nephew.
be
and
of
and
with
such
that
accuracy,
calendar, and made
His
do,
to
others
the
as
This, we
by which
Now
told,is
moral
the
300
into
was
so
far
as
to
wish
all
which
365
world
should
days.
have
more
were
singularly
do
alone
ticularly
parity
moral-
the
on
doctrine
very
"
Do
be
unto
you."
unto
the
the
years
600
before
Greek,
and
the
200
compiled.
years
Old
before
Christ
Testament
before
even
was
the
law
governed.
to
cian
Gre-
the
contain
to
not
can-
able
be
morality,
others
his
Though
acquainted
corrected
occasion,
to
solar revolution
the
in my
address
he
taught the
would
you
who
Scriptures,
born,
on
Bible, that
comprises
say
are
this
this
I mentioned
excellent.
Christians
he
ledge,
know-
estate
writers.
their year
doctrines,with which we
moral
of
Bible
determine
to
for
Thales,
period,he was
mathematics,
and
eclipse,
predictan
to
his
of
schools
thirst
of
548.
B. O.
the Grecian
care
the
may
are
died
and
his
was
much
owes
any
astronomy
of
the
up
Thales.
consulted
643,
the founders
he
that
the
B. C.
born
was
of
the authors
highly
History of Philosophy,"
Biography of Grecian
"
"
of
with
I have
authorities
few
upon
Greece, commencing
ancient
state
book.
text
the
Old
pounded
prothe
was
lated
trans-
tament
Tes-
246
MORALITY
B. G.
558
He
blind
"not
Also
observed, "Make
faith
In
"
Paul
by
do,
you
like cobwebs
everything
"Laws
end."
are
thy guide5'
reason
inculcated
as
BIBLE.
says
it."
the
THE
WITHOUT
and
Peter.
at
ing
acquir-
aim
learn
consider
to
which
entangle
"
the
thy
Cherish
lesser sort, the greater break
through."
friend."
"Reverence
are
thy parents." "Those
competently furnished
with
outward
things,act honestly,and live temperately."
This
great patriotdied with the conviction,
that "he
had left the world
better for having lived in
it,"not as Solomon, exclaiming, "all is vanity."
Pittacus,the next distinguishedauthor of antiquity
happy,"
from
wise
He
he
remarks,
whom
1 shall
of Greece.
men
"who
are
quote,
was
one
flourished
He
of
the
570
about
on
former
seven
B. C.
casion,
oc-
doctrine,as that
of all morality,
which
is said to be the corner-stone
and which
Christians
pretend is so peculiar to their
Avoid
He
own
doing that to your
system.
says,
if he was
take
amiss
to
neighbor, which
you would
He
also taught, " Whatever
do it to you."
do,
you
"
Never
boast of your plans before they
do it well."
are
executed, for fear of the ridicule and disappointment
will be exposed if you
do not
to which
you
felt a supreme
Pittacus
accomplish them."
contempt
and disgustat that beastly habit, I was
going to say,
He
crime, drunkenness.
proposed from the public
of Athens, that
fault committed
forum
while
every
of intoxication,
in a state
the person was
instead of
being excused, should receive double punishment.
I wonder
what
Pittacus would
have
thought if he
!
had heard of the freaks of that Bible moralist,Noah
these heathen
between
What
a contrast
philosophers
!
heroes
and those Scriptural
wise
of the seven
of Greece,
Bias, another
men
556
B. C, taught that the value
who
flourished about
all price. During an
of knowledge was
above
vasion
in"
of
his
country,
one
of
his
friends
observed
MORALITY
WITHOUT
247
BIBLE.
