real character of Christianity can do in the great argument.

13

These various methods of conducting the defence of Christianity, are of the greatest use in guiding our judgment in the present day.

3. Nor do the important FACTS NOW ASCERTAINED and admitted on all hands, operate less beneficially. It is now clearly understood that the state of the heathen world is substantially the same at this hour, as it was at the time of St. Paul—that is, every age has been confirming his statements. The inefficacy of all means to benefit those nations, or any other, except as Christianity is humbly relied on, has also been demonstrated. The experiment made of the baneful effects of infidelity, on the largest scale, during the period of the last fifty years, has been, alas! but too complete in all parts of the continent-the nations have been compelled to unsay all their blasphemies, and return to some profession of the Christian faith. The vanity and frivolity of the speculative objections of Deism has been acknowledged, and the solid foundation of facts on which Christianity rests generally admitted. The arguments of sceptics are now beneath the consideration of any serious mind. Infidelity has, indeed, been fairly driven off its ground, and been compelled to encamp within the professed Christian enclosure; and now appears under the forms of Socinianism and Neologism-a circumstance of some importance. It is an acknowledged fact, moreover, that the gospel is efficacious to enlighten and console man, to raise and animate, to pardon and bless him. The success of missions has established this. 15

14

13 Dr. O. Gregory, Mr. Franks, Mr. J. J. Gurney, have done excellent service in this way; and the able and eloquent M. Frassynous, in his late work.

14 Some French writers begin to affect to despise matters of fact, under the term, Religion factice!

15 Take any cases-those in the South Sea Islands-in

16

4. A further assistance is derived from the CLEARER LAWS OF REASONING which are now acknowledged, and the improvements universally made in the estimate of evidence. This we have more than once noticed. But it demands remark here, that what Lord Bacon and Pascal insisted upon two centuries since, in the prosecution of natural philosophy, is now universally admitted in all branches of knowledge-that hypothesis, conjecture, opinions, systems, are of no value against matters of experiment and actual phenomena— that we know nothing of the causes of things-that we are to consider facts as first principles, and to deduce consequences only on the basis of a wide induction. “ This is all that Christian apologists want, to establish the ruined state of man, the need of Revelation, the effects of Christianity upon the heart, the import of its various instructions, and the grace with which it is to be received. I say nothing of the external evidences, because they have never been much contested. The clearer notions, however, of the nature of just reasoning upon the laws of evidence, leave the ground unincumbered-we are disembarrassed from a thousand shackles -the case has a free scope and fair consideration.

5. But all these points would be of less moment, if the GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD were not turning the minds of men to the best and most effective statement of the whole subject. 18 This is the peculiar advantage of the present period, that a revival of genuine Christianity has called men's attention to that simple method of arguing Christianity, which, without omitting human learning and historical testimony, chiefly dwells on the inward efficacy and excellency of the religion

West Africa-in India. Take the churches founded by Swartz, for example.

16 Lect. I. and elsewhere.

17 M. Jouffroy has admirably shown this in his preface to Dugald Stewart's Sketches.

19 Lect. I.

itself. This is the course which common sense, past experience, and the honour of God, unite to persuade.

For nothing can be so contrary to common sense, as to leave out the practical excellence of Christianity, when you are about to invite men to embrace the religion-it is to conceal the most attractive and important means of persuasion. And long experience of the inefficacy of merely intellectual conviction, ought to teach us that man-depraved, fallen, miserable man— can never be gained over to salvation, unless he be directed from the first to the main point-a subjection of the understanding and passions to the divine will. And, indeed, the honour of God demands this course. Are we to conceal his Revelation, and take up such parts of it as we may choose? Can we expect his grace and blessing, if we have not humility and moral courage to avow our need of them? Will the grace of the Divine Spirit rest upon our arguments, if we do not place in a prominent light our constant dependence on his aid? Will the blessed Saviour own the books which pass over his great redemption?

But the mercy of God is leading men now to that union of the historical and internal proofs which never ought to have been interrupted. Men are now selecting from the various schools of Christian apologists what is solid and useful, and presenting them in a popular form for the instruction of mankind.

The

personal piety of the primitive school,-the classical illustrations of the literary,-the deep reverence for Scripture in the theological, the sound reasonings of the metaphysical, and the plain matters of fact of the historical class of writers on evidence, being judiciously employed by the truly Christian advocate, the consciences of men will be more closely addressed than ever, the question of the truth of Christianity will be presented in its native force, the heart will be appealed to and engaged in the service of God, the first entrance of sceptical objections will be prevented by sound

principles well fixed in the mind. God will be honoured in the evidences, as much as he is in the doctrines and obedience of the gospel; and indeed the foundation both of doctrine and obedience will be laid in a well-settled conviction of the truth of the Christian Revelation.

What a prospect, then, does this present to the eye which would view the whole mighty tide of evidence! How wide and deep does it flow! How disembarrassed from material impediments! How bright are the hopes of the future happiness of mankind! Every thing seems ready in the frame-work of Christianity; in the state of the Christian argument; in the condition of the world; in the progress of the accumulating evidences; for the breaking forth of the river of life from its present narrow channel, and its fertilizing the whole earth.

It is to contribute, in some feeble measure, to this result, that the author has ventured on the hazardous attempt which he is now bringing to a close. Thirty or forty years of attention to the subject, have convinced him of the importance, in a day like the present, of stating the Christian evidences, not in a way of intellectual conviction merely, but of practical impression upon the heart.

for

This he has attempted, anxious to open a way others to prosecute the inquiry in its best manner-a manner which unites the honour of God and a dependence upon his grace, with an appeal to the understanding and conscience of mankind.

May the author be permitted to address, in conclusion,

I. THE RULERS AND GOVERNORS OF HIS BELOVED COUNTRY, and to urge upon them the duty of examining thoroughly the question of Christianity, and

acting courageously in their public and private capacity, as becomes sincere believers in that Revelation?

Never did our country occupy so exalted a position in the eye of mankind, as at the present moment: and yet never was there a crisis when the faith of Christianity was more essential to the permanence of our prosperity. The spirit of universal inquiry, of intellectual effort, which is now pushing itself forward on all hands, can only be safely directed by the manly and national avowal of our adherence to the Christian faith.19 Revelation teaches kings and legislators that a secret Providence orders the affairs of nations-that success is in a divine hand--that defeat and discontent and division and anarchy, are the ordinary inflictions which the Almighty permits, for the punishment of a wicked people. To espouse Christianity, then, is to give at once a right direction to a spirit of investigation, and to ensure the blessing of God upon our national counsels.

Let the legislator consider the picture of a Christian nation when fully acting up to its principles; 20 and let him remember that every vice discouraged, every national act of piety promoted, every statute passed in favour of moral and religious order, is so much gained to the permanent glory of our country. Nor should the most exalted personages forget that Christianity reveals such obligations, imposes such duties, calls for such exertions, that no rank is exempt from the full measure of responsibility. Nay, the higher the station, the deeper is the accountableness, because the more widely is the mischief of a bad example diffused, and the more numerous the victims seduced into sin and irreligion.

And what can be the cement of national virtue, subjection to the laws, mutual love, activity in every generous enterprise, but Christianity; which implant19 Bishop Blomfield.

20 Lecture XVIII. on the Tendency of Christianity.