,,the                                   
,,christ                       ,a       
,critical ,review and ,analysis of      
the ,evidences of ,his ,existence       
,by                              ,,john 
,e4 ,,remsburg                          
,we must get rid of that ,christ4       
--,emerson                              
,new ,york                              
,,the ,,truth ,,seeker ,,company        
,forty-nine ,vesey ,street4             
,to ,my ,wife                           
,nora ,m4 ,remsburg                     
,this ,volume is ,inscribed             
,humbly he came1                        
,veiling his horrible ,godhead in the   
shape                  ,of man1 scorned 
by the world1 his name unheard          
,save by the rabble of his native town1 
,even as a parish demagogue4 ,he led    
,the crowd2 he taught them justice1     
truth1 and peace1                  ,in  
semblance2 but he lit within their souls
                  ,the quenchless flames
 of zeal1 and blessed the sword         

,he brought on earth to satiate with the
 blood                  ,of truth and   
freedom his malignant soul4             
,at length his mortal frame was led to  
death4                  ,i stood beside 
him2 on the torturing cross             
,no pain assailed his unterrestrial     
sense2                  ,and yet he     
groaned4 ,indignantly ,i summed         
,the massacres and miseries which his   
name                  ,had sanctioned in
 my country1 and ,i cried               
,go6 ,go6 in mockery4                   
--,shelley4                ,,preface4   
,we must get rid of that ,christ1 we    
must get rid of that ,christ6 ,so  spake
 one of the wisest1 one of the most     
lovable of men1 ,ralph ,waldo  ,emerson4
 ,if ,i had my way1 said ,thomas        
,carlyle1 the world would  hear a pretty
 stern command--,exit ,christ4 ,since   
,emerson and ,carlyle  spoke a          
revolution has taken place in the       
thoughts of men4 ,the more  enlightened 
of them are now rid of ,christ4 ,from   

their minds he has made  his exit4 ,to  
quote the words of ,prof4 ,goldwin      
,smith1 ,the mighty and  supreme ,jesus1
 who was to transfigure all humanity by 
his divine wit  and grace--this ,jesus  
has flown4 ,the supernatural ,christ of 
the ,new  ,testament1 the god of        
orthodox ,christianity1 is dead4 ,but   
priestcraft  lives and conjures up the  
ghost of this dead god to frighten and  
enslave the masses of mankind4 ,the name
 of ,christ has caused more             
persecutions1 wars1 and miseries than   
any other name has caused4 ,the  darkest
 wrongs are still inspired by it4 ,the  
wails of anguish that  went up from     
,kishenev1 ,odessa1 and ,bialystok still
 vibrate in our ears4    ,two notable   
works controverting the divinity of     
,christ appeared in  the last century1  
the ,leben ,jesu of ,strauss1 and the   
,vie de ,jesus of  ,renan4 ,strauss in  
his work1 one of the masterpieces of    
,freethought  literature1 endeavors to  
prove1 and proves to the satisfaction of

 a  majority of his readers1 that ,jesus
 ,christ is a historical myth4 ,this    
work possesses permanent value1 but it  
was written for the scholar  and not for
 the general reader4 ,in the ,german and
 ,latin versions1 and  in the admirable 
,english translation of ,marian ,evans  
7,george ,eliot71  the citations from   
the ,gospels--and they are many--are in 
,greek4    ,renan's ,life of ,jesus1    
written in ,palestine1 has had1         
especially in  its abridged form1 an    
immense circulation1 and has been a     
potent factor  in the dethronement of   
,christ4 ,it is a charming book and     
displays  great learning4 ,but it is a  
romance1 not a biography4 ,the ,jesus   
of ,renan1 like the ,satan of ,milton1  
while suggested by the ,bible1  is a    
modern creation4 ,the warp is to be     
found in the ,four ,gospels1  but the   
woof was spun in the brain of the       
brilliant ,frenchman4 ,of  this book    
,renan's fellow-countryman1 ,dr4 ,jules 
,soury1 thus writes3    ,it is to be    

feared that the beautiful1 the 'divine1'
 dream1 as he  would say1 which the     
eminent scholar experienced in the very 
country  of the ,gospel1 will have the  
fate of the ',joconda' of ,da ,vinci1   
and  many of the religious pictures of  
,raphael and ,michael ,angelo4 ,such    
dreams are admirable1 but they are bound
 to fade4444 ,the ,jesus who  rises up  
and comes out from those old ,judaizing 
writings 7,synoptics7  is truly no      
idyllic personage1 no meek dreamer1 no  
mild and amiable  moralist2 on the      
contrary1 he is very much more of a ,jew
 fanatic1  attacking without measure the
 society of his time1 a narrow and      
obstinate visionary1 a half-lucid       
thaumaturge1 subject to fits of         
passion1 which caused him to be looked  
upon as crazy by his own  people4 ,in   
the eyes of his contemporaries and      
fellow-countrymen he  was all that1 and 
he is the same in ours4    ,renan       
himself repudiated to a considerable    
extent his earlier views  regarding     

,jesus4 ,when he wrote his work he      
accepted as authentic the  ,gospel of   
,john1 and to this ,gospel he was       
indebted largely for the  more admirable
 traits of his hero4 ,john he           
subsequently rejected4 ,mark  he        
accepted as the oldest and most         
authentic of the ,gospels4 ,alluding  to
 ,mark he says3    ,it cannot be denied 
that ,jesus is portrayed in this gospel 
not as  a meek moralist worthy of our   
affection1 but as a dreadful magician4  
,this volume on ,the ,christ was written
 by one who recognizes in the  ,jesus of
 ,strauss and ,renan a transitional     
step1 but not the ultimate  step1       
between orthodox ,christianity and      
radical ,freethought4 ,by  the ,christ  
is understood the ,jesus of the ,new    
,testament4 ,the ,jesus  of the ,new    
,testament is the ,christ of            
,christianity4 ,the ,jesus of  the ,new 
,testament is a supernatural being4 ,he 
is1 like the ,christ1  a myth4 ,he is   
the ,christ myth4 ,originally the word  

,christ1 the ,greek  for the ,jewish    
,messiah1 the anointed1 meant the office
 or title of a  person1 while ,jesus was
 the name of the person on whom his     
followers  had bestowed this title4     
,gradually the title took the place of  
the  name1 so that ,jesus1 ,jesus       
,christ1 and ,christ became             
interchangeable  terms--synonyms4 ,such 
they are to the ,christian world1 and   
such1  by the law of common usage1 they 
are to the secular world4    ,it may be 
conceded as possible1 and even probable1
 that a religious  enthusiast of        
,galilee1 named ,jesus1 was the germ of 
this mythical  ,jesus ,christ4 ,but this
 is an assumption rather than a         
demonstrated  fact4 ,certain it is1 this
 person1 if he existed1 was not a       
realization  of the ,perfect ,man1 as   
his admirers claim4 ,there are passages 
in  the ,gospels which ascribe to him a 
lofty and noble character1 but  these1  
for the most part1 betray too well their
 ,pagan origin4 ,the  dedication of     

temples to him and the worship of him by
 those who deny  his divinity is as     
irrational as it will prove ephemeral4  
,one of the  most philosophic and one of
 the most far-seeing minds of ,germany1 
,dr4 ,edward von ,hartmann1 says3       
,when liberal ,protestantism demands    
religious reverence for the man  ,jesus1
 it is disgusting and shocking4 ,they   
cannot themselves believe  that the     
respect in which ,jesus is held by the  
people and which they  have made use of 
in such an unprotestant manner1 can be  
maintained for  any length of time after
 the nimbus of divinity has been        
destroyed1 and  they may reflect on the 
insufficiency of the momentary          
subterfuge4 ,the  ,protestant principle 
in its last consequences1 disposes of   
all kinds  of dogmatic authority in a   
remorseless manner1 and its supporters  
must1  whether they like it or not1     
dispense with the authority of ,christ4 
,,contents4      ,,chapter ,i4          
,,page    ,christ's ,real ,existence    

,impossible                       #ac   
,,chapter ,,ii4    ,silence of          
,contemporary ,writers                  
#bd    ,,chapter ,,iii4    ,christian   
,evidence                               
#ej    ,,chapter ,,iv4    ,infancy of   
,christ                                 
#fe    ,,chapter ,v4    ,ministry of    
,christ                                 
#abj    ,,chapter ,,vi4    ,crucifixion 
of ,christ                              
#bac    ,,chapter ,,vii4                
,resurrection of ,christ                
#bif    ,,chapter ,,viii4    ,his       
,character and ,teachings               
#cdj    ,,chapter ,,ix4    ,the ,christ 
a ,myth                                 
#dcc    ,,chapter ,x4    ,sources of the
 ,christ ,myth--,ancient ,religions     
#ddd    ,,chapter ,,xi4    ,sources of  
the ,christ ,myth--,pagan ,divinities   
#dii    ,,chapter ,,xii4    ,sources of 
the ,christ ,myth--,conclusion          
#eff                ,,the ,,christ4     
,,chapter ,i4    ,,christ',s ,,real     

,,existence ,,impossible4      ,the     
reader who accepts as divine the        
prevailing religion of our land  may    
consider this criticism on ,the ,christ 
irreverent and unjust4 ,and  yet for    
man's true saviors ,i have no lack of   
reverence4 ,for him who  lives and      
labors to uplift his fellow men ,i have 
the deepest reverence  and respect1 and 
at the grave of him who upon the altar  
of immortal  truth has sacrificed his   
life ,i would gladly pay the sincere    
tribute  of a mourner's tears4 ,it is   
not against the man ,jesus that ,i      
write1  but against the ,christ ,jesus  
of theology2 a being in whose name an   
,atlantic of innocent blood has been    
shed2 a being in whose name the  whole  
black catalogue of crime has been       
exhausted2 a being in whose  name five  
hundred thousand priests are now        
enlisted to keep                  ,truth
 forever on the scaffold1               
,wrong forever on the throne4           
,jesus of ,nazareth1 the ,jesus of      

humanity1 the pathetic story of  whose  
humble life and tragic death has        
awakened the sympathies of  millions1 is
 a possible character and may have      
existed2 but the ,jesus  of ,bethlehem1 
the ,christ of ,christianity1 is an     
impossible character  and does not      
exist4    ,from the beginning to the end
 of this ,christ's earthly career he  is
 represented by his alleged biographers 
as a supernatural being  endowed with   
superhuman powers4 ,he is conceived     
without a natural  father3 ,now the     
birth of ,jesus ,christ was on this     
wise3 ,when1 as  his mother ,mary was   
espoused to ,joseph1 before they came   
together1  she was found with child of  
the ,holy ,ghost 7,matt4 i1 #ah74       
,his ministry is a succession of        
miracles4 ,with a few loaves and  fishes
 he feeds a multitude3 ,and when he had 
taken the five loaves  and the two      
fishes1 he looked up to heaven1 and     
blessed and brake  the loaves1 and gave 
them to his disciples to set before     

them2 and  the two fishes divided he    
among them all4 ,and they did all eat1  
and  were filled4 ,and they took up     
twelve baskets full of the fragments1   
and of the fishes4 ,and they that did   
eat of the loaves were about  five      
thousand men 7,mark vi1 #da-dd74    ,he 
walks for miles upon the waters of the  
sea3 ,and straightway ,jesus            
constrained his disciples to get into a 
ship1 and to go before him  unto the    
other side1 while he sent the multitudes
 away4 ,and when he  had sent the       
multitudes away1 he went up into a      
mountain apart to  pray2 and when the   
evening was come1 he was there alone4   
,but the ship  was now in the midst of  
the sea1 tossed with waves2 for the wind
 was  contrary4 ,and in the fourth watch
 of the night ,jesus went unto them1    
walking on the sea 7,matt4 xiv1 #bb-be74
    ,he bids a raging tempest cease and 
it obeys him3 ,and there arose  a great 
storm of wind1 and the waves beat into  
the ship1 so that it  was now full4444  

,and he arose1 and rebuked the wind1 and
 said unto the  sea1 ,peace1 be still4  
,and the wind ceased1 and there was a   
great calm  7,mark1 iv1 #cg-ci74    ,he 
withers with a curse the barren fig     
tree3 ,and when he saw a  fig tree in   
the way1 he came to it1 and found       
nothing thereon1 but  leaves only1 and  
said unto it1 ,let no fruit grow on     
thee1 henceforth1  forever4 ,and        
presently the fig tree withered away    
7,matt4 xxi1 #ai74    ,he casts out     
devils3 ,and in the synagogue there was 
a man1 which  had a spirit of an unclean
 devil4444 ,and ,jesus rebuked him1     
saying1  ,hold thy peace1 and come out  
of him4 ,and when the devil had thrown  
him  in the midst1 he came out of him   
and hurt him not 7,luke iv1 #cc1 #ce74  
,he cures the incurable3 ,and as he     
entered into a certain village1  there  
met him ten men that were lepers1 which 
stood afar off2 and  they lifted up     
their voices1 and said1 ,jesus1 ,master1
 have mercy  on us4 ,and when he saw    

them1 he said unto them1 ,go show       
yourselves  unto the priests4 ,and it   
came to pass1 that1 as they went1 they  
were  cleansed 7,luke xvii1 #ab-ad74    
,he restores to life a widow's only son3
 ,and when he came nigh to the  gate of 
the city1 behold1 there was a dead man  
carried out1 the only  son of his       
mother1 and she was a widow2 and much   
people of the city  were with her4 ,and 
when the ,lord saw her1 he had          
compassion on her1  and said unto her1  
,weep not4 ,and he came and touched the 
bier2 and  they that bore him stood     
still4 ,and he said1 ,young man1 ,i say 
unto  thee1 ,arise4 ,and he that was    
dead sat up1 and began to speak4 ,and he
  delivered him to his mother 7,luke    
vii1 #ab-ae74    ,he revivifies the     
decaying corpse of ,lazarus3 ,then said 
,jesus unto  them plainly1 ,lazarus is  
dead4444 ,then when ,jesus came1 he     
found that  he had lain in the grave    
four days already4444 ,and when he had  
thus  spoken1 he cried with a loud      

voice1 ,lazarus1 come forth4 ,and he    
that  was dead came forth 7,john xi1    
#ad-dd74    ,at his crucifixion nature  
is convulsed1 and the inanimate dust of 
the grave is transformed into living    
beings who walk the streets of          
,jerusalem3 ,jesus1 when he had cried   
again with a loud voice1 yielded  up the
 ghost4 ,and1 behold1 the veil of the   
temple was rent in twain  from the top  
to the bottom2 and the earth did quake1 
and the rocks  rent2 and the graves were
 opened2 and many bodies of the saints1 
which  slept1 arose and came out of the 
graves after his resurrection1 and  went
 into the holy city1 and appeared unto  
many 7,matt4 xxvii1 #ej-ec74    ,he     
rises from the dead3 ,and when ,joseph  
had taken the body1 he  wrapped it in a 
clean linen cloth1 and laid it in his   
own new tomb1  which he had hewn out in 
the rock2 and he rolled a great stone to
  the door of the sepulchre1 and        
departed4444 ,and1 behold1 there was a  
great earthquake2 for the angel of the  

,lord descended from heaven1  and came  
and rolled back the stone from the      
door4444 ,and as they  went to tell his 
disciples1 behold1 ,jesus met them1     
saying1 ,all hail  7,matt4 xxvii1 #ei1  
#fj2 xxviii1 #b1 #i74    ,he ascends    
bodily into heaven3 ,and he led them out
 as far as to  ,bethany1 and he lifted  
up his hands and blessed them4 ,and it  
came to  pass1 while he blessed them1 he
 was parted from them1 and carried up   
into heaven 7,luke xxiv1 #ej1 #ea74     
,these and a hundred other miracles make
 up to a great extent this  so-called   
,gospel ,history of ,christ4 ,to        
disprove the existence of  these        
miracles is to disprove the existence of
 this ,christ4    ,canon ,farrar makes  
this frank admission3 ,if miracles be   
incredible1  ,christianity is false4 ,if
 ,christ wrought no miracles1 then the  
,gospels  are untrustworthy 7,witness of
 ,history to ,christ1 p4 #be74    ,dean 
,mansel thus acknowledges the           
consequences of the successful  denial  

of miracles3 ,the whole system of       
,christian belief with its  evidences1  
444 all ,christianity in short1 so far  
as it has any title  to that name1 so   
far as it has any special relation to   
the person or  the teaching of ,christ1 
is overthrown 7,aids to ,faith1 p4 #c74 
,dr4 ,westcott says3 ,the essence of    
,christianity lies in a miracle2 and  if
 it can be shown that a miracle is      
either impossible or incredible1  all   
further inquiry into the details of its 
history is superfluous  7,gospel of the 
,resurrection1 p4 #cd74    ,a miracle1  
in the orthodox sense of the term1 is   
impossible  and incredible4 ,to accept a
 miracle is to reject a demonstrated    
truth4 ,the world is governed1 not by   
chance1 not by caprice1 not by  special 
providences1 but by the laws of nature2 
and if there be one  truth which the    
scientist and the philosopher have      
established1 it  is this3 ,,the ,,laws  
,,of ,,nature ,,are ,,immutable4 ,if the
 laws of ,nature are  immutable1 they   

cannot be suspended2 for if they could  
be suspended1  even by a god1 they would
 not be immutable4 ,a single suspension 
of  these laws would prove their        
mutability4 ,now these alleged miracles 
of ,christ required a suspension of     
,nature's laws2 and the suspension  of  
these laws being impossible the miracles
 were impossible1 and not  performed4   
,if these miracles were not performed1  
then the existence of  this supernatural
 and miracle-performing ,christ1 except 
as a creature  of the human imagination1
 is incredible and impossible4          
,hume's masterly argument against       
miracles has never been refuted3  ,a    
miracle is a violation of the laws of   
,nature2 and as a firm and  unalterable 
experience has established these laws1  
the proof against a  miracle1 from the  
very nature of the fact1 is as entire as
 any argument  from experience can      
possibly be imagined4 ,why is it more   
than probable  that all men must die2   
that lead cannot of itself remain       

suspended in  the air2 that fire        
consumes wood1 and is extinguished by   
water2 unless  it be that these events  
are found agreeable to the laws of      
,nature1  and there is required a       
violation of these laws1 or1 in other   
words1  a miracle1 to prevent them8     
,nothing is esteemed a miracle if it    
ever  happens in the common course of   
,nature4 ,it is no miracle that a man1  
seemingly in good health1 should die    
suddenly2 because such a kind  of death1
 though more unusual than any other1 has
 yet been frequently  observed to       
happen4 ,but it is a miracle that a dead
 man should come to  life2 because that 
has never been observed in any age or   
country4 ,there  must1 therefore1 be a  
uniform experience against any          
miraculous event1  otherwise the event  
would not merit the appellation4 ,and as
 a uniform  experience amounts to a     
proof1 there is here a direct and full  
proof1  from the nature of the fact1    
against the existence of any miracle    

7,essay on ,miracles74    ,alluding to  
,christ's miracles1 ,m4 ,renan1 a       
reverential admirer of  ,jesus of       
,nazareth1 says3 ,observation1 which has
 never been once  falsified1 teaches us 
that miracles never happen but in times 
and  countries in which they are        
believed1 and before persons disposed to
  believe them4 ,no miracle ever        
occurred in the presence of men capable 
of testing its miraculous character44444
 ,it is not1 then1 in the name  of this 
or that philosophy1 but in the name of  
universal experience1  that we banish   
miracles from history 7,life of ,jesus1 
p4 #bi74    ,christianity arose in what 
was preeminently a miracle-working  age4
 ,everything was attested by miracles1  
because nearly everybody  believed in   
miracles and demanded them4 ,every      
religious teacher was  a worker of      
miracles2 and however trifling the      
miracle might be when  wrought1 in this 
atmosphere of unbounded credulity1 the  
breath of  exaggeration soon expanded it

 into marvelous proportions4    ,to show
 more clearly the character of the age  
which ,christ  illustrates1 let us take 
another example1 the ,pythagorean       
teacher1  ,apollonius of ,tyana1 a      
contemporary of the ,galilean4          
,according to his  biographers--and they
 are as worthy of credence as the       
,evangelists--his  career1 particularly 
in the miraculous events attending it1  
bore a  remarkable resemblance to that  
of ,christ4 ,like ,christ1 he was a     
divine  incarnation2 like ,christ his   
miraculous conception was announced     
before  his birth2 like ,christ he      
possessed in childhood the wisdom of a  
sage2  like ,christ he is said to have  
led a blameless life2 like ,christ his  
moral teachings were declared to be the 
best the world had known2 like  ,christ 
he remained a celibate2 like ,christ he 
was averse to riches2  like ,christ he  
purified the religious temples2 like    
,christ he predicted  future events2    
like ,christ he performed miracles1 cast

 out devils1  healed the sick1 and      
restored the dead to life2 like ,christ 
he died1  rose from the grave1 ascended 
to heaven1 and was worshiped as a god4  
,the ,christian rejects the miraculous  
in ,apollonius because it is            
incredible2 the ,rationalist rejects the
 miraculous in ,christ for  the same    
reason4 ,in proof of the human character
 of the religion of  ,apollonius and the
 divine character of that of ,christ it 
may be urged  that the former has       
perished1 while the latter has survived4
 ,but this1  if it proves anything1     
proves too much4 ,if the survival of    
,christianity  proves its divinity1 then
 the survival of the miracle-attested   
faiths  of ,buddhism and ,mohammedanism1
 its powerful and nourishing rivals1    
must  prove their divinity also4 ,the   
religion of ,apollonius languished and  
died because the conditions for its     
development were unfavorable2 while  the
 religions of ,buddha1 ,christ1 and     
,mohammed lived and thrived because  of 

the propitious circumstances which      
favored their development4    ,with the 
advancement of knowledge the belief in  
the supernatural  is disappearing4      
,those freed from ,ignorance1 and her   
dark sister1  ,superstition1 know that  
miracles are myths4 ,in the words of    
,matthew  ,arnold1 ,miracles are doomed2
 they will drop out like fairies and    
witchcraft1 from among the matter which 
serious people believe  7,literature and
 ,dogma74    ,what proved the strength  
of ,christianity in an age of ignorance 
is  proving its weakness in an age of   
intelligence4 ,christian scholars       
themselves1 recognizing the             
indefensibility and absurdity of        
miracles1  endeavor to explain away the 
difficulties attending their acceptance 
by affirming that they are not real1 but
 only apparent1 violations  of ,nature's
 laws2 thus putting the miracles of     
,christ in the same  class with those   
performed by the jugglers of ,india and 
,japan4 ,they  resolve the supernatural 

into the natural1 that the incredible   
may  appear credible4 ,with invincible  
logic and pitiless sarcasm ,colonel     
,ingersoll exposes the lameness of this 
attempt to retain the shadow  of the    
supernatural when the substance is gone3
    ,believers in miracles should not   
try to explain them4 ,there is  but one 
way to explain anything1 and that is to 
account for it by  natural agencies4    
,the moment you explain a miracle it    
disappears4 ,you  should not depend upon
 explanation1 but assertion4 ,you should
  not be driven from the field because  
the miracle is shown to be              
unreasonable4 ,neither should you be in 
the least disheartened if it  is shown  
to be impossible4 ,the possible is not  
miraculous4    ,miracles must be        
dismissed from the domain of fact and   
relegated to  the realm of fiction4 ,a  
miracle1 ,i repeat1 is impossible4      
,above all  this chief of miracles1 ,the
 ,christ1 is impossible1 and does not1  
and never did1 exist4                   

,,chapter ,,ii4    ,,silence ,,of       
,,contemporary ,,writers4      ,another 
proof that the ,christ of ,christianity 
is a fabulous and not  a historical     
character is the silence of the writers 
who lived during  and immediately       
following the time he is said to have   
existed4    ,that a man named ,jesus1 an
 obscure religious teacher1 the basis of
  this fabulous ,christ1 lived in       
,palestine about nineteen hundred years 
ago1 may be true4 ,but of this man we   
know nothing4 ,his biography has  not   
been written4 ,e4 ,renan and others have
 attempted to write it1  but have       
failed--have failed because no materials
 for such a work  exist4 ,contemporary  
writers have left us not one word       
concerning  him4 ,for generations       
afterward1 outside of a few theological 
epistles1  we find no mention of him4   
,the following is a list of writers who 
lived and wrote during the time1  or    
within a century after the time1 that   
,christ is said to have lived  and      

performed his wonderful works3          
,josephus1                 ,statius1    
,philo-,judaeus1            ,ptolemy1   
,seneca1                   ,hermogones1 
,pliny the ,elder1          ,valerius   
,maximus1          ,arrian1             
,appian1          ,petronius1           
,theon of ,smyrna1          ,dion       
,pruseus1             ,phlegon1         
,paterculus1               ,pompon      
,mela1          ,suetonius1             
,quintius ,curtius          ,juvenal1   
,lucian1          ,martial1             
,pausanias1          ,persius1          
,valerius ,flaccus1          ,plutarch1 
,florus ,lucius1          ,justus of    
,tiberius1       ,favorinus1            
,apollonius1               ,phaedrus1   
,pliny the ,younger1        ,damis1     
,tacitus1                  ,aulus       
,gellius1          ,quintilian1         
,columella1          ,lucanus1          
,dio ,chrysostom1          ,epictetus1  
,lysias1          ,silius ,italicus1    
,appion of ,alexandria4      ,enough of 

the writings of the authors named in the
 foregoing list  remains to form a      
library4 ,yet in this mass of ,jewish   
and ,pagan  literature1 aside from two  
forged passages in the works of a       
,jewish  author1 and two disputed       
passages in the works of ,roman writers1
  there is to be found no mention of    
,jesus ,christ4    ,philo was born      
before the beginning of the ,christian  
era1 and lived  until long after the    
reputed death of ,christ4 ,he wrote an  
account  of the ,jews covering the      
entire time that ,christ is said to have
  existed on earth4 ,he was living in or
 near ,jerusalem when ,christ's         
miraculous birth and the ,herodian      
massacre occurred4 ,he was there when   
,christ made his triumphal entry into   
,jerusalem4 ,he was there when the      
crucifixion with its attendant          
earthquake1 supernatural darkness1 and  
resurrection of the dead took           
place--when ,christ himself rose from   
the  dead1 and in the presence of many  

witnesses ascended into heaven4 ,these  
marvelous events which must have filled 
the world with amazement1 had  they     
really occurred1 were unknown to him4   
,it was ,philo who developed  the       
doctrine of the ,logos1 or ,word1 and   
although this ,word incarnate  dwelt in 
that very land and in the presence of   
multitudes revealed  himself and        
demonstrated his divine powers1 ,philo  
saw it not4    ,josephus1 the renowned  
,jewish historian1 was a native of      
,judea4 ,he  was born in #cg ,a4 ,d41   
and was a contemporary of the ,apostles4
 ,he was1  for a time1 ,governor of     
,galilee1 the province in which ,christ 
lived  and taught4 ,he traversed every  
part of this province and visited  the  
places where but a generation before    
,christ had performed his  prodigies4   
,he resided in ,cana1 the very city in  
which ,christ is said  to have wrought  
his first miracle4 ,he mentions every   
noted personage  of ,palestine and      
describes every important event which   

occurred there  during the first seventy
 years of the ,christian era4 ,but      
,christ was  of too little consequence  
and his deeds too trivial to merit a    
line  from this historian's pen4        
,justus of ,tiberius was a native of    
,christ's own country1 ,galilee4 ,he    
wrote a history covering the time of    
,christ's reputed existence4 ,this  work
 has perished1 but ,photius1 a          
,christian scholar and critic of  the   
ninth century1 who was acquainted with  
it1 says3 ,he ,justus  makes not the    
least mention of the appearance of      
,christ1 of what  things happened to    
him1 or of the wonderful works that he  
did  7,photius' ,bibliotheca1 code #cc74
    ,judea1 where occurred the          
miraculous beginning and marvelous      
ending of  ,christ's earthly career1 was
 a ,roman province1 and all of          
,palestine  is intimately associated    
with ,roman history4 ,but the ,roman    
records  of that age contain no mention 
of ,christ and his works4 ,the ,greek   

writers of ,greece and ,alexandria who  
lived not far from ,palestine  and who  
were familiar with its events1 are      
silent also4        ,josephus4    ,late 
in the first century ,josephus wrote his
 celebrated work1  ,the ,antiquities of 
the ,jews1 giving a history of his race 
from  the earliest ages down to his own 
time4 ,modern versions of this work     
contain the following passage3    ,now1 
there was about this time ,jesus1 a wise
 man1 if it be lawful  to call him a    
man1 for he was a doer of wonderful     
works2 a teacher  of such men as receive
 the truth with pleasure4 ,he drew over 
to him  both many of the ,jews1 and many
 of the ,gentiles4 ,he was the ,christ2 
and when ,pilate1 at the suggestion of  
the principal men amongst us1  had      
condemned him to the cross1 those that  
loved him at the first  did not forsake 
him2 for he appeared to them alive again
 the third  day1 as the divine prophets 
had foretold these and ten thousand     
other  wonderful things concerning him2 

and the tribe of ,christians1 so named  
from him1 are not extinct at this day   
7,book ,,xviii1 ,chap4 iii1 sec4 #c74   
,for nearly sixteen hundred years       
,christians have been citing this       
passage as a testimonial1 not merely to 
the historical existence1  but to the   
divine character of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and
 yet a ranker forgery  was never penned4
    ,its language is ,christian4 ,every 
line proclaims it the work of a         
,christian writer4 ,if it be lawful to  
call him a man4 ,he was the  ,christ4   
,he appeared to them alive again the    
third day1 as the divine  prophets had  
foretold these and ten thousand other   
wonderful things  concerning him4 ,these
 are the words of a ,christian1 a       
believer in  the divinity of ,christ4   
,josephus was a ,jew1 a devout believer 
in the  ,jewish faith--the last man in  
the world to acknowledge the divinity   
of ,christ4 ,the inconsistency of this  
evidence was early recognized1  and     
,ambrose1 writing in the generation     

succeeding its first appearance  7#cfj  
,a4 ,d47 offers the following           
explanation1 which only a theologian    
could frame3 ,if the ,jews do not       
believe us1 let them1 at least1  believe
 their own writers4 ,josephus1 whom they
 esteem a very great man1  hath said    
this1 and yet hath he spoken truth after
 such a manner2  and so far was his mind
 wandered from the right way1 that even 
he  was not a believer as to what he    
himself said2 but thus he spake1  in    
order to deliver historical truth1      
because he thought it not  lawful for   
him to deceive1 while yet he was no     
believer1 because of  the hardness of   
his heart1 and his perfidious intention4
    ,its brevity disproves its          
authenticity4 ,josephus' work is        
voluminous  and exhaustive4 ,it         
comprises twenty books4 ,whole pages are
 devoted  to petty robbers and obscure  
seditious leaders4 ,nearly forty        
chapters  are devoted to the life of a  
single king4 ,yet this remarkable being1

  the greatest product of his race1 a   
being of whom the prophets foretold  ten
 thousand wonderful things1 a being     
greater than any earthly king1  is      
dismissed with a dozen lines4    ,it    
interrupts the narrative4 ,section #b of
 the chapter containing it  gives an    
account of a ,jewish sedition which was 
suppressed by ,pilate  with great       
slaughter4 ,the account ends as follows3
 ,there were a  great number of them    
slain by this means1 and others of them 
ran  away wounded2 and thus an end was  
put to this sedition4 ,section #d1  as  
now numbered1 begins with these words3  
,about the same time also  another sad  
calamity put the ,jews into disorder4   
,the one section  naturally and         
logically follows the other4 ,yet       
between these two  closely connected    
paragraphs the one relating to ,christ  
is placed2  thus making the words1      
another sad calamity1 refer to the      
advent  of this wise and wonderful      
being4    ,the early ,christian fathers 

were not acquainted with it4 ,justin    
,martyr1  ,tertullian1 ,clement of      
,alexandria1 and ,origen all would have 
quoted  this passage had it existed in  
their time4 ,the failure of even one  of
 these fathers to notice it would be    
sufficient to throw doubt  upon its     
genuineness2 the failure of all of them 
to notice it proves  conclusively that  
it is spurious1 that it was not in      
existence during  the second and third  
centuries4    ,as this passage first    
appeared in the writings of the         
ecclesiastical  historian1 ,eusebius1 as
 this author openly advocated the use of
  fraud and deception in furthering the 
interests of the church1 as  he is known
 to have mutilated and perverted the    
text of ,josephus in  other instances1  
and as the manner of its presentation is
 calculated  to excite suspicion1 the   
forgery has generally been charged to   
him4 ,in his ,evangelical               
,demonstration1 written early in the    
fourth  century1 after citing all the   

known evidences of ,christianity1 he    
thus  introduces the ,jewish historian3 
,certainly the attestations ,i have     
already produced concerning our ,savior 
may be sufficient4 ,however1  it may not
 be amiss1 if1 over and above1 we make  
use of ,josephus the  ,jew for a further
 witness 7,book ,,iii1 p4 #abd74        
,chrysostom and ,photius both reject    
this passage4 ,chrysostom1 a reader  of 
,josephus1 who preached and wrote in the
 latter part of the fourth  century1 in 
his defense of ,christianity1 needed    
this evidence1 but  was too honest or   
too wise to use it4 ,photius1 who made a
 revision  of ,josephus1 writing five   
hundred years after the time of         
,eusebius1  ignores the passage1 and    
admits that ,josephus has made no       
mention  of ,christ4    ,modern         
,christian scholars generally concede   
that the passage is a  forgery4 ,dr4    
,lardner1 one of the ablest defenders of
 ,christianity1  adduces the following  
arguments against its genuineness3    ,i

 do not perceive that we at all want the
 suspected testimony to  ,jesus1 which  
was never quoted by any of our          
,christian ancestors  before ,eusebius4 
,nor do ,i recollect that ,josephus has 
anywhere mentioned the name or  word    
,christ1 in any of his works2 except the
 testimony above mentioned1  and the    
passage concerning ,james1 the ,lord's  
brother4    ,it interrupts the          
narrative4    ,the language is quite    
,christian4    ,it is not quoted by     
,chrysostom1 though he often refers to  
,josephus1  and could not have omitted  
quoting it had it been then in the text4
    ,it is not quoted by ,photius1      
though he has three articles concerning 
,josephus4    ,under the article ,justus
 of ,tiberias1 this author 7,photius7   
expressly  states that the historian    
,josephus1 being a ,jew1 has not taken  
the  least notice of ,christ4           
,neither ,justin in his dialogue with   
,trypho the ,jew1 nor ,clemens          
,alexandrinus1 who made so many extracts

 from ancient authors1 nor  ,origen     
against ,celsus1 has ever mentioned this
 testimony4    ,but1 on the contrary1 in
 chapter xxxv of the first book of that 
work1 ,origen openly affirms that       
,josephus1 who had mentioned ,john  the 
,baptist1 did not acknowledge ,christ   
7,answer to ,dr4 ,chandler74    ,again  
,dr4 ,lardner says3 ,this passage is not
 quoted nor referred to by  any         
,christian writer before ,eusebius1 who 
flourished at the beginning  of the     
fourth century4 ,if it had been         
originally in the works of  ,josephus it
 would have been highly proper to       
produce it in their  disputes with ,jews
 and ,gentiles4 ,but it is never quoted 
by ,justin  ,martyr1 or ,clement of     
,alexandria1 nor by ,tertullian or      
,origen1 men  of great learning1 and    
well acquainted with the works of       
,josephus4 ,it  was certainly very      
proper to urge it against the ,jews4 ,it
 might also  have been fitly urged      
against the ,gentiles4 ,a testimony so  

favorable  to ,jesus in the works of    
,josephus1 who lived so soon after our  
,savior1  who was so well acquainted    
with the transactions of his own        
country1  who had received so many      
favors from ,vespasian and ,titus1 would
 not be  overlooked or neglected by any 
,christian apologist 7,lardner's ,works1
  vol4 ,i1 chap4 iv74    ,bishop        
,warburton declares it to be a forgery3 
,if a ,jew owned the  truth of          
,christianity1 he must needs embrace it4
 ,we1 therefore1  certainly conclude    
that the paragraph where ,josephus1 who 
was as much  a ,jew as the religion of  
,moses could make him1 is made to       
acknowledge  ,jesus as the ,christ1 in  
terms as strong as words could do it1 is
 a  rank forgery1 and a very stupid one1
 too 7,quoted by ,lardner1 ,works1      
,vol4 ,i1 chap4 iv74    ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 
,giles1 of the ,established ,church of  
,england1 says3    ,those who are best  
acquainted with the character of        
,josephus1  and the style of his        

writings1 have no hesitation in         
condemning  this passage as a forgery1  
interpolated in the text during the     
third  century by some pious ,christian1
 who was scandalized that so famous a   
writer as ,josephus should have taken no
 notice of the gospels1 or of  ,christ1 
their subject4 ,but the zeal of the     
interpolator has outrun  his discretion1
 for we might as well expect to gather  
grapes from  thorns1 or figs from       
thistles1 as to find this notice of     
,christ among  the ,judaizing writings  
of ,josephus4 ,it is well known that    
this author  was a zealous ,jew1 devoted
 to the laws of ,moses and the          
traditions of  his countrymen4 ,how1    
then1 could he have written that ,jesus 
was the  ,christ8 ,such an admission    
would have proved him to be a ,christian
  himself1 in which case the passage    
under consideration1 too long  for a    
,jew1 would have been far too short for 
a believer in the new  religion1 and    
thus the passage stands forth1 like an  

ill-set jewel1  contrasting most        
inharmoniously with everything around   
it4 ,if it had  been genuine1 we might  
be sure that ,justin ,martyr1           
,tertullian1 and  ,chrysostom would have
 quoted it in their controversies with  
the ,jews1  and that ,origen or ,photius
 would have mentioned it4 ,but          
,eusebius1  the ecclesiastical historian
 7,i1 #aa71 is the first who quotes it1 
and our reliance on the judgment or even
 honesty of this writer is  not so great
 as to allow our considering everything 
found in his  works as undoubtedly      
genuine 7,christian ,records1 p4 #cj74  
,the ,rev4 ,s4 ,baring-,gould1 in his   
,lost and ,hostile ,gospels1 says3      
,this passage is first quoted by        
,eusebius 7fl4 ,a4 ,d4 #cae7 in two     
places 7,hist4 ,eccl41 lib4 i1 c4 xi2   
,demonst4 ,evang41 lib4 iii72  but it   
was unknown to ,justin ,martyr 7fl4 ,a4 
,d4 #adj71 ,clement of  ,alexandria 7fl4
 ,a4 ,d4 #aib71 ,tertullian 7fl4 ,a4 ,d4
 #aic71 and ,origen  7fl4 ,a4 ,d4 #bcj74

 ,such a testimony would certainly have 
been produced by  ,justin in his apology
 or in his controversy with ,trypho the 
,jew1 had it  existed in the copies of  
,josephus at his time4 ,the silence of  
,origen  is still more significant4     
,celsus1 in his book against            
,christianity1  introduces a ,jew4      
,origen attacks the argument of ,celsus 
and his  ,jew4 ,he could not have failed
 to quote the words of ,josephus1 whose 
writings he knew1 had the passage       
existed in the genuine text4 ,he1       
indeed1 distinctly affirms that         
,josephus did not believe in ,christ    
7,contr4 ,cels4 i74    ,dr4 ,chalmers   
ignores it1 and admits that ,josephus is
 silent regarding  ,christ4 ,he says3   
,the entire silence of ,josephus upon   
the subject of  ,christianity1 though he
 wrote after the destruction of         
,jerusalem1 and  gives us the history of
 that period in which ,christ and his   
,apostles  lived1 is certainly a very   
striking circumstance 7,kneeland's      

,review1  p4 #afi74    ,referring to    
this passage1 ,dean ,milman1 in his     
,gibbon's ,rome  7,vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #bhe1  
note7 says3 ,it is interpolated with    
many additional  clauses4    ,canon     
,farrar1 who has written the ablest     
,christian life of ,christ  yet penned1 
repudiates it4 ,he says3 ,the single    
passage in which he  ,josephus alludes  
to him is interpolated1 if not wholly   
spurious  7,life of ,christ1 ,vol4 ,i1  
p4 #df74    ,the following1 from ,dr4   
,farrar's pen1 is to be found in the    
,encyclopedia ,britannica3 ,that        
,josephus wrote the whole passage as  it
 now stands no sane critic can believe4 
,there are1 however1 two reasons which  
are alone sufficient to prove  that the 
whole passage is spurious--one that it  
was unknown to ,origen  and the earlier 
fathers1 and the other that its place in
 the text is  uncertain 7,ibid74        
,theodor ,keim1 a ,german-,christian    
writer on ,jesus1 says3 ,the passage    
cannot be maintained2 it has first      

appeared in this form in the  ,catholic 
church of the ,jews and ,gentiles1 and  
under the dominion of the  ,fourth      
,gospel1 and hardly before the third    
century1 probably before  ,eusebius1 and
 after ,origen1 whose bitter criticisms 
of ,josephus may  have given cause for  
it 7,jesus of ,nazara1 p4 #be74         
,concerning this passage1 ,hausrath1    
another ,german writer1 says it  must   
have been penned at a peculiarly        
shameless hour4    ,the ,rev4 ,dr4      
,hooykaas1 of ,holland1 says3 ,flavius  
,josephus1 the  well known historian of 
the ,jewish people1 was born in ,a4 ,d4 
#cg1  only two years after the death of 
,jesus2 but though his work is of       
inestimable value as our chief authority
 for the circumstances of the  times in 
which ,jesus and his ,apostles came     
forward1 yet he does not  seem to have  
mentioned ,jesus himself4 ,at any rate1 
the passage in his  ',jewish            
,antiquities' that refers to him is     
certainly spurious1 and  was inserted by

 a later and a ,christian hand 7,bible  
for ,learners1  ,vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #bg74   
,this conclusion of ,dr4 ,hooykaas is   
endorsed by the  eminent ,dutch critic1 
,dr4 ,kuenen4    ,dr4 ,alexander        
,campbell1 one of ,america's ablest     
,christian apologists1  says3 ,josephus1
 the ,jewish historian1 was contemporary
 with the  ,apostles1 having been born  
in the year #cg4 ,from his situation and
  habits1 he had every access to know   
all that took place at the rise  of the 
,christian religion4    ,respecting the 
founder of this religion1 ,josephus has 
thought fit  to be silent in history4   
,the present copies of his work contain 
one  passage which speaks very          
respectfully of ,jesus ,christ1 and     
ascribes  to him the character of the   
,messiah4 ,but as ,josephus did not     
embrace  ,christianity1 and as this     
passage is not quoted or referred to    
until  the beginning of the fourth      
century1 it is1 for these and other     
reasons1 generally accounted spurious   

7,evidences of ,christianity1  from     
,campbell-,owen ,debate1 p4 #cab74      
,another passage in ,josephus1 relating 
to the younger ,ananus1 who was  high   
priest of the ,jews in #fb ,a4 ,d41     
reads as follows3    ,but this younger  
,ananus1 who1 as we have told you       
already1 took the  high priesthood1 was 
a bold man in his temper and very       
insolent2 he was  also of the sect of   
,sadducees1 who are very rigid in       
judging offenders1  above all of the    
rest of the ,jews1 as we have already   
observed2 when1  therefore1 ,ananus was 
of this disposition1 he thought he had  
now a  proper opportunity4 ,festus was  
dead1 and ,albinus was but upon the     
road2 so he assembled the ,sanhedrim of 
judges and brought before them  the     
brother of ,jesus1 who was called       
,christ1 whose name was ,james1  and    
some others2 and when he had formed an  
accusation against them  as breakers of 
the law1 he delivered them to be stoned 
7,antiquities1  ,book ,,xx1 chap4 ix1   

sec4 #a74    ,this passage is probably  
genuine with the exception of the       
clause1  who was called ,christ1 which  
is undoubtedly an interpolation1 and  is
 generally regarded as such4 ,nearly all
 the authorities that ,i have  quoted   
reject it4 ,it was originally probably a
 marginal note4 ,some  ,christian reader
 of ,josephus believing that the ,james 
mentioned was the  brother of ,jesus    
made a note of his belief in the        
manuscript before  him1 and this a      
transcriber afterward incorporated with 
the text1  a very common practice in    
that age when purity of text was a      
matter  of secondary importance4    ,the
 fact that the early fathers1 who were  
acquainted with ,josephus1  and who     
would have hailed with joy even this    
evidence of ,christ's  existence1 do not
 cite it1 while ,origen expressly       
declares that  ,josephus has not        
mentioned ,christ1 is conclusive proof  
that it did  not exist until the middle 
of the third century or later4    ,those

 who affirm the genuineness of this     
clause argue that the ,james  mentioned 
by ,josephus was a person of less       
prominence than the ,jesus  mentioned by
 him1 which would be true of ,james1 the
 brother of ,jesus  ,christ4 ,now some  
of the most prominent ,jews living at   
this time were  named ,jesus4 ,jesus1   
the son of ,damneus1 succeeded ,ananus  
as high  priest that very year2 and     
,jesus1 the son of ,gamaliel1 a little  
later  succeeded to the same office4    
,to identify the ,james of ,josephus    
with ,james the ,just1 the brother  of  
,jesus1 is to reject the accepted       
history of the primitive church  which  
declares that ,james the ,just died in  
#fi ,a4 ,d41 seven years  after the     
,james of ,josephus was condemned to    
death by the ,sanhedrim4    ,whiston    
himself1 the translator of ,josephus1   
referring to the event  narrated by the 
,jewish historian1 admits that ,james1  
the brother of  ,jesus ,christ1 did not 
die till long afterward4    ,the brief  

,discourse ,concerning ,hades1 appended 
to the writings of  ,josephus1 is       
universally conceded to be the product  
of some other  writer--obviously of     
,christian origin--says the             
,encyclopedia  ,britannica4             
,tacitus4    ,in ,july1 #fd ,a4 ,d41 a  
great conflagration occurred in ,rome4  
,there is  a tradition to the effect    
that this conflagration was the work of 
an  incendiary and that the ,emperor    
,nero himself was believed to be the    
incendiary4 ,modern editions of the     
,annals of ,tacitus contain the         
following passage in reference to this3 
,nero1 in order to stifle the rumor1    
ascribed it to those people who  were   
abhorred for their crimes and commonly  
called ,christians3 ,these  he punished 
exquisitely4 ,the founder of that name  
was ,christus1 who1  in the reign of    
,tiberius1 was punished as a criminal by
 the procurator1  ,pontius ,pilate4     
,this pernicious superstition1 thus     
checked for awhile1  broke out again2   

and spread not only over ,judea1 the    
source of this  evil1 but reached the   
city also3 whither flow from all        
quarters  all things vile and shameful1 
and where they find shelter and         
encouragement4 ,at first1 only those    
were apprehended who confessed          
themselves of that sect2 afterwards1 a  
vast multitude were detected  by them1  
all of whom were condemned1 not so much 
for the crime of  burning the city1 as  
their hatred of mankind4 ,their         
executions were  so contrived as to     
expose them to derision and contempt4   
,some were  covered over with the skins 
of wild beasts1 and torn to pieces by   
dogs2  some were crucified4 ,others1    
having been daubed over with combustible
  materials1 were set up as lights in   
the night time1 and thus burned  to     
death4 ,nero made use of his own gardens
 as a theatre on this  occasion1 and    
also exhibited the diversions of the    
circus1 sometimes  standing in the crowd
 as a spectator1 in the habit of a      

charioteer2  at other times driving a   
chariot himself1 till at length those   
men1  though really criminal1 and       
deserving exemplary punishment1 began   
to be commiserated as people who were   
destroyed1 not out of regard  to the    
public welfare1 but only to gratify the 
cruelty of one man  7,annals1 ,book     
,,xv1 sec4 #dd74    ,this passage1      
accepted as authentic by many1 must be  
declared doubtful1  if not spurious1 for
 the following reasons3    #a4 ,it is   
not quoted by the ,christian fathers4   
#b4 ,tertullian was familiar with the   
writings of ,tacitus1 and his  arguments
 demanded the citation of this evidence 
had it existed4    #c4 ,clement of      
,alexandria1 at the beginning of the    
third century1  made a compilation of   
all the recognitions of ,christ and     
,christianity  that had been made by    
,pagan writers up to his time4 ,the     
writings of  ,tacitus furnished no      
recognition of them4    #d4 ,origen1 in 
his controversy with ,celsus1 would     

undoubtedly have  used it had it        
existed4    #e4 ,the ecclesiastical     
historian ,eusebius1 in the fourth      
century1  cites all the evidences of    
,christianity obtainable from ,jewish   
and  ,pagan sources1 but makes no       
mention of ,tacitus4    #f4 ,it is not  
quoted by any ,christian writer prior to
 the fifteenth  century4    #g4 ,at this
 time but one copy of the ,annals       
existed1 and this copy1  it is claimed1 
was made in the eighth century--#fjj    
years after the  time of ,tacitus4      
#h4 ,as this single copy was in the     
possession of a ,christian the          
insertion of a forgery was easy4    #i4 
,its severe criticisms of ,christianity 
do not necessarily disprove  its        
,christian origin4 ,no ancient witness  
was more desirable than  ,tacitus1 but  
his introduction at so late a period    
would make rejection  certain unless    
,christian forgery could be made to     
appear improbable4    #aj4 ,it is       
admitted by ,christian writers that the 

works of ,tacitus  have not been        
preserved with any considerable degree  
of fidelity4 ,in  the writings ascribed 
to him are believed to be some of the   
writings  of ,quintilian4    #aa4 ,the  
blood-curdling story about the frightful
 orgies of ,nero reads  like some       
,christian romance of the dark ages1 and
 not like ,tacitus4    #ab4 ,in fact1   
this story1 in nearly the same words1   
omitting the  reference to ,christ1 is  
to be found in the writings of          
,sulpicius  ,severus1 a ,christian of   
the fifth century4    #ac4 ,suetonius1  
while mercilessly condemning the reign  
of ,nero1 says  that in his public      
entertainments he took particular care  
that no human  lives should be          
sacrificed1 not even those of condemned 
criminals4    #ad4 ,at the time that the
 conflagration occurred1 ,tacitus       
himself  declares that ,nero was not in 
,rome1 but at ,antium4    ,many who     
accept the authenticity of this section 
of the ,annals  believe that the        

sentence which declares that ,christ was
 punished  in the reign of ,pontius     
,pilate1 and which ,i have italicized1  
is  an interpolation4 ,whatever may be  
said of the remainder of this  passage1 
this sentence bears the unmistakable    
stamp of ,christian  forgery4 ,it       
interrupts the narrative2 it disconnects
 two closely  related statements4       
,eliminate this sentence1 and there is  
no break  in the narrative4 ,in all the 
,roman records there was to be found no 
evidence that ,christ was put to death  
by ,pontius ,pilate4 ,this sentence1  if
 genuine1 is the most important evidence
 in ,pagan literature4 ,that  it existed
 in the works of the greatest and best  
known of ,roman  historians1 and was    
ignored or overlooked by ,christian     
apologists  for #a1cfj years1 no        
intelligent critic can believe4 ,tacitus
 did not  write this sentence4          
,pliny the ,younger4    ,this ,roman    
author1 early in the second century1    
while serving as a  pro-consul under    

,trajan in ,bithynia1 is reputed to have
 written a  letter to his ,emperor      
concerning his treatment of ,christians4
 ,this  letter contains the following3  
,i have laid down this rule in dealing  
with those who were brought  before me  
for being ,christians4 ,i asked whether 
they were ,christians2  if they         
confessed1 ,i asked them a second and a 
third time1 threatening  them with      
punishment2 if they persevered1 ,i      
ordered them to be  executed4444 ,they  
assured me that their only crime or     
error was this1  that they were wont to 
come together on a certain day before it
 was  light1 and to sing in turn1 among 
themselves1 a hymn to ,christ1 as  to a 
god1 and to bind themselves by an       
oath--not to do anything that  was      
wicked1 that they would commit no theft1
 robbery1 or adultery1  nor break their 
word1 nor deny that anything had been   
entrusted to  them when called upon to  
restore it4444 ,i therefore deemed it   
the  more necessary to enquire of two   

servant maids1 who were said to be      
attendants1 what was the real truth1 and
 to apply the torture4 ,but  ,i found it
 was nothing but a bad and excessive    
superstition4    ,notwithstanding an    
alleged reply to this letter from       
,trajan1 cited  by ,tertullian and      
,eusebius1 its genuineness may well be  
questioned1  and for the following      
reasons3    #a4 ,the ,roman laws        
accorded religious liberty to all1 and  
the ,roman  government tolerated and    
protected every religious belief4 ,renan
 says3  ,among the ,roman laws1 anterior
 to ,constantine1 there was not a single
  ordinance directed against freedom of 
thought2 in the history of the  ,pagan  
emperors not a single persecution on    
account of mere doctrines  or creeds    
7,the ,apostles74 ,gibbon says3 ,the    
religious tenets of the  ,galileans1 or 
,christians1 were never made a subject  
of punishment1  or even of inquiry      
7,rome1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #bae74    #b4    
,trajan was one of the most tolerant and

 benevolent of ,roman  emperors4    #c4 
,pliny1 the reputed author of the       
letter1 is universally conceded  to have
 been one of the most humane and        
philanthropic of men4    #d4 ,it        
represents the distant province of      
,bithynia as containing1  at this time1 
a large ,christian population1 which is 
improbable4    #e4 ,it assumes that the 
,emperor ,trajan was little acquainted  
with  ,christian beliefs and customs1   
which cannot be harmonized with the     
supposed historical fact that the most  
powerful of primitive churches          
flourished in ,trajan's capital and had 
existed for fifty years4    #f4 ,pliny  
represents the ,christians as declaring 
that they were in  the habit of meeting 
and singing hymns to ,christ as to a    
god4 ,the  early ,christians did not    
recognize ,christ as a god1 and it was  
not  until after the time of ,pliny that
 he was worshiped as such4    #g4 ,i    
asked whether they were ,christians2 if 
they confessed1 ,i asked  them a second 

and a third time1 threatening them with 
punishment2  if they persevered ,i      
ordered them to be executed4 ,that this 
wise and  good man rewarded lying with  
liberty and truthfulness with death is  
difficult to believe4    #h4 ,i         
therefore deemed it more necessary to   
inquire of two servant  maids1 who were 
said to be attendants1 what was the real
 truth1 and  to apply the torture4      
,never have the person and character of 
woman  been held more sacred than they  
were in ,pagan ,rome4 ,that one of the  
noblest of ,romans should have put to   
torture young women guiltless  of crime 
is incredible4    #i4 ,the declaration  
of the ,christians that they took a     
solemn obligation  not to do anything   
that was wicked2 that they would commit 
no theft1  robbery1 or adultery1 nor    
break their word1 etc41 looks like an   
ingenious attempt to parade the virtues 
of primitive ,christians4    #aj4 ,this 
letter1 it is claimed1 is to be found in
 but one ancient  copy of ,pliny4       

#aa4 ,it was first quoted by            
,tertullian1 and the age immediately    
preceding ,tertullian was notorious for 
,christian forgeries4    #ab4 ,some of  
the best ,german critics reject it4     
,gibbon1 while not  denying its         
authenticity1 pronounces it a very      
curious epistle2  and ,dr4 ,whiston1 who
 considers it too valuable to discard1  
applies to  its contents such epithets  
as amazing doctrine6 amazing stupidity6 
,josephus1 ,tacitus1 ,pliny--these are  
the disinterested witnesses adduced  by 
the church to prove the historical      
existence of ,jesus ,christ2  the one   
writing nearly one hundred years1 the   
others one hundred  and ten years after 
his alleged birth2 the testimony of two 
of them  self-evident forgeries1 and    
that of the third a probable forgery4   
,but even if the doubtful and hostile   
letter of ,pliny be genuine1  it was not
 written until the second century1 so   
that there is not to  be found in all   
the records of profane history prior to 

the second  century a single allusion to
 the reputed founder of ,christianity4  
,to these witnesses is sometimes1 though
 rarely1 added a fourth1  ,suetonius1 a 
,roman historian who1 like ,tacitus and 
,pliny1 wrote in the  second century4   
,in his ,life of ,nero1 ,suetonius says3
 ,the ,christians1  a race of men of a  
new and villainous superstition1 were   
punished4 ,in  his ,life of ,claudius1  
he says3 ,he ,claudius drove the ,jews1 
who at  the instigation of ,chrestus    
were constantly rioting1 out of ,rome4  
,of  course no candid ,christian will   
contend that ,christ was inciting       
,jewish riots at ,rome fifteen years    
after he was crucified at ,jerusalem4   
,significant is the silence of the forty
 ,jewish and ,pagan writers named  in   
this chapter4 ,this silence alone       
disproves ,christ's existence4 ,had     
this wonderful being really existed the 
earth would have resounded  with his    
fame4 ,his mighty deeds would have      
engrossed every historian's  pen4 ,the  

pages of other writers would have       
abounded with references to  him4 ,think
 of going through the literature of the 
nineteenth century  and searching in    
vain for the name of ,napoleon          
,bonaparte6 ,yet ,napoleon  was a pigmy 
and his deeds trifles compared with this
 ,christ and the  deeds he is said to   
have performed4    ,with withering irony
 ,gibbon notes this ominous silence3    
,but how shall  we excuse the supine    
inattention of the ,pagan and           
philosophic world1  to those evidences  
which were represented by the hand of   
,omnipotence1  not to their reason1 but 
to their senses8 ,during the age of     
,christ1  of his apostles1 and of their 
first disciples1 the doctrine which they
  preached was confirmed by innumerable 
prodigies4 ,the lame walked1 the  blind 
saw1 the sick were healed1 the dead were
 raised1 demons were  expelled1 and the 
laws of ,nature were frequently         
suspended for the  benefit of the       
church4 ,but the sages of ,greece and   

,rome turned aside  from the awful      
spectacle1 and1 pursuing the ordinary   
occupations of  life and study1 appeared
 unconscious of any alterations in the  
moral  or physical government of the    
world4 ,under the reign of ,tiberius1   
the whole earth1 or at least a          
celebrated province of the ,roman       
empire1 was involved in a preternatural 
darkness of three hours4 ,even  this    
miraculous event1 which ought to have   
excited the wonder1 the  curiosity1 and 
the devotion of mankind1 passed without 
notice in  an age of science and        
history4 ,it happened during the        
lifetime of  ,seneca and the elder      
,pliny1 who must have experienced the   
immediate  effects1 or received the     
earliest intelligence of the prodigy4   
,each of  these philosophers1 in a      
laborious work1 has recorded all the    
great  phenomena of ,nature1            
earthquakes1 meteors1 comets1 and       
eclipses1  which his indefatigable      
curiosity could collect4 ,both the one  

and  the other have omitted to mention  
the greatest phenomenon to which  the   
mortal eye has been witness since the   
creation of the globe  7,rome1 ,vol4 ,i1
 pp4 #ehh-eij74    ,even conceding1 for 
the sake of argument1 both the          
authenticity and  the credibility of    
these passages attributed to the ,roman 
historians1  what do they prove8 ,do    
they prove that ,christ was divine--that
 he was a  supernatural being1 as       
claimed8 ,no more than do the writings  
of ,paine  and ,voltaire1 which also    
contain his name4 ,this evidence is     
favorable  not to the adherents1 but to 
the opponents1 of ,christianity4 ,if    
these  passages be genuine1 and their   
authors have penned historical truths1  
it simply confirms what most            
,rationalists admit1 that a religious   
sect  called ,christians1 who recognized
 ,christ as their founder1 existed  as  
early as the first century2 and confirms
 what some have charged1  but what the  
church is loath to admit1 that primitive

 ,christians1  who have been declared   
the highest exemplars of human virtue1  
were  the most depraved of villains4    
,an unlettered and credulous enthusiast1
 named ,jones1 imagines that he  has had
 a revelation1 and proceeds to found a  
new religious sect4 ,he  gathers about  
him a band of disciples as ignorant and 
credulous as  himself4 ,he soon gets    
into trouble and is killed4 ,but the    
,jonesists  increase--increase in       
numbers and in meanness--until at length
 they  become sufficiently notorious to 
receive a paragraph from an annalist    
who1 after holding them up to ridicule  
and scorn1 accounts for their  origin by
 stating that they take their name from 
one ,jones who1  during the             
administration of ,president ,roosevelt1
 was hanged as a  criminal4 ,the world  
contains two billions of                
inhabitants--mostly fools1  as ,carlyle 
would say--and as the religion of this  
sect is a little  more foolish than that
 of any other sect1 it continues to     

spread until  at the end of two thousand
 years it covers the globe4 ,then think 
of  the adherents of this religion      
citing the uncomplimentary allusion  of 
this annalist to prove that ,jones was a
 god6                ,,chapter ,,iii4   
,,christian ,,evidence4      ,the ,four 
,gospels4    ,farrar1 in his ,life of   
,christ1 concedes and deplores the      
dearth  of evidence concerning the      
subject of his work4 ,he says3 ,it is   
little short of amazing that neither    
history nor tradition should  have      
embalmed for us one certain or precious 
saying or circumstance  in the life of  
the ,savior of ,mankind1 except the     
comparatively few  events recorded in   
four very brief biographies4    ,with   
these four brief biographies1 the ,four 
,gospels1 ,christianity  must stand or  
fall4 ,these four documents1 it is      
admitted1 contain  practically all the  
evidence which can be adduced in proof  
of the  existence and divinity of ,jesus
 ,christ4 ,profane history1 as we have  

seen1 affords no proof of this4 ,the    
so-called apocryphal literature  of the 
early church has been discarded by the  
church itself4 ,even  the remaining     
canonical books of the ,new ,testament  
are of little  consequence if the       
testimony of the ,four ,evangelists be  
successfully  impeached4 ,disprove the  
authenticity and credibility of these   
documents  and this ,christian deity is 
removed to the mythical realm of        
,apollo1  ,odin1 and ,osiris4    ,in a  
previous work1 ,the ,bible1 ,i have     
shown that the books of the  ,new       
,testament1 with a few exceptions1 are  
not authentic4 ,this evidence  cannot be
 reproduced here in full4 ,a brief      
summary of it must suffice4    ,the     
,four ,gospels1 it is claimed1 were     
written by ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke1  and 
,john1 two of them apostles1 and two    
companions of the apostles  of ,christ4 
,if this claim be true the other        
writings of the apostles1  the writings 
of the ,apostolic ,fathers1 and the     

writings of the early  ,christian       
,fathers1 ought to contain some         
evidences of the fact4    ,twenty       
books--nearly all of the remaining books
 of the ,new  ,testament--are said to   
have been written by the three apostles1
 ,peter1  ,john1 and ,paul1 a portion of
 them after the first three ,gospels    
were  written2 but it is admitted that  
they contain no evidence whatever  of   
the existence of these ,gospels4        
,there are extant writings accredited to
 the ,apostolic ,fathers1  ,clement of  
,rome1 ,barnabas1 ,hermas1 ,ignatius1   
and ,polycarp2 written1  for the most   
part1 early in the second century4      
,these writings contain  no mention of  
the ,four ,gospels4 ,this also is       
admitted by ,christian  scholars4 ,dr4  
,dodwell says3 ,we have at this day     
certain most authentic  ecclesiastical  
writers of the times1 as ,clemens       
,romanus1 ,barnabas1  ,hermas1          
,ignatius1 and ,polycarp1 who wrote in  
the order wherein ,i  have named them1  

and after all the writers of the ,new   
,testament4 ,but  in ,hermas you will   
not find one passage or any mention of  
the ,new  ,testament1 nor in all the    
rest is any one of the ,evangelists     
named  7,dissertations upon ,irenaeus74 
,the ,four ,gospels were unknown to the 
early ,christian ,fathers4 ,justin      
,martyr1 the most eminent of the early  
,fathers1 wrote about the middle  of the
 second century4 ,his writings in proof 
of the divinity of ,christ  demanded the
 use of these ,gospels had they existed 
in his time4 ,he  makes more than three 
hundred quotations from the books of the
 ,old  ,testament1 and nearly one       
hundred from the ,apocryphal books of   
the ,new  ,testament2 but none from the 
,four ,gospels4 ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,giles  
says3  ,the very names of the           
,evangelists1 ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke1   
and ,john1  are never mentioned by him  
,justin--do not occur once in all his   
writings 7,christian ,records1 p4 #ga74 
,papias1 another noted ,father1 was a   

contemporary of ,justin4 ,he  refers to 
writings of ,matthew and ,mark1 but his 
allusions to them  clearly indicate that
 they were not the ,gospels of ,matthew 
and  ,mark4 ,dr4 ,davidson1 the highest 
,english authority on the canon1 says3  
,he ,papias neither felt the want nor   
knew the existence of inspired  ,gospels
 7,canon of the ,bible1 p4 #abc74       
,theophilus1 who wrote after the middle 
of the latter half of the second        
century1 mentions the ,gospel of ,john1 
and ,irenaeus1 who wrote a little       
later1 mentions all of the ,gospels1 and
 makes numerous quotations from  them4  
,in the latter half of the second       
century1 then1 between the  time of     
,justin and ,papias1 and the time of    
,theophilus and ,irenaeus1  the ,four   
,gospels were undoubtedly written or    
compiled4    ,these books are anonymous4
 ,they do not purport to have been      
written  by ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke and  
,john4 ,their titles do not affirm it4  
,they  simply imply that they are       

according to the supposed teachings of  
these ,evangelists4 ,as ,renan says1    
,they merely signify that these were    
the traditions proceeding from each of  
these ,apostles1 and claiming  their    
authority4 ,concerning their authorship 
the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,hooykaas  says3 ,they   
appeared anonymously4 ,the titles placed
 above them in  our ,bibles owe their   
origin to a later ecclesiastical        
tradition which  deserves no confidence 
whatever 7,bible for ,learners1 ,vol4   
,,iii1 p4 #bd74    ,it is claimed that  
the ,gospel of ,matthew originally      
appeared in  ,hebrew4 ,our version is a 
translation of a ,greek work4 ,regarding
 this  ,st4 ,jerome says3 ,who          
afterwards translated it into ,greek is 
not  sufficiently certain4 ,the         
consequences of this admission are thus 
expressed by ,michaelis3 ,if the        
original text of ,matthew is lost1  and 
we have nothing but a ,greek            
translation2 then1 frankly1 we cannot   
ascribe any divine inspiration to the   

words4    ,the contents of these books  
refute the claim that they were written 
by the ,evangelists named4 ,they narrate
 events and contain doctrinal  teachings
 which belong to a later age4 ,matthew  
ascribes to ,christ the  following      
language3 ,thou art ,peter1 and upon    
this rock ,i will build  my church 7xvi1
 #ah74 ,this ,gospel is a ,roman        
,catholic ,gospel1 and was  written     
after the beginning of the establishment
 of this hierarchy to  uphold the       
supremacy of the ,petrine ,church of    
,rome4 ,of this ,gospel  ,dr4 ,davidson 
says3 ,the author1 indeed1 must ever    
remain unknown  7,introduction to ,new  
,testament1 p4 #gb74    ,the ,gospel of 
,luke is addressed to ,theophilus4      
,theophilus1 ,bishop of  ,antioch1 who  
is believed to be the person addressed1 
flourished in  the latter half of the   
second century4    ,dr4 ,schleiermacher1
 one of ,germany's greatest theologians1
 after a  critical analysis of ,luke1   
concludes that it is merely a           

compilation1  made up of thirty-three   
preexisting manuscripts4 ,bishop        
,thirlwall's  ,schleiermacher says3 ,he 
,luke is from beginning to end no more  
than  the compiler and arranger of      
documents which he found in existence   
7p4 #cac74    ,the basis of this ,gospel
 is generally believed to be the ,gospel
 of  ,marcion1 a ,pauline compilation1  
made about the middle of the second     
century4 ,concerning this ,gospel1 the  
,rev4 ,s4 ,baring-,gould1 in his  ,lost 
and ,hostile ,gospels1 says3 ,the       
arrangement is so similar that  we are  
forced to the conclusion that it was    
either used by ,st4 ,luke or  that it   
was his original composition4 ,if he    
used it then his right  to the title of 
author of the ,third ,gospel falls to   
the ground1  as what he added was of    
small amount4    ,mark1 according to    
,renan1 is the oldest of the ,gospels2  
but ,mark1  according to ,strauss1 was  
written after the ,gospels of ,matthew  
and  ,luke were written4 ,he says3 ,it  

is evidently a compilation1 whether     
made from memory or otherwise1 from the 
first and third ,gospels  7,leben ,jesu1
 p4 #ea74 ,judge ,waite1 in his ,history
 of ,christianity1  says that all but   
twenty-four verses of this ,gospel have 
their  parallels in ,matthew and ,luke4 
,davidson declares it to be an anonymous
  work4 ,the author1 he says1 is        
unknown4    ,omitting the last twelve   
verses of ,mark1 which all ,christian   
critics  pronounce spurious1 the book   
contains no mention of the two great    
miracles which mark the limits of       
,christ's earthly career1 his           
miraculous birth and his ascension4     
,concerning the first three ,gospels1   
the ,encyclopedia ,britannica  says3 ,it
 is certain that the ,synoptic ,gospels 
took their present form  only by        
degrees4 ,of these books ,dr4 ,westcott 
says3 ,their substance  is evidently    
much older than their form4 ,professor  
,robertson ,smith  pronounces them      
unapostolic digests of the second       

century4    ,the internal evidence      
against the authenticity of the ,fourth 
,gospel  is conclusive4 ,the ,apostle   
,john did not write it4 ,john1 the      
apostle1  was a ,jew2 the author of the 
,fourth ,gospel was not a ,jew4 ,john   
was  born at ,bethsaida2 the author of  
the ,fourth ,gospel did not know  where 
,bethsaida was located4 ,john was an    
uneducated fisherman2  the author of    
this ,gospel was an accomplished        
scholar4 ,some of the  most important   
events in the life of ,jesus1 the       
,synoptics declare1  were witnessed by  
,john2 the author of this knows nothing 
of these  events4 ,the ,apostle ,john   
witnessed the crucifixion2 the author of
  this ,gospel did not4 ,the ,apostles1 
including ,john1 believed ,jesus to  be 
a man2 the author of the ,fourth ,gospel
 believed him to be a god4    ,regarding
 the authorship of the ,fourth ,gospel1 
,dr4 ,davidson says3 ,the  ,johannine   
authorship has receded before the tide  
of modern criticism1  and though this   

tide is arbitrary at times1 it is here  
irresistible  7,canon of the ,bible1 p4 
#abg74    ,that the authenticity of the 
,four ,gospels cannot be maintained is  
conceded by every impartial critic4 ,the
 author of ,supernatural  ,religion1 in 
one of the most profound and exhaustive 
works on  this subject ever written1    
expresses the result of his labors in   
the following words3 ,after having      
exhausted the literature and the        
testimony bearing on the point1 we have 
not found a single distinct  trace of   
any of those ,gospels during the first  
century and a half  after the death of  
,jesus 7,supernatural ,religion1 ,vol4  
,,ii1 p4 #bdh74    ,fifteen hundred     
years ago1 ,bishop ,faustus1 a heretical
 ,christian  theologian1 referring to   
this so-called ,gospel history1 wrote3  
,it  is allowed not to have been written
 by the son himself nor by his          
apostles1 but long after by some unknown
 men who1 lest they should  be suspected
 of writing things they knew nothing of1

 gave to their  books the names of the  
,apostles4    ,the following is the     
verdict of the world's greatest ,bible  
critic1  ,baur3 ,these ,gospels are     
spurious1 and were written in the second
  century4        ,acts1 ,catholic      
,epistles1 and ,revelation4    ,the     
,acts of the ,apostles is supposed to   
have been written by the  author of the 
,third ,gospel4 ,like this book it is   
anonymous and of late  origin4 ,it      
contains historical inaccuracies1       
contradicts the ,gospel of  ,matthew1   
and conflicts with the writings of      
,paul4 ,concerning the last1  the ,bible
 for ,learners 7,vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #be7    
says3 ,in the first two  chapters of the
 ,epistle to the ,galatians1 he ,paul   
gives us several  details of his own    
past life2 and no sooner do we place his
 story  side by side with that of the   
,acts than we clearly perceive that this
  book contains an incorrect account1   
and that its inaccuracy is not  the     
result of accident or ignorance1 but of 

a deliberate design4    ,this book      
purports to be the product chiefly of   
three minds3 that  of the author who    
gives a historical sketch of the early  
church1  and those of ,peter and ,paul  
whose discourses are reported4 ,and yet 
the three compositions are clearly the  
products of one mind--that  of the      
author4 ,the evident purpose of the work
 is to heal the bitter  dissensions     
which existed between the ,petrine and  
,pauline churches1  and this points     
unmistakably to the latter part of the  
second century  as the date of its      
appearance1 when the work of uniting the
 various  ,christian sects into the     
,catholic church began4 ,renan considers
 this  the most faulty book of the ,new 
,testament4    ,the seven ,catholic     
,epistles1 ,james1 ,first and ,second   
,peter1 ,first1  ,second and ,third     
,john1 and ,jude1 have never been held  
in very high  esteem by the church4     
,many of the ,christian ,fathers        
rejected them1  while modern ,christian 

scholars have generally considered them 
of  doubtful authenticity4 ,the first   
and last of these were rejected by      
,martin ,luther4 ,st4 ,james' ,epistle1 
says ,luther1 is truly an epistle  of   
straw 7,preface to ,luther's ,new       
,testament1 ed4 #aebd74 ,jude1 he says1 
is an abstract or copy of ,st4 ,peter's 
,second1 and allegeth stories  and      
sayings which have no place in          
,scripture 7,standing ,preface74    ,the
 ,first ,epistle of ,peter and the      
,first ,epistle of ,john have generally 
been accorded a higher degree of        
authority than the others2 but even     
these were not written by apostles1 nor 
in the first century4 ,dr4 ,soury  says 
that ,first ,peter dates1 in all        
probability1 from the year #acj  ,a4    
,d41 at the earliest 7,jesus and the    
,gospels1 p4 #cb74 ,irenaeus1 the       
founder of the ,new ,testament canon1   
rejected it4 ,the ,dutch critics1  who  
deny the ,johannine authorship of the   
,fourth ,gospel1 and assign  its        

composition to the second century1 say3 
,the ,first ,epistle of  ,john soon     
issued from the same school in imitation
 of the ,gospel  7,bible for ,learners1 
,vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #fib74    ,second ,peter
 is a forgery4 ,westcott says there is  
no proof of its  existence prior to #agj
 ,a4 ,d4 ,smith's ,bible ,dictionary    
says ,many  reject the epistle as       
altogether spurious4 ,the brief epistles
 of  ,second and ,third ,john are       
anonymous and of very late origin4 ,they
 do  not purport to be the writings of  
,john4 ,the superscriptions declare     
them to be from an elder1 and this      
precludes the claim that they are  from 
an apostle4 ,the early ,fathers ignored 
them4    ,revelation is the only book in
 the ,bible which claims to be the word 
of  ,god4 ,at the same time it is the   
book of which ,christians have always   
been the most suspicious4 ,it is        
addressed to the seven churches  of     
,asia1 but the seven churches of ,asia  
rejected it4 ,concerning  the attitude  

of ancient churchmen toward it1         
,dionysius1 ,bishop of  ,alexandria1    
says3 ,divers of our predecessors have  
wholly refused and  rejected this book1 
and by discussing the several parts     
thereof have  found it obscure and void 
of reason and the title forged4    ,the 
most learned and intelligent of         
,protestant divines1 says the           
,edinburgh ,review1 almost all doubted  
or denied the canonicity  of the book of
 ,revelation4 ,it is a book which1 ,dr4 
,south said1  either found a man mad or 
left him so4 ,calvin and ,beza both     
forbade  their clergy to attempt an     
explanation of its contents4 ,luther    
says3  ,in the ,revelation of ,john much
 is wanting to let me deem it either    
prophetic or apostolical 7,preface to   
,n4 ,t41 #aebd74    ,considered as      
evidences of ,christ's historical       
existence and divinity  these nine books
 are of no value4 ,they are all         
anonymous writings or  forgeries1 and1  
with the possible exception of          

,revelation1 of very  late origin4      
,while they affirm ,christ's existence  
they are almost  entirely silent        
regarding his life and miracles4        
,the ,epistles of ,paul4    ,of the     
fourteen epistles ascribed to ,paul1    
seven--,ephesians1  ,colossians1 ,second
 ,thessalonians1 ,first and ,second     
,timothy1 ,titus1  and ,hebrews--are    
conceded by nearly all critics to be    
spurious1 while  three                  
others--,philippians1 ,first            
,thessalonians1 and ,philemon--are      
generally classed as doubtful4    ,the  
general verdict concerning the first    
seven is thus expressed by  the ,rev4   
,dr4 ,hooykaas3 ,fourteen epistles are  
said to be ,paul's2  but we must at once
 strike off one1 namely1 that to the    
,hebrews1  which does not bear his name 
at all4 444 ,the two letters to ,timothy
  and the letter to ,titus were         
certainly composed long after the death 
of ,paul4444 ,it is more than possible  
that the letters to the ,ephesians  and 

,colossians are also unauthentic1 and   
the same suspicion rests1  perhaps1 on  
the first1 but certainly on the second  
of the ,epistles  to the ,thessalonians 
7,bible for ,learners1 ,vol4 ,,iii1 p4  
#bc74    ,the author of ,second         
,thessalonians1 whose epistle is a      
self-evident  forgery1 declares ,first  
,thessalonians to be a forgery4 ,baur   
and the  ,tubingen school reject both   
,epistles4 ,baur also rejects           
,philippians3  ,the ,epistles to the    
,colossians and to the ,philippians 444 
are  spurious1 and were written by the  
,catholic school near the end of the    
second century1 to heal the strife      
between the ,jew and the ,gentile       
factions 7,paulus74 ,dr4 ,kuenen and the
 other ,dutch critics admit that        
,philippians and ,philemon1 as well as  
,first ,thessalonians1 are doubtful4    
,that the ,pastoral ,epistles are       
forgeries is now conceded by all        
critics4 ,according to the ,german      
critics they belong to the second       

century4 ,hebrews does not purport to be
 a ,pauline document4 ,luther  says3    
,the ,epistle to the ,hebrews is not by 
,st4 ,paul1 nor1 indeed1  by any apostle
 7,standing ,preface to ,luther's ,n4   
,t474    ,four ,epistles--,romans1      
,first and ,second ,corinthians1 and    
,galatians--while rejected by a few     
critics1 are generally admitted  to be  
the genuine writings of ,paul4 ,these   
books were written1 it is  claimed1     
about a quarter of a century after the  
death of ,christ4 ,they  are the only   
books of the ,new ,testament whose      
authenticity can be  maintained4        
,admitting the authenticity of these    
books1 however1 is not  admitting the   
historical existence of ,christ and the 
divine origin of  ,christianity4 ,paul  
was not a witness of the alleged events 
upon which  ,christianity rests4 ,he did
 not become a convert to ,christianity  
until  many years after the death of    
,christ4 ,he did not see ,christ 7save  
in  a vision72 he did not listen to his 

teachings2 he did not learn from  his   
disciples4 ,the ,gospel which was       
preached of me is not after man1  for ,i
 neither received it of man1 neither was
 ,i taught it 7,gal4 i1  #aa1 #ab74     
,paul accepted only to a very small     
extent the religion  of ,christ's       
disciples4 ,he professed to derive his  
knowledge from  supernatural            
sources--from trances and visions4      
,regarding the value of  such testimony 
the author of ,supernatural ,religion   
7p4 #igj7 says3  ,no one can deny1 and  
medical and psychological annals prove1 
that  many men have been subject to     
visions and hallucinations which have   
never been seriously attributed to      
supernatural causes4 ,there is not  one 
single valid reason removing the        
ecstatic visions and trances of  the    
,apostle ,paul from this class4    ,the 
corporeal existence of the ,christ of   
the ,evangelists receives  slight       
confirmation in the writings of ,paul4  
,his ,christ was not the  incarnate     

,word of ,john1 nor the demi-god of     
,matthew and ,luke4 ,of the  immaculate 
conception of ,jesus he knew nothing4   
,to him ,christ was the  son of ,god in 
a spiritual rather than in a physical   
sense4 ,his son  ,jesus ,christ our     
,lord1 which was made of the seed of    
,david according  to the flesh2 and     
declared to be the son of ,god with     
power1 according  to the spirit of      
holiness1 by the resurrection from the  
dead 7,rom4 i1  #c1 #d74 ,god sent forth
 his son1 made of a woman but not of a  
virgin1  made under the law 7,gal4 iv1  
#d74    ,with the ,evangelists the      
proofs of ,christ's divinity are his    
miracles4 ,their books teem with        
accounts of these4 ,but ,paul evidently 
knows nothing of these miracles4 ,with  
him the evidences of ,christ's  divine  
mission are his resurrection and the    
spiritual gifts conferred  on those who 
accept him4    ,the ,evangelists teach a
 material resurrection4 ,when the women 
visited  his tomb they entered in and   

found not the body of ,jesus 7,luke     
xxiv1  #c74 ,the divine messengers said 
to them1 ,he is not here1 but is risen  
7#f74 ,he sat at meat with his          
disciples2 he took bread1 and blessed   
it1 and brake1 and gave to them 7#cj74  
,then he said to ,thomas1 ,reach  hither
 thy finger1 and behold my hands2 and   
reach hither thy hand1 and  thrust it   
into my side 7,john xx1 #bg74 ,this is  
entirely at variance  with the teachings
 of ,paul4 ,but now is ,christ risen    
from the dead1  and become the first    
fruits of them that slept4 ,for since by
 man came  death1 by man came also the  
resurrection of the dead 7#a ,cor4 xv1  
#bj1  #ba74 ,but some man will say1 ,how
 are the dead raised up8 and with  what 
body do they come8 ,thou fool1 that     
which thou sowest is not  quickened1    
except it die2 and that which thou      
sowest1 thou sowest  not that body that 
shall be 7#ce-cg74 ,it is sown a natural
 body2  it is raised a spiritual body4  
,there is a natural body1 and there  is 

a spiritual body 7#dd74 ,now this ,i say
 brethren1 that flesh and  blood cannot 
inherit the kingdom of ,god 7#ej74      
,the ,christ that ,paul saw in a vision 
was a spiritual being--an  apparition2  
and this appearance he considers of     
exactly the  same character as the post 
mortem appearances of ,christ to his    
disciples4 ,he was seen of ,cephas1 then
 of the twelve2 after that  he was seen 
of above five hundred brethren at once2 
444 after that1  he was seen of ,james2 
then of all the ,apostles4 ,and last of 
all1  he was seen of me also 7#a ,cor4  
xv1 #e-h74                ,,chapter     
,,iv4    ,,the ,,infancy ,,of ,,christ4 
,we have seen that the ,four ,gospels   
are not authentic1 that they are        
anonymous writings which appeared late  
in the second century4 ,if their        
contents seemed credible and their      
statements harmonized with each  other  
this want of authenticity would         
invalidate their authority1  because the
 testimony of an unknown witness cannot 

be accepted  as authoritative4 ,on the  
other hand1 if their authenticity could 
be established1 if it could be shown    
that they were written by the  authors  
claimed1 the incredible and             
contradictory character of their        
contents would destroy their authority4 
,as historical documents these books are
 hardly worthy of credit4 ,the  ,arabian
 ,nights is almost as worthy of credit  
as the ,four ,gospels4 ,in  both are to 
be found accounts of things possible and
 of things  impossible4 ,to believe the 
impossible is gross superstition2 to    
believe  the possible1 simply because it
 is possible1 is blind credulity4 ,these
  books are adduced as the credentials  
of ,christ4 ,a critical analysis of     
these credentials reveals hundreds of   
errors4 ,a presentation of these  errors
 will occupy the five succeeding        
chapters of this work4 ,if it  can be   
shown that they contain errors1 however 
trivial some of them  may appear1 this  
refutes the claim of inerrancy and      

divinity4 ,if  it can be shown that they
 abound with errors1 this destroys their
  credibility as historical documents4  
,destroy the credibility of the  ,four  
,gospels and you destroy all proofs of  
,christ's divinity--all  proofs of his  
existence4        #a    ,when was ,jesus
 born8    ,matthew3 ,in the days of     
,herod 7ii1 #a74    ,luke3 ,when        
,cyrenius was governor of ,syria 7ii1   
#a-g74    ,nearly every biographer gives
 the date of his subject's birth4 ,yet  
not  one of the ,evangelists gives the  
date of ,jesus' birth4 ,two1 ,matthew   
and ,luke1 attempt to give the time     
approximately4 ,but between these two   
attempts there is a discrepancy of at   
least ten years2 for ,herod died  #d ,b4
 ,c41 while ,cyrenius did not become    
governor of ,syria until #g ,a4 ,d4     
,a reconciliation of these statements is
 impossible4 ,matthew clearly  states   
that ,jesus was born during the reign of
 ,herod4 ,luke states  that ,augustus   
,caesar issued a decree that the world  

should be taxed1  that this taxing was  
first made when ,cyrenius was governor  
of ,syria1  and that ,jesus was born at 
the time of this taxing4    ,the        
following extracts from ,josephus1 the  
renowned historian of the  race and     
country to which ,jesus belonged1 give  
the date of this taxing  and the time   
that elapsed between the death of ,herod
 and the taxing1  and which reckoned    
backward from this gives the date of    
,herod's death3    ,and now ,herod      
altered his testament upon the          
alteration of his mind2  for he         
appointed ,antipas1 to whom he had      
before left his kingdom1  to be tetrarch
 of ,galilee and ,berea1 and granted the
 kingdom to  ,archelaus4444 ,when he had
 done these things he died              
7,antiquities1  ,b4 xvii1 ch4 #h1 sec4  
#a74    ,but in the tenth year of       
,archelaus's government1 both his       
brethren1  and the principal men of     
,judea and ,samaria1 not being able to  
bear  his barbarous and tyrannical usage

 of them1 accused him before            
,caesar4444 ,and when he was come to    
,rome1 ,caesar1 upon hearing what       
certain accusers of his had to say1 and 
what reply he could make1  both banished
 him1 and appointed ,vienna1 a city of  
,gaul1 to be the  place of his          
habitation1 and took his money away from
 him 7,ibid1  ch4 #ac1 sec4 #b74        
,archelaus's country was laid to the    
province of ,syria2 and ,cyrenius1  one 
that had been consul1 was sent by       
,caesar to take account of  people's    
effects in ,syria1 and to sell the house
 of ,archelaus  7,ib4 sec4 #e74    ,when
 ,cyrenius had now disposed of          
,archelaus's money1 and when  the       
taxings were come to a conclusion1 which
 were made in the  thirty-seventh of    
,caesar's victory over ,antony at       
,actium1 etc4 7,ib41  ,b4 xviii1 ch4 #b1
 sec4 #a74    ,the battle of ,actium was
 fought ,september #b1 ,b4 ,c4 #ca4 ,the
  thirty-seventh year from this battle  
comprehended the time elapsing  between 

,september #b1 ,a4 ,d4 #f1 and          
,september #b1 ,a4 ,d4 #g1 the mean  of 
which was ,march #b1 ,a4 ,d4 #g4 ,the   
mean of the tenth year preceding        
this--the year in which ,herod died--was
 ,september #b1 ,b4 ,c4 #d4    ,it has  
been suggested by some unacquainted with
 ,roman history that  ,cyrenius         
,quirinus may have been twice governor  
of ,syria4 ,cyrenius  was but once      
governor of ,syria1 and this not until  
#g ,a4 ,d4 ,during the  last years of   
,herod's reign1 and during all the years
 of ,archelaus's  reign1 ,sentius       
,saturninus and ,quintilius ,varus held 
this office4 ,even  if ,cyrenius had    
previously held the office the events   
related by ,luke  could not have        
occurred then because ,judea prior to #g
 ,a4 ,d4 was not  a part of ,syria4     
,the second chapter of ,luke which      
narrates the birth and infancy of       
,jesus1 conflicts with the first chapter
 of this book4 ,in this chapter  it is  
expressly stated that ,zacharias1 the   

priest1 lived in the time  of ,herod    
and1 inferentially1 that the conceptions
 of ,john and ,jesus  occurred at this  
time4    ,christian chronology1 by which
 events are supposed to be reckoned     
from the birth of ,christ1 agrees with  
neither ,matthew nor ,luke1 but  dates  
from a point nearly intermediate between
 the two4 ,according to  ,matthew1      
,christ was born at least five years    
before the beginning  of the ,christian 
era2 according to ,luke he was born at  
least six  years after the beginning of 
the ,christian era4 ,this is #aijg3 but 
according to ,matthew ,christ was born  
not later than #aiab years ago2  while  
according to ,luke he was born not      
earlier than #aija years ago4    ,at    
least ten different opinions regarding  
the year of ,christ's birth  have been  
advanced by ,christian scholars4        
,dodwell places it in #f ,b4 ,c41       
,chrysostom #e ,b4 ,c41 ,usher1 whose   
opinion is most commonly received1  #d  
,b4 ,c41 ,irenaeus #c ,b4 ,c41 ,jerome  

#b ,b4 ,c41 ,tertullian #a ,b4 ,c4 ,some
  modern authorities place it in #a ,a4 
,d41 others in #b ,a4 ,d41 and still    
others in #c ,a4 ,d42 while those who   
accept ,luke as infallible authority    
must place it as late as #g ,a4 ,d4     
#b    ,it is generally assumed that     
,jesus was born in the last year of     
,herod's reign4 ,how long before the    
close of ,herod's reign was he born8    
,matthew3 ,at least two years 7ii1      
#a-af74    ,matthew says that when the  
wise men visited ,herod he diligently   
inquired of them the time when the star 
which announced the birth of  ,jesus    
first appeared4 ,when he determined to  
destroy ,jesus and massacred  the       
infants of ,bethlehem and the           
surrounding country1 he slew those  from
 two years old and under1 according to  
the time which he had  diligently       
inquired of the wise men1 clearly       
indicating that ,jesus  was nearly or   
quite two years old at this time4    ,in
 attempting to reconcile ,matthew's     

visit of the wise men to ,jesus  at     
,bethlehem with the narrative of ,luke1 
which makes his stay there  less than   
six weeks1 it has been assumed that this
 visit occurred  immediately after his  
birth1 whereas1 according to ,matthew1  
it did  not occur until about two years 
after his birth4        #c    ,in what  
month and on what day of the month was  
he born8    ,not one of his biographers 
is prepared to tell2 primitive          
,christians  did not know2 the church   
has never been able to determine this4  
,a  hundred different opinions regarding
 it have been expressed by  ,christian  
scholars4 ,wagenseil places it in       
,february1 ,paulius in  ,march1         
,greswell in ,april1 ,lichtenstein in   
,june1 ,strong in ,august1  ,lightfoot  
in ,september1 and ,newcome in ,october4
 ,clinton says that he  was born in the 
,spring2 ,larchur says that he was born 
in the ,fall4 ,some  early ,christians  
believed that it occurred on the #eth of
 ,january2  others the #aith of ,april2 

others still on the #bjth of ,may4 ,the 
,eastern  church believed that he was   
born on the #gth of ,january4 ,the      
church of  ,rome1 in the fourth century1
 selected the #beth of ,december on     
which  to celebrate the anniversary of  
his birth2 and this date has been       
accepted by the greater portion of the  
,christian world4        #d    ,what    
determined the selection of this date8  
,there was a double reason for selecting
 this day4 ,in the first place  it had  
been observed from a hoary antiquity as 
a heathen festival1  following the      
longest night of the winter solstice1   
and was called  'the ,birthday of the   
,unconquerable ,sun4' ,it was a fine    
thought  to celebrate on that day the   
birth of him whom the ,gospel called    
the light of the world4444 ,the second  
reason was1 that at ,rome the  days from
 the #agth to the #bc;d of ,december    
were devoted to unbridled  merrymaking4 
,these days were called the             
,saturnalia4444 ,now the church  was    

always anxious to meet the heathen1 whom
 she had converted or  was beginning to 
convert1 half-way1 by allowing them to  
retain the  feasts they were accustomed 
to1 only giving them a ,christian dress1
  or attaching a new and ,christian     
signification to them 7,bible for       
,learners1 vol4 iii1 pp4 #ff1 #fg74     
,gibbon says3 ,the ,roman ,christians1  
ignorant of the real time of the  birth 
of ,jesus1 fixed the solemn festival on 
the #beth of ,december1  the winter     
solstice when the ,pagans annually      
celebrated the birth of  the sun4       
#e    ,what precludes the acceptance of 
this date8    ,luke3 ,at the time of his
 birth there were in the same country   
shepherds abiding in the field1 keeping 
watch over their flocks by  night 7ii1  
#h74    ,shepherds did not abide in the 
field with their flocks at night in     
mid-winter4 ,the ,rev4 ,cunningham      
,geikie1 ,d4 ,d41 a leading ,english    
orthodox authority on ,christ1 says3    
,one knows how wretched even ,rome is in

 winter and ,palestine is much  worse   
during hard weather4 ,nor is it likely  
that shepherds would  lie out through   
the night1 except during unseasonably   
fine weather  7,christmas at ,bethlehem1
 in ,deems' ,holydays and ,holidays1 p4 
#dje74    ,the nativity of ,jesus in    
,december should be given up4--,dr4     
,adam  ,clarke4    ,in regard to the    
date of ,christ's birth ,dr4 ,farrar    
says3 ,it  must be admitted that we     
cannot demonstrate the exact year of the
  nativity4444 ,as to the day and month 
of the nativity it is certain  that they
 can never be recovered2 they were      
absolutely unknown to the  early        
fathers1 and there is scarcely one month
 of the year which has  not been fixed  
upon as probable by modern critics4     
,the inability of ,christians to        
determine the date of ,christ's birth   
is one of the strongest proofs of his   
non-existence as a historical           
character4 ,were the story of his       
miraculous birth and marvelous life     

true the date of his birth would have   
been preserved and would be  today1 the 
best authenticated fact in history4     
#f    ,where was ,jesus born8           
,matthew and ,luke3 ,in ,bethlehem of   
,judea 7,matt4 ii1 #a2 ,luke ii1 #a-g74 
,aside from these stories in ,matthew   
and ,luke concerning the nativity1      
which are clearly of later origin than  
the remaining documents  composing the  
books and which many ,christian scholars
 reject1 there  is not a word in the    
,four ,gospels to confirm the claim that
 ,jesus was  born in ,bethlehem4 ,every 
statement in ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke1 and
 ,john1  as well as ,acts1 concerning   
his nativity1 is to the effect that he  
was  born in ,nazareth of ,galilee4 ,he 
is never called ,jesus of ,bethlehem1   
but always ,jesus of ,nazareth4         
,according to modern usage ,jesus of    
,nazareth might merely signify that     
,nazareth was the place of his          
residence and not necessarily the place 
of his birth4 ,but this usage  was      

unknown to the ,jews4 ,had he been born 
at ,bethlehem1 he would1  according to  
the ,jewish custom1 have been called    
,jesus of ,bethlehem1  because the place
 of birth always determined this        
distinguishing  adjunct1 and the fact of
 his having removed to another place    
would  not have changed it4    ,peter   
7,acts ii1 #bb2 iii1 #f72 ,paul 7,acts  
xxvi1 #i71 ,philip 7,john i1  #de71     
,cleopas and his companion 7,luke xxiv1 
#ai71 ,pilate 7,john xix1  #ai71 ,judas 
and the band sent to arrest ,jesus      
7,john xviii1 #e1 #g71 the  ,high       
,priest's maid 7,mark xiv1 #fg71 blind  
,bartimaeus 7,mark x1 #dg71  the unclean
 spirits 7,mark i1 #bd2 ,luke iv1 #cd71 
the multitudes that  attended his       
meetings 7,matt4 xxi1 #aa2 ,luke xviii1 
#cg71 all declared  him to be a native  
of ,nazareth4    ,to the foregoing may  
be added the testimony of ,jesus        
himself4 ,when  ,paul asked him who he  
was he answered3 ,i am ,jesus of        
,nazareth  7,acts xxii1 #h74    ,many of

 the ,jews rejected ,christ because he  
was born in ,galilee and  not in        
,bethlehem4 ,others said1 ,this is the  
,christ4 ,but some said1  ,shall ,christ
 come out of ,galilee8 ,hath not the    
scriptures said1  ,that ,christ cometh  
out of the seed of ,david1 and out of   
the town of  ,bethlehem1 where ,david   
was8 7,john vii1 #da1 #db74             
,concerning this subject the ,bible for 
,learners says3 ,the primitive          
tradition declared emphatically that    
,nazareth was the place from  which     
,jesus came4 ,we may still see this     
distinctly enough in our  ,gospels4     
,jesus is constantly called the         
,nazarene1 or ,jesus of  ,nazareth4     
,this was certainly the name by which he
 was known in his  own time2 and of     
course such local names were given to   
men from the  place of their birth1 and 
not from the place in which they lived1 
which might constantly be changing4     
,nazareth is called in so many  words   
his own1 that is his native city1 and he

 himself declares it so  7vol4 iii1 pp4 
#ci1 #dj74    ,that ,jesus the man1 if  
such a being existed1 was not born at   
,bethlehem  is affirmed by all critics4 
,that he could not have been born at    
,nazareth is urged by many4 ,nazareth1  
it is asserted1 did not exist  at this  
time4 ,christian scholars admit that    
there is no proof of its  existence at  
the beginning of the ,christian era     
outside of the ,new  ,testament4 ,the   
,encyclopedia ,biblica1 a leading       
,christian authority1  says3 ,we cannot 
perhaps venture to assert positively    
that there was  a city called ,nazareth 
in ,jesus' time4        #g    ,his      
reputed birth at ,bethlehem was in      
fulfillment of what prophecy8    ,and   
thou ,bethlehem1 in the land of ,juda1  
art not the least among  the princes of 
,juda2 for out of thee shall come a     
governor that shall  rule my people     
,israel 7,matthew ii1 #f74    ,this is a
 misquotation of ,micah v1 #b4 ,the     
passage as it appears in  our version of

 the ,old ,testament is itself a        
mistranslation4 ,correctly  rendered it 
does not mean that this ruler shall come
 from ,bethlehem1  but simply that he   
shall be a descendant of ,david whose   
family belonged  to ,bethlehem4         
,concerning this prophecy it may be     
said1 #a4 ,that ,jesus never became     
governor or ruler of ,israel2 #b4 ,that 
the ruler referred to was to be  a      
military leader who should deliver      
,israel from the ,assyrians4 ,and  this 
man shall be the peace1 when the        
,assyrian shall come into the  land 444 
thus shall he deliver us from the       
,assyrian 7,micah v1 #e1 #f74        #h 
,jesus is called the ,son of ,david4    
,why8    ,matthew and ,luke3 ,because   
,joseph1 who was not his father1 but    
merely  his guardian or foster father1  
was descended from ,david4    ,the ,jews
 expected a ,messiah4 ,this expectation 
was realized1 it is  claimed1 in ,jesus 
,christ4 ,his ,messianic marks1 however1
 were not  discernible and the ,jews1   

for the most part1 rejected him4 ,this  
,messiah must be a son of ,david4       
,before ,jesus' claims could even be    
considered his ,davidic descent must be 
established4 ,this ,matthew and  ,luke  
attempt to do4 ,each gives what purports
 to be a genealogy of  him4 ,if these   
genealogies agree they may be false2 if 
they do not  agree one must be false4   
#i    ,how many generations were there  
from ,david to ,jesus8    ,matthew3     
,twenty-eight 7i1 #f-af74    ,luke3     
,forty-three 7iii1 #bc-ca74    ,luke    
makes two more generations from ,david  
to ,jesus in a period of  one thousand  
years than ,matthew does from ,abraham  
to ,jesus in a period  of two thousand  
years4        #aj    ,how many          
generations were there from ,abraham to 
,jesus8    ,matthew3 ,from ,abraham to  
,david are fourteen generations2 and    
from  ,david until the carrying away    
into ,babylon are fourteen generations2 
and from the carrying away into ,babylon
 unto ,christ are fourteen              

generations--in all1 forty-two          
generations 7i1 #ag74    ,here ,matthew 
contradicts his own record given in the 
preceding sixteen  verses2 for1         
including both ,abraham and ,jesus1 he  
names but forty-one  generations3 #a4   
,abraham1 #b4 ,isaac1 #c4 ,jacob1 #d4   
,judas1 #e4 ,phares1  #f4 ,ezrom1 #g4   
,aram1 #h4 ,aminadab1 #i4 ,naason1 #aj4 
,salmon1 #aa4 ,booz1  #ab4 ,obed1 #ac4  
,jesse1 #ad4 ,david1 #ae4 ,solomon1 #af4
 ,roboam1 #ag4 ,abia1  #ah4 ,asa1 #ai4  
,josaphat1 #bj4 ,joram1 #ba4 ,ozias1    
#bb4 ,joatham1 #bc4 ,achaz1  #bd4       
,ezekias1 #be4 ,manasses1 #bf4 ,amon1   
#bg4 ,josias1 #bh4 ,jechonias1  #bi4    
,salathiel1 #cj4 ,zorobabel1 #ca4       
,abiud1 #cb4 ,eliakim1 #cc4 ,azor1  #cd4
 ,sadoc1 #ce4 ,achim1 #cf4 ,eliud1 #cg4 
,eleazer1 #ch4 ,matthan1 #ci4 ,jacob1   
#dj4 ,joseph1 #da4 ,jesus ,christ4      
#aa    ,does ,luke's genealogy agree    
with the ,old ,testament8    ,it does   
not4 ,luke gives twenty generations from
 ,adam to ,abraham1  while ,genesis 7v1 

