[ 45 ]
THE VIRGIN MARY.
"When I am told," says our author, "that a woman, called the Virgin Mary, said, or gave out, that she was with --
child, without any cohabitation with a man; and that her betrothed husband, Joseph, said that an Angel told him so,
I have a right to believe them or not; such a circumstance required a much stronger evidence, than their bare word
for it; but we have not even this; for neither Joseph nor Mary wrote any such matter themselves. It is only
reported by others, that they said so. It is hearsay upon hearsay."
THIS gross misrepresentation, however plausibly cloathed in artful language, is unworthy of a man,
who pretends to integrity of character, and to write for the edification of mankind. He surely has never taken the
pains to read, with attention, the narration which he thus attempts to contradict; and thereby he is deceiving the
young and unlearned reader, in matters of serious importance to his best interests.
The sacred writings of the Jews, many hundred years before Joseph or Mary were born, predicted, in positive terms,
the extraordinary event, that a virgin, of the tribe of Judah, should conceive and bear a son, and that in the town
of Bethlehem, in Judea. It was
[ 46 ]
not only thus early promulgated, but became a principle firmly believed and relied upon by the whole people of
the Jews, for many generations; and was the great object to which most of their inspired prophets directed their
public labours. "The ancient Jewish doctors expected their Messiah to be born of a virgin; therefore it was,
that Simon Magus, who set himself up for the Messiah, pretended that his mother Rachel, bore him without the
loss of her virginity." *
Previous to this mysterious phenomenon, the time foretold by the prophets for its completion, expired; and many
other circumstances that were to attend it, actually came to pass. The expectation of the Jews, as a people,
and the learned men of the neighbouring nations, who were acquainted with their Scriptures, was raised to the
highest pitch, by the fulfilment of the previous events foretold, as the signs of the approaching glory -- Daniel
had very early, and while he was a resident in Babylon, by his prophetic declaration, foretold the coming of the
Messiah among the Jews, at the end of seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety years, which must have been well
known to all the nations of the east -- add to this, that the Jews were then scattercd over all Asia, Africa, and
Europe. Tacitus, the Roman historian, who lived in the first century, says, "Many of the Jews were persuaded,
from the contents of their sacred writings, that the eastern country would prevail, and that from Judea would
come those, who were to have the sovereignty of the whole world." ** Suetonius, another famous historian of the
__________
* Huet. Questions Almat. lib. ii. ch. xv.
** Lib. v. cap. xiii. fol. 502.
[ 47 ]
same century, says,"An ancient and uniform opinion had prevailed all over the east, that it was destined for
the people of Judea, about this time, to rule over the world." * Josephus, the Jewish historian, mentions the same
thing; and further says, "That what principally excited the Jewish people, the wise men as well as others, to
the war with the Romans, was the expectation of a great deliverer to arise among them, who should obtain the empire
of the world," fie also says, "That when Alexander the Great was at Jerusalem, the prophecies of Daniel were pointed
out to him, by Jaddus, the high priest." ** Dr. Sykes says, "It is evident that this opinion was fixed and settled;
was generally received among the Jews, that some one of their nation was to get universal dominion. It is testified
on all hands, by heathens and by Jews, as well as Christians, and consequently cannot be denied."
The miraculous event is made known to the subject of this divine grace by an angel from Heaven. She is not found
among the nobles of her country, or the princes of her tribe. -- She is an obscure virgin of the tribe of Judah,
dwelling in the despised city of Nazareth. Her betrothed husband receives equal proof of the awful truth. -- They
make it known to their friends. -- It is confirmed to them by her cousin Elizabeth, who had previous notice from
the same heavenly messenger, of the mercy of God to her nation. They are necessarily, tho' undesignedly, brought to
the village of Bethlehem by the public authority of the government, that no part of the ancient prediction should
be unfulfilled.
__________
* De Vita, Vesp: ch. iv.
** Josephus, vol.
[ 48 ]
At the birth of this wondrous child, certain simple and unsuspecting shepherds, engaged in their lawful and innocent
occupations, but wholly ignorant of any extraordinary occurrence, are surprized with a visit from a heavenly choir,
and informed, in the most sublime language and harmonious strains, of the love of God to man.
The shepherds, with astonishment, visit the stable and the manger by direction of the messengers of Heaven, and find
the more than royal babe, agreeably to their information. -- They publicly announce the glad tidings, and publish
abroad the fulfilment of ancient prophecy.
