| CHAPTER I |
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| The books of the New Testament written by eight Jews.—Whycalled New Testament? Infidels deny the genuinenessof the books.—Hold that the writers were impostors, andthe religion taught in them a fraud practiced upon mankind.The difficulties attending the examination of the claimsof the New Testament to genuineness and credibility.—Howthe subject should be approached.—The denial of thegenuineness of the books of modern dates. Toland chargedwith having betrayed his suspicion that the writings wereforgeries. The suspicion of an anonymous Italian.—Itsabsurdity.—Gibbon acknowledges the genuineness of thewritings.—Volney lays it down as a clear case, that no suchperson as Jesus Christ ever existed. His theory adopted,defended, and extensively circulated by Taylor. His positionsdefined in his manifesto.—His unblushing falsehoodspromptly met and refuted by English Divines. Hithertounanswered in this country.—His first and second propositionstaken up.—How the authorship which has no nameprefixed to it is to be ascertained. The rule applied to theNew Testament | 3 |
| Section I.—Marks given by Michaelis by which thespuriousness of a book may be discovered.—How booksanciently found their way to the public. The congregationsbefore whom the original copies of the New Testamentwere read, vouchers of their genuineness.—The ancient adversariesof Christianity admitted the genuineness of thewritings. The testimony of Trypho, the Jew. The testimonyof Celsus. The writings of Celsus against Christianityof great value in enabling the advocate of Revelation,of the present day, to prove that Jesus Christ is theson of God. The testimony of Porphyry. Testimony ofHierocles, the philosopher.—Testimony of the emperorJulian. Testimony of Taylor himself. The quotationsfrom the New Testament by the most virulent enemies ofChristianity of ancient times. Demonstrate the genuinenessof the writings.—The immediate disciples of theapostles acknowledge the genuineness of the books. Theepistles of the Apostolic fathers. Their genuineness unquestionable.These writings prove the genuineness of theNew Testament. The epistles of Barnabas written shortlyafter the destruction of Jerusalem. Table illustrating thatthe New Testament writings were extant when Barnabaswrote, or, at least, that he was conversant with some ofthe writers of the book. The epistle of Clement, when andto whom written. Table exhibiting quotations from theNew Testament in the epistle of Clement. Writings ofHermas; when written. Table exhibiting the quotations ofHermas from the New Testament. Ignatius, when heflourished. Table of his quotations from the New Testament.Polycarp, the friend of the apostle John. Table ofhis quotations from the New Testament. Summing up ofthe testimony of the apostolic fathers.—Ignatius and Polycarpseal their testimony with their blood.—Martyrdom ofPolycarp | 13 |
| Section II.—Papias ascribes two gospels to Matthewand Mark. Testimony of Justin, of Irenaenus, of Tertullian,of Clemens Alexandrinus. Table of quotations bythese witnesses. Testimony of Origen: His quotationsfrom the New Testament. Testimony of Eusebius andJerome.—Number and antiquity of the manuscripts of theNew Testament. An argument for the genuineness of itsbooks. Curious discovery which confirms the genuinenessof the New Testament writings.—The council of Laodiceadid not design to settle the Canon | 67 |
| CHAPTER II |
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| On the Genuineness of the Books.—Mr. Taylor's argumentsto prove that the writings of the New Testament are spurious.Exposure of his dishonesty in quoting from Dr.Lardner. Mr. P. Smith's refutation of his allegation thatthe Scriptures were altered by the Emperor Anastasius.Exposure of his dishonesty in quoting from Beausobre.Refutation of his allegation that the Scriptures were alteredby Lanfranc. Refutation of his argument drawn from thevarious readings. The passage of the Unitarian NewVersion cited by Mr. Taylor in support of his allegation.Dr. Bentley on the various readings. Gaussen on thevarious readings. Tables illustrative of the various readings.Trouble of Bengel about the integrity of the originaltext. The success of his labors in sacred criticism | 84 |
| Section I.—Taylor's dishonesty in referring to theworks of Herbert Marsh, in support of his allegation thatthe manuscript from which the received text was taken wasstolen from the librarian. Explanation of the story of thesale of the manuscript to a skyrocket maker. Taylor's falsehoodin his pretended reference to Bishop Marsh, in supportof his allegation that for the principal passage in the book ofRevelation there was no original Greek. Notice of Mr.Taylor's charge that the tendency of the New Testament isimmoral and wicked. J. J. Rousseau's testimony to themorality of the Gospel. Exposure of Mr. Taylor's dishonestyin quoting from Mosheim in support of his allegationthat ecclesiastical historians admit their inability to showwhen or by whom the New Testament Scriptures werewritten. Refutation of his allegation. The Apocryphalbooks collected and published by Jeremiah Jones. Refutationof Mr. Taylor's assertion what he terms the true andgenuine gospel. Refutation of Mr. Taylor's objection onthe ground of modernisms contained in some passages ofthe New Testament, and the ignorance of the four evangelistsof the geography and statistics of Judea. Thesumming up of the argument on the genuineness of theNew Testament Scriptures | 107 |
