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    fair , that this invitation held out to the vanity of man , ( the worst of all his feelings ) should be distinctly examined . This is my whole object . Mr . Allchin thinks that with

    out the assumption of plenary inspiration , the truth of Christianity may be reasonably established from human testimony , and alleges in vindication of this

    opinion , that the disciples of Jesus , must have either been enthusiasts , impostors , or faithful reporters of truth , and that in the

    circumstances IN WHICH THEY WERE placed , they could not be either enthusiasts or impostors , but faithful relaters of facts . He appeals to their writings as evidence , that they were not enthusiasts ; to their circumstances , that they could

    have no motive for imposture . His appeal to their writings is ineffectual , without proving that the writings which we have were their composition , which he seems to admit is impossible to be done .

    The adversary of this deduction from testimony merely human , will to this whole argument reply —that if there had never been a false religion , pretending to be revealed , established on earth , it might have been difficult to

    conceive of the possibility of such a thing , because no sufficient proofs might exist of the triumphs of enthusiasm or imposture . That when we are called upon to assign the motives of human action , under given circumstances , the

    CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BE CLEARLY AND DISTINCTLY known ; because without this we cannot at all reason , concerning the probability of human conduct . That in the supposed case the

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    circumstances are not distincIly known . Of the first propagation of Christianity , history is silent ; as it is too , of the first propagation of Mahometanism * That if we appeal to the writings

    of Paul , the best authenticated of all the scriptural records , in the way of reason , we find that he was not an early disciple , that he was not an eye witness of the mi , racles or ministry of Jesus , and that his writings do afford proof that he was of a warm and violent

    temperament , which his frantic persecutfon of the more early Christians clearly evinces . If in some of his writings he preaches charity with earnestness , who , that has a party to govern , has not

    sought to prevent divisions ? If maxims highly political and good , in the government of a party , prove that their author had not been an enthusiast , then was John Wesley always free from enthusiasm !

    That it also appears that Paul was not insensible to the charms of power ' , for we see him at one time soliciting a commission from the high prints , and at another time governing the churches .

    That we know a tew general circumstances only , and those circumstances favourable to enihusiasm and imposture . Jerusalem , the capital of the empire ,

    regarded as the scat of prophecy and miracle , by its inhabitants ; its temple , the presence chamber of oracles and of God , were on the eve of destruction ; convulsion

    agitated the whole community ; and every eye solicited miracle ^ every ear listened for the sound of prophecy . Under such impressions and with prospects rouchiug on the horrible obscure , what

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    The Churciimarts Answer to Mr . Belsham and Mr . Allchin . 547

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1808, page 547, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2397/page/23/