#c-cb2 xi1 #aj-bf7 and ,chronicles 7#a  
,ch4 i1 #a-d2  #bd-bg7 each gives but   
nineteen4        #ab    ,how many       
generations were there from ,abraham to 
,david8    ,matthew3 ,from ,abraham to  
,david are fourteen generations 7i1     
#ag74    ,from ,abraham to ,david are   
not fourteen1 but thirteen generations2 
for ,david does not belong to this      
period4 ,the genealogical table of      
,matthew naturally and logically        
comprises three divisions which he      
recognizes4 ,the first division         
comprises the generations preceding  the
 establishment of the ,kingdom of       
,david1 beginning with ,abraham2  the   
second comprises the kings of ,judah1   
beginning with ,david the  first and    
ending with ,jechonias the last2 the    
third comprises the  generations        
following the kings of ,judah1 from the 
,captivity to ,christ4        #ac       
,how many generations were there from   
,david to the ,captivity8    ,matthew3  
,from ,david until the carrying away    

into ,babylon are fourteen  generations 
7i1 #ag74    ,in order to obtain a      
uniformity of numbers--three periods of 
double  seven 7seven was the sacred     
number of the ,jews7 each--,matthew     
purposely falsifies the records of the  
,old ,testament4 ,a reference  to the   
,davidic genealogy 7#a ,chronicles iii7 
shows that he omits the  generations of 
,ahaziah1 ,joash1 ,amaziah1 and         
,jehoiakim1 four ,jewish  kings1 lineal 
descendants of ,david1 whose combined   
reigns amount to  over eighty years4    
,matthew4     ,chronicles4              
,david1       ,david1                   
,solomon1     ,solomon1                 
,reboam1      ,rehoboam1                
,abia1        ,abia1                    
,asa1         ,asa1                     
,josaphat1    ,jehoshaphat1             
,joram1       ,joram1                   
,ahaziah1                               
,joash1                                 
,amaziah1                               
,ozias1       ,azariah1                 

,joatham1     ,jotham1                  
,achaz1       ,ahaz1                    
,ezekias1     ,hezekiah1                
,manasses1    ,manasseh1                
,amon1        ,amon1                    
,josias1      ,josiah1                  
,jehoiakim1                             
,jechonias4   ,jechoniah4      ,the     
first three omissions are thus explained
 by ,augustine3 ,ochozias  ,ahaziah1    
,joash1 and ,amazias were excluded from 
the number1 because  their wickedness   
was continuous and without interval4    
,as if the exclusion of their names from
 a genealogical list would  expunge     
their records from history and drain    
their blood from the veins  of their    
descendants4 ,but aside from the        
absurdity of this explanation1  the     
premises are false4 ,those whose names  
are excluded from the list  were not men
 whose wickedness was continuous and    
without interval1  while some whose     
names are not excluded were4 ,ahaziah   
reigned but one  year4 ,joash reigned   

forty years and both ,kings and         
,chronicles affirm  that ,he did that   
which was right in the sight of the     
,lord 7#b ,kings  xii1 #b2 #b ,chron4   
xxiv1 #b74 ,amaziah reigned twenty-nine 
years1 and he1  too1 did that which was 
right in the sight of the ,lord 7#b     
,kings xiv1  #c74 ,on the other hand1   
,rehoboam1 ,joram and ,jechonias1 whose 
names are  retained in ,matthew's table1
 are represented as monsters of         
wickedness4        #ad    ,name the     
generations from ,david to the          
,captivity4                             
,matthew4     ,luke4                    
,david1       ,david1                   
,solomon1     ,nathan1                  
,roboam1      ,mattatha1                
,abia1        ,menan1                   
,asa1         ,melea1                   
,josaphat1    ,eliakim1                 
,joram1       ,jonan1                   
,ozias1       ,joseph1                  
,joatham1     ,juda1                    
,achas1       ,simeon1                  

,ezekias1     ,levi1                    
,manasses1    ,matthat1                 
,amon1        ,jorim1                   
,josias1      ,eliezer1                 
,jechonias4   ,jose1                    
,er1                                    
,elmodam1                               
,cosam1                                 
,addi1                                  
,melchi1                                
,neri4        #ae    ,how many          
generations were there from the         
,captivity to ,christ8    ,matthew3     
,from the carrying away into ,babylon   
unto ,christ are fourteen  generations  
7i1 #ag74    ,matthew is again guilty of
 deception4 ,a reference to his table   
shows  that there were but thirteen     
generations4 ,in order to carry out his 
numerical system of fourteen generations
 to each period he counts the           
generation of ,jechonias in this period 
which he has already counted  in the    
preceding period2 thus performing the   
mathematical feat of  dividing #bg by #b

 and obtaining #ad for a quotient4      
,had ,matthew given a true summary of   
this genealogy1 assuming the            
generations from the close of the ,old  
,testament record to ,christ to  be     
correct1 instead of these periods of    
double seven each1 we would  have the   
following3 ,so all the generations from 
,abraham to ,david  are thirteen        
generations2 and from ,david until the  
carrying away  into ,babylon are        
nineteen generations2 and from the      
carrying away  into ,babylon unto       
,christ are thirteen generations4       
#af    ,name the generations from the   
,captivity to ,christ4                  
,matthew4     ,luke4                    
,chronicles4          ,salathiel1       
,salathiel1    ,pediah1                 
,zorobabel1   ,zorobabel1    ,zerubabel1
        ,abiud1       ,rhesa1           
,hananiah1        ,eliakim1     ,joanna1
       ,schecania1        ,azor1        
,juda1         ,shemaiah1        ,sadoc1
       ,joseph1       ,neariah1         

,achim1       ,semei1        ,elioenai1 
,eliud1       ,mattathias1   ,hodaiah1  
,eleazer1     ,maath1        7,here the 
genealogy of ,chronicles                
ends47        ,matthan1     ,nagge1     
,jacob1       ,esli1        ,joseph1    
,naum1        ,jesus4       ,amos1      
,mattathias1                            
,joseph1                     ,janna1    
,melchi1                     ,levi1     
,heli1                     ,matthat1    
,joseph1                     ,jesus4    
#ag    ,according to the accepted       
chronology1 what was the average age of 
each generation from ,david to ,jesus8  
,luke3 ,twenty-five years4    ,matthew3 
,forty years4        #ah    ,what was   
the average age from ,david to the      
,captivity8    ,matthew3 ,thirty-seven  
years4    ,according to ,chronicles the 
average age of the same line for the    
same  period was but twenty-six years4  
#ai    ,what was the average age from   
the ,captivity to ,jesus8    ,luke3     
,twenty-eight years4    ,matthew3 ,fifty

 years4    ,while the average age from  
,david to the ,captivity by way of      
,solomon  was but twenty-six years the  
average age from the ,captivity to      
,jesus  by the same line1 according to  
,matthew1 was fifty years4 ,this proves 
the falsity of ,matthew's genealogy from
 the ,captivity to ,jesus4        #bj   
,what was the average length of each    
generation from ,abraham to ,david8     
,matthew and ,luke3 ,seventy years4     
,seventy years is said to constitute the
 natural life of man4 ,according  to    
these ,evangelists ,christ's            
,pre-,davidic ancestors only reached    
maturity at seventy4 ,how slow was man's
 development then--a babe  in his       
mother's arms at twenty2 a playful child
 at forty2 at sixty  an ardent youth    
wooing a blushing maiden of half a      
hundred years2  at three score years and
 ten a fond young father rejoicing at   
the  birth of his first-born6        #ba
    ,what was the average length of each
 generation from ,adam to ,abraham8     

,luke3 ,one hundred years4        #bb   
,how many generations were there from   
,adam to ,abraham8    ,luke3 ,twenty    
7iii1 #cd-ch74    ,luke makes less than 
half as many generations from ,adam to  
,abraham  in a period of two thousand   
years as he does from ,david to ,jesus  
in  a period of one thousand years4     
#bc    ,how many generations were there 
between ,rachab1 the mother of ,booz1   
and ,david8    ,matthew3 ,three--,booz1 
,obed and ,jesse 7i1 #e1 #f74    ,rachab
 lived at ,jericho when it was taken by 
the ,israelites4 ,jericho  was taken    
#adea ,b4 ,c41 the year that ,moses     
died4 ,david was born #ajhe  ,b4        
,c4--nearly four centuries later4       
#bd    ,assuming the generations        
following the ,captivity in ,matthew and
  ,chronicles to run parallel1 how many 
generations were there between  the last
 generation named in ,chronicles and    
,jesus8    ,matthew3 ,four4    ,yet     
,chronicles was written1 it is claimed1 
from #deh to #fjd years  before ,christ4

    ,if the ,chronicles were written by 
,ezra1 the date of their  composition   
was not far from ,b4 ,c4 #deh1 the year 
of the return from  the ,captivity4 ,if 
by ,daniel1 the earlier period of from  
#fjd to #ecd  must be adopted4--,rev4   
,dr4 ,hitchcock4        #be    ,name the
 first ten ancestors of ,jesus4         
,luke3 ,adam1 ,seth1 ,enos1 ,cainan1    
,maleleel1 ,jared1 ,enoch1 ,mathusala1  
,lamech1 ,noe 7iii1 #cf-ch74            
,archeological researches have shown    
these to be ten ,babylonian kings4      
#bf    ,who was ,sala8    ,luke3 ,sala1 
which was the son of ,cainan1 which was 
the son of  ,arphaxad 7iii1 #ce1 #cf74  
,and ,arphaxad lived five and thirty    
years and begat ,salah 7,genesis  xi1   
#ab74    ,according to ,luke ,sala was  
the grand-son of ,arphaxad2 according to
  ,genesis he was the son of ,arphaxad4 
#bg    ,who begat ,ozias8    ,matthew3  
,joram begat ,ozias 7i1 #h74    ,ahaziah
 his ,joram's son1 ,joash his son1      
,amaziah his son1 ,azariah  ,ozias his  

son 7#a ,chronicles iii1 #aa1 #ab74     
,according to the ,new ,testament ,ozias
 was the son of ,joram2 according  to   
the ,old ,testament he was the great    
great-grandson of ,joram4        #bh    
,who was ,josiah's successor8           
,matthew3 ,jechonias 7i1 #aa74    ,then 
the people of the land took ,jehoahaz1  
the son of ,josiah1 and  made him king  
in his father's stead 7#b ,chronicles   
xxxvi1 #a74    ,for thus saith the ,lord
 touching ,shallum1 the son of ,josiah1 
king  of ,judah1 which reigned instead  
of ,josiah1 his father 7,jeremiah  xxii1
 #aa74    ,and ,pharaoh-nechoh made     
,eliakim the son of ,josiah king in the 
room  of ,josiah1 his father1 and turned
 his name to ,jehoiakim 7#b ,kings      
xxiii1 #cd74    ,according to ,matthew1 
,josiah's successor was ,jechonias2     
according to  ,chronicles1 ,jehoahaz2   
according to ,jeremiah1 ,shallum2       
according to  ,kings1 ,jehoiakim4       
#bi    ,who was the father of           
,jechonias8    ,matthew3 ,josias begat  

,jechonias 7i1 #aa74    ,josias was not 
the father but the grandfather of       
,jechonias4 ,and the  sons of ,josiah   
were1 444 the second ,jehoiakim4444 ,and
 the sons of  ,jehoiakim3 ,jechoniah1   
his son 7#a ,chron4 iii1 #ae1 #af74     
#cj    ,when did ,josias beget          
,jechonias8    ,matthew3 ,and ,josias   
begat ,jechonias and his brethren1 about
 the time  they were carried away into  
,babylon 7i1 #aa74    ,josiah became    
king #fda ,b4 ,c4 and died #faj ,b4 ,c4 
,jechonias was carried  to ,babylon #ehh
 ,b4 ,c41 #bb years after ,josiah died4 
#ca    ,did ,jechonias have a son8      
,matthew3 ,and after they were brought  
to ,babylon1 ,jechonias begat           
,salathiel 7i1 #ab74    ,as ,i live1    
saith the ,lord1 though ,coniah         
,jechonias1 the son  of ,jehoiakim1 king
 of ,judah1 were the signet upon my     
right hand1  yet would ,i pluck thee    
thence4444 ,o earth1 earth1 earth1 hear 
the  word of the ,lord4 ,thus saith the 
,lord1 ,write ye this man childless1  a 

man that shall not prosper in his days3 
for no man of his seed shall  prosper1  
sitting upon the throne of ,david1 and  
ruling no more in ,judah  7,jeremiah    
xxii1 #bd-cj74    ,this curse was       
pronounced upon ,jechonias before he was
 taken to  ,babylon4 ,by this divine    
oath ,jesus is precluded from becoming  
an heir  to the throne of ,david4 ,god  
swears that ,jechonias shall be         
childless1  and that no descendant of   
his shall ever sit upon the throne4 ,yet
  ,matthew1 in the face of this oath1   
declares that ,jechonias did not  remain
 childless1 that he begat a son1        
,salathiel1 the progenitor of  ,jesus4  
,in attempting to make ,jesus an heir to
 ,david's throne ,matthew  makes ,god a 
liar and perjurer4        #cb           
,matthew says that ,salathiel was the   
son of ,jechonias4 ,who does ,luke      
declare him to be8    ,the son of ,neri 
7iii1 #bg74        #cc    ,who was the  
father of ,zorobabel8    ,matthew3 ,and 
,salathiel begat ,zorobabel 7i1 #ab74   

,luke3 ,zorobabel1 which was the son of 
,salathiel 7iii1 #bg74    ,here both    
,evangelists agree--agree to disagree   
with ,chronicles  which says that       
,zorobabel was the son of ,pedaiah1 the 
brother of  ,salathiel4 ,and the sons of
 ,pedaiah were ,zerubbabel and ,shimei  
7#a ,chron4 iii1 #ai74        #cd       
,who was the son of ,zorobabel8         
,matthew3 ,and ,zorobabel begat ,abiud  
7i1 #ac74    ,luke3 ,rhesa1 which was   
the son of ,zorobabel 7iii1 #bg74       
,each contradicts the other1 and both   
contradict the ,old ,testament  7#a     
,chron4 iii1 #ai1 #bj74        #ce      
,who was the father of ,joseph8         
,matthew3 ,and ,jacob begat ,joseph 7i1 
#af74    ,luke3 ,joseph1 which was the  
son of ,heli 7iii1 #bc74        #cf     
,if ,jesus was descended from ,david1   
the descent was through one of  ,david's
 sons4 ,which one8    ,matthew3 ,solomon
 7i1 #f-af74    ,luke3 ,nathan 7iii1    
#bc-ca74    ,luke reaches the same      
person by way of one brother that       

,matthew does  by way of the other4     
#cg    ,many commentators attempt to    
reconcile these discordant genealogies  
by  assuming that ,matthew gives the    
genealogy of ,joseph1 while ,luke gives 
the genealogy of ,mary4 ,what do the    
,evangelists themselves declare8        
,matthew3 ,and ,jacob begat ,joseph the 
husband of ,mary1 of whom was  born     
,jesus1 who is called ,christ1 etc4 7i1 
#af74    ,luke3 ,and ,jesus himself     
began to be about thirty years of age1  
being  7as was supposed7 the son of     
,joseph1 which was the son of ,heli1    
etc4 7iii1 #bc74    ,dr4 ,geikie1 in his
 ,life of ,christ 7vol4 i1 p4 #eca1     
note71 says3  ,the genealogies given by 
both ,matthew and ,luke seem            
unquestionably  to refer to ,joseph4    
,regarding this the ,rev4 ,dr4          
,mc,naught says3 ,let the reader bear   
in mind how ,matthew states that ',jacob
 begat ,joseph1 the husband of  ,mary1' 
and how ,luke's words are ',joseph which
 was the son of ,heli1'  and then let   

him say whether it is truthful to allege
 that these  different genealogies      
belong to different individuals4 ,is it 
not  plain that each of them professes  
to trace the lineal descent of one  and 
the same man1 ,joseph8    ,william      
,rathbone ,greg says3 ,the circumstance 
that any man could  suppose that        
,matthew when he said1 ',jacob begat    
,joseph1' or ,luke1 when  he said1      
',joseph was the son of ,heli1' could   
refer to the wife of the  one1 or the   
daughter-in-law of the other1 shows to  
what desperate  stratagems polemical    
orthodoxy will resort in order to defend
 an  untenable position4    ,smith's    
,bible ,dictionary offers the following 
explanation3  ,they are both the        
genealogies of ,joseph1 i4 e41 of ,jesus
 ,christ1  as the reputed and legal son 
of ,joseph and ,mary4 ,the genealogy of 
,st4 ,matthew is ,joseph's genealogy as 
legal successor to the throne of        
,david4 ,st4 ,luke's is ,joseph's       
private genealogy1 exhibiting his real  

birth1 as ,david's son1 and thus showing
 why he was heir to ,solomon's  crown4  
,the simple principle that one          
,evangelist exhibits that genealogy     
which contained the successive heirs to 
,david's and ,solomon's throne1  while  
the other exhibits the paternal stem of 
him who was the heir1  explains all the 
anomalies of the two pedigrees4    ,this
 simple principle necessitates three    
disagreeable  postulates4 #a4 ,that the 
lineage of ,nathan1 who is not the      
recorded  possessor of even one wife1   
survived1 while that of ,solomon who had
  seven hundred wives became extinct4   
#b4 ,that ,joseph was legal successor   
to the throne of ,david1 when ,heli1 his
 father1 was not4 #c4 ,that the  first  
chapter of ,matthew contains more than a
 score of errors4 ,that  little word    
begat is fatal to the above theory4     
,matthew declares that  ,jacob begat    
,joseph4 ,if ,jacob begat ,joseph1 then 
,jacob1 and not ,heli1  was the father  
of ,joseph4 ,according to ,matthew1 the 

royal line descends  from ,david to     
,joseph unbroken2 each heir begetting   
the succeeding one1  thus precluding the
 possibility of a collateral branch     
inheriting  the throne4    ,the         
hypothesis that ,jesus was merely the   
adopted son and legal  heir of ,joseph  
and yet fulfilled the ,messianic        
requirements is  untenable4 ,strauss    
says3 ,adoption might indeed suffice to 
secure to  the adopted son the reversion
 of certain external family rights and  
inheritances2 but such a relationship   
could in no wise lend a claim  to the   
,messianic dignity1 which was attached  
to the true blood and  lineage of ,david
 7,leben ,jesu1 p4 #abb74    ,the       
,messiah must be a natural and lineal   
descendant of ,david1 which  ,peter     
expressly declares ,jesus to be3 ,god   
had sworn with an oath to  him ,david1  
that of the fruit of his loins1         
according to the flesh1  he would raise 
up ,christ to sit on his throne 7,acts  
ii1 #cj74    ,it is assumed by some that

 a ,levirate marriage had taken place   
between  the parents of ,joseph1 and    
that the one genealogy belonged to the  
natural1 the others to the legal father 
of ,joseph4 ,by a ,levirate  marriage if
 a man died without heirs his remaining 
brother married his  widow and raised up
 heirs to him4 ,but in this case the    
brothers would  have the same father1   
and the genealogies would differ only in
 the  father of ,joseph4 ,it is only by 
a succession of ,levirate marriages  and
 a juggling of words1 which no          
intelligent critic can seriously        
entertain1 that such a hypothesis can be
 considered possible1 even  waiving the 
,old ,testament writers1 and the        
,evangelists themselves1  whose language
 forbids it4    ,eusebius advances an   
explanation characteristic of this      
ecclesiastical  historian and of the    
early church whose history he professes 
to record4 ,the ,jews1 it is said1 were 
divided in their opinions  regarding the
 descent of the ,messiah4 ,while some   

contended that his  descent must be     
through the royal line1 others believed 
that because  of the excessive          
wickedness of the kings the descent     
would be through  another line4         
,eusebius says3 ,matthew gives his      
opinion1 ,luke repeats  the common      
opinion of many1 not his own4444 ,this  
last view ,luke takes1  though conscious
 that ,matthew gives the real truth of  
the genealogy4    ,matthew's genealogy  
is self-evidently false2 while ,luke's  
according  to the admission of the      
historian of the primitive church1 is   
merely  a fabrication of early          
,christians1 designed to influence those
 who  rejected ,matthew's genealogy of  
the ,messiah4        #ch    ,if the     
miraculous conception be true the       
,davidic descent could only  be through 
,mary4 ,was ,mary descended from ,david8
    ,we are wholly ignorant of the name 
and occupation of ,st4 ,mary's  parents4
 ,she was1 like ,joseph1 of the tribe of
 ,judah1 and of the  lineage of ,david  

7,ps4 cxxxii1 #aa2 ,luke i1 #cb2 ,rom4  
i1 #c74--,smith's  ,bible ,dictionary4  
,three passages are cited in support of 
this claim3    #a4 ,the ,lord hath sworn
 in truth unto ,david2 he will not turn 
from  it4 ,of the fruit of thy body will
 ,i sit upon thy throne4 ,if thy        
children will keep my covenant and my   
testimony that ,i shall teach  them1    
their children shall also sit upon thy  
throne forevermore  7,ps4 cxxxii1 #aa1  
#ab74    #b4 ,he shall be great1 and    
shall be called the son of the ,highest2
  and the ,lord ,god shall give unto him
 the throne of his father ,david  7,luke
 i1 #cb74    #c4 ,concerning his son    
,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 which was made
 of the  seed of ,david according to the
 flesh 7,rom4 i1 #c74    ,the second and
 third passages do not refer to ,mary2  
the first passage  refers neither to    
,jesus nor ,mary4 ,there is no evidence 
to prove that  ,mary was descended from 
,david4 ,on the contrary there is       
evidence to  prove that she was not     

descended from him4    #a4 ,the angel   
,gabriel was sent from ,god unto a city 
in ,galilee1 called  ,nazareth1 to a    
virgin espoused to a man whose name was 
,joseph1 of the  house of ,david2 and   
the virgin's name was ,mary 7,luke i1   
#bg74 ,joseph1  and not ,mary is        
declared to be of the house of ,david4  
#b4 ,it is stated that ,joseph went to  
,bethlehem to be taxed with ,mary1  not 
because they1 but because he was of the 
house and lineage of  ,david 7,luke ii1 
#d1 #e74    #c4 ,mary was the cousin of 
,elizabeth 7,luke i1 #c71 and ,elizabeth
 was  of the daughters of ,aaron 7i1    
#e71 i4 e41 descended from ,levi1 while 
the house of ,david was descended from  
,judah4    ,this desperate1 yet         
ineffectual1 effort to establish the    
,davidic  descent of ,mary is virtually 
an abandonment of the genealogical      
tables  of ,matthew and ,luke1 and a    
falling back upon this pitiable         
argumentum  in circulo3 ,mary was       
descended from ,david because the       

,messiah was to  be descended from      
,david1 and ,jesus was the ,messiah     
because ,mary was  descended from       
,david4    ,these genealogies do not    
give the lineage of ,mary who is said to
  have been his only earthly parent1 but
 the lineage of ,joseph who1  it is     
claimed1 was not his father4 ,but if    
,joseph was not the father  of ,jesus1  
what is the use of giving his pedigree8 
,if ,joseph was not  the father of      
,jesus how does proving that he was     
descended from ,david  prove that ,jesus
 was descended from ,david8 ,if these   
genealogies run  through ,joseph to     
,jesus1 as stated by ,matthew and ,luke1
 then ,joseph  must have been the father
 of ,jesus2 and if he was the father of 
,jesus  the story of the miraculous     
conception is false4    ,the ,synoptics1
 as we have seen1 are for the most part1
 mere  compilations1 made up of         
preexisting documents4 ,these documents 
belonged to different ages of the       
primitive church4 ,in the first ages  of

 the church ,christians believed that   
,jesus was simply a man--the  son of    
,joseph and ,mary4 ,the genealogies of  
,matthew and ,luke1 which  trace his    
descent from ,david through ,joseph1    
belonged to this age4 ,the  story of the
 miraculous conception was the product  
of a later age4    ,if the dogma of the 
miraculous conception be true1 if ,god1 
and not  ,joseph1 was the father of     
,jesus as taught1 these genealogies1    
being  genealogies of ,joseph1 fail to  
prove what they are intended to prove1  
the royal descent of ,jesus from ,david4
 ,the genealogies of ,matthew  and ,luke
 and their accounts of the miraculous   
conception mutually  exclude each other4
        #ci    ,did ,jesus believe      
himself to be descended from ,david8    
,synoptics3 ,he did not 7,matt4 xxii1   
#da-df2 ,mark xii1 #ce-cg2 ,luke xx1    
#da-dd74    ,a principal objection to   
accepting ,jesus as the ,messiah by the 
,jews  was the fact that he was not     
descended from ,david4 ,he tacitly      

admitted  that he was not1 and the whole
 burden of his argument was to convince 
them that it was not necessary that he  
should be4        #dj    ,the miraculous
 conception was in fulfillment of what  
prophecy8    ,matthew3 ,now all this was
 done1 that it might be fulfilled which 
was  spoken of the ,lord by the prophet1
 saying1 ,behold1 a virgin shall be     
with child1 and shall bring forth a son1
 and they shall call his name  ,emmanuel
 7i1 #bb1 #bc74    ,this is esteemed the
 ,gem of the ,prophecies1 and may be    
found in the  seventh chapter of        
,isaiah4 ,the facts are these3 ,rezin1  
king of ,syria1  and ,pekah1 king of    
,israel1 had declared war against ,ahaz1
 king of  ,judah4 ,god assured ,ahaz    
that they should not succeed1 but that  
their  own kingdoms should be destroyed 
by the ,assyrians4 ,to convince him of  
the truth of this he requested ,ahaz to 
demand a sign4 ,but ,ahaz said1  ,i will
 not ask1 neither will ,i tempt the     
,lord4444 ,therefore the ,lord  himself 

shall give you a sign2 ,behold1 a virgin
 shall conceive1 and  bear a son1 and   
shall call his name ,emmanuel4444       
,before the child  shall know to refuse 
the evil1 and choose the good1 the land 
that  thou abhorrest shall be forsaken  
of both her kings4    ,in the succeeding
 chapter the fulfillment of this        
prophecy is recorded3  ,and ,i went unto
 the prophetess2 and she conceived1 and 
bare a  son4 ,then said the ,lord to me1
 ,call his name ,maher-shalal-hash-baz4 
,for  before the child shall have       
knowledge to cry1 ,my father1 and my    
mother1  the riches of ,damascus the    
capital of ,rezin's kingdom and the     
spoils  of ,samaria the capital of      
,pekah's kingdom shall be taken away    
before  the king of ,assyria4 ,rezin and
 ,pekah were overthrown by the          
,assyrians  about #gbj ,b4 ,c4    ,one  
of the most convincing proofs of        
,christ's divinity1 with many1  is the  
supposed fact that he was born of a     
virgin and that his  miraculous birth   

was foretold by a prophet seven hundred 
years  before the event occurred4 ,now1 
there is not a passage in the ,jewish   
,scriptures declaring that a child      
should be born of a virgin4 ,the  word  
translated virgin does not mean a virgin
 in the accepted sense  of the term1 but
 simply a young woman1 either married or
 single4 ,the  whole passage is a       
mistranslation4 ,the words rendered a   
virgin shall  conceive and bear a son   
should read1 a young woman is with child
 and  beareth a son4 ,in this so-called 
prophecy there is not the remotest      
reference to a miraculous conception and
 a virgin-born child4 ,the  ,jews       
themselves did not regard this passage  
as a ,messianic prophecy2  neither did  
they believe that the ,messiah was to be
 born of a virgin4    ,next to the      
preceding the following is most         
frequently cited as  a ,messianic       
prophecy3 ,the sceptre shall not depart 
from ,judah1  444 until ,shiloh come    
7,genesis xlix1 #aj74    ,if ,shiloh    

refers to ,christ the prophecy was not  
fulfilled1 for the  sceptre did depart  
from ,judah #fjj years before ,christ   
came4 ,but ,shiloh  does not refer to a 
,messiah1 nor to any man4 ,shiloh was   
the seat of the  national sanctuary     
before it was removed to ,jerusalem4    
,this so-called  prophecy1 like the     
preceding1 is a mistranslation4 ,the    
correct reading  is as follows3 ,the    
preeminence shall not depart from ,judah
 so long  as the people resort to       
,shiloh4    ,for unto us a child is     
born1 unto us a son is given2 and the   
government shall be upon his shoulder2  
and his name shall be declared          
,wonderful1 ,counsellor1 ,the ,mighty   
,god1 the everlasting ,father1 the      
,prince of ,peace 7,isaiah ix1 #f74     
,prof4 ,cheyne1 the highest authority on
 ,isaiah1 pronounces this a  forgery4   
,every honest ,christian scholar must   
admit this4 ,it is a  self-evident      
forgery4 ,no ,jewish writer could have  
written it4 ,to  have declared even the 

,messiah to be ,the mighty ,god1 the    
everlasting  ,father would have been the
 rankest blasphemy1 a crime the         
punishment  of which was death4         
,these alleged ,messianic prophecies    
are1 in their present form1  ,christian 
rather than ,jewish4 ,christian         
translators and exegetists  have altered
 their language and perverted their     
meaning to make them  appear to refer to
 ,christ4 ,the following is an example3 
,i will raise unto ,david a righteous   
,branch1 and a ,king shall reign  and   
prosper1 and shall execute judgment and 
justice in the earth4 ,in  his days     
,judah shall be saved1 and ,israel shall
 dwell safely2 and this  is his name    
whereby he shall be called1 ,,the ,,lord
 ,,our ,,righteousness  7,jeremiah      
xxiii1 #e1 #f74    ,the correct         
rendering of this passage is as follows3
    ,i will raise unto ,david a         
righteous branch1 and a king shall reign
  and prosper1 and shall execute        
judgment and justice in the land4 ,in   

his days ,judah shall be saved and      
,israel shall dwell safely2 and  this is
 the name whereby they shall call       
themselves3 ,the ,eternal is  our       
righteousness4    ,to make a ,messianic 
prophecy of this passage and give it    
effect no  less than eight pieces of    
deception were employed by the editors  
of  our ,authorized ,version3    #a4    
,the word branch is made to begin with a
 capital letter4    #b4 ,the word king  
also begins with a capital4    #c4 ,the 
name is rendered his name4    #d4 ,the  
pronoun they1 relating to the people of 
,judah and ,israel1  is changed to he4  
#e4 ,the word ,eternal is translated    
,lord4    #f4 ,the ,lord our            
righteousness is printed in capitals4   
#g4 ,in the table of contents1 at the   
head of the chapter1 are the words      
,christ shall rule and save them4    #h4
 ,at the top of the page are the words  
,christ promised4    ,another example of
 this ,messianic prophecy making is the 
following3    ,know therefore and       

understand that from the going forth of 
the  commandment to restore and to build
 ,jerusalem1 unto ,messiah the ,prince1 
shall be seven weeks1 and three score   
and two weeks 7,daniel ix1 #be74    ,the
 term week1 it is claimed1 means a      
period of seven years1  and assumed that
 by ,messiah is meant ,christ4 ,seven   
weeks and three  score and two weeks are
 sixty-nine weeks1 or #dhc years1 the   
time that  was to elapse from the       
command to rebuild ,jerusalem to the    
coming  of ,christ1 if the prophecy was 
fulfilled4 ,the decree of ,cyrus to     
rebuild ,jerusalem and the temple was   
made #ecf ,b4 ,c4 ,according to the     
accepted chronology ,christ was born #d 
,b4 ,c4 ,from the decree of ,cyrus1     
then1 to the coming of ,christ was #ecb 
years instead of #dhc years1  a period  
of seven weeks1 or forty-nine years1    
longer than that named  by ,daniel4     
,ezra1 the priest1 went to ,jerusalem   
#deg ,b4 ,c4 ,this event1  however1 had 
nothing whatever to do with the decree  

for rebuilding  ,jerusalem and the      
temple4 ,it occurred #gi years after the
 decree was  issued1 and #eh years after
 the temple was finished4 ,but a        
searcher  for ,messianic prophecies     
found that from the time of ,ezra to the
  beginning of ,christ's ministry was   
about #dhc years1 or sixty-nine         
prophetic weeks2 and notwithstanding    
there was a deficiency of #gi  years at 
one end of the period1 and an excess of 
#cj years at the other1  it was declared
 to fit exactly4    ,christian          
theologians pretend to recognize in the 
,old ,testament two  kinds of ,messianic
 prophecies3 #a4 ,specific predictions  
concerning  ,christ which were literally
 fulfilled2 #b4 ,passages in which the  
writer  refers to other persons or      
events1 but which ,god1 without the     
writer's  knowledge1 designed as types  
of ,christ4 ,the fallaciousness of the  
former having been exposed--it having   
been shown that there is not a  text in 
the ,jewish ,scriptures predicting the  

coming of ,christ--they  now rely       
chiefly upon the latter to support their
 claims4 ,these  prophecies are almost  
limitless2 for a firm believer in       
prophecy  can1 with a vivid imagination1
 take almost any passage and point out  
a fancied resemblance between the thing 
it refers to and the thing he  wants    
confirmed2 apparently oblivious to the  
fact that the passage  is equally       
applicable to a thousand other things4  
,had the ,mormons  accepted ,joe ,smith 
as a ,messiah instead of a prophet they 
would have  no lack of prophecies to    
support their claims2 and by translating
  and revising the ,scriptures to suit  
their views1 as ,christians did1  these 
prophecies would fit him as well as they
 do the ,christ4        #da    ,what    
name was to be given the child mentioned
 in ,isaiah's prophecy8    ,they shall  
call his name ,emmanuel 7,matthew i1    
#bc74    ,what name was to be given     
,mary's son8    ,thou shalt call his    
name ,jesus 7,matt4 i1 #ba74    ,in the 

naming of the ,christian ,messiah       
,isaiah's prophecy was not  fulfilled4  
,he was never called ,emmanuel1 but     
,jesus4        #db    ,to whom did the  
angel announcing the miraculous         
conception appear8    ,matthew3 ,to     
,joseph 7i1 #bj1 #ba74    ,luke3 ,to    
,mary 7i1 #bf-ch74    ,an angel did not 
appear1 first to ,mary1 and also        
afterwards  to ,joseph2 he can only have
 appeared either to the one or to the   
other4 ,consequently1 it is only the one
 or the other relation which  can be    
regarded as historical4 ,and here       
different considerations  would conduct 
to opposite decisions4444 ,every        
criticism which might  determine the    
adoption of the one1 and the rejection  
of the other1  disappears2 and we find  
ourselves1 in reference to both         
accounts1  driven back by necessity to  
the mythical view4--,strauss4        #dc
    ,for what purpose was the           
,annunciation made8    ,luke3 ,simply to
 acquaint ,mary with the heavenly decree

 that she had  been chosen to become the
 mother of the coming ,messiah 7i1      
#bf-cc74    ,matthew3 ,to allay the     
suspicions of ,joseph respecting ,mary's
 chastity  and prevent him from putting 
her away 7i1 #ah-bj74        #dd    ,did
 the ,annunciation take place before or 
after ,mary's conception8    ,luke3     
,before 7i1 #bf-ca74    ,matthew3 ,after
 7i1 #ah-bj74        #de    ,who was    
declared to be the father of ,jesus8    
,matthew3 ,the ,holy ,ghost 7i1 #ah1    
#bj74    ,with the ,jews the ,holy      
,ghost 7,spirit7 was of feminine gender2
 with  the ,greeks1 of masculine gender4
 ,the belief that the ,holy ,ghost was  
the father of ,jesus originated1 not    
with the ,jewish ,christians of         
,palestine1 as claimed1 but with the    
,greek ,christians of ,alexandria4      
#df    ,what prediction did the angel   
,gabriel make to ,mary concerning       
,jesus8    ,the ,lord shall give unto   
him the throne of his father ,david     
7,luke  i1 #cb74    ,respecting this    

prediction the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,hooykaas1 of 
,holland1 says3  ,if a messenger from   
,heaven had really come to bring a      
divine  revelation to ,mary1 the result 
must have confirmed his prediction2  and
 since ,jesus never fulfilled these     
expectations it is obvious that  the    
revelation was never made4        #dg   
,when ,mary visited ,elizabeth what did 
she do8    ,luke3 ,she uttered a hymn of
 praise 7i1 #df-ee74    ,had ,mary      
uttered such a hymn we would suppose    
that it would have been  original and   
inspired by the ,almighty ,father of her
 unborn child4 ,yet  the hymn which     
,luke puts into her mouth was borrowed  
from the song  of ,hannah4      ,hannah4
                               ,mary4   
,my heart rejoiceth in the ,lord 7#a    
,my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god  ,sam4 
ii1 #a74                          7,luke
 i1 #dg74  ,if thou wilt indeed look on 
the      ,for he hath regarded the low  
affliction of thine handmaid 7i1        
estate of his handmaiden 7#dh74  #aa74  

,talk no more so exceeding proudly   ,he
 hath scattered the proud  7ii1 #c74    
7#ea74  ,the bows of the mighty men are 
,he hath put down the mighty from       
broken1 and they that stumbled are      
their seats and exalted them of  girded 
with strength 7#d74             low     
degree 7#eb74  ,they that were full hath
 hired out   ,he hath filled the hungry 
with  themselves for bread2 and they    
that   good things2 and the rich he hath
  were hungry ceased 7#e74              
sent empty away 7#ec74        #dh       
,what decree is said to have been issued
 by ,caesar ,augustus immediately       
preceding the birth of ,christ8         
,luke3 ,that all the world should be    
taxed 7ii1 #a74    ,no such decree was  
issued by ,augustus1 nor even one that  
the ,roman  world should be taxed4 ,the 
taxation of different provinces of the  
empire was made at various times1 no    
general decree ever having  been issued 
and no uniform assessment ever having   
been attempted by  ,augustus4 ,an       

enrollment of ,roman citizens for the   
purpose of taxation  was made in ,syria 
#g ,a4 ,d4        #di    ,of what king  
was ,joseph a subject when ,jesus was   
born8    ,matthew3 ,of ,herod4    ,if   
,jesus was born during the reign of     
,herod1 ,joseph1 whether a resident  of 
,judea or of ,galilee1 could not have   
been taxed by ,augustus1 for  neither   
province was then a part of ,syria4     
,both provinces belonged  to ,herod's   
kingdom and ,herod's subjects were not  
taxed by the ,roman  government4        
#ej    ,of what province was ,joseph a  
resident8    ,matthew3 ,of ,judea4      
,luke3 ,of ,galilee4    ,if he was a    
resident of ,galilee he could not have  
been taxed by  ,augustus1 even in the   
time of ,cyrenius1 for ,galilee was not 
a ,roman  province1 but an independent  
state1 and had no political connection  
with ,syria4    ,again1 this decree     
could not have applied to ,judea prior  
to the  banishment of ,archelaus1 ten   
years after the time of ,herod2 for     

,judea  did not become a ,roman province
 until that time2 and while ,archelaus  
had paid tribute to ,rome the           
assessments of the people were made by  
him and not by ,augustus4        #ea    
,why was ,joseph with his wife obliged  
to leave ,galilee and go to  ,bethlehem 
of ,judea to be enrolled8    ,luke3     
,because he was of the house and lineage
 of ,david1 and ,bethlehem  was the city
 of ,david 7ii1 #d74    ,even if he had 
been subject to taxation there was no   
law or custom  requiring him to leave   
his own country and go to that of his   
ancestors  to be enrolled4 ,the         
assessment1 according to the ,roman     
custom1  was made at the residence of   
the person taxed4 ,nothing surpasses in 
absurdity this story of ,luke1 that a   
woman1 on the eve of confinement1  and  
the subject of another ruler1 was       
dragged across two provinces  to be     
enrolled for taxation4    ,in regard to 
this taxation ,dr4 ,hooykaas says3 ,but 
here again we  are met by overwhelming  

difficulties4 ,in itself1 the           
,evangelist's  account of the manner in 
which the census was carried out is     
entirely  incredible4 ,only fancy the   
indescribable confusion that would have 
arisen if every one1 through the length 
and breadth of the land of  the ,jews1  
had left his abode to go and enroll     
himself in the city  or village from    
which his family originally came1 even  
supposing he  knew where it was4 ,the   
census under ,david was conducted after 
a very  different fashion4 ,but it is   
still more important to note that the   
,evangelist falls into the most         
extraordinary mistakes throughout4 ,in  
the first place history is silent as to 
a census of the whole 7,roman7  world   
ever having been made at all4 ,in the   
next place1 though ,quirinus  ,cyrenius 
certainly did make such a register in   
,judea and ,samaria1  it did not extend 
to ,galilee2 so that ,joseph's household
 was not  affected by it4 ,besides it   
did not take place till ten years after 

the  death of ,herod1 when his son      
,archelaus was deposed by the ,emperor1 
and the districts of ,judea and ,samaria
 were thrown into a ,roman  province4   
,under the reign of ,herod nothing of   
the kind took place1  nor was there any 
occasion for it4 ,finally1 at the time  
of the birth  of ,jesus the governor of 
,syria was not ,quirinus1 but ,quintus  
,sentius  ,saturninus 7,bible for       
,learners1 vol4 iii1 pp4 #ee1 #ef74     
#eb    ,was ,jesus born in a house or in
 a stable8    ,matthew3 ,and when they  
were come into the house1 they saw the  
young  child with ,mary his mother 7ii1 
#aa74    ,luke3 ,and she brought forth  
her first born son1 and wrapped him in  
swaddling clothes1 and laid him in a    
manger 7ii1 #g74    ,nothing can be     
clearer than that the author of ,matthew
 supposes  that ,jesus was born in a    
house4 ,the author of ,luke1 on the     
other  hand1 expressly declares that he 
was born in a stable4 ,luke's story     
concerning the place of ,mary's         

accouchement has been received1 while   
that of ,matthew has been ignored4      
,christ's birth in a manger and death on
 the cross are the lodestones  that have
 attracted the sympathies of the world1 
and kept him on the  throne of          
,christendom2 for sentiment rather than 
reason dominates  mankind4 ,referring to
 ,luke's story1 the ,bible for ,learners
 says3  ,such is the well-known story of
 the birth of ,jesus1 one of the        
sweetest and most deeply significant of 
all the legends of the  ,bible4 ,that it
 is a legend1 without even the smallest 
historical  foundation1 we must1 of     
course1 admit 7vol4 iii1 p4 #ed74       
,justin ,martyr states that ,jesus was  
born in a cave1 and this statement      
,farrar is disposed to accept3 ,justin  
,martyr1 the ,apologist1 who1  from his 
birth at ,shechem1 was familiar with    
,palestine1 and who lived  less than a  
century after the time of our ,lord1    
places the scene of  the nativity in a  
cave4 ,this is1 indeed1 the ancient and 

constant  tradition both of the ,eastern
 and the ,western churches1 and it is   
one of the few to which1 though         
unrecorded in the ,gospel history1  we  
may attach a reasonable probability     
7,life of ,christ1 p4 #c74        #ec   
,why did ,joseph and his wife take      
shelter in a stable8    ,luke3 ,because 
there was no room for them in the inn   
7ii1 #g74    ,luke states that there was
 an inn at ,bethlehem4 ,there was no inn
 in  the place4 ,dr4 ,geikie says3 ,we  
must not moreover think of ,joseph      
seeking an inn at ,bethlehem1 for inns  
were unknown among the ,jews            
7,christmas at ,bethlehem74        #ed  
,what celestial phenomenon attended     
,christ's birth8    ,matthew3 ,a new    
star appeared and stood in the heavens  
above him  7ii1 #a-i74    ,luke3 ,an    
angelic choir appeared and sang praises 
to ,god 7ii1 #ac1 #ad74    ,matthew's   
story of the star and the ,magi1 even to
 the language itself1  was borrowed from
 the writings of the ,persians2 ,luke's 

story of the  celestial visitants was   
taken from ,pagan mythology4        #ee 
,who visited him after his birth8       
,matthew3 ,wise men from the ,east 7ii1 
#a-aa74    ,luke3 ,shepherds from a     
neighboring field 7ii1 #h-bj74          
,matthew makes no mention of the        
shepherds' visit2 ,luke is evidently    
ignorant of the visit of the wise men4  
#ef    ,from where did the wise men     
come8    ,matthew3 ,now when ,jesus was 
born in ,bethlehem of ,judea in the days
 of  ,herod the king1 behold1 there came
 wise men from the ,east to ,jerusalem1 
saying3 ,where is he that is born ,king 
of the ,jews8 for we have seen  his star
 in the ,east1 and are come to worship  
him 7ii1 #a1 #b74    ,by the ,east was  
meant ,persia or ,india1 and from one of
 these  countries the ,magi are         
popularly supposed to have come4        
,justin ,martyr says3 ,when a star rose 
in heaven at the time of his  birth1 as 
is recorded in the ',memoirs' of his    
,apostles1 the ,magi  from ,arabia1     

recognizing the sign by this1 came and  
worshiped him  7,dialogues1 cvi74    ,if
 they came from ,arabia1 as this        
,christian father declares1 they  came  
not from the ,east1 but from the ,south4
        #eg    ,what announcement did   
the angel make to the shepherds8    ,for
 behold ,i bring you good tidings of    
great joy1 which shall be to  all people
 7,luke ii1 #aj74    ,according to ,luke
 the visit of the angels is to proclaim 
to the  world the birth of the new-born 
,messiah4 ,had the celestial phenomenon 
reported by this ,evangelist really     
occurred the news of it would have      
quickly spread over ,palestine4 ,yet the
 people of ,jerusalem1 only  a few miles
 away1 learn nothing of it2 for1        
according to ,matthew1  the first       
intimation that ,herod has of ,christ's 
birth is from the  wise men who visit   
him at a much later period4 ,the        
inhabitants of  ,bethlehem themselves   
are ignorant of it4 ,could they have    
discovered to  ,herod this wonderful    

babe1 or the place where his parents    
abode while  there if they had departed1
 it would have saved their own children 
from the wrath of this monarch4 ,but    
they knew nothing of him4        #eh    
,what effect had the announcement of    
,christ's birth upon ,herod and  the    
people of ,jerusalem8    ,matthew3 ,when
 ,herod the king had heard these things1
 he was troubled1  and all ,jerusalem   
with him 7ii1 #c74    ,according to     
,matthew the announcement filled with   
alarm the entire  populace1 and the most
 diligent efforts were made to discover 
and  destroy the babe4 ,in strange      
contrast to this statement of ,matthew  
is  ,luke's narrative 7ii1 #bb-bg71     
which declares that ,jesus1 when forty  
days old1 was brought to ,jerusalem and 
publicly exhibited in ,herod's  own     
temple1 without exciting any alarm or   
provoking any hostility4        #ei     
,what did his parents do with him8      
,matthew3 ,they fled with him into      
,egypt 7ii1 #ac1 #ae74    ,luke3 ,they  

remained with him in ,palestine 7ii1    
#bb-eb74    ,all attempts to reconcile  
these two contradictory statements1 seem
  only elaborate efforts of art4--,dr4  
,schleiermacher4        #fj    ,when    
unable to discover ,jesus what did      
,herod do8    ,matthew3 ,then ,herod1   
when he saw that he was mocked of the   
wise men1  was exceeding wroth1 and sent
 forth1 and slew all the children that  
were in ,bethlehem1 and in all the      
coasts thereof1 from two years old  and 
under 7ii1 #af74    ,if this statement  
be true hundreds of innocent babes 7the 
,greek  ,calendar says fourteen         
thousand7 must have perished1 a crime   
the  enormity of which is almost without
 a parallel in the annals of  history4  
,it is strange that ,mark1 ,luke1 and   
,john make no mention of  this frightful
 tragedy4 ,luke's silence is especially 
significant4 ,it  is passing strange    
that the ,roman historians and          
,rabbinical writers of  that age1 who   
wrote of ,herod1 should be silent       

regarding it4 ,josephus  devotes nearly 
forty chapters to the life of ,herod4   
,he narrates with  much particularity   
every important event in his life4 ,he  
detested  this monarch and dwells upon  
his crimes and errors4 ,yet ,josephus   
knew  nothing of this massacre4    ,in  
this silence of ,josephus ,dr4 ,farrar  
recognizes a difficulty too  damaging to
 ignore4 ,he says3 ,why then1 it has    
been asked1 does  ,josephus make no     
mention of so infamous an atrocity8     
,perhaps because  it was performed so   
secretly that he did not even know of   
it4 ,perhaps  because1 in those terrible
 days1 the murder of a score of         
children1  in consequence of a transient
 suspicion1 would have been regarded as 
an item utterly insignificant in the    
list of ,herod's murders4 ,perhaps      
because it was passed over in silence by
 ,nikolaus of ,damascus1 who1  writing  
in the true spirit of those ,hellenizing
 courtiers1 who wanted  to make a       
political ,messiah out of a corrupt and 

blood-stained usurper1  magnified all   
his patron's achievements1 and concealed
 or palliated  all his crimes4 ,but the 
more probable reason is that ,josephus1 
whom1  in spite of all the immense      
literary debt which we owe to him1 we   
can only regard as a renegade and a     
sycophant1 did not choose to  make any  
allusion to facts which were even       
remotely connected with  the life of    
,christ 7,life of ,christ1 pp4 #bb1     
#bc74    ,a more absurd reason than the 
first advanced by ,farrar it is         
difficult  to conceive4 ,the second1    
that it was a matter of too little      
consequence  to record1 an explanation  
which other ,christian apologists have  
assigned1 is as unreasonable as it is   
heartless4 ,the silence of  ,nikolaus1  
who wrote of ,herod after his death1 is 
also significant1  and the excuse       
offered by ,farrar that he omitted it   
because he was  the friend of ,herod1   
even if admitted1 cannot apply to       
,josephus1 who  abhorred the memory of  

this monarch4 ,the contention that      
,josephus  purposely ignored the        
existence of ,christ because he saw in  
him a  menace to his faith is childish4 
,jesus ,christ1 admitting his existence1
  had made no history to record4 ,his   
birth was attended by no prodigies1  and
 there was nothing in his advent to     
excite the fear or envy of  a king4     
,josephus mentions no ,herodian massacre
 at ,bethlehem because  none occurred4  
,had ,herod slain a single child in the 
manner stated  the fact would be        
attested by a score of authors whose    
writings are  extant4 ,herod did not    
slay one babe4 ,this story is false4    
,herod's massacre of the infants of     
,bethlehem and the escape of ,jesus  was
 probably suggested by ,kansa's massacre
 of the infants of ,matura  and the     
escape of ,krishna4 ,pharaoh's slaughter
 of the first born in  ,egypt may also  
have suggested it4        #fa    ,what  
was the real cause of ,herod's massacre8
    ,matthew3 ,the visit of the wise men

 and the disclosures made by them  7ii1 
#a-af74    ,these wise men1 it is       
claimed1 were under divine guidance4 ,in
 view  of this terrible slaughter their 
visit must be regarded as a divine      
blunder4        #fb    ,in the massacre 
of the innocents what prophecy was      
fulfilled8    ,matthew3 ,then was       
fulfilled that which was spoken by      
,jeremy the  prophet1 saying1 ,in ,rama 
was there a voice heard1 lamentation1   
and weeping1 and great mourning1 ,rachel
 weeping for her children1  and would   
not be comforted1 because they are not  
7ii1 #ag1 #ah74    ,this so-called      
prophecy is in ,jeremiah xxxi1 #ae4 ,it 
was written at the  time of the         
,babylonian captivity and refers to the 
captive ,jews4 ,in  the next verse      
,jeremiah says3 ,they shall come again  
from the land  of the enemy4        #fc 
,when ,herod died what did the ,lord    
command ,joseph to do8    ,arise1 and   
take the young child and his mother and 
go into the land  of ,israel1 for they  

are dead which sought the young child's 
life  7,matthew ii1 #bj74    ,and the   
,lord said unto ,moses in ,midian1 ,go1 
return to ,egypt3 for  all the men are  
dead which sought thy life 7,exodus iv1 
#ai74        #fd    ,the sojourn of     
,joseph and ,mary with ,jesus in ,egypt 
was in fulfillment  of what prophecy8   
,matthew3 ,that spoken of the ,lord by  
the prophet1 saying1 ,out of  ,egypt    
have ,i called my son 7ii1 #ae74        
,this may be found in ,hosea xi1 #a1 and
 clearly refers to the exodus  of the   
,israelites from ,egypt4        #fe     
,jesus was subsequently taken to        
,nazareth4 ,why8    ,matthew3 ,that it  
might be fulfilled which was spoken by  
the prophet1  ,he shall be called a     
,nazarene 7ii1 #bc74    ,the ,bible     
contains no such prophecy4 ,fleetwood   
admits that the words  are not to be    
found in the prophetical writings1 and  
,farrar says1  ,it is well known that no
 such passage occurs in any extant      
prophecy  7,life of ,christ1 p4 #cc74   

,the only passage to which the above can
  refer is ,judges xiii1 #e4 ,here the  
child referred to was not to be  called 
a ,nazarene1 but a ,nazarite1 and       
,matthew knew that ,nazarene  and       
,nazarite were no more synonymous than  
,jew and priest4 ,a  ,nazarene was a    
native of ,nazareth2 a ,nazarite was one
 consecrated  to the service of the     
,lord4 ,matthew likewise knew that this 
,nazarite  referred to in ,judges was   
,samson4        #ff    ,had ,joseph and 
,mary lived in ,nazareth previous to the
 birth of ,jesus8    ,luke3 ,they had4  
,matthew3 ,they had not4    ,and ,joseph
 also went up from ,galilee1 out of the 
city of ,nazareth1  unto the city of    
,david1 which is called ,bethlehem1 444 
to be taxed  with ,mary his espoused    
wife4444 ,and when they had performed   
all  things according to the law of the 
,lord1 they returned into ,galilee1  to 
their own city ,nazareth 7,luke ii1 #d1 
#e1 #ci74    ,when he ,joseph arose1 he 
took the young child and his mother by  

night1 and departed into ,egypt3 and was
 there until the death of  ,herod4444   
,but when ,herod was dead1 444 he arose1
 and took the young  child and his      
mother1 and came into the land of       
,israel4 ,and when  he heard that       
,archelaus did reign in the room of his 
father ,herod1  he was afraid to go     
thither2 notwithstanding1 being warned  
of ,god in  a dream1 he turned aside    
into the parts of ,galilee3 and he came 
and  dwelt in a city called ,nazareth   
7,matthew ii1 #ad-bc74    ,according to 
,luke their home was in ,nazareth of    
,galilee2 according to  ,matthew their  
home was in ,bethlehem of ,judea4 ,luke 
states that they  merely visited        
,bethlehem to be enrolled for taxation  
and fulfill  a certain ,messianic       
prophecy4 ,matthew states that after the
 flight  into ,egypt and the death of   
,herod they were returning to ,judea    
when  fearing ,archelaus they turned    
aside into ,galilee to avoid this ruler 
and fulfill another ,messianic prophecy4

        #fg    ,how did the parents of  
,jesus receive the predictions of       
,simeon  concerning him8    ,luke3 ,and 
,joseph and his mother marvelled at     
those things which were  spoken of him  
7ii1 #cc74    ,why should they marvel at
 the predictions of ,simeon when long   
before  they had been apprised of the   
same thing by the angel ,gabriel8       
#fh    ,does the name ,joseph belong in 
the text quoted above8    ,it does not4 
,the correct reading is3 ,and his father
 and his mother  were marvelling at the 
things which were spoken concerning him4
 ,it  declares ,joseph to be the father 
of ,jesus1 and as this did not          
harmonize with the story of the         
miraculous conception the makers of  our
 version substituted ,joseph for father4
        #fi    ,what does ,luke say     
regarding the infancy of ,john and      
,jesus8    ,and the child ,john grew and
 waxed strong in spirit 7i1 #hj74       
,and the child ,jesus grew and waxed    
strong in spirit 7ii1 #dj74    ,between 

the growth of the man ,john and the     
growth of the ,god ,jesus  there is1    
according to the ,evangelist1 no        
difference1 and the growth  of each is  
identical with that of the demi-god     
,samson4        #gj    ,what custom did 
,jesus's parents observe8    ,luke3 ,his
 parents went to ,jerusalem every year  
at the feast of the  passover 7ii1 #da74
    ,the preceding verse 7#dj7 shows    
that ,luke means every year following   
the birth of ,jesus4 ,in the succeeding 
verse 7#db7 it is clearly implied  that 
,jesus always accompanied them4 ,it is  
impossible to reconcile  this statement 
of ,luke1 who evidently knows nothing of
 the enmity of  ,herod and ,archelaus1  
with the statements of ,matthew who     
declares them  to have been his mortal  
enemies4        #ga    ,on one of these 
occasions where did they find him8      
,luke3 ,they found him in the temple1   
sitting in the midst of the  doctors1   
both hearing them1 and asking them      
questions 7ii1 #df74    ,not until the  

time of ,gamaliel1 who lived as late as 
the middle of  the first century1 was a 
child allowed to sit in the presence of 
the rabbis4 ,he was always required to  
stand1 and those acquainted  with the   
,jewish history of that age know that   
the rabbis were the  most rigid         
sticklers for ecclesiastical            
formalities1 the slightest  breach of   
which was never tolerated4 ,the author  
of the third ,gospel  is familiar with  
the later1 but not with the earlier     
custom4        #gb    ,what was the     
medium of communication through which   
the will of ,heaven  was revealed to the
 participants in this drama8            
,matthew3 ,a dream 7i1 #bj2 ii1 #ab1    
#ac1 #ai1 #bb74    ,luke3 ,an angel 7i1 
#aa1 #bf2 ii1 #i74    ,in ,matthew every
 message respecting the child ,jesus is 
communicated by  means of a dream2 in   
,luke every announcement is made through
 the agency  of an angel4 ,yet1 after   
all1 these ,evangelists differ only in  
terms2  for ,luke's angels are created  

out of the same stuff that ,matthew's   
dreams are made of1 and the world is    
fast coming to a realization of  the    
fact that this whole theological        
structure1 founded on sleepers'  dreams 
and angels' tales1 is but ,the baseless 
fabric of a vision4                     
,,chapter ,v4    ,,the ,,ministry ,,of  
,,christ4      #gc    ,when1 and at what
 age1 did ,jesus begin his ministry8    
,luke3 ,in the fifteenth year of the    
reign of ,tiberius ,caesar 7iii1  #a74  
,jesus himself began to be about thirty 
years of age 7#bc74    ,in the fifteenth
 year of ,tiberius1 who began his reign 
in ,august1  #ad ,a4 ,d41 ,jesus1       
according to ,matthew1 was at least     
thirty-three  years of age2 according to
 ,luke1 about twenty-two4    ,regarding 
this subject1 ,dr4 ,geikie writes as    
follows3 ,the age of ,jesus  at his     
entrance on his public work has been    
variously estimated4 ,ewald  supposes   
that he was about thirty-four1 fixing   
his birth three years  before the death 

of ,herod4 ,wieseler1 on the contrary1  
believes him  to have been in his       
thirty-first year1 setting his birth a  
few months  before ,herod's death4      
,bunsen1 ,anger1 ,winer1 ,schurer1 and  
,renan agree  with this4 ,lichtenstein  
makes him thirty-two4 ,hausrath and     
,keim1 on  the other hand1 think that he
 began his ministry in the year ,a4 ,d4 
#cd1  but they do not give any supposed 
date for his birth1 though if that  of  
,ewald be taken as a medium he must have
 been forty years old1  while1 if       
,wieseler's date be preferred1 he would 
only have been  thirty-seven4444 ,amidst
 such difference1 exactness is          
impossible  7,life of ,christ1 vol4 i1  
pp4 #dee1 #def74        #gd    ,john the
 ,baptist is said to have been the      
person sent to announce  the mission of 
,christ4 ,who was ,john the ,baptist8   
,jesus3 ,this is ,elias1 which was for  
to come 7,matthew xi1 #ad74    ,john3   
,and they asked him ,john1 what then8   
,art thou ,elias8 ,and he  saith1 ,i am 

not 7i1 #ba74    ,a question of veracity
 between ,jesus and ,john4        #ge   
,the advent of ,john was in fulfillment 
of what prophecy8    ,mark3 ,as it is   
written in the prophets1 ,behold ,i send
 my messenger  before thy face1 which   
shall prepare the way before thee 7i1   
#b74    ,this passage is quoted from    
,malachi 7iii1 #a73 ,god threatens to   
destroy the world1 and says 7iv1 #e71   
,behold ,i will send you ,elijah  the   
prophet before the coming of the great  
and dreadful day of the  ,lord4 ,john   
expressly declared that he was not      
,elijah 7,elias71 and  the destruction  
of the world did not follow his         
appearance4        #gf    ,what was     
predicted concerning ,john8    ,he shall
 be great in the sight of the ,lord1 and
 shall drink neither  wine nor strong   
drink2 and he shall be filled with the  
,holy ,ghost1  even from his mother's   
womb 7,luke i1 #ae74    ,for the above  
,luke was indebted to the biographer of 
,samson4 ,both  ,samson and ,john were  

to be consecrated to ,god from the womb1
 and  the same diet was prescribed for  
both4--,strauss4        #gg    ,when the
 conception of ,john was announced what 
punishment was inflicted  upon          
,zacharias for his doubt8    ,luke3 ,and
 the angel answering said unto him1 ,i  
am ,gabriel1 that  stand in the presence
 of ,god2 444 ,and behold1 thou shalt be
 dumb1  and not able to speak1 until the
 day that these things be performed  7i1
 #ai1 #bj74    ,this was evidently      
suggested by a passage in ,daniel3 ,and 
when he  ,gabriel had spoken such words 
unto me1 ,i set my face toward the      
ground1 and ,i became dumb 7x1 #ae74    
#gh    ,where was ,john baptizing when  
he announced his mission to the ,jews8  
,john 7,new ,ver473 ,in ,bethany beyond 
,jordan 7i1 #bh74    ,bethany was a     
suburb of ,jerusalem and was not beyond 
,jordan4    ,the ,authorized ,version   
reads ,bethabara1 conceded to be an     
interpolation1 regarding which ,geikie  
says3 ,the most ancient ,,mss4 read     

,bethany instead of ,bethabara1 but no  
site of that name is now known  on the  
,jordan4 ,bethabara was introduced into 
the text by ,origen  7,life of ,christ1 
vol4 i1 p4 #eff74        #gi    ,how old
 was ,jesus when ,john began his        
ministry8    ,luke3 ,about thirty years 
of age 7iii1 #b1 #c1 #bc74    ,matthew3 
,in those days when ,jesus' parents     
brought him out of ,egypt  and settled  
in ,nazareth1 he being then about two   
years of age came  ,john the ,baptist1  
preaching in the wilderness of ,judea   
7ii1 #ai-bc2  iii1 #a74    ,matthew1 it 
is claimed1 was written only ten or     
twenty years after  ,jesus' baptism4 ,if
 so1 the phrase in those days clearly   
implies  that he was but a child when   
,john began his ministry4 ,if the phrase
  was intended to comprehend a period of
 thirty years this gospel1  it must be  
admitted1 was written at least one      
hundred years after  the event          
described4        #hj    ,were ,jesus   
and ,john related8    ,luke3 ,they were1

 their mothers being cousins 7i1 #cf74  
,mary had visited the mother of ,john1  
and each was acquainted with  the       
character of the other's child4 ,john   
before his birth is declared  to have   
recognized and acknowledged the divinity
 of the unborn ,jesus  7,luke i1        
#da-dd74 ,yet1 according to the ,fourth 
,gospel1 at the beginning  of ,jesus'   
ministry ,john said1 ,i know him not 7i1
 #cc74        #ha    ,when ,jesus       
desired ,john to baptize him1 what did  
the latter do8    ,matthew3 ,john       
forbade him saying1 ,i have need to be  
baptized of thee  7iii1 #ad74           
,according to ,matthew1 ,john was not   
only acquainted with ,jesus1 but        
cognizant of his divine mission1 which  
cannot be harmonized with his  statement
 in the ,fourth ,gospel4    ,dr4 ,geikie
 admits that ,john and ,jesus were      
strangers to each other4 ,he  says3     
,though cousins1 the ,baptist and the   
,son of ,mary had never seen  each other
 7,life of ,christ1 vol4 i1 p4 #chi74   

,this is not only a rejection of        
,matthew's statement1 but a repudiation 
of the first chapter of ,luke1 one of   
the most important chapters of the  ,new
 ,testament2 for it is utterly          
impossible for reason to harmonize      
these alleged revelations concerning the
 miraculous conceptions  and divine     
missions of ,john and ,jesus to their   
parents and the fact  that ,john        
remained for thirty years in absolute   
ignorance of ,jesus'  existence4        
#hb    ,what did ,john say regarding    
,jesus8    ,he that cometh after me is  
mightier than ,i1 whose shoes ,i am not 
worthy to bear 7,matthew iii1 #aa74     
,there cometh one mightier than ,i after
 me1 the latchet of whose  shoes ,i am  
not worthy to stoop down and unloose    
7,mark i1 #g74        #hc    ,what other
 testimony did he bear concerning       
,jesus8    ,and of his fulness have all 
we received 7,john i1 #af74    ,this was
 uttered prior to the beginning of      
,jesus' ministry1 and before  he had    

been baptized with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,at
 this time his fulness  had not been    
received1 and the words are an          
anachronism4        #hd    ,at ,jesus'  
baptism there came a voice from heaven4 
,to whom were its  words addressed8     
,matthew3 ,to those who stood by4 ,this 
is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i  am well 
pleased 7iii1 #ag74    ,luke3 ,to ,jesus
 himself4 ,thou art my beloved ,son2 in 
thee ,i am well  pleased 7iii1 #bb74    
#he    ,john heard this voice from      
heaven2 did he believe it8    ,matthew3 
,he evidently did not2 for he afterwards
 sent two of his  disciples to ascertain
 if ,jesus were the ,christ4 ,now when  
,john had  heard in prison the words of 
,christ1 he sent two of his disciples1  
and said unto him1 ,art thou he that    
should come or do we look for  another8 
7xi1 #b1 #c74        #hf    ,do all the 
,evangelists record ,jesus' baptism by  
,john8    ,they do not4 ,according to   
the ,synoptics1 ,john's baptism of      
,jesus was  the initial act in his      

ministry1 and one of the most important 
events  in his career4 ,but of this     
baptism the author of the ,fourth       
,gospel  knows nothing4 ,in regard to   
this omission the author of             
,supernatural  ,religion says3          
,according to the ,synoptics1 ,jesus is 
baptized by ,john1  and as he goes out  
of the water the ,holy ,ghost descends  
upon him like  a dove4 ,the ,fourth     
,gospel knows nothing of the baptism1   
and makes  ,john the ,baptist narrate   
vaguely that he saw the ,holy ,ghost    
descend  like a dove and rest upon      
,jesus1 as a sign previously indicated  
to  him by ,god by which to recognize   
the ,lamb of ,god 7p4 #fha74        #hg 
,with what did ,john say ,jesus would   
baptize8    ,mark and ,john3 ,he shall  
baptize you with the ,holy ,ghost 7,mark
 i1  #h2 ,john i1 #cc74    ,matthew and 
,luke3 ,he shall baptize you with the   
,holy ,ghost1 and with  fire 7,matt4    
iii1 #aa2 ,luke iii1 #af74        #hh   
,how many were baptized by ,john8       

,matthew and ,mark3 ,jerusalem and all  
,judea 7,matt4 iii1 #e2 ,mark i1 #e74   
,john1 if the account in ,josephus is to
 be credited1 made some converts2  but  
all the inhabitants of ,judea were not  
baptized by him4    ,is ,john the       
,baptist a historical character8 ,aside 
from the anonymous  and apocryphal      
writings of the church1 which appeared  
in the second  century1 the only        
evidence of his existence is a passage  
in ,josephus  7,antiquities1 ,b4 xviii1 
ch4 v1 sec4 #b74 ,the language of this  
passage1  while not avowedly ,christian 
like the passage pertaining to ,christ1 
is yet of such a character as to excite 
suspicion regarding its  genuineness4   
,its position strongly suggests an      
interpolation4 ,josephus  gives an      
account of the troubles that arose      
between ,herod ,antipas1  tetrarch of   
,galilee1 and ,aretas1 king of ,arabia  
,petrea4 ,herod  had married the        
daughter of ,aretas2 but becoming       
infatuated with  ,herodias1 his         

sister-in-law1 he resolved to put her   
away and marry  ,herodias4 ,discovering 
his intentions his wife obtained        
permission to  visit her father1 who    
when he had been informed of ,herod's   
perfidy1  made war upon him and defeated
 him in battle4 ,herod appealed to the  
,emperor ,tiberius1 who was his friend1 
and who ordered ,vitellius1  governor of
 ,syria1 to invade the dominions of     
,aretas and capture  or slay him4 ,i    
quote the concluding portion of section 
#a and the  opening sentence of section 
#c of the chapter containing this       
history1  separating the two with an    
ellipsis3    ,so ,herod wrote about     
these affairs to ,tiberius1 who1 being  
very angry  at the attempt made by      
,aretas1 wrote to ,vitellius to make war
 upon him1  and either to take him      
alive1 and bring him in bonds1 or to    
kill him1  and send him his head4 ,this 
was the charge that ,tiberius gave to   
the  president of ,syria4444 ,so        
,vitellius prepared to make war with    

,aretas1  having with him two legions of
 armed men4    ,it will be readily      
observed that the two sections are      
closely  connected1 the one naturally   
and logically following the other4 ,yet 
between these two closely connected     
sections1 the section containing  the   
account of ,john the ,baptist is        
inserted4        #hi    ,who held the   
office of high priest at the time ,jesus
 began his  ministry8    ,luke3 ,annas  
and ,caiaphas 7iii1 #b74    ,if the     
writer were to declare that ,washington 
and ,monroe were  presidents of the     
,united ,states at the same time it     
would be no more  erroneous than the    
declaration of ,luke that ,annas and    
,caiaphas were  high priests at the same
 time4 ,two priests never held this     
office  jointly4 ,caiaphas was high     
priest at this time1 and three others   
had  held the office previous to him and
 subsequent to ,annas4 ,referring  to   
,pontius ,pilate's predecessor1 ,gratus1
 who was procurator of ,judea  from #ae 

to #bf ,a4 ,d41 ,josephus says3    ,this
 man deprived ,ananus ,annas of the high
 priesthood1 and appointed  ,ishmael1   
the son of ,phabi1 to be high priest4   
,he also deprived him in  a little time1
 and ordained ,eleazer1 the son of      
,ananus1 who had been  high priest      
before1 to be high priest2 which office1
 when he had held  for a year1 ,gratus  
deprived him of it1 and gave the high   
priesthood to  ,simon1 the son of       
,camithus1 and1 when he had possessed   
the dignity  no longer than a year1     
,joseph ,caiaphas was made his successor
  7,antiquities ,b4 xviii1 ch4 ii1 sec4 
#b74        #ij    ,who was tetrarch of 
,abilene at this time8    ,luke3        
,lysanias 7iii1 #a74    ,lysanias was   
put to death at the instigation of      
,cleopatra sixty years  before ,jesus   
began his ministry4 ,she ,cleopatra     
hurried ,antony on  perpetually to      
deprive others of their dominions1 and  
give them to  her2 and as she went over 
,syria with him1 she contrived to get it

  into her possession2 so he slew       
,lysanias 7,josephus1 ,antiq41 ,b4 xv1  
ch4 iv1 sec4 #a74    ,at the time       
mentioned by ,luke the territory of     
,abila1 or ,abilene1  was no longer a   
tetrarchy4        #ia    ,where was     
,jesus three days after he began his    
ministry8    ,synoptics3 ,in the        
wilderness fasting 7,matt4 iv1 #a2 ,mark
 i1 #i-ac2  ,luke iv1 #a74    ,john3 ,at
 a wedding in ,cana1 feasting 7i1 ii74  
#ib    ,was he led1 or driven by the    
spirit into the wilderness8    ,matthew 
and ,luke3 ,then was ,jesus led up of   
the spirit into the  wilderness 7,matt4 
iv1 #a2 ,luke iv1 #a74    ,mark3 ,and   
immediately the spirit driveth him into 
the wilderness  7i1 #ab74        #ic    
,when did the temptation take place8    
,mark3 ,during the forty days' fast4    
,and he was there in the wilderness     
forty days tempted of ,satan 7i1 #ac74  
,matthew3 ,after the fast4 ,and when he 
had fasted forty days and forty  nights 
444 the tempter came to him 7iv1 #b1    

#c74        #id    ,during the          
temptation the devil is said to have set
 him on the  temple4 ,on what part of   
the temple did he set him8    ,matthew  
and ,luke3 ,on a pinnacle 7,matt4 iv1   
#e2 ,luke iv1 #i74    ,the indefinite   
article a clearly implies that the      
temple had several  pinnacles1 whereas  
it had but one4 ,after eighteen hundred 
years the  ,holy ,ghost discovered his  
mistake and moved the ,oxford revisers  
to  substitute the for a4        #ie    
,what did the devil next do8            
,matthew3 ,the devil taketh him up into 
an exceeding high mountain1  and sheweth
 him all the kingdoms of the world 7iv1 
#h74 ,it must have  been an exceedingly 
high mountain to have enabled him to see
 the  kingdoms of the opposite          
hemisphere4        #if    ,what did the 
devil propose8    ,all these things will
 ,i give thee ,jesus1 if thou wilt fall 
down  and worship me 7,matthew iv1 #i74 
,if ,jesus was the ,christ1 and ,christ 
was ,god1 as claimed1 who owned  these  

things1 he or the devil8 ,think of a    
tramp offering you a  quit-claim deed to
 your home for a meal4        #ig       
,where did the devil take him first1 to 
the temple1 or to the mountain8         
,matthew3 ,to the temple 7iv1 #e-h74    
,luke3 ,to the mountain 7iv1 #e-i74     
,concerning this discrepancy1 ,farrar   
says3 ,the order of the temptation  is  
given differently by ,st4 ,matthew and  
,st4 ,luke1 ,st4 ,matthew placing       
second the scene on the pinnacle of the 
temple1 and ,st4 ,luke the  vision of   
the kingdoms of the world4 ,both orders 
cannot be right  7,life of ,christ1 p4  
#gj74    ,some of the ablest ,christian 
scholars have refused to accept  the    
,temptation as historical4 ,farrar says3
 ,from ,origen down to  ,schleiermacher 
some have regarded it as a vision or    
allegory--the  symbolic description of a
 purely inward struggle2 and even so    
literal  a commentator as ,calvin has   
embraced this view 7,ibid1 p4 #fe74     
#ih    ,had ,john been cast into prison 

when ,jesus began his ministry8         
,matthew3 ,he had4    ,john3 ,he had    
not4    ,matthew says that immediately  
after his temptation1 and before he     
began his ministry1 ,jesus had heard    
that ,john was cast into prison  7iv1   
#ab74 ,then he departed into ,galilee2  
and leaving ,nazareth1 he  came and     
dwelt in ,capernaum 7#ab1 #ac74 ,from   
that time ,jesus began  to preach 7#ag74
 ,this was the beginning of his         
ministry4    ,according to the ,fourth  
,gospel1 ,jesus had called his          
disciples2  had traveled over ,galilee  
and ,judea2 had baptized 7iii1 #bb72 had
  performed miracles 7ii1 #a-aa1 #bc2   
iii1 #b72 had held controversies  with  
the ,jews 7ii1 #ah-ba2 iii1 #a-ba72 had 
attended the ,passover 7ii1  #ac-bc72   
had purged the temple 7ii1 #ac-af72 and 
after all these things  ,john was not   
yet cast into prison 7iii1 #bd74        
#ii    ,name the ,twelve ,apostles4     
,matthew4         ,mark4                
,luke4                ,simon ,peter     

,simon ,peter      ,simon ,peter        
,andrew           ,andrew               
,andrew              ,james             
,james            ,james                
,john             ,john                 
,john              ,philip              
,philip           ,philip               
,bartholomew      ,bartholomew          
,bartholomew              ,thomas       
,thomas           ,thomas               
,matthew          ,matthew              
,matthew              ,james ,less      
,james ,less       ,james ,less         
,,lebbeus          ,,thaddeus           
,,judas              ,simon             
,simon            ,simon                
,judas ,iscariot   ,judas ,iscariot     
,judas ,iscariot      ,john does not    
name the ,twelve ,apostles and this     
important omission  is admitted to be a 
grave defect in the ,fourth ,gospel4    
#ajj    ,relate the circumstances       
attending the calling of ,peter4        
,matthew3 ,and ,jesus1 walking by the   
sea of ,galilee1 saw two brethren1      

,simon called ,peter1 and ,andrew his   
brother1 casting a net into the  sea3   
for they were fishers4 ,and he saith    
unto them1 ,follow me1 and ,i  will make
 you fishers of men4 ,and they          
straightway left their nets1  and       
followed him 7iv1 #ah-bj74    ,luke3 ,he
 ,jesus stood by the lake of            
,gennesaret1 and saw two ships  standing
 by the lake2 but the fishermen were    
gone out of them and were  washing their
 nets4 ,and he entered into one of the  
ships1 which was  ,simon's1 and prayed  
him that he would thrust out a little   
from the  land4 ,and he sat down and    
taught the people out of the ship4 ,now 
when  he had left speaking1 he said unto
 ,simon1 ,launch out into the deep1  and
 let down your nets for a draught 7v1   
#a-d74    ,and when they had this done  
they inclosed a great multitude of      
fishes  7#f74    ,and ,jesus said unto  
,simon1 ,fear not2 from henceforth thou 
shalt  catch men4 ,and when they ,peter1
 ,james and ,john had brought their     

ships to land1 they forsook all1 and    
followed him 7#aj1 #aa74    ,john3      
,again the next day after ,john stood1  
and two of his disciples2  and looking  
upon ,jesus as he walked1 he saith1     
,behold the ,lamb of  ,god6 ,and the two
 disciples heard him speak1 and they    
followed ,jesus  7i1 #ce-cg74    ,they  
came and saw where he ,jesus dwelt1 and 
abode with him that  day4444 ,one of the
 two which heard ,john speak1 and       
followed him1 was  ,andrew1 ,simon      
,peter's brother4 ,he first findeth his 
own brother ,simon1  and saith unto him1
 ,we have found the ,messias4444 ,and he
 brought him  to ,jesus 7#dj-db74       
,here are three accounts of the calling 
of ,peter1 each entirely at  variance   
with the others4        #aja    ,in what
 country were they when ,peter was      
called8    ,synoptics3 ,in ,galilee4    
,john 7,old ,ver473 ,in ,perea 7i1      
#bh-db74    ,bethabara and the territory
 beyond ,jordan were in ,perea4    ,john
 7,new ,ver473 ,in ,judea4    ,bethany  

and all the country surrounding it were 
in ,judea4        #ajb    ,who did      
,jesus declare ,peter to be8    ,thou   
art ,simon the son of ,jona 7,john i1   
#db74    ,simon1 son of ,jonas 7,john   
xxi1 #ae74    ,thou art ,simon the son  
of ,john 7,john1 ,new ,ver41 i1 #db2    
xxi1 #ae74    ,there is no relation     
whatever between ,jona1 or ,jonas1 and  
,john4 ,jona 7,jonah71 or ,jonas1 means 
a dove2 ,john means the grace  of ,god4 
#ajc    ,jesus gave ,simon 7,peter7 the 
name of ,cephas4 ,what meaning did he   
attach to the word ,cephas8    ,thou    
shalt be called ,cephas1 which is by    
interpretation1 ,a stone  7,john i1     
#db74    ,thou shalt be called ,cephas  
7which is by interpretation1 ,peter7    
7,ibid1 ,new ,ver474    ,here ,jesus is 
represented as interpreting the meaning 
of an ,aramaic  word1 with which his    
hearers were familiar1 by the use of a  
,greek  word of whose meaning they were 
ignorant1 the incongruity of which  must
 be apparent to every reader4           

#ajd    ,when were ,james and ,john     
called8    ,matthew3 ,after ,peter was  
called4    ,after giving an account of  
the calling of ,peter and ,andrew1      
,matthew  says3 ,and going on from      
thence1 he saw other two brethren1      
,james the  son of ,zebedee1 and ,john  
his brother1 in a ship with ,zebedee    
their  father1 mending their nets2 and  
he called them4 ,and they immediately   
left the ship and their father1 and     
followed him 7iv1 #ba1 #bb74    ,luke3  
,at the time that ,peter was called4    
,luke states that ,james and ,john were 
partners of ,peter1 and with him  on the
 lake1 in another boat1 when the        
miraculous draught of fishes  was made1 
that both boats were filled with the    
fish1 ,and when they  ,peter1 ,james and
 ,john had brought their ships to land1 
they forsook  all1 and followed him 7v1 
#a-aa74        #aje    ,where was ,jesus
 when he called ,peter1 ,james and      
,john8    ,matthew3 ,walking by the sea 
of ,galilee 7iv1 #ah-ba74    ,luke3 ,on 

the lake in a ship 7v1 #a-aa74    ,in   
regard to ,matthew's and ,luke's        
accounts of the calling of ,peter1      
,james and ,john1 ,strauss says3        
,neither will bear the other to precede1
  or to follow it--in short1 they       
exclude each other 7,leben ,jesu1  p4   
#ccg74        #ajf    ,was ,andrew      
called when ,peter was called8          
,matthew and ,mark3 ,he was 7,matt4 iv1 
#ah-bj2 ,mark i1 #af-ah74    ,according 
to ,luke1 ,andrew was not called when   
,peter was called1  but after he was    
called4 ,according to ,john 7i1 #ce-db7 
,andrew was the  first to follow ,jesus4
        #ajg    ,who was called from the
 receipt of custom8    ,matthew3 ,a man 
named ,matthew 7ix1 #i74    ,luke3 ,a   
publican named ,levi 7v1 #bg74          
,orthodox scholars claim that ,matthew  
and ,levi are the same  person4 ,dr4    
,hooykaas does not believe that they are
 the same1 and  does not believe that   
any one of the ,apostles was called from
 the  receipt of custom4 ,he says3 ,it  

is in reality very unlikely that  ,levi 
and ,matthew are the same man1 or that  
one of the ,twelve was a  tax-gatherer  
7,bible for ,learners1 vol4 iii1 p4     
#bja74        #ajh    ,who was the      
mother of ,james the ,less and ,joses8  
,in the earlier parts of their          
narratives1 ,matthew 7xiii1 #ee7 and    
,mark 7vi1 #c7 declare them to be sons  
of the ,virgin ,mary and brothers  of   
,jesus4 ,paul 7,gal4 i1 #ai7 affirms    
that ,james was the brother of  ,jesus4 
,later ,matthew 7xxvii1 #ef7 and ,mark  
7xv1 #dj7 state that ,james  and ,joses 
were sons of ,mary1 the sister of the   
,virgin4        #aji    ,who was their  
father8    ,if they were sons of the    
,virgin ,mary1 ,joseph must have been   
their  father4 ,but ,matthew 7x1 #c7 and
 ,mark 7iii1 #ah7 state that ,james the 
,less was the son of ,alpheus4          
,according to ,john 7compare ,john xix1 
#be with ,matthew xxvii1 #ef7 ,cleophas 
was their father4    ,referring to this 
and the preceding discrepancy1 ,smith's 

,bible  ,dictionary says3 ,this is one  
of the most difficult questions in  the 
,gospel history4        #aaj    ,were   
,matthew and ,james the ,less brothers8 
,it is not admitted that they were4 ,yet
 it is claimed that ,matthew  and ,levi 
were the same2 ,mark 7ii1 #ad7 declares 
that ,levi was the  son of ,alpheus2    
while both ,matthew and ,mark 7,matt4 x1
 #c2 ,mark iii1  #ah7 declare that      
,james was the son of ,alpheus4         
#aaa    ,to what city did ,john belong1 
and where was it located8    ,john3     
,bethsaida of ,galilee 7xii1 #ba74      
,john states that ,peter was a resident 
of ,bethsaida 7i1 #dd71 and as ,john    
and ,peter were partners 7,luke v1 #aj71
 they must have belonged to the  same   
city4 ,but ,bethsaida was not in        
,galilee1 but in ,gaulonitis4 ,hence  if
 ,john wrote the ,gospel ascribed to    
him1 he did not know the location  of   
his own city4    ,it is remarkable with 
what ease theologians harmonize the most
  discordant statements4 ,in this case  

the only thing required was1  in drawing
 the map of ,palestine1 to make two dots
 instead of one and  write the word     
,bethsaida twice4        #aab    ,who   
was the tenth apostle8    ,mark3        
,thaddeus 7iii1 #ah74    ,matthew3      
,lebbeus1 whose surname was ,thaddeus   
7x1 #c74    ,in the earlier manuscripts 
of ,matthew1 the words1 whose surname   
was  ,thaddeus1 are not to be found4    
,subsequent transcribers added them  to 
reconcile his ,gospel with ,mark4       
#aac    ,how many of the apostles bore  
the name of ,judas8    ,matthew and     
,mark3 ,but one 7,matt4 x1 #a-d2 ,mark  
iii1 #ad-ai74    ,luke3 ,two 7vi1 #af74 
#aad    ,one of these was ,judas        
,iscariot4 ,who was the other8    ,luke 
7,old ,ver473 ,the brother of ,james    
7vi1 #af74    ,luke 7,new ,ver473 ,the  
son of ,james4        #aae    ,name the 
chief apostles4    ,synoptics3 ,peter1  
,james and ,john4    ,john3 ,peter and  
,john4    ,in the ,synoptics1 ,peter1   
,james and ,john constitute an inner    

circle  or group who are with their     
master on every important occasion4 ,in 
,john this group is limited to ,peter   
and ,john4        #aaf    ,who was      
,jesus' favorite apostle8    ,synoptics3
 ,peter4    ,john3 ,john4    ,from the  
,synoptics the conclusion is inevitable 
that if there was one  disciple whom    
,jesus esteemed higher than the others  
it was ,peter whom  he is declared to   
have chosen for the head of his church4 
,john1 on  the other hand1 assuming that
 he wrote the ,fourth ,gospel1 as       
claimed1  takes frequent occasion to    
impress us with the idea that he was the
  bright particular star in the         
,apostolic galaxy4 ,four times 7xiii1   
#bc2  xix1 #bf2 xx1 #b2 xxi1 #bj7 he    
declares himself to be the disciple whom
  ,jesus loved4    ,if ,john wrote the  
,fourth ,gospel this self-glorification 
proves him to  have been a despicable   
egotist2 if he did not write it the book
 is a  forgery4 ,the first assumption1  
if correct1 impairs its credibility2    

the latter destroys its authenticity4   
#aag    ,is the ,apostle ,james         
mentioned in ,john8    ,he is not4 ,this
 omission is the more remarkable when we
 remember that  ,james was not only one 
of the chief apostles1 but the brother  
of ,john4    ,respecting this omission1 
,strauss says3 ,is it at all probable   
that  the real ,john would so           
unbecomingly neglect the well-founded   
claims  of his brother ,james to special
 notice8 and is not such an omission    
rather indicative of a late ,hellenistic
 author1 who scarcely had  heard the    
name of the brother so early martyred8  
7,leben ,jesu1 p4 #cec47        #aah    
,what other disciples besides the       
,twelve did ,jesus send out8    ,luke3  
,after these things the ,lord appointed 
other seventy also1  and sent them two  
and two before his face into every city 
and place1  whither he himself would    
come 7x1 #a74    ,in not one of the     
other twenty-six books of the ,new      
,testament is this  important feature of

 ,christ's ministry mentioned4 ,the     
seventy elders  of ,moses doubtless     
suggested it4 ,and the ,lord came down  
in a cloud1  and spoke unto him ,moses1 
and took of the spirit that was upon    
him1  and gave it unto the seventy      
elders 7,num4 xi1 #be74    ,seventy was 
a sacred number with the ,jews and is of
 frequent occurrence  in their writings4
 ,and all the souls that came out of the
 loins of  ,jacob were seventy souls    
7,ex4 i1 #e74 ,abimelech had seventy    
brethren  7,jud4 ix1 #ef74 ,ahab had    
seventy sons 7#b ,k4 x4 #a74 ,isaiah    
prophesied  that ,tyre shall be         
forgotten seventy years 7xxiii1 #ae74   
,jeremiah  prophesied that the ,jews    
were to serve the king of ,babylon      
seventy  years 7xxv1 #aa74 ,in          
,ezekiel's vision there stood before the
 idols  of ,israel seventy men of the   
ancients of the house of ,israel 7viii1 
#aa74 ,in ,daniel's vision seventy weeks
 are determined upon thy people  and    
upon the holy city ,jerusalem 7ix1 #bd74

        #aai    ,what charge did ,jesus 
make to his disciples8    ,go not into  
the way of the ,gentiles1 and into any  
city of the  ,samaritans enter ye not   
7,matt4 x1 #e74    ,then cometh he with 
his disciples to a city of ,samaria     
7,john iv1  #e74 ,and he abode there two
 days 7#dj74        #abj    ,did ,jesus 
have a habitation of his own8           
,matthew3 ,and leaving ,nazareth he came
 and dwelt in ,capernaum  7iv1 #ac74    
,mark3 ,jesus sat at meat in his ,jesus'
 house 7ii1 #ae74    ,luke3 ,and ,jesus 
said unto him1 ,foxes have holes1 and   
birds of the  air have nests2 but the   
,son of man hath not where to lay his   
head  7ix1 #eh74        #aba    ,his    
residence in ,capernaum was in          
fulfillment of what prophecy8           
,matthew3 ,the land of ,zabulon1 and the
 land of ,nephthali1 by way of  the sea1
 beyond ,jordan1 ,galilee of the        
,gentiles2 the people which sat  in     
darkness saw great light2 and to them   
which sat in the region and  shadow of  

death is light sprung up 7iv1 #ae1 #af74
    ,the prophecy which ,matthew        
pretends to quote is in ,isaiah 7ix1 #a1
  #b71 and reads as follows3            
,nevertheless the dimness shall not be  
such  as was in her vexation1 when at   
the first he lightly afflicted the  land
 of ,zebulon1 and the land of ,naphtali1
 and afterwards did more  grievously    
afflict her by way of the sea1 beyond   
,jordan1 in ,galilee  of the nations4   
,the people that walked in darkness have
 seen a great  light2 they that dwell in
 the land of the shadow of death1 upon  
them  hath the light shined4    ,matthew
 both misquotes and misapplies this     
passage4 ,he eliminates  the facts and  
alters the language to make a ,messianic
 prophecy4 ,the  words were not intended
 as a prophecy4 ,the events mentioned by
 ,isaiah  had occurred when he wrote4   
,the great light1 which they had already
  seen1 referred to his own work in     
destroying witchcraft and idolatry4     
#abb    ,were ,zebulon and ,nephthali   

situated beyond ,jordan1 as stated8     
,they were not4 ,beyond ,jordan means   
east of the ,jordan1 which formed  the  
eastern boundary of ,palestine4 ,zebulon
 and ,nephthali were both  situated west
 of the ,jordan4        #abc    ,were   
,peter1 ,andrew1 ,james and ,john with  
,jesus when he taught in the  synagogue 
at ,capernaum8    ,mark3 ,they were 7i1 
#af-ba74    ,luke3 ,they were not2 for  
they had not yet been called 7iv1 #ca2  
v1 #a-aa74        #abd    ,did ,jesus   
perform many miracles in ,galilee at the
 beginning of his  ministry8            
,matthew3 ,and ,jesus went about all    
,galilee1 teaching in their  synagogues1
 and preaching the gospel of the        
kingdom1 and healing all  manner of     
sickness and all manner of disease among
 the people4 ,and  his fame went        
throughout all ,syria2 and they brought 
unto him all  sick people that were     
taken with divers diseases and torments1
 and  those which were possessed with   
devils1 and those which were lunatic1   

and those that had the palsy2 and he    
healed them 7iv1 #bc1 #bd74    ,mark3   
,he healed many that were sick with     
divers diseases1 and cast  out many     
devils 7i1 #cd74    ,luke3 ,all they    
that had any sick with divers diseases  
brought them  unto him2 and he laid his 
hands on every one of them1 and healed  
them4 ,and devils also came out of many 
7iv1 #dj1 #da74    ,john declares that  
his curing the nobleman's son 7iv1      
#df-ed71 which  was not until the second
 mission in ,galilee1 was the second    
miracle he  performed there1 his miracle
 at ,cana being the only one he         
performed  during the first period of   
his ministry4 ,according to this        
,evangelist  7iv1 #de7 all the notoriety
 he had at this time in ,galilee1 had   
been  achieved1 not by any miracles he  
had performed in that country1  but     
through the reports of some ,galileans  
who had seen his works at  ,jerusalem in
 ,judea4    ,in regard to these         
conflicting statements of the           

,evangelists1  ,farrar says3 ,at this   
point we are again met by difficulties  
in the  chronology1 which are not only  
serious1 but to the certain solution  of
 which there appears to be no clew      
7,life of ,christ1 p4 #abd74        #abe
    ,did he perform any miracles before 
he called his disciples8    ,luke3 ,he  
did 7iv1 #dj1 #da2 v1 #a-aa74    ,john3 
,and both ,jesus was called1 and his    
disciples1 to the marriage  at ,cana1   
where he turned the water into wine4444 
,this beginning of  miracles did ,jesus 
in ,cana 7ii1 #a-aa7    ,luke declares  
that he had performed many miracles     
before the first  disciples were called2
 ,john declares that his disciples had  
been  called and were with him when he  
performed his first miracle4        #abf
    ,when was the miraculous draught of 
fishes made8    ,luke3 ,at the beginning
 of his ministry 7v1 #f74    ,john3 ,not
 until after his death and resurrection 
7xxi1 #aa74        #abg    ,what        
accident was caused by the enormous     

draught of fishes8    ,luke3 ,their net 
brake 7v1 #f74    ,john3 ,for all there 
were so many1 yet was not the net broken
  7xxi1 #aa74    ,in ,luke and ,john we 
have two different versions of a        
,pythagorian  legend4 ,after comparing  
and noting the agreements and variations
 of  the three versions of the legend1  
,strauss says3    ,if there be a mind   
that1 not perceiving in the narratives  
we have  compared the finger-marks of   
tradition1 and hence the legendary      
character of these evangelical          
anecdotes1 still leans to the historical
  interpretation1 whether natural or    
supernatural2 that mind must be  alike  
ignorant of the true character both of  
legend and of history1  of the natural  
and the supernatural 7,leben ,jesu1 p4  
#cci74        #abh    ,how long did the 
,jews say it took to build the temple8  
,forty and six years was this temple in 
building 7,john ii1 #bj74    ,one year  
and six months was this temple in       
building4    ,josephus 7,b4 xv1 ch4 xi7 

gives a full account of the building of 
the  temple4 ,of its commencement1 he   
says3 ,and now ,herod1 in the eighteenth
  year of his reign1 and after the acts 
already mentioned1 undertook  a very    
great work--that is1 to build of himself
 the temple of ,god  7sec4 #a74         
,concerning its completion1 he says3    
,but the temple itself  was built by the
 priests in a year and six months--upon 
which all the  people were full of joy2 
and presently they returned thanks1 in  
the  first place1 to ,god2 and in the   
next place1 for the alacrity the king   
had shown4 ,they feasted and celebrated 
this rebuilding of the temple  7sec4    
#f74    ,the building of the temple was 
begun in #ai ,b4 ,c42 it was finished   
and dedicated in #ag ,b4 ,c4        #abi
    ,where did ,jesus deliver his       
so-called ,sermon on the ,mount8        
,matthew3 ,he went up into a mountain   
7v1 #a74    ,luke3 ,he came down with   
them1 and stood in the plain 7vi1 #ag74 
,both ,matthew and ,luke represent him  

as being on a mountain2 but while       
,matthew has him go up into the mountain
 to deliver his sermon1 ,luke  has him  
come down out of the mountain to deliver
 it4    ,in regard to this discrepancy1 
the ,dutch theologian1 ,dr4 ,hooykaas1  
says3 ,the ,evangelist ,matthew had a   
special motive for fixing upon  a       
mountain for this purpose4 ,he intended 
to represent ,jesus laying  down the    
fundamental laws of the kingdom of      
heaven as the counterpart  of ,moses who
 promulgated the constitution of the    
,old ,covenant from  ,mount ,sinai4     
,luke1 on the other hand1 not wishing   
,jesus to be regarded  as a second      
,moses1 or another lawgiver1 just as    
deliberately makes  the ,master deliver 
this discourse on a plain 7,bible for   
,learners1  ,vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #ada1 #adb74
        #acj    ,did he deliver his     
sermon sitting or standing8    ,matthew3
 ,he was set 7v1 #a74    ,luke3 ,he     
stood 7vi1 #ag74        #aca    ,repeat 
the ,beatitudes which are common to both

 ,evangelists4    ,blessed are the poor 
in spirit2 for theirs is the kingdom of 
heaven  7,matthew v1 #c74    ,blessed be
 ye poor2 for yours is the kingdom of   
,god 7,luke vi1 #bj74    ,blessed are   
they that mourn3 for they shall be      
comforted 7,matthew74    ,blessed are ye
 that weep now3 for ye shall laugh      
7,luke74    ,blessed are they which do  
hunger and thirst after righteousness3  
for they shall be filled 7,matthew74    
,blessed are ye which hunger now3 for ye
 shall be filled 7,luke74    ,blessed   
are ye1 when men shall revile you1 and  
persecute you1  and shall say all manner
 of evil against you falsely1 for my    
sake  7,matthew74    ,blessed are ye1   
when men shall hate you1 and when they  
shall separate  you from their company1 
and shall reproach you1 and cast out    
your  name as evil for the ,son of man's
 sake 7,luke74    ,rejoice1 and be      
exceeding glad3 for great is your reward
 in heaven3  for so persecuted they the 
prophets which were before you          

7,matthew74    ,rejoice ye in that day1 
and leap for joy3 for1 behold1 your     
reward  is great in heaven3 for in like 
manner did their fathers unto the       
prophets 7,luke74    ,the agreements    
between the two versions of this sermon1
 of which  the foregoing are a part1 are
 ample to prove them to be reports of   
the same discourse2 while the variations
 are certainly sufficient to  disprove  
the infallibility of the evangelistic   
reporters4    ,whether it be historical 
or fabricated--whether ,jesus delivered 
the  sermon or not--,matthew and ,luke  
have given merely different versions  of
 the same composition4 ,the exordiums   
are the same2 the perorations  are the  
same--both end with the illustration of 
the men1 one of  whom built his house on
 a frail1 the other on a firm           
foundation2  the doctrines enunciated   
are substantially the same2 while the   
words  in which they are clothed        
proclaim a common origin4 ,matthew's    
version  is longer than ,luke's2 either 

