The Grounds of Christianity Examined by Comparing The New Testament with the Old

upon that ground. And if his doctrines and precepts were consistent with reason, consistent with one another, and with prior revelations, really su

st to him, and necessary to all those who will not take their religion upon trust, that ho should be tried, by examining whether this claim can be made out, or not. The ar

he have, who could begin at Moses, and all the prophets, and expound unto his disciples in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself, if neither Moses nor the prophets ever spake a word about him? The prophets, therefore, m

whoever comes into the world as such, must come as the Messiah of the Jews, because no other nation did expect, or pretend to, the promise of a Messiah. Moreover, whoever comes as this Messiah of the Jews, must at least pretend to answer the character of their Mess

se prophets, he is undoubtedly to be acknowledged as the king of Israel foretold; but if they do not exactly correspond, if there be the slightest incongruity, he certainly was not t

ce, in whose times righteousness was to flourish, and mankind be made happy. That he was to sit upon the throne of David judging right;

her-in-law. Think ye, (said he to his disciples) that I have come to put peace on earth, I tell you nay, but rather division. Again, I have come to put fire on the earth. These are not the characteristics of the Messiah of the prophets of the Old Testament. For of him Zechariah (ch. ix.) says, that He shall speak peace to the nation

kind be happy. Whether this has yet taken place, the experience of almost nineteen cent

ish nation underwent the most dreadful calamities; and to this day, so far are they from being gathered, they are scattered to the four quarters of the globe. Instead of being in

t the name Jesus is not the same as David, and Christians have assigned him a spiritual kingdom, and a throne in hea

first mentioned prophets, it should seem that his birth was not to take place many years before that glorious event. But Jesus of Nazareth was born almost two thousand years ago; and the children of Israel yet expect a deliverer. And to conclude, it was foretold

lived in a low state, was poor, living upon alms, without wealth, and without power; and who (though by misfortune) died the death of a malefactor, crucified between two robbers, (a death exactly parallel with being hang