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spicacity of intellect, his sobriety of judgment, his unbiassed love of truth, and his patient investigation of all circumstances, fitted him peculiarly for the defence of the great principles of natural and revealed theology. If any fraud or imposture had existed in regard to the Christian religion, by which the minds of others had been blinded, it would be difficult, from the whole catalogue of the learned, to select a man better suited to detect and dispel the illusion. He less profound than Butler, but his views and reasonings are much more on a level with the understanding of the bulk of mankind. The former collects and converges to a focus the feeble and scattered rays of light which pass unnoticed by others; the latter, neglecting weak arguments, seizes on the strong points of evidence in every subject, and exhibits them in a light so clear and steady, that he carries along with him the convictions of every mind, not closed against the force of truth, by strong and inveterate prejudice. Thus in his EVIDENCES he fixes on a single fact, the truth of which cannot be denied; namely, that in the commencement of the Christian religion many persons did voluntarily undergo the severest sufferings and persecutions in confirmation of their faith in this system. This fact, as we have seen, is fully attested by the highest Heathen as well as Christian authorities, and is now questioned by none. On this single point PALEY erects his battery, and his conclusion cannot be evaded without a renunciation of common sense, or of the commonly-received laws of evidence. It detracts something from the interest, and in my opinion, from the effect of this treatise, that the author considered it necessary to descend to so many minute details, in establishing the authenticity of the sacred books of the New Testament. To others, however, this work of Paley seems, in all respects, to approximate perfection. The pious and philanthropic Douglas, of Scotland, in a late work, expresses it as his opinion, that EUCLID'S ELEMENTS, and PALEY'S EVIDENCES, are the only two treatises which are perfectly adapted to the business of elementary instruction. This opinion from a mind so comprehensive and so highly gifted as that of the gentleman above mentioned, cannot but recommend this work to the careful perusal of all such persons as wish for full information and complete satisfaction on this momentous subject.'

CONTENTS

PALEY'S EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.

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