CONTENTS

OF THE

FIRST VOLUME.

PART I.

CHAP. I.

On the Opinion of the Eternity of the World. Page 1

Preliminary Observations.

Statement of the Opinion of the Eternity of the World.
Metaphysical Objections of that Opinion, from the Nature

of universal Substance; from the Existence of Motion;
and from the Nature of necessary Existence.

CHAP. II.

On the Opinion which ascribes the Formation of the

World to Chance

Statement of Epicurus's Cosmogony.

Its Contradiction to Reason and Experience.

Page 21

Chance never called in by natural Philosophers to account
for Phænomena. Instance from the Strata of the Earth
and Saltness of the Sea, &c.

Conclusion as to the Effect of the Argument from final

Causes.

VOL. I.

CHAP. III. SECT. I.

On the Probability that some Account of the Creation

would be revealed and preserved

Statement of the Reasons for that Probability.

Mosaic History.

Collateral Testimony to its Truth.

Page 31

Its internal Evidence unobjectionable; and therefore in-
sisted on in the following Argument.

Preliminary Inquiries as to the Nature of the History, and
its Origin from Revelation and Tradition.

Collateral Evidence in favour of original Revelation, from
the Nature of Language; from the slow Progress of, the
Arts: from the agricultural State described by Moses.
Nothing improbable in the Idea of original Revelation.

Its avowed Intention to maintain the Worship of the Creator.

Proof from the Decalogue; and from the Institution of the

Sabbath.

Argument from the Establishment of such a civil Polity.

CHAP. III.-SECT. III.

Peculiarity of the Design of the Hebrew Polity.

Plan of other Legislators.

Page 69

Lycurgus and Solon: Romulus and Numa, compared with.

Moses their religious Rites the Effect of Policy.

Zaleucus inferior to Moses in Tone of Authority.

Miraculous Interpositions appealed to throughout the Law.

Antiquity of the Law. Absurdity of the contrary Opinion,
from the Impossibility of assigning any Period to its
Introduction, on other Grounds; and from the Nature of
its Enactments.

Moses relies on divine Interposition.

Duration of the civil Polity dependent on the Allegiance of
the People to the Worship of the Creator.

Punishment of Slavery threatened to Disobedience. Mode
of averting that Punishment.

Contrary to the Course of human Affairs.

Rewards promised.

Comparison of Mahomet.

Extraordinary Providence necessary, under the Mosaic In-

stitutions as the Sabbath, sabbatical Year, &c.

Proved by subsequent Events of the History.

This Necessity foreseen by Moses.

Peculiar Provisions of the Jewish Law confirmed by colla-
teral Testimony.

Conclusion from the Peculiarity of its Design and Sanctions.

CHAP. III.-SECT. V.

On the religious Opinions of the Hebrews

Page 135

Inquiry as to their Superiority over those of other Nations.

Universal Belief among the Hebrews of the Existence of one

omnipotent Creator. Different Case of other ancient

People.

Hebrew Literature: confined to sacred Subjects; and con-
taining sublime Descriptions of the Attributes, &c.
Comparison of these with heathen Hymns. Orpheus.
Isaiah. Fragment of Euripides. 102d Psalm. Hymn
of Cleanthes. Extract from Book of Wisdom.
logical Hymns. Carmina Sæcularia.

Concluding Remarks.

CHAP. III.-SECT. VI.

Mytho-

Heze-

from Epidaurus. Erection of the Statue of Jupiter dur-

ing the Catilinarian Conspiracy. Contrast of the Jewish

Worship. Solomon's Dedication of Temple.

kiah's Prayer. Belief retained throughout the whole

Jewish History.

On the Principles of Hebrew Morality.... Page 185

I. Authority assumed by Moses as to Virtues of imperfect
Obligation. The Welfare of the State was the sole Ob-
ject of heathen Legislation. Consequent Purity of the
Jewish Morality.

II. Infanticide at Sparta, and generally in Greece, &c.

Forbidden to the Jews, in consistency with their Views of

the Creator.

III. Motives of Jewish Morality, the divine Favour or Dis-

pleasure.

IV. Humanity prescribed by the Jewish Law, in Conformity

with the same Principles. Treatment of Slaves and

Strangers, compared with other nations.

Argument arising from this Difference.

CHAP. III.-SECT. VIII. and IX.

On the Causes to which the Superiority of the Mosaic

Theology may be referred.

SECT. VIII.

Whether Moses could have invented the Doctrine he

taught concerning the Creation.

Page 218

Belief of a Creator agreeable to Reason, but not discovered

by it. Polytheism of the Ancients. Not dispelled by

the Philosophers. None of them taught a rational Sys-

tem.

Sublime Passages from Plato and others. Difference be-
tween the Philosophers and Moses examined. I. Their
Ignorance of the Personality of the Deity. This De-
fect inherent in the System of Pythagoras and the Stoics:
and of Aristotle. Practical Consequences of such an Error.
II. Socrates. His Superiority. But his Doctrine not
applicable to an Account of the Creation. Plato's Belief
of the independent Existence of Matter. The Clearness
of the Views of Moses compared.

No Arguments unknown to the Philosophers, which could
have convinced Moses of the Unity. Argument from final
Causes clearly understood by Socrates and his Disciples.