,matthew has added to1 or ,luke has     
taken  from the original report of the  
sermon4        #acb    ,repeat the      
,golden ,rule4    ,all things whatsoever
 ye would that men should do to you1 do 
ye even  so to them3 for this is the law
 and the prophets 7,matthew vii1 #ab2   
,luke vi1 #ca74    ,seventy years before
 ,christ1 ,hillel1 the ,jewish rabbi1   
said3    ,do not to others what you     
would not have them do to you4 ,this is 
the substance of the law4    ,rabbi     
,hirsch says3 ,before ,jesus1 the       
,golden ,rule was one of the  household 
sayings of ,israel4        #acc         
,repeat the ,lord's ,prayer4            
,according to ,matthew4      ,old       
,version4                           ,new
 ,version4    ,our ,father which art in 
heaven1       ,our ,father which art in 
heaven1  ,hallowed be thy name4 ,thy    
kingdom      ,hallowed be thy name4 ,thy
  come4 ,thy will be done in earth1 as  
kingdom come4 ,thy will be done1  it is 
in heaven4 ,give us this day      as in 

heaven1 so on earth4 ,give  our daily   
bread4 ,and forgive us our    us this   
day our daily bread4 ,and  debts as we  
forgive our debtors4 ,and   forgive us  
our debts1 as we also  lead us not into 
temptation1 but       have forgiven our 
debtors4 ,and  deliver us from evil3    
,for thine is     bring us not into     
temptation1  the kingdom1 and the power1
 and the    but deliver us from the evil
  glory1 for ever4 ,amen 7vi1 #i-ac74   
one4      ,according to ,luke4      ,old
 ,version4                              
,new ,version4    ,our ,father which art
 in heaven1        ,father1 ,hallowed be
 thy name4  ,hallowed be thy name4 ,thy 
kingdom       ,thy kingdom come4 ,give  
us day  come4 ,thy will be done1 as in  
heaven1   by day our daily bread4 ,and  
so in earth4 ,give us day by day our    
forgive us our sins2 for we  daily      
bread4 ,and forgive us our sins2        
ourselves also forgive every  for we    
also forgive every one that is   one    
that is indebted to us4 ,and  indebted  

to us4 ,and lead us not into    bring us
 not into temptation4  temptation3 but  
deliver us from evil  7xi1 #b-d74       
,the commonly accepted version of the   
,lord's ,prayer is the ,authorized      
,version of ,matthew4 ,this version is  
admitted to be grossly  inaccurate4 ,it 
contains sixty-six words4 ,the ,revised 
,version of  ,matthew contains but      
fifty-five4 ,twenty-four words either do
 not  belong to the prayer1 or have been
 misplaced2 while words which do  belong
 to it have been omitted4 ,if the       
custodians of the ,christian            
,scriptures have permitted the prayer of
 their ,lord to be corrupted  to this   
extent1 what reliance can be placed upon
 the genuineness of  the remainder of   
these writings8    ,the ,lord's ,prayer1
 like so many more of the precepts and  
discourses  ascribed to ,jesus1 is      
borrowed4 ,dr4 ,hardwicke1 of ,england1 
says3 ,the  so-called ',lord's ,prayer' 
was learned by the ,messiah as the      
',kadish'  from the ,talmud4 ,the       

,kadish1 as translated by a ,christian  
scholar1  ,rev4 ,john ,gregorie1 is as  
follows3    ,our ,father which art in   
heaven1 be gracious to us1 ,o ,lord1 our
 ,god2  hallowed be thy name1 and let   
the remembrance of thee be glorified  in
 heaven above and in the earth here     
below4 ,let thy kingdom reign  over us  
now and forever4 ,the holy men of old   
said1 ,remit and forgive  unto all men  
whatsoever they have done against me4   
,and lead us not  into temptation1 but  
deliver us from the evil thing4 ,for    
thine is  the kingdom1 and thou shalt   
reign in glory for ever and for         
evermore4    ,the eminent ,swiss        
theologian1 ,dr4 ,wetstein1 says3 ,it is
 a curious  fact that the ,lord's       
,prayer may be constructed almost       
verbatim out  of the ,talmud4    ,the   
,sermon on the ,mount is derived largely
 from the teachings of  the ,essenes1 a 
,jewish sect to which ,jesus is believed
 by many to  have belonged4        #acd 
,when and where was the ,lord's ,prayer 

delivered8    ,matthew3 ,during his     
,sermon on the ,mount1 before the       
multitude4    ,luke3 ,at a later period1
 before the disciples alone 7xi1 #a74   
#ace    ,was the ,sermon on the ,mount  
delivered before ,matthew 7,levi in     
,mark  and ,luke7 was called from the   
receipt of custom8    ,matthew3 ,it was 
7v1 #g2 ix1 #i74    ,luke3 ,it was not  
7v1 #bg2 vi1 #bj74        #acf    ,when 
did ,jesus cleanse the leper8           
,matthew3 ,after the ,sermon on the     
,mount 7v1 #a2 viii1 #a-d74    ,luke3   
,before the ,sermon on the ,mount 7v1   
#ab-ad2 vi1 #bj-di74        #acg        
,when did he cure ,peter's              
mother-in-law8    ,matthew3 ,after he   
cleansed the leper 7viii1 #b1 #c2 #ad1  
#ae74    ,mark and ,luke3 ,before he    
cleansed the leper 7,mark i1 #bi-ca2    
#dj-db2  ,luke iv1 #ch1 #ci2 v1 #ab1    
#ac74        #ach    ,was this before or
 after ,peter was called to the         
ministry8    ,luke3 ,before 7iv1 #ch1   
#ci2 v1 #aj74    ,matthew and ,mark3    

,after 7,matt4 iv1 #ah1 #ai2 viii1 #ad1 
#ae2 ,mark i1 #af1  #ag2 #cj1 #ca74     
#aci    ,were ,james and ,john with     
,jesus when he performed this cure8     
,mark3 ,they were 7i1 #bi74    ,luke3   
,they were not4 ,they had not yet been  
called 7iv4 #ch1 #ci2 v1  #aj1 #aa74    
#adj    ,when was the centurion's       
servant healed8    ,matthew3 ,between   
the cleansing of the leper and the      
curing of ,peter's  mother-in-law 7viii1
 #b-ad74    ,luke3 ,not until after both
 these cures had been performed 7iv1    
#ch1  #ci2 v1 #ab1 #ac2 vii1 #a-aj74    
#ada    ,who came for ,jesus8           
,matthew3 ,the centurion came himself   
7viii1 #e74    ,luke3 ,the centurion did
 not come himself1 but sent the ,jewish 
elders  for him 7vii1 #b-d74      #adb  
,where was he when he performed this    
miracle8    ,matthew and ,luke3 ,in     
,capernaum 7,matt4 viii1 #e2 ,luke vii1 
#a74    ,john3 ,in ,cana 7iv1 #df74     
,according to ,matthew and ,luke1 ,jesus
 was in ,capernaum while the  patient   

lived elsewhere2 according to ,john1    
,jesus was in ,cana while  the patient  
lived in ,capernaum4 ,john says he was a
 nobleman's son1  but all critics 7as   
well as the ,archbishop of ,york1 in his
 ,harmony  of the ,gospels7 agree that  
he refers to the same miracle4          
#adc    ,when did he still the tempest8 
,matthew3 ,before ,matthew was called   
from the receipt of custom 7viii1       
#bc-bg2 ix1 #i74    ,mark3 ,after       
,matthew 7,levi7 was called 7ii1 #ad2   
iv1 #ce-da74        #add    ,when did he
 cast out the devils that entered into  
the herd of swine8    ,matthew3 ,before 
,matthew was called to the ministry     
7viii1 #bh1 #cc2  ix1 #i74    ,mark and 
,luke3 ,not until after he was called   
7,mark ii1 #ad2 v1 #a-ac2  ,luke v1 #bg2
 viii1 #bf-cc74        #ade    ,how many
 were possessed with devils8            
,matthew3 ,there met him two possessed  
with devils coming out of the  tombs    
7viii1 #bh74    ,mark and ,luke3 ,there 
met him out of the tombs a man with an  

unclean  spirit 7,mark v1 #b2 ,luke     
viii1 #bg74        #adf    ,when asked  
his name what did the demoniac answer8  
,my name is ,legion 7,mark v1 #i74      
,concerning this the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,giles  
says3 ,the ,four ,gospels are  written  
in ,greek1 and the word 'legion' is     
,latin2 but in ,galilee  and ,perea the 
people spoke neither ,latin nor ,greek1 
but ,hebrew1 or  a dialect of it4 ,the  
word 'legion' would be perfectly        
unintelligible  to the disciples of     
,christ1 and to almost everybody in the 
country  7,christian ,records1 p4 #aig74
        #adg    ,how many swine were    
there8    ,mark3 ,they were about two   
thousand 7v1 #ac74    ,if each hog      
received a devil there must have been   
two thousand  devils4 ,legion must have 
been a very large man1 or they were very
  little devils4        #adh    ,where  
did this occur8    ,matthew3 ,in the    
country of the ,gergesenes 7viii1 #bh74 
,mark and ,luke3 ,in the country of the 
,gadarenes 7,mark v1 #a2 ,luke  viii1   

#bf74    ,it is generally conceded by   
orthodox critics that it occurred       
neither  in the country of the          
,gergesenes nor in the country of the   
,gadarenes1  but in the country of the  
,gerasenes4 ,it could not have occurred 
in  the country of the ,gadarenes       
because it is said to have occurred on  
the sea shore and ,gadara was situated  
several miles from the sea4    ,voltaire
 says the story is disproved by the fact
 that the event is  alleged to have     
taken place in a country where no swine 
were kept4        #adi    ,do the       
,evangelists all agree in regard to the 
expulsion of demons  by ,jesus8    ,the 
,synoptics abound with these miracles3  
,matthew viii1 #bh-cd2 ix1  #cb-cd2 xv1 
#bb-bh2 xvii1 #ad-ba2 ,mark i1 #ba-bh2  
v1 #a-bj2 vii1 #bd-cj2  ix1 #bj-bi2     
,luke iv1 #ca-cg2 viii1 #bf-ci2 ix1     
#cg-db4 ,john never  mentions them4     
#aej    ,what great miracle did ,jesus  
perform at ,nain8    ,luke3 ,now when he
 came nigh to the gate of the city1     

behold1 there  was a dead man carried   
out1 the only son of his mother1 and she
 was  a widow3 and much people of the   
city was with her4 ,and when the ,lord  
saw her he had compassion on her1 and   
said unto her1 ,weep not4 ,and he  came 
and touched the bier3 and they that bare
 him stood still4 ,and he  said1 ,young 
man1 ,i say unto thee1 ,arise4 ,and he  
that was dead sat up1  and began to     
speak4 ,and he delivered him to his     
mother 7vii1 #ab-ae74    ,the other     
,evangelists were certainly ignorant of 
this miracle2 for if  they had known of 
it they could not have omitted it1 as it
 is the most  important miracle related 
by a ,synoptist1 and1 with one          
exception1  the most important of all   
,christ's miracles4    ,a miracle almost
 identical with this is related of      
,apollonius4 ,referring to the two1     
,baur says3 ,as according to ,luke1  it 
was a young man1 the only son of a      
widow1 who was being carried  out of the
 city2 so1 in ,philostratus1 it is a    

young maiden already  betrothed1 whose  
bier ,apollonius meets4 ,the command to 
set down the  bier1 the mere touch1 and 
a few words1 are sufficient here1 as    
there1  to bring the dead to life       
7,apollonius of ,tyana and ,christ1 p4  
#ade74        #aea    ,in their accounts
 of his curing the paralytic what       
parenthetical  clause is to be found in 
each of the ,synoptics8    7,then saith 
he to the sick of the palsy7 7,matthew  
ix1 #f2 ,mark ii1  #aj2 ,luke v1 #bd74  
,as the clause is superfluous1 this     
agreement1 instead of furnishing  proof 
of divine inspiration1 tends to prove   
what has already been  affirmed1 that   
these books are not original1 but       
copied1 for the most  part1 from older  
documents4        #aeb    ,what effect  
had the teachings of ,jesus upon the    
people8    ,matthew3 ,they were         
astonished at his doctrine 7xxii1 #cc74 
,mark3 ,they were astonished at his     
doctrine 7i1 #bb74    ,luke3 ,they were 
astonished at his doctrine 7iv1 #cb74   

#aec    ,what did he say to the people  
in regard to letting their light shine8 
,no man1 when he hath lighted a candle1 
putteth it in a secret place1  neither  
under a bushel1 but on a candle stick   
7,luke1 ,old ,ver41  xi1 #cc74    ,no   
man1 when he hath lighted a lamp1       
putteth it in a cellar1 neither  under  
the bushel1 but on the stand 7,new      
,ver474        #aed    ,what did he say 
concerning the way that leads to life8  
,strait is the gate1 and narrow is the  
way1 which leadeth unto life  7,matthew1
 ,old ,ver41 vii1 #ad74    ,narrow is   
the gate1 and straitened the way1 that  
leadeth unto life  7,new ,ver474    ,the
 ,old ,version has a strait gate and a  
narrow way2 the ,new ,version  a narrow 
gate and a strait way4        #aee      
,quote the words which relate the       
calling of ,peter4    ,john3 ,he ,andrew
 first findeth his own brother ,simon1  
and saith unto  him1 ,we have found the 
,messias1 which is being interpreted the
 ,christ4    ,and he brought him to     

,jesus4 ,and when ,jesus beheld him1 he 
said1  ,thou art ,simon the son of      
,jona3 thou shalt be called ,cephas1    
which  is by interpretation1 ,a stone   
7i1 #da1 #db74    ,the last clause of   
each is an interpolation4        #aef   
,where was ,john baptizing when ,jesus  
and his disciples came into ,judea8     
,john3 ,in ,aenon near to ,salim 7iii1  
#bb1 #bc74    ,this is declared by      
nearly all critics to be a geographical 
error4 ,no  place corresponding to this 
existed in ,judea4        #aeg    ,what 
city of ,samaria did ,jesus visit8      
,john3 ,then cometh he to a city of     
,samaria which is called ,sychar  7iv1  
#e74    ,samaria contained no city of   
this name4 ,bible commentators believe  
that ,shechem is intended4        #aeh  
,what did his disciples say to him when 
about to leave ,bethany8    ,master1 the
 ,jews of late sought to stone thee     
7,john xi1 #h74    ,the disciples were  
themselves ,jews1 and the above is not  
the language  of a ,jew speaking of his 

own people1 but of a foreigner4         
#aei    ,where was he when he dined with
 publicans and sinners8    ,mark3 ,at   
his own house4 ,as ,jesus sat at meat in
 his house1 many  publicans and sinners 
sat also together with ,jesus and his   
disciples  7ii4 #ae74    ,luke3 ,at the 
house of ,levi4 ,and ,levi made him a   
great feast in his  own house2 and there
 was a great company of publicans and of
 others  that sat down with them 7v1    
#bi74        #afj    ,what did the      
,pharisees say to his disciples1 because
 they1 with ,jesus1  dined with         
publicans and sinners8    ,why do ye eat
 and drink with publicans and sinners8  
7,luke v1 #cj47    ,why eateth your     
master with publicans and sinners8      
7,matthew ix1 #aa47        #afa    ,who 
inquired of ,jesus the reason for his   
disciples not fasting8    ,matthew3     
,then came to him the disciples of      
,john1 saying1 ,why do we  and the      
,pharisees fast oft1 but thy disciples  
fast not8 7ix1 #ad47    ,luke3 ,and they

 the scribes and ,pharisees said unto   
him1 why do  the disciples of ,john fast
 often1 444 and likewise the disciples  
of  the ,pharisees2 but thine eat and   
drink8 7v1 #cc47        #afb    ,what   
did he say when reproved for plucking   
the ears of corn on the  ,sabbath8      
,have ye never read what ,david did8444 
,how he went into the house of  ,god in 
the days of ,abiathar1 the high priest1 
and did eat the shew  bread8 7,mark ii1 
#be1 #bf47    ,david did not do this in 
the days of ,abiathar1 but in the days  
of  ,ahimelech4 ,then came ,david to    
,nob to ,ahimelech the priest4444 ,so   
the  priest gave him hallowed bread2 for
 there was no bread there but the  shew 
bread 7#a ,sam4 xxi1 #a1 #f74           
#afc    ,what did he claim regarding    
,moses8    ,he ,moses wrote of me 7,john
 v1 #df74    ,the passage referred to is
 quoted in ,acts iii1 #bb1 and may be   
found  in ,deuteronomy xviii1 #ae4 ,it  
alludes to ,joshua1 the successor of    
,moses4 ,the ,lord thy ,god will raise  

up unto thee a prophet from  the midst  
of thee1 of thy brethren like unto me2  
unto him ye shall  hearken4    ,had     
,jesus been omniscient he would have    
known that ,moses did not write  this2  
that it was not written until nearly    
#hjj years after the time  of ,moses4   
#afd    ,jesus is credited with having  
raised the daughter of ,jairus from the 
dead4 ,was she really dead8    ,matthew3
 ,jairus said1 ,my daughter is even now 
dead 7ix1 #ah74    ,mark3 ,he said1 ,my 
little daughter lieth at the point of   
death  7v1 #bc74    ,luke3 ,it was      
reported that she lay a dying 7viii1    
#db74    ,according to ,matthew1 in this
 miracle he restored the dead to life2  
according to ,mark and ,luke1 he merely 
healed the sick4        #afe    ,who of 
,christ's disciples witnessed the       
raising of ,jairus' daughter8    ,mark  
and ,luke3 ,peter1 ,james and ,john     
7,mark v1 #cg-dj2 ,luke viii1 #ea74     
,john1 who alone of his alleged         
biographers is said to have witnessed   

this miracle1 is the only one who fails 
to mention it4    ,a proper witness is  
silent1 while an improper witness       
testifies4--,bishop ,faustus4           
#aff    ,what did ,jesus say when       
sending out his ,twelve ,apostles8      
,he that receiveth you receiveth me1 and
 he that receiveth me receiveth  him    
that sent me 7,matthew x1 #dj2 ,luke x1 
#af74    ,according to ,john 7xiii1 #bj7
 these words were uttered not at the    
beginning of his ministry as stated by  
,matthew and ,luke1 but at the  ,last   
,supper2 regarding which ,supernatural  
,religion says3 ,it is  clear that its  
insertion here is a mistake4        #afg
    ,what command did he give them      
respecting the provision of staves8     
,matthew and ,luke3 ,they were not to   
provide themselves with  staves4        
,provide neither gold1 nor silver1 nor  
brass in your purses1  nor scrip for    
your journey1 neither two coats1 neither
 shoes1 nor  yet staves 7,matt4 x1 #i1  
#aj2 ,luke ix1 #c74    ,mark3 ,commanded

 them that they should take nothing for 
their journey1  save a staff only 7vi1  
#h74        #afh    ,when the           
,samaritans refused to receive him what 
was said8    ,luke3 ,and when his       
disciples ,james and ,john saw this1    
they said1  ,lord1 wilt thou that we    
command fire to come down from heaven1  
and  consume them even as ,elias did8   
,but he turned and rebuked them1 and    
said1 ,ye know not what manner  of      
spirit ye are of4    ,for the ,son of   
man is not come to destroy men's lives1 
but to save  them4 ,and they went to    
another village 7ix1 #ed-ef74    ,it is 
conceded by the best ,christian scholars
 that the words as ,elias  did and all  
that follow1 excepting he turned and    
rebuked them1  are spurious4        #afi
    ,what did ,jesus say to the         
multitude concerning ,john the ,baptist8
    ,from the days of ,john the ,baptist
 until now the kingdom of heaven        
suffereth violence 7,matthew xi1 #ab74  
,the words1 from the days of ,john the  

,baptist until now1 signify that  a long
 period of time had elapsed since the   
days of ,john4 ,yet1 on the  very day   
that ,jesus is said to have uttered     
them1 he received a visit  from the     
disciples of ,john1 who was still living
 7,matthew xi1 #b1 #c74        #agj     
,whose rejection of him provoked the    
declaration1 ,a prophet is not  without 
honor1 save in his own country8         
,matthew3 ,and when he came into his own
 country ,galilee1 he taught  them in   
their synagogue1 444 and they were      
offended in him4 ,but  ,jesus said unto 
them1 ,a prophet is not without honor1  
save in his  own country 7xiii1 #ed-eg74
    ,john3 ,he departed thence1 he had  
come from ,judea and ,samaria and  went 
into ,galilee4 ,for ,jesus himself      
testified1 that a prophet hath  no honor
 in his own country4 ,then when he was  
come into ,galilee1  the ,galileans     
received him 7iv1 #dc-de74    ,according
 to ,matthew1 he was without honor in   
,galilee2 according  to ,john1 he went  

to ,galilee because he was without honor
 in  ,judea4 ,according to ,matthew the 
,galileans rejected him2 according to   
,john the ,galileans received him4      
,according to ,matthew1 ,galilee was    
his own country2 according to ,john1    
,judea was his own country4             
,regarding these contradictory          
statements1 ,scott1 in his ,english     
,life  of ,jesus 7p4 #aad71 says3 ,the  
,synoptists in every case give a special
  reason for his leaving ,galilee1 while
 the fourth gospel is equally  careful  
in specifying the reason for his leaving
 ,jerusalem4 ,according  to the former1 
,jesus would not have left ,galilee if  
he could have  avoided it2 according to 
the latter1 he would have remained at   
,jerusalem if he could have done so with
 safety4 ,the inconsistency  is glaring4
        #aga    ,when he came into his  
own country and taught in the synagogue 
what  did the people say8    ,mark3 ,is 
not this the carpenter8 7vi1 #c47       
,matthew3 ,is not this the carpenter's  

son8 7xiii1 #ee47        #agb    ,when  
,herod heard of his wonderful works1    
what did he say8    ,this is ,john the  
,baptist2 he is risen from the dead     
7,matthew xiv1 #b74    ,here1 early in  
,christ's ministry1 the tetrarch of     
,galilee is  represented as entertaining
 the ,christian doctrine of a bodily    
resurrection4        #agc    ,when and  
for what reason was ,john beheaded8     
,matthew and ,mark3 ,but when ,herod's  
birthday was kept1 the daughter  of     
,herodias ,salome danced before them1   
and pleased ,herod4 ,whereupon  he      
promised with an oath to give her       
whatsoever she would ask4 ,and  she1    
being before instructed of her mother1  
said1 ,give me here ,john  ,baptist's   
head in a charger4 ,and the king was    
sorry3 nevertheless for  the oath's     
sake1 and them which sat with him at    
meat1 he commanded it  to be given her4 
,and he sent1 and beheaded ,john in the 
prison4 ,and  his head was brought in a 
charger1 and given to the damsel3 and   

she  brought it to her mother 7,matt4   
xiv1 #f-aa2 ,mark vi1 #ba-bh74    ,this 
account of the death of ,john is utterly
 at variance with that  given in        
,josephus4 ,this historian1 assuming the
 passage relating to  ,john to be       
genuine1 says3    ,herod1 who feared    
lest the great influence ,john had over 
the people  might put it into his power 
and inclination to raise rebellion  7for
 they seemed to do anything he should   
advise71 thought it best  by putting him
 to death1 to prevent any mischief he   
might cause1  and not bring himself into
 difficulties1 by sparing a man who     
might  make him repent of it when it    
should be too late4 ,accordingly he was 
sent a prisoner1 out of ,herod's        
suspicious temper1 to ,macherus1 the    
castle ,i before mentioned1 and was     
there put to death 7,antiquities1  ,b4  
xviii1 ch4 v1 sec4 #b74    ,macherus1   
where ,josephus states that ,john was   
executed1 was a place  far removed from 
,herod's capital--was outside of his    

dominions--in  ,arabia ,petrea4         
,referring to the ,evangelistic account 
of ,john's death1 ,dr4 ,hooykaas  says3 
,this eminently dramatic story certainly
 cannot be accepted  as it stands4 ,it  
betrays too much art in its striking    
contrasts  between the manners of the   
court and the person of the prophet4 ,we
  have already seen that the occasion of
 ,john's imprisonment is not  correctly 
given by the ,gospels4 ,that such a man 
as ,herod 'delighted  in hearing' ,john 
is1 to say the least1 an exaggeration4  
,the ghastly  scene in which the        
prophet's head is carried into the      
festive hall  may not be quite          
impossible in such an age and at such a 
court1 but  it is hardly probable4 ,it  
is easy to see that ,herodias is drawn  
after  the model of ,ahab's wife1 who   
hated and persecuted the first ,elijah2 
and ,salome is evidently copied from    
,esther1 for she1 too1 visits the       
prince by surprise1 captivates him by   
her beauty1 obtains a promise  of       

anything up to the half of his kingdom1 
and at the festive board  demands the   
death of her enemy as the royal boon    
7,bible for ,learners1  vol4 iii1 p4    
#bgb74        #agd    ,who was          
,herodias8    ,synoptics3 ,his ,herod's 
brother ,philip's wife 7,matt4 xiv1 #c2 
,mark vi1 #ag2 ,luke iii1 #ai74         
,herodias was a grand-daughter of ,herod
 the ,great1 and married  her uncle     
,herod1 the disinherited son of ,herod  
the ,great4 ,she  subsequently married  
,antipas1 the ,herod who is said to have
 put  ,john to death4 ,herod's brother  
,philip 7,tetrarch of ,trachonitis and  
,gaulonitis7 was not the son of         
,marianne1 as the first husband of      
,herodias was1 but the son of           
,cleopatra4 ,philip's wife was ,salome1 
the daughter of ,herodias4 ,the daughter
 of ,herodias1 instead of  being a      
damsel dancing at the court of ,herod1  
as the ,synoptics  declare1 was at this 
time the wife of an aged ruler of a     
foreign  province4 ,according to        

,whiston1 she became a widow in the very
 year  in which ,john died4 ,herodias   
was not the wife1 but the mother-in-law 
of ,herod's brother ,philip4 ,whiston1  
in his translation of ,josephus1        
attempts to gloss over the ,synoptics'  
error by inserting in brackets  after   
,herod the word ,philip4 ,scribners'    
,bible ,dictionary concedes  the error  
and accounts for it ,by supposing that  
there is a confusion  between the first 
husband and the son-in-law of ,herodias1
 for her  daughter ,salome married      
,philip the tetrarch4        #age       
,what is said of the numbers baptized by
 ,jesus and his disciples as  compared  
with those baptized by ,john8    ,john3 
,the ,pharisees had heard that ,jesus   
made and baptized more  disciples than  
,john4 7,though ,jesus himself baptized 
not1 but his  disciples47 7iv1 #a1 #b47 
,matthew 7iii1 #e7 and ,mark 7i1 #e7    
declare that ,john had baptized         
,jerusalem and all ,judea4 ,it is       
admitted1 both in the ,new ,testament   

and by ,christians1 that ,jesus made but
 few converts during his  lifetime1 and 
to assert or intimate that he and his   
disciples baptized  more than ,john is  
preposterous4        #agf    ,who       
furnished the loaves and fishes with    
which the multitude in the  desert was  
fed8    ,synoptics3 ,the disciples      
7,matt4 xiv1 #ae-ag2 ,mark vi1 #ce-ch2  
,luke ix1  #ab1 #ac74    ,john3 ,a lad  
7vi1 #i74        #agg    ,how many were 
fed8    ,mark3 ,and they that did eat of
 the loaves were about five thousand    
men 7vi1 #dd74    ,matthew3 ,and they   
that had eaten were about five thousand 
men1  beside women and children 7xiv1   
#ba74        #agh    ,where did this    
miracle occur8    ,luke3 ,in a desert   
place belonging to the city called      
,bethsaida  7ix1 #aj74    ,mark says    
that after the miracle ,he constrained  
his disciples to  get into a ship1 and  
to go to the other side before unto     
,bethsaida  7vi1 #de74    ,if the       
miracle was performed in a place        

belonging to the city of  ,bethsaida1 as
 stated by ,luke1 they did not cross the
 sea to reach  ,bethsaida1 as stated by 
,mark4        #agi    ,after feeding the
 five thousand what did ,jesus do8      
,matthew and ,mark3 ,he sent the        
multitudes away 7,matt4 xiv1 #bb2  ,mark
 vi1 #de74    ,john3 ,he did not send   
the multitude away1 but withdrew himself
 into  a mountain 7vi1 #ae74        #ahj
    ,for what purpose did he go to the  
mountain8    ,matthew and ,mark3 ,and   
when he had sent the multitudes away1 he
 went  up into a mountain1 apart to pray
 7,matt4 xiv1 #bc2 ,mark vi1 #df74      
,john3 ,when ,jesus therefore perceived 
that they the multitude  would come and 
take him by force1 to make him a king1  
he departed  again into a mountain alone
 7vi1 #ae74    ,matthew and ,mark say   
nothing about the attempt to make him   
king2  ,john says nothing about his     
praying4        #aha    ,were his       
disciples with him8    ,matthew and     
,mark3 ,and straightway ,jesus          

constrained his disciples to  get into a
 ship1 and to go before him unto the    
other side1 while he  sent the multitude
 away4 ,and when he had sent the        
multitudes away1 he  went up into a     
mountain apart to pray2 and when the    
evening was come1  he was there alone4  
,but the ship was now in the midst of   
the sea  7,matt4 xiv1 #bb-bd2 ,mark vi1 
#de-dg74    ,luke3 ,and it came to pass1
 as he was alone praying1 his disciples 
were with him 7ix1 #ah74    ,matthew and
 ,mark send his disciples ahead in a    
ship to make room  for his miracle of   
walking on the sea1 a miracle that ,luke
 knows  nothing of4        #ahb    ,to  
what port did he command his disciples  
to sail8    ,mark3 ,unto ,bethsaida 7vi1
 #de74    ,pursuant to this command     
toward what place did they steer8       
,john3 ,toward ,capernaum 7vi1 #ag74    
,where did this bring them8    ,matthew3
 ,into the land of ,gennesaret 7xiv1    
#cd74        #ahc    ,jesus himself is  
said to have followed them on foot4     

,where did he  overtake them8           
,matthew and ,mark3 ,in the midst of the
 sea 7,matt4 xiv1 #bd-bf2 ,mark  vi1    
#dg1 #dh74    ,john3 ,as they were      
nearing the land 7vi1 #ai-ba74          
,according to ,john1 he walked entirely 
across the sea2 according to  ,matthew  
and ,mark1 but half way across4         
,christ's walking on the sea was        
probably suggested by ,job 7ix1 #h71    
who says ,god treadeth upon the waves of
 the sea1 or1 according to  the         
,septuagint1 walking upon the sea as    
upon a pavement4        #ahd    ,what   
remarkable feat was attempted on the    
trip8    ,matthew3 ,and when ,peter was 
come down out of the ship1 he walked  on
 the water1 to go to ,jesus4 ,and when  
he saw the wind boisterous1  he was     
afraid2 and beginning to sink1 he cried1
 saying1 ,lord save  me4 ,and           
immediately ,jesus stretched forth his  
hand1 and caught him  7,matt4 xiv1      
#bi-ca74    ,mark and ,john1 who relate 
with much particularity the events of   

this  voyage1 do not mention ,peter's   
adventure4    ,probably they had good   
reason for omitting it4 ,a profane mind 
might  make a jest of an apostle 'half  
seas over1' and ridicule an apostolic   
gate-keeper who couldn't keep his head  
above water4--,bradlaugh4        #ahe   
,what did the ,jews say to ,jesus       
respecting his ,messianic mission8      
,search and look3 for out of ,galilee   
ariseth no prophet 7,john vii1  #eb74   
,search and look2 for out of ,galilee   
arose some of their greatest  prophets1 
,jonah1 ,hosea1 ,nahum and ,elijah4 ,it 
may be urged that it  is the ,jews who  
give expression to the error2 but it is 
plain the  ,evangelist accepts the      
statement as true4        #ahf    ,what 
notable incident occurred at ,jerusalem8
    ,john3 ,the release by ,jesus of the
 woman taken in adultery 7vii1 #ec2     
viii1 #a-aa74    ,this is popularly     
regarded as one of the most admirable   
acts in  ,christ's ministry4 ,in the    
,new ,version the twelve verses relating

 it  are declared by the ,oxford        
revisers to be an interpolation4        
#ahg    ,in the miracle of restoring the
 sight of the man born blind1 what  did 
he tell the man to do8    ,go wash in   
the pool of ,siloam 7,john ix1 #g74     
,the ,lord sent the blind man to wash1  
not in1 as our version has it1  but at  
the pool of ,siloam2 for it was the clay
 from his eyes that  was to be washed   
off4--,smith's ,bible ,dictionary4      
#ahh    ,what is the meaning of the word
 ,siloam8    ,john3 ,which is by        
interpretation1 ',sent' 7ix1 #g74       
,which is not by interpretation sent1   
but aqueduct4        #ahi    ,who       
provoked the displeasure of the         
,pharisees by eating with unwashed      
hands8    ,matthew and ,mark3 ,the      
disciples of ,jesus 7,matt4 xv1 #a1 #b2 
,mark vii1  #a1 #b74    ,luke3 ,jesus   
himself 7xi1 #cg1 #ch74        #aij     
,of what nationality was the woman who  
desired ,jesus to cast the devil  out of
 her daughter8    ,matthew3 ,a woman of 

,canaan 7xv1 #bb74    ,mark3 ,the woman 
was a ,greek 7vii1 #bf74        #aia    
,what did his disciples say when he     
expressed his intention of feeding  the 
four thousand8    ,mark3 ,and his       
disciples answered him1 ,from whence can
 a man satisfy  these men with bread    
here in the wilderness8 ,and he asked   
them1  ,how many loaves have ye8 ,and   
they said1 ,seven 7viii1 #d1 #e74       
,why should they be surprised at his    
intention of feeding four thousand  with
 seven loaves when but a few weeks      
before he had fed five thousand  with   
five loaves8    ,in regard to this      
miracle ,rev4 ,william ,sanday1 of      
,england1 author  of ,jesus ,christ1 the
 most important article in ,scribners'  
,bible  ,dictionary1 says3 ,are the two 
,feedings of ,mark to be regarded as    
two events or one8 ,besides the general 
resemblance between the two  narratives1
 a weighty argument in favor of the     
latter hypothesis is1  that in the      
second narrative the disciples' question

 implies that  the emergency was        
something new4 ,they could hardly have  
put this  question as they did if a     
similar event had happened only a few   
weeks  before4 ,this is also the opinion
 of ,dr4 ,schleiermacher4        #aib   
,after feeding the four thousand where  
did he come8    ,matthew 7,old ,ver473  
,came into the coasts of ,magdala 7xv1  
#ci74    ,matthew 7,new ,ver473 ,came   
into the borders of ,magadan4           
#aic    ,where does ,mark say he came8  
,came into the parts of ,dalmanutha     
7viii1 #aj74    ,criticising this       
statement1 the ,bible for ,learners     
says3 ,mark  makes him journey still    
farther north1 through the district of  
,sidon1  and then turn southeast to the 
lake of ,galilee1 pass some way down    
its eastern shore apparently1 and       
finally take ship and cross in  a       
southwesterly direction to ,dalmanutha1 
where we meet him once  again4 ,but the 
,evangelist's geography is open to      
suspicion1 and we  are inclined to lay  

these apparently purposeless wanderings 
of ,jesus  to the account of ,mark's    
want of accuracy 7,vol4 iii1 p4 #bhb74  
#aid    ,what did he say to the         
,pharisees who asked for a sign8        
,there shall no sign be given unto this 
generation 7,mark viii1 #ab74    ,there 
shall no sign be given unto it1 but the 
sign of the prophet  ,jonas 7,matthew   
xvi1 #d74        #aie    ,on the way to 
,caesarea ,philippi what remarkable     
discovery was made  by ,peter8          
,matthew3 ,he ,jesus asked his          
disciples1 saying1 ,whom do men say that
  ,i the ,son of ,man am8 ,and they     
said1 ,some say that thou art ,john the 
,baptist3 some ,elias2 and others1      
,jeremias1 or one of the prophets4 ,he  
saith unto them1 ,but whom say ye that  
,i am8 ,and ,simon ,peter answered  and 
said1 ,thou art the ,christ1 the ,son of
 the living ,god4 ,and ,jesus  answered 
and said unto him1 ,blessed art thou1   
,simon ,bar-jona2 for  flesh and blood  
hath not revealed it unto thee1 but my  

,father which  is in heaven 7xvi1       
#ac-ag74    ,according to ,matthew1     
,jesus is astonished at the discovery of
 ,peter  and attributes it to a         
revelation from ,heaven4 ,yet previous  
to this1  and in the presence of ,peter1
 according to the same writer1 the other
  disciples had declared him to be the  
,son of ,god 7,matthew xiv1 #cc74       
#aif    ,the ,synoptics all declare that
 the ,messiahship of ,jesus was not     
revealed to his disciples until late in 
his ministry4 ,is this true8    ,john3  
,it is not4 ,it was known to them at the
 beginning of his  ministry4 ,before    
,peter was called ,andrew said1 ,we have
 found the  ,messias1 which is1 being   
interpreted1 the ,christ 7i1 #da74 ,on  
the  following day ,nathanael said to   
,jesus1 ,thou art the ,son of ,god2     
thou art the ,king of ,israel 7#di74    
#aig    ,when did the ,transfiguration  
take place8    ,matthew and ,mark3 ,six 
days after the discourse in which he    
announced  his second coming 7,matt4    

xvii1 #a2 ,mark ix1 #b74    ,luke3      
,about an eight days after these sayings
 7ix1 #bh74        #aih    ,was the     
countenance of ,jesus changed8          
,matthew and ,luke3 ,it was4 ,and his   
face did shine as the sun1 and his      
raiment was white as the light 7,matt4  
xvii1 #b74 ,the fashion of his          
countenance was altered1 and his raiment
 was white and glistening  7,luke ix1   
#bi74    ,mark3 ,the appearance of his  
raiment only was changed4 ,and his      
raiment  became shining1 exceeding white
 as snow 7ix1 #c74        #aii    ,when 
did ,peter propose building the three   
tabernacles to ,jesus1  ,moses and      
,elias8    ,matthew and ,mark3 ,while   
,moses and ,elias were yet with them    
7,matt4 xvii1  #c1 #d2 ,mark ix1 #d-h74 
,luke3 ,after they had departed 7ix1    
#cc74        #bjj    ,what did the voice
 from the clouds declare8    ,mark and  
,luke3 ,this is my beloved ,son2 hear ye
 him 7,mark ix1 #g2  ,luke ix1 #ce74    
,matthew3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in  

whom ,i am well pleased1 hear ye  him   
7xvii1 #e74    ,luke's account of the   
,transfiguration differs in many        
respects from  that of ,matthew and     
,mark4 ,luke says that ,jesus went up   
into the  mountain to pray2 ,matthew and
 ,mark make no mention of this4 ,luke   
says  the disciples were asleep when    
,moses and ,elias appeared4 ,according  
to  ,matthew and ,mark they were awake4 
,luke says that ,moses and ,elias spake 
of his decease4 ,matthew and ,mark do   
not know what they talked about4        
#bja    ,who witnessed the              
,transfiguration8    ,synoptics3 ,peter1
 ,james and ,john 7,matt4 xvii1 #a2     
,mark ix1 #b2 ,luke  ix1 #bh74    ,it is
 remarkable that ,matthew1 ,mark and    
,luke1 who did not witness  the         
,transfiguration1 are the only ones to  
report it2 while ,john1 who  is declared
 to have witnessed it1 knows nothing    
about it4 ,concerning  this and other   
events which ,john is said to have      
witnessed1 ,greg says3  ,all the events 

said to have been witnessed by ,john    
alone are omitted  by ,john alone4 ,this
 fact seems fatal either to the reality 
of the  events in question or to the    
genuineness of the ,fourth ,gospel4     
,regarding this subject ,scott says3 ,by
 some singular fatality the  writer of  
the fourth gospel seems incapable of    
describing any one  incident in the life
 of ,jesus as the ,synoptics have       
described it4444 ,it  is hard to believe
 that we are reading narratives which   
profess to  relate the life of the same 
person4444 ,if then in these            
particulars1  the ,synoptic ,gospels are
 correct1 the ,johannine version of the 
events  is pure fiction2 and if the     
latter be taken as the true account1 no 
dependence whatever can be placed upon  
the former 7,life of ,jesus1  pp4       
#bei-bfc74        #bjb    ,compare the  
account of the ,transfiguration of      
,jesus with the account  of ,moses at   
,mount ,sinai4      ,matthew4           
,exodus4    ,and after six days ,jesus  

taketh     ,then went up ,moses1 and    
,aaron1  ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john his  
,nadab and ,abihu 7xxiv1 #i74  brother1 
and bringeth them up into  a high       
mountain apart1               ,and      
,moses went up into the mount1          
and a cloud covered the mount4  ,and was
 transfigured before them1  and his face
 did shine as the sun1   ,and the glory 
of the ,lord abode  and his raiment was 
white as the     upon ,mount ,sinai1 and
 the cloud  light 7xvii1 #a1 #b74       
covered it six days2 and the            
seventh day he called unto ,moses       
,while he yet spake1 behold1 a       out
 of the midst of the cloud4  bright     
cloud overshadowed them2  and behold a  
voice out of the        ,and the sight  
of the glory of the  cloud1 etc4 7#e74  
,lord was like devouring fire           
7#ae-ag74      ,we have in each account 
a prophet and three companions2 in each 
the persons mentioned go up into a      
mountain2 in each there is a            
supernatural brightness2 in each an     

overshadowing cloud2 in each  a         
celestial voice speaking out of the     
cloud2 in each ,moses is a  prominent   
figure2 in each a period of six days is 
mentioned4        #bjc    ,what occurred
 immediately after the ,transfiguration8
    ,matthew3 ,his disciples asked him1 
saying1 ,why then say the scribes  that 
,elias must first come8 ,and ,jesus     
answered and said unto them1  ,elias    
truly shall first come1 and restore all 
things4 ,but ,i say unto  you1 that     
,elias is come already and they know him
 not4444 ,then the  disciples understood
 that he spake unto them of ,john the   
,baptist  7xvii1 #aj-ac74    ,it is     
quite natural that the writing of one   
story concerning ,elias  should suggest 
another2 but reason forbids the         
acceptance of both as  true4 ,if ,elias 
was seen and recognized at the mountain1
 as stated1  the above conversation did 
not follow that appearance4        #bjd 
,what ailed the man's son whom ,jesus   
cured after the ,transfiguration8       

,matthew 7,old ,ver473 ,he was a lunatic
 7xvii1 #ae74    ,matthew 7,new ,ver473 
,he was an epileptic4    ,mark3 ,he had 
a dumb spirit 7ix1 #ag74        #bje    
,when the authorities at ,capernaum     
demanded tribute of ,jesus what did  he 
command ,peter to do8    ,go thou to the
 sea1 and cast an hook1 and take up the 
fish that  first cometh up2 and when    
thou hast opened his mouth1 thou shalt  
find a piece of money2 that take1 and   
give unto them for me and thee          
7,matthew xvii1 #bg74    ,matthew does  
not venture to say that ,peter was      
successful1 doubtless  recognizing the  
fact that there ought to be limits even 
to a fish  story4    ,regarding this    
story ,archbishop ,trench says3 ,it is  
remarkable1 and is  a solitary instance 
of the kind1 that the issue of this     
bidding is not  told us4 ,dr4 ,farrar   
says3 ,i agree with the learned and     
thoughtful  ,olshausen in regarding this
 as the most difficult to comprehend of 
all the gospel miracles 7,life of       

,christ1 p4 #bhh74        #bjf    ,what 
was the nature of the tribute demanded8 
,it was an annual tax1 known as the     
temple service tax1 a tax from  which no
 ,jew1 rich or poor1 was exempt4        
,regarding the time and manner  of its  
collection1 ,farrar says3 ,on the #ast  
of ,adar1 the demand  was made quietly  
and civilly2 if1 however1 it had not    
been paid  by the #beth1 then it seems  
that the collectors of the contribution 
7tobhin shekalim7 might take a security 
for it from the defaulter  7,life of    
,christ1 p4 #bhe74    ,the tax was      
always collected in the early spring4   
,yet according to  ,matthew it was      
collected from ,jesus in the autumn1    
just before the  feast of tabernacles4  
,either ,matthew was ignorant of the    
time of its  collection1 or ,jesus was a
 defaulter4    ,nor is this the only    
difficulty needing explanation4 ,it is  
assumed  that ,peter secured the coin in
 the manner directed4 ,if so1 how did   
it come into existence8 ,did ,jesus     

miraculously create it8 ,if so1  he was 
a counterfeiter4 ,was it a lost coin8   
,in this case1 if he was  omniscient1 as
 claimed1 he knew the owner and should  
have restored it4        #bjg    ,after 
leaving ,galilee where did ,jesus go8   
,matthew3 ,into the coasts of ,judea    
beyond ,jordan 7xix1 #a74    ,the       
,jordan being the eastern boundary of   
,judea1 no coasts of ,judea  existed    
beyond it4        #bjh    ,in going to  
,jerusalem to attend his last ,passover1
 what route did  he take8    ,luke3 ,he 
passed through the midst of ,samaria    
7xvii1 #aa74    ,mark3 ,he cometh into  
the coasts of ,judea by the farther side
 of the  ,jordan 7x1 #a74    ,two       
entirely different routes4 ,as the      
province of ,samaria lay between  those 
of ,galilee and ,judea1 the direct route
 from ,galilee to ,jerusalem  was       
through the midst of ,samaria4 ,the     
orthodox ,jews1 however1  in order to   
avoid the ,samaritans1 whom they        
thoroughly despised1  usually crossed   

the ,jordan1 which formed the boundary  
of the three  provinces1 came down on   
the east side of the river through      
,perea1  recrossed the river1 and thus  
entered into the coasts of ,judea from  
the farther side of ,jordan4        #bji
    ,what city did he pass through on   
his way to ,jerusalem8    ,luke3 ,and   
,jesus entered and passed through       
,jericho 7xix1 #a74    ,luke here       
contradicts his previous statement that 
he passed through  the midst of         
,samaria1 for ,jericho was not on the   
route from ,samaria1  but on the route  
from ,perea by way of the farther side  
of ,jordan1  the route which ,mark      
declares he took4        #baj    ,what  
miracle did he perform on the way8      
,luke3 ,as he entered into a certain    
village1 there met him ten men that     
were lepers1 which stood afar off2 and  
they lifted up their voices1  and said1 
,jesus1 ,master1 have mercy on us4 ,and 
when he saw them1  he said unto them1   
,go shew yourselves to the priests4 ,and

 it came to  pass1 that1 as they went1  
they were cleansed 7xvii1 #ab-ad74      
,the other ,evangelists do not mention  
this miracle4 ,concerning it the  ,bible
 for ,learners says3 ,it is an          
unsuccessful imitation of the  account  
we have already examined of the healing 
of a leper4 ,it is  absolutely          
unhistorical 7,vol4 iii1 p4 #caj74      
#baa    ,was it one or two blind men    
that sat by the wayside beseeching him  
to heal them8    ,mark3 ,blind          
,bartimeus1 the son of ,timeus1 sat by  
the highway side  begging4 ,and when he 
heard that it was ,jesus of ,nazareth1  
he began  to cry out1 and say1 ,jesus1  
thou son of ,david1 have mercy on me    
7x1 #df1 #dg74    ,luke3 ,a certain     
blind man sat by the wayside begging3   
444 ,and he  cried1 saying1 ,jesus1 thou
 son of ,david1 have mercy on me 7xviii1
  #ce1 #ch74    ,matthew3 ,two blind men
 sitting by the wayside1 when they heard
 that  ,jesus passed by1 cried out1     
saying1 ,have mercy on us1 ,o ,lord1    

thou  son of ,david 7xx1 #cj74          
#bab    ,what inquiry did the disciples 
make regarding the cause of the man's   
blindness8    ,master1 who did sin1 this
 man1 or his parents1 that he was born  
blind8 7,john ix1 #b74    ,regarding    
this1 ,mrs4 ,evans1 in her ,christ ,myth
 7p4 #ee71 says3  ,such a suggestion has
 no meaning when uttered by a ,jew1 but 
to a  believer in the transmigration of 
souls the query would be natural and    
pertinent1 and the story appears to be a
 modification of a well-known           
,buddhistic parable4        #bac        
,when did this occur8    ,luke3 ,as he  
was come nigh into ,jericho 7xviii1     
#ce74    ,matthew3 ,as they separated   
from ,jericho 7xx1 #bi74    ,mark3 ,as  
he went out of ,jericho 7x1 #df74       
,mark agrees with ,luke and disagrees   
with ,matthew as to the number of  men1 
and agrees with ,matthew and disagrees  
with ,luke as to the time  of its       
occurrence4        #bad    ,what did    
,jesus say regarding divorce8    ,mark3 

,and he saith unto them1 ,whosoever     
shall put away his wife  and marry      
another1 committeth adultery against    
her4 ,and if a woman  shall put away her
 husband1 and be married to another1 she
 committeth  adultery 7x1 #aa1 #ab74    
,this was written by one acquainted with
 the ,roman1 but not with the  ,jewish  
law4 ,the ,jewish law did not recognize 
the right of a wife  to put away her    
husband for any cause whatever4 ,matthew
 7v1 #ca1 #cb7  and ,luke 7xvi1 #ah7    
knew better4        #bae    ,according  
to ,mark he said1 ,whosoever shall put  
away his wife1  and marry another1      
committeth adultery4 ,what did he say   
according  to ,matthew8    ,whosoever   
shall put away his wife1 except it be   
for fornication1  and shall marry       
another1 committeth adultery 7xix1 #i74 
,this is a notable discrepancy4         
,according to ,mark if a husband        
divorce his wife for any cause whatever 
he cannot lawfully marry  another4      
,according to ,matthew if he divorce his

 wife for fornication  he can lawfully  
marry again4        #baf    ,in his     
conversation with the rich man what     
commandments did he  prescribe8    ,do  
not commit adultery1 ,do not kill1 ,do  
not steal1 ,do not bear false  witness1 
,honor thy father and thy mother 7,luke 
xviii1 #bj74    ,do not commit adultery1
 ,do not kill1 ,do not steal1 ,do not   
bear false  witness1 ,defraud not1      
,honor thy father and thy mother 7,mark 
x1 #ai74    ,thou shalt do no murder1   
,thou shalt not commit adultery1 ,thou  
shalt  not steal1 ,thou shalt not bear  
false witness1 ,honor thy father and thy
  mother2 and1 ,thou shalt love thy     
neighbor as thyself 7,matthew xix1  #ah1
 #ai74    ,no two of the ,synoptics     
agree4 ,mark and ,matthew each give a   
commandment  not given by either of the 
others4        #bag    ,what great      
miracle did he perform at ,bethany8     
,john3 ,the raising of ,lazarus from the
 dead4 ,then said ,jesus unto them      
plainly1 ,lazarus is dead 7xi1 #ad74    

,jesus therefore again groaning  in     
himself cometh to the grave4 ,it was a  
cave1 and a stone lay upon  it4 ,jesus  
said1 ,take ye away the stone4 ,martha1 
the sister of him that  was dead1 saith 
unto him1 ,lord1 by this time he        
stinketh2 for he hath  been dead four   
days 7#ch1 #ci74 ,then they took away   
the stone from the  place where the dead
 was laid4 ,and ,jesus lifted up his    
eyes1 and said1  ,father1 ,i thank thee 
that thou hast heard me 7#da74 ,and when
 he thus  had spoken1 he cried with a   
loud voice1 ,lazarus1 come forth4 ,and  
he  that was dead came forth1 bound hand
 and foot with grave clothes  7#dc1     
#dd74    ,the ,synoptics make no mention
 of this miracle2 and as it is the      
greatest miracle ascribed to ,jesus it  
was certainly unknown to them4          
,commenting on the doubtful character of
 alleged events narrated by one         
,evangelist and omitted by the others1  
,strauss says3 ,but this ground  of     
doubt falls with incomparably greater   

weight1 on the narrative of  the        
resurrection of ,lazarus in the fourth  
gospel4 ,if the authors or  collectors  
of the three first gospels knew of this1
 they could not1 for  more than one     
reason1 avoid introducing it into their 
writings4 ,for1  first1 of all the      
resuscitations effected by ,jesus1 nay1 
of all his  miracles1 this resurrection 
of ,lazarus1 if not the most wonderful1 
is  yet the one in which the marvelous  
presents itself the most obviously  and 
strikingly1 and which1 therefore1 if its
 historical reality can  be established1
 is a preeminently strong proof of the  
extraordinary  endowments of ,jesus as a
 divine messenger2 whence the           
evangelists1  although they had related 
one or two other instances of the kind1 
could not think it superfluous to add   
this also4 ,but1 secondly1 the          
resurrection of ,lazarus had1 according 
to the representation of ,john1  a      
direct influence in the development of  
the fate of ,jesus2 for we  learn from  

xi1 #dg ff41 that the increased resort  
to ,jesus1 and the  credit which this   
event procured him1 led to that         
consultation of  the ,sanhedrim in which
 the sanguinary counsel of ,caiaphas was
 given  and approved4 ,thus the event   
had a double importance--pragmatical  as
 well as dogmatical2 consequently1 the  
synoptical writers could  not have      
failed to narrate it1 had it been within
 their knowledge  7,leben ,jesu1 p4     
#edh74    ,referring to this miracle and
 the restoration of the sight of the man
  born blind1 ,prof4 ,newman says3 ,that
 the three first narrators should  have 
been ignorant of them is simply         
impossible2 that they should not  have  
felt their preeminent value is          
incredible 7,religion not ,history1  p4 
#bg74    ,there are three alleged       
instances in the ,gospels of ,christ    
restoring  the dead to life4    #a4 ,the
 raising of the daughter of ,jairus from
 her death bed1 related  by ,matthew4   
#b4 ,the raising of the son of the widow

 of ,nain from his bier as they  were   
carrying him to the grave1 related by   
,luke4    #c4 ,the raising of ,lazarus  
from his grave after he had lain four   
days1  related by ,john4    ,even if    
these miracles were possible one fact   
disproves them3 the  silence of the     
other ,evangelists4 ,of these three     
stories not one is  confirmed by another
 ,evangelist4 ,his less important       
miracles1 such as  healing the sick1    
are1 many of them1 recorded in all of   
the gospels1  or at least in all of the 
,synoptics2 yet each of these1 his      
greatest  miracles1 stands alone1       
unnoticed by the other writers4 ,mark   
and  ,luke mention the daughter of      
,jairus1 but only to deny the miracle   
by declaring that she was not dead4 ,had
 these miracles really been  performed1 
all of the ,evangelists would have had a
 knowledge of them1  and all would have 
recorded them4 ,these writers do not    
complement  each other1 as claimed3 they
 exclude each other4 ,there are many    

,lives  of ,napoleon2 but not one of his
 biographers has seen fit to omit his   
greatest victories because some other   
biographer has narrated them4           
#bah    ,who was it requested that      
,james and ,john might sit1 one on the  
right  and the other on the left hand of
 ,jesus in his kingdom8    ,matthew3    
,she their mother said unto him1 ,grant 
that these my two  sons may sit1 the one
 on thy right hand1 and the other on the
 left1  in thy kingdom 7xx1 #ba74       
,mark3 ,they ,james and ,john said unto 
him1 ,grant unto us that we may  sit1   
one on thy right hand1 and the other on 
thy left1 in thy glory  7x1 #cg74       
#bai    ,who occupies a seat at the left
 hand of ,jesus8    ,mark3 ,god 7xvi1   
#ai74    ,the modesty of the foregoing  
request is apparent4 ,zebedee's family  
were evidently trying to play a sharp   
game on ,jesus1 and get a first         
mortgage on his ,father's throne4       
#bbj    ,what did ,jesus affirm in      
regard to the mustard seed8    ,which   

indeed is the least of all seeds2 but   
when it is grown is the  greatest among 
the herbs 7,matthew xiii1 #cb74    ,a   
mustard seed is not the least of all    
seeds2 neither is the plant  the        
greatest among herbs4        #bba       
,with faith as large as a grain of      
mustard seed1 what did he say his       
disciples could do8    ,if ye have faith
 as a grain of mustard seed1 ye shall   
say unto  this mountain1 ,remove hence  
to yonder place and it shall remove     
7,matthew xvii1 #bj74    ,if ye had     
faith as a grain of mustard seed1 ye    
might say unto this  sycamine tree1 ,be 
thou plucked up by the root1 and be thou
 planted  in the sea2 and it should obey
 you 7,luke xvii1 #f74        #bbb      
,in the parable of the ,great ,feast    
what was the character of the feast8    
,matthew3 ,a wedding dinner 7xxii1 #d74 
,luke3 ,a great supper 7xiv1 #af74      
#bbc    ,whom did the giver of the feast
 send to invite the guests8    ,matthew3
 ,his servants 7#c74    ,luke3 ,his     

servant 7#ag74    ,such errors may be   
considered trivial and their notice     
captious2  but infallible writings do   
not contain even trivial errors4        
#bbd    ,what befell the servants1 or   
servant8    ,matthew3 ,and the remnant  
took his servants1 and entreated them   
spitefully1 and slew them 7#f74         
,luke3 ,the servant returned unharmed   
7#ba74        #bbe    ,what did the     
giver of the feast declare respecting   
those who refused  to attend8    ,that  
none of those men which were bidden     
shall taste my supper  7xiv1 #bd74      
,as they had already declined to do so1 
the force of the interdiction  is not   
apparent4        #bbf    ,relate the    
circumstances connected with the        
attendance of the guest  who wore no    
wedding garment4    ,matthew3 ,then     
saith he to his servants1 ,the wedding  
is ready1 but  they which were bidden   
were not worthy4 ,go ye therefore into  
the  highways1 and as many as ye shall  
find1 bid to the marriage4444 ,and  when

 the king came in to see the guests1 he 
saw there a man which had  not on a     
wedding garment2 and he saith unto him1 
,friend1 how camest  thou in hither not 
having a wedding garment8 ,and he was   
speechless  7xxii1 #h-ab74    ,the      
relator of this incident1 which is      
omitted by ,luke1 would have  us suppose
 that the frequenters of the highways   
went clad in wedding  garments4    ,the 
parables of ,jesus are declared to be   
perfect models of ,literary             
composition1 and filled with lessons of 
divine wisdom4 ,a few of them  possess  
some literary merit2 but the most of    
them are faulty4 ,they  contain many    
questionable ethical teachings2 they are
 illogically  constructed2 the imagery  
is unnatural1 and the language crude4   
#bbg    ,in the parable of the ,wicked  
,husbandmen did the owner of the        
vineyard  send one servant1 or more than
 one1 each time to collect the rent8    
,mark and ,luke3 ,he sent but one 7,mark
 xii1 #b-e2 ,luke xx1 #aj-ab74          

,matthew3 ,he sent more than one 7xxi1  
#cc-cf74        #bbh    ,what happened  
to the servants8    ,matthew and ,mark3 
,some of them were killed4    ,luke3    
,they were beaten and sent away1 but    
none were killed4        #bbi    ,in the
 parable of the ,talents how did the    
master apportion his money8    ,matthew3
 ,he gave to the first servant five     
talents1 to the second two1  to the     
third1 one 7xxv1 #ae74    ,luke3 ,he    
gave to each one pound 7xix1 #ac74      
#bcj    ,what was their gain8           
,matthew3 ,each doubled his money 7#af1 
#ag74    ,luke3 ,the first increased his
 tenfold1 the second fivefold 7#af1     
#ah74        #bca    ,what did the      
unprofitable servant do with the money  
entrusted to him8    ,matthew3 ,he      
digged in the earth1 and hid his lord's 
money 7xxv1 #ah74    ,luke3 ,he said1   
,lord1 behold1 here is thy pound1 which 
,i have kept  laid up in a napkin 7xix1 
#bj74        #bcb    ,what are the      
concluding words of ,jesus in this      

parable8    ,for unto every one that    
hath shall be given3 444 but from him   
that  hath not shall be taken away even 
that which he hath4 ,and cast ye the    
unprofitable servant into outer         
darkness3 there shall be weeping and    
gnashing of teeth 7,matthew xxv1 #bi1   
#cj74    ,that unto every one which hath
 shall be given2 and from him that hath 
not1 even that he hath shall be taken   
away from him4 ,but those mine  enemies1
 which would not that ,i should reign   
over them1 bring hither1  and slay them 
before me 7,luke xix1 #bf1 #bg74        
#bcc    ,in the lawyer's interview with 
,jesus1 who was it1 the lawyer1 or      
,jesus1  that stated the two great      
commandments8    ,matthew and ,mark3    
,jesus4 ,then one of them1 which was a  
lawyer1  asked him a question1 tempting 
him1 saying1 ,master which is the great 
commandment in the law8 ,jesus said unto
 him1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord  thy   
,god with all thy heart1 and with all   
thy soul1 and with all thy  mind4 ,this 

is the first and great commandment4 ,and
 the second is like  unto it1 ,thou     
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself      
7xxii1 #ce-ci74    ,luke3 ,the lawyer4  
,and1 behold1 a certain lawyer stood up1
 and tempted  him1 saying1 ,master1 what
 shall ,i do to inherit eternal life8   
,he  said unto him1 ,what is written in 
the law8 how readest thou8 ,and he  the 
lawyer answering said1 ,thou shalt love 
the ,lord thy ,god with  all thy heart1 
and with all thy soul1 and with all thy 
strength1  and with all thy mind2 and   
thy neighbor as thyself 7x1 #be-bg74    
#bcd    ,and after that they durst not  
ask him any questions4 ,after what8     
,matthew3 ,after his controversy with   
the ,pharisees respecting ,david  and   
,christ 7xxii1 #da-df74    ,mark3 ,after
 his conversation with the scribe       
regarding the commandments  7xii1       
#bh-cg74    ,luke3 ,after confuting the 
,sadducees in regard to the resurrection
  7xx1 #bg-dj74        #bce    ,did his 
controversy concerning ,david and       

,christ take place with the  ,pharisees1
 as stated by ,matthew8    ,luke3 ,it   
did not4 ,it was with certain of the    
scribes 7xx1 #ci74        #bcf    ,where
 was ,jesus on the day preceding his    
triumphal entry into  ,jerusalem8       
,john3 ,with ,lazarus at ,bethany 7three
 miles from ,jerusalem7 7xii1 #a-ae74   
,luke3 ,with ,zaccheus near ,jericho    
7twenty miles from ,jerusalem7  7xix1   
#a-dj74        #bcg    ,preparatory to  
his triumphal entry what command did he 
give his  disciples8    ,go ye into the 
village over against you2 in the which  
at your entering  ye shall find a colt  
tied1 whereon yet never man sat3 loose  
him1  and bring him hither 7,luke xix1  
#cj74    ,go into the village over      
against you1 and straightway ye shall   
find  an ass tied1 and a colt with her3 
loose them1 and bring them unto me      
7,matthew xxi1 #b74        #bch    ,did 
he ride both animals8    ,matthew3 ,he  
did4 ,and the disciples went1 and did as
 ,jesus commanded  them1 and brought the

 ass1 and the colt1 and put on them     
their clothes1  and they set him thereon
 7#f1 #g74    ,the equestrian feat of   
his riding two asses1 a large one and a 
small one1 at the same time1 must have  
heightened the effect of this  sublime  
pageant4    ,matthew is continually     
seeing double4 ,in the demoniac of      
,gadara he  sees two demoniacs2 in the  
blind man by the wayside he sees two    
men2  and in other instances where the  
other ,evangelists see but one person   
or thing he sees two4        #bci       
,the riding of two asses by ,jesus was  
in fulfillment of what prophecy8        
,matthew3 ,and this was done1 that it   
might be fulfilled which was  spoken by 
the prophet1 saying1 ,tell ye the       
daughter of ,sion1 ,behold1  thy ,king  
cometh unto thee1 meek1 and sitting upon
 an ass1 and a colt  the foal of an ass 
7xxi1 #d1 #e74    ,matthew's rendering  
of this passage 7,zechariah ix1 #i7     
arises from a  misunderstanding of the  
meaning of its words4 ,the prophet1 or  

poet1  does not mean two asses1 but one2
 the clause a colt the foal of  an ass1 
is merely a poetical repetition or      
qualification of the  preceding clause4 
,this blunder of ,matthew is            
significant4 ,it exposes the fictitious 
character of this so-called ,gospel     
history4 ,it proves that ,christ's      
triumphal entry into ,jerusalem is not a
 historical event--that this  story is a
 pure fabrication1 suggested by this    
alleged prophecy4        #bdj    ,when  
did ,jesus purge the temple8            
,synoptics3 ,at the close of his        
ministry1 a few days before his death   
7,matthew xxi1 #ab-af2 ,mark xi1 #ae-ah2
 ,luke xix1 #de-dh74    ,john3 ,at the  
beginning of his ministry1 three years  
before his death  7ii1 #ac-bb74         
,origen doubted the occurrence of this  
event1 believing it to be a  mere       
allegory4        #bda    ,when did he   
curse the fig tree8    ,matthew3 ,after 
he purged the temple 7xxi1 #ab-ai74     
,mark3 ,before he purged the temple 7xi1

 #ab-ae74        #bdb    ,when was the  
tree discovered by his disciples to be  
withered8    ,matthew3 ,as soon as      
cursed 7#ai74    ,mark3 ,not until the  
next morning 7#ac-bj74        #bdc      
,mark says that he visited the tree for 
the purpose of obtaining  figs4 ,why did
 the tree contain no fruit8    ,mark3   
,because the time of figs was not yet   
7#ac74    ,this was before the ,passover
 which occurred in ,march or ,april4 ,in
 that  part of ,palestine where the     
miracle is said to have been performed  
the  bocore1 or early fig1 ripened its  
first crop during the latter part  of   
,june2 while the kermus1 or fig proper1 
ripened in ,august4 ,what  a spectacle6 
,an omniscient ,god searching for figs  
in ,march1 and  disappointed at not     
finding them--creating a tree to bear   
fruit in  the summer and cursing it for 
not bearing in the spring6        #bdd  
,what did ,jesus accuse the ,jews of    
doing8    ,matthew3 ,of having slain    
prophets and wise men1 among them       

,zacharias  son of ,barachias 7xxiii1   
#ce74    ,the ,zacharias mentioned was  
slain in ,jerusalem1 #fi ,a4 ,d42 so    
that  ,matthew makes ,jesus refer to an 
event that occurred forty years after   
his death4    ,referring to this        
passage1 the ,catholic scholar1 ,dr4    
,hug1 says3  ,there cannot be a doubt1  
if we attend to the name1 the fact and  
its  circumstances1 and the object of   
,jesus in citing it1 that it was the    
same ,zacharias ,barouchos1 who1        
according to ,josephus1 a short time    
before the destruction of ,jerusalem1   
was unjustly slain in the temple4       
,commenting on this passage1 ,prof4     
,newman says3 ,there is no other  man   
known in history to whom the verse can  
allude4 ,if so1 it shows  how late1 how 
ignorant1 how rash1 is the composer of a
 text passed  off on us as sacred truth 
7,religion not ,history1 p4 #df74       
#bde    ,repeat his lamentation         
concerning ,jerusalem's rejection of    
him4    ,o ,jerusalem1 ,jerusalem1 thou 

that killest the prophets1 and stonest  
them which are sent unto thee1 how often
 would ,i have gathered thy  children   
together1 even as a hen gathereth her   
chickens under her  wings1 and ye would 
not6 7,matthew xxiii1 #cg2 ,luke xiii1  
#cd47    ,where was he when he uttered  
this lamentation8    ,matthew3 ,during  
his visit at ,jerusalem4    ,luke3 ,in  
,galilee before he went to ,jerusalem4  
,not only are these writers at variance 
with each other as to the time  and     
place of utterance1 but the lamentation 
itself1 which declares  that he had made
 repeated efforts to convert ,jerusalem1
 is at variance  with both of them4 ,for
 according to ,matthew he had just      
arrived on his  first visit to          
,jerusalem1 while according to ,luke he 
had never yet1  during his ministry1    
visited ,jerusalem4        #bdf    ,who 
anointed ,jesus8    ,matthew and ,mark3 
,a woman 7,matt4 xxvi1 #g2 ,mark xiv1   
#c74    ,luke3 ,a sinful woman 7vii1    
#cg74    ,john3 ,mary1 the sister of    

,lazarus 7xii1 #c74    ,luke's sinful   
woman is recognized as ,mary ,magdalene4
 ,farrar says3  ,in the popular         
consciousness she will till the end of  
time be  identified with the ,magdalene4
 ,matthew and ,mark's woman may be      
harmonized with either ,mary ,magdalene 
or ,mary the sister of ,lazarus2  but   
,luke and ,john are irreconcilable4     
#bdg    ,where did she put the ointment8
    ,matthew and ,mark3 ,on his head    
7,matt4 xxvi1 #g2 ,mark xiv1 #c74       
,luke and ,john3 ,on his feet 7,luke    
vii1 #ch-df2 ,john xii1 #c74        #bdh
    ,where did this occur8    ,matthew1 
,mark and ,john3 ,in ,bethany 7,matt4   
xxvi1 #f2 ,mark xiv1 #c2  ,john xii1    
#a74    ,luke3 ,in ,nain 7vii1 #aa-cg74 
#bdi    ,at whose house did it occur8   
,synoptics3 ,at the house of ,simon     
7,matt4 xxvi1 #f1 #g2 ,mark xiv1 #c2    
,luke vii1 #cf-dj74    ,john3 ,at the   
house of ,lazarus 7xii1 #a-c74          
#bej    ,who was ,simon8    ,matthew and
 ,mark3 ,a leper 7,matt4 xxvi1 #f2 ,mark

 xiv1 #c74    ,luke3 ,a ,pharisee 7vii1 
#ci-dj74        #bea    ,at what time   
during his ministry did this anointing  
occur8    ,matthew1 ,mark and ,john3 ,at
 the close of his ministry 7,matt4 xxvi1
  xxvii2 ,mark xiv2 ,john xii74         
,luke3 ,early in his ministry 7vii1     
#cf-ej74        #beb    ,did it occur   
before or after his triumphal entry8    
,matthew and ,mark3 ,after 7,matt4 xxi1 
#a-aa1 xxvi1 #f-ac2 ,mark xi1 #a-aa1    
xiv1 #c-i74    ,john3 ,before 7xii1     
#a-ae74        #bec    ,how many days   
before the ,passover did it occur8      
,mark3 ,two days 7xiv1 #a-c74    ,john3 
,six days 7xii1 #a-c74    ,the prima    
facie view would certainly be that the  
anointing at  ,bethany was placed by    
,mark two days and by ,john six days    
before the  ,passover4--,scribner's     
,bible ,dictionary4        #bed    ,who 
objected to this apparent waste of the  
ointment8    ,matthew3 ,his disciples   
7xxvi1 #h1 #i74    ,john3 ,judas        
,iscariot 7xii1 #d1 #e74    ,these      

different versions of the anointing of  
,jesus present so many  discrepancies   
that some have supposed that two or more
 anointings were  made4 ,the ,archbishop
 of ,york1 the most popular of ,gospel  
harmonists1  concedes that but one      
anointing was made4    ,after an        
exhaustive review of the case1 ,strauss 
says3 ,without doubt1  we have here but 
one history under three various forms2  
and this  seems to have been the real   
conclusion of ,origen1 as well as       
recently  of ,schleiermacher4           
#bee    ,while ,jesus was at ,jerusalem 
there came a voice from heaven4 ,for    
what  purpose was the voice sent8       
,john3 ,for the sake of those who stood 
by4 ,jesus answered and said1  ,this    
voice came not because of me1 but for   
your sakes 7xii1 #cj74    ,of what      
benefit was the voice when those who    
heard it were unable  to distinguish it 
from thunder8 ,the people therefore1    
that stood by  and heard it1 said that  
it thundered 7#bi74    ,the ,evangelists

 relate several instances of celestial  
voices being  heard4 ,as there is1 in   
nearly every instance1 a disagreement in
  regard to the message conveyed1 it is 
probable that an electrical  disturbance
 inspired the voice1 while a vivid      
imagination interpreted  its meaning4   
,regarding these voices1 the ,duke of   
,somerset says3  ,a belief in these     
heavenly voices was a common            
superstition among  the ,jews4          
#bef    ,when did the ,last ,supper take
 place8    ,synoptics3 ,on the ,passover
 7,matt4 xxvi1 #ah-bj2 ,mark xiv1       
#af-ah2  ,luke xxii1 #ac-ae74    ,john3 
,on the day preceding the ,passover4    
,luke says3 ,and they made ready the    
passover4 ,and when the hour was  come1 
he sat down1 and the twelve apostles    
with him4 ,and he said unto  them1 ,with
 desire ,i have desired to eat this     
passover with you before  ,i suffer4    
,john1 in his account of the ,last      
,supper1 says it was before  the feast  
of the passover 7xiii1 #a74 ,the        

,evangelists all agree  that his trial  
and execution took place on the day     
following the  ,last ,supper4 ,john says
 the ,jews went not into the judgment   
hall1  lest they should be defiled2 but 
that they might eat the passover        
7xviii1 #bh74 ,after narrating the      
events of the trial1 ,john says3  ,and  
it was the preparation of the passover  
7xix1 #ad74    ,according to the        
,synoptics1 the ,last ,supper was eaten 
on the #adth  ,nisan1 and1 by our mode  
of reckoning time1 on ,thursday evening2
  according to ,john1 it was eaten on   
the #acth ,nisan1 and1 by our mode of   
reckoning1 on ,wednesday evening4 ,the  
,synoptics declare that this supper  was
 the regular ,paschal meal2 according to
 ,john1 it was an ordinary  meal1 the   
,paschal meal not being eaten until     
after ,christ's death4    ,the          
,synoptics represent most clearly that  
,jesus on the evening  of the #adth     
,nisan1 after the custom of the ,jews1  
ate the ,passover  with his disciples1  

and that he was arrested in the first   
hours of  the #aeth ,nisan1 the day on  
which he was put to death4 ,nothing can 
be  more distinct than the statement    
that the last supper was the ,paschal   
feast4444 ,the fourth ,gospel1 however1 
in accordance with the principle  which 
is dominant throughout1 represents the  
last repast which ,jesus  eats with his 
disciples as a common supper1 which     
takes place1 not  on the #adth1 but on  
the #acth ,nisan1 the day 'before the   
feast of the  ,passover4'--,supernatural
 ,religion4    ,thousands of pages have 
been written in vain attempts to        
reconcile  this grave discrepancy4      
,scribner's ,bible ,dictionary1 which   
contains  the best fruits of orthodox   
scholarship1 both of ,england and       
,america1  concedes a contradiction4 ,it
 says3 ,the ,synoptics seem to identify 
the two the ,last ,supper and the       
,paschal meal1 whereas ,st4 ,john       
expressly places the ,last ,supper      
before the ,passover4    ,after an      

exhaustive review of the subject1       
,strauss voices the  conclusion of      
,german scholars in the following words3
 ,our only  course is to acknowledge an 
irreconcilable contradiction between the
  respective accounts1 without venturing
 a decision as to which is the  correct 
one 7,leben ,jesu1 p4 #gjb74        #beg
    ,the ,synoptics state that the ,last
 ,supper was the ,paschal meal4         
,describe  the ,paschal meal4    ,all   
leaning upon the cushions around the    
table1 the first cup of wine  was       
served1 and grace pronounced over the   
same and the feast4 ,this  cup of wine  
being disposed of1 vegetables and sauce 
were placed on  the table1 and the      
vegetables1 dipped in the sauce1 were   
blessed and  eaten4 ,next the unleavened
 bread1 the bitter herb1 and a piquant  
sauce called ,haroseth were served1 and 
the bitter herb1 dipped in  the         
,haroseth1 was blessed and eaten4 ,then 
the ,paschal lamb was placed  on the    
table with portions of another          

sacrifice4 ,one of the company  asked   
the question why all this was done1     
during which the second  cup of wine was
 served4 ,the head of the table         
explaining narrated the  story of the   
,exodus1 closed with a hymn1 spoke the  
second time grace  over the wine1 and   
all disposed of the same4 ,now came the 
breaking of  the bread and the eating   
and drinking4 ,this finished1 the third 
cup  of wine was served1 and grace after
 meal was pronounced4 ,after which  the 
fourth cup was served1 and the          
ceremonies closed with hymns and        
psalms1 and disposing of the fourth cup 
of wine 7,mishna74    ,this was the     
,paschal meal as it was observed in the 
reputed time  of ,christ and up to #gj  
,a4 ,d4 ,after the fall of ,jerusalem   
and the  destruction of the temple the  
great ,passover feast retained but  the 
shadow of its former glory4 ,the        
,paschal meal and the ceremonies        
attending it were generally shortened4  
,the fact that the ,evangelists  were   

unacquainted with the regular ,paschal  
meal1 that the ,synoptics  were familiar
 only with the ceremonies of later      
times1 shows that  the ,last ,supper is 
a myth1 and the ,gospels the products of
 a later age4    ,criticising the       
,synoptics' accounts of the ,paschal    
meal1 ,dr4 ,isaac  ,wise1 an able       
,jewish scholar1 says3    ,if any       
evidence is required that neither ,mark 
nor ,matthew had ever  seen the ,paschal
 meal1 or described that of ,jesus1 it  
is furnished  here4 ,they do not mention
 any one point connected with the       
,paschal  supper1 the ceremonies of     
which were established4 ,they mention   
only  one ceremony1 viz41 the breaking  
of the bread1 and the cup of wine  after
 the meal1 which is not only a mistake1 
but shows conclusively1  that either of 
them had seen the ,paschal supper1 after
 the destruction  of ,jerusalem1 in some
 ,jewish house1 and the ceremonies      
connected  therewith1 called the ,seder4
 ,therefore1 no mention whatsoever is   

made of the main thing--the ,paschal    
lamb--and the bread is broken  after the
 meal1 which was done by the ,jews after
 closing the ,paschal  meal1 outside of 
,jerusalem1 when the altar had been     
destroyed2 and  no ,paschal lamb was    
eaten 7,martyrdom of ,jesus1 pp4 #cf1   
#cg74    ,luke begins correctly1 but    
makes a mistake in having the bread     
broken  right after the first cup of    
wine was handed round1 which was done so
  at every festive meal1 except at the  
one described1 and has but two  cups of 
wine instead of four4 ,so we know that  
,luke did not describe  what actually   
happened that evening4 ,he had seen the 
,jewish custom  of opening the festive  
meals with grace over the wine and      
bread1  and made of it an introduction  
to the ,last ,supper1 without knowing   
that just that evening the custom was   
changed 7,ibid4 p4 #ch74        #beh    
,what ceremony was instituted at the    
,last ,supper8    ,synoptics3 ,the      
,eucharist 7,matt4 xxvi1 #bf-bh2 ,mark  

xiv1 #bb-bd2 ,luke  xxii1 #ai1 #bj74    
,john3 ,the washing of feet 7xiii1      
#d-i74    ,john does not mention the    
former ceremony1 and the ,synoptics do  
not  mention the latter2 yet each is    
said to have been performed immediately 
after supper4        #bei    ,he told   
his disciples that he would no more     
drink of the fruit of  the vine until he
 drank it in his ,father's kingdom4     
,when was this8    ,matthew3 ,after     
instituting the ,eucharist4    ,and as  
they were eating1 ,jesus took bread1 and
 blessed it1 and  brake it1 and gave it 
to the disciples1 and said1 ,take1 eat2 
this is  my body4 ,and he took the cup  
and gave thanks1 and gave it to them1   
saying1 ,drink ye all of it2 for this is
 my blood of the new testament1  which  
is shed for many for the remission of   
sins4    ,but ,i say unto you1 ,i will  
not drink henceforth of this fruit of   
the vine1 until that day when ,i drink  
it new with you in my ,father's  kingdom
 7xxvi1 #bf-bi74    ,luke3 ,before      

instituting the ,eucharist4    ,for ,i  
say unto you1 ,i will not drink of the  
fruit of the vine1  until the kingdom of
 ,god shall come4    ,and he took bread1
 and gave thanks1 and brake it1 and gave
 unto them1  saying1 ,this is my body   
which is given for you3 this do in      
remembrance  of me4 ,likewise also the  
cup after supper1 saying1 ,this cup is  
the  new testament in my blood1 which is
 shed for you 7xxii1 #ah-bj74           
#bfj    ,at the ,last ,supper did ,jesus
 pass the cup once1 or twice8           
,matthew and ,mark3 ,once 7,matt4 xxvi1 
#bf-cj2 ,mark xiv1 #af-bf74    ,luke3   
,twice 7xxii1 #ac-bj74    ,regarding    
this discrepancy1 ,scribners' ,bible    
,dictionary says3  ,the temptation to   
expand was much stronger than to        
contract2 and  the double mention of the
 cup raises real difficulties of the    
kind  which suggest interpolation4      
#bfa    ,where was ,jesus when he       
uttered his last prayer8    ,synoptics3 
,in the garden of ,gethsemane 7,matt4   

xxvi1 #cf-ci2 ,mark xiv1  #cb-cf2 ,luke 
xxii1 #ci-db74    ,john3 ,in ,jerusalem 
before he retired to the garden 7xvii1  
xviii1 #a74        #bfb    ,what is said
 of his agony at ,gethsemane8    ,luke3 
,his sweat was as it were great drops of
 blood falling down to  the ground      
7xxii1 #dd74    ,whatever was the       
character of this so-called bloody      
sweat1 it may be  remarked that         
,matthew1 who was an apostle2 ,mark1 who
 is claimed to be  the interpreter of   
,peter1 an apostle who was with ,jesus  
at the time2  and ,john who was not only
 an apostle1 but present also1 do not   
refer  to it4 ,luke1 who was not an     
eye-witness--who was not an apostle--is 
the only one who mentions it4           
#bfc    ,how many times did ,jesus visit
 ,jerusalem during his ministry8        
,john3 ,at least four times 7ii1 #ac2 v1
 #a2 x1 #bb1 #bc2 xii1 #ab74    ,the    
,synoptics record but one visit4        
#bfd    ,to what country was his        
ministry chiefly confined8              

,synoptics3 ,to ,galilee4    ,john3 ,to 
,judea4    ,according to the ,synoptics 
nearly his entire ministry was confined 
to  ,galilee4 ,it was only at the close 
of his ministry1 a few days before  his 
death1 that he visited ,judea to attend 
the ,passover4 ,according  to ,john his 
ministry was confined chiefly to ,judea4
 ,it requires  but three or four of his 
twenty-one chapters to record his work  
in  ,galilee4 ,farrar says3 ,the        
,synoptists almost confine themselves to
  the ,galilean1 and ,st4 ,john to the  
,judean ministry 7,life of ,christ1  p4 
#cfa74        #bfe    ,how long did his 
ministry last8    ,synoptics3 ,one year4
    ,john3 ,at least three years4       
,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,giles says3 ,according 
to the first three ,gospels1  ,christ's 
public life lasted only one year        
7,christian ,records1 p4 #aa74          
,referring to this and the preceding    
discrepancy1 the author of              
,supernatural ,religion says3 ,the      
,synoptics clearly represent the        

ministry of ,jesus as having been       
limited to a single year1 and his       
preaching is confined to ,galilee and   
,jerusalem1 where his career  culminates
 at the fatal ,passover4 ,the fourth    
,gospel distributes the  teaching of    
,jesus between ,galilee1 ,samaria1 and  
,jerusalem1 makes it  extend over at    
least three years1 and refers to three  
,passovers spent  by ,jesus at          
,jerusalem 7p4 #fha74    ,irenaeus1 the 
greatest of the early ,christian        
,fathers1 and who lived  in the century 
following ,jesus1 declares that his     
ministry lasted  twenty years4 ,in his  
principal work1 ,against ,heresies1 he  
combats  the heresy of a one-year       
ministry of ,jesus4 ,he says3    ,they  
however1 that they may establish their  
false opinion regarding  that which is  
written1 ',to proclaim the acceptable   
year of the ,lord1'  maintain that he   
preached for one year only1 and then    
suffered in the  twelfth month4 ,they   
are forgetful of their own disadvantage1

 destroying  his whole work1 and robbing
 him of that age which is both more     
necessary and more honorable than any   
other2 that more advanced age1  ,i mean1
 during which also1 as a teacher1 he    
excelled all others4 ,for  how could he 
have had disciples if he did not teach8 
,and how could he  have taught1 unless  
he had reached the age of a master8 ,for
 when he  came to be baptized1 he had   
not yet completed his thirtieth year1   
but was beginning to be about thirty    
years of age4444 ,now1 that  the first  
stage of early life embraces thirty     
years1 and that this  extends onward to 
the fortieth year1 every one will admit2
 but from the  fortieth and fiftieth    
year1 a man begins to decline toward old
 age2  which our ,lord possessed1 while 
he still fulfilled the office of a      
teacher4444 ,he did not therefore preach
 for only one year1 nor did  he suffer  
in the twelfth month of the year4 ,for  
the period included  between the        
thirtieth and fiftieth year can never be

 regarded as one  year 7,book ii1 ch4   
xxii1 secs4 #e1 #f74        #bff        
,what is said regarding the extent of   
his works8    ,john3 ,if they should be 
written every one1 ,i suppose that even 
the  world itself could not contain the 
books 7xxi1 #be74    ,in the very next  
verses of the ,bible 7,acts i1 #a1 #b7  
,luke declares that  his brief ,gospel  
contains a record of all that ,jesus    
began both to  do and teach1 until the  
day in which he was taken up4           
#bfg    ,can the alleged teachings of   
,jesus be accepted as authentic8        
,three facts disprove1 for the most     
part1 their authenticity4    #a4 ,the   
most important teachings ascribed to him
 by the ,synoptics  were borrowed1      
either by him or his biographers1 from  
other teachers  and writers4    #b4 ,his
 teachings as presented by the          
,synoptics1 and as presented by  ,john1 
exclude each other4 ,no critic can      
seriously contend that the  discourses  
and sayings of ,jesus recorded in the   

,synoptics and those  given in the      
,fourth ,gospel emanated from the same  
mind4 ,they are  wholly dissimilar1 both
 in doctrine and phraseology4 ,dr4      
,westcott  says3 ,it is impossible to   
pass from the ,synoptic ,gospels to that
  of ,st4 ,john without feeling that the
 transition involves the passage  from  
one world of thought to another4 ,no    
familiarity with the general  teaching  
of the ,gospels1 no wide conception of  
the character of the  ,savior1 is       
sufficient to destroy the contrast which
 exists in form  and spirit between the 
earlier and later narratives            
7,introduction  to ,study of ,gospels1  
p4 #bdi74    #c4 ,the discourses        
attributed to ,jesus in the ,fourth     
,gospel were  evidently composed by the 
author of that ,gospel4 ,this is        
apparent to  every careful reader4      
,the teachings ascribed to ,jesus in    
,john1 then1 are spurious2 while  those 
ascribed to him in ,matthew1 ,mark and  
,luke are of doubtful  authenticity4 ,if

 any of the teachings of ,jesus have    
been preserved  they exist in the first 
three ,gospels1 but the unauthentic     
character  of the ,gospels themselves1  
renders it impossible to ascribe to him 
with certainty a single teaching4       
,,chapter ,,vi4    ,,the ,,crucifixion  
,,of ,,christ4      #bfh    ,when did   
,jesus first foretell his passion8      
,synoptics3 ,not until late in his      
ministry 7,matt4 xvi1 #ba2 ,mark viii1  
#ca2 ,luke ix1 #ba-bg74    ,according to
 ,john 7ii1 #ai-bb7 he referred to it at
 the beginning of  his ministry4        
#bfi    ,when did he announce his       
betrayal8    ,matthew and ,mark3 ,at the
 ,last ,supper1 while they were eating4 
,now  when the even was come1 he sat    
down with the twelve4 ,and as they did  
eat1 he said1 ,verily ,i say unto you1  
that one of you shall betray me  7,matt4
 xxvi1 #bj1 #ba2 ,mark xiv1 #ah74       
,luke and ,john3 ,not until after supper
 7,luke xxii1 #bj1 #ba2 ,john xiii1     
#b-ba74 ,john says that after supper he 

washed his disciples' feet and          
delivered a discourse to them1 after    
which he said1 ,verily1 verily1  ,i say 
unto you1 that one of you shall betray  
me4        #bgj    ,did ,jesus say who  
should betray him8    ,matthew and      
,john3 ,he did 7,matt4 xxvi1 #be2 ,john 
xiii1 #bf74    ,mark and ,luke3 ,he did 
not4        #bga    ,how did he disclose
 his betrayer8    ,matthew3 ,by an      
implied affirmative answer to ,judas'   
question1 ,is  it ,i8 ,then ,judas which
 betrayed him1 answered and said1       
,master1  is it ,i8 ,he said unto him1  
,thou hast said 7xxvi1 #be74    ,john3  
,by giving ,judas a sop4 ,jesus         
answered1 ,he it is to whom ,i shall    
give a sop1 when ,i have dipped it4 ,and
 when he had dipped the sop1  he gave it
 to ,judas ,iscariot4        #bgb       
,when did ,satan enter into ,judas8     
,luke3 ,before the ,last ,supper 7xxii1 
#c-g74    ,john3 ,after the ,last       
,supper 7xiii1 #a-bg74        #bgc      
,how did ,judas betray ,jesus8          

,matthew and ,mark3 ,now he that        
betrayed him1 gave them a sign1 saying1 
,whomsoever ,i shall kiss1 that same is 
he2 hold him fast4 ,and forthwith  he   
came to ,jesus1 and said1 ,hail1        
,master1 and kissed him 7,matt4 xxvi1   
#dh1 #di2 ,mark xiv1 #dd1 #de74         
,according to ,john1 ,judas did not     
betray him with a kiss4        #bgd     
,what did ,jesus say to ,judas when he  
betrayed him8    ,friend1 wherefore art 
thou come8 7,matthew xxvi1 #ej47        
,judas1 betrayest thou the ,son of man  
with a kiss8 7,luke xxii1 #dh47         
#bge    ,what was ,judas1 and what      
office did he hold8    ,john3 ,he was a 
thief1 and had the bag1 and bare what   
was put therein  7xii1 #f74    ,judas   
was thus the first ,christian treasurer4
 ,but why did ,jesus1  if omniscient1 as
 claimed1 select a thief for this       
office8 ,was he  unable to conduct his  
ministry without the aid of one8        
#bgf    ,what did ,judas receive for    
betraying his master8    ,matthew3 ,and 

they covenanted with him for thirty     
pieces of silver  7xxvi1 #ae74    ,it is
 strange that a man who kept the purse1 
and knew what he would  lose by the     
death of his chief1 should abandon the  
profits of his  office for so small a   
sum4--,renan4        #bgg    ,what did  
he do with the money8    ,matthew3 ,then
 ,judas1 which had betrayed him1 when he
 saw that he  was condemned1 repented   
himself1 and brought again the thirty   
pieces  of silver to the chief priests  
and elders4444 ,and he cast down the    
pieces of silver in the temple and      
departed 7xxvii1 #c-e74    ,peter3 ,now 
this man ,judas purchased a field with  
the reward of  iniquity 7,acts i1 #ah74 
#bgh    ,the purchase of the potter's   
field was in fulfillment of what        
prophecy8    ,matthew3 ,that which was  
spoken by ,jeremy the prophet1 saying1  
,and they  took the thirty pieces of    
silver1 the price of him that was       
valued1  444 and gave them for the      
potter's field1 as the ,lord appointed  

me  7xxvii1 #i1 #aj74    ,this was not  
spoken by ,jeremiah1 but by ,zechariah4 
,and the ,lord said  unto me1 ,cast it  
unto the potter3 a goodly price that ,i 
was prized  at of them4 ,and ,i took the
 thirty pieces of silver and cast them  
to  the potter in the house of the ,lord
 7xi1 #ac74    ,it is evident that the  
account of the betrayal was inspired1   
not by a historical fact1 but by a      
desire to fulfill a ,messianic          
prophecy4 ,zechariah did not predict an 
event1 but his words did suggest  a     
fiction4 ,this is the more probable from
 the fact that ,matthew is  the only    
,evangelist who mentions the thirty     
pieces of silver4    ,the story of      
,christ's last visit to ,jerusalem and  
the story of his  betrayal exclude each 
other4 ,according to the ,evangelists he
 was  not arrested for any offense he   
had committed during this visit1  but   
for offenses he had committed prior to  
this4 ,yet during this  visit he is said
 to have appeared openly with his       

disciples1 making  a triumphal entry    
into the city1 visiting the temple and  
teaching in  public4 ,in the face of    
this the story that the ,jews were      
obliged to  bribe one of his disciples  
in order to apprehend him is absurd4    
,one of  these stories must be false4   
,regarding them ,lord ,amberley         
observes3  ,the representation of the   
,gospels1 that ,jesus went on teaching  
in  public to the very end of his       
career1 and yet that ,judas received a  
bribe for his betrayal1 is              
self-contradictory 7,life of ,jesus1 p4 
#bad74    ,to those who believe the     
accounts of the betrayal of ,jesus to be
  historical1 the ecclesiastical        
historian1 ,neander1 in his ,life of    
,christ1 advances a suggestion that is  
worthy of consideration4 ,the  betrayal 
of ,jesus by ,judas1 it is suggested1   
was intended as a  test of his          
,messiahship4 ,if ,jesus was the        
,messiah1 ,judas reasoned1  he could    
save himself2 if he was not the ,messiah

 he was an impostor  and deserved death4
        #bgi    ,what became of ,judas8 
,matthew3 ,he went and hanged himself   
7xxvii1 #e74    ,peter3 ,falling        
headlong he burst asunder in the midst1 
and all his  bowels gushed out 7,acts i1
 #ah74    ,papias1 bishop of            
,hierapolis1 one of the chief ,christian
 authorities  of the second century1 and
 who wrote before the books of ,matthew 
and  ,acts were written1 gives the      
following account of the fate of ,judas3
    ,judas walked about in the world a  
great example of impiety2 for his  body 
having swollen so that1 on an occasion1 
when a wagon was moving  on its way1 he 
could not pass it1 he was crushed by the
 chariot and  his bowels gushed out4    
,the ,german commentator1 ,dr4 ,hase1   
attempts to reconcile his suicide1  as  
related by ,matthew1 with his death by  
accident1 as related by  ,peter1 by     
supposing that he attempted to hang     
himself1 but that the  rope broke1      
causing him to fall with such force as  

to disembowel  himself4 ,this harmonist 
apparently forgets to note that ,peter  
says  he fell headlong1 which makes it  
necessary to suppose that he hung       
himself by the feet4        #bhj    ,to 
whom did ,peter deliver his speech      
describing the fate of ,judas8    ,peter
 stood up in the midst of the disciples 
7,acts i1 #ae74    ,is it not reasonable
 to suppose that the alleged information
 conveyed  in his speech was as familiar
 to the disciples whom he addressed as  
to himself8 ,regarding this ,de ,wette  
aptly says3 ,in the composition  of this
 speech the author has not considered   
historical decorum4        #bha    ,what
 did ,peter say in regard to the name of
 the field8    ,and it was known unto   
all the dwellers of ,jerusalem2 insomuch
 as  that field is called in their      
proper tongue1 ,aceldama1 that is to    
say1  ,the field of blood 7,acts i1     
#ai74    ,here ,peter is represented as 
interpreting in ,greek a ,jewish word to
  his ,jewish brethren4        #bhb     

,were there more than one of ,jesus'    
disciples concerned in his betrayal8    
,john3 ,there were4 ,for ,jesus knew    
from the beginning who they were of  his
 disciples that believed not1 and who   
should betray him 7vi1 #fd74        #bhc
    ,when the ,jewish council met to    
plan the arrest of ,jesus1 to what      
conclusion did they come8    ,matthew   
and ,mark3 ,not to arrest him on the    
feast day 7,matt4 xxvi1  #c-e2 ,mark    
xiv1 #a1 #b74    ,yet this was the very 
day on which ,matthew and ,mark declare 
that he  was arrested4        #bhd      
,who arrested him8    ,matthew and      
,mark3 ,a great multitude 444 from the  
chief priests and  elders of the people 
7,matt4 xxvi1 #dg2 ,mark xiv1 #dc74     
,luke3 ,the chief priests1 and captains 
of the temple1 and the elders           
themselves 7xxii1 #dg-eb74        #bhe  
,who does ,john say was sent to arrest  
him8    ,a band of soldiers and officers
 7xviii1 #c1 ,new ,ver474    ,this      
contradicts the ,synoptics1 who declare 

that it was a mob of  civilians4        
#bhf    ,what is said regarding the     
multitude sent out to apprehend him8    
,synoptics3 ,they were armed with swords
 and staves 7,matt4 xxvi1 #dg2  ,mark   
xiv1 #dc2 ,luke xxii1 #eb74    ,were the
 disciples armed8    ,all3 ,they were1  
or one of them at least 7,matt4 xxvi1   
#ea2 ,mark xiv1  #dg2 ,luke xxii1 #ch1  
#ej2 ,john xviii1 #aj74    ,this is     
incredible1 for ,jews were never allowed
 to carry arms on a  holy day4          
#bhg    ,how did they go out to capture 
him8    ,john3 ,with lanterns and       
torches 7xviii1 #c74    ,his enemies are
 represented as believing that his      
arrest could be  secured only by        
strategy and stealth4 ,under these      
circumstances is  it reasonable to      
suppose that the chief priests would    
send out a  torchlight procession to    
apprehend him8 ,besides1 as it was at   
the  full of the moon1 what need had    
they of lanterns and torches8 ,again1   
lanterns were unknown in ,palestine4    

