which the Apostles left on earth was of that religion to which the Apostles had converted them; that the external continuity of name, profession, and communion is a primâ facie argument for a real continuity of doctrine; that, as Christianity began by manifesting itself to all mankind, therefore it went on to manifest itself; and that the more, considering that prophecy had already determined that it was to be a power visible in the world and sovereign over it, characters which are accurately fulfilled