LETTER VIII.

TO DR. ADAM CLARKE.

SIR,

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In consequence of the irregular and contradictory statements given by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, of almost every circumstance relating to, or connected with, the life of Jesus, I find that it is not possible to trace, with any degree of precision, every particular in a regular and successive manner; therefore, must abandon the idea of following him throughout the various incidents of his life, in a progressional course; and, instead thereof, take a general review of the whole, descanting upon each particular, as they may happen to occur. For, according to John's account, he wrought miracles before he began to preach, whilst Mark and Luke say, that he began to preach before he wrought miracles !2 And those miracles, as well as the parables, which they say he spoke, are related by each of them, as having been done and spoken at different places, and upon different occasions. Even the precepts and injunctions, which are contained in his sermon, that were, according to Matthew, delivered upon a mount, on one occasion, Luke says, were delivered by him, at various places, at different times, and under different circumstances; part of which, are only to be found scattered throughout his writings; and those in an imperfect and confused manner. I shall, therefore, as I find that he spent a great part of his time in curing bodily diseases, and casting out devils, first examine the subject of exorcising devils.

According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we learn,

that Jesus was an exorcist, by their saying that Jesus went about casting out devils. But, surely, we ought not to consider that his casting out devils, was of that extraordinary nature as to constitute a miracle! A miracle, according to the general received opinion, signifies something done contrary to the laws or general course of nature, which cannot be done by human powers. But this exorcising devils, was as common in those days, as the exorcising of worms, by Dr. Gardiner's pills, is in ours. Do we not find that there were different parties, who travelled about like itinerant quack doctors, casting out those devils, who greatly offended the partisans of Jesus, because they would not join them?3 Besides, Jesus himself says, "if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out ?"4 He also acknowledged, that many shall cast out devils, besides him and his disciples.5 Which clearly prove, that whatever those devils were, the casting of them out was never considered as being any thing wonderful or miraculous by the Jews. Indeed, by the multitudes that were continually brought to Jesus, they appear to have been so numerous, in those days, that one is apt to think that hell had broken loose as soon as Jesus made his appearance; for we never read before that there were any such animals existing. However, it is some consolation to this generation, that he took them all away with him; as none are to be found of such a description in the present day, although there is so much talk about them.

Nevertheless, admitting that no other person besides Jesus could have been found sufficiently qualified or capable of casting out those devils, I cannot think that we are justified in calling it a miracle, or the effect of any supernatural power. We find that in the present day there are many persons who can do with their own natural powers that which, perhaps, no other person is capable of performing; yet, we do not consider them as supernatural agents, or speak of their work as miraculous; for let their display of art be ever SO great, we only consider the men as being ingenious artists, and admire their works accordingly.

It was formerly dangerous for a man to display his art or ingenuity, or even to endeavour to improve his intellectual faculties; but those days of state-enforcedcredulity are passed; in which, there were laws for punishing of that, which no person ever did or could do. And, although many persons has suffered death, in all its aggravated circumstances, through the accusation, we now find that they suffered innocently; being judged and condemned, by weak-minded and ignorant men, among whom, was Matthew Hale, for doing of that which could not have been done. And, notwithstanding our legislature has repealed those laws, as being absurd and erroneous, yet our sapient judges are compelled still to be governed by the sentiments and opinions of those ignorant judges; having only discarded those nonsensical notions, which they consider as being useless and unprofitable, but have retained others, equally as absurd, because they find them necessary for their own immediate interest. However, since the law for the punishment of wizards, witches, &c. is annulled, and men are in no danger of being burnt for their ingenuity, we find them starting up every where, displaying greater miraculous powers, and which tend more to promote the comforts and happiness of mankind, than any which are said to have been done by Moses, Elijah, or Jesus. For, I verily believe that, if they had put all their heads and hands together, they never would have been able to analyze the atmosphere, by separating the oxygen from the nitrogen and azotic gases, or even have turned out a spinning-jenny! It is true, that it is written, they could cover the people with lice: consume men with preternatural fire; and destroy fig trees with their curses; yet none of those miracles were productive of so much good to society, as the publishing of our police reports, or even the ignition of the gases, by which our shops and streets are illuminated. All of which, with many other useful and beneficial contrivances and inventions, they were entirely igno

rant.

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And, is it not strange, that although there were such multitudes continually brought to Jesus and his disciples,

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that were possessed with those devils, yet John never takes the least notice of them, or even so much as mentions one circumstance relative to Jesus casting out devils? Indeed, if we had only his gospel to go by, we should never have learned that there were such animals in existence! He seems not even to have known that his master was ever acquainted with the devil; although the other three historians say that he was forty days with him in the wilderness; or he was ashamed of the story, as he never takes the least notice of it. It is true, he says, that the Jews charged Jesus with having a devil, and Jesus charged Judas with being a devil;10 so this accounts for the Jewish accusation. But, we are also told, that Satan entered into Judas;11 whence it seems that satan and the devil were two distinct beings. Though, if satan be the devil, and Judas was the devil, how the devil could the devil get into the devil? Yet, this same devil, alias Judas, is appointed to sit upon a throne, and judge one of the twelve tribes of Israel. 12 Oh, poor Israel! the tribe, whose lot it will be to have a devil for their judge, will be in as sad a condition as they who now have a Recorder. Let you and I pray, if we get to heaven, that we fall not under the jurisdiction of Newman Knowlys; else we had better go to hell at once out of his way! As it appears by this account, that judges will be deemed necessary in heaven, so it is most likely that he will have a berth there, if any be worth having. It seems, also, that those devils were subject to many infirmities, as well as us poor mortals! for we find that there were deaf devils, and dumb devils. 13 But as there is not much to be learnt from those who are deaf or dumb, we will pass them, and examine those that are more intelligent; which class, I think, may be denominated the pig-driving devils.

According to Mark and Luke, there was a man in the country of the Gadarenes, whose abode was among the tombs;14 but Matthew says, that there were two men who were so exceeding fierce, that no man could pass by the way where they were. Luke, further says, that this man was oftentimes driven by the devil

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