out his whole narrative, Chrift to be accompanied by a felect party of disciples; the number of these to be twelve *; and whenever he happens to notice any one as of that number †, it is one included in the catalogue of the other evangelifts; and the names principally occurring in the course of his hiftory of Chrift, are the names extant in their lift. This laft agreement, which is of confiderable moment, runs through every gospel, and through every chapter of each. All this befpeaks reality. * vi. 7. † xx. 24. vi. 714 CHAP. CHAP. V. Originality of our Saviour's character. THE Jews, whether fight or wrong, had understood their prophecies to foretell the advent of a perfon, who by fome fupernatural affiftance should advancé their nation to independence, and to a fupreme degree of fplendour and profperity. This was the reigning opinion and expectation of the times. Now, had Jefus been an enthufiaft, it is` probable that his enthusiasm would have fallen in with the popular delusion, and that, whilft he gave himself out to be the perfon intended by these predictions, he would have affumed the character to which they were univerfally supposed to relate. VOL. II. K Had Had he been an impoftor, it was his bu finess to have flattered the prevailing hopes, because these hopes were to be the inftruments of his attraction and fuccefs. But, what is better than conjectures, is the fact, that all the pretended Meffiahs actually did fo. We learn from Jofephus that there were many of these. Some of them, it is probable, might be impoftors, who thought that an advantage was to be taken of the state of public opinion. Others, perhaps, were enthufiafts, whofe imagination had been drawn to this particular qbject, by the language and fentiments which prevailed around them. But, whether impoftors or enthufiafts, they concurred in producing themfelves in the character which their countrymen looked for, that is to fay, as the reftorers and deliverers of the nation, in that fenfe in which reftoration and deliverance were expected by the Jews. Why Why therefore Jefus, if he was, like them, either an enthufiaft or impoftor, did not pursue the fame conduct as they did, in framing his character and pretensions, it will be found difficult to explain. A miffion, the operation and benefit of which was to take place in another life, was a thing unthought of as the fubject of these prophecies. That Jefus, coming to them as their Meffiah, fhould come under a character totally different from that in which they expected him; fhould deviate from the general perfuafion, and deviate into pretenfions abfolutely fingular and original ; appears to be inconfiftent with the imputation of enthusiasm or impofture, both which, by their nature, I fhould expect, would, and both which, throughout the experience which this very fubject furnishes, in fact have, followed the opinions that obtained at the time. If it be faid, that Jefus, having tried the other plan, turned at length to this; I anfwer, K 2 |