The Sun.
London, England, 1821-11-10 00:00:00

quently well prepared to detect him, if he ventured any sort of
an imposition. The books in which these miracles are re-
corded are undoubtedly the most ancient in the world. They
form the basis of the religion, and of the government of a whole
nation, which haS ever considered them as proceeding from
God, and as such strictly forbade the least alteration of the text.
If they assert that the Jews were the chosen and favoured
people of God, they no less candidly expose the ine-ratitude,
and the consequent punishment, of this-same people. 'Although
filled with these heavy charges and containing the well-merited
reproaches, and the moreiterrible threats of their offended God,
the Jews have ever considered this book as sacred, and have
preserved it with. the most religious veneration. The original
was placed in the temple, to prevent the possibility of any alte-
ration; it was read PUBLICLY on the Sabbath whilst copies of
it were DISTRIBUTED to the people, by whom it was CONTIN-
UALLY PE n USED. This 'same book is nowheld in equal venera-
tion by the Jews scattered throughout the globe, although it
contains the proofs 'of their blindness and infidelity, and the
foundation of the Christian faith, to which they are irrecon-
cilably opposed !—Surely nothing but -the utmost respect for
truth can thus prevent a people from making some alterations in
a work which establishes the creed of its enemies, and exhibits
in the strongest light its own: perfidy and condemnation !
The new law is the fulfilment of the oktlaw. sooner
had man fallen from a state of bliss, than Divine goodness
steps to his 'assistance, and promises him a Redeemer. The
promise made to our first parents, is repeated from time to time
to the Jews. The Messiah is announced 147.- the prophets, the
place and the time of his birth are fixed!; the circumstances of
his death are described, and the establishment of a new faith is
predicted. Christ is born. He proves his divine mission by
his miracles, and confirms it by • his resurrection. This
miracle is asserted by his disciples, who saw and converse i with
him during forty days after this event, and who witnessed his
ascension into heaven. Urged on by the strongest possible con-
viction, and emboldened by the spirit of God, they fearlessly,
preach. these facts to the Jews and to the Gentiles, and cheer-
fully lay down their lives in defence of the truths which they
announce. The writings of several of them hate been handed
down to us ; these epistles were addressed to the assemblies of
those who in different parts had embraced the Christian doc-
trine, within a very short period after its first promulgation.
In vain do tyrants raise up the most cruel persecutions against
the believers in a crucified Redeemer ; the Christian faith, wa-
tered by the blood of its martyrs, spread its branches over
the whole Roman empire, and the cross is finally planted in
Pacran Rome, and adored by the successors of the Cmsars !
This victory of a religion, founded' upon self denial, and the
mortification of the flesh, over one which sanctioned almost all
the passions of men, together with the amazing rapidity with
which it spread throughout the whole civilized world, are facts
so singular in their nature, so very contrary to the usual course
of events, that they may be consiuered, in sonic degree, mira-
culous, and afford alone a strong proof of the Divine origin
of the Christian faith. These facts cannot be denied by the
infidels, who are equally competent to allow the eminent ad-
vantages society has derived from the mild precepts of the
Evangelical law :.but they refuse to believe the mysteries and
the miracles upon which it is founded, because such doctrines
are in opposition to their reason, which they consider as the sole
and competent Judge of what must be denied or believed. In
my next letter I will therefore inquire into the nature of rea-
son, and endeavour to ascertain whether it is rational to consi-
der it as an unerring guide.
Ewhurst. ' A. P.