THE

INFIDEL'S

TEXT-BOOK,
BEING

SUBSTANCE

THE

LECTURES

THIRTEEN

BIBLE.

THE

ROBERT

BY

"The
believe
and

"

OF

AUTHOR

THE

greatest part of the

the Bible

they

were

be

to

taught

^OOPER,
SCRIPTURES

HOLY

Christian

the Word
so

OF

from

world

God,

of

but

hardly give

can

because

their infancy."

FIRST
REPUBLISHED

ANALYZED,"

"

any

they have
Dr.

Isaao

THE

LONDON

At

BY
the

Office

of

J.
Boston

the

1858.
a-

P.

why

always believed

EDITION.

BOSTON:
PUBLISHED

reason

Watts.

AMERICAN,

FROM

"c.

MENDUM,

Investigator.

they

it,

21?.

PKEEACE.

The

of

Author

the

has
present publication

long

opinion,that a small work, written in a

style,arranged with order
plain and dispassionate
and publishedat a cheap rate,conand perspicuity,
taining
been

of

of the
of the best arguments
summary
Infidel world
against the divinityof the Jewish and
a

in heterodox
was
a desideratum
Scriptures,
literature that ought to be supplied as
speedilyas
possible.With the view of promoting so desirable
Lectures are
a
consummation, the following
fully
respectsubmitted
to the consideration of the inquiring
public.
Christian

Many Infidel works have appeared,which are of

so
desultorya character,or devoted only to some
particular portion of the question, that they have
been, of themselves^as a book of ready reference,
of little general use
the
If he
unbeliever."
to
"

anxious

was
a

to

full refutation
a

many

furnish

Christian

of the

variety of

subject,he
of
works, one

instances,would
now

be

offered to him.

as

opponent with
has

had

which

expensive as

to

chase
pur-

only,
the

in

duction
pro-

IV

PREFACE.

"Infidel's

The

useful

as

Text-Book,"

it is

pocket companion

its

as

the

to
"

predecessor

hoped,

The

"

will

prove

sceptical community
Holy

Scriptures

Analyzed."
The
is

following

conceived,

are

embrace

the

points discussed, which,

the

whole

argument

:"

Lectures.

I.

Page.

The

History

of

the

Old

"

The

History

of

the

New

"

The

Character

"

II.
III.

and
IV.

"

V.
VI.

"

"

VIII."
"

X.

"

XI.

"

XII.

Fathers

Apostles.

39

Evidence.

79

of

Genuineness

the

97

Scriptures.

Prophecy.

117

Miracles.

135

The

Consistency

The

Morality

The

Philosophy
of

Influence

Morality
reader
is

order
it

contribute

Christian

21

External

Lecture
the

Testament.

61

"

The

the

Evidence.

"

XIII.

of

Testament.

External

The

"

VII.

IX.

it

will

is
to

of

without

the

each

they

are

will

general

London, (Eng.) January,

to

177
199

Society.

on

221

Bible.

243

observe,
of

the

be

that

above

stated.

usefulness

1846.

155

Bible.

the

Bible

presumed,
the

of

Bible.

Bible.

the

to

which

the

the

please

devoted
in

of

separate

subjects, in
This

ment,
arrange-

convenience,

of

the

work.

and

THE

TEXT-BOOK.

INFIDEL'S

LECTURE

THE

OF

HISTORY

FIRST.

OLD

TESTAMENT.

Friends"
This

evening
demands

which

purpose

the

unflinching and
enlightenment.
mental

we

existence

most

to

enter

serious

friend

uncompromising
To
of

those
man

who

of

no

every

truth

to

solicitous

are

should

inquiry

an
upon
attention

longer

and

that
be

one

the

of

ignorance, imbecility,and delusion, but one ennobling

of intelligence,reason,
and
free
scene
inquiry," ra
in which
his
scene
the
aspiration after the true and
remain
unchecked
of
good, would
by the trammels
and
vestigat
inpriestly arrogance,
vulgar intolerance, an
"

like

the

present will appear

one

of

liar
pecu-

interest.
We

live in

when
age
honest
and
an

it has

become

imperative
to
declare,

independent man
fearlessly and unreservedly, the genuine sentiments
of his mind
involves
the
question which
upon
every
and
freedom
Too
progression of humanity.
long have
the
been
held in leading-strings. Too
masses
long
have
It is now
time
think
they thought by proxy.
to
for themselves, examine
for themselves, speak
for
themselves.
While
the playto admire
they continue
things
of their mental
refuse
to
exert
babyhood, and
the energy
and
become
their
independence which
upon

every

HISTORY

maturity, error
and

enslave

brutal
I

am

and

OF

imposture will

continue

to

delude

them.

Priestcraft will still crush, in its

the best efforts of the bold and the true.

grasp,
of opinion,that

this great moral

nuisance
all endeavors
to
priestcraftis tolerated,
cure
sethe permanent
independenceof the millions will
so

long

as

"

"

be frustrated.
This

it

is, that,in

all ages,

and

all

countries, but

in Christendom, has blasted the hopes

especially
and
labors of the patriot,the philosopher,and
the
!
philanthropist It is, therefore,we enter upon the
subject before us, believing that if the faith of the
people in the Divinityof this " tale of a tub " is once
of the priestlysysexploded, the grand corner-stone
tem
is shaken, and the whole
fabric must
speedilybe
razed to the ground.
Once
deprive the priestof his
the Bible
and his
magic wand"
occupation will
be gone."
In this,our
first discourse,
I purpose
to commence
a compendious historyof the
"Holy Bible/5 from the
date on
remotest
record, to the present period; and
from
that historyto demonstrate
the moral
ity
impossibilof such a productionbeing a revelation from Deity.
We
at the outset, that any
rationallypresume,
may
work
diately
emanating from a God, would have been immeand generally known, and
produced at once,
such an impression as to occasion
instant and universal
had
conviction.
."If God
spoken, the universe
have
So far,however, from
been convinced.''
must
this being the fact,the early history of the Bible is
It was
shrouded
in almost
impenetrabledarkness.
of the human
to any
except
entirelyunknown
race,
a contemptibly small
section, the Jews, until so late
Neither
the year 287 B. C.
Hesiod, Homer,
as
a date
Herodotus, nor any of the immortal minds of antiquity,

more

"

"

make

any

allusion

to it.

The

great Phoenician

Sanchoniatho, though quoted by

reference
to
father,Eusebius, makes
no
even

to

the Jews

as

nation.

The

the
the

rian,
histo-

Christian

Bible, or

celebrated

Wyt-

TESTAMENT.

OLD

THE

reply to Josephus,(Opuscula,
that the Jews
into
vol. 2, p. 416,) shows
only came
the Great,
after the time of Alexander
notice in Greece
and that the historical monuments
preceding that period,
Jewish
make
the slightestmention
not
of any
transaction.
In short,he triumphantly establishes the
importantfact,so anxiously withheld by the Christian
unknown
to the toorld as
priests, that the Jews were
a
nation,until they were
subjectedby the Romans.
Yet are we
leged
to believe that
like the Bible, ala book
to be
divinelyinspired,"and so "essential"
of humanity at large;remained
to the eternal welfare
so
long in utter obscurity!
"
Professor
No
Cooper, of America, observes,
authentic
historian of ancient
times, Josephus excepted,
has
Jews
mentioned
the
ever
an
as
ent
independestine,
nation or state, or as
being in possessionof Palor
part of great Syria, before,or in the
any
time of Alexander.
As a nation,they appear
to have
been
to
entirely unknown
Herodotus, and all other
in his

tembach,

famous

"

"

"

"

Greek

historians.

Xenophon
only 150
He

wrote

What

had

become

of the Eastern

of them

Nations?

which

from
years after their allegedreturn
mentions
the Syrians of Palestine
as

the Persian

government,

Herodotus

mentions

but not

the

word

when

about

was

lon.
Babyunder

the Jews.

of the

invasions

Scythians,
of Egypt ; but acto the borders
through Syria,even
knowledges
Jews
Israelites.
In the fragments
no
or
which
remain
of Sanchoniatho,Ctesias,Borosus, and
ject
Manetho, they are not noticed,even as a petty or substate ; so that
the fullest negative evihave
dence,
we
that in the times of these historians,
no
part of
Syria was
a Jewish
Diodorus, in detailing
country.
the events
in that country, the Siege of Tyre, "c,
during Alexander's conquests, says not a word of the
Jews
forming a state or colony, or of their boasted
city of Jerusalem ; and he is equally silent as to their
existence as a nation, during the time of Alexander's
immediate

successors;

nor

have

we

any

account

of

'k

HISTORY

OF

them, deservingof credit,until the time of Antiochus

whom
the 4th, under
they lived, and he was
subject
If the territoryof Judea
to the Romans,
was
given
to them
by the King of Babylon only about 200 years
before

ivhy

Macedonian

the

did not

he and

conqueror
historians

his

went

to

find them

the

east,

there ?

"

The

formed
plain and simple truth is,the Jews never
an
independent state ; and that part of Syria called
Palestine,was; in all known
ages, subjecteither to the
Egyptians, Assyrians,Babylonians, Persians,Greeks,
or
Romans, (accordingto the tide of conquest) as it
is

now

But

to

the

who.

Turks.'*
these

were

Jews

alone

wno

the

enjoyea

A great
Holy Word ? "
noble
people? No ; but on the
in sovereign contempt
held
by
nation
who
became
acquainted with them.
every
rian
Apollonius, as quoted by Josephus himself,the histoof the Jews, in his work
againstApion, said of
of all
the most
trifling
them, "they (theJews) were
the only people
the
barbarians, and that they were
who had never
found out anything usefulfor life"
admits
Dr.
Burnet, in his ArchcelogiosPhilosophic?.,
of a
of a gross and sluggishnature
that "they were
dull and
a
heavy disposition bereft of humanity
of men
vile company
an
assembly of slaves, brought
who
but
understood
art
no
out of Egyptian prisons,
"
bricks !
that of making
Josephus himself, even

preciousprivilegeof
a
philanthropic a
contrary, they were

the

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

that his countrymen

were
written
to have
anything, or to
with their learned
neighbors.
admits

so

have

illiterate as
held

never

intercouse

Indeed, no people of
ignorant,credulous, intolerant,

more
antiquity were
ancient
the
While
and
wretched, than the Jews.
mans,
Chaldeans, Arabians, Egyptians. Grecians, and Roof science and
erudition,
produced their men
added
Jews
the
nothing to the gloriouspyramid of
to believe, even
And
are
human
knowledge.
yet we
"
allin the nineteenth
century, that a being said to be
wise," and " all-good, selected such a race as his
"

TESTAMENT.

OLD

THE

were
solelyand
people/* the people who
What
divine word.;;
with
his
entrusted
a
specially
mockery !
"I hasten, however,
that the Jews themselves,
to show
their own
even
ignorant of the "divine
priests,were
centuries
law/' for many
subsequent to the time when
The
written.
it is supposed to have been
first time
is made
work
reference
to
answering the
any
any
in the year 628, B. C, when
Jewish
Text-book, was
"
a
a
Hilkiah, is stated to have found
priestnamed
"

chosen

"

"

the

2nd

book

story is told in the 34th

The

of the law.7*

book

of

and

14, 15, 18, 19,

Chronicles, vs.

of

c.

that
they brought out the money
was
brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah,the
of the law of the Lord, given by
found
a book
priest,
30.

"And

"

Moses.

when

said

Sha-

unto

Scribe, I have found the book of the laio,in

the

phan,

and

answered

Hilkiah

And

of the Lord.

the house

And

delivered

Hilkiah

the book

Then
Shaphan, the Scribe, told the
Shaphan.
King, saying, Hilkiah, the priest,hath given me a
And
book
it
; and Shaphan read it before the King.
the words
the King had heard
of
to pass when
came
the King went
And
the law, that he rent his clothes.
of Juup into the house of the Lord, and all the men
dah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,and the priests,
and the Levites,and all the people, great and
small.
to

And

he read

of the

"

King, the
priests,should

before

were

being

such

of the

house

in the

circumstances

connected

I feel it necessary

as

to

read

express
to

acquainted with

Hilkiah

manifested

found

book

to

with

remark.

"

exceedinglystrange if the
existed priorto that date (628),
scribes,the people,and, above all,
have
displayed such gross ignorance

of its contents,
Jews

was

of the

words

it appears

the

its

all the

which

of the law

upon

ears

two

are

first is,that

"book
the

There

story upon

The
that

that

covenant

Lord.,;
this

in their

read

it to

the

utmost

And

ment
astonish-

It is evident
"law

of the

them, they would

surprise.
1*

them.

the

if

this

was

if the
Lord"

not

the

have

first

OF

HISTORY

Jewish

the

people heard the law, it is clear the

whole of the direct external
testimony in favor of the
and genuinenessof the Old Testament, (at
authenticity
the Pentateucli)
rests
least,so far as concerns
solely
the ipse
dixit
of the old jjriestHilkiah ; and
upon
those who have read the Bible,mast
be familiar with
the
honorable
character of the Jewish
priesthood,
and will, therefore,
know
what
confidenceto place in
the testimony of such a
man.
They will naturally
did not
ask, what
authority have we that Hilkiah
write
this book
himself?
if he reallyfound it,that
or
he did not make
what
alterations he pleased? From
the cunning with which
his
he acted on this occasion
to the youthful
employing a scribe to make it known
it very probablehe was
King, makes
reallythe author
of the book
he pretended to have
found, and took this
opportunity of imposing it upon the mind of the young
King. At all events, it is manifest there was
only one
of the whole Jewish
nation,
copy then in possession,
for this copy
and they were
indebted
to a. priest who
time

"

"

offered
his

word

own

its

being
lost

been

of his statement,
but
ites
however, that the Israel-

truth

Presuming,
with

found

at

the

"

book

the

by

of amazement

matter

have

familiar

were

to

of the

evidence

no

such

all,much

of the Lord"

priest Hilkiah,
a

rior
ante-

is it

preciousbook

less for

so

many

not

should
tions
genera-

There
lead

are

the

circumstances,

opinion that the story

book, and its being read to

to

us

some

the

however,
of Hilkiah
the

which
ing
find-

people, is

appeal to every person in the

slightestdegree acquainted with language, whether
written
800
could
read off,at once, a book
man
any
The
necessarilybe
phraseologywould
years before?
it comparativelyunaltered by time, as to render
intelligible
so
the Latin,
at the first glance. It is so with
French, English,and all other languages. Suppose
to produce a book
any
person of the present day was
of Engof laws written in the time of King Ethelbert,

mere

fiction.

I will

TESTAMENT.

OLD

THE

not
authority,would
world
the learned
require a full and particularaccount
undeniable
of the book, and the discoveryof it,and
believe
of its authenticity
before they would
evidence
Here
it ?
is a book
claiming to be the autograph of
the
the
only
lawgiver of the Jews
great national
and civil, the only authority
code of laws, religious
that ought to
of the priests a book
for the claims
been
h'ave
periodicallyread to the people, by the
been
that ought to have
clergy appointed so to do
of learning and rank
familiar to their men
produced
for the firsttime, after an
interval of 800 years, by a
I found
of it than
who
man
gives no other account
could be allegedin
it!
reason
Why, just the same
Book
the
of Joe Smith's
Bible
favor of the divinity
of the Mormons.
He pretendsto have fowid it.

and

land,

his

promulgated by

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Professor

Pentateuch,
to

the

of this

of

book,

Hilkiah
where

it

has

found

was

hidden

and

was

written,

kind

of

what

its
we

contents

were,

furnished

are

with

is any
reads
it off

Shaphan
All this is
of the

oning
but

the

Chron.
any

made

what
no

it

time

Now,
this

but

"

informed

was

graph
auto-

an

recent

copjr,
to read

it took

information

inquiry

ticate
authen-

to

made

xxxiv.

delivered

was
v.

17

"

questions asked.

to

without

observance

account, Hilkiah

of it.
had

"

them

in

check

or

It appears,

remarks, that neither the Jews of

forefathers, knew
anything about
any

u
"

concerning it.
if it were
written
as
recently.
done under the very suspicious circumstances
workmen
being bribed by having no reckwith
them
to what
as
they had earned,

money
c.

referring

not

are

the

on

materials
it
found, on what
or
character, in what
dialect^

and

it,nor

We

book.

given

whether
preservationit was.
of the Jewish
lawgiver,or some

what

it ;

in

is

whatever

account

no

Letter

judiciouslyobserves,when
Hilkiah
findingthis book

very

account

his admirable

in

Cooper,

It appears,
enlisted
his

lump,

inquiry,

also,from
that
the

day,

2
or

Josiah/s
nor

law,

from

"

or

their

used

the

whole

pupil, the

young

HISTORY

OF

king, in support of the Jewish

priests,against the
priestsof Baal ; and as the Jews knew
nothing of the
law of Moses, something of the kind was
necessary
of
c
eremonies.
He
as
a system
religious
composed a
found
book of the law, and pretended to have
it in the
to silence and
crecy.
setemple, after bribinghis workmen
these circumstances, that
No wonder, under
when
the book
was
made,
produced, no inquiry was
and no
The
whole
is a concerted
question asked.
to
plan, which the prophetessHulda is brought over
I say no
authenticate.
impartialreader can put any
this manifest
other construction
on
contrivance, as
of Kings and
described
in the books
Chronicles.
fall proof that the book of
This account
to
amounts
the credit,not
it was,
the law, whatever
rests
upon
of Moses, but
Hilkiah.
It is Hilkiah7 s book
of the
it stands, for it is
as
law, according to the narration
else.'7
not
to any
one
attempted to trace it backwards
But this is not the only time the
Holy Writings,'7
are
we
as
taught to call them, were
missing. We are
writers
told by Jewish
themselves, that they were
completelylost during the Babylonish captivity(which
said to be found
was
only a few years after they were
until the
restored
not
priest
by Hilkiah),and were
re-write
400
inspiredto
them, some
Ezra, was
years
"

before

the

Christian
book

this invaluable
then

read for

short

time, and

to be recovered.

How

their

Godly

Text-book,

treasure

the

onerous

is detailed

that

we

believe

must

first lost for

was

never

performed

So

era.

the

The
task
hi 4th

eight centuries,
subsequentlylost again,
chosen
people prized
?7

"

manner

of

in which

re-writingthe

book

of Esdras

"

Ezra
Jewish
a

book

He
dictated
by the Creek church.
the
days and
during forty successive
Holy books
were
continuallywriting.
nights,to five scribes,who
Thus, then, do the authenticityand genuineness of
the authorityof that one
the Old Testament, rest upon
priest,who might dictate to the scribes what he pleased
omit or
add^ or alter jiistlohat he felt disposed.
deemed

"

authentic

"

would

TESTAMENT.

OLD

THE

opportunityof indulging
is proved by the fact, as stated
in these liberties,
by
Brown, in his Dictionary of the Bible, Bishop Marsh
in his
Lectures," and in the 8th c. of JNehemiah,
lost their own
bylonish
that the Jews
language during the Baand
captivity,
spoke the Ohaldaic
tongue, the
priestsbeing obligedto expound the Holy books to the
people in that language, thereby affordingthem every
what
to introduce
matter
facility
they thought fit,the
polation,
multitude
being quiteincompetent to detect any interadmitted
omission.
It is now
or
alteration,
pilation
by most Christian writers of eminence, that the commade
which
by Ezra, is the authorityupon
have
to
Ave
depend for our translations.
Nay, the
father Ireneus,distinctly
declared
that the
Christian
in existence
of the Old
books
not
Testament, were
until
they were
fabricated seventy years after the
Babylonish captivity,by Esclras,"(or Ezra.)
he

That

have

every

"

"

This

is

fact of

and

moment,

some

one

which

with

people are generally unacquainted. Hence, the

vulgar belief that the Bible is a work of extraordinary
the first,
ing
and, therefore,accordantiquity that it was
to the
ever
logicof the crowd, the best that was
the

"

There

written.

before

Ezra

He

lived

not

remark

flourished
who
composers
the real author
of the Old Testament.
were

many

"

"

ished
Orpheus flour900 B. 0.
and
Hesiod
Homer, 800, Zoroaster
and
Belus, 700, Lycurgus, Numa, Thales, Pittacus,
and
Bias, 600, Pythagoras, JEsop, Solon, and many
of the earlier Grecian
I shall
500
B. C.
philosophers,

only

400

the

upon

Arabians, Hindoos,
to

could

be

of
than

you,

our

refer

to

B.

years

ancient

and

them

that there

the

writingsof

the

synagogue

no

the

Old

under

of the

books

the

of

It is necessary
was

while

Chaldeans,

Chinese, as I shall have

in a subsequent lecture,or

that
easilyshown
these
nations, are
own.

C,

the

proper

casion
oc-

it

ings
pretended sacred writmuch
greater antiquity
I

should

canon

Testament,

or

collection

until

Maccabees,

inform

here

which

the

time

was

of
of

only

10

HISTORY

about
to

200

this

liable

beforethe
period,the " Holy
years

altered

be

OF

of

appeai^ance
books"
were

Christ

scattered

Up
and

amended

just as priestsmight
! It is generallysupposed by the
determine
vulgar"
that the Bible always retained
its present form, but
such
idea is manifestlyerroneous.
an
It is a matter
of considerable
importance, at this
stage of our inquiry,to ascertain the character of the
to

or

"

'

of

drew

who

men

the

this

up

Jewish

canon

writings.

or

We

authorized

collection

know

must

whether

If they were
destitute of
they were
inspiredor not.
the
Holy Spirit it is possible,
according to the logic
oi the pious,they may
made
have
mistakes, and very
serious
the Jewish
and
ones, too, and thereby mislead
world.'
this viWhat
Christian
tal
says Le Clerc,upon
In his Diswriter.
quisition
point1 a first-rate Christian
"
be
It may
Inspiration,he remarks:
upon
said that the books in the Jewish
ought to be
canon,
acknowledged as divinelyinspired,rather than the
in it. I answer
that
were
first,
Apocrypha that never
that
clear reason
those
is brought to convince
no
us
the canon
made
who
or
catalogueof their books, were
had
guish
or
infallible,
whereby to distinany. inspiration
spired."
innot
were
inspired books from those which
the opinions of a writer
Such
much
are
admired
by Christians "opinions which go to prove
have
that we
only the tcstimon)^of falliblehuman
the most fallible
class
beings, and those of the worst
in favor of the genuignorant and cunning priests,
ineness
"

"

"

"

"

of

present

our

of the Old

canon

Testament.

were
Presuming, however, that these men
inspired,
I find,in reference to the same
Synagogue, several
which
tend, in no
extraordinary circumstances
very
slightdegree,to invalidate the authenticityand genuineness

of the

Old

Testament.

that

this

memorable

Talmud,
were

very

about
few

to

rejectthe

decent

books

are

the propheciesof
Testament,)

are

assembly
of

book
that

We

told in the
of

priests

Proverbs, (one of
to

be found

Ezekiel

and

the

in the Old

Ecclesias-

OLD

THE

11

TESTAMENT.

contradictoryto the
writings were
certain
law
of God, but
a
Rabbi, having undertaken
cal."
reconcile them, they were
to
preservedas "canoniHere, the three books, Proverbs, Ezekiel, and
altered
to us as
Ecclesiastes,are confessedly-presented
Rabbi
!
Notwithstanding,
by an impudent Jewish
craft,
writings thus mutilated,to suit the purposes of priestOh i
declared
be
the wo?'d of God !
to
are
thou
and
wilt
blush for thy blind
orthodoxy, when
shameless
credulity?
But this is not all
Samaritan
The
Jews, and the
ancient
Sadducees, rejectedall but the Pentateuch.
this period,a prodigious numThere
also about
ber
was
of Esdras, Daniel, and
other
of forged books
And
what
prophets in circulation.
authority have
the
that our
taken
from
not
we
present copies are
these
facts,it is obvious, the Jews
spurious? Prom

tcs, because

those

"

tliemselves
were

differed

genuine, and
of

amongst

opinion
the

most

as

to

which
has

which

learned

down

Jews

and

present
And

not.

were

existed

of the

to

our

canon

ence
this differ-

time,

Christians.

both
The

Apocrypha, for instance,is pronounced genuine by

the Catholics,but utterlyrejected
by the Protestants.
denounced
The
have been
Canticles
as
forgeriesby
the learned
Dr. Whiston, and the books
of Jonah
and
have
Daniel
been
Aitkin and
repudiated by Doctors
"
Ten
Eichorn, as mere
legends and romances."
whole
books are
rejectedby the Swedenborgians ; and
celebrated
the
Belsham, in his Evidences, p. 117,
though supporting Christianity,positivelydeclares
"
of the law of Moses, that which
that
is genuine,
bears but a small
is spuriproportionto that which
ous
And
denounced
!
we
are
as
"dangerous men,"
will not
believe that
because
to be divine, upon
we
such contradictory
which
the
opinionsexist,amongst
professto acknowledg it !
very people who
I must
now
acquaint you with a very curious fact
with
connected
this portion of our
inquiry,as attested
Christian
the authority ot a distinguished
upon
pro"

12

OF

HISTORY

Granting for a moment

the Scripture canon
are

fessor.
of

books

hold

of the
of the

"

real

sacred

Word

of

books

have

"
"

opinion

so

of the canon,
and
Testaments."
New

26,

page

in

inasmuch

sion
possesas

many
lost,and
absolutely

been

of that

passage:
have

He

author

of

Professor

was

"a

complete
of the

of the books

writers

From

vol.

memorable

"St.

"

Pin.

Du

Philosophy, at Paris,and

and

God/7

not

to

shall first quote from

and

are

present
I less
neverthe-

of an
posterity. In confirmation
bold, and, apparently, unwarrantable, I

transmitted

never

genuine,

world

the Christian

that

that all the

work,

of
tory
his-

Old

1, c. 1, sect.
I take

the

8,
lowing
fol-

Eucharius

says, it is evident
which
the
the books

remaining
Holy Scriptures approve of, because
Judea, having
been ravaged by the Chaldeans, and the ancient
bibliotheque being burnt, there remaining only a small
why

we

not

of the books

number

which

Holy Scriptures,and
by the care
informed

that

and

burning

"

the

of

Word

books,
them
are

but

were

but

"Holy
But

before
"

God
in

of

present make

at

which

collected

were

of Ezra.;;
ravages

the

ancient

consequence

destroyed, and
snicdl portion of

and

of

of the

the

tablished
re-es-

Here, then, we

the

consisted

up

are

Chaldeans,

bibliotheque,the
of

great number
of that
event, many

those

have

we

what

once

of

remaining,

constituted

the

Book!"
I find that

the Jews

themselves

actually burnt
others.
Simon,

in
holy books, and lost
of the New
Critical History of the Version
his
tament,7'
TesThe
quotes St. Chrysostom as follows :
Jews
careless,and at others
having been at sometimes
of the sacred books
to be
profane,they suffered some
burnt
and
lost through their carelessness,and have
here
We
are
deliberately
told,by
destroyedothers."

several

of the

"

"

"

Christian

writers

of great

repute, that

the

Jews

were
"

of God
Word
that
grossly negligentabout the
of it is completely lost,and other portions they
much
actuallyburnt and destroyed! ! Burnt the Bible ! ! !
u

so

14'

HISTORY

gint,from

the
which, principally,,

have
of great

been

genuine, (but

was

case)

cannot

we

be

certain

modern

copies,the true
affirm,and upon
Septuagint is not a

the

Before

1 have
Will

this

the

we

text

the

not

was

possess,

of God."

Christian

version

Hebrew

shown

that

therefore,

matter,

presuming

which

tions
transla-

our

whether

ascertain

to

moment,

of

rest

It becomes

taken.

correct, for if not,

was

OF

in

our

I distinctly

Now,

authoritytoo,

that

translation.

correct

point,I will give you an idea

of the nature
of the Hebrew
language, and the great
it. Simon, in his
difficulty
experiencedin translating
u
Critical History," alluding to the meaning of the
Hebrew
It is unquestionablethat
words, remarks,
the greater part of them
are
nificat
equivocal,and their siglearned
the most
Even
utterlyuncertain.
Jews doubt almost everythingabout their proper meaning."
Lectures,"
Bishop Marsh, in his celebrated
The
No.
Old
is the
Testament
14, declares that
in the ancient
Hebrew, nor
only work which remains
have
we
posed
anything like a lexicon, or glossary,comwhile it was
yet a livinglanguage."
I establish

this

"

"

"

One
no

two

from

of the

translators
the

every

learned
would

Hebrew.

quite certain
that

most

Hebraists

agree

rendering

Godfrey Higgins

that I shall be
letter of

in

the

able

Hebrew

to

declared

has

show

verb

any
"

says
"

"

to

language

that
I

am

prove
has four,
"

and

ing
accommodatan
probablyJivemeanings." What
language for the priests,
truly!
Le Clerc
affirms,in his
Sentim," p. 156, that
"
of the Old
learned
The
at the
sense
merely guess
of places,which
in an infinity
Testament
produces a
of discordant
interpretations."
prodigious number
mentary
The
Christian
Father, St. Jerome, too, in his Comthe
40th
on
chap, of Ezekiel, states, that
into
When
the Hebrew
translate
we
Latin, we
As an instance
sometimes
are
guided by conjecture!
learned
of the guessing abilities of our
interpreters,
refer you to that chapter in. Genesis
I may
giving an
"

"

"

"

"

"

of Noah's

account

modern

version

kilhos

translates

of

The

Arabic

the

declares

materials

composed,

our

it

daubed

with

declare

commentators

ebony ;

was

; while

and

the

Dr.

brated
cele-

Geddes

distinguished

that it
Such

slime

The

wood.

stoutlycontends

Christian,Dawson,
of bid/rushes

been

Persian,pine

it to be tvicker work

affirms

to the

it to be gopher wood.
Oninterprets
of cedar ; Castellus,
it as being made

wood

Bochart

respect

is said to have

Juniper wood.

it to be box

With

ark.

the ark

of which

15

TESTAMENT.

OLD

THE

made

was

the

are

gular
sin-

brew
attendingthe translation of the Heand the contradictory
interpretations
given
words
by diiferent writers. It is obvious,
be placed in
can
facts,that no confidence

difficulties

text,
to

the

from

same

these

tongue.
any translation from the Hebrew
I should
While
this subjectit is necessary
mind
reupon
that,up to the 5th Century, the Hebrew
you

language

well

as
mass

of words

the true
Pin

utterlydestitute

was

order

without

was
signification

observes

"

of twenty-two

method

void .of vowels.

as

"

of any

The

next

well

was

To

system.

or

mere

ascertain

impossible. Dr. Du
alphabet is composed

to

Hebrew

letters, as

It

of punctuation,

of the Samaritans,

those

as

Chaldeans, and Syreneans. But besides these

letters,none
of which is,at present, a vowel, and by

they cannot

determine

the

pronunciation,
invented
have
points,which, being
These
instead of voivels.
serve
put under the letters,
not
vowel-pointsserve
only to fix pronunciation,but
also the signification
the word
of a word, because
being differently
pointed,signifythings wholly different.

consequence,
the
Hebrews
"

This

is the

circumstance

which

has

made

the

of consequence,
antiquityof the pointsseem
and
hath, therefore,been treated of very
prolixly. Some have pretended that these points are
the Hebrew
ancient
as
as
language, and that Abram

questionas

made

use

of them.

to

the

of them.
But

Jews, is,that

the

Moses

Others
most

common

having

Moses

make

author

the

opinion among
learned

of God

the

the
true

16

HISTORY

OF

of Hebrew
pronunciation

words, this science was

served
preoral
the
until the
in
tradition,
Synagogue by
the pointsand
invented
time of Esdras, who
accents
Jew
it. Elias
of the
to
Levita, a German
preserve
last age, and
Grammar,
very learned in the Hebrew
this sentiment, and maintained
hath rejected
that the
of pointswas
later. He ascribes it to
invention
much
of Tiberias,about
the 500th
the Jews
year of Christ,
and allegedthat this art was
not
perfecteduntil about
the year
1040, by two famous
Massorites,Ben Asher
and Ben
Napthali."
Prom

this it appears

that

it

not

was

until the

11th

Century that anything like certaintywas

given to the
of that language in which
it is said God
signification
his ideas and wishes
to poor
thought proper to convey
human
! Wonderfully strange that he should
nature
revealed
have
his "will
in the most
imperfect and
ambiguous language in the world ! a language which
the most
erudite could not clearlyunderstand.
mon
Comwould
have
sense
suggested the selection of the
perfectlanguage possible,but, 1
plainest and most
God's
not
are
our
ways.77 I hope
ways
suppose,
will be, if they are as stupid as these.
they never
it is
I have
made
an
assertion, however, which
I should
substantiate.
We
have
highly necessary
the Septuagint translation,
from
that
affirmed
which
versions
modern
our
are
rect.
generally taken, is not corfor my
Now
proof. My first authority is the
learned
He remarks,
Christian
Professor,Du Pin.
m
the work
confess
before quoted,
In short,we
must
the Hebrew
betwixt
that there are
differences
many
and the version of the Septuagint,which
text
arose
from
the
in the
confusion that are
corruption and
"

"

"

"

Greek
hath

version
been
have
and

observes
authors

"

we

revised
taken

correct

to

"It

divers
the

is

do, that

mere

It is certain

have.

now

times, and

that

that

several

it

thors
au-

trench,
libertyto add thereunto, to re"
further
He
divers
things!
superstitionto assert, as some

the Hebrew

text

which

we

have

at

17

TESTAMENT.

OLD

THE

corruptedin any place,and that there

must
is no fault, nor
anything left out, and that we
This is not
only
indispensablyfollow it at all time.
all evidence, and contrary to all proto speak without
bability,
the
have every
but we
to
good proof
contrary.
twixt
bein
there
have
differences
the
first
been
For,
place,
the
the oldest of the
Hebrew
copies,which
Massorites
have
observed, by that which
they call
Keri, and Ketib, and putting one of the readings in
in the margin,
the text, and
the
the other
have
we
different readingsof the Jews
of the East,
and the
Jews
of the
Asher, and the Ben
West, the Ben
Napthali."
learned
writer
My next authority is a still more
than
Du
even
Pin, and with whose works the English
reader may
be better acquainted.
of
1 mean
Translation
Bellamy, author of the New

present,is

not

"

the Bible.

In the

introduction

to

that

able and

orate
elab-

production,Bellamy denounces, in no qualified

ous
terms, the Septuagintversion,and points out numerand
errors
flagrant
discrepanciesof the most
character.
In Genesis, says
he, c. 15, v. 11, there is
he drove them
a sentence,
ought to
away,'; which
he remained
have been
with them"
In the 6 c. v. 6,
"
there is an
expression it grievedhim at his heart,
he idolized himself at his heart,7'
should be
which
than
rather
implying congratulation,
regret. The
she
"thus
in the 22 c. v. 16, stating that
sentence
"
thus
translated
been
was
reproved,"should have
that
she was
to
justified"meaning the very reverse
"

"

"

"

we

of

are

trained

Jeremiah,

hast

deceived

been

rendered

to

believe.

in the 20

c.

and

me,
"
O

The

of his
was

Lord, thou
"

exclamation

notorious

book,

deceived"
hast

"

Lord, thou

should

persuaded me,

have

thus

These
other
and many
Holy
persuaded! !
blunders,the learned Bellamy exposes, and concludes
by declaring that the authors of the Septuagint did
the Hebreio language. And
understand
not critically
of these pious blunit is the comoosition
yet, forsooth,

was

2*

18

HISTORY

OF

"
called upon
vine,"
Dito esteem
are
as
derers,which we
the infallible
truth and salvation ! "
guide to
What
!
What
a mockery !
a delusion
of vast
biblical acquirements,
Bishop Usher, a man
He
either Du
Pin, or Bellamy.
goes further than
maintains, as quoted by Bellamy in his Introduction
New
to the
as
Translation,that the version known
the Septuagint,is not only repletewith
the most
ous
seri! !
copy
errors, but that it is only a SPURIOUS
The
real Septuagint was
never
circulated,being lost
the destruction
of the Alexandrian
at
Library, in
which
it was
then deposited.The
Bishop says, "The
Septuaginttranslation continuallyadds to, takes from,
that
and changes the Hebrew
text
at pleasure" and
"the
lost long ago, and
originaltranslation of it was
what
since gone by that name,
has ever
is a spurious
tions
abounding in omissions, additions,and alteracopy,
of the Hebrew
If the opinion of the
text."
"

"

learned
world
of
"

is correct, it follows that

been propagatingthat as the

Prelate
have

God, which is nothing but a

an
imposition !
Looking

we
one

consider
may
of damjtation

that the

genuine word
forgery a pious fraud
"

than

circumstances,

these

at

Christian

rather

nearer

Infidel
the

who

truth

Bible

the Christian

who

been

How

salvation.

repudiates the
than

has

scheme

Infidel may
pitythe fate of the humble
After all,it is not quitethe "safest
The

the Christian

the

Bible-monger
believe."

to

"

altogether,is
disseminates

forgery a lie.
In concluding this discourse,
that
I purpose
to show
Greek
this famous
version,the Septuagint,has itself
suffered the most
villanous mutilations,
lated
on
being transChristian
into Latin, and other languages. The
Father, St. Jerome, alludingto the Latin version of
the Old Testament, taken
from
the Septuagint, asks,
"If they say the Latin copiesare to be credited,let

"

"

them

tell

me

which

differentcopies as
truth

be

searched

; for

there
for

there

are

among

are

almost

manuscripts,
so

many,

as

and

why

many
if the
should

THE

have

19

TESTAMENT.

OLD

Greek

in order
original,
the faults that have
to correct
proceeded either from
from unreaof the interpreters,
the bad translations
or
sonable
been
corrections
made
that have
by unskilful
critics,and alterations that have happened through
of the copiers." We
told by St.
the carelessness
are
Christian
Father,
Jerome, that Origen, the famous
Infidel Celsus, wrote
and
a
opponent of the ancient
from
Old
which
of
version of Ihe
Testament,
many
modern
clared
more
our
copieshave been taken. Jerome dethat in this translation,
Origen altered the Greek
text
most
abominably. The following are the words
"
makes
of Du
Pin on this point :
St. Jerome
frequent
of the additions,corrections,
and subtractions
mention
made
in the version of the Septuagint by Origen, and
not

we

to

recourse

the

"

of the

bars

and

astericks

he

made

use

of for that
'

When

pose.
pur-

was
Origen,'says Jerome, saw
the Hebrew, he did supply it
less in the Greek
than
from
the version of Theodotion, and
asterisk
put an
to it,to signifythat this was
star
to illustrate what
or
'

obscure

was

This

there

'"

informed
rome,
are
Theodotion, we
by St. Jewas
an
founded
conInfidel,and that his version was
with the Septuagint. The
French
Professor
"
of the transcribers,and
By the carelessness
says,
of those who
sometimes
set them
isks
asterto work, the
of Origen, being misunderstood, or entirelyleft
were
places,the additions of Theodotion
out, m some
the
with
version
confounded
of the Septuagint, which,
Jerome
to say, that
rupted
perhaps, moved
Origen had corand confounded
the version
of the Septuagint."
gen,
Thus, then, does it appear, that in the version of Orifrom which
of our present copiesare taken,
many
the

same

of Theodotion

words

with

God's
how

but
me

you

advise

again

words
do

are

you

! !

the

What

know

reading the
you,

for your

when

words
own

confounded

Infidel, were

medley
you

of

read
an

! Christians,

Oh
your

Bibles,

Infidel ?

sakes,never

to

Let
read

it

20

HISTORY

in

Curwen,

records

He

retire.
first

the
91st

the

shalt

of

Father
I

fear

have

unreasonable

now,

would

the

the

hands

Address,

the

Testament,

New

shall

those

which

moden

"

night.'"

by

is

version,
of

spoken

by

equally

the

meet

into

the

hasten

the

which

has,
with

testimony

subject,

of

downfall

hitherto,
error,

as

that
strewn

could

cant,

and

delusion

man

any

only

mental

you,
peachable.
unim-

ry
inqui-

court

of

scheme
the

to

and

it

ply
sup-

important,

challenge

adduced.

vast

with

read

respectable

believe

ignorance,

and

its

next

and

been

distinctly

have

of

connection

curious

as

Old

my

century,

evening

equally
I

present
as

this

retiring,

in

history,

the

In

Christians.

my

the

time

the

to

as

of

History

period

the

its
to

authority

upon

of

far

as

you

the

earliest

have

In

man

vermin

given

admit,

trace

facts

with

you

friends,

my

from
into

coming

to

afraid

following,

the

our

the

to

be

not

corrections,"

possibly

Testament,

and

in

given

as

Museum,

shalt

and

hugs

ere

turning

saw

late,

you

British

Thou
I

of

to

and

sa

Jerome.

time

as

'

"fcc,?

the

words

"

the

of

night,

not

the

suppose

one

by

the

in

which

press

submit

Vellum,

in

the

by
but

saw

"

instead

5,

v.

made

"

from

Journal,

cannot

printed

terror

Thou

writes

Bible

TESTAMENT.

OLD

been

which

Psalm,

for

have

fact

THE

published

his

extracts

many

OF

tend

to

imposture
pathway
!

of

22

HISTORY

OF

old

an

priestnamed
Hilkiah,in one of the houses of
Lord, and further,that in the interval between
translated
period and the year 287, when it was
had been lost
stroyed
Greek, the " book
absolutelydeduring the Babylonish captivity. In fact,the

the
this

"

into

"

Old

Testament

it is

as

cunning priestnamed

before

the

Bible

is not
"

the

We

"

by

an

years
that the

stated

portion of

small

paratively
com-

400

some

next

complete', being only

of God,"
that many

word

transmitted

Ezra, only

of Christ.

time

to

us, was
production, being written

modern
old

offered

now

books

were

never

of the ravages
and
profanity

posterityin consequence
of the Chaldeans, and the carelessness
of the Jews
themselves, who not only lost whole books
"
of the
We
Bible," but positivelyburnt others.
authorized
lection
color
no
proved there was
proper canon
of the Old
Testament, until the Maccabees,
which
was
only 200 years beforethe Christian epoch.
to

tament
Testhe translation of the Old
upon
into Greek
by order of Ptolemy Philadelphia,

We

commented

We
tion
proved that this translayear 287, B. C.
the most
could not be depended upon,
villanous
Text
mutilations
having been made in the Hebrew
in the

of " alterations,
additions,and
way
and that similar liberties had been taken

omissions,"

by

"

in translations

We

have

thus

Scripturesto
a

brought

the

historical

our

Christian

this

We

in connection
the New

"

"

word

with

the

old, a

of God"

have

is esteemed

introduces

us

to

sider,
con-

now

recent

more

This

Testament.

of the

review

This

era.

field of discussion.

new

of the

from

subsequently made

thers
Fa-

version.

famous

to

"

the

by

modern
the

by

duction
pro-

portion
Christians

important so much
so,
the
New
the Old Testament
that were
false,
perfectly
remains
Testament
absolutelytrue.
they conceive
Many Christians are disposedto admit, that just and
as

eminently

valuable

and

"

"

reasonable

and

doubts

may

be entertained

genuineness of

many

of the

books

of

ticity
authen-

the

Old

THE

but

Testament,

evidence

the

23

TESTAMENT.

NEW

of the

favor

in

New

To this opinion,however,
irrefragable.
I deny that the testimony
I mast
decidedly demur.
is unquestionable. I
Testament
in favor of the New
it is at all superiorto the
question indeed whether

they

is

affirm

In

Old.

advantage,

for the

of the
written

by

is said
to
Holy Word"
man
immediately connected

the

; but

Christ

never

wrote

the

he

Old

advantage
received

order

the

New

of the

his

any

book,

nor,

else

one

Testament,

Koran.

New

of the

the hero

"

line of that

ever

nor

important portionof

most

Mahomet

has

the

that

vision
di-

been

have

"

Moses

Pin, did

Testament

respects, the Old

some

with

it
"

Testament,

according to

Du

it. Neither

to write

however,
declares

have

the

that he

Bible

directlyfrom Heaven, chapter by

chapter. Now the Christian Scripturesare confessedly
sequent
I shall show
in a subwritten by priests, priests,
as
address, of the most
ignorant,credulous and
"

worthless

character.

My friends,it
portionof the New
life of

Christ.

is admitted

on

Testament
The

very

was

all hands

that

no

written

as
earliest,

during the
stated by the

Christians

till the year

written
not
themselves,was
that is,rather more
64
than 30 years after his death.
have
But
to believe
not
we
just reason
they were
written
until long afterwards,particularlythe four
Gospels,
The
firsttime any allusion is made to the Gospels
was
by the Christian Father, Ireneus,in the year 182,
that is,nearly 150 years afterthe time of Christ.
Dr.
"

Lardner

maintains

againstheresies,in

1,) could

that
which

the

five

of

books

this reference

is

Ireneus

made, (vol.

this date.
published
Tillemont
and
Christian
Massuett,two great French
writers,think the more
tion
probable date of this publicaof
of the time
the latter end
was
192, about
Elutherus.
edition of Dr. Lardner's
(See the London
works, in 12 vols.,1788, vol. 2, 154 to 159.)
Had
these books
been
in existence
prior to this

3, c.

not

be

earlier

than

24

HISTORY

OF

tioned
period,it is exceedinglystrange they are not menof
fathers
the Apostolic
lived vat,
who
by any
or
immediately subsequent to, the time of Christ,nor
by the earlier Christian fathers,who flourished at the

of

close

and
first,

the

of

commencement

the

second

admitted,on all hands, that they are

named
not
by the apostolicfather Barnabas, who
lived in the year 71
nor
by Clemens
Romanus, who
flourished A. D. 96
nor
by Hermas, who lived A. D.
100"
lived in the year 107
nor
by St. Ignatius,who
Justin
nor
Polycarp, 108
Martyr,
Papias, 116
140
Tatian, 172" nor by Hegesippus, so late as the
It is

century.

"

"

"

"

"

"

year A.
The

D.

173.

learned
"

Dodwell,

in

We

at

have

Dissertation

his

upon

this

day certain
ecclesiastical writers of the times, as
authentic
Romanus, Barnabas, Hermas, Ignatius,and

Ireneus, says,

who

named

and

them,

But

Testament.

single

nor

named.

after all the writers

of

the

will

not

in
or

passage,

same

Hermas

you
of

mention

any

in all the rest

is any

of the

one

New

find

New

the

have

one

ment,
Testa-

Evangelists

"

is the

repeat, then,that Ireneus

carp,
Poly1

the

order

ens
Clem-

wherein

in

wrote

most

firstwho

mentions

did not occur

circumstance
gospels,which
And
until 150 years after the death of Christ.
upon
four
these
Ireneus
what
gospels
authoritydoes
present
Now
authorityonly.
as
genuine 1 Why, on his own
four

the

let

suppose
in
the throne
us

Charles

case.

1628

"

1846, for

that

now,

like

Ireneus

should

man

endowed

with

some

the

200

the

1st succeeded

years

Suppose
despicablepriest

firsttime, a

say

that

miraculous

certain

powers,

to

ago.

accounts

who

of
lived

in

miracles
worked
there,
1628, and who
Mark
Randall,
Bay,
were
published by Matthew
Luke
Faust, and John Johnstone, {persons net heard
by any other writer of the
of before,or mentioned
that happened under
time,) of something miraculous
London

in

Charles

the

1st.

What

credit

ought

to

be

given or

ascribed

such

to

25

TESTAMENT.

NEW

THE

narration

Yet

on

such

kind

of

!
founded
Christianity
whose
this Ireneus,upon
But pray who
ity
veracwas
Christian Father,"
much
so
depends? Why, a
of the most
and
one
ignorant and credulous,of that
cunning, and I will add, dishonest class
superstitious,

evidence,

is

"

of

men.

I shall have

occasion

speak in very strong terms

of these
in. my
next
of the character
"holy men"
I reserve,
discourse.
marks
therefore,any lengthened reAt
this head, until a future occasion.
upon
from
this moment
I shall only quote a brief passage
the De
73, of the celebrated
Script.Interpret.,
page
of
he is alludingto the conduct
Dr. Whitby, where
the Father
Ireneus and
Papias. The Dr. complains
the actions of
down
of their having "handed
bitterly
their disciples
from
the apostlesand
paltry rumors,
and
and dubious
luded
as
having scandalouslydereports,
fables and
the world
with
lying narrations"
the general practices
of Ireneus,what
If such
were
authority have Ave that these four Gospels, said by
him
be written
to
by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John, are not, like the rest of his productions,"mere
We
fables and lying narrations?"
have
sion
every occathat
such
is
to believe,
the fact,especially
indeed,
when
the
remember
he
we
extraordinary reasons
assigns for there being four, and just four gospels
there are
but
inspired. His reasons
are, "because
four quarters of the world, and
has
every cherubim
those cherubims, unquestionably,
four faces!" Strange animals
but what
reason!
How
of
a
a
worthy
four faces,ergo,
there
has
priest! Every cherubim
are
logic! How
only four inspiredgospels! What
How
!
unanszaerable
convincing! How
worthy of
the book
they are written to support !
And

"Infidels"

such
reason

we

are

farrago.
and

Be

it

to

so.

common

sense

because

Better

we

be

enables

the
him

cannot

believe

Infidel whose
to

repudiate

26
such

At

the

the

to

blind

absurdity,than the saint whose

narrow
prejudicesinduce him to

and

"

OF

HISTORY

time

introduced

Ireneus

world,

it is notorious

accredit

were

gospels
Did

of

alone

the

Ireneus

with
Be

subject?

the

it may,
determined

that

Ireneus

such

contrary, he

was

Whitby

says, in
narrations."

of Ireneus
his

as

upon

show

as

except by

one

"

the

4th

it

vol., page

of

the

down

adopted

as

tradition,true

certain

or

some

nearly

of

the

to

no

on

from

one

that

at

to

and

which

century

were

had

before,and

set

followed
Thus
writer

to

became

purpose."

any

time

the

or

fathers

ancient

examination, until,at last,it

them

fused,
con-

certain

times,

own

the

vague,

truths,and those who

with implicitrevere?ice.

gospels,there
of

their

false,passed

late to examine
said

so

eldest of the

The

Reports

another, without

four

to

when

time

or

their accounts

I have

the

published,are
discordant, that they lead
written

solid determination.
collected

from

quote

Introduction

the

antiquity, concerning

gospelswere
and

of

260,

will

"

accounts

writers

decided, I

was

edition,by the Rev. J. H. Home:

left us," says
he,
by eclesiastical

Scriptures,second
"The

difficultyattending this
the
unsatisfactory
very

great

inquiry, and

our

in which

manner

these

four

these

perspicacity.And
the
On
?
a man
Confessedly not.
and
weak
credulous, and, as Dr.
the habit of writing fables and
ing
lyIt is evident,therefore,the authority
much
this vital point is just worth
as

you

portionof

them

what

logic.

To

the

teem
es-

spurious?
enlighten him
such
an
tant
impor-

faces"

four

high

rest

question could not be

erudition,and
enlarged intellect,

was

too

and

other

By

that

determine

genuine,

were

"cherubims

the

upon

did

then,

gospels

many
held in

were
gospels" in circulation,which
by the majority of the early Christians.

means,

it.

four

these

there

credulity

first mentioned

Ireneus

many

others

existed, we
were

are

considered

in circulation,

told, for
genuine

NEW

THE

27

TESTAMENT.

and actuallyread and

quoted
earlyChristians,
There
the word
ber
as
of God.
were, also,a great numof Epistles,Acts, Revelations,
which
were
"fcc.,
also deemed
genuine. The best list of these spurious
productions is to be found in Toland's Amynter, as
corrected
by Jones in his Treatise on the Canon,
few of
I may
collection.
a
name
copied into Home's
the most
the Gospel of St.
important. There were
St.
Peter,St. Thomas, St. Mathias,St. Bartholomew.
The
Judas Iscariot,
Philip,
Thaddeus, and Barnabas.
Acts of St. Peter,St. Paul, St. Andrew, St. John, St.
of St.
the Revelations
Philip,and St. Thomas
; and
Paul, St. Thomas, St. Stephen,and the Great Apostle.
There
were
upwards of fiftyaltogether.All these
time
Gospels, Acts, and Revelations were, at one
ing
divine word."
It was
considered the
only by believin these books that mankind
be "saved;
could
while
the Gospels,
are
Acts, and Revelations which
offered to us were
denounced
now
as
spurious,"as
"fables
and lyingnarrations."
And
who
the most
are
are
likelyto know which

by

the

"

"

false and

which

true

are

these

books

you

have

said

Those

who

lived

at

the

have

appeared, or those
who
flourished centuries
subsequently? Undoubtedly
the former.
in this
Viewing the subject,therefore,
have
that
to believe
just reason
point of view, we
those rejectedgospels are
more
likelyto be true (if
And. oh. Christversion.
ians!
any are so) than our modern
if such
be the fact,in what
a
quandary are
What
a serious
rests
you placed?
upon
responsibility
You
shoulders?
have
your
pious
rejectedthe true
gospels,and allowed them to fall into utter oblivion
time

while
spurious
have

!!!

you

and

it you

afso

meet

are

to

sanctioned

How

many

millions

these means,
believe in these

by

with

mistaken,and
of

that

which

is false and

of credulous

led into eternal

books

perdition?

yourselves,you

the

fate !
unenviable
same
! What
unfortunate men
a

deluded

es
wretch-

Christians,
"

may

Miserable

motley

believers

semblage
as-

iii the

28

OP

HISTORY

gospel,will

wrong
behold
What

the honest

his arrival

on

the torrid

at

will

splendidrun of business
enjoy! What a monopoly of

No

"bad

times

"

"

"

of trade

lack

no

"

despised Infidel
regionsof eternity!
his Satanic
Majesty
departed spirits !

but

with

The

him.

Infidel may
he is snugly reposing
rest
assured,when
in his infernal domicil,that he will not quitebe "lone
in his
To
idle
to

glory."
convince

you

surmise, or

the

not

am

celebrated

some

indulgingin

banter, I

uncourteous

writingsof

that I

will

mere

refer

Christians.

you

This,

all my
"sins," for if you can
expunge
Christian
priestin favor of any proposition,
received
with
it will be
acclamation, while,

opine,will
only cite some
the

were

esteemed

statements

same

to

Infidel,'7
they

come

from

one

would

who

is

instantlybe reprobated
as
"blasphemies." I have affirmed,then, that
of these
held
in high
rejectedgospels were
many
to the
not
consideration,
only before,but subsequent,
learned
sanction of our
Nay, many
present canon.
had
of recent
have
in
times
men
strong predilections
favor of many
of these discarded
books, considering
version.
canonized
them
as
genuine as any of our
Dr. Whiston, in
Listen to the opinionsof the learned
his
Exact
Time," page 28. He has declared that
less than twenty-seven of these books
are
no
genuine.
"be
weak
to
Can
so
as
imagine
any one," says he,
were
Mark, and Luke, and James, and Jude, who
of them
than
more
none
companions of the Apostles,
sacred and unerring guides,while Barnabas,
to be our
Thaddeus, Clement, Timothy, Hcrmas, Ignatius,and
P lycarp,who
were
equally companions of the same
The
Rev.
Apostles, to be of no authorityat all?
of Religious Enquiry,"
Rationale
J. Martineau, in his
the gospels
could recover
observes, "If we
of the Hebrews, and
that of the Egyptians, it would
should not form
be difficult to give a reason
Avhy they
actually
a part of the New
Testament; and an epistle
exists,by Clement, the fellow-laborer of Paul, which
an

"

"

"

"

"

"

30

OF

HISTORY

would

canon

have

been

like
forgotten,

of

many

the

books.
ra?^-rejected
Is it not, my
friends,very

extraordinary that a
book
like the New
Testament, claiming to be of
"divine"
scurity,
so
long in oborigin,should have remained
from
and
eternal oblivion
last only saved
at
through the presumption of a cunning and despotic
and
be genuine
to
by the
finallydetermined
priest,
dicta of a council
of priests,equally deceitful,
mere
himself?
and arbitraryas
This
simple fact is alone
sufficient to convince
that
every unprejudiced mind
the Bible has no more
to do with
Deity than Gulliver's
Travels
An

Tom

or

important question

did this Council

of

canon

God

Thumb.

the

of Laodicea

New

suggests itself. How

here

decide

Testament

that

is the

present

our

of

word

true

Did

from
they receive a special message
heaven
the subject
?
No, indeed,but this vital
upon
decided
decided
matter
was
as
solelyby vote
your
Town
Council
decide
a
might
policeforce,or
upon
of Commons
the House
tariff. It might have
a
upon
happened the majority had voted against our present
"

authorised

version, and
And

books.
we

esteem

now

denounced,

the

"

in

favor

what

then

Word

of God"

of

some

Why,
would

of the
that

jected
re-

which

have

been

repudiatedcopies,"as mere
fables and lying narrations,"and we
should noiv
have
been promulgating as the
that which
Holy Word"
then declared
to be false and
was
spurious. William
Quaker, in arguing that the
Penn, the celebrated
Bible cannot
be the rule of faith and
practice,
says
if they are well assured
I demand
of our
adversaries
as

the

were

"

"

"

clared
collected,embodied, and dethem
(the Scriptures) authentic, by a public
of Laodicea,
which
read was
in the Council
canon
we
held
360 years
after Christ," "I say, hoxo do they
know
that these men
true
from
rightly discerned
of the Scripit is,that some
Now, sure
tures
spurious?

of

those

first

who

men

"

taken

in

by

one

council,were

rejected
by

another

THE

NEW

31

TESTAMENT.

left out
by the
apocryphal,and that which was
for apocryphal, was
former
taken in by the latter for
canonical.
Now, visible it is, that they contradict
that they hath erred respecteach other, and
true
as
ing
vol.
belief."
the present
1, p.
(Penn's Works,
302, 303, 304, London, 1782.)
matter
rests
It is manifest, my
friends,the whole
dicta,and not divine interposition,
merely on human
therefore
the pretensionsof the Christian
world
and
the divinity of their
Sacred"
to
oracle,are alike
iov

"

tuitous

and

absurd.

mode
of
a legitimate
Presuming, however, this was
determining the divinityof Scripture,a further question
has
who
be considered, whether
the men
to
composed these councils were
competent to decide
such
critical matters
be assured
? We
must
they were
enlightenedand unprejudiced,and disposed to discuss
the subjectdispassionately.We
be certain they
must
all the evidence,
examined, minutely and deliberately,
pro et con, in reference to the different Gospels,Acts,
Epistles,and Revelations,claiming to be genuine
not
Scripture. For if they were
persons of this high
character, acting in the enlightenedspiritproposed,
no
confidencecan be placed in their decisions.
They
be calculated
would
only to mislead, to confound
"

rather

Now

than
I

to

settle the

controvesy.

that they were

not men
fearlessly
so
distinguishedand estimable.
They were, on the
lous
creduand
contrary, excessivelybigoted,prejudiced,
their own
to
crotchets.
indissolublywedded
Their
conduct, indeed, in those "holy councils,"
would
have
disgraceda pot-house.
My friends,these are bold assertions,and require
adduce
it. I shall
very distinct proof. I will at once
first quote from an
the authorityof
eye witness, upon
the Christian
writer,Tindal, in the 195th p^ge of his
Church."
work, entitled, "Rights of the Christian
"St. Gregory Nazianzen"
his letter to
says he, "in
tells him
he fled all as3eroblivesof
That
Procopius,
aver

most

"

'

32

HISTORY

OF
i

bishops,because he
of any council,but

never

saw

and

good

happy

end

they did rather increase than

lessen the evil,that the love vf contention
tion
ambiand
their reason
///
always overcomes
Prettymen
!
to determine
|
questions of such vital moment
But listen further to the words
of the pious NazianHe reiterates his determination
of never
zen.
going to
"
council, because nothing is to be heard there bid
any
I who
cranes
fightwithout
understanding
geese and
another/'
An
one
bly
unique, pious,and rational assemof the priestly
characteristic
this,truly! How
informed
who
here
was
are
by one
system ! We
nothing to be
present at these councils,that there was
that

'

heard

but
of

and

"

"

the deand it is upon

cisions
geese and cranes"
animals
like these, that the authenticity

genuineness of

our

Bible

O,

rests.