#bhh    ,when the band sent to capture  
him first came up to him what did  they 
do8    ,matthew and ,mark3 ,they laid   
hands on him and took him 7,matt4 xxvi1 
#dg-ej2 ,mark xiv1 #dc-df74    ,john3   
,they went backward and fell to the     
ground 7xviii1 #c-f74        #bhi       
,what did ,peter do when ,jesus was     
arrested8    ,john3 ,then ,simon ,peter 
having a sword drew it1 and smote the   
high  priest's servant1 and cut off his 
right ear 7xviii1 #aj74    ,yet no      
efforts were made to arrest and punish  
,peter1 notwithstanding he  was         
recognized and pointed out by the       
kinsman of the wounded man4 ,it  may be 
urged that ,jesus had healed the        
servant's ear4 ,this1 even if  true1    
would not have removed the guilt of the 
militant disciple4 ,had  ,peter really  
committed the deed1 it is not probable  
that he would have  visited the house of
 the high priest and remained in the    
presence of  his enemies4        #bij   
,when was ,jesus bound8    ,john3 ,when 

he was arrested 7xviii1 #ab74           
,matthew and ,mark3 ,not until after his
 trial before the ,sanhedrim when  he   
was taken to ,pilate 7,matt4 xxvii1 #b2 
,mark xv1 #a74    ,according to ,luke he
 was not bound4        #bia    ,what did
 they do with ,jesus when he was taken8 
,matthew3 ,led him away to ,caiaphas    
7xxvi1 #eg74    ,john3 ,led him away to 
,annas first 7xviii1 #ac74        #bib  
,did he have an examination before his  
trial8    ,john3 ,he did 7xviii1        
#ac-bc74    ,our laws provide for what  
is known as a preliminary examination   
before  a magistrate4 ,this was         
forbidden by the ,jewish law1 and his   
alleged  examination before a priest    
could not have taken place4        #bic 
,before whom did his preliminary        
examination take place8    ,john3       
,before ,annas 7xviii1 #ac-bc74    ,the 
,synoptics state that he was examined   
and tried before ,caiaphas4        #bid 
,repeat ,john xviii1 #bd4    ,now ,annas
 had sent him bound unto ,caiaphas the  

high priest  7,old ,ver474    ,annas    
therefore sent him bound unto ,caiaphas 
the high priest  7,new ,ver474    ,this 
verse follows the account of ,jesus'    
preliminary examination  and shows      
clearly that this examination took place
 before ,annas1  and that he was not    
sent to ,caiaphas until its conclusion4 
,the ,king  ,james translators1 in order
 to hide the discrepancy1 prefixed the  
word  now and changed the tense of the  
verb1 substituting had sent for  sent1  
so that it might appear that ,annas had 
sent him to ,caiaphas  before the       
examination commenced4    ,concerning   
this corruption of the text1 ,scott     
says3 ,there is no  conjunction 'now1'  
and an aorist cannot mark a definite    
time4 ,if  a hiatus is suspected1 it may
 be indicated by an asterisk2 but to    
insert words and alter the force of a   
tense in order to get over  a grave     
historical difficulty is sheer          
dishonesty 7,life of ,jesus1  p4 #bhi1  
note74        #bie    ,matthew and ,john

 state that ,caiaphas was high priest at
 this time4 ,who  does the author of    
,acts state was high priest8    ,and    
,annas the high priest1 and ,caiaphas1  
and ,john1 and ,alexander1  and as many 
as were of the kindred of the high      
priest1 were gathered  together at      
,jerusalem 7iv1 #f74    ,luke 7iii1 #b71
 who is declared to be the author of    
,acts1 says that  ,annas and ,caiaphas  
were both high priests4    ,criticizing 
,john's account of the examination      
before ,annas1 the  author of           
,supernatural ,religion says3 ,the      
,synoptics know nothing  of the         
preliminary examination before ,annas1  
and the reason given by  the writer of  
the fourth ,gospel why the soldiers     
first took ,jesus to  ,annas3 'for he   
was father-in-law to ,caiaphas who was  
first high priest  that year1' is       
inadmissible4 ,the assertion is a clear 
mistake1 and it  probably originated in 
a stranger writing of facts and         
institutions  with which he was not well

 acquainted1 being misled by an error   
equally committed by the author of the  
third ,gospel1 and of the ,acts  of the 
,apostles4444 ,such statements1         
erroneous in themselves and not         
understood by the author of the fourth  
,gospel1 may have led to the  confusion 
in the narrative4 ,annas had previously 
been high priest1  as we know from      
,josephus1 but nothing is more certain  
than the fact  that the title was not   
continued after the office was resigned2
  and ,ishmael1 ,eleazar1 and ,simon1   
who succeeded ,annas and separated  his 
term of office from that of ,caiaphas1  
did not subsequently bear  the title4   
,the narrative is a mistake1 and such an
 error could not  have been committed by
 a native of ,palestine1 and much less  
by an  acquaintance of the high priest  
7p4 #ffj74        #bif    ,what is said 
regarding the tenure of ,caiaphas'      
office8    ,john3 ,he was high priest   
that year 7xi1 #di74    ,john's language
 implies that the high priest was       

appointed annually1  whereas he held his
 office for life1 or until removed4     
,caiaphas had  been high priest for many
 years4        #big    ,what had        
,caiaphas prophesied concerning ,jesus8 
,john3 ,he prophesied that ,jesus should
 die for that nation2 and not  for that 
nation only1 but that also he should    
gather together in one  the children of 
,god that were scattered abroad 7xi1    
#ea1 #eb74    ,a high priest did not    
assume the role of prophet1 much less   
would  he have given utterance to the   
prophecy ascribed to ,caiaphas4 ,the    
,roman procurator might have expressed  
such a sentiment1 for according  to     
,roman law and ethics an individual     
could be sacrificed for the  welfare of 
the state4 ,the high priest1 on the     
other hand1 could  not have uttered such
 a sentiment1 because it was abhorrent  
to the  ,jewish mind4 ,if all ,israel   
could have been saved1 and could have   
been  saved only by the death of one of 
its innocent members1 that member  could

 not have been put to death1 because1   
according to ,jewish law1  it would have
 made of every ,jew concerned in it a   
murderer4 ,it was  a fundamental        
principle of the ,jewish code that1 ,no 
human life must  be abandoned on account
 of any other life4        #bih    ,did 
,jesus have a trial before the          
,sanhedrim8    ,synoptics3 ,he had      
7,matt4 xxvi1 #eg-ge2 ,mark xiv1 #ec-gb2
 ,luke xxii1  #ed-ga74    ,it was about 
this time 7#cj ,a4 ,d471 that the       
,sanhedrim ceased to have  jurisdiction 
over capital offenses4 ,after its       
jurisdiction ceased  ,jesus could not   
have been tried before it2 and before   
its jurisdiction  ceased he would not   
have had a subsequent trial before      
,pilate4        #bii    ,where was his  
trial held8    ,matthew and ,mark3 ,at  
the palace of the high priest4    ,no   
trial was ever held at the residence of 
the high priest4 ,all  meetings of the  
,sanhedrim were held in the hall        
adjoining the temple4 ,a  trial at any  

other place would have been illegal4    
#cjj    ,what was the charge preferred  
against him8    ,all3 ,blasphemy4       
,jesus1 it was charged1 had declared    
himself to be the son of  ,god4 ,this1  
if true1 would not have constituted     
blasphemy4 ,it was  no offense against  
the law for a man to claim that he was  
the son  of ,god4 ,all men1 and         
especially all good men1 were recognized
 as  the sons of ,god4 ,referring to    
,christ's claim1 a ,jewish writer says3 
,no law1 no precedent1 and no fictitious
 case in the ,bible or the  rabbinical  
literature1 can be cited to make of this
 expression a case  of blasphemy4 ,and  
even if he had been proven guilty of    
blasphemy1  he could not have been put  
to death1 for blasphemy1 at this time1  
had ceased to be a capital offense4 ,and
 is it reasonable to suppose  that the  
,romans would have condemned a man to   
death for an offense  against a religion
 in which they did not themselves       
believe1 but  which they regarded as one

 of the vilest of superstitions8 ,it may
  be urged that in his trial before     
,pilate the charge was changed to       
sedition4 ,this charge was not          
sustained4        #cja    ,what is said 
regarding witnesses8    ,matthew and    
,mark3 ,now the chief priests1 and      
elders1 and all the  council1 sought    
false witnesses against ,jesus1 to put  
him to death2  but found none2 yea1     
though many false witnesses came1 yet   
found they  none 7,matt4 xxvi1 #ei1 #fj2
 ,mark xiv1 #ee1 #ef74    ,when every   
step thus far taken by the council had  
been illegal1 why  should it have been  
so particular in regard to the          
witnesses8 ,the  fact is the            
,evangelists were ignorant of ,jewish   
laws4 ,they believed  that while the    
prosecution of ,jesus was unjust it was 
yet conducted  according to the         
established rules of ,jewish courts4    
,referring to  ,mark1 ,dr4 ,wise says3  
,in his ignorance of ,jewish law1 he    
imagined the  trial which he described  

was lawful among the ,jews4 ,he proves  
this1  in the first place1 by the very  
statement that witnesses were sought    
and produced4 ,a court convoked and     
acting in rebellion to law and  custom  
can be considered only a band of rebels4
 ,what use have such men  of witnesses8 
,being lawless from the beginning1 no   
legal restraint  makes the presence of  
witnesses necessary4444 ,he certainly   
thought  of an honest1 lawful trial1 in 
the legal form2 an honest and legal     
examination of witnesses1 a fair        
consideration of the testimony1  and    
after mature reflection the rejection   
thereof on account of  insufficiency    
7,martyrdom of ,jesus1 pp4 #fi1 #gj74   
#cjb    ,what did the so-called false   
witnesses that appeared against him     
testify that he had said8    ,i am able 
to destroy the temple of ,god1 and to   
build it in three days  7,matthew xxvi1 
#fa74    ,i will destroy this temple    
that is made with hands1 and within     
three  days ,i will build another made  

without hands 7,mark xiv1 #eh74         
#cjc    ,what had ,jesus said8          
,destroy this temple and in three days  
,i will raise it up 7,john  ii1 #ai74   
,passing over the discrepancies of      
,matthew and ,mark1 if they have given  
the substance of these witnesses'       
testimony1 then they were not false1    
but truthful witnesses2 for ,jesus1 it  
is seen1 had given utterance to  such a 
declaration4 ,if he referred to the     
temple of his body1 as ,john  affirms1  
and the ,jews misunderstood him1 the    
fault was his1 not theirs4    ,josephus 
gives an account of a so-called prophet 
who1 a few years  later1 boasted of his 
supernatural powers in much the same    
manner  that ,jesus is said to have     
done3    ,there came out of ,egypt about
 this time to ,jerusalem1 one that  said
 that he was a prophet1 and advised the 
multitude of the common  people to go   
along to the ,mount of ,olives1 as it   
was called1 which lay  over against the 
city1 and at the distance of five       

furlongs4 ,he said  further1 that he    
would show them from hence1 how1 at his 
command1 the  walls of ,jerusalem would 
fall down 7,antiquities1 ,book xx1 chap4
 viii1  sec4 #f74        #cjd    ,was he
 questioned by the ,sanhedrim8          
,synoptics3 ,he was4 ,they tried to     
convict him by his own testimony        
7,matt4 xxvi1 #fb-fd2 ,mark xiv1 #fj-fc2
 ,luke xxii1 #ff-ga74    ,a ,jewish     
court did not question a prisoner4 ,a   
prisoner could not even  plead guilty4  
#cje    ,to the priest's question1 ,art 
thou the ,christ8 what answer did  he   
give8    ,mark3 ,jesus said1 ,i am 7xiv1
 #fa1 #fb74    ,luke3 ,he said unto     
them1 ,if ,i tell you1 ye will not      
believe  7xxii1 #fg74        #cjf       
,when did his trial before the          
,sanhedrim take place8    ,matthew and  
,mark3 ,during the night4 ,after his    
arrest1 which probably  occurred not    
later than midnight1 they at once led   
him away to  ,caiaphas the high priest1 
where 444 the chief priests1 and elders1

  and all the council ,sanhedrim had    
assembled1 when his trial  immediately  
began 7,matt4 xxvi1 #eg-fh2 ,mark xiv1  
#eh-fe74    ,luke3 ,not until the next  
morning4 ,during the night he was held  
in  custody at the house of the high    
priest4 ,as soon as it was day1  the    
elders of the people and the chief      
priests and the scribes came  together1 
and led him into the council 7xxii1     
#ff74    ,this1 according to ,luke1 was 
his first and only appearance before the
  ,sanhedrim4 ,matthew and ,mark1 in    
addition to the night trial mentioned   
by them1 also mention an adjourned      
session in the morning corresponding  to
 the meeting of ,luke4        #cjg      
,could this trial have been held in the 
night as stated by ,matthew  and ,mark8 
,it could not4 ,the ,jewish law         
prohibited the opening of a trial at    
night4 ,the ,sanhedrim could not hold a 
session before #f a4 m4 or after  #c p4 
m4 ,luke was seemingly acquainted with  
this law2 ,matthew and ,mark  were not4 

#cjh    ,during what religious          
festivities was his trial held8         
,synoptics3 ,during the feast of the    
,passover4    ,it could not have been   
held during the ,passover1 for no trials
 were  held by the ,jews during this    
feast4        #cji    ,on what day of   
the week was it held8    ,synoptics3 ,on
 ,friday1 the day preceding the         
,sabbath4    ,no trial for a capital    
offense was ever allowed to begin on the
 day  preceding the ,sabbath4           
#caj    ,how long did this trial last8  
,all3 ,but a few hours4    ,the ,jewish 
law required at least two days for a    
capital trial--one  for prosecution1 and
 one for the defense4        #caa       
,did he have a defender or counselor in 
the ,sanhedrim8    ,synoptics3 ,he did  
not4    ,according to the ,synoptics he 
had no counsel1 and the ,sanhedrim  were
 unanimous in their condemnation of him4
 ,this was contrary to  ,jewish law4    
,the ,sanhedrim might be unanimous in   
their belief that he  was guilty1 but it

 was the duty of at least one of them to
 defend  him4 ,this was the law3 ,if    
none of the judges defend the culprit1  
i4 e41 all pronounce him guilty1 having 
no defender in the court1  the verdict  
of guilty was invalid and the sentence  
of death could  not be executed         
7,maimonides74    ,dr4 ,geikie admits   
that the trial of ,jesus before the     
,sanhedrim1 as  related in the ,gospels1
 was in nearly every particular contrary
 to  ,jewish law4 ,he says3    ,the     
accused was in all cases to be held     
innocent1 till proved  guilty4 ,it was  
an axiom1 that 'the ,sanhedrim was to   
save1 not to  destroy life4' ,no one    
could be tried and condemned in his     
absence1 and  when a person accused was 
brought before the court1 it was the    
duty of  the president1 at the outset1  
to admonish the witnesses to remember   
the value of human life1 and to take    
care that they forgot nothing  that     
would tell in the prisoner's favor4 ,nor
 was he left undefended2  a ,baal-,rib1 

or counsel1 was appointed1 to see that  
all possible was  done for his          
acquittal4 ,whatever evidence tended to 
aid him was to  be freely admitted1 and 
no member of the court who had once     
spoken in  favor of acquittal could     
afterwards vote for condemnation4 ,the  
votes  of the youngest of the judges    
were taken first1 that they might not be
  influenced by their seniors4 ,in      
capital charges1 it required a majority 
of at least two to condemn1 and while   
the verdict of acquittal could  be given
 at once1 that of guilty could only be  
pronounced the next  day4 ,hence1       
capital trials could not begin on the   
day preceding a  ,sabbath1 or public    
feast4 ,no criminal trial could be      
carried through  in the night2 the      
judges who condemned any one to death   
had to fast  all the day before1 and no 
one could be executed on the same day on
  which the sentence was pronounced4    
7,life of ,christ1 vol4 ii1 p4 #dhg47   
#cab    ,had ,jesus been tried1         

convicted and executed by the ,jews     
would he  have been crucified8    ,he   
would not4 ,crucifixion was a mode of   
punishment never employed by  the ,jews4
 ,had the ,jews executed him he would   
have been stoned4    ,it is impliedly   
stated in the ,synoptics1 and expressly 
stated in  ,john1 that the ,sanhedrim's 
jurisdiction over capital crimes had    
ceased4 ,it is not lawful for us to put 
any man to death 7xviii1  #ca74 ,the    
,sanhedrim's authority ceased in #cj ,a4
 ,d41 and it is generally  claimed by   
,christians that the crucifixion        
occurred from one to five  years after  
this time4        #cac    ,what does    
,peter say in regard to the mode of     
punishment employed in  his execution8  
,the ,god of our fathers raised up      
,jesus1 whom ye slew and hanged on  a   
tree 7,acts v1 #cj74    ,and we are     
witnesses of all things which he did    
both in the land of  the ,jews1 and in  
,jerusalem2 whom ye slew and hanged on a
 tree 7x1 #ci74    ,concerning this1    

,mrs4 ,evans says3 ,with regard to his  
death1 it  was said that the ,jews slew 
him and hanged him on a tree2 and again 
that he was taken down from the tree2   
expressions which do not imply          
crucifixion1 but rather the legal       
execution for such crimes as the  one   
alleged1 that is1 stoning to death and  
the exposure of the dead  body upon a   
stake1 or a tree 7,christ ,myth1 p4     
#gi74        #cad    ,how was he treated
 by the ,sanhedrim8    ,matthew and     
,mark3 ,they spit in his face1 and      
buffeted him2 and  others smote him with
 the palms of their hands 7,matt4 xxvi1 
#fg2  ,mark xiv1 #fe74    ,every ,jew1  
and every other person acquainted with  
the ,jewish history  of that age1 knows 
that this is false4 ,the ,sanhedrim was 
composed of  the wisest and the best men
 of that race4 ,superstitious1 bigoted  
and  fanatical some of them doubtless   
were1 but in that august court law  and 
dignity and decorum reigned4    ,these  
accounts of the trial of ,christ before 

the ,sanhedrim afford  overwhelming     
proof that they were not written by     
apostles nor by  residents of           
,palestine4 ,they were written by       
,gentile ,christians1  or by ,jewish    
converts living in foreign lands1 and   
presumably the  former1 for even foreign
 ,jews must have possessed a better     
knowledge  of ,jewish laws and customs  
than the ,evangelists display4          
#cae    ,during the trial ,peter denied 
his master4 ,what had ,jesus predicted  
concerning his denial8    ,matthew1     
,luke and ,john3 ,jesus said unto him1  
,verily ,i say unto thee1  that this    
night1 before the cock crow1 thou shalt 
deny me thrice  7,matt4 xxvi1 #cd2 ,luke
 xxii1 #cd2 ,john xiii1 #ch74    ,mark3 
,and ,jesus saith unto him1 ,verily ,i  
say unto thee1 that this  day1 even in  
this night1 before the cock crow twice1 
thou shalt deny  me thrice 7xiv1 #cj74  
#caf    ,did ,peter deny him three times
 before the cock crew8    ,matthew1     
,luke and ,john3 ,he did 7,matt4 xxvi1  

#fi-ge2 ,luke xxii1 #ed-fb2  ,john      
xviii1 #ae-bg74    ,mark3 ,he did not2  
he had denied him but once when the cock
 crew  7xiv1 #ff-fh74        #cag       
,where were they when ,jesus foretold   
,peter's denial8    ,matthew and ,mark3 
,at the ,mount of ,olives 7,matt4 xxvi1 
#cj-ce2 ,mark  xiv1 #bf-cj74    ,luke3  
,in ,jerusalem1 at supper1 before they  
went out to the ,mount of  ,olives      
7xxii1 #g-ci74        #cah    ,what did 
,peter do when he entered the palace8   
,luke3 ,peter sat down among them 7xxii1
 #ee74    ,john3 ,peter stood with them 
7xviii1 #ah74        #cai    ,when was  
he first accused of being the friend of 
,jesus8    ,john3 ,as he entered the    
room 7xviii1 #af1 #ag74    ,mark and    
,luke3 ,as he sat by the fire 7,mark    
xiv1 #ff1 #fg2 ,luke xxii1  #ed-eg74    
#cbj    ,when was he accused the second 
time8    ,john3 ,in the house as he     
stood and warmed himself 7xviii1 #be74  
,matthew3 ,when he was gone out into the
 porch 7xxvi1 #ga74        #cba    ,by  

whom was he accused the second time8    
,matthew and ,mark3 ,by a maid 7,matt4  
xxvi1 #ga2 ,mark xiv1 #fi74    ,luke3   
,by a man 7xxii1 #ei1 #fj74        #cbb 
,who accused him the third time8        
,matthew and ,mark3 ,they that stood by 
7,matt4 xxvi1 #gc2 ,mark xiv1 #gj74     
,john3 ,one of the servants of the high 
priest 7xviii1 #bf74        #cbc    ,was
 ,jesus present when ,peter denied him8 
,matthew and ,mark3 ,he was not4        
,luke3 ,he was4 ,the ,lord turned and   
looked upon ,peter 7xxii1 #fj1 #fa74    
#cbd    ,where was ,jesus next sent for 
trial8    ,luke3 ,to ,herod1 tetrarch of
 ,galilee1 who was attending the        
,passover  at ,jerusalem 7xxiii1 #f-aa74
    ,in the matter of trials the        
,evangelists1 as in everything else1    
have overdone things4 ,notwithstanding  
no trial was ever held during  the      
,passover they give him four trials in  
one day1 and not finding  courts enough 
in ,judea for the purpose1 they import  
one from ,galilee4    ,there is nothing 

more improbable than this alleged       
examination of  ,jesus by ,herod4       
,imagine the ,governor ,general of      
,canada sitting in  judgment on a       
criminal at ,washington1 because the    
criminal is a  ,canadian1 or an ,ohio   
court holding a session in ,new ,york   
because  the prisoner arraigned once    
lived in ,ohio4 ,the offenses with which
  ,jesus was charged were committed1 not
 in ,herod's province1 ,galilee1  but in
 ,pilate's province1 ,judea4    ,it is  
strange that ,john1 who pretends to     
relate every important  event connected 
with the trial of ,jesus1 should omit   
his trial  before ,herod4 ,concerning   
this ,strauss says3 ,the conjecture1    
that  it may probably have appeared to  
him ,john too unimportant1 loses  all   
foundation when it is considered that   
,john does not scorn to  mention the    
leading away to ,annas1 which           
nevertheless was equally  indecisive2   
and in general1 the narrative of these  
events in ,john is1  as ,schleiermacher 

himself confesses1 so consecutive that  
it nowhere  presents a break in which   
such an episode could be inserted4      
,hence even  ,schleiermacher at last    
takes refuge in the conjecture that     
possibly  the sending to ,herod may have
 escaped the notice of ,john1 because   
it happened on an opposite side to that 
on which the disciple stood1  through a 
back door2 and that it came to the      
knowledge of ,luke because  his         
informant had an acquaintance in the    
household of ,herod1 as ,john  had in   
that of ,annas2 the former conjecture1  
however1 is figuratively  as well as    
literally nothing more than a back door2
 the latter1 a  fiction which is but the
 effort of despair 7,leben ,jesu1 pp4   
#gfd1 #gfe74        #cbe    ,what was   
the result of ,pilate's sending ,jesus  
to ,herod8    ,luke3 ,and the same day  
,pilate and ,herod were made friends    
together1  for before they were at      
enmity between themselves 7xxiii1 #ab74 
,pilate and ,herod did not become       

friends4 ,to the day of ,pilate's recall
  they were enemies4 ,herod was         
continually plotting and striving to    
unite with his tetrarchy the province of
 ,judea which belonged to his  father's 
kingdom1 and which his father had       
promised to give him4        #cbf       
,did ,jesus's trial before ,pilate take 
place in the presence of his  accusers8 
,luke3 ,it did 7xxiii1 #a-d1 #ac1 #ad74 
,john3 ,it did not 7xviii1 #bh74        
#cbg    ,did ,pilate go out of the      
judgment hall to consult with those who 
were  prosecuting ,jesus8    ,luke3 ,he 
did not 7xxiii1 #a-be74    ,john3 ,he   
did4 ,pilate then went out unto them the
 ,jews1 and said1  ,what accusation     
bring ye against this man8 ,they        
answered and said unto  him1 ,if he were
 not a malefactor1 we would not have    
delivered him up  unto thee4444 ,then   
,pilate entered into the judgment hall  
again1 and  called ,jesus1 and said unto
 him1 ,art thou the ,king of the ,jews8 
,jesus  answered him1 ,sayest thou this 

thing of thyself1 or did others tell  it
 thee of me8 7xxiii1 #bi1 #cj1 #cc1     
#cd47    ,the prosecution and the       
defense are both declared to have       
returned  insolent answers to the       
questions of ,pilate4 ,the ,jewish      
priests  were too wise for this1 and    
,christians will be loath to admit that 
their ,savior was so indiscreet and so  
impolite as to indulge in  such         
insolence4        #cbh    ,what was the 
result of his trial before ,pilate8     
,all3 ,pilate declared him innocent and 
sentenced him to death4    ,and ,pilate1
 when he had called together the chief  
priests and the  rulers and the people1 
said unto them1 ,ye have brought this   
man  unto me1 as one that perverteth the
 people2 and1 behold1 ,i1 having        
examined him before you1 have found no  
fault in this man touching  those things
 whereof ye accuse him4444 ,and ,pilate 
gave sentence that  it should be as they
 required4444 ,he delivered ,jesus to   
their will  7,luke xxiii1 #ac1 #ad1 #bd1

 #be74    ,pilate saith unto them1 ,take
 ye him1 and crucify him2 for ,i find no
  fault in him 7,john xix1 #f74    ,it  
is impossible to believe that the       
highest court of a country would        
pronounce a prisoner innocent and then  
condemn him to death4 ,judicial  murders
 are sometimes committed1 but the       
murderers do not confess  their guilt4  
,it is declared that ,pilate desired to 
release ,jesus but could not4 ,who      
ruled ,judea1 ,pilate or the ,sanhedrim8
 ,according to the ,evangelists1  the   
,romans ruled ,judea1 while the ,jews   
ruled the ,romans4    ,between the      
,pilate of the ,new ,testament and the  
,pilate of history there  is nothing in 
common4 ,the ,pilate of the ,new        
,testament is subservient to  the ,jews1
 acceding to their every wish1 even to  
murdering an innocent  prisoner4 ,the   
,pilate of history is noted for his     
hatred of the ,jews  and his cruelties  
to them4 ,it was these which provoked   
his recall4        #cbi    ,when ,pilate

 could not prevail upon the ,jews to    
allow him to release  ,jesus1 what did  
he do8    ,matthew3 ,he took water1 and 
washed his hands before the multitude1  
saying1 ,i am innocent of the blood of  
this just person 7xxvii1 #bd74          
,matthew does not appear to realize the 
absurdity of supposing that  a ,roman   
official would adopt a custom peculiar  
to a people whom he  held in contempt4  
,and all the elders of that city1 that  
are next unto the slain man  shall wash 
their hands 444 and they shall answer   
and say1 ,our hands  have not shed this 
blood 7,deuteronomy xx1 #f1 #g74        
#ccj    ,what indignities were heaped   
upon ,jesus during his trial before     
,pilate8    ,john3 ,then ,pilate        
therefore took ,jesus1 and scourged him4
 ,and the  soldiers platted a crown of  
thorns1 and put it on his head1 and     
they put on him a purple robe1 and said1
 ,hail1 ,king of the ,jews6 and  they   
smote him with their hands4 ,pilate     
therefore went forth again1  and saith  

unto them1 ,behold1 ,i bring him forth  
to you1 that ye may  know that ,i find  
no fault in him4 ,then came ,jesus      
forth1 wearing the  crown of thorns1 and
 the purple robe4 ,and ,pilate saith    
unto them1  ,behold the man6 7xix1      
#a-e47    ,these indignities ,jesus is  
said to have suffered1 not at the hands 
of  a ,jewish mob1 but at the hands of a
 ,roman court1 from which the ,jews  had
 absented themselves and whose          
proceedings they could not witness  nor 
directly influence4 ,every lawyer knows 
that for more than two  thousand years  
the ,roman court has been the world's   
model for dignity  and fairness4 ,that  
an innocent and defenseless prisoner was
 subjected  to these insults and        
brutalities in a ,roman court1 presided 
over by  a ,roman governor1 none but a  
slave of superstition can believe4      
#cca    ,when was he scourged8          
,matthew and ,mark3 ,before he was      
executed4 ,and when he ,pilate had      
scourged ,jesus1 he delivered him to be 

crucified 7,matt4 xxvii1 #bf2  ,mark xv1
 #ae74    ,john3 ,before the termination
 of his trial 7xix1 #a-af74             
,scourging was frequently inflicted by  
the ,romans before execution1  but never
 before the prisoner was convicted and  
sentenced4 ,the  ,bible ,dictionary     
concedes the illegal and unusual        
character  of the scourging mentioned by
 ,john4 ,in our ,lord's case1 however1  
this infliction seems neither to have   
been the legal scourging after  sentence
 nor yet the examination by torture     
7,acts xxii1 #bd74        #ccb    ,what 
custom is said to have been observed at 
the ,passover8    ,all3 ,the release of 
a prisoner by the ,roman governor       
7,matt4 xxvii1  #ae2 ,mark xv1 #f2 ,luke
 xxiii1 #ag2 ,john xviii1 #ci74    ,now 
at that feast the governor was wont to  
release unto the people  a prisoner1    
whom they would4    ,there is no        
historical authority whatever for this  
alleged custom4 ,it  was a custom that  
the ,roman government in ,judea could   

not with  safety adopt4 ,the ,jews were 
a subject people1 waiting and hoping    
for an opportunity to throw off the     
,roman yoke4 ,to release to them        
whomsoever they desired 7,mark xv1 #f7  
might be to release a political         
prisoner whose liberty would endanger   
the government itself4 ,this  story was 
probably suggested by a custom of the   
,roman emperors who  released a prisoner
 at their birthday festivals4           
#ccc    ,they demanded and obtained the 
release of ,barrabas4 ,who was          
,barrabas8    ,john3 ,a robber4 ,now    
,barrabas was a robber 7xviii1 #dj74    
,mark and ,luke3 ,a murderer4 ,barrabas 
7who for a certain sedition made  in the
 city1 and for murder1 was cast into    
prison7 7,luke xxiii1 #ah1  #ai2 ,mark  
xv1 #g74        #ccd    ,by whom was    
,jesus clad in mockery8    ,matthew1    
,mark and ,john3 ,by ,pilate's soldiers 
7,matt4 xxvii1 #bg1 #bh2  ,mark xv1 #af1
 #ag2 ,john xix1 #a1 #b74    ,luke3 ,by 
,herod and his soldiers4 ,and ,herod    

with his men of war set  him at nought1 
and mocked him1 and arrayed him in a    
gorgeous robe  7xxiii1 #aa74        #cce
    ,what was the color of the robe they
 put on him8    ,matthew3 ,they stripped
 him1 and put on him a scarlet robe     
7xxvii1  #bh74    ,mark and ,john3 ,they
 put on him a purple robe 7,john xix1   
#b2 ,mark  xv1 #ag74        #ccf        
,when did this occur8    ,john3 ,during 
his trial 7xix1 #a1 #b1 #ab-af74        
,matthew and ,mark3 ,after ,pilate had  
delivered him to be crucified  7,matt4  
xxvii1 #bf-bh2 ,mark xv1 #ae-ag74       
#ccg    ,describe the mocking of ,jesus4
    ,matthew3 ,then released he         
,barrabas unto them2 and when he had    
scourged  ,jesus1 he delivered him to be
 crucified4 ,then the soldiers of the   
governor took ,jesus into the common    
hall1 and gathered unto him  the whole  
band of soldiers4 ,and they stripped    
him1 and put on him a  scarlet robe4    
,and when they had platted a crown of   
thorns1 they put  it upon his head1 and 

a reed in his right hand2 and they bowed
 the  knee before him1 saying1 ,hail1   
,king of the ,jews6 7xxvii1 #bf-bi47    
,the original of this account of the    
mocking of ,jesus is to be found in     
,philo's ,adversus ,flaccum1 written    
more than one hundred years before  the 
,gospels made their appearance4 ,herod  
,agrippa was on his way from  ,rome to  
,palestine to assume the government of  
that country4 ,when he  stopped at      
,alexandria his enemies1 to annoy him1  
instituted a mock  coronation1 which    
,philo relates as follows3    ,there was
 a certain poor wretch named ,carrabas1 
who spent all his  days and nights in   
the roads1 the sport of idle children   
and wanton  youths2 and the multitude1  
having driven him as far as the public  
gymnasium1 and having set him up there  
on high1 that he might be  seen of      
everybody1 flattening out a papyrus     
leaf1 put it on his head  instead of a  
crown1 and clothed the rest of his body 
with a common mat  in place of a robe1  

and in lieu of a sceptre thrust into his
 hand a  reed1 which they found lying by
 the wayside4 ,and when he had received 
all the insignia of royalty1 and had    
been dressed and adorned like a  king1  
young men bearing sticks on their       
shoulders stood on each side  of him in 
imitation of guards1 while others came  
up1 some as if to  salute him1 and      
others pretending to plead their causes 
before him  7,philo's ,works1 vol4 iv1  
pp4 #fh1 #fi74        #cch    ,who smote
 ,jesus after his trial8    ,mark3 ,the 
servants did strike him with the palms  
of their hands  7xiv1 #fe74    ,john3   
,one of the officers which stood by     
struck ,jesus with the palm  of his hand
 7xviii1 #bb74    ,the stories of these 
mockings1 revilings1 and brutal assaults
 cannot  be accepted as historical4     
,they are self-evidently false4 ,were   
they  alleged to have been committed by 
an irresponsible ,jewish or ,roman  mob 
they might be credited2 but when they   
are declared to have been  committed by1

 or while in the custody of the highest 
,jewish and ,roman  officials they must 
be rejected4        #cci    ,to whom did
 ,pilate deliver him to be crucified8   
,matthew and ,mark3 ,to the ,roman      
soldiers4 ,and when he had scourged     
,jesus he delivered him to be crucified4
 ,then the soldiers of the  governor    
took ,jesus4444 ,and when they were come
 unto a place called  ,golgotha1 that is
 to say1 a place of a skull1 444 they   
crucified him  7,matt4 xxvii1 #bf-ce2   
,mark xv1 #ae-bd74    ,john3 ,he        
delivered him to the ,jews4 ,and he     
saith unto the ,jews1 ,behold  your     
,king6 ,but they cried out1 ,away with  
him1 crucify him4 ,pilate saith  unto   
them1 ,shall ,i crucify your ,king8 ,the
 chief priests answered1 ,we  have no   
king but ,caesar4 ,then delivered he him
 therefore unto them to  be crucified4  
,and they took ,jesus and led him away4 
,and he bearing his  cross went forth   
into a place called the place of the    
skulls1 which  is called in ,hebrew     

,golgotha2 where they crucified him     
7xix1 #ad-ah74    ,matthew and ,mark    
plainly state that ,jesus was delivered 
to the ,roman  soldiers2 ,john just as  
plainly states that he was delivered to 
the  ,jews4 ,matthew and ,mark declare  
that he was crucified by the soldiers2  
,john declares that he was crucified by 
the ,jews4 ,were it not that  ,john     
elsewhere 7xix1 #bc7 contradicts himself
 and states that the  soldiers crucified
 him1 the conclusion would be1 after    
reading ,john1  that he was crucified by
 the ,jews4    ,peter declares that the 
,jews executed him4 ,addressing the     
,sanhedrim1  he says3 ,the ,god of our  
fathers raised up ,jesus1 whom ye slew  
and  hanged on a tree 7,acts v1 #cj74   
#cdj    ,who was compelled to carry the 
cross8    ,synoptics3 ,and as they came 
out1 they found a man of ,cyrene1 ,simon
  by name2 him they compelled to bear   
his cross 7,matt4 xxvii1 #cb2  ,mark xv1
 #ba2 ,luke xxiii1 #bf74    ,john3 ,the 
cross was borne by ,jesus himself 7xix1 

#ag74        #cda    ,where was ,simon  
when they compelled him to carry the    
cross8    ,mark3 ,coming out of the     
country 7xv1 #ba74    ,the correct      
reading of this is1 coming from the     
field1 i4 e41  coming from his work4    
,this is improbable as they did not work
 on  the ,passover4        #cdb    ,the 
,synoptics agree in stating that ,simon 
was compelled to carry the  cross4 ,is  
this probable8    ,it is not4 ,in       
executions of this kind the criminal was
 always required  to carry it himself as
 a mark of disgrace4        #cdc    ,it 
is inferred from the ,synoptics that the
 cross was too heavy for  ,jesus to     
bear1 and ,christian writings and       
paintings represent him  bending with   
fatigue beneath the burden of the entire
 cross4 ,what  was the burden he was    
required to carry8    ,simply the       
patibulum1 or cross piece1 which was not
 heavy4 ,the upright  portion of the    
cross was a permanent fixture4          
#cdd    ,on his way to execution he made

 a speech to the women of ,jerusalem who
  bewailed his fate4 ,alluding1 as is   
alleged1 to the coming destruction  of  
,jerusalem1 what did he declare they    
would say8    ,to the mountains1 ,fall  
on us2 and to the hills1 ,cover us      
7,luke  xxiii1 #cj74    ,luke attempts  
to put into the mouth of ,jesus a       
quotation from ,hosea1  but his memory  
was defective4 ,what the prophet said   
was as follows3    ,to the mountains1   
,cover us2 and to the hills1 ,fall on us
 7,hosea  x1 #h74    ,renan pronounces  
this speech spurious4 ,he says3 ,the    
speech to the  women of ,jerusalem could
 scarcely have been conceived except    
after  the siege of the year #gj4       
#cde    ,where was he crucified8        
,matthew and ,mark3 ,at a place called  
,golgotha1 that is to say1  a place of a
 skull 7,matt4 xxvii1 #cc2 ,mark xv1    
#bb74    ,luke3 ,at ,calvary 7xxiii1    
#cc74    ,calvary1 like ,golgotha1 means
 a place of skulls in the vicinity of   
,jerusalem4 ,the explanation given by   

,christian commentators is that  it was 
a spot where executions ordinarily took 
place1 and therefore  abounded in       
skulls4 ,fleetwood says it was called   
,golgotha1 or  ,place of ,skulls1 from  
the criminals' bones which lay scattered
 there  7,life of ,christ1 p4 #daf74    
,where ,jewish customs prevailed--and it
 is  admitted that they did prevail in  
,jerusalem and ,judea at this time1  and
 had for hundreds of years--a human     
skull or bone was not allowed  to be    
exposed for even a moment4        #cdf  
,what was the inscription on the cross8 
,mark3 ,the ,king of the ,jews 7xv1     
#bf74    ,luke3 ,this is the ,king of   
the ,jews 7xxiii1 #ch74    ,matthew3    
,this is ,jesus the ,king of the ,jews  
7xxvii1 #cg74    ,john3 ,jesus of       
,nazareth1 the ,king of the ,jews 7xix1 
#ai74    ,there was placed on the cross 
a certain inscription4 ,according to    
,luke and ,john it appeared in ,greek1  
,latin and ,hebrew4 ,four divinely      
inspired historians attempt to report in

 ,greek the exact words of  this        
inscription4 ,yet no two of their       
reports agree4        #cdg    ,did the  
name of ,jesus appear on the cross8     
,matthew and ,john3 ,it did4    ,mark   
and ,luke3 ,it did not4        #cdh     
,did the word ,nazareth appear in the   
inscription8    ,john3 ,it did4         
,synoptics3 ,it did not4        #cdi    
,what did they offer him to drink before
 crucifying him8    ,matthew3 ,vinegar  
mingled with gall 7xxvii1 #cd74         
,mark3 ,wine mingled with myrrh 7xv1    
#bc74    ,luke3 ,vinegar alone 7xxiii1  
#cf74    ,the draughts mentioned by     
,matthew and ,mark refer to a ,jewish   
mixture  intended to produce            
stupefaction and lessen pain4 ,had the  
,romans  crucified him it is not        
probable that they would have observed  
this  ,jewish custom4        #cej       
,how was he fastened on the cross8      
,luke and ,john3 ,his hands and feet    
were nailed to it 7,luke xxiv1 #ci2     
,john xx1 #be1 #bg74    ,the            

,evangelists do not say that he was     
nailed to the cross2 but it  has been   
inferred from the texts mentioned in    
,luke and ,john that he  was4 ,in       
crucifixion the victim was usually bound
 to the cross4 ,nails  were sometimes   
driven through the hands1 but never     
through the  feet4 ,the allusions to the
 supposed wounds on his hands and feet  
were  evidently inserted in the accounts
 for the purpose of establishing his    
identity after the resurrection4 ,great 
prominence has been given them  by      
,christians in order to make ,christ's  
crucifixion appear especially  cruel and
 create sympathy for him4        #cea   
,at what hour of the day was he         
crucified8    ,mark3 ,it was the third  
hour nine o'clock in the morning 7xv1   
#be74    ,luke3 ,it was about the sixth 
hour noon 7xxiii1 #dd74    ,john3 ,at   
the sixth hour he had not been sentenced
 and delivered to  the executioners2    
hence he was not crucified until the    
afternoon  7xix1 #ad-af74    ,dr4       

,geikie admits that three hours may have
 elapsed between the  termination of his
 trial and his crucifixion4 ,hence1     
according to  ,john1 the crucifixion may
 have occurred as late as three o'clock 
in  the afternoon4    ,it has been      
attempted to explain the discrepancy    
between ,mark and  ,john by supposing   
that ,john used a different method of   
reckoning  time4 ,concerning this1      
,prof4 ,sanday1 one of ,england's       
highest orthodox  authorities1 says3    
,the writer of this was at one time     
inclined to  look with favor on these   
attempts4 ,if the premise could be      
proved1  the data would work out        
satisfactorily4444 ,but it must         
definitely be  said that the major      
premise cannot be proved1 and that the  
attempt  to reconcile the two statements
 on this basis breaks down4        #ceb 
,how did the soldiers divide the        
garments8    ,matthew3 ,and they        
crucified him1 and parted his garments1 
casting  lots2 that it might be         

fulfilled which was spoken by the       
prophet1 ,they  parted my garments among
 them1 and upon my vesture did they cast
 lots  7xxvii1 #ce74    ,john3 ,then the
 soldiers when they had crucified       
,jesus1 took  his garments1 and made    
four parts1 to every soldier a part2 and
  also his coat3 now the coat was       
without seam1 woven from the top        
throughout4 ,they said1 therefore1 among
 themselves1 ,let us not rend it1  but  
cast lots for it1 whose it shall be2    
that the scripture might be  fulfilled1 
which saith1 ,they parted my raiment    
among them1 and for  my vesture they did
 cast lots 7xix1 #bc1 #bd74             
,according to ,matthew they cast lots   
for all the garments2 according  to     
,john they cast lots for the coat alone4
 ,john here makes the same  error in    
regard to the garments that ,matthew    
does in regard to the  ass on which     
,jesus made his triumphal entry4 ,in the
 verse cited from  ,psalms garments and 
vesture are the same thing--the clothing

 of the  writer4 ,one of the chief      
characteristics of ,hebrew poetry1 or   
much  of it at least1 is that each      
successive thought is stated twice1  but
 in different words4        #cec    ,who
 were crucified with ,jesus8    ,mark   
and ,matthew3 ,and with him they crucify
 two thieves 7,mark xv1  #bg2 ,matt4    
xxvii1 #ch74    ,thieves were not       
crucified4 ,crucifixion1 or death in any
 form1 for  theft was contrary to both  
,jewish and ,roman law4 ,theft was not a
  capital offense4        #ced    ,his  
crucifixion between two thieves         
fulfilled what prophecy8    ,mark3 ,and 
the scripture was fulfilled which saith1
 ,and he shall be  numbered with the    
transgressors 7xv1 #bh74    ,the same   
thing might be said of the              
thieves4--,paine4    ,this passage is   
not to be found in the earlier          
manuscripts of ,mark1  and ,westcott    
declares it to be an interpolation4     
#cee    ,how long did ,jesus survive    
after being placed upon the cross8      

,luke3 ,about three hours 7xxiii1 #dd74 
,a ,jamaica negro slave1 crucified in   
#agfj1 lived two hundred and  ten hours4
    ,kitto says3 ,we may consider       
thirty-six hours to be the earliest     
period at which crucifixion would       
occasion death in a healthy adult       
7,biblical ,cyclopedia1 ,art4           
,crucifixion74        #cef    ,what were
 his last words8    ,matthew3 ,eli1     
,eli1 lama sabachthani1 that is to say1 
,my ,god1 my ,god1  why hast thou       
forsaken me8 7xxvii1 #df74    ,mark3    
,eloi1 ,eloi1 lama sabachthani1 which   
is1 being interpreted1  ,my ,god1 my    
,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 7xv1   
#cd47    ,luke3 ,father1 into thy hands 
,i commend my spirit 7xxiii1 #df74      
,john3 ,it is finished 7xix1 #cj74      
,with the ,four ,gospels before them1   
,christians do not know what his  last  
words were4 ,the two most popular       
,english ,lives of ,christ are  those of
 ,dr4 ,farrar and ,dr4 ,geikie4 ,these  
writers were contemporaries  and        

friends1 and both were adherents of the 
same church4 ,both1 with  these ,gospels
 for their authorities1 attempt to      
portray the closing  scene4 ,i quote    
from each3    ,dr4 ,farrar3 ,and now the
 end was come4 ,once more1 in the words 
of the  sweet ,psalmist of ,israel1 but 
adding to them that title of trustful   
love which1 through ,him1 is permitted  
to the use of all mankind1  ',father1'  
he said1 'into ,thy hands ,i commend my 
spirit4' ,then with one  more great     
effort he uttered the last cry--the one 
victorious word1  ',it is finished4'    
,dr4 ,geikie3 ,a moment more1 and all   
was over4 ,the cloud had passed as      
suddenly as it rose4 ,far and wide1 over
 the vanquished throngs of his  enemies1
 with a loud voice1 as if uttering his  
shout of eternal victory  before        
entering into his glory1 he cried1 ',it 
is finished6' ,then1 more  gently1 came 
the words1 ',father1 into ,thy hands ,i 
commend my spirit4'        #ceg    ,in  
what language were his last words       

uttered8    ,matthew3 ,in ,hebrew4      
,mark3 ,in ,aramaic and ,hebrew4    ,the
 language spoken by ,jesus and by the   
people of ,palestine at this  time was  
the ,aramaic4 ,mark attempts to give the
 words of ,jesus in  this language4 ,but
 while the first two words are ,aramaic1
 the last  two are ,hebrew4 ,the words  
,mark attempts to give are ,elohi1      
,elohi1  metul mah shabaktani8 ,this    
,gospel was written by one ignorant of  
the language of ,palestine4        #ceh 
,matthew interprets the ,hebrew words   
quoted by him to mean1 ,my ,god1  my    
,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 ,is    
this correct8    ,it is not4 ,the words 
mean1 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou  
sacrificed  me8    ,the ,gospel of      
,matthew1 it is claimed1 originally     
appeared in  ,hebrew4 ,but this shows   
that the author of ,matthew did not     
understand  the ,hebrew language4       
#cei    ,what are the words given by    
,matthew and ,mark8    ,the first words 
of the #bb;d ,psalm4 ,in the words of   

,farrar1 ,he borrowed  from ,david's    
utter agony the expression of his own4  
,is it probable that a man in the       
agonies of a terrible death would       
devote his expiring breath to a recital 
of ,hebrew poetry8 ,when even  the dying
 words of this ,christ are borrowed1 is 
it not evident that  the whole story of 
his life is fabulous8    ,the accounts  
of the crucifixion given by the         
,evangelists are to a  large extent     
reproductions of the #bb;d ,psalm1 even 
to the language  itself1 the poetical   
allusions of the psalmist being         
transformed into  alleged historical    
facts4 ,the devout ,christian who is    
familiar with  this ,passion ,psalm sees
 in the ,evangelists' account of the    
crucifixion  a wonderful fulfillment of 
prophecy4 ,but the critic sees merely   
the  borrowed embellishments of a       
legend4        #cfj    ,what expression 
did his words1 ,eli1 ,eli1 lama         
sabachthani1 provoke8    ,matthew3 ,some
 of them that stood there1 when they    

heard that1 said1  ,this man calleth for
 ,elias 7xxvii1 #dg74    ,this is       
additional proof of ,matthew's ignorance
 of ,hebrew4 ,he  supposes a similarity 
of sound between the two words1 whereas 
they  were utterly unlike in            
pronunciation4 ,eli was pronounced ,ali 
7long  a71 while ,elias was pronounced  
,eleeyahu4 ,but even had they been so   
much alike in sound that one might have 
been mistaken for the other1  as        
,matthew supposes1 the alleged incident 
is disproved by the fact  that the ,jews
 were not allowed to attend the         
execution1 while to the  ,romans the    
words were meaningless4        #cfa     
,who was it bade them see whether ,elias
 would come to his rescue8    ,mark3    
,the one who gave him the sponge filled 
with vinegar4 ,and one  ran and filled a
 sponge full of vinegar1 and put it on a
 reed1 and  gave him to drink1 saying1  
,let alone1 let us see whether ,elias   
will  come to take him down 7xv1 #cf74  
,matthew3 ,it was not this person1 but  

those who were with him4 ,and           
straightway one of them ran1 and took a 
sponge and filled it with  vinegar1 and 
put it on a reed1 and gave him to drink4
 ,the rest said1  ,let be1 let us see   
whether ,elias will come to save him    
7xxvii1  #dh1 #di74    ,in regard to    
these alleged last words of ,jesus1 ,dr4
 ,hooykaas says3  ,it seems to us far   
more probable that these words of the   
,messianic  passion-psalm were put into 
the mouth of ,jesus by tradition than   
that he really uttered them4 ,the       
sequel1 too1 throws great suspicion  on 
the report2 for the ,jews were not      
allowed to approach the cross1  and what
 did the ,roman soldiers know about     
,elijah8 ,besides1 if the  ,jews had    
really heard him cry ,eli6 or ,eloi6    
they would hardly  have mistaken the    
words of the twenty-second ,psalm for a 
cry to the  precursor of the ,messianic 
kingdom--a mistake upon which their     
raillery  is made to depend4 ,we must1  
therefore1 put aside these words1 as in 

all probability unhistorical 7,bible for
 ,learners1 vol4 iii1 p4 #ded74         
#cfb    ,did the thieves between whom he
 was crucified both revile him8         
,matthew and ,mark3 ,they did4 ,and they
 that were crucified with him  reviled  
him 7,mark xv1 #cb2 ,matt4 xxvii1 #dd74 
,luke3 ,they did not2 but one reviled   
him4 ,and one of the malefactors  which 
were hanged railed on him4444 ,but the  
other answering rebuked  him1 saying1   
,dost not thou fear ,god1 seeing thou   
art in the same  condemnation8 7xxiii1  
#ci1 #dj47    ,if these men were        
crucified with ,jesus1 as claimed1      
neither reviled  him4 ,reason rejects   
the statement that a dying man1         
suffering  unutterable agony1 reviled a 
fellow sufferer4        #cfc    ,what   
request did the penitent thief make of  
,jesus8    ,luke3 ,and he said unto     
,jesus1 ,lord1 remember me when thou    
comest  into thy kingdom 7xxiii1 #db74  
,here the dying thief is represented as 
being familiar with a subject  which the

 disciples themselves did not at this   
time comprehend4        #cfd    ,what   
did ,jesus say to the thief8    ,today  
shalt thou be with me in paradise 7,luke
 xxiii1 #dc74    ,instead of going to   
the ,christian ,heaven above1 they went 
to the  ,jewish-,pagan ,sheol 7,hell7   
below4 ,did ,jesus recant on the cross8 
,did  he renounce the ,kingdom of ,god  
when ,god deserted him8 ,concerning this
  remarkable passage1 ,smith's ,bible   
,dictionary says3    ,the ,rabbis in the
 time of our ,savior taught there was a 
region of  the world of the dead1 of    
,sheol1 in the heart of the earth4      
,gehenna  was on one side1 with its     
flames and torments2 ,paradise on the   
other1  the intermediate home of the    
blessed4444 ,it is significant1 indeed1 
that the word 'paradise' nowhere occurs 
in the public teaching of  our ,lord1 or
 in his intercourse with his disciples4 
,connected as it  had been with the     
thoughts of a sensuous happiness1 it was
 not the  fittest nor the best word for 

those whom he was training to rise out  
of sensuous thoughts to the higher      
regions of the spiritual life4 ,for     
them1 accordingly1 the ,kingdom of      
,heaven1 the ,kingdom of ,god1 are the  
words most dwelt on4 ,with the thief    
dying on the cross the case was         
different4 ,we can assume nothing in the
 robber-outlaw but the most  rudimentary
 forms of the popular belief4 ,the      
answer to his prayer gave  him what he  
needed most1 the assurance of immediate 
rest and peace4    ,the explanation of  
the apologist is as lame as the story of
 the  ,evangelist4 ,did ,jesus go to    
,hell with the thief because the thief  
was  unfit to go to ,heaven with him8   
,this apologist says that ,jesus used   
these words--gave expression to a false 
doctrine--because the thief  was        
incapable of comprehending the true     
doctrine4 ,but this conflicts  with the 
alleged words of the thief himself which
 show that he did  comprehend the nature
 of the kingdom of ,heaven4 ,it was     

this1 and not  the peace of the grave1  
for which he prayed4        #cfe        
,what were the centurion's words8       
,luke3 ,certainly this was a righteous  
man 7xxiii1 #dg74    ,matthew3 ,truly   
this was the ,son of ,god 7xxvii1 #ed74 
,we have here the anomaly of a ,roman   
officer--a ,pagan--entertaining  a      
,jewish doctrine of a ,messiah1 and     
accepting the ,christian claim  that    
,jesus was the ,messiah4 ,if this be    
true it is strange that he  permitted   
his soldiers to insult and abuse ,jesus4
        #cff    ,after ,jesus expired   
what did one of the soldiers do8        
,john3 ,one of the soldiers with a spear
 pierced his side 7xix1 #cd74    ,it is 
remarkable that the ,synoptics1 who     
pretend to relate every  important      
incident connected with the crucifixion1
 make no mention  of the spear thrust4  
#cfg    ,what is said to have issued    
from the wound8    ,john3 ,and forthwith
 came there out blood and water 7xix1   
#cd74    ,according to a well known     

physiological fact1 if ,jesus was still 
alive or had but recently expired1 not  
blood and water1 but blood  alone would 
have flowed from the wound4 ,if he was  
dead1 and it is  stated that he was1    
then neither blood nor water would have 
flowed  from it4 ,when blood is drawn   
from a living body it becomes separated 
into two parts1 a thick substance known 
as febrine1 and a watery  fluid known as
 serum4 ,john was familiar with this    
fact and supposed  that this also took  
place in a corpse1 which is not the     
case4    ,dr4 ,cabanes1 a noted         
physician of ,paris1 writes as follows  
regarding  the crucifixion of ,jesus3   
,it appears that crucifixion alone could
 not have produced the death  of ,jesus1
 and in reference to the wounds produced
 by the nails1 these  wounds being the  
result of crushing1 the hemorrhage was  
small4 ,a  burning fever might possibly 
occur which would be manifested by an   
intense thirst1 but the flow of blood   
could not be sufficient to  cause death4

 ,death in this case is preceded by a   
comatose condition  which would be      
inconsistent with the cry uttered in a  
loud voice by  ,jesus shortly before his
 last breath4 ,all the commentators of  
the  gospels further agree that ,jesus  
did not remain more than three to  six  
hours on the cross1 and death cannot be 
produced by an exposure  of this        
duration to this mode of torture4       
,the generally accepted version of the  
lance wound received by ,jesus  is that 
the blow was struck on the left side and
 that there flowed from  the wound water
 mingled with blood4 ,it has been       
correctly remarked that  blood does not 
flow from a corpse1 and therefore if    
blood followed the  lance stroke1 ,jesus
 must have been alive2 further1 in order
 that the  blow might have killed the   
dying man1 it must have injured a vital 
organ4 ,it must be observed that a lance
 directed upward and from  right to left
 could not reach the right-hand cavities
 of the heart  without first opening the

 peritoneal cavity1 traversing the      
liver1  the pericardium and perhaps the 
pleura4 ,we must therefore ask how the  
few hundred grams of blood which a right
 ventricle could contain1 could         
penetrate to the exterior of the body   
after such a great wound4 ,also  with   
those who die slowly there is found a   
distended heart in which  the blood has 
very rapidly coagulated1 and it must    
follow that if a  flood of the liquid   
appeared on the side of ,jesus it could 
not have  come from the heart4 ,with    
regard to the vena cava1 its situation  
is  too far back to have allowed it to  
be touched by the lance4 ,if the  wound 
had been in the stomach a lesion of the 
digestive tube would  have been         
disclosed by an ejection of blood       
mingled with alimentary  matter1 either 
from the mouth or the opening of the    
wound1 or at  least by a discharge of   
blood into the abdominal cavity4 ,had   
the liver  been touched the symptoms of 
an internal hemorrhage would have been  

observed1 as in the case of ,president  
,carnot1 in whose case the blow of  the 
poignard1 directed downward1 perforated 
the liver and the portal  vein1 inducing
 a state of coma1 whereas ,jesus1 we    
have been told1  cried out with a loud  
voice4 ,we thus see that death was not  
due to  the lance wound or to the       
torture of crucifixion1 as so often     
stated4        #cfh    ,was ,christ's   
suffering foretold by the prophets8     
,peter3 ,but those things1 which ,god   
before had showed by the mouth  of all  
his prophets1 that ,christ should       
suffer1 he hath so fulfilled  7,acts    
iii1 #ah74    ,god had not showed by the
 mouth of all his prophets1 nor by the  
mouth of even one of his prophets1 that 
,christ should suffer4 ,the  prophets   
know nothing of a suffering ,messiah4   
,there is not a text in  the ,old       
,testament referring to such a ,messiah4
 ,the passages relating  to suffering   
cited by the ,evangelists and applied to
 ,christ have no  reference whatever to 

a ,messiah4 ,the ,encyclopedia          
,britannica says3  ,that the ,jews in   
the time of ,christ believed in a       
suffering and  atoning ,messiah is1 to  
say the least1 unproved and highly      
improbable4        #cfi    ,what        
marvelous events occurred at the time of
 the crucifixion8    ,matthew3 ,there   
was darkness over all the land 7xxvii1  
#de74 ,the  veil of the temple was rent 
in twain from the top to the bottom2 and
  the earth did quake1 and the rocks    
rent2 and the graves were opened2  and  
many bodies of the saints which slept   
arose 7#ea1 #eb74    ,mark and ,luke3   
,there was darkness over the whole land 
7,mark xv1  #cc74 ,and the veil of the  
temple was rent in twain from the top to
  the bottom 7#ch74    ,mark and ,luke  
know nothing of two of the important    
events related by  ,matthew2 ,john is   
ignorant of all of them4 ,had these     
events really  happened1 the naturalists
 and chroniclers of that age would have 
recorded them4 ,as they make no mention 

of them1 we know that they  did not     
occur4    ,if we accept the claims of   
their followers1 nearly all the gods and
  heroes of antiquity expired amid the  
convulsions of ,nature4 ,the soul  of   
,romulus went out amid the battling of  
her elements2 the sun was  darkened and 
the sky rained fire and ashes when the  
,hindu ,krishna  left his saddened      
followers2 the earth shook1 the rocks   
were rent1  the graves opened1 and in a 
storm which threatened the dissolution  
of  the universe1 ,prometheus closed his
 earthly career2 a pall of darkness     
settled over ,egypt when her ,osiris    
died2 the death of ,alexander was       
succeeded by six hours of preternatural 
gloom2 and--                            
,ere the mighty ,julius fell1           
,the grave stood tenantless1 and the    
sheeted dead          ,did squeak and   
gibber in the ,roman streets4           
#cgj    ,how long did the darkness last8
    ,synoptics3 ,from the sixth to the  
ninth hour 7,matt4 xxvii1 #de2 ,mark xv1

  #cc2 ,luke xxiii1 #dd74    ,according 
to ,matthew and ,luke this darkness     
lasted from the time that  he was       
suspended upon the cross until he died4 
,yet his executioners  are ignorant of  
it4 ,luke says3 ,his acquaintances1 and 
the women that  followed him from       
,galilee1 stood afar off1 beholding     
these things  the crucifixion 7xxiii1   
#di71 which they could not have done had
  this darkness really occurred4    ,if 
this darkness occurred1 and began at the
 sixth hour1 as stated by  the          
,synoptics1 then1 according to ,john1   
the conclusion of the trial1  the       
sentencing of ,jesus1 the preparations  
for his execution1 and the  journey to  
,golgotha1 all took place during the    
darkness1 a conclusion  which the nature
 of the narrative utterly precludes4    
,christian apologists have cited        
,phlegon who notices an eclipse which   
occurred about this time4 ,but there is 
a variance of at least six  years in    
regard to the time that ,jesus was      

crucified4 ,besides an  eclipse could   
not have occurred within two weeks of a 
,passover1 on  the occurrence of which  
he is declared to have been executed4   
,farrar  says3 ,it could have been no   
darkness of any natural eclipse1 for    
the ,paschal moon was at the full 7,life
 of ,christ1 p4 #eje74 ,geikie  says3   
,it is impossible to explain the origin 
of this darkness4 ,the  ,passover moon  
was then at the full1 so that it could  
not have been an  eclipse4 ,the earlier 
fathers1 relying on a notice of an      
eclipse that  seemed to coincide in     
time1 though it really did not1 fancied 
that the  darkness was caused by it1 but
 incorrectly 7,life of ,christ1 ,vol4   
ii1  p4 #fbd1 ,notes74 ,the celebrated  
passage of ,phlegon1 says ,gibbon1  is  
now wisely abandoned 7,rome1 ,vol4 i1 p4
 #ehi1 ,note74        #cga    ,was the  
veil of the temple rent1 as our ,gospel 
of ,matthew declares8    ,the ,gospel of
 ,matthew1 it is affirmed1 originally   
appeared in ,hebrew1  ,st4 ,jerome1 who 

had this original version1 says3 ,in    
that ,gospel which  is written in       
,hebrew letters1 we read1 not that the  
veil of the temple  was rent1 but that a
 lintel 7or beam7 of a prodigious size  
fell down4    ,commenting on this       
alleged prodigy1 the rending of the     
veil1  ,strauss says3 ,now the object of
 the divine ,providence in effecting    
such a miracle could only have been     
this3 to produce in the ,jewish         
contemporaries of ,jesus a deep         
impression of the importance of his     
death1 and to furnish the first         
promulgators of the gospel with a  fact 
to which they might appeal in support of
 their cause4 ,but1 as  ,schleiermacher 
has shown1 nowhere else in the ,new     
,testament1 either  in the apostolic    
epistles or in ,acts1 or even in the    
,epistle to the  ,hebrews1 in connection
 with the subject of which it could     
scarcely  fail to be suggested1 is this 
event mentioned3 on the contrary1  with 
the exception of this bare ,synoptical  

notice1 every trace of it  is lost2     
which could scarcely have been the case 
if it had really  formed a ground of    
apostolical argument4 ,thus the divine  
purpose  in ordaining this miracle must 
have totally failed1 or1 since this  is 
inconceivable1 it cannot have been      
ordained for this object--in  other     
words1 since neither any other object of
 the miracle1 nor yet  a mode in which  
the event might happen naturally can be 
discovered1  it cannot have happened at 
all 7,leben ,jesu1 p4 #ghi74        #cgb
    ,matthew declares that the dead     
arose on the day of the  crucifixion4   
,when did they come out of their graves8
    ,not until after ,christ's          
resurrection1 which did not occur until 
the  following week4 ,and many bodies of
 the saints which slept arose1 and  came
 out of the graves after his            
resurrection 7,matt4 xxvii1 #eb1 #ec74  
,they were polite enough to sit in their
 open graves and wait for  ,christ to   
rise first4--,ingersoll4        #cgc    

,from what source was ,matthew's story  
regarding these marvelous  events       
derived8    ,from ,zechariah3 ,and his  
feet shall stand in that day upon the   
,mount  of ,olives1 which is before     
,jerusalem on the ,east1 and the ,mount 
of ,olives shall cleave in the midst    
thereof 444 and half of the  mountain   
shall remove toward the ,north1 and half
 of it toward the  ,south4444 ,ye shall 
flee1 like as ye fled from before the   
earthquake  in the days of ,uzziah ,king
 of ,judah2 and the ,lord my ,god shall 
come1  and all the saints with thee4    
,and it shall come to pass in that day1 
that the light shall not be clear 7xiv1 
#d-f74    ,concerning this ,dr4 ,wise   
says3 ,god who comes1 according to      
,zachariah1  to fight for ,jerusalem1   
will stand upon ,mount ,olivet4         
,therefore1  ,jesus1 during his fight   
against ,pharisees1 ,sadducees and      
priests1 had  to make his principal home
 on ,mount ,olivet4 ,but he could not   
split the  mountain1 as ,zachariah      

imagined ,god would1 and move one part  
,north and  the other ,south2 therefore1
 the curtain of the temple had to be    
torn in  twain when ,jesus died1        
although none has ever mentioned the    
fact4 ,the  curtain was there some      
thirty-five years after the death of    
,jesus2 had  it been torn1 somebody must
 have noticed it4 ,the earthquake       
mentioned  by ,zachariah1 of course1 was
 borrowed to embellish ,calvary4444     
,because  ,zachariah states ,god coming 
to ,jerusalem1 ',and the ,lord my ,god  
cometh1  all the saints with thee1'     
therefore the saints and not the sinners
  had to resurrect and visit the city on
 that particular day4 ,but in  the      
fertile imagination of ,zachariah1 the  
day of that terrible combat  must be    
dark4444 ,this darkness was transported 
over to ,calvary to  embellish the      
scene4444 ,so these miracles were not   
wrought1 but the  entire outer          
embellishment of ,calvary is taken from 
,zachariah2 not  because it was believed

 this prophecy referred to ,jesus1 but  
simply  because the evangelical writers 
were incompetent to invent original     
poetry 7,martyrdom of ,jesus1 p4 #aaf74 
#cgd    ,what request did the ,jews make
 of ,pilate concerning ,jesus and the   
malefactors8    ,john3 ,they besought   
,pilate that their legs might be broken 
7xix1 #ca74    ,this punishment1 known  
as crurifragium1 was a distinct mode of 
execution and was never united with     
crucifixion4 ,crucifixion1 we have      
seen1 was not employed to punish theft4 
,neither was crurifragium4 ,yet  we are 
asked to believe that both modes of     
execution1 two of  the cruelest forms of
 punishment1 were combined to punish    
these  offenders4 ,the ,synoptics do not
 mention this punishment4        #cge   
,when the soldiers broke the legs of the
 thieves1 why did they spare  those of  
,jesus8    ,john3 ,that the scripture   
should be fulfilled1 ,a bone of him     
shall  not be broken 7xix1 #cf74        
,this refers to ,exodus xii1 #df1 and   

relates to the disposition to be  made  
of the lamb used at the ,passover4      
,nearly the entire chapter from  which  
,john quotes is devoted to this subject4
 ,among other things it  states that    
,they shall eat the flesh in that night1
 444 his head with  his legs1 and with  
the purtenance thereof4 ,and ye shall   
let nothing  of it remain until the     
morning 7#h-aj74 ,if a part of this     
prophecy  was fulfilled1 may not all of 
it have been fulfilled8 ,and if all of  
it was fulfilled1 will not this account 
for the empty sepulchre8    ,regarding  
the failure of the soldiers to break the
 legs of ,jesus1  as ordered1           
,supernatural ,religion says3 ,an order 
having been given  to the ,roman        
soldiers1 in accordance with the request
 of the ,jews1 to  break the legs of the
 crucified1 we are asked to believe that
 they did  not execute it in the case of
 ,jesus4 ,it is not reasonable to       
suppose1  however1 that ,roman soldiers 
either were in the habit of disregarding

  their orders1 or could have any motive
 for doing so in this case1  and        
subjecting themselves to the severe     
punishment for disobedience  inflicted  
by ,roman military law4 ,it is argued   
that they saw that ,jesus  was already  
dead1 and1 therefore1 that it was not   
necessary to break  his legs2 but       
soldiers are not in the habit of        
thinking in this way2  they are         
disciplined to obey 7p4 #iic74          
#cgf    ,what demand was made by the    
,jews on the evening of the crucifixion8
    ,john3 ,that their bodies be taken  
down from the cross 7xix1 #ca74    ,john
 was evidently familiar with the ,mosaic
 law 7,deut4 xxi1 #bb1 #bc7  which1 in  
cases of hanging1 enjoined the burial of
 the body on the  day of execution1 but 
seemingly ignorant of the ,roman law    
under which  they were executed1 which1 
in cases of crucifixion1 prohibited     
burial1  requiring the body to remain   
upon the cross until decayed1 or birds  
and beasts had devoured it4 ,the ,jews  

esteemed it sinful to allow a  criminal 
to remain all night upon the tree2 but  
the ,jewish law was  inapplicable to the
 ,roman mode of punishment which        
presupposed that  the criminal would    
remain on the cross several days and    
nights before  death ensued4        #cgg
    ,what additional reason was there   
for having the bodies taken down8       
,mark3 ,because it was the preparation1 
that is1 the day before the  ,sabbath   
7xv1 #db74    ,the ,sabbath began at    
sunset on the day that he is declared to
 have  been crucified4 ,the ,jewish law 
would not permit his body1 whether dead 
or alive1 to be exposed on the ,sabbath4
 ,crucifixion1 as we have seen1  was a  
lingering death2 several days usually   
elapsing before the victim  expired4    
,now1 is it reasonable to suppose that  
the ,jews would demand1  as claimed1 a  
punishment lasting several days when    
they knew that he  must be taken down   
from the cross in a few hours8          
#cgh    ,what did ,pilate do when       

,joseph solicited the body of ,jesus8   
,mark3 ,pilate marveled if he were      
already dead 7xv1 #dd74    ,why should  
,pilate marvel if he were already dead  
when previous to this1  according to    
,john 7xix1 #ca-cc71 he had1 at the     
request of the ,jews1  ordered his      
soldiers to dispatch him if alive and   
take his body away8        #cgi    ,were
 the disciples present at the           
crucifixion8    ,john3 ,they were1 or   
one1 at least 7xix1 #bf74    ,according 
to the ,synoptics1 all were absent2 all 
had forsaken their  ,master1 all had    
fled4 ,the ,twelve ,apostles at this    
time1 unless ,judas  had already hung   
himself1 as ,matthew declares1 numbered 
one traitor  and eleven cowards4        
#chj    ,what women followed ,jesus and 
witnessed his execution8    ,matthew and
 ,mark3 ,women of ,galilee 7,matt4      
xxvii1 #ee2 ,mark xv1 #dj1 #da74        
,luke3 ,daughters of ,jerusalem1 that   
is1 women of ,judea 7xxiii1 #bh74       
#cha    ,where were ,mary ,magdalene and

 her companions during the crucifixion8 
,matthew and ,mark3 ,looking on afar off
 7,mark xv1 #dj2 ,matt4 xxvii1  #ee1    
#ef74    ,john3 ,they stood by the cross
 7xix1 #be74        #chb    ,was ,mary1 
the mother of ,jesus1 present8    ,john3
 ,she was 7xix1 #be74    ,synoptics3    
,she was not4    ,the ,synoptics do not 
expressly state that she was absent1 but
 if she  was present1 as ,john affirms1 
is it possible that they would ignore   
the fact when they mention the strolling
 ,magdalene no less than  seven times8  
#chc    ,who stood by the cross with the
 mother of ,jesus8    ,john3 ,now there 
stood by the cross of ,jesus his mother1
 and his  mother's sister1 ,mary1 the   
wife of ,cleophas 7xix1 #be74    ,mary  
must have been a very popular name to be
 given to two daughters  of the same    
family4 ,it is not probable that these  
sisters were both  named ,mary4 ,john   
never mentions the name of ,jesus'      
mother1 and it is  evident that he did  
not suppose her name was ,mary4 ,were   

,john the only  ,gospel1 ,christians    
would be ignorant of the ,virgin's name4
 ,mariolatry  did not originate in the  
,johannine church4        #chd    ,to   
whom was entrusted the care of ,jesus'  
mother8    ,john3 ,when ,jesus therefore
 saw his mother1 and the disciple       
standing  by whom he loved ,john1 he    
saith unto his mother1 ,woman1 behold   
thy  son6 ,then saith he to the         
disciple1 ,behold thy mother6 ,and from 
that  hour that disciple took her unto  
his own house 7xix1 #bf1 #bg74    ,the  
teacher who had been to him as a brother
 leaves to him a brother's  duty4 ,he is
 to be as a son to the mother who is    
left desolate4--,bible  ,dictionary4    
,very touchingly expressed4 ,but why was
 this duty imposed upon ,john  when the 
,apostle ,james 7the ,less7 was a       
brother of ,jesus and a son  of ,mary8  
,was he a worthless ingrate1 unable and 
unwilling to care  for her8 ,and what of
 ,joses1 and ,juda1 and ,simon1 and her 
daughters  who remained at home8 ,had   

they turned their mother out of doors8  
#che    ,in whose sepulcher was the body
 of ,jesus placed8    ,matthew3 ,joseph 
laid it in his own new tomb which he had
 hewn out  in the rock 7xxvii1 #fj74    
,john3 ,now in the place where he was   
crucified there was a garden2 and  in   
the garden a new sepulcher1 wherein was 
never man yet laid4 ,there  laid they   
,jesus therefore because of the ,jew's  
preparation day2  for the sepulcher was 
nigh at hand 7xix1 #da1 #db74    ,it is 
evident from ,john that the sepulcher   
did not belong to ,joseph1  but that it 
was one which happened to be convenient 
to the place of  crucifixion2 for1 as   
,strauss justly argues3 ,the vicinity of
 the grave1  when alleged as a motive1  
excludes the fact of possession4        
#chf    ,was his body embalmed when it  
was laid in the sepulcher8    ,john3 ,it
 was4 ,he ,joseph came therefore1 and   
took the body of  ,jesus4 ,and there    
came also ,nicodemus1 which at the first
 came to  ,jesus by night1 and brought a

 mixture of myrrh and aloes1 about an   
hundred pound weight4 ,then took they   
the body of ,jesus1 and wound it  in    
linen clothes with the spices1 as the   
manner of the ,jews is to bury  7xix1   
#ch-dj74    ,mark and ,luke3 ,it was not
 embalmed4 ,the women also1 which came  
with  him from ,galilee1 followed after1
 and beheld the sepulcher1 and how his  
body was laid4 ,and they returned1 and  
prepared spices and ointments  7,luke   
xxiii1 #ee1 #ef72 intending to embalm it
 when the ,sabbath was  past 7,mark xvi1
 #a74        #chg    ,what is said in   
regard to wrapping the body of ,jesus by
 ,joseph8    ,mark3 ,he bought fine     
linen1 and took him down1 and wrapped   
him in  the linen 7xv1 #df74    ,this   
statement is rejected by critics4 ,a    
member of the ,sanhedrim  would not     
desecrate the ,passover by making a     
purchase on it4        #chh    ,what was
 the amount of the material used in     
embalming ,jesus8    ,john3 ,a hundred  
pounds 7xix1 #ci74    ,this was         

sufficient to embalm a dozen bodies4    
,yet after seeing  his body literally   
buried in the material1 the women1 we   
are told1  procured more4        #chi   
,when did the women procure materials   
for embalming ,jesus8    ,luke3 ,they   
returned1 and prepared spices and       
ointments2 and rested  the ,sabbath ,day
 7xxiii1 #ef74    ,mark 7,new ,ver473   
,and when the ,sabbath was past1 ,mary  
,magdalene and  ,mary the mother of     
,james1 and ,salome1 bought spices that 
they might  come and anoint him 7xvi1   
#a74    ,according to ,luke they        
prepared the spices before the ,sabbath 
began1  that is1 before the end of the  
sixth day2 according to ,mark1 they  did
 not procure them until the ,sabbath was
 past1 that is1 not until  the beginning
 of the first day4        #cij    ,when 
did they go to embalm the body8    ,mark
 and ,luke3 ,when the ,sabbath was past1
 444 the first day of the  week 7,mark  
xvi1 #a1 #b2 ,luke xxiv1 #a74    ,is it 
reasonable to suppose that in that warm 

spring climate  7,dr4 ,geikie speaks of 
the fierce heat that prevailed at the   
time71  they would let a wounded body   
lie two days1 until decomposition had   
commenced1 and then attempt to embalm   
it8        #cia    ,when was the        
sepulcher closed8    ,all3 ,when the    
body was placed in it 7,matt4 xxvii1    
#fj2 ,mark xv1 #df2  ,luke xxiii1 #ec1  
xxiv1 #a1 #b2 ,john xix1 #da1 #db1 xx1  
#a74    ,according to the ,evangelists1 
the stone was rolled to the door of  the
 sepulcher as soon as the body was      
deposited1 and according to  ,mark and  
,luke1 the women were troubled as to who
 should roll away  the stone when they  
went to embalm the body4    ,in         
sepulture of this kind1 the tomb was not
 closed until the third day1  and when  
once closed it was not to be opened4    
,this deviation from the  customary mode
 is evidently for the purpose of        
establishing faith in  the doctrine of  
the resurrection1 by shutting off all   
means of escape  or removal without     

supernatural aid4 ,the ,evangelists are 
particular  to state that ,joseph rolled
 a great stone to the door4    ,in a    
single paragraph1 ,scribner's ,bible    
,dictionary concedes no less  than seven
 ,synoptical errors regarding the trial1
 crucifixion and  burial of ,jesus3 ,the
 ,synoptists make the ,sanhedrim say    
beforehand that  they will not arrest   
,jesus 'on the feast day1' and then     
actually arrest  him on that day2 that  
not only the guards1 but one of the     
disciples  carries arms1 which on the   
feast day was not allowed2 that the     
trial  was also held on the feast day1  
which would be unlawful2 that the  feast
 day would not be called ',preparation'2
 that the phrase 'coming  from the      
field' 7,mk4 xv1 #ba7 means properly    
'coming from work'2 that  ,joseph of    
,arimathea is represented as buying a   
linen cloth 7,mk4 xv1  #df71 and the    
women as preparing spices and ointments 
7,lk4 xxiii1 #ef71  all of which would  
be contrary to law and custom4          

#cib    ,in what year was ,jesus        
crucified8    ,not one of the           
,evangelists knows4 ,they agree that he 
was crucified  during the time that     
,pontius ,pilate was procurator of      
,judea1 and ,joseph  ,caiaphas was high 
priest of the ,jews4 ,but this1 so far  
as ,matthew1  ,mark and ,john are       
concerned1 may have been any time from  
#bf to #cf ,a4 ,d4    ,luke1 while he   
does not state the particular year1 nor 
furnish data  for determining it1 is    
more definite4 ,he says that ,jesus     
began his  ministry in the fifteenth    
year of the reign of ,tiberius ,caesar1 
and his narrative clearly implies that  
he was crucified at the  following      
,passover4 ,tiberius commenced his reign
 in ,august1 #ad  ,a4 ,d4 ,the fifteenth
 year of his reign1 then1 extended from 
,august1  #bh ,a4 ,d41 to ,august1 #bi  
,a4 ,d4 ,if ,jesus began his ministry   
during the  first months of this year1  
he might have been crucified as early as
  the spring of #bi4 ,but it is         

generally conceded that the time which  
this would allow for his ministry was   
far too brief1 and that he  could not   
have been crucified before #cj ,a4 ,d4  
,the ,christian ,fathers who1 for the   
most part1 accepted the tradition  of   
,luke and affirmed that his ministry    
lasted but one year1 or less1  held that
 the crucifixion occurred in #bi ,a4 ,d4
    ,scribner's ,bible ,dictionary gives
 preference to #bi ,a4 ,d4 ,cuthbert    
,hamilton ,turner1 ,m4,a41 ,oxford1 the 
,new ,testament chronologist of  that   
work1 after a lengthy review of the     
subject1 says3 ,to sum up  briefly1 the 
separate results of five lines of       
enquiry harmonize with  one another     
beyond expectation1 so that each in turn
 supplies fresh  security for the rest4 
,the nativity in ,b4 ,c4 #g-f2 the age  
of our  ,lord at the baptism1 #cj years1
 more or less2 the baptism in ,a4 ,d4   
#bf  7#bf-bg72 the duration of the      
ministry between two and three years2   
the crucifixion in ,a4 ,d4 #bi4    ,this

 authority states that his ministry     
lasted two or three years4 ,it  was     
necessary to do this or reject ,john4   
,by taking a year or more from  ,john's 
ministry of ,jesus and adding it to the 
one year ministry of the  ,synoptics--by
 assuming that the ,synoptics omit to   
mention one or more  ,passovers1 and    
that one of the ,passovers mentioned by 
,john was some  other feast--it pretends
 to have reconciled the discrepancy     
regarding  the length of ,christ's      
ministry4 ,but if his ministry lasted   
two or  three years1 as affirmed1 he    
could not have been crucified in #bi ,a4
 ,d4    ,with orthodox commentators1 a  
favorite method of reconciling ,old     
,testament dates1 as ,i have noted in a 
previous work1 is to assume that  a     
king1 concerning the date of whose      
accession1 or length of reign1  a       
discrepancy appears1 reigned in consort 
with his predecessor for a  number of   
years sufficient to cover the           
discrepancy4 ,this dishonest  method of 

explanation--for it is a dishonest      
trick1 intended to  deceive the reader  
and hide from him an error--has been    
employed  to reconcile ,luke and ,john4 
,by assuming that ,tiberius divided the 
government with ,augustus for two years 
preceding his accession to  the throne1 
an assumption for which there is no     
credible authority1  and that ,luke     
accordingly reckons the fifteenth year  
from #ab ,a4 ,d41  instead of #ad ,a4   
,d41 when he really became emperor1 it  
is possible  to give ,jesus a ministry  
of two or three years and still have    
him crucified in #bi ,a4 ,d4 ,but       
another irreconcilable difficulty       
remains4 ,the ,synoptics state that he  
was crucified on the ,passover  and on  
the day preceding the ,sabbath1 that is1
 on ,friday4 ,if so1  he could not have 
been crucified in #bi ,a4 ,d41 for the  
,passover did  not fall on ,friday that 
year4    ,dr4 ,farrar says it is highly 
probable that the crucifixion took      
place at the passover of ,march1 #cj ,a4

 ,d4    ,justice ,bradley of the ,united
 ,states ,supreme ,court1 who made an   
exhaustive examination of all the       
evidence and arguments bearing on  the  
question1 decided in favor of #cj ,a4   
,d4 ,he says3 ,there were only  three   
years from ,a4 ,d4 #bg to ,a4 ,d4 #cf1  
inclusive1 in which the #ast  of ,nisan1
 and consequently the #aeth of ,nisan1  
happened on ,friday1 and  these were ,a4
 ,d4 #bg1 #cj and #cc1 the last of which
 is very doubtful4 ,but  the crucifixion
 could not have happened before ,a4 ,d4 
#bh1 and probably  not later than ,a4   
,d4 #ca4 ,therefore the year #cj is the 
only one which  satisfies all the       
conditions of the problem4444 ,now1     
since in ,a4 ,d4 #cj1  the #ast of      
,nisan fell on ,friday1 the #bdth of    
,march1 the #aeth fell on  ,friday1 the 
#gth of ,april1 which was the day of the
 crucifixion4    ,dr4 ,farrar and       
,justice ,bradley are agreed in regard  
to the year of  the crucifixion1 but    
they are not agreed in regard to the    

calendar  month in which it occurred4   
,dr4 ,farrar says it occurred in ,march2
  ,justice ,bradley says it occurred in 
,april4    ,justice ,bradley says that  
#cj ,a4 ,d4 satisfies all the           
conditions4 ,it  does satisfy the       
conditions of the ,synoptics1 but it    
does not satisfy  the conditions of     
,john1 as claimed4 ,to satisfy the      
conditions of ,john  it is necessary to 
adopt the untenable hypothesis of #ab   
,a4 ,d4 as  the date of ,tiberius       
,caesar's accession4 ,but whatever      
satisfies  the conditions of ,john must 
necessarily conflict with those of the  
,synoptics4    ,some ,christian scholars
 place the crucifixion in #ca ,a4 ,d41  
others in #cb  ,a4 ,d4 ,but neither year
 can be harmonized with the ,synoptics' 
statement  that he was put to death on  
the ,passover1 or with ,john's that he  
suffered on the day of ,preparation4    
,neither can they be harmonized with    
either the ,synoptics or ,john in regard
 to the duration of his ministry4    ,it

 is probable that a majority of         
,christian scholars today believe  that 
,jesus was crucified in #cc4 ,renan     
accepted this date4 ,he says3           
,according to the calculation we adopt1 
the death of ,jesus happened in  the    
year #cc of our era4 ,it could not1 at  
all events1 be either before  the year  
#bi1 the preaching of ,john and ,jesus  
having commenced in the  year #bh1 or   
after #ce1 since in the year #cf1 and   
probably before the  ,passover1 ,pilate 
and ,kaiapha both lost their offices4   
,the adoption of #cc allows for the four
 years' ministry ascribed to  ,jesus by 
,john1 but it cannot be reconciled with 
the brief ministry  ascribed to him by  
the ,synoptics4 ,as for ,renan1 who in  
the first  edition of his ,jesus        
accepted the authenticity of ,john1 but 
subsequently rejected it and accepted   
only the ,synoptics1 he has no          
,evangelistic authority for #cc4    ,the
 ,dutch theologians1 ,kuenen1 ,oort and 
,hooykaas1 and many other               

,rationalists1 give #ce ,a4 ,d4 the     
preference4 ,to accept this year1       
however1 it is necessary to reject the  
,passover crucifixion1 and to  assign to
 ,jesus a much longer ministry than even
 ,john assigns4    ,of one hundred      
,christian authorities who attempt to   
name the year in  which ,christ was     
crucified1 twenty-three say #bi1        
eighteen #cj1 nine #ca1  seven #cb1     
thirty-seven #cc1 and six #ce ,a4 ,d4   
,thus it will be seen that not a year   
that can be named can be  harmonized    
with the accounts of the crucifixion    
given in the four  gospels4 ,the result 
is that there is as great a lack of     
agreement  in regard to the time of     
,christ's death as there is in regard to
 the  time of his birth4 ,christians do 
not know when he was born1 they do  not 
know when he died1 they cannot prove    
that he lived4        #cic    ,on what  
day of the month was he crucified8      
,synoptics3 ,on the #aeth of ,nisan4    
,john3 ,on the #adth of ,nisan4    ,this

 discrepancy is conceded by ,scribner's 
,bible ,dictionary4 ,it says3    ,it is 
the ,last ,supper which the ,synoptics  
appear to fix by identifying  it with   
the ,passover4 ,they say expressly that 
on the morning of the  'first day of    
unleavened bread1 when they sacrificed  
the passover'  7,mk4 xiv1 #ab71 the     
disciples asked where the ,passover was 
to be  eaten4 ,this would be on the     
morning of ,nisan #ad4 ,in the evening1 
which from twilight onwards would belong
 to ,nisan #ae1 would follow  the ,last 
,supper1 and on the next afternoon      
7still1 on the ,jewish  reckoning1      
,nisan #ae7 the crucifixion4 ,st4 ,john1
 on the other hand1 by  a number of     
clear indications 7,john xiii1 #a1      
xviii1 #bh1 xix1 #ad1 #ca7  implies that
 the ,last ,supper was eaten before the 
time of the regular  ,passover1 and that
 the ,lord suffered on the afternoon of 
,nisan #ad1  about the time of the      
slaying of the ,paschal lamb4 ,we are   
thus left  with a conflict of testimony4

        #cid    ,on what day of the week
 was he crucified8    ,synoptics3 ,on   
,friday4    ,john3 ,on ,thursday4       
,the ,synoptics agree that he was       
crucified on the day following the      
,preparation1 that is1 on the day of the
 ,passover1 and the day preceding  the  
,sabbath4 ,as the ,jewish ,sabbath fell 
on ,saturday1 he was1 therefore1        
crucified on ,friday4    ,john          
repeatedly declares that his trial and  
crucifixion occurred on  the preparation
 of the passover4 ,if the ,passover     
occurred on ,friday1  as the ,synoptics 
state1 he was crucified on the preceding
 day1 or  ,thursday4 ,it is claimed by  
some1 though the claim is disputed1 that
  the ,synoptics are in error1 that the 
,passover was never held on ,friday4    
#cie    ,on what day of the feast did   
the crucifixion occur8    ,synoptics3   
,on the ,passover4    ,john3 ,on the day
 of ,preparation4    ,it is expressly   
stated in the ,synoptics that he        
celebrated the  ,passover before his    

death4 ,then came the day of unleavened 
bread1  when the passover must be       
killed4 ,and he sent ,peter and ,john1  
saying1  ,go and prepare us the         
passover1 that we may eat4444 ,and they 
made  ready the passover4 ,and when the 
hour was come1 he sat down1 and the     
twelve apostles with him4 ,and he said  
unto them1 ,with desire ,i have  desired
 to eat this passover with you before ,i
 suffer 7,luke xxii1  #g-ae2 ,matt4     
xxvi1 #ag-bj2 ,mark xiv1 #ab-ah74       
,the author of the ,fourth ,gospel      
declares that the ,last ,supper was not 
the ,paschal meal1 and that ,jesus was  
crucified on the day preceding  the     
,passover1 that is1 on the day of       
,preparation4 ,he refers to the  events 
connected with the ,last ,supper as     
having taken place before  the passover 
7xiii1 #a72 after supper1 when ,jesus   
bade ,judas do quickly  what he proposed
 to do1 he states that the disciples    
thought because  ,judas had the bag1    
that ,jesus had said unto him1 ,buy     

those things that  we have need of      
against the feast 7xiii1 #bi72 at the   
trial1 he says1  the ,jews themselves   
went not into the judgment hall1 lest   
they might  be defiled1 but that they   
might eat the passover 7xviii1 #bh72    
when  ,pilate is about to deliver him up
 to be crucified1 he even goes out  of  
the way to repeat that ,it was the      
preparation of the passover  7xix1 #ad74
    ,this discrepancy is not1 like many 
other ,bible discrepancies1 an          
unintentional error4 ,it represents a   
conflict between two dogmas4 ,the       
primitive church was rent with          
dissensions regarding this question1    
some contending that ,christ suffered on
 the #adth ,nisan1 others that  it was  
on the #aeth4 ,during the second        
century--the century in which  our      
gospels appeared--this controversy was  
especially bitter4    ,according to     
,john 7i1 #bi1 xix1 #cc1 #cf7 ,jesus was
 the ,paschal ,lamb1 and  as such1 must 
be slain on the day of ,preparation4    

,the slaying of the  lambs began at     
three o'clock in the afternoon1 the hour
 at which ,jesus  is said to have       
expired4 ,the ,synoptics1 on the other  
hand1 in order to  enable him to partake
 of the ,paschal meal and institute the 
,eucharist1  which is a survival and    
perpetuation of the ,passover1 must     
prolong  his existence until after this 
meal1 and consequently his crucifixion  
cannot take place until the following   
day4 ,it was impossible for him  to be  
the ,paschal ,lamb and at the same time 
partake of the ,paschal  meal4 ,this    
necessarily produced a schism4 ,the     
,fourth ,gospel was written  in support 
of the one side1 the ,synoptics in      
support of the other4    ,it is declared
 by the most eminent fathers of the     
second century  that the ,apostle ,john1
 whom some of them had known1 was       
accustomed  to observe the ,paschal     
meal4 ,this is another argument against 
the  ,johannine authorship of the       
,fourth ,gospel4    ,referring to the   

,lord's ,supper1 as recorded in ,john1  
the ,bible for  ,learners says3 ,it was 
not the ,paschal meal4 ,the ,passover   
did not  begin until the following      
evening2 for he himself who was the true
  ,paschal ,lamb1 and as such made an   
end of all sacrifices1 must be  put to  
death at the very day and hour ordained 
for the slaughter of  the lamb--not     
twenty-four hours later as the ,synoptic
 ,gospels say  7,vol4 iii1 p4 #fhd74    
,admitting the discrepancy1 but without 
determining which is correct1  ,smith's 
,bible ,dictionary says3 ,the crowning  
application of the  ,paschal rites to   
the truths of which they were the       
shadowy promises  appears to be that    
which is afforded by the fact that our  
,lord's  death occurred during the      
festival4 ,according to the ,divine     
purpose1  the true ,lamb of ,god was    
slain at nearly the same time as 'the   
,lord's  ,passover1' in obedience to the
 letter of the law4    ,it was not      
according to the ,divine purpose that   

,jesus was slain at  the ,passover1 but 
it was according to a human invention   
that he is  declared to have been slain 
at this time4 ,these attempts to connect
  the crucifixion with the ,passover    
afford the strongest proof that it  is a
 myth4        #cif    ,what led to the  
arrest and crucifixion of ,jesus8       
,john3 ,his miracle of raising ,lazarus 
from the dead4 ,on learning of  it the  
,jewish council met1 and from that day  
forth they took counsel  together for to
 put him to death 7xi1 #dg1 #ec74       
,this is more difficult to believe than 
the miracle itself4 ,it is the  most    
improbable statement ever penned--the   
one that does most violence  to human   
reason4 ,the crudest savages on earth   
would not have slain  nor even harmed a 
man who had proved himself the          
,conqueror and ,king  of ,death4        
#cig    ,what did ,christ say during his
 ministry concerning the cross8    ,he  
that taketh not his cross1 and followeth
 after me is not worthy  of me 7,matthew

 x1 #ch2 ,luke xiv1 #bg74    ,whosoever 
will come after me1 let him deny        
himself1 and take up his  cross1 and    
follow me 7,mark viii1 #cd74    ,if any 
man will come after me1 let him deny    
himself1 and take up  his cross daily   
and follow me 7,luke ix1 #bc74    ,these
 utterances are alleged to have been    
made early in his  ministry4 ,now1 the  
cross as a ,christian symbol is supposed
 to have  been adopted after1 and not   
until after1 the crucifixion4 ,its      
introduction in the passages quoted     
suggests one of two things3  either that
 the ,synoptics put into the mouth of   
,jesus words that he  never uttered1 or 
that the cross1 as a religious symbol1  
was used  before the crucifixion1 in    
which case its adoption by the church is
  no proof of the crucifixion4          
#cih    ,the so-called historical books 
of the ,new ,testament1 the ,four       
,gospels  and the ,acts of the          
,apostles1 declare that ,christ was     
crucified4 ,do  the remaining books of  

the ,new ,testament confirm it8    ,in  
the first four ,pauline ,epistles1 known
 as the genuine ,epistles  of ,paul1 the
 verb crucify--crucified appears in ten 
different texts1  as follows3           
,knowing this1 that our old man is      
crucified with him1 that the body  of   
sin might be destroyed 7,romans vi1 #f74
    ,is ,christ divided8 ,was ,paul     
crucified for you8 7#a ,corinthians1  i1
 #ac47    ,but we preach ,christ        
crucified1 unto the ,jews a stumbling   
block1  and unto the ,greeks foolishness
 7#bc74    ,for ,i determined not to    
know any thing among you1 save ,jesus   
,christ1  and him crucified 7ii1 #b74   
,for had they known it1 they would not  
have crucified the ,lord of  glory 7#h74
    ,for though he was crucified through
 weakness1 yet he liveth by the  power  
of ,god 7#b ,corinthians xiii1 #d74     
,i am crucified with ,christ 7,galatians
 ii1 #bj74    ,o foolish ,galatians1 who
 hath bewitched you1 that ye should not 
obey the truth1 before whose eyes ,jesus

 ,christ hath been evidently  set forth1
 crucified among you8 7iii1 #a47    ,and
 they that are ,christ's have crucified 
the flesh with the  affections and lusts
 7v1 #bd74    ,but ,god forbid that ,i  
should glory1 save in the cross of our  
,lord  ,jesus ,christ1 by whom the world
 is crucified unto me1 and ,i unto the  
world 7vi1 #ad74    ,webster defines    
this word as follows3 #a4 ,to nail to a 
cross2 to put to  death by nailing the  
hands and feet to a cross or gibbet1    
sometimes1  anciently1 by fastening a   
criminal to a tree with cords4 #b4 ,in  
scriptural language1 to subdue2 to      
mortify2 to destroy the power or  ruling
 influence of4 #c4 ,to reject and       
despise4 #d4 ,to vex or torment4    ,the
 first1 only1 denotes a physical        
crucifixion1 which1 it is claimed1      
,christ suffered4 ,the word1 as used by 
,paul1 in most instances1 clearly       
denotes a crucifying of the passions and
 carnal pleasures1 and the  exceptions1 
when taken in connection with ,paul's   

well known teachings1  and allowing for 
the probable corruption of the original 
text1 do  not confirm the ,evangelistic 
accounts of the crucifixion4 ,besides   
this it is admitted that ,paul did not  
witness the crucifixion1 and  that these
 ,epistles1 even if authentic1 were not 
written until nearly  thirty years after
 it is said to have occurred4    ,in the
 eighteen books which follow1 the word  
crucify appears but  twice--in ,hebrews 
7vi1 #f7 and in ,revelation 7xi1 #h74   
,the word  crucifixion does not appear  
once in the ,bible4    ,concerning the  
books we have been considering in this  
criticism1  ,paine writes as follows3   
,whether the fourteen epistles ascribed 
to  ,paul were written by him or not1 is
 a matter of indifference2 they are     
either argumentative or dogmatical2 and 
as the argument is defective  and the   
dogmatical part is merely presumptive1  
it signifies not who  wrote them4 ,and  
the same may be said for the remaining  
parts of the  ,testament4 ,it is not    

upon the ,epistles1 but upon what is    
called the  ,gospel1 contained in the   
four books ascribed to ,matthew1 ,mark1 
,luke1  and ,john1 and upon the         
pretended prophecies1 that the theory of
 the  church calling itself the         
,christian ,church is founded4 ,the     
,epistles  are dependent upon those1 and
 must follow their fate2 for if the     
story of ,jesus ,christ be fabulous1 all
 reasoning founded upon it as  a        
supposed truth must fall with it 7,age  
of ,reason74        #cii    ,how old was
 ,jesus at the time of his death8       
,luke3 ,he was but little more than     
thirty years old4    ,john3 ,he was     
nearly fifty4 ,in a controversy with the
 ,jews1 during  his ministry1 he said3  
,your father ,abraham rejoiced to see my
 day3  and he saw1 and was glad4 ,then  
said the ,jews unto him1 ,thou art  not 
yet fifty years old1 and hast thou seen 
,abraham8 7viii1 #ef1  #eg47 ,this      
implies that he was nearly fifty at this
 time4    ,discussing the question of   

,jesus' age1 ,st4 ,irenaeus1 the most   
renowned  of the early ,christian       
,fathers1 and the founder of the ,new   
,testament  canon1 who lived in the     
century immediately following ,jesus1   
says3    ,he ,christ came to save all   
through means of himself--all ,i say1   
who through him are born again to       
,god--infants and children1 and  boys1  
and youths1 and old men4 ,he therefore  
passed through every age2  becoming an  
infant for infants1 thus sanctifying    
infants2 a child  for children1 thus    
sanctifying those who are of this age1  
being at  the same time made to them an 
example of piety1 righteousness and     
submission2 a youth for youths1 becoming
 an example to youths1 and  thus        
sanctifying them for the ,lord4 ,so     
likewise1 he was an old man  for old    
men1 that he might be a perfect master  
for all2 not merely  as respects the    
setting forth of the truth1 but also as 
regards age2  sanctifying at the same   
time1 the aged also1 and becoming an    

example  to them likewise4 ,then1 at    
last1 he came on to death itself1 that  
he  might be the first born from the    
dead1 that in all things he might  have 
the pre-eminence2 the ,prince of ,life1 
existing before all1  and going before  
all 7,against ,heresies1 ,book iv1 ch4  
xxii1 sec4 #d74    ,commenting on the   
passage quoted from ,john1 ,irenaeus    
says3 ,but besides  this1 those very    
,jews who thus disputed with the ,lord  
,jesus ,christ1  have most closely      
indicated the same thing4 ,for when the 
,lord said  to them1 ',your father      
,abraham rejoiced to see my day1 and he 
saw it1  and was glad2' they answered   
him1 ',thou art not yet fifty years old2
  and hast thou seen ,abraham8' ,now1   
such language is fittingly applied  to  
one who has already passed the age of   
forty1 without having yet  reached his  
fiftieth year1 yet is not far from this 
latter period4 ,but  to one who is only 
thirty years old1 it would              
unquestionably be said1  ',thou art not 

yet forty years old4' ,for those who    
wished to convict  him of falsehood1    
would certainly not extend the number of
 his years  far beyond the age which    
they saw he had attained4444 ,it is     
altogether  unreasonable to suppose that
 they were mistaken by twenty years1    
when  they wished to prove him younger  
than the times of ,abraham4444 ,he  did 
not then want much of being fifty years 
old 7,ibid4 sec4 #f74    ,nor did       
,irenaeus depend upon the ,fourth       
,gospel alone for his  authority4 ,he   
was the companion of the aged ,polycarp1
 whom ,christians  claim to have been   
the companion of the ,apostle ,john4    
,concerning  the testimony of ,polycarp 
and others1 he writes3 ,those who were  
conversant in ,asia with ,john1 the     
disciple of the ,lord1 testify  that    
,john conveyed to them that information4
 ,and he 7,john7 remained  among them up
 to the times of ,tragan4 ,some of them1
 moreover1 saw not  only ,john1 but the 
other apostles also1 and heard the same 

account  from them1 and bear testimony  
to the statement 7,ib41 sec4 #e74    ,in
 regard to this testimony of the divine 
,irenaeus1 as he is called1  ,godfrey   
,higgins says3 ,the church has been     
guilty of the oversight of  letting this
 passage from ,irenaeus escape4 ,one of 
the earliest1 most  respected1 and most 
quoted of its ancient bishops1 saints   
and martyrs1  tells us in distinct words
 that ,jesus was not crucified under    
,herod  and ,pontius ,pilate1 but that  
he lived to be turned fifty years of    
age4 ,this he tells us on the authority 
of his master1 ,st4 ,polycarp1  also a  
martyr1 who had it from ,st4 ,john      
himself1 and from all the  old people of
 ,asia 7,anacalypsis74    ,of this      
testimony and its consequences1 ,judge  
,waite1 in his ,history of              
,christianity 7pp4 #cbi1 #ccj7 says3 ,it
 must be remembered that ,irenaeus  had 
been a companion of ,polycarp and others
 who had seen ,john1 and  that he was   
speaking of what had come to his        

personal knowledge from  the elders in  
,asia4 ,if1 then1 ,irenaeus tells the   
truth1 the evidence  in favor of the    
fact is almost overwhelming4 ,if1 on the
 other hand1  he would deliberately     
falsify in a matter of this importance1 
what is  his testimony worth as to the  
origin of the four gospels8 ,against    
this  evidence1 we have only the silence
 of the gospels4 ,but if the silence  of
 the ,synoptics is consistent with a    
ministry of three or four years1  why is
 not the further silence of all the     
gospels consistent with a  ministry of  
twenty years8    ,how would such a      
theory affect the received chronology   
concerning  ,christ8 ,the date of the   
crucifixion at not later than ,a4 ,d4   
#cf1  or when ,christ was1 by the       
received chronology1 forty years old1 is
  settled by the fact1 that in that     
year1 ,pontius ,pilate was removed  from
 his government4444 ,if1 then1 it be    
accepted as a historical fact  that     
,christ was about fifty years old at    

this crucifixion1 the date  of his birth
 would have to be set back at least ten 
years4    ,every line of these accounts 
of the trial and crucifixion of ,christ 
bears the ineffaceable stamp of fiction4
 ,there was no ,christ to  crucify1 and 
,jesus of ,nazareth1 if he existed1 was 
not crucified  as claimed4    ,for more 
than fifteen centuries an inoffensive1  
industrious and moral  people have been 
persecuted1 robbed and butchered by     
,christians1  because their forefathers 
are said to have slain a mythical ,god4 
,supposing that from the myth of        
,prometheus had sprung a popular        
religion1 which1 in its day1 had1 like  
the religions of ,osiris1  ,bacchus1    
,krishna and ,christ1 overspread the    
earth4 ,then think of  the devotees of  
this religion massacring the ,hellenists
 because ,zeus  had crucified           
,prometheus6 ,how long must our         
mythology1 with all its  attendant      
evils1 rule and curse the world8 ,how   
long must an innocent  people suffer for

 an alleged crime that was never        
committed8                ,,chapter     
,,vii4    ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of     
,,christ4      #djj    ,how long did    
,jesus say he would remain in the grave8
    ,for as ,jonas was three days and   
three nights in the whale's belly2  so  
shall the ,son of ,man be three days and
 three nights in the heart  of the earth
 7,matthew xii1 #dj74    ,how long did  
he remain in the grave8    ,synoptics3  
,being buried on ,friday evening1 and   
having risen on or  before ,sunday      
morning1 he was in the grave1 at the    
most1 but two  nights and one day4      
#dja    ,what occurred on the morning of
 the resurrection8    ,matthew3 ,there  
was a great earthquake 7xxviii1 #b74    
,the other ,evangelists know nothing of 
this earthquake4 ,they not  only omit   
it1 but their accounts of the           
resurrection preclude the  possibility  
of its occurrence4        #djb    ,who  
were the first to visit the tomb on the 
morning of the  resurrection8    ,john3 