THE
of preserving
surprisethat he took no means
anything, Bias replied,
alludingto the knowledge he
with me."
had acquired, I carry
all my
treasures
of the wise
a
was
Spartan,
Chilo, another
men,
and
of the
most
a
man
rigid integrity. He was
made
of the Spartan Ephori. He lived 542 years
one
B. C.
The
followingare a few of the moral precepts
loss is
inculcated
Honest
of virtue.
by that model
which
hint
a
might
gain"
preferableto shameful
be useful
of the present
to many
trading Christians
"
If you
are
day.
great, be condescending, for it is
with
"
"
"
better
"
this
than
Christian
Gold
is tried
u
by gold."
ridicule
age.
the
by
Do
many
Think
before
touchstone, and
despots,
speak."
you
men
tried
are
"
impossibilities."
desire
not
hint which
"
Christian
to
"
"
hated
be
to
of service
be
also
might
in
be loved
to
Never
unfortunate."
the
Christians
by
and
"
Be
continue
such
to
to
; and
friends."
your
B. C.
kind
"
maxims:
"
hear
than
what
you
Avoid
have
to
yourself and
"
do
"
consider
they
may
that
they
may
571
in that
"
Be
more
you
you
whether
years
dogma,
also
his
desirous
to
followingwere
Before
when
"
that
lived
merit
any
The
excess;"
speak ;
to
friends
your
Cleobulus
be
bulus
Cleo-
enemies."
your
enemies
former.
the
to
table
pre-eminently chari-
so
your
If,therefore,there
it is due
be
Love
"
moral, viz.,
says,
become
to
home,
go
think
home,
come
you
have
amine
ex-
done
all well."
I shall
now
Socrates,the
in the
Bible
speak
Robert
of
that
Owen
illustrious moral
of Athens.
No
teacher,
character
be
248
MORALITY
shedding
a
is
man
pieceof
good
or
who
that
was
whose
assurance
believer
The
man.
to that
when
that
"
in
the
unless
Bible, he
of
character
Christ
favorable
features,
tion
placed in juxtaposimoralist.
Dr. Enfield,
its most
of the Athenian
Christian
BIBLE.
gloriousanswer
and
himself,considered only in
falls quite into the shade,
with
THE
is
cant
Christian
be
cannot
Socrates
tears.
insufferable
WITHOUT
and
minister
of
historian
that Socrates
"a man
was
celebrity,admits
eral
penetrating judgment, exalted virtue, and libunited with
spirit,
exemplary integrityand purity
of
entitled
manners,
the
among
Time
derived
which
him
the
to
highest
distinction
philosophers."
of my
only
quoting a few of his
He taught that " True
is not to be
felicity
from
but
from wisdom,
external
possessions,
consists
in the
knowledge and
practice of
ancient
will
maxims.
admit
manners
virtue; that the cultivation of virtuous
with
necessarilyattended
pleasure,as well as
that
"
siderable
con-
absurd
honest
the
to
honors
things
separate
closelyunited
and
alone
man
virtue
as
riches
is
in
which
interest."
and
ought
happy,
be
to
and
is
profit
it is
that
nature
so
are
He
held
that
the
secondary to
quisition
ac-
The
of a
wealth
knowledge.
man," he beautifully
observes, "is like the
Believe
it cheers
it is set
not
nobody."
prove
praise all your actions,but those who reof
"
sound
"
covetous
after
sun
those
who
"
"
faults."
your
When
solicited
imprisonment,
he
by Crito to escape
nobly replied,"That
in his best
born
his
no
man
cruel
on
injuryfor an injury,"
tes
a philanthropist.Socramoralist.
Christ,when
a practical
essentially
return
any pretence, should
a sentiment
worthy of such
was
from
humors,
469, and died
Aristippus,the
about
promulgated
of morality.
365
some
He
but
was
an
theorist.
Socrates
years B. C.
of the Cyreniac, who
founder
was
400
years
very
was
the
before
sound
and
the Bentham
rished
flou-
Christian
epoch,
enlightened views
of that
age.
His
WITHOUT
MORALITY
249
BIBLE.
THE
He
held
that
decidedly utilitarian.
opinions are
the ultimate
pursuit,
object of human
pleasure was
rather in a pleasingagiand that happiness consisted
tation
than
in
lence
indoof the mind, or active
enjoyment,
"
or
tranquillity. Prefer labor to idleness,"says
prefer rust to brightness."
he, "unless you would
The
truly learned are not those that read much, but
is useful"
read what
who
those
a
judicious
very
"is
he
observation.
remarks,
cal
recipro"Friendship,"
"
"
"
benevolence
as
for
anxious
own."
