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    must be the fact , if they"had no divine influence upon their . minds-, in the Observance and recolloction of that of which they are the witnesses . -But it is surely vnreasonable ^ , to think , in this case , that the information they give us can be sufficiently correct and full for our , purpose . It is admitted , that those who were the attendants on the ministry of Jesus , were rude a . nd ignorant men , little

    conversant with what are called the laws of nature , and consequently very inadequate to judge of miracles , when left to the mere exercise of their own powers . It must also be admitted that men

    of this description are very little capable of storing a discourse in their minds , and reporting it with precision and accuracy . Irideeef , it is almost impossible to find any

    Uncultivated , illiterate mind , capable of " telling over the same story twice ., at ' ever so short . a distance , witnoiit many important alterations tit omissions . It

    requires the highest cultivation of mind , , ahd a' complete habit of correct thinking , and of distinguishing , ( whicn is the last attain ^ ment of superior minds , ) to report with exactness the remarks ,

    discourses , and conversation of other men . Could then this be expected from the rude fishermen in question f And when was thjs conversation , when were these discourses committed to writing , and by

    whom ? History is silent . Larcl - n / cr himself , whose name ought never to be pronounced but with sentiments of veneration and love , proves no more than this , if so much , that three or fovir years before the destruction of Jerusalcmi there exists presumptive evidence , that writings containing ex .

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    pressions similar to those now found in the ^ Evangelists , were in the hands of Christians , which w c re rega rd ed as s a ere d / But no e \ idence exists that even at that late perio . d , any entire book of the present Evangelists existed . And by whom was that written which

    did exist ? This cannot be now ascertained . When were the books written and by whom , which we now liave in the name of Matthew , Mark , Luke , and John ? The elaborate researches of ages have brought nothing of this to

    light . Discard then , the notion of inspiration , in the production of these books and they are left without a known author ; we are to repose our confidence , in the

    powers of observation ^ of memory , of arrangement , of we know not whom ; whereas , a previous kno \ v » ledge of these powers ^ is essential to establish" the character of any historian whatever !

    I ' shall make no farther observation on this point , but just observe that the catholic evidence from tradition , is at least as good , and as reasonable ; for any thing less ration At can scarcely be found in the multifarious opinions of cither Catholics or Protestants .

    The assumjption of inspiration silences all remarks ; but discard that , and you have nothing to rely upon . You have an account of " discourses heard by men , of who&e powers you have no knowledge

    whatever , and these discourses are written , for aught that you know , thirty years after they were prorjounced , yoij know not by ^ whom , whether by tj ^ ose who heard thepn , op by others . The report of piracies is liable to the same remark , and this is satisfactory u > UAT ^ QK A ^ qHUISTlANs ! If th ^ e

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    186 Unitarians not "'Rational Christians . "

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1808, page 186, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2391/page/14/