,mary ,magdalene 7xx1 #a74    ,matthew3 
,mary ,magdalene and the other ,mary    
7xxviii1 #a74    ,mark3 ,mary           
,magdalene1 and ,mary the mother of     
,james1 and ,salome  7xvi1 #a1 #b74     
,luke3 ,mary ,magdalene1 and ,joanna1   
and ,mary the mother of ,james1  and    
other women 7xxiv1 #a-aj74        #djc  
,who was ,salome8    ,the wife of       
,zebedee1 as appears from comparing     
,matt4 xxvii1 #ef1  with ,mark xv1      
#dj4--,smith's ,bible ,dictionary4      
,matthew says that the women who        
witnessed the crucifixion were ,mary    
,magdalene1 and ,mary the mother of     
,james and ,joses1 and the mother of    
,zebedee's children4 ,mark says the     
women were ,mary ,magdalene1 and  ,mary 
the mother of ,james the less and of    
,joses1 and ,salome4 ,this is a         
discrepancy that can be reconciled only 
by supposing that the mother  of        
,zebedee's children 7,james and ,john7  
was ,salome4 ,but the ,gospel  of the   
,egyptians1 older than either ,matthew  

or ,mark1 and accepted by  early        
,christians as authentic1 states that   
,salome was a single woman4        #djd 
,at what time in the morning did the    
women visit the tomb8    ,mark3 ,at the 
rising of the sun 7xvi1 #b74    ,john3  
,when it was yet dark 7xx1 #a74    ,if  
they came at the rising of the sun1 or  
when the sun was risen  7,new ,ver471 it
 was not yet dark4        #dje    ,when 
does ,matthew say they came8    ,in the 
end of the ,sabbath as it began to dawn 
toward the first day  of the week       
7xxviii1 #a74    ,if they came in the   
end of the ,sabbath1 and ,jesus had     
already risen1  then his resurrection   
took place1 not on the first day of the 
week1 as  claimed1 but on the seventh   
day4 ,matthew was a ,jew2 yet the author
 of  this ,gospel was seemingly ignorant
 of the ,jewish method of computing     
time1 according to which the ,sabbath   
began and ended at sunset4 ,he          
evidently supposed that the night       
preceding their visit to the tomb       

belonged to the seventh day1 whereas it 
belonged to the first day4        #djf  
,was the tomb open1 or closed1 when they
 came8    ,luke3 ,they found the stone  
rolled away from the sepulchre 7xxiv1   
#b74    ,matthew3 ,the tomb was closed4 
,the stone was not rolled from the door 
until after they came 7xxviii1 #a1 #b74 
,this1 in the opinion of most critics1  
is the meaning of ,matthew's  language4 
#djg    ,whom did they meet at the tomb8
    ,matthew3 ,the angel 7xxviii1 #b-e74
    ,mark3 ,a young man 7xvi1 #e74      
,luke3 ,two men 7xxiv1 #d74    ,john3   
,two angels 7xx1 #ab74        #djh      
,were these men or angels in the        
sepulchre or outside of it8    ,matthew3
 ,outside of it 7xxviii1 #b74    ,mark1 
,luke and ,john3 ,inside of it 7,mark   
xvi1 #e2 ,luke xxiv1 #c1 #d2  ,john xx1 
#aa1 #ab74        #dji    ,were they    
sitting or standing8    ,luke3 ,standing
 7xxiv1 #d74    ,matthew1 ,mark and     
,john3 ,sitting 7,matt4 xxviii1 #b2     
,mark xvi1 #a2 ,john  xx1 #ab74         

#daj    ,what were the first words they 
spoke to the women8    ,matthew and     
,mark3 ,be not affrighted 7,mark xvi1   
#f2 ,matt4 xxviii1 #e74    ,luke3 ,why  
seek ye the living among the dead8      
7xxiv1 #e47    ,john3 ,woman1 why       
weepest thou8 7xx1 #ac47        #daa    
,did ,mary ,magdalene observe the divine
 messengers when she first came  to the 
tomb8    ,synoptics3 ,she did 7,matt4   
xxviii1 #a-e2 ,mark xvi1 #a-e2 ,luke    
xxiv1 #a-d74    ,john3 ,she did not 7xx1
 #a1 #b1 #aa1 #ab74        #dab    ,who 
became frightened at the messengers8    
,matthew3 ,the keepers did shake1 and   
became as dead men 7xxviii1 #d74        
,mark and ,luke3 ,they the women were   
affrighted 7,mark xvi1 #e2  ,luke xxiv1 
#e74        #dac    ,what did the women 
do when they became frightened8         
,mark3 ,they went out quickly and fled  
7xvi1 #h74    ,luke3 ,they bowed down   
their faces to the earth 7xxiv1 #e74    
#dad    ,did the women see ,jesus8      
,matthew3 ,they did4 ,as they went to   

tell his disciples1 behold1  ,jesus met 
them 7xxviii1 #i74    ,luke3 ,they did  
not see him 7xxiv74        #dae    ,did 
the women tell the disciples what they  
had seen8    ,luke3 ,they returned from 
the sepulchre1 and told all these things
  unto the eleven1 and to all the rest  
7xxiv1 #i74    ,mark3 ,neither said they
 anything to any man2 for they were     
afraid  7xvi1 #h74    ,with these words 
the ,gospel of ,mark ends1 the words    
that follow being  an interpolation4 ,in
 this appended passage ,mary ,magdalene 
is declared  to have seen ,jesus and    
informed them of it1 but they believed  
not4        #daf    ,how many disciples 
visited the tomb8    ,luke3 ,but one1   
,peter 7xxiv1 #ab74    ,john3 ,two1     
,peter and ,john 7xx1 #c74        #dag  
,who looked into the sepulchre and      
beheld the linen clothes8    ,luke3     
,then arose ,peter1 and ran into the    
sepulchre2 and stooping down1  he beheld
 the linen clothes 7xxiv1 #ab74         
,john3 ,so they ran both together2 and  

the other disciple ,john did  outrun    
,peter1 and came first to the sepulchre4
 ,and he stooping down1  and looking in1
 saw the linen clothes 7xx1 #d1 #e74    
#dah    ,did ,peter enter into the      
sepulchre8    ,john3 ,he did4 ,then     
cometh ,simon ,peter following him1 and 
went into  the sepulchre 7xx1 #f74      
,luke3 ,he did not4 ,he looked into the 
sepulchre and departed  7xxiv1 #ab74    
#dai    ,state all of the appearances of
 ,jesus mentioned by the ,evangelists4  
,matthew4    #a4 ,to the two ,marys     
7xxviii1 #i74  #b4 ,to the eleven in    
,galilee 7#ag74      ,mark4    #a4 ,to  
,mary ,magdalene 7xvi1 #i74  #b4 ,to two
 of his disciples 7#ab74  #c4 ,to the   
eleven at meat 7#ad74      ,the         
appearances of ,jesus mentioned in ,mark
 are all in the apocryphal  supplement4 
,the ,gospel of ,mark proper does not   
record a single  appearance of ,jesus4  
,luke4    #a4 ,to ,cleopas and his      
companion 7xxiv1 #ac-ca74  #b4 ,to      
,simon 7,peter7 7#cd74  #c4 ,to the     

eleven and others 7#cf74      ,john4    
#a4 ,to ,mary ,magdalene 7xx1 #ad-ah74  
#b4 ,to ten 787 disciples 7#ai-bd74  #c4
 ,to the eleven 7#bf-bi74  #d4 ,to      
,peter1 ,john and others 7xxi74         
,the last chapter of this ,gospel which 
contains the account of his  fourth     
appearance1 and which ascribes the      
authorship of the ,gospel  to the       
beloved disciple 7,john71 is a forgery4 
,no two of the ,evangelists agree4 ,no  
two of them are fully agreed in  regard 
to a single appearance4 ,each not only  
omits the appearances  mentioned by the 
others1 but his narrative in nearly     
every instance  excludes them4 ,as      
,strauss says1 ,the designation of the  
locality in  one excludes the           
appearances narrated by the rest2 the   
determination  of time in another leaves
 no space for the narratives of his     
fellow-evangelists2 the enumeration of a
 third is given without any  regard to  
the events reported by his predecessors2
 lastly1 among  several appearances     

recounted by various narrators1 each    
claims to  be the last1 and yet has     
nothing in common with the others4      
,hence  nothing but wilful blindness can
 prevent the perception that no one  of 
the narrators knew and presupposed what 
another records4    ,referring to the   
different accounts of the resurrection  
given by the  ,evangelists1 ,dr4        
,westcott says3 ,they contain           
difficulties which it  is impossible to 
explain with certainty 7,introduction to
 ,study of  ,gospels1 p4 #cbi74    ,dr4 
,farrar makes the following admission3  
,any one who will attentively  read side
 by side the narratives of these        
appearances on the first day  of the    
resurrection1 will see that they have   
only been preserved for  us in general1 
interblended1 and scattered notices1    
which1 in strict  exactness1 render it  
impossible1 without many arbitrary      
suppositions1  to produce from them a   
certain narrative of the order of       
events4 ,the  lacunae1 the compressions1

 the variations1 the actual differences1
  the subjectivity of the narrators as  
affected by spiritual revelations1      
render all harmonies at the best        
uncertain 7,life of ,christ1 vol4 ii1   
p4 #dcb1 note74        #dbj    ,state   
the appearances mentioned by ,paul4     
#a4 ,he was seen of ,cephas4  #b4 ,then 
of the twelve4  #c4 ,after that1 he was 
seen of above five hundred brethren at  
once4  #d4 ,after that he was seen of   
,james4  #e4 ,then of all the apostles4 
#f4 ,and last of all he was seen of me  
also4      ,paul says that his first    
appearance was to ,peter4 ,this         
contradicts  all of the ,evangelists4   
,his next appearance1 ,paul declares1   
was to  the twelve4 ,but there were no  
twelve at this time2 for ,judas had     
deserted them and his successor had not 
been elected4 ,paul evidently  knew     
nothing of the betrayal of ,jesus by    
,judas4 ,he says ,jesus was seen  by    
five hundred brethren at once4 ,the     
,evangelists are all ignorant  of this  

appearance1 while the author of ,acts   
states that there were  but one hundred 
and twenty brethren in all1 and even    
this number is  considered too large by 
critics4 ,he says that he appeared to   
,james1  an appearance of which the     
,evangelists know nothing4 ,after this  
he states that he was seen of all the   
apostles4 ,this is the only  appearance 
mentioned by ,paul which can be         
reconciled with any of the              
,evangelists1 and this cannot be        
reconciled with all of them4    ,last of
 all he was seen of me also4 ,paul's    
belief in the resurrection  was based   
solely upon ,jesus' supposed appearance 
to him2 for the other  alleged          
appearances he had rejected4 ,not until 
he imagined that he  had seen ,jesus did
 he believe that the disciples had seen 
him1 and  the appearance of ,jesus to   
him1 which occurred several years after 
the  resurrection and ascension1 is     
represented as an occurrence of exactly 
the same character as his appearances to

 the disciples4 ,paul's vision  was     
clearly a delusion1 and if so the other 
appearances1 measured by  ,paul's       
criterion1 were delusions also4 ,the    
,rev4 ,john ,w4 ,chadwick truly  says3  
,paul's witness to the resurrection is  
the ruin of the argument4        #dba   
,to whom did ,jesus first appear8       
,matthew3 ,to ,mary ,magdalene and the  
other ,mary 7xxviii1 #a1 #i74    ,mark  
and ,john3 ,to ,mary ,magdalene alone   
7,mark xvi1 #i2 ,john xx1 #ad-ah74      
,luke3 ,to ,cleopas and his companion   
7xxiv1 #ac-ca74    ,paul3 ,to ,cephas   
7,peter7 7#a ,cor4 xv1 #e74        #dbb 
,where was ,mary ,magdalene when ,jesus 
first appeared to her8    ,john3 ,at the
 sepulchre 7xx1 #aa-ad74    ,matthew3   
,on her way home from the sepulchre     
7xxviii1 #h1 #i74        #dbc    ,did   
,mary know ,jesus when he first appeared
 to her8    ,matthew3 ,she did 7xxviii1 
#i74    ,john3 ,she 444 knew not that it
 was ,jesus 7xx1 #ad74        #dbd      
,was she permitted to touch him8        

,matthew3 ,they ,mary ,magdalene and her
 companion came and held him  by the    
feet 7xxviii1 #i74    ,john3 ,jesus     
saith unto her1 ,touch me not 7xx1 #ag74
        #dbe    ,where did he appear to 
his disciples8    ,matthew3 ,in         
,galilee4    ,luke3 ,in ,jerusalem4     
,matthew says that when ,mary ,magdalene
 and the other ,mary visited the  tomb  
an angel appeared to them and said3 ,go 
quickly1 and tell his  disciples that he
 is risen from the dead2 and1 behold1 he
 goeth before  you into ,galilee2 there 
shall ye see him 7xxviii1 #g74 ,as they 
ran  to convey this intelligence1 ,jesus
 himself met them and repeated the      
command3 ,go tell my brethren that they 
go into ,galilee1 and there  shall they 
see me 7#aj74 ,then the eleven disciples
 went away into  ,galilee1 into a       
mountain where ,jesus had appointed     
them4 ,and when  they saw him they      
worshiped him 7#af1 #ag74    ,luke      
7xxiv1 #ac-ce7 states that on the day of
 the resurrection ,jesus  journeyed to  

,emmaus1 a village some distance from   
,jerusalem1 with  ,cleopas and his      
companion4 ,they did not recognize him  
until after  their arrival there1 when  
they returned at once to ,jerusalem and 
informed the disciples4 ,as they thus   
spake ,jesus himself stood in the  midst
 of them 7#cf74 ,he conversed with them 
for a time1 after which  he led them out
 as far as to ,bethany where he took his
 final leave  of them and ascended to   
heaven 7#ch-ea74 ,instead of bidding    
them go  to ,galilee1 a three days      
journey from ,jerusalem1 as ,matthew    
states1  his command was ,tarry ye in   
the city of ,jerusalem1 until ye be     
endued  with power from on high1 which1 
according to ,acts 7ii1 #a-ac71 was  not
 until the day of ,pentecost1 seven     
weeks later4    ,matthew's narrative    
forbids the supposition of any meeting  
in ,judea1  while ,luke's precludes the 
possibility of a meeting in ,galilee4   
,regarding this discrepancy ,dean       
,alford says3 ,we must be content to    

walk by faith1 and not by sight 7,greek 
,testament1 p4 #ije74        #dbf       
,how far from ,jerusalem was ,emmaus1   
where ,jesus made his first  appearance8
    ,luke3 ,which was from ,jerusalem   
about threescore furlongs 7xxiv1 #ac74  
,threescore furlongs was seven and      
one-half ,roman1 or about seven         
,american miles4 ,emmaus of ,judea was  
about twenty-five miles1 or two  hundred
 furlongs from ,jerusalem4 ,there was an
 ,emmaus in ,galilee1  about seventy    
miles from ,jerusalem4 ,it is believed  
by some that the  legend related to the 
latter place and was subsequently       
transferred  by ,luke to ,judea4        
#dbg    ,how many disciples were present
 when he first appeared to them8        
,matthew and ,luke3 ,eleven 7,matt4     
xxviii1 #af1 #ag2 ,luke xxiv1 #cc-cf74  
,john3 ,but ten1 ,thomas being absent   
7xx1 #ai-bd74    ,paul3 ,twelve 7#a     
,cor4 xv1 #e74        #dbh    ,what     
effect had his presence when he first   
appeared to them8    ,luke3 ,they were  

terrified and affrighted 7xxiv1 #cf1    
#cg74    ,john3 ,then were the disciples
 glad1 when they saw the ,lord 7xx1     
#bj74        #dbi    ,how many of the   
disciples doubted the reality of his    
appearance8    ,matthew3 ,some doubted  
7xxviii1 #ag74    ,john3 ,but one       
doubted--,thomas 7xx1 #bd1 #be74        
#dcj    ,were they all finally convinced
 of his resurrection8    ,john3 ,they   
were4    ,matthew3 ,they were not4      
#dca    ,when he appeared to them did   
they know that he must rise from the    
dead8    ,john3 ,for as yet they knew   
not that he must rise from the dead     
7xx1 #i74    ,this cannot be reconciled 
with the ,synoptics1 who state that     
during his  ministry he had acquainted  
them with it4 ,from that time forth     
began  ,jesus to shew unto his disciples
 how that he must go unto ,jerusalem1   
and suffer many things of the elders and
 chief priests and scribes1  and be     
killed1 and be raised again the third   
day 7,matthew xvi1 #ba2  ,mark viii1    

#ca2 ,luke ix1 #bb74        #dcb        
,paul says that the last appearance of  
,jesus was to him4 ,what did his        
companions do when they saw the light   
which attended the appearance8    ,acts3
 ,the men which journeyed with him stood
 speechless 7ix1 #g74    ,paul3 ,we were
 all fallen to the earth 7,acts xxvi1   
#ad74        #dcc    ,did ,paul's       
companions see ,jesus8    ,acts3 ,they  
did not4 ,the men which journeyed with  
him stood speechless1  hearing a voice1 
but seeing no man 7ix1 #g74    ,this    
shows that ,jesus' alleged appearance to
 ,paul was an imaginary  and not a real 
appearance4        #dcd    ,the author  
of ,acts says that his companions heard 
a voice4 ,is this  true8    ,paul3 ,they
 that were with me 444 heard not the    
voice 7,acts xxii1 #i74        #dce     
,was ,jesus seen by woman after his     
resurrection8    ,matthew1 ,mark and    
,john3 ,he was4    ,luke and ,paul3 ,he 
was not4    ,according to ,luke and     
,paul his most faithful followers were  

not honored  by a visit from their      
,lord1 but were neglected and ignored4  
,the  resurrection was not for woman4   
,nowhere is sex prejudice more          
conspicuous than in the accounts of the 
resurrection written by ,paul  and the  
,pauline ,evangelist4 ,to ignore the    
testimony of ,mary ,magdalene  is to    
ignore the testimony of the chief       
witness for the resurrection4           
#dcf    ,from where did ,jesus rise8    
,all3 ,from the dead4 ,he is risen from 
the dead 7,matt4 xxviii1 #g74 ,it       
behooved ,christ to suffer1 and to rise 
from the dead 7,luke xxiv1  #df74 ,he   
was risen from the dead 7,john xxi1     
#ad74    ,according to the ,evangelists 
,jesus rose1 not from the grave--not    
from the place where the bodies of the  
dead were deposited--but from  the lower
 world--from the realm of the           
dead--where the shades of the  departed 
were supposed to repose4 ,regarding this
 ,dr4 ,hooykaas says3    ,let us begin  
by considering what that word           

'resurrection' really  meant1 whether   
applied to ,jesus or to others4 ,later  
representations1  down to our own times1
 have regarded it as equivalent to a    
rising  from the grave2 but the question
 is1 what it meant in the faith  and    
preaching of the ,apostles1 in the      
genuine1 original1 primitive  tradition 
that ,jesus had risen4 ,now1            
'resurrection' means elsewhere  a return
 from the realm of shades to the human  
life on earth2 and  ,jesus too had left 
the underworld1 but not1 in this case1  
to return  at once to life upon the     
earth1 but to be taken up provisionally 
into heaven4 ,originally the            
resurrection and ascension of ,jesus    
were  one4 ,it was only later that the  
conception sprang up of his having      
paused upon earth1 whether for a single 
day or for several weeks1  on his       
journey from the abyss to the height4   
,we may1 therefore1 safely assert that  
if the friends of ,jesus had  thought as
 we do of the lot of those that die1    

they would never have  so much as       
dreamed of their ,master's resurrection 
or ascension4 ,for  to the ,christian   
belief of today it would be1 so to      
speak1 a matter  of course that ,jesus1 
like all good and noble souls--and      
indeed above  all others--would go      
straight 'to a better world1' 'to       
heaven1' 'to  ,god1' at the instant of  
his death2 but in the conception of the 
,jews1  including the ,apostles1 this   
was impossible4 ,heaven was the abode   
of the ,lord and his angels only2 and if
 an ,enoch or an ,elijah had  been      
caught up there alive1 to dwell there   
for a time1 it was certain  that all who
 died1 without exception1 even the      
purest and most holy1  must go down as  
shades into the realms of the dead in   
the bowels of  the earth--and thence1 of
 course1 they would not issue excepting 
by  'rising again4' ,and this is why we 
are never told that ,jesus rose  'from  
death1' far less 'from the grave1' but  
always 'from the dead'  7,bible for     

,learners1 vol4 iii1 p4 #dfc74          
#dcg    ,was he readily recognized by   
his friends8    ,matthew1 ,luke and     
,john3 ,he was not4    ,matthew says    
that when his disciples met him in      
,galilee1 after having  gone there for  
the express purpose of meeting him1 some
 doubted  7xxviii1 #ag74 ,luke says that
 two of his friends journeyed with  him 
from ,jerusalem to ,emmaus1 conversing  
with him on the way1 and                
notwithstanding they had been informed  
of his resurrection1 they did  not      
recognize him until after they had      
reached the village4 ,john says  that   
when ,mary ,magdalene met him she knew  
not that it was ,jesus1  444 supposing  
him to be the gardener 7xx1 #ad1 #ae72  
and when he met  his disciples at the   
,lake of ,tiberius they knew not that it
 was ,jesus  7xxi1 #d74        #dch     
,did his appearances indicate a         
corporeal1 or merely a spiritual        
existence8    ,the ,evangelists declare 
that he was not only seen by his        

disciples and  others1 but that he      
conversed with them4 ,matthew says the  
two ,marys  held him by the feet1 ,luke 
says he invited the disciples to handle 
him1 and ,john says that ,thomas        
examined his wounds2 while both ,luke   
and ,john state that he partook of      
nourishment4    ,on the other hand1     
,luke says that while he sat at meat    
with ,cleopas  and his companion at     
,emmaus ,he vanished out of their sight 
7xxiv1  #ca74 ,john says that while the 
disciples were assembled in a room  in  
,jerusalem1 when the doors were shut1   
,jesus came and stood in  the midst 7xx1
 #ai74 ,eight days later the appearance 
was repeated3  ,then came ,jesus1 the   
doors being shut1 and stood in the midst
  7#bf74 ,mark says that after he       
appeared to ,mary ,magdalene he appeared
  in another form to two of his         
disciples 7xvi1 #ab74    ,while the     
first named appearances can be          
reconciled with so-called  spiritual    
manifestations1 the latter cannot be    

reconciled with a  corporeal existence4 
,in the preceding chapter we have shown 
that the alleged crucifixion  of ,jesus 
is unworthy of belief4 ,if he was not   
crucified the story of  his resurrection
 is1 of course1 a fiction4 ,but         
conceding1 for the sake  of argument1   
that he was crucified2 does this make   
his resurrection  probable1 or even     
possible8 ,the crucifixion of a man is a
 possible  occurrence2 but the corporeal
 resurrection of a man who has suffered 
death is impossible4 ,these reputed     
appearances of ,jesus1 if they have  a  
historical foundation1 were evidently   
mere subjective impressions  or         
apparitions4 ,although he is declared to
 have remained on earth  forty days1 he 
made1 at the most1 but two or three     
brief visits to  his disciples1         
appearing and disappearing like a       
phantom4 ,instead of  abiding with them1
 teaching them the doctrines of his     
religion--of  which they professed to be
 ignorant--and preparing them for their 

coming ministry he is represented as    
keeping in seclusion1 or  roaming       
aimlessly along the country highways1   
like some demented  creature4 ,referring
 to his appearance to his disciples1    
,jerome says3  ,the apostles supposed   
him to be a spirit1 or according to the 
,gospel which the ,nazarenes receive the
 ,hebrew ,gospel of ,matthew  an        
incorporeal demon4    ,the possibility1 
and even prevalency1 of apparitions     
similar to those  related of ,jesus are 
recognized by every student of          
psychology4 ,sir  ,benjamin ,brodie1 in 
his ,psychological ,inquiries 7p4 #gh71 
says3  ,there are abundant proofs that  
impressions may be made in the brain  by
 other causes simulating those which are
 made on it by external  objects through
 the medium of the organs of sense1 thus
 producing  false perceptions1 which    
may1 in the first instance1 and before  
we  have had time to reflect on the     
subject1 be mistaken for realities4     
,the appearance of ,jesus to ,mary      

,magdalene was not believed even by  the
 disciples4 ,if the disciples believed  
that ,mary was deluded1 is it           
unreasonable to believe that they were  
deluded also8 ,illusions are  contagious
 and may affect many minds as well as   
one4 ,dr4 ,carpenter1  one of the       
highest ,english authorities on mental  
science1 says3 ,if not  only a single   
individual1 but several persons should  
be 'possessed'  by one and the same idea
 or feeling1 the same misinterpretation 
may be made by all of them2 and in such 
a case the concurrence of  their        
testimony does not add the least        
strength to it 7,principles  of ,mental 
,physiology1 p4 #bjh74 ,in confirmation 
of this is cited  the following from a  
work on ,the ,philosophy of             
,apparitions1 by  ,dr4 ,hibbert1        
,f4,r4,s4,e43 ,a whole ship's company   
was thrown into the  utmost             
consternation by the apparition of a    
cook who had died a few  days before4   
,he was distinctly seen walking ahead of

 the ship1 with  a peculiar gait by     
which he was distinguished when alive1  
through  having one of his legs shorter 
than the other4 ,on steering the ship   
towards the object1 it was found to be a
 piece of floating wreck4    ,these     
supposed appearances of ,jesus were1 at 
the most1 only  apparitions1 and        
,apparitions1 to quote ,dr4 ,hibbert    
again1 are  nothing more than morbid    
symptoms1 which are indicative of an    
intense  excitement of the renovated    
feelings of the mind 7,philosophy of    
,apparitions1 p4 #cge74    ,lord        
,amberley advances a psychological      
explanation of the reputed  appearances 
of ,jesus from which ,i quote the       
following3 ,whatever other  qualities   
,jesus may have possessed or lacked1    
there can be no question  that he had   
one--that of inspiring in others a      
strong attachment to  himself4 ,he had  
in his brief career surrounded himself  
with devoted  disciples2 and he was     
taken from their midst in the full bloom

 of  his powers by a violent and early  
death4 ,now there are some who have     
been taught by the bitter experience of 
their lives how difficult1  nay1 how    
impossible it is to realize in          
imagination the fact that a  beloved    
companion is in truth gone from them    
forever4444 ,we fondly  conceive that in
 some way the dead must still exist2 and
 if so1 can  one1 who was so tender     
before1 listen to our cry of pain and   
refuse  to come8 ,can one1 who soothed  
us in the lesser troubles of our lives1 
look on while we are suffering the      
greatest agony of all and fail to       
comfort8 ,it cannot be4 ,imagination    
declines to picture the long future     
that lies before us4 ,we cannot         
understand that we shall never again    
listen to the tones of the familiar     
voice2 never feel the touch of  the     
gentle hand2 never be encouraged by the 
warm embrace that tells  us we are      
loved1 or find a refuge from miserable  
thoughts and the  vexations of the world

 in the affectionate and ever-open      
heart4 ,all  this is too hard for us4   
,we long for a resurrection2 we should  
believe  in it if we could2 we do       
believe in it in sleep1 when our        
feelings  are free to roam at pleasure1 
unrestrained by the chilling presence   
of the material world4 ,in dreams the   
old life is repeated again and  again4  
,sometimes the lost one is beside us as 
of old and we are quite  untroubled by  
the thought of parting4 ,sometimes there
 is a strange and  confusing            
consciousness that the great calamity   
has happened1 or has  been thought to   
happen1 but that now we are again       
together1 and that  a new life has      
succeeded upon death4444 ,granting only 
a strong emotion  and a lively phantasy1
 we may comprehend at once how1 in many 
lands1 to  many mourners1 the images of 
their dreams may also become the visions
  of their waking hours 7,analysis of   
,religious ,belief1 pp4 #bge1 #bgf74    
,renan says3 ,for the historian1 the    

life of ,jesus finishes with his  last  
sigh4 ,but such was the impression he   
had left in the heart of his  disciples1
 and of a few devoted women1 that during
 some weeks more  it was as if he were  
living and consoling them4 ,had his body
 been  taken away1 or did enthusiasm1   
always credulous1 create afterwards  the
 group of narratives by which it was    
sought to establish faith in  the       
resurrection8 ,in the absence of        
opposing documents this can never  be   
ascertained4 ,let us say1 however1 that 
the strong imagination of  ,mary        
,magdalene played an important part in  
the circumstance4 ,divine  power of     
love6 ,sacred moments in which the      
passion of one possessed  gave to the   
world a resuscitated ,god 7,life of     
,jesus1 p4 #bif74        #dci    ,if    
,jesus appeared in a material body1 was 
he naked1 or clothed8    ,this is not a 
vital1 but it is a pertinent question4  
,it is stated that  he appeared to ,mary
 ,magdalene immediately after the       

resurrection4 ,did  he appear to her    
naked1 or was he clothed8 ,as she       
mistook him for  the gardener1 and as   
the gardener undoubtedly went clad1 it  
may be  presumed that ,jesus was clad   
also4 ,if so1 where did he procure his  
clothes8 ,his own garments were divided 
among the soldiers1 and his  grave      
clothes were left in the sepulchre4 ,if 
it be assumed that he  was taken from   
the tomb by his friends1 as some critics
 believe1  the difficulty vanishes4     
#ddj    ,what is said of the saints who 
arose on the day of the crucifixion8    
,matthew3 ,they came out of the graves  
after the resurrection1 and  went into  
the holy city1 and appeared unto many   
7xxvii1 #ec74    ,before ,matthew's     
wholesale resurrection of the saints the
  resurrection of ,jesus pales into     
insignificance4 ,in the opinion  of many
 supernaturalists ,matthew has mixed too
 large a dose of the  miraculous for    
even ,christian credulity to swallow1   
and they would  gladly omit this portion

 of it4 ,regarding this story ,dr4      
,farrar says3  ,an earthquake shook the 
earth and split the rocks1 and as it    
rolled  away from their places the great
 stones which closed and covered the    
cavern sepulchres of the ,jews1 so it   
seemed to the imaginations of  many to  
have disimprisoned the spirits of the   
dead1 and to have filled  the air with  
ghostly visitants1 who after ,christ had
 risen appeared  to linger in the ,holy 
,city 7,life of ,christ1 vol4 ii1 p4    
#dai74 ,dean  ,milman dismisses it in   
much the same way4 ,referring to the    
earthquake1  he says3 ,the same         
convulsion would displace the stones    
which covered  the ancient tombs and lay
 open many of the innumerable rock-hewn 
sepulchres which perforated the hills on
 every side of the city1 and  expose the
 dead to public view4 ,to the awe-struck
 and depressed minds  of the followers  
of ,jesus1 no doubt1 were confined these
 visionary  appearances of the spirits  
of their deceased brethren 7,history of 

,christianity1 vol4 i1 p4 #ccf74    ,if 
the minds of the disciples were so      
greatly affected that they  imagined    
they beheld the resurrected bodies of   
strangers whom they  had never met and  
of whom they had probably never         
heard--for they  were nearly a hundred  
miles from the graves of their own      
kindred--is  it strange that they should
 imagine they saw the resurrected       
,master  with whom they had daily       
associated for months and perhaps years8
 ,to  characterize these resurrected    
saints as ghostly visitants and         
visionary appearances1 and the          
resurrected ,christ as a real being1  is
 a distinction without a scintilla of   
evidence to support it4 ,both           
appearances1 if they be historical1     
belong to the same class of mental      
phenomena2 and are1 indeed1 the         
offspring of the same minds4        #dda
    ,when did the resurrection take     
place8    ,all3 ,in the night4    ,who  
witnessed it8    ,all3 ,no one4    ,the 

author of ,supernatural ,religion says3 
,the remarkable fact is1  therefore1    
absolutely undeniable1 that there was   
not1 and that it is  not even pretended 
that there was1 a single eye-witness to 
the actual  ,resurrection4 ,the empty   
grave1 coupled with the supposed        
subsequent  appearances of ,jesus1 is   
the only evidence of the ,resurrection  
7p4 #ajjd74        #ddb    ,it is said  
that a guard was stationed at the tomb4 
,why was this done8    ,matthew3 ,the   
chief priests and ,pharisees came       
together unto ,pilate1  saying1 ,sir1 we
 remember that that deceiver said while 
he was yet  alive1 ,after three days ,i 
will rise again4 ,command1 therefore1   
that  the sepulchre be made sure until  
the third day1 lest his disciples  come 
by night1 and steal him away1 and say   
unto the people1 ,he is  risen from the 
dead 7xxvii1 #fb-fd74    ,is it not     
strange that his enemies should be      
cognizant of this when  his disciples   
knew not the scripture1 that he must    

rise again from  the dead8 7,john xx1   
#i47    ,regarding this the ,bible for  
,learners says3 ,was such a foolish     
report really circulated among the      
,jews8 ,in any case this story1  which  
is worked out elaborately in the ,gospel
 of ,nicodemus1 is quite  absurd4 ,is it
 likely that the enemies of ,jesus would
 have heard a  prophecy of his rising   
again when his very friends never       
dreamed of it  for a moment1 and when he
 had never once spoken of his           
'resurrection'  in public8 7,vol4 iii1  
p4 #dhj47        #ddc    ,on what day   
did the ,sanhedrim visit ,pilate for the
 purpose of obtaining  a guard8         
,matthew3 ,on the ,sabbath 7xxvii1 #fb74
    ,matthew1 after describing the death
 and burial of ,jesus1 says3 ,now the   
next day1 that followed the day of the  
preparation1 the chief priests  and     
,pharisees came together unto ,pilate4  
,it is generally conceded by  ,christian
 commentators that by the next day      
,matthew refers to the  ,sabbath1 for if

 ,jesus was crucified and buried on     
,friday1 no other  day can be meant4 ,to
 avoid the disagreeable consequences of 
such an  admission a few have contended 
that by the day of preparation is  meant
 the ,preparation of the ,passover4 ,but
 this renders the passage               
unintelligible4 ,by preparation ,matthew
 means1 not the ,preparation of  the    
,passover1 but the preparation of the   
,sabbath4 ,this is made clear  by the   
other ,synoptics4 ,after relating the   
events of the crucifixion1  ,mark begins
 his account of the burial with these   
words3 ,and now when  the even was come1
 because it was the preparation1 that   
is1 the day  before the ,sabbath 7xv1   
#db74 ,luke1 after giving an account of 
the  crucifixion and burial1 says3 ,and 
that day was the preparation and  the   
,sabbath drew on 7xxiii1 #ed74    ,it is
 claimed by the ,evangelists that the   
,jewish priests of that  period were    
such rigid observers of the ,sabbath    
that they sought to  put ,jesus to death

 for simply healing the sick on that    
day4 ,that the  ,sanhedrim desecrated   
the ,sabbath1 and especially the        
,passover ,sabbath1  by visiting and    
transacting business with a heathen     
ruler cannot be  accepted as possible4  
#ddd    ,when was the guard placed at   
the tomb8    ,matthew3 ,not until the   
second night4    ,it is argued that     
,jesus must have risen because a guard  
was placed  at his tomb so that it was  
impossible for his disciples to come  by
 night1 and steal him away4 ,but had his
 body really been left in  the tomb1 as 
claimed1 they would have taken it the   
first night had  they desired it4 ,the  
passage cited from ,matthew in the      
preceding  criticism declares that a    
guard was not requested of ,pilate until
  the day following the crucifixion1 so 
that the tomb was without a  guard the  
first night4 ,the sepulchre was not     
opened and examined  when the guard was 
placed there on the following day4 ,so  
they went  and made the sepulchre sure1 

sealing the stone1 and setting a watch  
7,matt4 xxvii1 #ff74 ,had the seal been 
found unbroken at the end of  three days
 it would not have proved that ,jesus'  
body still remained  in the tomb4 ,it   
would merely have proved that the body  
had not been  removed after the seal was
 placed on it4    ,it may be urged that 
,jesus had prophesied that he would not 
rise until  the third day1 and that an  
earlier disappearance of the body could 
not be harmonized with a strict         
fulfillment of the prophecy4 ,but of    
this prophecy the disciples1 we have    
seen1 were ignorant4        #dde        
,what is said in regard to the opening  
of the tomb8    ,matthew3 ,in the end of
 the ,sabbath1 as it began to dawn      
toward the  first day of the week1 came 
,mary ,magdalene and the other ,mary to 
see  the sepulchre4 ,and behold there   
was a great earthquake2 for the angel   
of the ,lord descended from heaven1 and 
came and rolled back the stone  from the
 door1 and sat upon it4444 ,and the     

angel answered and said  unto the women1
 ,fear not ye3 for ,i know that ye seek 
,jesus1 which  was crucified4 ,he is not
 here3 for he is risen1 as he said4     
,come1  see the place where the ,lord   
lay 7xxviii1 #a-f74    ,matthew's story 
of the guard was evidently inserted for 
the express  purpose of establishing a  
belief in the resurrection by making it 
appear impossible for his friends to    
have removed the body from the          
sepulchre4 ,yet this story suggests1 if 
it does not prove1 the very  thing that 
he attempts to prove impossible4 ,the   
sepulchre was opened  in the presence of
 witnesses--the guards and the women4   
,jesus did  not emerge from it1 nor did 
it contain his body4 ,it was empty when 
opened4 ,this renders probable1 if not  
certain1 one of two things3  either his 
body was not deposited there1 or it was 
removed before  the watch was set4      
,commenting on the empty tomb ,l4 ,k4   
,washburn says3 ,if ,jesus got out of   
the grave alive1 he was put into it     

alive4 ,if he was put into it dead1  he 
was taken out dead4 ,a depopulated      
sepulchre is not proof that its  former 
tenant has moved to heaven4 ,it is      
merely proof that somebody  has stolen a
 dead body4        #ddf    ,what did the
 guards do when they left the tomb8     
,matthew3 ,some of the watch came into  
the city1 and showed unto the  chief    
priests all the things that were done   
7xxviii1 #aa74    ,to one acquainted    
with the discipline of the ,roman army  
this story of  the soldiers leaving     
their post thirty-six hours before the  
expiration  of the watch assigned and   
going into the city and telling the     
,jews  what had transpired is           
incredible4        #ddg    ,what did the
 chief priests do8    ,matthew3 ,they   
gave large sums of money unto the       
soldiers1 saying1  ,say ye1 ,his        
disciples came by night1 and stole him  
away while we slept  7#ab1 #ac74    ,the
 penalty for sleeping while on duty was 
death1 and no bribe could  have induced 

them to declare that they were guilty of
 this offense  even if the priests had  
promised to intercede for them4 ,again1 
had  this transaction really occurred it
 would have been known only by  the     
parties concerned in it1 and when       
disclosure meant the direst  punishment 
to both the bribe-givers and the        
bribe-takers1 neither  would have       
divulged the crime4    ,strauss1        
criticising the alleged action of the   
,jewish priests1 says3  ,their conduct1 
when the guards returning from the grave
 apprised them  of the resurrection of  
,jesus1 is truly impossible4 ,they      
believe the  assertion of the soldiers  
that ,jesus had arisen out of his grave 
in  a miraculous manner4 ,how could the 
council1 many of whose members  were    
,sadducees1 receive this as credible8   
,even the ,pharisees in  the ,sanhedrim1
 though they held in theory the         
possibility of a  resurrection1 would   
not1 with the mean opinion they         
entertained  of ,jesus1 be inclined to  

believe in his resurrection1 especially 
as the assertion in the mouth of the    
guards sounded just like a  falsehood   
invented to screen a failure in duty4   
,the real ,sanhedrists1  on hearing such
 an assertion from the soldiers1 would  
have replied  with exasperation3 ,you   
lie6 you have slept and allowed him to  
be  stolen2 but you will have to pay    
dearly for this1 when it comes to be    
investigated by the procurator4 ,but    
instead of this1 the ,sanhedrists  in   
our gospel speak them fair1 and entreat 
them thus3 ,tell a lie1  say that you   
have slept and allowed him to be stolen2
 moreover1  they pay them richly for the
 falsehood1 and promise to exculpate    
them to the procurator4 ,this is        
evidently spoken entirely on the        
,christian presupposition of the reality
 of the resurrection of ,jesus2  a      
presupposition1 however1 which is quite 
incorrectly attributed to  the          
,sanhedrim 7,leben ,jesu1 pp4 #hjf1     
#hjg74        #ddh    ,what is said of  

the resurrection by ,peter8    ,him ,god
 raised up the third day1 and showed him
 openly2 not to all the  people1 but    
unto witnesses chosen before of ,god1   
even to us1 who did  eat and drink with 
him after he rose from the dead 7,acts  
x1 #dj1 #da74    ,if ,god really wished 
to convince all the people why did he   
not show  him to all the people8 ,it is 
said that more than two millions of     
,jews  attended the ,passover4 ,had he  
desired to prove to them that ,jesus was
  the ,christ he would have assembled   
this multitude at midday and in  their  
presence raised his crucified and buried
 ,son4 ,yet not a single  human being   
witnessed the resurrection1 and not a   
single disinterested  witness is said to
 have seen him after his death4 ,like a 
thief he  escapes from his prison in the
 night and avoids publicity4 ,this story
  of the resurrection is clearly a      
priestly invention and the composer  of 
the speech ascribed to ,peter was       
conscious of the fact4        #ddi      

,what did ,paul teach regarding the     
resurrection of ,christ8    ,that       
,christ should suffer and that he should
 be the first that should  rise from the
 dead 7,acts xxvi1 #bc74    ,if ,christ 
was the first to rise from the dead what
 becomes of the  miracles of ,lazarus1  
of the widow of ,nain's son1 and of the 
daughter  of ,jairus8 ,what becomes of  
,matthew's saints who rose from the dead
  on the day of the crucifixion1 two    
days before ,christ rose8        #dej   
,what did ,paul teach regarding the     
resurrection of the dead in general8    
,if the dead rise not1 then is ,christ  
not raised 7#a ,corinthians  xv1 #af74  
,he that goeth down to the grave shall  
come up no more 7,job vii1 #i74         
#dea    ,when did the disciples receive 
the ,holy ,ghost8    ,john3 ,and when he
 had said this1 he breathed on them1 and
 saith unto  them1 ,receive ye the ,holy
 ,ghost 7xx1 #bb74    ,this was on the  
evening of the resurrection4 ,forty days
 after this  he said to them3 ,ye shall 

be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not   
many  days hence 7,acts i1 #e74         
,acts3 ,and when the day of ,pentecost  
was fully come 444 they were  all filled
 with the ,holy ,ghost 7ii1 #a-d74      
,this was seven weeks after the         
resurrection4        #deb    ,on what   
day of the week did it occur8    ,john3 
,the first day of the week 7xx1 #ai74   
,john1 like the author of the first     
,gospel1 is evidently ignorant of the   
,jewish method of reckoning time4 ,he   
makes the evening 7it was night7        
following the first day a part of that  
day instead of the next day  to which it
 belonged4        #dec    ,did ,thomas  
receive the ,holy ,ghost8    ,john3 ,he 
did not4 ,he was absent when the        
disciples received it  7xx1 #ai-be74    
#ded    ,who had ,jesus said would send 
the ,holy ,ghost to his disciples8      
,the ,comforter which is the ,holy      
,ghost whom the ,father will send       
7,john xiv1 #bf74    ,i ,jesus will send
 him unto you 7xvi1 #g74        #dee    

,what effect had the ,holy ,ghost upon  
them8    ,acts3 ,they began to speak    
with other tongues1 as the ,spirit gave 
them utterance 7ii1 #d74    ,concerning 
this gift ,greg says3 ,ignorance and    
folly too often became  the arbiters of 
wisdom--and the ravings of delirium were
 listened to  as the words of           
inspiration1 and of ,god4 ,if ,jesus    
could have returned  to earth thirty    
years after his death1 and sat in the   
midst of an  assembly of his followers1 
who were listening in hushed and        
wondering  prostration of mind to a     
speaker in the 'unknown tongue1' how    
would  he have wept over the humiliating
 and disappointing spectacle6 how  would
 he have grieved to think that the      
incoherent jargon of delirium  or       
hysteria should be mistaken for the     
promptings of his ,father's  spirit6    
7,creed of ,christendom1 p4 #bej47      
#def    ,who heard them speak in new    
tongues8    ,acts3 ,parthians1 and      
,medes1 and ,elamites1 and the dwellers 

in  ,mesopotamia1 and in ,judea1 and    
,cappadocia1 in ,pontus1 and ,asia1     
,phrygia  and ,pamphylia1 in ,egypt1 and
 in the parts of ,libya about ,cyrene1  
and strangers of ,rome1 ,jews and       
proselytes1 ,cretes and ,arabians  7ii1 
#i-aa74    ,did representatives of all  
these nations really assemble to hear   
the disciples1 or was this merely an    
imaginary gathering of the  writer8     
,evidently the latter4        #deg      
,to the charge of drunkenness what reply
 did ,peter make8    ,these are not     
drunken1 as ye suppose1 seeing it is but
 the third  hour of the day 7,acts ii1  
#ae74    ,a profane mind1 unacquainted  
with ,jewish customs1 might infer from  
this that the disciples were not in the 
habit of becoming intoxicated  before   
nine o'clock in the morning4        #deh
    ,what inquiry did ,paul make of     
,john's disciples8    ,have ye received 
the ,holy ,ghost since ye believed8     
,what did they say in reply8    ,we have
 not so much as heard whether there be  

any ,holy ,ghost  7,acts xix1 #b74      
,this was many years after the death of 
,jesus4 ,either this colloquy  is false1
 or the story of ,john the ,baptist is  
false4 ,if ,john was the  forerunner of 
,christ1 as claimed1 his disciples      
became followers of  ,christ2 and if    
they became followers of ,christ they   
were acquainted  with the doctrine of   
the ,holy ,ghost--if it existed at this 
time4        #dei    ,when did ,jesus'  
disciples begin to baptize8    ,matthew 
and ,mark3 ,not until after his         
resurrection 7,matt4 xxviii1  #ah1 #ai2 
,mark xvi1 #ae1 #af74    ,john3 ,at the 
beginning of his ministry4 ,after these 
things came ,jesus  and his disciples   
into the land of ,judea2 and there he   
tarried with  them1 and baptized 7iii1  
#bb74 ,the ,pharisees had heard that    
,jesus  made and baptized more disciples
 than ,john4 7,though ,jesus himself    
baptized not1 but his disciples47 7iv1  
#a1 #b74        #dfj    ,what form of   
baptism is ,jesus said to have          

prescribed for the use of  his apostles8
    ,in the name of the ,father1 and of 
the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost       
7,matthew xxviii1 #ai74    ,the apostles
 did not baptize in the name of the     
,father1 and of the ,son1  and of the   
,holy ,ghost1 but in the name of ,christ
 alone4    ,then ,peter said unto them1 
,repent1 and be baptized every one of   
you  in the name of ,jesus ,christ      
7,acts ii1 #ch74    ,they were baptized 
in the name of the ,lord ,jesus 7viii1  
#af74    ,he commanded them to be       
baptized in the name of the ,lord 7x1   
#dh74    ,they were baptized in the name
 of the ,lord ,jesus 7xix1 #e74         
,concerning this ,greg says3 ,that this 
definite form of baptism  proceeded from
 ,jesus1 is opposed by the fact that    
such an allocation  of the ,father1     
,son1 and ,spirit1 does not elsewhere   
appear1 except  as a form of salutation 
in the epistles2 while as a definite    
form of  baptism it is nowhere met with 
throughout the ,new ,testament4         

,moreover1  it was not the form used1   
and could scarcely1 therefore1 have been
 the  form commanded2 for in the        
apostolic epistles1 and even in the     
,acts1  the form always is 'baptizing   
into ,christ ,jesus1' or1 'into the name
  of the ,lord ,jesus' 7,creed of       
,christendom1 p4 #aia74    ,this        
ecclesiastical formula was not adopted  
by the church until late in  the second 
century1 and then1 not for baptism1 but 
for admission into  the church4 ,in     
regard to this the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,hooykaas 
says3 ,baptism into  the name of ,god   
the ,father1 ,jesus ,christ the ,son of 
,god1 and the ,holy  ,spirit1 means     
baptism into the confession of or faith 
in these three1  and is a short epitome 
of ,christian doctrine of which ,jesus  
certainly  never dreamed2 nay1 it is    
obvious from all accounts that1 even in 
the apostolic age1 it was as yet quite  
unknown2 and the still later  age which 
drew up the words by no means intended  
them as a baptismal  formula1 but rather

 as a statement of the conditions of    
admission  into the community4 ,in      
making the utterance of these words1    
instead  of the imposition of these     
conditions1 the first act of admission  
into  the community of ,christ1 the     
,church has confounded words with things
  7,bible for ,learners1 vol4 iii1 pp4  
#dgb1 #dgc74        #dfa    ,what was   
his final command to the apostles8      
,go ye into all the world1 and preach   
the gospel to every creature  7,mark    
xvi1 #ae74    ,this is utterly          
irreconcilable with ,acts 7xi1 #a-ah74  
,eight years  after the death of ,jesus1
 ,peter is condemned for preaching to   
the  ,gentiles4 ,and the apostles and   
brethren that were in ,judea heard that 
the ,gentiles had also received the word
 of ,god4 ,and when ,peter was come  to 
,jerusalem1 they that were of the       
circumcision contended with him  7#a1   
#b74 ,how does he meet the accusation   
and justify his conduct8 ,by  reminding 
them that it was the express will of    

their ,master8 ,no2 he  tells them that 
while in a trance at ,joppa he had a    
vision instructing  him to carry the    
gospel to the ,gentiles4 ,when they     
heard these things1  they held their    
peace1 and glorified ,god1 saying1 ,then
 hath ,god also  to the ,gentiles       
granted repentance unto life 7#ah74     
#dfb    ,how long did ,jesus remain on  
earth8    ,luke3 ,one day 7xxiv74       
,john3 ,at least ten days 7xx1 xxi74    
,acts3 ,he was seen of them forty days  
7i1 #c74    ,the greatest discrepancy is
 between ,luke and ,acts1 two books     
which  it is claimed were written by the
 same author4        #dfc    ,where did 
the ascension take place8    ,mark3 ,in 
,jerusalem 7xvi1 #ad1 com4 ,luke xxiv1  
#cc74    ,luke3 ,at ,bethany 7xxiv1 #ej1
 #ea74    ,acts3 ,at ,mount ,olivet 7i1 
#i-ab74        #dfd    ,describe the    
ascension4    ,luke3 ,and it came to    
pass while he blessed them he was parted
 from  them and carried up into heaven  
7xxiv1 #ea74    ,the ascension of       

,romulus doubtless suggested the story  
of the ascension  of ,jesus4        #dfe
    ,what occurred at the ascension8    
,acts3 ,while they looked steadfastly   
toward heaven as he went up1  behold1   
two men stood by them in white apparel2 
which also said1 ,ye  men of ,galilee1  
why stand ye gazing up into heaven8 this
 same ,jesus1  which is taken up from   
you into heaven1 shall so come in like  
manner  as ye have seen him go into     
heaven 7i1 #aj1 #aa74    ,it is         
remarkable that the ,evangelists who    
find space to record the  sayings of    
lunatics and devils1 have not room to   
record the words of  angels1 or even    
note their presence4        #dff    ,for
 what purpose did ,jesus ascend to      
heaven8    ,i go to prepare a place for 
you 7,john xiv1 #b74    ,what was the   
need of this when the place had already 
been prepared  444 from the foundation  
of the world 7,matthew xxv1 #cd78       
#dfg    ,did ,jesus ascend bodily into  
heaven8    ,luke3 ,he ascended to heaven

 in a body of flesh and blood 7xxiv1    
#cf-dc1  #ej1 #ea74    ,paul3 ,but some 
man will say1 ,how are the dead raised  
up8 and with  what body do they come8   
,thou fool1 that which thou sowest is   
not  quickened except it die2 and that  
which thou sowest thou sowest not  that 
body that shall be 7#a ,corinthians xv1 
#ce-cg74    ,it is sown a natural body2 
it is raised a spiritual body4 ,there is
  a natural body1 and there is a        
spiritual body 7#dd74    ,now this ,i   
say1 brethren1 that flesh and blood     
cannot inherit the  ,kingdom of ,god    
7#ej74    ,the whole theology of ,paul  
is opposed to the bodily resurrection   
and ascension of ,jesus4 ,the ,bible for
 ,learners says3 ,in speaking  of the   
resurrection1 he ,paul does not mean the
 reanimation of the  body of ,jesus2 and
 indeed he expressly excludes such a    
thought by  ascribing to the ,christ a  
glorified and spiritual body not made of
  flesh and blood4 ,it is equally       
certain that he thinks of the ,christ   

as having appeared from heaven2 and his 
ranking the appearance to               
himself--unquestionably the product of  
his own fervid imagination--as  parallel
 with those which preceded it his       
appearances to the  disciples1 seems to 
indicate that they were all visions     
alike  7,vol4 iii1 p4 #dfg74        #dfh
    ,do all the ,evangelists record the 
ascension8    ,matthew and ,john1 both  
of whom are declared to have been       
apostles1  and the only ,evangelists who
 are supposed to have witnessed the     
ascension1 know nothing of it4 ,the last
 twelve verses of ,mark1 it is          
admitted1 are spurious2 while the words1
 carried up into heaven1  of ,luke do   
not appear in the ,sinaitic version1 the
 oldest version of  the ,new ,testament 
extant4 ,with this forged appendix to   
,mark and this  interpolated passage in 
,luke eliminated1 the ,four ,gospels    
contain no  mention of the ascension4   
#dfi    ,had any man ever ascended to   
heaven before ,jesus8    ,jesus3 ,no man

 hath ascended up to heaven1 but he that
 came down from  heaven1 even the ,son  
of man which is in heaven 7,john iii1   
#ac74    ,then that story about ,elijah 
is a fiction1 is it8    ,in regard to   
the resurrection and ascension ,thomas  
,paine says3  ,as to the account given  
of his resurrection and ascension1 it   
was  the necessary counterpart of his   
birth4 ,his historians having brought   
him into the world in a supernatural    
manner1 were obliged to take him  out   
again in the same manner1 or the first  
part of the story must have  fallen to  
the ground4 ,the wretched contrivance   
with which this latter  part is told    
exceeds every thing that went before it4
 ,the first part1  that of the          
miraculous conception1 was not a thing  
that admitted of  publicity2 and        
therefore the tellers of this part of   
the story had this  advantage1 that     
though they might not be credited1 they 
could not be  detected4444 ,but the     
resurrection of a dead person from the  

grave1  and his ascension through the   
air1 is a thing very different as to    
the evidence it admits of1 to the       
invisible conception of a child in  the 
womb4 ,the resurrection and ascension1  
supposing them to have taken  place1    
admitted of public and ocular           
demonstration1 like that of the         
ascension of a balloon1 or the sun at   
noon-day1 to all ,jerusalem at  least4  
,a thing which everybody is required to 
believe1 requires that  the proof and   
evidence of it should be equal to all1  
and universal2  and as the public       
visibility of this last related act was 
the only  evidence that could give      
sanction to the former part1 the whole  
of it  falls to the ground1 because that
 evidence never was given4444 ,it is  in
 vain to attempt to palliate or disguise
 this matter4 ,the story1  so far as    
relates to the supernatural part1 has   
every mark of fraud  and imposition     
stamped upon the face of it4 ,who were  
the authors of  it is as impossible for 

us now to know1 as it is for us to be   
assured  that the books in which the    
account is related were written by the  
persons whose names they bear2 the best 
surviving evidence we now have          
respecting this affair is the ,jews4    
,they are regularly descended from  the 
people who lived in the times this      
resurrection and ascension  is said to  
have happened1 and they say1 it is not  
true4 ,it has long  appeared to me a    
strange inconsistency to cite the ,jews 
as a proof of  the truth of the story4  
,it is just the same as if a man were to
 say1  ,i will prove the truth of what  
,i have told you by producing the people
  who say it is false 7,age of ,reason1 
pp4 #aj1 #aa74    ,the story of ,jesus  
,christ appearing after he was dead is  
the story of  an apparition1 such as    
timid imaginations can always create in 
vision1  and credulity believe 7,ibid1  
#afa74    ,supernatural ,religion says3 
,the whole of the evidence for the      
,resurrection reduces itself to an      

undefined belief on the part of  a few  
persons1 in a notoriously superstitious 
age1 that after ,jesus  had died and    
been buried they had seen him alive4    
,these visions1 it is  admitted1        
occurred at a time of the most intense  
religious excitement1  and under        
circumstances of wholly exceptional     
mental agitation and  distress4 ,the    
wildest alternations of fear1 doubt1    
hope and indefinite  expectation1 added 
their effects to oriental imaginations  
already  excited by indignation at the  
fate of their ,master1 and sorrow or    
despair at such a dissipation of their  
,messianic dreams4 ,there was  present  
every element of intellectual and moral 
disturbance4 ,now  must we seriously ask
 again whether this bare and wholly     
unjustified  belief can be accepted as  
satisfactory evidence for so astounding 
a miracle as the ,resurrection8 ,can the
 belief of such men1 in such  an age1   
establish the reality of a phenomenon   
which is contradicted  by universal     

experience8 ,we have no evidence as to  
what actually  occurred4 ,we do not even
 know the facts upon which they based   
their  inferences4 ,we only know that   
they thought they had seen ,jesus and   
that  they1 therefore1 concluded that he
 had risen from the dead4 ,it comes  to 
us as bare belief from the ,age of      
,miracles1 unsupported by facts1        
uncorroborated by evidence1             
unaccompanied by proof of investigation1
  and unprovided with material for      
examination4 ,what is such belief       
worth8 ,we have no hesitation in saying 
that it is absolutely worth  nothing    
7pp4 #ajdh1 #ajdi74    ,the ,rev4 ,dr4  
,phillip ,schaff1 one of the most       
eminent evangelical  ,christian scholars
 of this country1 in his ,history of the
 ,christian  ,church1 makes this candid 
admission regarding the resurrection and
  ascension of ,christ3    ,truth       
compels us to admit that there are      
serious difficulties  in harmonizing the
 accounts of the ,evangelists1 and in   

forming a  consistent conception of     
,christ's resurrection body hovering as 
it  were between heaven and earth1 and a
 supernatural state1 of a body  clothed 
with flesh and blood and bearing the    
wound prints1 and yet  so spiritual as  
to appear and disappear through closed  
doors and to  ascend visibly to heaven4 
,,chapter ,,viii4    ,,character ,,and  
,,teachings4      #dgj    ,who was      
,jesus ,christ8    ,mark3 ,he was the   
son of man4    ,matthew and ,luke3 ,he  
was the ,son of ,god4    ,john3 ,he was 
,god himself4    ,in the ,four ,gospels 
are presented three entirely different  
conceptions of the ,christ4 ,in ,mark he
 is represented as the son of  human    
parents--the ,messiah--but simply a man4
 ,in ,matthew and ,luke we  have the    
story of the miraculous conception--he  
is represented as the  ,son of ,god4 ,in
 ,john he is declared to be ,god        
himself4 ,in the beginning  was the     
,word ,christ1 and the ,word was with   
,god1 and the ,word was ,god  7i1 #a74  

,according to ,mark ,christ is a man2   
according to ,matthew and ,luke1  a     
demi-god2 according to ,john1 a ,god4   
,voltaire thus harmonizes these         
discordant conceptions3 ,the son of     
,god is the same as the son of man2 the 
son of man is the same as the  son of   
,god4 ,god1 the father1 is the same as  
,christ1 the son2 ,christ1  the son1 is 
the same as ,god1 the father4 ,this     
language may appear  confused to        
unbelievers1 but ,christians will       
readily understand it4    ,this is quite
 as intelligible as the ,christian      
,confession of ,faith1  ,article ,,ii of
 which reads as follows3 ,the ,son1     
which is the ,word  of the ,father1     
begotten from everlasting of the        
,father1 the very and  eternal ,god1 and
 of one substance with the ,father1 took
 man's nature  in the womb of the       
blessed ,virgin1 of her substance3 so   
that two  whole and perfect ,natures1   
that is to say1 the ,godhead and        
,manhood1  were joined together in one  

,person1 never to be divided1 whereof is
  one ,christ1 very ,god1 and very ,man4
    ,the theological ,christ is the     
impossible union of the human and       
divine--man with the attributes of ,god1
 and ,god with the limitations  and     
weaknesses of man4--,ingersoll4         
#dga    ,is ,god a visible ,being8      
,jacob3 ,i have seen ,god face to face  
7,genesis xxxii1 #cj74    ,john3 ,no man
 hath seen ,god at any time 7i1 #ah74   
#dgb    ,how many ,gods are there8      
,mark3 ,one4    ,john3 ,three4    ,mark 
teaches the doctrine of ,unitarianism   
7,monotheism71 or one  ,god4 ,john      
teaches1 not the doctrine of            
,unitarianism or one ,god1  nor yet the 
doctrine of ,trinitarianism or three    
,gods in one1 but the  doctrine of      
,tritheism or three distinct ,gods1     
separate and independent  of each other4
        #dgc    ,is the doctrine of the 
,trinity taught in the ,new ,testament8 
,for there are three that bear record in
 heaven1 the ,father1 the ,word1  and   

the ,holy ,ghost3 and these three are   
one 7#a ,john v1 #g74    ,this is the   
only passage in the ,new ,testament     
which clearly teaches  the doctrine of  
the ,trinity1 and this passage is       
admitted by all  ,christian scholars to 
be an interpolation4    ,when the modern
 version of the ,new ,testament was     
first published  by ,erasmus it was     
criticised because it contained no text 
teaching  the doctrine of the ,trinity4 
,erasmus promised his critics that if  a
 manuscript could be found containing   
such a text he would insert  it4 ,the   
manuscript was found1 and the text      
quoted appeared in a later  edition4    
,concerning this interpolation ,sir     
,isaac ,newton1 in a letter  to a       
friend1 which was afterward published by
 ,bishop ,horsley1 says3  ,when the     
adversaries of ,erasmus had got the     
,trinity into his edition1  they threw  
by their manuscript as an old almanac   
out of date4    ,alluding to the        
doctrine of the ,trinity1 ,thomas       

,jefferson says3 ,it is  too late in the
 day for men of sincerity to pretend    
they believe in the  ,platonic mysticism
 that three are one and one is three1   
and yet1 that  the one is not three1 and
 the three not one4444 ,but this        
constitutes  the craft1 the power1 and  
profits of the priests4 ,sweep away     
their  gossamer fabrics of fictitious   
religion1 and they would catch no more  
flies 7,jefferson's ,works1 vol4 iv1 p4 
#bje1 ,randolph's ed474    ,again       
,jefferson says3 ,the hocus-pocus       
phantasm of a ,god1 like another        
,cerberus1 with one body and three      
heads1 had its birth and growth in  the 
blood of thousands and thousands of     
martyrs 7,ibid1 p4 #cfj74        #dgd   
,was ,christ the only begotten ,son of  
,god8    ,john3 ,he was the only        
begotten ,son of ,god 7iii1 #ah74       
,there were giants in the earth in those
 days2 and also after that1  when the   
sons of ,god came in unto the daughters 
of men1 and they bare  children unto    

them 7,genesis vi1 #d74        #dge     
,by what agency and when was the ,christ
 begotten8    ,matthew and ,luke3 ,by   
the ,holy ,ghost at the time of his     
conception by  the ,virgin ,mary4       
,according to ,justin the ,holy ,ghost  
begat the ,christ1 not at the           
conception of ,jesus1 as claimed by     
these ,evangelists1 but at his  baptism4
 ,at his baptism the voice from heaven  
said3 ,thou art my son2  this day have  
,i begotten thee 7,dialogues #hh74      
,the correctness of ,justin's statement 
is corroborated by ,hebrews3  ,christ   
glorified not himself to be made an high
 priest2 but he  that said unto him1    
,thou art my ,son1 today have ,i        
begotten thee  7v1 #e74 ,christ's       
priesthood began at his baptism4        
#dgf    ,of what gender is the ,holy    
,ghost8    ,matthew 7,greek ,ver473     
,masculine gender4    ,matthew 7,hebrew 
,ver473 ,feminine gender4    ,the ,holy 
,ghost 7,spirit71 as was noted in a     
previous chapter1 was  with the ,greeks 

of masculine gender1 with the ,jews of  
feminine  gender4 ,the ,gospel          
,according to the ,hebrews1 which1 it is
 claimed1  was the original ,gospel of  
,matthew1 represented ,jesus as saying1 
,just now my mother1 the ,holy ,ghost1  
laid hold on me4    ,if the ,holy ,ghost
 was the mother of ,jesus did he have   
two  mothers8 ,according to our ,greek  
version of ,matthew1 as well as that  of
 ,luke1 he had one mother and three     
reputed fathers--,god1 the ,holy        
,ghost1 and ,joseph4        #dgg        
,christ1 it is affirmed1 was born of    
,mary4 ,if so1 what relation did  she   
bear to him8    #a4 ,if he was born of  
,mary she was his mother4    #b4 ,she   
being with child by the ,holy ,ghost1   
and ,father1 ,son and ,holy  ,ghost     
being one1 she bore to him the relation 
of wife4    #c4 ,god being the ,father  
of all mankind1 and ,god and ,christ    
being one1  she was his daughter4    #d4
 ,she being the daughter of ,god1 and   
,christ being the ,son of ,god1  she was

 therefore his sister4    ,consequently 
,mary bore to him the relation of       
mother1 wife1 daughter  and sister4     
#dgh    ,the greater portion of the     
,christian church affirms the perpetual 
virginity of ,mary4 ,it is claimed that 
,jesus was her only child and  that the 
conception and birth of him did not     
destroy her virginity4 ,is  this        
confirmed by the ,evangelists8    ,it is
 not4 ,matthew and ,mark say3 ,is not   
his mother called ,mary8 and  his       
brethren1 ,james and ,joses1 and ,simon1
 and ,judas8 and his sisters1  are they 
not all with us8 7,matt4 xiii1 #ee1 #ef2
 ,mark vi1 #c74 ,luke  7viii1 #ai7 and  
,john 7vii1 #c7 both declare that he had
 brothers4    ,to maintain this dogma it
 is affirmed that by brethren and       
sisters  is meant cousins4 ,dr4 ,farrar1
 who in regard to this as in regard  to 
most disputed points1 assumes a         
non-committal or conciliatory  attitude1
 concedes that the natural supposition  
that1 after the  miraculous conception  

of our ,lord1 ,joseph and ,mary lived   
together in  the married state1 and that
 ,james1 and ,joses1 and ,judas1 and    
,simon1  with daughters1 whose names are
 not recorded1 were subsequently born   
to them1 is in accordance certainly with
 the prima facie evidence  of the       
,gospels 7,life of ,christ1 p4 #ea74    
#dgi    ,who did ,mary say was the      
father of ,jesus8    ,luke3 ,when he    
remained behind in ,jerusalem1 and they 
found him in the  temple1 his mother    
said unto him1 ,son1 why hast thou thus 
dealt with  us8 behold1 thy father      
,joseph and ,i have sought thee         
sorrowing  7ii1 #dh74    ,to believe    
that a ,jewish virgin was overshadowed  
by a spirit1 and  miraculously conceived
 and bore a child1 requires more        
convincing  proof than the dream of a   
credulous lover4 ,we ought at least to  
have  the testimony of the mother4 ,but 
we have it not4 ,she testifies that     
,joseph is his father4        #dhj      
,what did ,jesus' neighbors say         

regarding his paternity8    ,matthew3   
,they said1 ,is not this the carpenter's
 ,joseph's  son8 7xiii1 #ee47    ,luke3 
,they said1 ,is not this ,joseph's son8 
7iv1 #bb47    ,john3 ,they said1 ,is not
 this ,jesus1 the son of ,joseph8 7vi1  
#db47    ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,crapsey1 of   
the ,episcopal church1 in his work on   
,religion  and ,politics 7p4 #bhi71     
makes this significant admission        
regarding  the divine origin of ,jesus3 
,the fact of his miraculous birth was   
unknown to himself1 unknown to his      
mother1 and unknown to the whole        
,christian community of the first       
generations4    ,thomas ,jefferson1 in a
 letter to ,john ,adams1 wrote3 ,the day
 will come  when the mystical generation
 of ,jesus1 by the ,supreme ,being as   
his  father1 in the womb of a virgin1   
will be classed with the fable of  the  
generation of ,minerva in the brain of  
,jupiter 7,jefferson ,works1  vol4 iv1  
p4 #cfe1 ,randolph's ed474        #dha  
,who did ,peter declare him to be8      

,jesus of ,nazareth1 a man approved of  
,god 7,acts ii1 #bb74    ,who did ,paul 
declare him to be8    ,there is one     
,god1 and one mediator between ,god and 
men1 the man  ,christ ,jesus 7#a        
,timothy ii1 #e74    ,the ,christ of    
,peter and ,paul was not a ,god1 but a  
man--a man upon  whom had been bestowed 
divine gifts--but yet a man4        #dhb
    ,what testimony is ascribed to      
,paul8    ,great is the mystery of      
godliness3 ,god was manifest in the     
flesh  7#a ,timothy iii1 #af74    ,this 
is a gross perversion of ,scripture for 
the purpose of making  ,paul a witness  
to ,christ's divinity4 ,regarding this  
text and the  ,trinitarian text inserted
 in #a ,john1 ,sir ,isaac ,newton1 in   
his letter  previously quoted from1     
says3    ,what the ,latins have done in 
this text 7#a ,john v1 #g7 the ,greeks  
have done to ,paul 7#a ,tim4 iii1 #af74 
,they now read1 ',great is the  mystery 
of godliness2 ,god manifest in the      
flesh'2 whereas all the  churches for   

the first four or five hundred years1   
and the authors of  all the ancient     
versions1 ,jerome as well as the rest1  
read1 ',great  is the mystery of        
godliness1 which was manifest in the    
flesh4' ,our  ,english version makes it 
yet a little stronger4 ,it reads1       
',great is  the mystery of godliness3   
,god was manifest in the flesh4'    ,in 
conclusion ,newton says3 ,if the ancient
 churches1 in debating and  deciding the
 greatest mysteries of religion1 knew   
nothing of these  two texts1 ,i         
understand not why we should be so fond 
of them now the  debate is over4        
#dhc    ,christ is declared by the      
,christian creed to be the very and     
eternal  ,god4 ,god1 it is claimed1 is  
omnipotent4 ,was ,christ omnipotent8    
,the ,son can do nothing of himself     
7,john v1 #ai74    ,i can of mine own   
self do nothing 7#cj74        #dhd      
,god is omniscient4 ,was ,christ        
omniscient8    ,referring to his second 
advent he says3 ,of that day and hour   

knoweth  no man1 444 neither the ,son   
7,mark xiii1 #cb74        #dhe    ,god  
is omnipresent4 ,was ,christ            
omnipresent8    ,i am glad for your     
sakes that ,i was not there 7,john xi1  
#ae74    ,ye shall seek me1 and shall   
not find me3 and where ,i am1 thither ye
  cannot come 7vii1 #cf74    ,and now ,i
 am no more in the world 7xvii1 #aa74   
#dhf    ,god is self-existent4 ,was     
,christ self-existent8    ,i live by the
 ,father 7,john vi1 #eg74    ,he liveth 
by the power of ,god 7#b ,corinthians   
xiii1 #d74        #dhg    ,did ,christ  
have a preexistence8    ,before ,abraham
 was1 ,i am 7,john viii1 #eh74          
,according to the ,synoptics his        
existence began with his life on earth4 
#dhh    ,was he infinite in wisdom8     
,luke3 ,he increased in wisdom 7ii1     
#eb74    ,if he increased in wisdom his 
knowledge was limited1 and limitation   
of knowledge is not an attribute of an  
infinite ,god4        #dhi    ,was he   
infinite in goodness8    ,why callest   

thou me good8 ,there is none good but   
one1 that is1 ,god  7,mark x1 #ah74     
#dij    ,was he infinite in mercy8      
,he that believeth not shall be damned  
7,mark xvi1 #af74    ,depart from me1 ye
 cursed1 into everlasting fire 7,matthew
 xxv1 #da74    ,then began he to upbraid
 the cities wherein most of his mighty  
works  were done1 because they repented 
not3 ,woe unto thee1 ,chorazin6 woe     
unto thee1 ,bethsaida6444 ,it shall be  
more tolerable for ,tyre and  ,sidon at 
the day of ,judgment1 than for you4 ,and
 thou1 ,capernaum1  which art exalted   
unto heaven1 shalt be brought down to   
hell  7,matthew xi1 #bj-bc74        #dia
    ,his resurrection is adduced as the 
chief argument in proof of his          
divinity4 ,did he raise himself from the
 dead8    ,peter3 ,he did not4 ,god     
raised him4 ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1
 444 whom  ,god raised from the dead    
7,acts iv1 #aj74    ,if ,christ1 then1  
did not rise from the dead by his own   
volition1  was his resurrection any     

proof of his divinity8 ,no more than the
  resurrection of ,lazarus was proof of 
,lazarus's divinity4        #dib    ,his
 miraculous conception is adduced as    
another proof of his  divinity4 ,is this
 the only miraculous conception claimed 
in the ,bible8    ,it is not4 ,isaac1   
,samson1 ,samuel and ,john the ,baptist 
are all claimed  to have been           
miraculously conceived 7,genesis xviii1 
#aj1 #aa2 xxi1 #a-c2  ,judges xiii1 #b1 
#c1 #bd2 #a ,samuel i1 #i-aa1 #bj2 ,luke
 i1 #g-ac74        #dic    ,his         
miracles1 it is claimed1 attest his     
divinity4 ,were he and his  disciples   
the only ones who performed miracles8   
,these alleged miracles were performed  
before his time--the ,old  ,testament   
abounds with them--and they have been   
performed since his  time4 ,they were   
performed by others in his own          
time--were performed by  those who      
ignored and rejected him--were performed
 by the disciples  of ,satan himself    
7,matthew vii1 #bb2 xii1 #bg2 ,mark ix1 

#ch2 xiii1 #bb2  ,luke ix1 #di74        
,supernatural ,religion says3 ,the      
supposed miraculous evidence for the    
divine revelation1 moreover1 is without 
any special divine character1  being    
avowedly common also to ,satanic agency1
 but it is not original  either in      
conception or details4 ,similar miracles
 to those which are  supposed to attest 
it are reported long antecedent to the  
promulgation  of ,christianity1 and     
continued to be performed for centuries 
after  it4 ,a stream of miraculous      
pretension1 in fact1 has flowed through 
all human history1 deep and broad as it 
has passed through the  darker ages1 but
 dwindling down to a thread as it has   
entered days  of enlightenment4 ,the    
evidence was too hackneyed and          
commonplace to  make any impression upon
 those before whom the ,christian       
miracles are  said to have been         
performed1 and it altogether failed to  
convince the  people to whom the        
revelation was primarily addressed4 ,the

 selection  of such evidence1 for such a
 purpose1 is much more characteristic of
  human weakness than of divine power   
7p4 #fii74    ,archbishop ,trench says3 
,side by side with the miracles which   
serve for the furthering of the kingdom 
of ,god runs another line of  wonders1  
the counter-workings of him who is ever 
the ape of the ,most  ,high4444 ,this   
fact that the kingdom of lies has its   
wonders no less  than the kingdom of    
truth1 is itself sufficient evidence    
that miracles  cannot be appealed to    
absolutely and finally1 in proof of the 
doctrine  which the worker of them      
proclaims 7,miracles of ,our ,lord1 p4  
#bb74    ,the miracles of ,christ1 like 
the miracles of ,satan1 existed only in 
the minds of his credulous and deluded  
followers4              ,ye shall have  
miracles1 aye1 sound ones too1          
,seen1 heard1 attested1 everything but  
true4                                   
--,thomas ,moore4        #did           
,prophecy is appealed to in support of  

his divinity4 ,it is claimed  that the  
writers of the ,old ,testament predicted
 his coming4 ,do such  predictions      
exist8    ,in his work on ,the ,bible1  
as well as in a previous chapter of this
  work1 the writer has shown that there 
is not a single passage in  the ,old    
,testament that1 in the original text1  
refers in the remotest  degree to ,jesus
 ,christ4    ,greg shows that much of   
,old ,testament history1 like           
,deuteronomy1 is  presented in the form 
of anticipatory narrative4 ,to the      
,christian  argument that the ,messianic
 predictions1 at least1 were written    
long anterior to the time of ,christ1 he
 replies3 ,this is true1  and the       
argument would have all the force which 
is attributed to it1  were the objectors
 able to lay their fingers on a single  
,old ,testament  prediction clearly     
referring to ,jesus ,christ1 intended by
 the utterers  of it to relate to him1  
prefiguring his character and career1   
and  manifestly fulfilled in his        

appearance on earth4 ,this they cannot  
do4 ,most of the passages usually       
adduced as complying with these         
conditions1 referred1 and were clearly  
intended to refer1 to eminent           
individuals in ,israelitish history2    
many are not prophecies at all2  the    
,messiah1 the anointed deliverer1       
expected by the ,jews1 hoped  for and   
called for by their poets and prophets1 
was of a character  so different1 and a 
career so opposite1 to those of the     
meek1 lowly1  long-suffering ,jesus1    
that the passages describing the one    
never could  have been applied to the   
other1 without a perversion of          
ingenuity1  and a disloyal treatment of 
their obvious signification1 which1 if  
employed in any other field than that of
 theology1 would have met with  the     
prompt discredit and derision they      
deserve 7,creed of ,christendom1  pp4   
#ace1 #acf74        #die    ,his own    
prescience is cited in proof of his     
divinity4 ,the destruction  of the      

temple by the ,romans1 it is claimed1   
was a wonderful instance  of the        
fulfillment of prophecy4 ,but did his   
so-called prophecy have  reference to   
this event8    ,no one can read this    
prophecy 7,matthew xxiv1 #a-c7 and then 
honestly  contend that it did4 ,he      
clearly refers to his second coming and 
the  end of the world when the temple1  
in common with all sublunary things1    
shall be destroyed4 ,in the verse       
immediately following this prediction1  
his disciples say3 ,tell us1 when shall 
these things be8 and what  shall be the 
sign of thy coming1 and of the end of   
the world8    ,but even if this         
so-called prophecy had referred to this 
event it  is rendered nugatory by the   
fact that the book containing it was not
  composed until a hundred years after  
the destruction of the temple4          
#dif    ,when was ,christ's second      
coming and the end of terrestrial things
 to  take place8    ,there be some      
standing here that shall not taste of   

death till they  see the ,son of man    
coming in his kingdom 7,matthew xvi1    
#bh74    ,this generation shall not pass
 away1 till all be fulfilled 7,luke     
xxi1 #cb74    ,seventy-five generations 
have passed1 and still the world rolls  
on1  unmoved by ,christ's and ,mother   
,shipton's prophecies4        #dig      
,did the ,apostles believe that the     
second coming of ,christ and the  end of
 the world were at hand8    ,peter3 ,the
 end of all things is at hand 7#a ,peter
 iv1 #g74    ,james3 ,the coming of the 
,lord draweth nigh 7,james v1 #h74      
,john3 ,ye have heard that antichrist   
shall come1 even now are there  many    
antichrists3 whereby we know that it is 
the last time 7#a ,john  ii1 #ah74      
,paul3 ,for the ,lord himself shall     
descend from heaven with a shout1  with 
the voice of the archangel1 and with the
 trump of ,god3 and the  dead in ,christ
 shall rise first2 then we which are    
alive and remain  shall be caught up    
together with them in the clouds to meet

 the ,lord  in the air 7#a              
,thessalonians iv1 #af1 #ag74    ,renan1
 ever ready to palliate or overlook the 
errors of his hero1  frankly admits that
 the predictions concerning his second  
advent and  the end of the world were a 
dismal failure4 ,it is evident1 indeed1 
he  says1 that such a doctrine1 taken by
 itself in a literal manner1 had  no    
future4 ,the world1 in continuing to    
exist1 caused it to crumble4 ,one       
generation of man at the most was the   
limit of its endurance4 ,the  faith of  
the first ,christian generation is      
intelligible1 but the faith  of the     
second generation is no longer so4      
,after the death of ,john1  or of the   
last survivor1 whoever he might be1 of  
the group which  had seen the master1   
the word of ,jesus was convicted of     
falsehood  7,life of ,jesus1 pp4 #bjc1  
#bjd74        #dih    ,to what extent   
was the gospel to be preached before his
 second coming8    ,ye shall not have   
gone over the cities of ,israel1 till   

the ,son of  man be come 7,matthew x1   
#bc74    ,the gospel must first be      
published among all nations 7,mark xiii1
 #aj74        #dii    ,did ,jesus claim 
to be the ,christ or ,messiah from the  
first8    ,john3 ,he did4 ,early in his 
ministry ,the woman of ,samaria saith   
unto him1 ,i know that ,messias cometh1 
which is called ,christ3 when  he is    
come1 he will tell us all things4 ,jesus
 saith unto her1 ,i that  speak unto    
thee am he 7iv1 #be1 #bf74              
,synoptics3 ,he did not announce his    
,messiahship until late in his          
ministry4        #ejj    ,who where the 
first to recognize his divinity8        
,synoptics3 ,devils and unclean spirits 
7,matthew viii1 #bh1 #bi2 ,mark iii1    
#aa1 #ab2 ,luke iv1 #da74        #eja   
,what is said of ,jesus in ,hebrews8    
,jesus1 who was made a little lower than
 the angels 7ii1 #i74    ,being made so 
much better than the angels 7i1 #d74    
#ejb    ,what did he say respecting his 
identity with ,god8    ,my ,father and  

,i are one 7,john x1 #cj74    ,my       
,father is greater than ,i 7xiv1 #bh74  
#ejc    ,how did he attempt to establish
 his claims8    ,it is also written in  
your law1 that the testimony of two men 
is  true4 ,i am one that bear witness of
 myself1 and the ,father that sent  me  
beareth witness of me 7,john viii1 #ag1 
#ah74    ,but if ,i and my ,father are  
one1 how does that fulfill the law8     
#ejd    ,what did he say regarding the  
truthfulness of his testimony concerning
  himself8    ,though ,i bear record of 
myself1 yet my record is true 7,john    
viii1  #ad74    ,if ,i bear witness of  
myself1 my witness is not true 7v4 #ca74
        #eje    ,did ,jesus' neighbors  
believe in his divinity8    ,matthew3   
,when he was come into his own country1 
and to his own home1  ,he did not many  
mighty works there because of their     
unbelief 7xiii1  #ed1 #eh74        #ejf 
,what opinion did his friends entertain 
of him8    ,mark3 ,and when his friends 
heard of it his work1 they went out to  

lay hold on him2 for they said1 ,he is  
beside himself 7iii1 #ba74        #ejg  
,did even his brothers believe in him8  
,john3 ,now the ,jews' feast of         
tabernacles was at hand4 ,his brethren  
therefore said unto him1 ,depart hence1 
and go into ,judea1 that thy  disciples 
also may see the works that thou doest4 
,for there is no  man that doeth any    
thing in secret1 and he himself seeketh 
to be  known openly4 ,if thou do these  
things1 shew thyself to the world4 ,for 
neither did his brethren believe in him 
7vii1 #b-e74    ,these three passages   
are fatal to the claim of ,christ's     
divinity4 ,if  he was unable to convince
 his neighbors1 his friends1 or even his
  own family of his divinity he was not 
divine4 ,much less was he the  very     
,god1 as claimed4    ,according to the  
,christian scheme1 man by his           
disobedience fell--was  lost4 ,god      
desired to save him4 ,christ--,god      
manifest in the flesh--came  on earth   
for this purpose4 ,what was required of 

man to secure  salvation8 ,simply to    
believe that ,jesus was the ,christ4 ,in
 order for  him to believe this what was
 necessary8 ,that ,jesus should convince
 him  that he was divine4 ,if he was    
all-powerful he could have done this2 if
  he was all-just he would have done    
this4 ,did he do this8 ,his own race    
rejected him4 ,disbelief in ,christ's   
divinity disproves his divinity4        
#ejh    ,the writings of the ,new       
,testament are adduced as the evidences 
of  ,christ's divinity and the divine   
character of ,christianity4 ,do the     
writers of the ,new ,testament claim to 
be inspired8    ,with the possible      
exception of the author of ,revelation1 
they do  not4 ,paul says1 ,all scripture
 is given by inspiration of ,god4 ,but  
the scripture of ,paul was the scripture
 of the ,old ,testament4 ,his  words    
have no reference whatever to the       
writings of the ,new which  did not     
exist in his time4    ,if the ,new      
,testament is not inspired and          

infallible1 what follows8    ,if the    
,new ,testament is defective the church 
itself is in error1  and must be given  
up as a deception4--,dr4 ,tischendorf4  
,it is not a word too much to say that  
the ,new ,testament abounds with        
errors4--,dean ,alford4        #eji     
,what is said of the ,apocryphal        
,gospels which appeared in the early    
ages of the church8    ,several         
histories of his ,christ's life and     
doctrines1 full of  pious frauds and    
fabulous wonders1 were composed by      
persons whose  intentions perhaps were  
not bad1 but whose writings discovered  
the  greatest superstition and          
ignorance4 ,nor was this all2           
productions  appeared which were imposed
 upon the world by fraudulent men1 as   
the  writings of the holy               
,apostles4--,mosheim4    ,is the above  
less true of the books we are reviewing8
 ,are not these  writings full of pious 
frauds and fabulous wonders8 ,do not    
these  writings display the greatest    

superstition and ignorance8 ,have  not  
these writings been imposed upon the    
world by fraudulent men1  as the        
writings of the holy 787 ,apostles8     
,if some of these apocryphal ,gospels   
had been accepted as canonical1  and the
 canonical ,gospels had been rejected as
 apocryphal1 these  canonical ,gospels  
would appear as untruthful and foolish  
to ,christians  as the apocryphal       
,gospels do4        #eaj    ,let us     
examine the religious teachings ascribed
 to ,christ4 ,for what  purpose was his 
blood shed8    ,this is my blood of the 
,new ,testament which is shed for many  
7,mark xiv1 #bd74    ,this cup is the   
,new ,testament in my blood1 which is   
shed for you  7,luke xxii1 #bj74        
,this is my blood of the ,new ,testament
 which is shed for many ,,for  ,,the    
,,remission ,,of ,,sins 7,matthew xxvi1 
#bh74    ,the above is one of the most  
significant discrepancies in the        
,bible4 ,the ,atonement is the chief    
doctrine connected with ,christ  and    

orthodox ,christianity4 ,the text quoted
 from ,matthew is the only  text in the 
,four ,gospels which clearly teaches    
this doctrine4 ,two  other texts        
7,matthew xx1 #bh2 ,john i1 #bi7 are    
adduced in support of  it1 but do not   
clearly teach it4 ,now ,matthew has     
falsely ascribed  to ,jesus the         
revelation of the ,atonement1 or ,mark  
and ,luke have  either ignorantly or    
intentionally omitted this greatest of  
,christian  doctrines4 ,they contain no 
mention of the ,atonement as understood 
by  orthodox ,christians4        #eaa   
,for whom did he say his blood was shed8
    ,this is my blood of the ,new       
,testament1 which is shed for many      
interpreted by the church to mean all   
mankind 7,mark xiv1 #bd74    ,this cup  
is the ,new ,testament in my blood1     
which is shed for you  addressed to his 
disciples alone 7,luke xxii1 #bj74      
#eab    ,was his blood really shed8     
,the crucifixion was not a bloody death1
 and aside from the  self-confuted story

 of ,john about blood and water flowing 
from his  corpse1 the ,evangelists do   
not state that a drop of blood was shed4
        #eac    ,christ1 it is affirmed1
 was both ,god and man4 ,was it the     
human1  or the divine part of him that  
suffered death8    ,if only the human1  
this sacrifice was not an exceptional   
one1 for  thousands have died for their 
fellow men4 ,if the divine part was     
sacrificed does ,god cease to exist8    
#ead    ,his death is called an infinite
 sacrifice4 ,if only the man died can   
this be true8    ,the offering of a     
finite being1 it must be admitted1 would
 not  constitute an infinite sacrifice4 
#eae    ,if the ,god was crucified does 
he suffer endless pain8    ,if not1 then
 his suffering was not infinite1 and the
 sacrifice in  this case was not an     
infinite one4        #eaf    ,if ,god   
died1 but subsequently rose from the    
dead1 was there not an  interregnum when
 the universe was without a ruler8      
,if so1 then it must be conceded that   

the existence of the universe  is not   
dependent upon the existence of ,god4   
#eag    ,are all mankind to be saved by 
,christ8    ,and ,i1 if ,i be lifted up 
from the earth1 will draw all men to me 
7,john xii1 #cb74    ,many be called but
 few chosen 7,matthew xx1 #af74         
#eah    ,what does ,paul affirm         
concerning the ,atonement8    ,christ   
died for our sins according to the      
scriptures 7#a ,corinthians  xv1 #c74   
,by scriptures ,paul means the ,old     
,testament1 and according to the        
scriptures of the ,old ,testament1      
,every man shall be put to death  for   
his own sins 7,deuteronomy xxiv1 #af74  
,like nearly all the doctrines ascribed 
to ,christ1 the atonement is  in the    
highest degree unjust and absurd4       
,referring to this doctrine1  ,lord     
,byron says3 ,the basis of your religion
 is injustice4 ,the ,son of  ,god1 the  
pure1 the immaculate1 the innocent1 is  
sacrificed for the  guilty4 ,this proves
 his heroism1 but no more does away with

 man's  sin than a schoolboy's          
volunteering to be flogged for another  
would  exculpate a dunce from           
negligence4    ,greg justly charges     
,christians with holding the strangely  
inconsistent doctrine that ,god is so   
just that he could not let sin  go      
unpunished1 yet so unjust that he could 
punish it in the person  of the         
innocent4 ,it is for orthodox           
dialectics1 he says1 to  explain how    
,divine ,justice can be impugned by     
pardoning the guilty1  and yet          
vindicated by punishing the innocent6   
7,creed of ,christendom1  pp4 #cch1     
#cci47        #eai    ,it is claimed    
that the sacrifice of ,jesus was        
necessary for our  salvation4 ,through  
whom was this sacrifice secured8        
,all3 ,judas ,iscariot procured it1 and 
,pilate and the ,jews offered it4       
,are not ,christians1 then1 in          
condemning these men1 ungrateful to     
their  greatest benefactors8 ,a man is  
dangerously ill4 ,the druggist provides 

a  remedy1 the physician administers it 
and saves his life4 ,when restored  does
 he show his gratitude by praising the  
drug and damning the doctor8        #ebj
    ,in permitting the crucifixion of   
,jesus1 who committed the greater sin1  
,pilate or ,god8    ,john3 ,jesus       
answered1 ,thou couldest have no power  
at all against me1  except it were given
 thee from above3 therefore he ,god that
 delivered  me unto thee hath the       
greater sin 7xix1 #aa74    ,hon4 ,allan 
,l4 ,mc,dermott1 in his memorable speech
 in ,congress1 in  #aijf1 protesting    
against the persecution of ,jews by     
,christians1 said3  ,if an omnipotent   
,god orders anything done1 the human    
instruments  selected to carry out his  
orders cannot be charged with the acts  
commanded4 ,the doctrine of repondeat   
superior applies4 ,if what  happened    
could have been prevented by the ,romans
 or by the ,jews1  then the ,new        
,testament is worthless4 ,let us assume 
that the ,jews  crucified ,christ4      

,could they have done otherwise8 ,were  
they greater  than ,god8 ,according to  
the ,bible1 the crucifixion was arranged
 for by  the ,father4 ,why blame the    
,jews or the ,romans or any other       
mortals8 ,they  did not know what they  
were doing4 ,the ,roman soldiers did not
 believe  that they were crucifying the 
son of ,god2 they did not know they were
  crucifying ,god himself4 ,why blame   
the instruments8 ,why persecute the     
descendants8 ,according to the ,synoptic
 ,gospels and according to ,john1  the  
arrangements for the crucifixion--every 
detail--were made by  ,almighty ,god1   
and were known to ,christ4        #eba  
,what was the character of his death8   
,homicide4 ,jesus of ,nazareth1 a man   
444 ye have taken1 and by wicked  hands 
have crucified and slain 7,acts ii1 #bb1
 #bc74    ,regicide4 ,the ,lord ,god    
shall give unto him the throne of his   
father  ,david 7,luke i1 #cb74 ,this is 
the ,king of the ,jews 7xxiii1 #ch74    
,there  they crucified him 7#cc74       

,deicide4 ,the ,word ,christ was ,god   
7,john i1 #a74 ,i and my ,father  are   
one 7x1 #cj74 ,they crucified him 7xix1 
#ah74    ,suicide4 ,i ,christ lay down  
my life1 that ,i might take it again4   
,no  man taketh it from me1 but ,i lay  
it down of myself 7,john x1 #ag1 #ah74  
#ebb    ,what did ,jesus teach          
respecting the resurrection of the dead 
and the  doctrine of immortality8       
,for the hour is coming in the which all
 that are in the graves shall  hear his 
voice1 and shall come forth 7,john v1   
#bh1 #bi74    ,search the scriptures2   
for in them ye think ye have eternal    
life  7#ci74    ,as the cloud is        
consumed and vanisheth away1 so he that 
goeth down  to the grave shall come up  
no more4--,job 7vii1 #i74    ,his breath
 goeth forth1 he returneth to his earth2
 in that very day  his thoughts         
perish4--,psalms 7cxlvi1 #d74    ,for   
that which befalleth the sons of men    
befalleth beasts4444 ,as  one dieth1 so 
dieth the other2 yea1 they have all one 

breath1 so that  man hath no preeminence
 over a beast4--,ecclesiastes 7iii1     
#ai74        #ebc    ,his resurrection  
is accepted by ,christians as a proof   
and type of man's  resurrection and     
immortality4 ,what was the nature of his
 resurrection8    ,according to all of  
the ,evangelists it was merely a        
reanimation of  his undecayed body4     
,other bodies supposedly dead have been 
revived1  but neither these             
resuscitations nor the supposed         
reanimation of ,jesus'  corpse affords  
proof that bodies which ages ago        
crumbled into dust and  whose particles 
subsequently entered into the           
composition of myriads  of other bodies 
will be reunited into the original      
beings4 ,and as  ,jesus almost          
immediately disappeared after his       
alleged resurrection  and has never     
since been seen this resurrection did   
not evince his  own immortality1 much   
less that of mankind in general4        
#ebd    ,did ,christ descend into hell8 

