Chapter I

The books of the New Testament written by eight Jews.--Why
called New Testament? Infidels deny the genuineness
of the books.--Hold that the writers were impostors, and
the religion taught in them a fraud practiced upon mankind.
The difficulties attending the examination of the claims
of the New Testament to genuineness and credibility.--How
the subject should be approached.--The denial of the
genuineness of the books of modern dates. Toland charged
with having betrayed his suspicion that the writings were
forgeries. The suspicion of an anonymous Italian.--Its
absurdity.--Gibbon acknowledges the genuineness of the
writings.--Volney lays it down as a clear case, that no such
person as Jesus Christ ever existed. His theory adopted,
defended, and extensively circulated by Taylor. His positions
defined in his manifesto.--His unblushing falsehoods
promptly met and refuted by English Divines. Hitherto
unanswered in this country.--His first and second propositions
taken up.--How the authorship which has no name
prefixed to it is to be ascertained. The rule applied to the
New Testament 3