tinctness and earnestness, the sentiments and the convictions already expressed.

The Second Part of the volume consists of what, at the time of its composition, many years ago, was intended to form a portion of a general treatise on the internal evidences of the genuineness of the Gospels. This work was never finished.

The Appendix consists of one of the Lectures delivered by the author as Dexter Lecturer in Harvard University. It has been printed here as having a close relation to the subject of the volume.

It may be remarked, that many of the internal proofs of the genuineness of the Gospels are pointed out and illustrated in the Notes accompanying the author's Translation of the Gospels.

The few editorial notes are inclosed in brackets. Whatever is so inclosed is editorial, except where the brackets are used in the course of quotations.

CAMBRIDGE, February, 1855.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

REMARKS ON CHRISTIANITY AND THE GOSPELS, WITH

PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO STRAUSS'S "LIFE OF JE-

SUS"

INTRODUCTION

Mode of pursuing the inquiry concerning the internal evi-

dence of the genuineness of the Gospels, pp. 3-5.- Par-

ticular notice to be taken of the late attacks of the infidel

theologians of Germany on the credibility of the Gospels,

pp. 5-7.-Strauss's "Life of Jesus,” pp. 8, 9. — Impractica-

bility of separating the internal evidences of the genuineness

of the Gospels from those of their authenticity, pp. 10, 11.

- A main design of the present work is to remove errors

which obscure these evidences, p. 12.- - An essential error

of this kind is the doctrine that the Gospels are infallible

books, written by divine inspiration, p. 13.- Remarks on

this doctrine, pp. 13-17.

-

CHAPTER I.

• 1

3

GENERAL REMARKS ON STRAUSS'S THEORY OF THE ORIGIN

OF CHRISTIANITY

Essentially coincident with speculations advanced by Volney,

pp. 18-20.-General view of his theory, pp. 20-31.— It

supposes, that some among the Jews converted their imagi-

nations of an expected Messiah into fictions concerning

Jesus, which were afterwards embodied in the Gospels, pp.

20, 21; — that these fictions or mythi were not generally

--

a*

18

-

intentional falsehoods, the Apostles and their associates not

being responsible for them, pp. 21-27; — and that most of

them became current before the destruction of Jerusalem,

p. 27.-Explanation of their rapid growth and recep-

tion among the Jews, pp. 28-31. Remarks on this

theory, pp. 31-45.-The innocent impostors who prop-

agated these mythi concerning Jesus must have been

everywhere contradicted by those acquainted with his

history, pp. 31-33.- Impossible that they should have

succeeded in imposing them on the whole Christian world

as the original accounts of the Apostles and their asso-

ciates, pp. 34, 35. Another part of their task con-

sisted in identifying the history of Jesus with the Jewish

anticipations concerning the Messiah, p. 36. No attempt

could be more hopeless or more foolish, pp. 37–39. — The

communication of Christianity to the Gentile world not ex-

plained by Strauss, p. 39.- Necessary inferences from his

theory on this point contrary to indisputable facts, pp. 40,

- Character and facilities of those by whom, according

to his theory, Christianity must be supposed to have been

established in the heathen world, pp. 42-44.- Impossible

that such agents should have succeeded under such circum-

stances, pp. 44, 45.- Concluding remarks, p. 46.

41.

-

General remarks, pp. 47, 48.— Account of the infidel theory

prevalent in Germany previously to that of Strauss, p. 49.

Concerning these theories some preliminary considera-

tions to be attended to, p. 49. — Extraordinary phenomena

to be accounted for by him who reasons against the divine

origin of our religion, whatever period he may assign for

the commencement of its authentic history, pp. 50 – 62. –

The existence of Christianity and its results in the last

quarter of the second century, pp. 50–52. — (The character

of our religion such as to compel the reverence of those who

deny its divine origin, pp. 52-54.) The conception of

Jesus presented in the Gospels, and the view given in them

47

of his character and his ministry, pp. 54-62.- How are
these phenomena to be accounted for by unbelievers?
The theories of modern infidel writers may be resolved into
one, pp. 62-64.

