Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-26
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING. MARCH 90, 1850
5 HISTORICAL EVIDENCES OF TIE
TgTTH OF TIE SCRIPTURES.


We presume that all our readers arc not
aware how rapidly and how remarkably ev-
;depce to establish the truth of the Scrip
ture records, is being brought forth from
the monumental and other remains OF the
buried past.
Had the foresight and wisdom of man been
employed from the building OF Babylon to
the fall of the Roman Empire, to collect and
preserve from age 10 age such testimonials
rs minbt meet and contnte the skeptlcsm OF
the present day in regard to the trathfuiness
of the historical portions OF the Bible, It
would not have produced so deep an impress
sion upon our age as what God has SO won
derfully preserved, and unexpectedly pro-
duced when needed most, to cOnfound all
skepticism. and confirm the faith OF Chris
tendon.
The assault which has been made by the
learning and subtlety of the German infidel-
ity upon the credibility of the Scripture mar
ratiye, has ended as every previous attack
upon Christianity has done, IN establishing
its truthfulness more clearly and firmly than
before. Unbelief is continually stirred up
to fresh attempts, in order 10 snow as u
would seem, that at every point the system
of Christ is absolutely inyulnerable.
A few years only have passed since these
treasures of the ancient world, when 50
completely. because nndesignedly, prove
the truthfulness of Scripture history, were
entirely unknown, and when frst discovered
they were eagerly seized upon, as the very
weapons wherewith to destroy the credloiii-
~ of the Bible. The shouts of triumph
with which the celebrated Zodiac OF pendo-
ra was hailed by the infdel philosophy OF
Europe, because upon its first superficial ex-
animation it was thought to sweep away
the whole chronology of the Scripture nara
tive. have scarcely had time TO die away be.
fore Christianity has won for herself, and
beyond all fear of future reversal OF the
worlds verdict, the whole field OF evidence,
as drawn from the authentic records OF eve
ry great empire Of the ancient world. As
syria, Babylon, Egypt Persia, Phenicia
have cone forth from their tombs, at the
bidding of Christian science, and testify IN
the clearest manner to the truthfulness of
those records which form the historical basis
of the Christian system.
One of the most impressive proofs OF the
senuineness of the books Of the Bible, is de-
rived from the late minute and accurate IN
vestigaton Of travellers IN Palestine. Sueh
is the minute faithfulness OF the Sacred Sto-
ry. in ali things connected with external
things, that it forms the best possible hand
book for the tourist, and no candid man In
trayersing that portion Of the East with the
Bible in his hand. can escape the conviction
that its writers lived among and were per-
fectly familiar with the scenes which they
describe.
Every great feature Of the scene remains
and presents itself to the eye OF the modern
traveller precisely as they were described
BIZ Moses and David and the Prophets, and
with the exception of the cities and towns,
one knows that he is looking upon the very
scenes which their eyes beheld, and which
they described so faithfully, that they are
recognized at once, after SO many centuries
have passed away. The land OF the Proph-
cts and the wondrous people, the lana oil
signs and wonders, remains as the writers
Of the Bible saw and described 1.-THE IN
habitants only are gone. Impressions equal
ly strong in regard TO the truth of the Scrip
lures are derived from the exhumed remains
of the great empires Of the East, with which
the Jewish nation stood connected.
The monuments of Egypt, the buried pala-
an ruins. in connection with those OF Phoenl-
cha, have enabled Christian scholars to repro
duce the history, and even the aspect-the
manners, and customs of a past which rea-
ches almost to the Deluge, and with the his
tory of those ages that of the jewish people
and their records has been found so interwo-
ven, that the truthfulness of sacred history
must be admitted, or all ancient history
must be abandoned at once as false. To de-
ny the credibility of the Old Testament wri-
tiers is not now to reject the Bible only, but
it is to declare the state records OF every an
cient empire false. OF course, men in the en-
joyment Of right reason, must not be expect
ed to make this monstrous assumption, ana
therefore, as we have said, the truth OF the
Bible is far more firmly established than
ever. Nor must we forget that the proof OF
the historical accuracy of these writers, IN
the circumstances in which they wrote, car
ries with it tho truthfulness Of their doc
trines, unless we are prepared to believe that
a perfect historical accuracy is connected
with hypocrisy and dishonesty in doctrine