V. Whether it be probable that the

witnesses of the Gospel were either

deceivers or deceived

VI. Other objections to testimony, de-

rived from the doctrine of opinion,

and the illusions of the senses.-

Answers

VII. Experience set in opposition to

itself.-New objections to testimo-

nial proof.-Answer

62

68

73

VIII. Reflections on moral Certainty. 80

IX. Particular Considerations on Mi-

racles, and on the circumstances

which ought to accompany and to

characterise them.

X. Extraordinary doubt:-Exami-

nation of it.

XI. Other doubts.-Fondness for the

Marvellous. False

Miracles.-

Martyrs of error or opinion.-Re-

flections.

XII. Concessions of the adversaries of

Christianity.

BOOK III.

1. Character of the written evidence,

and of the witnesses.

II. Reflections on the narrative of the

witnesses. Whether it has been

formally contradicted by eviden-.

ces of the same weight, and made

at the same time.

III. The man lame from his birth.

84

90

94

103

106

111

117

147

VII. Consequences of the fact.-Re-

marks. Objections.-Reply.

VIII. Apparent contradictions be-

tween different parts of the deposi-

tion.-Reflections on that subject. 156

BOOK IV.

I. Authenticity of the written evi-

dence. The prophecies

-

II. Whether the written narrative

has been altered or forged in its es-

sential parts

161

178

III. Various readings.—Solution of

some difficulties arising from them 183

IV. The truth of the written evidence 191

V. The prophecies

BOOK V.

I. The doctrine of the founder

II. Continuation of the same subject.

-Objection.-Answer

III. Doctrine of the first disciples of

the founder of Christianity.-Pa-

rallel between these disciples and

the sages of Paganism

IV. Primitive church.-Its princi-

ples, manners, &c.-Express or ta-

cit concessions of the adversaries of

Christianity

194

207

216

228

235

V. Success of the testimony.-Re-

marks on the Martyrs

VI. Continuation of the same subject.

Ways of Providence in the esta-

blishment of Christianity

-

VII. General difficulties:-That the

light of the Gospel has not spread so

much as the high importance of its

end seemed to require, &c.-That

the greater part of Christians make

but a small and slow progress in

virtue.-Replies

VIII. Another general difficulty:-

That the proofs of Christianity are

not sufficiently within the compass

all men's understanding.-Answer.

-Summary of the Author's reason-

ing on miracles and testimony

IX. Continuation of general difficul-

ties:-That the doctrine of the Gos-

pel does not seem favourable to pat-

riotism :-That it has been produc-

tive of great evils on earth.-An-

swers

X. Conclusion of general difficulties:

-Obscurity of the doctrine, and its

seeming opposition to reason.-Re-

ply

XI. General considerations on the na-

ture and connexion of the proofs.

Conclusion of the Inquiries into

Christianity

243

248

261

270

286

294

298

ON THE ORDER AND LAWS OF NATURE, AND THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE FIRST CAUSE.

THA

a

HAT there exists, distinct from the universe, a supreme intelligent cause of that universe, is a truth, which no reasonable and thinking man can controvert or deny. It is a truth obvious even to sense, it is conformable to the most natural sentiments of the human mind, it is established by the universal consent of almost the whole

C

human race, it is consonant to the clearest principles and the most sublime discoveries of natural philosophy, and has been proved by a variety of the most convincing arguments, which have never yet been, and we may venture to assert never can be confuted.

I shall not therefore take up any of the reader's time, in attempting to prove the existence of a first cause; * I shall only observe, that this first cause, must be selfexistent, must exist by an absolute necessity in its own nature; if it did not it would depend on another cause; and if this were not necessary, it would depend on a third cause, &c.; and I should fall into an absurd progression of causes, or rather of effects, ad infinitum. The cause therefore of the universe exists of itself: its essence is to

* The translator has omitted the two first chapters of the original, on THE IMMATERIALITY OF THE SOUL, and THE BEING OF A GOD; both which subjects the author has treated with his usual ingenuity and force of argument. But in this coun try, where there are few, if any, materialists or atheists, it seem ed unnecessary to enter upon the proof of truths so generally ac knowledged. Besides which it was the translator's professed design to confine himself solely to those parts of the author's work which relate to Christianity, or were indispensably necessary to introduce the subject.