The wise men from a distant and eastern country, under the influence of tradition, added to a divine revelation,
and the supernatural appearance and direction of a new star in the Heavens, attend the new born babe with magnificent
presents, and hail him king of the Jews. *
Chacldius the Platonist, a pagan historian who wrote, soon after the coming of Christ, his Commentary on Timaeus,
says, "There is another more holy and more venerable history, which relates the appearance
__________
* De Vita, Vesp: ch. iv.
** Abul-Pharagius, an Arab writer mentioned in the Historla Dynastarium, page 54, tells us, that "Zoroaster, the
head of the Persian magians, (or clergy) foretold to his magians the coming of Christ, and that at the time of his
birth there should appear a wonderful star, which should shine by day as well as by night, and therefore left it in
command with them, that when that star should appear, they should follow the directions of it, and go to the place
where he should be born, and there offer gifts and pay their adoration unto him: And that it was by this command that
the three wise men came out of the east—that is, out of Persia, to worship Christ in Bethlehem." Dean Prideaux says,
this author, though an Arab, professed the Christian religion, and supposes it as most likely, that he took this
idea from them, though he assigns no reasons for his belief.
[ 49 ]
of a new star, not to foretel diseases and death, but the descent of a venerable God, who was to preserve mankind,
and to show favour to the affairs of mortals; which star the wise men of Chaldaea observing as they travelled in
the night, and being very well skilled in viewing the heavenly bodies, they are said to have sought after the new
birth of this God; and having found that majesty in a child, they paid him worship, and made such vows as were
agreeable to so great a God."
Baalam, on the arrival of the Israelites from Egypt into the wilderness, had prophesied of the coming Messiah, by
declaring, that "a star should come out of Jacob, and a sceptre rise out of Israel;" and no doubt but the knowledge
of this prophecy was preserved in the east, and, with other historical facts, handed down by tradition. The people of
the east had also the advantage of the knowledge and piety of Melchizedeck, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob and Job,
and his friends; the worship and example of the Hebrews in Egypt -- the account of all the miracles performed by
Moses -- their supernatural deliverance from that house of bondage -- the remarkable destruction of the Egyptians
in the sea -- the miraculous support, in the wilderness, of three millions of souls for forty years, with their
unexampled success, against all the united force of the kings of Canaan, with their numerous hosts, according to
the express predictions of Moses -- the final settlement of the Hebrews in the promised land -- the celebrity of
David, Solomon, and the kings of Judah and Israel -- the conduct and prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and
other prophets -- with all the various decrees of the kings of Babylon, acknowledging
[ 50 ]
the God of Israel, to be the God of all the earth, as did many of the neighbouring nations from time to time. All
these extraordinary means of knowledge, and the occurrences consequent thereon, must have turned the attention of
the wise men of every nation, to the history and religion of a people thus favoured of God; and hereby it is
reasonable to suppose they became acquainted with the leading facts of revelation.
Strabo, another heathen historian, in his 16th book, mentions Moses and the ancient Jews with commendation. He says,
"That many, in honour to the divine majesty, went out of Egypt with Moses, rejecting the worship of the Egyptians
and other nations, inasmuch as Moses had instructed them that God was not to be worshipped by any image, and that
he would reveal himself only to the pure and virtuous." He observes, "That Moses had great success in the establishment
of his government, and the reception of his laws, among the neighbouring nations; and that his successors, for some
ages pursued the same methods, being just, and truly religious."
Varro, the most learned Roman historian, though a heathen, much approved of the Jewish worship, as being free from
that idolatry, which he could not but dislike, in the heathen religion.*
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, were mentioned of old in Philo Biblyus, out of Sanchoncathan, who wrote about
200 years after Moses -- in Berosus, a priest of Belus, who lived about 300 years before Christ -- Hecataeus --
Nicolaus Damascenus -- Artipanus -- Eupolemus -- Demetrius -- Theorphicverses --
__________
* St. Aug. in Civ. Dei, lib. iv. ch. xxxi
[ 51 ]
and in Justin, out of Trogus Pompacius; all of whom relate the history of Moses, and his principal acts. *
This fact is also confirmed by the language of Rahab, the harlot of the city of Jericho, to the spies. "And she
said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror has fallen upon us, and that
all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you: for we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the
Red-Sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were over the
other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed, for the Lord your God, he is God in Heaven above,
and on earth beneath." ** The learned bishop Tillotson says, "The gentiles had, from the prophecies of the Sybils,
an expectation of a great king, that was to appear in the world." So Virgil says, "that the time of Augustus was
the utmost date of that prophecy, ultima cumaei venit jam carminis Aetas."
