Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1805-05-03
M 0 NIT r I 4 L!
For the INrELLIGEEcER.

|TTAVING endeavoured in a formar
/ i number Of the INtslligeneer to re-
commend to the imitation of nav fellow
MN, the example of Jesus Christ, as a
perfect pattern Of every virtue that can
Adorn human nature, and the only me-
thod Of obtaining national and individual
happiness in rhis World, as we'll n the on
" sure foundation Of our future hopes :,
shall now submit to their consll-rAtlon,
some Of those circumStarccs th4t have
contributed to pro1Cee conviction in m"
mind, Of the truth OF tbs Christian reli-
rion. Man is said to be 4 reasonable
creature, and will & .uerallvbt governed
bv reason when it is1airi7 offered but
instances daily occur, whenimtrrest, ig-
norance, or passion interfere 70 warp
his Judgment, ana occasion dereIctfor
ofits obvious dictates. This | think is
especially true with respect to those who
di.pute the credlblity of the gospel his
tory; thew have never read the book
with a sincere desire information, and
impartiallv examined the evidence which
II. gospel itself exhibits, Of the anthem
ITCHY Of the facts therein recorded and
therefore have never discovered the
strong presumption Of the truth Of those
facts, arising from their congruitv with
our IDEAS Of the divine wisdom and good
ness. AS it can never be for the interest
of any man, tlat Christianity should be
false, il 10 not easv to discover the rea-
son why any man should rejceti,; unless
he is afraid T. come into its light, lest
hi. deeds should be reproved.
Il must be allowed, that to forrtel
future events, andsupercede the ordins.
~ course of nature, is the peculiar pre-
roEativs Of Col; aud when anv trans
action occurs, that evidsntlv exceeds the
operation Of natural agency, we must
confess with Nioodsmus, Rabbi, We
know that thou art = teacher come from
God, for no man, eaa de these miracles
that thou doest except God be with
him" II was BY miracle and prophs-
cv, that Jesus proved the divinity Of his
mission; "If I had not done among
the m the works which none other nan
did, they hid not had ain" Again,
Now l tell YOU before it come, that
when 1t is come to pass We NAV believe
THAT am he" In order to prepare the
mind. OF his disciples Tor the catastrophe
of Hrs death, which shovsld happen at Je-
rusAlem, h.: Erst hintcd IL 10 them by
signs, and gave the m still clearer intima-
lions OF II, as the time drew nearer, but
as the time was now come, when it was
to be effected, he tells his disciples, MAJ.
thew 20 chap. 8 and 10 verses " Be-
hold We 90 up to Jerusalem and the
son OF man shall be betrayed unto the
chief priests and unto the ScriSrs, and
they sh Ill condemn him 10 death, and
shalt deliver him to the Gen,iles to y1eek
aud t" sea"rse, and to cr"cLf4 him, and
the third dav he shall rise again" This
is a ClrcuuStAntial prophecy Of Christ,
concerning his o ~n death, spoken to con-
firm tAe faith of his disciples, of hi. be.
ing the Messiah, when they should see
i, fulfilled. The same evangelist tell.
US, that when the Paschsl supper was pre-
pared, Jesus sat doNHwith the twelve
and as he did eat, he said unto them,
Verify | say unto vou,. that one Of YOU
shall beeray me-" and after suPPer. when
he had instituted the sacrarnt MT ia re-
memoranee Of his death, to b. repre-
sen,ed bv bread and wiuc. Judas Cone
ofthe twelv. went out and cove mantle d
to deliver Jesus 70 the chief priests, for
thirty pieces OF silver, and went win a
hasd olsoldlers that were sent to take
him fh"H he 'U4s 6etrsyedunso the chief
priests aud wa'0 the Scr!b-r; who, in A
council. e9Hdtmnrdhim - death. They
then delivered him 70 Plate "a Gentle
| who dsliy<ssIhim to be crusi6sd. rAsn