LECTURE XI. DIVINE AUTHORITY.-BENEFICIAL EFFECTS The divine authority of Christianity appears from the Christianity has actually BANISHED AN IMMENSE MASS 417 . 417 418 420 Christianity has MITIGATED MANY OTHER EVILS The New, therefore, as the higher dispensation, inspired 459 The New recognised by sacred writers, as of same authority with the Old. 463 The PROMISES made by our Lord, and the GIFTs received by the apostles prove the inspiration 468 Our Lord's promises include inspiration 469 Our Lord's last commission implies it 471 The gifts and qualifications of the apostles, on the day of Pentecost, demonstrate it 477 Their writings under the same inspiration as the preaching 478 THE CLAIMS MADE BY THE APOSTLES THEMSELVES INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, AND RE- In order to know the plan on which divine inspiration We must ascertain the EXTENT OF IT, according to the Page 498 505 519 520 RECAPITULATION of whole argument from external evidences CONCLUDING ADDRESS 530 540 ERRATA. Page 35, note, for XVIII, read XVII. 50, note, for 41, 42, read 40, 41. 81, 10th line from bottom, for been, read have. 235, line 13 from top, for individual, read individuals. LECTURES. LECTURE I. INTRODUCTION. 1 PETER II. 15. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. It is one mark of the truth of our holy religion, that it courts enquiry. Christianity lays open its claims to every one that asks a reason of the hope which it inspires, and declines no species of fair investigation. The hope of which the apostle here speaks, is that humble confidence of escaping from the deserved wrath of God, and obtaining everlasting life which the death and resurrection of Christ received by faith, were the means of exciting in the breasts of the first Christians, VOL. I. B |