These wise men then, under all these advantages, might, on the appearance of this star, about the time of the
completion of Daniel's four hundred and ninety years, have been fully convinced of the truth of the prediction,
and the certainty of his being born, who should literally become the king of all the earth. They therefore did not
enter Judea in a secret manner, or make a mystery of their mission. Their application is not to the parties concerned,
or friends engaged to make out the truth of the fact; but as ambassadors from a foreign prince, they with confidence
apply to Herod, the king of the country, and under a
__________
* Grot. de Verit.
** Joshua, chap. ii. 9th, 10th and 11th ver.
[ 52 ]
conviction of the certainty of their mission, with an air of authority demand to know, "Where is he that is born
king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in. the east, and are come to worship him" This was unwelcome and
alarming news, to the cruel, jealous, and tyrannical Herod. He did not rejoice in the glorious confirmation of all
their hopes, founded on ancient prophecy, and endeavour to countenance the idea, and the general expectation of the
people, but "he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." The people had often experienced the dreadful effects of
revolts, and therefore, without considering the difference between these times and events, trembled at the
extraordinary tidings -- The chief priests and Scribes, are all solemnly convened by the king's order, that he might
know from them, with precision, the place pointed out by the inspired penmen of their sacred writings, where Christ,
or their expected Messiah, should be born, They do not hesitate about, or deny the facts, but unanimously answer,
"In Bethlehem of Judea." The wise men no sooner receive the answer, than they repair to that place, and lo! the star,
which they had seen in the east, again appears to them, and directs to the most unlikely place in the world, in human
apprehension, (a stable and a manger) to look for a royal infant, the expectation of a great nation, and the hope of
the world.
As soon as this extraordinary child is brought into the temple, (most likely with many others, without distinction)
Simeon the priest, an order of men among the Jews, not famous for countenancing the humble Jesus, and Anna, a
prophetess, under the influence of a prophetic spirit, single out the blessed
[ 53 ]
child, and unite their testimony in confirmation of this supernatural event.
But it will be asked, how are these things known, but by bare " hearsay upon hearsay?"
I answer, these are facts related by the chosen disciples of this same child, who was thus born king of the Jews.
They accompanied him, during his ministry, and received their knowledge from his own information, as well as that
of Joseph and Mary, and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These are facts related by them, not in a secret
history, or in a corner; not for their private or personal advantage in this life, but at the risk of their
reputation, peace, comfort, and even of their lives. Arnobius, as early as the third century, says, "that it is
extremely improbable that men should be so absurd and infatuated, as to agree together to pretend that they had
seen things, which they had not seen; especially if we consider, that they were so far from making any advantage of
such an imposture, that they exposed themselves to the hatred of the world in general." -- Not hundreds of years
after the events, but during the life of their master, and immediately on his death -- in the life time of Mary,
if not of
Joseph too; and most likely of the shepherds and other witnesses of these extraordinary circumstances, which they
relate -- of numbers who must have been privy to the visit of the wise men, priests, scribes, and pharisees --
to the cruel slaughter of the innocent children by the relentless Herod -- many an inconsolable mother, and weeping
father, must have been living witnesses of these important facts, when first published by the disciples of the
crucified Jesus, to an astonished world. On no other
[ 54 ]
natural principle, can you account for the amazing success, that attended the preaching of a poor illiterate
fisherman, when three thousand men were brought over to the faith, at one sermon. It is most likely, that not only
these, but thousands more, did then testify to their truth, otherwise the apostles must have been detected in the
most shameful imposition on mankind, if they had been false. But so far from this, neither scribes, nor pharisees,
with other learned Jews, who always discovered so much inveteracy to the Christian faith, ever pretended to
controvert, in that day, the great leading facts of the Gospel history.
