Page images
PDF
EPUB

VI. How many books have perished in which poffibly there might have been mention of our Saviour? Look among the Romans, how few of their writings are come down to our times? In the space of two hundred years from our Saviour's birth, when there was fuch a multitude of writers in all kinds, how small is the number of Authors that have made their way to the prefent age?

VII. One authentick Record, and that the most authentick heathen Record, we are pretty fure is loft. I mean the account fent by the Governor of Judæa, under whom our Saviour was judged,. condemned, and crucified. It was the cuftom in the Roman Empire, as it is to this day in all the governments of the world, for the præfects and vice-roys of diftant provinces to tranfmit to their Sovereign a fummary relation of every thing remarkable in their adminiftration. That Pontius Pilate, in his account, would have touched on fo extraordinary an e-vent in Judæa, is not to be doubted; and that he actually did, we learn from Jufin Martyr, who lived about a hundred years after our Saviour's death, refided, made Converts, and fuffered martyrdom

B S

at:

at Rome, where he was engaged with Philofophers, and in a particular manner with Crefcens the Cynick, who could eafily have detected, and would not fail to have expofed him, had he quoted a Record not in being, or made any false citation out of it. Would the great Apologist have challenged Crefcens to difpute the cause of Chriftianity with him before the Roman Senate, had he forged fuch an evidence? or would Crefcens have refused the challenge, could he have triumphed over him in the detection of fuch a forgery? To which we muft add, that the Apology, which appeals to this Record, was prefented to a learned Emperor, and to the whole body of the Roman Senate. This Father in his apology, fpeaking of the death and fuffering of our Saviour, refers the Emperor for the truth of what he fays to the acts of Pontius Pilate, which I have here mentioned. Tertullian, who wrote his Apology about fifty years after Justin, doubtless referred to the fame Record, when he tells the Governor of Rome, that the Emperor Tiberius having received an account, out of Palestine in Syria of the Divine perfon, who had appeared in that country,

paid him a particular regard, and threatned to punish any who fhould accuse the Chriftians; nay, that the Emperor would have adopted him among the Deities whom they worshipped, had not the Senate refufed to come into his propofal. Tertullian, who gives us this hiftory, was not only one of the most learned men of his age, but what adds a greater weight to his authority in this cafe, was eminently skilful and well read in the laws of the Roman Empire. Nor can it be faid, that Tertullian grounded his quotation upon the authority of Juftin Martyr, becaufe we find he mixes it with matters of fact which are not related by that Author. Eufebius mentions the fame ancient Record, but as it was not extant in his time, I fhall not infift upon his authority in this point. If it be objected that this particular is not mentioned in any Roman Hiftorian, I fhall ufe the fame argument in a parallel cafe, and fee whether it will carry any force with it. Ulpian the great Roman Lawyer gathered together all the Imperial Edicts that had been made against the Chriftians. But did any one ever fay that there had been no fuch Edicts, because they were not mentioned

in

in the hiftories of thofe Emperors? Befides, who knows but this circumstance of Tiberius was mention'd in other hiftorians that have been loft, though not to be found in any ftill extant? Has not Suetonius many particulars of this Emperor omitted by Tacitus, and Herodian many that are not fo much as hinted at by either? As for the fpurious ts of Pilate, now extant, we know the occafion and time of their writing, and had there not been a true and authentick Record of this nature, they would never have been forged.

VIII. The story of Agbarus King of Edea, relating to the letter which he fent to our Saviour, and to that which he received from him, is a Record of great authority; and though I will not infift upon it, may venture to fay, that had we fuch an evidence for any fact in Pagan hiftory, an Author would be thought very unreasonable who should reject it. I believe you will be of my opinion, if you will perufe, with other Authors, who have appeared in vindication of these letters as genuine, the additional arguments which have been made ufe of by the late famous and learned Dr. Grabe, in the second volume of his Spicilegium.

SEC

SECTION II.

I. What facts in the hiftory of our Saviour. might be taken notice of by Pagan Authors.

II. What particular facts are taken notice of, and by what Pagan Authors.

III. How Celfus reprefented our Saviour's miracles.

IV. The fame reprefentation made of them by other unbelievers, and proved unreaJonable.

V. What facts in our Saviour's hiftory not to be expected from Pagan writers.

I.

WE now come to confider what

undoubted authorities are extant among Pagan writers; and here we must premife, that fome parts of our Saviour's history may be reafonably expected from Pagans. I mean fuch parts as might be known to those who lived at a diftance from Judea, as well as to thofe who were the followers and eye-witneffes of Chrift.

II. Such

« PreviousContinue »