Christianity from God.

Preface

The object of this little volume is to present some of the evidences of Christianity so plainly that any person of common intelligence, though without historical knowledge, can understand the argument and appreciate its force. I have aimed to use only reasoning which is of real and unquestionable strength, and to bring it within the power of the common people, the unlearned masses, to judge of its character. The book is not for the learned ; but I hope there is nothing foolish or weak in it, and that those most competent to form a just judgment will find the reasoning worthy of consideration and acceptance.

Skeptical doubts sometimes trouble thoughtful persons, who have not read much, and have not much opportunity to read long and learned treatises, in proof that the Christian religion is what it claims to be. To such, perhaps, this book, easily read,

in

IV PREFACE.

and I hope easily understood, may afford some help. It does not pretend to be a demonstration, such as belongs only to mathematical reasoning ; but it offers such arguments as, to a thoughtful and candid mind, urge personal attention to the gospel. Perhaps only by a personal and experimental acquaintance with Christ and his salvation will the thoroughly searching inquirer be able to find, so as to knozo beyond all doubt, that Christianity is from God,

ALVAN TOBEY.

Chapter I. Monumental Proofs

" Prove all things ; hold fast that which is good." — I Thess.

f PROPOSE, in the present volume, to give a succinct view of the evidences of TC Christianity. My aim will be to show some of the proofs that the religion which we call Christian is true and is of God ; and to make the argument so plain that any person of common understanding will see its force, and, if fair-minded, will be convinced. I am not so inexperienced as to think that I can persuade all to believe as I do on this great subject. But I do hope that all who read these pages will be satisfied of my honestly trying to follow the direction of the apostle, " Prove all things ; hold fast that which is good." And happy will it be, wise it must be, for us all to do this.

As a traveler approaches the city of Boston from any direction, he sees, among the multitude of tall spires and chimneys in view, a granite column, which attracts his notice as being higher and more substantial than any other object. If he be a stranger he may ask, pointing to it, "What is that?" The reply will be, "It is the Bunker Hill Monument." The stranger may ask, " Of what is it a monument ? " and he will be told, " Of the battle of Bunker Hill, fought on the 17th of June, 1775 ; the first battle of the American Revolutionary war in which considerable numbers were engaged." Then might follow some statements, more or less at length, about the circumstances of the battle.

But when was this monument erected ? It was begun fifty years from the day of the battle, by the laying of the corner-stone on the 17th of June, 1825. And its completion was celebrated eighteen years after, on the 17th of June, 1843.

If, now, the traveler should visit the monument he would find that the very ground on which the battle was fought — the whole surface of the hill, indeed, except a small space around the shaft itself — has been removed for the accommodation of the city which has grown up around it. And one who looks at the place and compares it with the historical accounts, might raise plausible objections to the fact of there having been a battle there. The very ground is not as it is described to have been when the redoubt was thrown up in the night and the early morning, and was further made defensible with the help of fence-rails and newmown hay.

But the monument testifies that the battle was fought there ; and it will bear the same testimony one thousand, two thousand, or three thousand years hence, unless an earthquake or some other great convulsion shall overthrow it.

Such enduring monuments to the truth of history are found in many parts of the world.

IO CHRISTIANITY FROM GOD.

They are sure witnesses to the unlearned that those who have written the narratives of past events have not been deceivers.

There is also a monument of another kind, which may be equally or more enduring, and is more widely known. It is the observance of the Fourth of July as our national birthday. This commemoration of the act by which we came to be a distinct nation could not possibly have become an established custom in our country, if the act which it celebrates had not been done. There is no possibility that the return of this day every year should be observed as it is, being made a national holiday and jubilee, celebrated everywhere, oftener with reading the Declaration of Independence than otherwise, if that declaration had not been made, and if we had not begun our national existence by it.

Then also the Declaration itself is another monument to the truth of history with regard to our national beginning. Thousands of years from this time that document will remain a proof that the story of our separation from

MONUMENTAL PROOFS. II

Great Britain and of our taking our place among the nations of the earth is true.