These opposers of the Christian church, had the most urgent reasons for using every means in their power, to expose
the falsehood or forgery of the apostles, if such had been the case. The apostles condemned both scribe and pharisee
for their unbelief, hypocrisy and formality -- the whole body of the Jews, for their darling partiality to their
own nation, and ceremonial law; and threatened the most dreadful punishment in a future state, upon all. Dr. Priestley
very properly observes, that "We believe the facts recorded in the New-Testament, not on the evidence of four persons,
but on that of thousands, who were well acquainted with the facts, and by whom it cannot be denied, the contents
of these books were credited. The books called the Gospels, were net the cause, but the effects of the belief of
Christianity in the first ages: and these were received by the primitive Christians, because they knew beforehand,
that the contents of them were true; consequently the leading facts of Christianity will always remain deserving
credit,
[ 55 ]
whatever may be found to be the truth concerning the authenticity of particular books. The circumstances of the
Christian church, which received these books and transmitted them to us, were such, as there cannot be a doubt with
respect to the competency of their evidence; because they were published in the life time of thousands and myriads,
who were as competent witnesses of the facts, as the writers themselves; and there cannot be any question of their
veracity, unless we suppose they all combined to tell and to propagate a falsehood, to their own prejudice, and merely
to impose on all posterity -- which would be a greater miracle, as being more contrary to what we know of human
nature, than any thing recorded in these books." *
But what can our author say to the confirmation of all these great events, by the after life and conduct of Christ
himself, who is acknowledged to be "a virtuous and amiable man, and a preacher of the most excellent morality." **
He acknowledged his mother on the cross, and declared his supernatural birth and high original, publicly and openly,
before friends and enemies.
Let any candid man, with a mind open to conviction on rational evidence, take up the account of this transaction,
as related by the apostle, and confirmed by all the attendant and concurring circumstances contained in the sacred
Writings, and let him say, if he could then presume to assert, without a shadow of truth, that the birth of Jesus
Christ of the Virgin Mary, as related by the evangelists, is mere hearsay,
__________
* Letters to a young man.
** Paine.
[ 56 ]
or rather hearsay upon hearsay. Did not the writers of the Gospels testify, by their whole conduct, that they were
men of integrity, impartiality and virtue ? Did they not teach and inculcate the most pure and strict morality ever
taught to man, and that on pain of the utmost displeasure of Almighty God? Christ's disciples, says the learned
Jortin, were examples of fervent zeal for the welfare of mankind -- of an inoffensive behaviour -- of disinterestedness
and self-denial -- of indefatigable industry -- of the most extensive charity -- of patience, courage and constancy --
and of a regular practice of all they taught. The first Christians resembled their teachers in their good qualities,
and it was no small advantage to them, in their apologies for themselves and their religion, to be able to appeal
boldly to their innocence and integrity. -- That we may have a right sense of this, we should consider what it was
to be a Christian in that day, lest we be deceived by the vulgar use of the word, and by the notion which we at
present entertain about it. To be a Christian at that time, was to be an example of well-tried virtue -- of true
wisdom and consummate fortitude; for he surely deserves the name of a great and good man, who serves God, and is a
friend to mankind; and receives the most ungrateful returns from the world; and endures them with a calm and composed
mind; who dares to look scorn, infamy and death in the face. Whoever stands forth unmoved, and patiently bears to be
derided as a fool and an idiot -- to be pointed out as a madman and an enthusiast; to be reviled as an atheist, and
an enemy to all righteousness; to be punished as a robber and a murderer -- He who can pass through these
[ 57 ]
trials, is a conqueror indeed; and what the world calls courage, scarce deserves that name when compared to this
behaviour. *
Some of these disciples who afterwards wrote the Gospels, were personally acquainted with Jesus Christ, attended him
during his life, and were actually concerned in many of the events they relate. They were intimately acquainted with
Joseph and Mary; and one of them took Mary to his own house after the crucifixion, at the request of his dying Lord,
and she dwelt with him for fifteen years. The brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ after the flesh, were among his
disciples, and several of them sealed their faith with their blood. If these circumstances did not constitute the
Apostles the most proper historians to record the life, actions and doctrines of their master, and do not operate as
a strong confirmation of the facts they relate, I know not what human testimony, can amount to proof: neither can I
see, what reason there can be, for giving credit to the most approved either of nations or individuals. Our author,
with all his infidelity, will allow in page 8, "that no one will deny or dispute the power of the Almighty, to give
such a revelation, if he pleases," He acknowledges that there was such a man as Jesus Christ; and that he was a
virtuous and amiable man. "That the morality he preached and practised was of the most benevolent kind." These are
concessions, more than sufficient to overthrow our author's whole system of objections, and his infidelity founded
thereon.