"It
only
poor
inclines
which
to
the
want
money,
characteristics
illiterate want
child
will
in the
way
should
he
go,
and
boasted
when
the
guishing
distinwisdom
"Train
he
up
is old
he
"
it."
depart from
his
nature."
of human
The
of
the
be
to
for
as
person's welfare
be poor than
for
illiterate,
another
is better
individual
each
Aristippusremarks,
Young
will be
people should be taught those thingswhich
men."
useful to them
when
Contrary
they become
to the opinion of that
arch-apostle,Paul, Aristippus
ges
entertained
and advantaa high opinion of the utility
of philosophical
inquiry.Being asked by a friend,
is the advantage you
from
What
receive
phy?"
philosohe replied, It enables
to converse
me
freely
all mankind
with
a
noble, liberal,and enlightened
As much
could not be said for religion
sentiment.
;
especiallythe Christian religion. It teaches, through
its apostle John,
If there
come
any unto
you, and
bring not this doctrine,receive him not in your house,
bid him
neither
God-speed;" nay, says Paul, "let
be accursed
him
;" and Christ himself remarks, with
when
that bitterness
so
peculiarto him,
ye depart
his house, shake
from
off the dust of your
feet."
O ! how
nobly does the spiritof the heathen
pher
philosorise above
that of the Christian
bigot,morality
above
religion,philosophy above superstition!
We
will now
refer to Aristotle,one
of the leading
philosophers of antiquity,and
unquestionably the
not
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
250
varied
most
Where
than
THE
age.
322
of any
B. C.
better
definition
of
died
C., and
find
you
"Justice
following?
according to
one
of the
observance
BIBLE.
writer
voluminous
B.
will
the
every
and
384
born
was
the
WITHOUT
MORALITY
is the
of
virtue
his deserts.'7
"
Justice
He
justice
treating
includes
for the
laws
ciety,
preservation of sothe discharge of obligationsand debts beand
tween
equals.'5He also taught the followingexcellent
maxims:
"Learning is the best provision against
old age."
soul in two
bodies.""
Friends, are one
There
is just as much
difference
between
the wise
"
"
and
foolish
the
dead."
"
splendidsentiment.
pleasureis that which
Will
in that
sentiment
of the
or
Bible
of what
is
"consists
tell
you
Find
purest and
is
there
me
noblest
from
derives
man
ous
virtu-
morality
no
whole
in
passage
Virtue is either theoretical,
me
"
the
in the
consists
virtue
theoretical
practical;
good
equal it.
to
of the
source
the
"
Again,
livingand the
of delight;
"
life is itself a
virtuous
actions."
the
is between
there
as
due
ercise
ex-
in the pursuit
understanding practical,
right and good."
Happiness," says he,
"
"
in
conformable
conduct
to
virtue."
These
are
"
to
make
He
blush.
alike
of
some
cruel
had
and
sword,
sell your
man
of
on
and
inhuman
garment
one
occasion,
this is the
modern
it makes
it be for
"
cold
Christians.
many
of
and
enlightenment
to
practice.
more
carries
did
He
language
his countrymen
and
Christian
great antipathy
barbarous.
in the
no
modern
our
"
moralists
to
war,
exhort
not
Christ, "If
buy one,"
and
abandon
War,"
you
but
being
low-citiz
his felhave
as
came
be-
treated
humanity, he enthat demoralizing
said
off many
as
to him
person
wretched
beings;"
a
it carries
if,instead
civilization,
of
off."
having
Well
would
more
Chris-
had
tians,we
few
251
BIBLE.
That
Antisthenites.
more
flourished
man
our
THE
WITHOUT
MORALITY
390
about
tinguishe
disbefore
years
era.
done
has
Pythagoras, who
than
any Christian,taught some
lived
He
he,
says
500
"are
the doctrine, of
Paul,
and
ignorant"
be
"
deeds
the
without
Bible
that
best
our
unstable."
and
weak
B.
years
"
admirable
maxims.
and
"Wisdom
C.
philosophy
virtue,"
that
of
for
more
the
law
moralist, good
!"
of
In the estimation
"
works
were
filthy
as
"
have
turned
doing ?
have
great
his
an
have
rectitude?