| CHAPTER III |
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| Credibility of the New Testament Scriptures.—The numberof the witnesses who testify to the facts detailed in theNew Testament. How the credibility of a historical bookis to be ascertained. The rule as applied to Christianwritings. Their genuineness proves their credibility. Thewriters of the New Testament could not have falsified thefacts relative to Jesus Christ. The objection on the groundthat the Jews rejected the claims of Jesus Christ. Its confutation.The conduct of the Jewish nation in rejectingChrist accounted for. The conversion of many of theGentiles proves the credibility of the book. The character,circumstances, and conduct of the men who testify ofJesus prove their credibility. Difficulty to be surmountedby those who maintain that the apostles and evangelistswere impostors. Summing up of the argument on thecredibility of the witnesses | 125 |
| Section I.—Collateral testimony of the truthfulness ofthe writers of the New Testament. Testimonies to thetruthfulness of St. Matthew's statement concerning Herodand Archalaus. Testimony to the truthfulness of the statementof Luke concerning Herod, Tetrarch of Galilee, andhis brother Phillip, Tetrarch of Itruria. Testimony to thetruthfulness of the evangelists relative to Herod marryingHerodias. Josephus corroborates Luke's account of thedeath of Herod Agrippa. Testimonies of the truthfulnessof the statements in the Acts concerning Felix. A numberof notices, by profane authors, of Pilate, confirmatory ofthe truthfulness of the evangelists. Testimonies to thetruthfulness of the evangelists in their statements of thetreatment of Jesus Christ upon trial and when crucified.Testimonies confirming statements of the evangelists concerningthe burial of Jesus Christ. Notice taken of Johnthe Baptist by Josephus. What he says concerning JesusChrist. Notices of Jesus Christ from the ancient JewishTalmudical writings. Testimony of the heathen adversaryto the leading facts detailed by the evangelists. Summingup of the argument | 140 |
| Section II.—The same ground retraced, and the objectionsof Mr. Taylor considered and answered. Representationof Taylor's third and fourth propositions. Thefalsehood of Mr. Taylor's assertion that no such person asJesus Christ ever existed, proven by the testimony ofTacitus, of Suetonius, of Martial, of Pliny the Younger.Mr. Taylor's assertion that some, many, or all, of theevents related of Jesus Christ by the evangelists had formerlybeen related of the gods and goddesses of Greeceand Rome. Its confutation to be found in any of thePantheons or mythological dictionaries. Exposure of themalignity and falsehood of Mr. Taylor exhibited in hisattempt to identify Jesus Christ with the heathen idolCrishna. Citations from Sir W. Jones concerning Crishna.The testimony of Sir W. Jones impartial. The unreasonablenessand absurdity of Mr. Taylor's conclusions | 164 |
| Section III.—The last refuge of the infidel is to maintaineither that Jesus Christ was a mistaken enthusiast ora wicked impostor. Mr. English's argument to prove thatJesus was a mistaken enthusiast. Its confutation | 181 |
| Section IV.—Argument by Mr. Olmsted to prove thatJesus Christ was a wicked impostor. Its confutation | 190 |
| CHAPTER IV |
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| Objections Stated and Answered.—The objections urged byinfidels of such a nature that, though numerous, to answerone or two of each class is to answer all. Quotation fromGaussen, explanatory of the nature and causes of the supposedcontradictions in the writings of the evangelists. Examplesby Gaussen. Explanation of the seeming contradictionsbetween the genealogies of Matthew and Luke.Answer to the objection, that certain names occur in Luke'slist of the apostles, which do not appear in that of Matthew.Answer to the objection on account of the seeming contradictionin the title which was written over Jesus Christwhen on the cross. Answer to the objection founded onthe seeming contradiction in the different accounts of thehour when Jesus Christ was suspended on the cross. Answerto the objection urged against St. Luke when he says,"It came to pass in those days, that there went out adecree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should betaxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius wasGovernor of Syria." Answer to the objection founded uponJesus cursing the fig-tree. Answer to Taylor's assertion thatRomans 3:7 recommends telling lies for the glory of God.His assertion that Jesus Christ was not crucified. Its confutation.His assertion that "Paul and Barnabas did notpreach the same story." Its falsehood demonstrated. Hisassertion that some preached a Christ who was not crucified.Its falsehood. His assertion that Paul called the otherapostles false apostles and dogs. Vindication of the apostlesfrom this calumny. His assertions that Paul curses the otherapostles and recommends that they should be privatelyassassinated. The falsehood of these accusations. The lastrefuge of Mr. Taylor in asserting that Christianity had itsorigin among the Therapeutae. Other infidels pretend thatthe Essenes were the originators of Christianity. Watson'saccount of the Essenes and Therapeutae | 214 |
| CHAPTER V |
