Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-02-05
Religious Miscellany.
EVIDENCES OF cHRIsTIAxITY.


REMARKS ON THE ARGUMENT FROM
PROPHECY.
VI. Prophecy is another species Of ev-
idence TO which Christianity PROCESSES an
abundant claim, and which can be estab-
Ished on evidence altogether distinct from
the testimony of It's supporters. The
prediction of what is future may not be
delivered in terms SO clear and INTELLECT
bic os the history of what is past and
vet, in It's actual fulfIment, it may leave
no doubt on the mind Of the inqairer that
i was prediction, and that the event in
question was in the contemplation of him
who uttered it. II may be easy to dis
pose of one isolated prophecy, by ascrib
ING il to accident but when we observe
number Of these prophecies, delivered
10 different ages, and all bearing an appli-
cation 10 the same events, or the same in.
diriduaI, il is difficult 10 resist the i'm
preston that they were actuated by a
knowledge superior to human.
The obscurity Of the pro2heiical lam
guage has been often complained of; but
1t Is not SO often attended to, that if the
prophecy which foretels an event were as
clear as the narrative which describes it.
i would IN many cases annihilate the ar
gnmenL Were the history of any indi
vIdual foretold in terms as explicit as it is
10 the power OF narrative to make them,
might be competent for any usurper TO
ct himself forward, and in as far as it de-
Tended upon his own agency, he might re-
alzs that history. He has no more to do
han 10 take his lesson from the prophecy
before him; bu, could it be said that FIJI.
. fmCnt like this carried in it the evidence
Of any thing divine or miraculous IF
lhe prophecy of a Prince and Savior, in
the Old Testament, were different from
what they are, and delivered in the pre-
else aud ineligible terms Of an actual
history; then every accomplishment which
Guild be brought about by the agency Of
hose who understood the prophecy, and
| we're anxious for its ver6cation, is lost 10
| he argument. 1t would be instantly said
| h the agents in the transaction took
| heir clue from the prophecy before them
/ is the way, in fact, in which infidels
| have attempted TO evade the argument as
il actually stands. In the New Tesla
meul, an event is sometimes said to hap
Apcu, That IL might be fuflLed what was
spoken BY some Of the old prophets. II
reeT eren, which enters into the Gospel.
hid been under the Control Of agents
| merely human, and friends 10 Christianity,
hen we might have hal reason 10 pro-
bounce the whole history to be one con-
| nucj process Of altful and designed ac-
| Vomnodli to the Old Testament proph-
rles. But the truth is, that many of the
| vents pointed at in the Old Testament, so
| lr from being brought about by the agen-
| ~ Of Christians, were brought about in
| oppoSitlan t, their most anxious wishes.
| Some of them were brought about by the
| agency Of their most deci1ed enemies -
. aud some OF them, such as the dissolution
| Of the Jewish state, and the dispersion OF
| Us people among all countries, were quite
| bAyond the control of the apostles ard
heir followers, and were effected by the
Intervention of neutral party, which al
the time took no interest in the question
aud which was stranger to the prophe
y lHOHSu the uuSOuSCiOuS luS!IuHSul "
is luilment.
Lnr! BolingLroke has carried the OBJ
'clion so far, that he asserts Jesus Chris
10 have brought about bis own death, BY
series Of wilful and preconcerted meas
ures, merely to give the disciples who
came after him the triumph of an appea
9thc old prophecies This is ridiculous
mlngh; but it serves 10 show with wha
AGILITY an inide might have evaded th,
whole urgcment, had these prophecies
been free Of all that obscurity which i
Row so loudly complained of.
The best form, for the purposes of ar
sunenL 10 which prophecy can be de
Irered, is 10 be SO obscure, as TO leave tn,
event. or rather lis main circumstances
O1'ntelligibIe before the fulflment, and s.
Clear as 10 be ineligible after it. 1t j
easy to conceive that this may be an at
unable object; and It is saying much TO
ae argument as il sands, that the happi
@ illustrations Of This clearness on tn
voc hand, and this obscurity on the other
veto be gathered from the actual propL
e'es Of the Old Testament.
lis not, however, by this part of tn
'gameni, that we expect TO reclaim ,h
1eny OF our reigioa from his inflelity
~ That The examination would not satisf
y.n, bat that The examination will not b
wen. What violence il would be o
fng to all his antipathies, were we
ard him, at the outset of our discussion
,s1ong the chapters of Daniel or Isaiah
ae has too inveterate contempt for ii
o'ele. He nauseates the whole subie
% strongly to be prevailed upon to a
ompanv US to such an exercise. c
ach subject as this, there is no con,at
W aDnrnY lnlafinn hef,r,aera ne. and 8