Reference: Christianity
Fausets
(See JESUS CHRIST.) The law and Mosaic system, though distinct from the gospel, yet clearly contemplates the new dispensation as that for which itself was the preparation. The original promise to Abraham, "in thee ... and thy seed ... shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Ge 12:3; 22:16), still awaited its fulfillment, and the law came in as the parenthesis between the promise of grace and its fulfillment in Christ the promised "seed." Ro 5:20; "the law entered (as a parenthesis, incidentally, Greek) that the offense might abound." Ga 3:8-25; "the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but after that, faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
Jacob's prophecy contemplated the theocratic scepter passing from Judah, when Shiloh should come as the gatherer of the peoples to Himself (Ge 49:10). Many psalms (as Psalm 2; Psalm 72; Psalm 22; Psalm 67) and all the prophets (compare Isaiah 2; Isaiah 53) look forward to the Messiah as about to introduce a new and worldwide dispensation. Nay, even Moses himself (De 18:15, etc.) announces the coming of another Lawgiver like him, about to promulgate God's new law; for to be like Moses He must be a lawgiver, and to be so He must have a new law, a fuller development of God's will, than Moses' law, its germ. Psalm 110 declared that His priesthood should be one "forever, after the order of Melchizeded" (the king of righteousness and king of peace), to which the Levitical priesthood did homage in the person of Abraham their ancestor, paying tithes to Melchizedek (compare Hebrew 6-7).
The law was the type; the gospel was the antitype (Heb 10:1-10). Christ came not to destroy it (i.e. its essence) but to fulfill (complete) it (Mt 5:17). The letter gives place to the spirit which realizes the end of the letter (2Co 3:3-18). As also Jeremiah foretells (Jer 31:31-34; compare Heb 8:4-13; 10:15-18). If Christianity had not been of God, it could never have prevailed, without human might or learning, to supersede the system of the mightiest and most civilized nations (1 Corinthians 1-2). Its miracles, its fulfillment of all prophecy, and its complete adaptation to meet man's deep spiritual needs, pardon, peace, holiness, life, immortality for soul and body, are the only reasonable account to be given of its success.
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Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets; I have not come to destroy but to complete.
Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets; I have not come to destroy but to complete.
For the law supervened that the fall might abound; but where the sin abounded the grace was superabundant,
For the law supervened that the fall might abound; but where the sin abounded the grace was superabundant,
for you are manifestly an epistle of Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of hearts of flesh.
for you are manifestly an epistle of Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of hearts of flesh. And we have such confidence through Jesus Christ in God;
And we have such confidence through Jesus Christ in God; not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reason out any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God,
not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reason out any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant, not of the writing but of the spirit; for the writing kills, but the spirit makes alive.
who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant, not of the writing but of the spirit; for the writing kills, but the spirit makes alive. But if the ministry of death engraved in a writing on stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses on account of the brightness of his face, which passed away,
But if the ministry of death engraved in a writing on stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses on account of the brightness of his face, which passed away, how shall not the ministry of the spirit be glorious?
how shall not the ministry of the spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was a glory, much more will the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.
For if the ministry of condemnation was a glory, much more will the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For that which was made glorious was not glorious in this respect, on account of the surpassing glory.
For that which was made glorious was not glorious in this respect, on account of the surpassing glory. For if that which has passed away was with glory, much more will that which continues be in glory.
For if that which has passed away was with glory, much more will that which continues be in glory. Having therefore this hope we use great boldness,
Having therefore this hope we use great boldness, and not as Moses put a vail on his face, that the children of Israel might not see to the end of that which has passed away;
and not as Moses put a vail on his face, that the children of Israel might not see to the end of that which has passed away; but their minds were blinded. For to this day in reading the old covenant the same vail remains, not taken away because it is taken away in Christ;
but their minds were blinded. For to this day in reading the old covenant the same vail remains, not taken away because it is taken away in Christ; but to this day when Moses is read a vail lies upon their minds;
but to this day when Moses is read a vail lies upon their minds; but when they turn to the Lord the vail is taken away.
but when they turn to the Lord the vail is taken away. And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.
