demonstration, like that of the ascension of a balloon, or the
sun at noon day, to all Jerusalem at least. A thing which
everybody is required to believe, requires that the proof and
evidence of it should be equal to all, and universal; and as
the public visibility of this last related act was the only
evidence that could give sanction to the former part, the
whole of it falls to the ground, because that evidence never
was given. Instead of this, a small number of persons, not
more than eight or nine, are introduced as proxies for the
whole world, to say they saw it, and all the rest of the world
are called upon to believe it. But it appears that Thomas did
not believe the resurrection; and, as they say, would not be-
lieve without having ocular and manual demonstration him-
self. So neither will I; and the reason is equally as good for
me, and for every other person, as for Thomas.

It is in vain to attempt to palliate or disguise this matter.
The story, so far as relates to the supernatural part, has
every mark of fraud and imposition stamped upon the face
of it. Who were the authors of it is as impossible for us
now to know, as it is for us to be assured that the books in
which the account is related were written by the persons
whose names they bear. The best surviving evidence we now
have respecting this affair is the Jews. They are regularly
descended from the people who lived in the time this resur-
rection and ascension is said to have happened, and they
say, it is not true. It has long appeared to me a strange in-
consistency to cite the' Jews as a proof of the truth of the
story. It is just the same as if a man were to say, I will
prove the truth of what I have told you, by producing the
people who say it is false.

That such a person as Jesus Christ existed, and that he
was crucified, which was the mode of execution at that day,
are historical relations strictly within the limits of proba-
bility. He preached most excellent morality, and the
equality of man; but he preached also against the corrup-
tions and avarice of the Jewish priests, and this brought upon
him the hatred and vengeance of the whole order of priest-
hood. The accusation which those priests brought against

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