There  are  rites  and  ceremonies  instituted  in  the
first  ages,  and  yet  in  force,  manifestly  arising  out  of
the  account,  as  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper^
&c.
There  is  evidence  in  its  very  constitution,  that  the
writers  of  the  New  Testament  wrote  it  as  an  account
oi facts  well  known  and  believed  at  the  time.  Fox
instance,  neither  Matthew  nor  John  mention  the
ascension :  but  it  is  plainly  referred  to  in  their  writ-
ings ;  a  proof  of  the  notoriety  of  the  matter*  Luke
also,  in  the  preface  to  his  Gospel,  shews  that  the
substance  of  the  history  he  was  about  to  write  was
already  believed  by  Christians.
8ih.  TTie  same  proved  by  direct  testimony,
'    The  authors  of  all  the  histories  lived  at  the  time
and  upon  the  spot    Two  of  them  were  eye  and  ear*
witnesses  of  what  they  record ;  and  wrote  upon  a
subject  in  which  their  hearts  and  minds  were  deeply


1 14  EVIDENCES  OF  GBRISTIANIIT*         wam  n.
engaged : — ^if  their  accounts  were  tiiaef  they  woe
yillains  for  no  end  but  to  teach  honestj,  and  martjrn
without  any  prospect  of  honour  or  advantage.  Ths
other  two  Uved  in  habits  of  intimaf^  with  those  who
were  eye  and  ear-witnesses  of  their  accoanta,  ftam
whom  they  had  diligently  inquired  co(nceniiiig
them.
.  If  any  one  of  the  Ooq>el8  be  genuine  it  is  suffi-
cient to  prove  the  point; — ^if  Mark's  Gospel  be  an
epitome  of  Matthew's ;  or  if  Luke  consulted  itbefcre
he  wrote ;  these  circumstances  at  least  corroborate
the  truth  of  Matthew's  Gospel.
In  the  four  separate  Gospel  histories,  mutually
confirming  each  other,  we  have  an  etccufntUaiian  of
evidence,  which  is  sometimes  overlooked,  by  con*
ndering  the  New  Testament  as  one  book.
