4th. That precisely in proportion to its influence have the morals of every community, or generation, been more pure, and the active fruits of that holy love which is the basis of all moral- ity more abundant ; as witness the provision made for the relief of all suffering, and the elevation of all classes of the degraded.
Hence we conclude, 1st. No imposture could have accomplished such uniform good. 2d. No system, merely human, could have achieved results so constant, so far-reaching and profound.
19. What argument for the truth of Christianity may be drawn from the history of its early successes ?
Our argument is that Christianity extended itself over the Roman empire, under circumstances and by means unparalleled in the propagation of any other religion, and such as necessitates upon our part the belief in the presence of a supernatural agency.
The facts are, 1st. Christianity was bitterly repudiated and persecuted by the Jews among whom it originated, and to whose Scriptures it appealed. 2d. Its first teachers were Jews, the most universally abominated race in the empire, and for the most part illiterate men. 3d. It appealed to multitudes of witnesses for the truth of many open facts, which if untrue could easily have been disproved. 4th. It condemned absolutely every other religion, and refused to be assimilated to the cosmopolitan religion of im- perial Rome. 5th. It opposed the reigning philosophies. 6th. It humbled human pride, laid imperative restraint upon the govern- ing passions of the human heart, and taught prominently the moral excellence of virtues which were despised as weaknesses by the heathen moralists. 7th. From the first it settled and fought its way in the greatest centers of the world's philosophy and re-
64 EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.
finement, as Antioch, Alexandria, Athens, Corinth and Kome, and here it achieved its victories during the Augustan and imme- diately succeeding age. 8th. It was for three hundred years sub- ject to a persecution, at the hands both of the people and the government, universal, protracted and intense. 9th. It achieved its success only by means of the instrumentality of testimony, argument, example and persuasion.
Nevertheless, the "little flock" became, soon after the ascension five thousand, Acts, iv. 4, and increased continuously by multi- tudes, Acts, v. 14. The heathen writers Tacitus and Pliny tes- tify to the rapid progress of this religion during the first, and Justin Martyr, Tertullian and Origen during the second and the first part of the third century. So much so that the conversion of Constantine during the first part of the fourth century was politic, even if it was sincere, as the mass of the intelligence, worth and wealth of the empire had passed over to Christianity before him. — Paley's Ev., Part II., chap, ix., sec. 1.
20. How does Gibbon attempt to destroy the force of this ar- gument in the fifteenth chapter of his history ?
Without denying the presence of any supernatural element, he covertly insinuates that the early successes of Christianity may be adequately accounted for by five secondary causes. 1st. " The inflexible, or if we may use the expression, the intolerant zeal of the Christians." 2d. " The doctrine of a future life, improved by every additional circumstance which could give weight and effici- ency to that important truth." 3d. " The miraculous powers as- cribed to the primitive church." 4th. " The pure and austere morals of the Christians." 5th. " The union and discipline of the Christian republic, which gradually formed an independent state in the midst of the Koman empire."
This is a very superficial view of the matter. As to the " 1st." pretended secondary cause above quoted, it is itself the effect that needs to be accounted for. In the face of contempt and death it did not produce itself.
As to the " 2d" cause cited we answer (1.) that this doctrine could have produced no effect until it was believed, and the be- lief of men in it is the very effect to be accounted for. (2.) The
EVIDENCE SUFFICIENT AND OBLIGING. 65
doctrine of future torments has not, in modern experience, been found attractive to wicked men.
As to the " 3d" cause we answer, (1.) if the miracles were real, then Christianity is from God. (3.) If false, they certainly would rather have betrayed than advanced the imposture.
As to the "4th" cause, the superior morality of Christians, we admit the fact.
As to the " 5th" cause, we answer (1.) that this federative union among Christians could not exist until after the previous universal extension of their religion. (2.) That it did not exist until the close of the second century ; and (3.) before Constantine it was only the union in danger of a despised and persecuted sect. — See Dr. M. D. Hoge's University Lecture.
21. Does the ivliole of the foregoing evidence in vindication of Christianity amount to a demonstration ?