recise period he wrote. We only need
reasonable evidence (as will be shown hereafter) that he was a
prophetical man, writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
But the case of the gospel narratives is wholly different. They
contain a record of the supernatural appearance and works of the
Son of God, on the truth of which rests our faith in the gospel.
So the apostle Paul reasons: "If Christ be not risen, then is
our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." 1 Cor. 15:14.
It is, then, of vital importance that we know the relation which
the authors of these narratives held to Christ. If they were not
_apostles_ or _apostolic men_, that is, associates of the
apostles, laboring with them, enjoying their full confidence,
and in circumstances to obtain their information directly from
them--but, instead of this, wrote after the apostolic age--their
testimony is not worthy of the unlimited faith which the church
in all ages has reposed in it. The question, then, of the
genuineness of the gospel narratives and that of their
authenticity and credibility must stand or fall together.

2. In respect to the _origin_ of the gospels, as also of the other books
of the New Testament, the following things should be carefully
remembered:

_First._ There was a period, extending, perhaps, through some years from
the day of Pentecost, when there were no written gospels, their place
being supplied by the living presence and teachings of the apostles and
other disciples of our Lord.

_Secondly._ When the need of written documents began to be felt, they
were produced, one after another, as occasion suggested them. Thus the
composition of the books of the New Testament extended through a
considerable period of years.

_Thirdly._ Besides the gospels universally received by the churches,
other narratives of our Lord's life were attempted, as we learn from the
evangelist Luke (1:1); but those never obtained general currency. The
churches everywhere received the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John, because of the clear evidence which they had of their
apostolic origin and trustworthiness; and because, also, these gospels,
though not professing to give a complete account of our Lord's life and
teachings, were nevertheless sufficiently full to answer the end for
which they were composed, being not fragmentary sketches, but orderly
narratives, each of them extendi