told that they fhould fuffer perfecution, and did actually lay down their lives in confirmation of the truth of the facts which they afferted. Indeed, for fome centuries the heathens did not pretend to deny the miracles; but faid they were performed by the aid of evil fpirits. This is a circumftance of great weight. Then, Sir, when we take the proofs derived from prophecies which have been fo exactly fulfilled, we have most fatisfactory evidence. Suppofing a miracle poffible, as to which, in my opinion, there can be no doubt, we have as ftrong evidence for the miracles in fupport of Chriftianity, as the nature of the thing admits."

Talking of those who denied the truth of Christianity, he faid, "It is always easy to be on the negative fide. If a man were now to deny that there is falt upon the table, you could not reduce him to an abfurdity. Come, let us try this a little further. I deny that Canada is taken, and I can fupport my denial by pretty good arguments. The French are a much more numerous people than we; and it is not likely that they would allow us to take it.'But the miniftry have affured us, in all the formality of the Gazette, that it is taken.'-Very true. But the miniftry have put us to an enor mous expence by the war in America, and it is their intereft to perfuade us that we have got fomething

fomething for our money. But the fact is confirmed by thousands of men who were at the taking of it.'-Ay, but thefe men have ftill more interest in deceiving us. They don't want you should think the French have beat them, but that they have beat the French.Now fuppofe you should go over and find that it is really taken, that would only fatisfy your felf; for when you come home we will not believe you. We will fay you have been bribed. Yet, Sir, notwithstanding all these plausible objections, we have no doubt that Canada is really ours. Such is the weight of common testimony. How much stronger are, the evidences of the Chriftian relgion ?"

Mr. B. once acknowledged to Johnson, that though educated very strictly in the principles of religion, he had for fome time been mifled into a certain degree of infidelity; but that he was come now to a better way of thinking, and was fully fatisfied of the truth of the Christian revelation, though he was not clear as to every point confidered to be orthodox. Being at all times a curious examiner of the human mind, and pleased with an undifguifed difplay of what had paffed in it. Johnson called to him with warmth, and faid, "Give me your hand; I have taken a liking to you." He then began to defcant upon the force of teftimony, and the little we could

could know of final caufes; fo that the objections of, Why was it fo? or, Why was it not fo? ought not to difturb us: adding, that hehimself had at one period been guilty of a temporary neglect of religion; but that it was not the refult of argument, but mere abfence of thought.

After having given credit to reports of his bigotry, the reader will be agreeably furprized at hearing Johnfon expreffing the following very liberal fentiment, which has the additional value of obviating an objection to our holy religion, founded upon the difcordant tenets of Chriftians themselves: "For my part, Sir, I think all Chriftians, whether Papifts or Protestants, agree in the effential articles, and that their differences are trivial, and rather political than religious."

At another time he observed, "The Chriftian religion has very strong evidences. It, indeed, appears in fome degree ftrange to reafon; but in History we have undoubted facts, against which, in reasoning à priori, we have more arguments than we have for them; but then, teftimony has great weight, and cafts the balance. I would recommend to every man whofe faith is yet unfettled, Grotius, Dr. Pearfon, and Dr. Clarke."

Again: "As to the Christian religion, befides the strong evidence which we have for it, there is a balance in its favour from the number of great men who have been convinced of its truth, after a serious confideration of the queftion. Grotius was an acute man, a lawyer, a man accustomed to examine evidence, and he was convinced. Grotius was not a reclufe, but a man of the world, who certainly had no bias to the fide of religion. Sir Ifaac Newton fet out an infidel, and came to be a very firm believer."

Johnfon faid, "No honeft man could be a Deift; for no man could be fo after a far examination of the proofs of Chriftianity." Hume was mentioned-JOHNSON. "No, Sir, Hume owned to a Clergyman in the bishopric of Durham, that he had never read the New Teftament with attention."

Talking of the Roman Catholic religion,Johnfon faid, "In the barbarous ages, Sir, priefts and people were equally deceived; but afterwards there were grofs corruptions introduced by the Clergy, fuch as indulgencies to priests to have concubines, and the worship of images, not, indeed, inculcated, but knowingly permitted."

Talking one day of Dr. Johnfon's unwillingnefs to believe extraordinary things, Mr. B. ventured to fay, "Sir, you come near Hume's arguments

argument against miracles, "That it is more probable witneffes fhould lie, or be mistaken, than that they should happen."-JOHNSON.

Why, Sir, Hume, taking the propofition fimply, is right. But the Chriftian revelation is not proved by the miracles alone, but as connected with prophefies, and with the doctrines in confirmation of which the miracles were wrought."

He repeated his obfervation, that the differences among Chriftians are really of no confequence. For inftance (faid he), if a Proteftant objects to a Papift, You worship images;' the Papift can answer, I do not infift on your doing it; you may be a very good Papist without it I do it only as a help to my devotion." It was obferved, that the great article of Chriftianity was the revelation of immortality. Johnfon. admitted it.

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Mr. Bofwell had hired a Bohemian as his fervant while he remained in London, and being much pleased with him, afked Dr. Johnson whether his being a Roman Catholic ought to prevent his taking him with him to Scotland."Why no, Sir (faid Johnson), If he has no objection, you can have none."-BoswELL. "So, Sir, you are no great enemy to the Roman Catholic religion."-JOHNSON. "No, more, Sir, than to the Prefbyterian religion."-B. "You

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