CHAP. IV. EXAMINATION OF DR CHALMER'S REPRESENTATIONS OF THE NATURE OF THAT EVIDENCE, BY MEANS OF WHICH THE CONVERSION OF PAGAN NATIONS WAS EFFECTED IN THE FIRST AGES OF CHRISTIANITY. THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE EMPLOYED BY THE AUTHOR OF CHRISTIANITY, AND HIS EARLY FOLLOWERS. DR Chalmers represents the conversion of the Gentiles to the Christian faith as effected e.rclusively by the exhibition of the External Evidences. Let us go back,' he says, to the ' first Christians of the Gentile world. They ' turned from dumb idols to serve the living ' and true God. They made a simple and ' entire transition from a state as bad if not worse than that of entire ignorance, to the ( Christianity of the New Testament. Their 'previous conceptions, instead of helping them, behoved to be abandoned. They saw ❝ the miracles, they acquiesced in them as " satisfying credentials of an inspired teacher; 'they took the whole of their religion from his mouth; their faith came by hearing, ' and hearing by the words of a divine messenger. This was their process, and it ought to be ours.' * The ground which our author here occupies, is altogether different from that which we have hitherto been employed in examining. The appeal here is to fact; not to principles of reason and philosophy. Supposing the fact ascertained which Dr C. has affirmed, disputants might still indeed divide upon the questions, whether the process by which Pagan nations reached conviction be the only admissible one?—and whether, supposing others admissible, that process be the best possible in all circumstances?-But still, if the fact be as he states it ;-if miracles unaided by previous conceptions, or by the character of the Revela tion, effected the conversion of the Gentiles; —then it must be admitted that this fact furnishes a much sounder foundation for several of Dr C.'s most important conclusions, than any of the other grounds on which he has rested them. • § 195. There happen, however, to be peculiar circumstances connected with this fact, which render it a matter of some difficulty to establish it in a clear and satisfactory manner. Dr C. has not cited any historical authority in its support. In the absence of direct evidence, then, it would seem necessary for the establishment of this point, to shew in the first place, that the previous conceptions,' entertained by the Gentiles, were actually as bad, if not worse than entire ignorance,'—all previous conceptions, (it must be observed,) applicable to the subject from whatever sources derivednot merely those which were drawn from the established systems of superstition.-Some circumstances will be mentioned in the sequel, which render the probation of this point, a matter by no means easy.-Meantime we may advert to certain facts, connected with the promulgation of Christianity, which lead to the supposition, that "previous conceptions,' however unnecessary and useless according to Dr C.'s system, had actually some share in ushering Christianity into general reception. One great object, if not the main design, of that peculiar system of polity, under which the Hebrews were disciplined, undeniably was, -to establish rational sentiments of religion, first among that people, and afterwards, by their means, among other nations. This whole economy seems constructed on the principle, that previous rational conceptions of religion tend to prepare the way for Christianity.* The foundation of this religion was laid in Judea, -where, by the institution of a system of strict retributive government, supernaturally sus tained for ages, the existence of an Immaterial Deity of all moral perfection, the witness and the judge of human beings, had been rendered an article of popular belief. No sooner had this supernatural system, under which they were disciplined, produced its proper effect, than Jewish families were sent into all quarters of the world, carrying with them their creed, their worship, and their sacred books, now translated into the common language of the literary world. The spirit of philosophical investigation, availing itself of materials found in the remains of Patriarchism, and in the Jewish system, had in the more enlightened communities of the earth, brought into question every principle of the established faith the human mind laboured less.un * A principle which pervades Dr C.'s system is, that Atheism is the proper introduction to Christianity. der the deadening weight of superstition, and had begun to recover its elasticity :-and freer, and less irrational conceptions in regard to the principles of religion, began to prevail, From Judea, Christianity accordingly made its way into those Gentile cities and communities farthest advanced in civilization:into Corinth, Ephesus, and Athens, Thessa lonica, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome. The philosophers, who were generally suspected of entertaining Atheistical principles, did not indeed become converts to Christianity; but among the people, who were generally well informed, Christianity struck root.-It does not appear that at its promulgation, its greatest success was among those who were least furnished with antecedent conceptions of the existence and true character of the Deity. But leaving this point :-In order to establish the fact, that miracles unaided by 'pre'vious conceptions,' or by the character of the revelation, effected the conversion of the Gentiles-it would be necessary, in the circum stances of the case, to lead a proof, either that the evidence arising out of the character of the revelation, i. e. the internal evidence, was not exhibited to the Gentiles; or that its exhibition was absolutely nugatory. Upon |