"

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,
Your Lordship's faithful,

And most obliged servant.

W. PALEY.

CONTENTS.

Preparatory considerations.

PART THE FIRST.

Of the direct historical evidence of christianity, and

wherein it is distinguished from the evidence alleged

.for other miracles.

PROPOSITION I

CHAP. I.

There is satisfactory evidence that many, professing to

be original witnesses of the Christian Miracles, pass-

ed their lives in labours, dangers, and sufferings,

voluntarily undergone in attestation of the accounts

which they delivered, and solely in consequence of

their belief of the truth of those accounts; and that

they also submitted, from the same motives, to new

rules of conduct.

CHAP. II, to CHAP. VIII. The same subject continued.

CHAP. IX.

"Of the authenticity of the scriptures."

SECT. I.

The historical books of the New Testament, meaning

thereby the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apos-

tles, are quoted, or alluded to, by a series of Chris-

tian writers, beginning with those who were con-

temporary with the Apostles, or who immediately

followed them, and proceeding in close and regular

succession from their time to the present.

SECT. II.

When the scriptures are quoted, or alluded to, they

are quoted with peculiar respect, as books sui gen-

eris, as possessing an authority which belonged to

no other books, and as conclusive in all questions

and controversies amongst Christians.

Page.

9

15

15

72

78

35

The scriptures were in very early times collected in-

to a distinct volume.

SECT. IV.

Our present sacred writings were soon distinguished

by appropriate names and titles of respect.

SECT. V.

Our scriptures were publicly read and expounded in

the religious assemblies of the early Christians.

SECT. VI.

Commentaries were anciently written upon the scrip-

tures; harmonies formed out of them; different

copies carefully collated; and versions made of

them into different languages.

SECT. VII.

Our scriptures were received by ancient Christians

of different sects and persuasions, by many heretics

as well as Catholics, and were usually appealed to

by both sides, in the controversies which arose in

those days.

SECT. VIII.

The four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen

Epistles of St. Paul, the first Epistle of John, and

the first of Peter, were received without doubt by

those who doubted concerning the other books,

which are included in our present canon.

SEOT. IX.

Our historical scriptures were attacked by the early

adversaries of Christianity, as containing the ac-

counts upon which the religion was founded.

SECT. X.

Formal catalogues of authentic scriptures were pub-

lished, in all which our present sacred histories

were included.

SECT. XI.

These propositions cannot be predicated of any of

those books, which are commonly called apocry-

phal books of the New Testament.

CHAP. X.

99

102

104

106

110

115

119

122

124

128

PROPOSITION II.

CHAP. I.

Our second proposition, and which now remains to be

treated of, is "That there is not satisfactory evi-

dence, that persons, pretending to be original wit-

nesses of any other similar miracles, have acted in

the same manner, in attestation of the accounts

which they delivered, and solely in consequence of

their belief of the truth of those accounts."

CHAP. II.

PART THE SECOND.

Page.

131

146

The Candour of the Writers of the New Testament.

184

The Connexion of Christianity with the Jewish History. 267

CHAP. IV.

Rejection of Christianity.

269

CHAP. V.

That the Christian miracles are not recited, or appeal-

ed to, by early Christian writers themselves, so fully

or frequently as might have been expected.

CHAP. VI.

Want of universality in the knowledge and recep-

tion of Christianity, and of greater clearness in

the evidence.

280

287