__________
* Discourse on the trials of the Christian Religion, 113.
[ 58 ]
That Jesus Christ lived in the reign of Tiberius Caesar and suffered death under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate,
is acknowledged -- that he appointed during his life a set of men, who had been with him, during his ministry, to publish
and propagate throughout the world, to Jew and Gentile, the doctrines he had taught -- the miracles he had performed;
and the predictions he had declared, as consequences of his death and resurrection, is scarcely doubted; he plainly and
explicitly foretold to them, the success they should meet with in executing their commission, and the state of the
Jewish and Christian churches till his second coming in glory, which he assured them should take place -- these are all
facts too notorious at this day to require proof.
That this same Jesus Christ did also, during his life, promise to his followers, that after his death and resurrection,
he would send his holy spirit into the hearts of his disciples and followers; whereby they would be enabled to remember
whatever he had told them while with them in the flesh ; and by whom they should receive the further knowledge of those
things, which they 'were not then prepared to bear, is also recorded by these same apostles. Now the event has happened,
as it was foretold, in full confirmation of the truth. That this promise was fulfilled in the presence of thousands of
witnesses of all nations, providentially assembled at Jerusalem at the feast of Pentecost, for the purpose of public
worship, is not only recorded by them as historians, but the after success of the preached Gospel, in all the
neighbouring nations, and the miraculous powers and knowledge of so many different languages, remaining in the apostles,
[ 59 ]
and many of the first converts to Christianity for more than one hundred years, were evident demonstrations of the
truth of the event. By this means churches were founded in the most famous cities then in the world, and men of all
ranks, stations and characters, were brought by the force of these facts, to acknowledge the faith as it was in Jesus.
So public and notorious was the descent of the spirit on the Apostles, that three thousand souls were added to the
church in one day. This happened immediately after the event took place; and many of them must have had a previous
knowledge of the facts published by the Apostles; and their belief, at that time, is a strong confirmation of the
veracity of those facts. The descent of the spirit, must have been early contradicted, if it had not been founded in
truth, as so many witnesses were appealed to; but even the high priest himself, was forced to acknowledge, "that unless
they did something, all men would believe on him.
It ought not to be omitted here, that the whole plan of the Gospel, as delivered by these historians, is far superior
to the natural abilities, of men so ignorant and unlettered, as were the planners and preachers of it -- at the same
time, they boldly declare, that every real professor shall experience in himself such powerful effects from a
conformity to its doctrines and precepts, as that they should become uncontrovertible evidence to him, that God is
their author. This has been verified in the lives and conduct of thousands, and thousands in every age of the church.
[ 60 ]
These historians have given us the account of the birth of their Lord and master, not only as they received it from
Joseph and Mary, but as they had it from him in his life time, as well as from the influence and direction of the
holy spirit, with which they were so openly and publicly filled, in presence of so many witnesses. Besides it is
acknowledged, that the morality they inculcate, is of the most pure and benevolent kind: and that to mislead their
adherents and followers, by publishing untruths to ruin and deceive them, would have been contrary to every principle
of morality and benevolence.
If you look through their whole history, every part of it bears the mark of truth and credibility. They urge in all
their teachings, the strictest attention to truth, and threaten the severest displeasure of Almighty God against
falsehood, dissimulation and hypocrisy.
While they declare in plain but sublime language, the dignity and glory of their master's real character, they do not
attempt to cover his actual state of humility, in not even having a place to lay his head. And though they claim for
themselves the rank of ambassadors of the Son of God, and the representatives of a King and Sovereign, they fail not
to record their own shameful misconduct, and the many mistakes and failures they had been guilty of, during their
misapprehension of his true character; having been deceived with the rest of their nation, in looking to their Messiah
as a temporal Prince and Saviour.
Add to this, that most of the great leading facts they relate, are confirmed by prophanc historians of
[ 61 ]
good character, though known enemies to the Christian name; and then let it be asked, who can point out even equal
human authority for any ancient history, with which the world is acquainted.
