Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-01-22
sTRoUDsBURG COUNTY, Pa THURSDAY

men,s Of Phegon and 'rhalus. which unequiv-
ocally confirm the evangelical history of the
darkness al the cruclfixion, viz: those of Ter
tuian and CELSIUS. In his Apology for the
Christians, which was addressed TO their hea-
then adversaries, TeItulIian expressly says,
AT the moment Of Chrtst's death, the light de-
parted from tie sun, and the land was darhened
at nOon-day; WHICH WONDER is RELATED IN
YOUR OWN ANNALS, AND is PRESERVED
IN YOUR ARCHlEVES TO THIS DAY.
If the account nf this extraordinary darkness
had not been registered, Terulan would have
exposed both himself 10 the charge of asserting
falsehood (Which charge was neuer brought
against him. and also his religion 10 the ridi
cule of his enemies. 1t is further particularly
worthy of remark, that The darkness and earth
quake al the crucifxon are both explicitly re-
cognised and menlloned as FACTS by that acute
adversary of Christianity, CELSIUS who would
not have made such an admission, if he could
have possibly denied them.
In addition TO The preceding observations, we
may state that many good and solid reasons
may be assigned why prolane writer's have not
made mention of the darkness at the crucifiX
ion. which, it is now generally admitted, was
confined to the land of Judea. The most OBJ
vious is, that they might have no sufficient in
formation Of ii. The provinces of the Roman
empire were very extensive, and we find, in
general, iha, The attention of writer's was chief
ly confined 10 those which were nearest 10 the
metropolis. The ancient historians and biog-
raphers are remarkably concise, and seldom
stop 10 mention occurrences, which, although
they may have happened during the times of
which they write, have no relation whatever TO
their main subject. This was their general
rule, and there Is no reason for which i, should
be violated merely to indulge the caprice of the
cap,ious, or satisfy The scruples OF the peiulanl
/ There is no more reason in the nature of the
thing Itself why The testimony of profane wrl-
ter. should be called lor to support The sacred
Than the sacred should be called for TO support
the profane We may then retorl the argument,
and in our turn ask the historian, and those who
have lately circulated his false accoun, Of the
PROCESS OF Christianity, how they can credit
the accounts given by Pa,erculus, Pliny The ell
der, Vaierlus Maximus, and Seneca, when Mat.
thew, Mark, Luke, and John take not the least
notice of them! But lei it be supposed that
the Roman writer's had received information oil
the fac, in question, it is most probable thai
they would have considered it natural oc'
currence, being accustomed TO earthquakes and
darkness for whole days together, in conse
quence of the efuplions of Mount Vesuvius.-
Or, supposing that they had believed il TO be
preernalural darkness, would it have been con
sis,en, with their principles as heaihens TO have
mentioned it! They must plainly have lorseer
what great advantage would have been given lt
Christianity by il. Their readers would nalur
ally have been led 10 inquire inlo the character
Of The extraordinary person, at whose dea'i
The laws of nature we're infrlnged, and this IL
ourv. as j, would have opened more complete
view of The new dispensalion, must have led Il
=" their conversion Hence we collect a very sal
isfac,ory reason for their silence. Supposn
iha, they knew the fact, and from motives Q
n policy suppressed II, their silence furnishes a
: strong proof of its truth, as their leslimon
;; could possibly have done.
Upon the whole, We way venture boldly {
: assert, tha, even If this fact be destitute Of sup
g port from profane writer's, it is defcienc
which may easily be dispensed with. We be
= leve many things upon the evidence of on
II crediable witness But IN the before u:
we have no less than three, whose knowledg
: of the facl was aeuer denied, whose veraciiy
Q ndisputable, aud integrity not to he impeachef
u So plainly are the characters OF truth maIke
e upon their Writings, that every person of con
d mou discernmen, must see them, and he who
o moi satisfied as TO The certainty of what they re
% lae, must give all preensiuns 10 sound juds
v meni. aud be abandoned TO the incurable OF
e ,Inacy of his own forlorn scepllclsm.