What
I left undone
have
I
which
been
ought
In
to
What
done
done
and
from
of Greece
men
died
"It
361.
do
mischief,but
passions is more
enemy."
alone."
"
"
Do
and
is
was
born
470
criminal," says
wish
it."
heroic
than
to
"He
"not
who
he who
is open
to
timents.
sen-
the
C,
only
subdues
vanquishes
Every country
ceed
prohast
B.
years
he,
to
wise
you
man,
are
for
252
he
MORALITY
is
sentiment
and
of
WITHOUT
citizen of the
is found
world."
in the
is in advance
even
THE
BIBLE.
The
following noble
writingsof
of
this
"
this age
"
great man,
It is the
office
it is
prudence, where
to
possible,
prevent injuries,
but
where
be done, a wise
this cannot
regard to
from
will prevent us
our
own
tranquillity
revenging
"
them."
We
often
told
of
that
are
ejaculationof
Christ's"
not
Father, forgive them, for they know
what
But this sentiment
from
Democritus
they do."
includes
all the humanity, and
incomparably more
exclamation.
enlightenment than Christ's famous
We
must
notice
now
mildness,
Epicurus, whose
aiid virtue,might have
taught a useful
temperance,
lesson
moralists
such
Bible
to
as
Moses, Joshua,
admirable
That
Samuel, David, and Solomon.
losophe
phiB. C, and died 270.
He
born 341 years
was
"
held
phy
Philosothe
following enlightened views:
of happiness.
is the exercise
of reason
in search
Those
things, therefore, that neither assist in the
of
of happiness,are
add
the amount
to
pursuit,nor
"
is that
value."
no
Temperance," he remarks,
discreet
regulation of the desires and
passions by
which
enabled
to
we
are
enjoy pleasure without
be impiTo
inconvenience."
ous,"
sufferingconsequent
from the illiterate
is not
to
take away
says he,
the
gods which
they have, it is to attribute to
th;,se gods the opinions of the vulgar." How
cable
appliis this definition
the Bible believers !
to
Epilikewise
man's
Since
it is every
c \;us
taught,
it is
interest
of life,
to be happy, through the whole
of every
the wisdom
to employ philosophy in the
one
be
ch of felicity
without
j ^
delay, and there cannot
a
jjpeater
follythan to be always beginning to live."
for show, but
We
not
must
seriously,
philosophise,
for it is requisitenot
that we
seem
sound, but that
"
"
"
"
"
"
we
be sound."
not
may
valuable
"
Let
us
endeavor
past
so
to
live that
we
most
sound
and
"
"
254
MORALITY
I
*aken, replied,
with
of
the
the
an
theatre
great offence,that
so
brought
his
upon
he
trial,
they
had
who
the
set
(though
of
out
go
with
not
sentiment
Socrates
poet)
indignation,and gave
publicly accused, and
was
this
made
uproar;
friend
mouth, but
my
of
impiety
BIBLE.
THE
with
swore
heart.
The
my
audience
in an
intimate
WITHOUT
one
Dr.
Price
informs
perjuriescommitted
difference
the
of
nursery
heathenism
of
million
are
annually." How
ancient Greece, and
between
one
"
there
that
us,
the
strange
modern
the
"
rope
Euof
other
!
Christianity
1 will
brieflyrefer
now
What
Romans.
After
Seneca
are
must
Shall
we
him,
whom
in
all
us
as
her
injury
than
of
principles
he
of
it is
to
suffer
Pagan
shall
effusion
it is not
matter
lay down?
we
the
spare
every
A
!
How
creatures
to
of
hurt
obligation,to do
prodigious merit,
power
and gentle to his fellow man
!
our
one
more
to
one
She
another.
made
us
wretched
death.,J
"
Nature
great body.
one
love, and
laws,
to
bound, by
relations
mutual
with
small
is mild
man
all limbs
are
to
to
rules
ought
we
How
are
we
indeed, if
us
good
all the
We
that
say
blood
human
What
it?
cient
an-
teacher,
crime, and
asks, " How
monster
fallen
our
the
great moral
practice,war,
towards
answer
we
morality of
that
denouncing
to behave
we
their
says
Christian
eminently
the
to
who
Such
was
social.
never
inspired
ing
Accord-
thing
are
duces
pro-
to
the
do
an
moral
blessed
WITHOUT
MORALITY
that
lightof
morality is
no
"
Bible,while
a
the
Let
be found
but
morals"
can
philosophy of
than
man
to
255
BIBLE.