Christians

credulity? Little
the deferenceyou
pay to their rational and enlighteneddicta !
Listen again if you please, to the opinionsof Tindal, as to the character of these
pious assemblies.
of
Council
to the memorable
Alluding,in particular,
the Emperor
Nice, held in the year 327, at which
Constantine
presided,he observes : " And if these
cil
and libels which
the bishopsat the Counaccusations
of Nice
the Emperor,
another
to
give in of one
should
have
we
were
now
extant, in all probability,
such
rolls of scandal, that few would
have much
son
reato boast of the first (Ecumenical
council, where,
and
the
with
such
fury,
Bishops fell
heat, passion,
peror
fold on one another,insomuch, that had not the Emmemorials, proby a trick burnt their Church
bably
!
After
confusion
in
have broke up
they must
the Bishops made
that Council
so
was
great a
over,
bristle and disturbance, and were
so
unruly, that the
"
that if they
forced to tell them
good Emperor was
would
be more
not
quietand peaceablefor the future,
he
would
no
longer continue his expeditionagainst
the Infidels,
but must
to keep them in order.''
return
will you be ashamed
do these " geese and cranes

when

of your
"
know

"

"

"

NEW

THE

"Indeed,"

Tindal, " the confusion and

great amongst them, especiallyin

so

were

33

TESTAMENT.

disorder

says

that it sometimes

to blows

came

Synods,
instance,

for

as

their

Dioscorus, Bishop of Alexandria, cuffed and kicked

ond
Flavianus, Patriarch of Constantinople,(at the secSynod of Ephesus) with that fury that within
what
Ihree days after he died!!"
Oh!
Christians,
and
Christian
whose
Bishops, too ! the men
upon
judgment the Christian world depend for their creeds
and
!
their Scriptures! What
a mockery
You
have
But, my
friends,listen still further.
of their bigotry and
heard
violence.
A word
to
as
their honesty and
consistency. Tindal, speaking of
this subject,observes, "for
most
though they were
obstinate as
to power,
most
they were
flexibleas to
or
faith,and in their councils complimented the Emperwhatsoever
creeds
had
with
mind
a
they
to, and
never
scrupledto recant what they had before enacted,
what
to re-enact
or
they had before recanted.
Nay,
St.
so
they that
Hilary, Bishop of
very variable were
do
Poictiers,says that since the Nicene
Synod, we
nothing but write creeds; that while we fight about
"

words

while

while

quarrel

we

authors, while
none

that

Lord

of the

creed

new

:
u

We

decree

The

faith

They

moment

And
It

nay, every
is altered.'"
Flexible
remind

you

! his face

when

that

varied,tillI

(Ifthat
Have

of

me

he

had

known,

had

pronounced

of the

change

men,
gentle-

words

the

of

him

one,

changed and he was

another,
change was
hardly well put on,
don't
a

think

mother)

he shifted

so

his

mother/

own

would
from

followingfact, mentioned
of
"Synodicum of the Council
valuable
worth
all the preceding,
The

year

almost

"

Presto

every

is

concerning God,

our

moon

things
in parties,there

about

doubtful,and

contend

we

novelties

about

questions

about

is Christ's.

indeed

Byron

raise

we

her
one

son

to

t'other. "

by Pappius
Nice"

and

in

his

is, however,
curious

though

34

OF

HISTORY

the

Pappius informs us of the

selected from
Gospels were

be.

they

true

memorable

This

Council.

under

all the books

placing

the false at

done,

\tas

of the council, the

prayers
the table! while the false
upon

jumped
under!

"

What

of truth!

test

that

he, "by

says

communion

the

upon

in which

manner

table,and,

inspired books
remained

ones

What

proofof

!
It is quite a stirring argument.
Who,
inspiration
doubt
after this, will venture
of
the authenticity
to
the Scriptures?
From
St. Cyril's Letters
learn that when
the
we
informed
of
that the Fathers
people of Ephesus were
the council had declared
they might call the
Virgin
Mother
of
the
Mary
God," they were
transported
of the bishops they
with joy ; they kissed the hands
embraced
their knees, and the whole
city resounded
!
After
with
acclamations.
Happy creatures
this,
"
surely no one will doubt that
ignorance is bliss."
their squabbles
Enough, however, of these councils,
"

"

"

"

and

their

they

cannot

freaks.

It

by any one
upon
and if these councils
intelligence,
have

we
upon,
of the immense

which

and

divine

of

state

must

After

there

were

406,

and

thingswhen

363,

hasten

now

the

Council

two

other

the

several
of

to

be

ascertaining
Gospels,Acts, Epistles,

the book

is said

are

be of

to

origin.

We
"

of

not

are

of

means

number

dinary
possessing or-

if any
or
Revelations, are reallygenuine,
is confusion, doubt, and
uncertainty !

All

curious

no

all of you,

to

be relied

depended

so.

evident

be

must

but

to the

of

ry.
histo-

our

of

Laodicea, in the year

great councils, one in the

other

in 680.

books

deemed

the

conclusion

council

The

council

canonical

of 680

again
Sacred

by

363,
year

of 406
the

restored

jected
re-

council
them
"

Writings the
"
from sect to
of God"
Word
tossed like a battledoor,
sect, and altered as the spiritof faction might dictate.
From
this period (close of the 7th century) to the
of God "
the "word
15th, when
printingwas invented,

to

the

canon.

Thus

were

the

"

THE

remained

in

Monasteries
The

pious
the

in

in such

35

TESTAMENT.

It

seclusion.

was

locked

up
of
Monks.
possession

exclusive

to read

forbidden

peoplewere

detected

NEW

it.

If

they

in
"

were

"impious" act, they were

ished
punmost
severely. The priesthoodat this period,
had every opportunityto do Avhat they liked
therefore,
with
it was
the Bible
to alter,add, or omit, justas
So greatlyin fact were
the priestconvenient.
most
hood
afraid of the peoplereading the Bible that a Bill
to prohibit
was
actually introduced into Parliament
one
readingthe Scripturesexcept those who were
any
an

"

authorized.
When

general,the Bible,despite
printingbecame
accessible to the
the anxiety of the clergy,was
more
the consequence
? Did it decide
laity; and what was
of these numerous
the grand question which
tures
ScripIt
enhanced
were
only
genuine? By no means.
confusion
which
the doubt and
previouslyexisted. It
petty
splitup the European World into numberless
of
a
ll
which
sectaries,
politelypromised each
very
there
other eternal damnation.
Up to this moment
of the leading sects of Christendom
who
two
no
are
of the versions or books
entirelyagree upon
any one
Luther
of the New
Testament, or even of the Old.
the Epistleof James.
And
Erasmus
himself rejected
and

Calvin

doubted

of the Revelations.

The

rians,
Unita-

headed

by the Rev. N. Lardner, regard the

Epistleto the Hebrews, Epistleof James, the 2nd of
tions
Peter, the 2nd and 3rd of John, Jude, and Revelaas
doubtful,and, as they express it,not "jit" to
sufficient proofof any doctrine.
be allegedas affording
Testament
New
The
published by the learned
Evanson
in
only the Gospel of St.
1807, contains
and
Revelations,
Luke, Acts, ten of Paul's Epistles,
and

even

those

are

said

to

"

abound

with

manifest

thew,
Gospel of Matrejectsas
Mark, and John, he coritemptiiously
"
spurious fictions of the second century."
The
Swedenborgians admit only the four Gospels
and the folThe
German
and Revelations.
Baptists,

and

numerous

The
interpolations."

36

HISTORY

lowers

of

Servetus, do
and

Matthew,
denounced

OF

receive

not

learned

the

Gospel of

the

Professor

Bauer

in

St.

1803

forgery.7' The 2nd

by Dr.
Epistleto Timothy, and Titus, were
rejected
Eichorn, and the 1st Epistleto Timothy in 1807 by
Dr. Scheliermacher, the
celebrated
The
German.
rejectedin 1820 by Dr. BretGospel of St. John was
and Luke
schneider,and the 1st Chapter of Matthew
denounced
pository
Reare
by the Unitarians in the Monthly
absolute falsities!
The
Catholic
as
Bible,
with innumerable
say the Protestants,abounds
gross
of
the
and
in
exhibits
number
a
places,
great
errors,
and the most
most
shocking barbarityof style,
etrable
impenof the
obscurity with respect to the sense
Yet this Bible was
thentic
pronounced auinspiredwriters.
by a decree of the Council of Trent.
The
is denounced, even
Protestant
Bible in return
so
latelyas 1816, by the Pope of Rome, as
pregnant
and
old
Bible
with errors
is
the
Protestant
ated
repudi;
the
himself
testant,
Procritic
who
was
a
Broughton,
by
u
as
pervertingthe text of the Old Testament
the New,
in 848 places,and causing millions
to reject
"
for the
into everlastingflames !
As
and
to run
"
present version, its translators5' say the learned
to the depths of
Catholics, ought to be abhorred
it

absolute

an

as

"

'

"

"

J?

"

hell."
We

exposed in

false translations
in the

false translation

according to
means

the

and

had

Old

I time

New.

blunders
many
been made
in the

last lecture

which

Had

Testament.
ones

our

For

could

instance,a
in

appears

Mark

learned, the

cable rope,

not

word

camel.

point

out

ludicrous

10,

c.

similar

of

case

25, where,

in the

original

In the notion

of

the eye of a needle,an association

of ideas is preserved,
but the other meaning is forced

cable
and

going through

ridiculous.
that

John's

1st

the

Calmet,
7th

and

the
8th

famous

Bible

verses

of the

clares
critic,de5th

of

c.

"

Epistle, are not in any ancient Bible."

This interpolation
was
an
impudent stroke to support
the trinity.Cappellusinforms us that he was
thirty"

38

HISTORY

I shall

with

OF

the

observation
followingstartling
of the distinguishedChristian, Le
Clerc.
He
curiously observes, in his
Disquisitionon Inspiration,"
There
is no heresy in rejecting
a book
p. 27,
of the Jewish
neither is it to rejectone
as
canon,
of
sum

up

"

"

our

; at

own

Luther

least, the
for

heretic

Protestants

have

not

called

Epistleof James
is an
than they have
Epistleof straw, no more
many
of the learned for not receivingthe Second
Epistle of
critic (James Scaliger) styles
Peter, which a famous
fiction of some
ancient Christian
a
misemploying his
a

saying that

the

leisure
have

time.'

received

The

Jewish

into their

Sanhedrim
books

canon

easily

may
that

had

vine
di-

no

,"
authority
Here

we

told that it is

are

of the sacred

writings,and

easilyreceived

into the

Old

no

that

heresy
the

to

doubt

Jews

Testament

may
books

any
have
which

origin. Strange production to be

of God, any
the word
pudiate
reportion of which you may
with
impunity, and any part of which
may
still called upon,
be of divine origin! And
not
we
are
of science and
in this, the boasted
inquiry, to
age
Oh ! wheji will
acknowledge such a book as divine.
to conthe intellectual and thinking of our
nive
race
cease
off
When
throw
will man
at such
absurdity?
Will
his mental
leading strings,and act as a man?
Will
rise above
his intellectual babyhood ?
he never
sions,
deluhe always adhere
to the falsehoods,fancies,and
accredited
by his infantile credulity? Truth
forbid it ! Oh ! when, then, will this
and humanity
! my
when
friends?
men
change take place? When
dare be honest
when
keep a conscience"
they dare
when
they dare seize upon the preciousjewel of truth
of
anathemas
it is to be found, despite the
wherever
priests,and the sneers, insults,and persecutionsof
arrive.
that
May the
day soon
bigots. And
may
not

are

of divine

"

"

time
and

of

be far

not

distant,when

goodness will
men

encircle

the

sacred

the minds

halo

and

of

the

reason

hearts

THIEB^

LECTURE

Friends

APOSTLES.

AND

FATHERS

CHRISTIAN

THE

OF

CHARACTER

"

In

our

with

earliest

times

record,
history I had

to

on

the

furnished

preceding discourses,
history of the
compendious
two

you
the

from

Bible

In

present age.

oping
devel-

lay before you

and
of the most
curious
extraordinary kind
selves
themthe
authority of Christians
resting upon
facts which
convince
must
enlightened
every
that
the
unprejudiced mind
pretensions of the
that

facts

occasion

to

"

facts

"

and

Christian

world

book

touching

the

and

perfectly unwarrantable
to
supply you
necessary

are

deemed

it

in order

that

of

Divinity
with

this notorious
absurd.
this

history

enabled
be
take
to
an
parties may
of
accurate,
comprehensive, and, therefore, just view
this great and
important question. It has too often,
all

unfortunately,been
to

confine

themselves

consideration
of

the

of

this

practice of
to

vast

very

Biblical
limited

subject"

to

the

disputants
and

narrow

possibility

of some
miracle, the fulfillment
foolish
obsolete
torian,
hisprophecy, the testimony of some
the freaks
of some
or
fanatical, impudent, and
this mistake, however, I
cunning priest. To obviate
am
endeavoring, in the first instance, to familiarise
with
the general bearings of this extensive
topic*
you
On
this occasion, it is our
intention
to
expatiate
ridiculous

some

upon

.portionof

our

inquiry

which

is

intimately and

40

CHARACTER

OF

THE

inseparablyconnected with the historyof the Bible.

In fact,it may
be considered
part and parcelof the
subject. I allude to the character and doingsof those
hands
individuals in whose
the Scripturesoriginally
reposed,particularlyduring the first four centuries of
the Christian
of

era,

the

when

no

of

books

authorised

canon

New

Testament

the

or

lection
colwas

established.

this moment
will more
at
My remarks
especially
the
Divine
Word," as I
apply to this portionof
have
tion
already partly anticipatedthis subject,in relaThe
to the Old
Testament, in my first address.
I shall,in the first place,more
partiesto whom
ticularly
parChristian
the
and
other
allude,are,
Apostolic
"

fathers.
It is

matter

of the utmost

to ascertain

moment

if

honorable,ingenuous, and consistent.

We
must
an
inquireif they were
persons upon whom
honest and conscientious
man
can
place reliance ; for
if it can
individuals of this
be shown
not
they were
dence
eviof Christian
character,the grand corner-stone
those

men

were

You

is undermined.

must

that it is

remember
"

u
the authorityof these
we
are
Holy Fathers
upon
called
the Scripturesgenuine. If,
to believe
upon
that their authority
it can
be demonstrated
therefore,

is

exceptionable,we

at

once

of the argument.
It is necessary
I should

the very

overturn

inform

here

dation
foun-

you, in order
the veracity of

much
depends upon
explain how
of the New
these holy fathers,that the originals
lost. We
and absolutely
Testament
are
irrecoverably
tament,
Testo the New
to the Introduction
find,on referring
German
Professor,
by Michaelis,the famous
the
ancient
most
translated
as
by Bishop Marsh, that
of God"
Word
were
MSS.
of this portionof the
that is,nearly
writen
so
latelyas the 6th century,
said to have
500 years after the time the originals
are
ment,
Testabeen composed ! The
originalsof the New
indeed,have not been seen, says Michaelis,by
to

"

FATHERS

CHRISTIAN

do
any writer extant, nor
their contemporaries had
fathers

"

do

themselves

AND

they record
seen

41

APOSTLES.

that

them.

any

The

of

one

"holy

have

the
seen
profess to
Professor Michaelis further observes,"None
originals.
of the most
early fathers,as Ignatius or Tertullian,
and Professor
them ;
had
seen
or
appeal to the originals,
Du Pin, in his
History of the Canon/7 "c,
not

"

"

remarks
of the

"
"

We

do

not

find that the

two

greatest

men

Origen and St. Hierom, who

had searched
the ancient
with
copies of the Scriptures
much
and diligence,
and have visited so many
so
care
churches
in the east, have
ever
nals
spoken of the origiof the New
with
written
hands
the
Testament,
of the Apostles,which
they would not have failed to
do if there had
been
Again, he
any in their times."
to appear
observes,"But it hath been already made
that
wonder
the
elsewhere
that it is no
primitive
had
not
a
Christians,who
regularbody of a state in
assemblies
which
the
they lived,and whose
were, on
gans,
Paand
contrary, furiously disturbed by the Jews
had
the originals of their books!"
lost
"Nay," says he, "in the primitive ages, there was
talk of reading the Holy Scripturesin their origino
nals
providedit were used in the
; any
copy whatever
orthodox
churches, might be relied upon, as if it had
been the first original,
of the
written with the hands
apostles" ! The Rev. Dr. Campbell, in his work on
the Four
Gospels,page 117, also observes, "The
it is acknowledged on
all
autographs, (theoriginals,)
in
have
we
hands.,are noivhere to be found. What
their stead
the copies of copies,(through how
are
it is impossibleto say) which
were
successors
many
Dr.
taken
from
these autographs." Rev.
originally
Hug, in his Introduction to the New Testament, goes
ually
further,
however, than Michaelis or Campbell. He actIt is probable there could
have
affirms that,
been no autographs of the New
Testament
at all."
are
Since,then, the originalsof the New Testament
Du
absolutelylost,and, accordingto Michaelis and
church,

mean

"

"

"

4*

42

THE

Pin, have
of

been

CHARACTER

THE

OF

any writer extant, or any

their cotemporaries,it is,manifest
have nothing
we
not

depend

by

seen

but the

have precopiesthese holy men

sented
I repeat, therefore,
it is a question of
to us.
vital importance the question,indeed,to ascertain if
these men
are
worthy of credit.
Now
I unhesitatinglydenounce
them
as
persons
unworthy of belief,whose
testimony,at this period,
to

upon

"

would

be received

not

of law

in any court
frivolous case

in Christendom

the most
upon
that
do I aver

liberatel
imaginable. Deimposture and deceptionwas
their common
dissimulation
practice. They esteemed
and
and
falsehood
vices
not
as
as
as
excellencies,
excellencies to be imitated, not as vices to be despised.
To
deceive
the people, they considered
a
positive
Not only did they think
infamous
such
virtue.
tices
practhe
but
to
success
of religion!
actually
necessary
In short,if there were
honorable
time
to it.
at any
deceitfid
one
body of men, as public teachers,more
the
dishonest,and despicablethan another, they were
I am
class of whom
now
speaking, the class upon
world
the
Christian
whom
depend foi the genuineness
of their Scriptures.
ration.
declaa rash
This, my friends,may be considered
Let those, however, who
labor under
such
a
conception,listen to my proof. I shall first quote
"

"

"

from

the

able ecclesiastical

most

Historian

and

of modern

Professor,MoIn his Ecclesiastical History,part 2nd, chap.

sheim.
of the
use
following extraordinary
3rd, he makes
The
interest of virtue and
true
religion
language:
suffered yet more
errors
grievouslyby the monstrous
in
this century,
almost
that were
universallyadopted
of innumerable
source
a
Cthe fourth) and became
The
calamities and mischiefs in the succeeding ages.
tue
that it was
act of virfirst of these maxims
an
was,
the
to
and
deceive
by that means
lte, when
interest of the church
might be promoted;' and the
second,equally horrible,though in another point of
times

"

German

historian

the

"

'

AND

FATHERS

CHRISTIAN

43

APOSTLES.

maintained
when
religion,
and adhered
to after proper
admonition, were
able
punishThe
and corporealtortures.'
with
civil penalties
of long
maxims
former of these erroneous
was
now
standing ! it had been adopted for some
past,
ages
of ridiculous
and had produced an incredible number
and pious frauds ! to the
fables,fictitious prodigies,
in which
unspeakable detriment of that gloriouscause
be frankly confessed,
employed. And it must
they were

view,

that

of this

that

was,

the

of

evident

were

this

such

to

and

greatest men

century

infection

in

errors

more

less tainted

or

as

attentive

an

the

with

will

corrupt principle,as

look,with

saints

eminent

most

appear
their

to

eye,

We
would
willinglyexcept
writings and actions.
and
from
this charge Ambrose
Hiliary,Augustine,
is
Jerome
and
Gregory, Nazianzen,
; but truth,which
more
fathers,
respectablethan these venerable
obliges
He
them
in the general accusation."
to involve
us
further observes, as translated by Vidal,
At a time
when
he (Hermas) wrote, it was
established maxan
im
"

"

with

of

of the

many

if
deception,

and

fraud

conduce

towards

good."

"And

"

that

with

they

the

it
of

of

Honorable
Fathers

to

the

mightily affects
earliest

it their

considerable

the

he, again,
to
deceive,
truth,were

business
of

cause

than

censure!

Christians

Exemplary

French

"

Holy

own

lend

inventions

be

These

officious

see

how

to

in

that

by the wise
lies,they said,

received

the

the

the

were

It
in

were

it

help of
doctrine

new

among

"

"

considered

heavenly truth
order

there

many
who

of the church

times

might

Protestant,Casaubon

to

me

capitalexploit to
their

of any

Listen
the

likelythey would

was

commendation

men

themselves

considered," says

was

promoting

deserving rather

it

avail

to

attainment

made

who

view

Christians

Gentiles.

devised

for

Le Clerc, assenting to the opinions of

good end."
dissemblers
of truth are
Casaubon, observes, That
"

no

where

the writers

to be

met

of church

with

in such

history."

abundance

as

among

44

CHARACTER

THE

OF

in his Critical

History,vol. 1, page 20, also

that "We
remarks
ought not easilyto give credit to
the first originalsof churches, (meaning the fathers,)
their antiquityas much
strives to advance
one
every
and
sions
as
possible,
they make no scrupleon such occaSimon,

counterfeit

to

when

acts

have

they

that

none

true."

are

Dr.

Middleton,

Conyers

in his able

Cambridge,

at

into
Church
most

in

elaborate

of these

and

in God."

saying things which

They are mutually
they

are

bare

ivord"

not

to

In

be

work

"We

they

find
did

tricks

been

never

them

"

Use

peached,
im-

of the

(the fathers)

themselves

not

given

believe.

against each other,that

absolutelyon their own

witnesses

believed

book

Christian

you to the work

M. Daille,a man
the

on

quiry
En-

Free

of the

expose
I refer

his celebrated

Fathers," plainlysays,

of the

it is easilyto be obtained.
as
itself,
whose
has
learning and impartiality
in

"

Centuries,"has

unanswerable

Fathers

"

Powers

Three

First

the

entitled

work

Miraculous

the

distinguishedProfessor

1, chap. 6, he

observes, upon
Origen, Methodius,

"

authority of St.

Jerome,
written
Eusebius, Apollinaris,have
largelyagainst
their manner
and Porphyry.
Do but observe
Celsus
of arguing, and what
slipperyproblems they used.
lieved,
They alleged against the Gentiles not what they beJerome
but
what
they thought necessary.
the

"

"

adds, I forbear mentioning the Latin writers,as Tertullian,Cyprian, Minutius, Victorinus, Lactantius,
to
accuse
others,
Hiliary,lest I should rather seem

myself." Daille says the fathers "made

the
His work
on
no
scrupleto forge whole books !
Use
of the Fathers," was
published in 1G28, and
translated by T. Smith, of Cambridge ; the translation
than

defend

"

11

from

which

these

extracts

are

taken.

Protestant,in
Blondell,another learned French
that there was
his Epistleto Arnold, 1701, states
more
aversion
to lying,more
simplicityin adhering to truth,
M.

and

more

fidelity,
among

profane

than

Christian

au-

46

CHARACTER

Origen who
Testament,

was

New

of Laodicea

What,

collected
and

receive

we

cil
the Coun-

Word

of God."

of this person,
from
Scriptures?
Bishop

present

our

"

of the

canon

ipse dixit
the

as

character

in his

Horsley,

present

whose

upon

the

was

THE

our

adopted it

then,

whom

OF

Priestly,states that Origen

reply
M was
not
incapableof assertingin argument what
he believed
not, and that a strict regard to truth in
of the virtues of his characnot
ter.7'
one
disputationwas
The
when
Bishop further remarks, Time was
the practiceof using unjustifiable
to
means
serve
a
was
good cause
openly avowed, and Origen himself
its defenders." A fine character
%oas
this,to
among
of those upon
be one
whose
"authority we receive
to

"

"

of

Now

Word

the Divine

fathers

the ancient
He

Eusebius

or

of

to

write

to

and

have

scarce

wrote

fourth

authority
siastical
Eccle-

declares,in his

first ages
at

that

had
of

out
"With-

that

edge
knowl-

any

Christianity,
All

time.

the

century, who. undertook

history of the church, have began where

to
ended, as having nothing considerable

the

What

his labors.77

whom
upon
honorable
as

honest

who

this individual.

than

volumes,

of

Few

eminent

very

of 16

of the

of the

authors

Eusebius

add

history

authors

the

Greek

should

we

Tellimont
work

of Csesarea.

celebrated

is considered

History, a
of the

Bishop

more

are

Christians.

among

the

Eusebius,

character

dependence is placed?
his predecessor's.
He was
thought falsehood such a

such
as

meii who

such

is the

In the

virtue.

12th

Book

of this man,

Why,
one

it is

of those

convenience

of his

"

gelical
Evan-

he devotes
whole
a
chapter to
Preparation,77
it
proving that falsehood ought to be used whenever
the
the 31st chapter with
is required; and he heads

far it may
be proper
to
following question "How
of those
falsehood
as
a
use
medicine, and for the benefit
who
Strange medicine, this !
requireto be deceived"
of their
An
admirable
bolus, truly, for purging men
"

virtue

and

!
integrity

In another

place Eusebius

says

FATHERS

CHRISTIAN

of himself

"

related

I have

"

AND

47

APOSTLES.

whatever

redound

might

suppressed all that could

to the disgrace of our
religion.
world
the Christian
I am
sure
ought to be
obligedto his Reverence, though the justiceand
is another
of his conduct
question. But

to the

I have

and

glory

tend

;;

of the character

Christian

another

says

Baronius, who
Christian
faith,calls

priest?
of

the

of

Ecclesiastical

was

him

"

of

this

esty
honwhat
ous
virtu-

advocate

sincere
the

much

great falsifier

had

summate
History a wily sycophant a conhypocrite a time-servingpersecutor, who
or
life,
writings,to support
nothing in his known

the

belief

"

"

"

that

himself

he

believed

in

the

Christian

for the character

of this main
system." So much
whom
should
know
we
pillarof the church, without
faithful."
nothing of the early doings of the
Christian
Another
eminent
father was
Ireneus,of
I spoke at length in my
last discourse,when
whom
the first who
the four Gosmentions
pels.
showing he was
1 then
he accuses
quoted Dr. Whitby where
and father
him
luded
Papias " as having scandalouslydethe world
with fables and lying narrations."
Justin Martyr, Mosheim
Of the celebrated
distinctly
"
of what
Justin
deserving
says, that, much
says is wholly unof credit."
Of the fathers Clement, Alexandria
and Lactantius,
and
the Rev.
Mr. Jones, jn his
New
Full Method
of
ment,"
TestaSettling the Canonical
Authority of the New
that it was
the
part 2nd, page 34, observes
of testimonies
to make
out
use
practicewith them
of forgeries and
the very
to prove
spurious books
"

"

"

foundation
St.

of the

Jerome,

of the

Translation

by
I do

from

the

author

Bible,

"

Catholics,

not

"

find

hatred

the Christian

fault

towards

faith."

revelation.
stands

who

man

earlyfathers,and

the

"

Christian

of the
the

high
Vulgate, or

very

translation

now

among
Latin

ed
adopt-

declares that
positively
with
which
an
error
proceeds
the Jews, and a pious zeal for
(Oper.;torn. 4, page 113.) Acvery

"

"

48

CHARACTER

cording to this
of religion,an
as

he

honest

OF

if it is only for
priest,

individual

thinks

THE

proper

may
!

utter

The

as

Our

forefathers

and

doctors

of the

benefit
hoods
false-

many

Bishop

Gregory Nazianzen, surnamed

candidlyadmits to father Jerome, that
is all that is necessary
to impose upon
The
less they comprehend, the more

the

of Constantinople,

''-Divine,"

the
"a

littlejargon

the

people.
they admire !

church

"

have

often

said,not what they thought,but what circumstances

and necessitydictated to them."
Bishop Heliodorous,
of Theagnes and Charieles,modestly
in his Romance
is a good thing when
it aids the
a falsehood
says,
And
St.
speaker,and does no injuryto the hearers."
that
Synesius, early in the fifth century, declared
desirous
of being deceived.
We
the people were
act otherwise
cannot
respectingthem."
to
think of
are
we
Indeed, Synesius! then what
whose
moral
influence
is so weak
and
your religion,
it
flexible that wThen people are immoral, the only way
moral?
imcan
adopt to reclaim them, is to make them more
Truly, these are wonderful saints,"strange
"
of God !
ambassadors
But Synesius has not done.
He further declares,and, I must
say, very frankly
I
shall always be a
For
own
part, to myself
my
of manthe mass
but in dealing with
kind,
philosopher,
is no
doubt of it,
I shall be a. priest." There
holy Synesius !
As a specimen of the veracity of a very
popular
that
Christian father,St. Augustine, I need but state
and stakes his eternal
in his 33rd sermon,
he declares,
he said
the truth of the "fact," which
salvation
on
he was
the gospel,that while
true
as
as
was
Bishop
Lord
of Hippo Regius, he preachedthe gospel of our
Jesus
and
Saviour
Christ,to a whole nation of men
who had no
and women
heads, but had their eyes in
still more
in countries
their bosoms
southerly,
; and
each
ual
individhe preachedto a nation
amongst whom
"

"

"

"

"

had

but

the

forehead-

find

none

one

eye,

and

What

of the progeny

that situate

next?

How

of this

in the

middle

strange

singularrace

we

of
can

FATHERS

CHRISTIAN

for the

Now

of

one

mas"

honest

spake

never

St. Hernias

is taken.

passage

lived

word

true

and

all men,
credit to my

truth

to

gave

no

man

it looidd
are

and
Were

the

answer

and
denounce

I have

but

me,

which

should

Well

be

all

which

be believed,

to

ticity
authen-

to

knowledge
ac-

characters

such
with

what

world

Christian

better

"

ashamed

do I know

the

for

but

had

veracitythe
Bible depends !

our

lie

self
addressinghim-

truth ! !

as

ways
al-

exclamation

he
up now,
it would
come

productionwith
contempt

"

whose

men

connexion.

any

"

affirmed

was

well

as

Christian,I

a
a

had

time

upon
genuinenessof

was

This

following
Lord, /

the

life;

To

Hermas
lie

which

contradicted

words."

holy angel to whom

the
replied,"As
keep it up, and, as in

Paul.

St.

exclaims

in

the

Such

of

my
dissimulation, and

in

St. Her-

apostolicfather

the

gospel,from

49

APOSTLES.

fellow-laborers

the
wrote

man

of

case

AND

ultation
ex-

would

issued

rested
which
by the Sceptics,
its evidence
the testimony of such
unblushing
upon
impostors. Soon would
they exclaim,with all the
bitter scorn
so
peculiarto them, "away with such a
book !" "it is a disgraceto the age!
"an
insult to
!
God !
And
"a libel upon
religion
why will they
do the same
with their own
not
book, when
they find
its evidence
resting upon such infamous
testimony?
O ! but I presume
their book
is for the
promotion
of religion
That
IP
alters the case.
Being for a
"good" object,such conduct is deserving rather "of
of censure."
than
commendation
efit
Being for the '-benof the church," it is an
act of virtue to deceive
book

"

"

"

"

"

and

lie."

friends,while such morality finds

falsehood and
amongst mankind, well may

My

abound.
assert

that

of
in

such

Cod,"

While

those

to be

are

found,who

book, restingits evidence

deemed

who

vile

is "divine,"
artifices,

will"

"revealed
5

it

upon
virtue"

men

the

currency
lation
dissimu-

of

"

an

the

can

the testimony
to

indulge

"Word

omniscient

of
and

50

OF

CHARACTER

munificent

Deity

and
Not

deceivers

Burton's

been

impostors,but

common

so

St.

that

church,

before

and

Christian

the

were

Expositor," thatihe

"

had

crimes
the

rogue

only, however,

of

race

every

find

impostor may
his apology.

every

"

THE

thority,
au-

fathers
learn

we

practiceof

from

unnatural

the

of
dignitaries
sermon
preached

among

Bernard,

his

in

clergy,affirmed sodomy to be so common

in his time, that bishopswith bishops,lived in it. At
of this phalanx of
head
the
holy men," stood the
under
whose
Emperor Constantine, a man
fostering
first
and
dominion.
to
rose
care, Christianity
power
the

"

"

And

who

his wife

drowned

Crispus ;

son

he 'I

was

in
and

the

father-in-law,Maximinian
of

son

this
years of age ! And
of Christianity!

grand system

This
was

confined

not

to

his

husbands

of his

ters,
sis-

; murdered

his

to

put

Hercules,and

Constantia,

sister

his

boy

the

was

man

the Christian
in

his

nephew,

only twelve
first royal patron
and

fathers.

the

own

of

of dissimulation

themselves, indulged

He

death

two

Anastasia

form.

human

boilingwater

murdered

Constantia

in

monster

same

delusion
The

pious

tles
aposfreaks.

infected with
this corrupt
Nay, Christ himself was
the highest to the lowest, prevarication
principle. From
been
their "modus
and deceptionseem
to have
Testament
itself of
operandi" What
says the New
I will
will see
notorious
these
personages? We
Peter
and
take
Paul
as
specimens of the Apostles.
without
the two
whom
the leaders
men
They were
Christianitywould have died in its infancy.
In the 2nd Corinthians,c. 12,v. 16,
First,of Paul.
"

"

"

he

in

being

burden
it so, I did not
crafty,I caught you with

3rd

of

says,
the

But

c.

be

Romans,

v.

7, he

you,

theless
never-

guile: " and

remarks, " For if

abounded

through my lie
ner
sinI also judged as
a
his glory, why yet am
unto
St. Jerome, the learned Christian
father,says
7
u I will
of this Apostle,in his apology,
produce the
the

truth

of God

hath

more

"

"

CHRISTIAN

AND

FATHERS

51

APOSTLES.

I never
Apostle Paul, whom
peruse
his
I
hear
that
without
thinking
thundering rather
Consult
his epistles,
read his words.
than
larly
particuthe
to
Romans, Galatians, and
Ephesians,
You
will
in the
he disputes continually.
where
see
proofshe borrows from the Old Testament, with what
his subject.
address, what
dissimulation,he manages
him
Let us charge this upon
as
a
crime, and say to
used against the Jews,
him, the testimonies
you have
and
other
heretics, have
one
significationin their
and another
here
in your
see
writings. We
original,
aid
examples forciblypressedinto the service which
of this

example

victory,but

in gaining a
you
from
books
which

Corinthians, c. 9,
resorted
and

all men,

all. that I

as

''

under

the

under
are

without

that

To

to

the

to

law, (being
the law

22,

To

might gain

admits

Paul

them

And
that

of

having

deception

them

that

not

without

the

to

might gain

weak,

the weak

law

; I

became
made

am

free
unto

that

them

without

are

be

Jews,
the law,

under

might gain

1st

the

unto

are

the

In

of

system

more.

Christ,)that

law.

them."

taken

though,'7says he,
I made
myself servant

that

law,

law.

the

without

Jew,

to

force in

no

"I

For

yet have

as

have

wholesale

might gain

became

under

v.

most

hypocrisy.

from
I

the

to

you
19

have

are

law, as
God, but
them

that

weak,

as

all

things

that
I might by all means
some."
all men,
save
! mighty honest, truly !
Indeed
In Acts, 9, there is
to

long

and
and

particularaccount
his

stay

among

of Paul's

to

lem,
Jerusa-

the

disciples;while
that
solemnly swears
of his conversion,

Galatians, c. 1, v. 17, he
did not go!
In the account
given in Acts, c. 22, v. 9, Paul
with
the
not
were
him, heard
spake to him, while in c. 9, v. 7,
the
c. 23, v.
High
3, he abuses

judgment over
he
afterwards,)
v.
27, he says,

visit

says,
voice
he

in

he
as

the

men

who

of

him

who

they did. In
Priest for sittingin
in v. 5. (only two
verses
him, while
In c. 22,
pretends not to know him.
is a
he
Roman, but in c. 23, v. 6,
says

52

CHARACTER

declares

he

him

he

Such

is

OF

his

Pharisee, as

honest

was

THE

Now

Paul.

parents

before

for honest

Peter.

Luke, c. 22, v. 54 to 58, I find this

with
solemnly denying all connexion
In

of

whom

he

virtuous

the

man
"

divine

senior

the

apostle,and
he
had
in company
whom
been
only a short
before !
The
Then
took they
runs
passage
(Christ)and led him, and brought him into the

personage
with
time

was

"

"

him

High
And

Priest's
when

he

sat

An

admirable

down

But

together,Peter
maid

certain

of the

midst

fire in the

afar off.

followed

Peter

kindled

sat

were

them.

among

had

they

hall, and

And

house.

down

sat

him

beheld

as

him,
by the fire,and earnestlylooked upon
and
he
him.
And
also with
man
was
said, This
denied him, saying, Woman,
him
I know
And
not.
after a little while
another
saw
him, and said,thou
art also of them.
not.1'
And
Peter said, Man, I am

My
until

friends,if
I believe

become

Christian

not

am

such
I

when

one

for

character

apostle! !

Christian

be

to

esteemed

Christian

I shall only
prevaricatingpriests,
to love truth, and, like the
cease

fathers,consider

it

virtue

deceive

to

and

he.
Jesus

Christ"

-I have

said

that

of the
his

unblushing dissimulation
principalapostles,and the

successors

the

"

fathers.

;J

he, also,was
which

characterizes

of

eminent

most

guilty

In

their

Mark, c. 4, v. 11
it is given to know
God, but unto them

and

the
"unto
12, Christ says,
you
that
mysteries of the kingdom of
are
without, all these things are done in parables,that
seeing,they may see, and not perceive,and hearing,
they may hear, and not understand, lest at any time
given
they should be converted, and their sins should be forthem."
charitable ! These
How
words, we are
of the world
Redeemer"
uttered by the
told,were
"

"

he

error

who

of

sent

was

their

ways,

bliss !

their

errors,

to

to

lead

Strange
allow

the

into

mode

them

human

the

to

from

race

fold of truth

and

convince

mankind

to

hear

and

yet

not

the
lasting
ever-

of

under-

54

OF

CHARACTER

ience

to

"

promote

party

or

THE

sectarian

purposes,

that

of detecting the genuine from

possibility
the Bible, as we
hence
the spurious. And
read
now
it,is as likelyto lead us from, as to the truth,and
there

is

no

altogetherinoperativefor the great purpose

for which
of mankind.
it is designed the salvation
The
first authority I shall adduce
in corfirmation
He
of this opinion,is Professor
Michaelis.
considers
that
will deny that the early Christians,who
no
one
differed from the rulingchurch, have
altered the New
Testament
in numerous
examples, according to their
much
so
so," says the Rev.
peculiar tenets," and
Mr. Nolan, in his Inquiry,page 460, "that
little confidence
edition."
The
could be placed in any
Rev.
T. H. Home,
in the 2nd vol. of his Introducadmits
tion
second
to the Scriptures,
edition,that all M.S.S.,
the most
ancient
and
not
excepted, have erasures
this practiceconfined
corrections ; nor
to a single
was
letter or word.
Rev. Mr. Pope, in his treatise on
The
the
Miraculous
bridge
the CamConception," affirms that
therefore

"

"

i:

"

and

the

M.S.S.

Alexandrian

sioarm

with

cor-

potations." Celsus, says

charges the early fathers with having three or four
different readingsfor the same
text, or as he expresses
the
altered
three
different
four
or
Gospel
it, they
drunk, and when
pressed by
times, as if they were
recurred to that reading which
best
their adversaries,
!
suited their purpose
Origen himself admits, says
is a great discrepancy between
there
the
Du
Pin,
be attributed
either to the neglimust
gence
copies,which
ruptions and

Or igen,

inter

"

"

"

of the
of

others,or

additions
and
Here
that

to

or

left out
we

are

we

it

who

those

audacious

the

to

the

correct

perversions

by arbitrary

text

oftentimes

have
omissions,
put in
convenient."
as
they thought it most
of the fathers
told by one
themselves,
left
of
the Bible,
out"
in
were
or
put
who

"

"

matters

just "as
much

scribes,or

was

have

most
to

depend

of 'the Word

This

convenient."
upon
of God.

shows

the fathers

Du

Pin

for the

how
rectness
cor-

remarks, and

CHRISTIAN

he

is

high authority,as

very

occasion

"

"

into

the

next

AND

FATHERS

It

cannot

Scripturesby
transcribers,or

be

5^

APOSTLES.

I observed

said that

no

on

fault

former

has

crept

the

negligenceor inadvertency
of the
even
by the boldness of those
who
ventured
have
to strike
out, add or change some
words
which
they thought necessary to be omitted,
Then
we
added, or changed." Necessary, indeed!
believe that God
he
had said that
which
must
ought
have
he
to
not
said, and omitted
saying that which
ought to have done, or in other words, priestsknow
better than God, what
should
be in the Bible ! What
I entreat
friends,
listen,
you, to the words
of James, the Librarian
of the University of Oxford,
In his work
warm
a
on
partisanof Protestantism.
the
Corruptionof the Scriptures,"page 272, he says,
let us pass a step or two
er
further,and inquirewhethnot
they have
corrupted the Bible in like sort, or
worse
a
rather, if it be possible,
degree of impiety
beyond the degrees of comparison, and yet so plainly
but
he that hath
to be proved againstthe Papists, as
one
it,and thence be
eye to see, shall plainlydiscover
induced
of desolation spokto suspect the abomination
en
of by Daniel
the prophet,sitting
in the holy place,
and
the Holy of
above
admiring himself as it were

But,

my

"

"

Holies.

He

and
Bibles

as

are

observe

infinite

ties,
varieties,contrarie-

and
contradictio?is,

set

commanded

shall

forth
to

by
be

mentioned

two

read
in

oppositionsbetween
Popes, within two years

and
the

followed
briefs.

upon
You

; both

forms

such

shall

two

see

the

Popes breathe hot and cold,say and unsay the same

thing tivice,and, in fine,they have truly verified the
Bible
be a nose
! plied and
to
wrought into
of wax
fashion for their own
it is that
advantage. A shame
Christian
to
should
add, or take away
any
presume
of God ; yet, O ! intolerable
aught from the Word
fraud, not any simple Christian or layman, but the
Bishop of Rome, chief pastor of the church, sole judge
of all controversies,
whose
lipsshould preserve knowl-

56

THE

OF

CHARACTER

ly
edge, and his tongue speak no deceit,hath audaciouspresumed to add and take whole sentences, to change
the words
of the holy writ, into a clear contrary meaning,
white black,and black ivhite ! "
it were
to make
as
This
practice of alteringthe Bible to suit party
confined
is by no means
to ancient
times,
purposes,
"

to

first four

the

centuries

of the Christian

It has

era.

adopted by the learned of every sect to the present

followed
the
well
have
day.
They
example of
the holy fathers,
though, unfortunatelyfor them, the
tends to curb such audacious
printingpress now
pensities
probeen

The

Mr.

Rev.

distinctly,
"

Cooper, in

Were

Tracts,page 521,

his

to make

Socinian

says

lation,
trans-

new

guidance of his
Socinian
opinions,and properly." This is actually
translates the Bible, he need
a person
saying, when
adhere
not
to the real text, but
give what
tion
interpretahe thinks proper.
Oh ! ye pious translators,
how
admire
must
we
your honesty !
This
Christian
is the charge which
the
sects
bring
that
altered
the word
they have
against one another
and not adhered
of God
to suit their peculiaropinions,
with
the Rev.
to the original. If so, we
must
concur
Mr.
Nolan, that we cannot
depend upon any one of
he

would

translate

under

the

"

them.
of your supposing that
preclude the possibility
desirous
of giving you
I am
assertion
without
mere
of the leading
proof, I shall here quote from some
of this course, 1
sects.
Hitherto, during the whole
have
given you my authorities for every affirmation I
To

made.

have
Dr.

I shall continue

Jones, in

Unitarian

organ)

nor
referred,

the

We

never

whole

idea of the

the

do

so

to

the

close.

Monthly Repository for 1826, (the

says

that

Trinitarians

tvill refer to

Testament

doctrine

to

which

never

have

singleplace throughout
could

ever

suggest the

in one
sides
beessence
persons
the controverted
verse, the 7th of 1st John, c. 5."
are
told,in the celebrated Unitarian
Reply to

of three

AND

FATHERS

CHRISTIAN

57

APOSTLES.

ous
Magee, published in 1813, that this text is u an impiless
be
it
little
than
to
forgery/7 and,
appears
is represented
blasphemy to retain it in a book which
made
be inspired." Similar
to
by the
charges are
in the first chap, of
Unitarians
against all the verses
Luke
whole
of the second
after the 4th.
The
chap,
"
the
is denounced
to serve
as
spurious/7 and only
"

of certain sects.77
purposes
of Matthew,
after the 17th

verse;

the second.

inculcate

These

miraculous

The

passages

with

same

and

is denied

conception,which

whole

of

doctrine

of

the

the

the

by

first

the

rians.
Unita-

to his
Campbell, in the introduction
translation of the Scriptures,makes
some
marks
restrong
Beza, who
published the edition of the
upon
Testament
which
modern
Greek
from
our
English
is taken
version
have
Here
we
a man,77
:
says he,
have
not
"who, in effect,
acknowledges that he would
translated
he has done, if it
some
things in the way
that he could
blow
not
were
thereby strike a severer
which
ward
off a blow
an
or
against his adversaries,
How
ient
convenadversary might aim against him !
this Bible is,truly!
The
celebrated
Clarke, in his
Methodist,Dr. Adam
Commentary on the Bible, protests against those passages
in the third chapter of Genesis, which
declare
that
Eve
He
it
asserts
was
tempted by a serpent.
not
was
a
a monkey, and
serpent that tempted her.
A monkey, indeed ! a most
to tempt
bewitching animal

The

Rev.

Dr.

"

"

77

"

any one
Mr.

!
declares

Bellamy

Testament

Balaam

about

and
misinterpretation,
He
as

follows

such

concludes
"

"

childish

upon

spoke

would

it,that,whatever
in the

ought
his

days

To
be

story in

the

and

Really, it is

notions.

conclusions

that

his
be

to

remarks
time
say
a

they

you
any

waste

may

of Balaam.7'

Old

complete
vised.'7
immediately rethis
subject
upon

ass
"

is

the

should
more

get rid of
such

on

of time.
do noio,

asses

surd
ab-

Depend
never

58

CHARACTER

I could

detain you,

THE

OF

friends,for hours, showing

that alterations
have been, or to believe some
gians,
theoloof God, but suffice
ought to be,made in the Word
time
is now
far advanced, that
it to say, as
according to the Unitarian verison,there are no less
than
all of which
150,000 readingsof the Scriptures,
are

more

which
and

and

innumerable

that, too,
only book

the

And

less different.

or

such

my

differences

serious

of

guide us
apprehensive

to

most

about

book,

learned

against the
which

this

is to

our

exist,
is

race,

everlasting

it Avill prove
a
joy ! I am
blind
contradictory
guide, for if there are so many
readings as declared by the Unitarians,it will be 149,999 to 1 if we
the
the rightone.
Who
will run
have
truth

and

risk of eternal
,

But

The
an

salvation

it may

be

upon

the

or

damnation

said,people
matter,

and

can

exert

judge

at

their
for

odds

such
own

that none
say, is so self-evident
it. It is so
Infidel could
mistake

that

"

one

any

who

runs

reading, fully comprehend."

Michaelis

says,

in his Introduction

may
Not
so,
to

the

tellect
in-

themselves.

Bible, they
abandoned

read, and

but

pable
palso

my

friends.

New

ment,
Testa-

capable of understanding the New

the
Testament, unless, to an
acquaintance with
he
Greek
joins a knowledge of at least Hebrew,
Professor
Syriac, and Rabbinic."
Campbell asserts,
the
and
Hebrew
Greek
that
sary
are
absolutelynecesis desirous
who
him
of
to
ascertaining the
He further
genuine meaning of the sacred volume."
To
the Scriptureswe
understand
should
remarks,
writer's
quire
Ineach
style. 2nd.
get acquainted with
ation,
situand
carefully into their character,office,
of their
the
and
time, place, and occasion
use
they wrote.
writing, and the people for whose
4th.
Consider
3rd.
the
"c, of the book.
scope,
the
Where
the phrase is obscure, consult
context
:
this will not
5th.
If not, consider
always answer.
if it be any of the writer's peculiarities,
if so, inquire
what
is the acceptationof it in other places. 6th.
"

No

"

"

man

is

59

APOSTLES.

AND

FATHERS

CHRISTIAN

7th,
parallelpassages.
and
the Old
Testament
consult
If this fail,
Septuaand
used
the
be
word
the
where
:
8th,
gint,
may
the
the Fathers
classic writers : 9th, and
: 10th, and
ancient
version, modern
scholiasts,annotators, and
the etytranslators : 11th, the analogy of faith,and
mology
caution."
of words, which
be used with
must
In addition to these,or similar generalrules,the Rev.
nishes
furMr. Home, in his Introduction
to the Scriptures,
with
rules for investigatingthe original
ten
us
meaning of Scripturewords, five for that of emphasis,
the Scripture abounds, and eight for parwith which
allelisms,
of which
then
kinds
three
are
specified;
rules for discovering
the sense
seven
by the subject
for
more
by the context, and seven
matter, and
discoveringit by historical circumstances, including
the order,title,
such
ten
as
date,author,
particulars,
alysis,
place where written,chronology,occasion,scope, anbiblical antiquities,
for investigat"c. ! Then
ing
the scope itself,
for the analogy of
six rules,and
faith,eight! Then
again for the historical interpretation,
rules:
for
of
the
seven
interpreting figurative
rules is,that " the
language, twelve ; one of which
literal meaning of the words
is to be given up, if it
be improper,or
involve
is conor
trary
an
impossibility,

have
If this fail,

to

common

Then,

in

to

recourse

!"

sense

addition

to

all

these

rules, numerous

for

interpretingthe four kinds of

metonymies occurring in Scripture; others for the
the parables,the
metaphors ; others for the allegories,
and the spiritual
proverbs,the figures,
interpretations.
Then
a
comes
great variety for interpretingthe
and
cal,
historiprophecies,the types, legal^prophetical,
and no fewer than twenty-two
for the interpreting
others

are

of
Bible

given

doctrines

And

is self-evident !

life-time before

all,may
"

narrow

and

!!

few

be

he

can

mistaken

yet

Very

we

; for

understand
!

Well

man

may

that

the

live

it,and then, after

they say, that
may

that
the way
leadeth
there be that find it ! "
is

told

are

to

everlastinglife,

62

EXTERNAL

and

EVIDENCE,

and
Christianity,

infer

thence

the

Christian

is divine.

scheme

ity
Popular though this mode of determiningthe divinof Scriptureundoubtedly is,its unsatisfactory
and
fallacious

manifestly
doctrine
can

is apparent.
incompetent to decide

Such

character

Before

system.

or

be received

as

place, that these

infallible. If they were
err, their testimony,on

the

truth

testimony of

conclusive

first

evidence

it

must

writers

this

of

is
any

nature

be shown,

in the

"inspired" or
in the least degree liable to
a
questionof this kind, must
be received
with consummate
circumspection,if it be
of the exthe whole
not
ternal
altogetherrejected. Were
evidence
usually adduced
by the Christian
world
they have
unquestionably true, I still maintain
established
the divinityof their book.
If it can
not
be proved that the Bible contains absolute
falsehoods,
contradictions,and immoralities,(as will be shown
all the external
in subsequent lectures,}
in
evidence
the

world

is of

no

avail.

No

were

external

is

evidence

can

ent
palpably false that consistthat moral
which
which
is grosslyinconsistent,
or
The
is manifestlyimmoral.
therefore,
insufficiency,
the question at issue,is
of this evidence
to decide
Dr.
obvious.
Middleton, a distinguisheddivine of
eminent
the last century, though an
exponent of
"
Examining the
Christianity,admirably remarks,
evidence
is certainlylosingexternal
time, and beginning
all
at the wrong
on
end, since it is allowed
be shown
hands
that if any narration
to be
can
false,
immoral, 'tis not all the
any doctrine irrational and
external
evidence
in the world that can, or
ought to

make

that

true

which

"

"

convince
The

us

that

celebrated

such

doctrine

Dr. Vescimus

Knox
u

comes

also

from

God."

in
confesses,

the
that
It is certain
Philosophy,that
argumentative mode of addressingunbelievers,and a
reliance upon
external
evidence, has hitherto failed,
them.
and will never
convince
Notwithstanding the
stupendous labors of the writers of evidences,con-

his Christian

tinned

with

little

63

EVIDENCE*

EXTERNAL

the great
intermission,

cause

which

Many Oi? the most

of modern
and
learned
able
were
men
times, who
logical,and
capable of understanding the historical,
read
of Christianity,have
metaphysical defences
rious
them
without
conviction,and laughed at their labo-

they maintain

is

on

the decline.

of
!
John
imbecility
Wesley, the founder
Methodism, is also obliged to admit that " traditional
for Christianity
evidence
is of an
cated
extremely compliand
so
nature, necessarilyincluding so many
of strong and
various
considerations,that only men
clear understanding can
be sensible of its full force."
tain,
(Letter to Warburton, p. 108.) Such is the uncerof external
dubious, and unsatisfactorynature
evidence,as admitted by Christians themselves.
I now
proceed to show, however, that the external
which
evidence
ces,
instanthey do adduce, is, in many
so
completely spurious,in some
questionableas
to be utterlyinadmissible,
and
in others tells against
rather
than for the Christian
system.
Before I enter
the subject.
I deem
it advisable
upon
the profane authors
flourished
to name
who
during
"

the

first

who

are

two

said

centuries

of the

Christian

era.

Those

Christianityare the
following: Josephus, a. d. 40, (see Jewish
ties)
Antiqui; Pliny,a. d. 107, (see letter to Trajan); Seutonius, a. d. 110, (see Lives of Nero and Claudius);
Tacitus, a. d. 110, (seeAnnals) ; Adrian, a. d. 138,
(seeEpistleto Scrvianus); Lucianus, a. d. 176, (see
Dialogue on the Death of Peregrinus); Cclsus, a. d.
17G, (see Essay on the True
Word, as quoted by
luded
are
supposed only to have alOrigen.) Those who
Christians
Dio
to
Pruseus, a. d. 98 ;
are
a. d.
Martialis,
100; Juvenalis,a. d. 100; Epictetus,
a.
d.
Apuleius,a. d.
109; Arrianus, a. p. 140; Lucius
164; Aristides,a. d. 176.
be likely
the
Those
would
writers
who
to refer to
but who
have not done so, are
Philo, a. d.
Christians,
40 ; Pliny,the elder,a. d. 79 ; Seneca, a. d. 79; Diogto

have

mentioned

"

"

64

EXTERNAL

Laertius, a.

enes

Mela,

EVIDENCE.

79

d.

Pausanias,
123

79 ;

79 ;

Pompon
Justinius,a. d.

d.

a.

Appianus, a. d.
;
Those
who
less
140 ; and
were
Elianus, a. d. 141.
likelyto allude to the Christians,and did not do so,
are"
Lucanus, a. d. 63 ; Petronius Arbiter,a. d. 64 ;
Italicus,a. d. 64 ; M. Lucanus, a. d. 65 ; Flaccus, a. d.
65; Papinus Statius,a. d. 90 ; and Ptolemseus, a. d.
a.

d.

130.
discussion

In this
writers

who

actuallysaid

are

to

consider

only

to

have

mentioned

the rest,I may

suspiciouscircumstance

In reference
that it is

have

we

very
silent upon

to

those
tianity.
Chris-

just
they

remark
should

were
subject. Some of them
writers
and
of
could
the greatest
not
antiquity,
bly
possihave omitted
noticingall extraordinaryevents.
If Christ and his disciples,
therefore,
performed such
asserted by their modern
wonders
as
followers,why
are
they not noticed, favorablyor unfavorably,by
historians ?
these distinguished
nent
emiPhilo, the most

remain

the

"

historian
with
the

of the first century, and

Jews,

and

and

Caius

the whole

Caligula,
"

when

This

ambassador

as

if such

rius,
Augustus, Tibeperiod embracing

very

but
makes
the
not
life,
either in contempt
Christianity,

"

great fact"

that Philo

is

was

remarkable

more

sent

by

Rome, only eight years

Nay, there is every reason

the

person

as

Christ

was

Jews

after

to

of Christ.

death

to

remember

we

of

state

of Christ's

extent

otherwise.

the

of the

account

afflictions under

their

slightestallusion
or

elaborate

Christ,gives an

contemporary

the

to believe

it must
crucified,

have

time Philo was

The
Jerusalem.
at
very
he did, at the
silence of this great historian,living,
as

been

at

the

very time of
his miracles

Christ, and

in the

place in which
said to have been performed, together
are
of other eminent
the taciturnity
with
clusive
writers,is conproof that the pretensionsof Christians to the
divine influence of their master, are perfectly
tous.
gratuiWith

respect

to

those

writers

very

who

are

said

to

have

mentioned
This

great

"

of 93.

The

Jewish
lived

time

Jesus,

wise

is

man,

; for he performed many

of such
the teacher
men

man
was

pleasure. He

with

This

Gentiles.
at

in

alluding to
It
Antiquities.7'

as
"

37, and died

year
in which
he is represented
passage
found
his
will
be
in
Christ,

born

was

man

during that

the firstin order

disciples,
Jewish
historian,Josephus.

his

famous

of the

is that

and

Christ

drew

condemned
conceived

him

to

follows:

as

the

that

if he

received

as

to

chief

the

"At

"

be called a
may
He
works.
wonderful

over

cross,

affection for

an

the

him

the Christ.

was

of
instigation

the

65

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

men

and
Jews
many
And
when
Pilate,
us,

had

before

had

amongst

they, who

him, did

truth

the

not

to

cease

adhere

day he appeared to them

alive again, the divine prophets having foretold these
wonderful
and many
things respectinghim : and the
sect of the Christians,so-called from
him, subsists to
this day." This passage,
in favor of the
so
strikingly
Christian
system, and so highly and so exultingly
prizedby Christians,is beyond all question the most
foisted into the writings
ever
impudent interpolation
of any author.
It is an absolute and unqualified
forgery.
It is supposed to have been introduced
into the
writingsof Josephus about the fourth century, as it is
mentioned
The
not
who
man
was
beforethat time.
the first to disseminate
such
infamous
an
imposition
to

For

him.

