nary course of nature; and be uncommon, in order to answer the purpose.

Mr. P. says the most extraordinary of all the things called miracles, is that of the Devil flying away with Jesus Christ.' But the Evangelists record no such event; and in whatever way "the Devil took Jesus into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple; or took "him into an exceeding high mountain,” (Matt. iv, 5, 8; Luke iv, 5, 9.) the transaction is not one of the things 'called miracles:' it is not mentioned as effected by supernatural means, or without our Lord's free consent: nothing is spoken of his being carried through the air, nor was that at all necessary: and no miracles except lying miracles are ascribed to the Devil in the word of God: so that Mr. P.'s most profane ridicule falls on his own absurd interpretation of Scripture.

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The God of goodness and mercy purposed, as we suppose, to make known to mankind his perfections, truth, and will; and to shew them, in what manner he was pleased to be approached and worshipped. He communicated these things to an individual by immediate revelation, and commissioned him to inform other men concerning them; but the prophet might say, 'How shall I convince those to whom I go that God hath sent me? The things to be attested are contrary to men's notions, and practices; the world is full of impositions: how shall I be distinguished from 'a deceiver?' Now, what reasonable man can deny, that indisputable miracles, wrought in the presence of great multitudes, especially of powerful enemies, and frequently repeated, after having been previously foretold, would effec tually distinguish the true prophet from all impostors, who either wrought no miraeles, or such only as were ambiguous, or reported to be performed privately and among a few friends, and which shrunk from investigation, instead of challenging it? Can it be impossible, or even improper for God to set his seal in this manner to the instructions of his messengers ? To raise the dead is as easy to Omnipotence, as to create and preserve the living. The glory of God, and the highest good to mankind, are the ends proposed. Miracles, when adequately attested, are, in such a case, equally credible, with other events; and the miracu

lous part of the sacred history cannot be separated from those parts, which record undoubted facts, producing, even to this very day, most extensive and important consequences. The ambiguous and useless miracles, ascribed on very precarious evidence to some celebrated pagans, as Alexander the Great and Vespasian; which Mr. P. says, are as well authenticated as the Bible miracles,' only serve as foils to illustrate their certainty, and excellent effects.

If the miracles, ascribed to Moses, or to Jesus and the apostles, had not been actually performed; how could they have obtained credit among contemporaries? If the contemporaries had known or believed nothing of them; how could the next generation have been persuaded, that their fathers had told them these things from their infancy? And at what time could the belief, that these miracles had always been credited among them,' have been received? The attempt to convince whole nations, and many nations, that from time immemorial such things have been generally known and assuredly believed among them; and that they have from age to age, observed days and ordinances and institutions in commemoration of them, which were appointed at the time and by the persons, with whom these things originated; if the whole had been a palpable forgery, must have been spurned at, as an insult on the common sense of mankind.

The fables, which have obtained credit in different nations, had generally, if not always, some foundation in truth, however distorted. They never specify time, place, and manner: they do not appeal to living witnesses, and demand investigation. Had Homer, and Hesiod, and Ovid published their fabulous traditions in the same circumstantial manner, and with an attempt at attestations from those who lived at the time, and on the spot, and were eye-witnesses; and with such appeals to witnesses, as Moses and the Evangelists use: they would have completely defeated their own object. Should a fabulous history of this nation, in ancient times, be fabricated, and published with such appeals to its inhabitants, that the recorded events had always been known and believed among them; and were inseparably interwoven with their

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civil and religious institutions, from times immemorial: what credit would it ever acquire?

To illustrate and conclude this part of the subject, let us consider the miracle of our Lord's resurrection. The prophecies of the Old Testament foretold the sufferings, death, resurrection, and glorious kingdom of the Messiah. He repeatedly foretold his crucifixion, and resurrection, on the third day; insomuch that the priests and elders knew of it, (Matt. xxvii, 63.) and took their measures accordingly. On the third day, however, the body was gone: and they could give no rational account what was become of it. Eleven men, (to whom a twelfth was immediately added,) of sober understanding, and unimpeached moral character, unexceptionable witnesses in any court of justice, constantly and with one voice attested, that they saw Jesus alive, examined his hands, and feet, and side; that they had long known him, and were sure that it was he; and that at length they saw him ascend towards heaven. In support of this testimony, they renounced every worldly interest, and faced all imaginable dangers and sufferings: they, without one exception, persisted in it till death; and most of them sealed it with their blood. They were evidently and eminently exemplary in their conduct; and their doctrine was, that a forgery of this kind, however well intended, if not repented of, will ensure a man's damnation.

