as those which have been
predicted by the prophets.

Let us see, then, who these pretended prophets are, and if we ought to
consider them as important as our Christ-worshipers pretend they are.
These men were but visionaries and fanatics, who acted and spoke
according to the impulsions of their ruling passions, and who imagined
that it was the Spirit of God by which they spoke and acted; or they
were impostors who feigned to be prophets, and who, in order to more
easily deceive the ignorant and simple-minded, boasted of acting and
speaking by the Spirit of God. I would like to know how an Ezekiel would
be received who should say that God made him eat for his breakfast a
roll of parchment; commanded him to be tied like an insane man, and lie
three hundred and ninety days upon his right side, and forty days upon
his left, and commanded him to eat man's dung upon his bread, and
afterward, as an accommodation, cow's dung? I ask how such a filthy
statement would be received by the most stupid people of our provinces?

What can be yet a greater proof of the falsity of these pretended
prophecies, than the violence with which these prophets reproach each
other for speaking falsely in the name of God, reproaches which they
claim to make in behalf of God. All of them say, "Beware of the false
prophets!" as the quacks say, "Beware of the counterfeit pills!" How
could these insane impostors tell the future? No prophecy in favor of
their Jewish nation was ever fulfilled. The number of prophecies which
predict the prosperity and the greatness of Jerusalem is almost
innumerable; in explanation of this, it will be said that it is very
natural that a subdued and captive people should comfort themselves in
their real afflictions by imaginary hopes--as a year after King James was
deposed, the Irish people of his party forged several prophecies in
regard to him.

But if these promises made to the Jews had been really true, the Jewish
nation long ago would have been, and would still be, the most numerous,
the most powerful, the most blessed, and the most victorious of all
nations.

VI.--(2) THE NEW TESTAMENT.

Let us examine the pretended prophecies which are contained in the
Gospels.

Firstly. An angel having appeared in a dream to a man named Joseph,
father, or at least so reputed, of Jesus, son of Mary, said unto him:

"Joseph, thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for
that which is conceived in her i