iv

that it may aflift, what it hath always been my earnest wish to promote, the religious part of an academical education. If in this latter view it might feem in any degree to excufe your Lordfhip's judgment of its author, I fhall be gratified by the reflection, that to a kindness flowing from public principles, I have made the best public return in my power.

In the mean time, and in every event, I rejoice in the opportunity here afforded me, of testifying the fenfe I entertain of your Lordship's conduct, and of a notice which I regard, as the most flattering diftinction of my life.

I am, my Lord,

With fentiments of gratitude and respect,
Your Lordship's faithful,

and moft obliged fervant,

W. PALEY.

CONTENTS.

Preparatory Confiderations,

PART THE FIRST.

OF THE DIRECT HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIAN-

ITY, AND WHEREIN IT IS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE

EVIDENCE ALLEGED FOR OTHER MIRACLES.

PROPOSITION I.

CHAP. I.

There is fatisfactory evidence that many, profeffing to be original

witnefes of the Chriflian Miracles, paffed their lives in la-

bours, dangers and fufferings, voluntarily undergone in attef-

tation of the accounts which they delivered, and folely in con-

fequence of their belief of the truth of thofe accounts; and

that they alfo fubmitted, from the fame motives, to new rules

of conduct.

Page

9

CHAP. IL to CHAP. VIII. The fame fubject continued.

CHA P. IX.

15

15

"Of the authenticity of the fcriptures." 74

SECT. I.

The hiftorical books of the New Teftament, meaning thereby

the four Gofpels and the Acts of the Apostles, are quoted, or

alluded to, by a feries of Chriflian writers, beginning with

those who were contemporary with the Apostles, or who im-

mediately followed them, and proceeding in clofe and regular

fucceffion from their time to the prefent..

SECT. II..

86.

When the fcriptures are quoted, or alluded to, they are quoted

with peculiar refpect, as books fui generis, as poffeffing an

authority which belonged to no other books, and as conclu-

five in all queflions and controverfies among ft Chriftians. 99

SECT. III..

The feriptures were in very early times collected into a diftinct

volume.

1028

SECT. IV.

Our prefent facred writings were foon diftinguished by appro-

priate names and titles of respect.

SECT. V.

Our fcriptures were publickly read and expounded in the religi-

ous affemblies of the early Chriftians.

SECT. VI.

Commentaries were anciently written upon the feriptures;

harmonies formed out of them; different copies carefully

collated; and verfions made of them into different lan-

guages.

SECT. VII.

Our feriptures were received by ancient Chriflians of different

fects and perfuafions, by many heretics as well as Cath-.

olics, and were ufually appealed to by both fides, in the con-

troverfies which arofe in thofe days.

SECT. VIII.

The four Gofpels, the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epifles

of St. Paul, the first Epistle of John, and the first of Pe-

ter, were received without doubt by those who doubted

concerning the other books, which are included in our pref

ent canon.

SECT. IX.

Our hiftorical fcriptures were attacked by the early adverfa-

ries of Christianity, as containing the accounts upon which

the religion was founded.

SECT. X.

Formal catalogues of authentic fcriptures were published, in all

which our prefent facred hiftories were included.

SECT. XI.

Thefe propofitions cannot be predicated of any of those books,

which are commonly called apocryphal books of the New

Page

105

107

100

113

118

122

126.

Teftament.

CHAP. X.

PROPOSITION II.

CHA P. I.

Our fecond propofition, and which now remains to be

treated of, is, "That there is NOT fatisfactory evidence,

128

132

that perfons, pretending to be original witnesses of any other

fimilar miracles, have acted in the fame manner, in atteftation

of the accounts which they delivered, and folely in confequence

of their belief of the truth of thofe accounts.

PART

CHA P. II.

THE

SECOND.

Page

136

152

The Candour of the Writers of the New Testament.

Identity of Chrift's Character.

Originality of our Saviour's Character.

191

198

208

CHAP. I.

The Difcrepancies between the feveral Gospels.

CHA P. II.

Erroneous Opinions imputed to the Apoftles.

CHA P. III.

The Connexion of Chriflianity with the Jewish Hiftory.

Rejection of Chriftianity.

CHA P. IV.

CHAP. V.

the Chriftian miracles are not recited, or appealed to, by

ely Chriftian writers themfelves, fo fully or frequently as

ht have been expected.

CH A P. VI.

of univerfality in the knowledge and reception of Chrif

ity, and of greater clearness in the evidence.

Page

271

274

277.

272

291

298