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| Divine Authority and Inspiration of the Scriptures.—Whatis to be understood by inspiration? None but anatheist can deny its possibilities. The gift of inspirationproved by the performance of supernatural works, and bythe foretelling of future events with preciseness. If thesesigns accompanied the authors of the dispensations containedin the Old and New Testaments, it must be admittedthat the Bible is a revelation from God. The performanceof miracles by the authors of these dispensations atteststheir divine mission. A miracle defined. Mr. Hume's argumentagainst miracles. Lord Brougham's confutation ofthe argument. Keith's demonstration of its fallacy. Themiracles of Moses, of Jesus Christ and his apostles accompaniedby evidences which cannot be brought to substantiateany pretended fact whatever. Mr. Leslie's argumentin favor of this position. Mr. Olmsted's attempt to destroythe force of Mr. Leslie's argument. Exposure of the misrepresentationsand falsehoods contained in Mr. Olmsted'sargument. Confutation of his argument | 232 |
| Section I.—Mr. Leslie's criteria applied to the miraclesrecorded in the Scriptures. Applied to those of Moses; theyall meet in his miracles. Applied to those of Jesus Christand his apostles. Their number, their variety, and thepublic manner in which they were performed, attest theirveracity. Miracles of Christ contrasted with those of impostors.The pretended miracles wrought by Vespasian.The pretended miracles of the Roman Catholics. Many ofthem have been proved to be impostors. The object ofthe miracles of Jesus attests their veracity. The greatmiracle which lies at the foundation of Christianity, theresurrection of Jesus Christ. The miracle examined.Testimony of the evangelists, that Jesus during his life predictedhis death and resurrection. The prediction wellknown to the Jewish rulers. The rulers took every necessaryprecaution to put his pretensions to the test. Thecrucifixion and death of Christ well attested. Precautionsthat the body should not be removed until life was extinct.The precautions of the rulers to prevent the body beingstolen out of the sepulchre. The whole question at issuebetween Jesus and the Jewish rulers, suspended on the nakedfact, whether He did or did not rise again on the thirdday. The Jewish rulers make their preparation on theSabbath to produce the body on the third day. On thethird day the body is missing. Different ways of accountingfor the fact. The disciples alleged that Jesus hadrisen from the dead. Their testimony examined. TheJewish rulers asserted that the disciples stole the body.The allegation examined. Its falsehood demonstrated.Subsequent conduct of the Sanhedrin confirms the testimonyof the apostles and evangelists. The adoption of the Jewishmode of accounting for the fact accompanied with manydifficulties. An acknowledgment of the resurrection ofJesus involves an acknowledgment of His divine mission.Mr. Olmsted's objection on the ground that Jesus did notshow Himself publicly and ascend to heaven in the presenceof the whole nation. Its fallacious nature. The testimonywe have of the resurrection of Jesus Christ much moresatisfactory and convincing than that required by Mr.Olmsted. Insuperable difficulties attending the denial ofthe resurrection of Jesus Christ | 279 |
| CHAPTER VI |
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| Divine authority of the Scriptures proved from prophecy andits fulfillment. A prophecy defined. Mr. Watson's argumentin support of the possibility of prophecy. Criteria bywhich true may be distinguished from false prophecies.The prophecies of heathen oracles examined. Proved tohave been impostures. Contrast between the pretended predictionsof the heathen oracles and the prophecies containedin the Scriptures. Mr. Paine's remarks in relation to themanner in which future events would be communicated bya true prophet. Mr. Olmsted's requisition and pledge if itbe met to acknowledge the truth of prophecy. Mr. Olmstedmet upon his own ground. Prophecy relative to the destructionof Tyre. Its fulfillment proved by the infidelVolney, and other competent witnesses. Mr. Olmsted,from his own showing, is bound to believe that Ezekielwas a true prophet of God. Table of quotations from theprophecies of the Old Testament, and from Volney's writings,showing that in spite of himself this infidel proves thetruthfulness of the seers of Israel. Mr. Olmsted's assertionthat the history of Isaiah is made up of scraps, and destituteof order and meaning. The truth of the assertion tested.Prophecy of Isaiah concerning Edom. Volney's testimonyof its fulfillment. Testimony of Mr. Stevens. Prophecyof Jeremiah concerning the capital of Edom. Burchkhardt'stestimony of its fulfillment. Testimony of Captains Irbyand Mangles. Testimony of Mr. Stevens. The infidelhaving been met on his own ground, and the fulfillment ofmany prophecies proved by competent witnesses, it followsthat the seers of Israel were the true prophets of God | 302 |
| Section I.—The great theme of the Old Testamentprophets was the coming of the Messiah. The Christianmaintains that these prophecies found an accomplishment inChrist. This denied by the Jew and the infidel. Mr. English'sargument to show that Jesus was not the Messiah.First, on account of His genealogy, and, second, because theprophecies of the Old Testament found no accomplishmentin Him. Mr. English's argument refuted in all its particulars.Jesus proved to be the true Messiah. The Messiahshipof Jesus Christ being proved, it proves that theBible is a revelation from God. Closing address | 324 |
| APPENDIX |
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| Starkie's confutation of Hume's argument on evidence | 362 |