Christian

the

was

This
I

conduct
gave

Faber,

the third

on

is

Father

quitein

and

historian

consonance

with

of him

Eusebius.
the

last discourse.
in my
distinguishedChristian critic,was
that

of this

"

ter
charac-

Tranquil
the

first

lowing
forgery. The folsecond book, chapter 12, of
Eusebius's
Ecclesiastical
History, will give you an
idea of the singularintegrity
of this
Holy Father,"
and the deliberate,unblushing audacity with
which
he himself wrote, and
which
he refers to this passage,
not
Now, when, as this historiographer,
Josephus :
(meaning Josephus) by blood an Hebrew
born, hath
to

accuse

pious rogue
quotationfrom the

"

"

6*

66

EXTERNAL

of old delivered

EVIDENCE.

writing these,and the like things

concerning John the Baptist,and our Saviour Christ,
have
what
they, but that they be
refugeor shift now
condemned
as
impudent persons^ which of their own
brain

in

fained

have

$."

commentaries

It is evident

its influence
Well

might

might

be used

the

in

as

of this learned
his

silencing the
he

inquire
!

"

the Christians

Jew,

Heathen

and

Jewish

these

legation
al-

Eusehius

medicine

anxiety of

to

practicedthis
Josephus'sgreat name
might

forgery,thinking that
have

contrary

enemies
"

how

Dr.
to

of Christianity.

far falsehood
ting
Lardner, admit-

obtain

the

mony
testi-

1, page 166, of
testimonies, "" They (the
says,

vol.

"

fond of having his testimony,whether

Fathers) were
and
Modest
honest
there was
ground for it or not."
Christians, truly! We find that immediately after
the period of Eusebius, this notorious
forgerywas
adduced
as
a
glorious proof of the divinity of
! The
fathers Jerome, Isedorus,ZozoChristianity
and
of
Calistus
were
remarkably ambitious
men,
ers.
holding it up as a silencer to all scepticsand unbelievNo one
after
could doubt the divinityof Christ
it had been admitted
by so great an historian as Joseened
enlightphus ! I am happy to say, however, the more
of the clergy of modern
of
ashamed
times are
of their pious predecessors,
and
the tricks
silently
before
abandon
the evidence
of Josephus, Faber, as
stated, repudiatedit long ago,
Bishop Warburton
He shrewdly observes, as
disowns
it with contempt.
quoted by Dr. Lardner, vol. 1, page 163,"-" If a Jew
"

owned
it.

"

needs embrace
he must
Christianity,
We, therefore,
certainlyconclude, that the paragraph
the truth

of

Josephus, who

where

was

as

much

Jew

as

to
ac*
him, is made
religionof Moses could make
as
knowledge Jesus as the Christ,in as strong terms
could do it,is a rank forgery \ and a very stupid
words
Le Clerc, Du
too"
one
Pin, Blondel, Vandale, and
bon,
Lardner, have also repudiatedthis passage ; and Gib-

the

in his

"

Decline and

Fall of the Roman

Empire,"

EXTERNAL

it as

denounces

indeed,

"

vulgar forgery."

no

entered

has

67

EVIDENCE-

into

elaborate

an

Dr.

and

Lardner,
laborious

reputed testimony of Josephus. His

reasoning is most
e, and
masterly and unanswerah
completely settles the question. I give you a brief
In. vol. 1, chap. 4, and page 150, of his well
extract.
This
known
and
voluminous
work, he remarks,"
is received by many
learned men
as
genuine.
passage
it
is
By others,
rejectedas an interpolation.It is
all hands that it is in all the copiesof Joallowed
on
script.
manusephus's works, now
extant, both printedand
Nevertheless,it may
be, for several reasons,
called in question. They are
This
such as
these :
tian
paragraph is not quoted nor referred to by any Chriswriter
the
flourished
before fiusebius,who
at
If it had been originally
beginning of the fourth century.
in the works
of Josephus, it would
have
been
highly proper to produce it in their disputeswith Jews
and Gentiles.
But
it is never
tyr,
quoted by Justin Maror
Clement, of Alexandria, nor by Tertullian,or
well acquainted
of great learning,and
Origen, men
with
of Josephus. It was
the works
certainly very
It might also have
proper to urge it against the Jews.
been fitly
A
allegedagainst the Gentiles.
testimony
favorable
Jesus
of
in the works
so
to
Josephus, who
lived so soon
after our
well
so
quainted
acSaviour, who was
refutation

of this

"

"

with

whp

had

the

transactions

received

so

and

favors
many
bo overlooked

Titus, would not

apologist
v,ny Christian
in the copiesof Josephus
in the ninth

writer

because
as

than
notice

This

he

critic.
"

three articles

of

that it
think

century

"

read

Tins
which

I make
and

own

country,

from

Vcspassian
or
neglected by
was
wanting
passage
seen
were
by Photius

distinct article of

revised the

works

has, in his Bibliothcque,no

concerning Josephus, but takes

this passage.

this

of Josephus

He

less
no

Whence

wanting in his
it genuine. But
the
paragraph concerning
was

of his

it may
be concluded
copies,or that he did not
former

Jesus

is

more

likely.

interruptsthe

"

course

"

63

EXTERNAL

'

EVIDENCE.

of the

is not genuine, but an

narrative,and, therefore,
interpolation. In the precedingparagraph, Josephus
of an
account
gives an
attempt of Pilate to bring
distant
from
water
a
place to Jerusalem, with the
sacred
occasioned
which
a
disturbance,in
money,
of
which
the Jews
were
killed,and many
many
wounded.
The
ing
others were
paragraph next followwhich
this about
now
we
are
speaking,begins
'

thus

"

And

about

Jews

the

the

same

sad

time, another

ity
calam-

That

great uneasiness.

calamity
less than
was
no
banishing the Jews from Rome, by
order
of the
Emperor Tiberius, occasioned, as he
of some
Jews
in that city/
says, by the misconduct
This
sephus
not
in Jowas
paragraph, therefore,
originally
from him, but is an interpolation
; it does not come
afterwards."
inserted
Such
is
by somebody
the powerful and irrefutable reasoningof that learned
unChristian,whose
arguments to this day remain
gave

in validated.

Some

Christian

writers

have

maintained

noticed
have
Josephus must
Christ; but the
Jews
had suppressed all such
which
spoke
passages,
of
inadmissible
him.
favorably
This, however, is an
that Josephus
supposition, since it is well known
published his works out of the reach of his countrymen,
while
the
residingat Rome, and living under
special protection of the Roman
Emperors. If he
did speak of Christ,we
it
reasonably suppose
may
would
all his
be in contempt, as Josephus remained
life-time
the Jewish
to
religion,
sincerelyattached
of
shows
the
and
himself, in
whole
his work,
course
that

zealous

follower

of the law

of Moses.

But

there is

ble
copiesof Josephus, favoraor
unfavorable,in reference to Christ, as stated
by Bigen and other ancient Christian writers,who,
having attentively
perusedall the works of Josephus,
their surpriseat not having found the slightest
express
Christ.
mention
made
If, then, the
of Jesus
testimony of Josephus is to be given up, the main

no

passage

prop

to

in

the

Christian

earlier

evidence

is

annihilated.

The

70

EXTEUNAL

EVIDENCE.

I ordered
them
to be
confession,
executed,for I
did not
be of any
sort
doubt, let their confession
and inflexible obstinacy
whatsoever, this positiveness
of
deserved
have
been
to be
some
punished. There
I took
this mad
notice of in particular as
sect that
that
Roman
citizens,
they might be sent to that city.
After some
time, as is usual on such examinations,
and
the crime
more
came
cases
spread itself,
many
A
libel was
before me.
an
sent, though without
names
(of persons accused.)
author, containingmany
These
denied
Christians
that they were
or
now,
had
been.
the
ever
Gods, and
They called upon
be
1 caused
to
supplicated to your image, which
for that
frankincense
with
brought to me
purpose,
of which
and
wine; they also cursed Christ, none
are
things,as it is said,can any of those who
really
be compelled to do ; so I thought fit to let
Christians

their

them

libel,said they
some
was

of them

Others

go.

were

that

years, some
many
that said he had not been
these

our

Gods;

assured

worshipped
me

mistake,

was

these

your
also cursed

that the

main

; and

more
so

these

image,
of their

this," that they were

one

to

be

there

twenty

and

Christ.

the

in

ceased

had

Christians,but

three

All

named

were

the

years.
of
image

However,
fault,or of
wont,

on

they
their
stated

day, to meet togetherbefore it was

light,and to sing
to
a
hymn to Christ,as to a God, alternately
; and
oblige themselves
by a sacrament, (or oath.)not to
commit
no
do anything that was
ill,that they would
not
or
theft,or pilfering,
adultery; that they would
their promises,
break
was
deposited
or
deny what
with
when
them
it was
required back again ; after
it was
to
which
their custom
depart,and to meet
but
innocent
meal, which
yet
at
common
a
again
I
which
edict
that
published
they had left off upon
forbidden
I had
at your
any
command, and wherein
These

examinations

made

such

conventicles.

think

the
what
it necessary
to inquire by torments
servant
I did of two
maids, which
was, which

truth

me

71

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

but still I discovered

deaconesses,
addicted to a bad and
that theyicere
an
superstition.Hereupon. I have
put

called

were

than

examination

further

affair

the

danger;
rank,

every

hereafter

danger

of

account

for

there

and

of

likelyto
for

this

have
well

be

to

seems

on

in

and

are

both

be called

anyfor
you,

of those
of

many

every

which

sexes,

off

pecially
consultation,es-

number

the

are

that

and

now

to

superstitionis spread like

are

and

age

account, and

to

more

gant
extrava-

to

recourse

worth

no

in

be
gion,
conta-

only into the cities and towns, but into

to
country villagesalso,which
yet there is reason
To be sure, the
hope may be stoppedand corrected.
temples,which are almost forsaken,begin already to
the holy solemnities, which
be frequented; and
were
The
sacrifices
long intermitted,begin to be revived.
few
begin to sell well everywhere, of which
very
purchasers had of late appeared; whereby it is easy
not

to

how

suppose

amended,
I

if

have

great

am

The

multitude

place for repentance

the

given

tediouslylong, in
I

anxious

to

order

that

suppress

no

the

men

may

be

be admitted."

of

whole

of

this

letter,though

partiesmay
real facts of

presume
the case.

Christian

elated when
much
champions are
adducing Pliny'sevidence.
They think it conclusive.
But what
German
enlightened? The
say the more
literati have long been of opinion that this letter is a
it is found
in one
ancient
forgery. They maintain
only,and not in the rest.
copy
Dr. J. S. Sender,of Leipsic,
of the most
learned
one
of the
German
adduces
nine arguments
professors,
against the authenticityof this letter. His celebrated
work
Ncue
VerIt is entitled
appeared in 1788.
"

suche

die Kircheuhist.or.ieder

aufzuklaren."
be

ersten

Jahrunderte

this
upon
Semler
246.

His arguments

mehr

subjeptwill

found, vol. 1, page 119 to

was
ly
strongsupported by Corrodi, in his treatise entitled,
Beytrage zur
Beforderung des vernunftigen Den?
kens
der
the
m
Religion.'1The main
argument
"

72

EXTERNAL

EVIDENCE.

favor of the

authenticityof this
and
letter is,that it is cited by Tertullian
Eusebius,
the
considers
MS.
that
and
Aldin
containing it,
Tertullian
and
Eusebinearly as old as Pliny. Now
both
us
were
guiltyof pious frauds, especiallythe
books
that time
at
not
were
latter,and, moreover,
a new
edition,
printed,but written.
Every copy was
in which
the transcriber
might make what alterations
few
he thought fit,
people,comparatively,possessing
them.
of
The
Tertullian,or a little before it,
age
was
notoriouslythe age of Christian forgery. Nor
there
in the interpolation
of
was
difficulty
any more
this letter than in the interpolations
in Josephus and
this last century, have
Longinus, which, till within
the Christian
been
world,
successfully
palmed upon
of the fathers
xlt present, indeed, when
the character
of the church, and
their propensity to lying and
and
acknowledged, no
forgery is universallyknown
will venture
these
to defend
clergyman of eminence
During the century interveningbetween
passages.
and
Tertullian
that is,between
Pliny the younger
and
time
113
216, a. d.? there was
enough, and
opportunity enough, to propagate the forged copies of
the disposiwell know
there existed
tion,
Pliny, and we
and lie/7
"a virtue to deceive
it being esteemed
lead an
The
enlightened
circumstances, then, which
and unprejudicedinquirerto rejectthe boasted
mony
testithe undeniable
of this celebrated
scholar,are
fact that the first Christians
the greatest forgers
were
the ignorant and
that ever
existed
not
that it was
practiced these
vulgar, but the best scholars who
inconsistent
forgeries that religiouspersecutionwas
of the Roman
character
with
the just and philosophic
and
that so moral
amiable a people as
government
the primitive Christians
are
representedby their followers,could not have been the firstto provoke the
its universal
Roman
im
maxto depart from
government
of toleration and indifference, that such persecution
Christians

allegein

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

was

nuite

inconsistent

with

the

humane

and

character
dignified
to

of

Pliny
"

Christians

suppose

73

EVIDENCE,

EXTERNAL

were

it is unreasonable

that
found

in
had

province as Bithynia, ere they

the singularfact
notorietyin Rome
in question was
found
ancient
in cne
"

not

in the
the

rest

most

epistleis

the

"

learned

men

in

the

remote

acquired

any

that

the passage
copy only,and

of the

declaration

so

German

world,

ati,
liter-

that

this

genuine the unquestionable fact that

Tertullian
and
Eusebius, the authorities in favor of
its genuineness, Avere
notoriouslyliars and impostors
The
!
however, is the main objection
following,
not

"

genuineness of this letter. I hold it to be

conclusive.
Pliny is made to say to Trajan, that the
Christians
accustomed
to meet
were
early in the
very
morning, and "" sing a hymn to Christ, as to God^
to

the

Now

this

Christian

would

have

been

custom

of which

no

have
Pliny's or Trajan's time, would
been
have
regarded it with
guilty. They would
horror,as blasphemy. The earliest Christians,were
Jeioish

in

Christians

"

the

Ebionites

and

JNazarenes.

"

Their

Jerome, as
by Epiphanius and
gospel,seen
first
themselves
the
did not
contain
two
they
relate,
The
chaptersof Matthew.
early Christians
among
the Jews, did not believe
that Jesus Christ was
thing
anythan
more
mere
man.
a
They rejectedwith
abhorrence
first Gentile
The
his equalitywith God.
Gnostics, the Corinthians, Marcienites,"c., did not
advance
the notion
that Christ
God, or equal
wras
with
the EbionGod.
ites
Their
the same
as
gospelwas
in this respect. The
the multitude, were,
many
in full persuasionof the modern
during three centuries,
belief of the
Unitarian doctrine,
in this respect. The
"

established till the council

not
Divinityof Christ,was
of Nice, in 325.
from
fear of contradiction
About
all this,1 have
no
really learned ecclesiastic. 1 state these points
any
as

settled
and

venture

since

the

great controversy

between

ley
Priest-

Horsely. No one, in the present day, will

hib reputation
on
a
positionso utterlyuntcri7

74

EVIPENCE.

EXTERNAL

Pliny's time, ever

considered
Christ as God, or ever
spoke of him as on
The
an
therefore,in
equality with God.
passage,
shipping
question, representingthe early Christians as worChrist as a GW,,is, oil the very face of it,a
that is,written
afterthe Nicene
post-Nicene forgery
than
council
200 years
more
subsequentto the days
consequently be set down amongst
of Pliny. It must
the other pious frauds of that period.
I now
the third authority cited by Christians
to
come
will
of Pliny. We
Seutonius, a contemporary
able

that

as

of

Christians

the

"

"

"

allow

the

Christians

for

make

to

the

of

best

this

writer,

genuine,it tells very strongly

of Christianity. If the
character
describes
such
he
as
early Christians
really were
them, it is quite evident
right to
they had no more
call their
of
the followers
inspired,than
system
In his Life of Nero, Seutonius
Courtenay or Joe Smith.
"
thus speaks of them:
The
Christians
a
race
of a ncio
of men
and
ivicked or
v Marions
magical
with
visited
w
ere
superstition,
May I
punishment.
if they clccm this the true characask the Christians
ter
of their predecessors
If they do, I trust
l
they

if the passage
against the divine

be

"

"

"

"

will

either of

boast

not

ancestors/'

of their

Life

his

in

of

"

the "wisdom

has

Seutonius

Claudius,

is

tue
virsage
pas-

quoted by

Alluding

Emperor Claudius, he

"

another

which

evidence-manufacturers.

Christian

the

or

the

to

remarks, he drove the Jews

who
from
were
Rome,
constantly rioting,Crestus
The
priesthood strain this into
being theif leader."
and
the Christians.
allusion
to Christ
an
Orosius, a
Christian
it

was

not

does

Christians

and

Dr.

let

benefit

their

of the

leader

and

or

Lardncr

that

satisfied

5th

century, who

pretend,however,

not

the

However,
"

of the

writer

passage,

"

the

this

Jews

says,
relates

Christians

their

who
that
to

of

and

what

system

!! !

doubt,"

to

quotes

know

whether
thus

were
':

learned

the

Here

men

pelled;
exare

Christians.""
time

our

this

have

compliment
is

the
to

Christ,the

EXTERNAL

of, and

son

Rome

yet co-partner
the

as

poor

driven

were

Are we
ago.
riotous and
a
at, so

exhibited

similar

in Britain

in

he would

from

of his

many

been

We

must

testimony
and

hasten

now

of the

to

classical historian
Rome

time

to

be

followers

Christ

the north.
remark

the

upon

evidence-makers

Christian

cashire
Lan-

appeared
improbable that
with
the oppressed

incarcerated

.starvingoperativesof

and

not

ignorant

more

of

such

was

It is

propensities.Had
1842, it is by no means

have

and

their founder

that

out

localities a short

their

disorderlypersonage

wondered

kicked

with, God5

rioters of Staffordshire

believe

to

75

EVIDENCE.

Tacitus.

Few

"

favorite
the elegant

writers

of

have

enjoyed more
just celebritythan
this distinguishedand
accomplished author, and,
is highly esteemed
therefore,his evidence
by the
It is considered
to
Christians.
a triumphant answer
all
unbelievers."
have
posed
disCertainly,when
you
of Josephus and
is the only
Pliny, Tacitus

ancient

"

great author

whom

evidence.

And

as

his

"Annals,"

15th

Christians
what

will

venture

is his evidence

book, chap. 44,

1
after

to

quote

Listen.

In

describing
Rome, during
reign of Nero, he
But neither all the human
observes,
help,nor the
of the Emperor, nor
all the atonements
liberality
sented
prethe
to
gods, availed to abate the infamy he
Jay under of having ordered the cityto be set on fire.
Nero
To
therefore,this common
rumor,
suppress,
procuredothers to be accused, and inflicted exquisite
rence
held in abhorpunishments upon the people,who were
by
for their crimes, and were
commonly known
tion
of Christians.
the name
They had their denominafrom
Christus, who, in the reign of Tiberius,
was
put to death as a criminal,by the Procurator
This
Pilate.
Pontius
though
pernicioussuperstition,
and
for awhile, broke
checked
out again,
spread not
of this evil,but reached
Judea, the source
only over
the city also,whither
flow from all quarters all things
that
vilQ and
shameful, and where
are
they find
the great fire at
u

"

the

76

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

shelter and

apprehended
afterwards

of

condemned, not
burning the city, as
Their

mankind.
them

covered
torn

the

daubed

been

lightsin

as

up

with

for

their

Nero

death.

made

Some

with
the

were

combustible

of his

to
to

as

Some

were

beasts, and
crucified ; others,
materials,were

wild

night time, and

use

all

enmity

contrived

so

of

sect;

for their

much

contempt.

skins

were

by them,

so

was

and

piecesby dogs.

haying
set

execution
derision

to

over

to

discovered

multitude

vast

were

of

expose

confessed

who

which

crime

At' first,they only

of that
themselves

encouragement.

burned

thus

garden

own

as

to

tre
thea-

the occasion, and

sions
also exhibited
the diverupon
of the circus,sometimes
standing in the crowd
as

spectator, in the

habit

chariot

times,drivinga

of

himself.

charioteer,at other
Till,at length,these

plary
though really criminal, and deserving exemas
punishment, began to be commiserated
ple
peothe
of
who
not
out
to
were
destroyed,
regard
publicwelfare,but only to gratifythe crueltyof one

men,

man."
Such
heard
a

is

much

so
u

that

contrary,

believe

passage

of which

have

we

es
told furnish-

which
passage
of
confirmation

Christianity."I deny,

it confirms

Christian

"

beautiful

however,
the

celebrated

the

it does

Tacitus, so

the

the very
far from

are

we

system
If

reverse.

we

to

are

Christianitybeing

on

"

vine,"
di-

pernicioussuperstition;"so far from

its early teachers and disciples
being inspired, they
held
for
abhorrence
their
were
in
crimes;" so far from
the early Christians
endeavoring to do good, they
for their
abhorred
were
;" and
enmity to mankind
so far from
being unjustlypunished, they were
really
criminal,and deserving exemplary punishment." If
this passage
that for which
proves anything, it proves
be taken
I am
as
a
contending,and, therefore,cannot
confirmationof the divinityof Christianity. There
for believing
are
strong, exceedingly strong, reasons
that this memorable
like that of Josephus, is
passage,
it is

"

"

"

78

EXTERNAL

The

EVIDENCE.

6th

objection, then, is, that it rests entirely upon

the
would
have
fidelity of this one
individual, who
inducement
insert
such
to
opportunity and
an
every
the high character
of
interpolation, knowing
Tacitus,
and
desirous
how
the priesthood were
such
to
procure
evidence.
The
7th
in the fact that
objection consists
the
the
is not
with
consistent
style of the
passage
and
classic
The
usually mild
language of Tacitus.
8th
and
other
last, that
Tacitus, in no
of his
part
makes
Christ
tianity.
Chrisallusion
and
to
writings
any
,

These

hold,
to

objections

unanswerable.

are

If

them.

meet

world

have

of
Tacitus,
testimony
challenge the Christians
ian
be
refuted, the Christ-

the

to

they

cannot

evidence

adduce

Christian

probable
forgery

to

above

the

as

to

amount

in

While

rest.

divine

the

but

scheme,
to

as

worth

naming.
have
proved to be forgeries
tells against
Christianity ; and

no

Josephus and
Pliny, we
Seutonius, if genuine,
Tacitus, not
only invalidates
the

all

certainty

is

"

Me

Philo"

of

character

probability

so

"

great

as

who,

ivriter

noticed
in
have
to
detail,
others, ought
and
the
favorably or unfavorably,
doings of Christ
resident
in the
his
dupes, he being a contemporary,
devoted
and
of
their
seat
having
movement,
very
all

three

of

and

of

have,
fabric

it shall

be

of

of

the

worked

have

mention
We

the

to

volumes

five

sufferings

stated
no

his

the

at

matter

the

history

of

the

Christ

time

very

wonders,

state

"

is

makes

all !

submit,

evidence.

external
to

the

Jews, at the
supernatural

therefore,

razed

to

ground.

given
In

our

fatal
next

blow

to

address,

FIFTH.

LECTTJEE

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

Friends

"

discourse*

The
series

important

there

does

It

deemed

is

yet

impious,

of
more

are

ject
sub-

no

upon

irreconcilable

such

exist

examination.

questions

Few

interesting, and

more

or

fifth

the

is

deliver,

to

Bible.

the

upon

rise

antipathy
laudable

not

to
"

of
truth
the.
not
beneficial, to test the
dangerous,
concede
called
You
to
are
Scriptures.
upon
thing
everyis the
la no
case
question nothing.
argument
is
so"
it
is
because
"made
"it
more
easy,'*
so,
is the Word
of God
Bible
because
legitimate. The
is the
it is the Word
This
of God.
summary
way
"

"

"

in

the

which

Christians

dogmatic

inquisitive sceptic. We
such
longer to tolerate
with

examine

pretensions

Nay,
In
of

of

last

inquiry

proved,

Bible

at

the

should

denominated

view,

we

is of

cited

the

no

more

Evidence.

(as

the

evidence,

such
the

decide

book.

searching.
that
portion
upon

External
that

outset,

Lectures,) that
external

be

to

the

other

any

no

fore,
greater, and, there-

are

entered

we

indifference

would

we

as

utterly incompetent to
for if it could
be shown,
the

and

pretensions

address,

the

resolved, however,
antiquated conceit, but
freedom

investigation

our

our

the

silence

to

are

much

fox its

more;
the

as

wish

we

question

shall

show

evidence

internal

avail.

In

corroboration

authority

of

Dr.

Con

vers

We

if

true, is

issue,

at

in

quent
subse-

is

of

false,
that

Middle-

80

EXTERNAL

EVIDENCE.

ton, Dr. Yescimus

Knox, and the
We
then proceeded to demonstrate

evidence,which

Christians

conclusive.

means

no

the

evidence

was

to

as

be

On

the

Rev.

John

that

did

than

The

of

in favor

the

external

adduce, was

contrary,

completely spurious,some
utterlyinadmissible,and

against,rather

Wesley.

of that

much
so

by-

able
question-

others

of the Christian

told

scheme.

Josephus we
proved, in the caustic
"a rank
language of Bishop Warburton, was
forgery,
and a very stupid one, too."
^The
Pliny,the same.
evidence
of Seutonius, we
pugned
imremarked, distinctly
the divine
origin of Christianity.So did
insurmountable
Tacitus,though there were
objections
to the genuineness of his evidence.
We
the next
duced
now
proceed to meet
testimony adPontius
Pilate.
For
by Christians
many
the
of
Pilate was
held
in high
centuries,
testimony
the most
learned
teemed
Christians,being esrepute among
so
conclusive,that it placed all doubt beyond
It was
first quoted by Justin
the range of possibility.
hundred
Martyr, in the second century, nearly one
testimony

"

after the death

of Christ.
afterwards
It was
years
adduced
by Tertullian,Eusebius, Epiphanius, Chry"

fore,
Holy Fathers," and, there"all
honorable
men."
Eusebius, of all the
of "pious frauds," the most
extensive
manufacturers
and
successful,seems
perfectlyenraptured with the
testimony of Pilate,esteeming it the grand stronghold
if
the
of Christian
evidence.
testimony
Certainly,
relied on, it might have
have
of Pilate could
been
had some
weight, as he, above all others,having sat
the case, ought to be familiar with
in judgment on
the real facts of the matter.
Unfortunately,however,
for the Christian
world, the testimony of Pilate,- the

sostom, and

others,
"

all

"

direct

most

takes

and
its

valuable

place

among

that

could
the

have

category of

been
"

fered,
of-

pious

frauds."
The

supposed testimony

is contained

in

some

of this memorable
letters"

ter;
charac-

(Fabricus,in

his

EXTERNAL

Coclex

Apocryphus,

it
five) which
capacityof Governor,

says

Pilate,in his official

Tiberius, Emperor

to

are
are

that

of

is

"

In

Rome.

stated

addressed

those

epistles,

represented as speaking very favorably of

tion.
Divinity of Christ,his miracles,and his resurrecthese
The
communications
language in which
therein
affirmed,
expressed,and the statements
so
hyperbolicaland absurd, and entirelyunsupported
of
the
writer
other
historian
or
time,
by any
manifest
is
the
it
mere
they are
quite
tions
composiof those fanatical and
unprincipledpriestswho
is

Pilate
the

81

EVIDENCE.

deemed

it

"

virtue

to

deceive

and

lie."

Permit

me

from these rare

two
or
supply you with an extract
too
not
productions. Who, I ask, who was
pious to
for himself, would
think
too
religiousto examine
believe that a Roman
Governor, who
despised the
write a passage
like the following?
would
Christians,
There
was,'7 says he, alludingto the crucifixion,
u
in the middarkness
the whole
dle
over
earth, the sun
of the day being darkened, and
the stars
ing,
appearwhose
the
moon
lights
appeared not, but
among
if turned to blood, it left off shining." He proceeds
as
to
resurrection, early in the
say, referringto the
morning of the first of the Sabbath, the resurrection of
announced
Christ was
nishing
astoby a displayof the most
feats of Divine
performed ;
omnipotence ever
of
hour
third
the
forth with
the
the
broke
at
sun
night,
such
before
and
the
never
splendor as was
seen,
became
heavens
times
than
more
enlightenedseven
other day."
As a climax
to this rhapsody, he is
any
represented as exclaiming that "an instantaneous
took place,
and the earth opened and swallowed
chasm
their
up all the unbelieving Jews, their temples and
and the next
: all vanished
morning
synagogues
away,
to

"

"

"

'"'

there

not

was

and
mad."

Such

so

the

much
Roman

as

one

of them

soldiers

extraordinary

went

and

left in all Jerusalem,

stark

staring

vulsion
unparalleledconis only mentioned
in these contemptible epistles.
No
lived at
the
historian,
great or small,who
an

82

EXTERNAL

makes

time,

flourished

EVIDENCE.

the least reference

it.

period,and who,

this

at

to

Josephus, who

as

Jeta,took

culiar
peof his countrymen,
is perfectly
would
which
have
been
subject,

interest in the welfare

silent upon

the

impossible if such
elder Pliny, who, about
The
time,"
History of his own
u

the

was

the year

75, wrote

the

in

thirty-onebooks, and
of that period,is
historian

celebrated

most

reallytranspired.

events

to

next

quite silent upon this wonderful

it reallyhappened, could
not

which

occurrence,

have

escaped

had

his observation.

The

ter,
wriSeneca, too, a voluminous
younger
then about
of age, and
who
was
thirty-nine
years
have
been at Rome
at the time, makes
must
no
tion
men-

of

wonderful

this

the

Gibbon
phenomenon.
greatest contempt and indignationat

statements,

and

denounces
It is

them

alike

as

that
clear,therefore,

presses
ex-

these
and

false

those

epistles
of Pilate, so
highly prized by that distinguished
forgery manufacturer, Eusebius, is nothing but a
signed
cunningly devised fable" of the Holy Fathers, defor the purpose
of deluding those
whom
they
their
tordiscover
too ignorant
thought were
impostures.
I am
enlightenedChristian
happy to say that the more
preposterous.

"

evidence-makers,

ashamed

now

are

of

the

audacious

Holy" predecessors,and
impositionsof their
Some
as
decency will permit, discard them.
"

Du

Ecclesiastical

eminent

most

Pin,

of

Prance,

and

vol., c. 7, of
We
ScriptureCanon,"
in

the 2nd

"

"

ographa

to

next

the

Pilate,as written
same
things; but it

whether
whether
this be

this
it
how

was

letter
not

his elaborate
have

was

extant

are

have

Pin

work

on

in the Orthodox-

to
difficidt

in Eusebius'

from

forged

it will,there

is

the

times,

letter

Tiebrius, which

to

of

England,
epistles.Du

epistleof Lentulus, a

to

the

of modern

far

of

Lardner,
memorable

alreadyrepudiatedthese
says,
the "

historians

as

tains
con-

determi?ie
]s

time, or

his narration.

several

learned

tributed
at-

men

Let
who

question the genuineness of this history,which

of it. For how
at the bottom
very little probability

has
is

it

likely that
of

man,

? and

death

Pilate

should

whom

he

probable that Tiberius

Senate, the placing of such
of the Gods, upon
the bare
if he had proposed any
And
that

the

things to

the

man

among
of
relation

rius
Tibe-

number

?
governor
agine
thing, who can im-

such

would

Senate

such

write

to
himself had condemned
might have done so, yet is it
should
have
proposed to the

he

though

"

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

submitted

have

it ?

to

absolutelycharge this
with
narration
falsehood,yet it may, at least,pass for
a
doubtful piece." Yes, very doubtful^Dr. Du Pin !
But his brother
and historian,Dr. Lardner,
Christian
does much
than
more
doubt; he declares that "the
of Pontius
Pilate and his letter to Tiberius,which
acts
we
now
have, are not genuine, but manifestly spuri-r
/" (Vol. 1, c. 2, p. 316, Jewish
monies.)
Testiand Heathen
ous
Wherefore, though

So
in favor

I"

then, for

much

"

this

glorious"evidence

of Christianity.
for another

Now

cannot

we

piece of

evidence

ous
equally "glori-

It is that of Publius

Lentulus, Roman
Pilate,as procurator
at
individual, was,

or
Govern-

of Judea.
predecessorof
The
one
testimony of this
time,
the
Christians.
peculiar favorite of the orthodox
of Christ,
Living, as he did, during the early career
in which
and officiating
of the very locality
as
governor
his movements
said to have
are
occurred,his evidence,
of course,
deemed
was
pre-eminently important. It
will be found
in the History of Christ, as
originally
It
written
in
dressed
Zavier.
form
of
is
the
a
by
letter,adfollows :
as
Lentulus, Prefect of Jerusalem,
and
Senate
to the
people of Rome, greeting." 'i he
letter proceeds to furnish us with a most
scriptio
glowing deof the person
of Christ, which, if correct,
would
some
lead us to believe that he was
really a hand"

the

"

fellow.
there
with
say

hath

"At
letter commences;
appeared, and still lives, a man

The

great powers,
that

the Son

he js

of

God.

whose

is Jesus

name

mighty prophet
"

He

restores

his

the

this

time

endowed

Christ.

Men

call him
disciples
dead
to
life,and

84

EXTERNAL

is

He

of

man

of

cast

as
effect,
fear him.

the

has

His

botto?n

down

his

from

without

lower

the

his

radiation

part of

his

and
it is

ears

shoulders, and bright, and hangs

his shoulders,[how precise!] At the

his

from

top of his

head

it is

his

forehead

diseases.

certain

ears,

downwards
Nazarenes

and

severityin it,so full

still yet to
beholders
to love,and
is of the color of wine, as far as

hair

of

to

of ailments

sorts

stature, proportionallytall,and

induce

to

straight, and
curled

all

countenance

of

to

from

the sick

heals

EVIDENCE.

parted

after

is smooth

fashion

the

and

of the

clear,and

his

certain
with
perate
tema
pimple, adorned
redness, his countenance
gentlemanlike and
and month
agreeable,his nose
nothing amiss, his beard
color
thick, and divided into two bunches, of the same
his hair, his eyes blue and uncommonly bright. In
as
reproving and rebuking, he is formidable ; in teaching
and exhorting,of a bland
and agreeabletongue.
He
of person, united with serioushas a wonderful grace
ness.
No one
hath ever
him smile; but weeping,
seen
of
indeed
He hath
a
they have.
lengthened stature
body, his hands are straightand turned up, his arms
In speaking, deliberate and slow, and
delectable.
are
the Qnost
sparing of his conversation
beautiftdof
^
the
countenance
sons
of men
among

face

without

"

Who
?

after this
I

am

lamentation

sure

that

will

not

it must

be
be

of Christianity

enamored
a

matter

of

unspeakable

of the

dence-man
evileading Christian
fied
of our
day, are growing dissatiswith
this flattering
testimony of Lentulus, and
endeavor, very ungraciously,to throw it overboard.
The
French
ecclesiastical historian,Dti Pin, regardless
of
his
of the admiration
forefathers, disposesof
this celebrated
letter in the following slashing and
need of showing
is no
unceremonious
There
style:
the falsity
of a letter attributed
to Lentulus, written
and people of Rome, concerning the acto the Senate
tions
of Jesus
Christ, since the forgeryof it is selfsome

"

"

evident."

In what

an

off-hand

manner

these

reverend

88

EXTERNAL

EVIDENCE.

abandoned/'
toisely

now

doubt

"wise';
I

the

not

now

Christian

abandon

to

to

come

towards

the rest.

consider
of

opponent
of

Yery wisely,indeed ! and I

priesthoodwill find it equally

testimony of the
He
Christianity Celsus.
the

brated
celeished
flour-

of the second

middle

the

He

century.

distinguishedphilosophersof his
of the early Christhe pretensions
tians
day, and combatted
with
consummate
a very
ability. He wrote
elaborate
True
work, entitled,"The
Word," as an
of Christianity,which
answered
was
by the
expose
Christian
Father
tian
Origen. We are informed
by Chrisone

was

the

most

evidence-manufacturers

that

in this work

if all the events

recorded
as
argues
had
really transpired,but denies

brought about
they were
the
Egyptian
Christ
tells

learned

in the

Scriptures
that
they were
lieved
through divine interposition.He beproduced by magic, as the tricks of
priesthood,from whom, he affirms,
the
art of imposture.
secret
Origen
admitted

Celsus

that

us

Celsus

only a few years before, was

angels appeared to Joseph,
"

"

Christ
born
that

of

the

lived

have

to

virgin," that

Holy

scended
de-

Ghost

baptized
by John, and that a voice appeared declaring him to
what
1 ask upon
Now
of God.
be the Son
authority
that such
that Celsus admits
to believe
are
we
things
a

dove

in his time]

mentioned

were

like

Jesus

on

when

Have

he

we

was

of

the works

have
We
only
Confessedly not.
those portionswhich
Origen, his antagonist,thought
works
of Celsus were
The
fit to furnish.
destroyed
fact
will
which
by the Christians, publicly burnt, a
the early proindelible
an
stigma upon
remain
ever
testimony, therefore,
pounders of Christianity. The
of Celsus
rests
solely upon the ipse dixit of Origen.

Celsus

consult

to

"

And
we

is he

who
can

place

bare

not

facts

An

reliance?

honest
one

man?

who

one

would

upon
not

whom

terested
feel in-

falsifyingthe writings of Celsus ? who

give us an ex-parte statement, but just the
On the conand no more?
By no means.

in

would

EXTERNAL

trary, he
virtue

was

of those

one

and

deceive

to

alone

induce

would
and

would

to

best

Allow

of

friends, to remind
Origen, as given in my
my

of
developing the conduct
Fathers.
Bishop Ilorsely,in his
was
Priestley,
says that Origen

the

when

was

; which

fact
tage,
advanas

tohat

argument

of the

you

real

third, discourse,
Christian

early

celebrated

"

in

suit his purpose.

me,

character

he

unfair

every

it

opponent's meaning

his

represent

deemed

moreover,

of Celsus

take

to

who

And.

lie.7;

him

0,

men

adversary

acknowledged

the

EViDEl\UE.

not

he believed

reply to
serting
incapable of asnot, and

that

regard to truth in disputationteas not one of the

and
that
virtues of his character"
the time
was,
of
the
when
to
using unjustifiablemeans
practice
was
a
serve
good cause
openly avowed, and Origen
its defenders."
himself
] spurn,
was
then,
amongst
of
with
the
and
such
a
scorn
man.
authority
contempt
him
I denounce
an
a
as
though he was
impostor
Christian
a saint.
though he was
; a rogue
Further.
Looking at the subject apart from the
ing
dishonesty of Origen, the testimony of Celsus, accordmissible.
to all legitimate
ratiocination,is altogether inadIt is based
what
a
logiciansterm
upon
petltio
principii a begging of the question proving
it is
In this case
a
positionby that which is denied.
ments
stateestablishingChristian
statements, by Christian
'modus
be tolerated
cannot
a
operandi which
strict

"

"

"

"

"

"

in

an

like the

examination

present.

uninterestingto lay before you a few

of the objections which
Origen says Celsus
alleged
ApostrophisingChrist,
againstthe Christian system.
need was
Origen represents Celsus as asking " What
there for carrying thee, while
an
infant,into Egypt,
become
that thou mightest not
be slain,for it did not
from
afraid 7
Cod
And
to be
an
now
angel comes
It may

not

be

"

direct

heaven

to

Egypt,

lest you

as

if the

you
should

great God

who

and
be

your
taken

had

relations
up

and

already sent

to

put
two

flee into
to

death,

angels

88

EXTERNAL

upon
oion

of

account, could

your
in

son,
Christ

safetyat

from

caught basely
those

EVIDENCE

home

preserved you, his

Alluding to the flight

"

his

"
he says,
Christ was
pursuers,
lurking and flymg, being betrayed by

he called

whom

have

not

his

disciples."Speaking of his
crucifixion,he observes, "If not
before,why did he
and deliver
his divinity,
not
self
himnozv, at least,exert
from this ignominy, and
those
served,
treat
as
they dewho
behaved
ignommiously both towards
himself
and his father 1
He further remarks,
You
washed
by John, there lighted
say that when
you was
"

the

upon
you
witness
from

voice

"

of

appearance
said that

has

he

declare

heaven
"

this, or

saw

you
he

What

bird.

to

be the

able
credit-

heard
of

Son

the

God,
then,

observes, "Well,
Again
except yourself?
let us grant that all these things were
done b}r you
similar

done by
impostures were
they do such things,must

because

be

them

to

that

they

God's

were

sons

the

or

the

Egyptians,

we

therefore

must

not

we

artifices of wicked

and

esteem

rather

say
miserable

and

wise and learned

no
objectedthat
admitted
to the
:
men
were
mysteries of their religion
let:no man
that is learned,wise, or prudent,(for
come
evil and unlawful.)but if
these thingsthey accounted
infant or an idiot,let him
be unlearned
an
pear
apany
and welcome
openly declaring that none
; thus
and
of sense
devoid
but fools,or such
are
as
reason,
ples
fit disciand little children,are
slaves, sillywomen,
these
for the God
see
they worship. We
may
mountebank
triflingand
impostors bragging great
things to the vulgar,not in the presence and company
of wise
(forthat they dare not,)but wherever
men,
sillypeothey espy a flock of boys, slaves, and weak
ple,
in and boast themselves."
there they crowd
Celsus, says Origen, further observes, and, I must

men

Celsus

also

"

"

like the truth

much
say, it appears
Jesus being great with
child, was

carpenter who
her

of

had

espoused her,

adulterywith

soldier

"
"

put away
he

having

named

of

mother

The

by

the

ed
convict-

Pantharas.

Then, having been

she

wandered

in

brought forth Jesus, in

being in want, served

having

there

shameful

obscure

an

in

Egypt

some

himself

her

by

husband,
till she

manner,
place; and

for

such

charms,

as

and

of,he returned home,

those charms, he
upon

that

he,

livelihood,and

fond

are

learned

of doors

out

put

about

89

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

set

the

tians
Egyp-

ing
then, valu-

himself up

for

god."

of
give you more
displayno little abilityand
not
permit; and, moreover,
I could

irrelevant
hasten

to

which
objections,

Celsus's

time will
my
be somewhat

but

acumen,

it would

I
question in debate.
the allegedtestimony of another celebrated
expose
opponent of Christianity Porphyry, who
to

immediate

the

"

flourished

about

century

after

Celsus.

He

was

of extraordinary
philosopherof the Platonic school, and a man
He was
and virtue.
inent
emtalent,learning,
in all the departments of knowledge" literary,
and
historical,
philosophical.As a writer his style
and chaste
was
a very
singularlyelegant, dignified,
So
to that of his pious adversaries.
pleasingcontrast
renowned
he for his probityand morality, that
was
surnamed
The
Virtuous
he was
an
appellation
few of the Christian fathers could justlyclaim.
which
Dr. Lardner, a Christian, says of Porphyry, the
and
Heathen
Infidel,Vol. 3, page 124, of his Jewish
stances
Testimonies, and this is one of thje mosjt glorious inof disinterested
phyry,
"Porhumanity on record
named
as
a wife
Eunapius assures
us, had
he
Marcella, a widow, with five children,to whom
he says
he marascribed
of his books, in which
ried
one
her not
for the sake of having children
by her
himself,but that he might educate the children which
she had
his friend.
by a former husband, who was
Which
showed, (says the Dr.) a virtuous and generous
t
he
indeed,
Nor,
(continues Dr.) do
disposition.
"

"

"

"

"

reflection made
any
in his answer
Cyrill,of Alexandria,
we

meet

honorable

with

of

mention
8*

Marcella,as

his conduct.

upon
to
a

Julian,makes

woman

of

phi-

90

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

of

losophicalturn
by Porphyry."

Such

How
defenders

Let

of the

good

was

different
me

for that

and

mind,

to

not

the

great opponent

the

Bible-heroes

hear

again
that

priesthood
"

no

that

of Christianity.

and

Bible-

impudent

Infidel

can

sumption
as-

be

man.

About

the year

250, Porphyry published a

refutation

work, (30 vols.)in

of the

esteemed

reason

Christian
from

system.

It

and

produced,

as

very

luminous
vo-

exposure

might

be

the

of
high character and attainments
the writer, a strong sensation, so
much
the
so, that
holy fathers were
quite frightened from their
poor
What.
it they could
not.
propriety. Answer
theny
!
the
do
O
?
must
not
priesthood were
they
long in
refute the writings of
which
should
devisinga scheme
gratiate
Porphyry most effectively. Having, by this time, in-

presumed

themselves

into

Theodosius, whom
addressing in the fulsome
the

great !""

"

Theodosius

peror
good graces of the Emin the habit
of
they were
language of "Theodosius

the

the

wise!'7

"

Theodosius

that fanatical
impartialI" "c., they prevailedupon
despot to issue a decree against the writings of
this enlightenedand good man
; and, wrhile they were
it advisable
ness,
to complete the busidoing, they deemed
by includingthe writings of every individual who
had
had, the "audacity" and
"impiety" to oppose
of Porphyry, and all other
Christianity. The works
in the market-place.
thus publiclyburnt
heretics,were
from the decree, as given
The
followingis an extract
"We
decree,
by Dr. Lardner, Vol. 3, page 111:
therefore, that all writings whatever, which
ry,
Porphyor
else,hath written against the Christian
any one
they shall
religion,in the possessionof whomsoever
would
to the fire ! for we
be found, shall be committed
to come
to
suffer any
of these things so much
as
not
to wrath, and
tend to provoke God
men's
ears, which
and
of the pious.71 O ! kind
minds
the
offend
to
the climax, the same
! To cap
Christians
generous
decree proceedsto enforce a belief in that sillydocthe

"

EXTERNAL

trine,the Trinity,and
believe
it, "that
not

9i

EVIDENCE.

declares

that

besides

the

if any

person

will

condemnation

of

they must
justice,
expect to suffer the severe
authorities,guided by heavenly
penaltieswhich our
O !
wisdom, may think proper to inflict upon them."
those were
a
gloriousdays for the priesthood! What
How
have
lamentable
revival !"
a
pity we cannot
that the writings of an
Owen, a Volney, a Voltaire,a
Paine, a Gibbon, and a Hume, should be allowed "to
offend
to men's
to wrath, and
come
ears, provoke God
of the pious !"
minds
the
Why are they not burnt
it not
be a
publiclyin our market-places? Would
Carlton
thur's
Hill, or Arglorious"sight to behold
your
Seat, blazing with the writings of these great
and good men?
But, alas! those days are
by.
gone
Thanks
A new
has dawned
to the glous.
era
rious
upon
divine

"

"

of mind

advancement

and

Thanks

civilization.

of

chanic's
knowledge as diffused by our Meence.
Institutions,our Lyceums, our Halls of Sciof the printing
Thanks
to the
mighty power
O ! it arose,
and
The
priestcrafttrembled.
press.
bondage fell from their hands,
rusty chains of mental
of free inquiry flew from their iron
and the bright spirit
from
its debasing
grasp, arousing the intellect of the world
!
slumbers
Dr.
Jortin, in his Ecclesiastical
History,openly charges the fathers with the common
practice of perverting, defacing,and destroying the
works
of their adversaries, and
those of each
even
to

the

progress

other.
To

show

displayed by Porphyry, in his

Christian
a
fathers, I will give you
his style.
"If," says he, "Christ

the

tact

oppositionto the
few specimens of
be the

way

of salvation, the
who
believe in him

they only
come
of the
rather
at
to

the

who

men

awkward

lived

can

be

beforehis

question,and

it is not

life, and

the

truth, and

saved,

what

coming
to

be

"

he-

wondered

priesthoodfound it easier to burn it, than

it.
ansioer
Some," says Porphyry, alluding to
Christian fathers,
more
especiallyOrigen, "deter-

that

the

"

92

EXTERNAL

EVIDENCE.

depravityof the Jewish scriptures,

be
find out a solution of objectionsthat may
but
to
tions,
brought against them, have adopted forced interpretamined

not

to

see

the

in

inconsistent

those

writings,and
of these

recommendation

themselves,

such

should

not

absurdities,but
of

their

"

He

as

own

and

unsuitable

only

afford

be

to

dication
vin-

likewise

particularopinions."
a
Greek, and educated
"

"

was
Origen, who
the
sentiments, learned from the Grecians
method
of explainingthe Greek
mysteries,
allegorical
which
he cunningly applied to Jewish
Scriptures."
of Porphyry's, was
The
written
12th book
against
he states
the book of Daniel, which
written
not
was
whose
who
it bears, but by another
name
by him
lived in Judea
in the time of Antiochus, surnamed
Epiphanius, and that the book of Daniel does not
foretell things to come,
but relates what- had
already
happened ! A curious way of prophecy'ing,certainly!
find fault
Christians
Porphyry again observes, "The
sacred
and incense, and
with
rights and sacrifices,
other things in which
the worship of temples consists.
And
yet they allow that this kind of worship began
in ancient times
by the appointment of God, who is
refers
He
also representedas wanting first fruits."
"
to
Genesis, c. 4, v. 3, as proof. Christ," says he,
do
threatens
everlasting punishment to those who
believe in him, and yet in another
not
place he says,

says,
in Greek

"

'

ith what

measure

you

meet,

it shall be

meeted

to

is absurd
and contradictory."
you again/ which
what
1 will now
remark
is called the evidence
upon
"
of Porphyry in favor of Christianity. The
Holy

admirably disposedof the genuine

writingsof that powerful author, thought it would be
in Porphyto get up a work
a
ry's
capitalhit if they were
favorable
tianity.
Christo
containing something
name,
The
idea was
sooner
no
suggested than
manufacture
realized.
To
a
was
a
"pious fraud"
of
the
that
spectable
re"virtue," and, therefore,
days
during
forgery-maker,Eusebius, a work appeared,
Fathers," having

so

94

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

philosopher,and an enemy
Porphyry's, a heathen
of
to
Christianity,but a Christian, and a Patron
" It is the
! ! !
^artificeor forgery of
Christianity
the
some
Christian, designed and contrived, to save
wise
in general,and possiblylikeinterests of Christianity
of some
particularnotion of the author itself.'7
Alluding to the priestwho forged it,the Dr. observes,
"
rect
having formed a design to exhibit a corpage 221,
testimony in behalf of Christianity,in the name
of some
learned
Heathen, and to bring into it oracular
of Heathen
he supposed that no fitter
answers
deities,
could be taken than that of Porphyry, who
was
name
had
in great repute for learning, and who
published
the bitterest invectives
against Jews and Christianity,

of

"

and

the

against

the

work, to overthrow
Christians,which

ever

been

leged
al-

Scriptures,and he hoped by this

Porphyry's long work against the
had

done

friends, is the

Such, my

have

that

strongest arguments

so

much

mischief."

historyof

this

audacious

piece of imposture so often boasted as a triumphant

of the divinityof the Christian
scheme.
admission
It is quite equal to the rest of the pious forgeries
which
"

I have

exhibited

We

in my

last three

addresses.

dence
reviewed, at length,the external eviby Christians in confirmation
usually adduced
of their system.
I observed, at the close of my
last
discourse, that the facts 1 had then submitted, gave a
fatal shock
fabric of Christian
to the
evidences, and
it to
to raze
that,on this occasion,I should endeavor
the ground. 1 ask, respectfully,
is it not fairlydemolished
have

now

Where

is the

will attempt
person who
whole
of this evidence
but

is the
it up 2 What
of perversion and fraud
tell you

Were

it necessary

to

prop
mass

I could

of other

of the forgeryof the correspondence

forgeries,
the
between
King Abgarus and Christ
the forgery of the
forgery of the Sibyline verses
works
of Hystaspes and Trismigistus the forgery of
the correspondence between
Paul
and Seneca, "c,
"c.
But I forbear,
the Christian priesthoodthemas
"

"

"

selves
such

evidence

other

book,
in

derision

of

My friends,was
in favor of the divinityof any
excite unspeakable disgust and
of every
enlightenedand philosophic

ashamed

now

are

adduced
it would
mind

the

inquirer.

95

EVIDENCE.

EXTERNAL

I make

not

them.

these

statements

Christian
opponents, but to induce
my
of delusion and
open their eyes to the scene
in which
they haye been so long confined.

tate
irri-

to

them

to

imposture
Let

them

of their narrow
beyond the boundaries
prejudices,
contemplate the illimitable field of inquiry. Let
look for truth, not merely within
the little confines
dark creeds, and
of their own
mas,
inexplicabledogMoore
it can
but
be found," for as
wherever

look

and
them

"

exclaims
u

"

When

from

the

one
lipsof truth,
mighty breath,
Shall,like a whirlwind, scatter in its breeze,
The
dark pileof human
mockeries
whole
;
Then
shall the reign of mind
commence
on
earth,
second
And
fresh
from
as
a
birth,
starting
the
of
world's
in
sunshine
the
new
spring,
Man,
Shall walk
holy thing.;7
transparent like some

For

that

state

External
The

the

best

Evidence

Bibliotheca

Casius
Lewis

of the

the information

on

the

Ellis Du

works

reader,I

to consult

in

of

Christianity,are
of Fabricus, the small
Canon, in quarto, the
Pin's

should

wish

to

discussing the
the following:
of Bishop
work
translation

of

clesiast
History, the Ecof Basnage
work

Ecclesiastical

History of Tillemont, the

the. Jews, the Ecclesiastical Histories of Mosheim
on
of the former, but
and Jortin, and
the Dissertations
of those
really able
especially,the learned works
and
full
divines, the Rev. Jeremiah
Jones, "New
method
of settling
the canonical
authority of the New
Testament," printed at the Clarendon
press, Oxford,
of
1798, in three vols, octavo; and the great work
of the Gospel
Dr. Nathaniel
Lardner, on the credibility
The
History,"c, in eleven vols, octavo, 1798.
with Horsin his controversy
works
of Dr. Priestley,
ley,may also be consulted with advantage.
"

LECTURE

SIXTH.

GENUINENESS

THE

Friends
We

OF

THE

SCRIPTURES.

"

this

purpose

evening

to discuss

the

genuineness
necessarilylead us to

of the

will
Scriptures. This
duced
adconsider, more
particularly,the internal evidence
in support
of their
by Christians
inspired
is unquestionably the most
This
text-book.
important
I
"f
the
discussion, for, as
formerly observed,
portion
7?

"

if the

If

avail.

no

evidence

internal

be

cannot

we

can

be

false, all
from the

prove

of divine

the

book

origin,the dispute

is of

external

itselfthat
fairlyset

is

it
at

rest.

We

affirm,then,
of the

books

by

and

Old
whose

the very face

will consider

on

of
and

the

were

principal
ten
writ-

not

they bare,and, consequently,

!
subject,do ice find imposture

the

the

Deuteronomy.

constitute

Scriptures,and

principal

especialconsideration.
My first objectionto their genuineness is,that

there

the

Jewish

the

fore,
there-

no

of

These

merit,

division

affirmativeevidence

is, he himself does

them.
who

There

not

that

Moses

declare

he

wrote

is the

them,
author

that

of

priesthood,and not Moses,

affixed his name
to those
precious compositions.
is not
to
the least particleof direct evidence
It is the

Jewish

Testament

New

names

of

place,that

atim,
serigenuineness of the books
as
given in the Bible, beginning with the books
Moses, viz., Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,

We

is

those

in the first

98

is the writer of them.

it.
to adduce
Christians

that he

prove

and

Jews

of them

whole

the

has

Moses

But

facts?

neutral

writer

if

historian

"

challenge both

If he

not

done

written

are

third person.

the

were

not plainly and

books, why

of these
the

SCRIPTURES.

THE

OF

GENUINENESS

THE

honestlystatt?
On

so.

the

in the

They

thor
au-

trary,
con-

styleof
written

are

a
as

long gone by.

narratingevents
his name
is mentioned, "And
It is always, when
the
said unto
Moses
the Lord
said unto
Moses," and
Moses," or, "Moses
Lord," or, "the people said unto
said unto
the people" the style invariably adopted
by neutral writers.
of you,
giving yourself
Supposing that any one
some
life,
writing your own
name,
say Jackson, was
and recordingan interview
with an
individual,would
I said unto
he said
him," or
you not express it as,
Jackson
said unto
unto
Johnson,"
me," and not as
some

was

"

"

"

"

"

and

"Johnson

natural

language

would

other

There
is the

under

further

no

of

author

such

Such

is
and

circumstances,

the
any

the

for

reason

Pentateuch,

Moses

believingthat
than

his

that

name

frequently that he is the hero of the tale

that will apply to any
Just
memoir.
as
that ground, might you
son
that Johnaffirm
Boswell's
life,Byron that of Moore's, or

very

"

reason

Jackson?"

unto

be absurd.

is

occurs
"

said

well, upon
wrote

that of Scott's.

Napoleon

might write in that style,is only

say that Moses
a
beg the question to rest the argument
upon

To
to

"

We

doubt.
he

might

In

were

Numb.

Moses,

were

on

Think,

suppose

nothing.
are

followingqueer passage
3, it states, "Now,
chap. xii. ver.

The

we

"

was

my

that

'!

friends,of

that there is

himself!

to

"

above
very meek
the face of the earth."

man

world

right

the same
thing
prove
of these books, what
the author

of the

think

much

just as
Both

not.

If Moses
to

have

no

idea

meek

man

all the

men

declaringto

the
that
the

earth
meek
as
as
upon
person
is paradoxicallypreposterous.

GENUINENESS

THE

If Moses
very
and

did

OF

THE

99

SCRIPTURES.

that passage,
it proves
he was
he there assumes
opposite character to what

hence,

write

in

writing, such

violatingthe

been

I have

often

expressionmust

an

of his

convictions

the
;

have

mind.

own

heard

phrenologists
speak of the organs
of benevolence, wonder, veneration, "c,
eased,
being disthe author
but if Moses
of such language,
was
I should
of modesty was
deranged.
say his organ
In Deuteronomy, the stylestrikingly
the impossibil
proves
of Moses
The
is
manner
being the writer.
The
writer
the subject
essentiallydramatic.
opens
with
an
introductory discourse,and then introduces
Moses
in the act of speaking; and
when
he
has
as
made
Moses
finish his harangue, he resumes
his own
forward
part, and speaks till he brings Moses
again,
;

and

last closes

at

death
This
four
end

burial

and

of

in this book

ver.

with

scene

speakers
:

from

5, it is the writer

Moses

an

account

occurs

no

of the

of Moses.

interchange

times

of

the

in the

ver.

who

1 of

less than

chap.
speaks ; he

i. to the
then

troduces
in-

of

deliveringhis oration,
and this continues
of ver.
to the end
40, of chap. iv.
the writer
Here
drops Moses, and speaks historically
of what
in consequence
done
of what
was
Moses,
when
living,is supposed to have said, and which the
writer has dramaticallyrehearsed.
This
of chap, xxxiii.,
the end
to
style continues
when
the writer, having now
the
rehearsal
finished
the
forward
and
on
speaks
part of Moses, comes
of
the
whole
the
last
He
begins by
chapter.
through
went
tellingthe reader that Moses
top of
up to the
Pisgah, "c, and died in the land of Moab, and that
the Lord
that
in a valley, and
buried
him
no
man
this day, that is, unto
knoweth
of his sepulchreunto
the

time

book

at

as

which

the

of

Deuteronomy.
possibly be, that Moses

act

writer
It is

as

lived
clear

is not

the

who
as

the

wrote

language

writer

of

can

these

books.

