V. Whether it be probable that the ' witnesses of the Gospel were either deceivers or deceived . . . . 62 VI. Other objections to testimony, de rived from the doctrine of opinion, and the illusions of the senses. Answers . . . . . . . . . 68 VII. Experience set in opposition to itself. -New objections to testimo nial proof.- Answer . . . . . VIII. Reflections on moral Certainty. 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.. c inthe XI. Other doubts ---Fondness for the Marvellous. - False Miracles.-- flections. . . . . . . . 94 XÍ. Concessions of the adversaries of * Christianity. . . . . . . . 103 BOOK III. 1. Character of the written evidence, and of the witnesses. . . . . 106 II. Reflections on the narrative of the witnesses.-Whether it has been formally contradicted by evidences of the same weight, and made at the same time. i . . . . 111 III. The man lame from bis birth. 117 IV. Saint Paul.. marks.-Objections.-Reply. 147 VIII. Apparent contradictions bee tween different parts of the deposi. BOOK IV. dence.-The prophecies ... 161 II. Whether the written narrative has been altered or forged in its es. sential parts . . . . . . . 178 III. Various readings.-Solution of some difficulties arising from them 183. IV. The truth of the written evidence 191 V. The prophecies - . . . . . 194 BOOK V. I. The doctrine of the founder . . 207 II. Continuation of the same subject. -Objection. - Answer . . . . 216 III. Doctrine of the first disciples of the founder of Christianity.-Parallel between these disciples and the sages of Paganism. . i .228 IV. Primitive church. Its princi ples, manners, &C.-Express or tacit concessions of the adversaries of Christianity . . . . . . . 235 V. Success of the testimony.--) marks on the Martyrs . . . . 243 VI. Continuation of the same subject. -Ways of Providence in the esta. blishment of Christianity . i : 248 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 . . . . . . 261 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. 270 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- X. Conclusion of general difficulties : -Obscurity of the doctrine, and its seeming opposition to reason.—Re. XI. General considerations on the na.. ture and connexion of the proofs. . ON THE ORDER AND LAWS OF NATURE, AND THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE FIRST CAUSE. THAT there exists, distinct from the 1 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 senti. ments of the human mind, it is established by the universal consent of almost the whole 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 con 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, inust exist by an absolute neces. sity 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 country, where there are few, if any, materialists or atheists, it seemed unnecessary to enter upon the proof of truths so generally acknowledged. 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. |