Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-10-16

Z
er, while all the antecedent 'es.i'nony
(which, by every principle Of aPpfoseeu
criticism, Is much stronger 'nan INC o1n
erl should produce az impression ina. -
compara.ively Ianguid and Intellectual r
Il 4 owing, ia great measure, TO the
rr;nciole 10 which we have already aliud-
"a There Is sacreJness annexed 10 the
subject. so long as il is under the pen of
fathers and evangelisls, and this very sa-
credness takes away from the freedom and
confidence OF the argument The mo-
mens that il is taken up by profane au-
thor, the spell which held the understand
ing in some degree ofrestraint is dissipat-
Cd. We now tread on the more familiar
ground Of ordinary history; and the EVIL
dence for the truth OF the Gospel appears
more assimiated to that evidence, which
brings home 10 our conviction the partic-1
niars Of the Greek and Roman story.
To say that Tacitus was upon this SUBJ
feet disInteresied historian, is not enough
10 explain the preference which you give
TO his testimony. There is no subjecI 10
which the triumph Of the Christian argu-
ment is more conspicuous, than the moral
qualifications which give credit to the tes-
lImony of its Witnesses We have every
possible evidence, that there could be nei-
ther mistake nor falsehood in their testi-
mony; a much greater quantity OF evil
dence, indeed, than can actually be pro-
duced to establish the credibility of any
other historian. Now all we ask is, that
where an exception 10 the veraciiy of any
historian is removed. yon restore him TO
that degree Of credit and influence which
we ought to have possessed, had no such
exception been made La no case has an
excepliob to the credibiIity of an author
been more triumphantly removed, than in
the case Of the early Christian writers !;
aid yet. as proof that there really exists
some such delusion as we have been la
boring to demonstrate. though our eyes
are perfectly open to the integrity of the
Christian witnesses. there is still dispo-
sition 10 give the preference to the secular
historian. When Tacitus is placed by
the side Of the Evangelist Luke, even af-
Z ter the decisive argument, which estab-
fishes the credit Of the latter historian has
convinced the understanding, there re-
mains a tendency in the mind to annex a
confidence to the account of the Roman
writer, which is altogether disproportion-
ed 70 the relative merits Of his testimony.
Let US suppose. for the sake of farther
illustration, that Tacitus had included
some more particulars in his testimony
and that, in addition 10 the execution of our
Savior, he had asserted. in round and un.
qualified terms, that this said Christus had
risen from the dead, and was seen alive
by some hundreds of his acquaintance. -
Even this would not have silenced alto.
gether the cavis Of enemies, but it woule
have reclaimed many an infdel; beer
exulted IN by many sincere Christian
and made to occupy foremost place il
many book upon the evidences Of GU
religion. Are we to forget all the while
that we are in actual possession of mucl
stronger testimonyi that we have the con
currencs OF eight or ten contemporar,
authors. most of whom had actually seer
Christ after the great event of his resur
recton3 that the veracity oflhese authors
and the commences OF their respectiv,
publications, are established on ground
much stronger than have ever been al
legged in behalf of Tacitus, or any ancien
anthor2 Whence this unaccountabl
. preference OF Tscitus! Upon every re
ceIved principle of criticism, we are boun,
10 annex greater confidence to the tes:imo
ny.of the apostlesl II is vain to recur !,
the imputalion of its being an interested
testimony. This the apologies for Chris
tianity undertake to dispIove. and actual
ly have disproved it, and that by much
greater quantity of evidence than wouie
be held perfectly decisive in question O
common history. If after this there saoulc
Remain any lurking sentiment of diffilenc,
% suspicion, it is entirely receivable int,
some such principles as have alread,
alluded 10. Il is to be treated as mer,
feeling,--a delusion which should not B,
admitted to have any influence on tn,
convictions Of the understanding.
The principle which we have been at
tempting TO expose, is found, in fact. 4
run through every part of the argument
and to accompany the inquirer lhrouo
all the branches of lhein uestigation. Tn,
authenticity OF the different books of III
New Testament forms very importan
inquiry. wherein the object of the Chris
tian Apologis. is to prove, that they wer
really written BY their professed authors
In proofof this, there is an uninterrupte
series OF testimony from the DAYS of tn
apostles; and il was not 10 be expected
that . point so isolerc to the Christian so
ciety could have attracted the attention !
ptofane authors, till the religion of Jesu,
BY It's progress in the world had render
ed itself consp cuous. II is not then Ill
about eighty years alter the publicatio
OF the different pieces. that we meet vii
the testimony OF CELSIUS. an avoweI enc