cotemporaries. In all these cafes, the proof is fimply this, that fuch writings have been quoted and referred to, as the works of their reputed authors, or their cotemporaries, by fubfequent writers, without any confiderable variation, to the present time. Nay, we have much ftronger evidence for the authenticity of the most important of the books of fcripture, than we have for that of any other writings in the world; because they are much oftener quoted, and referred to, in every age, from the very times in which they were written, quite down to the prefent; which has been owing to nothing but the very great credit they have gained, in confequence of their being confidered as of the greatest importance to mankind.

Indeed, fo convincing has been the evidence of the authenticity of the books of fcripture, that it has been almost universally allowed, by thofe who have hated and oppofed the fyftem of religion which they contain. Neither the Jews, for inftance, nor any early writer among the heathens,

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who undertook to controvert the principles of chriftianity, ever intimated that they had fo much as a doubt concerning the genuineness of the books which contain an account of it. The four gofpels are particularly mentioned by Julian, and a very confiderable part of the contents of them are quoted by Celfus. Accordingly, these, and other early oppofers of christianity, admit the truth of the hiftory in general, without excepting what is miraculous in it; afcribing these wonderful works either to the agency of fome evil fpirit, or endeavouring to account for them in fome other manner, in which the interpofition of the divine being, in favour of Chrift and the apostles, might not be neceffary.

It affords an argument exceedingly favourable to the authenticity of the books of the New Teftament, that they were very foon tranflated into various foreign languages, and that a multiplicity of copies, both of the originals, and of these translations, were likewise presently dispersed into all parts of the known world, which at that time

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time abounded with men of reading and curiofity; and that all our prefent copies, both of the originals and of thefe tranflations, agree with one another, and with the quotations made by antient writers from them, in every thing material. We have, therefore, all the reafon in the world to conclude, that thefe books have not been materially corrupted, notwithstanding the various readings, and other errors of small confequence, by which all antient writings have fuffered in the fame proportion; and which were, indeed, unavoidable, unless every particular tranfcriber had been prevented, by a miracle, from making any mistake, which was by no means necessary for any valuable purpose.

It is only upon the leading facts in the gofpel history that the truth of christianity is founded; fo that if the books of the New Teftament come to us in fuch a ftate, as to contain a fufficiently credible account of the miracles which Chrift wrought, of the doctrines he taught, of his death and refurrection from the dead, and also of the miracles

miracles and preaching of the apostles, and the manner in which their doctrine was received by the Jews and Gentiles, at the first promulgation of it, they are quite fufficient to induce us to live and die as becomes christians, having a full affurance of a future judgment, and of a state of retribution after death. And no corruption of the books of fcriptúre, defigned or undefigned, can be fuppofed to have vitiated them fo much, as not to have left them even far more perfect than this great purpose and use of them requires.

It is alfo to be obferved, that the controverfies in which chriftians began to be engaged, even before the publication of the books of the New Teftament, and cfpecially about that time, and from thence to the prefent day, are of great moment to establish their authenticity; fince the writers in all thofe controverfies conftantly appealed to, and exprefsly quoted the books of fcripture; and in all the writings which are come down to us, we find the texts they quoted, every thing material, the fame as in our

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prefent copies, so that we may depend upon • it, that the principal books of the New Teftament are the genuine productions of the perfons, and of the age to which they are usually afcribed. And from this it will be made to appear, that they supply a sufficient evidence of the facts on which the christian history is founded.

The particular teftimonies of antient writers, Chriftian, Jewish, and Heathen, which demonftrate the authenticity of the books of the New Teftament, have been produced at full length by Dr. Lardner; and, as it would be too tedious to recite fuch particulars in this place, I must refer my readers to his most valuable work, intitled, The Credibility of the gospel hiftory. They may affure themselves, however, that, notwithstanding the authenticity of some of the books has been queftioned, there never was any doubt with refpect to any of them, except to the epiftles of James, and Jude, the fecond of Peter, the two finall epiftles of John, that which is infcribed to the Hebrews, and the book of Revelation. The authority