,peter3 ,he did 7,acts ii1 #ca2 #a      
,peter iii1 #ai74    ,peter states that 
his soul was not left in hell1 which    
necessitates  the assumption of his     
having gone there4 ,he also declares    
that after  his death he went and       
preached unto the spirits in prison     
hell4    ,the ,confession of ,faith     
7,art4 ,,iii7 says3 ,as ,christ died for
 us1 and  was buried2 so also is it to  
be believed that he went down into hell4
    ,for what purpose did ,christ       
descend into hell and preach to its     
inhabitants8 ,if it was to redeem them  
his mission was fruitless2  if it was   
not to redeem them his mission was      
useless4    ,early ,christian writers   
almost uniformly spelled the name of    
,christ1  not ,christos 7the ,anointed71
 but ,chrestos4 ,chrestos was a ,pagan  
name given to the judge of ,hades in the
 lower world4        #ebe    ,what is   
taught regarding justification by faith 
and justification  by works8    ,paul3  
,a man is not justified by the works of 

the law1 but by the  faith of ,jesus    
,christ1 444 for by the works of the law
 shall no flesh  be justified           
7,galatians ii1 #af74 ,if righteousness 
come by the law  then ,christ is dead in
 vain 7#ba74 ,to him that worketh not1  
but  believeth on him that justifieth   
the ungodly1 his faith is counted  for  
righteousness 7,romans iv1 #e74         
,therefore1 we conclude that a  man is  
justified by faith without the deeds of 
the law 7iii1 #bh74    ,james3 ,but wilt
 thou know1 ,o vain man1 that faith     
without works is  dead8 7ii1 #bj74 ,ye  
see1 then1 how that by works a man is   
justified1  and not by faith only 7#bd74
    ,the church accepts the teachings of
 ,paul and condemns or ignores  the     
teachings of ,james4 ,martin ,luther1 in
 his ,table ,talk1 thus  defines the    
position of the ,protestant church3 ,he 
that says the  gospel requires works for
 salvation1 ,i say flat and plain he is 
a  liar4 ,every doer of the law and     
every moral worker is accursed1  for he 

walketh in the presumption of his own   
righteousness4 ,if men  only believe    
enough in ,christ they can commit       
adultery and murder  a thousand times a 
day without periling their salvation4   
,luther  rejected and denounced the book
 of ,james because it teaches the       
efficacy of good works4    ,the ,english
 ,confession of ,faith affirms the      
following3 ,that we  are justified by   
,faith only1 is a most wholesome        
doctrine1 and very  full of comfort     
7,art4 ,,xi74 ,works done before the    
grace of ,christ1  and the inspiration  
of the ,spirit1 are not pleasant to     
,god1 forasmuch  as they spring not of  
faith in ,jesus ,christ4444 ,yea rather1
 for that  they are not done as ,god    
hath willed and commanded them to be    
done1  we doubt not but they have the   
nature of sin 7,art4 ,,xiii74           
,morality6 thou deadly bane1            
,thy tens o' thousands thou hast slain6 
,vain is his hope1 whose stay and trust 
is          ,in moral mercy1 truth and  

justice6              ,no--stretch a    
point to catch a plack2          ,abuse 
a brother to his back2            ,be to
 the poor like onie whunstane1          
,and haud their noses to the grunstane2 
,ply ev'ry art o' legal thieving3       
,no matter1 stick to sound believing4   
,learn three-mile prayers1 and half-mile
 graces1          ,wi weel-spread       
loaves1 and lang wry faces1             
,grunt up a solemn1 lengthen'd groan1   
,and damn a' parties but your own3      
,i'll warrant1 then1 ye're nae deceiver1
          ,a steady1 sturdy1 staunch    
believer4                               
--,robert ,burns4        #ebf    ,what  
does ,christ teach regarding salvation8 
,whosoever liveth and believeth in me   
shall never die 7,john xi1 #bf74    ,he 
that believeth on him is not condemned2 
but he that believeth  not is condemned 
already 7iii1 #ah74    ,he that         
believeth on the ,son hath everlasting  
life3 and he that  believeth not on the 
,son shall not see life 7#cf74    ,a    

demand so preposterous could have been  
made only in support of claims  that    
were realized to be untenable4          
,credulity was appealed to because      
convincing evidence could not be        
adduced4 ,claims which reason rejects   
are manifestly false1 and it is only by 
a renunciation of reason that  they can 
be accepted as true4    ,the absurdity  
of this requirement of ,christ is thus  
exposed by  the poet ,shelley3 ,this is 
the pivot upon which all religions turn2
  they all assume that it is in our     
power to believe or not to believe3     
whereas the mind can only believe that  
which it thinks true4 ,a human  being   
can only be supposed accountable for    
those actions which are  influenced by  
his will4 ,but belief is utterly        
distinct from and  unconnected with     
volition3 it is the apprehension of the 
agreement  or disagreement of the ideas 
that compose any proposition4 ,belief   
is a passion or involuntary operation of
 the mind1 and1 like other  passions1   

its intensity is precisely proportionate
 to the degree  of excitement4 ,volition
 is essential to merit or demerit4 ,but 
the  ,christian religion attaches the   
highest possible degree of merit  and   
demerit to that which is worthy of      
neither1 and which is totally           
unconnected with the peculiar faculty of
 the mind whose presence is  essential  
to their being 7,notes to ,queen ,mab74 
#ebg    ,did ,christ abrogate the       
,mosaic law8    ,till heaven and earth  
pass1 one jot or one tittle shall in no 
wise  pass from the law 7,matthew v1    
#ah74    ,the law and the prophets were 
until ,john2 since that time the        
,kingdom  of ,god is preached 7,luke    
xvi1 #af74    ,paul3 ,the law was our   
schoolmaster to bring us unto ,christ1  
that  we might be justified by faith4   
,but after that faith is come we are  no
 longer under a schoolmaster 7,galatians
 iii1 #bd1 #be74 ,but now we  are       
delivered from the law 7,romans vii1    
#f74    ,christ certainly did come to   

destroy the law and the                 
prophets4--,henry  ,ward ,beecher4      
#ebh    ,what is taught regarding the   
forgiveness of sin8    ,he ,god is      
faithful and just to forgive sins 7#a   
,john i1 #i74    ,the ,son of man hath  
power on earth to forgive sins 7,mark   
ii1 #aj74    ,today ,i offer you the    
pardon of the gospel--full pardon1 free 
pardon4 ,i do not care what your crime  
has been4 ,though you say you  have     
committed a crime against ,god1 against 
your own soul1 against  your fellow-man1
 against your family1 against the day of
 judgment1  against the cross of        
,christ--whatever your crime has been1  
here  is pardon1 full pardon1 and the   
very moment you take that pardon  your  
heavenly ,father throws his arms about  
you and says3 ',my son1  ,i forgive you4
 ,it is all right4 ,you are as much in  
my favor now as  if you never had       
sinned4'--,dr4 ,talmage4    ,this       
doctrine of forgiveness of sin is a     
premium on crime4 ,forgive  us our sins 

means ,let us continue in our iniquity4 
,it is one of the  most pernicious of   
doctrines1 and one of the most fruitful 
sources of  immorality4 ,it has been the
 chief cause of making ,christian       
nations the  most immoral of nations4   
,in teaching this doctrine ,christ      
committed  a sin for which his death did
 not atone1 and which can never be      
forgiven4 ,there is no forgiveness of   
sin4 ,every cause has its effect2  every
 sinner must suffer the consequences of 
his sins4        #ebi    ,what is taught
 regarding future rewards and           
punishments8    ,he that believeth and  
is baptized shall be saved2 but he that 
believeth not shall be damned 7,mark    
xvi1 #af74    ,these words1 while       
appearing in the unauthentic appendix to
 ,mark1 yet  express clearly the alleged
 teachings of ,jesus4 ,above all they   
have  formed the key note of orthodox   
,christianity in all ages of the church4
    ,between the lines of this passage  
the eye of the unfettered mind  discerns

 in large capitals the word ,,fraud4    
,these words are the words  of an       
impostor4 ,had ,jesus been divine he    
would not have been compelled  to resort
 to bribes and threats to secure the    
world's adherence4 ,had  he even been a 
sincere man he would not have desired   
converts on  such terms4 ,these words   
are either the utterance of a false     
,messiah1  conscious of his impotency1  
or the invention of priests who intended
  them to frighten the ignorant and     
credulous into an acceptance of  their  
faith4    ,concerning this teaching     
,col4 ,ingersoll says3 ,redden your     
hands  with human blood2 blast by       
slander the fair fame of the innocent2  
strangle the smiling child upon its     
mother's knees2 deceive1 ruin1  and     
desert the beautiful girl who loves and 
trusts you1 and your  case is not       
hopeless4 ,for all this1 and for all    
these1 you may  be forgiven4 ,for all   
this1 and for all these1 that bankrupt  
court  established by the gospel will   

give you a discharge2 but deny the      
existence of these divine ghosts1 of    
these gods1 and the sweet and  tearful  
face of ,mercy becomes livid with       
eternal hate4 ,heaven's  golden gates   
are shut1 and you1 with an infinite     
curse ringing in  your ears1 with the   
brand of infamy upon your brow1 commence
 your  endless wanderings in the lurid  
gloom of hell--an immortal vagrant1  an 
eternal outcast1 a deathless convict4   
,a gloomy heaven above opening its      
jealous gates to the                    
nineteen-thousandth part of the tithe of
 mankind6 ,and below an  inexorable     
,hell expanding its leviathan jaws for  
the vast residue of  mortals6 ,o        
doctrine comfortable and healing to the 
weary wounded soul  of man6--,robert    
,burns4        #ecj    ,did he teach the
 doctrine of endless punishment8    ,and
 these shall go away into everlasting   
punishment 7,matthew xxv1  #df74        
,that is the most infamous passage in   
all literature4 ,it is the  language1   

not of an incarnate ,god1 but of an     
incarnate devil4 ,the  being who gave   
utterance to those words deserves not   
the worship1  but the execration of     
mankind4 ,the priests who preach this   
doctrine  of eternal pain are fiends4   
,there is misery enough in this world   
without adding to it the mental anguish 
of this monstrous lie4    ,less than a  
hundred years ago1 when ,christ was yet 
believed to  be divine1 in nearly every 
pulpit1 to frighten timid and confiding 
mothers1 dimpled babes were consigned to
 the red flames of this eternal  hell4  
,then came the preachers of             
humanity--the ,ballous1 the ,channings1 
the ,parkers and the                    
,beechers--preachers with hearts and    
brains1 who  sought to humanize this    
heavenly demon1 to make of him a decent 
man1  and civilize his fiendish priests4
 ,to these men is due the debt of       
everlasting gratitude4 ,with the return 
of every spring the emancipated  of the 
race should build above their sacred    

dust a pyramid of flowers4    ,not by   
the sects known as ,universalists and   
,unitarians1 small in  numbers1 though  
in the character of their adherents the 
greatest of  the ,christian sects1 must 
we estimate the importance of the work  
of  ,ballou and ,channing and other     
,liberal ministers4 ,the influence of   
their teachings has permeated every     
,christian sect1 and quickened  every   
humane conscience4 ,in the minds of all 
intelligent ,christians1  largely as the
 result of their labors1 this heartless 
demon and this  cruel dogma are dead4   
,in their creeds they still survive4    
,they are  ashamed of the dogma2 they   
abhor it4 ,they should abhor its author1
  and banish both4      ,what6 ,i should
 call on that ,infinite ,love that has  
served us so well8  ,infinite cruelty   
rather1 that made everlasting hell1     
,made us1 foreknew us1 foredoom'd us1   
and does what he will with his own2     
,better our dead brute mother who never 
has heard us groan4                     

--,tennyson4        #eca    ,is it      
possible to fall from grace8    ,peter3 
,if after they have escaped the         
pollutions of the world through  the    
knowledge of the ,lord and ,savior      
,jesus ,christ1 they are again          
entangled therein1 and overcome1 the    
latter end is worse with them  than the 
beginning 7#b ,peter ii1 #bj74    ,my   
sheep hear my voice1 and ,i know them1  
and they follow me3 and  ,i give unto   
them eternal life2 and they shall never 
perish1 neither  shall any man pluck    
them out of my hand 7,john x1 #bg1 #bh74
    ,there is no condemnation for them  
that believe and are                    
baptized4--,confession of ,faith1 ,art4 
,,ix4        #ecb    ,is baptism        
essential to salvation8    ,he that     
believeth and is baptized shall be saved
 7,mark xvi1 #af74    ,except a man be  
born of the water and of the ,spirit1 he
 cannot enter  the ,kingdom of ,god     
7,john iii1 #e74    ,go ye1 therefore1  
and teach all nations1 baptizing them   

7,matthew  xxviii1 #ai74    ,was the    
penitent thief baptized8    ,paul says3 
,i thank ,god that ,i baptized none of  
you1 but ,crispus and  ,gaius4444 ,for  
,christ sent me not to baptize1 but to  
preach the gospel  7#a ,corinthians i1  
#ad1 #ag74        #ecc    ,what         
constitutes ,christian baptism1         
immersion or sprinkling8    ,with       
millions of ,bibles in circulation1 the 
,christian does not  know4 ,if he       
affirms1 as many scholars affirm1 that  
immersion is the  mode authorized by the
 ,bible1 then he must admit that the    
greater  portion of ,christendom has    
rejected this mode and adopted one not  
authorized by the ,scriptures4    ,to   
whom is this rite to be administered1 to
 both adults and infants1  or to adults 
alone8    ,after eighteen centuries of  
controversy2 after employing millions of
  priests to interpret the ,scriptures2 
after ,anabaptists and ,pedobaptists    
have baptized their swords in each      
others' blood1 the church is not        

prepared to answer4        #ecd    ,did 
,christ command his disciples to repeat 
and perpetuate the  observance of the   
,eucharist8    ,luke3 ,he did4 ,this do 
in remembrance of me4    ,matthew1 ,mark
 and ,john3 ,he did not4    ,it is      
admitted by ,dr4 ,westcott and others   
that the earlier versions  of ,luke did 
not contain the injunction quoted4      
,christ1 then1 according  to the ,four  
,gospels did not institute the          
,eucharist as a sacrament to  be        
observed by his disciples and the       
church4 ,referring to the ,twelve       
,apostles1 the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,minot ,j4    
,savage says3 ,they knew nothing about  
any sacraments2 they had not been       
instituted 7,what is ,christianity874   
#ece    ,what did he teach in regard to 
the efficacy of prayer8    ,all things  
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer1      
believing1 ye shall  receive 7,matthew  
xxi1 #bb74    ,this is one of the       
cardinal doctrines of his religion4 ,he 
is  continually impressing upon the     

minds of his hearers the necessity  and 
the efficacy of prayer4 ,referring to   
this doctrine1 ,greg says3    ,this     
doctrine has in all ages been a         
stumbling block to the  thoughtful4 ,it 
is obviously irreconcilable with all    
that reason and  revelation teach us of 
the divine nature2 and the inconsistency
 has  been felt by the ablest of the    
,scripture writers themselves4 ,various 
and desperate have been the expedients  
and suppositions resorted to1  in order 
to reconcile the conception of an       
immutable1 all-wise1  all-foreseeing    
,god1 with that of a father who is      
turned from his  course by the prayers  
of his creatures4 ,but all such efforts 
are1  and are felt to be1 hopeless      
failures4 ,they involve the assertion   
and  negation of the same proposition in
 one breath4 ,the problem remains  still
 insoluble2 and we must either be       
content to leave it so1 or we  must     
abandon one or other of the hostile     
premises4    ,the religious man1 who    

believes that all events1 mental as well
 as  physical1 are pre-ordered and      
arranged according to the decrees of    
infinite wisdom1 and the philosopher1   
who knows that1 by the wise  and eternal
 laws of the universe1 cause and effect 
are indissolubly  chained together1 and 
that one follows the other in inevitable
  succession--equally feel that this    
ordination--this chain--cannot be       
changed at the cry of man4 ,to suppose  
that it can is to place the  whole      
harmonious system of nature at the mercy
 of the weak reason  and the selfish    
wishes of humanity4 ,if the purposes of 
,god were not  wise1 they would not be  
formed3 if wise1 they cannot be changed1
  for then they would become unwise4 ,to
 suppose that an all-wise ,being  would 
alter his designs and modes of          
proceeding at the entreaty of  an       
unknowing creature1 is to believe that  
compassion would change  his wisdom into
 foolishness4444 ,if the universe is    
governed by fixed  laws1 or 7which is   

the same proposition in different       
language71 if all  events are           
pre-ordained by the foreseeing wisdom of
 an infinite ,god1  then the prayers of 
thousands of years and generations of   
martyrs and  saints cannot change or    
modify one iota of our destiny4 ,the    
proposition  is unassailable by the     
subtlest logic4 ,the weak1 fond         
affections of  humanity struggle in vain
 against the unwelcome conclusion       
7,creed  of ,christendom1 pp4 #cbb1     
#cbc74        #ecf    ,where are we     
commanded to pray8    ,when thou prayest
 enter into thy closet 7,matthew vi1    
#f74    ,how long ought we to continue  
in prayer8    ,men ought always to pray 
7,luke xviii1 #a74        #ecg    ,did  
,christ assume for himself the power of 
answering petitions8    ,whatsoever ye  
shall ask in my name that will ,i do    
7,john xiv1 #ac74 ,but  soon realizing  
that his capital was too small to       
conduct a business  of such magnitude1  
he was compelled to announce that1      

,whatsoever ye  shall ask of the ,father
 in my name1 he may give it you 7xv1    
#af74        #ech    ,does ,god know our
 wants8    ,your father knoweth what    
things ye have need of before ye ask him
  7,matthew vi1 #h74    ,then what is   
the use of prayer8 ,is ,god a           
mischievous urchin taunting  his hungry 
dog with a morsel of bread1 and         
shouting1 ,beg1 ,tray1 beg68        #eci
    ,what portion of their goods did he 
require the rich to give the poor  to   
obtain salvation8    ,rich ,ruler1 ,no4 
#a3 ,good ,master1 what shall ,i do to  
inherit eternal  life8 7,luke xviii1    
#ah47    ,jesus3 ,sell all that thou    
hast and distribute unto the poor 7#bb74
    ,rich ,ruler1 ,no4 #b3 ,lord1 the   
half of my goods ,i give to the poor    
7,luke xix1 #h74    ,jesus3 ,this day is
 salvation come to this house 7#i74     
#edj    ,what did he teach respecting   
the publicity of good works8    ,let    
your light so shine before men1 that    
they may see your good works  7,matthew 

v1 #af74    ,take heed that ye do not   
your righteousness before men to be seen
  of them 7vi1 #a1 ,new ,ver474         
#eda    ,what original rules of table   
observance did he teach his disciples8  
,matthew3 ,to abstain from washing their
 hands before eating4 ,they  wash not   
their hands when they eat bread 7xv1    
#b74    ,john3 ,to wash their feet after
 eating4 ,he riseth from supper1 and    
laid  aside his garments2 and took a    
towel and girded himself4 ,after that   
he poured water into a basin1 and began 
to wash the disciples' feet1  and to    
wipe them with the towel wherewith he   
was girded 7xiii1 #d1 #e74    ,the      
proneness of ,christ's followers to     
neglect his ordinances and  precepts    
which require some sacrifice or effort  
to obey1 and the  readiness with which  
they observe those which do not1 find a 
fitting  illustration in the reception  
accorded these teachings4 ,while the    
early ,christians1 many of them1        
accepted the first as a religious       

obligation not to be violated1 the      
second was ignored4 ,writing  of        
,christian monks and nuns1 ,lecky says3 
,the cleanliness of the  body was       
regarded as a pollution of the soul1 and
 the saints  who were most admired had  
become one hideous mass of clotted      
filth4 ,st4 ,athanasius relates with    
enthusiasm how ,st4 ,antony1 the        
patriarch of monachism1 had never1 to   
extreme old age1 been guilty of  washing
 his feet4444 ,st4 ,abraham the hermit1 
however1 who lived for  fifty years     
after his conversion1 rigidly refused   
from that date to  wash either his face 
or feet4444 ,st4 ,euphraxia joined a    
convent of one  hundred and thirty nuns1
 who never washed their feet1 and who   
shuddered  at the mention of a bath     
7,european ,morals1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 pp4     
#aji1 #aaj74        #edb    ,what       
religious formula is to be found in the 
,new ,testament8    ,in the name of     
,jesus4    ,in the name of ,jesus the   
disciples cast out devils and performed 

other miracles2 ,in the name of ,jesus  
they baptized their converts2  ,in the  
name of ,jesus salvation was secured4   
,this formula1 with  various            
modifications1 is in general use in the 
church today4 ,it  betrays the heathen  
origin of ,christianity4 ,referring to  
its use  ,prof4 ,meinhold of ,bonn      
,university says3 ,name and person were 
at one  time closely combined1 and      
elementary religious ideas were         
connected  with the words4 ,he who knew 
the name of a divinity and could        
pronounce  it was in this way able to   
secure a blessing4 ,it was the use of   
the  name of ,jesus in the sacraments   
that made them effective1 in the  spirit
 of sorcery4 ,this idea came from the   
lowest type of religious  thought1      
reflected in religious mysteries in the 
days of ,jesus1  and was embodied in the
 earliest ,christianity4        #edc    
,what is taught respecting the use of   
oaths8    ,god3 ,swear by my name       
7,jeremiah xii1 #af74    ,christ3 ,swear

 not at all 7,matthew v1 #cd74          
#edd    ,what opposing rules of         
proselytism did ,christ promulgate8     
,he that is not with me is against me   
7,luke xi1 #bc74    ,he that is not     
against us is for us 7,luke ix1 #ej74   
#ede    ,what is to befall him that hath
 nothing8    ,whosoever hath not1 from  
him shall be taken away even that he    
hath  7,matthew xiii1 #ab74    ,ex      
nihilo nihil fit4        #edf    ,what  
did he say would be the fate of those   
who took up the sword8    ,they that    
take the sword shall perish with the    
sword 7,matthew  xxvi1 #eb74    ,he     
evidently considered this commendable1  
for he immediately issued  the following
 command to his disciples3    ,he that  
hath no sword let him sell his garments 
and buy one 7,luke  xxii1 #cf74         
#edg    ,what did he say regarding the  
fear of death8    ,be not afraid of them
 that kill the body 7,luke xii1 #d74    
,after these things ,jesus walked in    
,galilee3 for he would not walk  in     

,jewry1 because the ,jews sought to kill
 him 7,john vii1 #a74        #edh       
,what is to be the earthly reward of    
those that follow ,christ8    ,there is 
no man that hath left house1 or         
brethren1 or sisters1 or  father1 or    
mother1 or wife1 or children1 or lands1 
for my sake1 and  the gospel's1 but he  
shall receive a hundred fold now in this
 time  7,mark x1 #bi1 #cj74    ,who is  
he that will harm you1 if ye be         
followers of that which is  good8 7#a   
,peter iii1 #ac47    ,for my yoke is    
easy1 and my burden is light 7,matthew  
xi1 #cj74    ,in the world ye shall have
 tribulation 7,john xvi1 #cc74    ,ye   
shall be hated of all men for my name's 
sake 7,luke xxi1 #ag74    ,yea1 and all 
that will live godly in ,christ ,jesus  
shall suffer  persecution 7#b ,tim4 iii1
 #ab74    ,for whom the ,lord loveth he 
chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom
  he receiveth 7,hebrews xii1 #f74      
#edi    ,what promise did ,christ make  
to ,paul at the commencement of his     

ministry8    ,i am with thee and no man 
shall set on thee to hurt thee 7,acts   
xviii1 #aj74    ,of the ,jews five times
 received ,i forty stripes save one4    
,thrice  was ,i beaten with rods1 once  
was ,i stoned 7#b ,corinthians xi1 #bd1 
#be74        #eej    ,how are ,christ's 
true followers to be distinguished from 
those of  the devil8    ,whosoever is   
born of ,god doth not commit sin 7#a    
,john iii1 #i74    ,he that committeth  
sin is of the devil 7#h74    ,judged by 
this standard what is the comparative   
strength of these  sovereigns' subjects8
    ,there is no man that sinneth not   
7#a ,kings viii1 #df74    ,there is not 
a just man upon earth 7,ecclesiastes    
vii1 #bj74    ,there is none righteous1 
no1 not one 7,romans iii1 #aj74         
#eea    ,great stress is placed upon the
 moral teachings of ,jesus4 ,what did   
he teach8 ,did he advocate industry and 
frugality8    ,lay not up for yourselves
 treasures upon earth 7,matthew vi1     
#ai74    ,take no thought for your life 

what ye shall eat or what ye shall      
drink2 nor yet for your body1 what ye   
shall put on 7#be74    ,take therefore  
no thought for the morrow 7#cd74        
#eeb    ,what were the early            
,christians8    ,acts3 ,they were       
,communists4 ,they had all things       
common4444 ,for as many  as were        
possessors of land or houses sold them1 
and brought the prices  of the things   
that were sold1 and laid them down at   
the apostles' feet2  and distribution   
was made unto every man according as he 
had need  7iv1 #cb-ce74    ,most        
,christians condemn ,communism2 but was 
the ,communism of nineteen  hundred     
years ago better than the ,communism of 
today8 ,to condemn  ,communism is to    
condemn primitive ,christianity4 ,yet1  
,christians profess  to abhor the       
,communistic ideas of modern teachers1  
while they worship  as a ,god the       
founder of this ,communistic sect of    
,palestine4        #eec    ,what did he 
teach respecting poverty and wealth8    

,blessed be ye poor 7,luke vi1 #bj74    
,woe unto you that are rich 7#bd74      
,poverty is a curse2 wealth honestly    
acquired and wisely used is a  blessing4
 ,the rich man's wealth is his strong   
city3 the destruction  of the poor is   
their poverty 7,proverbs x1 #ae74       
#eed    ,in the parable of the ,rich    
,man and ,lazarus1 what befell the      
representatives of vagrancy and         
respectability8    ,the beggar died1 and
 was carried by the angels into         
,abraham's bosom  7,luke xvi1 #bb74     
,the rich man also died1 444 and in hell
 he lifted up his eyes  7#bb1 #bc74     
,see the red flames around him twine    
,who did in gold and purple shine6      
,while round the saint so poor below1   
,full rivers of salvation flow4         
,jesus1 my ,lord1 let me appear         
,the meanest of thy creatures here4     
#eee    ,why was ,dives' request that   
his brothers be informed of their       
impending  fate refused8    ,they have  
,moses and the prophets2 let them hear  

them 7,luke xvi1 #bi74    ,moses and the
 prophets do not teach the doctrine of  
endless punishment1  nor even that of a 
future existence1 much less that the    
mere possession  of wealth1 acquired    
perhaps by honest industry1 is a crime  
which can  be expiated only by the      
sufferings of an endless hell4          
,christ's ,kingdom was a kingdom of     
vagrants and paupers4 ,a rich  man shall
 hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven
 7,matthew xix1  #bc74 ,it is easier for
 a camel to go through the eye of a     
needle1  than for a rich man to enter   
the kingdom of ,god 7#bd74        #eef  
,while at the temple with his disciples 
what act did he commend8    ,mark and   
,luke3 ,that of the poor widow who threw
 two mites into the  treasury 7,mark    
xii1 #dc2 ,luke xxi1 #c74    ,this      
widow's offering illustrates the        
characteristic generosity of the  poor  
and the heartless greed of the church4  
,this text has enabled a  horde of      
indolent priests to prey upon widows and

 orphans2 to filch  the scanty earnings 
of the poor1 and live like parasites    
upon the  weak and sickly calves of     
humanity4        #eeg    ,did he        
practice the virtue of temperance8      
,the ,son of ,man is come eating and    
drinking2 and ye say1 ,behold a         
gluttonous man and a winebibber 7,luke  
vii1 #cd74        #eeh    ,what was his 
first miracle8    ,john3 ,there was a   
marriage in ,cana of ,galilee4444 ,and  
both ,jesus  was called1 and his        
disciples1 to the marriage4 ,and when   
they wanted  wine1 the mother of ,jesus 
saith unto him1 ,they have no wine4444  
,and  there were set there six water    
pots of stone1 444 containing two or    
three firkins apiece4 ,jesus saith unto 
them1 ,fill the water pots with  water4 
,and they filled them up to the brim    
7ii1 #a-g74 ,this water he  turned into 
wine4    ,here is ,christ supplying a   
party already well drunk with more  than
 one hundred gallons of wine4 ,as they  
were intoxicated when he  performed the 

miracle1 would it not have been better  
for them and  better for the millions   
who have accepted him as a moral guide1 
if at the beginning of the feast he had 
turned the wine into water8    ,the     
morality taught by ,jesus suffers in    
comparison with that taught  by         
,mohammed4 ,mohammed prohibited the use 
of intoxicating drink1 and  the         
,mohammedans are a temperate people2    
,jesus sanctioned the use of            
intoxicating drink1 and the ,christian  
world abounds with drunkenness4         
,referring to the miracle at ,cana1     
,strauss says3 ,not only1 however1  has 
the miracle been impeached in relation  
to possibility1 but also  in relation to
 utility and fitness4 ,it has been urged
 both in ancient  and modern times1 that
 it was unworthy of ,jesus that he      
should not only  remain in the society  
of drunkards1 but even further their    
intemperance  by an exercise of his     
miraculous power 7,leben ,jesu1 p4      
#ehd74        #eei    ,did he oppose    

slavery8    ,all3 ,he did not4          
,slavery was incorporated into the civil
 institutions of ,moses2 it was         
recognized accordingly by ,christ and   
his apostles4--,rev4 ,dr4 ,nathan       
,lord1 ,president of ,dartmouth         
,college4    ,at the time of the advent 
of ,jesus ,christ1 slavery in its worst 
forms prevailed over the world4 ,the    
,savior found it around him in  ,judea2 
the apostles met with it in ,asia1      
,greece and ,italy4 ,how did  they treat
 it8 ,not by denunciation of            
slave-holding as necessarily            
sinful4--,prof4 ,hodge of ,princeton4   
,i have no doubt if ,jesus ,christ were 
now on earth that he would1 under       
certain circumstances1 become a         
slaveholder4--,rev4 ,dr4 ,taylor of     
,yale4    ,rousseau says3 ,christ       
preaches only servitude and             
dependence4444 ,true  ,christians are   
made to be slaves4        #efj    ,what 
did the apostles teach8    ,peter3      
,servants slaves1 be subject to your    

masters with all fear2  not only to the 
good and gentle1 but also to the froward
 7#a ,peter  ii1 #ah74    ,paul3 ,let as
 many servants slaves as are under the  
yoke count  their own masters worthy of 
all honor 7#a ,timothy vi1 #a74         
,servants1  be obedient to them that are
 your masters according to the flesh1   
with fear and trembling 7,ephesians vi1 
#e74    ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,wilbur ,fisk1  
president of ,wesleyan ,university1     
says3  ,the ,new ,testament enjoins     
obedience upon the slave as an          
obligation  due to a present rightful   
authority4        #efa    ,did he favor 
marriage8    ,matthew3 ,he advocated    
celibacy1 and even self-mutilation as   
preferable  to marriage 7xix1 #aj-ab74  
,following this teaching of their       
,master1 ,christians1 many of them1     
have condemned marriage4 ,a ,christian  
pope1 ,siricius1 branded it as a        
pollution of the flesh4 ,st4 ,jerome    
taught that the duty of the saint  was  
to cut down by the axe of ,virginity the

 wood of ,marriage4 ,pascal  says3      
,marriage is the lowest and most        
dangerous condition of the  ,christian4 
,g4 ,w4 ,foote of ,england says3 ,jesus 
appears to have despised the union  of  
the sexes1 therefore marriage1 and      
therefore the home4 ,he taught  that in 
heaven1 where all is perfect1 there is  
neither marrying nor  giving in         
marriage4    ,monks and nuns innumerable
 owe to this evil teaching their        
shriveled  lives and withered           
hearts4--,mrs4 ,besant4        #efb     
,what did he encourage women to do8     
,luke3 ,to leave their husbands and     
homes1 and follow and associate  with   
him and his roving apostles--,mary1     
called ,magdalene1 out of whom  went    
seven devils1 and ,joanna the wife of   
,chuza1 ,herod's steward1 and  ,susanna1
 and many others1 which ministered unto 
him of their substance  7viii1 #b1 #c74 
#efc    ,what did he say respecting     
children8    ,suffer little children to 
come unto me and forbid them not4       

,but it was only the children of ,jews  
he welcomed4 ,the afflicted child  of a 
,gentile he spurned as a dog4 ,when the 
woman of ,canaan desired  him to heal   
her daughter1 he brutally replied3 ,it  
is not meet to  take the children's     
bread and cast it to the dogs 7,matthew 
xv1  #bf74 ,the soldiers who spit on    
,jesus in ,pilate's hall did not do a   
meaner thing than ,jesus did that day4  
,and if he afterwards consented  to cure
 the child it was not as an act of      
humanity to the sufferer1  but as a     
reward for the mother's faith in him4   
,concerning this brutal act of ,jesus1  
,helen ,gardener says3 ,do you think    
that was kind8 ,do you think it was     
godlike8 ,what would you think of a     
physician1 if a woman came to him       
distressed and said1 ',doctor1 come  to 
my daughter2 she is very ill4 ,she has  
lost her reason1 and she is  all ,i     
have6' ,what would you think of the     
doctor who would not reply  at all at   
first1 and then1 when she fell at his   

feet and worshiped  him1 answered that  
he did not spend his time doctoring     
dogs8 ,would  you like him as a family  
physician8 ,do you think that1 even if  
he  were to cure the child then1 he     
would have done a noble thing8 ,is  it  
evidence of a perfect character to      
accompany a service with an  insult8 ,do
 you think that a man who could offer   
such an indignity to  a sorrowing mother
 has a perfect character1 is an ideal   
,god8        #efd    ,he enjoined the   
observance of the commandment1 ,honor   
thy father and  thy mother4 ,did he     
respect it himself8    ,more striking   
examples of filial ingratitude are not  
to be found than  are exhibited in the  
,gospel history of ,jesus ,christ4 ,when
 visiting  ,jerusalem with his parents1 
he allows them to depart for home       
without  him1 thinking that he is with  
another part of the company2 and when   
they return to search for him and find  
him1 he manifests no concern  for the   
trouble he has caused2 when during his  

ministry his mother and  brothers are   
announced1 he receives them with a      
sneer2 at the marriage  feast1 when his 
mother kindly speaks to him1 he brutally
 exclaims1  ,woman1 what have ,i to do  
with thee8 ,throughout the ,four        
,gospels  not one respectful word to    
that devoted mother is recorded4 ,even  
in his last hours1 when the mental      
anguish of that mother must have        
equaled his own physical suffering1 not 
one word of comfort or farewell         
greeting escapes from his lips2 but the 
same studied disrespect that  has       
characterized him all his life is       
exhibited here4        #efe    ,did he  
not promote domestic strife8    ,suppose
 ye that ,i am come to give peace on    
earth8 ,i tell you1 ,nay2  but rather   
division3 for from henceforth there     
shall be five in one  house divided1    
three against two1 and two against      
three4 ,the father  against the son1 and
 the son against the father2 the mother 
against  the daughter1 and the daughter 

against the mother2 the mother-in-law   
against her daughter-in-law1 and the    
daughter-in-law against her             
mother-in-law 7,luke xii1 #ea-ec74      
,think not that ,i am come to send peace
 on earth3 ,i came not to send  peace1  
but a sword4 ,for ,i am come to set a   
man at variance against his  father1 and
 the daughter against her mother1 and   
the daughter-in-law  against her        
mother-in-law 7,matthew x1 #cd1 #ce74   
#eff    ,what did he require of his     
disciples8    ,if any man come to me1   
and hate not his father1 and mother1 and
 wife1  and children1 and brethren and  
sisters1 yea1 and his own life also1  he
 cannot be my disciple 7,luke xiv1 #bf74
    ,it is scarcely possible in this age
 of enlightenment and unbelief  to      
realize what sorrows and miseries these 
accursed teachings of  ,christ once     
caused4 ,the eminent historian ,lecky1  
in his ,history  of ,european ,morals1  
has attempted to describe some of their 
awful  consequences4 ,from his pages ,i 

quote the following3    ,to break by his
 ingratitude the heart of the mother who
 had borne him1  to persuade the wife   
who adored him that it was her duty to  
separate  from him forever1 to abandon  
his children1 uncared for and beggars1  
to the mercies of the world1 was        
regarded by the true hermit as the  most
 acceptable offering he could make to   
his ,god4 ,his business was  to save his
 own soul4 ,the serenity of his devotion
 would be impaired  by the discharge of 
the simplest duties to his family4      
,evagrius1  when a hermit in the desert1
 received1 after a long interval1       
letters  from his father and mother4 ,he
 could not bear that the equable tenor  
of his thought should be disturbed by   
the recollection of those who  loved    
him1 so he cast the letters unread into 
the fire4 ,a man named  ,mutius1        
accompanied by his only child1 a little 
boy of eight years old1  abandoned his  
possessions and demanded admission into 
a monastery4 ,the  monks received him1  

but they proceeded to discipline his    
heart4 ',he  had already forgotten that 
he was rich2 he must next be taught to  
forget that he was a father4' ,his      
little child was separated from  him1   
clothed in rags1 subjected to every form
 of gross and wanton  hardship1 beaten1 
spurned and ill-treated4 ,day after day 
the father  was compelled to look upon  
his boy wasting away with sorrow1 his   
once  happy countenance forever stained 
with tears1 distorted by sobs of        
anguish4 ,but yet1 says the admiring    
biographer1 'though he saw this day  by 
day1 such was his love for ,christ1 and 
for the virtue of obedience1  that the  
father's heart was rigid and unmoved'   
7,vol4 ii1 #abe1 #abf74    ,he ,st4     
,simeon ,stylites had been passionately 
loved by his parents1  and1 if we may   
believe his eulogist and biographer1 he 
began his  saintly career by breaking   
the heart of his father1 who died of    
grief  at his flight4 ,his mother1      
however1 lingered on4 ,twenty-seven     

years  after his disappearance1 at a    
period when his austerities had made    
him famous1 she heard for the first time
 where he was and hastened  to visit    
him4 ,but all her labor was in vain4 ,no
 woman was admitted  within the         
precincts of his dwelling1 and he       
refused to permit her  even to look upon
 his face4 ,her entreaties and tears    
were mingled with  words of bitter and  
eloquent reproach4 ',my son1' she is    
represented  as having said1 'why have  
you done this8 ,i bore you in my womb1  
and  you have wrung my soul with grief4 
,i gave you milk from my breast1  you   
have filled my eyes with tears4 ,for the
 kisses ,i gave you1 you  have given me 
the anguish of a broken heart2 for all  
that ,i have  done and suffered for you1
 you have repaid me by the most cruel   
wrongs4' ,at last the saint sent a      
message to her to tell her that  she    
would soon see him4 ,three days and     
three nights she had wept and  entreated
 in vain1 and now1 exhausted with grief 

and age and privation1  she sank feebly 
to the ground and breathed her last sigh
 before that  inhospitable door4 ,then  
for the first time the saint1           
accompanied by  his followers1 came out4
 ,he shed some pious tears over the     
corpse of  his murdered mother1 and     
offered up a prayer consigning her soul 
to  heaven 7,ibid1 #acj74        #efg   
,did he not indulge in vituperation and 
abuse8    ,ye fools and blind 7,matthew 
xxiii1 #ag74    ,woe unto you1 scribes  
and ,pharisees1 hypocrites 7#ad74       
,all that ever came before me are       
thieves and robbers 7,john x1 #h74      
,ye serpents1 ye generation of vipers1  
how can ye escape the damnation  of     
hell8 7,matthew xxiii1 #cc47            
,regarding these abusive epithets of    
,christ1 ,prof4 ,newman says3 ,the      
,jewish nation may well complain that   
they have been cruelly slandered  by the
 gospels4 ,the invectives have been     
burnt into the heart of  ,christendom1  
so that the innocent ,jews1 children of 

the dispersion1  have felt in millennial
 misery--yes1 and to this day feel--the 
deadly  sting of these fierce and       
haughty utterances 7,jesus ,christ1 p4  
#be74        #efh    ,relate his        
treatment of the ,pharisee who invited  
him to dine with him4    ,luke3 ,and as 
he spake1 a certain ,pharisee besought  
him to dine with  him2 and he went in1  
and sat down to meat4 ,and when the     
,pharisee saw  it1 he marveled that he  
had not first washed before dinner4 ,and
 the  ,lord said unto him1 now do ye    
,pharisees make clean the outside of    
the cup and the platter2 but your inward
 part is full of ravening  and          
wickedness4 ,ye fools 444 hypocrites6   
7xi1 #cg-dd47    ,was such insolence of 
manners on the part of ,jesus calculated
 to  promote the interest of the cause  
he professed to hold so dear at  heart8 
,supposing a ,freethinker were to       
receive an invitation to dine  with a   
,christian friend and were to repay the 
hospitality of his  host with rudeness  

and abuse1 interrupting the ceremony of 
grace  with an oath or a sneer1 and     
showering upon the head of his friend   
such epithets as hypocrite and fool4    
,would such insolent behavior  have a   
tendency to gain for him the world's    
esteem or aid the cause  he represents8 
,and are we to approve in a ,god conduct
 that we regard  as detestable in a man8
 ,it may be urged that ,god is not      
subject to  the rules of human conduct4 
,grant it2 but is it necessary for him  
in  order to exhibit his divine         
character to assume the manners of a    
brute8        #efi    ,do the ,pharisees
 deserve the sweeping condemnation      
heaped upon them  by ,christ and his    
followers8    ,in marked contrast to the
 diatribes of ,jesus is the testimony of
  ,josephus3 ,now1 for the ,pharisees1  
they live meanly plainly1 and  despise  
delicacies in diet1 and they follow the 
conduct of reason2  and what that       
prescribes to them as good for them1    
they do2 and they  think they ought     

earnestly to strive to observe reason's 
dictates for  practice4444 ,the cities  
give great attestations to them on      
account  of their entire virtuous       
conduct1 both in the actions of their   
lives1  and their discourses also       
7,antiquities1 ,book xviii1 chap4 i1    
sec4 #c74    ,paul1 the ,christian1 when
 arraigned before ,agrippa1 believed    
that no  loftier testimonial to his     
character could be adduced than the fact
  that he had been a ,pharisee 7,acts   
xxvi1 #d1 #e74        #egj    ,what is  
said in regard to his purging the       
temple8    ,john3 ,and the ,jews'       
,passover was at hand1 and ,jesus went  
up to  ,jerusalem1 and found in the     
temple those that sold oxen and sheep   
and doves1 and the changers of money    
sitting3 and when he had made  a scourge
 of small cords1 he drove them all out  
of the temple1  and the sheep1 and the  
oxen2 and poured out the changers'      
money1  and overthrew the tables 7ii1   
#ac-ae74    ,no currency but the ,jewish

 was accepted in the temple1 while      
doves1  lambs1 and other animals were   
required for offerings4 ,these persons  
performed the very necessary office of  
supplying the ,jews with  offerings and 
exchanging ,jewish coins for the ,roman 
money then in  general circulation4     
,what right he had to interfere with the
 lawful  business of these men1 and     
especially in the manner in which he    
did1  it is difficult to understand4    
#ega    ,describe the cursing of the fig
 tree4    ,matthew3 ,now in the morning 
as he returned into the city1 he        
hungered4 ,and when he saw a fig tree in
 the way1 he came to it1  and found     
nothing thereon1 but leaves only1 and   
said unto it1 ,let no  fruit grow on    
thee henceforward for ever4 ,and        
presently the fig tree  withered away   
7xxi1 #ah1 #ai74    ,jesus cursed a     
living tree and it died2 ,mohammed      
blessed a dead tree  and it lived4      
,the alleged conduct of ,jesus on many  
occasions1 notably his harsh  treatment 

of his mother1 his abuse of the         
,pharisees1 his purging the  temple and 
his cursing the fig tree1 is not the    
conduct of a rational  being1 but rather
 that of a madman4 ,if these stories be 
historical  they would indicate that he 
was not wholly responsible for his words
  and acts4 ,dr4 ,jules ,soury1 of the  
,university of ,france1 believes that   
he was the victim of an incurable mental
 disorder4 ,in a work on morbid         
psychology1 entitled ,studies on ,jesus 
and ,the ,gospels1 ,dr4 ,soury  cites a 
long array of seemingly indisputable    
facts in support of his  theory4 ,from  
his preface to the work1 ,i quote the   
following3    ,jesus the ,god1 gone down
 in his glory1 like a star sunk beneath 
the  horizon but still shedding a few   
faint rays on the world1 threw a halo   
round the brow of ,jesus the ,prophet4  
,in the dull glow of that twilight1  in 
the melancholy but charming hour when   
everything seemed wrapped in  vague1    
ethereal tints1 ,jesus appeared to      

,strauss and ,renan such as he  had     
shown himself to his first disciples1   
the ,master par-excellence1  a man truly
 divine4 ,then came the night2 and as   
darkness descended  on those flickering 
gospel beginnings there remained nought 
to be  descried through the obscurity of
 dubious history1 but dimly looming1    
the portentous outline of the gibbet and
 its victim4    ,in the present work    
,jesus makes his appearance1 perhaps for
 the  first time1 as a sufferer from a  
grave malady1 the course of which  we   
have attempted to trace4    ,the        
nervous1 or cerebral disorder1 at first 
congestive and then  inflammatory1 under
 which he labored1 was not only         
deep-seated and  dangerous--it was      
incurable4 ,among us at the present time
 that  affection may be seen daily      
making kings1 millionaires1 popes1      
prophets1 saints1 and even divinities of
 poor fellows who have lost  their      
balance2 it has produced more than one  
,messiah4    ,if we be right in the     

interpretation of data which has been   
followed  in the study of morbid        
psychology1 ,jesus1 at the time of his  
death1  was in a somewhat advanced stage
 of this disorder1 ,he was1 to all      
appearance1 cut off opportunely2 the    
gibbet saved him from actual  madness4  
,the diagnosis which we have ventured to
 draw is based on three sets  of facts  
which are attested by the most ancient  
and trustworthy of  the witnesses of his
 career4    #a4 ,religious excitement1  
then general in ,palestine1 drove ,jesus
 to  the wilderness1 where he lived some
 time the life of a recluse1 as  those  
who considered themselves to have the   
prophetic mission often  did4 ,carried  
away with the idea that he was divinely 
inspired to  proclaim the coming of the 
,messiah1 he left his own people and his
  native place1 and1 attended by a      
following of fishermen and others  of   
the same class1 went about among the    
towns and villages of ,galilee          
announcing the speedy approach of the   

,kingdom of ,heaven4    #b4 ,after      
having proclaimed the coming of the     
,messiah1 like other  contemporary      
,jewish prophets1 ,jesus gradually came 
to look upon himself  as the ,messiah1  
the ,christ4 ,he allowed himself to be  
called the ,son of  ,david1 the ,son of 
,god1 and had among his followers one1  
if not more1  of those fanatical        
,sicarii1 so graphically described by   
,josephus1  who were waiting for the    
deliverance of ,israel from the yoke of 
,rome4 ,progressive obliteration of the 
consciousness of his personal  identity 
marks the interval between the somewhat 
vague revelation  which he made to his  
disciples at the foot of ,mount ,hermon 
and the  day when1 before ,caiaphas and 
before ,pilate1 he openly declared that 
he was the ,messiah1 and by that token  
the ,king of the ,jews4    #c4 ,the     
cursing of the fig tree whereon there   
were no figs1 because  'the time of figs
 was not yet1' the violent conduct      
toward the dealers  and changers at the 

temple1 were manifestly foolish acts4   
,jesus had  come to believe that        
everything was permitted him1 that all  
things  belonged to him1 that nothing   
was too hard for him to do4 ,for a  long
 time he had given evident signs of     
perversion of the natural  affections1  
especially with respect to his mother   
and brethren4 ,to  the fits of anger    
against the priests and religious       
ministers of  his nation1 to the        
ambitious extravagance of his words and 
acts1 to  the wild dream of his         
,messianic grandeur1 there rapidly      
supervened  a characteristic depression 
of the mental faculties and strength1  a
 giving way of the intellectual and     
muscular powers4    ,each of those      
periods in the career of ,jesus         
corresponds to a certain  pathological  
state of his nervous system4    ,by     
reacting on the heart1 the religious    
excitement he labored under  and the    
attendant functional exacerbations had  
the immediate effect  of accelerating   

the circulation1 unduly dilating the    
blood vessels1  and producing cerebral  
congestion4    ,chronic congestion of   
the brain1 subjectively considered1 is  
always  attended in the initial stage   
with great increase of the moral        
consciousness1 extraordinary activity of
 the imagination1 often  leading to     
hallucinations1 and later on with       
absurdly exaggerated1  frequently       
delirious ideas of power and greatness4 
,that stage is also  usually            
characterized by irritability and fits  
of passion4    ,objectively considered  
what is observable is hypertrophy of the
  cellules and nerve-tubes1 excessive   
cerebral plethora and vascularity  due  
to the great efflux of blood and        
superabundant nutrition of  the         
encephalon4 ,inflammation of the        
meningeal covering1 and of the  brain   
itself1 is1 sooner or later1 a further  
result of the chronic  congestion4 ,the 
vessels1 turgid and loaded with blood1  
permit the  transudation of the blood   

globules2 the circulation becomes       
impeded1  then arrested1 with the result
 of depriving the cortical cerebral     
substance of arterial blood1 which is   
its life2 the histological  elements    
undergo alteration1 degenerate1 become  
softened1 and as the  disorganization   
proceeds are finally reduced to inert   
detritus4    ,the brain may remain      
capable more or less well of performing 
its  functions when deprived to a large 
extent of its necessary food1  but not  
so when the cerebral cellules are       
disorganized4 ,dementia  consequently is
 the natural sequel of the congestive   
stage4 ,to the  destruction of the      
cortical substance supervenes partial or
 total  loss of consciousness1 according
 to the extent of the lesion4 ,such     
portions of the encephalon as continue  
capable of performing any duty  being in
 a state of hyperaemia1 there is often  
delirium more or less  intense up to the
 last4    ,the process of the disorder  
is irregular2 remissions occur during   

which the reasoning faculties seem to be
 recovered4 ,but whether  the duration  
extends only to a few months or to      
several years1 the  increasing weakness 
of the patient1 the intellectual and    
muscular  decay1 the cachetic state into
 which he falls1 the lesions of other   
organs performing essential functions   
which ensue1 bring life to a  close1 and
 frequently without suffering4    ,this 
is how ,jesus would have ended had he   
been spared the violent  death of the   
cross4    ,nearly all the religious     
founders have been affected1 to a       
greater  or less extent1 with insanity4 
,genius itself is closely allied to     
insanity--is indeed1 in many cases1 a   
form of insanity4 ,moreau de  ,tours in 
his ,la ,psychologie ,morbide 7p4 #bcd7 
says3 ,the mental  disposition which    
causes a man to be distinguished from   
his fellows  by the originality of his  
mind and conceptions1 by his            
eccentricity1  and the energy of his    
affective faculties1 or by the          

transcendence of  his intelligence1 take
 their rise in the very same organic    
conditions  which are the source of the 
various mental perturbations whereof    
insanity and idiocy are the most        
complete expressions4 ,buddha1          
,mohammed1 and probably ,jesus1 united  
with certain strong mental and  moral   
characteristics1 a form of insanity     
which manifested itself in  a sort of   
religious madness--a madness that was   
contagious and which  has attacked and  
afflicted the greater portion of the    
human race4        #egb    ,did he not  
teach the doctrine of demoniacal        
possession and exorcism8    ,synoptics3 
,he did4    ,after alluding to the      
prevalency of superstition among the    
,jews of  this period1 ,renan says3     
,jesus on this point differed in no     
respect  from his companions4 ,he       
believed in the devil1 whom he regarded 
as  a kind of evil genius1 and he       
imagined1 like all the world1 that      
nervous maladies were produced by demons

 who possessed the patient  and agitated
 him 7,life of ,jesus1 p4 #ei74 ,dr4    
,geikie says3 ,the ,new  ,testament     
leaves us in no doubt of the belief1 on 
the part of ,jesus  and the             
,evangelists1 in the reality of these   
demoniacal possessions  7,life of       
,christ1 vol4 ii1 p4 #egc74             
,demonology was born of ignorance and   
superstition4 ,in this debasing         
superstition ,jesus believed4 ,it was a 
part of his religion1 and has  remained 
a part of ,christianity2 for while the  
more intelligent of  his professed      
disciples have outgrown this            
superstition they have to  the same     
extent outgrown ,christianity4 ,the more
 ignorant1 the more  depraved1 and1 at  
the same time1 the more devout of his   
followers1  still accept it4            
,regarding this superstition1 the author
 of ,supernatural ,religion  says3 ,the 
diseases referred to by the gospels1 and
 by the ,jews of  that time1 to the     
action of devils1 exist now1 but they   

are known to  proceed from purely       
physical causes4 ,the same superstition 
and medical  ignorance would enunciate  
the same diagnosis at the present day4  
,the  superstition and ignorance1       
however1 have passed away1 and1 with    
them1  the demoniacal theory4 ,in that  
day the theory was as baseless as in    
this4 ,it is obvious that1 with the     
necessary abandonment of the theory  of 
'possession' and demoniacal origin of   
disease1 the largest class  of miracles 
recorded in the gospels is at once      
exploded4 ,the asserted  cause of the   
diseases of this class1 said to have    
been miraculously  healed1 must be      
recognized to be a mere vulgar          
superstition 7p4 #aei74    ,prof4       
,huxley1 in one of his essays1          
discussing the ,gadarene miracle1  says3
 ,when such a story as that about the   
,gadarene swine is placed  before us1   
the importance of the decision1 whether 
it be accepted or  rejected1 cannot be  
overestimated4 ,if the demonological    

part of it  is to be accepted1 the      
authority of ,jesus is unmistakably     
pledged to  the demonological system    
current in ,judea in the first century4 
,the  belief in devils who possess men  
and can be transferred from men  to pigs
 becomes as much a part of ,christian   
dogma as any article of  the creeds4    
#egc    ,what became of the swine into  
which ,jesus ordered the devils to go8  
,matthew3 ,and behold1 the whole herd of
 swine ran violently down a  steep place
 into the sea1 and perished in the      
waters 7viii1 #cb74    ,it may be       
pertinent to inquire what these         
inoffensive animals had  done that they 
should merit such cruelty1 or what their
 owner had  done that his property      
should be thus wantonly destroyed4      
,in his narrative of this miracle       
,fleetwood says3 ,the spectators        
beheld1 at a distance1 the torments     
these poor creatures suffered2  with    
what amazing rapidity they ran to the   
confines of the lake1  leaped from the  

precipices into the sea1 and perished in
 the waters  7,life of ,christ1 p4      
#aba74    ,in striking contrast to the  
religion of ,buddha1 the religion of    
,christ  has made its adherents cruel   
and unmerciful4 ,to this ,christian     
writer  the torture and destruction of  
these domestic animals is no more than  
the burning of a field of stubble4 ,in  
this miracle he sees only a             
manifestation of love and kindness on   
the part of his ,savior4 ,referring  to 
the request of the inhabitants that he  
depart from their country1  he says3    
,the stupid request of the ,gadarenes   
was complied with by  the blessed       
,jesus1 who1 entering the ship1 returned
 to the country  from whence he came1   
leaving them a valuable pledge of his   
love1  and us a noble pattern of        
perseverance in well-doing1 even when   
our  kindnesses are condemned or        
requited with injuries 7,ibid1 p4 #abb74
        #egd    ,what did ,jesus say to 
the strange ,samaritan woman whom he met

 at  the well8    ,thou hast had five   
husbands2 and he whom thou now hast is  
not thy  husband 7,john iv1 #ah74       
,christ here makes himself a wandering  
gypsy1 or ,bohemian fortune  teller1 and
 ,i much wonder that our gypsies do not 
account themselves  the genuine         
disciples of ,jesus1 being endowed with 
like gifts1 and  exercising no worse    
arts than he himself                    
practiced4--,woolston4        #ege      
,was he not an egotist and given to     
vulgar boasting8    ,speaking of        
himself1 he said3 ,behold1 a greater    
than ,solomon is here  7,matthew xii1   
#da1 #db74        #egf    ,did he not   
practice dissimulation8    ,john3 ,and  
,jesus lifted up his eyes1 and said1    
,father1 ,i thank thee  that thou hast  
heard me4 ,and ,i know that thou hearest
 me always1  but because of the people  
which stand by ,i said it 7xi1 #da1     
#db74    ,luke3 ,after his resurrection 
when he intended to stop at ,emmaus     
with his companions1 ,he made as though 

he would have gone further  7xxiv1 #bh74
        #egg    ,after performing one of
 his miraculous cures1 what charge did  
he make  to those who witnessed it8     
,mark3 ,he charged them that they should
 tell no man3 but the more  he charged  
them1 so much the more a great deal they
 published it  7vii1 #cf74    ,did he   
desire them to disregard his commands8  
,if he did he was a  hypocrite2 if he   
did not he was an impotent--in either   
case a fallible  man instead of an      
omnipotent ,god4        #egh    ,on the 
approach of the ,passover what did he   
say to his brethren8    ,go ye up unto  
this feast2 ,i go not up yet unto this  
feast 7,john  vii1 #h74    ,the correct 
reading of the last clause is1 ,i go not
 up unto the  feast4 ,the ,american     
revisers1 to their credit1 urged the    
adoption of  this reading2 but the      
,oxford revisers retained the error4 ,in
 uttering  these words1 ,jesus1 if      
omniscient1 uttered an untruth2 for     
,john says3  ,but when his brethren were

 gone up1 then went he also up unto the 
feast1 not openly1 but as it were in    
secret 7#aj74        #egi    ,why did he
 teach in parables8    ,that seeing they
 may see1 and not perceive2 and hearing 
they may  hear1 and not understand2 lest
 at any time they should be converted1  
and their sins should be forgiven them  
7,mark iv1 #ab74    ,he deceived the    
people that he might have the pleasure  
of seeing  them damned4        #ehj     
,what immoral lesson is inculcated in   
the parable of the ,steward8    ,he     
commends as wise and prudent the action 
of the steward1 who1  to provide for his
 future welfare1 causes his master's    
creditors  to defraud him4 ,there was a 
certain rich man1 which had a steward2  
and the same was accused unto him that  
he had wasted his goods4 ,and  he called
 him1 and said unto him1 ,how is it that
 ,i hear this of  thee8 give an account 
of thy stewardship2 for thou mayest be  
no longer  steward4 ,then the steward   
said within himself1 ,what shall ,i do8 

for  my lord taketh away from me the    
stewardship3 ,i cannot dig2 to beg  ,i  
am ashamed4 ,i am resolved what to do1  
that1 when ,i am put out of  the        
stewardship1 they may receive me into   
their houses4 ,so he called  every one  
of his lord's debtors unto him1 and said
 unto the first1  ,how much owest thou  
unto my lord8 ,and he said1 ,an hundred 
measures of  oil4 ,and he said unto him1
 ,take thy bill1 and sit down quickly1  
and  write fifty4 ,then said he unto    
another1 ,and how much owest thou8 ,and 
he said1 ,an hundred measures of wheat4 
,and he said unto him1 ,take thy  bill  
and write fourscore4 ,and the lord      
commended the unjust steward1  because  
he had done wisely2 for the children of 
this world are in  their generation     
wiser than the children of light4 ,and  
,i say unto you1  ,make to yourselves   
friends of the mammon of                
unrighteousness2 that1  when ye fail1   
they may receive you into everlasting   
habitations  7,luke xvi1 #a-i74         

#eha    ,in the parable of the ,laborers
 what unjust doctrine is taught8    ,the
 assignment of equal rewards for unequal
 burdens4 ,he justifies  the dishonest  
bargaining of the householder who       
received twelve hours  of labor for a   
penny1 when he paid the same amount for 
one 7,matthew  xx1 #a-af74    ,regarding
 the parables of ,jesus1 ,w4 ,p4 ,ball1 
an ,english writer1 says3    ,with one  
single exception1 the parables          
attributed to ,jesus are  thoroughly    
religious and decidedly inferior in     
their moral tone1  besides possessing   
minor faults4 ,the ,god who is to be the
 object of our  adoration and imitation 
is depicted to us as a judge who will   
grant  vengeance in answer to incessant 
prayer1 as a father who loves and       
honors the favorite prodigal and        
neglects the faithful and obedient      
worker1 as an employer who pays no more 
for a life-time than for the  nominal   
service of a death-bed repentance1 as an
 unreasonable master  who reaps where he

 has not sown and punishes men because  
he made them  defective and gave them no
 instructions1 as a harsh despot who    
delivers  disobedient servants to       
tormentors and massacres those who      
object to  his rule1 as a judge who is  
merciful to harlots and relentless      
towards  unbelievers1 as a petulant king
 who drives beggars and outcasts into   
the heaven which is ignored by the wise 
and worthy1 as a ruler of  the universe 
who freely permits his enemy the devil  
to sow evil and  then punishes his      
victims1 as a ,god who plunges men in   
the flames of  hell and calmly          
philosophizes over the reward of the    
blest who from  ,abraham's bosom behold 
the sight and are not permitted to      
bestow even  so much as a drop of cold  
water to cool the parched tongues of    
their  fellow-creatures amidst hopeless 
and unending agonies1 in comparison     
with which all earthly sufferings are   
but momentary dreams4        #ehb       
,what did he teach regarding submission 

to theft and robbery8    ,of him that   
taketh away thy goods ask them not again
 7,luke vi1 #cj74        #ehc    ,why   
was the woman taken in adultery released
 without punishment8    ,john3 ,because 
those having her in custody were not    
without sin  themselves 7viii1 #c-aa74  
,the adoption of this principle would   
require the liberation of every         
criminal1 because all men are fallible4 
,if man cannot punish crime because not 
free from sin himself1 is it  just in   
,god1 the author of all sin1 to punish  
man for his sins8        #ehd    ,whom  
did he pronounce blessed8    ,blessed   
are the poor in spirit 7,matthew v1 #c74
    ,is poverty of spirit a blessing8   
,surely not4 ,manliness of spirit1      
honesty of spirit1 fulness of rightful  
purpose1 these are virtues2  but poverty
 of spirit is a crime4--,bradlaugh4     
#ehe    ,did he teach resistance to     
wrong8    ,unto him that smiteth thee on
 the one cheek offer also the other     
7,luke vi1 #bi74    ,he who courts      

oppression shares the crime4    ,lord   
,amberley1 referring to this teaching of
 ,jesus1 says3 ,a doctrine  more        
convenient for the purposes of tyrants  
and malefactors of every  description it
 would be difficult to invent 7,analysis
 of ,religious  ,belief1 p4 #cee74      
#ehf    ,he taught his hearers to return
 good for evil4 ,did he do this himself8
    ,i pray for them his followers1 ,i  
pray not for the world 7,john  xvii1    
#i74    ,whosoever shall deny me before 
men1 him will ,i also deny before my    
,father 7,matthew x1 #cc74        #ehg  
,the ,golden ,rule has been ascribed to 
,christ4 ,was he its author8    ,five   
hundred years before the time of ,christ
 ,confucius taught3 ,what  you do not   
like when done to yourself do not to    
others4 ,centuries  before the          
,christian era ,pittacus1 ,thales1      
,sextus1 ,isocrates and  ,aristotle     
taught the same4        #ehh    ,what   
maxim does ,paul attribute to ,jesus8   
,remember the words of the ,lord ,jesus1

 how he said1 ,it is more blessed  to   
give than to receive 7,acts xx1 #ce74   
,these are not the words of the ,lord   
,jesus1 but of the ,pagan ,epicurus1  a 
man whose character ,christians have for
 centuries defamed4    ,concerning the  
teachings of ,jesus1 ,col4 ,thomas ,w4  
,higginson says3  ,when they tell me    
that ,jesus taught a gospel of love1 ,i 
say ,i  believe it4 ,plato taught a     
gospel of love before him1 and you deny 
it4 ,if they say1 ,jesus taught that it 
is better to bear an injury  than to    
retaliate1 ,i say1 yes1 but so did      
,aristotle before ,jesus was  born4 ,i  
will accept it as the statement of      
,jesus if you will admit  that          
,aristotle said it too4 ,i am willing   
that any man should come  before us and 
say1 ,jesus taught that you must love   
your enemies1 it  is written in the     
,bible2 but1 if he will open the old    
manuscript of  ,diogenes ,laertus1 he   
may there read in texts that have never 
been  disputed1 that the ,greek         

philosophers1 half a dozen of them1 said
  the same before ,jesus was born4      
,buckle says3 ,that the system of morals
 propounded in the ,new ,testament      
contained no maxim which had not been   
previously enunciated1 and that  some of
 the most beautiful passages in the     
apostolic writings are  quotations from 
,pagan authors1 is well known to every  
scholar4444 ,to  assert that            
,christianity communicated to man moral 
truths previously  unknown1 argues on   
the part of the asserter either gross   
ignorance  or wilful fraud 7,history of 
,civilization1 vol4 i1 p4 #abi74        
,john ,stuart ,mill says3 ,it can do    
truth no service to blind the fact1     
known to all who have the most ordinary 
acquaintance with literary  history1    
that a large portion of the noblest and 
most valuable moral  teaching has been  
the work not only of men who did not    
know1 but of  men who knew and rejected 
the ,christian faith 7,liberty74        
#ehi    ,we are told that ,christ       

manifested a strong and enduring courage
  which never shrank or quailed before  
any danger however formidable4 ,is  this
 true8    ,it is not4 ,when he heard    
that ,john was imprisoned1 he retreated 
to  the ,sea of ,galilee 7,matthew iv1  
#ab1 #ac72 when ,john was beheaded1 he  
took a ship and retired to a desert     
7xiv1 #ac72 in going from ,galilee  to  
,judea1 he went beyond the ,jordan to   
avoid the ,samaritans2 when his         
brethren went up to ,jerusalem he       
refused to accompany them for fear of   
the ,jews 7,john vii1 #h1 #i72 when the 
,jews took up stones to stone him he    
hid himself 7viii1 #ei72 when the       
,pharisees took council against him  he 
fled 7,matthew xii1 #ad1 #af73 at       
,gethsemane1 in the agonies of fear1  he
 prayed that the cup might pass from    
him2 at ,calvary1 he frantically        
exclaimed1 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast  
thou forsaken me6    ,commenting on this
 dying exclamation of ,christ1 ,dr4     
,conway says3  ,that cry could never be 

wrung from the lips of a man who saw in 
his  own death a prearranged plan for   
the world's salvation1 and his own      
return to divine glory temporarily      
renounced for transient misery on       
earth4 ,the fictitious theology of a    
thousand years shrivels beneath  the    
awful anguish of that cry4        #eij  
,what was the character of ,christ's    
male ancestors8    ,assuming ,matthew's 
genealogy to be correct1 nearly all of  
those whose  histories are recorded in  
the ,old ,testament were guilty of      
infamous  crimes or gross immoralities4 
,abraham married his sister and seduced 
her handmaid2 ,jacob1 after committing  
bigamy1 seduced two of his  housemaids2 
,judah committed incest with his        
daughter-in-law2 ,david  was a          
polygamist1 an adulterer1 a robber and a
 murderer2 ,solomon had  a thousand     
wives and concubines2 ,rehoboam1        
,abijam1 ,joram1 ,ahaziah1  ,jotham1    
,ahaz1 ,manasseh1 ,amon and ,jehoiachin1
 are all represented as  monsters of    

iniquity2 while others are declared to  
have been too vile  to even name in his 
genealogy4        #eia    ,what female  
ancestors are named in his genealogy8   
,matthew3 ,thamar1 ,rachab1 ,ruth and   
,bathsheba4    ,regarding these women   
the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,alexander ,walker says3 
,it is  remarkable that in the genealogy
 of ,christ1 only four women have been  
named3 ,thamar1 who seduced the father  
of her late husband2 ,rachab1 a  common 
prostitute2 ,ruth1 who1 instead of      
marrying one of her cousins1  went to   
bed with another of them2 and           
,bathsheba1 an adulteress1  who espoused
 ,david1 the murderer of her first      
husband 7,woman1 p4 #ccj74    ,matthew  
,henry1 a noted ,christian commentator1 
says3 ,there are  four women1 and but   
four1 named in this genealogy1 444      
,rachab1 a  ,canaanitess1 and a harlot  
besides1 and ,ruth1 the ,moabitess4444  
,the  other two were adulteresses1      
,tamar and ,bathsheba 7,commentary1     
,vol4 v74        #eib    ,who was his   

favorite female attendant8    ,luke3    
,mary called ,magdalene1 out of whom    
went seven devils 7viii1 #b74           
,referring to this woman1 ,dr4 ,farrar  
says3 ,this exorcism is not  elsewhere  
alluded to1 and it would be perfectly in
 accordance with  the genius of ,hebrew 
phraseology if the expression had been  
applied to  her in consequence of a     
passionate nature and an abandoned life4
 ,the  ,talmudists have much to say     
respecting her--her wealth1 her extreme 
beauty1 her braided locks1 her shameless
 profligacy1 her husband  ,pappus1 and  
her paramour1 ,pandera 7,life of        
,christ1 p4 #afb74    ,in a chapter on  
,sanctified ,prostitution1 ,dr4 ,soury  
writes3  ,the ,jewess is full of naive  
immodesty1 her lip red with desire1  her
 eye moist and singularly luminous in   
the shade4 ,yearning with               
voluptuousness1 superb in her triumphs1 
or merely feline and caressing1  she is 
ever the 'insatiable1' the woman 'with  
seven devils' of whom  the scripture    

speaks1 a kind of burning furnace in    
which the blond  ,teuton melts like wax4
 ,so far as in her lay1 the ,syrian     
woman1 with  her supple and nervous     
arms1 drew into the tomb the last       
exhausted  sons of ,greece and ,rome4   
,but who can describe the grace and the 
soft languor of these daughters of      
,syria1 their large black eyes1  the    
warm bistre tints of their skin8 ,all   
the poets of the decadence1  ,catullus1 
,tibullus1 ,propercius1 have sung this  
wondrous being4 ,with  soft and humble  
voice1 languid and as though crushed by 
some hidden  ill1 dragging her limbs    
over the tiles of a gynaecium1 she might
 have  been regarded as a stupid slave4 
,often1 her gaze lost in long reveries1 
she seemed dead1 save that her bosom    
began to swell1 her eye lighted  up1 her
 breath quickened1 her cheeks became    
covered with crimson4 ,the  reverie     
becoming a reality by a matchless power 
of invovation and  desire1 such is the  
sacred disease which1 thanks to ,mary   

,magdalene1  gave birth to ,christianity
 7,religion of ,israel1 pp4 #gj1 #ga74  
#eic    ,who were his apostles8    ,a   
dozen knaves1 as ignorant as owls and as
 poor as church  mice4--,voltaire4      
,palestine was one of the most backward 
of countries2 the  ,galileans were the  
most ignorant of the inhabitants of     
,palestine2  and the disciples might be 
counted among the most simple people of 
,galilee4--,renan4    ,his followers    
were 'unlearned and ignorant men1'      
chosen from the  humblest of the        
people4--,farrar4        #eid    ,what  
power is ,christ said to have bestowed  
on ,peter8    ,and ,i will give unto    
thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven3 
and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth 
shall be bound in heaven3  and          
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth    
shall be loosed in heaven  7,matthew    
xvi1 #ai74    ,on this remarkable       
bestowal of power1 which has exerted    
such a  mighty influence in the         
government of the church1 but of which  

,mark1  ,luke and ,john know nothing1   
,greg comments as follows3 ,not only  do
 we know ,peter's utter unfitness to be 
the depositary of such a  fearful power1
 from his impetuosity and instability of
 character1  and ,christ's thorough     
perception of this unfitness1 but we    
find  immediately after it is said to   
have been conferred upon him1 his  ,lord
 addresses him indignantly by the       
epithet of ,satan1 and rebukes  him for 
his presumption and unspirituality2 and 
shortly afterwards  this very man thrice
 denied his master4 ,can any one        
maintain it  to be conceivable that     
,jesus should have conferred the awful  
power  of deciding the salvation or     
damnation of his fellow-men upon one  so
 frail1 so faulty1 and so fallible8     
,does any one believe that he  did8     
7,creed of ,christendom1 p4 #ahi74      
#eie    ,when ,peter discovered that    
,jesus was the ,christ what did he do8  
,mark3 ,and ,peter took him ,christ and 
began to rebuke him 7viii1 #cb74        

,what did ,jesus do in turn8    ,mark3  
,he rebuked ,peter1 saying1 ,get thee   
behind me ,satan 7#cc74    ,what a      
spectacle6 ,the incarnate ,god of the   
universe and his vicegerent  on earth   
indulging in a petty quarrel6           
#eif    ,give an account of ,peter's    
denial of his ,master4    ,matthew3 ,now
 when ,peter sat without in the palace3 
and a damsel came  unto him1 saying1    
,thou also wast with ,jesus of ,galilee4
 ,but he denied  before them all1       
saying1 ,i know not what thou sayest4   
,and when he was  gone out into the     
porch1 another maid saw him1 and said   
unto them  that were there1 ,this fellow
 was also with ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,and
  again he denied with an oath1 ,i do   
not know the man4 ,and after a  while   
came up to him they that stood by1 and  
said to ,peter1 ,surely  thou also art  
one of them2 for thy speech bewrayeth   
thee4 ,then began  he to curse and to   
swear1 saying1 ,i know not the man      
7xxvi1 #fi-gd74        #eig    ,what did

 ,peter say to ,jesus in regard to      
compensation for his services8          
,behold1 we have forsaken all1 and      
followed thee2 what shall we have       
therefore8 7,matthew xix1 #bg74    ,what
 request was made by ,james and ,john8  
,mark3 ,they said unto him1 ,grant unto 
us that we may sit1 one on thy  right   
hand1 and the other on thy left hand1 in
 thy glory 7x1 #cg74    ,this shows that
 self-aggrandizement inspired the       
actions of his  followers then as it    
does today4        #eih    ,what is said
 of ,john in the ,gospel of ,john8      
,there was leaning on ,jesus' bosom one 
of his disciples whom he loved  7xiii1  
#bc74    ,the disciple standing by whom 
he ,jesus loved 7xix1 #bf74    ,the     
other disciple whom ,jesus loved 7xx1   
#b74    ,then ,peter1 turning about1    
seeth the disciple whom ,jesus loved    
following2 which also leaned on his     
breast at supper4444 ,this is the       
disciple which testifieth of these      
things1 and wrote these things  7xxi1   

#bj1 #bd74    ,if the ,apostle ,john    
wrote this ,gospel1 as claimed by       
,christians and  as declared in the     
,gospel1 he was a vulgar egotist4       
#eii    ,what is said regarding the     
conduct of his ,apostles on the evening 
preceding the crucifixion8    ,luke3    
,and there was also a strife among them1
 which of them should  be accounted the 
greatest 7xxii1 #bd74    ,this was      
immediately after he had announced his  
speedy betrayal  and death and when his 
disciples1 if sincere1 must have        
manifested  the deepest sadness and     
humility4 ,if the ,evangelist is not a  
base  calumniator the ,apostles were a  
set of heartless knaves4        #fjj    
,when the ,jews came to arrest ,jesus   
what did the disciples do8    ,matthew3 
,then all the disciples forsook him1 and
 fled 7xxvi1 #ef74    ,mark3 ,and they  
all forsook him1 and fled 7xiv1 #ej74   
,justin says3 ,all his friends the      
,apostles stood aloof from him1  having 
denied him 7,apology i1 #ej74    ,one   

scarcely knows which to detest the more1
 the treachery of ,judas  in betraying  
his ,master1 or the imbecility and      
cowardice of the other  apostles who    
took no measures to prevent it and who  
forsook him in  the hour of danger4     
#fja    ,what became of the ,twelve     
,apostles8    ,the ,new ,testament1 a   
portion of which is admitted to have    
been written  as late as the latter part
 of the first century and nearly all of 
which was really written in the second  
century1 is silent regarding  them4     
,christian martyrology records their    
fates as follows3    ,st4 ,peter was    
crucified1 at his own request head      
downward1 and buried  in the ,vatican at
 ,rome4    ,st4 ,andrew1 after having   
been scourged seven times upon his naked
 body1  was crucified by the proconsul  
of ,achaia4    ,st4 ,james was beheaded 
by ,herod ,antipas in ,palestine4       
,st4 ,john was thrown into a cauldron of
 boiling oil by ,domitian1  but ,god    
delivered him4    ,st4 ,philip was      

scourged and crucified or hanged by the 
magistrates  of ,hierapolis4    ,st4    
,bartholomew was put to death by a      
,roman governor in ,armenia4    ,st4    
,matthew suffered martyrdom at ,naddabar
 in ,ethiopia4    ,st4 ,thomas was shot 
to death with arrows by the ,brahmans in
 ,india4    ,st4 ,james the ,less was   
thrown from the pinnacle of the temple  
at  ,jerusalem and dispatched with a    
club where he fell4    ,st4 ,simon was  
crucified and buried in ,britain4       
,st4 ,jude was cruelly put to death by  
the ,magi of ,persia4    ,st4 ,matthias1
 the successor of ,judas ,iscariot1 if  
,christian tradition  is to be credited1
 was put to death three times1          
crucified1 stoned1  and beheaded4       
,nothing can be more incredible than    
these so-called traditions  regarding   
the martyrdom of the ,twelve ,apostles1 
the most of them  occurring in an empire
 where all religious sects enjoyed as   
perfect  religious freedom as the       
different sects do in ,america today4   

,whatever  opinion may be entertained   
respecting the existence of ,jesus1 the 
,twelve ,apostles belong to the realm of
 mythology1 and their alleged           
martyrdoms are pure inventions4 ,had    
these men really existed ,christian     
history at least would contain some     
reliable notice of them1 yet all  the   
stories relating to them1 like the story
 of ,peter at ,rome1 and  ,john at      
,ephesus1 are self-evident fictions4 ,in
 the significant words of  the eminent  
,dutch theologians1 ,dr4 ,kuenen1 ,dr4  
,oort and ,dr4 ,hooykaas1  ,all the     
,apostles disappear without a trace4    
#fjb    ,what are ,paul's teachings     
regarding woman and marriage8    ,it is 
good for a man not to touch a woman 7#a 
,corinthians vii1 #a74    ,i say        
therefore to the unmarried and widows1  
,it is good for them  if they abide even
 as ,i4 ,but if they cannot contain1 let
 them marry2  for it is better to marry 
than to burn 7#h1 #i74    ,art thou     
loose from a wife8 seek not a wife      

7#bg74    ,he that is unmarried careth  
for the things that belong to the ,lord1
  how he may please the ,lord2 but he   
that is married careth for the  things  
that are of the world1 how he may please
 his wife4 ,there is  difference also   
between a wife and a virgin4 ,the       
unmarried woman  careth for the things  
of the ,lord1 that she may be holy in   
body and  spirit2 but she that is       
married careth for the things of the    
world1  how she may please her husband  
7#cb-cd74    ,so then he that giveth her
 in marriage doeth well2 but he that    
giveth  not in marriage doeth better    
7#ch74    ,this coarse and insulting way
 of regarding women1 as though they     
existed merely to be the safety-valves  
of men's passions1 and that  the best   
men were above the temptation of loving 
them1 has been the  source of unnumbered
 evils4--,annie ,besant4    ,wives1     
submit yourselves to your own husbands  
7,colossians iii1 #ah74    ,as the      
church is subject unto ,christ so let   

the wives be to their  own husbands in  
everything 7,ephesians v1 #bd74    ,let 
your women keep silence in the churches1
 for it is not permitted  unto them to  
speak1 but they are commanded to be     
under obedience1  as also saith the law4
 ,and if they will learn anything1 let  
them ask  their husbands at home2 for it
 is a shame for a woman to speak in  the
 church 7#a ,corinthians xiv1 #cd1 #ce74
    ,let women learn in silence with all
 subjection 7#a ,timothy ii1 #aa74      
,that she woman does not crouch today   
where ,st4 ,paul tried to bind  her1 she
 owes to the men who are grand and brave
 enough to ignore  ,st4 ,paul1 and rise 
superior to his ,god4--,helen ,gardener4
        #fjc    ,did ,paul encourage    
learning8    ,the wisdom of this world  
is foolishness with ,god 7#a            
,corinthians  iii1 #ai74    ,knowledge  
puffeth up 7viii1 #a74    ,if any man be
 ignorant let him be ignorant 7xiv1     
#ch74    ,beware lest any man spoil you 
through philosophy 7,colossians ii1 #h74

    ,the clergy1 with a few honorable   
exceptions1 have in all modern          
countries been the avowed enemies of the
 diffusion of knowledge1 the  danger of 
which to their own profession they1 by a
 certain instinct1  seem always to have 
perceived4--,buckle4    ,we know the    
clerical party2 it is an old party4     
,this it is which  has found for the    
truth those two marvelous supporters1   
ignorance and  error4 ,this it is which 
forbids to science and genius the going 
beyond  the ,missal and which wishes to 
cloister thought in dogmas4 ,every step 
which the intelligence of ,europe has   
taken has been in spite of it4 ,its     
history is written in the history of    
human progress1 but it is written  on   
the back of the leaf4 ,it is opposed to 
it all4 ,this it is which  caused       
,prinelli to be scourged for having said
 that the stars would  not fall4 ,this  
it is which put ,campanella seven times 
to torture for  saying that the number  
of worlds was infinite and for having   

caught a  glimpse of the secret of      
creation4 ,this it is which persecuted  
,harvey  for having proved the          
circulation of the blood4 ,in the name  
of ,jesus  it shut up ,galileo4 ,in the 
name of ,st4 ,paul it imprisoned        
,christopher  ,columbus4 ,to discover a 
law of the heavens was an impiety1 to   
find a  world was a heresy4 ,this it is 
which anathematized ,pascal in the name 
of religion1 ,montaigne in the name of  
morality1 ,moliere in the name  of both 
morality and religion4 ,there is not a  
poet1 not an author1  not a thinker1 not
 a philosopher1 that you accept4 ,all   
that has been  written1 found1 dreamed1 
deduced1 inspired1 imagined1 invented by
  genius1 the treasures of civilization1
 the venerable inheritance of           
generations1 you reject4--,victor ,hugo4
    ,there is in every village a lighted
 torch1 the schoolmaster2 and a  mouth  
to blow it out1 the parson4--,ibid4     
#fjd    ,what admissions are made by    
,paul regarding his want of candor and  

honesty8    ,being crafty1 ,i caught you
 with guile 7#b ,corinthians xii1 #af74 
,unto the ,jews ,i became as a ,jew1    
that ,i might gain the ,jews  7#a       
,corinthians ix1 #bj74    ,i am made all
 things to all men 7#bb74    ,for if the
 truth of ,god hath more abounded       
through my lie unto his  glory1 why yet 
am ,i also judged as a sinner8 7,romans 
iii1 #g47    ,i robbed other churches1  
taking wages of them1 to do you service 
7#b ,corinthians xi1 #h74        #fje   
,what is said of the persecutions of    
,paul8    ,and ,saul1 yet breathing out 
threatenings and slaughter against the  
disciples of the ,lord1 went unto the   
high priest1 and desired of him  letters
 to ,damascus to the synagogues1 that if
 he found any of this  way1 whether they
 were men or women he might bring them  
bound unto  ,jerusalem 7,acts ix1 #a1   
#b74    ,this was ,saul the ,jew4       
,but there be some that trouble you1 and
 would pervert the gospel  of           
,christ4444 ,if any man preach any other

 gospel than that ye have  received1 let
 him be accursed 7,galatians i1 #g1 #i74
    ,i would they were even cut off     
which trouble you 7v1 #ab74    ,this was
 ,paul the ,christian4    ,the leopard  
changed his name but did not change his 
spots4    ,the alleged cause of ,paul's 
sudden conversion and the transference  
of  his hatred from ,christianity to    
,judaism may well be questioned4 ,the   
story of the apparition will not account
 for it4 ,a genuine change  of belief is
 not usually effected suddenly4 ,men    
sometimes change  their religion for    
gain or revenge4 ,it has been charged   
that ,paul  twice changed his1 the first
 time for the hope of gain1 the second  
from a desire for revenge4 ,the         
,ebionites1 one of the earliest of the  
,christian sects1 claimed that ,paul was
 originally a ,gentile1 that  becoming  
infatuated with the daughter of the high
 priest he became  a convert to ,judaism
 for the purpose of winning her for a   
wife1 but  being rejected1 he renounced 

the ,jewish faith and became a vehement 
opponent of the law1 the ,sabbath1 and  
circumcision 7,epiphanius ,against      
,heresies1 chapter xxx1 sec4 #af74      
#fjf    ,what was ,christ's final       
command to his disciples8    ,love one  
another 7,john xiii1 #cd74    ,christian
 writers prate about brotherly love1 and
 yet from the very  beginning the church
 of ,christ has been filled with        
dissensions4 ,christ  himself quarreled 
with his apostles4 ,paul opposed the    
teachings of  ,james 7,galatians ii1    
#af-ba72 ,james condemned the teachings 
of ,paul  7ii1 #bj74 ,paul proclaimed   
himself the divinely appointed apostle  
to  the ,gentiles3 ,the gospel of the   
uncircumcision was committed unto me    
7,galatians ii1 #g74 ,peter contended   
that the mission had been assigned  to  
him3 ,and when there had been much      
disputing1 ,peter rose up1 and  said    
unto them1 ,men and brethren1 ye know   
how that a good while ago  ,god made    
choice among us1 that the ,gentiles by  

my mouth should hear  the word of the   
gospel 7,acts xv1 #g74    ,paul declared
 ,peter to be a dissembler4 ,but when   
,peter was come to  ,antioch1 ,i        
withstood him face to face1 because he  
was to be blamed4 ,for  before that     
certain came from ,james1 he did eat    
with ,gentiles2 but  when they were     
come1 he withdrew and separated himself1
 fearing them  which were of the        
circumcision4 ,and the other ,jews      
dissembled likewise  with him           
7,galatians ii1 #aa-ac74    ,john       
denounced ,paul as a liar4 ,thou hast   
tried them which say they are  apostles1
 and are not1 and hast found them liars 
7,revelation ii1 #b74    ,from these    
seeds of dissension death has reaped a  
bloody  harvest4 ,dr4 ,talmage says3 ,a 
red line runs through church history    
for nearly nineteen hundred years--a    
line of blood2 not by hundreds1  but by 
millions we count the slain4    ,lord   
,byron says3 ,i am no ,platonist2 ,i am 
nothing at all4 ,but ,i would  sooner be

 a ,paulician1 ,manichean1 ,spinozist1  
,gentile1 ,pyrrhonian1  ,zoroastrian1   
than one of the seventy-two villainous  
sects who are  tearing each other to    
pieces for the love of the ,lord and    
hatred of  each other4        #fjg      
,quote ,paul's characterization of      
,christians4    ,not many wise 444 not  
many noble are called 7#a ,corinthians  
i1 #bf74    ,base things of the world1  
and things which are despised1 hath ,god
  chosen 7#bh74    ,we are made as the  
filth of the world1 and are the         
offscouring of  all things 7iv1 #ac74   
,we are fools for ,christ's sake 7#aj74 
#fjh    ,what did ,christ say respecting
 the intellectual character of his      
converts8    ,i thank thee1 ,o ,father1 
,lord of heaven and earth1 because thou 
hast  hid these things from the wise and
 prudent1 and hast revealed them  unto  
babes 7,matthew xi1 #be2 ,luke x1 #ba74 
,commenting on this expression of       
thanks1 ,celsus1 who lived at the  time 
the ,four ,gospels made their           

appearance1 says3 ,this is one of  their
 the ,christians' rules3 ,let no man    
that is learned1 wise1  or prudent come 
among us2 but if they be unlearned1 or a
 child1  or an idiot1 let him freely    
come4 ,so they openly declare that none 
but the ignorant1 and those devoid of   
understanding1 slaves1 women1  and      
children1 are fit disciples for the ,god
 they worship4    ,concerning the       
,christian teachers of that age ,celsus 
writes as follows3  ,you may see        
weavers1 tailors1 fullers1 and the most 
illiterate of  rustic fellows1 who dare 
not speak a word before wise men1 when  
they  can get a company of children and 
silly women together1 set up to  teach  
strange paradoxes among them4           
#fji    ,whom did ,christ declare to be 
among the first to enter the ,kingdom   
of ,heaven8    ,harlots and thieves4    
,the harlots go into the ,kingdom of    
,god before you 7,matthew xxi1 #ca74    
,today shalt thou the thief be with me  
in paradise 7,luke xxiii1 #dc74         

#faj    ,what promise did he make to his
 followers8    ,in my ,father's house   
are many mansions4444 ,i go to prepare a
 place  for you4 ,and if ,i go and      
prepare a place for you1 ,i will come   
again1  and receive you unto myself     
7,john xiv1 #b1 #c74    ,christians     
believe themselves to be the aristocracy
 of heaven upon  earth1 they are        
admitted to the spiritual court1 while  
millions of  men in foreign lands have  
never been presented4 ,they bow their   
knees  and say they are 'miserable      
sinners1' and their hearts rankle with  
abominable pride4 ,poor infatuated      
fools6 ,their servility is real and     
their insolence is real but their king  
is a phantom and their palace  is a     
dream4--,winwood ,reade4    ,the ,christ
 is a myth4 ,the ,holy ,ghost           
,priestcraft overshadowed the  harlot   
,superstition2 this ,christ was born2   
and the ,joseph of humanity1  beguiled  
by the ,gabriel of credulity1 was       
induced to support the  family4 ,but the

 soldiers of ,reason have crucified the 
illegitimate  impostor2 he is dead2 and 
the ignorant disciples and hysterical   
women  who still linger about the cross 
should take his body down and bury it4  
,,chapter ,,ix4    ,,the ,,christ ,a    
,,myth4      ,the conceptions regarding 
the nature and character of ,christ1 and
 the  value of the ,christian           
,scriptures as historical evidence1 are 
many1  chief of which are the following3
    #a4 ,orthodox ,christians believe   
that ,christ is a historical character1 
supernatural and divine2 and that the   
,new ,testament narratives1  which      
purport to give a record of his life and
 teachings1 contain  nothing but        
infallible truth4    #b4 ,conservative  
,rationalists1 like ,renan1 and the     
,unitarians1  believe that ,jesus of    
,nazareth is a historical character and 
that  these narratives1 eliminating the 
supernatural elements1 which they       
regard as myths1 give a fairly authentic
 account of his life4    #c4 ,many      

radical ,freethinkers believe that      
,christ is a myth1 of which  ,jesus of  
,nazareth is the basis1 but that these  
narratives are so  legendary and        
contradictory as to be almost1 if not   
wholly1 unworthy  of credit4    #d4     
,other ,freethinkers believe that ,jesus
 ,christ is a pure myth--that  he never 
had an existence1 except as a ,messianic
 idea1 or an imaginary  solar deity4    
,the first of these conceptions must be 
rejected because the existence  of such 
a being is impossible1 and because the  
,bible narratives which  support it are 
incredible4 ,the second cannot be       
accepted because1  outside of these     
incredible narratives1 there is no      
evidence to confirm  it4 ,one of the two
 last is the only true and rational     
conception of  the ,christ4    ,jesus   
,christ is a myth4 ,but what do we      
understand by the term  myth8           
,falsehood1 fable1 and myth1 are usually
 considered synonymous  terms4 ,but a   
falsehood1 a fable1 and a myth1 while   

they may all be  fictions and equally   
untrue1 are not the same4 ,a falsehood  
is the  expression of an untruth        
intended to deceive4 ,a fable is an     
avowed  or implied fiction usually      
intended to instruct or entertain4 ,a   
myth  is a falsehood1 a fable1 or an    
erroneous opinion1 which eventually     
becomes an established belief4 ,while a 
falsehood and a fable are  intentional  
and immediate expressions of fiction1 a 
myth is1 in most  cases1 an unconscious 
and gradual development of one4         
,myths are of three kinds3 ,historical1 
,philosophical1 and ,poetical4    ,a    
,historical myth according to ,strauss1 
and to some extent ,i follow  his       
language1 is a real event colored by the
 light of antiquity1 which  confounded  
the human and divine1 the natural and   
the supernatural4 ,the  event may be but
 slightly colored and the narrative     
essentially true1  or it may be         
distorted and numberless legends        
attached until but  a small residuum of 

truth remains and the narrative is      
essentially  false4 ,a large portion of 
ancient history1 including the ,biblical
  narratives1 are historical myths4 ,the
 earliest records of all nations  and of
 all religions are more or less         
mythical4 ,nothing great has been       
established1 says ,renan1 which does not
 rest on a legend4 ,the only  culprit in
 such cases is the humanity which is    
willing to be deceived4    ,a           
,philosophical myth is an idea clothed  
in the dress of historical  narrative4  
,when a mere idea is personified and    
presented in the form  of a man or a god
 it is called a pure myth4 ,many of the 
gods and  heroes of antiquity are pure  
myths4 ,john ,fiske refers to a myth as 
a piece of unscientific philosophizing1 
and this is a fairly good  definition of
 the philosophical myth4    ,a ,poetical
 myth is a blending of the historical   
and philosophical1  embellished by the  
creations of the imagination4 ,the poems
 of ,homer  and ,hesiod1 which were the 

religious text books of the ancient     
,greeks1  and the poetical writings of  
the ,bible1 which helped to form and    
foster the ,semitic faiths of ,judaism1 
,christianity1 and ,mohammedanism1      
belong to this class4    ,it is often   
difficult1 if not impossible1 to        
distinguish a historical  from a        
philosophical myth4 ,hence the          
non-agreement of ,freethinkers in       
regard to the nature of the ,christ     
myth4 ,is ,christ a historical or a     
philosophical myth8 ,does an analysis of
 his alleged history disclose  the      
deification of a man1 or merely the     
personification of an idea8    ,the     
following hypothesis1 written by ,mrs4  
,besant1 of ,england1 is1  to a         
considerable extent1 an epitome of the  
views of ,strauss1 who1  in his masterly
 ,leben ,jesu1 adopts the historical    
myth3    ,the mythic theory accepts an  
historical groundwork for many  of the  
stories about ,jesus1 but it does not   
seek to explain the  miraculous by      

attenuating it into the natural4444 ,it 
attributes  the incredible portions of  
the history to the ,messianic theories  
current among the ,jews4 ,the ,messiah  
would do this and that2 ,jesus  was the 
,messiah2 therefore1 ,jesus did this and
 that--such1 argue the  supporters of   
the mythical theory1 was the method in  
which the mythus  was developed4444     
,thus1 ,jesus is descended from ,david1 
because the  ,messiah was to come of    
,david's lineage2 his birth is announced
 by an  angelic visitant1 because the   
birth of the ,messiah must not be less  
honored than that of ,isaac or of       
,samson2 he is born of a virgin1        
because ,god says of the ,messiah1 'this
 day have ,i begotten thee1'  implying  
the direct paternity of ,god1 and       
because the prophecy in  ,is4 vii1 #ad1 
was applied to the ,messiah by the later
 ,jews2 born at  ,bethlehem1 because    
there the ,messiah was to be born       
7,micah v1 #b72  announced to shepherds1
 because ,moses was visited among the   

flocks1  and ,david taken from the      
sheepfolds at ,bethlehem2 heralded by a 
star1  because a star should arise out  
of ,jacob 7,num4 xxiv1 #ag71 and 'the   
,gentiles shall come to thy light' 7,is4
 lx1 #c72 worshiped by ,magi1  because  
the star was seen by ,balaam1 the magus1
 and astrologers would  be those who    
would most notice a star2 presented with
 gifts by these  ,eastern sages1 because
 kings of ,arabia and ,saba shall offer 
gifts  7,ps4 lxxii1 #aj72 saved from the
 destruction of the infants by a        
jealous king1 because ,moses1 one of the
 great types of the ,messiah1  was so   
saved2 flying into ,egypt and thence    
returning1 because ,israel1  again a    
type of the ,messiah1 so fled and       
returned1 and 'out of ,egypt  have ,i   
called my son' 7,hos4 xi1 #a72 at twelve
 years of age found  in the temple1     
because the duties of the law devolved  
on the ,jewish  boy at that age1 and    
where should the ,messiah then be found 
save in  his ,father's temple8          

recognized at his baptism by a divine   
voice1  to fulfil ,is4 xlii1 #a2 hovered
 over by a dove1 because the brooding   
spirit 7,gen4 i1 #b7 was regarded as    
dove-like1 and the spirit was to be     
especially poured on the ,messiah 7,is4 
xlii1 #a72 tempted by the devil to  test
 him1 because ,god tested his greatest  
servants1 and would surely  test the    
,messiah2 fasting forty days in the     
wilderness1 because the  types of the   
,messiah--,moses and ,elijah--thus      
fasted in the desert2  healing all      
manner of disease1 because ,messiah was 
to heal 7,is4 xxxv1  #e-f72 preaching1  
because ,messiah was to preach 7,is4    
lxi1 #a-b72  crucified1 because the     
hands and feet of ,messiah were to be   
pierced  7,ps4 xxii1 #af72 mocked1      
because ,messiah was to be mocked 7,ib4 
#f-h72  his garments divided1 because   
thus it was spoken of ,messiah 7,ib4    
#ah72  silent before his judges1 because
 ,messiah was not to open his mouth     
7,is4 liii1 #g72 buried by the rich1    

because ,messiah was thus to find  his  
grave 7,ib4 #i72 rising again1 because  
,messiah could not be left  in hell     
7,ps4 xvi1 #aj72 sitting at ,god's right
 hand1 because there  ,messiah was to   
sit as king 7,ps4 cx1 #a74 ,thus the    
form of the ,messiah  was cast1 and all 
that had to be done was to pour in the  
human metal2  those who alleged that the
 ,messiah had come in the person of     
,jesus  of ,nazareth1 adapted his story 
to the story of the ,messiah1 pouring   
the history of ,jesus into the mould    
already made for the ,messiah1  and thus
 the mythus was transformed into a      
history4    ,the foregoing theory1 with 
various modifications1 is accepted by a 
majority of ,freethinkers at the present
 time4    ,the hypothesis that ,christ  
is a philosophical myth1 based1 like    
the preceding one1 upon the ,messianic  
idea1 is thus presented by  ,t4 ,b4     
,wakeman3    ,never was there an example
 of a word becoming a believed person1  
under this law of materialization1 more 

plainly and evolutionally  than the     
',messiah' and ',son of ,man' of the    
,hebrew prophecies4444 ,the  ,christ1   
',jesus1' was no man1 for the reason    
that he was prophesied  and visionated  
into this world and life to do a work   
that it would  be utterly absurd to     
suppose a man could ever do4 ,the       
,romans had  killed1 and could easily   
kill1 every man who had tried to resist 
their oppression4 ,now the ,god ,yahweh 
by his 'eternally begotten son1'        
spiritized as the ',son of ,man1' that  
is the ',soul of the ,state1' as        
,shakespeare makes ,ulysses say it1     
must1 in order to be of any avail       
appear with supernatural powers4 ,he was
 the personified people1 ,israel2  he   
had been crucified alive1 in their      
subjection and massacre even to  the    
death and ,hades4 ,but by supernatural  
power he1 the ,israel1 would  rise again
 and bring the final judgment backed by 
the infinite power  of the nation's     
,father1 ,yahweh4 ,it was only a        

,spirit-,god who could do  this--nothing
 less could be originated1 or thought   
of1 or provided1  for such a superhuman 
purpose4 ,a person1 a man1 a reformer1 a
 weak  edition of ,socrates1 or         
,savonarola or ,bruno6 ,how absurd6 ,the
 human  heart in its despair by its     
imagination1 brought a ,god into the    
world  to do a ,god's work4 ',no man1'  
said ,napoleon2 'nor a ,god1' says      
,science1  except the idea4 ,such it was
 that finally united the millions of    
,asia1  ,africa1 ,europe1 and ,america1 
in a dream so intoxicating that it dares
  not to be awakened though the dawn of 
,science is here4    ,mr4 ,wakeman      
argues that the silence of history for  
one hundred years  after the alleged    
appearance of ,christ can be explained  
only upon this  hypothesis of an ideal  
,christ4 ,to this the advocate of the   
historical  mythus may1 ,i think1 very  
properly reply3 ,history1 for the most  
part1  takes cognizance only of noted   
men and important events2 and while     

this silence precludes the existence of 
the supernatural ,christ of             
,christians1 and even that of the human 
,jesus of ,renan1 it does not           
necessarily preclude the existence of an
 obscure religious teacher  and an      
insignificant sect which subsequently1  
by a chain of fortuitous  circumstances1
 became the mightiest among the         
religions of the world4    ,again1 this 
hypothesis presupposes a considerable   
degree of  intellectuality on the part  
of those who evolved this ideal ,christ1
  while tradition represents the        
founders of the ,christian religion  as 
grossly ignorant4 ,had this ,christ     
originally sprung from the  ,hellenistic
 ,jews of intellectual ,alexandria      
instead of from the ,jewish  dregs of   
illiterate ,galilee1 ,mr4 ,wakeman's    
theory would appeal with  surprising    
force4 ,still it must be admitted that  
some of the earliest  ,christian sects  
denied the material existence of        
,christ4    ,another philosophical      

hypothesis1 the astronomical1 which     
regards  ,christ as a solar myth1 is    
advanced by ,volney4    ,these          
mythological traditions recounted that1 
'in the beginning1  a woman and a man   
had1 by their fall1 introduced into the 
world sin  and misery4'    ,by this was 
denoted the astronomical fact that the  
celestial virgin  and the herdsman      
7,bootes71 by setting heliacally at the 
autumnal  equinox1 delivered the world  
to the wintry constellations1 and       
seemed1  on falling below the horizon1  
to introduce into the world the genius  
of evil 7,ahrimanes71 represented by the
 constellation of the serpent4    ,these
 traditions related that the woman had  
decoyed and seduced  the man4    ,and1  
in fact1 the virgin setting first seems 
to draw the herdsman  after her4        
,that the woman tempted him by offering 
him fruit fair to the sight1  and good  
to eat1 which gave the knowledge of good
 and evil4    ,and1 in fact1 the virgin 
holds in her hand a branch of fruit     

which  she seems to offer to the        
herdsman2 and the branch1 emblem of     
autumn1  placed in the picture of       
,mithra between winter and summer seems 
to  open the door and give knowledge1   
the key to good and evil4    ,that this 
couple had been driven from the         
celestial garden1 and that  a cherub    
with a flaming sword had been placed at 
the gate to guard it4    ,and1 in fact1 
when the virgin and the herdsman fall   
beneath the  western horizon1 ,perseus  
rises on the other side2 and this       
genius1  with a sword in his hand1 seems
 to drive them from the summer heaven1  
the garden and dominion of fruits and   
flowers4    ,that of the virgin should  
be born1 spring up1 an offspring1 a     
child1  who should bruise the head of   
the serpent1 and deliver the world  from
 sin4    ,this denotes the sun1 which1  
at the moment of the winter solstice1   
precisely when the ,persian magi drew   
the horoscope of the new year1  was     
placed on the bosom of the virgin1      

rising heliacally in the eastern        
horizon4 ,on this account he was figured
 in their astrological pictures  under  
the form of a child suckled by a chaste 
virgin1 and became  afterward1 at the   
vernal equinox1 the ram1 or lamb1       
triumphant over  the constellation of   
the serpent1 which disappeared from the 
skies4    ,that1 in his infancy1 the    
restorer of divine and celestial nature 
would live abased1 humble1 obscure and  
indigent4    ,and this1 because the     
winter sun is abased below the horizon  
and that  this first period of his four 
ages or seasons is a time of obscurity1 
scarcity1 fasting and want4    ,that    
being put to death by the wicked1 he had
 risen gloriously2 that  he had         
reascended from hell to heaven1 where he
 would reign forever4    ,this is a     
sketch of the life of the sun1 who1     
finishing his career  at the winter     
solstice1 when ,typhon and the rebel    
angels gain the  dominion1 seems to be  
put to death by them2 but who soon after

 is  born again1 and rises into the     
vault of heaven1 where he reigns4       
,count ,volney's portraiture of the     
second member of the ,christian  godhead
 is1 for the most part1 accurate4       
,numerous other analogies  between him  
and the ancient sun gods might be named4
    ,it is the belief of many1 however1 
that these solar attributes of  ,christ 
are later accretions borrowed by the    
,roman ,catholic church  from the ,pagan
 religions which it supplanted4         
,while all ,freethinkers are agreed that
 the ,christ of the ,new  ,testament is 
a myth they are not1 as we have seen1   
and perhaps never  will be1 fully agreed
 as to the nature of this myth4 ,some   
believe  that he is a historical myth2  
others that he is a pure myth4 ,some    
believe that ,jesus1 a real person1 was 
the germ of this ,christ whom           
subsequent generations gradually        
evolved2 others contend that the  man   
,jesus1 as well as the ,christ1 is      
wholly a creation of the human          

imagination4 ,after carefully weighing  
the evidence and arguments in  support  
of each hypothesis the writer1 while    
refraining from expressing  a dogmatic  
affirmation regarding either1 is        
compelled to accept the  former as the  
more probable4                ,,chapter 
,x4    ,,sources ,,of ,,the ,,christ    
,,myth--,,ancient ,,religions4          
,christ and the religion he is said to  
have founded are composite  products1   
made up1 to a great extent1 of the      
attributes1 the doctrines1  and the     
customs of the gods and the religions   
which preceded them and  existed around 
them4 ,the ,christian believes that     
,christ is coexistent  with his father1 
,jehovah--that he has existed from the  
foundations  of the world4 ,this is in a
 measure true4 ,the years that have     
elapsed  since his alleged incarnation  
are few compared with the years of his  
gestation in the intellectual womb of   
humanity4    ,to understand the origin  
and nature of ,christ and ,christianity 

it is  necessary to know something of   
the religious systems and doctrines     
from which they were evolved4 ,the      
following1 some in a large and  others  
in but a small degree1 contributed to   
mold this supposed  divine incarnation  
and inspire this supposed revelation3   
#a4 ,nature  or ,sex ,worship4 #b4      
,solar ,worship4 #c4 ,astral ,worship4  
#d4 ,worship  of the ,elements and      
,forces of ,nature4 #e4 ,worship of     
,animals and  ,plants4 #f4 ,fetichism4  
#g4 ,polytheism4 #h4 ,monotheism4 #i4   
,the ,mediatorial  ,idea4 #aj4 ,the     
,messianic ,idea4 #aa4 ,the ,logos4 #ab4
 ,the ,perfect ,man4        #a4 ,nature 
or ,sex ,worship4    ,the deification   
and worship of the procreative organs   
and the  generative principles of life  
is one of the oldest and one of the     
most universal of religions4 ,it has    
been called the foundation  of all      
religions4 ,in some nations the worship 
of the male energy1  ,phallic worship1  
predominated2 in others the worship of  

the female  energy1 ,yoni worship1      
prevailed4 ,but in all both elements    
were  recognized4 ,mrs4 ,besant says3   
,womanhood has been worshiped in all    
ages of the world1 and maternity has    
been deified by all creeds3  from the   
savage who bowed before the female      
symbol of motherhood1 to  the           
philosophic ,comtist who adores woman   
'in the past1 the present1  and the     
future1' as mother1 wife1 and daughter1 
the worship of the  female element in   
nature has run side by side with that of
 the male2  the worship is one and the  
same in all religions1 and runs in an   
unbroken thread from the barbarous ages 
to the present time4    ,among the life 
generating gods may be named ,vishnu1   
,osiris1  ,zeus1 ,priapus1 ,adonis1     
,bacchus1 ,saturn1 ,apollo1 ,baal1      
,moloch1 and  ,jehovah4 ,among the      
receptive life producing goddesses were 
,isis1 ,rhea1  ,ceres1 ,venus1 ,istar1  
,astarte1 ,aschera1 ,devaki1 ,eve1 and  
,mary4 ,where  the worship of the female

 element largely prevailed the ,virgin  
and ,child was a favorite deity4 ,isis  
and ,horus1 ,rhea and ,quirinus1  ,leto 
and ,apollo1 ,devaki and ,krishna1 ,mary
 and ,christ1 all had their  inception  
in the sex worship of primitive man4    
,the symbol of ,phallic worship1 the    
cross1 has become the emblem of         
,christianity4 ,i quote again from our  
,english authoress3 ,we find  the cross 
in ,india1 ,egypt1 ,thibet1 ,japan1     
always as the sign of  life-giving      
power2 it was worn as an amulet by girls
 and women1 and  seems to have been     
specially worn by the women attached to 
the temples  sacred prostitutes1 as a   
symbol of what was1 to them1 a religious
  calling4 ,the cross is1 in fact1      
nothing but the refined phallus1  and in
 the ,christian religion is a           
significant emblem of its ,pagan        
origin2 it was adored1 carved in        
temples1 and worn as a sacred emblem  by
 sun and nature worshipers1 long before 
there were any ,christians  to adore1   

carve1 and wear it4 ,the crowd kneeling 
before the cross in  ,roman ,catholic   
and in ,high ,anglican churches is a    
simple reproduction  of the crowd who   
knelt before it in the temples of       
ancient days1  and the girls who wear it
 amongst ourselves are--in the most     
innocent  unconsciousness of its real   
significance--exactly copying the       
,indian  and ,egyptian women of an elder
 time4    ,the ,american ,cyclopedia    
says3 ,the crux ansata1 so common on    
,egyptian  monuments1 symbolizes the    
union of the active and passive         
principles of  nature4 ,in the ,etruscan
 tombs have been found crosses of four  
phalli4    ,regarding this subject1     
,mc,clintock and ,strong's ,cyclopedia  
of  ,biblical1 ,theological and         
,ecclesiastical ,literature1 a standard 
orthodox ,christian authority1 says3    
,the sign of the cross is found  as a   
holy symbol among several ancient       
nations4444 ,sometimes it is  the       
phallus 7,art4 ,cross74 ,the same       

authority says that the ,tau or  sign of
 life 7one form of the ,phallic cross7  
was adopted by some of  the early       
,christians in lieu of the cross4444    
,christian inscriptions  at the great   
oasis are headed by this symbol2 it has 
been found on  ,christian monuments at  
,rome 7,art4 ,egypt74    ,dr4 ,thomas   
,inman1 of ,england1 one of the foremost
 authorities on  ancient symbolism1     
says3 ,it has been reserved for         
,christian art to  crowd our churches   
with the emblems of ,bel and ,astarte1  
,baalim and  ,ashtoreth1 linga and yoni1
 and to elevate the phallus to the      
position  of the supreme deity 7,ancient
 ,pagan and ,modern ,christian          
,symbolism1  p4 #af74    ,describing the
 chasuble1 worn by ,christian priests1  
,dr4 ,inman says3  ,its form is that of 
the vesica piscis1 one of the most      
common emblems  of the yoni4 ,it is     
adorned by the ,triad4 ,when worn by the
 priest1  he forms the male element1 and
 with the chasuble completes the sacred 

four4 ,when worshiping the ancient      
goddesses1 whom ,mary has displaced1    
the officiating ministers clothed       
themselves in feminine attire4 ,hence   
the use of the chemise1 etc4 ,even the  
tonsured head1 adopted from  the priests
 of the ,egyptian ,isis1 represents     
'l'anneau'2 so that on  head1 shoulders1
 breast and body1 we may see on         
,christian priests  the relics of the   
worship of ,venus1 and the adoration of 
woman6 ,how  horrible all this would    
sound if1 instead of using veiled       
language1  we had employed vulgar words4
 ,the idea of a man adorning himself1   
when ministering before ,god and the    
people1 with the effigies of those      
parts which nature as well as           
civilization teaches us to conceal1     
would be simply disgusting1 but when all
 is said to be mysterious  and connected
 with hidden signification1 almost      
everybody tolerates  and many eulogize  
or admire it6 7,ibid1 p4 #ajd74         
,westropp and ,wake1 in their ,ancient  