Who,

that is in his

rightreason,

would

believe

that

100

GENUINENESS

THE

OF

SCRIPTURES,

THE

"

So Moses, the
composed the followinglines:
in the land of Moab,
of the Lord, died there
servant
And
he buried
according to the word of the Lord.
in a valley in the land of Moab, over
him
against
of his sepulchreunto
knoweth
Beth-Peer, but no man
Are
that Moses
to believe
wrote
this day?
we
an
death and burial?
and
of his own
account
that, too,
the
last
quent
subsefrom
is evident
line, many
as
years

Moses

"

to

his dissolution

The

would

who

man

low
swal-

indeed
most
a
absurdity, must
possess
capacious appetitefor the wonderful.
Paine
cluding
quaintlyremarks, when
alludingto the conjustquoted, which states,
portion of the verses
"
of his sepulchreunto
this
knoweth
That
man
no
the speaker, would
Moses
be an
To make
day
self,
improvement on the play of a child that hides himfind me
find
and cries,nobody can
nobody can
such

an

"

"

"

"

"

Moses.
I

other

proceedto propound
Moses

that

was

books

these

that

I hold

the

objectionsto

author

were

sition
poPentateuch.

of the

written

the

centuries

after

of the verses
concluding sentence
just
first proof:
read is my
of his sepulchreunto
this da}?-."
knoweth
"No
man
Does
it not imply the lapse
does this mean?
What
the day of Moses's
death
of a long interval between
this passage
the periodwhen
written?
and
was
is based
Genesis, chap,
argument
My next
upon
The

time.

his

"

xxxvi.

31

ver.

"And

"

the

kings that reigned in Edom

the children
reigned any king over

these
there

before

are

of

Israel.''
It is evident

after the firstking began

until
here

as

modern

several

force and
"

not
to

have

been

reign over

ten
writ-

Israel,

reigned; for the term uany"

father of
used, refers to a 'plurality.The
rable
Infidelityexplains this argument with admi-

until

nay,

could

this passage

Now,

were

had

clearness
any

"

dateless

writings to

be

found, in

102

THE

it

cause

far

was

with

GENUINENESS

OF

from

THE

Zidon,
and

SCRIPTURES.

and

had

they

it

was

in the

friends,that

no

historian

ness
busi-

no

valley that
And
lieth by
they built a cityand dwelt
And
of the city,Dan,
therein.
they called the name
of Dan
their father,who
after the name
born
was
of the city was
Israel : howbeit, the name
unto
Laish
of the Danites taking posaccount
at the first.7' This
session
of Laish, and
it
is
to
Dan,
changing
placed in
of Judges
the book
immediatehj after the death of
of Samson
The
death
Samson.
occurred
1120, b. c,
and that of Moses
ing
1452, b. c., and, therefore,accordto historical arrangement,
the place was
not called
Dan
until 332 pears after the decease of Moses.
It is
manifest,then, that he could have nothing to do with
the authorship. Again
written
Could
Moses
have
the 8th
of the 38th
verse
chap, of Exodus, which
speaks of
only
glass was
looking-glasses"when
invented by Benedict, an English monk, in the seventh
than
2000 years
(the year 674) more
century
after
any man
Beth-rehob.

"

"

Moses
It is
of

dead

was

clear, my

credit,whose

historycontains

conformable

phrases, not
Such
he speaks.
objectionsto the

which

and

book,

expressions;
time of

furnish
of

genuineness
abounds

the

customs

any

table
irrefuancient

in such

discrepancies.
tained
Suppose a play published as Shakspear.e's,conthat
allusions to the Battle of Waterloo, is not

destroy all claim to genuineness?

prove that Shakspeare did not write it?

enough
it not

with

anachronisms

the Pentateuch

worthy

anachronisms

gross

subsequent date, or to
subsequent date, or who
employs words,
and

refer you
the

Would

to

to

other

justpointed out.
uIn

is

to facts of

"allusions
of

anachronisms
Dr.

of the

Francis

as

has

gross

as

noticed

I could

any I have
several.
"

Testament/' says he, "we

find abundant
proofsthat they have been written in
In Genesis,
an
age greatlyposteriorto that of Moses.
the Ca'And
find these words
chap. xii. v. 6, we
book

Old

"

naanite

was

then

in the

land,' which

we

learn

from

GENUINENESS

THE

THE

OF

103

SCRIPTURES.

Bible, did not happen till after David, and could

The
by Moses.
beginning
not, therefore,be written
of Deuteronomy is certainlynot written
by him, for
the

he

Nebor,

great

in

out

show

"

"

There
'

and

There

could
passages
and when
there had

age,
posterior

Mount

upon

chap, xxxiii,
in Judea,
was,
could be pointed

never

such

that

died

In Deut.

of it.

expression
prophet as Moses
places.
many

He

Jordan.

eastward

the

to

the

find this

we
so

passed

never

such
needs

no

comment

only

be

written

been

several

to

in

ets
proph-

after Moses."

What, however,
all the

than

been

may

be considered

rest, that the

sive
conclu-

more

as

Pentateuch

could

not

written

by Moses, comprising,as it does, a

modes
of
large volume, is, that there were
only two
Moses
to
: one
by cuttingthe words
writing known
in stone, and the other by tracing them
soft mortar
on
last method
he
or
mends
expressly recomplaster,which
4 and 8.
to the Jews, Deut.
chap, xxvii. verses
were
Perhaps the tables of stone used on the mount
for Moses
the commandments
also plastered,
thereon
wrote
written
all the didactic
in one
To have
morning.
or
part of the Pentateuch, either in one
way
the other, would
have
been next
to impossible; and,
when
written, what
buildingcould contain this heap
of stones ", or how were
they to be transported? Why,
the
it would
have
out
stone
to write
requiredas much
would
have
built
five long books
of the Pentateuch
as
the finest street in Europe.
thor
When, therefore, the auof this collection,
Moses
makes
ivrite the law in a
himself
to the
language and ideas
book, he conforms
The
of his own
thor,
auday, not of the days of Moses.
books
were
or
therefore,wrote
compiled it when
have

in

common

There

use.

being used
long time

for

common

Herodotus

writing in

after.

use

that

states

the

till the
was

is

the

no

the

writer

of

time

Moses,

in Walsh's

Egyptian
time

of the

evidence

of the

papyrus

papyrus
for
nor

Ptolemies,and

first historian

who

view,
Re-

American
was

could

not

in

that

have

104

GENUINENESS

THE

of it.

made

use

word,

such

scarcely need state that no

Pentateuch, could have been

the

as

of that

till the invention

first
Ci

Moses"

of

in the

been

of

name

years 'I
written
could

It is
on

farce

swallow

such

book

of Genesis

must

have

supposing all our

refer to
principally

could

no

could
i. and

ends

ii. v.

4, and

of

quite

different

chap. ii. v.

at

ends

different

other

of

Lord

that
books

writers.

One

God

"

evident

work

one

chapter.
have

must

it

invalid.

stories

of this

fact,that
memory,

first story begins

second
3. The
begins

these

opinion that

by

with

the

chapters, detailing

different

two

to

with

The

them.

history

historians,
of Moses,

so

write

wrote

Bible-reader

oppositeto each other, in styleand

individual
excepting a lunatic, without

event,

he

objectionswere

the first four

are

is

be the

not

former

There

the creation.

says

respect

it
particular,
written
by two

even

With

nonsense.

therefore

least,and

the

if Moses

but

none

"

by

elaborate

an

in

been

in my
first time
the

or

talk of

materials

such

sand
thou-

plaster,and how
could such
a
prodigious
lost,and that for 800

been

to

Why.

stone

sense

have

ten
writ-

remember

that the

upon

common

of materials

mass.

at

years
it ! indeed

long

one

mentioned, was
after Moses, who

ever

800

have

must

will

you

was

priestHilkiah,
found it. Found
it,it

material, about
You

I informed

Lecture,

law

after Moses

years

SCRIPTURES.

THE

OF

Dr.

chap,
chap,

Eichorn

been

is

composed

story speaks of

God,

the

concludes, chap. i. v. 27,

woman
were
created, the

and
tellingus 'man
other begins, with telling
us
not, (chap. ii.
they were
One
and woman
created
gether,
toman
were
v. 5.)
says
was
vchap.i. v. 27,) the other that the woman
cording
sometime
made
afterthe man, (chap.ii. v. 18.) Acto the firststory there was
no
name
given to
the first man
and
woman.
According to the second
to
one
they have names
given them
they were
says
with

"

have

dominion

their dominion

over
was

gives six days

the

whole

limited, to

earth

"

the

other

the

garden.

of creation

"

One

other

that

tive
narra-

(chap.ii.

OF

GENUINENESS

THE

4,)relates the story

makes
The firstaccount

v.

countries, while

the

THE

if there

as

no

105

SCRIPTURES.

only one

were

mention

second

appears
after
countries
later,

of any
to have

day.

particular
been

ten
writ-

and

places had
mentions
writer
the
as
Havilah,
acquired names,
Ethiopia, Assyria, the Euphrates, the land of Nod,
and other places.
the
My friends,it is a curious fact,if Moses was
of the Pentateuch, or if these
had
author
books
been
in existence
at all,at so
early a period as alleged,that
the slightestmention
be
should
of them
in
made
not
of the Old
Testament,
any of the subsequent books
until the return
from the Babylonish capof the Jews
tivity.
From
Joshua
the second
book of Kings,
to
it gives an
written after the captivity,
as
(which was
of that event,)there
the most
is not
account
remote
allusion
to any
writings answering the Pentateuch,
and
of Moses
the
!
From
even
name
rarely occurs
all these
warranted
we
are
considerations,therefore,
could not have
in affirmingthat the Pentateuch
been
written
until after the Babylonish captivity,
least
at
that is,nearly one
thousand
years
to
subsequent
Moses.
It is higlhy probable Ezra
the real auwas
thor
of these books, and
he lived onlyfour hundred
The
Talmudists, and the Jewish
years before Christ.
In
writers generallyascribe the Pentateuch
to Ezra.
on
a former
casion,
ocNehemiah, we are told,as mentioned
"
that he was
write
the
Jewish
inspiredto reas
Scriptures,
they had been absolutelylost during the
tured,
manufacwas
then, the Pentateuch
captivity. It was
them
must
esteem
as
paratively
comwe
and, therefore,
many

years

"

"

modern.
can

be

made
and

as

we

are

referringto them,

by the Ptolemies
of these, the Greek
is the only one.

before
fact.

cited

Of this

for the

certain
until

"

the

occurred

only

priesthood
defy
The
opinions I have thus given upon
is stronglyconfirmed
by the fact,that
Christ.

the

to

writer

collection

Alexandrian

version, restingon
This

no

school,
rity,
autho-

no

300

years

overturn

these

many

this
tings,
wri-

of

106

GENUINENESS

THE

OF

THE

SCRIPTURES.

mysteriesand dogmas recorded therein,are exact

fac-similes of the mysteries of the Babylonians. The
in six days, is a perfect copy of the Gahans
creation
of Zoroaster,the founder
of the Babylonish philosophy,
and what
is still more
singular,the particulars
of each day's work, are also preciselysimilar,
in every
story of the serpent and the fall,was
respect. The
that people. The
long famous
mythological
among
of
is
Noah
's flood',
and
the
as
same
deluge Oxyges
just
and
Eve
the story of Adam
in Paradise, is a mere
first pair. The
Talmud
expressly
copy of Zoroaster's
the

declares

angels,and
The

even

of

book

Jews

the

that

borrowed

the

after

months, from the Babylonians.

Genesis,has evidentlybeen taken from

It is

not

until
have

belief among
Christians, that Genesis
book in the world.
A
more
egregious

vulgar

oldest

is the

done

book.

that

written

the

their

could
been
have
not
people,which
the captivity. Moses, therefore,
could

that

of

names

Sanchomistake, however, could not be entertained.

and
historian,and the Hindoo
niatho, the Phoenician
Chinese
annals, are of much
higher antiquity than

prove

that

there

were

men

records
and

of

the

astronomers

Chinese,
in

that

would
suade
pervery time, the stupid Jews
of
the
the
Noah
inhabitants
all
world,
except
us,
drowned
the
his family, were
by
deluge ! Souceit

country
and

astronomical

The

Moses.

at the

in the Chinese
eclipseof the sun, recorded
before
history, which
happened 2155
years
is but 256
after the deluge,at a
Christ,which
years
the earth was
the Bible informs
time when
habited
us
only inby the progeny of Noah ! while Egypt, at the
cities could
then so peopled,that many
very time, was
less
the inhabitants,and China
not
was
not contain
populous.
The
Hindoo
astronomical
observations, as far as
learned
nomers
astroby the most
they have been examined
Gen til,and
of the age, Bailhe, Le
others,
four and five thousand
carry their antiquitybetween

mentions

an

THE

GENUINENESS

THE

OF

107

SCRIPTURES.

ten
beyond our era, as may be seen in a paper writby the late Professor Playfair,of Edinburgh, and
of the Philosophical
recorded
in the second volume

years

Transactions.
I
leaving this subject,

In
of

of the

some

shall adduce

the

writers,in corroboration
been maintaining.
Eben
Ezra, a celebrated

of the

authority

and

Jewish
distinguished

most

tian
Chris-

positionI

Jewish

have

of

author

the

work
that Moses
to prove
twelfth century, wrote
a
of the book of Genesis, or of
could not be the author
attributed
mous
the fato him; and
any of the five books
Jewish
the sixteenth
Eben

Ezra,

philosopher,Spinoza,who flourished in
century, after quoting the opinions of
shows

until the time

book

hundred

than

one

from

the

the

years

Bible

did

Maccabees,

after the

exist

not

which

was

of

return

as

more

Jews

the

"

"

affirm
and

Isaac

of

the

Babylonian captivity. The

distinguished
St. Jerome, confesses that he
dares
father"

Christian
not

that

Newton

that

Moses

admits
and

was

that

Ezra

the

author

wrote

of the

those

teuch,
Penta-

books.

Sir

Lord

Barringtonaffirm that it was

Ezra who
neither Moses
wrote
nor
them, but Samuel.
of the three,but
Dr. Geddes, declares that it was
none
The
Rev. W. Fox,
Solomon, who
composed them.
"
in his sermons
the
that
publishedin 1819, remarks
ments,
early part of Genesis is a compilationof ancient docuand
the writing of Moses, has been the
not
able divines
of the most
and
sincere
opinion of some
believers."
A
writer in the
Penny Cyclopaedia,"
article Hebrew, expresses
similar
The
a
opinion.
the Pentateuch
is written,"says
language in which
he, differs so little from that of David, Solomon, and
centuries
lived many
Isaiah, who
after the time of
Moses, that many
supposing it impossiblethat
critics,
a
stationaryfor so
language should have remained
that none
maintained
of the
centuries,have
many
books
written
of the Old Testament
were
previous
"

"

"

to

the

easy

to

time

of

David

disprovethis

and

Solomon.

position."So

say

It is not
I.

very

108

GENUINENESS

THE

The

Christian
distinguished

asserts, that
the

Le
that
modern

the

it may

composed by
Babylon to instruct

great deal

was

and

tament.7'
Tesmates
inti-

quoted by Dupin,

Pentateuch

Moses,

of the Old

of the books

been

from

Professor,Dupin, positively
not
certainlyassured of

Clerc, also, as

than

have

are

of most

authors

true

"

we

SCRIPTURES.

THE

OF

be
Jewish

some

the

more

conjectured to
Priests, sent
of

inhabitants

new

Palestine.
i must

of the
time

hasten

now

to review

the

Pentateuch,

brief with
Joshua

the

books

remaining

devoted

Scriptures. Having

to

the

so

of

much

be
shall,necessarily,

we

our

what
some-

rest

objectionsurged againstthe books of

It i
Moses, will apply, in a great degree,to Joshua.
written
in the same
neutral style. The
historian,and
not
Joshua, speaks. The death and burial of Joshua
to believe he himself
wrote
is recorded,though we
are
it states,
it ! In chap, xxiv., 29th
and 30th verses,
"
it came
And
after these things,that Joshua,
to pass
of Nun, the servant
the son
of the Lord, died, being
hundred
and ten years old ; and they buried him
one
in the border
of his inheritance,in Timnath-serah,
is Mount
which
Ephraim, on the north side of the hill
The

"

of Gaash."
The

is
priesthooddeclare,that Joshua
of a book
How
the author
containing this passage.
matchless
is the
impudence and stupidityof these
!
In the following verse,
men
read,
(the 31st,)we
"
of
all the days
And
Israel served
the Lord
Joshua,
"
Joshua.
and all the da3^sof the elders that overlived
Christian

In the

of

name

people

what

heaven
In

it be Joshua

could

reason

had

done

who
he

alter

ages

here
was

lates
re-

in

?
the

passage

modesty

27th
which

Moses.
"So

the

wrote

condition

same

It is

chap., there

6th

if Joshua

shows,
in the

was

language:

of the

ver.

given

Lord

was

in

the

with

as

occurs

it, that

his

of his decessor,
preclassic
following
that

Joshua,

and

his

110

CtENUINENESS

THE

SCRIPTURES.

THE

OF

to the year
recorded, is brought down
occurred
four years
1056, to the death of Saul, which
2nd Book
The
begins with the
after that of Samuel.
Saul, and continues
reign of David, who succeeded
did not
the history until David's
decrepitude,which

his death

is

43

after

decease

the

of Samuel.

occur

until

These

books, therefore,are, in themselves,

years

conclusive

written
not
by that proud
they were
and
brutal priest.
As
four following
and
the
to Kings
Chronicles
I
books
to be
they are acknowledged
anonymous.
need not, therefore,notice them, only to remark, that
after the Babylonish
have
been composed
they must
captivity,as the 2nd Book of Kings gives an account
of that event.
This proves
them
to be comparatively

evidence

that

"

"

modern.
Ezra

genuine. Ezra probably

of the Old
it at the time he forged other books
wrote
Testament, under the peculiarlypriestly
presumption,
"
that he was
them.
inspired" to "re-write"
NehemiahThe
next
book, could not be written
by
that holy personage
in
for
chap, xii.,ver. 22, Jaddua,
;
the
tioned,
menpriest,and Darius, the Persian king, are
This

"

book

may

be

"

did

who

in

was

who

lived

Esther

at
"

not

his

least

The

live until
Some

grave.
a

100

century

years

after Nehemiah

wrote

one

after Nehemiah's

followingbook,

is

this book
time.

confessedlyanonymous.

The

not
are
remaining books of the Old Testament
much
a
so
as
historical,
compound of proverbs, songs,
and prophecies.
I shall speak at length when
Of the latter,
I discuss
the question of prophecy ; of the former, I may
soon
dispose.
Job is evidentlynot a
Jewish
composition ; it has
no
affinitywith any other book in the Bible ; it stands
alone
in its glory." This
the opinion of some
was
of the most
learned Jews.
Ezra
Eben
and
Spinoza
"

have

declared

there

is

no

evidence

to

prove

that

it is

GENUINENESS

THE

THE

They maintain
from
another
language
genius of the composition, and
is not Hebrew, and that some
a

Jewish

OF

that it has

book.

Nevertheless,

into

this is the

Ill

SCRIPTURES.

the

Hebrew

only

lated
trans-

the
; that
of the piece

drama

Gentile

been

the

be

must

book

decent

thor.
au-

in the

exceptionof the Proverbs,

I shall speak presently. St. Gregory, in the
of which
of Job, after
Preface
the Book
to his Commentary
on
stating that its author is unknoivn, observes, "'Tis
needless
to
inquire who
composed the book of Job,
since
of the faithfulquestion that the Holy
none
Ghost
the author of it."
was
Now, if the authorship
of Job is unknown,
could the u faithful " know
how
that
If it be a fact that
the Holy Ghost
it ?
wrote
this strange writer
the
the
was
inspired" penman,
did
author
he
is known
Holy Ghost ! ! Where
Old

Testament,

with

the

"

"

Where

live?
"

blasphemus."

The
There

did he

of

book

We

must

Proverbs

is

we

are

proceed with
ascribed

ing
grow-

ject.
sub-

our

Solomon.

to

however, to induce 'the belief

nothing but a collection of
from other nations,besides the Jewish,
added
to give them
name
authority.

is every
reason,
those
proverbs are

that

sayings, taken
and

But

from?

come

Solomon's

"

This

of the 25th
opinion is confirmed
by the 1st verse
chapter, which asserts that, " these are also proverbs
of Solomon, which
the men
gf Hezekiah, king of Judid not live until
dah, copied out."
Now, Hezekiah
250 years
after Solomon.
How
then could they certainly
know, at that distance of time, with no press
Solomon's
?
What
to transmit
them, that they were
lutely
Absoauthority do they give for their genuineness ?
none.

Psalms
should

"

have

These
been

pious
noticed

in
songs,
after Job.

point
The

of

order,
of

mass

ascribe
David."
them
to
Bible-readingChristians
Hence, the general title in the Prayer Books, "c.,

':The
the

Psalms

137th

of David."

Psalm,

which

I wonder

refers to

an

if David
event

which

wrote

did

112

THE

GENUINENESS

OF

THE

SCRIPTURES

defunct ! I
happen until 400 years after he was
the
mean
Babylonish captivity. " By the rivers of
bered
Babylo?iwe sat down, yea, we wept when we rememWe
Zion.
hanged our harps upon the willows,
in the midst
thereof, for there they who carried us
requiredof us a song, saying, Sing us
captive,
away
not

of the

one

admit

David

that

Psalms.

Some
no

penmen,
an
"

error

or

The

about

composed only
ascribed

are

to

learned

more

Moses

men

third of the

and

other

godly
It is

less than

fiftybeing anonymous.
to speak of
imposition, therefore,

the Psalms
We

of Zion."

songs

them

as

of David."

brieflynotice the books of the New

Testament.
First,of the Gospels. To disprovetheir
remind
genuineness,I must
you, in the first place,of
course,
Disthe important fact,as
explained in my Second
that the fast time these books
mentioned
were
will

now

in the

was

There

is

no

year 182,
conclusive

in existence

were

some
or

before

learned

192.
say
satisfactoryevidence
they

other

gospels,but

not

"

Not

date.

that

apostolicfathers allude to them,

would
have
done, had they been
to

men

of the

one

which

they certainly
current.
They refer

degree,do
Mark, Luke, or John.

in the most

remote

they allude to either Matthew,

these
earlier
extant
not
If,therefore,
gospelswere
than the days of Ireneus, (182) it is morally impossible
for them
to have
beeu composed by the four apostles
Ireneus
until
not
just named,
nearly a
living
Christian
The
father,Fauste,
century after their time.
in his controversy
with
Augustine, about the year
400, distinctly
affirms,that the gospelsare not genuHe observes,
The
hie.
books called the evangelists
have
been composed long afterthe times of the apostles,
obscure men,
who, fearingthat the world
by some
would
not give credit to their relation of matters,
of
them
which
they could not be informed,have published
full
under
the name
so
are
of the apostles
; and which
"

of sottishness
neither

and

agreement

discordant
nor

connexion

relations
between

that

there

them."

is

He

further

It is thus

"

remarks,

TKE

OF

OENtttNENESS

THE

113

SCEIPTURES.

that your

predecessors

Lord
Scriptures of our
many
his
things,which, though they carry
name,
agree not
with
his doctrine.
This is not
surprising,since that
have oftenproved these things have
been
not
ten
writwe
but, that for the
by himself, nor by his apostles,
greatest part, they are founded
upon tales,upon vague
but I know
not
what, half
reports, and put together,
Jews, with but little agreement between
them, and
which
they have, nevertheless,published under the
name
tributed
of the apostles
of our Lord, and have thus atinserted

have

in

their

them

to

the

for
polite,
certainly,
wish

to

who

formed

own

and

errors

Christian

lies !
!

Bishop

"

Very

Those

who

refer to
verify these important extracts may
Boulangef'sLife of Paul, who states that he has taken
from the writingsof Augustine against Fauste.
them
another
astounding statement
Boulanger also makes
"The
in the 2nd chapter of his work.
Manicheans,
a

sect

numerous

very

of

at

the

ment
commence-

false

the
all
books
rejectedas
Christianity,
of the New
other writings
Testament, and showed
quite different, which they gave as authentic.'7
M.
in his
Simon, the learned French
theologian,
"
Critical History of the text of the New
Testament/'
"
have no solid proof in antiquiassures
ty
us, that, We

to

make

it appear

head

of every

who

are

to us, that

gospelwere

the

thereunto

names

at

set

prefixedby

the

those

authors of them."

the

Du

Pin, the Christian historian,expresses a similar

have
that we
opinion, and asserts, confidently,
only
the testimony of the Fathers
for the genuineness of
the

gospels.

Those

who

heard

what

weight
himself, from
the

Fathers
to

give

at

to

my

this

credit

Address

their

testimony.

(theFathers)every one strives to advance

much
aud they make
as
as
possible,
10*

will

know

M.

Simon,
I have
justquoted, alludingto
sily
ought not too eatime, says, "We
of churches,
first originals
to the

give to

whom

Third

their
no

quity
anti-

scruple

114
such

on

have

OF

GENUINENESS

THE

occasions,
that

none

to

acts, when

counterfeit

To

true"

are

SCRIPTURES.'

THE

they

rest, therefore,your

lief
be-

genuineness of the gospel,upon the veracity

is truly preposterous.
men,
however, give you internal proof that the
me,

in the
of such
Let

genuine, which
evidence.
Matthew,
If he neglect to hear

gospelsare
external
"

says,

thee

unto

there
"

as

is

heathen

church

no

was

Church

is

not

Greek

man

of

volume

chap, xviii.,ver. 17,

the church, let him be
and a publican." Now

in the time
word.

worth.,

The

of Jesus

Matthew.

or

assembly

of the people

This
expression
Athens, styled itself ecclesia.
the
in
was
Christians,
only adopted by
of
process
of
time, when
they had obtained a kind
government.
of

containing such a passage, could not have

been written
by Matthew.
and
the
of these writings
Acts
Epistles Many
have
been repudiated as not genuine, by some
one
or
sects.
other of the Christian
Eusebius, in his third
are
book, informs us, that the epistles which
said,
gainto many,
though well known
are, the Epistleof
James, the Epistle of Jude, the latter of Peter, and
A

book

"

"

Second

the
that

the
as

to

the

and

Third

of John."

Paul, and
spurious. Dr. Du
Hebrews, "has no
of

Acts

He

several
Pin

also

others,were

affirms

certain

mentions

name

that

the
as

jected
re-

tle
Epis-

the

real

Life of Paul," states,

Boulanger, in his
that the Marcionists, and other
early Christian sects,
rejectedthe Acts as forged, and that the sect called
the Sevenians, adopted neither the Acts nor
the Epistles
of Paul.
in
he
a
Chrysostom,
homily which
the Acts of the Apostles,says, that in his
made
upon
time, about the year 400, many
people knew
nothing
either of the author
The
the
deed,
book.
or
Ehronites, inwho
the firstChristians,rejectedall the
were
Epistlesof Paul, and regarded him as an impostor
sensible
"a
very
opinion.
Revelations
The
last book in the Bible, if we
are
"

author."

"

"

to

accredit

many

learned. Christians, is like

the

rest

GENUINENESS

THE

"

pious fraud.

less

no

THE

learned

of these

One

115

SCRIPTURES.

Christians

is

dria,
than
Dionysius, Bishop of Alexanperson
flourished
His
mony
testiin the third century.

who
has

been

repeatedlycited by

whom

amongst

OF

Christians

professor,Du

Christian

is the

modern

The

Pin.

Divers of our
bishopbroadly affirms that
cessors
predeand
have
this
book,
rejected
wholly refused
and by discussingthe several
chapters thereof, have
found
it obscure, and
void of reasons,
the title
and
not
John's, nay,
forged! ! ! Again, they said it was
it was
covered
revelation
with
at all; which
was
no
so
gross a veil of ignorance,and that there was
none,
either of the apostles,or of the saints,or of them
which
belonged to the church, the author of this book,
but Corinthus, the author
of the Corinthian
heresy,
of John, for
this as a figment in the name
instituting
further credit and authority.7'We
have
dence
internal evibeen written by
that this book could
not have
John ; for the writer refers to the church
of Laodicea,
and
its sloth
and
corruptions,consequent upon its
not
was
Now, this church
great riches and power.
"

established
100

nearly
clever

until

years
John

man

events
a

after

which

the

have

must

did not

after he had

century

world

middle

the

gone

of the
of

time
been

"

century,

John.

truly,to

happen
to

second

until

another

have

very
tioned
men-

upwards
and

of

better

"

genuineness of the respective

of the Old and New
books
Testament, and in relation
Revelations
the grand finaleof the Bible,
to the last
we
are
bishop, not only
actuallytold by a Christian
written
that it was
not
by John, but is merely the
composition of a heretic.
posture
O ! how
long will the people support such imWill
1
they never
outgrow the credulityof
Will they
?
their ignorantand superstitious
ancestors
Yes
?
manhood
never
rapidlyare
aspire to mental
tellectu
from
their inthe masses
disencumbering themselves
alof priestcraft
shackles
The
trammels.
We

have

"

tested

the

"

"

THE

ready

sit

dauntless

and

friends

of

mental

will

be

delusion

will
now."

be

as

the

seen

enlightenment.
when,

effort
and

liberty,

The
as

hateful

will

dismal
and

totter

will

short
the

on

the

glorious
day

few

them.

unremitting

and
ruins

around

loosely

116

SCRIPTURES.

THE

OF

GENUINENESS

then

Shelley

observes,

and

unprofitablej

and

that

perstition
su-

its

and
have

falsehood's
as

on

reason

really
"

the

of

temple

of

edifice

of

part

fall,

of

years

rived,
ar-

trade
of

truth

is

118

PROPHECY.

of human

reach

Thirdly,the

sagacityto foresee or calculate ; and,

clear and palpablefulfilment of the prophecy

in the event."

subsequent observations,I shall

In

show,

that

to the rules of
Scripturepropheciesdo not conform
learned gentleman, and therefore,according to his

be

cannot

"

that

of the

many

obscure,and
and

Christ

so

his

few

Discourse, page

31,

propheciesare still dark and

evidently belonging to Christ,
it requiresmuch
learningand

that

connection

the
even
sagacityto
now,
some
propheciesand the events."
These

gument,
ar-

latter

far from

only,
show,

the

received.

declares,in

Sherlock

Bishop

the

extracts, from

Christians

between

of

mean

no

the,priesthood
celebrity,
clearlyevince the great difficulty
experiencein attempting to establish the divinity
of their Scripturesupon
prophecy.
Hence

find that

we

of the most

some

laborious

and

writingsever published, have been upon

and
this vague
has
speculativetopic. Dr. Keith
waded
of useless learning
mass
through an immense
and idle display,in order to prove the fulfilment of the
prophecies. The Rev. Mr. Ketts, too, though he professes
his
fills
have
to
a
compressed
arguments,

voluminous

volume

of

with
pages,
Bishop Newton

816

subject;and
with
a production of
and

yet

informs

his

brevity!
I probably may
exercise

of

learned

men,

such

complete waste

1200

Dissertation

has

pages

readers

be considered

patience
I say
of time and

when

and

upon

the

presentedthe world
the same
on
question,
he

that

has

studied

ungrateful,after the
research, by so many

that

paper

I deem
"

works

such
mass

of

religious

rubbish.
Were

the

whole

of

they adduce, in
these ponderous volumes, irrefragably demonstrated,
I still maintain
they have done nothing to decide the
all that these
to concede
question at issue. Were
we
learned
that
to allow
we
gentlemen require were
the

arguments

"

119

PROPHECY.

of the

one

every

fulfilled to the

were

done

bold

somewhat

Genesis

to

the Revelations

I nevertheless
letter,
absolutelynothing to decide that
very

of God.

is the word

the Bible
a

have

they

aver

propheciesfrom

and

This

be

may

unwarrantable

deemed

assumption

on

part, but I reiterate it.

my

for making an assertion so unqualified,

My reasons
I hold that prophecy does not necesbecause
sarily
are, first,
be
imply divine inspiration.Prophecies may
divine
made, and may be fulfilled without
tion.
interposiSee the propheciesof the oracles of Greece, particularly
and Delphos, the prophecies
those of Diana
of Lactantius,St. Cesaire, Virgil,Seneca, Dr. Johnson,
Napoleon, Lord Chesterfield,and the Cornish
prophecies,recorded
by Polewell, in his history of
Cornwall, and Sir John
Davis, in his Discoveries,
tion
being in relation to the destrucpage 77, the former
of Paul's Church, Penzance, and New
Lynn, long
before they were
in existence ; and the latter,relative
of Ireland.
subversion
to the
Secondly, prophecies
the
Christian
not peculiarto
are
religion. They may
"
sacred
in the
be found
writings of other religions,
and are as well attested as the Bible prophecies. The
celebrated Hindoo
prophecy, mentioned
by Col. Wilkes,
in his Hindoo
sketches,a prophecy singularlyfulfilled
and deliverer
in the person of Sevajee,the conqueror
of that people,is a case
in point. Therefore, if prophecy
divine
these
necessarilyimplies
inspiration,
and
books
hence
be a multiplicity
there must
are
inspired;
"

of
idea

an

at

of
and

"

divine

incongruous
prophecy leads to
once

therefore

What

revelations"

cannot

"

and
a

The

absurd.

reductio

be considered

of God"

"words
ad

"

ment
argu-

absnrdum,

conclusive.

that it is
Prophecy ? Dr. Johnson
says
sl
and to predictis to "foretell" Now, 1
prediction,"
affirm that the power
of foretelling
or
prognostication
is in the possessionof every
human
being, according
the
of
and
his intellect,
the extent
to
of his
capacity
knowledge and experience. There is scarcelya day
is

i20

PROPHECY.

but every

passes
I will

appeal

have

you

to

your

every

propheciesmore

or

less.

day experience, whether

repeatedlyaffirmed that such and such

in some
will take
place,and whether
rect
least,you have not found yourself cor-

not

circumstances

instances,

individual

at

?
far

So

cording
verified,so far, acpredictionwas
ot the orthodox, were
to the logic
you inspired.
such
comes
circumstances, beProphecy, therefore,under
an
ordinary rather than extraordinary event
rather than a super-huma?z attainment
a human
; and,
legitimately
consequently,not one by which you can
determine
of
the divinity
Scripture.
But
I may
be told that the
only
pious" mean
of years,
extend
those predictions
which
to hundreds
and not to mere
local and
Granting
passing events.
for precisethis,it still does not improve their position,
ly
of
view
the same
will
this
bear
against
arguments
I can
the subjectas the other.
cite cases, if it be necessary,
where
prophecies have been made by men
who
had
no
pretensions at all to divine inspiration,
which
have
which
pened
hapevidently related to events
centuries
subsequent to the time of prediction,
See the case
and which
of St. Cesaire,
did happen.
Bishop of Aries, page 542, given in a book, entitled,
verified at the King's
has been
Liber Mirabilis,which
there is an
Library, at Paris, where
original. His
Revolution, and
prophecy is in relation to the French
is quite as remarkable
in the Bible.
It is as.
as
any
The
follows :
administration
of France
shall,at a
future and distant period,be so blinded that they shall
as

your

"

"

"

"

it without

leave

itself over

defenders

; the

them, and

hand

likewise

of God

shall

all the rich ;

their estates
and

over

deprived of
dignities division shall spring up in the
God, and there shall be two husbands, the

all the

nobles

shall

be

church

"

and

the

flight.
an

other

adulterous

There

shall be

effusion of blood

as

"

the

former

shall

great carnage,

in the time

tend
ex-

of the

one

be

and

of
true

put to
as
great

Gentiles.

"

121

PROPHECY.

The

universal
the

ruin

church,
of

and

the

whole

ivorld shall

plore
de-

celebrated

city,the capitaland the

of the temple shall
mistress of France.
The
altars
be destroyed; the holy virgins razed
out, shall fly
from their convents, and the church
shall be stripped
of her temporal goods ; but, at length,the black eagle
and the lion shall appear,
tries.
arriving from other counThen, misery be to thee, oppressed city of
but thy end
opulence ! Thou
shalt, at first,rejoice,
shall come.
Misery be to thee, O cityof philosophy!
Thou
shalt be subjected
a
captiveking, humbled
and
his crown,
to the dust, shall,at last,recover
even
shall destroythe cityof impiety.
Such
is the extraordinary
Those
acquainted
prophecy of St. Cesaire.
with
the historyof the French
Revolution, will perceive
The
its applicability
event.
to that memorable
this prophecy is taken,
editor of the work, from which
lowing
its applicationto that catastrophe, in the folshows
The
lucid manner:
vassal, who looked not
the noble
his natural protector and
on
as
guardian,
but
as
an
arose
against him, the soldier
oppressor,
the officer against the general,and
against the officer,
the servant
Chaos
was
stored,
again reagainst,his master.
the holy altars were
overturned, the convents
of
defiled and
rank
to the
pillaged,nobles reduced
life itself. The
blest
humeven
private citizens,to save
a

"

?;

"

of citizens and

menials

arose

to

power

and

potism
des-

At
dreadfullywas this prophecy fidfilled.
the black eagle,the ensign of the northern
length,even
and the lion,that of Britain, gained pospower,
session
of
of Paris,the self-dignified
philosophy,
city
ment
strippedher of her ill-gotten
spoil,and, as a punishother States,caused
of her abuse of power
over
been
have
her a king, that may
again to reign over
to the dust"
even
trulysaid to have been humbled
This prophecy is worth
all the Bible-prophecies
put
Not
fulfilled
of
them
so
one
are
together.
literally.
And
is
who
had
it
made
no
pretensions to
by one
yet
divine inspiration
1200
than
too, more
years
; made
"

so

"

11

122

PROPHECY.

referredto,occurred! Taking,
beforethe circumstances
ed
then, the word prophecy, either in a limited or extendof the orthodox, based
the arguments
signification,
neutralized
that kind of evidence, are
and
validat
inupon
testimony of prophecy is
inadmissible
in deciding the divinityof the Bible, we
shall proceed to prove
that, even
granting that this
evidence
is conclusive, the Scripture prophecies are
Having

not

of

I have

shown

nature

that

to

the

demonstrate

four distinct

that

objectionsto

the

these

book

is divine.

prophecies:
written
1. That
of them
until after
not
were
many
the events
propheciedhad occurred,which I conceive
to be a very
good objection.
and
indefinite character, proving
2. Their
vague
that they could not be given by inspiration
from
niscience.
om3. That

"

tinct
prophecieswhich are clear and dishave not been fulfilled.
of the Bible prophets.
4. The
lying character
In reference
evidence
to this last objection,ample
in its support, in Hosea, chap, ix.,.verses
will be found
as
a fool and
a
7, 8, where the prophet is denounced
5 and
verses
snare
11, where it is
; Micah, chap, iii.,
and
said the prophets only divine for money
deceive
of Jeremiah,
the people; Lamentations
v. 14,
chap, ii.,
vain
told
and
they
foolishthings ; Isaiah,chap, ix.,
15
and 28, verse
verses
7, it is said they teach lies
and are drunken.
tian
(This quite agrees with the ChrisDodwell's
selves
statement, that they prepared themto prophecy by drinking wine.
They might
"
indeed
well get drunk.
They were
spiritualists."}
2 and 4, gives the pleasverses
Zachariah, chap, xiii.,
ing
will
them
root
all
intelligencethat the "Lord"
them
ashamed
of themselves
out
of the land, and make
22, 23; Ezekiel,
; 1 Kings, chap, xxii.,verses
chap, xiv.,v. 9 ; Jeremiah, chap, xx., v. 7, God himself
is representednot only as deceiving the prophets, and
causing them to err} but instructingthem in the art
those

123

PROPHECY.

mystery of lying!

and

What

confidence

can

be

placed in such a gang of liars and impostors,who

themselves
and
were
always squabbling among
cusing
aceach
other of lying and
deceiving? They
modern
Take
like our
who
were
quacks,
cry
my
of
and
beware
pills
counterfeits"
With
they
respect to the remaining three objections,
"

will be substantiated

in the

the

respectivepredictions.
the more
notice
important.
the

minor

fall with

of my
remarks
on
1 shall,of course,
only
Jf these be invalidated,

course

them.

The

dispersionof the Jews is the first prophecy I

It is given in Dent, chap!xxviii.
shall notice.
This
prophecy the Christians affirm is the most remarkable
record.
I can
on
only say that had it been given so
have
been worthy of notice.
early as stated,it would
But

such

We
that

the

the

not

was

have

Pentateuch

fact.

proved,
was

Babylonian captivity,and
writer

of these

Moses

not

did

in

write

teronomy.
Deu-

previous addresses,

mentioned

that

not

Ezra

until after the

must

have

been

Now, Ezra flourished only

400 years beforeChrist,afterthe Jews
had been
membered
disand lived in slavery for years.
It was
no
difficult task, therefore,
at that
time, to predict their
dispersion. The wonder, in fact,would have been if
it had been
predictedthat they would not have been
had been
the
dispersed. But even
supposing Moses
writer,there is nothing in the prophecy so singularly
remarkable
sight.
forenothing beyond the grasp of human
The
ceedingly
exJews, from time immemorial, were
rebellious,cruel,insolent,and pragmatical ;
and
Moses, therefore,might easily have anticipated
the

books.

"

the first great nation

their subjection,
in which
that

which

arose

would

would

attempt

easily succeed,
they
and
Jews,
brutality,being
audacity
It requiredno divine
naturallycowards.
inspiration
As strikingprognostications
to foretell such
events.
have
been given in relation to other nations,by writers
not presuming to miraculous
which
agency, and
the

with

all their

124

PROPHECY.

have

the

to

letter,
by

very

filled
ful-

If
prophecy, therefore,

This

proved true.

no

establishes

means

the

divinityof Scripture.
Unfortunately,however, there are parts of this prediction,
which
have
and
they are the most
explicit,
fulfilled. In verse
been
not
64, it states that the Jews
when
er
neithscattered shall worship other gods, which
wood
and
they nor their fathers had known, "even
stone.77 But is such the case
? Do
they worship such
that they are
scattered ?
On the contrary,
gods now
is it not proverbial,that the Jews
the most
cious
tenaare
of the religion
of their forefathers of any people
earth ?

upon

And,

again, in

15,

verse

we

told

are

Jews

that the

shall

experiencethis misery and subjectionfor their

disobedience
of his (Moses's)ritual.
Is such the real
of their present dispersion? Confessedly not.
reason
It is owing to the power
of the Egyptians in the first
to the
instance,then the Chaldeans, and thence down
Romans.

It

national

them

that

to

their

Has
there

done

he
has

so?

been

an

their

with

present condition.

considerations,this prophecy

these

Jews

Are

idle

he

the

restored.

are

Lord

told, chap, xxx., that the

from
all nations, whereunto

them."

True,

led

be fulfilled until the

cannot
are

from

combined

causes,

character,that

Apart, however,
We

these

was

"

will

hath

gather

scattered

Jews

restored?

abroad

rumor

"

of

late,

partieswere
going to purchase Jerusalem,
in which
the Jews
might assemble, and thus verify
the prediction. But
don't they wish they may
get
If
?
has
it
the
somewhat
as
vulgar
adage
it,"
they
that propheciesare marketable
do it only shows
modities
comthingsthat may be bought and sold. Such
depend for fulfilment,not upon "their
prognostications
their "divine
value
not
spiritual,but money
upon
but upon
what
inspiration."
they will sell for no
some

"

"

"

"

more.

In

chap, xlix.,v. 10, of Genesis,

passage

which

has

been

there

twisted

is the following

by

our

priests

126

PROPHECY.

Messiah."

derstand
Jews, themselves, who ought to unly
solemnthe meaning of their own
book, most
deny that this prophecy refers to Jesus Christ.
"
"
Israel vindicated,"
These prophecies,"
say they, in
1823, " have repeatedlybeen shown
by our Rabbis to
have a different meaning from that given them
by the
take
Christians,which it is impossible for any one to misis not
mind
whose
predisposedto shut out the
lightof truth."
They charge the Christians,in Sol.
Bennett's Reply, 1809, with having
changed, in the
original,nouns, verbs, tenses and meanings !

The

"

"

"

The

real

of this celebrated

nature

will be
passage
will perceive that

You
reading the context.
it has
the slightest
reference to the coming of a
not
Messiah
700
some
subsequent to the time of
years
local and immediate
events.
Isaiah, but only to mere
The
plain meaning is simply this : The
King of
Syria, and the King of Israel,(for,at this period,the
Jews
divided
under
two
were
kings) made war/om%
their aragainst Ahaz, King of Judah, and marched
mies
The
towards
Jerusalem, the capitalof Ahaz.
with his people,were
alarmed
latter,
; and, according
to
Their
hearts
verse
2,
were
moved, as trees of
seen

on

"

"

Wood

moved

are

the

parlance,

cant

him

that

against him.
the

the

"

two

"

kings

should

Ahaz

that

convince

Isaiah

Isaiah

Lord."

to

this

moment

the

in

Ahaz,

Lord,"

of the

name

requested him, as
the prophets at that period,to ask
however, stating, as a reason,
case,

At

himself

The

these

To

wind."

addressed

Isaiah

prophet

usual

with

succeed

not

should

this

suring
as-

be

practiceof
sign. He declined,
the

was
a

that

then

he

said,

would

not

given in
verse
14, Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you
a
sign, behold a virginshall conceive and bare a son,"
tempt

the

as

"

and

know

to

which

states,

refuse

thou
of

and

16

verse

abhorrest

come

And

the evil and

shall
Israel),

it shall

"

before
choose

this
the

(meaning Syria
be

forsaken

to pass,

that

shall

good, the
and

of both

the

child

Lord

the
her

land

kingdom
kings ;

shall

hiss

127

PROPHECY.

(why
of

whistle

not

Egypt,

?) for

for the bees

and

pity but the

better

the flies that

do !

to

"

that

Lord

"

are

in the brooks

are

in the land

could

But

have

of

found

the story continues,

Lord
shave
with a razor

"

ria."
Sy-

thing
some-

In the

that is
day shall the
that is beyond the river,by the
hired,viz.,by them
King of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet,
same

and

it shall also

consume

the

beard."

sign,and the time limited for

the performance of the prophecy ; viz.,before the
child could
It
distinguishthe good from the evil.
for the prophet to see to the fulfilment
was
necessary
of his prediction;
are
and, accordingly,we
told,in
2 and
the next
3, that Isaiah got the
chap., verses
prophetesswith child,whicji, when born, was to be
of the Lord, of course?)
called (by command
by the
Here, then, was

strange

name

the

of Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Thus

was

predictionverified.
The
hood
evangelist,Matthew, and the Christian priestafter him, pretend to found
the theory of what
they call the gospel,upon this sillyand indecent tale.
They pretend to apply it to the birth of a person who
lived 700 years subsequent to this period. Is not such
ed
gross perversioncalculated to sicken every enlighten1
mind
with Christianity
Book
It is only necessary
to read
2, of Chronicles,
chap, xxviii.,where the rest of this story is given, to
Isaiah practisedupon poor
find the impositionwhich
Instead of these two
Ahaz.
sured
kings falling,as he asAhaz
beaten,
himself was
they would, Ahaz
and his army
destroyed.
is as
To
say that this prophecy refers to Christ,
this absurd

and

much

assert, that

as

to

obscene

Isaiah

would

tell Ahaz

that

kings should not prevailagainst him until

in his " final
a child was
born, 700 years after he was
resting-place."
luded
The
Jewish
priesthoodmaintain, that the sign alonly the wife of Isaiah,
to, in this passage, was
for virgin,alma, was
word
the Hebrew
as
applied,
not unfrequently,
to married women.
these

two

128

PROPHECY.

that favorite prophecy

upon
of the Christians, relative to the birth-place
of Christ.

We

shall

remark

now

It is said to have been made

recorded in chap, v., ver.
as

by the prophet, Micah,

2, of the Book having his
thou, Bethlehem
Ephrata, though thou
of Judah, yet out of thee
the thousands

"But

name.

be little among
shall he come
; whose

forth

rael
that is to be ruler in Isme,
goings forth have been from of old, from
unto

everlasting." The

evangelist,Matthew, pretends to
in chap, i.,though he quotes it in
quote this passage
and appliesit
and bungling manner,
incorrect
a very
birth of Christ

to the

seen,

however, by
and

not

pay

in Bethlehem.
who

one

any

other

will
for

men

It is easy
his own
use
for

thinking

be

to

tellect
in-

him,

reference to such a perhave

that this passage
no
can
son
Jesus Christ ; for it is stated in ver.
of
the
as
5,
same
(meaning he who
chapter, that, "This
man,
was

to

be ruler in

Assyrian
tread

in

shall

shall
Israel,)
into

come

our

be at

when
the
peace
land ; and when
he shall
shall we
raise up against

palaces, then
him, (thatis,againstthe Assyrian,)seven
shepherds
and eight principalmen."
And
in ver.
6, it states,
"
And
of Assyria with the
the land
they shall waste
of;
theresword, and the land" of Nimrod, on the entrance
thus shall he, (the person
spoken of,) deliver us
from the Assyrian,when
into our
he cometh
land, and
when

our

he

treadeth

within

evidentlyrefer
Christ.

mean

of,and

were

and
was

him
land

each

military chief,and

circumstances

in which

These

Christ

of the

lived,

are

times
in

sages
pascannot

spoken

tion
contradic-

the Romans,
Strange to say, it was
different people,)who
the Assyrians,(a very
not
in the land of Judea, and
in their palautrod
ces,"
is said to have
been
born
at the period Christ
died ; and, so far from
he driving them
out, it
under
them
that he suffereddeath.
They drove
and held possession of the
out pretty effectually,
lutely
These
facts,therefore, absolong afterwards.
falsifythe prophecy that it appliesto Christ
to

and

those

The

to

borders."

our

other.

"

129

PROPHECY.

proves, that like the other

absurdities"

it is

propheciesof

prophecy

no

at

this book

of

all.

the prophecy of the

brieflyremark
upon
tians
of Babylon, in Isaiah,chap. xiii. Chrisdestruction
are
particularlyfond of this prediction. Dr.
Keith devotes nearly 100 pages to this subject. We
hold, notwithstandingthe dogmatism of the Doctor,
that this prognostication
not
was
given until afterthe
had
event
really occurred,or about the time; and,
could be no prediction
I affirm this
at all.
therefore,
of Isaiah, in which
the fact that the Book
this
upon
written
until that penot
prophecy is recorded,was
riod.
We
the
Christian
are
priesthood,to
taught by
of Isaiah
believe that the Book
was
composed some
739 years before Christ,while, in reality,
it could
not
until two
centuries subsequent
have been in existence
will bring us
the period of
to that
to
date, which
In the latter part of chap, xliv.,
Babylon's downfall.
is made
and beginningof xlv., reference
lowing
to Cyrus, al-

We

will

the Jews
did

take

not

years

to

to

Jerusalem.

This

event

placeuntil

after Isaiah's
from

circumstances

Isaiah,was

return

170
the year 536, b. c, about
three
deduce
death.
I, therefore,

this fact.

him.

the book

called

Secondly,that it could
after his
been written until nearly 200 years
not have
time.
And, thirdly,
being composed at that period,
of the famous
the prophecy of the demolition
city in
ring
question,could not have been given until either duthe catastrophe,or
quently,
subsequent to it ; and consethe ChrisHow
be no prediction
tian
at all.
can
have the audacity to present such
a
clergy can
I
evidence
of divine inspiration, know
as
an
passage
these points,the points of religion,
not, except that upon
they are destitute of all shame !
In reference to the prophecy of Daniel, chap, ix.,
24
ver.
27, about the seventy weeks, and its application
of which
to Christ
Christian
priestshave
talked so exultingly littleneed be said to show
its
untenability. Dr. Francis has set this question at
rest.
My time,I am
sorry to say, will not admit of
not

written

First,that

"

"

"

by

130

PROPHECY.

giving the Doctor's remarks, as they are very

my
I may
elaborate.
simply observe, that it cannot
ply
apthe
if
from
forth
Jesus
Christ
of
the
to
going
; for,
in the "time of Artaxerxes

commandment

coming of the Messiah, there were

(the seventy
weeks, or forty-nine
years,

until

the

seven

supposed

are

Longimanus,

to

mean

seven

weeks

each,) how

years

be

to

does

this agree with what

ver.
follows,
26, After threescore
than
400 years,) shall Messiah
and two
weeks, (or more
"

off?

be cut

with

covenant

Jesus

Christ

confirm

any

,;

"

He

And, againfor a week^

many
"

live

than

more

with

covenant

shall

27.

ver.

400

the

Did, then,
Or, did he

years
for

many

confirm

seven

years

"

certainlynot. Christ's ministrydid not continue

longer than three-and-a-half
years ; or, according to
learned divines,not longerthan a twelve-month
some
;
and his lifetime,
to thirtyonly extended
altogether,

Most

Dr. Francis shows

three years.
of the Jews
the deliverer

prophet speaks.

that the
and

met

chronology,and
their minds

Christ,in
at

Christian

prophecy

Matthew, chap.

xxiv.

of Jerusalem.

There

all remarkable

Those

in this

He

the context, forget

sion
a
pitch of delu-

is that

given by

foretells the destructio

is

nothing, we
prediction. Any

have

the mistress

then

Europe

with

still

was

blood

was

quite

and

natural

crush

it with

She

had

an

of the
Rome

deluged

desolation

"

and

have

the
predicted

would

have

been

every

Christ, or any

that

might

man,

empire that might

Knowing this,and being aware
rebellious character of the Jews,

disposedto

of the insolent
it

darkened

"

deny her supremacy.

world.

of the

ceive,
con-

such
anticipated

might
ordinaryforesight,
consideration
the character
event, taking into
Jews, and the positionof surroundingnations.
of

was

who

arrived.

have

favorite

The

what

to

of

not

Jesus.

to

evince

cabees,
Mac-

Christ,
Alexandrinus, Calflatlydeny the application

lose sight of
affirmative,

the

maintain

Clement

of Daniel

of the weeks

and

"

writers

Christian

other

it is Judas

that

demolition

miracle

had

other

person
It
of Jerusalem.

it not been

destroyed.

131

PROPHECY.

What

the fact ?

was

Roman

The

Jews

rebelled

against the
being,their city

the consequence

authority;

scattered.
Is there
destroyed,and they were
Is there anything
anything extraordinaryin this?
Evidently
requiring divine inspirationto foresee ?
But
that
this
what
have
not.
we
proof
prophecy was
the
I challenge
Christians
to
given beforethe event?
this
that Matthew, in which
know
produce it. We
predictionis recorded,as well as the other gospels,
mentioned
not
were
as
having existence earlier than
the year
divines held,192, a. d., as
182, or, as some
shown
second and last address.
This
at lengthin my
was

would

be

than

more

Jerusalem,that
to

state
not

was

century after the destruction

occurringa. d., 70.

prophecy is given in a

How

event

that

book

of

est
modwhich

after the
years
actuallyhappened ! How
easy

till

known

than

more

100

predictedhad
under
such
stances
circumto manufacture
a good prophecy
! I may
be told,Matthew
is supposed to have
Yes
been written
a. d., 64.
supposed, and a very
supposition,I should think, for the safety
necessary
of the prophecy. But is mere
conjectureto be taken
as
proof? Of course, when it suits the interests of
priests. However, we will suppose as they desire in
and
what
then ?
this instance
Why, it brings the
been
written only six years before the
book to have
event
propheciedtook place! What
ty"what
wonderfidsagaciof
it would
a largedose
inspiration
require

event

"

"

to

foresee

of time!

such

What

an

event

at

such

an

immense

distance

had supposed the date

pitythe priests
of its composition to be a littleearlier ! but even
they
such
had not the impudence even
to suppose
as
thing.
this prophecy was
But whether
given before or after
fulfilled ; and, therefore,can
the event, it was
be
not
We
in favor of the divinityof the Bible.
evidence
no
take into account
the whole of the prophecy, and
must
miserable
shall discover it is a most
we
failure. In
"
verses
29, 30, and 34, it states, Immediately after
the tribulation of those days (thatis,the destruction
of Jerusalem),shall the sun
the
be darkened, and
a

132

PROPHECY.

and the stars shall fall

shall not giveher light,
heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be

moon

from

; and

shaken
of

son

man

earth

shall

there

; and

heaven

in

man

of the

then

and

mourn,

the clouds

coming in
glory,and

the sign of the

appear
then shall all the tribes

they

shall

of heaven

he shall send

the

see

with

his

of

son

and
power
with a great

angels
of the trumpet ; and they shall gather together
sound
end of heaven
the elect from the four winds, from
one
great

to

the

shall

other.
not

Verily,I

pass

Here

say unto
till ALL

away
is a prophecy

you,
these

this
things

clear and

so

generation
are
filled"
ful-

distinct that

it fulBut was
mistaking its meaning.
filled
Is the world
?
destroyed? Your presence here
Not only has
this moment
is a living denial.
that
generation
passed away," but many, and still the

there

is

no

"

world

is not

at

an

end.

The

has

sun

ened,
dark-

been

not

give her light,and

the stars
still shine in brilliant splendor,as if in mockery
of such a monstrous
prediction.They stillride
in triumph through the fields of space, spreadinglight
warmth
and
O ! Christians,
to an
admiring world.
is your
where
modesty your honesty in declaring
when
such
as a divine
prognostication,
every
passages
of your
? O ! when
lives belies the prediction
moment
will you
blush at your unparalleled
impudence ? But
has

nor

the

ceased

moon

to

"

what

say

appear
as

you

of

again immediately after

predicted in
in

the

this

clouds

prophecy?

of

heaven

Did

Advent?

Second

the

the

"

siegeof Jerusalem,

Was

with

Christ

he

"

seen

power
elect"

and

ing
com-

great

from

the
glory?" gathering together
end of heaven
four winds, from
to the other ?
one
No ! He never
appeared. No such phenomena were
And
all these things" were
exhibited.
to happen
yet
!
How
before that generation had passed away
such
fulfilled !
to affirm
to be
monstrous
a
prediction
such
but priestsor their dupes could commit
None
an
audacious
sense.
outrage upon experienceand common
One
In Mark,
more
prophecy, and I have done.
chap, xvi.,Christ is representedassaying, "Go
ye
the

"

"

134
Mr.

PROPHECY.

Faber

in wholesale

engages

discoveries

friend, Mr. Burt, helps him

that appearances
give
trade, saying,

kind, while

his

"

this

of

in the

tail
re-

ble
considera-

weight to Dr. Faber's suppositionof the battle of

Irish
Armageddon, in the holy land; and thus an
don
(when deranged,)insisted that Armagedlegislator,
meant
sion,
Armagh, because, in the Apocalypticversaid of fine linen !
something is incidentally
I shall conclude
this discourse,
by a brief quotation
done most
has
in uprootingthe iniquitous
from a man
who
dominion
of priestcraft
and
superstition.
serves
Thomas
immortal
that
writer, shrewdly obPaine,
:
meaning of the
According to the modern
telling
word
prophecy, and prophecying, it signifiesforecame
events
to a
great distance of time, and it beof the gospel,to give
to the inventors
necessary
it this latitude of meaning, in order to apply, or to
tament
stretch what
they call the propheciesof the Old Testhose of the New.
to
But, according to the
Old Testament, the prophecying of the seer, and afterwards
of the prophet, so far as the word
corporat
inseer
was
into that of the prophet,had reference only
to the things then
passing, or very closelyconnected
of a battle they were
with it;such as the event
going
of
of
to engage
or
or
an
a
in,
they
journey,
enterprise
of
circumstance
to
then
were
going
undertake,or
any
then in, all of
pending, or of any difficulty
they were
had
which
immediate
referenceto themselves, (as in
the case
alreadymentioned, of Ahaz and Isaiah, with
ceive,
respect to the expression, Behold, a virgin shall conand
bear a son,'"c.,) and not to any
distant
It was
that kind
of prophecying, that
future time.
corresponds to what we call fortune-telling
; such as
fortunate
casting nativities,
predictingriches,fortunate or unmarriages, conjuringfor lost goods,"c, and
it is the priestof the Christian
church, not that of the
Jews, and the ignorance and superstitionof modern^
that of ancient
not
times, that elevated these poetical,
musical, conjuring,dreaming, strolling
gentry, into
the rank they have since held."
??

