THE

EVIDENCES

OF

CHRISTIANITY.

IN THREE PARTS.

PART I.

OF THE DIRECT HISTORICAL
EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY, AND WHEREIN IT IS
DISTINGUISHED FROM THE EVIDENCE ALLEGED
FOR OTHER MIRACLES.

PRINTED FOR N. HAILES, MUSEUM, PICCADILLY;
JOHN BUMPUS, HOLBORN;

JOHN WALKER, PATERNOSTER-ROW;
AND RICHARD GRIFFIN AND CO. GLASGOW.

MDCCCXXIV.

ligious 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,

WILLIAM PALEY.

ON THE DIRECT HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY,

AND WHEREIN IT IS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE EVIDENC F

ALLEGED FOR OTHER MIRACLES.

Proposition stated

PROPOSITION I.

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 in

Consequence of their Belief of those Accounts; and

that they also submitted, from the same Motives,

to new Rules of Conduct

CHAP. I.

Evidence of the Sufferings of the first Propagators of

Christianity, from the Nature of the Case

CHAP. II.

Evidence of the Sufferings of the first Propagators of

Christianity, from Profane Testimony

CHAP. III.

Indirect Evidence of the Sufferings of the first Propa-

gators of Christianity, from the Scriptures and

other ancient Christian Writings

CHAP. IV.

Direct Evidence of the same

CHAP. V.

Observations upon the preceding Evidence

CHAP. VI.

That the Story, for which the first Propagators of

Christianity suffered, was miraculous

CHAP. VII.

That it was, in the main, the Story which we have

now, proved by indirect Considerations

CHAP. VIII.

-

The same proved from the Authority of our historical

Scriptures

CHAP. IX.

Of the Authenticity of the historical Scriptures, in

eleven Sections

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SECT. I. Quotations of the historical Scriptures by

ancient Christian Writers

SECT. II. Of the peculiar Respect with which they

were quoted

SECT. III. The Scriptures were in very early Times

collected into a distinct Volume

SECT. IV. And distinguished by appropriate Names

and Titles of Respect

SECT. V. Were publicly read and expounded in the

religious Assemblies of the early Chris-

tians

SECT. VI. Commentaries, &c. were anciently written

upon the Scriptures

SECT. VII. They were received by ancient Christians

of different Sects and Persuasions

SECT. 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 received without Doubt

by those who doubted concerning the

other Books of our present Canon

SECT. IX. Our present Gospels were considered by

the Adversaries of Christianity as con-

taining the Accounts upon which the

Religion was founded

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104

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