Prayer, the necessity of, in considering the Evidences of Christianity, i. 21. 25.
Propagation of Christianity, a proof of its divine authority, i. 258; appears from the singularity of the attempt, 259; the rapidity and extent of it, 260; the nature of the doctrine thus propagated, 265; the obstacles surmounted, 266; the change wrought in the converts, 274. Compared with that of Mahometanism, 276; with the success of our Christian missions amongst Jews and Heathen, 277; and with reforms in Christian countries, 279. The propagation of Christi- anity is fulfilment of prophecy, 283.
Prophecy, definition of, i. 183; its extent, 185; harmony of all its parts in the person of the Saviour, 187; the infinite wisdom apparent in the contrivance of them, 189; the double sense of prophecy, 192; the practical and important ends which prophecy subserves, 197, 224; it has the im- press of the majesty of God, 191; fulfilment of it, 207. 226.
Prophecy, fulfilment of, in the person of our Lord, i. 208; as to the time, place, &c. of his birth, 209; his life, sufferings, death and resurrection, 209; his miracles and doctrine, 210; uniting qualities and attributes the most contradic- tory, 211; and as to his spiritual offices, 221. Circumstances connected with the fulfilment increase the proof of divine foreknowledge, 215. Prophecy of the destruction of the city and polity of the Jews, and their dispersion fulfilled, 227; others which relate to various cities, nations, and em- pires, 239; Nineveh and Tyre, 239; Babylon, 240; des- cendants of Ishmael, 242; Egyptians, 242; descendants of Canaan, Shem, and Japheth, 242; Daniel's prediction con- cerning the four empires, 243; prophecies of Daniel, St. Paul, and St. John, respecting the western apostacy, 245; those concerning the future conversion of the world, and the final triumph of holiness and truth, 249.
Prophets, the, had a solemn mission and call, known by all the nation, i. 194; were men of sincere personal piety, 194; their prophecies form but a small part of their general in- structions, 195; their messages were often of the most distressing nature to their personal feelings, 196; they suffered even unto death, 196; they record minutely every thing, even though it might seem to make against them, 196. They performed miracles, 196. The number and ages of the prophets, and the independence of their predictions, in- crease the proof of divine prescience, 213.
Prophetical argument, the force of, i. 252.
virtues, 291; mitigates insatiable ardour after worldly pos- sessions, 291; implants enlarged benevolence, 291; expels indolence, 291; and elevates the whole character of man, 291; Christianity banishes an immense mass of evils— idolatry, 291; murder, 292; exposing of infants, 293; di- vorce and polygamy, 293; the degradation of the female sex, 294; the cruelties of domestic slavery, 294; private assassination, 295; and a thousand similar evils, 295; Christianity mitigates many other evils-such as the horrors of war, 297; the spirit of faction and party-animosities in states, 299; venality and corruption, 299; offences against temperance and chastity, 299; and raises the standard of public opinion as to morals and religion, 300. Christianity has conferred, and is conferring, numerous substantial be- nefits on individuals and nations; it has elevated the female sex, 301; blessed the lower orders of society, 301; insti- tuted charitable designs for the relief of human wretched. ness, 302; encircled age with reverence, 303; given man a day of rest, 303; has infused into Christian legislators and princes the temper of equity and mercy, 303; con. ferred the blessing of equal distributive justice, 304; ex- tends its salutary influence to distant provinces, 304; and civilizes states, 305.
Effects, the ultimate, which Christianity will produce when all obstacles are removed, ii. 143.
Egyptians, present state of, confirms ancient prophecies, i. 242. Eusebius, quotation from, respecting the propagation of Chris- tianity, i. 269.
Evidences of Christianity, not to be continually dwelt upon, i. 9; but occasionally, 10; and not in a way of testimony merely, 10; but in a practical manner, 10; as in the early centuries, leading men on to the inward excellencies of the religion itself, 11. They demand attention at the present time on account of the young, 11; the lapse of time since Christianity took its rise, 12; the decayed state of piety, 13; a spurious philosophy spread far and wide, 13; the neglect of the Christian religion, 14; and the daring assaults of scepticism, 15. They are forcible, 15; and may be Now considered with facility, from the diffusion of education, 16; progress in the study of the law of evidence, 16; the avowed necessity of following nature, 16; and the revival of primi- tive piety and zeal, 16. Their importance, 20, 21; their accumulation, 285. The simplicity, variety, independence, and force of, increase man's obligation, ii. 373. They have arisen in an incidental manner, ii. 412. The actual mass at the present time, 416.
Evidences, external and internal, compared, and their respective places and merit determined, ii. 3. The topics of the inter- nal, stated, 4.
Evidences, external, recapitulation of, i. 365.
Evidences, internal, the nature of the argument arising from, ii. 396; recapitulation of the details of, 398; correspond with the probationary and imperfect state of man, 401; are to be collected together, 402.
Example of his disciples, Christ the, ii. 100.
Facts now admitted assist the consideration of the question of evidences, ii. 419.
Faith should practically correspond with what we admit in argument respecting Christianity, i. 146.
