but in the mistaken fense of certain texts, fuggefted by the prejudices of pious men, who greedily embrace an hypothefis, which feems to advance the honor of religion, and furnishes, at the fame time, the fhorteft and eafieft method of filencing all objections to it, by the infallible authority of perfons infpired by God. But this fame quæftion will be more clearly and largely illuftrated in my next inquiry.

REFLECTIONS

ΟΝ ΤΗΕ

Variations, or Inconfistencies,

Which are found among the

FOUR EVANGELISTS

In their different Accounts of the fame Facts.

REFLECTIONS, etc.

T

HE harmony or agreement which is found in the four Gospels, with regard

to the principal tranfactions there recorded, though written by different perfons, at different times, and in different places, is juftly celebrated by the Chriftian writers, as a strong proof of the integrity of the Evangelifts, and of the certainty of the facts, which they deliver; and confequently, of the truth of Chriftianity itself.

Its adverfaries on the other hand, fenfible of the force of this reafoning, have been endeavouring in all ages to fhake this foundation, by affirming, that there is no fuch harmony among the Gofpels, as is pretended, but on the contrary, fuch inconfiftencies and contradictions, as are fufficient to blast their authority [1]. But the little fuccefs which they have met with in their attempts of this kind, fhews, what little weight their objections are thought to have, by the serious and thinking part of mankind.

The Champions however of the Gospel, not content with fimple victory, nor fatisfied with

[1] Quidam vel impia vanitate, vel imperita temeritate calumniis appetunt, ut eis veracis narrationis derogent fidem-hoc enim folent

quafi palmare vanitatis fuæ objicere, quod ipfi Evange liftæ inter feipfos diffentiant.

Auguft. de Confen. Evangelift. 1. i. §10.

refuting