The Evidences of Christianity

Rises higher by CONTRASTING the character of CHRIST

with that of all others

Becomes a moral demonstration, when the OTHER

BRANCHES of the Christian evidence are taken into the

account

IT BEARS AWAY the heart of the docile, and strengthens
all the principles of individual belief and love

LECTURE XVIII.

THE TENDENCY OF CHRISTIANITY TO PRO-

MOTE IN THE HIGHEST DEGREE THE TEM-

PORAL AND SPIRITUAL HAPPINESS OF

NATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.-LUKE ii. 13, 14.

The nature of the argument explained

The DIRECTION which Christianity takes

It comes down to man's actual circumstances

Its direct tendency as to nations

Its indirect tendency

THE HINDRANCES WHICH IMPEDE THE FULL EFFECTS OF THE

CHRISTIAN RELIGION

132

THE SUCCESS OF CHRISTIANITY IN PROPORTION TO THE

REMOVAL OF THESE HINDRANCES

In the age following the establishment of the gospel

The next ages

At the period of the Reformation

In any subsequent age

The proportion holds with regard to national welfare

This TENDENCY is still in progress

And arises from principles new to man

The hindrances were foretold by Christianity herself

THE ULTIMATE EFFECTS WHICH CHRISTIANITY WILL PRO-

DUCE WHEN ALL OBSTACLES ARE REMOVED

Let each one ASK himself, What is the tendency of MY

CHRISTIANITY?

PRAY for the copious influences of grace

LECTURE XIX.

THE TEST TO WHICH EVERY ONE MAY

BRING THE TRUTH OF THE CHRISTIAN

RELIGION, BY HUMBLY SUBMITTING TO

ITS DIRECTIONS, AND MAKING A TRIAL

FOR HIMSELF OF ITS PROMISED BLESS-

INGS.-1 JOHN v. 10.

The NATURE of the argument

The SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY on which it rests

The facts by which it is sustained

The SINGULAR IMPORTANCE of the proof thus deduced 17+

APPEAL to sincere Christians in confirmation of the argu-

ment

185

LECTURE XX.

PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE APPLICA-

TION OF THE TEST TO WHICH MEN MAY

BRING THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION.-

PSALM XXXiv. 8.

The characters addressed described

188

189

The DIRECTIONS; study Christianity in THE BIBLE itself. 192

TRACE out in YOUR OWN HEART the truth of its statements

as to the condition of man and his guilt before God

PRAY fervently to God for his grace

Use the MEANS which God has promised to bless

Keep your eye fixed on JESUS CHRIST

Observe how all the parts of Christianity CONSTITUTE A

WHOLE, and meet all the necessities of YOUR CASE

The RESULT

HISTORICAL faith will only INCREASE your condemnation

NO NEED to make an experiment of ANY OTHER FORM of

religion or irreligion

LECTURE XXI.

THE VANITY AND FUTILITY OF THE OBJEC-

TIONS BROUGHT AGAINST THE CHRISTIAN

RELIGION.-2 PETER iii. 3, 4, 8, 9.

The best method of treating objections considered

They are INADMISSIBLE, being speculative opinions, and

aimed against Revelation

•

They are CONTRADICTORY One to the other

They are FRIVOLOUS in themselves, and manifestly spring

from the pride and ignorance of the human mind

They are upon the whole only TRIALS of our sincerity and

submission of heart to GOD, and go to CONFIRM rather

than weaken the Christian evidences

Sophisms of infidelity fix themselves in UNFURNISHED and

VAIN minds

PROVOKE not the GOOD SPIRIT OF GOD to depart from you 249

SHUN THOSE VICES which prepare for them

See that you have a REAL HOLD on Christianity in its

SUBSTANTIAL BLESSINGS

Page

251

252

Objections of infidelity are STRATAGEMS of Satan

Consider them as the most DEADLY PRODUCT of the cor-

rupt and proud reason of a fallen creature

LECTURE XXII.

THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF INFIDELS COM-

PARED WITH THOSE OF SINCERE CHRIS-

TIANS.-PSALM XXXVii. 35-37.

Contrast the two classes as to THE TENOR of their lives

Their more PUBLIC LABOURS, and THE WRITINGS they have

submitted to the eye of mankind

255

256

271

Their DEATHS AND PREPARATION FOR AN ETERNAL STATE

of being

279

WITH WHICH COMPANY DO YOU WALK in the journey of

life?

