nor will a critic affert any thing on the credit of Simeon Metaphraftes. The former did not write until the fifth century; and the latter is extremely credulous and much to be fufpected: neither of them therefore deferves to be efteemed a credible evidence.

Can, then, the three following propofitions be proved:-Firft, that the New Teftament was really written by the pretended contemporaries of Jefus;—Secondly, that it is come down to us uncorrupted; and, Thirdly, that the authors of it are evidences of credibility; -still we cannot, on their credit alone, prove the truth of the miracles they relate; but thus much will be evident, that Jefus did really preach the doctrine acknowledged by Chriftians; that he was really born at Bethlehem, taught publicly in Judea, in the reign of Tiberius in a word, all the events which are natural, and not miraculous, muft be confidered as inconteftibly true,

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