Are there alike enduring monuments witnessing to the facts of the Christian religion, so there can be no mistake in regarding them as facts ?

There are such monuments. It is sometimes asked, " How do we know that Jesus Christ ever existed, and that his whole history, as given to us, is not a fiction ? " I reply, we know by the monuments which confirm the history.

i. Our method of marking the succession of years is a monument that proves the existence of Jesus Christ as the founder of the Christian religion. In all our dates this year we write 1867. It is the same whether we write a letter, a business account, a legal document, or a state paper. And so it is all over the world. Wherever Christianity exists, this is the way in which men mark the year. They call it in Latin Anno Domini ; in English, the year of our Lord, the year of Christ, the year of the Christian era. How was this method of naming the year introduced ? How came it to be established ? It is understood to be in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian religion. We find the Christian religion existing anji prevailing in a large part of the world, and that the most intelligent, the most enterprising, the most wealthy, the most moral, the most powerful part of the world. And as we trace back the course of years we find this mode of marking time pointing always to the birth of Christ. Could this have been if Christ had not lived and been the founder of Christianity ? Surely we can not suppose it possible. Here then is one monument to the facts of the Christian religion. And with this agrees all the history of the Christian world.

2. A second monument to the truth of the Christian history, and so of Christianity, is the Christian Church in the world. Here it is. It exists in various parts of the earth and in various forms. How came it to be ? The history of the world and the history of the church trace back its existence to the life of

Christ on earth, to his miracles, his teachings, his death and resurrection, and the ministry of his apostles. Any amount of learning may be, has been, employed in tracing out this history and the progress of the church, with its variations and different parts, from the beginning till now. Disputes may be found and doubts raised as to some particular events. But the existence of the Christian religion as received by a portion of mankind from the time of Christ, acknowledging the Bible as their book of instruction and authority, themselves professing to believe the Bible and to follow Christ, — this living present fact remains palpable to all men. It can not be denied by any. It stands out before the world everywhere. The Christian religion has spread in some degree over all the world. It is not now, as it once was, a little thing found only in one place. But in all civilized nations, certainly, are those who are called after the name of Christ, and profess to receive him as their Saviour.

Does this prove the truth of Christianity ?

you may ask. It proves that Christ was not a fabulous being, but a real character, who exerts a mighty influence in the world. To know what sort of character he was, what he claimed to be, and whether he was what he claimed to be, we must go to the history of his life and teachings and death, and the progress of his influence through the ministry and teachings of his followers. The existence of the Christian religion in the world is a monument to the reality of Christ's life and influence in the world.

3. The two ordinances of the Christian Church, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, are another like monument. I put the two together because they are so much alike in their relation to the Christian religion. They are found wherever the church of Christ exists. They are said to be ordinances of his appointment. Such is the account of them in the New Testament. Is it possible that they could have come into observance in any other way ? Has there been any time when they could have been brought in, if they had not been appointed by the Master himself ?

There are two important things in relation to them, — their existence, and their appointment by the Lord himself. Can it be supposed that baptism arose as an ordinance in the church of Christ at any time since he lived ? Would there not then be some account of it, and some reason given for it ? If he did not direct his disciples to go and preach the gospel, baptizing those who believed, how came this ordinance to exist, and the statement also that he directed it? Could anybody at any time, between the day when Christ was on earth and this day, have contrived this introductory ordinance of the church and brought it into use ?

And so of the Lord's Supper. We have it as appointed by Christ himself in remembrance of his death. As such it comes to us. It has this meaning or design, — to keep in remembrance his death. " This is my body which is given for you ; this do in remembrance of me." To the same purpose is the statement of Paul, " For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."