And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. And we all with unvailed face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same likeness, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.
And we all with unvailed face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same likeness, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.
And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, promised before to Abraham, In you shall all the nations be blessed.
And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, promised before to Abraham, In you shall all the nations be blessed. Those of faith, therefore, are blessed with believing Abraham.
Those of faith, therefore, are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things written in the book of the law to do them.
For as many as are of works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things written in the book of the law to do them. And it is evident that no one is justified by the law before God, because the just shall live by faith,
And it is evident that no one is justified by the law before God, because the just shall live by faith, but the law is not of faith, but he that does these things shall live by them.
but the law is not of faith, but he that does these things shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree,
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham may come on the nations, in Christ Jesus, that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through the faith.
that the blessing of Abraham may come on the nations, in Christ Jesus, that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through the faith. Brothers, I speak according to man. But no one abolishes a man's covenant when it is established, or makes additions to it.
Brothers, I speak according to man. But no one abolishes a man's covenant when it is established, or makes additions to it. The promises were spoken to Abraham and his offspring. He said not, And to offsprings, as of many, but as of one, And to your offspring, which is Christ.
The promises were spoken to Abraham and his offspring. He said not, And to offsprings, as of many, but as of one, And to your offspring, which is Christ. And this I say; that the law which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot abrogate the covenant previously established by God, to make the promise of no effect.
And this I say; that the law which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot abrogate the covenant previously established by God, to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by the promise. But God gave it to Abraham by the promise.
For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by the promise. But God gave it to Abraham by the promise. What then? The law was added on account of transgressions, till the offspring should come to which the promise was made, being appointed by angels by the hand of a mediator.
What then? The law was added on account of transgressions, till the offspring should come to which the promise was made, being appointed by angels by the hand of a mediator. But there is no mediator of one; but God is one.
But there is no mediator of one; but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? By no means. For if a law had been given, able to give life, righteousness would really have been by the law;
Is the law then against the promises of God? By no means. For if a law had been given, able to give life, righteousness would really have been by the law; but the Scripture has shut up all under sin, that the promise of the faith of Jesus Christ may be given to them that believe.
but the Scripture has shut up all under sin, that the promise of the faith of Jesus Christ may be given to them that believe. But before the faith came, we were kept shut up under the law for the faith to be revealed.
But before the faith came, we were kept shut up under the law for the faith to be revealed. So that the law was our schoolmaster to lead to Christ, that we might be justified by faith;
So that the law was our schoolmaster to lead to Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but the faith having come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For if he had been on earth he would not have been a priest, there being priests to offer, the gifts according to the law,
For if he had been on earth he would not have been a priest, there being priests to offer, the gifts according to the law, who serve for a symbol and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when about to make the tabernacle; for see, he says, that you make all things after the pattern shown you in the Mount;
who serve for a symbol and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when about to make the tabernacle; for see, he says, that you make all things after the pattern shown you in the Mount; but now he has obtained a more excellent service, by as much also as he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is established on better promises.
but now he has obtained a more excellent service, by as much also as he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for the second. [But it was not].
For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for the second. [But it was not]. For finding fault with them he says, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, a new covenant,
For finding fault with them he says, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, a new covenant, not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, for they continued not in my covenant, and I neglected them, says the Lord.
not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, for they continued not in my covenant, and I neglected them, says the Lord. This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws in their minds, and will write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.
This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws in their minds, and will write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every one his [fellow] citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest of them.
And they shall not teach every one his [fellow] citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their wickedness, and their sins and transgressions will I remember no more.
For I will be merciful to their wickedness, and their sins and transgressions will I remember no more. By saying new, he made the first old; but that which is ancient and weak is about to perish.