The universal expectation of the Messiah, or some divine person, about this time, is a fact generally acknowledged,
Nebuchadnezzar, in his time, speaks of one of the persons who appeared in the fiery furnace, being like unto the Son
of God; and Haggai * the prophet, expressly says, that he, i. e. the Messiah, was to be the desire of all nations. If
so, mankind must have had tradition from the ancient patriarchs of the character of the expected Saviour. Suetonius
refers to this expectation in his life of Vespasian, as has been already mentioned. Virgil's Pollio is an unanswerable
argument in favour of the same event. The sacred books of the Jews foretold it, with the time and many circumstances
preparatory to and attending it; and they were well known to the then learned world, and for a long time before, as
has been shewn. The conduct of the wise men prove it.
There were three celebrated universities of the Jews in the provinces of Babylon, viz. Narbardia -- Pompeditha and
Soria, besides several other places famous for learning. ** The Jews relate that the ten tribes were carried away not
only into Media and Persia, but into the Northern countries, beyond the Bosphorus. Ortelius finds them in Tartary. II
In Egypt the Jews had a temple, like that of Jerusalem,
__________
* Haggai, ii. 7.
** Buxtorf, Tib. Cats. 6. Llghtfoot's Harmony, N. T. 335, Reasons of Christianity 85.
Hiaer in Zech. x. Reasons of Christianity, 85.
[ 62 ]
built by Onias and continued for the space of 343 years, till the reduction of Jerusalem by Titus. The Jews at that
time, says the Talmud, were double the number in Egypt, of those who left it under Moses, that is, six millions.*
The reign of Augustus and the government of Pilate are established facts. Dion in his life of Oc-tavius Caesar,
mentions the murder of the Babes of Bethlehem; and Macrobius, another historian of early date and a heathen, says
that "Herod the king ordered to be slain in Syria, (by which the Romans often meant Judea) some children that were
under two years old. Among whom he included his own son, which made Augustus pleasantly say, it was better to be
Herods hog, than his son." **
The appearance of a wonderful star at the time of Christ's nativity is mentioned by Pliny *** in his natural history,
under the name of a bright comet. ***
Celsus, Julian and Porphyry, all mortal enemies to the religion of Jesus, acknowledge the miracles and doctrines of
Christ, at the same time that they ascribe them to the power of magic. It is a great complaint of Porphyry (a
famous heathen Philosopher of
__________
* Josephus Antiq.
** Macrob. Saturnal. Lib. 2. c. 4. folio, 279, cited by Cave, 1 vol. Introduction 2.
*** Lib. 2. c. 25.
**** Huetius says, Scribit Plinius, exortum fuisse aliquando comaetam, candidum, argente crine ita fulgentem, ut vix
contueri possit quisquam, specieque humana Dei effigiem in se ostendentem. Quest, alnet. lib. 2. ch. 16. The same
author in his demonstration, proposition 3d, says, "that at new star or body of light seen by the wise men, is
acknowledged by Julian, though he ascribes it to natural causes." And it is set off with great eloquence by Chalcidius,
in his comment upon Plato's Timaeus. Haram. Annot. in Matth. 2. ch. 2.
[ 63 ]
the third century who wrote against the Christian religion) that our blessed Lord had the power of curing the possessed
with devils and destroying their dominion, wherever he came. He makes it no wonder, that their cities should be overrun
with sickness, since Esculapius and the rest of the gods, ever since the admission of the Christian religion, have
withdrawn their converse with men. For since Jesus began to be worshipped no man hath received any public help or
benefit by the gods.*
Tacitus and Lucian both mention the crucifixion under Pontius Pilate. Hear the first in his own words, when speaking
of the Christians, "They had this denomination from Christus, who, in the reign of Tiberius, was put to death as a
criminal, by the procurator Pontius Pilate. This pernicious superstition, though checked for a while, broke out again
and spread not only over Judea, but reached this city (meaning Rome) also."
The darkness at that time is taken notice of by Dion, Thallus, t Phlegon t and Suetonius, but by
__________
* Euseb. ch. 1. 179. 1 Cave, Lives Introduction 10.
** Thallus a Greek historian in his 3d Book, speaks of the darkness at our Saviour's death, which he calls an eclipse.
*** Phlegon who was the Emperor Adrian's freed man, in his 13th Book of Chronicles, acknowledges that our Lord was a
Prophet; and in his history relates several events which he had foretold. Phlegon composed a history digested by
Olympiads as far as the year of Christ 140. -- In this he takes notice, that in the 4th year of the CCIId, Olympiad
which determines about the middle of the 33d year of our common aera, there happened the greatest eclipse of the sun,
that had ever been seen, insomuch that the stars were visible at noon day: and that afterwards there was a great
earthquake in Bithynia. This is quoted by Eusebius, Hyeronimus in his Chronicon and origen against Celsus. Stack.
