se Joseph could find no lodging in Bethlehem
("Dial." 78). The magi come, not from "the East," but from Arabia
("Dial." 77). Jesus works as a carpenter, making ploughs and yokes
("Dial." 88). The story of the baptism is very different ("Dial." 88).
In the trial Jesus is set on the judgment seat, and tauntingly bidden to
judge his accusers ("Apol.," i. 35). All the apostles deny him, and
forsake him, after he is crucified ("Apol.," i. 50). These instances
might be increased, and, as we shall see later, Justin manifestly quotes
from accounts other than the canonical gospels. Yet Paley pretends that
"no other" account was extant, and that in the very face of Luke i. 1,
which declares that "many have taken in hand" the writing of such
histories. If Paley had simply said that the story of a miracle-worker,
named the Anointed Saviour, who was born of a virgin, was crucified,
rose and ascended into heaven, was told with many variations among the
Christians. from about 100 years after his supposed birth, he would have
spoken truly; and had he added to this, that the very same story was
told among Egyptians and Hindoos, many hundreds of years earlier, he
would have treated his readers honestly, although he might not thereby
have increased their belief in the "divine origin of Christianity."

Before we pass on to the last evidences offered by Paley, which
necessitate a closer investigation into the value of the testimony borne
by the patristic, to the canonical, writings, it will be well to put
broadly the fact, that these Fathers are simply worthless as witnesses
to any matter of fact, owing to the absurd and incredible stories which
they relate with the most perfect faith. Of critical faculty they have
none; the most childish nonsense is accepted by them, with the gravest
face; no story is too silly, no falsehood too glaring, for them to
believe and to retail, in fullest confidence of its truth. Gross
ignorance is one of their characteristics; they are superstitious,
credulous, illiterate, to an almost incredible extent. Clement considers
that "the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future
resurrection" by the following "fact," among others: "Let us consider
that wonderful sign which takes place in Eastern lands--that is, in
Arabia and the countries round about. There is a certain bird which is
called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives 500 years.
And when the time of its dissolution draws nea