Now, supposing the ordinance was not instituted at the time given, is it possible that Christians could afterward have been persuaded to adopt it as then having been instituted ? Surely, if it had been proposed in later times as a new thing, they would have said, " We never heard of this before. If Christ died for us and gave us this to be observed in remembrance of his death, why have we not known it till now ? " Therefore it never could have been brought into use at a later time. It must have existed from the beginning, as a memorial of Christ's death. And if the ordinance of the Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's death, the gospel history of his death is true. It is testified by this enduring monument.

4. The Christian Sabbath is another such monument. We find existing among us the division of time into weeks of seven days each, and the observance of the first day of the week as the Sabbath, the day of special religious worship. In the thoroughly Christian communities we find it observed as a day of rest from common labor, of abstinence from the common business and pleasures of the world, and employed in worship and other religious services.

Whence came this observance ? How have men been led to divide the days by sevens rather than by sixes or eights or tens ? Where did they get this division of days into weeks of seven each ? If we take the Bible history, and go back to the creation of the world, we find it ; and we do not find it anywhere else.

Even then we do not find the Sabbath as the first day of the week, but the seventh. Yet as the first day we have it. And how ? When was it introduced ? By what means and why was the change made from the seventh day to the first day ?

If the gospel history be true, and Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week, it is natural that the first day should be observed by his disciples as their special day of worship, and so should for all Christians take the place of the seventh day. And how otherwise could it have been introduced among men as a special day of worship ?

So the Sabbath is a monument witnessing to the truth of the gospel history ; witnessing that Christ, after he was crucified, rose from the dead, and that the Christian religion is true, and is of God.

5. Another monument is the Bible. Here we have a large book, not new, certainly, but long known, and held in the highest estimation as superior to any other book in worth and importance. It is often said to be worth more than all other books. Where did it come from ? How has it come to have such a place in the judgment of many people both learned and unlearned ? It is reputed to have a special authority and excellence as God's book, produced by his inspiration. Among Christians generally it is regarded as the great source of religious instruction, the treasury of divine truth from which all men may draw that knowledge of God, and the way to secure his favor, which they need. It so stands alone and above all other books as to be called the Word of God, and the Bible, or the book, as if there were no other book. It has often been said that men have a superstitious reverence for it. And perhaps they have. It is very easy for many people to be superstitious. But many, certainly, have a great reverence for the Bible, who do not generally show themselves superstitious.

Now, I ask, How is it that the Bible has such a great place in the world, and such great influence among men ? How has it come to pass that many of the best men, and not a few of the ablest men, think so highly of it ? If it is a book in which the world is taught religious truth by God himself, all this respect and veneration are reasonable. If it is not such a book, but only one having in it many good and true things produced by men in times past, without any special help of God, as other books are made, all those who think so very highly of it are mistaken.

I remember that a few years ago a very learned and able man, who had not any peculiar reverence for the Bible, though he professed to be a preacher of the truth, said that the preachers who hold up the Bible as the infallible word of God do not dare to tell the people that it was made up of a great many different parts, written by many different persons in widely different periods of time. To tell them these facts he thought would destroy that reverence for the Bible as God's book of eternal truth which the ministers of the Christian religion commonly teach. But Theodore Parker, with all his learning and ability, must have been ignorant of what is familiar to most of the teachers in our Sabbath schools and to many of the scholars, — of what indeed is familiar to all the most intelligent common Christians. For those very facts which, he said, ministers would be afraid to have generally known, are matters of common instruction by them, and of common knowledge among intelligent Christian people.

The common fact is, and is well known to be, that the Bible is the subject of study by Christian ministers themselves, — is acknowledged by them as of the highest authority ;

and it is their general practice to urge the people, also, to make it the subject of their study, and to learn all they can about it. They present it everywhere as worthy to be put to the test of constant inquiry and examination. And generally those who bring it to this test in the most thorough manner are the most fully convinced of its superior worth and authority. Especially is it true that the best men among us, who give careful and constant attention to the Bible, are the most fully satisfied that God speaks to us in it the words of his eternal truth and love, for our salvation from sin and death.

