Of the six writers in the New Testament, then, who record facts in connection with the life of Jesus, three--Matthew, John, and Peter--claim to have been his companions, and three--Mark, Luke, and Paul--with the exception just mentioned in the case of the last, received their information from others.
10. The foregoing considerations will serve to show that this inquiry into the evidence on which rest the supernatural credentials said to have been given to the claims of Jesus to the worship of mankind, will be proceeded with on the most favourable view possible for these claims--
(1.) By adopting what is held by Christians to be a divine and righteous rule of evidence,--"That at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."
(2.) By examining the claim of the New Testament to be a development and fulfilment of the Old.
(3.) By assuming that the books of the Old and New Testaments were written by those whose names they bear, and at the times generally believed by Christians.
(4.) By examining these books one with another, and travelling beyond them only so far as the strict requirements of the subject necessitate.
CHAPTER I. THE BIRTH OF JESUS, AND THE SUPERNATURAL EVENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH
a. The appearances of the angel Gabriel to Zacharias and Mary. b. The appearances of the angel of the Lord to Joseph in dreams.
c. The visit of the wise men of the East.
d. The appearance of the angel and the heavenly host to the shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem.
FIRST TEST.--"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."
Mark and John pass by the birth and upbringing of Jesus in silence. John, who knew Mary, and to whose care Mary was consigned by the expiring Jesus, would have been the most competent of all to record _her version_ of the wondrous experiences of her cousin, herself, and her husband, in connection with the births of John the Baptist and of Jesus, yet he has not one word concerning them. Matthew, who may have known Mary and Joseph, has only meagre statements, very unlike what would be derived directly from either of the parents. But there is nothing to show from whom Matthew obtained his information. The detailed narration of the angelic appearances is made by Luke, who, so far as is known, was never at Jerusalem at all, far less ever came into contact with Mary. What, then, have we here?