CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION AND SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE SEVERAL BRANCHES OF DIVINITY: ACCOMPANIED WITH AN ACCOUNT BOTH OF THE PRINCIPAL AUTHORS, AND OF THE PROGRESS, WHICH HAS BEEN MADE AT DIFFERENT PERIODS, IN Theological Learning. BY HERBERT MARSH, D. D. F. R. S. & F. A. S. LORD BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH, AND MARGARET PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY. PART V. On the Authenticity of the New Testament. CAMBRIDGE: Printed by J. Smith, Printer to the University; AND SOLD BY DEIGHTONS, NICHOLSONS, AND BARRETT, CAMBRIDGE. AND F. C. & J. RIVINGTON, LONDON. CONTENTS. LECTURE XXIII. Page THE third Branch of Divinity, according to the system adopted in these Lectures, relates to the Authenticity and Credibility of the Bible. Definition of these terms. Reasons for making the two subjects, though distinct in themselves, to constitute only one branch of Divinity. Authenticity must be first considered. The Authenticity of the New Testament, the subject of the present, and three following Lectures. Influence of this inquiry of the Divine Origin of Christianity. Authenticity of the New Testament to be proved, both by external, and by internal evidence. The external evidence for the Authenticity of the New Testament to be examined, before the internal. The several parts of which external evidence consists, usually arranged in chronological order. Difficulties attending this arrangement in regard to the New Testament: and the author's reasons for inverting the usual order. 1 Testimony of the principal Greek and Latin Fathers to the Authenticity of the New Testament, beginning with the end of the fourth century, and ascending to the age, which was next to the Apostolic. The Fathers, whose testimony is here produced, are, Jerom, Gregory of Nazianzum, Epiphanius, Athanasius, Eusebius, Origen, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Irenæus. LECTURE XXV. Result of the inquiries instituted in the preceding Lecture. Another view may be taken of the subject, in which it will appear, that we may obtain a result, which is still more decisive. This result is obtained by arguing from the statement of Eusebius, respecting those books of the New Testament, which had been universally received. The argument applied to the Epistles of St. Paul. The same argument applied to the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the other books, which had been universally received. Of the books, which had not been universally received. Each of these books considered separately: and their authenticity confirmed by arguments specially applying to them. Of the Apostolic Fathers, and the proper mode of applying their testimony to the authenticity of the New Testament. Testimony of Papias. Remarks on Justin Martyr. Conclusion to be drawn from the external evidence in favour of the New Testa 20 44 Of the internal evidence in favour of the New Tes- The first question to be asked is, whether internal evidence agrees with the external. Import- ance of this agreement: and of the evil consequences, which follow from their disagreement. of internal evidence. It may not only be applied in confirmation of external evidence; but with respect to the New Testament it is of that description, which affords a proof of authenticity independently of external evidence. Illustration of this proof. Knowledge displayed in the historical books of the New Testament, respecting the several relations, which the Jews in the time of our Saviour bore, as well to each other as to foreign nations, is such, as no writer could have possessed, who was not contemporary with the events described. The agreement with dates, both of time and of place, and indeed the general agreement with co-existent things and circumstances, is such, as cannot be found in any spurious production. Explanation of the differ- ence between artificial and undesigned coincidences: and of the manner, in which coincidences of the latter kind operate as arguments for authenticity. Examples of such coincidence from the Gospels, |