P. 52.

(1.) The substance of the tradition prevalent among all na-

tions, p. 49.
(2.) The tradition embodied in the national mythology and

religion of every people, p. 50.
2. Physiological proof, built upon the existing phenomena of

the globe which we inhabit, p. 52.
(1.) No circumstance is more thoroughly established in geo-

logy, than that the crust of our globe has beon subjected

to a great and sudden revolution by the agency of water,
(2.) Various physical matters testify, that this great revolu-

tion cannot have happened at a more remote period than

five or six thousand years ago, p. 53.
3. Moral proof, built upon the progress of civilization, p. 60.
(1.) Civilization has always a natural tendency to spread

itself more and more widely, while barbarism has a
natural tendency to contract itself within more and more

narrow linits, p. 60.
(2.) With this view of the matter, all history, down to the

present time, perfectly agrees, p. 61.
(3.) The necessary inference from such facts, p. 63.
II. The additional fact, of a direct intercourse between man and

his Creator or (in other words) of a revelation from God to
man, demonstrated from the established fact of an universal

deluge, p. 63.
1. The supposition that the deluge did not cover the tops of

the mountains and that men and animals preserved them-
selves by escaping to their summits, shuwn to be untena-

ble, p. 65.
2. The supposition, that a family escaped in a ship built acci-

dentally and not in consequence of a divine revelation,

shown to be equally untenable, p. 66.
3. The final result is, that, if the fact of the deluge be admitted,

we shall find ourselves compelled to admit also the addi.
tional fact, that a revelation of God's purposes to his crea-
ture man has assuredly taken place as we find it recorded
in Holy Scripture, p. 63.

SECTION IV.

The difficulties attendant upon deistical Infidelity in regard to actuallı;

accomplished prophecy, p. 69.

The prediction, selected as a specimen of the argument from accom-

plished prophecy, shall be that of Moses respecting the future

destinies and fortunes of the Jews, p. 70.
I. Abstract of the prophecy, p. 70.
II. View of the aecomplishment of the prophecy, p. 72.

1. Its accomplishment has taken place in all 'the numerous

particulars of wbich it is composed, p. 72.
(1.) The first particular, p. 73.
(2.) The second particular, p. 74.
(3.) The third particular, p. 74.
(4.) The fourth particular, p: 75.
(5.) The fifth particular, p. 75.
(6.) The sixth particular, p. 76.
17.) The seventh particular, p. 76.
(8.) The eighth particular, p. 76.

(9.) The ninth particular, p. 77.
2. The estimate of their own situation by the Jews themselves

p. 77.

Ill. The train of reasoning, which springs from the prophecy and

its accomplishment, p. 81.
1. Insufficiency of the first possible deistical solution : the polis

tical foresight and sagacity of Moses, p. 83.
2. Insufficiency of the second possible deistical solution : a

lucky accident, p. 84.
(1.) Essential difference between the leading characteristic of

the real prophecy of Moses, namely complexity; and
the leading characteristic of the pretended prophecy of

Seneca, nainely indefinite sinplicity, p. 85.
(2.) Dissimilarity in the grounds and reasons, on which each

prophecy is supported, p. 88.
(3.) A tradition of the discovery of America by the Pheni-

cians was not unknown to Seneca : whence his prophecy

becomes a mere poetical ornament, p. 89.
IV. Summary of the argument, p. 92.

SECTION V.

The difficulties attendant upon deistical Infidelity in regard to the

facts and circumstances and character of the Christian Dispen-

sation, p. 94.
No small difficulties also attend upon Infidelity in regard to the

facts and circumstances and character of the Christian Dispen.

sation, p. 94.
I. The present existence of Christianity is a naked fact: hence

the only question between the believer and the unbeliever is,

how it first started into existence, p. 94.
1. The account of its rise and progress is contained in the bis-

torical books of the New Testament, p. 94.
2. Suppressing for the present the question of miraculous in-

terference, we may say, that to deny the praise of general
veracity to the narrative is to unhinge all historical evi:
dence, p. 95.

p. 99.

