confidered, is certainly of the last importance; and to convince them that this religion is not a story, fo palpably falfe and incredible, as to justify its rejection even upon a fuperficial examination, much lefs without any examination at all. Such is the object of the following obfervations, and should they have this effect on any, if but on one, and if in that one, the investigation fhould produce thofe confequences which may reasonably be expected from an unprejudiced inquiry, the compiler will feel happy in the reflection, that his endeavours in the cause of truth and virtue, weak and humble as they are, have not been wholly useless.

The paffages borrowed are all marked as quotations, and the works referred to from which they are taken, except in fome inftances where the compiler found it convenient to interweave the fentiments of others. with his own, without troubling the reader with a reference.-In these cases he has generally adopted the language of his author,

not chufing to alter that which he could not improve, to gratify an affectation of originality.

ALEXANDRIA, January 1, 1802.

PREFATORY OBSERVATIONS

ON THE

CREDIBILITY

OF THE

CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS.

Prefatory Observations, &c.

IN the prefent enlightened, though licen

tious age, but few men, I prefume, can be found, who admit not the immortality of the foul; and still fewer perhaps, who, (admitting the foul's immortality,) are difpofed to deny, that the state in which it will exist after having ceased to actuate our prefent mortal bodies, is a confideration the most interesting and momentous that can poffibly engage the attention of mankind. On this fubject, reafon and nature afford us, at the most, but a very obfcure light. Reve lation, fingly and alone, offers itself as the only means of clearing up, with any degree of fatisfaction, the important mystery. By this, if true, life and immortality are brought B