Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-11-06
Religions Miscellany.
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.
Chapter Nv.
Communicated.


On the Testimony Of the Original Wit
nesses to the Truth Of the Gospel Mar
! TGtlDe.
Ill. There was nothing in the situation
OF the New Testament writer's, which
leads us to perceive that they had any pos
sible inducement for publishing a false
hood.
We have not TO allege the mere testi-
mony of the Christian writer's for the
danger to which the profession Of Chris
tianity exposed all its adherents at that
| period. We have the testimony of Taci-
tus to this effect. We have innumerable
illusions, or express limitations, of the
same circumstance inthe Roman histori-
ans. The treatment and persecution OF
{ the Christians make principle figure in
[ The affairs of the empire; and there is no
point better established in ancient history
than that the bare circumstance of being
a Christian, brought many to the punish
ment of death, and exposed all to the dam
ger of suffering the most appalling and
repulsve to the feelings of our nature
1t is not difficult to perceive, why the
Roman government. in It's treatment of
I Christians, departed from its usual prin-
ciples Of federation. We know it to have
been their uniform practice, to allow eve
ry indulgence TO the religious belief Of
those different countries in which they es-
tablished themselves. The truth is, that
such an indulgence demanded of them no
, exertion or moderation of principle. 1t
was quite consonant with the Spirit of Pa.
ganism. A different country worshipped
different gods, but it was general princ-
pie Of Paganism, that each country had
I It's gods, TO which the inhabitants of that
country owed their peculiar homage and
5 veneration. In this way there was no in
: reference between the different religions
which prevailed in the world. 1t fell in
: with the policy ofthe Roman government
to allow the fullest federation to other reli.
h gons, and it demanded no sacrifice o.
5 principle twas even dictate of prlnci
pie with hem to reSpec. the gods of othel
% countries; and the violation of a religion
:, different from their own, seems TO have
been fell not merely as departure from
. policy or justice, but to be viewed with
u the same sentiment of horror which is an
g nexed TO blasphemy or sacrilege. So Ions
nl as we were under Paganism. the truth o
he one religion did not involve in it the false
Y, hood or rejection of another In respect
=. ing the religion of another country w
!. did not abandon our own nor did it fol
:, low, that the inhabitants of that oihe
- country annexed any contemp; or discred
e. it 10 the religion i'll which we had bee
e. educated. In this mutual reverence 70
- The religion of each other. no principl
8, was departed from. and no object of yer
Grafton abandoned 1t did not involve i
esl it the denial or REIMBURSEMENT of our ow
he gods. but only the addition of SO man
ed more gods to our catalogue.
t Ell. In this respect, however, the Jew
it stood distinguished from every other pee
or, pie within the limits OF the Roman en-
Of pire. Their religious belief carried in
aca something more than attachment to the
5 sit # own system. 1t carried in it the contem
Of and detestation of every other. Yet, j
chit, spite Of this circumstance. their religc
8 a was protected by the mild and equilab
ceis federation of the Roman government
And The truth is, that there was nothing in Il
lict- habits or character of the Jews, whi'
' s;oe was calculated 10 give much disturban
to the establishments ofother countries
Though they admitted converts from OF
er nations, yet their spirit Of proselyti'