3. Speculations of Mr. Volney as to the personal existence of

Christ, p. 98.
4. Conclusion as to the character of the evangelical histories,
II. The infidel, on bis principles, must maintain, that Christ was

either an impostor or an enthusiast, p. 100.
1. The difficulties attendant upon the hypotbesis, that Christ

was an impostor, p. 100.
(1.) Statement and practical demonstration of the necessary

coeduct of an impostor, as an impostor, in the times

during which Cbrist appeared, p. 102.
(2.) Statement of the actual directly opposite conduct of

Christ, p. 104.
2. The difficulties aitendant upon the hypothesis, that Christ

was an enthusiast, p. 115.
(1.) The sobriety of Christ's conduct, as exemplified in his

words, p. 116.
(2.) The sobriety of Christ's conduct, as exemplified in his

actions, p. 119.
3. Numerous contingencies were associated with his claim of

the Messiahship, which were quite out of the control either

of an impostor or of an enthusiast, p. 122.
III. The conduct of the apostles and first preachers of Chris.

tianity, p. 126.
1. The common notion entertained by infidels respecting the

apostles, p. 127.
2. The difficulties attendant upon this notion, p. 129.

(1.) The first stage of the proceedings of the apostles, p. 129.

(2.) The second stage of the proceedings of the apostles,
3. The effects produced by the alleged resurrection of Christ.

Grounds for believing the truth of the alleged fact. Difti-

culties attendant upon the denial of it, p. 138.
4. Evidence specially afforded by the conduct of two of the

apostles, p. 145.
(1.) Conduct of Judas the traitor, p. 145.
(2.) Conduct of Paul, first a persecutor, then a convert,

p. 131.

p. 148.

SECTION VI.

The difficulties attendant upon deistical Infidelity in regard to the

rapid propagation of Christianity and the evidence by which the

performance of miracles is supported, p. 157.
The necessity of accounting for the fact of the rapid propagation of

Christianity is felt and acknowledged by all, p. 157.
1. A consideration of the five natural reasons or causes proposed

by Mr. Gibbon as sufficient to account for the fact, p. 157.

p. 164.

1. The first reason : the inflexible and intolerant zeal of the

early Christians, p. 158.
2. The second reason: the doctrine of a future life, p. 160.
3. The third reason : the miraculous powers ascribed to the

primitive Church, p. 161.
4. The fourth reason: the pure and austere morals of the

primitive Christians, p. 162.
5. The fifth reason : the union and discipline of the Church,
'II. Concerning the aspect, which Christianity must have presented

to the Gentiles at its first promulgation among them : and
whether Mr. Gibbon's five reasons are sufficient to account

for its success, p. 164.
III. A consideration of the two supernatural reasons proposed in

Scripture, p. 172.
1. The first reason: the operation of the Holy Spirit to incline

the heart, p. 172.
2. The second reason : the performance of miracles to con-

vince the bead, p. 174.
(1.) The testimony, by which the persormance of works pur-

porting to be miraculous, is established, p. 178.
(2.) The evidence, by which these works are proved to have

been real, not simulated miracles, p. 187.

SECTION VII.

The difficulties attendant upon deistical Infidelity in regard to the

internal evidence of Christianity, p. 194.
In discussing the internal evidence of Christianity, two particulars

only shall be selected, as a specimen of the mode of reasoning

from it, p. 194.
1. The character of Christ, p. 194.

1. The favourite ideal character of a horo variously exemplified,

p. 195.

2. The opposite character of Christ, p. 197.

3. Conclusion drawn from the contrast, p. 199.
II. The spirit of Christianity, p: 201.
1. The spirit of confessedly false religions, 201.

(1.) The Scandinavian theology of Odin, p. 201.
(2.) The Arabic theology of Mobainmed, p. 202.
(3.) The imposture of Alexander of Pontus, p. 204.

(4.) The theologico-political system of Hindostan, p. 205.
2. The directly opposite spirit of Christianity, p. 207.
3. Conclusion drawn from the contrast, p. 209.

SECTION VIII,

Recapitulation and Conclusion, p. 211.

Previous to the general conclusion, the several difficulties which en-

cumber the march of Infidelity, shall be briefly recapitulated,
1. The difficulties in question are as follows, p. 211.

1. The insufficient grounds and reasons of Infidelity itself,

p. 211.

p. 211.

p. 211.

2. The impossibility, on infidel principles, of either proving

the unity of God, or of developing bis moral attributes,
3. The difficulties of Infidelity in regard to historical matters

of fact, p. 212.
4. The difficulties of Infidelity in regard to accomplished pro-