THE NEW TRIAL OF THE WITNESSES OR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CONSIDERED

Since the suppression of Paine's Age of Reason, and the conviction of Carlile, the subject of revealed religion has engaged an uncommon degree of public attention; and men of all persuations, convinced, however erroneous Paine's opinions may be, that a well grounded faith or belief in the Bible as the word of God can be the result only of a careful and candid examination of its contents, have tacitly agreed to rest the cause of religion no longer on the ravings of superstition and the false lights of the fanatic, but on the solid ground of reason and common sense; taking, as evidence, the testimony of faithful witnesses, and the authentic records which they have handed down.

On this principle Paley had already produced a work, which, although it be chiefly collected from the learned and industrious Lardner, is arranged with such judgment and talent as almost to supersede every other book on the evidence of Christianity.

Doctor Chalmers also, following the same plan, and professing the same object, has published a treatise, more remarkable for eloquence than sound reasoning; but the novelty of his argument compensates, with many persons, for its weakness, and although censured by some, even of his own brethren1, it cannot be denied that the example he has given of free and manly discussion is highly laudable and worthy of imitation.