"

"

'

LECTURE

EIGHTH.

MIRACLES.

Friends
The
this

"

subject

upon
is

evening,

which

Miracles.

I propose
The
mass

address

to

of

you
Christians,

ignorant and credulous, attach

supreme
while
few
this
of
the
to
a
more
testimony,
advanced
are
disposed to rest their faith entirely upon
In
evidence.
find
ton,
other
this class, we
Bishop NewMiddleCardinal
de Retz, Dr.
Foster, Desvaeux,
These
gentlemen
mend
recomBishop Fleetwood.
ton, and
Christians
to
reject miracles,
10,000
nay,
be
well
ever
so
miracles, let them
attested, if they
doctrine
and
sanction
to
truth, reason
contrary
any
Mr.
For, otherwise,"
morality."
Desvaeux,
says
in his Treatise
should
have
Miracles,
on
we
never
done
miracles."
The
Cardinal
de Retz
marks,
reexamining
when
Catholic
rejecting a celebrated
miracle,
it was
in order
fact of this
not
to reject a
necessary,
kind, to be able accurately to disprove the testimony,
and
its falsehood
ces
to trace
through all the circumstanof knavery
and
produced it. He
credulity which
knew
that
this
altogether impossible
was
commonly
and
small
of time
distance
at
place, so it was
tremely
exany
the
one
difficult, even
were
on
present
spot,
of the
and
account
on
bigotry, ignorance,
cunning,
of a great
He, therefore,
part of mankind."
roguery
especially
importance

the

"

"

"

"

concluded

that

such

evidence

carried

falsehood

on

the

136

MIRACLES,

very face of it,and that a

human
more
testimony,was
than

argument."

miracle,supported by
properlya subjectof

In this sentiment

most

any
rision
dedially
cor-

decided

dence
opinionbeing,that the eviis utterlyincompetent to decide
the
same
ferring
requestion. The
distinguishedwriter,when
of
the
the
bly
to
credulity
ignorant,very admiramultitudes
so much,
remarks, Nothing convinces
that which
as
they cannot comprehend."
The
Christian
defather,St. Chrysostom, positively
"
miracles
are
cles,that
proper only to excite sluggish
and vulgar minds
of sense
have
no
sion
occa; that men
for them ; and
that they frequently carry some
outward
them."
The
suspicion along with
great
in
his Eccles. History,speaking of the early
Mosheim,
and the miracles
pretended to be
ages of Christianity,
wrought in those days, observes, "The
simplicityand
ignorance of the generalityin those times, furnished
concur,

my
of miracles

"

the
and

most

favorable

the

occasions

for the

of

exercise

of fraud

contriving false

impudence
impostors in
miracles, was
artfullyproportionedto the credulityof
the vulgar ; whilst the sagacity of the wise, who
ceived
perthese cheats, were
into silence by the
overawed
their lives and
fortunes, if
dangers that threatened
they should expose the artifice." Thus, does it generally
in
attends
human
when
that
life,
happen
danger
the discovery of truth,and the professionthereof,the
prudent are silent ; the multitude believe, and impostors
triumph. The ingenious arid learned Christian,
Dr. Middleton, in his famous
"Free
Inquiry," when
quoting the authorityof St. Cyprian, as to the frauds
of the Christians
lows
in the third century, observes,as fol"
From
all these considerations
taken together,
:
it must, I think,be allowed
that the forgedmiracles of
the fourth century, give us just reason
to suspect the
pretensionsof every other age, both before and after
for a Christian
it." This is a most
important admission
"

Doctor.
\

Miracles,I hold,if true

"

if

not
possible,

only

con-

137

MIRACLES.

of the Bible,but divinity

clusivelydisprovethe divinity
the Christians,in adducing
itself
; and therefore,
this kind of evidence, so far from
establishingtheir
most
invalidate
position,
signallyand incontrovertibly
it.

This

but

it is

may
one

by

declare

They

and
these

appear

divine
have

no

a
means

the

that

somewhat

been

elucidation.

in
Deity is infinite

that the laws

and

strange averment,

difficult of

infinite

of nature

all his
an

are

attributes,and

"

fections,
per-

effectof

must,

fore,
there-

first,in the best possible

and for the best possible
Now,
manner,
purposes.
to alter these laws, so absolutely
perfect,(as the performance
of a miracle necessarily
would
be
implies,)
these laws
to make
imperfect,as no alteration could
take place in that which
was
as
perfect as it could be,
To
unless for the worse.
work
a miracle, therefore,
could answer
no
reallygood purpose, and must, in its
of the God
by
nature, be derogatory to the powers
it is supposed to be performed.
whom
To establish a system of religion
by evidence drawn
from miracles,is to establish it upon
the ruin of the
hilating
attributes by anniconsistent harmony of the divine
his perfection,
divestinghim of that which
could
constitute
him a God
alone
either the Deity
did thingsat the first as they ought to be done, or
he
did not.
If he did them
as
they ought to be done,
there could be no need of alteration,and, consequently,
there could have been no such thing as a miracle ;
but if he did not, then he must
have been either imperfect
acted inconsistently
with good principle
have
or
;
arranged, at

the

"

in

either of which

cases

his character

as

God

would

be

destroyed. It is manifest,that a won der-ivor king

ly
God, who violates his own
laws, and acts inconsistentwith
the principles
he himself has establishwhich
God at all,but a puerile,
vacillatingcreature,
ee, is no
of an ignorant humanity,
possessingall the weaknesses
omniscient
of an
of the perfections
and
none
Divinity.
"

To

suppose

that God
12*

can

alter the settled laws

of

138

MIRACLES.

do

wisdom

will and

"his

best

that

is, so
and

of those
of

course

be

can

that

and

be

must

alter them

could

be,

the

it is

make

them
his

agreeableto
is not

they

better,
Neither

worse.

If the

best and

test
fit-

offspringof perfect

will ; and if so,

of nature, if the laws
thereof
is not
the author
God's
for if the laws of nature
be altered,
are

wisdom,
God
can

nor

laws,

he

being

in

under

the

make
God

was

alter

cannot
some

of

direction

in

degree, without

any

changeable. If all nature

immutable
mind, what
be

is
can

"

in that direction?

be allowed

must

an

divine

by

them

measure

change

it settled

he

as

attributes.

the

not

if he is

for

them

best, the onty

not

are

immutable

as

to

make

to

nature

that

perfectbeing ;

they

alter them

will not

to

most

of them,
he cannot

the author

(which he must
suppose," says Palmer,

mutable,

of the

laws

formed

had

perform a miracle,) is

to

the

he himself

which

nature

eternal

; therefore,he
he is ;
is,necessarily,whatever
to

necessarilyexists,and
it is not in his own
to change himself
therefore,
power
it is his perfection
For if his nato be immutable.
ture
could possiblychange, it might err, for whosoever
is changeable is not perfect.
must
Besides, an eternal and perfectnature
rily
necessabe unchangeable ; and so long as the first moving
all subsequent and secondary causes
is the same,
cause
can
never
vary."
"

Voltaire

observes,

For

"

what

would

purpose

God

"

To accomplish some
perform a miracle ?
particular
design upon livingbeings. He would then, in reality,
I have
be supposed to say,
been able to effect by
not
"

of the

construction

my

universe

"

by

my

divine

crees
de-

by my eternal laws, a particularobject; I am

now
going to change my eternal ideas,and immutable
I have not been
to accomplish what
laws, to endeavor
"

able
"

to

This

his power
an

do

by

of

means

would

be

; it would

inconceivable

an

them.

avowal
appear,

contradiction"

of his

weakness,

indeed, in

such

not

of

being

139

MIRACLES.

reasoning,the validityof

this

From

controverted,it

be

miracles

that
of their

book,
The

is obvious
are

orthodox

the

evidence

an

which

argument

of miracles

repeat, therefore,miracles

in

of the

only exploding their

a^e

taining
main-

divinity
sions.
preten-

own

is indeed

suicidal.

admissible

not

are

cannot

as

proof of the point at issue.

Conceding, however, for the sake of argument, that
the orthodox
miracles
are
a proofof divine
interposition,
relieved
from their embarrassments
are
by no means
they are only involved in stillmore
distressing
the founders of all the great religions
in
as
difficulties,
their more
immediate
the world, and
apostles,are
to have
said,by their disciples,
performed miracles,
of
which
of
wonderful
are
more
an
infinitely
many
"

either in the Old or New

any recorded
satisfacauthority equally as tory.
; and
upon

than

character

Testament

gion,
reliproof of the divinityof one
they are of another, and, hence, the heathen
tian
religionsare just as likelyto be genuine as the ChrisIf miracles

are

more

; nay,

so, because

extraordinary.

more

estimated

The

their
value

miracles
of

much

are

miracle

is

be

to

but improbability.
by its probability,
The
more
a miracle
be, the
improbable,therefore,
may
for
better miracle it is,and the more
likelythe religion
of which
it was
the advancement
performed, is divine.
Of course,
more
a
astounding miracle would
require
of a stronger dose of divine inspirthe administration
ation
if
that
I
miracles
show
the
can
; and, therefore,
not

"

of the heathen
"

the

Permit

that

acceptance

me

to

remarkable

more

I prove

Christian,

worthy

are

of

adduce,

than

divine
they are more
miracle-mongers and

in the first place,a

I shall quote from a very

Missionary,Abbe Dubois, who

miracles.
Christian
the

Hindoos

of

for many

years,

and

becoming acquaintedwith

had

more

"

cle-believe
mira-

few

pious

doo
Hin-

French

lived among

every

their

of the

those

nity
opportu-

opinions,hab-

140

MIRACLES.

He
remarks, The miracles
superstitions.
of the Christian religion,
however
extraordinarythey
must
to a common
understanding,are by no
appear
to the Hindoos.
means
so
Upon them they have no
effect. The
exploitsof Joshua and his army, and the
of God,
prodigiesthey effected by the interpositions

its,and

"

conquest of the land of Canaan,

in the

seem

to

them

ments
unworthy of notice,when compared with the achieveof their own
Kama, and of the miracles which
attended
his progress when
he subjectedCeylon to his
into
dwindles
yoke. Tte mighty strengthof Samson
nothing when opposed to the overwhelming energy of
Bali,of Ravana, and the giants. The resurrection of
Lazarus
itself,
is,in their eyes, an ordinary event, of
which
monies
they see frequent examples in the Vishnu cereof Pahvahdam.
these examples
I particularize
because
more
they have been actuallyopposed to me
than once
in my
with them
by Brahmins
disputations
on
religion.'5
From

this

miracle-dealers
and

never

the

of

more

it is evident

extract

"hide

must

attempt

globe until they

"

divine

We
said

will

can

to

that

the

their diminished

heads,"

portionof
superiorstock

that

Christianize

manufacture

Christian

wonders."
mention

now

the famous

Grecian

miracle,

of Apollo,
performed by the priests
before the temple of Delphos.
Bishop War burton, alludingto this memorable
nomenon,
pheThe
of
this
desolation,
remarks,
prediction
of
the
with
the faith due to the best
by
priests Apollo,
human
to supstrangelyconcurred
testimony,which
port
the fact,were,
I presume,
the
which
reasons
the excellent
inclined
Dean
it
Prideaux, to esteem
to

have

been

"

miraculous"

He

"

says,

Brennus

went

on

with

his

Delphos, to plunder the temple ; but he

with
met
a
defeat a terrible storm of
ivonderful
and hail,destroyedgreat numbers
thunder, lightning,
of his men
time, an earthquake,
; and, at the same
whole
rending the mountains
asunder, threw down
army
there

towards

rocks

upon

"

them."

142
nius

MIRACLES.

Roman

the

"

we

the

are

told,cured

of his

use

honored

of

historian"

celebrated

who,

miracle,

by

many
tell you

I could

the
a

as

miracles

blind

; and

arm

recorded

as

man,

by Livy, thg
of Vespasian,

and

er
anoth-

gave

in consequence,

who,

was

god.

of the

miracles

said

to

have

been

performed by the kings of England and Scotland, so

they professedto
lately as the 12th century, when
the scrofula by the
I could
cure
sign of the cross.
tell you of the thousand
been
performed by the

and

one

miracles

said

to

have

holyfathers during the dark

of the " miraculous
performances " recorded in
ages"
the Methodist
magazines, and other superstitious
publication
of
miracles, many
which, says Wesley
himself,in his letter to the Bishop of Gloucester, are
could not be
beyond all suspicion,as the li witnesses
deceived
themselves, or deceive others/5
I could
tell you,
also, of the miracles of Prince
who
Hohenlohe, who is said to have cured thousands
afflicted with
the most
were
desperate diseases,by
The
miracle of the withered
simply praying for them.
elm-tree, mentioned
by the Rev. Mr. Forsyth,
and said to have
been attested by many
most
able
respecteye-witnesses.5'
Likewise, I could inform you of the celebrated miraof New
the inhabitants
acle performed upon
England,
afflicted
by demons, spectres, and
(America,) when
other
supernatural agencies, narrated by Dr. Cotton
Mather, who declares the phenomena he there records
oaths
of a multitude
of rebe attested
can
spectable
by the
I could
tell you of these, and
witnesses.55
other pious wonders, but shall be constrained
to content
following:" The first is the
myself with the two
said to have been performed durmiracle
ing
memorable
The
the Italian
French
in 1797.
being
war,
supposed to have entered Italy to overthrow
Papal
informed
that
numerous
we
are
Christianity,
pictures
of the Virgin Mary opened and shut their eyes in different
parts of that country, during an interval of six
"

"

"

143

MIRACLES.

months,

seven

or

60,000
The
that

these

their favor
of the

this

attested

was

"by

at

least

peatedly
voluntarilydeposed that they retheir own
the prodigy with
eyes."
edilor of the
Official Memoirs," declares
"moral
miracles
have
more
certainty in

who

persons,
beheld
Rev.

and

"

than

any
We

fact

'

in the

whatever

annals

seriouslytold that no less

than
600,000 people actuallysaw
paintingsof the
inanimate
semi-goddess,VirginMary
piecesof mere
and
shut their
matter, oil,paint,and canvass
open
"eyes, " continually,
during the space of six or seven
months
! O ! man,
far will thy credulitylead
how
thee ?
is
in the Bible,and
This
beats any miracle
incomparablybetter attested yet who believes it?
The
miracles of William
Huntingdon, are the cream
of the whole.
I should
denominate,
They are, what
I
miracles
miracles
founded, should prepractical
sume,
the doctrine of utility.
upon
We
he prayed for leather breechtold that when
es,
are
he was
he had
when
them ; and
hungry, fishes
of the water, and larks from heaven, to feed
out
came
What
cannot
have
a
him, in abundance.
pity we
unfortunate
such
miracles
that
now-a-days ! How
the impoverished portion of the community
those
who
reduced
to insult and
are
now
starvation,cannot
of "divine
receive
sufficient quantum
a
grace" to
work
such miraculous
performances!
the Queen's
There
would
be no necessityfor
ging
begties,"
socieletters,"relief committees," "benevolent
or
"charity" sermons.
poor-houses,"
to inquire what
But let us pause for a moment,
ference
inworld."

are

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

is to be
but

and

this

"

that

from

deduced

miracles

have

been

attested in favor of all the

of

religionsin

the

these

world,

"facts."

said

What

be

wrought
and sections
great religions
and

that

to

each

of these

partiesdeclare that their respectivemiracles prove

ever,
their respective
tenets
to be divine?
Inasmuch, howwood
as this is impossible inasmuch, as
Bishop Fleet"
miracles are no conclusive proof of any
says,
religion
being true."
"

144

MIRACLES.

The

of

argument

miracles,

like that

for the convenience

much
too
proves
It affords the supporters of other
of proving, upon
the
same

of

prophecy,

of the

Christian.

religionsan

opportunity
their

ground,
Christian
The
religion is divine.
public, therefore,
of miracles,or neutralize
the argument
abandon
must
their own
position,either of which will establish the
I am
least so far as
at
point for which
contending
that

"

this argument
is concerned.
Moore, in his u Veiled Prophet/7 when

alluding

the

anxiety displayed by all impostors

their religionby miracles, exclaims

to

establish

to

"

**

Yo, too, believers

Whose

of incredible

faith enshrines

Who, bolder
By nonsense

the

creeds,
which

monster

think

than

e'en

it

breeds,

to rise

Nimrod,
to the skies;
heaped on nonsense
Ye shall have
sound
ones
miracles, aye,
too,
but
true."
heard,
everything
Seen,
attested,

It is
in the

alleged,however, that the prodigies recorded

cles.
Bible,are better attested than any other miraThe

that

evidence

rational

no

this evidence

Do

is

mind
I

find

conclusive

more

rejectit.

can

Old

where

ask,

is this evidence

repeat, where

it in the

conclusive

so

"

The

Testament

is

only
evidence
in favor of these
miracles, is, that they are
recorded
in a book, composed by the priests of the
most
ignorant and credulous people in the world.
What
sensible
will accept such
man
testimony ?
we

"

Are

to

we

believe

that

the

evidence

in

wonderful

repast of the

angels

with

marvellous

tale of Jonah's

three

days7

whale's
into

belly

the

pillarof

salt

"

Sodom

upon

and

through
and

attested

and

multitude
than

the

"

Red
the

Abraham,
residence

the
in the

of Lot's

conversion

of the

wife

raining of fire and brimstone

the passing of the Israelites

the

Gomorrah

the

of Samson-"

sudden

support

"

Sea

"

Herculean

the

stoppingof

of other
numerous

Popish miracles,when

monstrous

the

ments
achieve-

by Joshua,

sun

fables

"

is better

Indian, Chinese, Grecian,

many

of the latter

are

con-

145

MIRACLES.

attestation of magistrates, divines,

by the solemn
physicians,and other respectable
persons ? and,
if we
rejectthese miracles, though confirmed by such
evidence,why should we receive the Jewish miracles,
of evidence
have
in their favor ?
not
which
a particle
and
Christians
collateral
I defy both Jews
to cite any
ancient,
testimony. No writer or historian,however
allusion
to the extraordinaryoccurrences
makes
rated
narof Wonders," some
Book
of
in the Jewish
have
had they reallyhappened, could, not
which,
caped
esThese
stories are
the notice of mankind.
only

firmed

"

mentioned
300

in

book

which

before

Christ

heard

not

was

of

until

book

belonging to
for their impostures,their
of priests,notorious
a race
and their ignorance. The
enlightened and
credulity,
thinking minds of the nineteenth century, are really
called upon
to acknowledge the stupid fables of such
of impostors,who
only invented these
a heard
pious
wonder
of
excite
and
the fear
frauds"
to
a
people,
illiterate !
In the aband
barbarous, superstitious,
it unnecesof all collateral testimony, I deem
sary
sense
the subject.
to pursue
about

years

"

"

of the New

What
more

Testament

? Not
satisfactory

assumption

happens,

when

there

propositionis
With

is incontestable
divine
to name

at

all.

affirm, that it is clear and

of course,
but mere

miracles

all the
that

The

Christians,

incontrovertible

It

is not

argument.

is less

proof,that the

dogmatic.

more

Is the evidence

exultation
the

evidence

So
in

generally
of

asserter

it is

of the

in this

stance.
in-

Christians,it

support of their

prodigiesis entirelyex-parte. I challenge them

authority,confirming their
any contemporary

statements.

historians

Not
of those

one

times

of the
can

writers

numerous

be

and

quoted in
elder

and

support

of

Pliny, the
philosophersof that age, do not refer,
great natural
ness
in the most
remote
degree, to the preternaturaldarkfrom their graves,
and
the risingof the saints
of Jerusalem, mentheir walking through the streets

their

pretensions. Seneca,

"

13

the

146

MIRACLES.

tioned in Matt,
have

been

Pliny

devotes

performed

had

which,

ses,
chapter to extraordinary eclipthis astonishing phenomenon,

whole

notices

but

of the wonders
said to
any
of spectators.
thousands
before

xxvii.,or

it

not

occurred, must

have

been

alone

we

known

to

him.
It is

to the

for the

only
and

Christian
accounts

have

we

their isolated

be admitted

cannot

converts

Were

veracity.

as

and

of such

amazing prodigies,
unsupported testimony

sufficient

this to be

indebted

are

to

establish

their

them,

the

allowed

on

own
same

of the heathen
admit
the miracles
we
ground must
credited
lawgivers and founders of sects, as they were
by millions of followers,and are so to this day.
The
selves
only collateral evidence which Christians themhave
ventured
to
adduce, is that of Josephus,
Pontius
dence
Pilate,and Publius
Lentulus, and this eviity
we
proved, on a former occasion, on the authorof Dr. Lardner, Dr. Du
Pin, Bishop Warburton,
and other distinguishedChristians, was
forged.
We
to

know
been

have
to
a

that

these

miracles

Christian

author

are

said

predisposed
cept
nations, exbelievers in supernatural
Le Moine, in his Essay

All classes

them.

philosophers,were

The

events.

time

accomplished, the people

accredit

few

the

at

were

and

never
was
Miracles,is obliged to admit that there
fraud in point of miracles,
a
greater corruption,more
and a more
lieve
general propensity to tamper with, or beanything of the kind, than in the period which
elapsed from the death of Christ to the destruction of
Jerusalem.
The
credulity of the early Christians
much
unbounded
tian
so
was
indeed, that the Chris; so
Mosheim, who is esteemed
by the pious
professor,
"

on

;?

the

as

beau

them

and

in his

an

ecclesiastical

Eccles.

Hist.

v.

ces
historian,denoun-

i. p.

102,

"a

as

gross

ignorant multitude."

Yet,
we

ideal of

have

it is upon
to

the

veracity of

such

of the
rely for the credibility

miracles

multitude,

New

ment
Testa-

147

MIRACLES.

The

pretensionsof
similar

were

and

to

veneration, to deceive

powers

Minos, Lycurgus, Pythagoras,

obedience

secure

supernatural

to

considered

lawgivers. They

other

in order

of

those

to

Christ

the

to

their

it necessary

laws,
This

vulgar.

and

maxim

',

inspire
was

adopted, too, by the Egyptians, the Jews, and the

church.
early fathers of the Christian
in our
third lecture,
Indeed, Christ himself, as shown
positivelyadvocated that doctrine.
He professedto teach, " That
seeingthey may
see,
and not perceive,and hearing they may
and
not
hear,
understand"
(Mark iv. 12.)
reiterate that it is a
We
fact as singular as it
must
of these
is fatal to the credibility
miracles,that not
of them
is confirmed
one
by contemporary historians,
such
momentous
the slaughterof
events
not
even
as
the opening of the heavens
the children
at
by Herod
the beheading of John
the baptism of Jesus
the Baptist,
after he had baptizedall Judea
and
Jerusalem
field of blood, which, it is said,
the purchase of the
known
to all the
the
total
was
people of Jerusalem
of Jesus previouslyalluded
darkness
at the crucifixion
and the wonderful
in Jerusalem,
to
pool of Bethesda
wherein
to heal the sick.
an
angel came
of the miracles
of Christ,are
In fact,most
said to
done
been
in comparative secrecy.
have
His
own
is admitted
resurrection
to be
by Christians
only a
"
I should
privatemiracle."
private,for no
say very
rise from
him
the tomb, not even
his
saw
ever
one
own
disciples.
We
have not the
testimony of a single individual
this strange event, and
of so much
why a matter
upon
accomplished in so obscure a place,
importance was
"

"

"

"

"

and

not

before

death,
related by

his

wisdom,

as

witnesses

many

is sufficient

who,

men,

seem

to

to

prove

instead

be remarkable

as

that

were

present

those

things are
of being inspired by
only for ignorance and

superstition.
With

respect

to

the

at

ascension,it appears

that Mark

148

MIRACLES*

the time, and

not
at
were
Luke, who
disciples
consequently, not present, are the only writers who
of the circumstance, and
pretend to give an account
and

this,too,

in

make

that

it

; while

contradictorymanner

occurred

ever

rise from

would
in

very

John, who are said to

the slightestallusion

and
not

The

the

dead,
public: why, then, was

to

present, do

been

have

inform

it,nor

declaration

after three

thew
Mat-

Jesus

that

days,

us

made

was

pretended performance

the

before
made
private? The declaration was
who
required their doubts to be removed:
persons
and his
why, then, did he only appear before women
who
were
ready to believe or to assert
disciples,
thing
anycredit
best
of
The
?
the
their
to
sect
tending
made

in

"

of which

evidence

his

was

did
be

"

all truth

story is

the

is but

one

wine,

he

"merry!"

selects

the

When

he raises

the

friends

from

all her

puts away

process.
he

"

to

answer

of

or

"

he

why

imposture, devoid

an

probability.
When
Christ
was
transfigured,"he
he
him
only his three favorites! When
into

mit,
ad-

would

case

in Jerusalem

appearance
place? There

the whole

given

of

nature

public

this take

not

the

takes

him

cleanses

aside

time

When
from

when

he

with

takes
turns

water

his witnesses

were

daughter of Jairus,
suscitating
witnessing the re-

cures

the

public observation.

blind

man,

When

he

the

leper, he "straightly charged him, see

thou say nothing to any
but show
thyselfto the
man,
!
priest
(Mark i.,44 ;) an expressionwhich indicates
his trick from
the people" a
Christ's wish
to conceal
observed
the
by impostors. Even
practice aways
of the divinity of Christ, his
stone
raculous
micorner
very
conception,"rests entirelyupon the assertion
been
of Mary, who
that she had
told by an
declares
child by a ghost!
with
angel," that she was
a
holy ghost," and of Joseph, who, also affirms that
A
an
angel" had told him so in a dream!
queer
trance!
How
dream, truly
perhaps a mesmeric
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

laughable, that

the

whole

ground-work

of the

divi-

150

MIRACLES.
,

likewise

universe, was
Leatze

declare

The

"virgin."

became

that his mother

of

followers

by

pregnant
pregnant

and earth, and was

with
junction of heaven
for eighty years !
The
followers
of Plato, even
him
hundred
and fifty
two
years after his death, and only
100 before Christ,said that he was
born of a
virgin."
His father,Aristo,on his marriage, was
in a
warned
his
with
dream, by Apollo, not to have commerce
child by him, (Apollo.)
she was
with
wife, because
added
to
Aristo, like Joseph, obeyed, and Plato was
"

"

the

of God."

Sons

Such

delusions

the

are

is

posture
im-

of Christ's

!
The
superstition
story
equally as preposterous as

and

of

that

of

ception,
con-

Plato's.

If you believe one, you

believe the other.
may
It is a very suspiciousfact, my
friends,that Christ's
him
knew
those who
most
own
family and relations
"

intimately,
longest,and
miraculous

to

1, 2, 5;
fact,too, that
men
of sense
ver.

when
in

the

best,gave

and
he

work

in

It is

44.

iv.,ver.

refused

credit
seen

as

power,

John

no

to

his pretensions

Mark
a

vi.,

curious

miracles

his

before
and
always preferring,
intelligence,
before the public, to perform them
he did come
of the ig?iorantand credulous midpresence
to

titude.
But

there

of

respect
character

opinions

to

of

among
His

Christ.
as

been

have

to

matters

many

him
"

appears

mere

trariety
singular con-

the

early Christians,
involving the miraculous
own

man,

Jewish
while

converts
some

in

garded
re-

of

his

followers, according to the Rev. Mr. Jones,

Canen," p. 12, believed him to be " a certain power,
broad
and
miles
so
twenty-four
sixty-six
high,
Another
tall,that his head reached the clouds /
very

heathen
"

"

"

prevalent opinion at this primitiveperiod, says Mohad

existed
that Christ
sheim, vol. 1, p. 136, was,
ley
and
in reality. Dr. Priestnot
only in appearance,
History, vol. 1, p. 97, that
states, in his Church
this was
who
the opinion of
all persons
pretended
to
knowledge than the vulgar,
philosophy,or more
"

151

MIRACLES.

continued

ment
period of the establishThe
of Popery."
Christian
apostle Barnabas,
in his gospel,translated
by Archbishop Wake, in his
that
Jesus
Apostolic Fathers," expressly asserts

and

down

to

the

"

crucified,but

not

was

that

Judas

crucified

was

in

stead.

another
Bassillides,
primitive teacher of
declares
that it was
neither Christ nor
Christianity,
Judas
who
was
crucified,but Symoji of Sirene!
The
to the
Ebonites, saj^s Dr. Hug, in his Introduction
New
Testament, (a numerous
body of earlyChristians)
denied the miraculous
conceptionof Christ,and with
him
the Nazarenes, looked
only as an ordinary
upon
man."
They also denied that he suffered on the cross.
and asserted
! ! an
that he had flown away
to heaven
achievement
worthy of a "God," than
certainlymore
that of allowing himself
between
to be murdered
two

his

"

felons.
Before

of

I
retire,

deny myself

cannot

from
quoting some
passages
of Woolston, on miracles.

wish

be

to

read

for

amused

few

the

the

pleasure

celebrated

Those

would

who

hours, would

courses
dis-

do

well

admirable

predilections.
Alludingto the story of Christ tellingthe woman
five hundreds, "c., he
of Samaria
that she had
marks
rehimself
makes
"Christ
here
a
wandering
:
and
I much
fortune-teller,
der
wongipsy, or Bohemian
themselves
the
that
our
gipsies don't account
with
the
genuine disciplesof Jesus, being endowed
and
he him*
arts than
like gifts,
exercisingno worse
Jesus
when
self practised."He
tempted
compares
by the devil,to St. Dunstan, who seized the devil by
he gives the preference to the Saint,
the nose, and
for instead of parleying with
him, he remarks, M If
had
him
taken
Jesus
by the collar,and thrust him
there chained
into his dungeon, and
him, and closed
hell's gates upon
him, I appeal to honest Christians
to

these

"

such

whether

pleased them
In

the

Herculean

labor

would

have

not

well?"

he
story of the fig-tree,

remarks,

"

Jesus

152

MIRACLES*

himself

conducted

like

before

who,

turned

he

friar

mendicant

that

on

casion,
oc-

fieId-preacher,
was

no

journeyman carpenter." "It is,"says

has not,
he, very surprisingthat the court of Rome
little fancy box, or
threeall its relics,
some
among
of his workmanship."
foot-stool,
of tvater
into wine,
On
the story of the conversion
than

better

"

he

has

some

facetious

very

He

comments.

observes,

"John

expressly says that the guests were

already
God
down
to
comes
intoxicated, methiitosej and
earth, and
performs his first miracle, to enable them
'

to drink

still

were

excited, as

as

The

certain.

implies she

he

fond

was

the

of her

is not

company,
lady with a

bottle,and

her

soldier
son

was

'

thee?J

Mary

of
familiarity

mother

his

of the

others

were

and

by the wine from his answering

so
waspishly and snappishly as he did,
I to do with
what
have
said, Woman,

mother

when

Jesus

affected

somewhat
his

Whether

more

It may

inferred

be

from

these

words

that

her
not
virgin,and that Jesus was
Had
it been
thus have
not
son.
otherwise, he would
insulted his father and
mother, in violation of one
not

was

of the

sacred

most

concludes,
mother's
and

Lazarus

he

raised

justly,that
an

universe

the law."

He

he

(Christ)complied with his

fills eighteen jars with
water,

of it."

"so

The

treats

with

brimful

of

it must

wrote

Woolston

been

he

he

as

of

commandments

however,

punch

denounces

to be

"

request;

makes
of

when

have

story of the

tion
resurrec-

ineffable derision,and

absurdity,that
outlived

his

St. John
!

senses

directs

"

especialattention to the dead

He contends, and
again by Christ.

very

man

restored

have

attention

and

"

dead

object of
; that

all the Jewish

to

said

life would

astonishment

magistrates,and

to

the

more

made
the most
have
minute
especiallyPilate,would
the most
and
obtained
authentic
investigation,
sitions
depoTiberius
enjoined all pro-consuls and
; that
inform
to
him, with exactness, of every
governors
that took place. But so far from these wonders
event

153

MIRACLES.

till

the

mentioned,

being

than

more

of

date
show

100

the

Josephus,
or

the

Roman
had

which,
nations

in

But

occurred,

really

they

amazement

of

enough

ther
Nei-

them.
nor

Greek

any

prodigies,

these

notices

the

individuals

Philo,

all

at

them

from

away

recording

learned

historian,

about

obscure

some

writings

the

nor

rolled

had

when

events,

nothing

knew

years

another

one

world

held

have

must

all

"

these

these

monstrosities

pious

"

"wonders,"
"

The
we

day

is

now

and

The

Swift's

after

the

of

let

rays

placidly

the

mysteries,
melt

the

age

glorious
and

delusions,
away
"

is

has

and

The

the

practical

the

baseless

"

rational.
"

scientific,

of

and

mankind,
of

of

vision."

and
its

shed

science

impostures

fabric

tured
ma-

"

pre-eminently

upon

as

them

outgrown

"

Like

read

be

Travels.

luminary
freely

will

they

mind

"

spirit

understood."

Gulliver's

real

the

be

when

enlightened

once

will

to

approaching

peruse

aspires

heavenly

Too

the

the

world

NINTH.

LECTURE

Friends
I

before

BIBLE.

important,
altogether uninteresting inquiry, into
the Christian
Scriptures. On this occasion

appear

and, I trust,
the divinity
we

previous

not

of

propose

subject
We

THE

"

again

the

OF

CONSISTENCY

THE

than

was

our

our

resume

consider

to

it

to

you

of

more

province

details

the

do

to

in

of
our

address.

shall

proceed

into

the

consistency of
from
that
I hold
book
the
Bible.
an
emanating
any
omniscient
sistent
Deity must, of necessity, be perfectly conin itself in every
possible particular.
such
To
crepancie
a
production as containing dissuppose
and
incongruities, is virtually to admit
be
it is liable
that
to
and, therefore, cannot
error,
infallible
our
certainly not our
guide
inspired, and
to

to

inquire

salvation.
To

imagine,

omniscience

for

could

moment,

contain

that

revelation

contradictions,

is

from

itself

show
the
Bible
tains
conIf, then, 1 can
inconsistencies, I prove, beyond the possibility
be
divine.
It will
of refutation, that
be a
it cannot
in his
remarks,
Discourses,
proof, as Dr. Wardlow
"
the
Bible
is not
that
from
sufficientlyconvincing
God."
therefore, that all my
previous
Presuming,
in this arguinvalid, if I succeed
reasonings were
ment,
I irrefragably establish
the
that
position
my
Bible
is an
imposture.

contradictio?i.

"

156

THE

OF

CONSISTENCY

THE

BIBLE.

tion
Campbell, in his Preface to the TranslaIf anything
of the Gospels, confesses, that,
affirmed
that is self-contradictory,
were
or
anything
that
have
sufficient
is
internal
immoral, we
enjoined
evidence
that
such
thing cannot
proceed from the
Father
of light,which
all the external
proofs that
could
be produced on
be
the other side,would
never
Professor

"

able

surmount."

to

The

Rev.

S.

Scriptures,2d
real

Introduction

his

the

to

i. p. 581, also observes, "If

exist in the Bible, it is sufficient

edit. vol.

contradictions

proof that

in

Home,

it is not

divinely inspired,whatever
tences
preit may
make
to such
inspiration."
I unhesitatingly
friends,that there is no
aver, my
book
extant
no
production,ancient or modern, more
replete with contradictions
contradictions,naked,
sion.
palpable,and absolute,than the book under discusIt is one
to
tissue of incongruityfrom Genesis
Revelations.
Had
its alleged authors
wrote
solely
contradict
to
themselves,they could not have been
"

"

successful.

more

Considered
is

of

the Bible
contradictions,
masterly performance. It

book

admirable

most

as

and

is,indeed,unrivalled in this respect.

Looking at the Scriptures,either in a doctrinal
historical point of view, instances of the grossest
"

if

The
"book

in every

not

fact
of

in almost

themselves

present

every

or

congruit
in-

chapter

verse.

is, anything

may

riddles," good, bad,

be
or

proved

from

indifferent.

this
It

is,

It is one
of
things to all men."
the
cameleon-like
most
productions ever
composed.
Its color varies, justaccording to the chapter you are
it possibleto read two
verses
only
perusing. Were
"

emphatically,

from
heard

this book

of

they
been

Certain

to

would
from
I

am

two

any

Bible

the

taken

all

at

the

individuals

same

that,in

had

never

could

pledge my reputation
have
not
declare they could
composition.

before,I
once

who

the whole

course

of my

read-

158

THE

THE

OF

CONSISTENCY

BIBLE.

told,he exhibited to Moses a portionof his body,

is correct, he is something
which
shows, if that passage
than
more
a
spirit. I refrain from reading the
tory.
for any respectableaudiIt is too obscene
passage.
ing
havIn Prov., c. xv., v. 3, he is represented
as
In Isaiah, c. lv.,v. 11, a mouth;
c.
lxv.,
eyes.
v.
5, a nose; c. xxx., v. 27, lips. 2 Kings, c. xix.,v.
v.
7, feet- Jeremiah, c.
Ezekiel, c. xliii.,
16, ears.
kiel,
v.
3, fingers. EzePsalms, viii.,
xxi.,v. 5, arms.
c.
i,,v. 27, loins. Genesis, c. vi.,v. 6, a heart.
v.
7,
Genesis, c. ii.,
Numbers, c. xxv., v. 16, a voice.
lungs. Exodus, c. xv., v. 8, nostrils. Jeremiah, c.
iv., v. 19, bowels.
Isaiah, c. lxix., v. 17, a head.
Exodus, c xxxiii.,v. 11,
Daniel, c. vii.,v. 9, hair.
a
face. Isaiah,c. xxx., v. 27, a tongue. Acts, c. ii.,
in John, c. hi.,v.
v.
16, organs
of
28, blood. And
generation.
In Ephesians, c. iv.,v. 6j we
are
informed, God
is omnipresent,everyiohere. He
is above
all,
you
through you all,and in you all." But in Habakfrom Teman,"
God
came
kuk, c. hi.,v. 3, it is said.
which
to a
impliesthat he had come
place where he
Now
if he was
not.
everywhere, he
previously was
would
have
he
occasion
from Teman,
to
no
as
come
the
have
been
must
at
place already. For similar
see
Exodus, c. xix., v. 20.
Numbers, c.
passages,
Exxi.,v. 25; c. xii. v. 5. Isaiah, c. lxvi.,v. 18.
od., c. xxiv., v. 12.
Genesis, c. xvii.,v. 22.
Luke,
c. hi.,v.
22, and a multitude of others.
In Matthew, c. xix.,v. 26, we
made
are
ed
acquaintof God's
with
the doctrine
With
omnipotence.
and yet we
all things are
God
are
possible:
told,in
Judges, c. i.,v. 19, that he " could not drive out the
of the valley,because
inhabitants
they had chariots
are

"

"

;?

of iron."
For

parallel passages,
Exod., c. xxxiv., v. 14;
In Acts, c. i.,v. 24, we
all-wise; "he knoweth

see

and
are

Corin., c. i.,v. 25 ;
Gen., c. xxxii.,v. 24-30.
told,God is omniscient,

the hearts

of

all men;

"

yet

CONSISTENCY

THE

read

OF

THE

159

BIBLE.

Corin.,c. i.,v. 25, of the "foolishness

of God;
and
in Malachi, c. iii.,
v.
16, that he
"
is obliged to keep "a book of remembrance
For other passages,
proving his finite knowledge,
see
v.
Gen., c. iii.,
9, 11; JNum., c. xxii., v. 9; 2
19 ; and Prov.. c. xxvi., v. 10.
v.
Chron., c. xviii.,
In the 1st of John, c. iv., v. 2, it is said, God
is
love," while in Deut., c. iv.,v. 24, it is stated,he is
afraid his love will
fire."
If so, I am
a consuming
be of rather too warm
a nature;
but, in Exod., c. xv.,
in
of war; " and
v.
are
told, he is a man
3, we
Nahum, c. i.,v. 22, he is "furious?''In Hosea, c.
v.
xiii.,
16, he is representedas displayinghis "love"
in the following manner:
shall become
"Samaria
desolate,for she hath rebelled against her God ; they
shall fall by the sword
shall be dashed
their infants
child shall be ript
with
to
pieces,and their women
up." I could supply you with a thousand
passages
we

in

the 1
"

"

"

"

"

"

of

like

barbarous

nature, but

I forbear.

read

I advise

Exodus, c. xxxii., v. 27, 28 ; Deut., c.

xxxii.,v. 22-26; 1 Sam., c. xv., v. 3 ; 2 Kings, c. xvii.,
v.
26; Jer.,c. xi.,v. 11 ; and Ezek., c. v., v. 10, 11.
In Romans,
learn "|hatGod
partial^
is "imv.
c. ii.,
11, we
ing
has "no
respect of persons,"notwithstandin the very same
sured
asare
book, c^ ix.,v. 13, we
that God
loved Jacob, but hated
Esau
; and in
1 Sam., c. ii.,
v.
so
7, that he was
impartial"
very
For passages
to make
as
some
?Hch,and others poor.
of a similar nature, see
16 ; Deut.,
2 Tim., c. ii.,
v.
c. vii. v.
v.
12; Daniel, c. i.,v. 9.
6; 1 Kings, c. iii.,
ble.
In Malachi, c. iii.,
v.
6, we are told God is immutaIn Num.,
I am
the Lord, 1 change ?iot."
"For
that "God
is not
c.
v.
a
xxiii.,
19, we are informed
that
that he should
man
lie,neither the son of man
he
should
repent ;" yet in Exocl.,c. xxxii.,v. 14, I
the Lord
he
read, "And
repented of the evil which
his people."
had thought to do unto
And
in Jer.,c. xv., v. 6, he exclaims,"I am
weary
with repenting"

you

to

"

160

CONSISTENCY

THE

Other

OF

THE

BIBLE.

trine
equallyincompatiblewith the docin Gen., c. vi.,v.
of immutability,will be found
11 ; 2 Sam., c. xxiv.,v. 16; Jer.,
7 ; 1 Sam.
c. xv.,
v.
c. xviii.,
v.
8, and 10.
We
of which
to his incomprehensibility,
now
come
read
in Colos.,c. i.,v. 15; Rom., c. xi.,v. 33;
we
and
it calls him
Isaiah, c. lv.,v. 8. In Colossians
the invisible God; and
still,in Exod., c. xxiv.,v. 9,
and
10, it states, that the seventy elders of Israel
the God
"saw
Amos, c. ix.,v. 1, of his
of Israel."
"
the
the Lord
book, declares, I saw
standing upon
informed
altar."
In Exod., c. xxxiii. v. 11, we
are
that Moses
face to face;" and
the Lord
we
saw
read of several pious impostorswho
pretend to have
honor."
See Gen., c. xxxii.,v.
enjoyed a similar
30 ; c. xxvi.,v. 2 ; also,Deut., c. xxxi., v. 15.
We
will now
speak of the dogmas of Trinity and
read, " For
Unity, In the 1st John, c. v., v. 7, we
record
there
bear
in heaven,
the
three that
are
While
we
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost,"
there
is one
v.
5, that
discover, in 1 Tim.; c. ii.,
and man
the
God
between
God, and one Mediator
Christ Jesus; ;; and in Isaiah,c. xlvi.,v. 9, the
man,
Lord
is representedas saying,distinctly, I am
God,
passages,

"

"

"

"

"

"

aud

there

is

first of these
Both

none

else."

The

Trinitarians

extracts; the Unitarians,the

quote the
two

last.
"

other
pretend to cite numerous
mous
The fain favor of their respective
dogmas.
passages
Trinitarian
Pastel, as given by Dr. Jortin,vol.
11,000 proofs in
iii.,
p. 100, declares,that there are
favor
of the Trinity, in the
Testament
Old
alone,
when
rightly; that is, etymologico-mysinterpreted
The
Unitarians, as stated by
tico-cabalisticallyP
than " two
sand
thouLindsey,affirm that there are more
in the New,
thousand
texts in the Old. and
one
thus
demonstrating, that
supporting Unitarianism
;
of inconthis point, alone,
thousands
gruities
there are
upon
in the Scriptures.

sects, however,

"

I shall refer you

to

few

more

passages

in reference

THE

CONSISTENCY

OP

THE

161

BIBLE.

Deity. In Isaiah,c. xl.,v. 11, he is

v.
shepherd; in Lament., c. iii.,
10,
he is compared to a bear.
In Isaiah,c. xlii.,
v.
13, to
In Psalms, Ixxviii.,
a mighty man.
v,
65, and 66, a
In Hosea, c. v., v. 12, he is compared to
sleepyman.
a moth
v.
7, to a leopard.
; in c. xiii.,
We
find,that in Gen., c. ii.,v. 8, he is declared to
be a gardener ; in Gen., c. iii.,
v.
21, a tailor ; Gen.,
c. xxix.,v. 31, a midwife. Exod., c. i.,v. 21, a, house1 Corin.,c.
builder.
v.
Joel,c. iii.,
8, a slave dealer.
i.,v. 25, a fool. Isaiah,c. xxxiv., v. 6, a butcher.
Dent.,c. xxxiv.,
Isaiah,c. liv.,v. 13, a schoolmaster.
v.
Exod., xxxii.,v. 16, a stonemason.
6, a sexton.
v.
Isaiah,c. lxiv.,
Ezek., c. xvi.,v. 10, a shoemaker.
8, spotter. Jer.?c: xxx., v. 17, a doctor. Isaiah,c.
Acts, c. x., v. 15, a cook ; and
vii.,v. 20, a barber.
It is said,
Ex. c. xxxi., v. 6
8, a candlestick maker.
ger,'1
again, in Psalms, cxlv.,v. 8, that he is stoic to anwhile in 1 Sam., c. vi.,v. 19, we
are
informed,
all in an instant,in a fit of
he slew 50,070 persons,
In Psalms, xxx., v. 5,.we
are
assured,that his
rage.
while in Numb., c.
endureth
but for a moment,
anger
in the
the Israelites wander
xxxii.,v. 13, he made
a rather
wilderness,forty years
long moment, I apprehend.
informed
In Micah, c. 7, v. 18, we
that
are
he "delightethin mercy," and yet in Deut., c. vii.,
v.
instructed "neither
2 and 16, we
to show
are
mercy
In
nor
are
told,that
James, c. i.,ver. 13, we
pity."
God
neither
be tempted,
cannot
tempteth he any
man;" and yet in Gen., c. xxii.,v. 1, we read that
H
God did tempt Abraham
;" and in Matt., c. vi.,v. 13,
we
are
taught to cry out in our prayers, " and lead us
into temptation." In Micah, c. vii.,
not
v.
18, God
"pardoneth iniquity."In Nahum, c. i.,v. 3, "he
will not at all acquit the wicked."
In 2 Peter,c. iii.,
v.
9, God is "not willingthat any
should perish,"and stillin Prov.,c. xvi.,v. 4, he made
The
the wicked
in order that they might perish.
Lord hath made
the
all things for himself;
yea, even
wicked for the day of evil.
14*
of
to the person
said to be like a

"

"

"

"

"

"

162

THE

CONSISTENCY

OF

THE

BIBLE.

Prov., c. xii.,v. 22, it is said," Lying lipsare

"
and yet in ] Kings, c.
abomination
to the Lord;
an
xxii.,v. 23, we are actuallytold that "the Lord hath
of all these thy
put a lying spiritin the mouths
prophets."
John, c. i.,v. 3.,when speaking of God, says, " All
made
dom,"
things were
by him," but Solomon, in his wis"
God
made
that
not
c.
i.,v. 13, intimates
death; and Paul, in his 1st EpistletoCorin.,c. xiv.,
"
God
of conthat
is not
the author
v.
fusion."
33, avers
In

"

"

In

Lord

Prov., c. xvi.,v. 3, we
"in

read

that

of the

the eyes

place"
In Gen., c. iii.,
find Adam
could not
in
v.
9, God
In
Paradise, and had to ask, where art thou?"
informed
that the
are
1st Kings, c. viii.,
v.
12, we
"
thick darkness
in
Lord dwelleth
;" but Paul, in his
1st Epist.Tim., c. vi.,v. 16, says, that no
one
can
of his "great light."
approach him on account
I have occupied sufficient of your time with
gruities
inconconnected with Deity; I will now
enumerate
In Matt. c. v., v. 22,
few in relation to his Son.
a
"
Whosoever
shall say, thou fool
Christ says,
\ shall be
and
the
in danger of hell fire ;
yet, in identically
17
same
v.
19, he exclaims, "Ye
gospel,c. xxiii.,
fools and blind." In John, c. iii.,
soever
Whov. 15, he says,
hateth his brother,is a murderer
and stillwe
;
told by the same
are
Luke, c. xiv.,v. 26,
personage,
that we
be his disciples,
unless we
hate"
cannot
our
"
but our
brethren,"and not only our brethren,
wives,
life
also
children,parents, nay, our own
glorious
;
consistency! humane
philosophy! In Matt.,c. xxvi.,
said Jesus
unto
v.
52, it is stated,"Then
them, put
for
all
sword
into
his
place,
they that
up again thy
take the sword, shall perishwith the sword."
In Luke, c. xxii.,v. 36, it states, "Then
said he,
he that hath a purse let
unto
(Christ,)
them, but now
him
take it,and likewise his scrip,and he that hath
no
sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
In Luke, c. xii.,
v.
4, the followinglanguage is atare

every

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

tributed
have

THE

163

BIBLE.

I say unto
friends,
you,
my
that kill the body, and after that

Christ,"And

to

afraid

be not

OF

CONSISTENCY

THE

of them
that

do ; "

and

in John,
still,
c. x., v.
39, we read, Therefore,they sought again
but he escaped out
take him, (Christ,)
to
of their
hands?"*
And
after these things
And
c. vii.,v.
1,
in
walked
Jesus
in Galilee, for he would
walk
not
In John,
Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him"
In
c. x., v.
30, Jie says, "I and my father are one."
c. xiv., v.
28, he says, "My father is greater than I."
He
observes
again, in Matt., c. v., v. 39, But I
that ye resist not evil,but whosoever
you,
say unto
shall
smite
thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the
In Luke, c. xvii.,v. 1, he declares
other also"
"it is
but woe
unto
impossiblebut that offences will come,
We
told in John,
him
are
they come."
through whom
God
his Son
into the
sent
not
v.
c. iii.,
17, that
condemn
world
the world, but
that the world
to
self
through him might be saved; and yet Christ himto send
declares, Think not that I come
peace
I
send
but
sword"
to
not
on
come
a
earth,
peace,
A strange mode
of saving the world, truly! Save me
more

no

they

can

"

"

"

"

"

"

from

"

such

"

salvation

"
"

Having developeda few,

and

only

of God

in the character
in this "infallible"

from

me

save

friends."

my

few,

of the inconsist

and

tained
Christ,con"inspired" volume, I

and

priorto entering into the historical part, to

few incongruities
in its alleged facts and
a

purpose,

point out
doctrines.
We

will
c.

of

the

"Thou
God
have
c.

shalt

thee

doctrines

says,

3,

v.

Gods

and yet
beforeme;
book, Exod., c. vii,v. 1, I

other

same

God
u

Let

there must

second

moral

the

read,

implying,that
the

no

the

first commandment

have

in
declares,
made

17.

"

The

Jews.

odus,
Ex-

Commandments,

comprise the pith of

laws

i,v. 26, we
In

v.

xx.,

These

the Ten

begin with

to
us

And

Pharaoh"
make
be

man

in

our

pluralityof

commandment,

the

in

Gen.,

image
Gods.

Israelites

were

"

164

CONSISTENCY

THE

THE

OF

strictly
enjoinednot to make any
likeness of anything that is
any
that is in the earth beneath,or
in

BIBLE.

"

images,
above,

graven

in heaven
the

under

ivater

or
or

the

earth"

Singularly enough, they are told by God, only a

afterwards, (c.xxv., v. 18,) to make
chapter or two
of gold"' to make
"cherubims
likeness of one
two
a
of the celestial animals
something that is in the
"

"

"

The

above

heavens

commandment

same

thy God,

"

am

upon
generation of them
read

we

shall not

bear

I, the Lord
iniquitiesof
and

the third

fourth

me."

hate

that

in

"

us,
visitingthe

jealousGod,
the children,
unto

the father
But

informs

Ezek., c. xviii.,v. 20, that "the

iniquityof the father, neither

the

son

shall

iniquityof the son."

The
third injunctionstates, v. 7, that " the Lord
in
his name
will not hold him guiltless,
that taketh
and yet in Na.hu m, c. L, v. 3, we
vain ;
are
told,that
the Lord
"pardoneth iniquity." And Jer.,c. xxxi.,
their sins no
will remember
v.
34, says, that he
father

the

bear

the

"

"

more."
The

fourth

should

day

of work

Mark,

do

what

this,

"

Sabbath

The

father

c.

work

conceived

we

good,

book,

blameless

are

we

it

ful
law-

was

the

on

bath
Sab-

"

law, v. 12, commands

while
thy mother;
xiv.,v. 26, that if we

mother

in

trine,
doc-

that

in

to

us

"

c.

In the
while

and

and

our

that

manner

no

to

held

He

5.

hi.,v.

demurred

fifth

Luke,

and

himself

do

must

of
justification
have
that on
ye not read in the law, how
days, the priestsof the temple profane the

Now

Sabbath,

in

We

kept "holy."
Christ

that tlie Sabbath

insists

day.
Matt.,c. xiL, v. 5, he remarks,

In
the

be

; but
in

to

commandment

"

sixth,

told to

are

"hate

be his

told
not

thy
by Christ,

our

father

disciples."
shalt not
kill;"

said, "Thou
xxxii.,v. 27, of
"put every man

it is

Exocl^, c.
are

"cannot

we

we

"honor

the

very
his sword

same

by

166

all turn
the
it

CONSISTENCY

THE

to

dust

distinctly
says,

perish

to

In

Psalms, however, cxlvi.,v. 4,

man's
breath
goeth forth,he
"

that

earth ; in that

the

BIBLE.

THE

pretty prospect this for

again"

soul-mongers

returneth

OF

very

his

day

thoughts

"

find
of the world, we
opposite doctrines promulgated. Eccles.,c. i.,
very
and
v.
one
4, says, that
generation passeth away,
another
ever."
generation cometh, but the earth abidelh forBut
end
v.
Matt., c. xiii.,
49, talks of the
of the world,77and about
the angels coming forth,"c.
And
v.
10, states,
Peter,in his second
Epistle,c. iii.,
In reference

duration

the

to

"

"

"

that

the earth

shall be burnt

also

and

the works

that

tip !

In

v.
Romans, c. iii.,
28, it is said," a
by faith,xoithout the deeds of the
v.
James, c. ii.,
24, it is remarked,

in

"

that

how

by
faith only,"
grace
in

are

ye

therein

are

"

works

law."
Ye

justified
But,
then,

see,

and
justified,

is

man

is

man

by

not
"

In

For by
v.
8, it says,
Ephes., c. ii.,
ed
saved, through faith." But it is affirm-

James,

c.

faith without

"that

xi.,v. 20,

works

dead"

told in
are
Respecting the Sabbath, we
Exod., c. xx., v. 10, that it is the seventh day in the
told it is
week
in John, c. xx., v. 1, we
are
; while
to believe?
the 'firstday. Which
we
are
The
pancies.
followingexhibits a few other glaring discreIn Micha, c. iv.,v. 3, we
read that "they
shall beat their swords
into ploughshares,and
their
into pruning hooks, nation
lift up a
shall not
spears
sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war

is

any

And

more"

In 1

of

the

said, "God

they

ordered

are

of this

reverse

is solicitous

is

we

do

to

cally
diametri-

v.
10, "Beat
Joel,c. iii.,
ploughshares into sivords, and your
pruning
I am
into spears,
let the weak
strong."
say
assured
Lord
the
that
are
v. 4, we
Tim., c. ii.,

the

your
hooks

yet

should

that

in

all should

truth"
should
believe

"come

But,

in

send

them

lie I"

the

unto

Thes.,

c.

ledge
know-

v.
ii.,
11,

strong delusion
In

Prov.,c.

it

that

iv.,v.

7,

CONSISTENCY

THE

we

advised

are

"

yet

"in

18, that

v.

THE

we

in

is much

wisdom

much

and

assured

are

167

BIBLE.

"get wisdom"

to

and

OF

standing;
"get underEccles.,c. i.,
grief, and he

that increaseth

knowledge increaseth sorrow."

In Matt, c. x., v. 16, Christ says, " Be ye wise as
are
serpents;" and still in 1 Corin.,c. i.,v. 19, we
"
told that the Lord
will destroy the wisdom
of the
wise."
In Psalms, c. xcii.,
v.
12, we read, "the righteous
But in Isaiah,
shall flourishlike the palm tree."
v.
c. lvii.,
1, it is stated,that the "righteous perisheth."
In Romans, c. hi., v.
10, it is affirmed,that
There
is none
righteous no, not one."
But we
told in Gen., c. vi.,
v.
are
was
9, that Noah
a
"righteous man," and in the Epistle of James, c.
The
of a righteous man
v.. v.
16, it says,
prayers
such
much."
availeth
make
an
Why should James
"
?
no
righteous men
Pray
observation,if there were
without
ceasing" says Paul, 1 Thess., c. v., v. 17.
if we
But
do, says the Lord in Isaiah,c. i.,v. 15,
"I will not
hear."
John
observes,c. hi.,v. 13, No
But in 2 Kings,
hath ascended
man
up into heaven."
learn that Elijah "ascended
v.
c. ii.,
11, we
up into
!
whirlwind
heaven
by a
"
God
hath
No man
at
seen
says John,
any time"
are
c.
i.,v. 18; yet in Exod., c. xxxiii.,v. 11, we
him
face to face ;
and
told Moses
in c. xxiv.,
saw
the
him
9-11. that
v.
seventy elders of Israel,saw
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

and
In

Exod.,
shall

man

informed

c.

in

him.

xxxiii.,v. 20,
the

see

Gen.,

and

Lord,

the
"

with

dined

that

"and

live;" and yet we

xxxii.,v. 30, that Jacob

c.

and

him

with

fought

life

his

no

are
saw
was

preserved."
references.

heaven
it says

27,

But

in

created

was

it

was

In

Gen.,

on

the

created

be

will

inconsistencies

Further

v.

Lord

assured

are

we

on

i.,v. 1, it

c.

firstday,
the

second.

said, God created man

Psalms, c. lxxxix., v. 6,

it is

found

in

it is

while

in

the

states

in

lowing
folthat

6-8,
In Gen., c. i.,
his own
image.
v.

asked, "Who

is

168
like

Lord?"

the

Gen.,

In

THE

OP

CONSISTENCY

THE

c.

BIBLE.

