bigoted attachment to the practice of their ancestors, rise up and oppose the current of the national belief: announce the termination of their law, and point out indications in their ancient history and institutions, which prove that such was the original purpose of its author. But whence came the impulse which urged them to this attempt? And how came they to meet with confirmation and collateral support from institutions and occurrences over which they could have no control?

These difficulties vanish, if we believe that the Christian religion really came from God. Allowing this, we should expect it to agree with his former revelation, and to belong to a connected plan. And it does so in a remarkable degree. It gives to the leading features of the Jewish law a consistency which they are otherwise in want of, and it affixes a reasonable signification to facts which cannot otherwise be easily explained. It does not only fulfil prophetic words, but accomplishes prophetic facts. It enables us to trace, through the Jewish Scriptures, a definite purpose, carried on in connection with the whole history there recorded. This purpose is man's redemption from the consequences of the temptation and the fall of our first parents. We have first an early but obscure promise, that one born of woman should destroy the author of that ruin.1 Many ages afterwards, one is selected as father of the race from

1 Gen. vii. 15.

which the promised Deliverer should spring, and in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed.1 The family of that father became the subject of a history extending through twenty centuries-a history of a separate and peculiar people, rendered so by the possession and observance of an elaborate law, and sustained by various instances of Divine power exerted in its defence and preservation. The main article of the law, and principle of the religion, was the acknowledgment of one God, the Creator of the world, in contradiction to the polytheism and idolatry which prevailed around, and formed the only religion of the surrounding world.

The original lawgiver expressly taught his people to expect hereafter another leader, or prophet, whom they should be bound to obey. The expectation of this Deliverer prevailed throughout the whole history of the nation; and his advent was alluded to, and his character described, by prophets, who professed to speak as inspired by God. At length, as we believe, the original promise was fulfilled, and the national expectation verified; and the supernatural birth was announced of "a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." Let it, then, be granted that persons desiring to promulgate an imposture and establish a new system of religion, would gladly take advantage of the Mosaic law and the prophetic writings, and the events recorded in the history of the Hebrew

1 Gen. xii. 1-3. 2 Deut. xviii. 50. 3 Luke xi. 11.

For

people. But it would still remain to be accounted for, how there came to be such a people, and such writings, and such a law, and such events. such things were. And that such things could have been, except according to a Divine purpose carried out by a Divine power, is far more incredible than anything which the Scriptures of the New Testament require us to believe.

II. It may be thought, further, that a design like that sceptically attributed to the followers of Jesus, would be greatly assisted by the prophecies recorded in their national Scriptures, and pointing to some remarkable personage who was expected to ap

pear.

1. For example: the time of this appearance was fixed by the prophet Daniel at about four hundred and ninety years from his own days, which so closely corresponded with the birth of Jesus, that such an event was looked for, by "devout persons," at the very period when it occurred. This would be, as was before observed, a circumstance greatly in their favour.

2. The next thing to be considered by the framers of this deceit, would be the place of their leader's birth. Jesus was born at Bethlehem. Upon consulting their Scriptures, they would find this passage respecting Bethlehem: "Thou Bethlehem Ephratah,

1 Dan. ix. 24. Luke ii. 25.

though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be a ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting." This would prove, beyond what could be anticipated, an assistance to their design.

3. It seems to be intimated in the prophecies, that the Deliverer who was to come should be preceded by a forerunner, who might awaken the attention of the people to him. For it was written, "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." And again, "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come into his temple."3 Now, it was notorious that a singular character, John, called "the Baptist," had appeared a short time before Jesus began his ministry, pretending to be his messenger, and nothing more, and directing his followers to one who was to " come after him." This was another coincidence equally wonderful and favourable. 4

4. Further, as to the most important point; the way in which Jesus had lived, and been received, and

1 Micah v. 2.

2 Isai. xi. 3.

3 Malach iii. 1.

4 If it should be thought that there is too much assumption here, in taking it for granted that the ministry of the Baptist, and the time and place of the birth of Jesus, were real facts, the objection has been met and answered in Chap. I. p. 6-12.

died. His character, as represented in the Gospels, had been peculiar in every respect; but especially remarkable for the union of meekness and constancy which it displayed.

Of unknown origin and humble parentage, he had attracted considerable notice, and many followers; yet he had not been generally acknowledged among his countrymen, and those who adhered to him were not the great and powerful. His life, upon the whole, was one of trial and hardship, not one of triumph and exaltation. In the end, he was sentenced to death, with those notoriously wicked; and suffered a punishment which even his judge confessed that his conduct had not deserved. Yet though dying with malefactors, he was laid in a rich and honourable tomb. 1

For

A character answering this description was portrayed by that prophet, who had always been considered as most particular in what respected the future Messiah. "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him

1 Matt. xxvii. 57-60.