,symbol ,worship1 state that  ,judaism  
and ,christianity have been largely     
derived from ,phallic  worship4         
,westropp says3 ,circumcision was in its
 inception a purely  ,phallic ordinance4
 ,our ,christian marriage ceremonies1 he
 says1 are  relics of this worship4     
,wake says3 ,in the recognition of ,god 
as the  universal father1 the great     
,parent of mankind1 there is a          
development  of the fundamental idea of 
,phallism4 ,in the position assigned to 
,mary  as the mother of ,god the        
paramount principle of the primitive    
belief  is again predominant4 ,the      
nimbus1 the aureole1 the cross1 the     
fish1  and even the spires of churches1 
are symbols retained from the old       
,phallic worship4    ,dr4 ,alexander    
,wilder says3 ,there is not a fast or   
festival1 procession  or sacrament1     
social custom or religious symbol1      
existing at the  present day which has  
not been taken bodily from ,phallism1 or
 from  some successive system of        

,paganism4    ,aschera1 the voluptuous  
goddess of fertility1 was a ,hebrew     
goddess  and was worshiped1 along with  
,jehovah1 in the temple itself at       
,jerusalem4 ,jules ,soury1 of ,france1  
in his ,religion of ,israel  7p4 #fh71  
says3 ,under the kings of ,judah and    
,israel1 the symbol of  ,aschera the    
phallus became an object of general     
piety which was  found in every house4  
,thus in the provinces of ,france1 we   
still find  gigantic crosses on the high
 roads1 on the crossways of the woods   
which  serve as resting places at the   
,fete ,dieu1 while1 under the porches   
of churches1 vendors of religious toys  
still sell little ,christs  in wood or  
metal for a few half-pence4 ,the rich   
women of ,israel1  the bourgeoises of   
,jerusalem1 wore the symbols of ,aschera
 in gold  and silver1 a sort of medals  
of the ,virgin of the time1 which were  
at  once jewels and objects of devotion4
 ,dulaure1 another ,french author1      
tells us that the worship of ,priapus1  

the god of procreation1 under  the name 
of ,st4 ,fontin1 with rites of the most 
indelicate character1  prevailed in the 
,catholic church in several provinces of
 ,france and  ,italy up to the middle of
 the eighteenth century1 or later4      
,the sex worship of the ,semitic tribes 
of ,western ,asia had its origin1  it is
 believed1 in ,india1 where1 under the  
name of ,sakti worship1 it  prevails    
today1 three-fourth of the ,hindoos1 it 
is claimed1 belonging  to this sect4    
,the worship is thus described by the   
,encyclopedia  ,britannica's chief      
authority on the subject1 ,prof4 ,h4 ,h4
 ,wilson3  ,the ceremonies are mostly   
gone through in a mixed society1 the    
,sakti being personified by a naked     
female1 to whom meat and wine are       
offered and then distributed amongst the
 company4 ,these eat and drink          
alternately with gesticulations and     
mantras--and when the religious  part of
 the business is over1 the males and    
females rush together  and indulge in a 

wild orgy4    ,the foregoing is almost  
an exact description of the ,agapae1 or 
,love  ,feasts1 as they were observed   
for a time in the early ,christian      
church4    ,associated with the worship 
of ,aschera and other goddesses of this 
character was what is known as sacred   
prostitution4 ,thousands of women1  the 
fairest and best bred of their race1 and
 also men 7sodomites71  prostituted     
themselves for the support of their     
religion4 ,john  ,clark ,ridpath1 in his
 ,history of the ,world1 dwells upon    
this  institution4 ,it was practiced for
 centuries among the ,hebrews1          
constituting a part of the temple       
worship1 the ,jewish kings1 with  the   
exception of a few1 like ,hezekiah and  
,josiah1 sanctioning  it4 ,solomon's    
temple was largely a ,pagan temple4     
,before it stood  two ,phallic pillars1 
while its doors were ornamented with    
symbols of  ,phallic and ,solar worship4
 ,solomon worshiped1 in addition to     
other  ,pagan deities1 ,astarte         

7,ashtoreth71 the ,sidonian ,aschera 7#a
 ,kings xi1  #e1 #g74 ,the pietistic    
writers of the ,bible condemn it1 but in
 spite  of a few spasmodic efforts to   
suppress the worship1 it continued to   
flourish until long after the           
,captivity4 ,from ,soury's account of   
the  sanctified prostitution of ,israel 
,i quote the following3 ,the tents of   
the sacred prostitutes were generally   
erected on the 'high places1'  where    
sacrifices were offered1 beside the     
tablet of ,baal or ,iahveh  ,jehovah and
 the symbol of ,aschera 7,isaiah lvii1  
#g1 et seq42 ,ezekiel  xxiii1 #ad2      
,hosea iv1 #ag74 ,these tents were woven
 and ornamented with  figures by the    
priestesses of ,aschera4 ,robed in      
splendid garments1  their tresses       
dripping with perfumes1 their cheeks    
painted with  vermilion1 their eyes     
black-circled with antimony1 their      
eyelashes  lengthened with a compound of
 gums1 musk and ebony1 the priestesses  
awaited the worshipers of the goddess   

within these tents 7,numbers xxv1  #h7  
on spacious beds 7,isaiah lvii1 #h72    
they fixed their own price and          
conditions1 and poured the money into   
the treasury of the temple  7,religion  
of ,israel1 p4 #ga74 ,after describing  
the temple of ,zarpanit1  which was     
furnished with cells for the use of the 
,babylonian women1  ,dr4 ,soury says3   
,cells of the same kind1 serving the    
same purpose1  existed at ,jerusalem in 
the very temple of ,jehovah1 wherein    
,aschera  had her symbol and was adored 
7,ibid #gb74 ,prostitutes1 says this    
writer1 were of both sexes4 ,the men    
were called kedeschim1 the women        
kedeschoth--that is 'holy1 vowed1       
consecrated4' ,deuteronomy bears        
witness that both the one and the other 
brought the hire of their  prostitution 
into the treasury of the temple of      
,jehovah4 ,this paid  in part the       
expenses of worship at ,jerusalem 7,ib4 
#gc74    ,if then1 in ,hebrew law and   
practice1 says ,dr4 ,inman1 we find such

  a strong infusion of the sexual       
element1 we cannot be surprised if  it  
should be found elsewhere1 and gradually
 influence ,christianity  7,ancient     
,symbolism74 ,the worship of ,god the   
,father has repeatedly  clashed with    
that of ,god the ,mother1 and the       
votaries of each  respectively have worn
 badges characteristic of the sex of    
their  deity4444 ,our sexual sections   
are as well marked as those in ancient  
,jerusalem1 which swore by ,jehovah and 
,ashtoreth respectively 7,ibid74    ,it 
is well known that religious            
prostitution has been practiced  in some
 form by ,christ's devotees from the    
earliest ages of the  church down to the
 present time4 ,writing of the middle   
ages1 ,lecky1  the historian of         
,european morals1 says3 ,we may not lay 
much stress  on such isolated instances 
of depravity as that of ,pope ,john     
,,xxiii41  who was condemned1 among many
 other crimes1 for incest and adultery2 
or the abbot-elect of ,st4 ,augustine1  

at ,canterbury1 who in #aaga was  found1
 on investigation1 to have seventeen    
illegitimate children in  a single      
village2 or an abbot of ,st4 ,pelayo1 in
 ,spain1 who in #aacj  was proved to    
have kept no less than seventy          
concubines2 or ,henry  ,,iii41 ,bishop  
of ,liege1 who was deposed in #abgd for 
having sixty-five  illegitimate         
children2 but it is impossible to resist
 the evidence of  a long chain of       
,councils and ecclesiastical writers1   
who conspire in  depicting far greater  
evils than simple concubinage4444 ,the  
writers  of the middle ages are full of 
accounts of nunneries that were like    
brothels1 of the vast multitude of      
infanticides within their walls1  and of
 that inveterate prevalence of incest   
among the clergy1 which  rendered it    
necessary again and again to issue the  
most stringent  enactments that priests 
should not be permitted to live with    
their  mothers or sisters 7,history of  
,european ,morals1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 ,p4      

#cca74    ,for centuries the worship of 
the ,virgin ,mary1 the ,christian       
goddess  of reproduction and motherhood1
 was supreme2 the worship of ,god and   
,christ being subordinated to it4       
,during these centuries1 ,hallam tells  
us1 chastity was almost unknown4 ,in    
every land1 every class ignored  the    
seventh commandment1 because it was     
taught and believed that all  offenses  
of this character were condoned by the  
,virgin4 ,hallam cites  numerous        
instances of her alleged interventions  
in behalf of those who  indulged in     
illegitimate practices4 ,the following  
is one3 ,in one tale  the ,virgin takes 
the shape of a nun1 who had eloped from 
the convent1  and performs her duties   
ten years1 till1 tired of a libertine   
life1  she returns unsuspected4 ,this   
was in consideration of her having never
  omitted to say an ,ave as she passed  
the ,virgin's image 7,middle ,ages1  p4 
#fjd74    ,christian chivalry1 so much  
lauded in our day1 was simply a form of 

sex worship4 ,hallam characterizes it as
 unbridled libertinism4 ,the  writings  
of that age1 like those of ,boccaccio1  
he says1 indicate  a general            
dissoluteness in the intercourse of the 
sexes4444 ,the  violation of marriage   
vows passes in them for an incontestable
  privilege of the brave and the fair   
7,ibid1 p4 #fff74    ,holy pilgrimages  
to the shrines of saints were usually   
pilgrimages to  the shrine of ,venus4   
,some of the modes of atonement which   
the church  most approved1 were         
particularly hostile to public morals4  
,none was  so usual as pilgrimage2      
whether to ,jerusalem or ,rome1 which   
were the  great objects of devotion1 or 
to the shrine of some national saint1  a
 ,james of ,compostella1 a ,david1 or a 
,thomas ,becket4 ,this licensed         
vagrancy was naturally productive of    
dissoluteness1 especially among  the    
women4 ,our ,english ladies1 in their   
zeal to obtain the spiritual  treasures 
of ,rome1 are said to have relaxed the  

necessary caution  about one that was in
 their own custody 7,ib41 p4 #fjg74     
,the prelates of the church1 being      
equally culpable1 winked at the         
licentiousness of the lower orders of   
the clergy4 ,in every country1  says    
,hallam1 the secular and parochial      
clergy kept women in their  houses1 upon
 more or less acknowledged terms of     
intercourse1 by  a connivance of their  
ecclesiastical superiors 7,ib41 p4      
#cec74 ,a  writer of respectable        
authority asserts that the clergy       
frequently  obtained a bishop's license 
to cohabit with a mate 7,ib41 p4 #ced74 
,another form of sanctified sexual      
indulgence1 and which received the      
sanction of the church1 was what is     
known as ,marquette4 ,concerning  this  
custom ,mrs4 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage1 in 
her ,woman1 ,church and  ,state1 says3  
,the law known as ,marchetta1 or        
,marquette1 compelled  newly-married    
women to a most dishonorable servitude4 
,they were  regarded as the rightful    

prey of the ,feudal ,lord from one to   
three days  after their marriage1 and   
from this custom the eldest son of the  
serf  was held as the son of the        
,lord4444 ,marquette was claimed by the 
,lord's  ,spiritual1 as well as by the  
,lord's ,temporal4 ,the ,church1 indeed1
  was the bulwark of this base feudal   
claim4 ,this is affirmed by the  ,french
 historian1 ,michelet4 ,he says3 ,the   
lords spiritual 7clergy7 had  this right
 no less than the lords temporal4 ,the  
parson1 being a lord1  expressly claimed
 the first fruits of the bride 7,la     
,sorcerie1 p4 #fb74    ,the brazen      
lewdness of medieval ,christianity has  
been driven into  privacy4 ,but it still
 exists1 and it is still religious4 ,the
 ,italian  patriot1 ,garibaldi1 bears   
this testimony3 ,in ,rome1 in #ahdi1 ,i 
myself  visited every convent4 ,i was   
present at all the investigations4      
,without  a single exception we found   
instruments of torture1 and a cellar    
with  the bodies of infant children4    

,referring to the priests connected     
with certain convents1 ,dr4 ,inman says3
 ,their practice was to instruct  their 
victims that whatever was said or done  
must be accompanied by a  pious         
sentence4 ,thus1 ',i love you dearly'   
was a profane expression2  but ',i      
desire your company in the name of      
,jesus1' and ',i embrace in  you the    
,holy ,virgin1' was orthodox4           
,protestant readers1 generally1 will    
accept this testimony as  true of       
,catholic countries4 ,but have          
,protestant countries a purer  record8  
,lecky1 classed as a ,protestant        
historian1 says3 ,the two  countries    
which are most thoroughly pervaded by   
,protestant theology  are probably      
,scotland and ,sweden2 and if we measure
 their morality  by the common though   
somewhat defective test that is         
furnished by  the number of illegitimate
 births1 the first is well known to be  
considerably below the average morality 
of ,european nations1 while  the second1

 in this as in general criminality1 has 
been pronounced by  a very able and     
impartial ,protestant witness1 who has  
had the fullest  means of judging1 to be
 very far below every other ,christian  
nation  7,european ,morals1 ,vol4 ,i1 p4
 #cia74    ,the religion of ,christ as  
it exists today is not only in its      
external  forms1 but in its very        
essence1 largely a survival of the      
nature  worship of old4 ,that it is     
closely allied to it is admitted by     
,christian ministers themselves4 ,the   
,rev4 ,frederick ,robertson says3  ,the 
devotional feelings are often singularly
 allied to the animal  nature4 ,they    
conduct the unconscious victim of       
feelings that appear  divine1 into a    
state of life at which the world stands 
aghast2  fanaticism is always united    
with either excessive lewdness or       
desperate asceticism 7,essays74 ,the    
,rev4 ,s4 ,baring-,gould1 in ,freaks  of
 ,fanaticism1 says3 ,the religious      
passion verges so closely on  the sexual

 passion that a slight additional       
pressure given to it  bursts the        
partition1 and both are confused in a   
frenzy of religious  debauch4 ,the ,rev4
 ,j4 ,h4 ,noyes says3 ,religious love is
 a very near  neighbor to sex love1 and 
they always get mixed in the intimacies 
and social excitement of religious      
revivals4        #b4 ,solar ,worship4   
,scarcely less prevalent than sex       
worship was the worship of the  sun4    
,while sex worship was confined chiefly 
to the generation of human  life1 sun   
worship comprehended the generation of  
all life4 ,the sun  was recognized as   
the generative power of the universe4   
,he overshadows  the receptive earth    
from whom all life is born4 ,i quote    
from ,m4 ,soury3  ,amid all these       
forces1 the mightiest is1 without       
contradiction1 the  sun1 the fire of    
heaven1 father of earthly fire1 unique  
and supreme  cause of motion and life on
 our planet4 ,there is no need or reason
  to understand that the very life1 and 

as it were the blood of our  celestial  
father flows in the veins of the ,earth1
 our mother4 ,in  the time of love1 when
 the luminous heaven embraces her1 from 
her  fertilized womb springs forth a    
world4 ,it is she who quivers on  the   
plains where the soft moist air waves   
gently on the grasses2  it is she who   
climbs in the bush1 who soars in the    
oak1 who fills  the solitude with the   
joyous twitter of birds beneath the     
cloudlet1  or from the leaf-lined nests2
 it is she who in seas and in running   
waters1 or mountains and in woods1      
couples the gorgeous male with  the     
ardent female1 throbs in every bosom1   
loves in every life4 ,but  all this     
terrestrial life1 all this warmth and   
all this light are  but effluents from  
the sun4 7,religion of ,israel1 pp4 #c1 
#d47    ,prof4 ,tyndall says3 ,we are no
 longer in a poetical but in a purely   
mechanical sense1 the children of the   
sun4 ,the sun1 said ,napoleon           
,bonaparte1 gives all things life and   

fertility4 ,it is the true ,god  of the 
earth4    ,john ,newton1 ,m4,r4,c4,s41  
of ,england1 says3 ,the glorious sun1   
that 'god  of this world1' the source of
 life and light to our earth1 was early 
adored1 and an effigy thereof used as a 
symbol4 ,mankind watched with  rapture  
its rays gain strength daily in the     
,spring1 until the golden  glories of   
,midsummer had arrived1 when the earth  
was bathed during  the longest days in  
his beams1 which ripened the fruits that
 his  returning course had started into 
life4 ,when the sun once more began  its
 course downwards to the winter         
solstice1 his votaries sorrowed1  for he
 seemed to sicken and grow paler at the 
advent of ,december1  when his rays     
scarcely reached the earth1 and all     
nature1 benumbed  and cold1 sunk into a 
death-like sleep4 ,hence feasts and     
fasts were  instituted to mark the      
commencement of the various phases of   
the  solar year1 which have continued   
from the earliest known period1  under  

various names1 to our own times 7,the   
,assyrian ,grove74    ,the most         
prominent deities in the pantheons of   
the gods were solar  deities4 ,among    
these were ,osiris1 ,vishnu1 ,mithra1   
,apollo1 ,hercules1  ,adonis1 ,bacchus1 
and ,baal4 ,in the worship of some of   
these gods sex  and solar worship were  
united4    ,the early ,israelites were  
mostly sun worshipers4 ,and even in     
later  times1 the sun god1 ,baal1       
divided with ,jehovah the worship of the
  ,jews4 ,saul1 ,jonathan1 and ,david   
named their children in honor of this   
god4 ,saul begat ,jonathan1 444 and     
,esh-baal4 ,and the son of ,jonathan    
was ,merib-baal 7#a ,chron4 viii1 #cc1  
#cd74 ,david named his last son1  save  
one1 ,beeliada1 ,baal ,knows1 7#a       
,chron4 xiv1 #g74 ,solomon's worship    
included not merely the worship of      
,jehovah1 but that of ,baal and other   
gods4 ,his temple was filled with ,pagan
 ornaments and emblems pertaining  to   
solar worship4 ,regarding this the ,rev4

 ,dr4 ,oort of ,holland says3           
,solomon's temple had much in common    
with heathen edifices1 and slight       
modifications might have made it a      
suitable temple for ,baal4 ,this need   
not surprise us1 for the ancient        
religion of the ,israelitish tribes  was
 itself a form of ,nature-worship just  
as much as the religions  of the        
,canaanites1 ,phenicians1 ,philistines1 
and other surrounding  peoples were4    
,most of the ,israelites certainly saw  
no harm in these  ornaments1 since they 
were not aware of any very great        
difference  between the character of    
,yahweh ,jehovah and that of ,baal1     
,astarte1  or ,moloch 7,bible for       
,learners1 vol4 ii1 p4 #hh74 ,long after
 the time  of ,solomon the horses and   
chariots of the ,sun were kept in the   
temple  7#b ,kings xxiii1 #aa74 ,many of
 the stories concerning ,moses1 ,joshua1
  ,jonah1 and other ,bible characters   
are solar myths4 ,samson was a sun  god4
 ,dr4 ,oort says3 ,sun-worship was by no

 means unknown to the  ,israelites4444  
,the myths that were circulated among   
these people  show that they were       
zealous worshipers of the sun4 ,these   
myths  are still preserved1 but1 as in  
all other cases1 they are so much       
altered as to be hardly recognizable4   
,the writer who has preserved  them for 
us lived at a time when the worship of  
the sun had long ago  died out4 ,he     
transforms the sun god into an          
,israelite hero ,samson  7,ibid i1 p4   
#dad74 ,st4 ,augustine believed that    
,samson and the sun god  ,hercules were 
one4    ,charles ,francois ,dupuis1 in  
his ,origin of ,worship1 one of the most
  elaborate and remarkable works on     
mythology ever penned1 shows that       
nearly all the religions of the world1  
including ,christianity1 were  derived  
largely from solar worship4 ,all the    
solar deities1 he says1  have a common  
history4 ,this history1 summarized1 is  
substantially  as follows3 ,the god is  
born about ,december #beth1 without     

sexual  intercourse1 for the sun1       
entering the winter solstice1 emerges in
 the  sign of ,virgo1 the heavenly      
,virgin4 ,his mother remains            
ever-virgin1  since the rays of the sun1
 passing through the zodiacal sign1     
leave it intact4 ,his infancy is begirt 
with dangers1 because the  new-born ,sun
 is feeble in the midst of the winter's 
fogs and mists1  which threaten to      
devour him2 his life is one of toil and 
peril1  culminating at the spring       
equinox in a final struggle with the    
powers of darkness4 ,at that period the 
day and night are equal1  and both fight
 for the mastery4 ,though the night veil
 the ,sun and he  seems dead2 though he 
has descended out of sight1 below the   
earth1  yet he rises again triumphant1  
and he rises in the sign of the ,lamb1  
and is thus the ,lamb of ,god1 carrying 
away the darkness and death of  the     
winter months4 ,henceforth he triumphs1 
growing ever stronger and  more         
brilliant4 ,he ascends into the zenith1 

and there he glows1 on  the right hand  
of ,god1 himself ,god1 the very         
substance of the ,father1  the          
brightness of his glory1 and the express
 image of his person1  upholding all    
things by his life-giving power4    ,dr4
 ,g4 ,w4 ,brown1 author of ,researches  
in ,oriental ,history1 says3  ,strange  
as it may seem1 whilst ,mithras and     
,osiris1 ,dionysos and  ,bacchus1       
,apollo and ,serapis1 with many others  
including ,christ in  name1 all         
masculine sun gods1 and all             
interblended1 a knowledge of one  is    
generally a knowledge of the whole1     
wherever located or worshiped4    ,if   
,christ was not originally a solar god  
he wears today the livery  of one4 ,his 
mother1 the ,virgin1 was the mother of  
the solar gods2  his birthday1          
,christmas1 is the birthday of all the  
gods of the sun2  his ,twelve ,apostles 
correspond to the twelve signs of the   
,zodiac2  according to the ,gospels1 at 
his crucifixion the sun was eclipsed1 he

  expired toward sunset1 and rose again 
with the sun2 the day appointed  for his
 worship1 the ,lord's day1 is the die   
solis1 ,sunday1 of the sun  worshipers2 
while the principal feasts observed in  
memory of him were  once observed in    
honor of their gods4 ,every detail of   
the ,sun myth1  says the noted          
astronomer1 ,richard ,a4 ,proctor1 is   
worked into the  record of the ,galilean
 teacher4    ,the cross we have seen was
 a symbol of ,phallic worship4 ,the     
cross1 and  especially the crucifix1 was
 also an emblem of solar worship4 ,it   
was  carved or painted on1 or within1 a 
circle representing the horizon1  the   
head and feet and the outstretched arms 
of the sacrificial  offering or         
crucified ,redeemer pointing toward the 
four quarters  of the horizon4 ,the     
,lord's ,supper1 observed in memory of  
,christ1  was observed in memory of     
,mithra1 ,bacchus1 and other solar gods4
 ,the  nimbus1 or aureola1 surrounding  
the head of ,jesus in his portraits     

represents the rays of the sun4 ,it was 
thus that the ancient adorers  of the   
sun adorned the effigies of their god4  
,there still exists a  pillar erected by
 the sun worshipers of ,carthage4 ,on   
this pillar is  carved the sun god1     
,baal1 with a nimbus encircling his     
head4    ,the ,christian doctrine of the
 resurrection had its origin in sun     
worship4 ,as the sun1 the ,father1 rose 
from the dead1 so it was believed  that 
his earthly children would also rise    
from the dead4 ,the daily  disappearance
 and the subsequent rise of the sun1    
says ,newton1  appeared to many of the  
ancients as a true resurrection2 thus1  
while the east came to be regarded as   
the source of light and warmth1         
happiness and glory1 the west was       
associated with darkness and chill1     
decay and death4 ,this led to the custom
 of burying the dead so as  to face the 
east when they rose again1 and of       
building temples and  shrines with an   
opening toward the east4 ,to effect     

this1 ,vitruvius1  two thousand years   
ago1 gave precise rules1 which are still
 followed  by ,christian architects4    
,max ,mueller1 in his ,origin of        
,religion1 7pp4 #bjj1 #bja71 says3      
,people wonder why so much of the old   
mythology1 the daily talk1  of the      
,aryans was solar3 what else could it   
have been8 ,the names of  the sun are   
endless and so are his stories2 but who 
he was1 whence  he came and whither he  
went1 remained a mystery from beginning 
to  end4444 ,man looked up to the sun1  
yearning for the response of a soul1    
and though that response never came1    
though his senses recoiled1  dazzled and
 blinded by an effulgence which he could
 not support1  yet he never doubted that
 the invisible was there1 and that1     
where  his senses failed him1 where he  
could neither grasp nor comprehend1  he 
might still shut his eyes and trust1    
fall down and worship4    ,this worship 
of old survives in the worship of today4
 ,a knowledge  of the location1 the     

limits and the nature of the sun has    
gradually  convinced the world that this
 is not ,god's dwelling place2 but      
somewhere in the infinite expanse of the
 blue beyond they fancy  he has his     
throne4 ,to this imaginary being is     
rendered the same  adoration that was   
rendered to him by primitive man--the   
adoration  of childish ignorance4       
#c4 ,astral ,worship4    ,the worship of
 the planets and stars was probably a   
later development  than sex and solar   
worship4 ,it flourished for a time in   
nearly  every part of the world1 and    
left its impress on the religions that  
succeeded it4    ,in ,chaldea1 one of   
the principal sources of ,judaism and   
,christianity1  the worship of the stars
 prevailed4 ,i quote from ,dr4 ,ridpath3
 ,in their  aspirations for communion   
with the higher powers1 the yearning of 
the  ancient ,chaldeans turned upwards  
to the planets and the stars4 ,the      
horizon of the ,babylonian plain was    
uniform and boundless4 ,it was the      

heaven above rather than the earth      
beneath1 which exhibited variety and    
life4 ,the ,zodiac was ever new with its
 brilliant evolutions4 ,through  the    
clear atmosphere the tracks of the      
shining orbs could be traced  in every  
phase and transposition4 ,with each dawn
 of morning light1  with each recurrence
 of the evening twilight1 a new panorama
 spread  before the reverent imagination
 of the dreamer1 and he saw in the      
moving spheres not only the abode but   
the manifested glory of his gods        
7,history of the ,world1 vol4 #a1 p4    
#ach74    ,until today1 in the high     
light of civilization1 the idea of some 
kind of domination of the stars over the
 affairs of human life has  hardly      
released its hold on the minds of men2  
and the language of  the old ,chaldean  
ritual of signs has still a familiar    
sound in the  ears of the credulous     
7,ibid1 p4 #adj74    ,after alluding to 
the ancient ,vedic religion1 which      
recognized in  the stars the souls of   

our departed ancestors1 ,prof4 ,john    
,fiske says3  ,the ,christianized       
,german peasant1 fifty centuries later1 
tells his  children that the stars are  
angels' eyes1 and the ,english cottager 
impresses it on the youthful mind that  
it is wicked to point to the  stars1    
though why he cannot tell 7,myths and   
,myth ,makers1 p4 #gf74    ,in the      
,zodiac the ,sun had twelve palaces4    
,each palace had a star  for a god1 and 
each was subject to the ,sun4 ,each day 
of the week was  governed by a planet1  
and each hour of the day had its        
controlling  star4 ,many scholars1      
including ,jefferson1 have held that    
,christ and  his ,twelve ,apostles      
relate to the ,zodiac and were derived  
from this  stellar worship4 ,the seven  
days of the week are still dedicated to 
the  old planetary gods1 and1 with a few
 modifications1 bear their names4       
,chambers' ,encyclopedia says3 ,the     
,jews1 as well as the early             
,christians1 had no special names for   

the single days1 but counted  their     
number from the previous ,sabbath1      
beginning with ,sunday1 as the  first   
after the ,sabbath1 and ending with     
,friday1 as the sixth after the         
previous1 or eve 7,ereb7 of the next    
,sabbath4 ,after a very short time1     
however1 young ,christianity1 which in  
the same manner had endeavored  to count
 from the feria secunda1 or second day  
after ,sunday1 to the  ,septima 7or     
,saturday71 had to fall back again upon 
the old heathen  names 7,art4 ,week74   
,the planetary gods ,nardouk 7,jupiter71
 ,adar 7,saturn71 ,istar 7,venus71      
,nergal 7,mars71 and ,nebo 7,mercury71  
were all worshiped by the ancient       
,israelites4 ,istar was called ,queen of
 the ,stars4 ,moloch1 the rival  of     
,jehovah1 who shared for centuries the  
worship of the ,hebrews1  had his       
blazing star1 the emblem of his         
implacable cruelty4 ,the  worship of    
,astarte1 daughter of the moon1 and     
,queen of ,heaven1  whose emblem was a  

star1 was introduced by ,solomon himself
 7#a ,kings  xi1 #e2 #b ,kings xxiii1   
#ac74 ,for more than three hundred years
 she had  her temple in ,jerusalem4 ,and
 even today devout ,jews address orizons
  to the new moon1 a relic of the       
worship of ,astarte4 ,the rosary is a   
survival of astral worship4 ,it was once
 a symbol of the stars4    ,the author  
of ,supernatural ,religion says3 ,the   
belief that sun1  moon and stars were   
living entities possessed of souls was  
generally  held by the ,jews at the     
beginning of our era4    ,the same      
belief was entertained by the ,christian
 ,fathers4 ,origen  says3 ,as the stars 
move with so much order and method that 
under  no circumstances whatever do     
their course seem to be disturbed1  is  
it not the extreme of absurdity to      
suppose that so much order1  so much    
observance of discipline and method     
could be demanded from  or fulfilled by 
irrational beings8    ,out of astral    
worship grew the so-called science of   

astrology4 ,of this  ,chambers's        
,encyclopedia says3 ,astrology is one of
 the most ancient  forms of             
superstition1 and is found prevailing   
among the nations of  the ,east at the  
very dawn of history4 ,the ,jews became 
much addicted  to it after the          
,captivity4    ,one of the so-called    
,messianic prophecies of the ,old       
,testament reads3  ,there shall come a  
star out of ,jacob 7,num4 xxiv1 #ag74   
,now when ,jesus  was born in ,bethlehem
 of ,judea in the days of ,herod the    
,king1 behold1  there came wise men from
 the east to ,jerusalem1 saying1 ,where 
is he  that is born king of the ,jews8  
,for we have seen his star in the east1 
444 and1 lo1 the star1 which they saw in
 the east1 went before them1  till it   
came and stood over where the young     
child was 7,matt4 ii1 #a1  #b1 #i74     
,this marvelous event at the advent of  
the ,christian ,messiah  was a complete 
fulfillment of what had been predicted  
centuries  before concerning the        

appearance of the expected ,persian     
,messiah1  the original of the expected 
,messiah of the ,jews4    ,graves says  
that the language of ,matthew clearly   
betrays the  astrological origin of his 
story3 ,the practice of calculating     
nativities by the stars was in vogue in 
the era and country of  ,christ's birth1
 and had been for a long time previously
 in various  countries4 ',we have seen  
his star in the east1 and have come to  
worship him4' ,now mark1 here1 it was   
not the star1 nor a star1 but  'his     
star'2 thus disclosing its unmistakable 
astrological features  7,sixteen        
,crucified ,saviors1 p4 #ec74    ,after 
referring to the prevalency of astrology
 at the beginning of1  and anterior to1 
the ,christian era1 ,strauss says3 ,when
 such ideas  were afloat1 it was easy to
 imagine that the birth of the ,messiah 
must be announced by a star1 especially 
as1 according to the common             
interpretation of ,balaam's prophecy1 a 
star was there made the symbol  of the  

,messiah4 ,it is certain that the       
,jewish mind effected this  combination2
 for it is a rabbinical idea that at the
 time of the  ,messiah's birth a star   
will appear in the east and remain for a
 long  time visible4444 ,in the time of 
,jesus it was the general belief that   
stars were always the forerunners of    
great events4    ,jesus in the          
,apocalypse declares himself to be the  
bright and  morning star 7xxii1 #af74   
,he had in his right hand seven stars   
7i1 #af74 ,the seven stars are the      
angels of the seven churches  7#bj74    
,his second coming will be heralded by  
signs in the sun1 and  in the moon1 and 
in the stars 7,luke xxi1 #be74    ,the  
star of the ,magi which pointed so      
unerringly to the cradle of  ,christ    
points not less unerringly to one of the
 sources from which  ,christ came4      
#d4 ,worship of the ,elements and       
,forces of ,nature4    ,the elements and
 forces of nature1 ,volney believes1    
inspired the  first ideas of ,god and   

religion3    ,man1 reflecting on his    
condition1 began to perceive that he was
  subjected to forces superior to his   
own1 and independent of his  will4 ,the 
sun enlightened and warmed him1 fire    
burned him1 thunder  terrified him2 the 
wind beat upon him1 and water drowned   
him4    ,considering the action of the  
elements on him1 he conceived the idea  
of weakness and subjection on his part1 
and of power and domination  on theirs2 
and this idea of power was the primitive
 and fundamental  type of every idea of 
the ,divinity4    ,the action of these  
natural existences excited in him       
sensations of  pleasure and pain1 of    
good or evil2 and by a natural effect of
 his  organization he conceived for them
 love or aversion2 he desired or        
dreaded their presence2 and fear or hope
 gave rise to the first idea  of        
religion4    ,from this elemental       
worship ,indra1 ,agni1 ,zeus1 ,odin1    
,jehovah and other  gods were evolved4  
,jehovah was originally a god of the    

atmosphere4 ,he  manifested himself in  
the tempest2 he unchained the waves of  
the sea2  the wind was his breath2 the  
thunder was his voice1 the lightning his
  messenger4 ,he filled the air with    
frost2 he precipitated the hail2  he    
blanketed the earth with snow2 he       
deluged the land with rain2  he         
congealed the water of the stream1 and  
parched the verdure of  the field4      
,fire worship overspread ,asia1 and     
,jehovah1 like ,moloch1 became a  god of
 fire4 ,there went up a smoke out of his
 nostrils1 and fire  out of his mouth   
devoured2 coals were kindled by it 7#b  
,sam4 xxii1  #i74 ,he appeared to ,abram
 as a smoking furnace and a burning lamp
  7,gen4 xv1 #ag74 ,he revealed himself 
to ,moses in the burning bush4 ,the     
bush burned with fire1 but the bush was 
not consumed 7,ex4 iii1  #b74 ,when     
,david called to him he answered him    
from heaven by fire  7#a ,ch4 xxi1 #bf74
 ,to the fleeing ,israelites he was a   
pillar of fire  7,ex4 xiv1 #bd74 ,the   

,lord descended upon ,sinai in fire     
7xix1  #ah74 ,when he appeared upon     
,horeb the mountain burned with fire    
unto the midst of heaven 7,deut4 iv1    
#aa71 and the ,lord spake out  of the   
midst of the fire 7#ab74 ,the cloud of  
the ,lord was upon the  tabernacle by   
day1 and fire was on it by night 7,ex4  
xl1 #ch74 ,on the  ,jewish altar for    
centuries the sacred fire was kept      
burning4 ,when  ,aaron1 ,gideon1        
,solomon and ,elijah made offerings to  
,jehovah there  came a fire out from    
before the ,lord1 and consumed the      
offerings  7,lev4 ix1 #bd2 ,jud4 vi1    
#ba2 #b ,ch4 vii1 #a2 #a ,k4 xviii1     
#ch74 ,elijah was  translated in a      
chariot of fire 7#b ,k4 ii1 #aa74       
,elisha was surrounded  by horses and   
chariots of fire 7vi1 #ag74 ,with fire  
he consumed his  enemies4 ,the ,lord    
rained upon ,sodom and ,gomorrah        
brimstone and fire  7,gen4 xix1 #bd74   
,when ,nadab and ,abihu offered strange 
fire before  the ,lord 7,lev4 x1 #a71   

there went out fire from before the     
,lord and  devoured them 7#b74 ,when the
 ,israelites displeased him at ,taberah1
  the fire of the ,lord burnt among them
 and consumed them 7,num4 xi1  #a74     
,when the hosts of ,satan encompassed   
the ,christian saints1 fire  came down  
from ,god out of heaven and devoured    
them 7,rev4 xx1 #i74    ,it is now a    
matter of demonstration1 says ,m4       
,soury1 that at the  time of the ,exodus
 from ,egypt1 in the desert1 and even in
 the time  of ,judges1 light and fire   
were not to the ,israelites mere symbols
 of  the deity1 but were the deity      
himself4    ,christ inherited the fiery 
nature of his ,father4 ,he baptized his 
disciples with fire4 ,he shall baptize  
you with the ,holy ,ghost1  and with    
fire 7,matt4 iii1 #aa74 ,and there      
appeared unto them cloven  tongues like 
as of fire1 and it sat upon each of them
 7,acts ii1 #c74 ,he  consigned his     
enemies to everlasting punishment in the
 unquenchable  fires of hell4 ,the ,son 

of man shall send forth his angels1 and 
they  shall gather out of his kingdom   
all things that offend1 and them which  
do iniquity2 and shall cast them into a 
furnace of fire 7,matt4 xiii1  #da1     
#db74 ,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into  
everlasting fire 7xxv1  #da74 ,to be    
cast into hell fire3 where their worm   
dieth not1 and  the fire is not         
quenched4 ,for every one shall be salted
 with fire  7,mark ix1 #dg-di74 ,his    
disciples were imbued with the same     
spirit and  belief4 ,and they 7the      
,samaritans7 did not receive him4444    
,and when  his disciples ,james and     
,john saw this1 they said1 ,lord1 wilt  
thou that  we command fire to come down 
from heaven and consume them8 7,luke ix1
  #ec1 #ed47    ,some vestiges of       
ancient fire worship have been          
transmitted to  our time4 ,john ,newton 
says3 ,a sacred fire1 at first          
miraculously  kindled1 and subsequently 
kept up by the sedulous care of priests 
and priestesses1 formed an important    

part of the religion of ,judea1         
,babylonia1 ,persia4 ,greece and ,rome1 
and the superstition lingers  amongst us
 still4 ,so late as the advent of the   
,reformation1 a sacred  fire was kept   
ever burning on a shrine at ,kildare1 in
 ,ireland1  and attended by virgins of  
high rank1 called 'inghean au dagha1' or
  daughters of fire4 ,every year is the 
ceremony repeated at ,jerusalem  of the 
miraculous kindling of the ,holy ,fire  
at the reputed sepulchre1  and men and  
women crowd to light tapers at the      
sacred flame 7,the  ,assyrian ,grove74  
#e4 ,worship of ,animals and ,plants4   
,in the infancy of the world animals    
were deified and adored1 and  trees and 
plants were regarded as sentient beings 
and received the  homage of man4        
,nearly every animal has been an object 
of worship4 ,this worship  flourished   
for ages in ,egypt and ,india4 ,in      
,egypt the worship of the  bull 7,apis7 
was associated with that of ,osiris     
7,serapis74 ,the cow is  still worshiped

 in ,india4 ,serpent worship has existed
 in every part  of the world4           
,remnants of animal worship survived in 
,judaism and ,christianity4 ,satan  was 
a serpent2 ,jehovah1 like ,osiris1 was  
worshiped as a bull2 ,christ  was the   
lamb of ,god1 and the ,holy ,ghost      
appeared in the form of a dove4         
,closely allied to this worship1 and to 
some extent a part of it1 is  the       
doctrine of the transmigration of souls4
 ,some of the ,jews believed  in this4  
,so did many of the early ,christians1  
including ,origen4    ,the leek1 the    
lotus1 and other plants were held as    
sacred or  divine4 ,the rose was the    
divine flower of ,greece4 ,its petals   
had been  dyed with the blood of her    
favorite goddess4 ,in many nations the  
lily  was the sacred emblem of          
virginity4 ,christians still attach a   
sort  of sacredness to it4    ,the      
groves were ,god's first temples1 says  
,bryant4 ,the groves1 too1  were among  
man's first gods4 ,volumes have been    

written on the ancient  worship of      
trees4 ,not only the ,druids of         
,britain1 but the ,greeks1  and the     
,semitic races of ,asia were worshipers 
of trees4 ,the giant  oaks and the      
symmetrical evergreens were gods4 ,the  
rustling of the  aspen and the moaning  
of the pines were the audible           
whisperings of  ,divinity which the     
prophets interpreted4    ,the worship of
 trees1 says ,soury1 only disappeared in
 ,syria at a  very late date4444 ,the   
largest and tallest trees1 and the      
evergreen  ones1 were adored as gods4 ,a
 great many ,semitic myths were         
connected  with the vegetable world4    
,thus the pomegranate1 famous for the   
richness  of its fruit1 was sacred to   
,adonis and ,aphrodite4 ,the almond1    
which1  while nature seems inanimate1   
comes forth first from winter's sleep1  
the amygdalis1 the 'great mother1' gave 
birth to a crowd of ,semitic  legends   
7,religion of ,israel1 pp4 #ff1 #fg74   
,the tree1 like the serpent1 was an     

emblem of immortality4 ,the ,garden  of 
,eden had its ,tree of ,life4 ,newton   
says3 ',i am come that they  might have 
,life1 and that they might have it      
abundantly' 7,john x1  #aj74 ,life is   
the reward which has been promised under
 every system1  including that of the   
founder of ,christianity4 ,a ,tree of   
,life stood in  the midst of that       
,paradise which is described in the book
 of ,genesis2  444 and in a second      
,paradise1 which is promised to the     
blessed by the  author of the book of   
,revelation1 a tree of life shall stand 
once more  'for the healing of the      
nations4'    ,there still exist in      
,palestine venerable trees which receive
 not merely  the reverence1 but the     
worship of ,mussulmans and ,christians4 
,some of  these trees they believe      
possess divine curative powers4         
,travelers  have observed them covered  
with strips of cloth or strings1 which  
are  tied to the twigs4 ,this is done to
 induce the spirit of the tree to  heal 

or drive away disease4    ,sex worship1 
as we have seen1 bequeathed some of its 
doctrines and  rites to nearly every    
religion that has existed since its     
time4 ,it  became associated with tree  
worship4 ,the ,bible abounds with sacred
  groves4 ,in ,palestine hundreds of    
them were consecrated to ,aschera1  the 
favorite goddess of the ancient ,jews4  
,these groves were devoted  to sacred   
prostitution4 ,in some of them the      
worship of ,baal and  ,aschera were     
combined2 in others that of ,jehovah and
 ,aschera4 ,these  sanctuaries of       
,aschera1 says ,m4 ,soury1 were charming
 spots1 shady  groves of green trees1   
often watered by running streams1       
mysterious  retreats where all was      
silence save the cooing of the doves    
sacred  to the goddess4 ,the symbol of  
,aschera1 a simple pillar1 or the trunk 
of a tree1 perhaps with its leaves and  
branches1 was the emblem of  generative 
power4 ,the spots once occupied by these
 groves are still  deemed holy ground4  

,many of them are marked by ,mohammedan 
mosques  and ,christian chapels4    ,the
 sacred groves of ,palestine where      
devout and voluptuous ,jews mingled  the
 worship of ,jehovah and ,aschera live1 
too1 in the ,protestant camp  meetings  
of our western world1 where1 in shady   
bowers1 ,christians  worship fervently  
at the altar of ,christ1 and then1 not  
infrequently1  meet clandestinely and   
pay their vows to ,aschera4    ,the palm
 tree1 and where the palm did not grow1 
the pine1 both symbols  of the phallus1 
were worshiped4 ,newton says3           
,palm-branches have  been used in all   
ages as emblems of life1 peace1 and     
victory4 ,they  were strewn before      
,christ4 ,palm-,sunday1 the feast of    
palms1 is still  kept4 ,even within the 
present #aith century1 on this festival1
 in  many towns of ,france1 women and   
children carried in procession at  the  
end of their palm-branches a phallus    
made of bread1 which they  called1      
undisguisedly1 'la pine1' whence the    

festival was called  ',la ,fete des     
,pinnes4' ,the 'pine' having been blest 
by the priest1 the  women carefully     
preserved it during the following year  
as an amulet  7,the ,assyrian ,grove74  
#f4 ,fetichism4    ,closely related to  
the foregoing worship is fetichism1 the 
worship  of idols and images4 ,this is  
popularly supposed to be the religion   
only of savages and barbarians2 but it  
also prevails to some extent  among     
people who are considered civilized and 
enlightened4    ,while it was opposed by
 some of the kings1 priests1 and        
prophets1  idolatry flourished among the
 ,jews from the earliest ages down      
almost to the ,christian era4 ,abraham's
 father1 ,terah1 was an idolater        
7,josh4 xxv1 #b74 ,jacob's wives were   
daughters of an idolater4 ,rachel  stole
 and hid her father's images 7,gen4     
xxxi1 #cj-cd74 ,jacob's family  were1   
for a time at least1 idolaters4 ,then   
,jacob said unto his  household1 and all
 that were with him1 ,put away the      

strange gods that  are among you4444    
,and they gave unto ,jacob all the      
strange gods that  were in their hands1 
444 and ,jacob hid them under the oak   
which was  by ,shechem 7,gen4 xxxv1     
#b-d74 ,the kingdoms of ,israel and     
,judah were  steeped in idolatry4       
,israel set them up images and served   
idols  7#b ,kings xvii1 #aj1 #aa71 and  
did offer sweet savor to their idols    
7,ezek4 vi1 #ac74 ,judah was full of    
idols 7,is4 ii1 #h74    ,the fetichism  
of ,christ's ancestors reappeared in the
 image worship  of his devotees4 ,the   
,christians of the middle ages1 ,dr4    
,draper says1  were immersed in         
fetichism4 ,the worship of images1 of   
fragments of  the cross1 or bones1 nails
 and other relics1 a true fetich        
worship1  was cultivated 7,conflict1 p4 
#di74 ,a chip of the true cross1 some   
iron filings from the chain of ,st4     
,peter1 a tooth or bone of a martyr1    
were held in adoration2 the world was   
full of the stupendous miracles  which  

these relics had performed4 ,but        
especially were painted or  graven      
images of holy personages supposed to be
 endowed with such  powers4 ,they had   
become objects of actual worship        
7,intellectual  ,development of ,europe1
 vol4 i1 p4 #dad74    ,concerning the   
fetichism of the church1 ,chambers's    
,encyclopedia  says3 ,it was usual not  
only to keep lights and burn incense    
before  the images1 to kiss them        
reverently2 and to kneel down and pray  
before  them1 but some went so far as to
 make the images serve as godfathers    
and godmothers in baptism1 and even to  
mingle the dust of the coloring  matter 
scraped from the images with the        
,eucharist elements in the  ,holy       
,communion4444 ,in many foreign         
churches1 especially in ,italy1 in      
southern ,germany1 and in ,france at the
 present time1 are to be found  images  
which are popularly reputed as          
especially sacred1 and to which1  or to 
prayers offered before which1 miraculous

 effects are ascribed4    ,bishop       
,newton1 of ,england1 admits and        
deplores the existence of  ,christian   
fetichism4 ,he says3 ,the consecrating  
and bowing down to  images2 the         
attributing of miraculous powers and    
virtues to idols2  the setting up of    
little oratories1 altars and statues in 
the streets  and highways and on the    
tops of mountains2 the carrying of      
images  and relics in pompous           
procession1 444 all these are equally   
parts of  pagan and popish superstition4
    ,greek1 ,lutheran1 and ,anglican    
churches are not free from fetichism1   
and  even the ,evangelical churches of  
this country make a fetich of a book4   
#g4 ,polytheism4    ,polytheism1 the    
doctrine of a plurality of gods1 has    
prevailed in  every part of the world4  
,the most interesting pantheons of the  
gods  were those of ,india1 ,egypt1     
,greece1 and ,rome4 ,the ,hebrews1 who  
were  polytheists1 borrowed their gods  
from ,assyria and ,babylonia4 ,the      

pantheon of these nations comprised     
twelve principal gods and nearly  a     
thousand minor deities4 ,the chief of   
these gods was ,el4 ,his consort  was   
,elath4 ,the ,hebrews worshiped ,el     
under the name of ,el ,shaddai and      
various other names4 ,elohim of the     
,bible1 translated ,god1 denotes the    
plural and included ,el and the minor   
gods who surrounded him4 ,yahweh1       
,iahveh1 ,jehovah1 etc41 as he is       
variously called--for ,jews and         
,christians cannot spell and do not even
 know the name of their  principal      
deity--is a god of ,assyro-,babylonian  
origin4 ,in addition  to their national 
god1 ,jehovah1 many of the ,jews        
worshiped ,baal1  ,moloch1 and ,tammouz1
 male deities1 and ,astarte1 ,aschera1  
and ,istar1  female deities4    ,that   
the writers of the ,bible recognized a  
plurality of gods--were  polytheists--is
 proved by the following3 ,and the ,lord
 ,god said1  ,behold1 the man is become 
as one of us 7,gen4 iii1 #bb74 ,who is  

like  unto thee1 ,o ,lord1 among the    
gods8 7,ex4 xv1 #aa47 ,among the gods1  
there is none like unto thee1 ,o ,lord  
7,ps4 lxxxvi1 #h74 ,the ,lord is  a     
great ,god1 and a great king above all  
gods 7,ps4 xcv1 #c74 ,thou  shalt not   
revile the gods 7,ex4 xxii1 #bh74       
,monotheism1 the doctrine of one god1 is
 not merely the worship of  one god1 but
 the belief in the existence of one god 
only4 ,many were  monotheistic in       
worship--worshiped one god1 their       
national deity--while  at the same time 
they were polytheistic in               
belief--believed in the  existence of   
many gods4 ,the ,jews who worshiped     
,jehovah have been called  monotheists4 
,and yet1 for a thousand years1 they    
believed in the  existence of ,kemosh1  
,baal1 ,moloch1 ,tammouz1 and other     
deities4 ,they  believed that ,jehovah  
was their national god and that they    
owed  allegiance to him2 just as the    
subjects of an earthly king profess     
their loyalty to him without denying the

 existence of other kings4    ,while    
,christians profess ,monotheism they are
 really  polytheists--worship three     
gods--,father 7,jehovah71 ,son          
7,christ71  and ,holy ,ghost2 and       
recognize a god of ,evil1 ,satan4 ,to   
these must  also be added a female      
deity1 the ,virgin ,mary1 who is to the 
devout  ,catholic as much of a divinity 
as ,isis and ,venus were to ancient     
polytheists4 ,the canonization and      
adoration of the saints1 too1  are      
analogous to the worship of the inferior
 deities of ancient times4    ,after    
recounting what he believes to be the   
salutary influences exerted  by the     
medieval conception of the ,virgin1     
,lecky says3 ,but the price1  and       
perhaps the necessary price1 of this was
 the exaltation of the  ,virgin as an   
omnipresent deity of infinite power as  
well as infinite  condescension4 ,the   
legends represented her as performing   
every kind  of prodigy4444 ,the painters
 depicted her invested with the divine  

aureole1 judging men on equal terms with
 her ,son1 or even retaining her        
ascendancy over him in heaven4 ,in the  
devotions of the people she was         
addressed in terms identical with those 
employed to the ,almighty4 ,a  reverence
 similar in kind but less in degree was 
soon bestowed upon  the other saints1   
who speedily assumed the position of the
 minor  deities of ,paganism 7,history  
of ,rationalism1 ,vol4 ,i1 pp4 #bbf1    
#bbg74    ,regarding the deification and
 worship of saints ,hallam says3  ,every
 cathedral or monastery had its tutelar 
saint1 and every  saint his legend1     
fabricated in order to enrich the       
churches under  his protection1 by      
exaggerating his virtues1 his miracles1 
and  consequently his power of serving  
those who paid liberally for his        
patronage4 ,many of those saints were   
imaginary persons2 sometimes a          
blundered inscription added a name to   
the calendar2 and sometimes1  it is     
said1 a heathen god was surprised at the

 company to which he  was introduced1   
and the rites with which he was honored 
7,middle ,ages1  p4 #fjc74    ,the      
church historian ,mosheim admits and    
deplores the truth of this3  ,it is1 at 
the same time1 as undoubtedly certain1  
as it is extravagant  and monstrous1    
that the worship of the martyrs was     
modeled1 by degrees1  according to the  
religious services that were paid to the
 gods before  the coming of ,christ     
7,ecclesiastical ,history1 p4 #ih74     
,bishop ,newton says3 ,the very same    
temples1 the very same images1  which   
were once consecrated to ,jupiter and   
the other demons gods1  are now         
consecrated to the ,virgin ,mary and the
 other saints4    ,milman says that at  
an early period ,christianity began to  
approach to  a polytheistic form1 or at 
least to permit what it is difficult to 
call  by any other name than            
polytheistic1 habits and feelings of    
devotion  7,history of ,christianity1   
,vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #dbd74        #h4       

,monotheism4    ,monotheism1 as         
previously stated1 is the doctrine of   
one god  only4 ,it has gradually        
displaced1 to a great extent1 the       
fetichism  and polytheism of earlier    
times4    ,comte's law of human         
development is as follows3      #a4     
,theological1 or fictitious1  #b4       
,metaphysical1 or abstract1  #c4        
,scientific1 or positive4      ,in the  
,theological state1 the human mind1     
seeking the essential  nature of things1
 the first and final causes 7the origin 
and purpose7  of all effects--in short  
,absolute knowledge--supposes all       
phenomena  to be produced by the        
immediate action of supernatural beings4
    ,in the ,metaphysical state1 which  
is only a modification of the first1    
the mind supposes1 instead of           
supernatural beings1 abstract forms1    
veritable entities 7that is1 personified
 abstractions7 inherent in  all things1 
and capable of producing all phenomena4 
,in the final1 the ,positive state1 the 

mind has given over the vain  search    
after ,absolute notions1 the origin and 
destination of the  universe1 and the   
causes of phenomena1 and applies itself 
to the study  of their laws--that is1   
their invariable relations of succession
 and  resemblance 7,positive            
,philosophy1 pp4 #bf1 #bg74    ,the     
lowest state of human development is the
 theological4 ,here the  masses of      
mankind still repose4 ,only the scholars
 and thinkers have  advanced beyond this
 and many of these have only reached the
 second  or metaphysical state4    ,the 
highest point in the theological state  
is monotheism4 ,to ,judaism  ,christians
 ascribe the glory of having been the   
first religion to  teach a pure         
monotheism4 ,but monotheism existed long
 before the ,jews  attained to it4      
,zoroaster and his earliest followers   
were monotheists1  dualism being a later
 development of the ,persian theology4  
,the adoption  of monotheism by the     
,jews1 which occurred only at a very    

late period  in their history1 was not1 
however1 the result of a divine         
revelation1  or even of an intellectual 
superiority1 for the ,jews were         
immeasurably  inferior intellectually to
 the ,greeks and ,romans1 to the ,hindus
 and  ,egyptians1 and to the ,assyrians 
and ,babylonians1 who are supposed to   
have retained a belief in polytheism4   
,this monotheism of the ,jews was       
chiefly the result of a religious       
intolerance never before equaled  and   
never since surpassed1 except in the    
history of ,christianity  and           
,mohammedanism1 the daughters of        
,judaism4 ,jehovistic priests and  kings
 tolerated no rivals of their god and   
made death the penalty  for disloyalty  
to him4 ,the ,jewish nation became      
monotheistic for the  same reason that  
,spain1 in the clutches of the          
,inquisition1 became  entirely          
,christian4    ,jesus of ,nazareth and  
his disciples1 if they existed1 were    
probably monotheists1 believed that     

,jehovah was the only ,god1  and neither
 believed nor claimed that ,jesus was   
other than the son  of man4 ,as         
generations passed the man became       
obscured1 his deeds  were magnified     
until at length he was accepted as the  
,son of ,god1  and a ,god himself4 ,the 
deification of ,jesus1 then1 together   
with the  apotheosis of other mortals1  
cannot be regarded as an evolution from 
,jewish monotheism to a higher plane1   
but rather as a relapse from  monotheism
 to polytheism4        #i4 ,the         
,mediatorial ,idea4    ,this idea had   
its origin chiefly in the worship of the
 elements and  forces of nature by      
primitive man4 ,he believed that these  
elements and  forces were intelligent   
beings4 ,he realized that in their      
presence he  was in a measure helpless4 
,he therefore sought to win their favor 
and  appease their wrath4 ,he made      
offerings to them2 he prayed to them2   
he worshiped them4 ,but other men1 more 
wise1 more cunning1 and more  fortunate1

 appeared to have greater influence with
 these deities4 ,he  employed them to   
intercede for him2 and thus the         
priesthood was  established4 ,the priest
 was the first mediator4    ,more       
complex religious systems were in time  
evolved1 and in some of  them           
mediatorial gods appeared4 ,the         
mediatorial idea was prominent in  the  
,persian system4 ,mithra was the        
,persian mediator4 ,the worship of      
,mithra was carried to ,rome and the    
,romans became acquainted with the      
mediatorial idea4 ,in an exposition of  
,philo's philosophy1 ,mrs4 ,evans  says3
 ,the most exalted spirits are able to  
raise themselves to the  pure essence   
and find peace and joy which earthly    
conditions cannot  disturb2 but weaker  
natures need a helper in a ,being1 who1 
coming from  above1 can dwell below and 
lift their souls to ,god4 ,the majority 
of  mankind1 in their passage along the 
slippery path of life1 are sure to      
fall1 and would perish if it were not   

for a mediator between themselves  and  
,god4444 ,the power of the ,caesars1    
culminating in ,augustus1 enabled  them 
to claim divine honors from the people1 
already disposed to see  in them chosen 
agents of celestial sovereignty4 ,rome1 
according to  the expression of         
,valerius ,maximus1 recognized in the   
,caesars the  mediators between heaven  
and earth4 ,and that was before         
,christianity  introduced its anointed  
mediator 7,the ,christ ,myth1 pp4 #ij1  
#ib74    ,the ,god of the ,jews1 to     
quote the words of ,jefferson1 was      
cruel1  vindictive1 capricious and      
unjust4 ,he had cursed his creation2 he 
had  drowned a world2 he had imposed the
 sentence of death--spiritual as  well  
as physical--upon his children4 ,to     
placate this monster1 to induce  him to 
remit this sentence1 the priests were   
powerless4 ,millions of  animals1 and   
even human beings1 had been sacrificed  
to him in vain4 ,at  length his only    
begotten son1 ,jesus ,christ1 offered   

himself as  a sacrifice to atone for the
 sins of the world4 ,the sacrifice was  
accepted1 and a reconciliation was      
effected between ,god and man4 ,thus    
,christ became the great mediator of    
,christianity4 ,there is one  ,god1 and 
one mediator between ,god and men1 the  
man ,christ ,jesus  7#a ,tim4 ii1 #e74  
,he is the mediator of the new testament
 7,heb4 ix1  #ae74 ,from ,persia and    
from ,rome this mediatorial ,god has    
come4        #aj4 ,the ,messianic ,idea4
    ,the desire for a deliverer         
naturally arises in the minds of a      
people  who are in subjection and       
bondage4 ,this desire was the germ of   
the  ,messianic idea4 ,while there are  
traces of this idea in the earlier      
writings of the ,hebrews1 it reached its
 highest development during and         
immediately following the ,captivity1   
and again in the ,maccabean age4    ,the
 ,messiah of ,judaism and the ,messiah1 
or ,christ1 of ,christianity1  were     
derived from the ,persian theology1 the 

adherents of each system  modifying the 
doctrine to suit their respective       
notions4 ,in its article  on ,zoroaster1
 ,chambers's ,encyclopedia says3 ,there 
is an important  element to be noticed1 
viz41 the ,messiah1 or ,sosiosh1 from   
whom the  ,jewish and ,christian notions
 of a ,messiah are held by many to have 
been derived4444 ,even a superficial    
glance at this sketch will show our     
readers what very close parallels       
between ,jewish and ,christian notions  
on the one hand1 and the ,zoroastrian on
 the other1 are to be drawn4            
,christians cite numerous passages from 
the writings of the ,old  ,testament    
which they claim foretold the advent of 
,jesus4 ,not one of  these passages1 as 
originally penned1 refers in the        
remotest degree  to him1 though many of 
them do refer to the office he is said  
to have  filled4 ,the ,jews hoped for a 
deliverer1 for a national leader who    
would reestablish the kingdom of        
,israel1 and restore to it the glory  of

 ,david's reign4 ,they were loyal to the
 house of ,david and believed  that this
 deliverer would be a descendant1 a son1
 of ,david4 ,pietists1  too1 in the     
fervor of their religious enthusiasm    
dreamed of universal  conversion to the 
,jehovistic theocracy4 ,in the writings 
of their  prophets and poets these hopes
 and dreams found expression4 ,i have   
made a covenant with my chosen1 ,i have 
sworn unto ,david1 my servant1  thy seed
 will ,i establish forever1 and build up
 thy throne to all  generations 7,ps4   
xxxix1 #c1 #d74 ,and the kingdom and    
dominion1 and the  greatness of the     
kingdom under the whole heaven1 shall be
 given to the  people of the saints of  
the most ,high1 whose kingdom is an     
everlasting  kingdom1 and all dominions 
shall serve and obey him 7,dan4 vii1    
#bg74    ,while the ,messianic idea was 
originally a ,persian idea1 the         
materials  used in the formation of the 
,christian ,messiah were drawn largely  
from  the ,jewish ,scriptures4 ,there   

are passages in the ,old ,testament1 as 
we  have seen1 which predict the coming 
of a ,messiah4 ,these furnished a       
portion of the materials out of which   
this ,messianic deity1 ,christ1  was    
formed4 ,there are many more which have 
no reference whatever to  a ,messiah    
which have been made to serve as        
,messianic prophecies4 ,the  ,old       
,testament1 as we have it1 is alleged to
 be a ,jewish work4 ,it is1  rather1 a  
,christian work4 ,it is a ,christian    
version of ancient ,jewish  writings1   
every book of which has been more or    
less ,christianized4 ,much  of it is    
scarcely recognizable to a ,jewish      
scholar4 ,this is especially  true of   
so-called ,messianic prophecies4    ,the
 ,christian ,messiah was1 on the one    
hand1 modeled1 to a considerable        
extent1 after the ,jewish ideal1 while  
the ,jewish materials1 on the  other    
hand1 were freely altered to fit the new
 conception4 ,referring  to the work of 
the ,evangelists1 ,m4 ,renan says3      

,sometimes they  reasoned thus3 ',the   
,messiah ought to do such a thing2 now  
,jesus is  the ,messiah1 therefore      
,jesus has done such a thing4' ,at other
 times1  by an inverse process1 it was  
said3 ',such a thing has happened to    
,jesus2 now ,jesus is the ,messiah2     
therefore such a thing was to happen  to
 the ,messiah4' 7,jesus1 p4 #bg74       
,that the so-called ,messianic          
prophecies of the ,jewish ,scriptures   
were the immediate source of the ,christ
 is apparent4 ,that he was1  however1   
merely a borrowed idea and not a        
historical realization  of these        
prophecies is equally apparent4 ,the    
,jews were expecting  a ,messiah4 ,had  
,jesus realized these expectations they 
would have  accepted him4 ,but he did   
not realize them4 ,these prophecies were
 not  fulfilled in him4 ,he was not a   
son of ,david2 he did not deliver his   
race from bondage2 he did not become a  
king2 the important events  that were to
 attend and follow ,messiah's advent    

form no part even  of his alleged       
history4 ,his rejection by the ,jews    
proves him to be  either a false        
,messiah1 or an imaginary being--a      
historical myth1  or a pure myth--in    
either case a myth4    ,the ,jewish     
argument against ,jesus as the ,messiah 
is unanswerable3  ,we do not find in the
 present comparatively imperfect stage  
of human  progress the realization of   
that blessed condition of mankind which 
the  prophet ,isaiah associates with the
 era when ,messiah is to appear4 ,and   
as our ,hebrew ,scriptures speak of one 
,messianic advent only1 and not  of two 
advents2 and as the inspired ,book does 
not preach ,messiah's  kingdom as a     
matter of faith1 but distinctly         
identifies it with  matters of fact     
which are to be made evident to the     
senses1 we cling  to the plain inference
 to be drawn from the text of the       
,bible1 and we  deny that ,messiah has  
yet appeared1 and upon the following    
grounds3  ,first1 because of the three  

distinctive facts which the inspired    
seer  of ,judah inseparably connects    
with the advent of the ,messiah1 viz41  
7#a7 the cessation of war and the       
uninterrupted reign of peace1 7#b7  the 
prevalence of a perfect concord of      
opinion on all matters bearing  upon the
 worship of the one and only ,god1 and  
7#c7 the ingathering of  the remnant of 
,judah and of the dispersed ten tribes  
of ,israel--not one  has1 up to the     
present time1 been accomplished4        
,second1 we dissent from  the           
proposition that ,jesus of ,nazareth is 
the ,messiah announced by the  prophets1
 because the church which he founded1   
and which his successors  developed1 has
 offered1 during a succession of        
centuries1 most singular  contrast to   
what is described by the ,hebrew        
,scriptures as the immediate            
consequence of ,messiah's advent1 and of
 his glorious kingdom4 ,the  prophet    
,isaiah declares that when the ,messiah 
appears1 peace1 love1  and union will be

 permanently established2 and every     
candid man must  admit that the world   
has not realized the accomplishment of  
this  prophecy4 ,again1 in the days of  
,messiah1 all men1 as ,scripture saith1 
'are to serve ,god with one accord'2 and
 yet it is very certain that  since the 
appearance of him whom ,christians      
believe to be ,messiah1  mankind has    
been split into more hostile divisions  
on the ground of  religious belief1 and 
more antagonistic sects have sprung up1 
than  in any historic age before        
,christianity was preached4    ,with    
orthodox ,jews the belief in a ,messiah 
is a deep rooted  conviction4 ,for #bejj
 years there has been displayed in front
 of the  synagogue this sign3 ,wanted--a
 ,messiah4 ,during this time many1      
including ,jesus1 ,bar-,cocheba1 ,moses 
of ,candia1 and ,sabatai ,zevi1  have   
applied for the place1 but all          
applicants have been rejected1  and the 
,messianic predictions of the ,jewish   
prophets are yet to be  fulfilled4 ,so1 

too1 are those of the ,persian prophet4 
,in the meantime  the followers of      
,jesus--turning from the ,jews to the   
,gentiles--have  from this borrowed idea
 evolved a deity who divides with       
,brahma1  ,buddha1 and ,allah1 the      
worship of the world4        #aa4 ,the  
,logos 7,word74    ,the exaltation and  
deification of ,jesus is thus described 
by the ,dutch  theologian1 ,dr4         
,hooykaas3 ,when ,jesus was gone1 those 
who had known  him personally insensibly
 surrounded him with a glory that shone 
at  last with a more than human         
splendor4 ,the spiritual blessings which
  flowed in ever rich measure from his  
person and his gospel compelled  the    
,christians to exalt him ever more and  
more4 ,the title of ,son  of ,god1 which
 his followers had given him as the     
future ,messiah1  was elastic and       
ambiguous enough to lend itself very    
readily to this  process4 ,the idea of  
his being the ,messiah now no longer    
sufficed2 he  was something other and   

something far more than the ,jewish     
,messiah4 ,the  philosophy and theology 
of the day were laid under contribution2
  and nothing could so well indicate his
 significance for all humanity  and his 
unapproachable exaltation as the idea   
that he was the ,word  7,bible for      
,learners1 ,vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #fgj1 #fga74
    ,the doctrine of the ,logos1 or     
,word1 as an emanation or essence of    
divine wisdom is very old4 ,it is found 
in the ancient religions of  ,egypt and 
,india4 ,it was recognized in the       
,persian theology1 and was  incorporated
 into the ,jewish theology by the       
,babylonian exiles4 ,it  constitutes an 
important element in the ,platonic      
philosophy4 ,it  received its highest   
development and exposition in the       
writings of  the ,jewish philosopher    
,philo1 a contemporary of ,jesus4       
,concerning the ,logos1 ,dean ,milman1  
in his ,history of ,christianity1  says3
 ,this ,being was more or less          
distinctly impersonated1 according  to  

the more popular or more philosophic1   
the more material or the more  abstract1
 notions of the age of the people4 ,this
 was the doctrine from  the ,ganges1 or 
even the shores of the ,yellow ,sea1 to 
the ,ilissus3 it  was the fundamental   
principle of the ,indian religion and   
the ,indian  philosophy2 it was the     
basis of ,zoroastrianism2 it was pure   
,platonism2  it was the ,platonic       
,judaism of the ,alexandrian school4    
,another  ,english clergyman1 ,mr4      
,lake1 says3 ,we can trace its the      
,word's  birthplace in the philosophic  
speculations of the ancient world2  we  
can note its gradual development and    
growth2 we can see it in its  early     
youth passing 7through ,philo and       
others71 from ,grecian philosophy  into 
the current of ,jewish thought 7,philo1 
,plato1 and ,paul1 p4 #ga74    ,the     
presentation of ,jesus as an incarnation
 of the ,logos belongs to  the second   
century and is prominent in the ,fourth 
,gospel4 ,the ideas  are chiefly those  

of ,plato and ,philo4 ,plato's trinity  
was ,thought1  ,word and ,deed4 ,the    
,word occupies the second place in the  
,platonic  trinity as it does in the    
,christian trinity4 ,that the author of 
the  gospel of ,john1 written more than 
a century after the time of ,philo1     
borrowed largely from that philosopher1 
is shown by the following  parallels    
drawn from their writings3              
,philo4--,the ,logos is the ,son of ,god
 7,de ,profugis74    ,john4--,this the  
,word is the ,son of ,god 7i1 #cd74     
,philo4--,the ,logos is considered the  
same as ,god 7,de ,somniis74            
,john4--,the ,word was ,god 7i1 #a74    
,philo4--,he the ,logos was before all  
things 7,de ,leg4 ,allegor74            
,john4--,the same the ,word was in the  
beginning with ,god 7i1 #b74            
,philo4--,the ,logos is the agent by    
whom the world was made 7,de  ,leg4     
,allegor74    ,john4--,all things were  
made by him the ,word 7i1 #c74          
,philo4--,the ,logos is the light of the

 world 7,de ,somniis74    ,john4--,the  
,word was the true light 7i1 #i74       
,philo4--,the ,logos only can see ,god  
7,de ,confus4 ,ling474    ,john4--,no   
man hath seen ,god4444 ,he the ,word    
hath declared him  7i1 #ah74        #ab4
 ,the ,perfect ,man4    ,the ,new       
,testament contains at least five       
different mythical types  or conceptions
 of ,jesus ,christ3 #a4 ,the ,messiah of
 the synoptics1  omitting the opening   
chapters of ,matthew and ,luke4 #b4 ,the
 ,son of ,god1  or demi-god1 introduced 
in these opening chapters4 #c4 ,the     
incarnate  ,logos or ,god of ,john4 #d4 
,the ,christ of ,paul4 #e4 ,eliminating 
these  more or less supernatural types1 
there remains in these writings1 in     
addition to the purely natural and      
purely human ,jesus of ,nazareth1  a    
type known as the ,ideal or ,perfect    
,alan4 ,this type is not only  mythical1
 but1 in the stricter sense1            
supernatural and superhuman2  for the   
perfect man must always remain an ideal 

rather than a real  type of man4    ,the
 last type is believed by many to       
represent the primal stage in  the      
deification of ,jesus4 ,this conception 
of ,jesus has been held by  many        
,rationalistic ,christians1 and by some 
conservative ,rationalists  in all ages4
 ,this1 too1 forms a part of the        
dualistic conception  of ,christ        
entertained by orthodox ,christians1 a  
conception which  supposes him to have  
combined in his incarnation both a human
 and a  divine element which made him   
both man and ,god4 ,the portrayal of the
  vicarious suffering and death of this 
man has been one of the most  powerful  
agents in the propagation of            
,christianity4    ,the molders of       
primitive ,christianity were greatly    
influenced by  various philosophical    
speculations--by the teachings of       
,pythagoras and  ,plato among the       
earlier1 and by the writings of ,philo  
and ,seneca among  the later            
philosophers4 ,to ,philo1 we have seen1 

they were indebted  largely for the     
,logos2 to ,seneca they were indebted   
chiefly for the  ,ideal or ,perfect     
,man4 ,the following extracts are from  
,the ,christ ,myth  of ,mrs4 ,evans3    
,seneca advises the cherishing of a hope
 that victory in the form of  a wise man
 will finally appear1 because humanity  
requires that the  exemplification of   
perfection should be visible4           
,seneca's conception of perfect humanity
 was a combination of the  wise man of  
the ,platonists and ,stoics and the     
gentle sufferer who  endures insult and 
sorrow4    ,the ,logos of ,philo was too
 ethereal to answer all the demands of  
feeble humanity4 ,the ,god-man must live
 and suffer and die among and  for the  
people in order to make the sacrifice   
complete4    ,philo endowed the ,logos  
of ,heraclitus with the authority of a  
priestly  mediator1 who1 floating       
between earth and heaven1 brings ,god   
and  man together2 ,seneca places this  
mediator as a suffering man among  men4 

,philo1 from his ,jewish standpoint1    
made the ,logos the priestly            
intercessor2 ,seneca1 from the          
standpoint of his ,stoical society1     
believed in the possibility of a perfect
 man as savior and guide of  weaker men4
    ,cognizant of the striking          
resemblance between some of the writings
  of the ,new ,testament and the        
writings of the ,stoics1 particularly   
of ,seneca1 modern ,christian apologists
 affect to believe that  this           
philosopher was acquainted with the     
history and the gospel of  ,christ4 ,but
 the ,stoical philosophy propounded by  
,seneca had been  forming ever since the
 time of ,zeno1 three centuries before  
the time  of ,christ4 ,seneca himself   
was born before the ,christian era1 and 
no  part of the ,new ,testament was in  
existence when he wrote4 ,relative  to  
this contention ,lecky writes3 ,it is   
admitted that the greatest  moralists of
 the ,roman empire either never         
mentioned ,christianity1 or  mentioned  

it with contempt4444 ,the ,jews1 with   
whom the ,christians were  then         
identified1 he 7,seneca7 emphatically   
describes as 'an accursed  race4'       
7,european ,morals1 vol4 #a1 pp4 #cdj1  
#cdb74 ,during the second  and third    
centuries ,christian scholars ransacked 
,pagan literature for  recognitions of  
,christ and ,christianity4 ,regarding   
this1 ,lecky says3  ,at the time1 when  
the passion for discovering these       
connections  was most extravagant1 the  
notion of ,seneca and his followers     
being  inspired by the ,christians was  
unknown 7,ibid1 p4 #cdf74 ,gibbon says3 
,the new sect ,christians is totally    
unnoticed by ,seneca 7,rome1  vol4 i1   
#ehg1 note74    ,out of all these       
various religious systems and           
doctrines--out of  sex worship and sun  
worship--out of the worship of the stars
 and  the worship of the elements--out  
of the worship of animals and  the      
worship of idols--out of ,polytheism and
 ,monotheism--out of the  ,mediatorial  

and ,messianic ideas--out of the ,logos 
and the ,ideal ,man  of the             
philosophers--this ,christ has come4    
,,chapter ,,xi4    ,,sources ,,of ,,the 
,,christ ,,myth--,,pagan ,,divinities4  
,in the preceding chapter ,i have       
noticed some of the typical religious   
systems and beliefs from which ,christ  
and ,christianity were to a  great      
extent derived4 ,i shall next notice    
more particularly some  of the so-called
 divine beings--some of the gods1 and   
some of the  mortals endowed with       
supernatural gifts1 belonging to these  
systems4 ,i  shall show that there were 
many sons of gods besides ,jehovah's    
only  begotten ,son2 that each of them  
possessed some attribute possessed  by  
him2 that all of them lived or existed  
in the minds of men1  centuries before  
his time2 and that many of them were    
prototypes  of him1 and furnished in a  
large degree the ideas which suggested  
him1 or which are associated with him   
and his religion4 ,my list will         

comprise the following1 all of whom were
 believed by their worshipers  or       
followers to be of divine descent3      
,krishna1 ,buddha1 ,confucius1          
,laou-tsze1 ,zoroaster1 ,mithra1        
,sosiosh1 ,adonis1 ,osiris1 ,horus1     
,zeus1  ,apollo1 ,perseus1 ,hercules1   
,dionysos1 ,prometheus1 ,esculapius1    
,plato1  ,pythagoras1 ,bacchus1 ,saturn1
 ,quirinus1 ,odin1 ,thor1 and ,baldur4  
,krishna4    ,krishna was the eighth    
,avatar or incarnation of the god       
,vishnu1  one of the ,hindoo ,trinity4  
,in this incarnation ,vishnu1 it is     
said1  appeared in all the fullness of  
his power and glory4 ,his mother  was   
,devaki4 ,he is believed to be a        
historical character1 but his real      
history1 like that of ,jesus1 is almost 
entirely obscured by myths4 ,he  lived  
from #ijj to #a1bjj years before the    
,christian era4 ,the story  of his life 
is to be found in the ,bhagavat1 one of 
the ,puranas1  while his religious      
teachings are given in the              

,bhagavad-,gita1  a poem belonging to   
the ,mahabarata4    ,the points of      
resemblance between ,krishna and ,christ
 that have  been printed would fill a   
volume4 ,some of these are apocryphal1  
and not confirmed by the canonical      
scriptures of ,india4 ,the limits  of   
this chapter preclude an extended list  
even of the undoubtedly  genuine4 ,i    
shall confine myself chiefly to a       
presentation of the  most important ones
 relating to their births4 ,these1      
according to the  ,christian translator 
of the ,bhagavat ,purana1 ,rev4 ,thomas 
,maurice1  are as follows3    #a4 ,both 
were miraculously conceived4    #b4     
,both were divine incarnations4    #c4  
,both were of royal descent4    #d4     
,devatas or angels sang songs of praise 
at the birth of each4    #e4 ,both were 
visited by neighboring shepherds4    #f4
 ,in both cases the reigning monarch1   
fearing that he would be  supplanted in 
his kingdom by the divine child1 sought 
to destroy him4    #g4 ,both were saved 

by friends who fled with them in the    
night to  distant countries4    #h4     
,foiled in their attempts to discover   
the babes both kings issued  decrees    
that all the infants should be put to   
death4    ,writing of ,krishna in the   
eighteenth century1 ,sir ,william ,jones
 says3  ,in the ,sanscrit dictionary1   
compiled more than two thousand years   
ago1  we have the whole history of the  
incarnate deity1 born of a virgin1  and 
miraculously escaping in infancy from   
the reigning tyrant of his  country     
7,asiatic ,researches1 ,vol4 ,i1 p4     
#bgc74    ,the subsequent careers of    
these deities are analogous in many     
respects4 ,their missions were the      
same--the salvation of mankind4 ,both   
performed miracles--healed the sick and 
raised the dead4 ,both died  for man by 
man4 ,there is a tradition1 though not  
to be found in the  ,hindoo scriptures1 
that ,krishna1 like ,christ1 was        
crucified4    ,various incidents        
recorded in the life of ,christ were    

doubtless  suggested by similar         
incidents in the life of ,krishna4 ,he  
washed  the feet of his disciples       
because ,krishna had washed the feet of 
the ,brahmins4 ,he taught his disciples 
the possibility of removing a  mountain1
 because ,krishna1 to protect his       
worshipers from the wrath  of ,indra1   
raised ,mount ,goverdhen above them4    
,his parents in their  flight with him1 
as related in the ,gospel of the        
,infancy1 stopped at  a place called    
,maturea4 ,krishna was born at ,mathura4
    ,the earliest followers of each were
 from the lower classes of society1     
those of ,krishna being herdsmen and    
milkmaids4 ,christ's most ardent        
worshipers have from the first been     
women4 ,chrishna1 to quote the          
authority last mentioned1 continues to  
this hour the darling god of  the women 
of ,india4    ,mc,clintock and ,strong's
 ,cyclopedia notes the following events 
in  the history of ,krishna which       
correspond with those related of        

,christ3  ,that he was miraculously born
 at midnight of a human mother1 and     
saluted by a chorus of ,devatas angels2 
that he was cradled among  cowherds1    
during which period of life he was      
persecuted by the giant  ,kansa1 and    
saved by his mother's flight2 the       
miracles with which  his life abounds1  
among which were the raising of the dead
 and the  cleansing of the leprous      
7,art4 ,krishna74    ,the celebrated    
missionary and traveler1 ,pere ,huc1 who
 made a journey  of several thousand    
miles through ,china and ,thibet1 says3 
,if we  addressed a ,mogul or ,thibetan 
this question1 ,who is ,krishna8 the    
reply was instantly1 ',the savior of    
men4' ,all that converting  the ,hindoos
 to ,christianity does for them1 says   
,robert ,cheyne1  is to change the      
object of their worship from ,krishna to
 ,christ4 ,of  ,krishna's gospel1 the   
,bhagavad-,gita1 ,appleton's ,cyclopedia
 says3  ,its correspondence with the    
,new ,testament is indeed striking4     

,the parallels between ,krishna and     
,christ to be found in the ,hindoo      
scriptures and the ,christian ,gospels  
are too numerous and too exact to  be   
accidental4 ,the legends of the one were
 borrowed from the other4 ,it  is       
admitted by ,christian scholars that    
,krishna lived many centuries  before   
,christ4 ,to admit the priority of the  
,krishna legends is to deny1  to this   
extent1 the originality of the ,gospels4
 ,to break the force of  the logical    
conclusion to be drawn from this some   
argue that while  ,krishna himself      
antedated ,christ1 the legends          
concerning him are  of later origin and 
borrowed from the ,evangelists4         
,regarding this  contention ,judge      
,waite1 in his ,history of the          
,christian ,religion1  says3 ,here then1
 we have the older religion and the     
older god4 ,this1  in the absence of any
 evidence on the other side1 ought to   
settle  the question4 ,to assume without
 evidence that the older religion has   

been interpolated from the later1 and   
that the legends of the older  hero have
 been made to conform to the history of 
a later character1  is worse than       
illogical--it is absurd4    ,sir        
,william ,jones1 one of the best        
,christian authorities on ,sanscrit     
literature1 and the translator of the   
,bhagavad-,gita1 says3 ,that  the name  
of ,krishna1 and the general outline of 
his history1 were  long anterior to the 
birth of our ,savior1 and probably to   
the time  of ,homer #iej ,b4 ,c41 we    
know very certainly 7,asiatic           
,researches1  ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #bed74       
,buddha4    ,the ninth incarnation of   
,vishnu was ,buddha4 ,the word ,buddha1 
like the  word ,christ1 is not a name1  
but a title4 ,it means the enlightened  
one4 ,the name of this religious founder
 was ,siddhartha ,gautama4 ,he was  born
 about #fdc ,b4 ,c41 and died #efc ,b4  
,c4 ,his mother1 ,mahamaya1 was a       
virgin4 ,dean ,milman1 in his ,history  
of ,christianity1 says3 ,budh1          

according to a tradition known in the   
,west1 was born of a virgin  7,vol4 ,i1 
p4 #ii1 note74 ,devaki1 ,mary1 and      
,mahamaya1 all gave birth to  their     
children among strangers4 ,krishna was  
born in a prison1 ,christ  in a stable1 
and ,buddha in a garden4 ,werner's      
,encyclopedia1 in its  article on       
,buddha1 speaks of the marvelous stories
 which gathered  round the belief in his
 voluntary incarnation1 the miracles at 
his  birth1 the prophecies of the aged  
saint at his formal presentation  to his
 father1 and how nature altered her     
course to keep a shadow  over his       
cradle1 whilst the sages from afar came 
and worshiped him4    ,the ,tripitaka1  
the principal ,bible of the ,buddhists1 
containing  the history and teachings of
 ,buddha1 is a collection of books      
written  in the centuries immediately   
following ,buddha4 ,the canon was       
finally  determined at the ,council of  
,pataliputra1 held under the auspices of
  the ,emperor ,asoka the ,great1 #bdd  

,b4 ,c41 more than #fjj years before the
  ,christian canon was established4 ,the
 ,lalita ,vistara1 the sacred book  of  
the ,northern ,buddhists1 was written   
long before the ,christian era4         
,buddha was about #cj years old when he 
began his ministry4 ,he fasted  seven   
times seven nights and days4 ,he had a  
band of disciples  who accompanied him4 
,he traveled from place to place and    
preached  to large multitudes4 ,bishop  
,bigandet calls his first sermon the    
,sermon on the ,mount4 ,at his          
,renunciation he forsook father and     
mother1 wife and child4 ,his mission was
 to establish the kingdom of            
righteousness4 ,buddha1 says ,max       
,muller1 promised salvation to all2  and
 he commanded his disciples to preach   
his doctrine in all places and  to all  
men4 ,self-conquest and universal       
charity are the fundamental  principles 
of his religion4 ,he enjoined humility1 
and commanded his  followers to conceal 
their charities4 ,return good for evil2 

overcome  anger with love2 love your    
enemies1 were some of his precepts4     
,buddha formulated the following        
commandments3 ,not to kill2 not  to     
steal2 not to lie2 not to commit        
adultery2 not to use strong  drink4     
,christ said3 ,thou knowest the         
commandments1 do not commit  adultery2  
do not kill2 do not steal2 do not bear  
false witness2  honor thy father and thy
 mother 7,luke xviii1 #bj74 ,christ     
ignored  the ,decalogue of ,moses and1  
like ,buddha1 presented a pentade which1
  with the exception of one commandment1
 is the same as that of ,buddha4        
,prof4 ,seydel1 of the ,university of   
,leipsic1 points out fifty analogies    
between ,christianity and ,buddhism4    
,dr4 ,schleiden calls attention to  over
 one hundred4 ,baron ,harden-,hickey    
says3 ,countless analogies exist        
between the ,buddhistic and ,christian  
legends--analogies so striking  that    
they forcibly prove to an impartial mind
 that a common origin  must necessarily 

be given to the teachings of            
,sakay-,muni and those  of ,jesus4      
,concerning the biographical accounts of
 the two religious teachers             
,harden-,hickey says3 ,one account must 
necessarily be a copy of the  other1 and
 since the ,buddhist biographer1 living 
long before the  birth of ,christ1 could
 not have borrowed from the ,christian  
one1  the plain inference is that the   
early creed-mongers of ,alexandria  were
 guilty of an act of plagiarism4 ,the   
following are some of the  parallels    
presented by this writer3    ,both have 
genealogies tracing their descent from  
ancestral kings4    ,both were born of  
virgin mothers4    ,the conception of   
each was announced by a divine          
messenger4    ,the hymns uttered at the 
two annunciations resemble each other4  
,both were visited by wise men who      
brought them gifts4    ,both were       
presented in the temple4    ,the aged   
,simeon of the one account corresponds  
to the aged ,asita of  the other4    ,as

 the child 7,jesus7 grew and waxed      
strong in spirit1 so the child          
7,sakay-,muni7 waxed and increased in   
strength4    ,both in childhood         
discoursed before teachers4    ,both    
fasted in the wilderness4    ,both were 
tempted4    ,angels or devatas          
ministered to each4    ,buddha bathed in
 the ,narajana1 and ,christ was baptized
 in the ,jordan4    ,the mission of each
 was proclaimed by a voice from heaven4 
,both performed miracles4    ,both sent 
out disciples to propagate their faiths4
    ,in calling their disciples the     
command of each was1 ,follow me4        
,buddha preached on the ,holy ,hill1 and
 ,christ delivered his sermon on  the   
,mount4    ,the phraseology of the      
sermons of ,buddha and the sermon       
ascribed to  ,christ is1 in many        
instances1 the same4    ,both ,buddha   
and ,christ compare themselves to       
husbandmen sowing seed4    ,the story of
 the prodigal son is found in both      
,scriptures4    ,the account of the man 

born blind is common to both4    ,in    
both the mustard seed is used as a      
simile for littleness4    ,christ speaks
 of a foolish man1 which built his house
 upon the sand2  ,buddha says1          
,perishable is the city built of sand4  
,both speak of the rain which falls on  
the just and on the unjust4    ,the     
story of the ruler1 ,nicodemus1 who came
 to ,jesus by night1 has  its parallel  
in the story of the rich man who came to
 ,buddha by night4    ,a converted      
courtezan1 ,magdalena1 followed ,jesus1 
and a converted  courtezan1 ,ambapali1  
followed ,buddha4    ,there is a legend 
of a traitor connected with each4       
,both made triumphal entries1 ,christ   
into ,jerusalem1 and ,buddha into       
,rajagriba4    ,both proclaimed kingdoms
 not of this world4    ,the eternal life
 promised by ,christ corresponds to the 
eternal peace1  ,nirvana1 promised by   
,buddha4    ,both religions recognize a 
trinity4    ,catholic and ,protestant   
missionaries1 to quote ,max ,muller     

again1  vie with each other in their    
praises of ,buddha4 ,bishop ,bigandet1  
one of the leading ,christian writers on
 ,buddha1 says3 ,in reading  the        
particulars of the life of ,buddha it is
 impossible not to feel  reminded of    
many circumstances relating to our      
,savior's life as  sketched by the      
evangelists4 ,it may be said in favor of
 ,buddhism  that no                     
philosophic-religious system has ever   
upheld to an equal  degree the notions  
of a savior and deliverer1 and the      
necessity of  his mission for procuring 
the salvation of man4 ,st4 ,hilaire     
says3  ,he ,buddha requires humility1   
disregard of worldly wealth1 patience   
and resignation in adversity1 love to   
enemies 444 non-resistance to  evil1    
confession of sins and conversion4 ,the 
bishop of ,ramatha says3  ,there are    
many moral precepts equally commanded   
and enforced in  common by both creeds4 
,it will not be rash to assert that most
 of  the moral truths prescribed in the 

gospel are to be met with in the        
,buddhistic scriptures4 ,writing of     
,buddhism1 ,mrs4 ,spier1 in her ,life   
in ,ancient ,india1 says3 ,before ,god  
planted ,christianity upon earth1  he   
took a branch from the luxuriant tree1  
and threw it down to ,india4    ,the    
external forms of ,christianity1        
especially of ,catholic  ,christianity1 
are modeled in a large degree after     
those of ,buddhism4 ,of  ,northern      
,buddhism 7,lamaism7 the ,encyclopedia  
,britannica says3  ,lamaism1 with its   
shaven priests1 its bells and rosaries1 
its images  and holy water1 its popes   
and bishops1 its abbots and monks of    
many  grades1 its processions and feast 
days1 its confessional and purgatory1   
and its worship of the double ,virgin1  
so strongly resembles ,romanism  that   
the first ,catholic missionaries thought
 it must be an imitation  by the devil  
of the religion of ,christ4 ,the central
 object in every  ,buddhist temple is an
 image of ,buddha4 ,the central object  

in every  ,catholic church is an image  
of ,christ4 ,holy relics and the        
veneration  of saints are prominent in  
both4    ,buddha commanded his disciples
 to preach his gospel to all men4       
,christ  commanded his disciples to do  
the same4 ,in obedience to these        
commands the world was filled with      
missionaries1 and largely as the  result
 of this the adherents of these         
religious systems outnumber  those of   
all others combined4 ,christian         
tradition says that ,thomas  visited    
,india4 ,some believe that it was in    
this way that the early  ,christians    
became acquainted with the history and  
teachings of ,krishna  and ,buddha4     
,this may be true1 but so far as the    
,buddhistic element  in ,christianity is
 concerned it is quite as reasonable to 
suppose  that ,buddhist missionaries had
 previously carried their religion  to  
,alexandria and ,rome1 where the molders
 of the ,christian creed  obtained their
 knowledge of it4 ,that remarkable      

missionary movement1  beginning #cjj ,b4
 ,c41 says ,max ,muller1 sent forth a   
succession of  devoted men who spent    
their lives in spreading the faith of   
,buddha  over all parts of ,asia4       
,harden-,hickey says3 ,it is not doubted
 at the  present day that ,indian       
religious ideas1 and indeed more        
particularly  those of ,buddhism1       
reached and were even propagated as far 
as ,egypt1  ,asia ,minor1 and           
,palestine1 long before the ,christian  
era4    ,connected with the triumphs of 
these religious faiths there is a       
historical analogy deserving mention4   
,three centuries after the time  of     
,buddha1 ,asoka the ,great1 emperor of  
,india1 became a convert to the         
,buddhist faith1 made it the state      
religion of the empire1 and did  more   
than any other man to secure its        
supremacy in the ,east4 ,three          
centuries after ,christ1 ,constantine   
the ,great1 emperor of ,rome1  became a 
convert to the ,christian faith1 made it

 the state religion  of his empire1 and 
won for it the supremacy of the ,west4  
,remuset says3 ,buddhism has been called
 the ,christianity of the  ,east4 ,it   
would be more appropriate to call       
,christianity the ,buddhism  of the     
,west4 ,buddha1 and not ,christ1 was    
,the ,light of ,asia4 ,at  this torch   
,christians lighted their taper and     
called it ,the ,light  of the ,world4   
,confucius4    ,this great ,chinese sage
 and religious founder was born #eea ,b4
 ,c4 ,his  followers believed him to be 
divine4 ,his birth was attended by      
prodigies4 ,magi and angels visited him1
 while celestial music filled  the air4 
,his disciples invented a genealogy for 
him1 giving him  a princely descent from
 ,hoang-ti1 a ,chinese monarch1 just as 
the  ,christian ,evangelists at a later 
period invented genealogies for         
,christ1 giving him a princely pedigree 
from ,david4 ,concerning his            
deification the ,international          
,encyclopedia says3 ,by the irony of    

fate he was deified after his death1    
and1 like ,buddha1 ,confucius1  who had 
little belief in the supernatural1      
became a divinity4    ,as ,boulger      
states1 ,his name and his teachings were
 perpetuated by a  band of devoted      
disciples1 and the book which contained 
the moral and  philosophical axioms of  
,confucius passed into the classical    
literature  of the country and stood in 
the place of a ,bible for the ,chinese  
7,history of ,china1 p4 #af74    ,of all
 the great religious systems which have 
appeared since the dawn  of history     
,buddhism and ,confucianism1 as         
originally presented1 from  a rational  
standpoint1 stand pre-eminent4 ,in both 
the supernatural  is almost entirely    
absent4 ,both are godless religions1 and
 both  have been1 for the most part1    
bloodless religions4 ,the adherents  of 
both have practiced in the highest      
degree what the adherents of  their     
great rival have only professed3 ,on    
earth peace1 good will  toward men4     

