have themselves given proper attention to the fubjects. At present Mr. Evanson's perform ance does not stagger the learned, and after fome time I am confident it will have no more effect than Mr. Whifton's new canon of the New Testament. His curious reasoning now only ferves to amufe us, fhewing the weakness of the human mind in certain refpects, at the fame time that we admire its ftrength in others.

In my references to the Chriftian Fathers I have generally contented myself with quoting Dr. Lardner and Michaelis. My collection of the Fathers, which had occupied me more than twenty years, was demolished in the riot at Birmingham, and it is too late in life for me to restore it. In the prefent case I am fatisfied that my readers will have no more diftruft than I have of the care, or fidelity, with which the writers above mentioned have made their quotations.

Of the Nature of Historical Evidence, illuftrated

by that of the Propagation of Christianity

LETTER II..

I

Of the Authenticity of the Four Gofpels in general 11

LETTER III.

Of the Preference given by Mr. Evanfon to the

Gospel of Luke

LETTER IV.

Of the Gospel of Matthew in general

b

-

30

41

LETTER

LETTER V.

Of Mr. Evanfon's Objections to particular Paf-

Jages in the Gospel of Matthew, as contradictory

to Paffages in the Gospel of Luke

Of the ignorance, and inconfiftencies, that Mr.

Evanfon imagines he has difcovered in the Gof-

pel according to Matthew

LETTER VII.

Of the things that Mr. Evanson objects to as un-

worthy of our Saviour in the Gospel of Mat-

thew

PAGE

40

70

92

LETTER VIII.

Of Mr. Evanfon's Objections to the Gospel of Mark 105

LETTER XI.

Of Mr. Evanfon's Objection to fome other Epif-

tles in the New Teftament

LETTER XII.

PAGE

-

148

Of the arbitrary proceeding of Mr. Evanfon in

making the Gospel of Luke his ftandard, by which

to examine the other Gofpels

-

- 156

APPENDIX.

1. Remarks on fome Paffages in Mr. Evanfon's

Letter to the Bishop of Worcester

166

2. Of the Date of Luke's Gospel

- 170

3. Of the Identity of Luke and Silas

- 171

LETTERS