Tiberius' reign, one year and five months, then the whole reign of Caius Cæsar, three years and eight months, and then five years of the reign of Claudius Cæsar, make ten years one month after Caiaphas was dismissed by Vitellius, before Theudas was brought to naught."

But, further, the bible A. D. 33, is in the eighteenth year of Tiberius Cæsar; then, to the time of the death of Theudas, is exactly thirteen years, added to A. D. 33, makes exactly A. D. 46. Yet Luke makes Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, say, in "Acts of the Apostles:" ""After this man (Theudas!) rose up Judas in the time of the taxing;" which taxing, according to Luke's glad tidings, was, "When Cyrenius was governor of Syria ;" and, when, according to the second chapter, Jesus was born! and according to "Antiq. Jews," in the fifty-second year of Augustus Cæsar's reign!

Was Gamaliel Eusebius? Was Eusebius the author of the interpretations in Josephus ? Was the author of this pious forgery, the author of the various works under the name of "Paul?"

A great council was convened, A. D. 325, consisting of 318 ecclesiastics, besides presbyters and deacons, under the auspices of Constantine, the first christian emperor, who, "instead of uniting the character of emperor and sovereign pontiff in himself when he became christian, as they were joined in him and all the other emperors in the pagan system of government," gave to this council the seed-plot of “independent wealth and power," to establish the tyranny of the clergy and the servility of the laity. At this council the members retained, from about ninety traditions, only four called the evangelists. These were to be the four witnesses called saints, to testify to the fact of the existence of John the Baptist, and Jesus of Nazareth-and that John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod Antipas, tetrach of Galilee, and Perea, in the sixteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar; and that Jesus of Nazareth was put to the crucifixion of the cross by the Jerusalem Jews, under the procuratorship of Pontius Pilate, in the eighteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar. The council of Nice was, it would seem, to have this canon called the new testament, in Latin, for "the brethren" only. Was not this drama made not more than five years after the death of Josephus? Did not Matthew or Clement (in his "Euodius") lay the scene with regard to the conception and birth of Jesus of Nazareth in the days of Herod, the King of Judea ?

Did Clement retain the holy books conceded to Josephus by Titus Cæsar, after Josephus's death?

What caused the general insurrection of the Jews in all parts of the Roman Empire, but dreadful acts; and for what cause about the ninth year of Trajan, A. D. 107? Were there any apostles of the first century? Were there any such beings, till about the middle of Trajan's reign?

The design of the canonized gospels was to confirm one another's accounts, concerning John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth both being preachers! One as having been beheaded by Herod Antipas, tetrach of Galilee and Perea, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, because, as these gospels say, John the Baptist had, before the fifteenth year of Tiberius, rebuked Herod Antipas for taking his brother Philip's wife, Herodias, away from Philip, before this same fifteenth year of Tiberius Cæsar!

By reference to the Antiq. Jews, it will be seen that Herod the Great, about three years before his death, betrothed this same Herodias to his son Herod Philip, who was his son by Cleopatra of Jerusalem, and by interpolation in the "Antiquities," called the son of Mariamne!

But by interpolations a Herod and a Philip have been introduced, making two sons each of that name. One of each name has been interpolated, as have been the sections in Josephus concerning Jesus, John the Baptist, and James the Just. Herod the Great's will, will prove interpolation. In his last will it will be seen, that there were, after the death of Antipater, only three sons living, namely, Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Herod Philip. Herod Philip died in the twentieth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, after having been tetrarch of Batanea, Trachonitis, as well as Auranitis, with a certain part of what was called the house of Zenodorus, (but all which Luke calls Iturea, and the region of Trachonitis!) thirty-seven years. And further, that it was after the death of Herod Philip, in the Antiq. Jews," as translated from the Hebrew into Greek by Josephus, that Herod Antipas put away Areta's daughter, with whom he had lived a long time, and married Herodias, who was now the widow and not the wife of Philip.

All preachers are now invited by Mr. Jacobs, to show that when Herod the king died, he left more sons than the three whom we have named above?

Well then, in order to show who the writer or revisor of Luke's gospel was; who the writer of the acts of the apostles was; who the writer of the epistles called Paul's was-we think the great Eusebius, according to his own doubtful words, produced the