I. N.T. 148.
The Christian authors for the first six centuries constantly appealed to the testimony of Phlegon, Thallus and the
Roman records without hesitation. Whiston Test, of Phlegon, vindicated -- Calmets disputation sur lestenebres.
[ 64 ]
Tertullian in a particular manner, when he appeals in his apology to the Roman Archives, then in existence, for the
particular account of it, given by Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar; and the rending of the vail of the temple is
mentioned by Josephus.
Thus, when actuated by a firm and lively faith in the truth and certainty of the Gospel, the Christian beholds the
actions of even the enemies of the cross, (in the words of a worthy Dignitary of the church of England) "insensibly
ministering to those sublime intentions of Providence; and ignorantly concurring to advance the triumphs of the cross;
his thoughts are relieved and enlarged amidst the amplitude of such conceptions: inferior considerations pass away
and no affection remains to the overwhelmed and enraptured mind, but that of holy joy and gratitude, in return for
such exuberant goodness, which hath thus amply provided for the present and future happiness of his creature man." *
As a confirmation of the history thus written by the apostles, may here he added, the amazing progress made by the
religion of Jesus Christ, on the preaching of a few illiterate fishermen, in opposition to the religion of Jew and
Gentile, and to the entire subversion of both, as then practised, as is ably observed by an eminent writer at the
beginning of the second century, during the lives of many of the eye witnesses to some of those important facts.
"The Christian religion," says he, "is spread through the greatest part of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It extends from
the British islands, to the farthest India; and is established
__________
* Hurd. 3d Sermon, 70—71.
[ 65 ]
not only in cities and populous places, but in towns and country villages, as Pliny testifies,
The metropolitan cities are all under bishops of the greatest eminence and piety. Rome, Alexandria, Antioch,and
Jerusalem, are governed by apostolical men -- Publiusis at Athens -- Polycarp at Smyrna -- Onesimus at Ephesus --
and Papias at Hierapolis." And Tertullian addressing himself to the Roman governors, in behalf of the Christians,
assures them, "that although they were of no long standing, yet that they had filled all places of their dominions;
their cities, islands, castles, corporations, councils, armies, tribes, companies; the palace, senate, and courts of
judicature; that if they had a mind to revenge themselves, they need not betake themselves to secret and skulking
arts; their numbers were great enough to appear in open arms, having a party, not in this or that province, but in
all quarters of the world; nay that, naked as they were, they could be sufficiently revenged upon them; for should
they but all agree to retire out of the Roman empire, the world would stand amazed at that solitude and desolation,
that would ensue upon it; and they (the Romans) would have more enemies than friends or citizens left among them." *
Among these converts, a great proportion were Jews, not only in Jerusalem, but in every town and village in Judea,
as well as in the cities of the Gentiles. Even the persecuting Saul, who thought he did God service by his great zeal
in bringing the best Christians to judgment and to death, is made himself to cry put, "Who art thou Lord? what wouldst
thou have
__________
* Apol. ch. xxxvii. fol. 30. I
[ 66 ]
to do?" and afterwards to seal with his blood the truth of that Gospel which he had so furiously persecuted.
Permit me now to address myself to every reasonable man, and ask, if facts thus related, attended with so strong
corroborating circumstances, by men of unblemished characters, with such advantages, and whose general statement is
thus supported, can with justice be charged with wanting even "the authority of the persons from whom the facts came,
and with being mere hearsay, if not hearsay upon hearsay, and which no one is bound to believe." Am I at liberty to
believe or disbelieve, that there is such a city as London, or such a republic as France, because I have not seen them;
but draw my knowledge from the testimony of others? Am I not bound to give credit to facts related to me, on rational
evidence, though human and fallible? -- Is there a sensible man in the United States, who doubts whether Thomas Paine
wrote the pamphlet, called the Age of Reason, where "every page is characteristic of the man, and unites to confirm
the testimony of others, that he is the author; although perhaps there may not be a man in America who saw him write
it -- and if any one should have seen him write it, or should have heard him acknowledge it, yet, on the principles
of the author of the Age of Reason, I am not bound to believe it, unless I had seen him write it, or heard him
acknowledge it, myself.
