of matter it treats of: that the natural and moral system, as well as the history of the world, is contained in the first book, evidently written in a rude and unlearned age; and that the subsequent books exhibit the common and prophetic history, and the particular dispensation of Christianity: when we consider the very large scope for criticism, and the numberless opportunities of detection all this must afford, it is impossible to suppose that, if it were untrue, it would not, in an age of knowledge and liberty, have been proved false. Its not having been proved false, therefore, is a strong presumptive proof of its truth; and the strength of this presumptive proof will be in proportion to the probability that, if it were false, it might be shown to be so.

Now suppose a person entirely unacquainted with history, to store up in his mind certain leading passages from Scripture, without being sure but that the whole was a late fiction ;-let this person be informed of the correspondent facts recorded in history, and be told to unite them all under one view: for instance, let him be told that the profession and establishment of natural religion in the world is greatly owing to this book, and the supposed revelation contained in it; that its chronology and common history are entirely credible; that this ancient nation, the Jews, of whom it chiefly treats, appear to have been in fact the people of God in a distinguished sense; that there was a rational expectation among them, raised upon prophecies, of a Messiah to appear at such a time; and that accordingly one appeared at this time, claiming to be that Messiah; that he was rejected by that nation, and received by the Gentiles, not on the evidence of prophecy, but of miracles; that the religion he taught supported itself under the greatest difficulties, gained ground, and at length be

came the religion of the world; that in the mean time the Jewish state was entirely dissolved, and the nation dispersed over the face of the earth; that notwithstanding this, they have remained a distinct numerous people to this day; which not only appears to be the completion of several prophecies concerning them, but renders it easy to suppose that the promises to them as a nation may yet be fulfilled: let such a person as we have supposed be told to compare these historical facts carefully with what he recollects of Scripture, and there is little doubt but that the joint view of them would strike him in a manner which it is not easy for us to conceive, who are so familiarised to them, without a very particular and devout attention.

This general view of the evidence for Christianity, considered as making up one argument, should induce us anxiously to treasure up any article which may have any, the least considerable weight. Probable proofs, by being added, not only increase the evidence, but multiply it. The misfortune it, that the nature of this evidence gives no small advantage to those who combat the truth of Christianity, especially in conversation; for it is easy to show, in a short and lively manner, that such and such things are but of little weight; but to answer this mode of attack, by bringing forward the whole united force of the argument into one view, requires much time, patience, and attention; requires memory in the speaker, and candour in the hearer; requires gravity, respect, and silence, and a multitude of requisites, which are rarely found in large or small societies.

N° 91. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15.

At vos Trojugene, vobis ignoscitis, et que
Turpia Cerdoni, Volesos Brutosque decebunt.

JUVENAL.

But, Nobles, you who trace your birth from Troy,
Think, you the great prerogative enjoy
Of doing ill, by virtue of that race:
As if what we esteem in cobblers base,
Would the high family of Brutus grace.

STEPNEY.

To the Rev. Simon Olive-branch.

Sir, THE utility of periodical papers has been so long acknowledged by the general sense of mankind, that it would be a very unnecessary task to enter now upon their merits. That which we feel with the force of an axiom, is only weakened by defence or explanation: and, although I do not mean to flatter you, reverend sir, I must regard you as doing that for which some part of mankind will hereafter have reason to thank you. I trust you have added something to the attractions of virtue, and something to the treasures of literature; and that even those who look for neither in what they read, will acknowledge their obligations to you for having assisted them in the disposal of time, an enemy whom it is not easy to get rid of with impunity. Where entertainment has been judiciously blended with instruction, no reader will go without his errand. But I have to hope that you will not consider this opinion, which arises from a perusal of your own labours, as

No 90. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8.

Je suppose que le livre qui fait mention de César ne soit pas un livre profane, écrit de la main des hommes qui sont menteurs, trouvé par hasard dans les bibliothèques parmi d'autres manuscrits, qui contiennent des histoires vraies et apocryphes; qu'au contraire il soit inspiré, saint, divin, qu'il porte en soi ces caractères; qu'il se trouve depuis près de deux mille ans dans une société nombreuse qui n'a permis qu'on ait fait pendant tout ce temps la moindre altération, et qu'il s'est fait une religion de la conserver dans toute son intégrité; qu'il y ait même un engagement religieux et indispensable d'avoir de la foi pour tous les faits contenus dans ce volume, où il est parlé de César et de sa dictature; avouez-le, Lucile, vous douteriez alors qu'il y ait eu un César.

LA BRUYERE.

Let us suppose that the book which gives us an account of Cæsar were not a profane composition, the production of men who are liars, found by chance among other manuscripts in libraries which contain true and doubtful histories; but that, on the contrary, it were inspired, holy, divine; that it bore the marks of this; that it were found in the custody of a numerous body of men, who had preserved it for two thousand years, during which time they would not suffer it to undergo the smallest alteration; and that they had considered it as a part of their religion to preserve it in all its integrity, a part of their religion to believe the facts it contained respecting Cæsar and his distatorship; confess, Lucilius, you would then doubt whether there ever lived in the -world such a man as CÆSAR.

ALL presumptions against revelation, and all objections against the general scheme of Christianity, having been shown, in the foregoing papers on this subject, to be built upon principles and suppositions,

that combat with nature and experience; the obstacles to the belief of miracles having been removed, on the ground of human incompetency to judge of their necessity, their references, and their dependencies, or to prescribe a course for God's providence to act in; the interposition of a Mediator having been proved to be perfectly consonant to the natural constitution of things, and the course of our temporal concerns; and lastly, the limited prevalence, and doubtful character of Christianity, having been shown to be perfectly consistent with the ways of Providence, entirely reconcileable to the strictest notions of equity, and making altogether a constitutive part of the great plan of temptation, of trial, and of discipline ;-all this being made perfectly clear and satisfactory, under what pretext can those shelter their obduracy, their contumacy, and their caprice, who refuse to come to the examination of the positive evidence of Christianity, with minds disposed to bestow upon it that candid and serious attention which they are ready to give to the ordinary details of historical evidence? If there are no reasonable presumptions against the Gospel history on the score. of the facts it records, surely, in point of testimony, it has a much greater right to be believed than common history, as being supported by a greater number of credible vouchers, and those ocular witnesses, than } any annals which the world affords us.

Now, as to the facts, they would undoubtedly be unworthy of credit, on whatever authority they reposed, if there were an inconsistency among them, or a general air of incredibility over them; but these two points may be cleared up beyond all question, and fairly rescued out of the hands of controversy.

The circumstance in which this incredibility and this inconsistency would most notoriously manifest