PREFACE. THE chief aim of the Author, in these Lectures, is to stimulate inquiry into a subject which he regards as of first-rate importance in historical and moral speculation. He wishes to draw the attention of all who concern themselves with the problem of the Origin of Christianity, to a solution of it which has cleared away many difficulties from his own mind, and which may possibly render a like service to others. The Author is quite aware that, as an exposition of the "Leben Jesu," the following pages must be felt, by every reader of that masterly work, to be exceedingly defective and incomplete. To those who are unacquainted with Dr. Strauss's book, they can convey but a most inadequate idea of its real character and value. The immense learning, the acute reasoning, the scholarlike and logical thoroughness that pervade every part of it, are qualities that cannot be presented in the form of extract and abridgment. He trusts that the time may come when English literature will be enriched with a well-executed translation both of the Leben Jesu and the Streitschriften. Meanwhile he the less regrets the omission (unavoidable in a book of this size) of some important topics connected with his subject, and the cursory treatment of others, as the recent re-appearance, in an enlarged form, of Mr. Hennell's "Inquiry concerning the Origin of Christianity," enables him to refer his readers to a work in which they will find a detailed investigation of the whole matter, conducted with singular patience, clearness and fairness. PANCRAS VALE, December 1841. CONTENTS. LECTURE I. Different Schools of Anti-Supernaturalism among the Ger- mans- Rationalist and Mythical Modes of Interpretation, as applied to the Greek Mythology and to the Hebrew and Christian Religions-Probabilities, external and internal, of PAGE Strauss's Definition of the Evangelic Mythus-Practical Rules for discriminating the Mythical from the Historical Ingre- dients of the Gospel Records-Application of the Mythical General Indications of the Unhistorical Character of the Four Gospels-Strauss's Chapter on the Relation of Jesus to Miracles of the Public Life of Jesus- General Statement of the Argument against Miracles, and particular Application of it to the Christian Miracles-Mythical Theory of Anti-Super- naturalism, as applied to each class of the Gospel Miracles . 52 Mythus of the Transfiguration — History of the Death and |
