384 Extracts from Windham's Diary.
I would not ; and proceeded to make a compliment to the manliness of my mind, which, whether deserved or not, ought to be remembered, that it may be deserved.
I then stated, that among other neglects was the omission of introducing, of all others, the most important [subjects], the con sequence of which particularly filled my mind at that moment, and on which I had often been desirous to know his opinions. The wish thus generally stated, was in part gratified on the instant. For revealed religion, he said, there was such historical evidence, as, upon any subject not religious, would have left no doubt. Had the facts recorded in the New Testament been mere civil occurrences, no one would have called in question the testimony by which they are established ; but the importance an nexed to them, amounting to nothing less than the salvation of mankind, raised a cloud in our minds, and created doubts unknown upon any other subject. Of proofs to be derived from history, one of the most cogent, he seemed to think, was the opinion so well authenticated, and so long entertained, of a Deliverer that was to appear about that time. Among the typical representa tions, the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb, in which no bone was to be broken, had early struck his mind. For the immediate life and miracles of Christ, such attestation as that of the apostles, who all, except St. John, confirmed their testimony with their blood ; such belief as their witness procured from a people best furnished with the means of judging, and least disposed to judge favourably ; such an extension afterwards of that belief over all the nations of the earth, though originating from a nation of all others most despised, would leave no doubt that the things witnessed were true, and were of a nature more than human. With respect to evidence, Dr. Johnson observed that we had not such evidence that Caesar died in the Capitol, as that Christ died in the manner related x .
nth. First day of skating; ice fine. Find I have lost nothing since last year.
Between nine and ten went to Sir Joshua, whom I took up by
1 Life, i. 428, 444, 454 ; v. 340 ; ante, ii. 157.
the
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