Gospel."
Seneca's
moral
the
to
the
"the
with
THE
be told
not
me
in the Christian's
be read.
Listen
no
less
Book
on
Roman,
another
In
illustrious Cicero.
his
truth :
following glorious moral
The
universal, immutable, and eternal law of all
intelligent
beings is,to promote the happiness of one
father."
like children
of the same
another
Again,
The
imprinted on the hearts of all men,
great law
the members
of the
is to love the public good, and
Is there
common
anything
society as themselves."
Laws
is the
there
"
"
excel
to
of
of
inspiredtext-book
our
of
inhabitants
that
people who
the
"
of
books, principallyon
of those
writings
Xu
volumes
Xu,
; and
first of
long
of
five
the
before
of
the time
had
are
the
or
Moses,
and
the
or
five
Tae
volumes.
Kin.
Xu
tant
impor-
more
Uikn,
four
ancient
great number
The
called
nothing
The
a
morals.
called
is
fortune
the mis-
knew
Chinese.
empire
vast
had
Cicero
Saviour.5'
"our
speak
now
me
Yet
Bible?
live before
to
Let
in the
this
It
writhy
was
contains
histore
maxims.
Confucius
the
book
is, "Think
third
The
ascribed
that
says,
the
nothing
is called
the
most
ancient
to
Fohi
himself.
The
universal
fourth
Xe
of
It
is named
that
moral
idea
is wicked
or
This
is
Kim.
all the
books,
cannot
now
Chun
Creu,
be
of
pure."
im-
sidered
con-
and
is
phered.
deci-
Spring
and
Summer.
It was
compiled by Confucius,and
of the rise of kingdoms by virtue, and
treats
their
fall by vice
mer
Spring representing the rise,and SumLi Ki, or
the
the
fifth is called
fall.
The
Memoirs
of Rights and Duties, and was
compiled by
Confucius,chieflyfrom materials previouslyexisting.
"
or
256
MORALITY
In this
the
exhorts
done
is
foundation
the
to
do
and
principleof
passage
to another
you,
should
would
you
this
only needeth
to
The
"Do
unto
said
law
and
do
not
be
alone, it
all the
rest."
"
24.
This
"Do
justsaying,almost
is
others
unto
if the
in the
would
you
Confucius
lived
Now
you."
and
that
as
what
; thou
you
precept is propounded,
morals.
of Fohi
would
they
another
unto
Moral
BIBLE.
Christian
followers
would
unto
of
hasis
the
you
not
THE
constitute
what
WITHOUT
"
as
Memoirs
of
wish
500
language,
same
do
others
before
years
unto
Christ,
Rights and
Duties," in which
this moral
be but a compilation,to a
is inculcated,
great extent, of moral
precepts previously existing
the Chinese, it is highly probable this " golden
among
rule,"said first to be promulgated by Christ,had
been
that ancient
current
people thousands
among
of years before our
This
era.
of originality
in Christian
want
exist
can
from
following passages
that
clearlyshow
injuriesfor which
lauded, was
taught by
the
of God"
"Son
thy benefits,"says
133, by the return
"
The
sensible
as
the
scream
over,
so
and
of the
a
the
that
writings of
the
boasted
Christ
the
few
as
pure
eagle is
man's
utter
rality
mo-
has
of
dogmas
been
fucius
Congiving
for-
much
so
moralists
long
"born."
was
"Acknowledge
Confucius
in his maxims,
page
of other
b
ut
venge
renever
benefits,
injuries."
following are
are
the
the Bible.
without
The
ere
fact proves
ethics,and
name
Chinese
Chinese
of
any
heard
when
remains
like
proverbs, which
Solomon's:
she
after
has
his
"
"As
passed
death."
ascending an eminence,
like
a
precipice."
rushing down
bird
the pursuit of wealth, as
a
ty
"Petin pursuitof its food."
with
destruction
meets
distinctions
are
injuriousto rectitude;quibbling
who
Those
violate
words
respect
right reason."