Numerous other witnesses confirmed their testimony; and the silence of their deeply-interested opponents, establishes it. The only original history of the first promulgation of Christianity, confirmed by various other histories, records, that they wrought divers and most stupendous miracles, in support of their testimony, and communicated the power of working miracles to others also: "God "himself bearing them witness, with signs, and wonders, " and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, Vaccording to his own will." (Comp. Mark xvi, 17--20, with Heb. ii, 4.) In the epistles written to the churches, they speak of these miraculous powers, as well known; even when firmly opposing the false teachers, and reproving their followers. Their success, beyond all probability, confirms these claims: and the existence and ex

tensive prevalence of Christianity after nearly 1800 years, combines to demonstrate the resurrection of its crucified Founder, and can in no other way be accounted for.

The testimony of the Jews confirms the antiquity of the Old Testament, and the reverence with which it was regarded by their nation many ages before the birth of Jesus. They admit all the facts recorded in the gospels, and in the Acts of the Apostles; except such as relate to our Lord's resurrection: and their present condition fulfils in a most striking manner, the predictions of the whole sacred volume: but it would be absurd to expect them to be direct voluntary witnesses, and to say the Jews are the best evidence concerning the truth of the gospel:' as if none but avowed enemies should be admitted as witnesses; and as if, when any of them was convinced of the truth of the gospel, and became a Christian, his testimony should be deemed on that sole account inadmissible!

CHAP. III.

Prophecy.

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Mr. P. would persuade his readers, that the prophets were merely poets or musicians, who made no pretensions to inspiration, or prediction; and that Christian Theologists have advanced them to their present rank. There is 'not a word,' says he, in the Bible which signifies a poet.' (See Acts xvii, 28.) The poets wrote in verse.' They played also on musical instruments.' What then? Did none but prophets write poetry, or play on musical instru ments? Did all of them do these things? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are expressly called prophets; (Gen. xx, 7; Ps. cv, 9--15;) though Mr. P. denies it; and says, 'It does not appear, that they could either sing, 'play musick, or make poetry.' He however allows, that the profession of a SEER; the art of seeing, a visionary insight into things concealed, became incorporated into the word prophet, at the time when Saul banished the wizards.' (Comp. 1 Sam. ix, 9, with xxviii, 3.)

The pagans indeed, ascribing poetick raptures to inspiration, exalted the poet into a prophet; but who, before our author, ever thought of degrading the prophet into a mere poet, or musician? The sober student of the Bible, and doubtless all candid enquirers, must find in every page almost, the confutation of such rash assertions.

A prophet, in scripture, does not always denote one who predicts future events: but the title almost always marks out a man supernaturally, and immediately, directed and instructed by God himself; except when false prophets, the counterfeits of the true, are meant. The argument, however, does not depend on the word. Did not the ancient prophets foretel a variety of circumstances concerning the Messiah? Did not the ancient Jews expect a Messiah, on the ground of these predictions? Did they not mark out the line from which he should descend, the place of his birth, his miracles, doctrine, and character; and the several particulars of his life, death, burial, resurrection, and kingdom? And were not all these exactly fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth? How absurd then, how foolish, to pretend, that moderns have dignified Jewish poets and musicians with the title of prophets!

Were not the predictions equally precise and exact concerning Babylon, Egypt, Tyre, Nineveh, and even Jerusalem, and the nation of Israel; and most undeniably and literally fulfilled by the event; as is evident at this day? Does not the New Testament contain predictions of "Jerusalem trodden' under foot of the Gentiles," and of "the Jews being scattered among all nations?" And of the corruptions, which would take place in the nominal Church of Christ; Forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats; worshipping demons, and 66 angels; drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus?"

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Have these predictions, (none of which were delivered in poetry,) proved unmeaning words, spoken at random? From a slight acquaintance with the writings of the prophets of Israel, even the Gentiles concluded, that some extraordinary person was about to arise in the east; in that very age when Jesus appeared. Virgil's eclogue,