denied the fact with impudence, in opposition to all these evidences. How weak is the faith which is due to a multitude of things in ancient human history! For, though many of these works of credibility are found plainly in the more general and public facts, yet, as to a multitude of particular facts and circumstances, how deficient are they of such evidence as should demand our ascent! Perhaps there is nothing that ever was done in all past ages, and which was not a public fact, so well attested as the Resurrection of CHRIST!"*

Ascension and Second Coming of Christ.

Of the reality of CHRIST'S appearance after his Resurrection, no doubt can be entertained, when it is recollected that he conversed with his disciples on various subjects and on divers occasions. Thus we are informed, that "he opened their understandings, that they might understand the Scriptures;" that is, the prophecies of the Old Testament. "And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And

*Watts's Logic, Part ii. Section v. Principles and Rules of Judgment in Matters of Human Testimony.

ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven!"

This latter passage, with which the Gospel of Luke concludes, is illustrated by the account which the same Author gives of the Ascension in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, where an assurance is made, that "this same Jesus, who is taken up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” And the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles describes at large the effusion of the Spirit upon the Apostles on the day of PENTECOST. Then it was that the missionaries of the Gospel began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance; thus empowering them to waft the glad tidings of great joy to the ends of the earth! They promptly obeyed the mandate of their ascended Lord: "Go ye and disciple all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; for lo!, I am

with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

The rapid diffusion of the Gospel among Jews and Gentiles, and the miraculous conversion of the Apostle Paul, with his subsequent labours and writings, only tend to corroborate the truth of Revealed Religion. Hence Paul nobly declared-"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: (Rom. i. 16,) for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." And he has this passage, (Titus ii. 11-15,) which speaks volumes on the subject of its morality: "The Grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works."

Having stated these facts of the New Testament, accredited by competent and honest witnesses, I would ask-Can such a religion be pronounced a cunningly devised fable, intended to delude and impose upon mankind? We have nothing to do with what has been added to the

Christian Religion, since the canon of Scripture hath closed with the sublime and mysterious Book of the Revelations. From the preceding statement we have deduced no system of theology, but enumerated facts common to all systems of theology. We are silent on the abuses, to purposes of ambition, of a religion whose Author hath declared, my kingdom is not of this World! We are silent on the bloody persecutions instituted in direct opposition to the mild and tolerant precepts of CHRIST. We are silent on the uncharitableness and bigotry of the several denominations towards each other, for charity surpasseth faith and hope, inasmuch as an apostle declares, the greatest of these isCharity.

At the same time it has been pertinently remarked, that " to reject the Gospel because bad men pervert it, and weak men deform it, and angry men quarrel about it, and bigotted men look sour on others, and curse them because they do not agree in every tittle with themselves, displays the same folly as if a person should cut down a tree bearing abundance of delicious fruit, and furnishing a refreshing shade, because caterpillars disfigured the leaves, and spiders made their webs among the branches !"

Individuals who are conversant with the Deisti

cal controversy, must perceive that unbelievers are intent on attacking the corruptions and abuses of Revealed Religion. But facts cannot be denied. The Credibility of the Gospel, by the accurate and laborious Lardner, together with his Jewish and Heathen Testimonies, sets at nought the stormy blusterings and bitter revilings of modern infidelity. The vagaries of fana-· ticism, as well as the follies of superstition, ever have, and ever will excite the contempt of men of understanding. These are the aliment of unbelief. CHRIST and his Apostles are those whom the humble disciple will follow. New Testament is the Magna Charta of our Christian profession. There and there alone we look for the doctrines we must believe, the precepts we must observe, and the institutions we must celebrate, imitating the consummately perfect example left us by the Author and Finisher of our faith, with a persevering and indefatigable fidelity :

In his blest life

I see the path, and in his death the price,
And in his great ascent the proof supreme
Of immortality! *

The

* To the honour of the age THE WORKS of Dr. Nathaniel Lardner have been recently published, in five volumes, quarto, price ten guineas. Catholics and Churchmen and Dissenters,