iy that it may aslist, what it hath always been my earnest wish to promote, the religious part of an academical education. If in this latter view it might seem in any degree to excuse your LordThip’s judgment of its author, I shall be gratified by the reflection, that to a kindness flowing from public principles, I have made the best public return in my power. In the mean time, and in every event, I rejoice in the opportunity here afforded me, of testifying the sense I entertain of your Lordship’s conduct, and of a notice which I regard, as the most flata iering distinction of my life. I am, my Lord, With fentiments of gratitude and respect, Your Lordship's faithful, and most obliged servant, W. PALEY. LE CO N T E N T S. Preparatory Confiderations, Page 9 PART THE FIRST. ITY, AND WHEREIN IT IS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE 15 PROPOSITION I. CHAP. I. : There is satisfactory evidence that many, profeling to be original witnefes of the Christian Miracles, palled their lives in labours, dongers and suffering s, voluntarily undergone in attestation of the accounts which they delivered, anıl folely in confequence of their belief of the truth of those accounts; and that they also submitted, from the same motives, to new rules of condue. 150 CHAP. II. to CHAP. VIII. The same subject continued. CH A P. IX. *“ Of the authenticity of the scriptures.” 74 Sect. I. the four Gospels and the Aas of the Apostles, are quoted, or 80 SECT. II. When the scriplures are quoted, or alluded to, they are quoted with peculiar respect, as books fui generis, as polefing an authority which belonged to no other books, and as conclu. five in all queflions and controverses among A Chriflians. 99 SECT. III. volume. 102 Page 107 SECT. IV. Our present sacred writings were foon distinguished by appropriate names and titles of respect. 105 Sect. V. Our scriptures were publickly read and expounded in the religious assemblies of the early Christians. SECT. VI. harmonies formed out of them; different copies carefully 109 SECT. VII. Our fcriptures were received by ancient Christians of different fects and persuasions, by many heretics as well as Catholics, and were usually appealed to by both sides, in the controversies which arose in those days. I13 Sect. VIII. The four Gospels, the Aas of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles of St. Paul, the first Epistle of John, and the first of Peter, were received without doubt by those who doubted concerning the other books, which are included in our prefent canon. 118 Sect. IX. Our historical scriptures were attacked by the early adversa. ries of Christianity, as containing the accounts upon which the religion was founded. SECT. X. Formal catalogues of authentic scriptures were published, in all which our present sacred histories were included. 126 SECT. XI. These propofitions cannot be predicated of any of those books, which are commonly called apocryphal books of the New Testament. 128 CH A P. X. 132 122 PROPOSITION II. CHAP. I. treated of, is, “ That there is not satisfactory evidence, Page fimilar miracles, have acted in the fame manner, in attestation of the accounts which they delivered, and OF THE AUXILIARY Evidences of CHRISTIANITY. 158 CH A P. II. The Candour of the Writers of the New Testamenti 191 Identity of Christ's Character. Originaliby of our Saviour's Charafler. CHAP. VII. Of the History of the Resurrection The Propagation of Christianity. Page CHAP. I. The Difcrepancies between the several Gospels. 271 CHAP. II. Erroneous Opinions imputed to the Apostles. 274 CHAP. III. The Connexion of Christianity with the Jewillo Hiftory. 277 CH A P. IV. Reje&tion of Christianity. 272 CH A P. V. the Christian miracles are not recited, or appealed to, by Atly Christian writers themselves, fo fully or frequently as ht have been expected. 290 C H A P. VI. of univerfality in the knowledge and reception of Chriflity, and of greater clearness in the evidence. Ç HA P. VIL. upposed Effe&s of Christianity. 304 CH A P. VIII. onclufion. zio 298 |