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PREFACE.

The following work is not a compilation of the Evi. dences of Christianity. It was written with the hope of exciting those who need such research, to read many Authors on that subject. A book which does not contain a summary of arguments against Infidelity, may provoke an appetite to read volumes where those argu. ments are found. The Evidences of Christianity are not fully contained in any half-score of volumes now existing.

The most of those who have written, have aimed at nothing more than an abridgement of this subject; because of its unusual extent. We may present reasons for investigation, and we may persuade others to read, in a shorter space than that which is required to contain a full array of facts in support of revelation. The following pages were written with the design of urging the multitude to become informed concerning the Book of Books, the Bible. The call for such an attempt,→→ the necessity for it at the present time, we think fair ly inferible from the following facts.

FIRST FACT.-It is true, that in almost every congregation, there are some, more or less imbued with In

They are not confirmed effort to prevent their

fidelity, who do not avow it. skeptics; but Satan's grand commencing the work of repentance, or seeking the pardon of sin, is made by suggesting unbelieving doubts. The minister who has been long hoping and looking with unceasing anxiety for their conversion to God, never was thus harrassed himself, and does not dream of their real condition. Again there are countless thousands of the youthful and the uninformed, who are thus kept inactive. Temptations of unbelief cripple or prevent their exertions. Books on this subject are found, for the most part, only in ministers' libraries, and they are scarce there; and, moreover, those found there are not calculated, altogether, to fit the cases we are now noticing. Those authors aim at cavils the most plausible only, and strike at infidel objections most worthy of answer; whereas the youth thus injured, are very often influenced by arguments, puerile in the extreme, and so feeble, that the better informed would never believe they could be used.

SECOND FACT.-The adversary of souls would not have young professors, and possessors, of religion, to grow in grace. To prevent it, he injects into their minds, cold, unbelieving cavils, which embarrass and retard their march. They read on the subject authors that are powerful and unanswerable in the truths they

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