23 Inconsistency and credulity of the rejecters of the Gospel-the aged school teacher-Pagan tes- timony to the character and number of the early 25 Men adopt false opinions without inquiry—a citizen 28 An example-a young man in Kentucky, 32 Use of commentaries-prophecy of the locusts, 33 Value of historical knowledge-a merchant of Ken- 35 An example-an educated young gentleman, 36 Works on the Evidences of Christianity recommended, 155 45 The subject continued-the doctrine of chance— the atmosphere-effects of electricity-heat and cold-evaporation-density of the soil, water, air, &c.-iron-proofs of design-the Andes-the . 56 Further inquiry-the Age of Reason-Scott's com- 57 The influence of religious belief at the time of 59 The subject continued—a revolutionary officer, 60 The subject continued-dying fancies, 61 Disposition of unbelievers to credit accusations 62 Influence of an early acquaintance with the Bible- what induced the people to receive the law of Moses-fidelity and humility of the writers, 63 Commemorative institutions-Fourth of July, 64 Evidence of prophecy-fifty-third of Isaiah, 65 Evidence of prophecy-Daniel's seventy weeks, 67 Prevalent ignorance of the Bible-examples-pre- PREFACE. The following work is not a compilation of the Evi. dences of Christianity. It was written with the hope of exciting those who need such research, to read many Authors on that subject. A book which does not contain a summary of arguments against Infidelity, may provoke an appetite to read volumes where those argu. ments are found. The Evidences of Christianity are not fully contained in any half-score of volumes now existing. The most of those who have written, have aimed at nothing more than an abridgement of this subject; because of its unusual extent. We may present reasons for investigation, and we may persuade others to read, in a shorter space than that which is required to contain a full array of facts in support of revelation. The following pages were written with the design of urging the multitude to become informed concerning the Book of Books, the Bible. The call for such an attempt,→→ the necessity for it at the present time, we think fair ly inferible from the following facts. FIRST FACT.-It is true, that in almost every congregation, there are some, more or less imbued with In They are not confirmed effort to prevent their fidelity, who do not avow it. skeptics; but Satan's grand commencing the work of repentance, or seeking the pardon of sin, is made by suggesting unbelieving doubts. The minister who has been long hoping and looking with unceasing anxiety for their conversion to God, never was thus harrassed himself, and does not dream of their real condition. Again there are countless thousands of the youthful and the uninformed, who are thus kept inactive. Temptations of unbelief cripple or prevent their exertions. Books on this subject are found, for the most part, only in ministers' libraries, and they are scarce there; and, moreover, those found there are not calculated, altogether, to fit the cases we are now noticing. Those authors aim at cavils the most plausible only, and strike at infidel objections most worthy of answer; whereas the youth thus injured, are very often influenced by arguments, puerile in the extreme, and so feeble, that the better informed would never believe they could be used. SECOND FACT.-The adversary of souls would not have young professors, and possessors, of religion, to grow in grace. To prevent it, he injects into their minds, cold, unbelieving cavils, which embarrass and retard their march. They read on the subject authors that are powerful and unanswerable in the truths they |