Therefore do I say that the Bible, as it exists among us, the subject of constant study, the source of constant instruction, received generally by those most thoroughly acquainted with it and so most competent to judge, as giving us a revelation from God, is a monument to the truth of the Christian religion. And the more we look upon it, and see that light and love have gone out from it for ages, blessing the world with peace and good will in proportion as men have received and obeyed its teachings, the more does it appear an enduring monument witnessing to the truth and goodness of the Christian religion.

These five enduring memorials, testifying to the material facts in the Christian religion, are worthy of serious consideration by all who wish to know the truth on the momentous question, whether God has spoken to us in the Bible, and by his Son, Jesus Christ. The first, our manner of marking the years as they pass, is a witness to the real existence of Christ. The second, the existence of the Christian religion in the world, is a monument of his mighty influence. The third, the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, — regarding the two as one monument, — testify of his teachings and his death. The fourth, the Sabbath, is a monument of his resurrection. And the fifth, the Bible, sets before the world the means of his power, the store-house of influences going forth to bless men with salvation.

And here let me ask, in conclusion, are not these proofs that Christianity is a matter of reality and importance enough to demand that we give our attention to it in earnest, and secure for ourselves the blessings which it brings ? Can any one act reasonably who neglects it ?

If Christ lived and taught, and died and rose from the dead, and sent forth his gospel that we might believe it and be saved by it, how can we escape if we neglect so great salvation ?

The words of warning which Paul uttered in addressing the Jews at Antioch are applicable to us : " Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of by the prophets : Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish ; I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."

Chapter II. The Bible

" But the word of our God shall stand for ever." — Is. xl. 8.

'HE passage in which we find this declaration is quoted in the New Testament by the apostle Peter in his first Epistle. It is not given by the apostle fully and exactly, but generally &nd in substance. Isaiah says, " All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field : the grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it : surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." Peter says, " For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. . The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away : but the word of the Lord endureth for ever." He adds, "And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

We often call the Bible the word of God, because we believe it contains God's revelation to men of his will, of the principles of his government, and of the way in which he will bless and save them for ever. And it is neither unnatural nor unreasonable to take the expression of the prophet, " The word of our God," as meaning the Bible. If it did not mean, as used by him, exactly what we mean by the word, yet certainly we suppose its meaning is contained in the Bible, because we suppose God speaks to us in it ; and that which he speaks is his word.

In the preceding chapter on the monumental proofs of Christianity, the Bible was mentioned as one of them. I propose now to look at it as being of itself a very strong proof of the truth of the Christian religion.

I. The reputation of the Bible as giving men a revelation is strong evidence for the Christian religion. I refer now especially to the reputation it has, among intelligent people and in all the most enlightened countries of the world, of containing a revelation from God for the benefit of men.

As you go into a library and take up one book after another, if you ask the character of each, you receive the answer of those who are well informed, generally, according to the facts. About some books there is entire agreement. About some there is great diversity of opinion. About a few there is little known as to their authorship and character. But when you find a book which is well known, which has been much read and studied, of which the language and facts and doctrines are familiar to many people, you will certainly have no hesitation in taking the opinion of those best acquainted with it as likely to be correct. Those who have given it little attention can not judge so well of it as those who have given it much. But if there is a general agreement among those who are acquainted with the book as to its character, there is certainly strong reason to believe that their opinion is right. If many have had opportunity of reading the book, so as to make themselves well informed concerning its contents and character, and if most of those who have learned what they could, substantially agree in relation to it, we may reasonably conclude that they have formed a right judgment. And we can not reasonably conclude anything else.

Now this is just the fact with regard to the Bible. It is well known. It is a common book. Many people have read it and studied it, so as to have a good knowledge of its language, facts, and teachings. And the great majority of those who have given it so much attention as to know what there is in it, believe that it is a revelation from God. It is commonly called the word of God, because it is generally believed by those who know much about it that he speaks to us in it. This is its general reputation among the most intelligent and sober-minded people who are acquainted with it, among those who are the most competent, by their knowledge and by their attention to the matter, to form a correct judgment.