28, God

i.,v.

blesses

fruitful and multiply. In Luke, c.

v.
xxiii.,
29, the barren, not the fruitful,are blessed.
created
In Gen., c. i.,v. 31, it says, " All that God
was
good." Yet in Isa.,c. xlv., v. 7, the Lord says,
T create
In Gen., c. ii.,
evil"
are
v.
told,
8, we
1
it is not good for man
to be
Corin.,
alone, while in
read
that it is
c.
vii.,v. 1, we
good not to touch a
woman"
In Gen., c. hi.,v. 6, it is said the woman
saw
beforeshe ate of the fruit,while in the very next
it says, her eyes were
verse
opened after eating. In
that he should
marked
Gen., c. iv.,v. 15, Cain was
the
blood
be killed,
not
in c. ix.,v. 6, it says
while
die."
In Gen., c. iv.,v. 16, we
shedder"
must
are
the presence
told Cain
from
of the Lord, while
went
in Psalms, cxxxix., v. 7, we
told ive
cannot
are
go
In Gen., c. vi., v. 5-7, we
are
from his presence.
it was
informed
to be destroyed because
the earth was
the
v.
21, it is stated that was
evil,while in c. viii.,
it was
to be
not
destroyed,and in Gen.,
very reason
time
and harvest
shall
c.
viii.,v. 22, we read, "Seed
in c. xlv., v. 6, it is said, the
never
cease," while
earth
without
should
either
be five years
eating or
told each
harvest!"
In Gen., c. x., v. 5, we
are
those

who

are

"

"

"

man

divided

was

chapter, v. 11, we

next

earth

was

God

viii.,v. 15,
In

heart.
me

48,

eat

Exod.,

we

are

xiv., v. 21,
In 2

Pharaoh

v.
xxv.,
dwell
in."

are

Sam.,

c.

c.

in

in

20,
And

his

it
c.

own

"Make

says,

in

not

that

21,

heart, but

Yet,

lusteth."

very

whole

the

iv., v.

c.

8, God

xii.,v.

warned

the

hardened

dwelleth

Deut.,
thy soul

we

Exod.,

c.

told God

whenever

flesh.

to

that

Pharaoh's

that

In

hands.

flesh
c.

we

sancturay

with

read

informed

In

hardened

in

tongue, while

are

tongue.

one

states, that

v.

after his

Acts, c. vii.,

temples made
"

it says,

Eat

yet in Rom.

it is not

good

to

vi.,v. 23, it says, Michal, the

no
children; but in c. xxi.,v.

daughter of Saul, had

8, of the same
book, it states
Sam.; c. xxiv.,v. 1, it states

she

had

five ! ! !

that

God

moved

In 2

David

THE

Israel

number

to

CONSISTENCY

that

Satan

God

and

and

provoked
Devil

the

In

THE

OP

169

BIBLE.

yet in 1 Chron., c xxi.,v. 1,

him

number

to

were

and

one

them.
the

Perhaps,
in those

same

read
that David
v.
1-5, we
ii.,
made
to
went
Hebron, and was
king of Judah
only,
while
in 1 Chron., c. xi.. v. 1-3, it says, he went
to
In
all Israel.
made
Hebron, and
was
king over
Resist not
to
Matt., c. v., v. 39, we are commanded
evil ;
but in James, c. iv.,v. 7, it bids us to
resist
"
the Devil;
but, perhaps,the Devil is not an evil
his
to make
certainlynot the parsons1 for if he was
be gone." In Gen., c.
exit,their "occupation would
cursed
the Lord
iv.,v. 13-14, we are told that when
Cain, and sent him as a vagabond through the earth,
him
Cain said that every
found
would
who
one
slay
one77 be, when, achim.
could
cording
Now, who
every
then
ence,
existin
the Bible,there was
one
to
no
father and
Abel
being murdered, but his own
land
mother
In v. 16, 17, it says Cain
went
?
to the
of Nod, and
did he
get her?
got a wife. Where

days.

Sam.,

c.

"

"

"

"

"

"

There

female

no

was

mother.

own

The

in existence

then
same

verse,

17,

that

says

his

Eve"

but

Cain

inhabit
to
was
it, pray ?
city. Bat, who
fant
There
were
only himself and his wife, and his inEnoch
son
population
living a very numerous
to
requirea city for their home ! I hope they had
room
enough. But did Cain build the city himself?

built

"

he could

That
workmen

Such

production to
The

God

be

and

manifold.

that

they
my

Where
the
this

would

did

then

word

find the

he

discrepanciesand
book.
infallible

called God's

I do

dictions
contra-

not

pretty
know

it,but I should be.

singularlyglaring
incongruitiesare
multitudinous
So
are
they, indeed,

is ashamed

historical

confine

are

crowd

which

whether

do.

not

to

own

filla volume

animadversions

of themselves.
to

the

New

I must

Testament
,

These

books

Gospels.
portion only
record
the Pedigree, Miraculous
Conception, Birth,
of
Career, Crucifixion,Resurrection, and Ascension
and

to

one

"

15

the

170

OF

CONSISTENCY

THE

THE

of the

BIBLE.

extraordinaryof incongruous and

instances
contradictoryhistory
Le Clerc, in his Sant, p. 285, might well
extant
than
observe, that
theologianshave labored more
Christ

afford

They

one

most

"

1000

reconcile

to

years

them,

Bishop Marsh, too, a most

and
confesses,in
professor,
that

after all his attempts

of St. John's
account

learned

English divine
celebrated
lectures,

his

reconcile
of

the

tion
the contradic-

resurrection

with

Luke, he has not been able to do

either to himself,or to any
it in a manner
satisfactory
monies
impartialinquirerinto truth ! No less than 200 harready
althe gospels are
or
attempts to reconcile
in print.
In respect to the pedigreeor
genealogy of Christ
is quite inconsistent
in the first place,Luke's
account
with
Matthew's, as well as with the Old Testament.
Matthew
to
17, that from Abraham
says, c. i.,v.
David
fourteen
are
generations,but according to his
He
there
list of names
be only thirteen.
can
own
that from
David
also affirms
to the
captivitywere
fourteen generations,
but according to the pedigree,in
the Old Testament, 1 Chron., c. v., v. 10
to 15, there
of generationsfrom
were
eighteen. Total number
Abraham
to Christ,he estimates
at
forty-two,while
his own
list gives .onlyforty! A pretty calculator,
less with
truly! not consistent with himself, much
cither inspiredhistorians.
Luke's
genealogy,c. hi.,v.
23 to 38, records forty-three
generations,and strange
infallible men,
Matthew
and
to say, these
Luke, only
of
the forty-three,
out
names
viz.,David
agree in two
and even
in relation to the progenitorof
and Joseph
Luke
Joseph they do not agree.
says, v. 23, he was
of Heli,but Matthew
the
the son
says, v. 16, he was
that

of Mark

to

but ivithout success."

and

"

"

of Jacob.

son

One
a

of these

spoken

then, in

gentlemen

must

have

made

If Matthew

mistake.

have

infallible

the

spoke the truth,Luke must

Falsehood,
falsehood,and vice versa.

case,

there

must

be

"

nay,

it is

false-

THE

CONSISTENCY

OF

THE

171

BIBLE.

hood

if we
to believe Matthew, c. i.,
are
altogether,
v.
These
18.
evangelicalhistorians quote these genealogies
that Jesus is of the family of David.
to prove
We
the pedigree of Joseph up
trace
to
David, and
infer that Christ being the son
of Joseph, he descended
from the man
after God's
heart.
own
Now, in
the verse
just referred to, we are told that Christ was
the son
of Joseph
but the son
not
of a ghost ! What
blunder ! What
! These
accurate
a
genealogists
tlemen
genshould
have
given us the pedigreeof the wilyghost, not that of simple Joseph. What
a pity it is the
world
has not been suppliedwith such a curiosity
!
Let us speak of the miraculous
raculous,
conception; and mi"

indeed,
the

it is !

angel appeared

him

of

Matthew

says,

Joseph, in

unto

i.,v.

c.

dream,

and

20,
told

but Luke
good fortune
says, c. i.,v. 30
the old gentleto 35, the angel did not
unto
man,
appear
but unto
Mary herself. Which
story is correct?
I am
afraid it is all a dream, and a very stupid one
his

"

too!
In the

account

of the birth of Christ

Matthew

there

are

many

tells us,
there came

c. ii.,
v.
contradictory
wise
1, that on his nativityin Bethlehem,
of the east
Luke
to worship him
men
states,
; while
of
v.
c. ii.,
8, that it was
ignoraht
only a number
and
who, instead of coming
shepherds who
came,
from the east, only came
from the immediate
borhood.
neighMatthew
observes, c. ii.,v. 2, that these
directed
Bethlehem
to
by a star ;
strangers were
an
Luke, however, states, c. ii.,v. 9 that it was
angel who led them.

statements.

I have

affirmed

that

the

career

of

Christ, from

his

given by these inspired men

cases
:
a few
very inconsistently.I will give you
First,of the story of Joseph escaping with Christ and
his mother
to
Egypt, immediately after his birth,to

birth

to

his

death,

is

"

avoid
who

Luke

Herod's
mentions
states,

is the only one

persecution. Matthew
13 ;
this very important event, c. ii.,
v.
the contrary, c. ii.,
v.
on
21, that they

172

THE

did not
Christ

CONSISTENCY

OF

remained

go, but

THE

BIBLE.

until after

where

they were
that they went

circumcised, and
up with
him
to Jerusalem, to present him
in the temple, the
most
public place in the kingdom, and almost into
Herod's presence ! ! 1
What
consistency!
Calling the apostles. Matthew, c. iv.,v. 18, tells
that Christ was
us
walking by the sea of Galilee,and
Peter

was

when
ships fishing,
he called them
Luke
affirms,c. v., v. 5, that
; but
Christ himself
was
sittingin their ships teaching the
out
washing
people on shore, and the fishermen were
their nets.
John's
story, however, c. i.,v. 35 to 42,
these
is different from
both.
He says nothing about
the least allusion
is there
men
being fishermen, nor
to
merely
fishing. He informs us that they were
followers
of John
the Baptist.
Another
is the
case
callingof an apostle,whose
Matthew
Matthew
name
; but
says, c. ix.,v. 9, was
and
Levi
Mark
was
declares,c. ii.,v. 14, his name
not
an
list,there was
yet, according to their own
!
apostleof that name

and

Andrew

their

in

were

"

Christ's

sermon

this famous

he delivered

i.,v. 17, that

c.

thew,
in Mat-

is mentioned

the Mount

on

sermon

Matthew's
standing in a plain.
statement,
of his deliveringit while sittingon a hill,
is
therefore,

while

inconsistent
this

memorable

2, that
i.,v. 40,

he

v.

that

he

to

him

and

Luke

Similar

his

sent

viii.,v.

c.

of him

says,

for

sending them into

too contemptibletp

wife
the

to

Which

when

"

was

casting

herd

mention.

he

of

centurion

and

heal

7, that
the

will be found
"

concluded

remarks, c. viii.,
Mark
records,c.

cure

come

vii.,v.

g.

him.

Peter's

this

Capernaum,

at

inconsistencies

curing

had

he

was

throughout Galilee.
are
informed,that
5, we

synagogues

begged

; but

only

performed

arrived

Christ

When

discourse, Matthew
cleansed
a
leper; but

preaching in the
In Matthew,
when

Luke's.

with

out

the

came

his

vant
ser-

rion
centu-

fact?
in the
of

swine, and

story of

devils,and
other

tales

174

CONSISTENCY

THE

THE

OF

BIBLE.

vinegar to drink, mingled with gall; but Mark

wine
mingled with
records,c. xv., v. 25, that it was
it? "Which of these
infallible"
was
myrrh. Which
men
speak the truth 1 Mark
states, c. xv., v. 25, that
him

"

he

crucified

was

thieves,who
Luke

but

the

accounts

of

I have
I must
who

time

not

to

the

states, that it
came

that

them

for

companion

also be detected

so

in

other
many
them.

in the

over

matters,

the
but

First, of those
sepulchre.Matthew, c. xxviii.,v. 1,
resurrection.

Mary Magdalene, and another

Luke
says, c. xxiv., v. 10, it was

was

him

reviled

who

superscriptionplaced

enumerate

the

it
says
both
the

Christ,reviled

his

will

also

of

speak

came

who

to

the

John

is true?

account

given of
Christ,and

us

of

one

rebuked

inconsistencies

Similar

with

only

was

other

Which

doing!

head

it

; but

informs

executed

were

says

and

him,

Matthew

sixth.

the

was

the third hour

at

ry
Mathe

other
and
who
Marys, and Johanna
women,
while, according to John, c. xx., v. 1, Mary
came;
there
be a
alone ! ! Well
cessity
neMagdalene came
may
for prieststo write "harmonies
to the gospels."
Matthew, c. xxviii.,v. 2, observes, that an
angel
the
and
from
rolled
back
descended
stone
heaven,
n
from the door,and sat
it ;
while
Mark, c. xvi.,
upon
not
v.
sittingoutside, but
4, mentions, that he was
the right side. We
learn from
inside the sepulchre,
on
Matthew, that the visitants went away from the sepulchre
but
Mark
somewhat
abruptly;
they went
says,
declares
that they
into it. When
they entered,Mark
clothed in a long white garment,
one
saw
man,
young
do not
we
a shirt or
surplice,
learn.)
(whether it was
Luke
gives an opposite
sittingat the rightside ; but
two

"

statement

"

he

says,

there

were

two

young

men,

and

standing,and had on shinifiggarments.

Matthew
records,c. xxviii.,v. 5, 6, that the angel
told the women
of Christ's risingfrom the dead ; but
John
17, that Christ told them
says, c. xx., v. 14
himself;accordingto Luke, c. xxiv.,v. 12,when Peter

they

were

"

"

THE

CONSISTENCY

OF

THE

175

BIBLE.

to the

sepulchre,he only looked into it,and did

not go in ; but John
affirms,c. xx., v. 5, 6, that he did
with him ; Matthew
go in, and another disciple
relates,
c.
xxviii.,v. 9, that when
shipped
they saw
him, they worand
him
held
the
but
John
clares,
dehim,
by
feet ;
would
let them
not
c.
xx., y. 17, that Christ
touch him !
What
!
consistency! What
infallibility
We
of this amusing
now
approach the last scene
farce
In Matthew, c. xxviii.,v.
the
Ascension.
7
lee
to Galiwent
17, it is intimated,that the disciples
to meet
Jesus,according to appointment ; but Luke
tells us, c. xxiv., v. 33
36, he appeared to them
expectedly
unat Jerusalem
says, also,that when
; Luke
but
were
him, the disciples
they did meet
terrified;
John says, c. xx., v. 20, they were
glad to meet him !
According to Luke, v. 35, the whole of the eleven,
there ; but John
apostleswere
states, that the apostle
Thomas
told of it,he would
not
was
absent,and when
came

"

"

"

believe it.

19, that

Incredulous

Christ

ascended

lohere the
c.

apostleswere
xxiv.,v. 50, that

and

that there

In

Luke,

c.

man

into

first led them

Luke

out

to

the

place
affirms,
Bethany,

took

ascension

his

; but

xvi., v.

c.

says,

heaven, from

at meat

sat

he

Mark

xxiv., v. 13, we

place.
read, that
day as his

Christ's

cension
as-

resurrection
place on the same
understand
from John, c.
in the evening ; while
we
several
xx., v. 26, that he appeared to his disciples
the earth
times, and remained
days ;
upon
'many
wonders,5'
(some say forty,)performing so many
that John
if they were
written,the WORLD
says,
the books ! ! !
would
be large enough to contain all
not
took

"

"

With

this marvellous

and

verily it

is

statement,
a

closes

John

his gospel,

closer !
"

ble
infalliinspired and
evangelists
indeed, scarcely to agree in any one
historians,
number
Were
the same
on
particular,
any subject!
of incongruities,
equally gross and palpable,exhibited
in the land,
court
by four witnesses,in the meanest
the most
frivolous case
imaginable,their testiupon
Consistent
"

"

"

{C

176

CONSISTENCY

THE

would

mony

be

Why
in

relation

to

be,

of

Blind

credulity
and

sense,

moral

the

Monstrous

inconsistencies
I

what

could

sufficient
less

much
That

of

would

who

the

in

Bible,
is

incongruity,

is

of
render

him

get

is

to

"

get

understanding."

of

be

to

uphold

this
set

truth,
and

wisdom,

the

and

have

duction.
pro-

of
offered

book,

any

inspired.

the

prodigious

lity
infallibiof

mass

naught

at

few,

modicum

divinely

all

and

but

of

to

would

evidence,

rational

common

precious

credibility

face

of

criterion

and

myself

flatter

venture

who

one

of

presented

alleged

the

"

this

in

the

which

one

man

invalidate

to

infatuation

few,

only

have

adduced^

be

and

now

observable

Though

both

perversion

reviewed

have

momentous,

Strange

principle

friends,

My
of

everlasting"

proclaimed

and

humanity,

tempt.
con-

admitted

be

solemnly

sacred

of

and

evidence
are

most

welfare

life

through

the

BIBLE.

indignation

such

which

others,

the

involving

should

matters

all

THE

with

scouted

then
to

OF

all

established

best
with

ciples
prinI

advice
all

knowledged
ac-

thy

can

ting,
get-

LECTURE

MORALITY

THE

Friends

OF

evening

Bible.

in

its

exhibiting

discuss

shall

we

Believers

this

every

other

omnipotent
they return

Deity

after

the

book

excellencies

from

driven

THE

BIBLE.

"

This

of

TENTH.

are

this

in

of

morality
remarkably

the
fond

When

respect.

position, they generally take

"morals"
the
divine
what
they term
refuge behind
of God."
However
discomfitted
of the "Word
they
have
other
been
with
questions connected
may
upon
the
divinity of the Scriptures, on
resorting to this
"
is revived, and, like the
strong-hold," their courage
the

to

it is
say,
exultation

must

and

which
than

any

should

that

except
weakness

upon

deficiency, by
generally make

the
I

other.

the

the

on

seventh

day,

quite "refreshed."
bravado
astonishing, such
exhibited
be
a
point,
upon
vulnerable
Scriptures are more

encounter

somewhat

conceive,

resting

cannot

for

account

Christian

such

world,

in

paradox,
their

knowing
desirous
the
this
to supply
head, are
and
Things
dogmatism.
assumption
when
the
they are most
greatest noise

empty.

My

friends, if

controversy
is

an

there

clearer

immoral

proceed, that
sprinkling of

is
than

thing
another,

one

publication.
there
a
are
few
good passages,

connected
it is that

with
the

this
Bible

will

allow, before
redeeming
qualities
in
what
book
(and
"

I
a

is

178

THE

there

MORALITY

OF

THE

BIBLE.

something good ? ) but these passages are

so
angels'visits,"
they are "few and
rare, that "like
far between."
the unexceptionable parts,
But, even
limited
though they be, are by no means
original.
Most
borrowed
from
of them
other producare
merely
tions,
it is incontestable
that moral
as
ly
precepts, equalthe
of
admirable, were
Greece, the
taught by
sages
of India, and the
philosophersof Rome, the Brahmins
Reformer
of China, long anterior to the introduction
of Christianity before either the Old or New
ment
Testanot

"

written.

were

I shall

length upon this subjectin a

ment,
subsequent lecture. I will only remark, at this mowise
and
that Thales, Pittacus,and Confucius,
tical
idengood men, whose ethics,in many
respects, were
of the
with
those
Scriptures,flourished at a
much
lived
earlier period than Christianity. Thales
600
cius,
Confubefore Christ; Pittacus,570; and
years
500.
These
three distinguished
men
taught the
of which
Christians
are
so
proud, and
very doctrine
affirm is so eminently peculiar to their system, viz.,
"

Do

unto

at

comment

others

unto

as

you

would

wish

others

to

do-

you."

Thales

doing what you would blame

others
for doing." Pittacus
enjoins, Avoid
doing
that to your
take
amiss
neighbor which
you would
if he Avere
And
do to you."
Confucius
to
taught,
Do to another
what
would
should
do
unto
they
you
says,

"Avoid

"

"

you,
not

and
be

do not
done

unto

unto

alone ; it is the
24.
rest."" Moral

another

what

you

would

should

only needest this law

you ; thou
foundation
and
principleof all the

those enas
forced
exactly the same
by Christ 500 years afterwards.
defence of AbMr. Dunlap, in his justlycelebrated
ner
Freethinker, indignantly
Kneeland, the American
Was
there no morality in the days of Homer,
asks,
Cicero and Virgil?
Pythagoras, Solon,Plato,Aristotle,
Was
there no
morality in the vast, populous, and
These

"

sentiments

are

MORALITY

THE

civilized

empire of China
Was
there
no
morality
the
where, before even
'mid

of

thunders

the

accused

of

offence

an

THE

OF

time

in the
the

in

179

BIBLE.

Confucius?

of

of

kingdom

Egypt,
commandments
were
given,
Mount
Sinai, Benjamin was
of
against morality, because

in his sack?
found
was
Joseph which
Was
there
nations
the immense
no
morality among
from
of the American
continent, stretching almost
lumbus
pole to pole,till the loftyand daring genius of Coimpelled him to the discovery of the New
World
the ear?
there been
Has
liest
no
morality from

the

of

cup

times

in

the

those

dwellings of

then, that there

Bible, they are
therefore,if we
morals, it is not
than

Not

any

of

seats

and

innocence

?"

Brahmins

the

plation,
contem-

Granting,

be a few moral
precepts in the
may
borrowed
but
second-hand; and,
"

are

to

recorded

indebted

to

any
but
Christianity,

in the

"

for

one

to

men

these

greater

Word.7'

Holy

original,
but many
them
are
utterlyimpracticable,and,
be
to
therefore,useless ; nay, some, if they were
asmuch
be actuallypernicious^infollowed, would
literally
as
they would
destroy the physical and
ine,
mental
industryof man, and inevitablylead to famignorance,and misery. For instance, in Matt,
c. vi.,v.
25, 26, we are told to "take no thought for
life,what ye shall eat, or what
your
ye shall drink,
Is not
nor
yet for your body what
ye shall put on.
the life more
than
meat, and the body than raiment?
the
Behold
fowls of the air,for they sow
not, neither
do they reap, nor
gather into barns, yet your heavenly
only, however,

are

these

precepts

not

of

father

feedeth

Are

ye

not

much

better

than

practice of such a
doctrine
Utter confusion, want, and
this ?
as
dation.
degrathe
to
people were
adopt it
Supposing
to
hibit
begin to exsupposing the working classes were
such
pious indifference to things carnal,and, in
of that virtuous
to
resolve,were
acquaint
pursuance
his Grace
the Archbishop of Canterbury that they

they?"

What

them.

would

follow

the

"

180

MORALITY

THE

OF

BIBLE.

THE

so
trulypenitent for having so long committed
their bread
(and his bread.)
grievousa sin as to earn
of their brow," and
that now
by the " sweat
they
were
Christians,
being good
reallydetermined
upon
in
should
what
not
to
as
they
caring
eat, or what
they should drink,7'but that they and he, and the
of the community, should
pend
derest of the idle drones
for their subsistence,"like the fowls of the air,"
how
he
their
would
heavenly father,1'
upon
queer
for adopting
look, and how he would
laugh at them
knows
the very system he is paid to teach !
Heaven
it would
be a fortunate thing for the starving millions
if this doctrine
could
be really practised
! Many are
are
now
precluded from producing food
they who
I would
either to "eat," or to "drink."
advise them,
therefore, to shirt their eyes, open their mouth, and
God
what
will send them," and never
be so
see
more
wicked
and irreligious
to wish
to work
to
as
provide

were

"

"

"

for themselves

and

Again, in Mark,
But

enemies."

You
but

long

so

love

should

man

dislike

that

c.

who

v.

v.,

44,

it is

do this?

can

said,
It is

"

Love

your
possible.
morally im-

them,
-forgive
pity your enemies
they are your enemies, you cannot

may
as

It

them.

families !

is

"

inherent

human

that

nature

which

imparts pleasure,and
produces pain. You
might as

like that
which

in

commanded
been
well, therefore,have
destroy you, as
viper that would

love

to

the

enemy

the

who

would

ruin you.
From
these instances,it is

morality

the

Bible

contains

obvious, that what little

is stolen,impracticable,

absurd.

or

Considering

this

favorablepoint of
production.
will now
We
glance at

most

and

dark
and

grows
which

indeed

it is I

it details.

the dark

What

scenes

side of the
of

view
to
our
open
I think of
horror when

obscenity

cold with

in the
oracle,therefore,
view, it is but a miserable

notorious

picture,
ery,
crime, butch!

My

blood

the atrocities

182

out

THE

him

to

take

MORALITY

in

tho

thousand

one

world, and
from

which

book

Listen

believes

he

would

not

nay,

priest should

all the money

in the
cumstance
to-day." A significantcir-

it here

that

BIBLE.

Holy Bible, which

guineas,

read

THE

OF

be

ashamed

God

inspired by

was

read

to

of Richard
extraordinary declaration
Lalor
of the Whig
ministra
adShiel, Esq., M. P., member
and
of the privy councillors
to the
one
In the Church
of Ireland Magazine for 1825,
Queen.
the following language is ascribed
that brilliant
to
in Scripture were
written
orator:
Many passages
with
such
force,and he might say, with nakedness
of diction,as rendered
them
for indiscriminate
unfit
in
perusal. There were
parts of the Old Testament
which
presented to
images of voluptuousness were
the mind
the imagination of a youthful female
which
on
He would
ought not to be permitted to repose.
the

to

"

"

to

venture

display more
The

luxury

history,and

of

kind

virtuous

woman

parts of the Old

could

that

of

of the

the

more

which

man
hu-

holy writings

narration

of facts of

in the

of
presence
Should

be mentioned

not

not

Testament.

atrocityat

Part

did

combine

imagination,or

shuddered.

nature

of Anacreon

details of

contained

Bible

consisted

of

than

associations

sensual

the Odes

that

assert

she

would
she

die than

tremble

kind

world

of

revolve

book,

it be the word

blush

at

her

domestic

what

she

friends,

imn

what

board

would

rather

"

perusalof which,

Can

excitinghorror.
read in her chamber,

hear

to

and

over

con

utter?

What
the

permitted to

be

Shall

without

woman

at

their

of

my

virtuous

God

mind
Ah

effrontery,and

that

at

shudder

must

! let the
cease

be,

to

Christian
exclaim

and

impiety.7'
Having explainedmyself upon this subject,I shall
of those passages
which
culcate
inproceed to consider some
connive
at
or
immorality. I shall begin, by
of the Bible
the
describing the leading characters
of this improbable tale, the favorites of the
heroes
against

blasphemy

"

Bible God

OF

MORALITY

THE

183

BIBLE.

THE

might have presumed,

beau
ideal
of
the
of perfection,
were
paragons
intellectual and moral
beauty, but instead of such presumption
I
that
the
assert
jority
mabeing realized, boldly
picable
of them
the most
were
cruel,and descunning,
!

These

characters

record.

on

first of these

The
is Noah'

I shall name,
Scripture paragons
only individual,with his family,who
worthy of being saved at the Deluge.

the

"

considered

was

we

personages,

Surely,

he

read

in

Gen.,

c.

such

state

of

was

moral

ix.,v. 21, 22,

obscene

moral

Very

man.

that

he

drunkenness,

was

that

for

found

we

in

I forbear

If there
Noahs
in
were
quoting the passage.
many
the world, teetotalism,
be at a disI apprehend, would
count.
I will ask, was
the part
it a moral
act
upon
of Noah, to curse
his own
?
See Gen., c. ix.,v. 25.
son
If all fathers
affection

to

were

would

take

Noah

as

pattern, paternal

be unknown.

Abraham, the patriarch,we read in Gen., c. 20, v.

1
falsehood
to Abime5, uttered the most barefaced
He unblushingly told him
that
lech, King of Gerar.
"

his wife

Gen., c.
of

one

wife,but only his sister;and

xxi.,v. 9, 10
14, we learn, that he put
his wives, the Egyptian
Hagar, and left
not

was

"

he'r child

and

sheba."

his

to

wander

in the

"

wilderness

in
out

her

of Beer-

The

unfeeling brute !
Isaac,the son of Abraham, another very prominent
character
in the early history of the Bible, followed
the virtuous
In Gen. c. xxvi.,
example of his father.
7
The
v.
9, it states that he, also, denied his wife.
story is trulyobscene.
of Isaac, and
the person
son
Jacob, the favored
Lord
read
in Malachi, c. i.,v. 2, 3, the
we
whom,
loved so much, endeavored
his own
to deceive
father,
robbed
Gen. c. xxvii.,v. 19.
his
ther,
broown
He, also,
Esau, as stated in v. 36 ; and in c. xxix., and
"

xxx.,
crimes

and

we

read
that

of his perpetrating three of the greatest

could commit
man:
incest,polygamy,

adultery.

"

184
the

Moses,

OF

MORALITY

THE

THE

man"

"meekest

BIBLE.

in

history,and private

deliberate murderer
a
Bible-God, was
a
wretch, who, in this country, would be deemed
In Exodus, c. il,v. 11, 12, we
unfit to live.
read,
"
And
it came
to pass in those days, when
Moses
was
his
he
that
went
out
unto
and
looked
brethren,
grown,
he spied an
their burdens, and
on
Egyptian smiting
And
he looked
this
an
Hebrew, one of his brethren.
the

to

secretary

"

and

way,

that

he

no

man,
sand."

Moses

when
and
he saw
way,
slew the Egyptian, and

that

there

hid

him

was

in the

is

This

But
absolute,unqualified homicide.
also, an instigatorto murder, on a large

was,

in Numbers, c. xxxi.
He
scale, as seen
particularly
evidenced
as
likewise, an inciter to prostitution,
was,
in v. 17, and 18, of that chapter. The
indeed,
butcheries,
committed

the instance

at

of that divine

ite,
favor-

unparalleled.
Joshua
well worthy of his meek
was
predecessor.
in the name
The
atrocities perpetratedby him,
of
the Lord," are
truly frightful"I decline quoting them.
are

"

refer

of

book

Joshua, c. x., v.
if you are
disposedto gratify
your curiosity.
the beau
Samuel, the next Bible hero, was
You

may

priest.

To

to

the

with

reason

loss of time.

his

could

He

"

26,

ideal of

he considered

opponents,
best

17

disposeof

their

jections,
ob-

by cuttingoff their heads ! We are told, in

the 1st Samuel, c. xv., v. 33, that he "hewed
Agag in
piecesbefore the Lord, in Gilgal ; and in v. 3, of the
placable,
same
chapter, we observe his priestly hatred so im"

itself

that it extended
Saul

orders

all that
both
ass

body

A
of

another

woman,

who

men

read,

brutes.

not, but
spare them
infant and suckling,
camel

ought

to
to be

be

He

stroy
utterlyde-

and

pretty command

given by

examples

to

slay
and
of

one

their

low
fel-

creatures

We

smite

they have,

and

man

!8

go and

to

"

the very
Amalek, and
to

in 2

Bible

littlechildren

Kings,
hero, and

"

in the

name

v.
23, 24,
ii.,
of
"man
God,"
c.

of the

that

Elisha,

cursed

Lord,"

for

some

simply

OF

MORALITY

THE

exclaiming,in. their

childish

THE

185

BIBLE.

frolic, bald-head

5?

"

and

kindly listened to his curses, and

instantlythere appeared two she bears,who devoured
forty-twoof the youngsters ! Such an old " inspired"
brute was
highly deserving of Biblical distinction.
after God's
is called "the
man
own
David, who
all
heart, and, therefore,the person, who, above
others, ought to have afforded the finest specimen of
the very
of depravity
embodiment
humanity, was
and
brutality. In the 2d Samuel, c. xi.,v. 2-6, we
told of his committing adulteryunder
the most
are
In the 1st Samuel, c. xxi.,
revolting circumstances.
learn of his descending to the most
v.
12, 13, we
before
Acish, the King of
disgustingdissimulation
Gath.
In 2d Samuel, c. xii.,
of the
v.
29-31, a scene
horrible butchery is presented to us, occasioned
most
by this prototype of the Bible Deity. He put the
"
and
under harrows
under saios
people of Rabbah
of
made
and
them
axes
iron,
of iro^and
through
pass
that

the

Lord

very

1;

the

brick-kilns

the children
be

and

thus

of Aramon."

surpassed.

David

did he

all the cities of

unto

Cruelty like
exhibited

his

this could

natural

not

ferocity
of character
his very death-bed.
even
ing
Speakupon
of the son
of Gera, a Benjamite, he enjoinshis
fore,
son
Solomon, almost in his last breath, " Now, therefor thou art a wise man,
hold him not
guiltless,
what
thou
and
knowest
oughtest to do unto
him;
down
the
thou
but his hoary head
to
bring
grave
with
blood ! "
1 Kings, c. ii.,
Did ever
v. 8, 9.
tal
morDid any
die with such a curse
his lips?
man
on
mission
father,at such a moment, exhort a child to the comof such
crimes ! Oh ! what
an
example to
the world !
What
humanity !
morality ! What
Solomon's
career, though he is proclaimed to be the
wisest
man"
that ever
lived, was
only that of a
Were
the human
to
race
voluptuary and debauchee.
follow his brightexample, virtue and
chastitywould
of
be mere
convince
To
names.
you of the justness
that in 1 Kings,
remarks, I need but remind
you
my
"

16*

186

THE

OF

MORALITY

THE

"

BIBLE.

he (Solomon)had
xi.,v. 3, it states, "And
hundred
wives, princesses,and three hundred

seven

c.

and

wives

his

from

turned

His

songs,

been

perfectionof purity and

of
so
lascivious,that many
most
depraved bacchanalian.
the

are

the

You

them.
c.

The

may
vii.,v. 1-4.

Old

the

of

Those

read

reviewed

the

New

them
I

have

to

of

would

style,

disgust

will

constitute

not

quote

the

"great
pretty lightsthey

Jesus

are

ought

!"

yourselves,particularly

and

Testament,,

heart

correctness

for

them

here

characters

lights" of
are

which

his

away
his "wisdom"

cubines,
con-

Christ

and

"

his

In
principalapostles,Paul, Peter,and John.
occasion
third address, I had
to speak at
length
my
former
of Christ and the two
apostles,as illustrative
of the system of imposture pursued by the early
I beg to refer you.
observations
Christians,to which
I need
this occasion,occupy
much
not, therefore,on
three

of your

time

I may

with

ask, however,

following account
"

the
above

remarks

"

Saviour
all other

of
of

what

the
the

these

upon

passages.
morality is there

in the

of

Christ,

genealogy
world

beings,should

one

"

have

Jesus
whose

been

origin,
honorable

language of Dr.
Alexander
on
Walker, in his work
"Woman,"
p.
writer
Christian,
eminent
not
a
as
a
an
330,
Infidel.
Had
made
such
observation
been
of my
an
by one
been
denounced
class,it would have
"blasphemous."
"It is remarkable," says he, "that, in the genealogy,
have
of Christ,only four wompn
been named!
Thaof her late husband;
seduced
the father
who
mar,
Rachel, a common
prostitute;Ruth, who, instead of
marrying one of her cousins,went to bed with another
and Bethsheba
an
adulteress,who espoused
of them
What
David, the murderer
of her first husband!
of God," too!
for the "Son
and
1
a
pedigree!
should
be ashamed
of such
an
origin. No wonder
that our
virtuous
aristocracyare so indifferent about
! In Luke, c. xxii.,v.
their "illustrious"
ancestors
and

illustrious?

I will

quote

the

"

"

"

"

THE

MORALITY

OF

THE

36, Christ givesthe followingcommand

dupes a command
Iron Duke/7
"But
"

"

the

let him

take

it ; and

he

now

that

hath

sell his garment

and buy one
6, he charitablyexclaims, "If
he

forth

is cast

and

gather them,
burned"

Again,

to

come

and

me

wife

and

own

life

absurd

as

them

in

Luke,
not

children,and
also, he cannot

and

v.

and

detail

which

c.

his

purse,

let him
v.

xv.,

in me,
is withered, and men

man

and

brethren
be

my
was

not

sisters,yea,

his

disciple.57If
followed, all

this

would

be

mestic
do-

annihilated.

Luke, c.
v.
34, 35 ; Mark, c. xvi.;
11, 12; Mark, c. xi.,v. 1-3,
to

the affair of the

would

abide

the^re, and they are

xiv., v. 26, "If a man
father and
mother, and

affection

iv.,v.

c.

In

of

taste

into

relative
passages
49-51 ; Matt, c. x.,

16; Mark,

doctrine

inhuman

other

xii..
v.

cast

sword,
John, c.

no

7J

and

branch

hate

comfort
For

to his peaceable

suit the
may
he that hath

which

"

187

BIBLE.

Christ

colt

"

an

see

act

for which

transported,and twenty years

informs
v.
us
23-26, which
ago hanged; Mark, c. ii.,
of Christ committed
of the depredationsthe disciples
passing by
amongst the farmers7 corn, as they were
the way-side
(an act for which an individual would
for larceny) but which
be condemned
now
Christ;in
opposition to the dicta of the learned judges of this
and
commendable.
Also
age, pronounced innocent
In these
Mark,
c. v., v.
11, 12, and c. xi.,v. 12-21.
Christ
is represented either as
four latter references,
s
taking or destroying other people7
property himself,
do
his
it
followers
to
or
allowing
; which, of course,
coming from him, is eminently moral, and a fine precedent
this
of
Christian
to the
light-fingered
gentry

man

be

now

"

land

the main
Paul, who, after the death of Christ, was
champion of Christianity,unblushingly declares in
his 2d
Epistle to Cor., c. xi., v. 8, "I robbed other
In Rom., c. hi.,v. 7, he
churches
to do
ye service.77
"

exclaims, For
through my

if the truth of God

lie

unto

his

hath

ed
abound-

more

glory,why yet

am

I also

188

THE

judged

as

"

the

said before,
other

any

following
so

say

doctrine

would

In

again,

if any

than

that

it

were

become

guile."

with

doctrine

monstrous

now

16, he
How

Gal., c. i.,v. 9, he

unto

excellent, that

Cor.,c. xii.,v.
you

you,
accursed."
be

let him
world

caught

honorable!

How

honest!

so

BIBLE.

THE

2d

In

sinner?"

Being crafty

says,

OF

MORALITY

"

:"

pounds
prowe

preach

men

have

ye

Excellent

As

ceived,
re-

morality !
"

generally practised,the
of

scene

strife

and

xxii.,v.

54-

moral

enmit}^
Peter's

58,

is of

of

denial

like

Master, Luke,

his

character

to

c.

and

Abraham's

Isaac's

lowed,
example folwould
all truth and sincerity
be destroyed. I
of Peter, deliberately
shall say little at this moment
drawing the sword, and cutting off the right ear of
the
The
act
priest'sservant; John, c. xviii.,v. 10.
cruel and
ed
it defendis so flagrantly
unjust,that were
denial

for

of

Christian

their

wives;

moment,
country.

and

one's

no

their

were

life would

be

safe

in

Every desperado might indulge

in his atrocities with
impunity. Nor need I enlarge
his
the
on
blackguardism of Peter
cursing and
phemy
Blasin Matt., c. xxvi., v. 74.
swearing" recorded
in a Christian
apostleis passed over in silence.
John, in his second
Epistle,c. i.,v. 10, gives the
following truly Christian injunction: "If there come
and
unto
bring not this doctrine, receive
any
you,
bid him
him not into your house
God
speed."
; neither
John's admonitions
Were
world
the
strictlyobeyed,
"

"

"

would

become

an

arena

of the

most

relentless

rance
intole-

inhumanity. All the most

delightfulties
bind civilized society,hospitality,
which
courtesy, personal
be dissevered,
respect, social intercourse,would
be left to grovel in bigotry and
would
and man
matism.
dogwho
enunciate
Yet the men
such
doctrines,
and

are

those

whom

we

are

trained

to

admire,

revere, and
the
to take

!
infamous
Were
we
deify. How
Bible prodigiesas our
ing
models, instead of our advancin toleration,
humanity, and enlightenment,we

almost

190

THE

"

What

Egyptians.

if that

become

"

c.

to

For

If every Englishman
o' cakes," on

"land

the

adopt

would

things."

societywould

scene

both
other

practice,the

this

look

feel most

and

examples, see

Cor.,

24

v.

x.,

in

were

Scotchman"

unutterable

BIBLE*

followed

was

Irishman

leaving the country,

THE

virtuous

example

and

"cannie

OF

MORALITY

Let
In Psalms, cix.,v. 10, it says,
Vagabondism.
be continually vagabonds, and
dividual
his children
beg;" innow
who, in this Christian
country, are
"

treated

criminals.

as

The
17.
Deut.,c. xxi.,v. 15
sage
pasfit to quote.
"illustrious"
the
not
See, also,
of Solomon, 1 Kings, c. xi.,v. 3.
A more
blushing
unmired
of bigamy cannot
be cited than this adcase
See

Bigamy.
is
instance

"

Bible-hero.

Seven

hundred

had

three

the

"wisest

concubines
of

man"

I admire

boast.

hundred

But

And

boot !

he

this

Bible-readers

the

whom

their taste.1

Prostitution.

to

wives

is

can

"

See

Hosea,

These

passages
I will read

c.

2, and

i.,v.

Judges,

only fit for a

Chirstian
to
however, the
quote.
you,
Numb., c. xxi.,v. 17, 18:
following example from
"Now, therefore,
(says Moses) kill every male among
xxi.,

c.

12.

v.

are

"

the little ones,

kill every
But
him.

and

by lying with

man

that

have

known

not

man,

"

hath

that

woman

all the

known

children,

women

by lying with him, keep

prudence !
generous

What
yourselves!
the
Lord
threatened
the
Adultery. This crime
Their
dren
chilBabylonians their wives should suffer.
ed
v.
16,) shall be dash(says he, in Isaiah,c. xiii.,
shall be spoiled,and
houses
their
to pieces,their
What
See also Matt.,c.
ravished."
wives
a threat !

alive for

"

"

"

i.. v.

18.

I find

Marriage,
them

him

to
to

curious

some

which

the
issue

and

I will

consideration

doctrines
here
of

the subject of
upon
I commend
introduce.

Dr.

Wardlaw.

appendix to his new

amongst writings which
an

work
he

I advise
on

tution,
Prosti-

mentions

as

THE

MORALITY

OF

191

BIBLE.

THE

inculcatinglax notions upon this subject,to include

"
the Holy Bible."
I will refer you
in the first place
The
jectionab
to Deut., c. xxi.,v. 10-14.
language is too obto

I may
therein

quote.

practice the license

change his wife every month.
to
Deut.,c. xxiv., v. 1, 2.
"

When

and

it

he

I will
We

next

uncleanness

some

might
refer

you

told

that

married

favor

no

to

were

there

are

find

we

man

wife, and

that she

found

hath

granted, a

taken

to pass

come

because

hath

man

if

that

state

her,

in his eyes,
in her ; then

let him

ment,
(the man
himself)write her a bill of divorceand give it into her hand, and
send her out of
his house : and when
she hath
departed out of his
wife ! "
man's
another
be
house, she may
go and
This

needs

extract

comment.

no

Degradation and E?islavement

and more
especiallythe New
in

passages
says, in 1

in silence
in
them,

churches
; but

to

also

1 Tim.

also

In

thy bondmen
have, shall
of

you,

be

them

Moreover,
families

that

you

to

permitted
if

And

speak in
and
Eph., c.
to

unto

will

they

home,

at

the
v.,

lence
si-

under

be

to

their husbands

church."

22, 23.

v.

support of that

In

from

passages

many

Lev., c. xxv., v. 44-46, I read, "Both

thou shalt
and
thy bondmaids, which
of

the

shall

ye

heathen
of

children

them

for

the

round

are

and

about

bondmaids.

strangers

that

buy, and of
they begat in

shall ye

you, of them
with
are
you,

inherit

that

bondmen

buy

which

they shall be your

them
inheritance
as
an

"

keep

ask

land, and
take

learn

women

them

quote

Paul

Cor., c. xiv.,

law.

12 ;
Trade.
the Slave

of the

sojourn among

in 1

the

women

abounds

women

commanded

are

system, I could

this book.

and

your
it is not

for

v.
ii.,

c.

Slavery and
monstrous

the

saith

for

shame

they

anything, let

for it is
See

}'

ble,
Bi-

gentler sex.

"Let

v.
ii.,
11,

c.

subjection
;
4CLet
exclaims,

speak
obedience,as
learn

the

all

he

the

of

contempt

Tim.,

with

34, 35,

v.

in

The

of Women.
Testament,

possession.

for your

And

ye
children

possession,they

do

their
your
shall
after

shall be

192

THE

OF

MORALITY

bondmen

THE

BIBLE.

What

iniquitoustraffic
also Joshua, c. ix., v. 21, and
life!
See
in human
the " Lord
Joel, c. hi.,v. 8, where
exclaims, uAnd
and
1 will sell your
sons
daughters, into the
your
of Judah, and
of the children
hand
they shall sell
Sabeans
the
to
them
to
a
people afar off; for the
hath
Lord
spoken it." The American
parsons
may
sanctions
well say that the Bible
slavery!
and
oppression. In Heb., c.
Apology for tyranny
to
are
told,explicitly,
xih., v. 17, we
"obey them
that
rule over
submit
yourselves; and in
you, and
1 Peter,c. ii.,
commanded
Submit
to
v.
are
13, we
for the Lord's
of man
yourselves to every ordinance

your

forever!"

an

"

"

sake."
and

doctrine

convenient

most

The

all

to

tyrants

audacious

mands
priestthus comus
in
v.
18, "Servants, be subject to your
only to the good and the
masters, with all fear, not
But these
are
gentle,but to the froward !
modest,
Let
of
the
Paul:
compared with
followinglanguage
soul be subject unto
the higher powers,
for
every
there is no power
the powers
that be are
but of God
ordained
of God; whosoever, therefore,resisteth the
of God, and
resisteth the ordinance
they that
power,

usurpers

same

"

"

"

resist

shall

1-3.

What

other

passages,

xii.,v.

damnation

receive
a

doctrine

How

Titus,

see

I"

Rom.,

like

the

Bible

ii.,v. 9, and

c.

v,
xiii.,

c.

For

Hosea,

c.

7.

much,
Discouragement of virtue. u Be not righteousoverneither
make
wise, why shouldst
thyselfover
In
16.
thou destroy thyself?" Eccles., c. vii.,v.
Rev., c. xxii.,v. 11, it is stated, He that is unjust
let him
be unjust still,
be
and he that is filthylet him
of finality
is the doctrine
with a
filthystill." That
"

vengeance.

Encouragement of ignorance and

1

Cor., c. xiv.,v. 38, writes,

let him

says,

world

"

But
to

God

be

ignorant."

hath

confound

But

"

chosen

the

wise"

And

the

Paul,

error.

if any
in

c.

man

be

i.,v. 27,

in

norant
ighe

foolish thingsof the

In Isa.,
c. vi.?v.
10,

THE

it is

make

and

they
and

see

their
with

xix.,

v.

the

their

eyes,

with
See

also

and

their
c.

and

193

BIBLE.

of

this

shut

their eyes, lest

with
their ears,

heart

heavy,

ears

understand
healed."

be

Make

ordered,"

THE

OF

MORALITY

hear

heart, and

v.
lxiii.,

17:

people fat,

convert,
and

arid

Exod.,

c.

12, 13.

In 2
Encouragement to Lying and Falsehood.
for this cause,
Thess.
c.
v.
ii.,
11, we are told,"And
shall send them
God
strong delusions,that they should
in 2d Chron., c. xviii.,
And
believe a lie."
v. 21, the
I will go out and be
is representedas saying,
Lord
of all his prophets."Ezek.,
in the mouth
a lying~s\"\x\t
c. xx.,
v.
25, informs us that the Lord set a very good
told that he "gave
are
example to the world, for we
that
them
not
statutes
were
good, and judgments
whereby they should not live." See, likewise,Gen.,
12 ;
15 ; c. xxvi, v. 7
v. 19 ; c. xxviii.,
c. xxvii.,
v. 13
Jer., c. xx., v. 17 ; and Ezek., xiv.,v. 9.
Encouragement to Hypocrisy,and an exquisite specimen
of moralityit is. In 1 Sam., c. xvi.,v. 1, 2, we
said unto
the Lord
read, "And
Samuel, How
long
have
for Saul, seeing I
wilt thou mourn
rejectedhim
from
Israel ?
Fill thine
horn with
oil,
reigning over
I will send thee to Jesse, the Bethlemite,for
and go.
1 have
his sons.
And
provided me a king from among
Samuel
said,how can I go? If Saul hear me, he will
the Lord
And
kill me.
said,take an heifer with thee,
"

"

and

say,

am

come

to

sacrifice

"

to

the

Lord."

In Num., c. xiv.,v. 30
34, the
of Faith.
into the
Lord
observes, Doubtless,ye shall not come
make
I swore
dwell
to
land, concerning which
you
therein,save
Caleb, the son of Jephannah, and Joshua,
of the days, in which
the son
of Nun, after the number
the land, and fortydays, each
day for a
ye searched
even
fortyyears, and ye
iniquities,
year, shall be your
What
shall know
breach
a
ous-spec
gloriof promise !!
my
of honesty and good faith !
unjust and pernicious
Primogeniture. This most
law is strictly
enforced,in Deut., c. xxi.,v. 17, "But
Breach

"

"

"

17

194

THE

OF

MORALITY

THE

BIBLE,

born,
acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstby giving him a double portionof all that he
hath, for he is the beginning of his strength,the right
of the first-born is his.;J For other instances,see Gen.,
e. xvii.,
v.
14; 1.Sam., c. vi.,v. 1 21 ; 2 Sam., c. xxi.,
1
v.
14; and Gen., c. iv.,v. 15.
If there be one
Persecution.
thing more
unjust or
immoral
than another, it is persecuting a fellow
more
differ with
he may
being,because
you in opinion.To
brutal
invade
the precinctsof conscience, is a
most

he

shall

"

"

often
act, and yet how
In Deut., c. xiii.,
6
v.
commands

is it recommended
"

Bible !

in the

9, one

of the

is in

reference

diabolical

most

persecution
are
told,
thy brother,the son of
opinion.
thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife
of thy bosom, or
is as thine own
thy friend,which
soul,entice thee, secretly,
saying,Let us go and serve
other
gods, which thou hast not known, thou nor thy
shall not consent
unto
father,Thou
him, nor hearken
unto
him, neither shall thine eye pity him, neither
shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou
conceal
him, but
thou
shall be first upon
shalt kill
him, thine hand
afterwards
of
him
the hand
to put him
to death, and
Here
all the people! ! ! "
are
we
actually commanded
to murder
our
own
so?ts, wives,and daughters,if they

for

will

We

believe

not

Christians!
blush

given,

ever

can

as

we

believe

you

read

to

If

"

I tremble

such

with

horror.
and

passage,

not

raelites
Josh.,c. xxiv., v. 20, protests, that if the Isdared
to worship other
gods than were
posed
pro-

to

them, the Lord

would

"

consume^

them

! O

"

"

right of private
libertyof conscience,71what
"
teristic,
Many horrible passages, highly characjudgment !
might be quoted from Deufc, c. xvii.,v. 2. ;
Exod., c. xxxii.,v. 10; 2Chron., c. xxviii.,v. 6 ; c. xv.,
6
v.
v.
13; Deut., c. xiii.,
13; 2 Kings, c. x., v. 29;
In the New
and
Deut., c. xvii., v. 12.
Testament,
what

"

there

of which
I have
read
some
passages,
speaking of Christ, Paul, and John, as given in

are

when

Luke,

c.

many

xix.,v. 27; Gal., c. i.,v. 9;

and

John,

c.

THE

MORALITY

OF

THE

195

BIBLE.

i.,v. 10. See, also, Mark, c. xvi., v. 16 ; 1 Cor., c.

8
11 ;
v. 10 ; Acts, c. xiii.,
v.
xvi.,v. 22 ; Titus, c. iii.,
v.
Gal, c. v., v. 12; Matt., c. xii.,v. 30; Acts, c. iii.,
The
23; and Luke, xiv.,v. 23.
followingpassages,
is
the
of intolerance ;
essence
Matthew, c. x., v. 14,
And
whosoever," says Christ, " shall not receive
hear your words, when
you, nor
ye depart out of tjhat
"

"

"

house

we

are

soul

dust

you, it shall be more

in the
and Gomorrah

I say unto
of Sodom
for that

oif the

city,shake

or

"

How

city!
told, "

and

shall

which

from

hear

not

of

judgment, than
v.
Acts,c. iii.,
23,

In
to

come

pass,

that

prophet,
people." What

the

among

day
!

horrible

it shall

of your feet.
Verily,
tolerable for the land

that

every
stroyed
shall be deChristian

charity!
read,

we

to

In

recommended.

Suicide
"

When

thou

is before

what
diligently
thy throat,if thou

be

c.

And

thee.

knife
given
appetite.''
In Judges, c. iii.,
v. 15
put

to

man

countenanced.

Assassination

xxiii.,v. 1, 2,
with a ruler,consider

Prov.,

sittest to eat

tion
revoltingstory is told of the assassinaof Eglon, king of Moab, by Ehud, the deliverer
ed,
informof the Israelites;
and this " deliverer"
we
are
"
Lord
selected and
self.
himwas
appointed by the
I forbear quoting the passage.
In c. iv.,v. 21,
similar
crime
is committed
a
Jael,
by the woman,
Sisera, the captain of the army of the king of
upon
"

23,

most

"

While

Canaan.

asleep,says

nail of the tent, and

softlyunto

went

After
Murder,

nevertheless
you,

great

"

are

the

"

his

30:

of

and

hand,

ples,
tem-

"

land
of

heinous

in the
"

took

nail into his

of the

dren
chil-

Bible.

crimes,
Listen, I

following astounding

the

x., v. 11
of the house

and

"

"

"

most

it is defended
to

ground

assured

is the

the

smote

prospered!

This

c.

men

and

in her

hammer

it into the

this,we

of Israel

Kings,

him,

fastened

and

took

story, she

the

So

Ahab,

Jehu
in

slew

passage,
all that

Jezreel, and

but
treat
en-

2
mained
re-

all his

and his priests,

until
kinsfolks,

he

196

MORALITY

THE

left him

Jehu,

because

which

is

right in

house

of

Ahab,

the

.on

he

O!

could

xlvni.,v. 10, a
murder,
the

To
and

to

it

me.

this

on

r"uch

mine

do

act

an

for in
for

was

fended
de-

Cursed

"

it.

Jer.,
mitting
com-

he

but

instance,

be

is

he,"

To

address.

misfortune

it my

was

of crime,
constrained
do
to

through such
butchery, as I was

mass

call

atrocities,and

such

in

Aye, even
so,
merely rewarded
above

Never

occasion.

wade

this

was

the

keepeth back his sword from

humanity ! what morality !
this frightful
draw
veil over
a
picture.
be
further,would
painful both to you
Unpleasant, indeed, has been my task

here

expose

unto

that

passage,
O!
wh at

I will

in the

"

blood."

done

aggravated, or

more

if he will not

actuallycursed
says

be

is not

as

unto

executing thai;

hast

because

crime

man

said

generation shall sit

murderer
made
a
king,

unblushingly

more

in

all that

to

murderer"

Lord

fourth

the

of Israel ! "

was

"right."
c.

of

well
and

eyes,

according

children

throne

because

mine

BIBLE.

the

done

hast

thou

THE

And

remaining.

none

heart, thy

OF

book

which

obscenity, and
in

compiling
contains

divine, which
and

countenances

ages
encour-

apology for all that is

its injunction
iniquitous,cruel, and demoralizing,and, were
become
strictlypractised,the world would
them

obscured

too: is

and

To

confirm

the

the
see

to

"My
my

supply

"The

rupted,
cor-

good

of

reader

the

in
with

Bible.

the
a

For

preceding
few specimens
more

ticulars,
par-

Scriptures Analysed,"

viously
pre-

to.

stink, and

wounds

foolishness.
lovers and

be

and

virtuous

was

made

the

Holy

my

are

corrupt, because
filled with

loins are
my
soundness
there is no

For

disease,and

My

that

the

"

would

amelioration

statements

obscenities

referred

darkness

die !

wither

lecture,I beg

an

intellectual

everything

Would

of

and

of human

tide

and

to

moral

in

glorious

afford

to

in my

friends,stand aloof from

my

of

some
loathflesh.
sore,

198

THE

OF

MORALITY

THE

BIBLE.

shalt

and

dig,

Deut.,

xxiii.,

c.

"Then
the
his

and

feet,
"Then

virginity,
Deut.,

if

"And

him,
be

Neither

"

xxi.,

v.

Can

that

the

sel's
dam-

the

in

city

her

the

gate,"

all

wash

even,"

he

or

c.

in

xv.

for

his

from
and

water,
16.

v.

dead

any

out

go

flesh

Lev.,

father

his

his

into

go

copulation

body,

file
de-

nor

Lev.,

mother,"

c.

11.

by
the

should

of

and
of

token

off
9.

v.

xxv.,

damsel,

the

in

from

shoes

c.

the

of

seed

the

for

inspiration

of

and

daughters

sons

be

beastialities

good-breeding,

(and

language

such

written

elders

shall

shall

himself

the

man's

until

unclean

forth

his

Deut.,
of

him,

15.

v.

any
he

then

face,"

bring

unto

xxii.,

c.

thee,"

unto

come

loose

father

the

and

take

mother,

his

in

shall

and

elders,

the

spit

wife

brother's

his

of

presence

from

cometh

13.

v.

shall

which

that

cover

trained
are

to

found.
if

not

it

is

God?

When

good

It
of

revere

is

truly

sample,)

in
the

be

monstrous

civilized

book
will

sense?

only

country
which

Christian

such

learn

LECTURE

OF

PHILOSOPHY

THE

Friends

ELEVENTH,

BIBLE.

