would indeed be difficult, if not impossible, for any considerate man to persuade himself, that, though the Son of God came into the world to declare the counsels of heaven, yet no person was qualified, in an extraordinary manner, to give a narrative of the most astonishing event in the annals of time; but that it was left to the uncertain choice and unassisted ability of some honest, but weak and unlearned men, to transmit an account of it to succeeding generations. It is strange, that a thing so incredible should be believed by those pretended christians alone, who profess such reverence for the authority of reason, that they will not believe even God himself, till his words have received the sanction of its approbation.

Under this branch of the general argument for the inspiration of the New Testament, founded on the matter contained in it, it may be proper to introduce a few observations on the manner in which some parts of it are written. The evangelists, in relating the history of Christ, have occasion to speak of the most astonishing facts; his miraculous conception; the wonders which he wrought in calming the fury of the winds and waves, raising the dead, casting out devils, and curing all sorts of diseases; his transfiguration on the mount; the preternatural eclipse of the sun at his death, the rending of the rocks, and the opening of the graves; his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension to heaven. Might it not have been expected, that, in recording such events, they would have given vent to those feelings of admiration, which they are so well calculated to awaken, and have described them in the most glowing expressions? The subject was

interesting, and well fitted to produce those strong emotions, which naturally communicate something of their own character to our language. Yet they are related in the most simple manner, without any note of admiration, without any comment, without any attempt to set them off, or recommend them to the attention of the reader. This mode of writing did not proceed from insensibility, which in their circumstances would have indicated a degree of callousness or torpor, that could only have resulted from absolute stupidity. They inform us, that they were astonished, when they saw the miracles of Jesus; but they write of them, without any expression of astonishment. How can their coolness be accounted for? Is it not a proof, that in writing their narratives they were guided by a different spirit from their own; that they wrote not as they thought and felt themselves, but as they were directed by another, who kept their thoughts and feelings under control? The influence of the Holy Ghost is manifest in restraining them from mixing their own sentiments and passions with the relation, and in leading them to give a simple statement of facts without any embellishment, that our faith in Christ might rest entirely on the evidences of his divine dignity and mission, and might not, in any degree, be owing to human wisdom and eloquence.*

It may be agreeable to the reader, and it will place the argument in a still clearer light, to take notice of some other particulars.

Never did a person of such virtue as Jesus Christ appear in our world; never did virtue wear so amia

West on the Resurrection, 2 edit. p. 355.

able an aspect; never was it calculated to make so interesting an impression on the heart. His character was at once perfect and attractive. His meekness and gentleness, his affability and condescension, his patience, his benevolence, his generous love, diffused a soft and pleasing lustre over the severer virtues, which were displayed in his conduct. An ancient philosopher fondly imagined, that if virtue were incarnate, all men would be charmed with her beauty. We might at least have expected, that those who conversed with the Son of God, in whom, if I may be allowed the expression, virtue was embodied, would have been ravished beyond measure with his excellencies, and would have celebrated them in the warmest strains of commendation. In their narrative, indeed, the lovely features of his character are exhibited to the greatest advantage. But this is done by representing them in their native simplicity, without paint or decoration of any kind; and the writers, while they give a full detail of his virtues, pass on without making a single reflection.

Never did any person deserve to meet with such good treatment as Jesus Christ; and never was any person so harshly and cruelly used. His words were watched and misconstrued; his most beneficent deeds were, by the malignity of his countrymen, transformed into crimes; and evils of the blackest dye were laid to his charge. Was it not natural for disciples, faithful and affectionate, to enter with ardour into the cause of their Master, and to repel with indignation calumnies which they knew to originate in malice? Could we have been surprised, if their honest zeal had burst forth into vehement excla

mation againt the injustice of his accusers; and laying aside the language of ceremony, which is indeed in most cases the language of falsehood, had bestowed on them and their conduct, the names and epithets, which, we are sure, they deserved? Yet they leave their Master to vindicate himself; and even when he holds his peace, they trust his apology to the silent and irresistible eloquence of his conduct. They speak of his enemies with as much coolness, as if they had done him no injury; and the dark shade of their actions is not deepened by a single stroke of their pencil.

Never was there an event so astonishing as the death of Christ. The innocent have sometimes fallen victims to the injustice of the world, or to their own generosity. But who is this sufferer? Is he not greater than all men? Is he not the Creator of the universe; and does not all nature, accordingly, pay him homage in his sufferings? The most heroic love, therefore, is unworthy to be named with the love of Jesus. On this topic, the evangelists, full of admiration and gratitude, might have bestowed all the colouring of imagery, and all the riches of language. It was a topic more calculated than any other to gratify their own feelings, and to interest strangers in behalf of their Master. What tender and overpowering descriptions might they have given of his agonies! What melting irresistible appeals might they have made to the heart! While the scene was yet fresh in their remembrance, and their own hearts were still bleeding with the wounds which his death had inflicted upon them, was it not natural to concentrate all their eloquence on a subject, which must have seemed to them alone worthy

of attention? Yet though they record his death, and attribute it to his love, they neither give impassioned descriptions of the one, nor attempt to raise in our minds exalted ideas of the other. They leave to us the office of making such reflections as the subject suggests.

This mode of writing indicates a very peculiar state of mind. It would be absurd to suppose that the writers had no feelings; and no motive can be assigned, for having intentionally suppressed them. An impostor would have avoided this appearance of indifference, which might have given rise to a suspicion, that he did not himself believe his own narrative. For the absence of all passion we can only account by admitting that their minds were controlled by supernatural influence. Their own emotions and affections were suspended, that, during this interval of calm, the voice of the Divine Spirit might alone be heard. Such a history as that of Christ could not have been written but by inspired men.

2. Let us next turn our attention to the system of doctrine exhibited in the New Testament. On examination, it will appear to be so excellent, that the persons who published it to the world, must have drawn it from a purer and more exalted source than either their own meditations or the writings of others.

The account of God and his perfections, which we find in the New Testament, commends itself to our reason, as worthy of the highest and most excellent of all beings. He is represented as a pure Spirit, possessed of wisdom, holiness, justice, and goodness, eternal, almighty, and unchangeable, the creator and governor of the world, the witness and