than was adopted by the only two gentlemen who thought proper to make any public attack upon the first edition, by clearly reconciling the several objectionable passages, as the scriptures really exist, without recurring either to any human authority, or to a fanciful transposition of paragraphs, or to hypothetical systems unwarranted by the Gospels themselves; for, by such means, a man of a fertile imagination may possibly frame an ideal history of Jesus, which may comprehend the most incongruous circumstances, as geometricians can contrive to draw a circle of some diameter or other through any three points which lie not in a right line; but, if such modes of interpreting scripture may be allowed, the most ingenious novel-writer will make the ablest commentator; and in removing the difficulties of the evangelical histories, will far surpass the efforts of the most learned doctors of Christendom. TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Section. Page 21 26 I. General remarks upon the contents of the Evangelical Histories, and the historical evidence of their authenticity.. 17 II. The only certain evidence of the truth of any Divine Revelation III. Reasons why the testimony of those writers whom the Church call Orthodox, cannot afford us satisfaction........ IV. Further reasons for not admitting the testimony of the Fathers of the Church, of the second and third centuries.. 30 V. Still greater defects in their testimony, derived from the received maxim of those schools of Philosophy in which they had all been educated VI. Reasons for preferring the Histories of Luke, and making them the standard of comparison between the Evangelical Histories CHAP. I.-Gospel according to Luke. I. Remarks on the style and composition of this Gospel-Cor- II. Interpolations in the Lord's Prayer-Baptism of Jesus- ..... III. One of greater importance in the two first chapters-Some others of less moment CHAP. II.-Gospel according to Luke continued. I. Agreement between the internal and external evidence in favour of Luke's Histories-Supernatural testimony also necessary to prove the truth of any historian of a divine revelation II. Miracles recorded in this Gospel 33 38 44 #59 *57 83 85 The Sections in the pages marked thus (*), were omitted in the printing; But the fresh paragraph in each, denotes where they ought to have been inserted III. Prophecies-Two of the Baptist-Of fasting-Of the death and resurrection of Jesus-Of the kingdom of God IV. Destruction of Jerusalem-Parable of the mustard-seed and leaven-Doctrine of atonement-Whether few shall be V. The suddenness of the Jewish destruction-The unjust. VI. Review of the evidence in favour of this Gospel Silas, 72 the real author of this History, and of the Acts of the Apostles-Reflections on the evidence of the authenticity, CHAP. III Gospel according to Matthew.⠀⠀⠀ II. Observation respecting the two first chapters The Au- thor's genealogy of Jesus-Its inconsistency with his own purpose-Misapplication of the celebrated prophecy of Isaiah Ditto of the prophecy of Micah-Fable of the magi and star-Ditto of Herod's massacre of the inno- cents-Perversion of a prophecy of Hosea-Ditto of one of Jeremiah-A fictitious prophecy not to be found-The III. Remarks on the history of John's baptism-The author ignorant of the meaning of the kingdom of God-Direct contradiction to Silas or Luke-Our Lord's forty days IV. Instance of the author's imperfect knowledge of Palestine -Contradiction to Luke-Decapolis-No such country— CHAP. IV. Gospel according to Matthew continued. Section. Page. I. The Sermon upon the Mount-Improbable that it was delivered at such time and place-Its assertion respecting the Law contradictory to the Prophets of both Covenants -That the Lord's Prayer was taught at this time, inconsistent with Luke's History-Inconsistency of the directions given for fasting-Casting pearls before swine.... 173 II. Miracle of healing the Centurion's servant-Of the demons in the herd of swine-Enumeration of the names of the twelve Apostles-Kingdom of Heaven suffering violence, and taken forcibly by violent men-Another misapplication of this writer of one of the old prophecies-The author ignorant of the meaning of the sign which Jonah was to the Ninevites fII. Remarks on the parables of this writer compared with those ..... 184 192 202 V. Parable of the householder hiring labourers into his vineyard -Misapprehension of the writer of Zechariah's meaning in the words," an ass and a colt, the foal of an ass"-Parable of the man who had two sons-Parable of the householder who planted a vineyard and let it out-Parable of the king who made a marriage for his son .... 200 VI. Inconsistency of this writer with Luke, in the time assigned for our Lord's making his pathetic ejaculation over Jerusalem-Parable of the ten virgins-Ditto of the talents-This writer's description of the day of judgment -History of the institution of the Lord's Supper, and its inconsistency with that of Luke VII. Subsequent contradictions between this writer and Luke, to the conclusion of his Gospel, which infallibly prove that one of them is fabulous and false .... 218 ... 227 a Section. Page. VIII, Miracles of Jesus recorded by this writer-Testimony of the prophecies recorded in this Gospel-Prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem CHAP. V.-Gospel according to Mark, I. General remarks-Style in which it is written-Its manner of beginning-And contradictory conclusionEnumeration of the names of the Apostles-Parable of the sower 249 256 II. That the Apostles anointed the sick-they healed with oil— Origin of extreme unction-Jesus curing a person deaf and dumb-Inconsistency of this Gospel with both the preceding, respecting the sign of the Prophet JonasJesus giving sight to a blind man-Prophecy of the recompense of persecuted Christians, even in the present life Prediction respecting Peter's denying his Master.. 261 CHAP. VI. Gospel according to John. .... 262 I. Remarks on the style in which this Gospel is written- ..... III. His contradiction to Luke, in the circumstances which preceded, accompanied, and followed our Lord's crucifixion .... 274 284 |