OF THE DIRECT HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF CHRISTI-

ANITY, AND WHEREIN IT IS DISTINGUISHED FROM

THE EVIDENCE ALLEGED FOR OTHER MIRACLES.

Propositions stated

❤

15, 16

PROPOSITION I.

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 attesta-

tion of the accounts which they delivered, and

solely in consequence of their belief of those ac-

counts; and that they also submitted, from the

same motives, to new rules of conduct

CHAPTER I.

-

- 17

Evidence of the sufferings of the first propagators of
Christianity, from the nature of the case

ibid.

CHAPTER II.

Evidence of the sufferings of the first propagators of

Christianity, from Profane Testimony

CHAPTER III.

PAGE 39

Indirect evidence of the sufferings of the first propaga-

tors of Christianity, from the Scriptures and other

ancient Christian writings

51

That the story, for which the first propagators of

Christianity suffered, was miraculous

CHAPTER VII.

99

That it was in the main story which we have now,

proved by indirect considerations

107

CHAPTER VIII.

The same proved, from the authority of our historical

Scriptures

CHAPTER IX.

133

Of the authenticity of the historical Scriptures, in ele-

ven Sections

158

SECTION. Quotations of the historical Scriptures by

ancient Christian writers

172

SECTION II. Of the peculiar respect with which they

were quoted

PAGE 217

-

SECTION III. The Scriptures were in very early times

collected into a distinct volume

226

SECTION IV. And distinguished by appropriate names

and titles of respect -
234

SECTION V. Were publicly read and expounded in

the religious assemblies of the early Christians 239

SECTION VI. Commentaries, &c. were anciently writ-

ten upon the Scriptures

244

SECTION VII. They were received by ancient Christ-

ians of different sects and persuasions

255

SECTION VIII. The four Gospels, the Acts of the

.

Apostles, thirteen Epistles of Saint Paul, the First

Epistle of John, and the First of Peter, were re-

ceived without doubt by those who doubted concern-

ing the other books of our present canon

269

SECTION IX. Our present Gospels were considered by

the adversaries of Christianity, as containing the ac-

counts upon which the religion was founded 277

-

SECTION X. Formal catalogues of authentic Scrip-

tures were published, in all which our present Gos-

pels were included.

-

288

SECTION XI. The above propositions cannot be predi-

cated of those books which are commonly called apo-

cryphal books of the New Testament -

293

Recapitulation

CHAPTER X.

303

OF THE DIRECT HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF CHRIS-

TIANITY, AND WHEREIN IT IS DISTINGUISHED

FROM THE EVIDENCE ALLEGED FOR OTHER MI-

RACLES

PAGE 311

PROPOSITION II.

CHAPTER I.

That there is NOT satisfactory evidence, that persons

pretending to be original witnesses of any other simi-

lar miracles, have acted in the same manner, in at-

testation of the accounts which they delivered, and

solely in consequence of their belief of the truth of

those accounts

312

CHAPTER II.

Consideration of some specific instances

349

1

to prove

that man

IDEEM DEEM it unnecessary to kind stood in need of a revelation, because I have met with no serious person who thinks that, even under the Christian revelation, we have too much light, or any degree of assurance which is superfluous. I desire moreover, that, in judging of Christianity, it may be remembered, that the question lies between this religion and none: for, if the Christian religion be not credible, no one, with whom we have to do, will support the pretensions of any other.

Suppose, then, the world we live in to have had a Creator; suppose it to appear, from the predominant aim and tendency