The Infidel Convicted

Summary

The Arguments that have been of late produced against Christianity, are far from being New, except as to the indecent Manner in which they have been reviv’d. This indeed must be confess’d to be intirely New, and seems reserv’d for the Apostates of the present Age: While some bold Minds have revived the Doctrines of Arius, another has gone beyond Julian the Apostate Emperor, in his Insults on the Holy Jesus; and the most absurd of the Heathen Systems of Religion was never treated in so shocking, so ungentlemanly, so scurrilous a Manner, as the Gospel of Christ. As to the rest, the Arguments of late produc’d by the Adversaries to the Christian Faith, are but a Collection of the old exploded (and as often refuted as revived) Doctrines of the Heretics of past Ages.

But for the Sake of such of our Readers, as may not have Leisure or Opportunity to peruse what has been publish’d of most Importance on this Subject, we will summarily touch upon the principal Objections which have been made against the Gospel, and against the Resurrection of our Saviour, which is the Point the Infidels have levelled all their Artillery against, and is the fundamental Article of the Christian Faith, on which all the rest depend. And afterwards we shall bring undeniable Arguments, as we hope, in Defence of Christianity, and to prove, that Reason is not inconsistent with Revelation; and lastly, produce Evidences, as well from Pagan as other Authorities, to prove the Truth of the Christian Dispensation.

To begin with the Objections that have been made to invalidate the Gospel History, Mr. Woolston asserts (p. 65.) “That the Four Gospels are, in no Part, a literal Story; but a System of Mystical Philosophy, or Theology: That the History of Jesus's Life, as recorded by the Evangelists, is an Emblematical Representation of his Spiritual Life in the Soul of Man; and his continued Miracles, Figures of his more mysterious Operations.”

The following impious Paragraph will shew the Consistency of this Scoffer, if compar’d with the above; for here he treats those Gospels, not as a System of Mystical Theology, but as a vile Cheat and Imposture .