Am I to believe this world existed from all eternity, and will continue to eternity, because I was not present at its
creation? Nor can I have personal demonstration of its end, although I enjoy the concurrent
[ 67 ]
testimony of reason and revelation, to convince me both of its beginning and end.
It is a very strange doctrine that I am not to be-lieve a fact, though it comes from God himself, and is authenticated
in the fullest manner by the person to whom it is first communicated, because it was not also made to me in person.
If one is bound to believe human testimony, relative to human transactions, when given by men of veracity, having
the means of knowledge, is the weight of the evidence lessened? or is the obligation to believe, weakened, when the
testimony relates to the acts and declarations of God himself, which in his infinite wisdom and condescension, he has
thought proper to make known to any of his* servants, for the general benefit of mankind? If it should please God to
make a special revelation of his will to an individual, with regard to any rule of conduct which he chose should
influence those who wished to serve and obey him, and that individual is authorized to communicate it to me, attended
with full and convincing evidence of its truth and certainty, am I nevertheless at liberty to disbelieve and reject such
revelation with impunity? What would have been said of the primitive church in Jerusalem, if, after knowing from
others, the command of their Lord and master while in the flesh, "that on seeing the approach of the Roman armies,
they should leave the city and fly for their lives," if they had reasoned with our author, and refused to believe,
because they had no knowledge of the injunction, but from the testimony of others? But, blessed be God! they believed,
and were preserved from the exemplary fate of that unhappy city.
[ 68 ]
In human knowledge, it is generally thought that the mind necessarily assents to a fact fully proved by such testimony
as the nature of the case will admit. Now it is directly opposed to the whole nature of man, and every principle of
responsibility in him for his moral conduct, to suppose an immediate personal revelation from God, to every individual
of the human race, before he is bound to believe. -- This would render it necessary for God, either to affect the mind
of man so irresistably by the influence of his spirit, as to destroy all free agency in him, and thereby do violence
to his nature; or else, being thus convinced by the knowledge of the facts revealed, and knowing the will of his master,
he might have gone on in disobedience, having his natural heart still unsubdued and impenitent, and increased his
condemnation more and more, by acting contrary to so much light and knowledge. St. Paul testifies this perverse bias
of human nature, and opposition of the heart of man to the conviction of his understanding, when he says, though "they
knew God, yet they did not glorify him as God."
Could our author have, by an immediate revelation from Heaven, better evidence of the facts revealed in the Scriptures,
than he has of the being and attributes of that God, in whom he lives and moves, and has his existence? And yet, if we
were to examine into the effects of this knowledge on his daily practice, we should have reason to fear, that an express
and individual revelation to him, without a thorough change of heart and mind, would meet with much the same reception
as the Scriptures. If he can act against the conviction of a fact, so clearly revealed to every
[ 69 ]
rational and reflecting mind, as the eternal power and godhead of the one great and glorious Jehovah, with the
consequent duties and obligations; it is not irrational or unjust, to suppose a similar conduct, in opposition to the
most personal revelation of God to his own mind. This is the idea suggested by St. Paul, that great judge of human
nature, hinted at before: -- "For what can be known of God," says he, "was manifested to the Gentiles by God himself,
who enlightened them. His invisible perfections are clearly seen by the visible creation; yea, his eternal power and
godhead, by the things that are made; wherefore they are inexcusable, because having known God, they did not glorify
him, nor were they thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened; and fancying
themselves wise, they became so stupid, as to change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man." * I have not followed the common translation, but one that better agrees with the spirit of the
original.
It is time now to draw this conclusion from what has been said -- that the facts, relating to the miraculous conception
and birth of Christ of the Virgin Mary, are established by evidence and proof far superior to her word, and are of that
nature, which one would imagine must command the assent of every honest, ingenuous mind, till the truth and rectitude
of the characters of Christ himself, and the sacred historians, can be impeached, and their veracity doubted. And
although we have not the writings of Joseph and
__________
* Rom. chap i 19th to 22d ver. Mary for vouchers, we have the authenticated testimony of those, who had it from
them, with the additional evidence of miracles, prophecy, and the experience of thousands and thousands of the subjects
of this divine grace, from the first promulgation of the Gospel, to this day.
|
