the first to crumble it into atoms. But, if it be reared on the foundation of sacred Verity, not all the powers and malice of Infidelity itself shall be able to overthrow it. To that Criterion it is submitted; and, persuaded, as I am, it will pass that ordeal, I do not hesitate to affirm, that it must contain the very best scheme of Reason, Philosophy, Virtue, and Morals, that can be proposed.* Each of these topics may perhaps have been recommended with greater erudition,and with more acute argument, in larger works. If so, some merit may be adjudged me, for having reduced them to this compendium, and to a style of more popular, or less abstruse, simplicity. Is it not of greater consequence, that the many should be informed, than that the few should be amused? * When the great Sir Isaac Newton had delivered an opinion, which any one choose to controvert, he never was at the pains to defend it, but contented himself with saying, "I believe, Sir, if you will be at the trouble of examining my opinion, you will find I have very good reasons for it." After having fled, with an eagerness of curiosity, and pryed, with a diligence of inquisition, I cannot describe, into every thing that has fallen in my way, for an uninterrupted series of years, on each of these subjects, I have found no refuge from the intellectual confusion and distraction, in which they have involved me, but in "THE ORACLES OF GOD": which I now consult, as the only oracles of Reason, Philosophy, Virtue, and Morals, in which an Immortal can either repose or confide. Here, then, it might naturally be expected, that something should be presented in defence and confirmation of their divine original. But, have you ever applied, for all the requisite intelligence on that desideratum, to the valuable writings of Abbadie-Butler-Leslie- Beattie-Paley-Doddridge-HartleyWatson-and many others? Have you seriously considered the truth of the Scrip tures, and their divine authority, by inquiring fairly into the genuineness of those Scriptures; into the principal facts they contain; into the manner in which they have been handed down to us; into the great importance of their matter and subject; into the surprising peculiarity of their style and language; into their agreement with universal history; into their perfect harmony with themselves; into their numerous and wonderful prophecies; into their miracles, no less numerous and wonderful; into the moral character of Moses, and the prophets, of Christ, and his apostles; and into the amazing propagation of the Christian faith, within the three first centuries? Have you really digested all these particulars with an impartial, virtuous, and persevering examination? And, can you still remain an Infidel? If so, you demand more and greater evidence than. satisfied the capacious intellect of a Bacon, a Newton, a Locke, a Pascal, an Addison, a Grotius, a Selden, and a Boyle! Introductory Prospectus. Into what a pitiable state of degradation and depravity must their minds have sunk, who can prefer the mischievous eruptions, which are thrown out by such volcanos, as a Bolingbroke, a Shaftsbury, a Chesterfield, a Paine, or a Volney, to that blaze of mind and excellence, which issues from this brilliant constellation *! It is, indeed, to no purpose, as we have witnessed in numberless instances, that a complication of evidence is shining around * " Though I am persuaded, that the essential doctrines of Christianity, considered in themselves, may be sufficient to prove their divine origin and inspiration, yet, when I contemplate the beautiful simplicity, with which they are delivered, and the amazing success with which they were propagated-and when I compare these two circumstances with the character, the means, and the abilities, of the persons, who published them to the world, I see then, indeed, the strongest presumptions in favour of their truth; and I pray God to forgive the wilful ignorance, and corrupt disingenuity of those, who pretend to believe, that twelve obscure, insignificant, illiterate men-without power, interest, opulence, or learning→→ could vanquish the prejudices of the world, triumph over the power of custom and education, and expose themselves to death in its most dreadful forms, in the service of an Impostor !" ༔ us, if a man be resolved to bury himself in the deep, dark, dismal caverns of pertinacious Infidelity. The credimus, quod volumus, is alike applicable to our faith, and to our unbelief: and in vain are the most cogent, and, to ingenuous spirits, irresistible appeals addressed to our understanding, in any case, where the heart is disaffected. The clouds of mental error, and the shades of intellectual darkness, are rarely dissipated against our inclination; though, into candid, modest, and unpresuming inquirers, Truth is ever ready to emit her enlightening beams, and, in their sincere researches, to transport them with her beauty and glory. Nothing can have a greater tendency to eclipse them both. from our sight, than the indulgence of any vicious propensity; and, especially, of that reasoning pride, which human vanity is too apt to cherish, and sometimes is so infatuated as to defend, with all the arts of sophistry and eloquence. Among the peculiars of modern eccentricity, and the numerous obligations we |