CONTENTS. PAGN It is impossible to banish all religion from the world, and if it were possible, it would be the greatest calamity which could If Christianity be rejected, there is no other religion which can be substituted in its place, at least no other which will at all Revelation necessary to teach us how to worship God accept- ably-the nature and certainty of a future state-and espe- cially, the method by which sinners may obtain salvation,... 34 There is nothing improbable or unreasonable in the idea of a revelation from God, and consequently nothing improbable or unreasonable in such a manifest divine interposition, as may 5 The rapid and extensive progress of the Gospel, by instruments so few and feeble, is a proof of divine interposition, ..... . 118 The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were written by the inspiration of God; and this inspiration, however it may be distinguished, was plenary; that is, the writers were under an infallible guidance, both as to ideas and words; and yet the acquired knowledge, habits, and peculiar dispositions, The care with which the books of the Old Testament were pre- served their canonical authority-the sanction given to these books by the Saviour and his apostles-and the method EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. CHAPTER I. THE RIGHT USE OF REASON IN RELIGION. THAT it is the right and the duty of all men to exer cise their reason in inquiries concerning religion, is a truth so manifest, that it may be presumed there are none who will be disposed to call it in question. Without reason there can be no religion: for in every step which we take, in examining the evidences of revelation, in interpreting its meaning, or in assenting to its doctrines, the exercise of this faculty is indispensable. When the evidences of Christianity are exhibited, an appeal is made to the reason of men for its truth; but all evidence and all argument would be perfectly futile, if reason were not permitted to judge of their force. This noble faculty was certainly given to man to be a guide in religion, as well as in other things. He possesses no other means by which he can form a judgment on any subject, or assent to any truth; and it would be no more absurd to talk of seeing without eyes, than of knowing any thing without reason. It is therefore a great mistake to suppose that reli gion forbids or discourages the right use of reason. So far from this, she enjoins it as a duty of high moral obligation, and reproves those who neglect to judge for themselves what is right. It has frequently been said by the friends of reve lation, that although reason is legitimately exercised |