centuries before the Christian era. But here are the Jews, a people naturally inferior to the Greeks and Romans, who have a history of the world, dating from the creation, or, at least, thirty-six hundred years before the dawn of any other reliable history on earth. Since history has become a science, it has been found that that of the Bible, will stand all those tests, which are applied to true history of the most modern date. Could the Hebrews have prepared such a history without Divine aid? All must acknowledge that, upon the hypothesis, that the record is merely human, it is without a parallel on earth. Let the case be as it may, it is an event that stands alone, and hence we think savors much of a miracle.

But when the day of reliable history does dawn upon the Gentile world, there is no lack of testimony corroborative of Biblical history. Longinus, who lived about 250 B. C.; Manetho, 180 B. C.; Strabo, 54 B. C.; Diodorus Siculus, 44 B. C.; Juvenal, 40 A. D.; Porphyry, 233 A. D.; and Julian, 331 A. D. with many others, speak of Moses, as the leader of the Jews, and the giver of their laws. This was never denied in the primitive age of Christianity.

The departure of the Israelites from Egypt, and their passage through the Red Sea, are mentioned by Berosus, the Babylonian historian, who lived about 260 B. C., by Strabo, Diodonus Siculus, Numerius, Justin and Tacitus.*

*The testimony of the above authors, are given in full in Faber's: Horæ Mosaicæ, volume 1: pages 146–170; and in Bishop New-ton's Dissertation on Moses and his writings. Works, volume I:: pages 32-40: 8 vo. edition.

The testimonies of Jewish adversaries show that Jesus Christ was no myth, but had a real existence. The genuineness of the important passage in Josephus, will be found ably vindicated in the appendix of Horne's Introduction.*

The TALMUDS, though full of falsehood and invectives against Jesus Christ, still admit his existence; say that he was the son of Mary; that he could work miracles, which they ascribe to his knowledge of Egyptian magic; that two witnesses were suborned to swear against him; that he was crucified on the eve of the passover; and some of his disciples are called by name. These accounts of the Talmuds are blended with the most violent and manifestly false accusations against Jesus and his mother Mary. They prove, however, that such a person existed.

The testimonies of heathen adversaries to the reality of our Saviour's existence, are no less striking. According to Eusebius, PONTIUS PILATE informed the Roman Emperor of the resurrection and miracles of Christ.

Of the historians who mention him, we may refer to Suetonius who flourished A. D. 116, Tacitus A. D. 110, The Younger Pliney A. D. 107, Ælius Lampridus, A. D. 222, Celsus A. D. 290, Porphyry A. D. 390, Julian A. D. 350. All these were violent enemies to our Saviour, and express themselves with the greatest bitterness.

They prove, however, all we were anxious to prove at present the reality of his being,-and hence the truthfulness of New Testament history. They write just as we

*Josephus Ant. Book XVIII. chap. 3, sec. 3.

+For their testimony in full, see Horne, pages 81–83.

should suppose enemies would write, but in giving vent to their malevolence, God causes "the wrath of man to praise him."

Thus traditions, antiquities and history, confirm the truth of God's word. We do not suppose the Bible absolutely needs such witnesses, though it is a pleasing fact that every new discovery in nature, searching from "one side of heaven unto the other," voluntarily adds its voice to natures ten thousand tongues, that God's Word is TRUTH.

LECTURE XXII.

AGREEMENT OF GEOLOGY WITH THE BIBLE.

TRUTH SHALL SPRING OUT OF THE EARTH; AND RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL LOOK DOWN FROM HEAVEN.-Psalms 85: 11.

The truths of science bear an important testimony to the truths of revelation.

It is, however, a fact, that about every science, when in its incipient state, has been arrayed against revelation. Astronomy, chemistry, natural history, the study of language, mental and moral science, history, and, last of all, geology, have all been thought to conflict with the accounts given in Scripture; thus setting the God of nature, and the author of the Bible, at variance. But in process of time, it has been seen and acknowledged, that the clashing was not between nature and the Bible, but between the interpretations, the philosopher gives of nature's language, and the interpretations given by the Divine, of the language of the Scriptures. Just so far as nature and the Bible are understood, they must speak the same language.

It is our object, in this lecture, to show that the facts, recently discovered in geological science, so far from invalidating the truth of the Bible, go to substantiate its teachings.

In discussing a subject like this, I labor under two serious difficulties. First-It is extremely difficult to bring enough of the subject into one lecture to make it clear and comprehensible. You will, therefore, be under the necessity of taking many principles for granted, in regard to which all respectable geologists are agreed; not because their proof might not be easily given, but because our limits will not admit of entering into the argument. Second -It is difficult to treat a subject like this, without using technical terms, and nothing is worse persecution to plain common-sense people, than the unintelligible language aqueous and igneous rocks, fossils and strata. We shall therefore, use the plainest language possible, at the risk of being thought awkwardly prolix, by the learned. The objection that such preaching is not Gospel, we regard as altogether beneath our notice or scorn.

of

I. We shall notice some of the principal facts of Geology.