THE

"

that

announced

this

evening

should

we

consider

I candidly
edge
acknowlPhilosophy of the Bible.
I apply the
term
philosophy, in relation to this
it otherwise.
use
book, derisively, I cannot

the

To

of

talk
and

the

Philosophy
would

of

the

Bible,

in

serious

be

truly comical.
of
The
Bible
book
is a
mysteries, incongruities,
of
not
obscenities,
absurdities, and
atrocities, but
For
and
its bulk
science
(and, if that
philosophy.
of its divinity, it is rather
be an
in favor
a
argument
book
which
is
has
solid
there
less
extant
to
no
one,)
of
latter kind
do
with
the
questions. Recording and
and
vices-"
butcheries
detailing all degrees of crimes
and
machinations
is the
intrigues and
impostures
In that it quite excels
when
forte of the Bible.
; but
the
it attempts
scientific,the philosophic, or the rational,
of water
it seems
like a fish out
quite away
from
Some
its natural
element.
theologians in the
ventured
boast
to
plenitude of their simplicity have
of the
pompously
learning of the Bible, and
nounced
protone,

in

earnest,

"

"

"

it
world.
in

which

If

be

to

it

some

be,
of

ignorant."
distinguished an

the

most

"learned"

book

in

the

apprehend it is only in the sense

edly
"learnour
professors are learned
if it can
However,
so
justly claim
of Jack
appellation,then the works
I

"

200

THE

and

OF

PHILOSOPHY

THE

BIBLE.

the Giant
Killer,Tom
Seven
Champions of

Thumb, Mother
Bunch3
The
Christendom, Cinderella
and the Glass Slipper,
Baron
Munchausen, Little Red
Riding Hood, Babes in the Woods, and other nursery
the scientific
take their place among
stories,
may
ductions
proof the age, and
the writingsof a Lawrence,
the shelf
be put upon
an
Arago, and a Herschell may
infants ; for certainly,
fit only to amuse
the stories
as
of Jacob's
and
his Ass, Joshua
and
Ladder, Baal am
the Sun, Elijah and
his Journey to Heaven, Lot's
Wife
his Rod,
the
and
and
Pillar of Salt, Aaron
Samson
of an Ass, David
his Jaw-hone
and
and his
Achievements
the
light fantastic toe," and
upon
Jonah
the
and
learned
more
Fish, are much
ductions
pro"

than

any

exhibit, I

and

those
literature,
written
it,must

our

have

There
the

is

first erudite

enlightened
a

to

be

man

few

have

author
that

the

rated,
enume-

intimate

he
in

quaintance
ac-

!
philosophical

learned
are

book

in

alleged to

learned
men.
very
is
for instance, who

Moses,
such
a
Bible, was
thought nothing of

of the

thousands

massacred

been

here

more

being the most

individuals,who

of it.

doubt

no

not,

Bible

the

course,

doubt

works

and
the scientific

with
Of

in the

detailed

of men,
women,
cold blood; and,

and
so

very
manding
com-

dren
chil-

modest

scended
condeenlightenment, that he even
fellow being -with his own
hand.
to murder
a
writer
in the Bible, was
a
man
Joshua, the next
of such
extraordinary attainments, especiallyin the
was

he

science
sun

to

in

his

he
of astronomy, that
it did
when
stand
still,

even

stand

commanded
still.

of such

the

Samuel,
science,

a
man
inspired author, was
in practicalanatomy, that we
are
more
particularly
hewed
told he
Agag to pieces before the Lord in
skilful style. David, another
Gilgal," in the most
and rigid a philosopher was
Bible
author, so grave
the
Lord
read of his " dancing before
he, that we
Solomon's
wisdom
with
all his might."
so
was
are
informed,he maintained
transcendental,that we

another

"

PHILOSOPHY

THE

of

retinue

hundred

seven

and

concubines,

THE

OF

and

wives

hundred

three

last,declared,as

at

201

BIBLE.

proof of the
vanity."

"

advantages of philosophy, that all was

well
so
Daniel,another very distinguishedwriter,was
acquainted with natural history,that he could live
do
much
as
lions, with
impunity, as we
among
also an
butterflies.
Jonah, who was
inspired
among
and
so
a
thoroughly
prophet to boot, was
penman,
familiar with
of animal
the rationale
physiology,that
he could
and

get down

safety,as

our

portion

of

thirst for

down
of

had

Testament,

knowledge,

that he

much

as

would

leading author

the

New

the

throat,with

animacule

an

Paul,

own.

fish's

doctrinal

such

exclaims,

if

of

that

the

"

ease

great

a
a

be

man

an
ignorant, let him be ignorant," and so intense
of science
and
anxiety for the progress
philosophy
"
he
that
wisely remarks,
Beware, lest any
generally,
man
spoilyou through philosophy"
There
is no
authors
are
question all these eminent

-'learned"

very
"

arts

men,
sciences."

and

and

of

great promoters
world

The

is

the

highly indebted

in that respect !
lest any one
But, my
imagine that I
friends,
may
intend on this occasion
to indulge merely in sarcastic
to

them

ridicule,or

idle

serious
is the

where

scientific
?
it may

learning of
principlesit

Where

is advanced

and

other

will

be

what
some-

ask, then,

Where

elaborated

upon

these

absurdities,which

completely exploded.

any
blunders

has

to

the

and

ful
use-

lished
estab-

the great truths of philosophy,which

What
?
developed and demonstrated

have

errors

is

We

subject.

the Bible ?

indeed,
little,
has

this

upon

endeavor

will

banter, we

in

volume

am

not

volves
questions, in-

modern
aware

existence, in

science
that

which

there
more

the

Bible,and to
verse
designate its authors
inspired and infallibleis to reideas of truth and
and
our
falsehood,fallibility
It shall be our
province on the present
infallibility.
could

be

detected

than

in

occasion

to

expose

few

of these

blunders,and

to

PHILOSOPHY

THE

esteemed

We

will

"

"

World.

the

of

Christians

of
6000

that

maintain

There

ago.

years

pretend,in

them

all.

however,

are,

tend

circumstances, which
upon

phy
according to the Philosoevent
transpiredonly some

Bible, this

the

I cannot

BIBLE.

utterlyunworthy is the Bible of being

learned
or
production.
philosophical
The Creation
begin with the beginning"

how

show

THE

OF

to

multitude

invalidate

that

of

position.

brief

one

shall

address, to comment
under
be
the necessity of
ble.
remarkaonly of the more

cursorilyreviewing a few
First, then, of the records of other nations.
The
Old Testament, you
is put forth as
are
aware,
of the Jews, and
it is upon
the record
this record,
that the Christian
world base their cosmogony.
Now,
if the records of one
nation
are
competent
authority
th6 question at issue,the records of another
are
upon
have just as much
equally legitimate. We
right to
believe

for the Jews

nay, more,
of all the great
the most
were
ignorant and barbarous
of antiquity,and, therefore,
nations
the least likely
to be

them

familiar
than

world

were

collection
"

as

Jews

the

the

with

few

subject before

of the

The

us.

nese,
Chi-

empires of the
more
enlightenedor civilized,have a
of books, consistingof 150 volumes, called
whom

ancient

pretendto give a history

of the world, comprising a period
from
the creation
of above
imperial
49,000 years, after which
thirty-five
families
reigned successivelyfor ages, without
writers
have
ventured
to
interruption. Some
any
but upon
doubt
the authenticityof these productions,
much
less reasonable
ground than we may doubt the
annals.
Certain we
authenticityof the Jewish
are,
invented a cycle or computation of
that the Chinese
six hundred
time which
begins two thousand
years
the

before
Sir

Great

Annals,"

which

ours.

Phillips informs

R.

Facts,"
is

that
as

the

good

Hindoo
as

the

us,

in

his

"

Million

of

mony
priesthood(and their testiJewish
"claims
priesthood,)

PHILOSOPHY

THE

of

Brahma

Hindoo

the

"

203

BIBLE.

nearly two thousand

beginning, and they

the

since

years

THE

of

time
theological

OF

God

that

state

millions

seventeen

was

"

millions

doos
creating." He further remarks, The Hinastronomical
begin the creation as a mere
epoch,
in Aries, or
when
all the planets were
nearly two
millions of years since, and, taking in the nodes and
three hundred
apsides,they extend it to four thousand
and
twenty millions,which
they call a Calpha,
or
day of Brahma."
informs
Pomponius Mela, the great Egyptian historian,
that the Egyptians in their annals, reckoned
us
three hundred
and
thirty kings extending through
Herodotus
thirteen thousand
a period of
years, and
of the Egyptians, which
carries
gives a statement
the antiquityof the world
still further.
Herodotus
that the reignof their kings extended
states
through
R.
thousand
Sir
lips
Philof
seventeen
a
period
years.
that
the Egyptians reckoned
observes
fourteen
thousand
to the
Vulcan,
years
age of their original
of

"

years

"

and

thousand

ten

years

before

Menas

and

Sethen."

Richard, indeed, expressly declares, that "

and
Chaldeans
claim
Chinese, Japanese,Hindoos

Sir

infinite

antiquity."

than

more

So

thousand

two

did

also

five

the

Greek

the
an

schools

hundred

years
ago.
thousand
hundred
two
wrote
two
Plato,who
years
island
of
that
the
states
Atalantis,filled
since,
great
absorbed
nine
with
cities,"fcc,was
by the ocean
thousand

years

before

his time.

philosopherof high
by Berosus, the historian
Alexander
that city when
dred and

of the earth

But,

of

our

traditions.

will

the

stand
We

our

arguments

evidences of science.

cian
Gretold

was

who

was

in

it,that fotir htm-

before his time

"

the

axis

plane of the ecliptic."

on
higher ground than

will

upon
cosmogony,
the
than
demonstrable
take

he

says

Babylon,

visited

the Bible
and

We

and

take

renown,

years

to
parallel

was

will

we

records
to

thousand

two

Calisthenes,a

base

objections
something more
ble
palpaof
pretensions
priests.

from

the

our

incontestable

204

THE

The

PHILOSOPHY

discoveries

THE

OF

effected

BIBLE*

during

this last

century in

geology, chemistry,and astronomy, prove most

not
did not
only that the creation
a
place at so comparatively recent
period,but
there
the

could

never

have

detailed

been

such

creation

answerably,
un-

take
that

all,as

at

the

in

to Moses;
writings attributed
solute
that, in fact,such a thing as absolute creation or abis an
destruction
ty.
absurdiimpossibilityand an
The
fundamental
principlesof geologicalscience,
and
as
others,
developed by Lyell,Mantell, Phillips,
that
far
this
from
show,
being only some
globe,so
six thousand
antiquity.
years old, is of incalculable

It

one

must

have

taken

the

various

Dr.

to

evidence

of

earth, from
in

inch
The

occurred

have

which

or

of

animated

it unfolds
to

as

the

fact

that

to

be

that

formed
lutions
revo-

of

but

beyond

strata

shoals

sea

us

about

the
an

century.

science

of

the

whole

teaches

chemistry

of matter
single atom
destroyed; that it can

and

the

the

in

have

we

comprehension." An idea may be

time
requiredto bring about the various

of the

of

that

vast

so

has

ous
numer-

finite

our

of the

assume

but

events, each

earth

Geology, then/7
does
Geology,

of

to

venture

plished
accom-

thousands

first creation

the

BEGINNING,

of

succession

not

"

his Wonders

disclose

; it does

nature

it discovers."

have

the
"

Phillipsremarks,
each
elapsed between

Mantell, in

affect

not

which

changes

have
years must
which
formations

says

to

R.

Sir

undergone.

of years

millions

which

can

that
be

there

either

only experience
of the

substance

is not
created

change,

universe

is

tinually
con-

composit
gradually undergoing composition, deand
re-composition, and that, therefore,
created
idea of the world
having been created
of nothing, too, as
taught in the Bible, is absurd
book,
told,in this learned
impossible. We are
and

the
out

and

"

that

the

and

void," oiyin

which

universe

is "without

was

other

form

at

time

one

words,
and

"

without

form

non-entity,for that
void," must
necessarily
a

206

PHILOSOPHY

THE

whole

OF

ponderablematter
the

with

united

in

dissolved

in

only

air, and

BIBLE.

THE

far from

being thereby destroyed,it

it was
before it existed
again what

charcoal
the

or

world,

and

it.

is

Yet,
become

only

in

so

the

form

of

agent in the business of

support of animal and vegetable

main

bination
com-

active

an

wax,

new

and is still susceptibleof running again and

life,
mine,
deteragain the same
round, as circumstances
may
the contrary,
to
so
see
that,for aught we can
the same
identical atom
for thousands
lay concealed
may
of centuries in a limestone
rock
at length,
may,
be quarried,set free in the lime
kiln, mix with the
air,be absorbed from it by plants,and, in succession,
of myriads of living
becomes
a
part of the frames
of events
occurrence
beings,till some
consigns it once
unfits
to a long repose, which, however, no
more
way
it for again resuming its former activity.'7
"

The

of astronomy

science

evidence
science

against the

propounds that

manufactured

been

Mosaic

the

table
indubi-

most

Cosmogony.

This

the

solar system, said to have

the fourth
day of the Bible

on

for

creation, has existed

affords

periodextending infinitely
beyond the calculation,or even
conceptionof man.
i
far
from
Its formation
being instantaneous,
too, so
stated in Genesis, must
have
been
as
imperceptibly
of the leading
and gradual. Dr. Nicholl,one
slow
of the
of the day, in his
Phenomena
astronomers
Solar
explains
System" remarks, that
astronomy
losity,
that the solar system onCe
existed,as a. diffused nebuof constates
densation,
which, passing through various
ant
central luminary, and
its attendformed
a
a

"

"

planets." Sir
the

various

stars

constellations

in various
of

masses

almost

more

opaque

have
as

having attained

arc

gone

they
a

these

certain

that

surrounded

by nebulous
from thin,shapeless
matter,

evidences

through
become

discovered

has

stages of progress,
highly transparent
From

opaque.

all the stars

Herschell

John

he

to

stars

infers that

this progress,

older ;

growing
and, that, at last,

opacity,they

will

decay,

PHILOSOPHY

THE

and

and

slowly

207

BIBLE.

resolved

former

the

to

THE

be

gradually

similar

matter,

OF

chaotic

into

state, when

they

will

sloio and gradual manner,

assume
again, in the same
I
a
planetarybeing. These facts, hold, resting upon
such
the philosohigh authority,completely demolish
phy

of the

Bible.

According

Again:

that

believe

must

the

universe

this

is the

earth

the

that

"

Genesis

the

to

Ave

in

principalbody
and

moon,

sun,

creation,
stars,

were

just hung up in space as a chandelier, to throw

lightupon the inhabitants of this contemptiblespeck.
ary
that this earth is secondNow, astronomy elucidates,
to, and dependent upon the sun, and that Jupiter,
more
Saturn, and Uranus, are much
powerful planets
than our
turn
own
Jupiterbeing eleven times larger,Sa"

ten, and

Uranus

four and

half.

the stars, of which

the Bible story speaks so
contemptuously, as if they were
only so many
tiny
As

to

direct

rushlightsto
shows

that

other

systems

they

In this learned
the

with
my

informed

are

book

the

all.

It is said that

the sun, from

created
until
the

not

lightfrom

divided

once, proves
of science
or

by

be

cannot

of
the

will

be

to

are

-which

ignorance

divided,

light. Again
and

sun

not

nected
con-

admit

of

just observe, that we

lightfrom darkness,
ences
any light,if the scibe accredited.

"

our

of the Bible

philosophy. But the

darkness,adds still further

lightfrom

They

the

similar blunders

lightproceeds,
fourth day, yet the Lord
darkness
the first
on
day. This,

the utter

at

is

divided

of

centres

"

worlds.

time

I may

days beforethere could

of optics and astronomy

three

was

detect

we

Lord

suns

of other

creation,but
them

alludingto

night, astronomy

themselves

are

luminaries

"

the

during

us

moon

as

darkness

Astronomy
we

measure

idea

editors

of

dividing
absurdity.
only the privation

to the

is

teaches
time

that
"

it

days,

were

stated, there
yet, as above
years, "c. ; and
three days before either of these celestial bodies

were

created

months,

208

THE

learned

most

that

OF

PHILOSOPHY

book

THE

BIBLE.

this,indeed

We

also informed,

are

second

day the Lord divided the

"
into two
universe
firmament/' and that
parts, the
called heaven, and beneath,
this above
partitionwas
surdity.
earth.
Astronomy, however, has also upset this abthe

on

That

science

demonstrates

that

there

can

be

is
dividingspace, but the universe
partition
endless series of worlds, all revolving in their respective
an
spheres; and that such a thing as absolute
is a mere
and below, as applied to the universe,
above
such

no

illusion.
But

is it not

strange circumstance, that the Bible

should

small
a
requirefive days to manufacture
speck like our globe, and then create millions of other
worlds, each of them so immeasurably larger than our
God

own,

and

all in 'one

day

This

fact alone

shows

the

absurdity of the Bible story. Some

individuals,
is Dr. Buckland, seethe most
ing
distinguishedof whom
the utter
science
with
the
inconsistencyof modern
of the creation,have
endeavored
Mosaic
account
to
that sillystory, than
to
give a different interpretation
the one
hitherto promulgated.
of oar
not
Avas
one
They say, a day in the creation
days, but a period involvingthousands
of years.
My friends, such gross perversion of language as
this interpretation
implies,is only "worthy of a priest.
the
Not only does
language itself not admit of such
but other Collateral circumstances
nected
coninterpretation,
surdity.
with the Bible,conclusivelyproves its utter ab-

utter

The

Jews

themselves, from

whom

the

book

evidently used the word in the ordinary

of the Sabbath.
The
sense
; hence, their institution
Lord
day ; therefore,
says, they rested on the seventh
fore
we
ought to rest on that day. He kept it holy,thereand Christian
the Jewish
must.
we
If,however,
been
in error
world, up to the present period,have
institution
this subject if it be a fact that the
upon
of the Sabbath
is based
an
illusion,then our
upon
be closed not only on the sixth.
"houses
of God J; may

emanates,

"

THE

PHILOSOPHY

OF

THE

209

BIBLE,
V

IT"-

,"
^

but

the seventh

on

of
"

the

cloth"

may
of their brow."

sweat

Buckland

Dr.

discover

not

of the

day

in the

world

Christian

How

! what

gentlemen
by the

awkward

an

unfortunate

depth

of your

to

become

were

the

their "bread"

earn

and

week,

"

that

take,
mis-

did

you

if the

sagacity,that

and

Bucklandites,

consistentlywith their "philosophy," that, like

be gone !
To clear
Othello, your "occupation would
other
yourselffrom one dilemma, you have fallen into andoes
What
tho pious Sir Andrew
worse.
infinitely
Agnew say upon this point ? His labors will be
superseded if you speak the truth. In respect to the
learned story of the creation and fall of man,
I deem
i-t almost
idea of
too
contemptible to refer to. The
act

"

having been made out of the dust of the ground,

rolled togetherlike a snow-ball,and then inflated with
would
loon
the breath of life,as Mr. Green
inflate his baltured
and of women
being subsequently manufacof the man's
of one
out
ribs, is fit only for an

man

"

of

age

The

barbarism.
a

endowed

story

with
He

so

most

would

individual

who

could

knowledge
ac-

be

ridiculous,must
exquisitely
inordinate

relish for the

believe that the

moon

"

was

vellous."
mar-

made

cheese, if the Bible only said so.

however, arises out of this tale,which
question,

of green
A

of

moment.

some

Its consideration

will enable

me

is
to

ignorance of the Bible writers upon two

other
leading sciences,physiology and comparative
lieve
According to this account., we ought to beanatomy.
of the human
that the whole
speciesoriginated
and Eve.
from Adam
Science, however, commands
the

show

been

discovered,
of Buflbn,
researches
and
through the observations
Blumenbach, Cuvier, Fleuren, and other physiologists
and
species arc divided
naturalists,that the human

us

believe

to

otherwise.

into different races, which

The
Oaucassian,
:
"

and

It

has

Blumenbach

classifies

as

lows
fol-

can,
Mongolian, Ethiopic,Ameritinguishe
disMalay varieties. M. Fleuren, a most
that the difference of
maintains
naturalist,
18*

210

to

that

prove

they

colored

and

the white

between

structure

BIBLE.

THE

OF

PHILOSOPHY

THE

of different

are

cient
is suffi-

races,

stocks,

or,

distinct races."
essentially
it,of
expresses
of the
in the structure
difference lies principally

he

be

which

colored

the

the

is not

shows

In

man.

the

in

same

of

case

in

as

Europeans, tinged

web
is
mucous
rays,
ed.
is affected,becoming, as it were,
slightlycolorNo degree of exposure
the
can, he thinks, confer

by
what

coloringlayers
He

the

to

exposure

sun's

skin,

white

the

as

This

"

of the

dark

other

and

Negro
"African

that the

remarks,

the

Moors

who

races.

"

lived

have

acquired
Negroes for centuries,have never
and
been
it
has
the coloringapparatus of that race
;
observed
(Captain Lyon among
by travellers,
others.)
of African
of a
Caucassians.
that the Isuricks,
a race
dark brown
complexion, are nearly as white on these

beside

the

parts of

covered

bodies

their

up

from

the

sun, as most
that
the progeny
might have been

Europeans. It is also well known,

of an
he
much
European, however
tingedby the sun, is,invariably,as
The

at first.

was

regions of
constitution,seem

the

warmest

black

man

without

exposed
black

to

similar

the

white

infers that there

between

and
the
when
were

that

is

the

breaks

under

their skin

time

in the

and

they must

have

white

in

and

The

nity,
impu-

made

M.

distinct

in.

other

many

enumerate,

if

man,

with

sun

these

and

sun,

blisters.

exertion

to

general
A

hottest

under

constitutional

various

the

burning

From
not

the

to

out

sinks

man

I have

facts,which

prove

globe,and

heat,

labor

can

localized

are

self
him-

he

as

for their allotment.

circumstances."

such

races

adapted
lie naked, exposed
can
injury, while the skin of

man

but

black

white

Fleuren

ence
differ-

of

mankind, which
from peroriginally
sprung
fectly
races

separate stocks ; and if so, the story of Adam

Eve
is like
being the parent of the human
race,
rest

of the

Bible

philosophy
this subject:
"

bers
Cham-

nonsense.

"In
observes, upon
only two
varieties,the white
recognized or thought of, it was

former
and

the

times,

black,

supposed

that

THE

PHILOSOPHY

complexion was

simply

sun's

This

rays.

being observed
white

idea

OF

result

would

211

BIBLE.

THE

of the actions

from
darkened

naturallyarise

that exposure
to the sun,
tended
seclusion
while
to

person,

of the
its
a

bleach

or

him, and that the black nations were

chiefly
those who
countries,while the whites
occupiedtropical
The
were
Greeks, who
placed in the temperate zone.
doubted
and standthat they were
the perfection
ard
never
of human
entertained exaggerated
nature, and who
notions of the heat of the African
strongly
sun, were
impressed with the idea, that the Negro nations had
been
originallywhite, and had been changed into
This
black
notion
by the action of the solar rays.
continued
to be set forward, undoubtedly, by uaturalis still the belief
to the time of Bufifon,and
ists,down
of the ignorant in most
countries."
whiten

the fall of man,

the
afflicted with

In the story of

Serpent was
its belly. This
of that

nature

constructed
to call

and
is

its

its

unfortunate

by nature,
it

to

curse

so

that the

of

going upon
grossest ignorance of the
reptile. It is evidently
in that position,
to move

the

evinces

it is stated

as

curse

it go in
if it did not

make

that

manner,

always go on
curred
locomotion, before it inbelly,how might it exert
the " divine
displeasure?" Upon its head or
been
tail ?
have
natural
some
Truly, there must
But, pray,

misnomer.

I must

and

upon
of the Bible

"

consider

vii.,we

read

next

that

evidence

Deluge. My
brief,as I have

I retire.

ere

the

necessarily be

must
to

the

remark

now

great learning
matters

world

in the antideJuvian

curiosities

few

In

Genesis,

thousand

of

the

vations
obserother
c.

years

vi.,
ago,

cept
deluge,every livingthing,exof
Noah
and
his family,and a pair of each race
in a wooden
existences
animated
; they being saved
floated upon
the waters,
box, called an ark, which
and which
were
so
deep, that they covered the highest

there

was

universal

mountains.
the

first

place

This

absurd

with

the

story is inconsistent

fundamental

in

principlesof

212

THE

PHILOSOPHY

THE

OF

BIBLE.

philosophy. According to the law of fluids

it would
have
been
physically impossible for the
time.
and the same
whole globe to be inundated
at one
Such
an
idea, indeed, exhibits little acquaintance
"with the principles
of attraction and gravitation. But
if this could occur, we
the philosophy of
learn from
the
tides,that through the influence of the moon
the surface of this planet,there is a continued
upon
of
ebbing and flowing of the ocean, to the extent
twelve
fifteen feet every
twelve
hours.
or
Now, if
the whole
earth
under
the depth
to
was
water, and
mense
of the highest mountains, the
agitationof that imbe
be so tremendous, that it would
must
ocean
its surface.
impossible for any body to float upon
lows.
be engulphed in the foaming bilEverything would
Nothing could resist it. The ark, had it been
thousand
dashed
have
been
the size,would
times
a
to pieces,and
its inmates
annihilated.
to
the immense
was
But, where
supply of water
frosm necessary
to
come
deluge the icorld,and to
the highest mountains'?'7
The
Andes
cover
are
stated
be 20,000 feet above
the level of the sea,
to
been
and
it has
calculated,that the weight of the
atmosphere, with all its vapors, is equal to no more
than
hollow
a
sphere of about thirtyfeet of thickness,
environing the whole
globe ; and, consequently, the

natural

of its contents, if condensed

whole

the

deluge

not

earth

to

the

into

height

of

water, could

ordinary

an

house.
Let

us

Bible

the

it
description,

feet ; 50

525

about

cubits,or 52
vessel,of snch
thousandth

into

it to

and

female

only

necessary

to

months.

The

serve

87

or

According to
cubits
long, or

300

1-2

feet broad

high. It is manifest
dimensions, could not

part of what
of all

itself.

feet

limited

include

Ark

was

cubits,

1-2

30

of the

speak

now

Noah

must

been

that

of

his

this

marvellous

contain

stowed

children,and a
livingthings,together with the
for so long a period as
them

writer

and

have

; and

male

story,

food
five
ex-

214
to

p.
to

PHILOSOPHY

THE

BIBLE,

of stowing
impossibility

the

show

THE

OF

in

away

en
wood-

of livingbeings.
number
box, such an immense
Dr. Burnet, in the ArcheologisePhilosophise,
c. iv.,
take
it would
40, says that the quantity of water
the
cover
tops of the highest mountains, as stated

in this

"

story,

of

eight
quantity

must

least

at

oceans."

further

He

exceed

the

admits,

"

magnitude
so

great

found, though we
exhaust
of water
all the treasures
in heaven
or
earth,
and add
besides
the subterraneous
water,'7and that,
gious
howsoever, or from what place soever, this prodithe earth,
of water
mass
was
brought upon
there could be no means
ble
of removing it,or any possifound
of
such
method
out
a mighty
taking away
From
these premises the learned
heap of water."
Doctor
not
that our
concludes,
present earth was
subjectto a deluge,nor is it capable of it by its shape
of water

can

where

no

be

"

"

or

elevation."
The

set
however, of modern
discoveries,
geologists,
the questionof a universal
deluge completely at rest.
that the changes of the
They incontrovertibly
prove
earth's surface
been
have
not
produced by a general
and heat.
flood,but by the gradual operationof water
the tops of mountains,
The
marine
shells found
on
and
other elevated
have
been forced there
situations,
by igneous agency, and are not, as conjecturedby
will
of Noah's
flood.
Time
theologians,the remains
admit
of my
teresti
not
giving you any facts from that inI must
science.
leave the subject,by quoting
from the poet Coleridge.
I
the followingwords
it absurd," says
think
to
Talk,"
he, in his "Table
much
the deluge. An
to
attribute
so
inundation,
the
left an
olive-tree standing, and bore
which
up
its bosom, could
Ark
scarcely have
peacefully on
"

"

been

the sole
on

We
book

-There

have
which
are

cause

the

of

the

and

rents

dislocations

servable
ob-

face of the earth."

reviewed
contains
numerous

portion of

that
the

other

cream

of

passages,

its

"

this

learned-

philosophy."
however, which

THE

display the

same

PHILOSOPHY

lack

OF

of scientific

information.

will refer you

In 1
to a few of them.
read of "heaven
v.
35, we
being shut
that there
similar

should

passages,
composed that

be

no

From

rain.

it is clear

that

215

BIBLE.

THE

the

Kings, c. viii.,
up/' in order
this,and many

learned

men

who

eminently scientific production were

perfectlyunacquainted with the fact,that rain was
agined
produced by evaporation and condensation, but imthat it came
from
tom
some
place above, the botof which, I suppose,
like a huge watering
was
whenever
he sprinkled
it suited the "Lord"
can, and
with a refreshingshower
his
us
as
a gardener would
flowers.
In

Gen., c. i.,v. 12, it is said, "Let

the

earth

bring

forth

Now
been
it would, at least,have
grass,""c.
little more
a
rational,as well as "philosophical,"to
the earth produce
have made
tion
grass" after the creaof the sun
instead of before it. In Gen., c. ix.,
v.
read, that the Lord, for the first time,
12, 13, we
in the clouds
a
as
nant
hung a rainbow
sign of his covewith
the people after the deluge. The
science
is but
of opticsproves
that the rainbow
natural
a
It is merely the result of the refrangiphenomenon.
of the rays of light. It could
bilityand reflexibility
been the first time a rainbow
not have
was
produced,
existed such a phenomefor so long as lightand vapor
non
have been produced. Either,therefore,
this
must
else priorto the deluge there could
or
story is false,
in either of which
have
been no
light or no vapor
have
life would
been impossible.
cases, animal
told of the buildingof the
In Genesis, c. xi.,we
are
of tongues.
The
Tower
of Babel, and the confusion
Bible chronology placesthe buildingof this tower
only
of mankind
after the destruction
115
by the
years
How
was
can
yet alive.
flood, and even while Noah
"

"

these

two

stories be reconciled ?

It is

said that there

survived
the
and his family who
only Noah
they have multiplied so rapidly,in
deluge. Could
that short time, as to populatea city}and erect
such
were

216

an

THE

It would

tower

enormous

OF

PHILOSOPHY

THE

BIBLE.

have

mense
im-

required an

ledge,
of persons, with
great scientific know(the result of long research^)to raise so loftya
number

estimated

81,000 feet, and it

its outside,which
had a road- way
went
on
eight times
around
its ascent, so as
the appearto give the whole
ance
above
of eight towers
another.
It is perone
fectly
Its

pile.

height was

ridiculous
could

work

forward

the

suppose
been entered

upon,

stated, at

extent

such

that

to

have

to

at

prodigious

less carried

much

after

date

early a
was
only

so

one
period we are told that there
family
existence
Such
of human
in
!
a
beings
story is only
The
ever,
worthy of the Bible.
greatest absurdity,howbe
is in supposing that God
should
afraid that
the people would
accomplish their design of building
whose
tower
a
Pray, to
top should reach heaven !
did the builders of this tower
what
point in the heavens
did they purpose
intend
reach
to
going ? and how
If to the moon,
that is the nearest
there?
as
objectin
taken
the heavens, it wonld
have
a builder, going at
the rate
of four miles an hour, night and day, without
either
sleep or refreshment,seven
years to reach the
destined
rials
point, with one singleload of buildingmate-

the

!
him

If

the

to

3,000

ambitious

have

taken,

one

Why,
fourth

made

all

have

been

star, and
behind
suppose

would

of

going

the

load of lime.

one

to

that

if

they

had

rate, it would

same

the

rate, 48

at

of

at

to carry

years

were

it ! !

sun,

firstfixed

But

the

mile

if

they

star, it would

of years
foundation

millions

made

take

reach

to

of Babel

in

circumference, and
bricks
the
and lime, they would
than
little more
half way to the first fixed
fixed star is supposed to be as far
the next

the

square
earth into

first as

all these

arise,when

the first is from

difficulties
the

the

surmounted,

builders

earth
a

approached so
than
forcibly,

new
near

But
one

the

from the
heavenly bodies as to feel more
of attraction.
In this case,
earth, the power
men,
and
with
all
their
and
other mabricks,
tools,
terials,
mortar,
would
fly off in a direct line to the moon, and

PHILOSOPHY

THE

for

The

the whole

The

217

BIBLE.

ashamed

of

Bible,it

would

volition

and

which

character

callingsuch
of

little of moral

known

ject
pro-

of the
impossibility

God."
"intelligent
enlightened editors

an

have

follyand
story with

Christians
of

THE

prevent the completionof this wonderful

ever

OF

appear
sensation.

thing stamp
ought to make

this divine

the

heart

Esdras

says,

story
To

philosophy.

that

the word

nonsense

was
c.

must

read
the

the

seat

of

xiv., v. 40,

other
Innumerable
understanding.77
however,
might be quoted. The discoveries,
passages
of Lawrence
and Gall, in the sciences
of Anatomy,
Physiology, and Phrenology, establish that the brain
is the seat of thought and
None
of the great
sensation.
naturalists
of the last 100 years, Cuvier, Blumenbach,
or
Buffon, have taught such a notion as the one
pounded
pro"

my

heart

uttered

in

the

Bible.

It is deemed

too

absurd

to

notice.

In

Genesis, c. vi.,v. 4, we

are

informed

that

there

"

giants in the earth in those days.77 Modern

science
has
completely exploded that absurdity also.
The
rially
"philosophers" of the Bible diifer very matethat
the philosophers of this age,
with
upon
We
Education.
are
most
important of all sciences
told,in Prov., c. x, v. 13, that a "rod is for the back of
covered,
disIt has been
that is void of understanding"
him
however, by Pestalozzi and other enlightened
educationalists,that to follow the Bible philosophy
would
but
not
impolitic,and that
only be inhuman
mild and persuasivemeans
ercion
to be
are
preferredto cobut
or
bigots who
punishment. It is none
resort
know
nothing of the science of education, who
were

"

to

that

absurd

and

severe

treatment.

craft.
speak of that fatal absurdity, WitchIn Exodus, c. xxii.,v. 18, it is enjoined,"Thou
in 1 Samuel, c.
and
shalt not suffer a witch
to
live,77
and cunning priest
xxiii,v. 7, we read of that savage
My friends,if there
consultingthe Witch of Endor.
the igwhich
than another
be one
thing more
exposes
I shall

here

19

218

THE

THE

BIBLE.

writers,it is the institution of the

of the Bible

norance

OF

PHILOSOPHY

There
witchcraft
such a
was
never
prohibiting
thing as a witch,no more than there have been ghosts
or
now
hobgoblins. All enlightenedmen
repudiate
Even
the idea as a mere
the
imposition.
"vulgar"
Well
had
it
been
for
to
laugh at it.
mankind,
begin
if the delusion had ended
nately,
in mere
but unfortubelief,

law

of the foolish and

in consequence
justread,thousands of our fellow
murdered

been

"

murdered

too, under

the

junction
in-

brutal

beingshave
ating
humili-

most

and

follies and
The
revoltingcircumstances.
cruelties,
indeed, committed
through the influence of
such
writers as the Bible authors, are
incalculable,
will humanity become
and never
enlightenedand
are
good until the productionsof such men
nently
permaand absolutelydiscarded.
It would
be a pity to omit noticingthe precioustale
of Jonah
and the whale, in this list of " inspired absurdities
It is such a glorious
ing
specimen of the learnof the Bible, that it ought to receive honorable
when
remember
that the
we
mention, and especially
hero of the story was
a prophet.In Jonah, c. i.,
v.
17,
this
that
informed
with
a
we
are
prophet-monger met
The
that "the
account
states
singular misfortune.
Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow
up Jonah,
and Jonah
in the belly of the fish three days and
was
three nights." This fish,Christ tells us, in Matt., c.
he will be a competent authority,)
xii.,v. 40, (and I presume
whale !
a
was
Why this fish should have
"

been

selected

the

prophet,I

other for the

any

not, except it be, that because

know

of

domicile

the

presumed that it
largestfish, it was
have the largestthroat, and
consequentlythe
of access.
convenient
Unluckily, however,
have
anatomists
discovered,that though the
is enormously large, its throat is exceedingly
is the

whale

would
most

modern
animal

small

than

more

"

diameter

small

so

that

How,

it is

not

an

inch

and

half

therefore, the prophet Jonah,

might, probably,have

been

like

some

of

our

country rectors, of tolerable plumpness and

in

who

modern

rotundity,

THE

OF

PHILOSOPHY

THE

219

BIBLE.

through such a capacious

miracle
would
to
a
require
explain,
aperture,
for
three
live
he
to
and how
managed
days in the
he did get in, would
whale's
require a
belly,when
It is evident,that
still greater miracle
to elucidate !
the author of this story labored under
the vulgar mistake
would
that the gulletof the whale
be commensurate
with its generalbulk
a mistake
quite natural

succeeded

in

his way

making

"

to

editor.

Bible

Having proceeded
draw

must

we

have

been

to

happy

far with

thus

close. Had

to have

allowed,I should
you with a critique

time

amused

the stories of Joshua

upon
his dinner
there being no

and

and
years
Christ and

stars

the

rain

"

six

months

the

and
fig-tree"

"

observations,

our

on

Sun

"

and

Ezekiel

the earth

fallingfrom

for three
heaven

his visit with

his

"

"

tanic
Sa-

"

he
majesty to the top of the mountain, whence
all the kingdoms of the world, which
the science
saw
of astronomy
shows, from the sphericalform of the
earth,to be impossible Ezekiel and his being lifted
up by a lock of his hair into the midst of the heavens
Tor his advice to the man
the angel receiving
wages
Tobias
the ass and the lion talkingwith the "marts
voice"
mentioned
in Exodus,
the " glorioustimes"
from
when
rained bread
the Lord
heaven," and
I will give you, howother Biblical wonders.
ever,
many
one
more
specimen ere I conclude. It is Ezekiel's
That
learned
visit to the valley of bones.
prophet
v. 1
vii.,
10, The hand of the Lord was
says, c. xxx
of the Lord,
in the spirit
out
me, and carried me
upon
of the valley,which
and
down
in the midst
set me
full of bones, and caused
to pass
me
was
by them
round
in
about; and, behold, there were
very many
the open valley; and lo,they were
dry. And he
very
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

said
I

unto

answered,

he

said

unto

Lord

Son

me,
O

Lord

of man,

God,

can

thou

these

bones

knowest.

live ? And
And

these

bones,
me, Prophesy
hear
!
the
O
word
them,
ye dry bones,
!
God
Thus
the Lord
these
saith
unto
unto

unto

Behold, I

will

cause

breath

to enter

you,

and

again
and
of

say
the

bones,
ye shall

220

THE

live,and

I will

fiesn upon

up
breath

PHILOSOPHY

lay sinews
and

you,

upon

cover

BIBLE.

THE

OF

and

you,
with

you

will

bring

and

skin,

put

and
that I
ye shall live,and know
you,
commanded
the Lord.
So I prophesiedas I was
;

am

into

a
and, as I prophesied,there was
noise, and behold a
shaking, and the bones came
together,bone to his
bone.
I beheld, lo, the sinews
when
the
And
and
flesh came
them, and the skin covered them,
upon

above
he

; but

man,

Come
these

breath

no

Then

in them.

said

me,

commanded

and

was

Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy,Son of

saith the Lord
and say to the wind, Thus
God,
from the four winds, O breath,and breathe
upon
I
So
that
live.
slain,
they may
prophesied,as

unto

he

there

they lived,
great army

The

!!

the

stood

?J

of the

lovers

and

me,
and

This

breath

wonderful

feet,an
something like

need

story.

Baron

consult

not

them,

ing
exceed-

their

upon
is

into

came

Munchausen.

friends,if

puerilerhapsodies,(and the
in such
Bible abounds
passages,)are to be esteemed
as
philosophy, science,learning,then are the outpourings
of fanaticism
the only criteria
to be considered
of human
and
enlightenment, and the deep,patient,
the wise, must
elaborate
researches
of the great and
My

be

scouted

as

In former
Bible
I

as

hallucinations.
I felt it my

lectures

of

standard
of

standard
In

mere

deem

now

such

duty to repudiatethe
consistency and morality.

it incumbent

upon

to

me

discard

it as

philosophy.
I

supported by evidence too

be refuted
too
incontrovertible
to
palpable to be
science of Astronomy warrants
in redenied.
The
me
pudiating
it" Geology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology,
Natural
Natural
Philosophy,
History,Phrenology,
this

decision

am

"

all the

various

and

arts

with

sciences

which

it. Before

in condemning
me
acquainted,warrant
book
must,
authority, this "learned"
its diminished

and

head

"

sink

absurdity,and never
error, mystery, crime, and

to
more

its

erelong,
native

own

involve

delusion

is

man

such

hide

littleness

humanity

in

222

INFLUENCE

they

could

have

not

the purpose
It is, as

OF

than
I

Old

ON

BIBLE

produced

the

SOCIETY.

immoral

most

licatio
pub-

revoltingand
the
apologistof

It has
been
despicable purposes.
the tyrant in his oppressions the conqueror
the inquisitor
butcheries
the
in his tortures

in

"

and

"

in his revelries

the

priestin his impostures!

it possible,
by some
magic power, to bury in
from
th"t ponderous volume, and
blot out

Were
oblivion
the

the debauchee

"

his

holder
slave-

"

"

in his cruelties

for

Testament.

support the

to

adapted

better

one

formerly observed, an

served

It has

THE

of

memory

the dark

man

cruel

and

which

scenes

would
diate
be accomplished for the immedepicts,more
enlightenment and morality of mankind, than
has
done
been
by the efforts of the boldest and
mightiestreformers.
But I forbear
proceeding with this portion of the
with
at once
commence
subject,and shall,therefore,
of the Bible
the Influence
during the Christian era.
This
will refer,more
Testhe New
to
particularly,
it

mament.

then, do I aver, that that

distinctly,
ed
has been most
pernicious. It has occasionand sectarianism
division,strife,
men,
among

Solemnly
influence
more

and

and, as a consequence,
bloodshed, than any

more

during the
single cause
bold and
tion,
unqualifiedasser-

other

period. This is a
and
requiresstrong

same

This

confirmation.

of the
Christ

We

to

find in

and

shall

of

progress

the

enmity, intolerance,and

in

distinct evidence

render, by taking

Christianityfrom

the

time

its
view
re-

of

present age.
the New

that
itself,

Testament

early
as
ousies
during the lifetime of Christ, envyings and jealwere
growing up amongst his disciples;nay,
the
even
apostles. In Mark, c. ix., and
amongst
told that
are
Luke, c. xxii., we
they " disputed
so

"

"

among

in

themselves

Matt., c.

xx.,

who

that

should

they

be the greatest ; "

were

and

ambitious, and

OF

INFLUENCE

expressed their
Mark,

c.

of

anxious
to

sit

glory ; and
it, began

read

that

223

SOCIETY.

John

and

James

In

other.

each

against

resentment

we

x.,

ON

BIBLE

THE

were

lege
by having the privibeing distinguished,
in his
the right and left hand, of Christ
on
the remaining ten, when
that
they heard

"

be

to

and

James

displeasedwith

much

John."
after the death

Soon

Paul,

in 1

Cor., c. i.,v.

of

Jesus,we
11, 12, that

are

informed

contentions

hitter

Christians.
the
among
sprung
up
For it hath been
declared
to
me,
my

He

had
"

them

who

contentions
every

house

amongst
of

one

pollos,and
v.
lii.,
3,
whereas

in the

are

you

of

you.
saith I

Cephas,

he

remarks,

there

is among

"

am

and
For
you

there

Chloe, that
I
this
Now,
of Paul, and
ye

are

envying

says,

brethren, by

of

I of Christ

by

that

say,

"

and

are

of

Apin

c.

yet carnal, for

and

and
strife,

men?"
walk
carnal
and
as
divisions; are
ye not
"
In c. vi., v. 6, 8, he again observes,
Brother
goeth
"
to law
with brother,and that before the unbelievers
;
ren.''''
and
"nay, you do wrong,
defraud, that your breth-

of his
entirelyforgot to tell them
bearance
own
squabbles. He could preach charity and forother
like
many
pretty eloquently, but
Christians, forgot to practice it. In Acts, c. xv., v.
36-40, a very edifying quarrel is reported between
him
and
The
his brother
tention
conapostle,Barnabas.
between
so
was
them," says the story,
er."
from the othsharp, that they departed asunder one
It is supposed that the real cause
of this memorable
between
difference
of opinion
a
rupture was
Paul
and
Barnabas, as to the crucifixion of Christ.
Paul
nabas
that Christ
maintained
crucified,and Barwas
But

Paul

"

that it

Those

was

Judas, and

not

Christ.

acquainted with ecclesiastical history will

be aware
that so early as
during the first century,
the Christians
were
splitup into many
petty sects,
all of which
damnation
eternal
other
each
at
spit
with
the most
Christian
malignity. One party as-

224

INFLUENCE

serted

that

Christ

divine

OF

THE

was

character

BIBLE

ON

mere

SOCIETY.

another

man,

that he

tion,
admitting his resurrecothers
denying it ; some
supporting the story of
the
miraculous
conception/'and others repudiating
it. Paul, the champion of the divinityof Christ,was
the
and
regarded as an impostor by the Nazarenes
"
esteemed
idle
Ebionites,and his Epistles were
as
tales and
The
uninspired reveries."
Corinthians,"
also says Epiphanius, "had
the Acts
of the Apostles
with various
is accused
Paul
additions,in which
of the artifices of a false prophet." Bishop Marsh, in
his famous
Lectures,alludingto the division amongst
the early disciples,
So numerous
heretics
were
says,
of different opinions,) in the
(meaning Christians
first and second
ages, that all the primitiveChristians
was

some

"

"

"

to

seem

been

have

included

under

one,

other

or

nominati
de-

of

heresy,"showing that at that primitive

period, division,sectarianism, and intolerance,had
followed
from the dissemination
of the dark, incongruous
dogmas of the Christian Scriptures.
In
second
the
century, a violent dispute arose
the Christian
churches, as to the time when
among
Easter
church

the

"

day

one

on

to

was

eastern

alleged that

other

; the

former
; the
Philip, the latter

day

"

the

"

quoting
Peter

and

it should

western

their

of

division

One

observed.

be

"

be

on

held

another

authority John

Paul.

the

and

celebrated

This

cruel
much
persecution. Victor,
dispute occasioned
all the
excommunicated
eastern
the
Roman
prelate,
them
cursed
churches
as
heretics,and denounced
with them.
all intercourse
Thus, by the anathema
of God," were
the people of the eastern
of this "man
from
those of the western
world,
entirelydissevered
the other
each
as
enemies, and
party looking upon
all
and
fostering the most
implacable animosity
Testament!
through a sillystory recorded in the New
Early in the third century, a most puerile,though
"

"

inveterate
as

to

the

controversy,
nature

was

of Christ.

started
This

among

Christians

controversy, which

the

bitter,and

most

until

terminate

beings

had

the

been

ON

BIBLE

225

SOCIETY.

with
centuries,raged occasionally

for several

lasted

THE

OF

INFLUENCE

animosity, and
of,at least,300,000

brutal
lives

sacrificed in the

did

not

human
Euse-

contention.

Theodorit, Sabellius, Paulns,

Samasatemus,
Bishop of Antioch, and other eminent
excommunicated
Christians/' were
by the dominant
this subject.
notions upon
faction for their heterodox
of
Well
might the Rev. Mr. Brown, in his Defence
To
Revelation, declare, that
heretricate,schismabe owned, is in
ticate and damn
one
another, it must
had
Heathens
too
a manner,
peculiar to Christians.
of a future state, to
notions
imperfect and uncertain
hatred.7'
mutual
show, in this manner,
It was,
not, however, till the fourth century, when
had acquired political
Christians
that the animus
power,
of this religiousscheme
manifested
in its
was
peror
was
Constantine, the Emgenuine purity. No sooner
of Rome, converted
to
Christianity,and fairly
with
than
he was
the Christian
imbued
spirit,
vailed
prethe
Christian
institute
to
the
hierarchy,
by
upon
shameful
and
inhuman
most
persecutions,not only
of their own
against the heathens, but the heterodox
religion. Milner, the pious author of the " Church
but admit, that " the Christian world
History," cannot
the scene
of animosity and contention."
now
was

bius

informs

us

that

"

"

At
of

the time

Rome,

Christians
substance

there

of Constantine'
was

violent

ascension

the throne

contention

the

among
Godhead.

the subject of the

upon
of this famous
controversy,

the doctrine

to

out

of

The
which

of the

Trinity,was
brieflythis.
One
dria,
by Alexander, Bishop of Alexanparty, headed
is always, and
maintained
that uGod
the Son
time the Father, the same
time the
always, the same
The
Son.
Son co-exists with
being
God, unbegottenly,
The
ever
begotten,being unbegottenlybegotten!
other party, headed
ander,
by Arian, the presbyter of Alex"
there was
time
when
there
a
asserted,that
Son of God} and that he, who
was
before was
no
not,
sprang

"

;'

226

INFLUENCE

afterwards

OF

THE

ON

BIBLE

SOCIETY.

existed, being made, whenever

he

was

whatever ^
made, just as any man
This
sillydispute gave rise to the most
unseemly
the
in
Dr.
church.
in
his History
squabbles
Chandler,
of Persecution,edited
that
by Atmore, states
"the bishops of each
side had
already interested the
people in their quarrel,and heated them into such a
and
and
fought with, wounded
rage, they attacked
destroyed each other, and acted with such madness
the greatest impietiesfor the sake
to commit
of oras
thodoxy,
and arrived at that pitch of insolence,as to
oifer great indignities
the imperial images." He
to
concludes, by remarking, that their animosities were
furious
be appeased." The
learned
too
Dr. Moto
"

sheim

himself

determine

admits

that

of the

which

"it

would

exceeded

two

be
most

difficult to
the

bounds

of

At last,in the
probity,charity,and moderation."
of the Chrisconvened
tian
a council
year 325, Constantine
tory,
functionaries,distinguishedin ecclesiastical hisof Nice,for the purpose
of settling
the Council
as
Such
the humility and
this disgracefulschism.
was
Christians"
this
on
forbearance displayedby these
which
memorable
occasion, that the riot and uproar
have
would
existed
during the whole of their sittings,
Those
of
disgraced a pot-house. Theodorit
says,
subtle
and
the
Arian
crafty,and, like
party were
"

"

'

shelves

under

water,

their

concealed

wickedness.

"

"

of a quarrelwere
party, some
Amongst the orthodox
of the
accused
several
temper, and
ling, malicious
bishops, and then presentedtheir accusatory libels to
Tindal
the emperor."
states, in his "Rights of the
and libels
Church," p. 195, "that if those accusations
in of
the bishops, at the council of Nice, gave
which
now
another
to the Emperor, were
extant, in all
one
rolls of scandal, that few
should have
probabilitywe
would

have

menical

fury, the
scene

for

much

council,where
bishops fell

bishops !

to

reason

How

with
foul

boast

of the first GEccu-

such

heat, passion, and

of

one

another."

characteristic of the

rich

system !

INFLUENCE

THE

OF

BIBLE

ON

227

SOCIETY.

disorderlyassembly was, that the

defeated.
The
lish
Arians
Emperor, in order to estabwere
of the oppositeparty, issued an edict
the doctrine
against the Arians, as well as heretics and infidels
The
edict declar^ as given in Socraof all kinds.
over,
tes's Ecclesiastical
History, Book 1, c. vii., Moretant,
we
thought good, that if there can be found, exbook
or
compiled by Arius, the same
any work
that not only his damnable
be burnt
should
to ashes, so
doctrines
thereby be rooted out, but, also,
may
thereof may
remain
that
unto
no
relique*
posterity.
command
and
This, also,we straightly
charge, that
The

issue

of

this

"

"

if any

man

be found

to

hide

or

conceal

any book
forth the

made

same
by Arius, and not immediately bring
and
deliver
it
be
that
the
said
burned,
book,
up to
For
offender,for so doing, shall die the death.
as
he is taken, our
soon
as
pleasure is, that his head be
stricken
God
off from his shoulders.
keep you in his
"
What
tuition !
a
Indeed, I think so.
sample of
Christian
honorable
to
charity! How
Constantine,
and his priestly
advisers !
O ! what
does not tremble
with horror
at
good man
such
monstrous
intolerance,and regret the day that a
should
have
book
into existence, about the dogcome
mas
of which, such
atrocities have
been perpetrated?
Well
at
might the Emperor Julian declare,(who was
time a Christian,though he subsequentlybecame
one
of the best Emperors that ever
a
Pagan, and one
reigned in Rome,) that "he found by experience,that
beasts were
cruel to men,
not
even
so
as the generality

of Christians

Chandler,
and
what
into

to

were

in

his

one

another."

The

History, exclaims,

calamities

rapines and
the world, under

"

ruins

what

murders
the

"

have

and

"

Rev.

What

sions
confu-

desolations

been

Dr.

"

introduced

pretended authorityof Christ,

"
and of supporting and propagating Christianity!
Following this religionthrough succeedingperiods,
of intolerance,
scenes
violence, and cruelty,present
themselves
to our
that
view, so unspeakably horrible,

228

INFLUENCE

it sickens
the

to

me

the church

OF

"

she

was

not

be born

God,

who

old."
"

the

of her."
once

"I

by

of Christ."

fifth century,
occasioned

in his

the mother

not

of

by
declaring
God; that

and, therefore,God
cannot," says he, "call

would
He, therefore,
mother

the

schism

above

not

was

In

SOCIETY.

It consisted

of Nestorius.

Virgin Mary was

only a wqjpan,

that the

ON

record "them.

distracted

was

heresy

BIBLE

THE

two

only
This

three

or

consent

him

months

call

to

doctrine

could

her

ed
consider-

was

that a council
called
frightfully
was
heretical,
it.
This meeting
at Ephesus, in Greece, to suppress
proved such a boisterous one, that Mr. Tindal informs
before quoted,that " Dioscorus,Bishop
us, in his work
of Alexander, cuffed and kicked
Flavius, Patriarch of
Constantinople,with that fury, that three days after
he died.*" Mild bishops,truly !
decision of this Synod was
The
against Nestorius,
so

which

"

was

the

of

occasion

irreconcilable

hatreds

so
bishops and people,who were
enraged
there
was
no
against each other, that
passing,with
cause
one
province or cityto another, beany safety,from
pursued his neighbor as his enemy,
every one
and revenged themselves
one
another, under
a
upon

the

amongst

pretence of ecclesiastical
that

Greeks

"the

called

zeal ! "

Mosheim

this council

tells

band

or

us
sembly
as-

of

robbers,'to signifythat everything was

carried in it by fraud or violence ; and many
councils,
and
the followingages, are equally
indeed, both in this
dishonorable
entitled to the same
appellation."
the close of this century,
another
Towards
Synod
the
called at Chalcedon, to consider
was
heresy of
asserted that "Jesus
had
Christ
sisted
conDioscorus, who
of two
or
incarnation,
natures, before his union
had
nature
one
but that after this he
only." The
of this truly momentous
discussion
so
question was
that
the
could
and obstreporous,
violent
holy fathers
themselves, aud cried out in fury,
no
longer c mtain
"Damn

Dioscorus

deposed

Dioscorus

banish

"

!"

Choice

Dioscorus

"

Christ

language for

hath

pious

230

INFLUENCE

have

arrived

now

shall

hastilypass

order

that

well

dreadful

this

SOCIETY.

the

world

Christian

was

blood.

and

tenth

resounding with the

persecutor. Yes,

Reformation,
of the

cause

frightful
was

moral

of

same

century,
of

scene

as

I may

ages.

the sixteenth

bowlings

savage

sixteenth, in

Protestants

the dark

to

one

Europe

the

among
the

We

century.

after the

church,

from

that

tenth

period to

that

show,

may
Reformed

the

at

Catholics,the Bible was

evils,as characterized

remark,
the

from

we

the
as

ON

casioned
Archipelago,under Leo TV.,and oction,
throughout Christendom, before its terminadeath of at least 50,000 human
beings.

the

under

BIBLE

THE

of the

the islands

We

OF

rance
intole-

wilderness,
the bigot and

"

"

groaned beneath
priestsdared babble

Earth

And
E'en

while

their

religion'siron age,
of

hands

God

of peace,

red with

were
guiltless
blood,
while,uprootingevery germ
Of truth, exterminating,spoilingall,
Making the earth a slaughter-house."

the

Murdering

this interval

During
of the

enacted

were

the

Crusades, the

the

Waldenses,

too

horrible

the

to

bloody tragedies

the
Inquisitions,
Albigenses,and other

butcheries,
glory of

all for the

; and
of his blessed Word

enumerate

of

massacre

"

"

!
We
God,7'and the vindication
now
approach the gloriousReformation.
Calvin, one
the
of the principalactors
Christian
stage at this
upon
obtained
and influence,than
period,no sooner
power
he began, like the Catholics,to persecute those whom
he

deemed

heretical.

be

burned

in

Geneva.

He

caused

He

wrote

Michael
a

Servetus

Declaration

to
to

faith/7in which he states, "it was

ing
lawful to punish heretics,and that this wretch, (meanHe
also perseServetus,)was justlyexecuted.77
cuted
rude
and
in
so
manner
a
Castello,
brutal,that
"a
he calls him
blasphemer, reviler. malicious,barkand impudence,
ing dog, full of ignorance,beastiality,
an
impostor, a base corrupter of the sacred writings,
of all religion,
of God, a contemner
ima mocker
an

maintain

the

true

OF

INFLUENCE

THE

ON

BIBLE

231

SOCIETY.

pudent fellow, a filthydog, a knave, an impious,

lewd, crooked-minded, vagabond, beggarly rogue."
Charitable
John Calvin ! Glorious
Reformer, indeed !
'But, listen
of the
John

the

to

Knox,
from

vindictive
rage and
follower and coadjutorof

furious

worthy

rance
intole-

Calvin,

I take

of Scotland.

the

Reformer

the

"Edinburgh Magazine

and

lowing
the fol-

Review,"

It is an
of John's
from one
extract
July, 1771.
Addressing himself to
prayers against the Catholics.
God
against his enemies, he charitably exclaims,
sume
Repress the prideof these blood-thirsty
tyrants, conthem in thine anger, according to the reproach
which
they have laid against thy holy name
; pour
forth thy vengeance
hold
bethem, and let our
eyes
upon
the blood of the saints requiredat their hands.
O Lord, but let death devour
Delay not thy vengeance,
for

"

"

Let

in haste.

them

go down
amendment.

let them
their

the

earth

swallow

quick to hell,for
The

fear

and

from
is quite banished
holy name
therefore,
yet, again,O Lord, consume
them
"

in thine
Reformer

"

O ! what

anger !
!"
What

them

hope of
of thy
reverence
their hearts ; and,

there is *no

them
a

and

up,

"

Christian

consume

what

"

language of Luther,
Glorious Reformation,"when
the great father of the
The
speaking of the Catholics ? Listen
Papists
all asses, put them
form you please,
in whatever
are
boiled,roasted,baked, fried,skinned, beat, hashed,
The
asses.
they are always the same
Pope was
full of devils,lies,
born out of the deviPs posteriors,
blasphemies, and idolatries ; he is Anti-Christ,the
of churches, the ravisher
robber
of virgins,the greatest
of Sodom."
of pimps, the governor
What
former
Reblackguardism for a Christian,and a
!
When
the Protestant priesthood
had emancipated
from
themselves
the iron yoke of Popery,
it was
not
a
despotism
long ere they established
equally brutal and iniquitous. All Dissenters were
the
persecuted with as much
inveteracy,as under
Catholic
hierarchy. During the bloody reign of
Henry VIII.,an act was passed,"abolishingdiversity
a

is the

"

"

"

"

"

232

INFLUENCE

OF

THE

BIBLE

ON

"SOCIETY,

of

opinion in certain articles concerningthe Christian

enforced
that
religion."By this enactment, it was
all Dissenters,
for the first offence,
to be impriswere
oned
for
the
the
second,
during
king'spleasure;and,
to suffer death, (NeaPs History of the Puritans,vol.
i. p. 2.) Under
this law, many
dissentingsects were
the Anabaptists,
maimer
persecuted in the most inhuman
the Brownists, the Puritans, the Quakers,
and
of the
other sectaries experienced the displeasure
Orthodox, and, of course, were
subjectedto all kinds
of pains and penalties.
The
of abjurationput to
the form
followingwas
the Anabaptists,which
they were
obliged to make,
"
Whereas
be burnt:
or
by the
we, being seduced
of error, and false teacher,have fallen
devil,the spirit
into these most
and detestable heresies,that
damnable
fants
Christ took not flesh of the VirginMary, that the inof the faithful should not be baptized; and that
Christian
be a magistrate,or bear
not
a
man
may
the sword
and office of authority; and
that it is not
lawful for a Christian
oath ; now,
to take an
man
by
the grace of God, and
by the assistance of good and
learned
of Christ's Church, I understand
ministers
"

"

the

same

and
said

my

renounce

of my

be

do

ask

former

damnable

most

God,

before

and
his

detestable

church,

and

mercy

sies,
here-

for

do forsake,
recant, and
errors, and
and I abjure them
from
the bottom

them;
heart, protestingI certainlybelieve
And, further, I confess the whole

established
and

to

published in

also that which

is received

the Church

of

in the Dutch

the

trary.
con-

doctrine

England,
Church,

according to God's
true, and
London, is found
in all thingsI submit
myself,and
Word, whereunto
of the Dutch
will be most
Church,
gladly a member
and
and
henceforth
forsaking
utterly abominating
all and
Anabaptiscalerrors." Crosby, vol. i.
every
in

"

p. 68.

