The evidence of persecution which consists in quotations from the
Christian books ("Evidences," pages 33-52) cannot be admitted without
evidence of the authenticity of the books quoted. The Acts and the
Pauline epistles so grossly contradict each other that, having nothing
outside themselves with which to compare them, they are mutually
destructive. "The epistle to the Romans presents special difficulties to
its acceptance as a genuine address to the Church of Rome in the era
ascribed to it. The faith of this Church, at this early period, is said
to be 'spoken of throughout the whole world'; and yet when Paul,
according to the Acts, at a later time visited Rome, so little had this
alleged Church influenced the neighbourhood, that the inquiring Jews of
Rome are shown to be totally ignorant of what constituted Christianity,
and to have looked to Paul to enlighten them" ("Portraiture and Mission
of Jesus," p. 15). 2 Cor. is of very doubtful authenticity. The passage
in James shows no fiery persecution. Hebrews is of later date. 2 Thess.
again very doubtful. The "suffering" spoken of by Peter appears, from
the context, to refer chiefly to reproaches, and a problematical "if any
man suffer as a Christian." Had those he wrote to been then suffering,
surely the apostle would have said: "_When_ any man suffers ... let him
not be ashamed." The whole question of the authenticity of the canonical
books will be challenged later, and the weakness of this division of
Paley's evidences will then be more fully apparent. Meanwhile we subjoin
Lardner's view of these passages. He has been arguing that the Romans
"protected the many rites of all their provinces;" and he proceeds:
"There is, however, one difficulty which, I am aware, may be started by
some persons. If the Roman Government, to which all the world was then
subject, was so mild and gentle, and protected all men in the profession
of their several religious tenets, and the practice of all their
peculiar rites, whence comes it to pass that there are in the Epistles
so many exhortations to the Christians to patience and constancy, and so