MR. B.

The probabilities are nearly equivalent to certainty; the great difference between the two, as far as we can ascertain, seemed to be, in that the church at large adhered steadily to the New Testament, where the others were making all sorts of experiments with the religion, uniting it to oriental fables, or to Jewish prejudices, or to Grecian philosophy, according to their several tastes, and straining the sacred books as far as they could to suit their purpose; and some, more daring than the rest, claiming new revelations, or cutting out those already made.

BEATRICE.

Then some of the heretics did not receive the books we receive?

MR. B.

Jones mentions some who rejected particular books, but it was on the supposition of their not being genuine; an objection which belongs to a future part of the subject. It is, however, well known, that they were very few in number; that they did so from evidently interested motives, and supported their assertions by most absurd reasons; so that their authority is of no weight.

BEATRICE.

The great reason for their being accounted canonical appears to have been their being es

teemed genuine; and where the latter was doubtful, the former was uncertain.

MR. B.

Such undoubtedly was the case. The Epistle to the Hebrews had no name attached to it, as in the other Epistles of St. Paul, which occasioned the doubt respecting it. In the book of Revelations, the author does not call himself an apostle. In the Second and Third Epistles, he simply calls himself "the elder." Now these circumstances, though apparently trifling, might occasion some to doubt who did not live sufficiently near the places where these books were first published, and the doubt might be transmitted when the reason was forgotten, and thus an importance given to it which it originally had not. The conduct of the church at large in this matter clearly shews that the true ground of their being received as of authority, was their being believed to be written by persons possessed of authority, viz. the apostles; for wherever the latter was established, there was no longer any question as to their being canonical.

EDWARD.

But is it certain that the Greek text is altogether the original text, so that upon it Christianity may rest?

MR. B.

If it be not altogether the original text, it is

unquestionably the only authorised text. It is, indeed, asserted, by all those best able to know, that St. Matthew wrote in Hebrew, i. e. in the mixed dialect at that time made use of in Judea; and it is not improbable that St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews was originally written in Hebrew, but there is no question that, in both cases, the Greek text we now have was extant from the earliest time; and there can be hardly any doubt, that if not, in both cases, from the apostles' own hands, they were written under their direction. The original Gospel of St. Matthew, at an early period, must have become useless, on account of the state of Judea and the neighbouring countries; and it is not at all surprising, that it should be forgotten in the superior usefulness of the Greek for general purposes, even if it be not the case (as is supposed by many learned men), that having various additions made to it, by those who possessed copies, it became afterwards known under various names, "the Gospel according to the Twelve Apostles," "the Gospel according to the Hebrews;" till at length it lost its original character, and ceased to have authority as the original record.

as,

EDWARD.

Has there not been some difference of opinion as to the genuineness of the two first chapters of St. Matthew's Gospel?

MR. B.

Objections have been made to them, but on very insufficient grounds, and I believe the question is now set at rest; none denying their genuineness, but from an unwillingness to acknowledge their contents, than which a more absurd mode of proceeding cannot be easily conceived: for if any part of the New Testament be such that it cannot be believed, the natural inference is against the whole, of which it forms an integral part; but if the principle once be admitted, that such parts are to be cut out, because they are contrary to our wishes, there is no end of reasoning upon the subject. Similar objections have been made to the first chapters of St. Luke; and various passages in other parts of the New Testament have been marked out in like manner, where the authority of manuscripts, versions, and quotations, is quite decisive. There is something in this mode of accommodating Christianity to the wishes of individuals, that is to me peculiarly disgusting. It is unworthy the cause of truth, and gives no great idea of the talents of him who makes use of it. Questions of this kind should ever be met fairly, as they really are. The canon of the New Testament, its integrity, its genuineness, and its credibility, should be investigated with as much acuteness and with as little reserve as in any other case, and the truth be held, at whatever cost. I am under no fear

that our religion will ever lose by the full investigation of the really learned; but the proof of the truth of Christianity would cease to be a proof to me, if, in order to attain it, I was under the necessity of rejecting that from the canon which had ever been admitted into it; of violating all the laws of criticism, to retain or to get rid of a particular text, or every fair rule of interpretation in order to make the Scriptures speak a language in agreement with opinions derived from other sources.

EDWARD.

Since we shall now have to refer to the New Testament itself, will it not become a matter of importance what text we make use of, and what interpretation of that text we adopt, in case of various readings, or a difference of opinion in the commentators?

MR. B.

For the text, there is not that great difference which is likely to affect our statements, nor yet as to the interpretation of that text; in matters of historical fact, with which we have principally to do, there being a pretty general agreement.

BEATRICE.

If you refer to the Greek text, and to interpretations of it, and to arguments drawn from thence, it will be impossible for me to understand you, my dear sir.