(vol.i. p. 540,) that one Leighton,for

denounced
prelacy was
writing a book, in which
"
condemned
was
as
by the High
Anti-Scriptural,"
Neal

states

THE

OF

INFLUENCE

ON

BIBLE

233

SOCIETY.

heavy fine,and then to be

the pillorya convenient
set upon
time, and have one
be
and
of his ears
side of his nose
cut
off,one
slit,
branded
in the face with
a double
S, and then to be
carried
back
to
prison; and, after a few days, be
pilloriedagain in Cheapside, and be then likewise
and be
slit,
whipped, and the other side of his nose
Commissioner

then

shut

to

The
his

Richard
manner

thee

Richard!

poison
and
to

the

old

an

load

knave

thou

cart, every
of
might say,
treason, as an

enow

thou

been

ago,

it had

preacher

of

foot in the
what

been
the

grave,

and
thyself,
began; but, by
to

thee.
a

to

I know

see

doctor

what

will

of the

grace
hast

to

wilt

party

at

will

hear

"

low,
old fel-

an

books

written

sedition,I
; hadst

be

hast

thou

as

one

begin to think
give,but, leave thee
go

to

on

hast

thou

as

God, I will look

mighty party, and

of

the brotherhood
become

pretendestto

peace;
for thee

thou

the

At

follows

is full of meat

Thou

intendest
see

II.

we

art

in the

thy writing-tradefortyyears

it is time

thou
of

great many

as

full of

as

egg

happy.
gospel of

thou

account

of

out

hast

one

whipt

think

Richard, thou
"

decision,

James

him

thou

this

treated

was

addressed

remainder

thanks.

lately as

dost

Court

God

Baxter
so

trial,
Judge"Jeffries

Richard!

hearing

on

and-returned

celebrated
infamous

most

"

Bishop Laud,

his cap,

for the

confinement

in close

up

of his life ! "

pulled off

pay

after
I

see

in corners,

awaiting
mighty don, and a
thy elbow; but, by the grace
of

their

of

Almighty God, I will crush you all."

The
Rev. Mr. Robinson, in his lectures on Nonconformity,
the bishops
that " Clarendon, and
calculates
in the reign of Charles
II. alone, imprisoned and
murdered
of families,
thousands
8000 Dissenters,ruined
drove
of
them
multitudes
abroad, and robbed
from twelve to fourteen millions of property."
But
when

The

the

Dissenters

themselves

were

persecutors

they acquiredpower.
during the Commonwealth,
Puritans,
20*

having

234

INFLUENCE

OF

ON

BIBLE

THE

SOCIETY.

predominance, expelledfrom their livingsno

of England
less than 10,000 Church
clergymen, and
treated
most
barbarously. Their
holy spleen
many
did not believe as
extended
who
lieved.
to all sects
they beCrosby informs
us, (vol.i. p. 184-190,)that
the 26th of May, 1645, the Lord
on
Mayor, Court of
of London, presentCouncil
Aldermen, and Common
ed
the
called
to
a
Parliament, commonly
petition
they desired, "that
City Remonstrance,'7 in which
strict and
some
speedy cause
might be taken for the
suppressing all private and separate congregations;
that all Anabaptists,Brownists, heretics,schismatics,
conformed
blasphemers, and all other sectaries,who
the public discipline,
not
to
established, or to be
established
by Parliament, might be fully declared
effectual course
settled for proceedagainst,and some
ing
fected
against such persons, and that no person disafto Presbyteriangovernment
might be employed
in anyplace of trust."
This
"remonstrance7'
was
supported by the whole Scottish nation, who beseeched the English Puritans
to
proceed boldly,and cease
of love,7'till the
three
their "labor
not
kingdoms
should
faith and
be united
in one
worship. The
obtained

"

General

how
lash

7;

of "divines

Assembly

had

they

formerly

of

persecution, declared,
be opening a gap
would

perpetual
published by
a

division
this

in

Westminster,

at

smarted
"

that

under

granting

getting
for-

the

tion
tolera-

all sects, and

church."
In a
to

make

work,
following

the

"

Assembly,77 we find the

trine
docof priestly
choice morsel
liberality, Whatsoever
is contrary to godliness,and
door
to
a
opens
liberalism and profaneness,you
must
rejectas a soul
"

poison, such

is the

doctrine

of

an

universal

toleration

were
enlightened sentiments
religion.77 These
reciprocatedin a publication issued in Lancashire,
sent
AsHarmonious
the same
about
period,called the

in

"

of the
in

London.77

Lancashire
The

ministers

with

of

this

authors

affirm,unblushingly, that

"

their

brethren

precious

toleration

would

work
be

INFLUENCE

putting a
poison into

sword

in

235

SOCIETY.

madman's
of

firebrands

city of refugein

ON

BIBLE

hand

the

with

madmen

THE

OF

in

hand; a cup of
child; a lettingloose of
their hands, and appointing

men's

souls

for the Devil

to

flyto ; a laying a stumbling block before the blind ;

into
to
a
come
proclaiming libertyto the wolves
Christ's fold to prey upon
the lambs; neither would
it be to provide for tender
conscience,but take all
conscience."
the sentiments
of Dissenters,
Such
were
when
How
of Presbyterian
in power.
characteristic
!
Liberty of conscience,when
they could
consistency
not
a
enjoy it,was
they
glorious thing ; but when
had obtained
that liberty,and others wished
to enjoy
man's
be putting a sword
in a madit, a toleration would
hand," " appointing a city of refuge in men's
It was
souls for the Devil
in America,
to fly to"
however, that the Puritans exhibited their purity to
the greatest advantage. Robinson, Howitt, and
other
the
inform
historians
most
us, that they instituted
brutal enactments,
in particular.
against the Quakers
The
colonies of Massachusetts
passed a law, prohibiting
the
into
Quakers
colony, imposing the
coming
for the first offence, and
of
penalty of banishment
"

after banishment.
should
such
return
as
upon
enacted
of most
succession
sanguinary laws were

death
A

against them,
ears,

imprisonment, cuttingoff the

tongue with red-hot irons,fyc. Four

such

bo?%ingthe

Quakers

were

banishment
the introduction

as

actually executed
If

we

of

consider
our

Bible

for

returning after
the effects resultingfrom
religioninto our colonies
has produced the same

shall find it
generally, we
home.
Did
at
as
sectarianism, and bloodshed
strife,
horrible
time permit, I could refer you
to many
most
I must
and revoltingfacts.
content
myself with only
two
one
or
examples. Mr. Garrison, t\\o distinguished
the Antiat
abolitionist,in a speech delivered
time ago,
some
Slavery Convention, held in London
mentions
the following horrible
tian
Chrisspecimen of
He gives an
from a letter,
civilization."
extract
"

236

INFLUENCE

giving

of

account

an

BIBLE

J. Brown,

Mr.

by

written

THE

OF

missionary

Liberia,

at

of

attack

recent

SOCIETY.

ON

300

natives

Missionary Station at Huddingbeen

had
natives
The
ton.
exasperated at the dogmatism
letter states,
of the Christian
priests. The
the assailants were
After an hour's fighting,
ed,
repulstheir
of
and
leader
with the loss
thirty or forty
achievement
which
tvas
effectedchieflyby two
men,
We
Methodist
missionaries,and tivo native converts.
awakened
in our
town
were
by the firingof a gun
miles from us ; and, while we
about two
were
musing
could
it
alarmed
what
were
we
on
again
by
mean,
War
the voices of several of our
people exclaiming,
Methodist

the

upon

"

is

come

of

out

he

is

war

bed

and

Brother

immediately, and

returned

bed

!'

come

in

load

and

the

for

guns

told

war

Harris

hand.

at

knees

slippedon my clothes,and
ask God
to help us.
By that

to

within

was

enemy
Brother

Harris

shot, and
from

In
and

up
from

the

two

like
Z.

Jarvis
was

and

stood

snap,

of

Nichols

them

hundred

could

hand

this,the
into the

from
him

one

minute

and
the

they

the

in the

were

ning
run-

three
the

were

enemy
their ground, and

had

only

and

chamber

the
them

cut

Meanwhile,

Bro.

where

eighteen
would

knew

rods
Bro.

hive.

the

the

first

muskets

about

Harris

(forwe
we

time

muskets

around

bees

into

came

which

powder,)

upon

loading

cutting grass.

mowers

one

was

as

on

the

twelve

or

front,between

both

chamber,
and

ten

Brother

loading muskets

in the

keg

thick

them

gave

picket fence

the

in

They

house.

than

down

stood

who

down

less

house, as
Dormory

Bennett

by

while

enemy,

chamber.

and

answered

was

the

down

was

of the mission-house.

musket-shot

went

of

I immediately

arose,

my

But

be out

to

me

was

got

in town.

out

went

minute,

one

Simon

go

muskets
at

every

and a
ready made cartridges,
of lead down
poured a stream
windows, as fast as two
boys

loaded

enemy

broke

yard

like bees.

In the

muskets.

through

the

Brothers

midst

fence,and
Harris

and

of all

poured
Dormo-

238

INFLUENCE

OF

when

What!

we

THE

ON

BIBLE

SOCIETY.

told in

Galatians,c. i.,.v,
8,
from
heaven
angel
preach

are

though we, or an
have
we
you than that which
any other gospel unto
are
we
not
to
preached to you, let him be accursed"
?
When
we
are
told,
say that it sanctions persecution
in c. v., v. 12, "I would
which
even
they were
cutoff
to affirm
trouble you," are we
that it sanctions
not
told in Matthew, c. x., v.
we
are
persecution? When
shall not receive you,
hear
nor
15, And whosoever
or
city,
your words, when
ye depart out of that house
off the dust of your feet. Verily,
shake
I say unto
you,
"

that

"

it shall

be

in the

Gomorrah
we

are

of
I

of the fourth

for that

than

city,"
persecution?

it sanctions

have

admitted

that

it

in defence
a book
century, wrote
of the very passages
quotes some

and

you,

the President

in the eleventh

recommended

mentioned

others

to

of the

of

Synod

translated

century,
it

was

Then

and

in my

Lecture.

Bogarman,

But

judgment

of Sodom

Christian
persecution.Beza, a distinguished

persecution,and
have justread to

Tenth

of

the land

themselves

Christians

sanctions
author

day

to insist that

not

But

for

tolerable

more

Beza's

Dart, held
book, and

magistrates,which

the

mendation
recom-

adopted.

I may
be told that Beza
listen to the opinion of the

was

Rev.

Catholic.
W.

"

Fulke,

clergyman of the
seventeenth
against the Papists,
century. In his work
tions,
of parishes,excommunicahe says, "for the division
suspensions,solemnizing of marriages with the
and the punishing of heretics
laws thereof,
by death,
they are all manifestlyproved out of Scripture! ! !
Protestant

distinguishedEnglish

;?

Let
What

are

the effects

of this book

in

mankind

Has

nearer

come

now

me

our

home.

own

it bound

age ?
them

Has
?
fraternity
Ah, no ! It has splitthem up
of petty sectaries,and sown,

of love

and

the dissemination

produced by

it tended

Has

togetherby
it made
into

in

an

to
sweet

men

endless

unite
ties

brothers

number

plentiful
profusion,

INFLUENCE

the

bitter

by
prove
Christian

OF

seeds

of discord
the

showing
sects

entertain

ON

BIBLE

THE

and

hatred.

opinion
of each

239

SOCIETY.

This

which

other.

the
"

I will
various

Calvinism,

"is a tremendous
doctrine,which
Unitarians,
it reallybeen
taught by Jesus and his apostles,
their gospel might truly have
been denounced, not as
the doctrine of
of
peace and good will,but a message
and
wrath
of terror and despair." It was
injustice,
viewed
gance
by Dr. Priestly,not only "as the extravaof error, but as a mischievous
compound of
discourse
impiety and idolatry." (Rev. J. Belsham's
Dr. Priestly.)By the Arminian
vinism
on
Christians,Calis representedas
a
system, which, says Dr.
without
creatures
liberty,
Jortin,consists "of human

say
had

the

"

doctrine

without

sense,

faith without

reason,

and

declares that "its

mercy." Mr. Warren
are
demoralizingerrors
spreading themselves
frightful
mist through the land, blasting every
like a black
amiable
feeling,and
spiritualjoy, withering every
poisoningevery social and domestic charity." By the
Calvinist
Christians,on the other hand, Arminianism
"as
is denounced
delusive,dangerous, and ruinous
souls."
to immortal
Sermons, 1834.) Top(Close's
attended
a
lady affirms that, a particleof it never
"
saint to heaven."
Socinians," says the Rev. Mr.
Cunningham, in his Apostacy of the Church of Rome,
farther removed
than
of
the Church
are
even
p. 168,
Rev. Mr. Norris,as quoted in Aspland's
The
Rome."
their doctrines
"envenomed
phemies."
blasas
plea,denounces
Arch.
on
Magee says, in his Discourse
"
the most
embraces
Atonement, 1809, their system
of
disgraced the name
daring impieties that ever
rather,"says the Rev. Mr.
Christianity." I would
the disgraced and
Carson, be the veriest prostitute,
infected inhabitant
of the lowest brothel,than be Dr.
Drummond, (the Arian.) I would rather be a Thurtel,the sanguinary and premeditated murderer, than
be Dr. Priestly,
the Unitarian."
See Bib. Christians,
Nov.
Methodism, accordingto the Or1830, p. 449.
God

without

"

"

"

"

"

240

INFLUENCE

thodox

Church
its

both
the

Devil.

ist

Mulock,

BIBLE

ON

for

1802,

Magazine,

origin and
"

THE

OF

its

SOCIETY.

from

name

326, derived

p.

Methodism

the

of

The

Methodists/7 says the Rev. Calvenhis Divine

Truth, p. 129, 1821, and

in

"

are
miserably-misledfanatics,
awfully alienated
from
all knowledge of the true
God.
Their
ences,
experifound
when
tried by Scripture,
to be details
are
of the pollutedworkings of the imagination in minds
stimulated
asts.
enthusiby the ravings of the hot-brained
vulsive
They have contrived what may be termed con-

other

and
Christianity,a system of sighs, groans,
sensual
impulses, to supersede that gloriousfaith.
tian
Looking through the annals of Methodism, the Chrisfail to notice the subtletyof Satan, in thus
cannot
"

seasonably providing a
hour

of its decline.

for

substitute

It retains

Popery in the
everything of Popery,

and
ritual
its gorgeousness
depraved deference to human

but
same

The

observances.

it

nature, stamps

nature."
whole
The
religionof corrupt human
body of Protestant Dissenters, in Godolphin'sReport,
"
denounced
to the
as
accursed, devoted
p. 625, are
as

the

separated from

Devil, and

The

Christ.7-

Rev.

Mr.

Gathercole, in a letter to a dissentingminister,published

is
dissent
in 1834, actually declares
that,
"

by

drunkenness, and
Devil, and the curse

than

worse

the

them

all !

denounced

"

The

his Remarks
and
most

en

Mr.

1834,
holiness

Binney,
"

as

an

in the

as

by

obstacle

the

land,

and

to

heavily on

Dr.

Priestly,in

idolatrous,
gospel of the
Calvinists,through

from

quoted

actuated

in return, is

England,

through
Blackstone, p. 171,
deviation

are

rests

Unitarians

kind,7'and

criminal

of God

of

Church

consequently a

the Rev.
and

the

by

its followers

in

"as

the

the

Christian

server,
Ob-

of truth
the progress
that it destroys more

The

pudiated
Papal religionagain is rein
his
Principle of
by Bishop Warbnrton,
Religion, as an "impious farce;77and by the Rev.
Mr. Cecil, as
quoted in Cunningham7s Apostacy, p.
the masterpiece of Satan
a
140, as
complicated

soids

it saves."

than

"

"

INFLUENCE

and

almost

and

may

OF

THE

BIBLE

ON

241

SOCIETY.

blasphemy?
system of idolatry,

incredible

I not

But the whole

of the
add, devilism ?
by their venerable
mother,
foregoingare denounced
the Roman
matics,"
Catholic
Church, "as heretics and schisand
and
their clergy damned
thieves
as
-

"

of the

ministers

Devil."

"

Romish

ix.,and Heb. v. i.
Such, then, is Bibleism, as
and
mankind.

which

animosities
Dr.

Testament
Such

it is.
it has

John

on

sions
dissen-

the

engendered

among

very justlysays, in his Christian

into
Life,"the professorsof religionare crumbled
tion
each spittingfire and damnasects and parties,
many
that if all say true, or, indeed,
at its adversary,
so
of them, m 500 sects, which
there
are, (and
any two
for ought I know, there may
500
it
is
to one
be 5000,)
but
that
one
one
is
damned, because
every
every
damns
all but itself,
is itself damned
and
by 499."
Scott

"

Glorious

prospects these

pity them ! What

My friends,we

for the

How

believers !

stupidlottery!
have thus
given a hasty sketch of
of the Bible during the Christian era.
the Influence
I ask, has not that influence been pernicious
? Do not
be
truth and
that it should
humanity alike demand
it stillcontinue to spread mental
repudiated? O ! must
a

"

desolation

flowers

Must

men?

that fair field

to make

which

among

dark, dreary,barren,

be strewn
might otherwise
of freedom, knowledge, and

spiritof

the

it still be allowed

forbids

it !

Man

with
truth?

and

the

cold,

bright
No!

the

releasing
has
himself
He
from
of priestcraft.
iron grasp
heard
in the distance,
of Free Inquiry,and
the song
will he
till he has joined in its glorious
rest
never
chorus.
Let
the
not
religious despots of the age
imagine that they will suppress this spirit. Let them
not
imagine that they will confine its loftysoul within
the bars
of a prison-house. Let them
conceive
not
that their denunciations
will deprive
and
anathemas
!
mortals
it of its vitality Viain and presumptuous
Victims
of a system of falsehood and imposture ! No !
age
the

is

now

"

21

"42

INFLUENCE

bid

let

them

be

still,

OF

the

the

their

in

Or

that

the

priests

the

on

fed

from

the

them

it

their
wrecks

swords
on

of

depths

and

faith
that

of

sceptres
of

for

cent
quies-

ever,

with

thousand
rages,

their
surge

remain

mighty

tainted

and

foams,

the

rule

bloody

have

they

be

ocean

shall

brink

earthquake
the

mind

No

the

the

calm,

human

tyrants
of

waves

Around

Like

the

SOCIETY.

powerless,

grasp.

not

Whose

And

the

not

stand

They

is

be
be

unholy

Fear

It

whirlwind

bid

ON

BIBLE

thunderbolt

but

stagnant,

THE

river,death

dells,
and
I

eternity.77

swells,
floating

see,

THIRTEENTH.

LECTURE

Friends

of

"

address

the

In
the

Bible,

recently delivered

observed,

that

original

transcendental.

or

many
from
the

"Word

writings of men
of
who
God,"

Christian
the

alleged

and

vices,

I gave
future

the

appear
There
is

Bible

was

should

were

have

left without

through
This

the

of

ocean

with

which

the
like

not

was

tainted

amongst
of

views

any

idea

no

means

before

centuries

Bible,

notion

and

composed,

no

exceptionable
un-

crimes

pollution.

was

point, promising that on a

enter
fully into the subject.
that promise.

redeem

vulgar

few

as

reputation

the

I would
to

now

lived

mention
very
instances
in

occasion

never

of

that

by

were

of

mass

good, and
be
better, could
quoted
knew
who
nothing of the

whose

authors

few

there

be

and

era,

found

Passages

much

instances,

in

be

these

but

the

characterized

immorality which
production, there might probably
passages,

Morality

the

on

amongst

and

obscenity

BIBLE,

THE

WITHOUT

MORALITY

of

right
rudder

moral

morality
without

that

and
or

that

Christians

wrong.
compass

before
Bible

the
We
to

the
we

should
steer

us

of life.

absurd, as it is gratuitous
and
the
before
Morality existed
presumptuous.
Bible
the Bible
existed, and morality will exist when
is obsolete.
We
find
of the
that
can
morality, and
notion

I hold

to

be

as

244

V/ITHOUT

MORALITY

and

highest

character

purest

BIBLE.

THE

mixed
morality utterlyunthe obscenities,
ties,
barbari"

uncorrupted with
crowd
the
mysteries,and incongruitieswhich
of the
Holy Scriptures,"in the writings of
of those precious
could
have
known
who
never
and

"

pages
men

lucubrations.

Morality,therefore,is perfectlyindependent of
Jewish

and

We

Christian

the

that

"

He

was

of

one

philosophy,

said

of

so

remote

livingat
with

ardent

so

gave
Science

nephew.
be

and

of

and

with

such

that

accuracy,
calendar, and made

His

do,

to

others

the

as

This, we
by which
Now

told,is
moral

the

300
into
was

so

far

as

to

wish

all

which

365

world

should

days.

have

more

were

singularly

do

alone

ticularly
parity
moral-

the

on

doctrine

very
"

Do

be

unto

you."

unto

"golden ride," and

the

the

years

600

before

Greek,

and

the
200

compiled.

years

Old

before

Christ

Testament

before

even

was

the

law

governed.

law, the basis of all morality, was

by a philosopher,who was
ignorant of
wrote

to

cian
Gre-

the

contain

to

not
can-

able

be

morality,

others

his

Though
acquainted

corrected

occasion,

to

solar revolution

the

in my
address
he
taught the

would

you

who
Scriptures,

born,

on

Bible, that
comprises
say
are

this

this

I mentioned

excellent.
Christians

he

ledge,
know-

estate

writers.

their year
doctrines,with which we

moral

of

Bible

determine

to

for

Thales,

period,he was
mathematics,

and
eclipse,

predictan

to

his

of

schools

thirst

of

548.

B. O.

the Grecian

care

the

may

are

died

and
his

was

much

owes

any

astronomy

of

the

up

Thales.

consulted

643,

the founders

he

that

the

B. C.

born

was

of

the authors

highly
History of Philosophy,"
Biography of Grecian

"

"

of

with

I have

authorities

respectable. Dr. Enfield's

The
and
Student; or,
Philosophers."
Thales

few

upon

Greece, commencing

ancient
state

book.

text

shall first remark

the

Old

pounded
prothe
was

lated
trans-

tament
Tes-

hold, then, that this, the

246

MORALITY

B. G.

558

He

blind

"not

Also

observed, "Make

faith
In

"

Paul

by

do,
you
like cobwebs

everything

"Laws

end."

are

thy guide5'

reason

inculcated

as

BIBLE.

he, "Study excellence, and

says

it."
the

THE

WITHOUT

and

Peter.

at

ing
acquir-

aim

learn

consider

to

which

entangle
"

the

thy

Cherish
lesser sort, the greater break
through."
friend."
"Reverence
are
thy parents." "Those

competently furnished
with
outward
things,act honestly,and live temperately."
This
great patriotdied with the conviction,
that "he
had left the world
better for having lived in
it,"not as Solomon, exclaiming, "all is vanity."
Pittacus,the next distinguishedauthor of antiquity
happy,"

from
wise

He

he

remarks,

whom

1 shall

of Greece.

men

"who

are

quote,

was

one

flourished

He

also,with Thales, as mentioned

the same
taught identically

of

the
570

about
on

former

seven

B. C.
casion,
oc-

doctrine,as that
of all morality,
which
is said to be the corner-stone
and which
Christians
pretend is so peculiar to their
Avoid
He
own
doing that to your
system.
says,
if he was
take
amiss
to
neighbor, which
you would
He
also taught, " Whatever
do it to you."
do,
you
"
Never
boast of your plans before they
do it well."
are
executed, for fear of the ridicule and disappointment
will be exposed if you
do not
to which
you
felt a supreme
Pittacus
accomplish them."
contempt
and disgustat that beastly habit, I was
going to say,
He
crime, drunkenness.
proposed from the public
of Athens, that
fault committed
forum
while
every
of intoxication,
in a state
the person was
instead of
being excused, should receive double punishment.
I wonder
what
Pittacus would
have
thought if he
!
had heard of the freaks of that Bible moralist,Noah
these heathen
between
What
a contrast
philosophers
!
heroes
and those Scriptural
wise
of the seven
of Greece,
Bias, another
men
556
B. C, taught that the value
who
flourished about
all price. During an
of knowledge was
above
vasion
in"

of

his

country,

one

of

his

friends

observed

MORALITY

WITHOUT

247

BIBLE.

THE

of preserving
surprisethat he took no means
anything, Bias replied,
alludingto the knowledge he
with me."
had acquired, I carry
all my
treasures
of the wise
a
was
Spartan,
Chilo, another
men,
and
of the
most
a
man
rigid integrity. He was
made
of the Spartan Ephori. He lived 542 years
one
B. C.
The
followingare a few of the moral precepts
loss is
inculcated
Honest
of virtue.
by that model
which
hint
a
might
gain"
preferableto shameful
be useful
of the present
to many
trading Christians
"
If you
are
day.
great, be condescending, for it is
with

"

"

"

better

"

this

than

Christian

Gold

is tried
u

by gold."
ridicule

age.
the

by

Do

many
Think

before

touchstone, and

despots,
speak."

you
men

tried

are
"

impossibilities."

desire

not

hint which

"

Christian

to
"

"

hated

be

to

of service

be

also

might
in

be loved

to

Never

unfortunate."

the

Cleobulus, another of the seven, taught a doctrine

much
in spirit,though less paradoxical in
similar
doctrine
of Christ's,Avhich
language, to that boasted
is said

Christians

by

and

"

Be

continue

such

to

to
; and
friends."

your

B. C.

kind

"

maxims:

"

hear

than

what

you

Avoid

have

to

yourself and

"

do

"

consider

they

may

that

they

may

571

in that

"

Be

more

you

you
whether

years

dogma,
also

his

desirous

to

followingwere

Before
when

"

that
lived

merit

any

The

excess;"

speak ;

to

friends

your
Cleobulus
be

bulus
Cleo-

enemies."

your
enemies

former.

the

to

table
pre-eminently chari-

so

your

If,therefore,there

it is due

be

Love

"

moral, viz.,

says,
become

to

home,

go

think

home,

come

you

have

amine
ex-

done

all well."
I shall

now

Socrates,the
in the

Bible

speak
Robert

of

that

Owen

illustrious moral
of Athens.

No

teacher,
character

compared to that virtuous

sage.
His life was
of exalted
one
goodness and utility. No
his teachings
and
one
can
contemplate his actions
without
feelinga better man, and few, I think, can
read
of his cruel death without, as Cicero remarks.
can

be

248

MORALITY

shedding
a

is

man

pieceof
good

or

who

that

was

whose

assurance

believer

The

man.

to that

when

that

"

in

the

unless

Bible, he
of

character

Christ

favorable

features,
tion
placed in juxtaposimoralist.
Dr. Enfield,

its most

of the Athenian

Christian

BIBLE.

gloriousanswer

and

himself,considered only in
falls quite into the shade,
with

THE

is

cant

Christian

be

cannot

Socrates

tears.

insufferable

WITHOUT

and

minister

of

historian

that Socrates
"a man
was
celebrity,admits
eral
penetrating judgment, exalted virtue, and libunited with
spirit,
exemplary integrityand purity

of

entitled

manners,
the
among

Time

derived
which

him

the

to

highest

distinction

philosophers."
of my
only
quoting a few of his
He taught that " True
is not to be
felicity
from
but
from wisdom,
external
possessions,
consists
in the
knowledge and
practice of
ancient

will

maxims.

admit

manners
virtue; that the cultivation of virtuous
with
necessarilyattended
pleasure,as well as

that

"

siderable
con-

absurd

honest

the
to

honors

things

separate

closelyunited
and

alone

man

virtue

as

riches

is

in

which

interest."

and

ought

happy,

be

to

and

is

profit
it is

that

nature

so

are

He

held

that

the

secondary to

quisition
ac-

The
of a
wealth
knowledge.
man," he beautifully
observes, "is like the
Believe
it cheers
it is set
not
nobody."
prove
praise all your actions,but those who reof

"

sound

"

covetous

after

sun

those

who

"

"

faults."

your

When

solicited

imprisonment,

he

by Crito to escape
nobly replied,"That

in his best

born

his

no

man

cruel
on

injuryfor an injury,"
tes
a philanthropist.Socramoralist.
Christ,when
a practical
essentially

return
any pretence, should
a sentiment
worthy of such
was

from

humors,
469, and died

Aristippus,the
about

promulgated
of morality.

365
some

He

but

was

an

theorist.

Socrates

years B. C.
of the Cyreniac, who
founder

was

400

years
very
was

the

before
sound

and

the Bentham

rished
flou-

Christian

epoch,
enlightened views
of that

age.

His

WITHOUT

MORALITY

249

BIBLE.

THE

He
held
that
decidedly utilitarian.
opinions are
the ultimate
pursuit,
object of human
pleasure was
rather in a pleasingagiand that happiness consisted
tation
than
in
lence
indoof the mind, or active
enjoyment,
"
or
tranquillity. Prefer labor to idleness,"says
prefer rust to brightness."
he, "unless you would
The
truly learned are not those that read much, but
is useful"
read what
who
those
a
judicious
very
"is
he
observation.
remarks,
cal
recipro"Friendship,"
"

"

"

benevolence
as

for

anxious

own."

"It

only

poor

inclines

which

to

the

want

money,
characteristics

illiterate want

followingis quiteequal to the

Solomon,
as
given in the passage,

child
will

in the

way

should

he

go,

and

boasted

when

the

guishing
distinwisdom

"Train
he

up
is old

he

"

it."

depart from

his

nature."

of human

The
of

the

be

to

for
as
person's welfare
be poor than
for
illiterate,

another

is better

individual

each

Aristippusremarks,
Young
will be
people should be taught those thingswhich
men."
useful to them
when
Contrary
they become
to the opinion of that
arch-apostle,Paul, Aristippus
ges
entertained
and advantaa high opinion of the utility
of philosophical
inquiry.Being asked by a friend,
is the advantage you
from
What
receive
phy?"
philosohe replied, It enables
to converse
me
freely
all mankind
with
a
noble, liberal,and enlightened
As much
could not be said for religion
sentiment.
;
especiallythe Christian religion. It teaches, through
its apostle John,
If there
come
any unto
you, and
bring not this doctrine,receive him not in your house,
bid him
neither
God-speed;" nay, says Paul, "let
be accursed
him
;" and Christ himself remarks, with
when
that bitterness
so
peculiarto him,
ye depart
his house, shake
from
off the dust of your
feet."
O ! how
nobly does the spiritof the heathen
pher
philosorise above
that of the Christian
bigot,morality
above
religion,philosophy above superstition!
We
will now
refer to Aristotle,one
of the leading
philosophers of antiquity,and
unquestionably the
not

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

250
varied

most

Where
than

THE

age.

322

of any
B. C.

better

definition

of

died

C., and
find

you

"Justice

following?
according to

one

of the

observance

BIBLE.

writer

voluminous

B.

will

the

every

and

384

born

was

the

WITHOUT

MORALITY

is the

of

virtue

his deserts.'7

"

Justice

He

justice
treating

includes

for the

laws

ciety,
preservation of sothe discharge of obligationsand debts beand
tween
equals.'5He also taught the followingexcellent
maxims:
"Learning is the best provision against
old age."
soul in two
bodies.""
Friends, are one
There
is just as much
difference
between
the wise
"

"

and

foolish

the

dead."

"

splendidsentiment.
pleasureis that which
Will

in that

sentiment

of the
or

Bible

of what

is

"consists

tell

you

Find

purest and
is

there

me

noblest

from

derives

man

ous
virtu-

morality

no

whole
in
passage
Virtue is either theoretical,

me
"

the

in the

consists

virtue

theoretical

practical;

good

equal it.

to

of the

source

the

"

Again,

livingand the
of delight;
"

life is itself a

virtuous

actions."

the

is between

there

as

due

ercise
ex-

in the pursuit
understanding practical,
right and good."
Happiness," says he,
"

"

in

conformable

conduct

to

virtue."

These

worthy of an enlightened and good

and are infinitely
to the Bible morality.
man,
superior
of the Cynic sect, proAntisthenes, the founder
pounded
maxims
useful
maxims
which
ought
many
sentiments

are

"

to

make
He

blush.
alike

of

some

cruel

had
and

sword,

sell your

man

of

on

and

inhuman

garment

one

occasion,

this is the

modern
it makes
it be for

"

cold

Christians.
many

of
and

enlightenment
to

practice.

more

carries

did

He

language

his countrymen
and

Christian

great antipathy

barbarous.

in the
no

modern

our

"

moralists

to

war,
exhort
not

Christ, "If
buy one,"

and

abandon

War,"

you
but

being

low-citiz
his felhave
as

came
be-

treated
humanity, he enthat demoralizing

said

off many

as

to him
person
wretched
beings;"
a

philosophy of not a few of our

"True," said Antisthenes,"but
than

it carries

if,instead
civilization,

of

off."

having

Well

would

more

Chris-

had

tians,we

few

251

BIBLE.

That

Antisthenites.

more

flourished

man
our

THE

WITHOUT

MORALITY

390

about

tinguishe
disbefore

years

era.

done
has
Pythagoras, who
than
any Christian,taught some
lived

He

he,

says

500
"are

the doctrine, of

Paul,
and

ignorant"

be

"

deeds

the

without

Bible

that

best

our

unstable."

and

weak

B.

years

"

admirable

maxims.

and

"Wisdom

C.

philosophy
virtue,"

defence, every other guard is

What
to
a
singular contrast
let him
be ignorant
If a man
is justified
"a
man
by faith
"

that

of

for

more

the

law

moralist, good

!"

of

In the estimation
"

works

were

filthy

as

rags." Pythagoras also enjoined, Do what

you
of
the
think
be
whatever
to
right,
vulgar may
judge
if you
despise their praise, despise also their
you;
If Christians
censure."
to
were
tion
practicethis injuncthere would
be less hypocrisy, cant, and
fession
prothem
than at present prevails. Men
amongst
afford to keep a conscience,till they dare
never
can
to keep one.
Pythagoras attached
great importance
of the rising generation. He
the education
to
marks,
re"Much
ry
forethoughtand discretion is necessaof children.
tiful
The
in the education
followingbeauadvice was
given by him to his scholars : " Let
thine eyes
hast
till thou
thrice
not
sleep fall upon
reviewed
of the past day.
Where
the transactions
"

"

have

turned

doing ?
have

great

his
an

have

rectitude?

What

I left undone

have
I

which

been

ought

Begin thus from the first act, and

thou
in conclusion,at the ill which
; and
for the good."
be troubled,and rejoice
Democritus
find many
likewise
we
worthy
He
was
highly distinguishedamong

In

to

What

done

done

and

from

of Greece

men

died

"It

361.

do

mischief,but
passions is more

enemy."

alone."

"

"

Do

and
is

was

born

470

criminal," says
wish

it."

heroic

than

to

"He

"not

who

he who

is open

to

timents.
sen-

the

C,
only

subdues

vanquishes

nothing shameful, though

Every country

ceed
prohast

B.

years

he,

to

wise

you
man,

are

for

252
he

MORALITY

is

sentiment

and
of

WITHOUT

citizen of the
is found

world."

in the

is in advance

even

THE

BIBLE.

The

following noble

writingsof

of

this
"

this age

"

great man,

It is the

office

it is

prudence, where

to
possible,
prevent injuries,
but
where
be done, a wise
this cannot
regard to
from
will prevent us
our
own
tranquillity
revenging
"
them."
We
often
told
of
that
are
ejaculationof
Christ's"
not
Father, forgive them, for they know
what
But this sentiment
from
Democritus
they do."
includes
all the humanity, and
incomparably more
exclamation.
enlightenment than Christ's famous
We
must
notice
now
mildness,
Epicurus, whose
aiid virtue,might have
taught a useful
temperance,
lesson
moralists
such
Bible
to
as
Moses, Joshua,
admirable
That
Samuel, David, and Solomon.
losophe
phiB. C, and died 270.
He
born 341 years
was
"
held
phy
Philosothe
following enlightened views:
of happiness.
is the exercise
of reason
in search
Those
things, therefore, that neither assist in the
of
of happiness,are
add
the amount
to
pursuit,nor
"
is that
value."
no
Temperance," he remarks,
discreet
regulation of the desires and
passions by
which
enabled
to
we
are
enjoy pleasure without
be impiTo
inconvenience."
ous,"
sufferingconsequent
from the illiterate
is not
to
take away
says he,
the
gods which
they have, it is to attribute to
th;,se gods the opinions of the vulgar." How
cable
appliis this definition
the Bible believers !
to
Epilikewise
man's
Since
it is every
c \;us
taught,
it is
interest
of life,
to be happy, through the whole
of every
the wisdom
to employ philosophy in the
one
be
ch of felicity
without
j ^
delay, and there cannot
a
jjpeater
follythan to be always beginning to live."
for show, but
We
not
must
seriously,
philosophise,
for it is requisitenot
that we
seem
sound, but that
"

"

"

"

"

"

we

be sound."

not
may
valuable

"

Let

us

repent of the time

endeavor

past

so

to

live that

we

most

sound

and

"
"

life of a fool is unpleasant-."

aphorism "The
"Justice," he wisely remarks, "respects man
"

254

MORALITY

I
*aken, replied,

with

of

the

the

an

theatre

great offence,that

so

brought

his

upon

he

trial,
they

had

who

the

set

(though

of

out

go

with

not

sentiment

Socrates

poet)

indignation,and gave
publicly accused, and

was

this

made

uproar;

friend

mouth, but

my
of

impiety

BIBLE.

THE

with

swore

heart.
The
my
audience
in an
intimate

WITHOUT

suggested an evasion of what

man
thought the most
holy and indissoluble bond of huthese virtuous
ens
heathsociety. So jealouswere
of the
smallest
hint that might open
to
a
way
perjury."
This
circumstance
fore
transpirednearly 500 years bethe
of Christianity. What
existence
a
glorious
the
Christian
the
19th
of
contrast
to
tury
cenpopulation
!
The
of Jack
admirers
Dick
Sheppard and
tianity,
Turpin ! In England, the grand emporium of Chrisof Bibles, churches, and
the land
parsons,
as

one

Dr.

Price

informs

perjuriescommitted
difference

the

of

nursery

heathenism

of

million

are

annually." How
ancient Greece, and

between

one

"

there

that

us,

the

strange
modern
the

"

rope
Euof

other

!
Christianity
1 will

brieflyrefer

now

What

Romans.
After

Seneca

are

must

Shall

we

him,

whom

in

all

us

as

her

injury

than

of
principles

he

of

it is

to

suffer

Pagan

shall

effusion

it is not

matter

lay down?

we

the

spare

every
A
!

How

creatures

to

of

hurt

obligation,to do

prodigious merit,
power
and gentle to his fellow man
!

our

one

more

to

one

She

another.

made

us

wretched

death.,J
"

Nature

great body.

one

love, and

laws,

to

bound, by

relations

mutual

with

small

is mild

man

all limbs

are

to

to

rules

ought

we

How
are

we

indeed, if

us

good

all the
We

that

say

blood

human

What

it?

cient
an-

teacher,
crime, and
asks, " How

monster

fallen

our

the

great moral

practice,war,

towards

answer

we

morality of

that

denouncing

to behave

we

their

says

Christian

eminently

the

to

who

Such
was

social.

never

inspired
ing
Accord-

thing
are

duces
pro-

to

the

do

an

moral

blessed

WITHOUT

MORALITY

that

lightof
morality is

no

"

Bible,while
a

the

Let

be found

but

morals"

can

philosophy of

than

man

to

255

BIBLE.

Gospel."

Seneca's

moral

the

to

the

"the

with

THE

be told

not

me

in the Christian's
be read.

Listen
no

less

Book

on

Roman,

another

In

illustrious Cicero.

his

truth :
following glorious moral
The
universal, immutable, and eternal law of all
intelligent
beings is,to promote the happiness of one
father."
like children
of the same
another
Again,
The
imprinted on the hearts of all men,
great law
the members
of the
is to love the public good, and
Is there
common
anything
society as themselves."
Laws

is the

there

"

"

excel

to

of

of

inspiredtext-book

our

of

inhabitants

that

people who

the

"

of

books, principallyon
of those
writings
Xu
volumes
Xu,
; and

first of

long
of

five

the

before

of

the time

had

are

the

or

Moses,

and

the

or

five
Tae

volumes.

Kin.

Xu

tant
impor-

more

Uikn,

four

ancient

great number

The

called

nothing

The
a

morals.

called

is

fortune
the mis-

knew

Chinese.

empire

vast

had

Cicero

Saviour.5'

"our

speak

now

me

Yet

Bible?

live before

to

Let

in the

this

It

writhy

was

contains

histore

kings and sages of the first ages, with thev

wise
The
second
maxims.
is
sayings and moral
called
Xi
a
Kim, and contains
history of twellu
in
moret
kings, written
rhyme, interspersedwith
the

maxims.

Confucius
the

book

is, "Think
third

The
ascribed

that

says,

the

nothing
is called

the

most

ancient

to

Fohi

himself.

The

universal

fourth

Xe
of
It

is named

that

moral

idea

is wicked

or

This

is

Kim.
all the

books,

cannot

now

Chun

Creu,

be

of
pure."
im-

sidered
con-

and

is

phered.
deci-

Spring
and
Summer.
It was
compiled by Confucius,and
of the rise of kingdoms by virtue, and
treats
their
fall by vice
mer
Spring representing the rise,and SumLi Ki, or
the
the
fifth is called
fall.
The
Memoirs
of Rights and Duties, and was
compiled by
Confucius,chieflyfrom materials previouslyexisting.
"

or

256

MORALITY

In this

the

exhorts

done
is

foundation

the

to

do

and

principleof

passage
to another

you,
should

would
you
this
only needeth

to

The

"Do

unto

said

law

and

do

not

be

alone, it

all the

rest."

"

24.

This
"Do

justsaying,almost

is

others

unto

if the

in the

would

you
Confucius
lived

Now

you."
and

that

as

what

; thou

you

precept is propounded,

morals.

of Fohi

would

they

another

unto

Moral

BIBLE.

Christian

followers

would

unto

of

hasis

the

you

not

THE

productionthe following moral

preciselythe same
precept

constitute

what

WITHOUT

"

as

Memoirs

of

wish

500

language,

same

do

others

before

years

unto

Christ,

Rights and

Duties," in which
this moral
be but a compilation,to a
is inculcated,
great extent, of moral
precepts previously existing
the Chinese, it is highly probable this " golden
among
rule,"said first to be promulgated by Christ,had
been
that ancient
current
people thousands
among
of years before our
This
era.
of originality
in Christian
want
exist

can

from

following passages
that
clearlyshow
injuriesfor which
lauded, was
taught by
the

of God"

"Son

thy benefits,"says
133, by the return
"

The

sensible

as

the

scream

over,

so

and

of the
a

the

that

writings of

the

boasted

Christ

the

few
as

pure

eagle is

man's

utter
rality
mo-

has

of

dogmas
been

fucius
Congiving
for-

much

so

moralists

long
"born."
was
"Acknowledge
Confucius
in his maxims,
page
of other
b
ut
venge
renever
benefits,

injuries."
following are

are

the

the Bible.

without

The

ere

fact proves
ethics,and

name

Chinese

Chinese
of

any

heard

when

remains
like

proverbs, which
Solomon's:
she

after

has

his

"

"As

passed
death."

ascending an eminence,
like
a
precipice."
rushing down
bird
the pursuit of wealth, as
a
ty
"Petin pursuitof its food."
with
destruction
meets
distinctions
are
injuriousto rectitude;quibbling
who
Those
violate
words
respect
right reason."
"Following virtue
pursuing vice is
"Man
perishes in

is

"

WITHOUT

MORALITY

THE

257

BIBLE.

thinks
honorable; but he who
lightlyof himself,will be held cheap by the world."
like
flies like an
"Time
days and months
arrow;
candle we
seek
In making
shuttle."
a
a weaver's
chamber
for light
a dark
; reason
; light to illumine
"
get
In
do
heart."
not forto enlighten man's
security
danger; in times of tranquillitydo not forget
anarchy."
find morality even
We
Persians.
The
Ancient
deem
Christians
this people a people whom
among
I opine, will
No
beneath
almost
contempt.
one,
the "light of the Gospel." Mr.
affirm that they had
defence
of Abner
KneeDunlap, in his unrivalled
tried for blasphemy in America
a
was
land, who
few
made
the following admirable
years
ago, has
remarks
the morality of that people, as contrasted
upon
that of modern
with
Christians,in proof of
I am
the position
pendent
maintaining,that moralityis indeHe
observes, "Illustrations
of the Bible.
that
from
morality can
history abundantly show
exist without
Christianity.Is there not a beautiful
in ancient
instance
my,
historyof forgivenessof an eneand magnanimity to a fallen foe,which
the head
of England in our
of the Church
the Prince
time
Regent of the British empire, had not the loftyvirtue

themselves

will

be

"

"

"

to

imitate?

allude

Themistocles,

and

Napoleon) by
archs.

Did

to

the
the

the

the

different

modern

Themistocles

heathen

and

of

treatment

ing
(mean-

Christian

mon-

Persian

real
king displaymore
the Christian
virtue than
sovereign? Themistocles
had
in Persia, and
repulsed the fleets and armies
raised the Athenian
republicto that pinnacleof glory
when
Britain reached
which
Great
the vanquished
foe.
The
a suppliant to a victorious
Napoleon came
of Athens
statesman
experienced the ingratitudeof
the republic,and was
sian
compelled to seek at the PerCourt, a retreat from the persecution of his

countrymen.
monarch

of

not

He

threw

that nation
22*

himself
whose

at

the

feet of

fleets he had

the

captured.

258

MORALITY

whose

and

entertained

with

assigned

were

and

friends
of his

of the

his

it denied

king, and

monarch,

of

greater

than

man

He

government.

conduct

said to the British

of

the

Christian

the

Themistocles.

even

received
Emperor Napoleon was
which
ought to have bound
Christian
people,and the honor

the
among
admiration

the

of

treatment

cities

illustrious

chief

objectof
Compare the

the

of

the

the

court.

prince with

and
the

was

forgotten

revenues

support,

Athenian

brilliant

heathen

The

and

in the
age
with
kindness

received

was

honor.

to

unfortunate

The

He

of distress.

depth
and

overthrown,

he had

armies

protectionand hospitality.Was
No, gentlemen ; all enmity was
of the
they beheld the great man

when

of

immense

BIBLE.

for

asked
him

THE

WITHOUT

under
the
of

stances
circum-

consciences

Christian

'

people,

I come,

like

Themistocles,to throw
myself upon the hospitality
of the British people.' But he was
ed
receivnot
Themistocles
was
as
by this Christian government

by

the Persians.

He

he

The

sought.
humanity, and
violated,and he was
of
in

the

midst

his cruel

famous

as

and

the tomb

laws

the

of

the

honorable

nations

"

precepts of the

borne

of the

exile

denied

was

ocean,

away

which,

to

after

the

lum
asydictates

gospel were
rock
pestilent
six

had
elapsed,was
agony
of the greatest character

years of
rendered
in

the

History. Does not the virtue of the

the most
of antiquity, and
most
powerful nation
of modern
strate
nation
times, demonpowerful Christian
that morality can
exist without
Christianity?"
Pantheon

Ancient

of

Hindoos.

"

In

the

Braminical

books,

as

for Thinking," I find the

Materials
quoted, in the
do honor
manity
to husentiments, which
following moral
only a few, however, of what
; they are
that there
is no
Tell me
not
might be adduced.
such
as
the Bible, while
passages
morality without
these can
in the writingsof a people who
be found
know
to hear
patiently of
nothing of it. " Never
and
is mischievous
to
evil, nor
spare that which
"

WITHOUT

MORALITY

wicked

utter

"

hypocrisy
or
dealing
"

lies

no

deceit

no

use

and

neighbor

humble,
keep your

theft,and

in

weak

the
oppress
offer any
violence
to your
nor
and
from
hands from
pilfering

trade

in

over-reaching

or

never

"

prevaricationor

practice no

"

259

BIBLE.

THE

"

no

"

way
different

What
a
injure a fellow creature.
try
our
Bible-loving,tract-distributingcoun-

whatever
scene

beautiful precepts were

present if these
practiced! precepts given long before Christianity
would

"

"had
a

habitation

will

till

civilized"

and

it

that

was

memorable

the

Indians

there

could

The

virtuous
"

given in Howitt's
Colonization,"p. 397
"

before

should

have

home,

and

will

vated
unculti-

of

which

"

characteristic.

they

only
of

the

in

were

one

"

ness,
dark-

religion,

true

Indian

affords

moral

plicity
dignity and simand
It
unsophisticatedrace.
History of Christianityand
Red
401.
Jacket
eloquently

want
an
answer
say
you
leave
this place. It is

you

as

one,
we

first look

fathers

this

tury
cen-

"

Brother, you

talk

be

of the

is

observes

14th

morality

highly
that

reply

instance
that

is

Cramp,

his.

of

unknown

might be proud. The

reply
Indian, Red Jacket, to the Christian

Missionary, Mr.
The
priesttells
and

of

views

morals.

Christians

famous

of the

Even

Indians.

entertained

race

inspired
people who were
a
period as the

late

so

challenge

"

our

American

the

"

of

any

which

and

name,"

notice

now

Christians

to

"

with

comparison
We

or

do

at

wish

not

back
told

have

are

you

detain

and
little,

us, and

what

we

your

right

great distance

to

to

you;

you

from

but

tell you
what
have heard

we
our

from

the white
"

people.
Brother, listen

time

Their

when

our

seats

animals

what

extended

There
say.
owned
this great

island.

the

setting

we

forefathers

The
Great
sun.
Indians.
He
had
other

to

from

Spirithad
created

for food.

the

He

rising to

made

the

was

it for the

use

of

buffalo,the deer, and

made

the

beaver

and

260

MORALITY

the

bear, and

had

scattered

how

to

take

served

them

the

He

because

disputesabout
settled without

day

over

them.

red children

THE

their skins

had

for bread.

corn

evil

WITHOUT

for

clothing. He
country, and
taught us
us

caused

All
he

BIBLE.

the
had

this he

loved

earth

duce
profor his

done
If

them.

to

had

we

any

hunting-grounds,they were
generally
the shedding of much
blood; but an

forefathers
crossed the
us
: your
upon
Their numthis island.
on
bers
great waters, and landed
were
mies;
small; they found friends,and not enecame

they
for

country

enjoy

told
fear

had

they

us

of

wicked

and

men,

their

We

took

they

sat

religion. They asked

pity on them, granted

down

among

We

us.

from

fled

small

their

own

here

came

for

gave

their

to

seat.

request, and

them

and

corn

turn.
liquors)in repoison (spirituous
The
white
found
out
our
people had now
carried
came
back, and more
country, tidingswere
took them
did not fear them, we
us
amongst
; yet we
believed
friends : they called us
to be
brothers,we
and
At
them
a
length their
largerseat.
gave them
had
numbers
more
greatly increased, they wanted
our
country! Our eyes were
land, they wanted
took
Wars
became
opened, and our minds
uneasy.
hired
to fight against Indians,
place ; Indians were
and many
of our
destroyed. They also
people were
us
brought strong liquorsamong
strong and
; it was
powerful, and lias slain thousands.
seats
were
once
"Brother, our
large, and yours

they gave

meat,

us

"

were

very
people,and
blankets.

our

small.
we

You

are

have

you want
Brother, continue
"

sent

to

instruct

have

got

our

to force your
to
us

listen.
how

become

now

scarcely

have

satisfied ;
"

You

to

great

place left

spread

to

country, but

are

religionupon
You

say

worship

that
the

not
us.

you
Great

Spiritagreeably to his mind, and if we do not take

white
of the religionwhich
hold
people teach,
you
You
shall be unhappy hereafter.
we
say that you
this l
are
right,and we are lost ; how do you know

262

MORALITY

it

suppose
to

"

your
of
way

your

from

some

was

WITHOUT

THE

BIBLE.

minister; and, if we
thinking, perhaps you

should

form
con-

want

may

us.

Brother,we

told,that yon have been preaching

the white
to
people in this place. These people
are
our
are
neighbors; we
acquainted with them :
will
wait
little while, and
what
effect
we
a
see
If we
find it does
preaching *has upon them.
your
them
them
honest
and
less disposed
good, makes
cheat
to
Indians,we will then consider again what
have

you
"

are

said.

Brother,you

talk ; and
we

are

by

the

you

on

have

this is all

going
hand, and

to

heard

now

have

we

part,

hope

will

we

say

return

your
present. As

at

and

come

Great

the

journey,and

your

to

to

answer

our

take

you

Spiritwill protect
safe

you

to

your

friends."
H

The

fused
Missionary,hastilyrisingfrom his seat, rewith
hands
to shake
them, saying, there was
the
religionof God and the
fellowshipbetween
'

no

works

in

O
the

of the

Devil.'

The

Indians

smiled

and

retired

peacefulmanner."
! what

Christian!

contrast

How

between
noble

the

the

Barbarian

and

of

one,

virtue

the

What

a
disgusting the bigotry of the other !
religion! What
glorious triumph of morality over
unanswerable
an
proofthat a people may be virtuous
without
the Bible,and vicious with
it !
Not
find morality amongst
only, however, can we
were
entirely ignorant of Christianity,
people who
but even
were
ignorant of any
amongst those who
religion Atheists.
D.
H. Kolf, in a werk
entitled, Voyages of the
Dutch
Brig of War, Donya, through the Southern
and little known
Archipelago,
parts of the Moluccan
Southern
of
coast
and along the previouslyunknown
New
Guinea, performed during the years of 1825Islands
726," informs that the inhabitants of the Arm
"
knew
yet,"
nothing of a God or a future state, and

how

"

"

MORALITY

WITHOUT

263

BIBLE.

THE

that the Arahe, " it is not a little remarkable

no
hope of
furas, notwithstanding that they have
rewards, or fear of punishment after death, live in
and
themselves
brotherly peace among
respect the
rights of property in the fullest sense.7' Another
extraordinary instance of a people utterly ignorant
and
of all religion,and
hospitable,is
yet virtuous
of the
in a
work
mentioned
entitled, Narrative
loss of the ship Hercules, Captain Benjamin Stout,
the Caffraria
on
Coast, the 18th of June, 1796, and
of
deserts
subsequent travel through the southern
of the Cape of Good
dressed
Africa, and Colonies
Hope, adof
Honorable
John
to the
Adams, President
of America."
States
After
the United
giving many
highly interesting and amusing particularsof the
I have
anti-religionof this singular people which
to
not time
read, Captain Stout proceeds to express
and delight on
his astonishment
finding"the virtues
and humanity practicedby men
of hospitality
termed
but who
by their oppressors,
put civilized
savages
Yes, our
society to the blush by their conduct."
and
soul-mongering nations would
God-worshipping
the
imitate
well
do
to
simple virtues of a people
afford to be moral
ulants
without
who
the pious stimcan
of heaven
and
hell.
How
nobly and masterly
Mr.
bats
Dunlap, in the defence previouslyquoted, comthe stupid assumption, that morality is inseparable
from
"I
have
Christianity! He
proceeds:
just been told by an eminent
clergyman of this city,
who
is now
within the reach of my voice, that some
few
little
a
pious Christians,whose zeal,I suppose,
out-strippedtheir knowledge, hold that morality is
of
exceedingly dangerous, as if induces the worker
this
righteousness to place too great a reliance upon
support, and, therefore,brings his soul into greater
peril of eternal perdition. The world has been told
by Dr. Horsely, a proud Lord in lawn of the House
of Lords
of the Imperial Parliament
in Great Britain
that- Unitarianism, being heresy, pven
the moral
says

"

"

"

264

MORALITY

good

of the Unitarians
of

such

far

from

heaven.

trine
According to the docmorality and Christianity
from

removed

If

BIBLE.

THE

is sin.

Christians,

things as

are

WITHOUT

each

other

earth

as

and

ever,
Christianity,howbe one
and
the same,
or
things inseparable,
how
societies formed, governments
were
established,
and
nations
raised to power
and
before
Jesns
glory
Christ
was
born, and the glad tidingsof his gospel
proclaimed ? Upon what principlewas
societyregulated
the
thousands
of
which
this
during
globe
years
rolled through the
in its appointed
fields of space,
of
circuit around
the glorious luminary, the centre
our
was
system, before the revelation of Christianity
of
there
mer's
Ho?
Was
made
no
morality in the days
of the most
whom
were
some
heroes, amongst
described
of fact
in any work
gloriouscharacters ever
there
no
morality in those
or
imagination? Was
the sages and chiefs of the Illiad,
heroic ages; or were
of human
the iEniad, ideal models
the Odyssey, and
bards
excellence,the fanciful creations of the immortal
and

of Greece
Never

that

crimes

so
an

of

character

we

him

so

of

Bible,I

would

rather

from
rality
Mo-

it.

book, indeed, which

basing
deso
revolting immoralities
"

absurdity !
whose

without

more

cr

monstrous,

priestsand

records

weeds

are

from

emanates

What

unfounded,
come
morality must
more

all

that

obscenities
"

"

statement

than
gratuitous,
the
Bible, and

details

Rome

was

alone

morality

virtue

and

butcheries

What
rises

impostors !
live

one

brief

the

libel upon

above
But

rible
hor-

so

the

Bible

dark
or

hour, though

no

it

of a Thal.es,
spirit
through
a
Socrates, a Plato, and an Epicurus, than
of a Moses,
the corrupted remains
all eternity,with
I
the one
With
Joshua, a Samuel, or a David.
a
The
the
other, degraded.
feel ennobled;
should
the
incite
to
teaching and practicesof the former
the beautiful,
of the wise, the good, and
attainment
and
but the injunctions
doings of the latter instigate

were

in

with
perditionitself,

the

WITHOUT

MORALITY

all

to

of

morality
Bible

the

"pure

which

reiterate,
the

that
pages

Bible

"

morality,
existed,

production
are

moral
the

is

closed

sound
and

and

END.

hitherto

has

of

the

sooner

intellectual

norance,
ig-

bigotry,

then,

existed

spotless,
will

of

persecutions

Morality,

and
the

was,

contaminated

which

morality

exploded,

is

arena

and

forever,

23

an

the

morality

and

intolerance.

excellence,
earth

be,

and

into

and

cant,

the

superstitions,

Christendom

converted

there

shudders,

humanity

before

long

but

little

The

promulgated,

7?

undeliled

vices,

vicious.

taught

Christianity

or

what

and

crimes

who

265

BIBLE.

and

cruel,

sages,

and

Scriptures,

by
at

those

known,

was

indeed,

degraded,

is

that

THE

triumph
sooner

its

will

mental

greatness

before
when

musty
erty,
libvade
per-

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