And this reputation of the Bible is a stronger proof in its favor, because it is called in question. There are those, and there have always been those, who doubted or denied that the Bible gives us a revelation from God. In some instances, persons have made themselves well acquainted with it, and yet have not been convinced that its reputation and title as the word of God are well founded. But generally, among those who have examined it, there is an assent to its title and its reputation ; and among those who have examined it the most carefully and thoroughly there is a warm approval of its claims.

This proof is strong enough, surely, to demand that every one who would be reasonable and would know the truth should examine the book for himself. Especially is this the fact when we consider that the people who take it for the word of God are not, as a class, the weak, the uninformed, nor the evil-minded. In a Protestant Christian land, where the book is the most common and best known, they are a very large part of the people ; and they include most of those who may be called well-disposed,

THE BIBLE 2(J

well-informed, sober-minded and sensible. If you take out those who have neglected to give it any considerable attention, and ask the opinion of only those who have made themselves acquainted with its contents, its character and its claims, you will find that nearly all of them acknowledge it as the word of God. This reputation of the Bible, I repeat, is such a proof in favor of its importance and its divine authority as calls upon every one who would know the truth to examine the book for himself.

2. And here is a second proof in its favor : the book offers itself for examination. It does not seek concealment, but asks to be thoroughly searched out. It courts inquiry, honest, earnest, fair-minded. Come to the Bible and see what there is in it. Do not look for what is not, but for what is, — the great plain facts and truths, or teachings. Do not expend all your examination on the dark or doubtful things, those which are hard to be understood ; but give your attention to its eternal law of truth and right, to God's presence in all its history, to his promises and providences favoring that which is good and warning against that which is evil, to his revelations by prophets and apostles, and more than all others by Jesus Christ, his Son. Look into the things which are really and plainly in this one book, and not in other books, except as drawn from this. Look into them carefully. Examine them as fully as you can. The book offers itself to you for examination, not for a blind reception.

Imposture always seeks concealment. It clothes itself with mystery. It strives to make the impression of something above the knowledge of ordinary mortals, and above their power of attaining knowledge. It claims to be among the wonders of the world. Sometimes it lifts the veil of mystery a little, and so pretends to imitate the discoveries of true science. But never does it invite a thorough examination like the Bible. Search the Scriptures. No book of imposture has a standing injunction like this. But the Bible has stood before the world with this command of its chief character, its hero, ever since he was on earth.

THE BIBLE. 3 I

There are two sorts of inquiry to which the Bible is exposed, and to which it calls those who seek to know its rightful claims. They are, — inquiry into its teachings and character, and inquiry into its history and influence. The first, which is internal, is an examination of what the Bible contains. The other, which is external, is an examination of all that we can learn about it outside of the book itself.

An examination of what is in the book is the most within the reach of all, the most satisfactory to a candid inquirer, and the most decisive. It is to this chiefly that the minds of men should be directed. Here the field is open to all who can read and think and judge for themselves.

You want to know more of the truth concerning God than you can learn from the material world, and more than you find by looking within yourself, or by any use of your own reason without help. Look into the Bible and see if you do not find something there to good purpose. See if the law which is there declared does not meet your own heart and conscience as having the authority of truth and of God, so that you may reasonably say, This is the law of God. See if the presence and regulating control of God, as the Almighty Creator and ever-present Supreme Ruler, is not the most reasonable teaching about God, and the most satisfactory to the mind, and therefore to be received as truth. See if you do not find God speaking to us in Christ, coming to men, showing sympathy with our trials, compassion for our sorrows, love to our souls, and providing salvation from sin and death, as you do not find in all the world besides. The truth always, in all the world, is its own best testimony. As an honest man often carries his best recommendation in his own face and manners, so that none who know him can .doubt his character, and scarcely can one who sees him even for a little time, — so the Bible carries, in the manner and character of its teachings, the best and reasonably sufficient proof that God in it gives us a revelation of his truth and love, and speaks to us the words of life eternal.