and disinterestedness of the motives which suggested it. How the following work may be received, I pretend not to foretell. My first prayer concerning it is, that it may do good to any my second hope, that it may assist what it hath always been my earnest wish to promote, the religious part of an academical education. If in this latter view it might seem, in any degree, to excuse your Lordship's judgment of its author, I shall 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 sense I entertain of your Lordship's conduct, and of a notice which I regard as the most flattering distinction of my life. I am, MY LORD, With sentiments of gratitude and respect, And most obliged servant, WILLIAM PALEY. CONTENTS. Part E. Of the direct Historical Evidence of Christianity, That there is satisfactory Evidence, that many pro- fessing to be original Witnesses of the Christian Miracles, passed their Lives in Labours, Dangers, and Sufferings, voluntarily undergone in Attestation of the Accounts which they delivered, and solely ir consequence of their Belief of those Accounts; and Indirect Evidence of the Sufferings of the first Propa- Of the Authenticity of the Historical Scriptures, in SECT. V. Were publicly read and expounded in the SECT. VII. They were received by Ancient Christians SECT. VIII. The four Gospels, the Acts of the Apos- tles, thirteen Epistles of St. Paul, the First Epistle of John, and the First of Peter, were received with- SECT. IX. Our Historical Scriptures were considered by the Adversaries of Christianity as containing the Accounts upon which the Religion was founded SECT. X. Formal Catalogues of authentic Scriptures were published, in all which our present Sacred SECT. XI. These Propositions cannot be predicated of |