Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-10-23


I had the hardihood ventuieGpan ilise- .
hood, It would have been upon S'itf
ground than what they actually ado "e'
They would never have haza ded 10 as
sert what was so optn 10 contrad c'ioh' as
the existence of brooks held IN reverence
nmo,p all the churches, and whwh no
bodv ri,ber in or out of these churches /
over heard Of They would never have
been en- unwise as TO commit In this way
cause. which had no, a single circum-
stance 10 recommend it but its truth and
its evidences.
The faIsehool Of the Christian tes,imo-
nv on this point, would carry along with
il n concurrence OF circumstances, each OF
which is he strangcst and most uuprece-
denied that ever was heard Of. First,
THAT men, who sustained in their writ
incs all the characters Of sincerity, and
many Of whom Submitted to martyrdom,
asthe highest pledge of sincerity which
can possibly he given, should have been
capable OF faisehood at all. Second, That
this tendency 10 falsehood should have
been exercised so unwisely as TO appear
in an assertion perfectly open 10 detection,
and which could be so readily converted
to the discredit of that religion, which it
was the favorite ambition of their lives to
promote and establish in the world
Third, that this testimony could have
gained the concurrence Of the people to
whom il was addressed, and that, with
their eyes perfectly opened to its false
hood, they should be ready TO make the
sacrifice OF life, and Of fortune in support
ing it. Fourth, That this testimony should
never have been contradicted by the Jews,
and that they should have neglected Sc
eTectual an opportunity of dsgracing a
religion, the progress OF which they con.
templated with so much jealousy and
alarm. Add 10 this, that it is not the ties.
iimony Of one writer which we are max
ing 10 pass through the ordeal OF so MANY
difficulties. II is the testimony of many
writers, who lived at different times anc
in different countries, and who add the
very singular circumstance Of their entire
agreement with one another, TO the Other
circumstances equally unaccountabe
which we have just now enumerated -
The fllsehood Of their united testimony i,
not to be- conceived 1t is supnositiol
which we are warranted 10 condemn, up
on the strength Of any one of the abov,
improbabililies taken separately. But tn
fair way of estimating their effect upol
the argument, is to take them Jointly, al,
In the language Of the doctrine of chances
10 take the product ofall the inprobabilie
into one another. The argument which
this product furnishes for the truth of tn
Christian testimony, has, in Strength an
conclusiveness, no parallel in the Who'll
compass of ancient literature.
The testimony of CELSIUS is looked ~
on as peculiarly valuable, because It
disinterested But if this considerable
gives so much weight 10 the testimony ,
CELSIUS, why should so much doubt az
suspicion annex TO the testimony Of Chrf
tan writers, several o. whom, before b
time, have 1iven fuller and more q,
press testimony O The AUTHENTICITY Of ii
Gospels la the persecrions rhev su.
tained in the obvious tone Of sincerii
and honesty which runs through the
writings IN their general agreement ~
on this subject IN the mulytnde Of the
followers. who never could have conf
cd IN men that ventnred 10 commit then
selves, by the assertion Of what vas obv
ously and notcriously l1Isr; in the chez
which The vigilance, both of Jews an
HeaIhens, exert Ised over every Chrstia
writer Of that perioi,-in all these CT
cumstances, they give every evidence
having delivered fair and unpoIlutt
testimony.
DEPARTURE OF MIssIoNARIEs.-O
"Wednesday about so persons. connectt
with the Oregon mission of lbe Methc
dist Episcopal Church, embarked G
hoard the lausanne Capt Spauding, f
their place Of destination. Mr.. Dibbl
one Of the Sandwich Island Missionarie
took passage in the same vessel, whic
will touch at the Island. After the vesS
started il tow of The steamboat, relgio,
services commenced, to commemorate tt
parting occasion. Two of the childr,
Of the Oregon Missionaries were bap,ize
one Of whom, born on the way hith
from Oregon territory, the child of D
Richmond was baptized Oregon.
T. Dispatch.
VEpMONTF TIT ECp ADJ