and unequivocally admitted by the expressive silence of heathen antiquity.

We will venture to suggest, though with deference, that possibly the argument derived from the official communication of Pontius Pilate to the Roman emperor, may not have been pressed by modern advocates of the Gospel, quite as strenuously as its importance would seem to justify. In our estimate, that communication holds a conspicuous place among the christian proofs.

CHAPTER II.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Further heathen testimonies-Celsus wrote against Christianity about one century after promulgation of Gospel-Extracts from his works-Admits that Jesus Christ was a real personageAnd that Gospel was written by his primitive disciples--Admits generally the gospel history-Virtually admits its miraclesDoctor Doddridge's estimate of the extracts from Celsus-Porphyry wrote against Christianity about the year two hundred and seventy-Speaks of Jesus Christ as a real personage-And of Gospel as written by his primitive disciples-Some extracts from his works-Emperor Julian wrote against Christianity about the year three hundred and sixty-Admits reality of Jesus Christ and antiquity of Gospel-Extracts from his works— Jewish testimonies-Josephus-The Mishna-The Talmuds.

THE demonstration from heathen testimonials that Jesus Christ was not a fictitious personage, and that the Gospel was composed and published by his faithful contemporaries, will be rendered more perfect by a closer review of the fragments transmitted to us from the works of the three distinguished unbelievers who wrote elaborate treatises against Christianity during the earliest centuries of the church. We shall now present copious extracts from these fragments. Most of the proposed

extracts are irreverent; and some of them are profane. We should not stain our pages with quotations offensive to pious feeling, were it not for the consideration that we thence derive, even from the confessions of the primitive enemies to our holy faith, overwhelming evidence, never to be gainsayed even by skepticism itself, that the Gospel was not the forgery of an age posterior to its assumed date, and that its Founder actually lived and taught and suffered. We hope thus to transmute into healthful aliment the poison of infidel impiety. There is a potency in confessions from hostile lips, deliberately and intelligently made, which place them almost at the head of human proofs. "Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee," was a process of conviction strikingly approved by him who spake as never man spake.

The pagan Celsus published his voluminous and labored argument against Christianity about the year one hundred and seventy-five of the christian era. It was called "The True Word." About sixty years after its appearance Origen wrote his memorable response in eight books. The treatise of Celsus has perished; but while it remained in existence, Origen copied from it into his answer numerous passages. Through the answer of Ori

gen we are made acquainted with the work of Celsus.

It is a rule of natural and universal jurisprudence, that whenever the original is lost, its contents may be shown by a verified copy or parol proof. This rule is a vital element of the social structure. Nothing human is beyond the reach of casualty. Mercantile instruments, sealed bonds, testamentary bequests, title papers to real estate, legislative records, may all be destroyed by conflagration or perish in the current of time. Unless lost originals could be supplied by parol proof or verified copies, society must relapse into its primeval disorganization.

No copy could be better authenticated than are the extracts from Celsus transcribed into the work of Origen. He had the original before him. The question discussed was of absorbing interest, and he knew that the original and his response would be anxiously studied by friend and foe. He stood pledged as a man and as a christian that, when he professed to quote the words of his adversary, he quoted them truly. Any designed misquotation would have been suicidal; detection must inevitably have followed; and the fraud would have recoiled like a thunderbolt upon his own head. His

great work bears intrinsic demonstrations of honor and candor. His extracts from Celsus are equivalent to copies verified by oath. A judicial affirmation could have imparted to them no additional sanctity.

The passages from Celsus transcribed into the pages of Origen leave no possibility of doubt that the Gospel was in existence anterior to the time when the infidel wrote. His writings show that he had studied it with a diligent, though prejudiced eye. He could not thus have studied it unless it had been antecedently in being. He could not have answered writings not then extant. Celsus introduces into his work a fictitious Jew, who is often made his speaker. In our quotations we need not distinguish between the passages professedly uttered by Celsus, and those purporting to come from the mouth of the Jew; in either case they are alike the words of the heathen philosopher. Extracts from Celsus follow:

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"I could say many things concerning the affairs of Jesus, and those too true, different from those written by the disciples of Jesus." It is a fiction of theirs" (the writers Jesus foreknew and foretold all things "Some of the believers, as if they were

of the Gospel)" that which befell him."

drunk, take a liberty to alter the gospel from its first wri