famous section in the Antiq. Jews, concerning Jesus. It seems that he was this very same Saul, alias Paul, alias Terteus, alias Eusebius Pamphili, associated with three hundred and eighteen ecclesiastics, at the council of Nice! The epistles show the great object of the council, that never intended the new testament, which was there made, to be for the people's use and reading. Now for quotations from the epistles. Luke, ch. ix., v. 20, 21: “He said unto them, but whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, the Christ of God. And he straightly charged, and commanded them to tell no man that thing." So St. Matthew or St. Clement, whether his was Romanu's original drama, St. Ignatius's, or St. Euodius's drama, but as revised at the council of Nice. Chap xvi., verses 15 and 16, He, Jesus, is made to say: "But whom say ye (the preachers) that I am?" 16, "And Simon Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God." 20th v., "Then charged he his disciples (Simon's preachers) that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ." The heresy was so great, that it had to be exorcised at the council of Nice. The father of this ecclesiastical history, a writer who could write concerning Augustus, Theudas and Judas, in the time of the taxing, as well backwards as forwards, was a miraculous and "inspired writer." Yet Jesus of Nazareth forbids, as the gospels pretend, his apostles so called, to make him known as the son of God, who was sent into the world to save mankind, and absolutely attributes to God one of the grossest absurdities of which the mind of man can possibly conceive. First Tim. chap. iii, v. 16: "And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness," &c. Epistle to the Corinthians, chap. ii., v. "But we (the preachers) speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom of God, ordained before the world unto our glory.'

The world should observe what had been written as to "The wisdom of Jesus, the son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus. His prologues," &c.

Did not these furnish the idea of Jesus and Christ?

As Jesus knew the Hebrew well, what motive could Jesus have for making a translation of his own work into another language, for the benefit of strangers? And why should Jesus himself say, “found a book" in " the time of Euergetes ?" &c., when this very Jesus lived five hundred and twenty years before A. D. commenced!

But to the quotations. First Cor. chap. iv., v. 1: "Let a man so account of us, (the preachers,) as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." Second Epistle to the Cor., chap. iv., v. 3. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” Our is what was adopted at the council of Nice. Epistle to the Gal., chap. i., v. 8: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Second Epistle to Thess., chap. ii., v. 15 : "Therefore, brethren, (Preachers,) stand fast, and hold the traditions (of Nice) which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle."

Second Epistle to Timothy, chap. i. 14, That good thing (The New Testament and the mystery of the incarnation of Jesus) which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. Chap. ii. 8, "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to my gospel: (the gospel of Nice). Second Peter, ch. i. 15, “Moreover, I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance," verse 20, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of this scripture is of any private interpretation."

The father is an infinite being, so are the son, and holy ghost. Three infinities are thus involved, the height of all absurdities! Luke, ch. viii. 10: "And he" (Jesus) said, unto you," the disciples or preachers, "it is given to know the mysteries," of the kingdom of God; but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." The Antiquities of the Jews," the 'Wars of the Jews,' ""the life of Josephus," and his "Books against Apion," are, in part, the prototype of "The New Testament," &c., see one quotation "Life of Josephus," section 29. "When therefore silence was made by the whole multitude, I spake thus to them : O my countrymen, I refuse not to die, if justice so require." And now see " Acts of the Apostles," chap. xxv, 11, "For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die !"

Josephus' life was written about the last thing he did about A. D. 100! This the Council of Nice's "Acts of the Apostles"-Matthew, chap. xxvii. 44, "The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth."

Antiquities of the Jews," Book xviii. ch. vi. sec. 2. (latter part) :"While Herod hit him in the teeth with his poverty," &c.

Ecclesiasticus, chap. xxxv. 19, "Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices," &c.

Luke's, Saul's, Paul's, Eusebius's or Council of Nice's Epistle to the Romans:Chap. ii. 6, "Who will render to every man according to his deeds." Second Es

dras, chap. xvi. 44, "They that marry, as they that shall get no children: and they that marry not, as the widowers."

Council of Nice's-First Cor. chap. vii. 29, "But this I say, brethren, the time is short it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none."

It is thus demonstrated, that the works of Josephus were in the hands of the writer, or writers of the Books contained in the New Testament; and that the New Testament was written long after the death of Josephus, aided by the sacred books given to Josephus by Titus Cæsar, A. D., 70.

The New Testament was then made, at the Council of Nice. The art of printing, Martin Luther, &c., enabled us to read the scriptures, that were appropriated to the clergy. Then it was that the dawn of science enabled men to advance further, to escape the dark ages-had permission to calculate the time of an eclipse, or measure the circumference of the earth! Romans, ch. iii. 28-the writer says, "Therefore we (the preachers,) conclude that man is justified by faith (in Jesus) without the deeds of the law." This is to justify himself and all preachers in future time, for the gospel plan of pious lying! Now for the 7th verse of this same chapter iii., and we think, that no man, in his right reason, can construe the verse in any other sense, than, that he admits his gospels to be a falsehood! "For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie (told by me, and my witnesses, Matthew, Mark, and John's traditionary gospels, vamped up at the Council!) unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?" Truth and lie are opposites-the one is of God-the other is evil.

If God cannot lie, he never entrusted that power to others. It is an assumption—a falsehood.