"Following virtue
pursuing vice is
"Man
perishes in
is
"
WITHOUT
MORALITY
THE
257
BIBLE.
thinks
honorable; but he who
lightlyof himself,will be held cheap by the world."
like
flies like an
"Time
days and months
arrow;
candle we
seek
In making
shuttle."
a
a weaver's
chamber
for light
a dark
; reason
; light to illumine
"
get
In
do
heart."
not forto enlighten man's
security
danger; in times of tranquillitydo not forget
anarchy."
find morality even
We
Persians.
The
Ancient
deem
Christians
this people a people whom
among
I opine, will
No
beneath
almost
contempt.
one,
the "light of the Gospel." Mr.
affirm that they had
defence
of Abner
KneeDunlap, in his unrivalled
tried for blasphemy in America
a
was
land, who
few
made
the following admirable
years
ago, has
remarks
the morality of that people, as contrasted
upon
that of modern
with
Christians,in proof of
I am
the position
pendent
maintaining,that moralityis indeHe
observes, "Illustrations
of the Bible.
that
from
morality can
history abundantly show
exist without
Christianity.Is there not a beautiful
in ancient
instance
my,
historyof forgivenessof an eneand magnanimity to a fallen foe,which
the head
of England in our
of the Church
the Prince
time
Regent of the British empire, had not the loftyvirtue
themselves
will
be
"
"
"
to
imitate?
allude
Themistocles,
and
Napoleon) by
archs.
Did
to
the
the
the
the
different
modern
Themistocles
heathen
and
of
treatment
ing
(mean-
Christian
mon-
Persian
real
king displaymore
the Christian
virtue than
sovereign? Themistocles
had
in Persia, and
repulsed the fleets and armies
raised the Athenian
republicto that pinnacleof glory
when
Britain reached
which
Great
the vanquished
foe.
The
a suppliant to a victorious
Napoleon came
of Athens
statesman
experienced the ingratitudeof
the republic,and was
sian
compelled to seek at the PerCourt, a retreat from the persecution of his
countrymen.
monarch
of
not
He
threw
that nation
22*
himself
whose
at
the
feet of
fleets he had
the
captured.
258
MORALITY
whose
and
entertained
with
assigned
were
and
friends
of his
of the
his
it denied
king, and
monarch,
of
greater
than
man
He
government.
conduct
of
the
Christian
the
Themistocles.
even
received
Emperor Napoleon was
which
ought to have bound
Christian
people,and the honor
the
among
admiration
the
of
treatment
cities
illustrious
chief
objectof
Compare the
the
of
the
the
court.
prince with
and
the
was
forgotten
revenues
support,
Athenian
brilliant
heathen
The
and
in the
age
with
kindness
received
was
honor.
to
unfortunate
The
He
of distress.
depth
and
overthrown,
he had
armies
protectionand hospitality.Was
No, gentlemen ; all enmity was
of the
they beheld the great man
when
of
immense
BIBLE.
for
asked
him
THE
WITHOUT
under
the
of
stances
circum-
consciences
Christian
'
people,
I come,
like
Themistocles,to throw
myself upon the hospitality
of the British people.' But he was
ed
receivnot
Themistocles
was
as
by this Christian government
by
the Persians.
He
he
The
sought.
humanity, and
violated,and he was
of
in
the
midst
his cruel
famous
as
and
the tomb
laws
the
of
the
honorable
nations
"
precepts of the
borne
of the
exile
denied
was
ocean,
away
which,
to
after
the
lum
asydictates
gospel were
rock
pestilent
six
had
elapsed,was
agony
of the greatest character
years of
rendered
in
the
Ancient
of
Hindoos.
"
In
the
Braminical
books,
as
WITHOUT
MORALITY
wicked
utter
"
hypocrisy
or
dealing
"
lies
no
deceit
no
use
and
neighbor
humble,
keep your
theft,and
in
weak
the
oppress
offer any
violence
to your
nor
and
from
hands from
pilfering
trade
in
over-reaching
or
never
"
prevaricationor
practice no
"
259
BIBLE.