By saying new, he made the first old; but that which is ancient and weak is about to perish.
For the law having a shadow of the good things that were to come, not the very likeness of the things, could not by the sacrifices which they offered continually every year perfect the offerers;
For the law having a shadow of the good things that were to come, not the very likeness of the things, could not by the sacrifices which they offered continually every year perfect the offerers; if they could, would they not have ceased to be offered, because those serving would have had no longer a knowledge of sins, having been once purified?
if they could, would they not have ceased to be offered, because those serving would have had no longer a knowledge of sins, having been once purified? But in them there was a remembrance of sins, year by year;
But in them there was a remembrance of sins, year by year; for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Wherefore, coming into the world, he says, A sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, but a body didst thou prepare me.
Wherefore, coming into the world, he says, A sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, but a body didst thou prepare me. Whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wast not pleased with;
Whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wast not pleased with; then I said, Behold, I come,??n the volume of the book it is written of me,??o do thy will, O God.
then I said, Behold, I come,??n the volume of the book it is written of me,??o do thy will, O God. Saying before, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou didst not desire and wast not pleased with, which are offered according to the law,
Saying before, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou didst not desire and wast not pleased with, which are offered according to the law, then he said, Behold, I come to do thy will. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,
then he said, Behold, I come to do thy will. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.
by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.
The Holy Spirit also testifies [this] to us; for after it had said before,
The Holy Spirit also testifies [this] to us; for after it had said before, This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, the Lord says, I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them,
This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, the Lord says, I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sins and transgressions will I remember no more.
and their sins and transgressions will I remember no more. But where there is a forgiveness of these, an offering for sin is no longer required.
But where there is a forgiveness of these, an offering for sin is no longer required.
Hastings
When the name 'Christian' (see preceding art.) had come to be the specific designation of a follower of Jesus Christ, it was inevitable that the word 'Christianity' should sooner or later be used to denote the faith which Christians profess. The word does not occur in the NT, however, and first makes its appearance in the letters of Ignatius early in the 2nd century. But for 1800 years it has been the regular term for the religion which claims Jesus Christ as its founder, and recognizes in His Person and work the sum and substance of its beliefs.
Christianity presents itself to us under two aspects
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and she shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.
And he went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets; I have not come to destroy but to complete.
You have heard that it was said by the ancients, You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be subject to the judgment.
You have heard that it was said by the ancients, You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be subject to the judgment.
You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery;
You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery;
Again, you have heard that it was said by the ancients, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord your oaths.
You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.
Be therefore perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
By their fruits, therefore, you shall know them. Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father in heaven.
And when Jesus had finished these words the multitudes were astonished at his teaching;
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease, and every infirmity.
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here.
The Son of man will send his angels, and they shall collect out of his kingdom all offenses, and all that commit wickedness,
And I tell you that you are Peter [a rock], and upon this rock will I build my assembly, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.
and if he will not hear them, tell the assembly; and if he will not hear the assembly, let him be to you as a gentile and a publican.
They said to him, Why then did Moses command us to give a bill of divorcement, and put her away?
saying, Teacher, Moses said, If any one dies having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up children for his brother.
And the Pharisees being assembled together, Jesus asked them,
And after John was delivered up Jesus came into Galilee preaching the good news of God,
for the Son of man has come to seek and save the lost.
The light was the true [light] which lights every man that comes into the world.
You worship what you know not; we worship what we know; for salvation is of the Jews.
Then Jesus said to them, I tell you most truly, Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven;
THEN Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died; whom do you make yourself?
I give you a new commandment to love another, as I have loved you that you also should love one another.
I give you a new commandment to love another, as I have loved you that you also should love one another.
Jesus said to him, Have I been so long a time with you and have you not known me, Philip? He that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you, Show us the Father?
continue in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it continues in the vine, so you cannot, unless you continue in me.
By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and be my disciples.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
These things I charge you, that you love one another.
Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly, that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.
And Peter said to them, Change your minds, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
but killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead, whose witnesses we are.
and believers were added the more to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women;
(Added verse not retained in Sawyer)
And those of the circumcision who came with Peter were astonished, that on the gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out;
But some of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who came to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus.
and found and brought him to Antioch. And he was with them, and they met a whole year with the church and taught a great multitude; and the disciples first took the name of Christians at Antioch.
Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins,
But the unbelieving Jews excited the minds of the gentiles against the brothers, and made them ill-disposed.
although indeed he left not himself without a witness, doing good, giving rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
And he went to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certain disciple there by the name of Timothy, a son of a Jewish woman, a believer, but of a Greek father,
and bringing them out said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, and your house.
And Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are extremely devoted to the worship of demons.
that they should seek God, if perhaps they might feel after and find him, and indeed he is not far from every one of us. For in him we live, and move, and are; as some also of your own poets have said, For we are his offspring.
For his invisible [attributes] are clearly seen from the creation of the world, being perceived by the things which are made, even his eternal power and deity, so that they have no defense, because having known God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful, but became vain in their reasonings and their ignorant mind was darkened.
and they show the work of the law written in their minds, their consciences testifying with them, and their judgments mutually acusing or defending one another;??16 in the day when God shall judge the secret [doings] of men according to my gospel through Jesus Christ.
but God commends his love to us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us;
For if when enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more having become reconciled we shall be saved in his life.
so we, the many, are one body in Christ, and each one members one of another;
Owe no man any thing, except to love one another; for he that loves another has fully performed the law.
Love does no evil to a neighbor; love therefore is the sum of the law.
For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their offenses, and has given to us the word of reconciliation.
to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their offenses, and has given to us the word of reconciliation.
So that the law was our schoolmaster to lead to Christ, that we might be justified by faith;
but when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
For all the law is fully contained in one precept; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,
and put all things in subjection under his feet, and made him head over all things to the church,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through the faith, you being founded and established in love,
but speaking the truth with love we may grow to him in all things, who is the head, Christ;
for the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; he is the savior of the body.
that he might present the church to himself glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any thing of the kind, but that it should be holy and blameless.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
but when the goodness and philanthropy of the Saviour our God appeared,
looking to the chief guide and perfecter of the faith, Jesus, who for the joy set before him despised the shame and endured the cross, and sat down on the right hand of God.
And he bore me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
Watsons
CHRISTIANITY, the religion of Christians. By Christianity is here meant, not that religious system as it may be understood and set forth in any particular society calling itself Christian; but as it is contained in the sacred books acknowledged by all these societies, or churches, and which contained the only authorized rule of faith and practice.
2. The lofty profession which Christianity makes as a religion, and the promises it holds forth to mankind, entitle it to the most serious consideration of all. For it may in truth be said, that no other religion presents itself under aspects so sublime, or such as are calculated to awaken desires and hopes so enlarged and magnificent. It not only professes to be from God, but to have been taught to men by the Son of God incarnate in our nature, the Second Person in the adorable trinity of divine Persons, "the same in substance, equal in power and glory." It declares that this divine personage is the appointed Redeemer of mankind from sin, death, and misery; that he was announced as such to our first parents upon their lapse from the innocence and blessedness of their primeval state; that he was exhibited to the faith and hope of the patriarchs in express promises; and, by the institution of sacrifices, as a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, so that man might be reconciled to God through Him, and restored to his forfeited inheritance of eternal life. It represents all former dispensations of true religion, all revelations of God's will, and all promises of grace from God to man, as emanating from the anticipated sacrifice and sacerdotal intercession of its Author, and as all preparatory to the introduction of his perfect religion; and that as to the great political movements among the nations of antiquity, the rise and fall of empires were all either remotely or proximately connected with the designs of his advent among men. It professes to have completed the former revelations of God's will and purposes; to have accomplished ancient prophecies; fulfilled ancient types; and taken up the glory of the Mosaic religion into its own "glory that excelleth;" and to contain within itself a perfect system of faith, morals, and acceptable worship. It not only exhibits so effectual a sacrifice for sin, that remission of all offences against God flows from its merits to all who heartily confide in it; but it proclaims itself to be a remedy for all the moral disorders of our fallen nature; it casts out every vice, implants every virtue, and restores man to "the image of God in which he was created," even to "righteousness and true holiness."