But the writer says, in verse 10th, "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one."

Now to suppose God capable of lying, would be to suppose him capable of destroying himself!

But Christ is placed as one, "Who being in the likeness of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God!"

All this is a direct declaration of war against God's moral government over human affairs.

As to John the Baptist's being first shut up in prison, and then beheaded by Herod Antipas, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, for having, as these gospels say, rebuked Herod for taking his brother Philip's wife, Herodias, away from Philip while living! and that too, before the fifteenth year of Tiberius Cæsar's reign!! In Josephus' "Antiq. Jews," Book xviii, chapters iv, v, vi, we see that it was after the death of Herod Philip, which happened in the twentieth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar; and there we will also see, that it was between the death of Philip and the death of Tiberius, which death happened three years after Philip's, that Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, put away his wife, who was the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia Petrea, with which wife he had lived a long time, and married Herodias, who must to a moral certainty, have been at this very time, Philip's widow, not wife! The amount of argument is by the nature of the testimonies, that Matthew and Luke confute one another, and are confuted by the facts of authentic history.

Jesus of Nazareth could not have been born" in the days of Herod the king of Judea," and also have been born "when Cyrenius was governor of Syria."

Captions." Antiq. Jews," by Flavius Josephus, Book xv., "Containing the
interval of eighteen years-from the death of Antigonus, to the finishing
of the temple by Herod."

Book xvi.-" Containing the interval of twelve years-from the finishing of
the temple by Herod, to the death of Alexander and Aristobulus."
Book xvii.- Containing the interval of 14 years-from the death of Alex-
ander and Aristobulus, to the banishment of Archelaus."

18 years.

12 years.

14 years.

44 years.

From the taking of Jerusalem from Antigonus, by Herod and Sarius, to the banishment of Archelaus, was just forty-four years. Josephus authorizes us to say, that "Herod the king of Judea,' ""lived since he had procured Antigonus to be slain, thirtyfour years." It has been proved that it was after the banishment of Archelaus to Vienna, a city of Gaul, that Augustus Cæsar sent Cyrenius into Syria and Judea, to make the famous "taxings which were made (decreed) in the thirty-seventh year of Cæsar's victory over Antony at Actium ;" and, when Herod, by the Captions to Books xv, xvi, and xvii, as above, had been dead and buried ten years.

If then Jesus of Nazareth was born as Matthew evidences, when Herod, the king of Judea, was living, Luke's evidence is as large an untruth, and as base a fabrication, as was ever palmed upon the world.

66

For Luke absolutely says, that Jesus of Nazareth was born "when Cyrenius was governor of Syria," and Judea, taxing the Jews. And Josephus' authentic " Antiquities of the Jews," declares that these taxings were made (decreed,) in the thirtyseventh (year) of Cæsar's victory over Antony at Actium!" And also, that Cyrenius was sent by Cæsar to make those taxings after the banishment of Archelaus and after Archelaus' country was laid to the province of Syria." Luke, ch. i. 5, "There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias," &c. "John the Baptist" was born in the living days of " Herod the king of Judea ;" and "Jesus of Nazareth" was he begotten in the sixth month after "John the Baptist,' was begotten?" Luke, ch. 2, Twelve years and nine months after Christ's conception, and upwards of ten years after the death of " Herod the king of Judea," and after the banishment of Archelaus to Vienna, and after Archelaus' country was laid to the province of Syria, and "when Cyrenius was governor of Syria” in the fifty-second year of the reign of Augustus Cæsar, taxing the Jews there, Jesus of Nazareth is at last brought forth, exactly between five years and a half, and six years and a half, before the death of Augustus Cæsar, and therefore, just exactly between five years and a half and six years and a half, before Tiberius Cæsar commenced his reign? At the time "when Cyrenius was governor of Syria," there was no such man living, as Herod the king of Judea.

Nor any such things as stated in Matthew, ch. ii. v. 1, "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem." No such, as in verse 2 Saying, where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we (the wise men) have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." No such thing, as verse 3: "When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." And all the other matters about Herod the king, even to the end of this whole chapter are contradicted, as if all, were a false statement. But, instead of fleeing into Egypt, and remaining there till Archelaus reigned in the room of his father Herod; and, instead of "Out of Egypt have I called my son ;" and instead of "He turned aside into the parts of Galilee; and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, he shall be called a Nazarene." Luke'says, that after the circumcision of the young child: "His parents returned into their own city Nazareth!"" And verse 41, he says:-"Now his parents went to Jerusalem, every year at the feast of the passover. And Luke says, verse 2: that Jesus of Nazareth was born, "when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.' The " Antiquities of the Jews," by Flavius Josephus, establish the fact, that Jesus of Nazareth, according to the testimony of Luke, was born exactly between five and a half and six and a half years, before Tiberius Cæsar commenced his reign! And, when Cyrenius was taxing the Jews, and disposing of Archelaus' house and money! And now for the angel's assertion to Mary," For with God, nothing shall be impossible." Shall God, whether he will or not, sanction the truth of Matthew's testimony: thus-" Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem," &c. And, also, sanction the truth of Luke's testimony; thus, chap. ii. v. 9, "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. : 10, And the angel said unto them, fear

not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11. For unto you, (when Cyrenius was governor of Syria,) is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord." Is it right to suppose or say that God shall be so unlike himself, and so like these two statements as to sanction the truth of any such things?