296

LECTURE XXIII.

THE FAITH WITH WHICH THE CHRISTIAN RE-

VELATION IS TO BE RECEIVED.-JOHN v. 9.

298

The NATURE of faith in divine Revelation

Definition and illustration of faith

It must be a living principle

Difficulty in exercising faith in religion arises from the

corruption of man

The scriptural account of faith

The REASONABLENESS of such a faith after admitting the

divine authority of Christianity

The discoveries of the Christian religion show this

The province of reason marked out

The necessity of divine aid, in order to believe aright, is

Faith should embrace every part of Revelation

Give to each the relative importance assigned

Stop with minute and watchful conscientiousness where

the Revelation stops

Follow the language as well as the sentiments of the

holy Scriptures

IMPLORE the grace of the Holy Spirit to IMPART to you

such a faith

The HIGHEST DEGREES OF FAITH are best calculated to
produce HUMILITY OF MIND

LECTURE XXIV.

THE SOUND INTERPRETATION OF THE RE-

CORDS OF REVELATION.-2 TIMOTHY ii. 15.

A right method of interpreting Scripture, SPRINGS DI-

RECTLY FROM A TRUE FAITH. For such a faith

Implies an honest application of our understanding to

Includes a willingness to submit our understanding and

heart to all the truths which God is pleased to reveal 332

Puts us in possession of many of the blessings of which

the Scriptures treat

Leads us to seek the assistance of God's blessed Spirit in

rightly understanding the Scriptures

Guards us against the danger of hazardous interpreta-

tions, or a false use of difficult passages

And disposes us to resort to all necessary helps

COMMON SENSE and the ORDINARY LAWS of human lan-

aid the right interpretation

guage

The simplest sense is generally the true one

The occasion of the book being written should be con-

sulted

333

340

Let brief passages be explained by those that are more

full on the same or kindred subjects

Figurative and poetical parts should be interpreted by

the fixed and ordinary laws which are constantly ap-

plied to such language in common life

We should suspend our judgment where, after all, a pas-

sage is not obvious

341

343

The great scope and analogy of truth will either solve all

material difficulties, or render them practically useful 344

SPIRATION Which belongs to the Bible

We should rise to the sublimity of the Scripture mys-

teries

We must give to the last portion of Revelation that

weight which it may justly claim

What is temporary, local, and extraordinary, must not be

allowed to hide the lustre of what is permanent and

uniform

Page

Distinction must be made between vital Christianity and

merely nominal adherence to its external ordinances. 349

The use and place and relative bearings of every truth

are to be derived from the Scriptures, as well as the

truth itself

We must not force the simple meaning of Scripture

either to express or exclude mysteries according to our

turn of mind

350

We must not attempt to reduce truth to a human system
The OBJECTION to Revelation, founded on the diversity
of interpretations, stated and refuted by showing

That the facts have been greatly exaggerated

That they are not chargeable on Christianity

That they fall chiefly on subordinate matters

That the remaining evils may be diminished and avoided

That the universal Church has presented but one front of

Vital Christianity of the heart can alone interpret aright 359

Let each one who is conscious that he has never under-

stood his Bible, humble himself before the throne of

mercy, and implore the grace of the illuminating Spirit 360

LECTURE XXV.

THE UNIVERSAL OBLIGATION WHICH LIES

UPON EVERY HUMAN BEING TO OBEY

THIS DIVINE REVELATION.-JOHN iii. 18-21. 363

ALL MEN
ARE BOUND to love and obey God by the
strongest ANTECEDENT OBLIGATIONS

CHRISTIANITY is so EXCELLENT in itself, that the slightest

external evidence is sufficient to oblige men to obey it 369

The real SIMPLICITY, VARIETY, INDEPENDENCE, and FORCE

of the evidences increase the obligation

365

373

The PARTICULAR ADVANTAGES which each individual has

respectively enjoyed, UNSPEAKABLY AUGMENT the duty 381

The momentous discoveries which Christianity makes,
and the deep INTERESTS at stake, carry the obligation
to an inconceivable height

Let, then, your submission to Christianity be IMMEDIATE

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The Evidences of Christianity: Stated in a Popular and Practical ..., Volume 2