3. Its promises both to individuals and to society are of the largest kind. It represents its Founder as now exercising the office of the High Priest of the human race before God, and as having sat down at his right hand, a mediatorial and reconciling government being committed to him, until he shall come to judge all nations, and distribute the rewards of eternity to his followers, and inflict its never-terminating punishments upon those who reject him. By virtue of this constitution of things, it promises pardon to the guilty, of every age and country, who seek it in penitence and prayer, comfort to the afflicted and troubled, victory over the fear of death, a happy intermediate state to the disembodied spirit, and finally the resurrection of the body from the dead, and honour and immortality to be conferred upon the whole man glorified in the immediate presence of God. It holds out the loftiest hopes also to the world at large. It promises to introduce harmony among families and nations, to terminate all wars and all oppressions, and ultimately to fill the world with truth, order, and purity. It represents the present and past state of society, as in contest with its own principles of justice, mercy, and truth; but teaches the final triumph of the latter over every thing contrary to itself. It exhibits the ambition, the policy, and the restlessness of statesmen and warriors, as but the overruled instruments by which it is working out its own purposes of wisdom and benevolence; and it not only defies the proudest array of human power, but professes to subordinate it by a secret and irresistible working to its own designs. Finally, it exhibits itself as enlarging its plans, and completing its designs, by moral suasion, the evidence of its truth, and the secret divine influence which accompanies it. Such are the professions and promises of Christianity, a religion which enters into no compromise with other systems; which represents itself as the only religion now in the world having God for its author; and in his name, and by the hope of his mercy, and the terrors of his frown, it commands the obedience of faith to all people to whom it is published upon the solemn sanction, "He that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned."
4. Corresponding with these professions, which throw every other religion that pretends to offer hope to man into utter insignificance, it is allowed that the evidence of its truth ought to be adequate to sustain the weight of so vast a fabric, and that men have a right to know that they are not deluded with a grand and impressive theory, but are receiving from this professed system of truth and salvation "the true sayings of God." Such evidence it has afforded in its splendid train of MIRACLES; in its numerous appeals to the fulfilment of ancient PROPHECIES; in its own powerful INTERNAL evidence; in the INFLUENCE which it has always exercised, and continues to exert, upon the happiness of mankind; and in various collateral circumstances. Under the heads of Miracles and Prophecy, those important branches of evidence will be discussed, and to them the reader is referred. It is only necessary here to say, that the miracles to which Christianity appeals as proofs of its divine authority, are not only those which were wrought by Christ and his Apostles, but also those which took place among the patriarchs, under the law of Moses, and by the ministry of the Prophets; for the religion of those ancient times was but Christianity in its antecedent revelations. All these miracles, therefore, must be taken collectively, and present attestations of the loftiest kind, as being manifestly the work of the "finger of God," wrought under circumstances which precluded mistake, and exhibiting an immense variety, from the staying of the very wheels of the planetary system,
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Then those that received his word were baptized, and there were added on that day about three thousand souls;
But many of those that heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand.
And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples was greatly multiplied at Jerusalem, and a great multitude of the priests obeyed the faith.
And Saul consented to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution of the church at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
BUT Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest
and immediately in the synagogues he preached Jesus, that this is the Son of God.
AND at that time Herod the king put forth his hands to injure some of the church.
and having heard, they glorified God, and said to him, You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are of those who have believed, among the Jews, and all are zealots of the law;