,both systems1 like primitive           
,christianity1 have been  corrupted2 but
 the system of ,confucius has suffered  
less than that of  ,buddha4 ,the        
religious1 or rather ethical1 system    
taught by ,confucius1  is the religion  
of the intellectual aristocracy of      
,china1 and1 to a  great extent1 the    
religion of the most enlightened        
everywhere4    ,christian scholars have 
been surprised to find in the writings  
of  ,confucius some of the best         
teachings attributed to ,christ4 ,the   
,golden  ,rule has been ascribed to the 
,christian founder4 ,and yet this rule  
is the very essence of ,confucianism and
 was borrowed from it4 ,in a            
presentation of the teachings of the    
,chinese sage1 ,rev4 ,james ,legge  of  
,oxford ,university1 the highest        
,european authority on ,china and       
,confucius1 says3 ,foremost among these 
we must rank his distinct  enunciation  
of the ,golden ,rule1 deduced by him    
from his study of man's  mental         

condition4 ,several times he gave that  
rule in express words3  ',what you do   
not like when done to yourself do not to
 others4'    ,to retain for ,christ a   
portion of the credit due ,confucius1   
,christians  assert that the ,chinese   
moralist merely taught the negative form
 of  this rule1 the abstaining from     
doing to others what we dislike to have 
them do to us1 while ,christ taught the 
positive form1 the doing to  others what
 we desire them to do to us4 ,regarding 
this ,mr4 ,legge says3  ,it has been    
said that he only gave the rule in a    
negative form2 but  he understood it    
also in its positive and most           
comprehensive form1  and deplored on one
 occasion at least1 that he had not     
himself always  attained to taking the  
initiative in doing to others as he     
would have  them do to him4    ,another 
analogy may be noticed4 ,the religion of
 ,confucius enjoins  absolute obedience 
to national rulers4 ,this1 too1 is a    
prominent tenet  of the ,christian      

religion4 ,as the result of this1       
,confucianism became  and has remained  
the state religion of ,china1 while     
,christianity  became and has remained  
the state religion of ,europe4          
,laou-tsze4    ,laou-tsze1 the other    
great religious founder of ,china1 was  
born #fjd  ,b4 ,c4 ,his entry into the  
world and his exit from it were attended
 by  miracles4 ,like ,christ he was     
miraculously conceived2 like ,christ he 
ascended bodily into heaven4 ,he was    
believed to be an incarnation of  an    
astral god4    ,his gospel1 the ,tao    
,teh ,king1 was written by him4 ,tao    
means the  way4 ,christ was called the  
,way4 ,man1 according to this gospel1 is
  both a material and a spiritual being4
 ,by the renunciation of riches  and    
worldly enjoyments the soul attains to  
immortality4 ,the most divine  of       
mortals are1 like ,enoch and ,elijah1   
translated to heaven without  suffering 
death4 ,laou-tsze taught that men to be 
righteous must become  as little        

children4 ,christ said3 ,except ye be   
converted and become  as little         
children1 ye shall not enter into the   
kingdom of heaven  7,matt4 xviii1 #c74  
,the more ignorant followers of         
,laou-tsze1 like the more ignorant      
followers of ,christ1 believe that many 
diseases are caused by evil  spirits1   
and their priests1 like ,christ1        
practice exorcism to expel  them4 ,like 
the ,catholics1 they have monasteries   
and convents4    ,of ,laou-tsze's       
writings ,prof4 ,montuci1 the ,italian  
philologist1 says3  ,many things about a
 triune ,god are so clearly expressed   
that no  one who has read this book can 
doubt that the mystery of the ,holy     
,trinity was revealed to the ,chinese   
five centuries before the coming  of    
,christ4    ,there is one element in    
,christianity which was not borrowed    
from  ,paganism--religious intolerance4 
,referring to ,buddhism1 ,confucianism1 
and ,taouism1 a writer on ,china says3  
,between the followers of  the three    

national religions there is not only a  
total absence of  persecution and bitter
 feeling1 but a very great indifference 
as to  which of them a man may          
belong4444 ,among the politer classes1  
when  strangers meet1 the question is   
asked3 ',to what sublime religion  do   
you belong8' and each one pronounces a  
eulogium1 not on his own  religion1 but 
on that professed by the others1 and    
concludes with  the oft-repeated        
formula3 ',religions are many2 reason is
 one2 we are  all brothers4'            
,zoroaster4    ,the ,persian prophet    
,zoroaster lived and wrote at least     
#abjj years  before the ,christian era4 
,from his teachings some of the most    
important  doctrines of ,christianity1  
as well as of ,judaism1 were derived4   
,according to the ,persian theology the 
universe is ruled by two great  powers1 
,ormuzd 7,god7 and ,ahrimanes 7,satan74 
,the one represents light1  the other   
darkness2 the one is good1 the other    
evil4 ,between these  two powers there  

is perpetual war4 ,the center of battle 
is man1 each  striving for his soul4    
,god created man with a free will to    
choose  between good and evil4 ,those   
who choose the good are rewarded with   
everlasting life in heaven2 those who   
choose the evil are punished  with      
endless misery in hell2 while those in  
whom the good and evil  are balanced    
pass into an intermediate state         
7purgatory71 to remain  until the last  
judgment4    ,to save mankind ,god sent 
a savior in the person of ,zoroaster    
with a  divine revelation1 the ,zend    
,avesta4 ,like ,christ1 ,zoroaster was  
of  supernatural origin and endowed with
 superhuman powers4 ,like ,christ1  he  
believed that ,satan would be dethroned 
and cast into hell2 like  ,christ he    
believed that the end of the world and  
the kingdom of ,god  were at hand2 like 
,christ1 he taught his followers to     
worship ,god2  like ,christ he declared 
that ,god heard and answered prayer2    
like  ,christ he was tempted by ,satan2 

like ,christ he performed miracles2     
like ,christ he was slain by those whom 
he had come to save4    ,mc,clintock and
 ,strong's ,cyclopedia gives a summary  
of the principal  doctrines of          
,zoroaster among which are the          
following3    ,the principal duty of man
 in this life is to obey the word and   
commandments of ,god4    ,those who obey
 the word of ,god will be free from all 
defects and  immortal4    ,god exercises
 his rule in the world through the works
 prompted by  the ,divine ,spirit1 who  
is working in man and nature4    ,men   
should pray to ,god and worship him4 ,he
 hears the prayers of  the good4    ,all
 men live solely through the bounty of  
,god4    ,the soul of the pure will     
hereafter enjoy everlasting life2  that 
of the wicked will have to undergo      
everlasting punishment  7,art4          
,zoroaster74    ,devils and angels are  
of ,persian origin4 ,dr4 ,kalisch1 the  
eminent  ,jewish scholar1 says3 ,when   
the ,jews1 ever open to foreign         

influence in  matters of faith1 lived   
under ,persian rule1 they imbibed1 among
 many  other religious views of their   
masters1 their doctrines of angels and  
spirits1 which1 in the region of the    
,euphrates and ,tigris1 were most       
luxuriantly developed 7,leviticus1 part 
,,ii1 p4 #bhg74 ,the belief in  spirits 
and demons was not a concession made by 
educated men to the  prejudices of the  
masses1 but a concession which all--the 
educated  as well as the                
uneducated--made to ,pagan polytheism   
7,ibid74    ,strauss says3 ,it is in the
 ,maccabean ,daniel and in the          
,apocryphal  ,tobit that this doctrine  
of angels1 in the most precise form1    
first  appears2 and it is evidently a   
product of the influence of the ,zend   
religion of the ,persian on the ,jewish 
mind4 ,we have the testimony of  the    
,jews themselves that they brought the  
names of the angels with  them from     
,babylon 7,leben ,jesu1 p4 #gh74        
,baptism1 communion1 and even           

confirmation1 are rites that  were      
performed in ,persia a thousand years   
before the advent of  ,christ4 ,dr4     
,hyde1 in his ,religion of the ,ancient 
,persians1 says3  ,they do not use      
circumcision for their children1 but    
only baptism  or washing for the inward 
purification of the soul4444 ,after such
  washing1 or baptism1 the priest       
imposes on the child the name given  by 
his parents4 ,afterwards1 in the        
fifteenth year of his age1 when  he     
begins to put on the tunic1 the sudra1  
and the girdle1 that he  may enter upon 
religion1 and is engaged in the articles
 of belief1  the priest bestows upon him
 confirmation4    ,the following1 from  
the ,britannica1 was written by         
,england's leading  authority on        
,zoroaster1 ,professor ,gildner3 ,like  
,john the ,baptist and  the ,apostles of
 ,jesus1 ,zoroaster also believed that  
the fullness of  time was near1 that the
 kingdom of heaven was at hand4 ,through
 the  whole of the ,gathas 7the ,psalms 

of ,zoroaster7 runs the pious hope  that
 the end of the present world is not far
 off4 ,he himself hopes  along with his 
followers to live to see the decisive   
turn of things1  the dawn of the new and
 better aeon4 ,ormuzd will summon       
together all  his powers for a final    
struggle and break the power of evil    
forever2  by his help the faithful will 
achieve the victory over their detested 
enemies1 the daeva worshipers1 and      
render them powerless4 ,thereupon       
,ormuzd will hold a judicium universale 
upon all mankind and judge  strictly    
according to justice1 punish the wicked1
 and assign to the  good the hoped-for  
reward4 ,satan will be cast1 along with 
all those  who have been delivered over 
to him to suffer the pains of hell1     
into the abyss1 where he will           
thenceforward lie powerless4 ,forthwith 
begins the one undivided kingdom of ,god
 in heaven and on earth4    ,substitute 
,christ for ,zoroaster1 ,god for        
,ormuzd1 and ,gospels  for ,gathas1 in  

the above1 and we have almost an exact  
exposition  of the teachings of ,christ4
 ,and ,zoroaster taught at least #abjj  
years  before ,christ taught1 and wrote 
his ,gathas more than #acjj years       
before the ,gospels were written4 ,the  
writings of ,zoroaster were the         
principal source of the most important  
theological doctrines ascribed  to      
,christ1 as the ,buddhistic writings    
were of his ethical teachings4          
,mithra4    ,this god was the offspring 
of the ,sun1 and1 next to ,ormuzd and   
,ahrimanes1 held the highest rank among 
the gods of ancient ,persia4 ,he  was   
represented as a beautiful youth4 ,he is
 the ,mediator4 ,from the  ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4
 ,lake ,i quote the following3 ,mithras 
is spiritual light  contending with     
spiritual darkness1 and through his     
labors the kingdom  of darkness shall be
 lit with heaven's own light2 the       
,eternal will  receive all things back  
into his favor1 the world will be       
redeemed to  ,god4 ,the impure are to be

 purified1 and the evil made good1      
through the  mediation of ,mithras1 the 
reconciler of ,ormuzd and ,ahriman4     
,mithras  is the ,good1 his name is     
,love4 ,in relation to the ,eternal he  
is the  source of grace1 in relation to 
man he is the life-giver and mediator   
7,plato1 ,philo1 and ,paul1 p4 #ae74    
,the ,international ,encyclopedia says3 
,mithras seems to have owed his         
prominence to the belief that he was the
 source of life1 and could  also redeem 
the souls of the dead into the better   
world4444 ,the  ceremonies included a   
sort of baptism to remove sins1         
anointing1  and a sacred meal of bread  
and water1 while a consecrated wine1    
believed to possess wonderful power1    
played a prominent part4    ,concerning 
,mithra ,chambers's ,encyclopedia says3 
,the most important  of his many        
festivals was his birthday1 celebrated  
on the #beth of  ,december1 the day     
subsequently fixed--against all         
evidence--as the  birthday of ,christ4  

,the worship of ,mithras early found its
 way into  ,rome1 and the mysteries of  
,mithras1 which fell in the spring      
equinox1  were famous even among the    
many ,roman festivals4 ,the ceremonies  
observed in the initiation to these     
mysteries--symbolical of the  struggle  
between ,ahriman and ,ormuzd 7the ,good 
and the ,evil7--were  of the most       
extraordinary and to a certain degree   
even dangerous  character4 ,baptism and 
the partaking of a mystical liquid1     
consisting  of flour and water1 to be   
drunk with the utterance of sacred      
formulas1  were among the inauguration  
acts4    ,in the catacombs at ,rome was 
preserved a relic of the old ,mithraic  
worship4 ,it was a picture of the infant
 ,mithra seated in the lap of  his      
virgin mother1 while on their knees     
before him were ,persian ,magi  adoring 
him and offering gifts4    ,prof4 ,franz
 ,cumont1 of the ,university of ,ghent1 
writes as follows  concerning the       
religion of ,mithra and the religion of 

,christ3  ,the sectaries of the ,persian
 god1 like the ,christians'1 purified   
themselves by baptism1 received by a    
species of confirmation the  power      
necessary to combat the spirit of evil2 
and expected from a  ,lord's supper     
salvation of body and soul4 ,like the   
latter1 they also  held ,sunday sacred1 
and celebrated the birth of the ,sun on 
the #beth  of ,december4444 ,they both  
preached a categorical system of ethics1
  regarded asceticism as meritorious and
 counted among their principal  virtues 
abstinence and continence1 renunciation 
and self-control4 ,their  conceptions of
 the world and of the destiny of man    
were similar4 ,they  both admitted the  
existence of a ,heaven inhabited by     
beatified ones1  situate in the upper   
regions1 and of a ,hell1 peopled by     
demons1  situate in the bowels of the   
earth4 ,they both placed a flood at  the
 beginning of history2 they both        
assigned as the source of their         
condition1 a primitive revelation2 they 

both1 finally1 believed in the          
immortality of the soul1 in a last      
judgment1 and in a resurrection  of the 
dead1 consequent upon a final           
conflagration of the universe  7,the    
,mysteries of ,mithras1 pp4 #aij1 #aia74
    ,the ,rev4 ,charles ,biggs1 ,d4,d41 
says3 ,the disciples of ,mithra formed  
an  organized church1 with a developed  
hierarchy4 ,they possessed the ideas  of
 ,mediation1 ,atonement1 and a ,savior1 
who is human and yet divine1  and not   
only the idea1 but a doctrine of the    
future life4 ,they had  a ,eucharist1   
and a ,baptism1 and other curious       
analogies might be  pointed out between 
their system and the church of ,christ  
7,the  ,christian ,platonists1 p4 #bdj74
    ,i quote again from ,mc,clintock and
 ,strong3 ,in modern times ,christian   
writers have been induced to look       
favorably upon the assertion  that some 
of our ecclesiastical usages 7e4 g41 the
 institution of  the ,christmas         
festival7 originated in the cultus of   

,mithraism4 ,some  writers who refuse to
 accept the ,christian religion as of   
supernatural  origin1 have even gone so 
far as to institute a close comparison  
with  the founder of ,christianity2 and 
,dupuis and others1 going even beyond   
this1 have not hesitated to pronounce   
the ,gospel simply a branch of          
,mithraism 7,art4 ,mithra74    ,the     
,christian ,father ,manes1 founder of   
the heretical sect known as             
,manicheans1 believed that ,christ and  
,mithra were one4 ,his teaching1        
according to ,mosheim1 was as follows3  
,christ is that glorious  intelligence  
which the ,persians called ,mithras4444 
,his residence is  in the sun           
7,ecclesiastical ,history1 #crd century1
 ,part #b1 ch4 #e74    ,the ,mithraic   
worship at one time covered a large     
portion of the ancient  world4 ,it      
flourished as late as the second        
century1 but finally went  down before  
its young and invincible rival which    
appropriated1 to a  great extent1 its   

doctrines1 rites and customs4           
,sosiosh4    ,the ,messianic idea1 as we
 have seen1 came from ,persia4 ,the     
expected  ,messiah of the ,jews and the 
,christ of ,christians are of ,persian  
origin4 ,sosiosh1 the ,messiah of the   
,persians1 is the son of ,zoroaster1    
begotten in a supernatural way4 ,he     
constitutes a part of the  ,persian     
,trinity4 ,he exists1 as yet1 only in a 
spiritual form4 ,his  incarnation and   
advent on earth are yet to be4 ,when he 
comes he will  bring with him a new     
revelation4 ,he will awaken the dead and
 preside  at the last judgment4         
,zoroaster1 it is claimed1 predicted his
 coming1  declaring that he would be    
born of a virgin1 and that a star would 
indicate the place of his birth4 ,as    
soon1 therefore1 said ,zoroaster1  as   
you shall behold the star1 follow it    
whithersoever it shall lead  you and    
adore that mysterious child1 offering   
your gifts to him with  profound        
humility4 ,and1 lo1 the star1 which they

 saw in the east1  went before them till
 it came and stood over where the young 
child  was4444 ,and when they were come 
into the house1 they saw the young      
child with ,mary1 his mother1 and fell  
down1 and worshiped him2 and  when they 
had opened their treasures1 they        
presented unto him gifts  7,matthew ii1 
#i1 #aa74        ,adonis4    ,from      
,babylonia1 including ,accadia1         
,chaldea1 and ,assyria1 much  of        
,christianity has come4 ,christ himself 
was descended from the  ,babylonian     
pantheon2 his father1 ,jehovah1 being   
originally a ,babylonian  god4 ,adonis1 
,tammouz1 ,tam-zi1 or ,du-zi1 as he was 
variously called1  was a ,babylonian    
deity whose worship gradually spread    
over ,syria1  ,phoenicia and ,greece4   
,he was one of the most ancient of the  
sons of  gods4 ,his origin may be traced
 to that fertile1 and perhaps earliest1 
source of gods and religions1 ,accadia4 
,his worship was a combination  of sun  
worship and sex worship4 ,he was the god

 of light1 and life1  and love4         
,associated with his worship in         
,babylonia and ,syria was the  worship  
of ,istar2 and in ,phoenicia and ,greece
 the worship of ,venus4    ,under the   
name of ,tammouz1 ,adonis was worshiped 
by the ,jews4 ,at the  very gates of the
 temple1 ,ezekiel tells us1 ,there sat  
women weeping  for ,tammouz 7,adonis in 
,catholic ver47 7viii1 #ad74 ,in the    
,bible  he is frequently referred to as 
the only son4 ,one of the months  of the
 ,hebrew calendar was named in honor of 
him4 ,the abstaining  from the use of   
pork by the ,jews had its origin in the 
legend of the  slaying of ,adonis by the
 wild boar4 ,and the eating of fish on  
,friday  by ,christians is doubtless due
 to the fact that ,friday was           
consecrated  to ,venus by her ,asiatic  
worshipers and fish was eaten in her    
honor4    ,in a citation of ,babylonian 
and ,biblical analogies1 the            
,encyclopedia  ,britannica says3 ,the   
resemblance is still more striking when 

we  examine the ,babylonian mythology4  
,the sacred tree of ,babylonia1 with    
its guardian cherubs--a word1 by the    
way1 which seems of ,accadian           
origin--as well as the flaming sword or 
thunderbolt of fifty points  and seven  
heads1 recall ,biblical analogies1 while
 the ,noachian deluge  differs but      
slightly from the ,chaldean one4        
,indeed1 the ,jehovistic  version of the
 flood story in ,genesis agrees not only
 in details1 but  even in phraseology   
with that which forms the eleventh lay  
of the great  ,babylonian epic4 ,the    
hero of the latter is ,tam-zi or        
,tammuz1 'the sun  of life1' the son of 
,ubaratutu1 'the glow of sunset1' and   
denotes the  revivifying luminary of    
day1 who sails upon his 'ark' behind the
 clouds  of winter to reappear when the 
rainy season is past4 ,he is called     
,sisuthrus by ,berosus1 that is1 ,susru 
'the founder1' a synonym of ,na  'the   
sky4' ,the mountain on which his ark    
rested was placed in ,nisir1  southwest 

of ,lake ,urumiyeh4 ,its peak1 whereon  
the first altar was built  after the    
deluge1 was the legendary model after   
which the zigurats or  towers of the    
,babylonian temples were erected4       
,besides the account of  the flood1     
fragments have been met with of stories 
resembling those  of the tower of ,babel
 or ,babylon1 of the creation1 of the   
fall1 and  of the sacrifice of          
,isaac--the latter1 by the way1 forming 
the first  lay of the great epic4 ,the  
sixth lay we possess in full4 ,it       
describes  the descent of ,istar into   
,hades in pursuit of her dead husband   
,du-zi1  'the off-spring1' the          
,babylonian ,adonis4 ,du-zi is but      
another form  of ,tam-zi and denotes the
 sun when obscured by night and winter4 
,concerning the two lays of this        
,babylonian or ,assyrian epic which     
pertain to ,adonis1 ,dr4 ,soury says3   
,the two important episodes  of this    
epic hitherto discovered1 ',the         
,deluge1' and ',the ,descent  of ,istar 

into ,hell1' yield the best commentary  
on the ,biblical  stories of the deluge 
and hell 7sheol74 ,we have henceforth   
the  epigraphic proof1 confirming the   
valuable testimony of ,berosus1 that    
these legends--like those of the        
creation1 of the ,tower of ,babel1      
etc4--did not originate in ,palestine1  
but were carried thither by  the        
,hebrews with the civilization and      
worship of the people of the  valley of 
the ,tigris and ,euphrates1 amid whom   
they had sojourned for  centuries4444   
,the ,babylonian deluge is also a       
chastisement from the  deity2 it is the 
consequence of man's corruption         
7,assyrian poem1  line #bb74 ,the       
details of the building of the          
,babylonian ark 7line  #bd71 into which 
are introduced the various pairs of male
 and female  animals 7line #hj71 of the 
shutting of the doors of the ark 7line  
#hi71  of the duration1 increase and    
decrease of the flood 7lines #abc-abi71 
of the sending out of a dove1 a swallow 

and a raven 7lines #adj-add71  etc41    
leave no doubt as to the origin of the  
legend of ,genesis  7,religion of       
,israel1 p4 #aj74    ,the noted         
,assyriologist1 ,george ,smith1 of the  
,british ,museum1 who  discovered the   
tablets containing these fragments of   
the ,babylonian  epic1 says that the    
original text of these legends cannot be
 later  than the #agth century ,b4 ,c41 
and may be much earlier1 thus antedating
  the oldest books of the ,bible nearly 
#a1jjj years4 ,from these and  other    
,babylonian and ,persian legends the    
most of the ,old ,testament  legends    
were borrowed4 ,this fact disproves the 
existence of the  orthodox ,christ4 ,if 
the accounts of the creation1 the fall  
of man1  and the ,noachian deluge1 as   
given in the ,bible1 are not authentic1 
but merely borrowed fables1 then there  
remains no foundation for an  atoning   
,savior4    ,describing the worship of  
,adonis1 ,chambers's ,encyclopedia says3
 ,his  festivals were partly the        

expressions of joy1 partly of mourning4 
,in  the latter the women gave          
themselves up to the most unmitigated   
grief  over the 'lost ,adonis4'444 ,this
 period was followed by a succession of 
festive and joyful days1 in honor of the
 resurrection of ,adonis4 ,these        
festivals correspond to the ,good       
,friday and ,easter of ,christians1     
commemorating the death and resurrection
 of ,christ4    ,the most ardent        
worshipers of ,adonis were women4 ,no   
other character1  real or imaginary1 has
 so stirred the passions and the        
emotions  of woman as this beautiful    
young lover of ,venus4 ,his tragic death
  bathed with immortal sadness the      
hearts of his devotees1 and from the    
remotest ages down to a very late period
 moved to tears the daughters  of men   
who adored him4 ,writing of ,bethlehem  
at the close of the fourth  century1    
,st4 ,jerome says3 ,the lover of ,venus 
is mourned in the grotto  where ,christ 
wailed as an infant4 ,along with the    

,holy ,sepulchre  of ,christ1 there     
still exists the ,tomb of ,adonis1 where
 the women  of the ancient mysteries1 in
 the intoxication of a voluptuous grief1
  came to cover with tears and kisses   
the cenotaph of the beautiful  youth4   
,even at the present time1 says ,renan1 
the ,syrian hymns  sung in honor of the 
,virgin are a kind of tearful sigh1 a   
strange sob4    ,moved by the same      
passions and the same emotions that     
thrilled  the hearts of the female      
worshipers of ,adonis1 it is the women  
of  ,christendom1 who1 more than any    
other cause1 keep alive the memory  and 
the religion of ,christ4 ,thus writes a 
,carmelite nun describing  the          
passionate adoration of her ,christian  
sisters3    ,one day they have raised   
their eyes to an adorable face4 ,a      
horrible  diadem of interlaced branches 
binds the august forehead2 rubies of    
blood roll slowly upon the livid pallor 
of the cheeks2 the mouth has  forgotten 
how to smile4 ,it is a man of sorrows4  

,they have looked upon  him and found   
him more beautiful1 more noble1 more    
loyal than any  spouse4 ,they have felt 
a stronger heart-beat in his divine     
breast2  they have understood that death
 no more dare touch his emaciated       
figure1 and that his conjugal fidelity  
is eternal4    ,captivated1 ravished1   
enamoured1 enraptured1 they have loved  
him4 ,rendered insensible by love1 they 
have trampled cruelly upon the  broken  
hearts of fathers and desolate mothers2 
they have listened1  tearless1 to the   
woeful beseechings of those who desire  
them for  companions2 they have followed
 to ,carmel the unique lover1 the       
immortal husband4    ,the ancient       
adoration of ,adonis survives in this   
modern adoration of  ,jesus4 ,we see    
here the same strange commingling of    
superstition and  fanaticism1 of love   
and sorrow1 of ecstasy and agony1 of    
chastity  and lust4 ,the religion is the
 same2 the worship is the same4 ,the    
divine lovers only have been changed4   

,the beautiful ,pagan has been          
supplanted by the ,ideal ,man4          
,writing of the ,protestant women of his
 day1 ,thomas ,jefferson says3  ,in our 
,richmond there is much fanaticism1 but 
chiefly among the  women4 ,they have    
their night meetings and praying        
parties1 where1  attended by their      
priests1 444 they pour forth their love 
to ,jesus in  terms as amatory and      
carnal as their modesty would permit to 
a mere  earthly lover 7,jefferson's     
,works1 ,vol4 ,,iv1 p4 #ceh1 ,randolph's
 ed474        ,osiris4    ,one of the   
most ancient and one of the most        
renowned of all the gods  was ,osiris1  
the ,savior of ,egypt4 ,he was the son  
of ,seb 7earth7 and ,nu  7heaven74 ,he  
appears in the hieroglyphics of ,egypt  
as early as #cdbg  ,b4 ,c4 ,two thousand
 years before ,christ his worship was   
universal in  ,egypt1 and during the    
succeeding centuries spread over much of
 ,asia  and ,europe1 including ,greece  
and ,rome4 ,its priests looked          

confidently  forward to the time when   
all men would be brought to ,osiris1    
just as  ,christian priests today look  
forward to the time when all men will   
be brought to ,christ4    ,osiris was   
slain by ,typhon 7,satan71 but rose     
again and became the  ruler of the dead4
 ,he presides at the judgment of the    
departed where  the good are rewarded   
with everlasting life1 and the wicked   
are  destroyed4 ,the ,osirian ,bible is 
called the ,book of the ,dead4          
,christians are indebted to this        
religion largely for their views        
concerning immortality and a bodily     
resurrection4 ,they believe that        
through the death and resurrection of   
,christ they have inherited  eternal    
life1 that when their earthly career is 
ended they will live  again in him4     
,regarding the ,egyptians' belief1 the  
,international  ,encyclopedia says3     
,just as ,osiris died and lived again1  
so the  spiritual personality of the    
deceased lived again and was merged in  

,osiris4 ,of ,osiris the ,rev4 ,dr4     
,charles ,gillett1 of ,union            
,theological  ,seminary1 says3 ,the     
belief in him and in the immortality    
which he  symbolized was the deepest in 
,egyptian religious thought4 ,sir ,john 
,gardner ,wilkinson1 one of the most    
eminent ,egyptologists1 says3 ,the      
peculiar character of ,osiris1 his      
coming upon earth for the benefit  of   
mankind1 with the titles of ',manifester
 of ,good' and ',revealer  of ,truth'2  
his being put to death by the malice of 
the ,evil ,one2  his burial and         
resurrection1 and his becoming the judge
 of the dead1  are the most interesting 
features of the ,egyptian religion4     
,john  ,stuart ,glennie1 another        
,english writer1 notes the following    
analogies  between the religion of      
,osiris and the religion of ,christ3 ,in
  ancient ,osirianism1 as in modern     
,christianism1 we find the worship  of a
 divine mother and child4 ,in ancient   
,osirianism as in modern  ,christianism1

 there is a doctrine of atonement4 ,in  
ancient ,osirianism1  as in modern      
,christianism1 we find the vision of a  
last judgment1  and resurrection of the 
body4 ,and finally1 in ancient          
,osirianism1  as in modern              
,christianism1 the sanctions of morality
 are a lake of  fire and torturing      
demons on the one hand1 and on the      
other1 eternal  life in the presence of 
,god 7,christ and ,osiris1 p4 #ad74     
,referring to ,osiris1 ,mc,clintock and 
,strong's ,cyclopedia says3 ,he  was    
regarded as the personification of moral
 good4 ,he is related to  have been on  
earth instructing mankind in useful     
arts2 to have been  slain by his        
adversary ,typhon by whom he was cut in 
pieces2 to have  been bewailed by his   
wife and sister ,isis2 to have been     
embalmed2  to have risen again1 and to  
have become the judge of the dead1 among
  whom the righteous were called by his 
name and received his form--a  wonderful
 fore-feeling of the ,gospel narrative  

7,art4 ,egypt74    ,isis1 the sister and
 wife of ,osiris1 was the greatest of   
female  divinities4 ,her worship was    
coexistent and coextensive with that  of
 her divine brother and husband4 ,we    
have the following picture of  her in   
the ,apocalypse3 ,and there appeared a  
great wonder in heaven2  a woman clothed
 with the sun1 and the moon under her   
feet1 and upon  her head a crown of     
twelve stars 7,revelation xii1 #a74 ,the
 worship  of ,isis existed in ,rome and 
,alexandria during the formative period 
of ,christianity and ,christians        
borrowed much from it4        ,horus4   
,this popular ,egyptian god was the son 
of ,osiris and ,isis4 ,osiris and       
,horus were both solar deities2 ,osiris 
was the setting sun1 ,horus the  rising 
sun4 ,christ1 it is claimed1 existed    
before his incarnation2  and ,horus1 it 
was claimed1 existed even before the    
incarnation of  his father4 ,christ when
 an infant was carried into ,egypt to   
escape  the wrath of ,herod2 ,horus when

 an infant was carried out of ,egypt  to
 escape the wrath of ,typhon4 ,to avenge
 the death of his father he  afterward  
vanquished ,typhon4 ,he was the last of 
the gods who reigned  in ,egypt4        
,festivals and movable feasts similar to
 those celebrated  in honor of ,christ  
were held in his honor4    ,in ,india   
and ,egypt1 ages before the appearance  
of ,christianity1  the doctrine of the  
,trinity prevailed4 ,brahma1 ,vishnu1   
and ,siva  constituted the principal    
trinity of ,india1 while the most       
important  ,trinity of ,egypt was       
,osiris1 ,isis1 and ,horus4 ,even the   
,christian  doctrine of a ,trinity in   
,unity1 an absurdity which ,christianity
 alone  is supposed to have taught1 was 
an ,egyptian doctrine4 ,samuel ,sharp1  
in his ,egyptian ,mythology 7p4 #ad71   
says3 ,we have a hieroglyphical         
inscription in the ,british ,museum as  
early as the reign of ,sevechus of  the 
eighth century before the ,christian    
era1 showing that the doctrine  of      

,trinity in ,unity already formed part  
of their religion and that 99  99 99 the
 three gods only made one person4       
,dr4 ,draper says3 ,for thirty centuries
 the ,egyptians had been familiar  with 
the conception of a triune ,god4 ,there 
was hardly a city of  any note without  
its particular triads4 ,here it was     
,amum1 ,maut1 and  ,khonso2 there       
,osiris1 ,isis1 and ,horus              
7,intellectual ,development1  ,vol4 ,i1 
p4 #aia74    ,dr4 ,inman affirms the    
,egyptian origin of the ,christian      
trinity3  ,the ,christian trinity is of 
,egyptian origin1 and is as surely a    
,pagan doctrine as the belief in heaven 
and hell1 the existence of a  devil1 of 
archangels1 angels1 spirits and saints1 
martyrs and virgins1  intercessors in   
heaven1 gods and demigods1 and other    
forms of faith  which deface the greater
 part of modern religions 7,ancient     
,pagan  and ,modern ,christian          
,symbolism1 p4 #ac74    ,there are two  
myths connected with ,horus analogous to

 stories found  in the ,old ,testament1 
and which were old when these stories   
were  written4 ,the hiding of ,horus in 
a marsh by his mother undoubtedly       
suggested the myth of the hiding of     
,moses in a marsh by his  mother4 ,when 
,horus died ,isis implored ,ra1 the sun1
 to restore him to  life4 ,ra stopped   
his ship in mid-heaven and sent down    
,thoth1 the moon1  to bring him back to 
life4 ,the stopping of the sun and moon 
by ,isis  recalls the myth of the       
stopping of the sun and moon by ,joshua4
    ,the deification and worship of the 
,virgin had its origin in the worship   
of ,isis1 and the adoration of the      
,virgin and ,child is but the adoration 
of ,isis and ,horus transferred to ,mary
 and ,jesus4 ,describing the            
,paganization of ,christianity ,dr4     
,draper says3 ,views of the ,trinity1   
in accordance with ,egyptian tradition1 
were established4 ,not only was  the    
adoration of ,isis under a new name     
restored1 but even her image  standing  

on the crescent moon reappeared4 ,the   
well-known effigy of  that goddess1 with
 the infant ,horus in her arms1 has     
descended to our  days in the beautiful 
artistic creations of the ,madonna and  
,child  7,conflict1 p4 #dh74    ,that   
the ,virgin ,mary of the ,roman         
,catholic church was borrowed  from     
,egypt is shown by the fact that in the 
earlier representations  of her1 she    
was1 like ,isis1 veiled4 ,concerning    
this ,draper1 in his  ,intellectual     
,development 7,vol4 ,i1 p4 #cfa71 says3 
,of the ,virgin ,mary1  destined in     
later times to furnish so many beautiful
 types of female  loveliness1 the       
earliest representations are veiled4    
,the ,egyptian  sculptors had thus      
depicted ,isis2 the first form of the   
,virgin and  ,child was the counterpart 
of ,isis and ,horus4    ,dr4 ,g4 ,w4    
,brown1 author of ,researches in        
,oriental ,history1 writes3  ,mural     
illustrations of this mother and child  
are not confined to  ,egypt1 but are    

scattered all over ,asia ,minor1 and are
 numerous in  ,italy1 while many temples
 and shrines are yet found which were   
erected  to their memory4 ,matthew ii1  
#ae1 claims to be a quotation from one  
of the prophets3 ',out of ,egypt have ,i
 called my son4'    ,writing of the     
ancient ,gnostics1 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 a     
noted ,english author1  says3 ,to this  
period belongs a beautiful sard in my   
collection1  representing ,serapis1 99  
99 99 whilst before him stands ,isis1   
holding  in one hand the sistrum1 in the
 other a wheatsheaf1 with the legend3   
',immaculate is our lady ,isis1' the    
very term applied afterwards to  that   
personage who succeeded to her form1 her
 symbols1 rites1 and  ceremonies        
7,gnostics and ,their ,remains1 p4 #ga74
    ,regarding the transference of the  
attributes of ,isis to ,mary1 ,newton1  
in his ,assyrian ,grove and ,other      
,emblems1 says3 ,when ,mary1 the  mother
 of ,jesus1 took the place in           
,christendom of 'the great goddess1'    

the dogmas which propounded her         
immaculate conception and perpetual     
virginity followed as a matter of       
course4    ,the ',black ,virgins1' says 
,king1 so highly reverenced in certain  
,french cathedrals during the middle    
ages1 proved1 when critically  examined1
 basalt figures of ,isis4    ,mrs4      
,besant believes that ,christianity was 
derived chiefly from ,egypt3  ,it grew  
out of ,egypt2 its gospels came from    
thence ,alexandria2  its ceremonies were
 learned there2 its ,virgin is ,isis2   
its ,christ  ,osiris and ,horus4    ,of 
the antiquity of ,egypt's religion1 and 
the mutability of the  gods1 that       
brilliant young ,englishman1 ,winwood   
,reade1 thus writes3  ,buried cities are
 beneath our feet2 the ground on which  
we tread is  the pavement of a tomb4    
,see the pyramids towering to the sky1  
with  men1 like insects1 crawling round 
their base2 and the ,sphinx1 couched  in
 vast repose1 with a ruined temple      
between its paws4 ,since those  great   

monuments were raised the very heavens  
have been changed4 ,when  the architects
 of ,egypt began their work1 there was  
another polar  star in the northern sky1
 and the southern cross shone upon the  
,baltic shores4 ,how glorious are the   
memories of those ancient men1  whose   
names are forgotten1 for they lived and 
labored in the distant  and unwritten   
past4 ,too great to be known1 they sit  
on the height  of centuries and look    
down on fame4 99 99 99 ,the men are     
dead1 and the  gods are dead4 ,naught   
but their memories remain4 ,where now is
 ,osiris1  who came down upon earth out 
of love for man1 who was killed by the  
malice of the evil one1 who rose again  
from the grave and became  the judge of 
the dead8 ,where now is ,isis the       
mother1 with the child  ,horus in her   
lap8 ,they are dead2 they are gone to   
the land of the  shades4 ,to-morrow1    
,jehovah1 you and your son shall be with
 them4        ,zeus4    ,zeus1 ,jove1 or
 ,jupiter1 as he is variously called1   

was the greatest  of the sons of gods   
and held the highest place in the       
pantheons of  ,greece and ,rome4 ,he was
 the son of the god ,kronos and the     
goddess ,rhea4    ,the gods of ,greece1 
while mostly pure myths1 were yet       
intensely  human4 ,in these gods human  
vices sank to the lowest depths and     
human  virtues rose to the loftiest     
heights4 ,zeus was one of the most      
puerile1  one of the most sublime1 one  
of the most depraved and one of the most
  beneficent of deities4 ,in the words  
of ,andrew ,lang1 ,he is the sum of  the
 religious thought of ,hellas1 found in 
the numberless ages between  savagery   
and complete civilization4    ,zeus1    
like ,christ1 assumed the form of man4  
,the life of the  infant ,pagan deity1  
like that of the infant ,christian      
deity1 was  imperiled4 ,kronos tried to 
destroy him1 but he was secreted in a   
cave and saved4 ,there was a widely     
accepted tradition among primitive      
,christians1 before the myth of the     

shepherd's manger gained credence1  that
 ,christ was cradled in a cave4         
,concerning these myths1 ,strauss  says3
 ,the myths of the ancient world more   
generally ascribed divine  apparitions  
to countrymen and shepherds2 the sons of
 the gods1 and  of great men were       
frequently brought up among shepherds4  
,in the same  spirit of the ancient     
legend is the apocryphal invention that 
,jesus  was born in a cave1 and we are  
at once reminded of the cave of ,jupiter
  7,zeus7 and the other gods 7,leben    
,jesu1 p4 #aed74    ,this god1 like     
,jehovah1 became the ruler of heaven and
 earth4 ,like  ,jehovah he became       
dissatisfied with the human race1 and   
with the aid  of ,pandora1 who brought  
death into the world1 tried to destroy  
it  that he might create a new race4    
,seneca refers to ,zeus as the guardian 
and ruler of the universe1  the soul and
 spirit1 the lord and master of this    
mundane sphere 99 99  99 from whom all  
things proceed1 by whose spirit we live4

 ,lecky says3  ,the language in which   
the first ,greek dramatists asserted the
 supreme  authority and universal       
providence of ,zeus was so emphatic that
 the  ,christian fathers commonly       
attributed it either to direct          
inspiration  or to a knowledge of the   
,jewish writings 7,european ,morals1    
,vol4 ,i1  p4 #afa74    ,one of the     
daughters of ,zeus was ,persephone1     
,life4 ,her mother was  ,demeter1 the   
,earth4 ,hades seized ,persephone and   
carried her to his  regions in the lower
 world where she became his wife4 ,then 
,earth became  disconsolate and could   
not be consoled4 ,to assuage the grief  
of the  sorrowing mother ,hades agreed  
to give her back to ,earth for half the 
year4 ,while ,life dwells with her      
mother1 ,earth1 we have summer1 and     
flowers1 and fruits1 and joy4 ,when     
,life returns to her husband1 ,hades1   
winter and desolation return to ,earth4 
,of this goddess ,ridpath says3         
,persephone is close to ,eve4 ,eve means

 ,life1 and should have been so         
rendered1 and would have been but for   
the blundering of the ,english          
translators 7,history of the ,world1    
,vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #eja74    ,the realm of  
,hades was called by his name4 ,the term
 was borrowed by the  writers of the    
,new ,testament but has been translated 
hell4 ,christians  took possession of   
,hades' kingdom2 but ,hades was         
dethroned to make  room for the         
,oriental ,satan1 and the sad yet       
peaceful abode of  departed spirits was 
transformed into a lake of fire1 the    
habitation  of the damned4    ,the      
inhabitants of ,crete1 who believed in  
the incarnation and death  of ,zeus1    
guarded for centuries with zealous care 
what they alleged  to be the tomb of    
their god4        ,apollo4    ,this god1
 one of the principal solar deities1 was
 the son of ,zeus4 ,his  mother was     
,leto4 ,like ,mary1 ,leto had no        
hospitable place for her  accouchement1 
and brought her child forth on the      

barren isle of ,delos1  where female    
divinities ministered to them4 ,the isle
 was illuminated by  a flood of light1  
the prototype of a later scene where the
 glory of  the ,lord shone round about  
the shepherds in the field at           
,bethlehem2  while sacred swans1 like   
the celestial visitants of ,luke1 made  
joyous  gyrations in the air above them4
    ,apollo was the best beloved god of 
,greece1 and was represented as  one of 
the most perfect types of manly beauty4 
,like ,christ he led  on earth a lowly  
life1 following for a time the humble   
avocation of  a herdsman4 ,like ,christ 
he came to reveal the will of his       
father4 ,he  chose for his disciples a  
crew of sailors or fishermen4 ,these1   
like the  disciples of ,christ1 were    
endowed with miraculous powers4 ,apollo 
was  regarded as a savior4 ,he rescued  
the people from the deadly python1      
which was desolating the land4 ,numerous
 festivals1 similar to those  held in   
honor of ,christ1 were held in honor of 

,apollo4    ,in its article on this god 
,mc,clintock and ,strong's ,cyclopedia  
says3  ,towards the later period of the 
supremacy of paganism in the ,roman     
,empire1 ,apollo1 as the deity of the   
sun1 had assumed the chief place  in    
heathen worship4 ,as indicating that    
,christ was the true 'light of  the     
world1' the ',sun of righteousness'--the
 most favorite figure used  in speaking 
of the ,savior in the early             
centuries--this very figure  of ,apollo 
was often introduced as indicating      
,christ4    ,leto1 the mother of        
,apollo1 was believed to be1 like ,mary1
 the mother  of ,christ1 a mortal raised
 to divinity4 ,her worship1 like that of
 ,mary1  was widespread and lasted for  
centuries4        ,perseus4    ,the     
,virgin myth1 the ,holy ,ghost myth1 and
 the ,herodian myth all have  their     
prototypes in ,perseus4 ,long before his
 birth it was prophesied  that he would 
be born of the virgin ,danae1 and that  
he would supplant  ,acrisius in his     

kingdom4 ,to prevent this ,acrisius     
confined ,danae in  a tower4 ,here she  
was overshadowed by ,zeus in a shower of
 gold1  and ,perseus was born4 ,to      
destroy him ,acrisius placed him with   
his  mother in a chest and cast them    
into the sea4 ,they drifted to an       
island and the child was saved4 ,he grew
 to manhood1 performed many  wonderful  
works1 vanquished his enemy and ascended
 the throne4        ,hercules4    ,this 
god was the son of ,zeus and the virgin 
,alcmeni4 ,his mother1  like the mother 
of ,jesus1 retained her virginity after 
the birth of  her child4 ,the ,greek    
babe1 like the ,jewish babe1 had an     
enemy4 ,hera  attempted to destroy the  
former1 just as ,herod afterward        
attempted  to destroy the latter4 ,like 
,christ he died a death of agony4 ,when 
his labors were finished1 he closed his 
earthly career by mounting  a funeral   
pyre from which1 surrounded by a dark   
cloud1 amid thunder  and lightning1 he  
ascended to heaven4    ,the ,tyrian     

,hercules was worshiped by the ,jews1   
and ,jason1 the ,jewish  high-priest1   
sent a religious embassy with an        
offering of #cjj drachms  of silver to  
this god4    ,prof4 ,meinhold1 of the   
,university of ,bonn1 says3 ,the        
transfiguration  and ascension of       
,christ may be compared to the heathen  
apotheosis of  such heroes as ,hercules1
 while the story of the descent into    
,hades  is modeled after such narratives
 as those describing the visit of       
,hercules and ,theseus to the lower     
world4    ,max ,muller pronounces       
,hercules a solar god4 ,his twelve      
labors1 like  the twelve apostles of    
,christ1 correspond to the twelve signs 
of  the ,zodiac4 ,christians have       
admitted the resemblance of this god to 
,christ4 ,parkhurst's ,hebrew ,lexicon  
says3 ,the labors of ,hercules  seem to 
have had a still higher view and to have
 been originally  designed as           
emblematical memorials of what the real 
son of ,god and  savior of the world was

 to do and suffer for our sakes4    ,the
 ,rev4 ,heinrich ,rower says3 ,we are   
all acquainted with the fact  that in   
their mythological legends the ,greeks  
and the ,romans and  other nations of   
antiquity speak of certain persons as   
the sons of the  gods4 ,an example of   
this is ,hercules1 the ,greek hero1 who 
is the son  of ,jupiter1 and an earthly 
mother4 99 99 99 ,all those men who     
performed  greater deeds than those     
which human beings usually do are       
regarded  by antiquity as of divine     
origin4 ,this ,greek and heathen notion 
has  been applied to the ,new ,testament
 and churchly conception of the  person 
of ,jesus4 ,we must remember that at the
 time when ,christianity  sprang into   
evidence1 ,greek culture and ,greek     
religion spread over the  whole world4  
,it is accordingly nothing remarkable   
that the ,christians  took from the     
heathens the highest religious          
conceptions that they  possessed1 and   
transferred them to ,jesus4 ,they       

accordingly called  him the son of ,god1
 and declared that he had been          
supernaturally  born of a virgin4 ,this 
is the ,greek and heathen influence     
which has  determined the character of  
the account given by ,matthew and ,luke 
concerning the birth of ,jesus4         
,dionysos4    ,zagreus was the son of   
,zeus4 ,he was slain by the ,titans1    
buried at  the foot of ,mount           
,parnassus1 and rose from the dead as   
,dionysos4 ,he  was the god of fruit and
 wine4 ,like those of ,christ his most  
devoted  followers were women4 ,he is   
the beloved son and occupies a throne at
  the right hand of his father1 ,zeus4  
,his empty tomb at ,delphi was long     
preserved by his devotees as proof of   
his death and resurrection4    ,the     
stories of the resurrection of ,adonis  
in ,phoenicia1 of ,osiris  in ,egypt and
 of ,dionysos in ,greece were old when  
,christ was born1  and paved the way for
 the origin and acceptance of the story 
of his  resurrection4    ,justin ,martyr

 recognized the analogies between       
,christianity and  ,paganism4           
,addressing the ,pagans1 he writes3     
,when we say that the  ,word1 who is the
 first born of ,god1 was produced       
without sexual union1  and that he1     
,jesus ,christ1 our teacher1 was        
crucified and died1 and  rose again1 and
 ascended into heaven2 we propound      
nothing different  from what you believe
 regarding those whom you esteem sons of
 ,jupiter  7,zeus7 7,first ,apology1 ch4
 xxi74    ,festivals1 called ,lenaea and
 the ,greater ,dionysia1 corresponding  
in  a measure to the ,christmas and     
,easter of ,christians1 were celebrated 
in honor of this god4 ,prof4 ,gulick1   
professor of ,greek in ,harvard         
,university1 describing these festivals1
 says3 ,in the winter came  various     
celebrations in honor of ,dionysos1 god 
of nature and the vine1  the object of  
which was to wake the sleeping spirit of
 generation  and render him propitious  
for the coming of spring and the sowing 

of crops 99 99 99 ,the wine-casks were  
opened1 and all1 even slaves1  were     
allowed perfect holiday and liberty to  
drink in honor of the  god4 ,the last   
day of the festival was a sort of ,all  
,souls' ,day1 being  devoted to the gods
 of the underworld and the spirits of   
the dead  7,life of the ,ancient        
,greeks1 pp4 #bgd1 #bge74 ,the ,great   
,dionysia1  says ,prof4 ,gulick1 held in
 the spring1 was the occasion of display
  and magnificence 7,ibid1 p4 #aac74    
,so-called ,christian burial is         
identical with ,greek burial4 ,ancient  
,greek sepulture is thus described by   
,ridpath3 ,to the dead were due  the    
sacred rites of sepulture 99 99 99 ,when
 a ,greek fell into his last  slumber1  
the friends immediately composed the    
body 99 99 99 ,the corse  was clad in   
white and laid upon a bier4 ,flowers    
were brought by the  mourning friends1  
who put on badges of sorrow 99 99 99    
,cemeteries were  arranged outside the  
city walls 99 99 99 ,over each grave was

 raised  a mound of earth1 and on this  
were planted ivy and roses4 99 99 99    
,over  the grave was erected a memorial 
stone or monument1 and on this was  an  
inscription giving the name of the dead1
 an effigy perhaps of his  person1 a    
word of praise for his virtues1 and an  
epigram composed  for his memory        
7,history of the ,word1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 p4  
#dig74        ,prometheus4    ,the      
,titan god1 ,prometheus1 was the son of 
,iapetus and ,asia4 ,he is one  of the  
most sublime creations of the human     
imagination4 ,when ,zeus1  like         
,jehovah1 became enraged at mankind and 
sought to destroy it1  ,prometheus1 like
 ,christ1 came on earth to intercede and
 suffer for  the race4 ,hurled to       
,tartarus by the thunderbolts of ,zeus  
he came  again to endure1 if need be1   
eternal agony for man4    ,for centuries
 ,greeks and ,romans believed the story 
of this vicarious  god to be historical4
 ,grote1 the historian1 says3 ,so long  
and  so firmly did this belief continue1

 that the ,roman general ,pompey1  when 
in command of an army in ,kolchis1 made 
with his companion1 the  literary ,greek
 ,theophanes1 a special march to view   
the spot in ,caucasus  where ,prometheus
 had been transfixed 7,greek ,mythology1
 pp4 #ib1 #ic74    ,referring to the    
,greeks and their great tragedy1        
,prometheus ,bound1  ,a4 ,l4 ,rawson    
says3 ,its hero was their friend1       
benefactor1 creator1  and savior1 whose 
wrongs were incurred in their behalf1   
and whose  sorrows were endured for     
their salvation4 ,he was wounded for    
their  transgressions1 and bruised for  
their iniquities2 the chastisement of   
their peace was upon him1 and by his    
stripes they were healed 7,isaiah  liii1
 #e71 7,evolution of ,israel's ,god1 p4 
#cj74 ,alluding to this subject1  ,dr4  
,westbrook writes3 ,the ,new ,testament 
description of the crucifixion  and the 
attending circumstances1 even to the    
earthquake and darkness1  was thus      
anticipated by five centuries 7,bible3  

,whence and ,what874    ,the dying      
,christ shares with the dying           
,prometheus the sympathies  of men4 ,but
 how trivial the crucifixion1 how light 
the suffering1  and how weak the courage
 of the ,christian god appear compared  
with  the cruel crucifixion1 the        
infinite suffering1 and the deathless   
courage of the immortal ,pagan6         
,transfixed to the rock on ,caucasus1   
the ,golgotha of ,greek mythology1 with 
the devouring eagle feeding  forever on 
his vitals1 there falls from his lips no
 murmur of pain1  no ,sabachthani of    
despair4 ,what lofty heroism1 what      
enduring patience1  what unselfish love1
 this tragic story has inspired6        
,to suffer woes which hope thinks       
infinite2          ,to forgive wrongs   
darker than death or night2             
,to defy power which seems omnipotent2  
,to love and bear2 to hope till hope    
creates          ,from its own wreck the
 thing it contemplates2                 
,neither to change1 to falter1 nor      

repent2          ,this1 like thy glory1 
,titan1 is to be          ,good1 great1 
and joyous1 beautiful and free4         
--,shelley4        ,esculapius4         
,esculapius was the illegitimate son of 
the nymph ,coronis1 by  ,apollo4 ,the   
mother1 at the instigation of ,apollo1  
was slain by ,diana2  but the child was 
spared4 ,he became noted for his        
wonderful curative  powers4 ,he healed  
all diseases1 and even restored the dead
 to life4 ,he  was called ,the ,good    
,physician4 ,he was struck by a         
thunderbolt and  ascended to heaven4    
,the ,greeks worshiped him4    ,the     
miraculous cures ascribed to ,christ1   
many of them1 doubtless1  had their     
origin in the legends of ,esculapius4   
,justin ,martyr says3  ,in that we say  
he ,christ made whole the lame1 the     
paralytic1 and  those born blind1 we    
seem to say what is very similar to the 
deeds  said to have been done by        
,esculapius 7,first ,apology1 ch4 xxi74 
,plato4    ,one of the most gifted of   

mortals was ,plato4 ,his followers      
believed  him to be of divine descent4  
,concerning his parentage1 ,dr4 ,draper 
says3  ,antiquity has often delighted to
 cast a halo of mythical glory around   
its illustrious names4 ,the immortal    
works of this great philosopher  seemed 
to entitle him to more than mortal      
honors4 ,a legend into  the authenticity
 of which we will abstain from          
inquiring1 asserted  that his mother1   
,perictione1 a pure virgin1 suffered an 
immaculate  conception through the      
influence of ,apollo4 ,the god declared 
to  ,ariston1 to whom she was about to  
be married1 the parentage of the  child 
7,intellectual ,development1 ,vol4 ,i1  
p4 #aea74    ,concerning this myth1     
,mc,clintock and ,strong's ,cyclopedia  
says3  ,legend1 which is traced back to 
,spensipus1 the nephew of ,plato1       
ascribed the paternity of ,plato to the 
god ,apollo2 and1 in the form in  which 
the story is told by ,olympiodorus1     
closely imitates the record  in regard  

to the nativity of ,christ 7,art4       
,plato74    ,immaculate conceptions were
 common in ,greece4 ,the furtive        
pregnancy  of young women1 often by a   
god1 says ,grote1 is one of the most    
frequently recurring incidents in the   
legendary narratives of the  country4   
,the ,christian story of the miraculous 
conception has not  even the merit of   
originality4 ,with the ,platonic legend 
before him1  all that the ,evangelist   
had to do was to substitute ,jehovah for
 ,apollo1  ,joseph for ,ariston1 ,mary  
for ,perictione1 and ,jesus for ,plato4 
,the philosophy of ,plato is a strange  
compound of profound wisdom  concerning 
the known and of vague speculations     
respecting the  unknown4 ,the latter    
form no inconsiderable portion of the   
religion  ascribed to ,christ4 ,the     
,christian religion is supposed to be of
  ,semitic origin2 but its doctrines    
are1 many of them1 the work of  ,greek  
theologians2 its incarnate ,god bears a 
,greek name1 and its  early literature  

was mostly ,greek4 ,draper recognizes   
three primitive  modifications of       
,christianity3 #a4 ,judaic              
,christianity2 #b4 ,gnostic             
,christianity2 #c4 ,platonic            
,christianity4 ,platonic ,christianity1 
he says1  endured and is essentially the
 ,christianity of to-day4    ,the       
following are some of the principles of 
,plato's philosophy3    ,there is but   
one ,god1 and we ought to love and serve
 him4    ,the ,word formed the world and
 rendered it visible4    ,a knowledge of
 the ,word will make us happy4    ,the  
soul is immortal1 and the dead will rise
 again4    ,there will be a final       
judgment2 the righteous will be         
rewarded1  and the wicked punished4     
,the design argument1 the chief argument
 relied upon by ,christians to  prove   
the divine origin of the universe1 is a 
,platonic argument4    ,in a letter to  
the author twenty-five years ago1 ,james
 ,parton wrote3  ,read carefully over   
the dialogue1 ,phaedo4 ,you will see    

what you  will see3 the whole ,christian
 system and the entire dream of the     
contemplative monk4    ,phaedo deals    
chiefly with the soul--its nature and   
destiny4 ,the  following quotations are 
from the translation of ,henry ,cary1   
,m4,a41  of ,oxford3    ,death is       
defined by ,plato as the separation of  
the soul from the  body4    ,can the    
soul1 which is invisible1 and which goes
 to another place  like itself1         
excellent1 pure1 and invisible1 and     
therefore truly called  the invisible   
world1 to the presence of a good and    
wise ,god1 7whither  if ,god will1 my   
soul also must shortly go71 can this    
soul of ours1 ,i  ask1 being such and of
 such a nature1 when separated from the 
body1 be  immediately dispersed and     
destroyed1 as most men assert8 ,far from
 it4    ,if that which is immortal is   
imperishable1 it is impossible for the  
soul to perish1 when death approaches   
it4    ,when1 therefore1 death          
approaches a man1 the mortal part of    

him1 as  it appears1 dies1 but the      
immortal part departs safe and          
uncorrupted1  having withdrawn itself   
from death4    ,after death1 ,plato     
says1 the souls are conducted to a place
 where they  receive sentence and then  
proceed to ,hades4    ,if the soul      
arrives at the place where the others   
are1 impure1  444 every one shuns it1   
and will neither be its fellow traveler 
or guide1 but it wanders about oppressed
 with every kind of  helplessness4444   
,but the soul which has passed through  
life with  purity and moderation1 having
 obtained the gods for its fellow       
travelers and guides1 settles each in   
the place suited to it4    ,if the soul 
is immortal1 it requires our care not   
only for the present  time1 which we    
call life1 but for all time2 and the    
danger would now  appear to be dreadful1
 if one should neglect it4 ,for if death
 were a  deliverance from everything1 it
 would be a great gain for the wicked1  
when they die1 to be delivered at the   

same time from the body1 and  from their
 vices together with the soul2 but now1 
since it appears  to be immortal1 it can
 have no other refuge from evils1 nor   
safety1  except by becoming as good and 
wise as possible4    ,christ1 it is     
claimed1 brought immortality to light4  
,yet ,phaedo  was written nearly four   
centuries before ,christ came4          
,mc,clintock and ,strong's ,cyclopedia  
concedes ,plato's near  approximation to
 the doctrines of ,christianity--some of
  which1 it says1 he announces almost in
 the language of the  ,apostles4        
,continuing1 this authority says3 ,we   
know no more  terrible and sublime      
picture than the passage in which he    
depicts  the dead presenting themselves 
for judgment in the other world1        
scarred and blotched and branded with   
the ineradicable marks of their  earthly
 sins4 ,yet this is but one of many     
analogous passages4 ,this  approximation
 to revealed truth is among the most    
insoluble problems  bequeathed to us by 

antiquity4444 ,we offer no solution of  
the enigma1  which awaits its ,oedipus4 
,we only note the existence of the      
riddle  7,plato74    ,prof4 ,gunkel1 of 
,berlin1 says3 ',christianity is a      
syncretistic  religion4 ,it is          
providential that it passed safely over 
from the ,orient  into the ,greek world4
 ,it imbibed both influences1 and       
acquired many  features that were       
foreign to the original gospel4'        
,pythagoras4    ,this                   
religio-philosophical teacher lived in  
the sixth century ,b4 ,c41  the century 
in which flourished ,buddha1 ,laou-tsze1
 and ,confucius1 three  of the world's  
greatest religious founders4 ,greece was
 his native1  and ,italy his adopted1   
country4 ,his history is largely        
obscured by  myths4 ,he was claimed to  
be1 like ,plato1 the son of ,apollo4 ,he
 was  said to have performed miracles   
and to have been endowed with the gift  
of prophecy4 ,he traveled in ,egypt and 
,india1 and his system contains  some   

elements of the ,egyptian and ,buddhist 
religions4    ,there was a small ,jewish
 sect1 known as the ,essenes1 which     
adopted  to a large extent the teachings
 of ,pythagoras4 ,jesus is believed to  
have belonged to this sect4 ,there is an
 ,essene element in the ,new  ,testament
 which is especially prominent in the   
teachings ascribed  to ,christ4         
,josephus1 in his ,wars of the ,jews1   
describes at length  the doctrines and  
customs of this sect4 ,from ,josephus   
and the ,new  ,testament ,i cite a few  
of the parallels between the religion of
 the  ,essenes and the religion of      
,christ4      ,these men are despisers  
of         ,a rich man shall hardly     
enter into  riches 7,wars1 ,b4 ,,ii1 ch4
 viii1     the kingdom of heaven 7,matt4
 xix1  sec4 #c74                        
#bc74    ,it is a law among them1 that  
,neither said any of them that  those   
who come to them must let     aught of  
the things which he  what they have be  
common to the     possessed was his own2

 but they had  whole order 7,ibid74     
all things common 7,acts iv1 #cb74      
,they carry nothing at all with         
,provide neither gold1 nor silver1  them
 when they travel into remote   nor     
brass in your purses1 nor scrip  parts  
7,sec4 #d74                    for your 
journey 7,matt4 x1 #i1 #aj74    ,every  
one of them gives what he    ,give to   
him that asketh thee  hath to him that  
wanteth it        7,matt4 v1 #db47      
7,ib74                                  
,and he took bread1 and gave  ,a priest 
says grace before meat   thanks 7,luke  
xxii1 #ai74  7,sec4 #e74                
,blessed are the peace-makers  ,they 444
 are the ministers of      7,matt4 v1   
#i74  peace 7,sec4 #f74                 
,but ,i say unto you1 ,swear not at     
,whatsoever they say also is        all2
 444 but let your communication  firmer 
than an oath2 but swearing   be1 yea1   
yea2 nay1 nay 7,matt4 v1  is avoided by 
them 7,sec4 #f74       #cd1 #cg74       
,closely allied to the ,essenes and the 

primitive ,christians is another        
,pythagorian sect1 known as the         
,therapeuts of ,egypt4 ,regarding this  
sect1 four different theories are held3 
#a4 ,that they were a ,jewish  sect4 #b4
 ,that they were a ,jewish ,christian   
sect4 #c4 ,that they were  ,pagans1 many
 of whose teachings were incorporated   
into the ,christian  creed4 #d4 ,that   
they are a myth1 that the ,de ,vita     
,contemplativa  of ,philo1 which        
contains the only account of them1 is a 
,christian  forgery1 written for the    
purpose of extolling the monastic life1 
the celibacy1 and the asceticism of the 
church4        ,bacchus4    ,bacchus was
 a ,roman god1 or rather a ,roman       
modification of the  ,greek god1        
,dionysos4 ,he was the god of wine4 ,he 
cultivated the vine1  made wine1 and    
encouraged its use4 ,his worship        
extended over nearly  the whole of the  
ancient world4 ,it consisted largely of 
protracted  festivals1 where wine flowed
 freely1 and joyous and noisy ceremonies

  were indulged in4    ,this god and his
 worship have survived in ,christ and   
,christianity4 ,christ was called a     
winebibber 7,luke vii1 #cd72 he  made   
wine--his first miracle was the         
conversion of water into wine  7,john   
ii1 #a-aj72 he blessed the winecup1 and 
commanded his disciples  to drink in    
remembrance of him 7,luke xxii1 #ag71   
just as the devotees  of ,bacchus drank 
in remembrance of their god4            
,christianity1 more  than all other     
religions combined1 has contributed to  
keep alive the  ,bacchanalian feasts and
 revelries4    ,bacchus1 says ,volney1  
in the history of his whole life1 and   
even  of his death1 brings to mind the  
history of the god of ,christians       
7,ruins1 p4 #afi74 ,the cabalistic names
 of ,bacchus and ,jesus1 ,volney  says1 
were the same4    ,united with the      
worship of ,bacchus1 and similar to it1 
was the  worship of the goddess ,ceres  
7,demeter74 ,her rites were known as the
  ,eleusinian mysteries4 ,cakes were    

eaten in her honor4 ,and thus in the    
bread of ,ceres and the wine of ,bacchus
 we have the bread and wine  of the     
,christian ,eucharist4 ,it is well      
known1 says ,dr4 ,westbrook1  that the  
,athenians celebrated the allegorical   
giving of the flesh to  eat of ,ceres1  
the goddess of corn1 and in like manner 
the giving his  blood to drink by       
,bacchus1 the god of wine4 ,this        
worship1 like the  ,mithraic worship1   
which also included the communion1 had  
its origin  in the ,east1 and was one of
 the first1 as well as one of the last1 
of the religions of ancient ,greece and 
,rome4    ,another rite connected with  
the mysteries was the use of holy       
water4 ,lempriere1 in his ,classical    
,dictionary1 describing the  ,eleusinian
 mysteries as they existed in ,greece   
centuries before the  ,christian era1   
says3 ,as the candidates for initiation 
entered the  temple1 they purified      
themselves by washing their hands in    
holy water4    ,the mysteries           

comprehended the origin of life1 and    
nature worship was  included in the     
ceremonies4 ,at the festivals women     
carried the phallus  in their           
processions4 ,regarding the worship of  
,bacchus and ,ceres at  ,rome1          
,chambers' ,encyclopedia says3 ,these   
rites degenerated1 and came  to be      
celebrated with a licentiousness that   
threatened the destruction  of morality 
and of society itself4 ,they were made  
the occasion of  the most unnatural     
excesses4 ,at first1 only women took    
part in these  mysterious ,bacchic      
rites1 but latterly men also were       
admitted4    ,the ,roman government     
suppressed the later ,bacchanalian and  
,eleusinian  feasts1 together with the  
,christian ,agapae1 because of their    
debaucheries1 obscenities1 and supposed 
infant sacrifices4 ,meredith1  in ,the  
,prophet of ,nazareth 7pp4 #bbe-bca71   
institutes an examination  to ascertain 
how far the ,eleusinian and             
,bacchanalian feasts resembled  the     

,christian ,agapae4 ,his conclusion is  
that the facts show clearly  that the   
,christian ,agapae were of pagan        
origin--were identically the  same as   
the pagan feasts4 ,gibbon says3 ,the    
language of that great  historian       
,tacitus1 in his allusion to ,christians
 is almost similar  to the style        
employed by ,livy1 when he relates the  
introduction and  the suppression of the
 rites of ,bacchus 7,rome1 vol4 #a1 ,p4 
#egi74    ,referring to the ,agapae1    
,dr4 ,cave says it was commonly charged 
that ,christians exercised lust and     
filthiness under a pretense of          
religion1 promiscuously calling         
themselves brothers and sisters1 that   
by the help of so sacred a name their   
common adulteries might become          
incestuous 7,primitive ,christianity1   
,part ,,ii1 chap4 v74 ,describing  the  
,carpocratians1 an early ,christian     
sect1 ,dr4 ,cave says3 ,both men  and   
women used to meet at supper 7which was 
called their love-feast71  when after   

they had loaded themselves with a       
plentiful meal1 to prevent  all shame1  
if they had any remaining1 they put out 
the lights1 and  then promiscuously     
mixed in filthiness with one another    
7,ibid74    ,the ,international         
,cyclopedia says3 ,with the increase of 
wealth and  the decay of religious      
earnestness and purity in the ,christian
 church1  the ,agapae became occasions  
of great riotousness and debaucheries4  
,the ,agapae1 with their excesses       
eliminated1 survive in the love-feasts  
of modern ,christians4 ,webster defines 
love-feast as a religious  festival1    
held quarterly by the ,methodists1 in   
imitation of the ,agapae  of the early  
,christians4    ,that these mysteries of
 ,bacchus and ,ceres were adopted by the
  early ,christians is largely admitted 
by the great church historian  himself4 
,writing of the second century1 ,mosheim
 says3 ,the profound  respect paid to   
the ,greek and ,roman mysteries1 and the
 extraordinary  sanctity that was       

attributed to them1 was a further       
circumstance  that induced the          
,christians to give their religion a    
mystic air1 in  order to put it upon an 
equal foot1 in point of dignity1 with   
that  of the ,pagans4 ,for this purpose 
they gave the name of 'mysteries' to    
the institutions of the gospel1 and     
decorated particularly the holy         
,sacrament with that solemn title4 ,they
 used in that sacred institution1  as   
also in that of baptism1 several of the 
terms employed in the  heathen mysteries
 and proceeded so far at length as even 
to adopt  some of the rites and         
ceremonies of which these renowned      
mysteries  consisted4 7,ecclesiastical  
,history1 p4 #ef47    ,england's highest
 authority on early ,christian history1 
,dean ,milman1  says3 ,christianity     
disdained that its ,god and its         
,redeemer should be  less magnificently 
honored than the demons 7gods7 of       
,paganism4 ,in the  service it delighted
 to breathe1 as it were1 a sublimer     

sense into the  common appellations of  
the ,pagan worship1 whether from the    
ordinary  ceremonial or the more secret 
mysteries4 ,the church became a temple2 
the table of the communion an altar2 the
 celebration of the ,eucharist1  the    
appalling1 or unbloody sacrifice4444    
,the incense1 the garlands1  the lamps1 
all were gradually adopted by zealous   
rivalry1 or seized  as the lawful spoils
 of vanquished ,paganism and consecrated
 to the  service of ,christ4    ,the    
church rivaled the old heathen mysteries
 in expanding by slow  degrees its      
higher privileges4444 ,its preparatory  
ceremonial of  abstinence1 personal     
purity1 ablution1 secrecy1 closely      
resembled  that of the ,pagan mysteries 
7perhaps each may have contributed to   
the other7 7,history of ,christianity1  
,vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #cab1 #cac74           
,smith's ,dictionary of ,antiquities    
says3 ,the mysteries occupied a  place  
among the ancients analogous to that of 
the holy sacraments  in the ,christian  

church4 ,the ,encyclopedia ,britannica  
makes the  same statement4    ,james    
,anthony ,froude1 in a letter to ,prof4 
,johnson1 of ,england1 says3  ,i have   
long been convinced that the ,christian 
,eucharist is but a  continuation of the
 ,eleusinian mysteries4 ,st4 ,paul1 in  
using the word  teleiois1 almost        
confirms this4        ,saturn4    ,one  
of the oldest and most renowned of the  
,european gods was ,saturn1  whose name 
was given by the ancients to one of the 
planets and to  one of the days of the  
week4 ,he was worshiped by the          
inhabitants of  ,italy more than a      
thousand years before ,christ came1 and 
centuries  before ,rome took her place  
among the nations of the earth4 ,his    
temples  were located in various parts  
of ,italy1 the latest and the principal 
one being at ,rome4 ,his chief festival1
 and the greatest of all the  ,roman    
festivals1 was the ,saturnalia          
celebrated at the time of the  winter   
solstice4 ,this festival survives in the

 ,christian festival  of ,christmas4    
,the following description of the       
,saturnalia is from the pen of          
,ridpath3 ,the most elaborate of all the
 celebrations of ,rome was  that of     
,saturn1 held at the winter solstice1   
and afterwards extended  so as to       
include the twenty-fifth of             
,december4444 ,the festival was  called 
the ,saturnalia4 ,labor ceased1 public  
business was at an end1  the courts were
 closed1 the schools had holiday4       
,tables1 laden with  bounties1 were     
spread on every hand1 and at these all  
classes for the  nonce sat down         
together4 ,the master and the slave for 
the day were  equals4 ,it was a time of 
gift-giving and innocent abandonment4   
,in  the public shops every variety of  
the present1 from the simplest  to the  
most costly1 could be found4 ,fathers1  
mothers1 kinspeople1  friends1 all      
hurried thither to purchase1 according  
to their fancy1  what things soever     
seemed most tasteful and appropriate as 

presents  7,history of the ,world1 ,vol4
 ,,iii1 p4 #ig74    ,concerning this    
festival the ,encyclopedia ,britannica  
says3 ,all  classes exchanged gifts1 the
 commonest being wax tapers and clay    
dolls4 ,these dolls were especially     
given to children1 and the makers  of   
them held a regular fair at this time4  
,one of the principal rites1  the       
,britannica says1 was the burning of    
many candles4 ,the modern  ,italian     
carnival1 says ,chambers' ,encyclopedia1
 would seem to be  only the old pagan   
,saturnalia baptized into ,christianity4
        ,quirinus4    ,nearly every     
reader is familiar with the story of the
 founding of  ,rome4 ,rhea ,silvia1 a   
vestal virgin1 bears twins by the god   
,mars4 ,as  they are heirs to the throne
 which ,amulius has usurped1 he attempts
 to  destroy them by drowning4 ,they are
 miraculously preserved and finally     
rescued by a shepherd4 ,one of them1    
,romulus1 becomes the founder  and king 
of ,rome4 ,after a reign of #cg years he

 is translated by his  father1 and      
eventually becomes the tutelary god of  
the ,romans1 under  the name of         
,quirinus4 ,the following account of his
 translation is from  ,chambers'        
,encyclopedia3 ,while he was standing   
near the ',goat's ,pool'  in the ,campus
 ,martius1 reviewing his militia1 the   
sun was eclipsed1  and a dark storm     
swept over the plain and hills4 ,when it
 had passed1  the people looked round   
for their king1 but he was gone4 ,his   
father1  ,mars1 had carried him up to   
heaven 7like the prophet ,elijah7 in a  
chariot of fire4 ,some time after he    
reappeared in a glorified form to       
,proculus ,julius1 announced the future 
greatness of the ,roman people1  and    
told him that henceforth he would watch 
over them as their guardian  god1 under 
the name of ,quirinus 7,art4 ,romulus74 
,next to the ,saturnalia1 the most      
important religious festival of ,pagan  
,rome was the ,quirinalia1 which        
celebrated the ascension of ,quirinus4  

,it  corresponds to ,ascension ,day1 one
 of the principal religious festivals   
of the ,christian church1 which         
celebrates the ascension of ,christ4    
,the supernatural darkness of the ,roman
 myth1 it is believed1 suggested  the   
supernatural darkness of the crucifixion
 myth4 ,the reappearance  of ,quirinus  
in a glorified form is also believed by 
some to have  suggested the             
transfiguration4        ,odin4    ,odin1
 the ,all-,father1 held the highest rank
 in the ,northern  pantheon4 ,he was the
 son of ,boer and ,bestla4 ,freya was   
his queen4 ,his  religion prevailed     
among the ,scandinavians and among the  
,goths1 the  ,saxons1 and other ancient 
,german tribes4 ,some believe that he   
was  an ancient hero who with a horde of
 ,goths or ,scythians conquered the     
,north a thousand years or more before  
the ,christian era4 ,the prevailing     
opinion1 however1 is that the ,norse    
mythology had its birth in ,asia--in    
,india1 ,persia1 or ,accadia--and was   

carried by the ,aryans to northern      
,europe1 where it underwent many        
modifications4    ,this mythology       
recognized as existing in the beginning1
 two worlds--one  the warm ,south1 the  
other the icy ,north4 ,the entrance to  
the ,southland  was guarded by a flaming
 sword4 ,between heat and cold1 as      
between  good and evil1 there was       
perpetual strife4 ,from heat ,ymir      
7,chaos71  the father of giants1 was    
evolved4 ,odin and his brothers slew    
,ymir  and from his body created the    
earth1 his flesh forming the land1 his  
blood the sea4 ,out of two trees ,odin  
made man and woman1 and breathed  into  
them the breath of life4 ,for the abode 
of man a fruitful garden  was planted in
 the center of the earth and called     
,midgard4 ,beneath  the earth dwells    
,hel1 the goddess of the dead4    ,loki 
is the god of evil4 ,he will be chained 
for a time and then  released4 ,a bloody
 war will follow4 ,on one side1 led by  
,loki1 will  fight the hosts of ,hel2 on

 the other ,odin and his followers4     
,loki  will triumph for a while1 mankind
 will be destroyed1 and heaven and      
earth will be consumed by fire4 ,but    
,odin will be victorious in the  end4   
,he will create a new heaven and a new  
earth4 ,he will be the  ruler of all    
things1 and will dwell in heaven1 where 
the best and  bravest of his followers  
are to be received after death4    ,the 
,norse1 the ,persian1 and the ,christian
 doctrines1 regarding the  destruction  
of the world by fire1 all had a common  
origin4        ,thor4    ,thor was the  
son of ,odin and the virgin ,earth4 ,he 
was called the first  born son of ,god4 
,his worship was more widespread than   
that of any other  ,northern god4 ,in   
the temple at ,upsala he occupied the   
same place in the  ,scandinavian        
,trinity that ,christ does in the       
,christian ,trinity4 ,like  ,christ he  
died for man and was worshiped as a     
,savior4 ,midgard had a  serpent1 more  
formidable if not more wily than that of

 ,eden1 which  threatened to destroy the
 human race4 ,thor attacked and slew the
  monster1 but was himself killed by the
 venom which was exhaled from  it4 ,the 
slaying of the serpent of ,midgard by   
,thor1 the slaying of the  python by the
 ,greek god1 and the bruising of the    
head of the serpent  of ,hebrew         
mythology by ,christ1 are analogous     
myths4    ,thor dwells in a mansion in  
the clouds4 ,the thunder we hear in the 
sky  is the noise of his chariot wheels1
 and the flashes of lightning are  from 
his hammer which he dashes against the  
mountains4 ,the ,britannica  says3 ,some
 of the monks of a later period         
endeavored to persuade  the ,northmen   
that in ,thor their forefathers had     
worshiped ,christ1 the  strong and      
mighty ,savior of the oppressed1 and    
that his mallet was the  rude form of   
the cross4 ,the sign of the hammer1 says
 ,chambers1  was analogous to that of   
the cross among ,christians4            
,baldur4    ,one of the purest1 one of  

the gentlest1 and one of the best       
beloved of  all the gods was ,baldur1   
the beautiful son of ,odin and ,freya4  
,in him  were combined all things good  
and noble4 ,the envious gods1 inspired  
by ,loki1 shot their arrows at him in   
vain until the blind god ,hoder  pierced
 his body with an arrow of mistletoe and
 he passed into the  power of ,hel1 the 
pallid goddess of death4 ,sometime--when
 the old  order of things has passed    
away--in another and better world1 where
  envy1 and hatred1 and war are unknown1
 ,baldur will live again4    ,the death 
of ,baldur1 says ,prof4 ,rasmus ,b4     
,anderson1 the highest  authority on    
,norse mythology1 forms the turning     
point in the great  drama4444 ,while he 
lived the power of the asas 7gods7 was  
secure1  but when ,baldur1 at the       
instigation of ,loki1 was slain1 the    
fall of  creation could not be          
prevented4    ,writing of ,norse        
mythology1 ,andrew ,lang says3 ,there   
is1 almost  undoubtedly1 a touch of     

,christian dawn on the figure and myth  
of the  pure and beloved and ill-fated  
god ,baldur1 and his descent into hell4 
,odin1 and ,thor1 and ,baldur1 and their
 divine companions are  worshiped no    
longer2 but their religion has left a   
deep impress on  the religion that      
supplanted it4 ,the ,christianity of    
,scandinavia1 of  northern ,germany1 of 
,england1 and of ,america1 the whole of 
,protestant  ,christianity1 in short1   
and to some extent ,catholicism itself1 
has been  modified by this strange and  
fascinating faith4 ,regarding this      
subject  ,chambers' ,encyclopedia says3 
,so deep-rooted was the adhesion to  the
 faith of ,odin in the ,north1 that the 
early ,christian teachers1  unable to   
eradicate the old ideas1 were driven to 
the expedient of  trying to give them a 
coloring of ,christianity4    ,the      
selection of ,december #beth as the date
 of the ,nativity was  doubtless        
suggested by the ,mithraic or some other
 solar worship of the  ,east1 but the   

,protestant ,christmas came from the    
,north4 ,the mistletoe  with which      
,baldur was slain reappears in this     
festival4 ,the fire  wheel1 a remnant of
 the old ,norse sun worship1 existed    
among ,german  ,christians until the    
nineteenth century4 ,the burning of the 
,yule log  still survives4 ,in some     
provinces of ,germany the festival is   
still  called by its ,pagan name4       
,rev4 ,samuel ,m4 ,jackson1 ,d4,d41     
,,ll4,d41 ,professor of ,church         
,history1  ,new ,york ,university1 says3
 ,the ,romans had1 like other ,pagan    
nations1  a nature festival1 called by  
them ,saturnalia1 and the ,northern     
peoples  had ,yule2 both celebrated the 
turn of the year from the death of      
winter to the life of spring--the winter
 solstice4 ,as this was an  auspicious  
change the festival was a very joyous   
one4444 ,the giving  of presents and the
 burning of candles characterized it4   
,among the  northern people the lighting
 of a huge log in the houses of the     

great  and with appropriate ceremonies  
was a feature4 ,the ,roman church       
finding  this festival deeply intrenched
 in popular esteem1 wisely adopted it   
7,universal ,cyclopedia74    ,the       
festival of ,easter belongs to this     
religion4 ,it was observed in  honor of 
the ,saxon goddess ,eastre1 or ,ostara1 
the goddess of ,spring4 ,it  celebrated1
 not the resurrection of ,christ1 but   
the resurrection of  ,spring and        
flowers4 ,it still retains the name of  
this goddess4 ,nearly  every festival of
 the church--and the ,catholic and      
,english churches  have many--are of    
,pagan origin4 ,every day of the week   
bears a ,pagan  name--four of them the  
names of ,scandinavian gods--,tuesday   
the name  of ,tiu 7,tyr71 ,wednesday the
 name of ,woden 7,odin71 ,thursday the  
name  of ,thor1 and ,friday that of     
,freya4 ,even the ,christian hell was   
derived from ,hel1 the name of the      
,norse goddess of the lower world4      
,,chapter ,,xii4    ,,sources ,,of ,,the

 ,,christ ,,myth--,,conclusion4      ,in
 each of these divinities we find some  
element or lineament of  ,christ4 ,and  
all of them existed1 either as myths or 
mortals1 long  anterior to his time4    
,plato1 the latest of them to appear1   
was born  in the fifth century ,b4 ,c4  
,these ,pagan divinities and deified    
sages1  together with the religious     
systems and doctrines previously        
noticed1  were the sources from which   
,christ and ,christianity were1 for the 
most part1 derived4    ,the following   
religious elements and ideas1 nearly all
 of which  ,christians believe to have  
been divinely revealed1 and to belong   
exclusively to their religion1 are of   
,pagan origin3          ,son of ,god1   
,messiah1      ,mediator1      ,the     
,word1      ,the ,ideal ,man1           
,annunciation1      ,immaculate         
conception1      ,divine incarnation1   
,genealogies showing royal descent1     
,virgin mother1      ,angelic visitants1
      ,celestial music1      ,visit of  

shepherds1      ,visit of ,magi1        
,star of ,magi1      ,slaughter of      
innocents1      ,temptation1            
,transfiguration1      ,crucified       
,redeemer1      ,supernatural darkness1 
,resurrection1      ,ascension1         
,descent into ,hell1      ,second       
advent1      ,unity of ,god1            
,trinity in ,unity1      ,holy ,ghost   
7,spirit71      ,devil1      ,angels1   
,immortality of the soul1      ,last    
judgment1      ,future rewards and      
punishments1      ,heaven1 ,hell1 and   
,purgatory1      ,fatherhood of ,god1   
,brotherhood of man1      ,freedom of   
the will1      ,fall of man1            
,vicarious atonement1      ,kingdom of  
,god1      ,binding of ,satan1          
,miracles1      ,prophecies1            
,obsession1      ,exorcism1      ,the   
priesthood1      ,pope and bishops1     
,monks and nuns1      ,worship of       
,virgin1      ,adoration of ,virgin and 
,child1      ,worship of saints1        
,worship of relics1      ,image worship1

      ,inspired ,scriptures1      ,the  
cross as a religious symbol1            
,crucifix1      ,rosary1      ,holy     
water1      ,lord's ,day 7,sunday71     
,christmas1      ,easter1      ,baptism1
      ,eucharist1      ,washing of feet1
      ,anointing1      ,confirmation1   
,masses for the dead1      ,fasting1    
,prayer1      ,auricular confession1    
,penance1      ,absolution1             
,celibacy1      ,poverty1               
,asceticism1      ,tithes1              
,community of goods1      ,golden ,rule 
and other precepts4      ,the ,old      
,testament consists largely of borrowed 
myths4 ,nearly everything  in ,genesis1 
and much of the so-called history which 
follows1 are but a  recital of          
,assyrian1 ,babylonian1 ,chaldean and   
other legends4 ,dr4 ,draper  says3 ,from
 such ,assyrian sources1 the legends of 
the creation of the  earth and heaven1  
the garden of ,eden1 the making of man  
from clay1  and of woman from one of his
 ribs1 the temptation by the serpent1   

the naming of animals1 the cherubim and 
flaming sword1 the ,deluge and  the ark1
 the drying up of the waters by the     
wind1 the building of the  ,tower of    
,babel1 and the confusion of tongues1   
were obtained by ,ezra  7,conflict1 p4  
#bbc74    ,the ten antediluvian         
patriarchs1 ,adam1 ,seth1 ,enos1        
,cainan1 ,mahalaleel1  ,jared1 ,enoch1  
,methuselah1 ,lamech1 and ,noah1 whom   
,luke presents as the  first ten        
progenitors of ,christ1 are now known to
 have been a dynasty  of ,babylonian    
kings4 ,abram1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 and      
,judah1 whom both ,matthew  and ,luke   
declare to have been ancestors of       
,christ1 and whom ,matthew  places at   
the head of his genealogy1 were not     
persons at all1 but  merely tribes of   
people4 ,in regard to this ,rev4 ,dr4   
,oort1 professor  of ,oriental languages
 at ,amsterdam1 says3 ,they do not      
signify men1  so much as groups of      
nations or single tribes4 ,abram1 for   
instance1  represents a great part of   

the ,terachites2 ,lot1 the ,moabites and
  ,ammonites1 whose ancestor he is      
called2 ,ishmael1 certain tribes  of    
,arabia2 ,isaac1 ,israel and ,edom      
together2 ,jacob1 ,israel alone2  while 
his twelve sons stand for the twelve    
tribes of ,israel4 99 99 99  ,here and  
there the writers of the old legend     
themselves point out1  as it were1 that 
the patriarchs whom they bring upon the 
scene as  men are personifications of   
tribes 7,bible for ,learners1 ,vol4 ,i1 
pp4 #ajj-ajb74 ,moses1 the reputed      
founder of ,judaism and archetype of    
,christ1 doubtless existed2 but nearly  
all the ,bible stories concerning  him  
are myths4 ,david and ,solomon1 from    
whose house ,christ is said  to have    
been descended1 are historical          
characters2 but the accounts  respecting
 the greatness of their kingdom and the 
splendor of their  reigns are fabulous4 
,christ and ,christianity are partly    
creations and partly  evolutions4 ,while
 the elements composing them were mostly

 derived  from preexisting and          
contemporary beliefs1 they were not     
formed as a  novelist creates a hero and
 a convention frames a constitution4    
,their  growth was gradual4 ,jesus1 if  
he existed1 was a ,jew1 and his         
religion1  with a few innovations1 was  
,judaism4 ,with his death1 probably1 his
  apotheosis began4 ,during the first   
century the transformation was slow2    
but during the succeeding centuries     
rapid4 ,the ,judaic elements of his     
religion were1 in time1 nearly all      
eliminated1 and the ,pagan elements1    
one by one1 were incorporated into the  
new faith4    ,regarding the            
establishment of this religion ,lecky   
says3 ,christianity  had become the     
central intellectual power of the world1
 but it  triumphed not so much by       
superseding rival faiths as by absorbing
 and  transforming them4 ,old systems1  
old rites1 old images were grafted  into
 the new belief1 retaining much of their
 ancient character but  assuming new    

names and a new complexion              
7,rationalism1 ,vol4 ,i4 p4 #bbc74      
,its origin is thus traced by ,mrs4     
,besant3 ,from the later ,jews comes    
the ,unity of ,god2 from ,india and     
,egypt the ,trinity in ,unity2 from     
,india and ,egypt the crucified         
,redeemer2 from ,india1 ,egypt1 ,greece1
 and  ,rome1 the virgin mother and the  
divine son2 from ,egypt its priests and 
its ritual2 from the ,essenes and the   
,therapeuts its asceticism2 from        
,persia1 ,india1 and ,egypt1 its        
sacraments2 from ,persia and ,babylonia 
its angels and devils2 from ,alexandria 
the blending into one of many  lines of 
thought4 7,freethinkers' ,text ,book1 p4
 #cib47    ,concerning this1 ,judge     
,strange1 another ,english writer1 says3
 ,the  ,jewish ,scriptures and the      
traditionary teachings of their doctors1
  the ,essenes and ,therapeuts1 the     
,greek philosophers1 the ,neo-,platonism
  of ,alexandria and the ,buddhism of   
the ,east1 gave ample supplies  for the 

composition of the doctrinal portion of 
the new faith2 the  divinely procreated 
personages of the ,grecian and ,roman   
pantheons1  the tales of the ,egyptian  
,osiris1 and of the ,indian ,rama1      
,krishna1  and ,buddha1 furnished the   
materials for the image of the new      
,savior  of mankind4 7,portraiture and  
,mission of ,jesus1 p4 #bg47    ,dr4 ,g4
 ,w4 ,brown1 previously quoted1 says3   
,the ,eclectics formed  the nucleus into
 which were merged all the various      
religions of  the ,orient4 ,mithra1 of  
the ,zoroastrians2 ,krishna and ,buddha1
 of the  ,brahmans2 ,osiris1 of the     
,egyptians1 and ,bacchus1 of the ,greeks
 and  ,romans1 all disappeared and were 
lost in the new ,god ,jesus1 each of    
the predecessors contributing to the    
conglomerate religion known as          
,christian1 ,buddha and probably        
,bacchus contributing the most4    ,dr4 
,john ,w4 ,draper1 recognized on both   
sides of the ,atlantic as one  of the   
most erudite1 one of the most           

philosophic1 and one of the most        
impartial of historians1 in the         
following paragraphs tells the story  of
 the rise and triumph of this           
ever-changing faith3    ,in a political 
sense1 ,christianity is the bequest of  
the ,roman ,empire  to the world4       
,not only as a token of the conquest she
 had made1 but also as a  gratification 
to her pride1 the conquering republic   
brought the gods  of the vanquished     
peoples to ,rome4 ,with disdainful      
toleration1 she  permitted the worship  
of them all4 ,that paramount authority  
exercised  by each divinity in his      
original seat disappeared at once in the
  crowd of gods and goddesses among whom
 he had been brought4 ,already1  as we  
have seen1 through geographical         
discoveries and philosophical           
criticism1 faith in the religion of the 
old days had been profoundly  shaken4   
,it was1 by this policy of ,rome1       
brought to an end4    ,in one of the    
,eastern provinces1 ,syria1 some persons

 in very humble  life had associated    
themselves together for benevolent and  
religious  purposes4 ,the doctrines they
 held were in harmony with that         
sentiment  of universal brotherhood     
arising from the coalescence of the     
conquered  kingdoms4 ,they were         
doctrines inculcated by ,jesus4    ,from
 this germ was developed a new1 and as  
the events proved1  all-powerful        
society--the ,church2 new1 for nothing  
of the kind had  existed in antiquity2  
powerful1 for the local churches1 at    
first  isolated1 soon began to          
confederate for their common interest4  
,through  this organization             
,christianity achieved all her political
 triumphs4    ,after the abdication of  
,diocletian 7,a4 ,d41 #cje71            
,constantine1 one of  the competitors   
for the purple1 perceiving the          
advantages that would  accrue to him    
from such a policy1 put himself forth as
 the head of  the ,christian party4     
,this gave him1 in every part of the    

empire1  men and women ready to         
encounter fire and sword in his behalf2 
it  gave him unwavering adherents in    
every legion of the armies4 ,in  a      
decisive battle1 near the ,milvian      
bridge1 victory crowned his  schemes4   
,the death of ,maximian1 and            
subsequently that of ,licinius1  removed
 all obstacles4 ,he ascended the throne 
of the ,caesars--the  first ,christian  
emperor4    ,place1 profit1 power--these
 were in view of whoever now joined the 
conquering sect4 ,crowds of worldly     
persons1 who cared nothing about  its   
religious ideas1 became its warmest     
supporters4 ,pagans at heart1  their    
influence was soon manifested in the    
paganization of ,christianity  that     
forthwith ensued4    ,as years passed   
on1 the faith described by ,tertullian  
was transmuted  into one more           
fashionable and more debased4 ,it was   
incorporated with  the old ,greek       
mythology4 ,olympus was restored1 but   
the divinities  passed under other      

names4 ,the more powerful provinces     
insisted on  the adoption of their      
time-honored conceptions4 ,views of the 
,trinity1  in accordance with ,egyptian 
traditions1 were established4           
,heathen rites were adopted1 a pompous  
and splendid ritual1 gorgeous  robes1   
mitres1 tiaras1 wax-tapers1 processional
 services1 lustrations1  gold and silver
 vases1 were introduced4 ,the ,roman    
lituns1 the chief  ensign of the augurs1
 became the crozier4 ,churches were     
built over  the tombs of martyrs1 and   
consecrated with rites borrowed from the
  ancient laws of the ,roman pontiffs4  
,festivals and commemorations  of       
martyrs multiplied with the numberless  
fictitious discoveries of  their        
remains4 ,fasting became the grand means
 of repelling the devil  and appeasing  
,god2 celibacy the greatest of the      
virtues4 ,pilgrimages  were made to     
,palestine and the tombs of the martyrs4
 ,quantities of  dust and earth were    
brought from the ,holy ,land and sold at

 enormous  prices1 as antidotes against 
devils4 ,the virtues of consecrated     
water  were upheld4 ,images and relics  
were introduced into the churches1  and 
worshiped after the fashion of the      
heathen gods4444 ,the apotheosis  of the
 old ,roman times was replaced by       
canonization2 tutelary saints  succeeded
 to local mythological divinities4      
,as centuries passed1 the paganization  
became more and more complete4    ,the  
maxim holds good in the social as well  
as the mechanical world1  that1 when two
 bodies strike1 the form of both is     
changed4 ,paganism  was modified by     
,christianity2 ,christianity by         
,paganism 7,conflict1  pp4 #cd-eb74     
,while affirming the divine origin of   
,christianity1 the church  historian    
,mosheim admits its early paganization4 
,he says3 ,the rites  and institutions1 
by which the ,greeks1 ,romans1 and other
 nations had  formerly testified their  
religious veneration for fictitious     
deities1  were now adopted1 with some   

slight alterations1 by ,christian       
bishops1  and employed in the service of
 the true ,god4444 ,hence it happened   
that  in these times the religion of the
 ,greeks and ,romans differed very      
little in its external appearance from  
that of the ,christians4 ,they  had both
 a most pompous and splendid ritual4    
,gorgeous robes1 mitres1  tiaras1       
wax-tapers1 crosiers1 processions1      
lustrations1 images1  gold and silver   
vases1 and many such circumstances of   
pageantry1 were  equally to be seen in  
the heathen temples and the ,christian  
churches  7,ecclesiastical ,history1 p4 
#aje74    ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,r4 ,heber    
,newton1 in an article which appeared in
 the  ,north ,american ,review1 says3   
,there is1 in fact1 as we now see1      
nothing in the externals of the         
,christian church which is not a        
survival from the churches of           
paganism4444 ,the sacramental use of    
water and bread and wine1 the very sign 
of the cross--all are ancient  human    

institutions1 rites and symbols4        
,scratch a ,christian and you come  upon
 a ,pagan4 ,christianity is a rebaptized
 paganism4 ,christendom1  says ,dr4     
,lyman ,abbott1 is only an imperfectly  
,christianized paganism4    ,the creeds 
of old are dead or dying1 and the       
celestial kings1 who  seemed so real to 
their worshipers1 are mostly crownless  
phantoms  now4 ,buddha1 ,laou-tsze1 and 
,confucius1 the wise men of the ,east1  
command the reverence of nearly half the
 world1 and the ,persian  prophet has a 
few followers2 but from these faiths the
 supernatural  is vanishing4 ,millions  
yet believe that ,krishna1 the ,christ  
of ,india1  is the son of ,god2 but this
 faith1 too1 is waning4 ,the            
intellectual  offspring of ,plato's     
brilliant brain survive1 but all that   
remains  of his divine father is a      
mutilated effigy4 ,the genial ,sun still
  warms and lights the earth1 but       
centuries have flown since ,mithra1  his
 beloved1 received the adoration of     

mankind4 ,the fire still glows  upon the
 hearth1 but the great ,titan who       
brought it down from ,heaven  lives only
 in a poet's dream4 ,the crimson nectar 
of the vine moves men  to mirth and     
madness now as when the swan of ,teos   
sang its praise1  but ,bacchus and the  
ancient mysteries are dead4 ,above      
storm-wrapped  ,olympus1 as of old1 is  
heard the thunder's awful peal1 but it  
is not  the voice of ,zeus4 ,the voice  
of this1 the mightiest of all the gods1 
is hushed forever4 ,the populous and    
ever-growing empire of the dead  still  
flourishes1 but in its solemn court     
,osiris no longer sits as  judge4 ,the  
mother1 as of yore1 presses to her      
loving heart her dimpled  babe and      
fondly gazes into its azure eyes to woo 
its artless smile2  but ,egypt's        
star-crowned virgin and her royal child1
 who once received  the homage of a     
world1 are now but mythic dust4 ,manly  
beauty thrills  our daughters' hearts   
with love's strange ecstasy1 and the    

feigned  suffering of the dying hero on 
the mimic stage moistens their eyes     
with tears2 but ,adonis sleeps in his   
,phoenician tomb1 his slumbers          
undisturbed by woman's sobs4 ,the purple
 flower1 substance of his  dear self1   
which ,venus carried in her bosom1      
withered long ago4 ,when1  at eve1 the  
summer shower bathes with its cooling   
drops the verdure  of the fields1 across
 the sun-kissed cloud which veils the   
,orient  sky may still be seen the      
gorgeous bridge of ,bifrost2 but over   
its  majestic arch the dauntless ,odin  
rides no more4              ,the fair   
humanities of old religions1            
,the power1 the beauty1 and the majesty1
          ,that had their haunts in     
dale1 or piny mountain1          ,or    
forest by slow stream1 or pebbly spring1
          ,or chasms and watery depths2 
all these have vanished2          ,they 
live no longer in the faith of reason4  
--,schiller4      ,what has been the    
fate of the ,pagan gods will be the fate

 of the  ,christian deity4              
,christianity1 which supplanted the     
ancient faiths1  will1 in turn1 be      
supplanted by other religions4 ,on two  
continents  already the cross has gone  
down before the crescent4 ,the belief   
in ,christ as a divine being is passing 
away4 ,the creeds1 as of old1  affirm   
his divinity1 but in the minds of his   
more enlightened followers  the divine  
elements are disappearing4 ,what was    
formerly believed to be  supernatural is
 now known to be natural4 ,what were    
once living verities  are now dead      
formalities4 ,slowly and painfully1 but 
surely and clearly1  men are becoming   
convinced that there are no divine      
beings and no  supernatural             
religions--that all the gods1 including 
,christ1 are myths1  and all the        
religions1 including ,christianity1     
human productions4 ,in  the words of    
,jules ,soury1 ,time1 which condenses   
nebulae1 lights up  suns1 brings life   
and thought upon planets theretofore    

steeped in  death1 and gives back       
ephemeral worlds to dissolution and the 
fertile  chaos of the everlasting       
universe--time knows nought of gods nor 
of  the dim and fallacious hopes of     
ignorant mortals4    ,with these sublime
 pictures--a retrospect and a           
prophecy--from the  gallery of the great
 master1 ,i close this long-drawn       
subject3    ,when ,india is supreme1    
,brahma sits upon the world's throne4   
,when  the sceptre passes to ,egypt1    
,isis and ,osiris receive the homage  of
 mankind4 ,greece1 with her fierce      
valor1 sweeps to empire1 and  ,zeus puts
 on the purple of authority4 ,the earth 
trembles with the  tread of ,rome's     
intrepid sons1 and ,jove grasps with    
mailed hand the  thunderbolts of        
,heaven4 ,rome falls1 and ,christians1  
from her territory1  with the red sword 
of war1 carve out the ruling nations of 
the world1  and now ,christ sits upon   
the old throne4 ,who will be his        
successor8    ,i look again4 ,the popes 

and priests are gone4 ,the altars and   
the  thrones have mingled with the dust4
 ,the aristocracy of land and  cloud    
have perished from the earth and air4   
,the gods are dead4 ,a new  religion    
sheds its glory on mankind4444 ,and as  
,i look ,life lengthens1  ,joy deepens1 
,love intensifies1 ,fear dies--,liberty 
at last is ,god1  and ,heaven is here4