Faith, definition of, ii. 300; the principle by which human society is moved, 300; definition and illustration of faith in a divine Revelation, 300; distinction between faith exer- cised on human testimony and on divine, 302; difference between a living and dead, 303; the corruption of man forms the great difficulty in exercising faith on divine tes- timony, 304; for man hesitates to exercise faith in Christi- anity, although GoD is the author of the Revelation, 304; it regards man's supreme interests, 305; and comes to him in the moment of danger, 305; the scriptural account of, 306; prayer for, 307; the reasonableness of, after admitting the divine authority of Christianity, 307; both as to the disco- veries of the Christian religion, 308; and as to the necessity of divine aid, 312; the extent of, 314; embracing every part of Revelation, 315; assigning to each the relative im- portance which it finds ascribed in Scripture, 317; but stopping where Revelation stops, 318; and following, as much as possible, the language as well as the sentiments of Scripture, 320; produces tranquillity, 321; and is the prin- ciple of the Christian life, 323; must be vital and influential, 325; is obtained in answer to prayer for the grace of the Holy Spirit, 326; and is calculated to produce humility of mind, 328; implies an honest application of our natural understanding to the Scriptures, 331; includes a willing- ness to submit it, together with our heart, to all the truths which God has been pleased to reveal, 332; puts us in possession of many of the blessings of which the Scriptures treat, 333; leads the Christian to seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit, 335; guards him against the danger of hazard- ous interpretations, or false use of difficult passages, 335; disposes him to resort to all the necessary helps in order to
Tacitus, testimony of, to the gospel facts, i. 125; to the propa- gation of Christianity, 261.
Temper of mind in which Christianity should be studied, i. 23; is characterized by docility, 24; seriousness, 24; prayer, 25; obedience, 25; entirely wanting in unbelievers-lite- rary, 26; uninformed, 29; low and profane, 30. Its indis- pensable importance appears, from the influence of the passions over the understanding, 31; acknowledged to be essential to every important investigation, 32; must be yet more so in the investigation of the Christian evidences, 33; and is required by Christianity herself, 33. This temper should be cultivated by those who are harassed by sus- picions, 37; by the young, 40; and by all, 40. Temperance of Jesus Christ, ii. 104.
Temple at Jerusalem, description of, i. 228. Attempt by Julian to rebuild it, frustrated, 235.
Tendency of Christianity to promote the temporal and spiritual happiness of nations and individuals, ii. 124; appears from the direction which it takes, 128; the hindrances opposed to it, 132; its success in proportion to the removal of them, 136; and the ultimate effects which it will produce when all obstacles are removed, 143. Each individual should show forth this tendency by his holy life, 150; and pray for the copious influences of grace to hasten on the blessed period when the tendencies of Christianity shall become effects, 152.
Tertullian, testimony of, to the authenticity of the books of the New Testament, i. 96, 102; to the inspiration, 340.
and Origen state the extent of the propagation of Christianity, i. 262.
Test, the, to which every one may bring the truth of the Chris- tian religion, ii. 154; the nature of the argument, 155; the scriptural authority on which it rests, 160; the facts by which it is sustained, 164; there is nothing in it to excite astonishment, 170. The defect of experience in some per- sons, no valid objection to the argument, 172. The singular importance of the proof thus educed, being entirely level to the mass of mankind, 174; the most satisfactory to men of all classes, 177; a growing evidence, 179; strengthening all the external and internal proofs, 180; and peculiarly necessary in the present day, 182. An appeal to sincere Christians in support of this argument, 185; directions for the application of the test, 188; the character of persons prepared to enter on a personal trial, 189.
Theophilus' testimony to the inspiration of the Old and New
Tranquillity of mind produced by faith, ii. 321.
Translation of the Bible, the fidelity of the English, i. 145. Tyre, destruction of, i. 240.
Valens' testimony to the love of Christians to the holy books, i. 96.
Unbelievers want the temper of mind in which alone Christia-
nity can be properly studied, i. 26. They betray a wrong temper, 35. Their five common principles, 50; borrowed from Christianity, 50; held loosely, 52; wholly insufficient as a guide to man, 53. See Infidels, Infidelity.
Union of separate graces in our Saviour's personal character, ii. 106.
Universal diffusion, the Bible is calculated for, ii. 23; both as to matter, 23; and manner, 25.
Volney and Swartz contrasted, ii. 27.
Voltaire, the character and conduct of, ii. 262. His last days, 285.
Warburton's, Bishop, opinion on the inspiration of the New Testament, i. 322, 349.
World, our Lord's superiority to the, ii. 103.
Writers on the evidences have pursued various methods, ii. 416; primitive, 416; literary, 417; theological, 417; me- taphysical, 418; historical, 418; Christian, 418.
Young, address to the, i. 372, 375; exhorted to shun vicious courses, ii. 249; to be careful not to provoke the Spirit of God to depart from them, 249; and to see that they possess the substantial blessings of Christianity, 250. Convinced from the lives and deaths of infidels, that their objections confirm Christianity, 294.
IBOTSON AND PALMER, PRINTERS, SAVOY STREET, STRAND.
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