THE
"
no
"
way
different
What
a
injure a fellow creature.
try
our
Bible-loving,tract-distributingcoun-
whatever
scene
"
"had
a
habitation
will
till
civilized"
and
it
that
was
memorable
the
Indians
there
could
The
virtuous
"
given in Howitt's
Colonization,"p. 397
"
before
should
have
home,
and
will
vated
unculti-
of
which
"
characteristic.
they
only
of
the
in
were
one
"
ness,
dark-
religion,
true
Indian
affords
moral
plicity
dignity and simand
It
unsophisticatedrace.
History of Christianityand
Red
401.
Jacket
eloquently
want
an
answer
say
you
leave
this place. It is
you
as
one,
we
first look
fathers
this
tury
cen-
"
Brother, you
talk
be
of the
is
observes
14th
morality
highly
that
reply
instance
that
is
Cramp,
his.
of
unknown
Missionary, Mr.
The
priesttells
and
of
views
morals.
Christians
famous
of the
Even
Indians.
entertained
race
inspired
people who were
a
period as the
late
so
challenge
"
our
American
the
"
of
any
which
and
name,"
notice
now
Christians
to
"
with
comparison
We
or
do
at
wish
not
back
told
have
are
you
detain
and
little,
us, and
what
we
your
right
great distance
to
to
you;
you
from
but
tell you
what
have heard
we
our
from
the white
"
people.
Brother, listen
time
Their
when
our
seats
animals
what
extended
There
say.
owned
this great
island.
the
setting
we
forefathers
The
Great
sun.
Indians.
He
had
other
to
from
Spirithad
created
for food.
the
He
rising to
made
the
was
it for the
use
of
the
beaver
and
260
MORALITY
the
bear, and
had
scattered
how
to
take
served
them
the
He
because
disputesabout
settled without
day
over
them.
red children
THE
their skins
had
for bread.
corn
evil
WITHOUT
for
clothing. He
country, and
taught us
us
caused
All
he
BIBLE.
the
had
this he
loved
earth
duce
profor his
done
If
them.
to
had
we
any
hunting-grounds,they were
generally
the shedding of much
blood; but an
forefathers
crossed the
us
: your
upon
Their numthis island.
on
bers
great waters, and landed
were
mies;
small; they found friends,and not enecame
they
for
country
enjoy
told
fear
had
they
us
of
wicked
and
men,
their
We
took
they
sat
down
among
We
us.
from
fled
small
their
own
here
came
for
gave
their
to
seat.
request, and
them
and
corn
turn.
liquors)in repoison (spirituous
The
white
found
out
our
people had now
carried
came
back, and more
country, tidingswere
took them
did not fear them, we
us
amongst
; yet we
believed
friends : they called us
to be
brothers,we
and
At
them
a
length their
largerseat.
gave them
had
numbers
more
greatly increased, they wanted
our
country! Our eyes were
land, they wanted
took
Wars
became
opened, and our minds
uneasy.
hired
to fight against Indians,
place ; Indians were
and many
of our
destroyed. They also
people were
us
brought strong liquorsamong
strong and
; it was
powerful, and lias slain thousands.
seats
were
once
"Brother, our
large, and yours
they gave
meat,
us
"
were
very
people,and
blankets.
our
small.
we
You
are
have
you want
Brother, continue
"
sent
to
instruct
have
got
our
to force your
to
us
listen.
how
become
now
scarcely
have
satisfied ;
"
You
to
great
place left
spread
to
country, but
are
religionupon
You
say
worship
that
the
not
us.
you
Great
262
MORALITY
it
suppose
to
"
your
of
way
your
from
some
was
WITHOUT
THE
BIBLE.
minister; and, if we
thinking, perhaps you
should
form
con-
want
may
us.
Brother,we
you
"
are
said.
Brother,you
talk ; and
we
are
by
the
you
on
have
this is all
going
hand, and
to
heard
now
have
we
part,
hope
will
we
say
return
your
present. As
at
and
come
Great
the
journey,and
your
to
to
answer
our
take
you
Spiritwill protect
safe
you
to
your
friends."
H
The
fused
Missionary,hastilyrisingfrom his seat, rewith
hands
to shake
them, saying, there was
the
religionof God and the
fellowshipbetween
'
no
works
in
O
the
of the
Devil.'
