OF THE

UNIVERSIT

OF

The Positive Evidences of Christianity.

PART FIRST.

The Competency and the Credibility of the Evidence.

CHAPTER I.

NECESSITY OF EVIDENCE-PLAN OF THE WORK.

THE object of the following work is to prove the divinity of the Christian religion. To do this, the writer will endeavor to present simply the positive evidences that exist therefor, and to show by them that Christianity manifests a character that is plainly no less than divine. Confining the discussion strictly to this one particular, all examination into kindred questions, however interesting and closely related, should be omitted; but in the determination of the subject itself, under consideration, no pains ought to be spared to examine it in all its parts, and to apply every possible test to ascertain the truth. Rather, it should be the grateful duty of a believer to strive to show how the Christian religion, in every possible

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way-as well in the great facts upon which it is founded, its own essential nature, its attendant circumstances, as in its actual results upon the characters and lives of men-exhibits such supereminent characteristics as prove it to be divine.

In this effort, however, no attempt should be made to appeal to any other principles than those that usually determine the decisions of men. Christianity does not, and cannot, claim any exemption from the application of the ordinary tests that are used to ascertain the truth of things. In matters of religion, no more than in any other human affairs, is it to be allowed that questions shall be decided by partiality, prejudice, or passion; but only upon a fair consideration, conducted according to the principles which are universally acknowledged to constitute the proper test of truth. Only by proving her claims can Religion have any authority over us, or be entitled to our reverence. her evidences, then, must she first appeal; and in so doing, it is manifest, she must submit to be tried by the ordinary principles of evidence. Now, those principles are most distinctly and familiarly asserted and applied in the determination of trials before our ordinary courts of law. As used there, they have long been known and acknowledged as the settled max

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ims which the wisdom and experience of ages have agreed to be the just criterion of truth. To them, accordingly, we shall appeal; and, fearing nothing for Christianity in their application to her evidences, ask only that the reader will consent also to abide by their decision, and acquiesce in its result.

The following pages, therefore, will discuss the Christian Evidences in an order modeled upon that which is constantly followed in our legal tribunals. There the examination of the evidence presented consists of two main parts; and the inquiry is made-first, whether the testimony offered is actual testimony in the case under consideration-that is, whether it has any material bearing upon the case, and whether it is true; and, secondly, being material and true, what is its weight? Accordingly, such is the order followed here. The work is therefore divided into two Parts. The Second Part discusses-The Weight of the Evidence in favor of the Divinity of Christianity, and presents in its proof: (a) The Superhuman Facts upon which Christianity is founded, as displayed in-1. The Advent of Christ; 2. The Character of Christ; 3. His Teachings; 4. His Prophecies; 5. His Miracles. (b) Its Superhuman Results, in the changes it has wrought in the characters and lives of men,

and in its wonderful growth. (c) The Combined Weight of these several testimonies to the one fact of the Divinity of Christianity.

Previous to this, however, we must show that the evidence thus adduced is-first, such as is proper to be brought forward in support of such a position; and, secondly, that, being in its nature proper to be adduced, it is also true. Part First, then, will be occupied with the discussion of the admissibility and genuineness of the evidence.

At the outset we are met with the objection that no testimony can be allowed to prove the supernatural, inasmuch as the occurrence in this world of any thing that is supernatural, or miraculous, is impossible in itself, and absurd. A farther objection is also made, that, even if it were possible, no testimony is competent to establish the miraculous, since our experience of nature is that it is always the same, while that of testimony is that it is sometimes false. We must, then, consider, first, the possibility of miracles; then will follow the discussion of the competency of evidence to prove them; and next, the authenticity of the evidence actually adduced, and its sufficiency to command our belief in the actual occurrence of the facts asserted by it.

CHAPTER II.

THE POSSIBILITY OF MIRACLES.

Ar the outset we are called upon to show that miracles are possible. The objection is urged against the divinity of Christianity that all evidence whatsoever is incompetent to establish such a claim, inasmuch as it necessarily involves the occurrence of the miraculous, and the miraculous is impossible, because the laws of nature never vary, and cannot be broken. It is said that all things earthly are linked together in one chain of physical causes and effects, in which there are no "breaks," no "rents," but in which each successive being or event has been regularly produced by the preceding being or event, through the operation of natural laws, and natural laws only, and that thus there is no room left for miracles. It is farther claimed that there exist no ener gies or forces except physical energies and forces, and that "matter" and "force" are the only primary and essential agencies in the world, and the sources of all the forms of being. And it is moreover urged that a miracle would be an interference with, and disturbance