Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-10-14
ORIGINAL MISCELLANY

ANCIENT TESTIMONIES
concerning Jesus Of Nazareth, &c.-NO. Nv.
FROM THE GAZE.
Oct. 9Th.
begin this number with the observations Of
Ambrose who is sometimes called Hegesppus
He was Jew. but afterwards became convert
to christianity in A. d. 157. He writes thus:
. We have discovered that il was the opinion and
belief 0f the Jews, q Josephus af6rms, (who is an
author not 20 be rejected when he writes against
hinself) not BY the deceit Of men, but by the an
ger Of God, aud that jnstly, as effect of punish
ment for what he did to John the baptist, a just
man. who had said 10 him, {" it is not lawful for
thee to have thy brothers wife"
The Jews thsnIselves also bear witness toCHRIsT
a. appears from Josephus the writer of their history,
who says, t" That there was at that time wise
man, if il be lawful to call him a man, docr of
wonderful works, who appeared to his disciples,
after the third day FROM his DEATH alive again,
cording to the writings Of the Prophets VINO FORE
told these and innumerable other miraculous events
concerning him. From him arose the congrega-
ton Of Christians, which have penetrated amongst
all sorts Of men. Nor does there remain nation
in the Roman world that continue strangers TO his
reljgios.n Now If the Jews do not believe us, let
them at least believe their own writer's Josephus
whom they estesm very great man, hath said this,
be hath spoken truth sfter such manner, that is
historical TRUTH because be held it unlawful to de-
ceive, thoagh he was no believer, which rather
confirms than invadates bis testimony.
RUFINUS.
He was a father Of the Churcb--was born at
Aquilcia at frst he friend, and afterwards the
opponent of St. jerome. He translated Josepbus
into Latin, and died A. d. 40. He tells us that
Josephus wrote as follows -
Now there was at that time JEsUs, a wise man.
If at least is be lawful to call him a man. for he
was doer OF wonderful works, teacher of such
hipgs, TO those that were willing TO have the
truth. He also drew over to him many of the Jews
and many Of the Genties. He was Christ And
when Plate at the accusation of the principal men
ofour nation, bad decreed that be should be cru
cited those that had loved him from the beginning.
did not forsake him for be appeared to them alive
again at the third day, according to what the di.
vineiy inspired prophets had foretod that these,
and innumerable other miracles shouldcome to pass
about him. Moreover, both the name and sect OF
christians, who are denomnated from him. contin-
ue in being TO this day"
HIERuNYMUs.
Josephus, in the 18th book of his Antiquities.
most expressly acknowledges, that Christ was
slain By the Pharisees on account of the greatness
Of bis miracles; and that John the baptist was
truly prophet aud that Jerusalem was demol-
shed on account of the slaughter of James the a.
postle. He wrote concerning our Lord after this
manner. q At that time there was Jesus wise
man, il yet it be lawful to Gull him man, for he
was doer of wonderful works, a teacher of those
who willingly received the truth. He had many
followers both of the Jews and Gentiles. He was
believed 10 be Christ. And when through the en-
W Of our principal men, Plate had condemned
him to the cross, notwithstanding this, those who
had loved him at fsst persevered; for be appeared
unto them alive on the third day as the oracles OF
the prophets foretod many of these and other won
derful things concerning him. And the sect OF
christians 50 named fIom him, are rot extinct at
this day"
ISADORUS OR ISADORE.
He was Disciple Of St. Chrysostom and died a.
bout the year A. D. A4o. He writes thus--There
Vas one JosePhus jew OF the greatest reputation,
and one that was jealous for the Law; one also
that paraphrased the Old Testament with thnth,
and acted valiently for the Jews, and hath showed
that their settlement is nober than can be descri-
bed by words. Now since he hath made their in
terest give place to the truth, FOR he would not
give place to the opinion of iinpious men, think
il necessary TO sit down his words. What then
does he say
"Now there was about that time Jesus. wise
man, if il be lawful TO call him man, for he was a
doer Of wonderful works, teacher of such men as
received the truth with pleasure. He drew over to
him both many of the jews, and many of the Gen
tiles He was the Christ. And when Plate at
the suggestion of the principal men amongst u.s. had
condemped him to the Gross, those that loved hin,
at FIRST did not forsake him, for He appeared unto
them alive again the third day, as the divine proph-
els had foretold, with many other wonderful things
concerning him. And the tribe Of Christians so
named from him, are not extinct at this day."
cannot but admire this mans love oftruth in many
instances, but chiefly where he says, !" Jesus was
teacher Of such men, who received the truth with
pleasure"
SOZOMEN HERMIAs.
He was born in Palestine, and practised as an
advocate or lawyer at Constantinople. He wrote
an Ecclesiastical history about the year A. ID. $50,
and this is his testimony.
Now Josephus the son of Matthias, priest, a
man of very great note both among the Jews and
Romans, may well be deemed witness Of credit,
as to the truth of Chriss history for he scrnples
to cell him man, as being doer of wonderful
works, and teacher of the word OF truth. He
names him Christ openly; and is not ignorant OF
that he was condemned to the Cross, and appeared
on the third day alive. and that many other won-
derful things were foretold Of him by the divine
prophets. He testi6es also, that those whom he
drew over to him, being many of the GentiIes as
well as Jews, continued to love him; and that the
tribe ne;ned from him Christians, was not then ex-
tinct. He appears also TO be so affected by the
wonders he performed, as to run in kind OF middle
nath q, az not to mt auv indipnitv unon believers