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them, but to the Gentiles also; and that the completion of this scheme should be of such vast importance, that the restoration of the Jews should be nothing in comparison. It contains an account of the appearance of the Messiah at the appointed time; of His miraculous powers, and those of His appointed followers,-by the convincing evidence of which they made numerous converts in various countries, and established His religion in the world. And it further proceeds to give a prophetic view of the state of this religion, to the end of time.

Now, suppose a person (entirely ignorant of history) either to be told for the first time, or to read for himself, all those things out of Scripture, without knowing whether it was a revelation from Heaven, or a pure fiction; and that he should ask, "What truth is there in this?" and that, instead of a direct answer, he should be referred to the following facts, in order to draw a comparison for himself:

1st, Let him be told that the establishment of natural religion, including the belief in a God, and the doctrine of a future state, was mainly owing to this revelation, contained in this book; and that many nations acknowledged its divine authority; let him consider the vast importance of religion to mankind: and he must conclude that, taken altogether, such results of revelation form the most important event in

the world, and that such a book demands our most serious regard, even as if proclaimed with a voice from heaven.

Let him next be informed of the acknowledged antiquity of this book-of its chronology and history', not only being uncontradicted, but really confirmed, by the natural and civil history of the world, as collected from observation of places, and writings of profane historians; that the whole appears natural and consistent with itself, has all the internal marks imaginable of reality, and nothing to raise the slightest idea of its being feigned. Moreover, that the New Testament portion of it, has not only the same general credibility given to it, but a still farther and higher credibility, by profane authors; many of whom, writing at the same times, confirm the truth of customs and events which are incidentally, as well as directly and purposely, mentioned in it. And that this credibility of the common portion gives some credibility to the miraculous part, inasmuch as they are so intimately blended and interwoven, as to make one indivisible history.

Let him next be told of the acknowledged fact, that there was such a nation as the Jews, of great antiquity, whose religion and polity were founded on the

1 By history, is here meant, its ordinary history, as distinguished from miraculous.

Law said in this book to be given by Moses; and that One, claiming to be the Messiah, rose up at the very time such Messiah was, from prophecy, expected; that, as had been foretold, He was rejected by them, but received and acknowledged by the Gentiles; on the evidence of miracles,-miracles whereof we have strong historical evidence: that this religion, by the force of its own evidence, advanced in spite of the bitterest persecutions, till it became the religion of a great part of the world: and that the Jews were dispersed as a nation, in a remarkable manner, and have remained under very peculiar circumstances,—a sort of standing miracle, a separate people, scattered amongst all nations, and treated as a by-word and a proverb unto this day; in a manner exactly agreeing with a prophetic account given many ages before, (Deut. xxviii. 37,) and leading to the belief that some further prophetic statements shall, eventually, be fulfilled.

Suppose (it is repeated) a person, previously quite ignorant of history, to collect the above-mentioned statements out of the Scripture; and then to be told of the corresponding facts just mentioned,—how they all, one by one, exactly coincided with each other; and, moreover, how the present state of the world still continues to answer prophetic history: and the joint result of such a mass of evidence, concentrated into one point of view, must be, a most striking and powerful im

pression upon his mind, impelling him to think there must be, indeed, something more than human in the

matter.

By the analogy of common life, if numerous acknowledged events were to be alleged, in proof of a disputed point, this would be proved, either if one of those events did clearly imply it; or, if no one singly did, yet if the whole together did; circumstantial and collateral evidence being often as convincing as that which is express and direct. The truth of our religion, then, like the truth of common matters in human life, is to be judged of by all the evidence taken together ; and unless the whole series of evidence, and every particular thereof, can be supposed to have been by accident (for here the stress of the argument for Christianity lies), then the truth of it is proved.

We may remark, 1st, How obvious an advantage this sort of evidence gives to the impugners of Christianity; especially in a conversational way, when they attack certain insulated points, in a lively and offhand manner; whereas, the united force of the whole argument is impregnable. And, 2ndly, That as in temporal matters, we consider which is the safe side; so here we must recollect the immeasurable risk, and the dangerous and awful consequences of a mistake!

CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE OBJECTIONS WHICH MAY BE MADE AGAINST ARGUING FROM THE ANALOGY OF NATURE TO RELIGION.

ARGUMENT.-Objections against the argument from analogy answered, by their being of equal force against natural religion. Religion a practical thing, therefore, practical arguments applicable. Design of the argument not a vindication of God's character, but an exhibition of man's interest and duty. Positive proof not to be looked for. The treatise meets Objectors on their own ground; and, reasoning on their own principles, shows the utter untenableness of their objections, and the complete credibility of Christianity on their own admissions.

SINCE some persons, without reflection, depreciate this whole course of argument from analogy; and

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