Essays on the nature and uses of the various evidences of revealed religion

Front matter

ESSAYS

ON

THE NATURE AND USES OF THE VARIOUS

Preface

It is not the design of this volume to present a regular and formal exposition of the Evidences of Christianity.

This has already been done so often and so ably in our language, and in so many forms, from the learned collections of Dr. Lardner, and the original and profound arguments of Clarke and Butler, to the popular and perspicuous statements of Addison, Paley, Beattie, and Chalmers, that an attempt to go over the same ground in detail, seems almost presumptuous and not very useful. But, in examining these and similar works, I have frequently been struck with what, amidst much excellence, appeared to me to be serious imperfections. Some of those who have discussed the historical and critical testimony in the most admirable and ingenious manner, wholly neglect or avoid the internal evidence arising from the character of the doctrines taught, and from their probable or their observed effects ; whilst

VI others, with Dr. Chalmers, decidedly deny the power of the human intellect, to weigh the force of any such argument. To my mind, this evidence is, of all other, the most efficacious, and the most universal in its application.

The influence of our sentiments and affections over our intellectual decisions is confessedly very strong, on all subjects of moral inquiry ; of necessity it must have gre^t sway in the consideration of the most momentous and deeply interesting of all inquiries, that concerning the truth of our Religion. Though this influence is never denied by any sound reasoner, and is constantly seen to furnish the most effectual instrument of religious eloquence in the inculcation of Christian truth, yet, those who write professedly on the subject, are generally inclined to regard it as being wholly distinct and apart from the exercise of the rational faculties, and therefore incapable of affording anytest of the truth or falsehood of opinions.

But, besides the close and intimate connexion which exists between the purely rational, and the moral and sentimental parts of our nature, and the constant and forcible action and re-action which they exert upon each other ; the adaptation of any system of moral precept or instruction to our better sentiments and feelings, and to the

Vll actual condition of man, may be also considered intellectually, and thus furnish no feeble proof of its divine origin.

Those authors who have most faithfully and judiciously collected and stated the critical and historical learning which corroborates the relations, and verifies the authenticity of the books of scripture, or most ably expounded the speculative and metaphysical vindications of its doctrine, are often too apt to consider them as mere questions for the exertion of learned acuteness. I have thought that these arguments might be made more useful by showing their connexion with the common principles upon which most men reason and judge, in the ordinary affairs of life.

The several grounds on which their religion is rationally received by the great body of intelligent Christians also appeared to reflect back much light upon the nature, character and uses of those evidences themselves, which in various manners have thus made their way to the understandings or the hearts of so many thinking beings.

Such are the leading views, of which it is the object of this volume to present a brief and perspicuous, though I am fully conscious it must be a most imperfect, statement.

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It has been endeavoured throughout, to avoid the mixing pny consideration of those debated questions, which divide Christians, with these general and preliminary arguments, except so far as unnecessary concession or silence seemed directly to involve the positive abandonment of essential truth.

The reader will very soon perceive that no attempt has been made in these pages to comply with that canon of taste or criticism, founded alike on good sense and in high authority, which advises that every book should be as complete as possible within itself. On the contrary, I have presumed the reader to have some general acquaintance with the subject, and considering most of the particular facts as already in evidence before him, have mainly confined myself to the principles which they involve, and the inferences justly to be drawn from them.

If, however, these Essays should fall into the hands of any one who has not this previous knowledge, and whose attention has never been turned to this inquiry, should they have the effect of exciting him to farther and honest examination, they will not have been written in vain.