CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTORY.

Ohject of the Lectures-Distinguishing feature of humanity-Utility of

language-Word of God-All books of human origin-What consti-

tutes a divine book-Utility of books-Immutability of Truth-Sacred

books of different nations--Radical meaning of the name, Bible--

Powerful influence of early education Benefits arising froin the in.

vestigation of this subject.

Page 7

LECTURE II.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CANONICAL BOOKS OF THE OLD AND

NEW TESTAMENTS.

Preliminary remarks-Definition of the term canonical-Council of

Nice-Commencement of the formation of the Scripture Canon-Books
of Apocryphal New Testament-Definition of apocryphal-Rejecied
Gospels-Council of Trent-Original language of ihe Old Testa-
ment books—Original language of the New Testament-Dates of the
origin of each-Materials on which they were written-Different trans-
lations-Division, into chapters and verses, punctuation, &c.—Present
English version-Elliot's Indian version-Act of justice io the memory
of Tyndall-Concluding remarks.

LECTURE III.

THE PENTATEUCH.

Meaning of Pentateuch-Titles of the several books—Their author.

ship-Original language--Invention of Letters—Hieroglyphics-Ob-

jectionable teachings of the Pentateuch-Weapons resorted to by ene-

inies of human advancement-Mode of defeating their aim-Passage

in the ninth chapter of Genesis–Opinions of Commentators-Account

of Creation Garden of Eden. Concluding observations.

59

AND

LECTURE IV.

HISTORICAL, POETIC PROVERBIAL BOOKS, FROM JOSHUA TO THB

SONG OF SOLOMON; WITH A BRIEF NOTICE OF THE APOCRYPHA.
Lost Books-Joshua-Standing still of the sun and moon-Judges

Ruth-Samuel-Witch of Endor-Kings-Widow's oil-cruise-Story

of the bears and the children--Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah Esther-

Job-Evidently a dramatic poem-Considered to be very ancient-Its

apparent object-Sublime passages --Biography of Job, in the Vul-

gate- Resemblance of the buok of Job to Fesius–Psalms, Barba.

rous passages--Beautiful extracts Proverbs- Intoxication sanction.

ed-Corporal punishment of children-Ecclesiastes Song of Solo-

mon--Erroneous titles affixed to the chapters, in our Version-Lamen-

tations-Apocrypha--Remark of Dr. Mayhew-Allusion to the story

of Samson.

91

LECTURE V.

THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: WITH AN INQUIRY CON.

CERNING THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE GIFT OF PROPHECY.

Division of the Prophecies-Isaiah-Superior style of its literary com-

position--Its critical division-Its authorship-Regarded by some, as

a compilation-Coincidence with second book of Kings and second

book of Chronicles-Remark upon Jeremiah-Ezekiel-Hesitation

of Sanhedrim, aliout receiving ii-Its author said to have written

some other books now lost-Daniel-Prophetic character of his writ-

ings disputed-Brief comment on other prophetic books-General mis.

apprehension of the subject of Prophecy-Practical importance of a

right understanding of itDefinition of prophecy-Scriptural allusions

to it-Mankind still endowed with this gift-Ancient and modern pro-

phecy identical in nature-Jesus, though a great prophet, did not fore.

tell exactly to a day-All things natural to God-Ezekiel's contempo-

raneous knowledge of an event which transpired at a distance-Paral.

lel case of Swedenborg---Other incidents somewhat similar---Myste-

rious connection of the Mind with the material universe---Political

and mechanical prophets, Milton, J. Q. Adams, Oliver Evans---Ancient

prophets doubtless judged partly from observation and experience

They were not infallible--. No evidence in the Bible that prophecy

should be withheld from mankind---Prophets now living, Garrison,

Pierpont, Whittier, Lowell and others--- All Reformers in some degree

prophetically endowed-Sublime passage from Isaiah.

137

LECTURE VI.

