2. Some infidels condemn the apostles as co-deceivers with their Leader. But this charge is amply refuted by that air of candour, simplicity, and truthfulness, which evidently pervades and characterises the whole of the evangelical writings. Consider the purity and spirituality of the gospel narratives, and say whether it is likely that liars and impostors could have laboured as did the writers of those narratives, in the cause of truth, of virtue, and of disinterested benevolence. Is it probable, or even possible, that so many persons should resolutely persist in asserting a lie?-that they should undergo scorn and poverty, contempt and persecution, and for what? Why, for the mere sport of imposing upon a few credulous converts. Had they, like many modern impostors, spoiled their converts of their wealth, indulged in debauchery, recommended polygamy, employed the sword, committed murder and robbery, it would be our duty to reject them as arrant impostors. But no man who has any regard either for truth or his own credit, will ever lay this charge against the holy apostles. They uniformly behaved themselves justly and unblamably. Even Tacitus, the Roman historian, says: "They were men of rigid morals." Is it likely that persons of their humble rank and condition in life could have succeeded in the immense enterprise of imposing upon an age distinguished for its learning and love of research? --that they could have baffled the united powers of priests and philosophers, together with the magistrates and rulers? Besides, the fidelity of their reports is confirmed by many Jewish writers and heathen historians, who acknowledge that Jesus Christ wrought many miracles. And that this miraculous power was transmitted to the

immediate successors of Christ, was a fact so notorious, that we are told that Tertullian, a celebrated Carthaginian Christian, who flourished in the second century, solemnly challenged his heathen adversaries to settle the question between them on this issue. We therefore venture to conclude, that we have the most satisfactory evidence that Jesus Christ did perform many mighty miracles, and that they were of such a nature, and performed in such a manner, as to prove his Supreme Divinity.

ON THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

ARGUMENT SIXTH: ON THE DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

Christ in Gethsemane. He dies on the cross. His promise to the dying thief. The soldiers pierced his side after he was dead. He is buried and secured in the tomb; the military guard keeping the sepulchre. His resurrection. Shows himself to his disciples several times. Christ and his disciples on Mount Bethany. Scenes and reflections. He majestically ascends through the air. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

IN following the blessed Redeemer from Gethsemane to Bethany, we meet with many facts which not only prove his superhumanity, but demonstrate his Supreme Divinity. Behold the glorious sufferer when apprehended by a troop of soldiers and officers; with a word he smote them to the ground, as if smitten with a sudden flash of lightning. As soon as he said unto them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground, which was a proof that, had he seen it proper, he could have laid them for ever silent in death: "But he came not to destroy life but to save." When he hung upon the cross, above was a veiled sun and a darkened heaven; beneath was a trembling earth. When he groaned, even inanimate nature seemed to sympathise with her suffering Creator and Lord. The rocks

rent:

"And the sun refused to shine,
While his majesty Divine,

Was derided, insulted and slain."

But in the midst of this darkness, disorder, and terror, a light gleamed into his soul, and into the soul of the penitent malefactor. Just before the blessed Redeemer bowed his sacred head and died, he gave utterance to that lifegiving promise, which to the expiring malefactor was worth ten thousand worlds: "To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." When he uttered these words, his soul was plunged into the depths of his sacrificial sufferings. Then he hung in mortal agony, in darkness, shame, and dying anguish, on the ignominious cross; He endured the pain and ignominy of an accursed death: He despised the shame, for the joy that was set before him: He looked beyond the bloody baptism, the pains of death, and the howling tempests of a broken law, to the peaceful regions of heavenly day, to the paradise of uninterrupted repose: and he knew that ere the close of that troubled day, both he and the penitent thief should there meet together under a brighter sky, beyond the reach of malice and suffering, and should be surrounded by a superior order of beings, where all is love and glory. "To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." "The Lord from heaven" was about to return to heaven again, and as a proof that the joys of heaven were at his command, he assured the expiring malefactor that he would give him a place in the regions of rest and glory.

"But lo! the friend of sinners dies."

The functions of life cease to perform their wonted

operations. That marred visage is pale with death. The soldiers break the legs of the two malefactors; but when they come to Christ they find he is dead already : "Not a bone of him shall be broken." One of the soldiers pierces his side, and as the glittering blade is drawn from the wound which it had inflicted, there follows an effusion of blood and water: "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water." "And they shall look on him whom they pierced." "Now it is finished." The Prince of life and glory is crucified. The Saviour is dead, cold and motionless. His friends and his enemies all look on his languid form, and they pronounce him dead. The burning sword of justice has smitten Jehovah's fellow, and the sheep are scattered. The Bright and Morning Star has set in blood. The Sun of Righteousness is enveloped in gloom and darkness. The Hope of Israel slumbers in death. This event, to the followers of Christ, was a mournful one. He was taken from the cross, and laid in the grave. The mouth of the hallowed sepulchre was closed with a ponderous stone, sealed with an imperial seal, and guarded by a military watch, lest his disciples should come by night and steal him away.

He is secure now, say his enemies: "He saved others; himself he cannot save." "The deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days, I will rise again." But his imposition will soon be made manifest. The first watch of the night passes over; all is calm and silent; nothing is seen but the military guard in martial pride and dread array. The moon-light gleams on their burnished helmets and weapons of steel. Nothing is heard