they had received instruction from hearing, and on that account desired to possess them and hoping that by the blessing of God, fifty more might derive benefit from their perusal, the Author determined to commit them to the press, well persuaded, that the chance of drawing the attention of one hundred persons, in the present day, to the things which belong to their peace, would require no apology.

Chatelaine, near Geneva, Feb. 11th, 1832.

CONTENTS.

FIRST SERIES.

LECTURE I.

THE ATTAINMENTS IN PHILOSOPHY INADEQUATE TO THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE AND WORSHIP OF THE DEITY

Men are forgetful of common Blessings, page, 1-3-How this subject should be treated, p. 4, 5-Division of the Lectures, p. 6—The existence of a God, p. 7, 8—Ancient Philosophers, p. 9—Atheism of Pagan Philosophers, p. 10, 11-Opinions of Socrates, p. 12-System of Plato and Aristotle, p. 13-Plato borrowed from Moses, p. 14, 15 -The Platonic Trinity, p. 16-Aristotle's Doctrine of a Providence, p. 17.-Aristotle's Doctrine of a Trinity, p. 18, 19-Conclusions in unrevealed Religion, p. 20-Idolatry of Aristotle, p. 21, 22-Insufficiency of Human Philosophy, p. 23-Heathen Doctrines have no Moral Influence, p. 24, 25-Reasons of this Tendency, p. 26—28 -Scripture Attributes of the Deity, p. 29, 30.—Object and Nature of Christian Worship, p. 31, 32.

LECTURE II.

HEATHEN MORALITY, ITS PRINCIPLES AND FINAL RESULTS.

Virtue in the Law of Nature, p. 34-Virtue only secured by Principle, p. 35-Evil of defective Knowledge, p. 36-St. Paul's Law of Nature, p. 37-St. Paul's View of the Law of Nature, p. 38 -General Propositions, p. 39-Moral Precepts of the old Philosophers, p. 40, 41-Unsoundness of their Doctrines, p. 42-Plato

b

teaches Immorality, p. 43, 44-The Virtue of Stoics, p. 45-The

Epicurean School, p. 46-Selfish Motives of Private Virtues, 47-

Great Operation of Christian Doctrine, p. 48, 49-Moral Influence

the Gospel, p. 50, 51-Consolation derived more from Motive than

from Actions, p. 52, 53-Christian Piety triumphant, p. 54-Con-

clusion to be deduced, p. 55.

LECTURE III.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS AND THEIR

DOCTRINE OF FUTURE REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS, COM-

PARED WITH THE REVEALED IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL.

The Gospel alone reveals a Future State, p. 58-Misery con-

nected with Ignorance, p. 59-Various Opinions concerning the

Nature of the Soul, p. 61-Doctrines of Pythagoras, p. 62, 63—A

future State imperfectly discerned by the Heathen, p. 64, 65—

Doctrines of the Pythagorean School, p. 66, 67—The Philosophers

and the Multitude, p. 68, 69-That which is revealed, p. 70-The

Separate State of the Soul, p. 71-St. Paul's Method of Comforting

the Thessalonians, 72, 73-St. Paul's Authority limited, p. 74, 75

-Curiosity left unsatisfied, p. 76-Mischief of Credulity, p. 77-

General Resurrection revealed, p. 78, 79—Practical Conclusion and

Consolation to be derived, p. 80, 81.

LECTURE IV.

THE STATE OF RELIGION AMONG THE JEWS PREVIOUS TO THE

COMING OF CHRIST.

Responsibility of the Jews, p. 83-The Advantages of the Jews,

p. 84, 85-Their Idolatry and Depravity, p. 86-Origin of the

Jewish Sects, p. 87-The Pharisees, p. 88, 89-Pythagorean No-

tions, &c. p. 90-The Souls of the Dead, p. 91, 92-Fatalism of

the Stoics, p. 93-Evil of Traditions, p. 94-Perversion of Scrip-

ture by the Pharisees, p. 95, 96.-Pharisaical Hypocrisy, p. 97-

Pharisaical Hypocrisy and Wicked Practices, p. 98, 99-The Scribes

and Lawyers, p. 100-The Sadducees-Epicurean Deists, p. 101—

Origin of the Modern Karaïtes, p. 102, 103-The Essenes-Refined

Pharisees, p. 104-Egyptian Theology, p. 105-Two Classes of the

Essenes, p. 106, 107-The Herodians and the Galileans, p. 108—

The Samaritans, p. 109-Need of a Saviour apparent, p. 110.-

Inestimable Value of Revelation, p. 111-Conclusion, p. 112.

SECOND SERIES.

ON THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE

PRIMITIVE CHURCHES, PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL

DURING THE APOSTOLIC AGE.

LECTURE I.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST

CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT

JERUSALEM, AND THE SUBSEQUENT DISPERSION OF THE

CONSEQUENCE OF THE MARTYRDOM OF ST.

DISCIPLES, IN

STEPHEN.

The earliest Effects of Christianity, p. 115-Christ's Church to be

viewed spiritually, p. 116, 117-Preliminary observations, p. 118-

The Christian Church at Jerusalem, p. 119, 120-Principles of apos-

tolic Doctrine, p. 121, 122—The Communion of the Saints, p. 123, 124

-Scripture the only infallible Authority, p. 125, 126-The Eucharist,

p. 127-The Visible Church, p. 128, 129-Rapid Increase of the

Primitive Believers, p. 130, 131-Institution of the Seven Deacons,

p. 132-St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr, p. 133-Dispersion of the

Church, p. 134-Extension of the Church, p. 135-First Persecu-

tion terminated, p. 136-Caligula afflicts the Jews, p. 137-The

Holy Catholic Church, p. 138-Standard of Faith, p. 139-The

Genuine Influence of Christian Doctrine, p. 140, 141-The Duties

and responsibility of enlightened Nations, p. 142-144.