credit as an honest writer. Therefore any testimony of his must be received with great suspicion. Besides, the few words which are found in his 18th and 20th Book of Antiquities, concerning Jesus and his brother James, are clearly proved to be none of his writing, but to have been interpolated since. The stratagems and sophistry which the priests in all ages have been under the necessity of employing, in order to obtain a degree of credit for their tales are, or ought to be, sufficient to satisfy every man of sound judgment, that they are destitute of truth and have no solid foundation. We do not find men disputing respecting the existence of Guy Fawkes, who attempted to blow up the Protestant parliament with gun-powder in the reign of James I., nor yet of the riots and confusion which took place in London and in all England, as soon as his Most Gracious Dutch Majesty, King William, (of ever blessed memory,) landed; when the protestants pulled down and destroyed every house and chapel belonging to the catholics, plundered and burned their goods. Why are not these things controverted? Because they were facts well known, and transmitted to us on unquestionable authority; therefore can admit of no disputation. Would not this have been the case with all the things related in these books, had they been facts well known? But though these things are, if true, of far greater importance to all mankind than the whole world besides, and if they ever did occur, must have been more notorious to the whole world, yet they have always been disputed from the earliest ages. Surely "something is rotten in the State of Denmark!"

Moreover how can we be assured that the book now called the "Word of God," are the identical words originally written? Do we not discover many alterations which have been made therein, through the necessity of translating them from one language into another by ignorant and fallible men, who, as Papias said when Matthew wrote his Gospel in the Hebrew tongue, every one interpreted it as he was able?"

66

If I could believe that Jesus ever liveth, and has witnessed all the horrid tortures, the agonies, the suffer

ings and miseries of millions of human beings, through that infernal religious engine, the inquisition, and through the ambition of kings and the avarice of priests who committed their enormities in his name, I should think him to be the most cruel vindictive being that could be conceived by the mind of man: especially when we are told that all power is given to him, whereby he might have softened the hearts of the tyrants and persecutors; or have wafted the innocent away in chariots of fire, and so have spared them the agonizing pains which they endured. Surely you will not say that it was absolutely necessary for these men to encounter these trials and undergo such tortures, before they could be found worthy of obtaining a seat in heaven! If such be the only means of obtaining heaven, why do not the present christians suffer in like manner ? Why were the early Christians singled out in particular, to travel the rugged path, while those of the present day can ascend so easily from a bed of down?

Before I conclude let me ask you wherein do the Christians excel in moral virtue the pagan Romans? I find throughout the Roman history that the Romans in general, practised that which Jews and Christians only preach and prate about. The Old Testament itself, discovers that the chosen people of God were more de praved, and more ignorant, and less merciful, than those of any other nation. The New Testament likewise exhibits the christians, who were chosen before the foundation of the world, and predestinated unto the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ to himself, 6 1 being the most immoral characters; or what need were there for all those reproofs and admonitions of which we read in so many places ?6 2

as

Justin Martyr, who wrote a book about the middle of the second century, entitled "A Dialogue against the Jews," acknowledged that the christians were accused by Trypho, at Ephesus, as being a most impious and wicked set of persons that had just sprung up* (which by-the-bye is a complete contradiction to Peter, (1. 1.) who describe, them as being scattered throughout the * Eusebius Book iv. chapter 18.

world, 100 years before Justin's days!) Constantine the Roman emperor, after the establishment of Christianity, acknowledged, in a rescript which he sent to Miltiades, bishop of Rome, that the people were more divided, and had become more degenerated and worse than before.* I trust that you will excuse my describing the christian character at the present day, it being so notorious. Witness the lives of their present bishops

and priests!

Trusting that you will excuse the style, and pass by all grammatical errors which you may find in these, my letters, I conclude, wishing you as many days of health and strength as you have honesty to preach TRUTH and MORALITY among your less informed fellow creatures. And then the blessing of all mankind, men, women and children, will be upon you, and remain with you always.-Amen!

I am, Sir,

Your humble servant,

JOHN CLARKE.

* Eusebius Book x. Chap. 5.

NOTES TO THE FOREGOING LETTER.

Raiseth Lazarus, the widow's son, and Jairus's daughter

The dead bodies of the saints, coming out of the graves
The Resurrection of Jesus

His supernatural appearances and ascension

MISCELANEOUS SUBJECTS TREATED OF IN THE COURSE
OF THE WORK.

323

372

378

411 ✓

Nature and character of Prophecy and Prophets

torians, by the "Holy Writers"

Inquiry respecting the Devil

Want of corroborative evidence, from Contemporary His-

Character and acts of Constantine

Account of a peculiar Religious Persecution and Martyr-
dom

Inquiry respecting "our Immortal Souls"

Of what utility is Prayer ?...

Who wrote the Four Gospels; and which out of the
many there have been extant in the Christian church,
are the true ones?

JOSHUA HOBSON, PRINTER, 5, MARKET STREET, BRIGGATE, Leeds.