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apostles were only instruments, by means of whom God wrought the miracles. It is on this account that Jesus said, "Virtue is gone out of me;" but Peter, on the contrary, answered unto the people, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?"

be so.

It was necessary that Jesus Christ should perform miracles in order to authenticate his mission, and to exhibit the truth of his personal character. He was the Son of God, and declared himself by his words to But the Son of God could not be in the world without displaying the acts of his omnipotence. He called himself the Messiah; he was come to abrogate the ancient law of God, and to introduce into the world a new revelation. It was necessary that he should authenticate all these things by miracles which bore the seal of heaven, and attested the visible approbation of God.

The character which the evangelists give of Jesus Christ, displays every excellency. In the history of his life, we see both the divine and human natures exhibited in one person, with every distinguishing feature. The mighty works which he performed were generally an emblem of his compassion and power in saving and cleansing sinners. There was no ostentatious display of his miraculous powers, nor any waste of miracles. His teaching was obviously from the moment, being mostly occasioned by what occurred in his intercourse with his disciples or his enemies; yet there is the most prompt but profound display of wisdom, delivered in the most simple, but energetic and beautiful language. His manner also was dignified, in the midst of simplicity and meekness. His fami

liarity with his disciples never lost sight of his high character. He awed his enemies often into silence, and his very disciples were not emboldened to unrestrained freedom. He bore with the unteachableness of his friends, yet did not excuse their incredulity and obstinacy. He rebuked with a wonderful mixture of severity and kindness. In his condescension, he never unsuitably descended from his dignity. In all his encounters with his adversaries, he was never entangled by subtlety, nor at a loss for the most convincing reply. His enemies combined, and, by the conflicting of opposites, they are confident of taking him in a snare; but he replies, and leaves them in confusion. His answers are all perfect oracles of wisdom, which no study could improve. While purity and holiness shine in him with unsullied lustre, he does not affect popularity, by showing zeal for such things as were of high esteem among those who made the greatest pretences to sanctity. Instead of conforming to the notions of the Pharisees with respect to external observances, founded on the traditions of the elders, he condemned them in the most marked and decided manner. His character is in every respect perfect,— a character the conception of which would never have suggested itself to the wisdom of man—a character that, to the satisfaction of every candid mind, must have belonged to him who was Emmanuel, God with us, and which must have been drawn by the Spirit of God.

The proof of the facts concerning Jesus Christ shall now be produced. The evidence on which they rest is not derived from one quarter only; it arises from various sources. It is collected from friends and from enemies-from Christians, from Jews, and from hea

thens. It is established on the direct records and testimonies of the first, on the silence of the second, and on the admissions, the historical notices, and the public edicts of the last. All the ancient authors, whether friends or enemies, who have mentioned the subject, unite in testifying, that Christianity had its origin from Jesus Christ, at the period which the Scriptures assign, while, at the same time, they confirm the leading facts which they contain.

CHAPTER III.

TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES TO THE MESSIAH.

THE testimony of the apostles to Jesus Christ is of the strongest and most unexceptionable character. It is the evidence of men who accompanied him both in public and in private during the whole of his ministry. "That which we have heard," say they, "which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life, declare we unto you." They attest facts in which, from their nature, they could not be deceived; and which, had they not existed, they had no conceivable interest to impose upon others. As eyewitnesses of the conduct of their Master, they must have known the truth; and as suffering punishment for their testimony, they could not have any possible advantage in bearing witness to a falsehood. Although men of no education, they were as well qualified to report matters of fact as the most profound scholars.

The account given in their writings of the life of Jesus Christ, bears the strongest internal marks of truth. Nothing can be more remote from enthusiasm than the whole of their narratives. No raptures or ecstasies, no affectation of eloquence, no credulity or self-conceit, no traces of a heated imagination, not even a word that betrays the workings of passion, can be found in their writings.

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In narrating a train of the most astonishing circumstances, where truth alone could preserve consistency, they are uniformly consistent with themselves and with each other. And while the same events are sometimes presented under different aspects, no discrepancy occurs which does not tend to confirm rather than to impeach the credit of the several historians.

Their candour and impartiality in all that regards their own character, is manifest beyond dispute. Without the smallest reserve, they relate many things, respecting themselves, which other writers carefully gloss over or conceal. Their prejudices, their igno

rance, and even their want of fortitude, are all disclosed. Every thing in their narrative bears the strongest mark of veracity; and the train of circumstances is so necessarily connected, that it is impossible to admit any one part without receiving the whole.

In their history of Jesus Christ, they have applied to him the types and prophecies of the Mosaic dispensation; and successfully shown, that in him, as "the end of the law," the whole of the multiplied particulars of that ancient institution, converging to one common centre, have a consistent accomplishment. In delineating his character, they simply relate facts-what he said, and what he did, without any encomium. This is a circumstance altogether decisive of authenticity. To relate actions so astonishing, without any expression of wonder, and without bestowing praise, is not in the style of man. Would any human author record such a series of amazing transactions without ever once turning aside to give expression to his own feelings, or endeavouring to exalt his hero by his own commendations? Especially, would this be done by writers of the class to which the apostles and evangel

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