Others can decide on this impious boldness of Luke, Saul, Paul, Terteus, alias Eusebius, alias the council of Nice. If there be any error in all this, it is not meant by the reviewers. The fault is in the New Testament. Well, we have the child Jesus, now exactly between five and a half years, and six and a half years old, as we take Luke's 3rd chapter, verse 1, "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod (Antipas,) being tetrach of Galilee, (and Perea,) and his brother (Herod) Philip, tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene." There was no such tetrarch as Lysanias, at the time referred to.

Second verse.

"Annas and Caiaphas, (Joseph Caiaphas,) being the high priests;"

(there never was but one high priest at a time). Verse 23rd: "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age," &c.

Yrs.

D.

Jesus was six years and six months old the

6

Add the whole reign of Tiberius Cæsar

very day that Cyrenius arrived in Judea

If the evidence of Luke, or the Council of Nice, were the truth as to Jesus' birth, "When Cyrenius was governor of Syria," Jesus could not have commenced " preaching" at the " age of thirty years," until some time in the reign of Caius Cæsar! Nor could he have been "scourged, crucified and nailed to the cross," until about the second year of the reign of Cladius Cæsar, to be thirty-three or thirty-four years old at his crucifixion!

What is the true result? As Matthew tells the tradition by divine inspiration, that Jesus, and he crucified, under Pontius Pilate, was born in Bethlehem of Judea, at least two years before the death of Herod, the king of Judea, according to ch. ii. v. 16, Matt., "Slew all the children in Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof, from two years and under, according to the time which he (Herod) had diligently enquired of the wise men;" and, consequently, Jesus was conceived nine months before his birth!

Yet the same God inspires Luke to tell the tradition, that Jesus of Nazareth, and he crucified under Pontius Pilate, was conceived in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, in the sixth month after John the Baptist.

Jesus of Nazareth, and he crucified under Pontius Pilate, was born in Bethlehem, of Judea, when Cyrenius was governor of Syria, and taxing the Jews "in the thirtyseventh (year) of Cæsar's victory over Antony, at Actium," which was after Archelaus had been Ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea, ten years from Herod's death, and after Archelaus' country was laid to the province of Syria! Yet Jesus was also born "when Herod, the king of Judea," was living! The birth of Christ, according to Luke, is twelve years and nine months after conception, if Luke is right! As the conception was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea," and exactly in the sixth month after the conception of John the Baptist, "the days were accomplished that she should be delivered," "when Cyrenius was governer of Syria," in the fifty-second year of the reign of Augustus Cæsar!

66

Herod lived twenty-seven years, from the fight at Actium.

Josephus says Augustus Cæsar reigned fifty-seven years, six months, and two days, in all, and that of this time, Antony ruled with him fourteen years-to the fight at Actium. Therefore, Augustus Cæsar reigned alone, from the fight at Actium, just forty-three years, six months, and two days.

Augustus Cæsar reigned, from the fight at Actium,.

Herod, the king of Judea, reigned from the fight of Actium,.

Yrs. M. D.

43

6

2

27

0

So Augustus survived king Herod,.
Archelaus, successor to his father Herod, ruled as ethnarch over
Idumea, Samaria, and Judea, until in the tenth year of his govern-
ment. Now take these ten years,- .

Leaving of Augustus' life at the banishment of Archelaus,.

After banishment of Archelaus, Augustus Cæsar sent Cyrenius into Syria and Judea, to make the taxing, &c. Now add the twenty-seven years of Herod's reign to the ten years of Archelaus, equals "the thirty-seventh year of Cæsar's victory over Antony at Actium." Add to these thirty-seven years the seven years back, from the fight at Actium to the taking of Jerusalem from Antigonus, equals forty-four years, equals the amount of the captions of the three books mentioned forty-four years from the taking of Jerusalem from Antigonus to the banishment of Archelaus.

Mathew and Luke destroy each other's testimony.

Matthew says that the birth and time of birth of Jesus of Nazareth, and all other circumstances mentioned by him are true; there being no less than two warnings of God, two warnings of an angel, one advice of an angel, and the absolute fulfilment of five