The
Indians
smiled
and
retired
peacefulmanner."
! what
Christian!
contrast
How
between
noble
the
the
Barbarian
and
of
one,
virtue
the
What
a
disgusting the bigotry of the other !
religion! What
glorious triumph of morality over
unanswerable
an
proofthat a people may be virtuous
without
the Bible,and vicious with
it !
Not
find morality amongst
only, however, can we
were
entirely ignorant of Christianity,
people who
but even
were
ignorant of any
amongst those who
religion Atheists.
D.
H. Kolf, in a werk
entitled, Voyages of the
Dutch
Brig of War, Donya, through the Southern
and little known
Archipelago,
parts of the Moluccan
Southern
of
coast
and along the previouslyunknown
New
Guinea, performed during the years of 1825Islands
726," informs that the inhabitants of the Arm
"
knew
yet,"
nothing of a God or a future state, and
how
"
"
MORALITY
WITHOUT
263
BIBLE.
THE
"
"
"
264
MORALITY
good
of the Unitarians
of
such
far
from
heaven.
trine
According to the docmorality and Christianity
from
removed
If
BIBLE.
THE
is sin.
Christians,
things as
are
WITHOUT
each
other
earth
as
and
ever,
Christianity,howbe one
and
the same,
or
things inseparable,
how
societies formed, governments
were
established,
and
nations
raised to power
and
before
Jesns
glory
Christ
was
born, and the glad tidingsof his gospel
proclaimed ? Upon what principlewas
societyregulated
the
thousands
of
which
this
during
globe
years
rolled through the
in its appointed
fields of space,
of
circuit around
the glorious luminary, the centre
our
was
system, before the revelation of Christianity
of
there
mer's
Ho?
Was
made
no
morality in the days
of the most
whom
were
some
heroes, amongst
described
of fact
in any work
gloriouscharacters ever
there
no
morality in those
or
imagination? Was
the sages and chiefs of the Illiad,
heroic ages; or were
of human
the iEniad, ideal models
the Odyssey, and
bards
excellence,the fanciful creations of the immortal
and
of Greece
Never
that
crimes
so
an
of
character
we
him
so
of
Bible,I
would
rather
from
rality
Mo-
it.
absurdity !
whose
without
more
cr
monstrous,
priestsand
records
weeds
are
from
emanates
What
unfounded,
come
morality must
more
all
that
obscenities
"
"
statement
than
gratuitous,
the
Bible, and
details
Rome
was
alone
morality
virtue
and
butcheries
What
rises
impostors !
live
one
brief
the
libel upon
above
But
rible
hor-
so
the
Bible
dark
or
hour, though
no
it
of a Thal.es,
spirit
through
a
Socrates, a Plato, and an Epicurus, than
of a Moses,
the corrupted remains
all eternity,with
I
the one
With
Joshua, a Samuel, or a David.
a
The
the
other, degraded.
feel ennobled;
should
the
incite
to
teaching and practicesof the former
the beautiful,
of the wise, the good, and
attainment
and
but the injunctions
doings of the latter instigate
were
in
with
perditionitself,
the
WITHOUT
MORALITY
all
to
of
morality
Bible
the
"pure
which
reiterate,
the
that
pages
Bible
"
morality,
existed,
production
are
moral
the
is
closed
sound
and
and
END.
hitherto
has
of
the
sooner
intellectual
norance,
ig-
bigotry,
then,
existed
spotless,
will
of
persecutions
Morality,
and
the
was,
contaminated
which
morality
exploded,
is
arena
and
forever,
23
an
the
morality
and
intolerance.
excellence,
earth
be,
and
into
and
cant,
the
superstitions,
Christendom
converted
there
shudders,
humanity
before
long
but
little
The
promulgated,
7?
undeliled
vices,
vicious.
taught
Christianity
or
what
and
crimes
who
265
BIBLE.
and
cruel,
sages,
and
Scriptures,
by
at
those
known,
was
indeed,
degraded,
is
that
THE
triumph
sooner
its
will
mental
greatness
before
when
musty
erty,
libvade
per-
3bflEE33STI"XT3M,
I*.
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