THE FOUR GOSPELS, AND THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
Definition of Gospel-Origin of the title, Saint-When were the Four

Gospels written ?-Their authorship-Acts of the Apostles-Inspira.
tio of the Evangelists Supposed prophecies of Jesus, quoted from
the Old Testament-Alleged miraculous conception of Jesus Mira.
cles ascribed to him-Casting out devils, not impossible now-
Mrs. Fry and Miss Dis-Co-operative agency of faith-Allegorical in-
terpretation of some of the miraculous accounts-Supposed cessation
of miraculous power in the church-Mesmerism-Rationality of some
of the miracles recorded in the Gospels-Some things once deemed
miraculous now explained on natural principles-Jesus would not per-
form miracles where he encountered the opposition of strong unbe-

lief—The Transfiguration ---Mr. Furness' exposition-Alleged miracu-

lous phenomena at the time of the Crucifixion-Resurrection of Jesus,

and alleged subsequent appearance to the two Marys and the disci.

ples-Exegesis of Prof. Bush-Wnat does the Resurrection prove?-

No model of our resurrection, unless we are to rise bodily, as Mr. Bal.

four and others believe-Mr. Balfour consistent with himself—The

Ascension-If miraculous power was the crowning gift of Jesus, the

"SEAL of his Messiahship,' his pre-eminently divine peculiarity, then

he was on a level with some heroes of the Old Testament, Moses, Eli-

jah and Elisha, for his miracles were but repetitions of theirs (see page

287)-Was Jesus more than human l-Disagreements between the

evangelists—Alleged appearance of a star, and singing of angels, at

the birth of Jesus—Jesus not prophesied in the Old Testament (see

page 304) Temptation of Christ His fasting forty days, &c., Moses

and Elijah did the same-The canonical Gospels furnish no proof that

Jesus himself ever wrote any account of his life or doctrines-Evan-

gelists not infallible-Effect of exercising discrimination in regard to

their writings.

167

LECTURE VII.

THE EPISTLES, AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION; WITH BEHARKS

UPON THE APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT.

Epistles not arranged chronologically-- Uncertainty concerning the several

dates of their origin-Lardner's conjectural table-Character of Paul's

writings-Fifteenth chap. 1 Corinth.-Paul's trance-His belief in a

resurrection of the body-Passage in one of his epistles to Timothy,

concerning inspiration - Epistle to Philemon, and the rascally use made

of it-Epistles of John-Epistle of Jude, fallen angels, &c.—Ques-

tion, whether apostles believed in literal destruction of the earth-

Opinions of Clarke and Wm. Miller-Epistles teach bodily resurrec-

tion of the dead_Apostles expected such an event during their life.

time-Book of Revelation-Nobody can fully explain it-Frequent

occurrence of the number seven-Epistles of doubtful authenticity-

Apocryphal New Testament-Wonderful relations in the Gospel of

Nicodemus-Miracles of Jesus, when he was a child-His general

precocity-Lardner's opinion of the Epistle of Barnabus Other Apoc.

ryphal Writings.Ascension of Isaiah-Remarks on some books of

canonical New Testamenta-Passage in First Epistle of John-Original

language of Matthew Hebrew copy known to have been corrupted

Separation of Apocryphal Writings from those styled canonical-Tes.

timonies of Mosheim and Gieseler---Brief account of the Manicheans,

who believed that the New Testament had been interpolated-De-

liberations at Council of Trent-Inconsistent intolerance of some

Protestants.

311

cil of Trent-Wickliffe's Translation-Dark Ages-Character of the

Christians, in the second century—Testimony that they were ignorant,

superstitious and dishonest-No certainty that they did not corrupt

the New Testament-Effect of this admission-Necessity of discrimi.

dation-Application of a certain preacher's argument-Many writings

of the Bible do not profess to be divinely inspired_Opinion of Dr.

Palfrey-Some apparently miraculous events perfectly natural-Over-

throw of Sodom, Death of Lot's wife, &c.-Pillar of cloud and fire

Passage of Red Sea-Jonah in the fish's belly-Remark on the De.

luge---Paul's conversion---Passages which represent God as taking

part in battles---Hooker's speech---Obscene and immoral passages

Question of the continuance of miraculous power in the church

Testimony of the Fathers.--Dr. Middleton's argument against them

Application of his argument to the writings of the apostles--- Testi-

mony of Josephus, that devils were cast out in the name of Solomon

An alleged "seal of Christ's Messiahship" tested---Remarks upon mi.

raculous narrations in general---Christianity true, independently of mi.

racles---Comment on Christ's appeal to his miracles, in behalf of his

claims, as one sent of God---He neither performed nor taught any

thing essentially new-.-His actual superiority--- The essentials of Reli.

gion---Notice of an anticipated objection---Distrust of the people, on

the part of the priesthood, formerly and at present-Concluding ob-

servations.

379

H

ERRATA. On page 222, fourth line from the top, for "the subsequent

history of those," read—the subsequent history of some of those. Page

398, eighth line from the bottom, for “seven miles," read—seven German

miles. A few other slight errors may have been inadvertently over-

looked, in reading the proof-sheets. If there be any such, it is probable

that the correction will be readily obvious to the intelligent reader.