CHAPTER III.

EXAMINATION OF STRAUSS's Two FUNDAMENTAL PRINCI-

PLES OF CRITICISM

Strauss's work mainly occupied by an attack on the credibility

and genuineness of the Gospels, p. 65. - Statement of two

principles of criticism laid down by him as tests to determine

that an account is not to be believed, p. 66. — Remarks on

the first of these principles, the impossibility of a miracle,

pp. 66, 67. — Remarks on the second of these principles, -

that an account which lays claim to historical value must not

contradict other accounts, pp. 6770.- Illustration of the

character of Strauss's criticism on the Gospels by applying

his process to the accounts of the assassination of Cæsar, pp.

70-82. Such criticism inapplicable to human testimony,

p. 82. Want of complete agreement between narratives of

the same event not inconsistent with their essential truth,

pp. 82, 83.—The discrepances among the Gospels of such a

character as to confirm their authenticity, but disprove their

inspiration, pp. 84, 85.- Used by Strauss, however, in the

attempt to disprove their authenticity and genuineness con-

sidered as the proper works of human authors, p. 85.- This

use not new, p. 85.- Example from Paine's "Age of Rea-

son," pp. 85, 86. — First part of Strauss's work occupied with

a prolix discussion of the difficulties in the first two chapters

of Matthew and the first two chapters of Luke, p. 87.- Re-

marks on his argument, pp. 87–93. — Neither the supposed

errors of the Evangelists in these chapters, nor the incon-

sistencies between the two narratives, discredit the fact of

the miraculous birth of our Lord, pp. 93–95.— But the only

question to be settled is, Do, or do not, the Gospels present

such appearances as to make it evident, or to create a pre-

sumption, that their writers were not well informed and

trustworthy witnesses respecting the events of the public

-

65

-

ministry of Jesus? p. 95.- Not to be confounded with the

question, whether the narratives in the Gospels are free

from error, p. 96. — The conclusion arrived at by Strauss

that the Gospels are not genuine invalidates his arguments

against the truth of Christianity, pp. 96, 97. Supposing

the truth of our religion, if the Gospels were not written till

the second century, it would be altogether unreasonable to

expect that they would be exposed to fewer objections than

he has urged against them, pp. 97, 98. To prove the gen-

uineness of the Gospels is to prove the truth of Christianity,

but to disprove their genuineness is no step toward dis-

proving its truth, pp. 98-100.-Influence of the work of

Strauss, pp. 100, 101. Its characteristic tone, p. 102.

-

-

CHAPTER IV.

-

ON SOME IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GOSPELS 103

The Gospels as literary compositions, pp. 103-115.-They are

among the most imperfect of histories, pp. 103-105. They

imply that the great outlines of the ministry of Jesus, and

many circumstances connected with his history, were already

known to their readers, pp. 105, 106. — Their accounts of

our Lord's appearances after his resurrection an example of

the manner in which they assume the existence of knowl-

edge on the part of their readers beyond what they furnish,

pp. 106-108.- True character of the Gospels, and purpose

for which they were written, pp. 109, 110.— Want of skill

in the Evangelists as literary artists, pp. 110, 111.- The

Gospels in construction and style correspond to the charac-

ter and circumstances of their authors, p. 111.- The char-

acter of the Gospels exposes them to the attacks of minute

criticism, p. 111.- Difficulties disappear in proportion to

the justness of our conceptions and the extent of our knowl-

edge of the circumstances of their composition, p. 112. —

Two classes of difficulties, pp. 112, 113.-The defects of

the Gospels as literary compositions afford striking evidence

of their authenticity, pp. 113-115.- General ignorance

concerning the true character of the Gospels, and conse-

quent incorrect conceptions of Christianity, pp. 115–120.