The Evidences of Christianity

The Author has also had at hand Abaddie, Bullet, L'avertisement du clergé françois, 1775 *; Bergier, Traité de la réligion; Duvoisin, Démonstration; Merault, Religion Chrétienne prouvée et defendue par les objections mêmes des Incredules; Les Essais de M. Placette, and the able preface of M. Jouffroy to his translation of Dugald Stewart's Sketches of Moral Philospohy.

The Author had not the leisure to read, or rather re-read, all these works, but he has consulted them from time to time. It is not from books that he has drawn his chief materials, but from the Bible itself, and from such experience and observation as he has been able to collect in the discharge of his parochial duties.

The spirit of enquiry upon all subjects now abroad, the diffusion of education, the multiplication of readers and thinkers, call on the ministers of religion to state the Christian evidences again and again. They have no reason to be ashamed of the cause in which they are engaged. On the contrary, Christianity is the glory of our rational nature. It is the foundation of moral order, the bond of civil society, the spring of all mental improvement, the best friend of indivi

* An incomparable little Treatise on the Internal Evidences.

duals and communities, the source of mercy, tender heartedness and beneficence amongst men. And the more fully it is known in the commanding discoveries it makes of the state of man, and the remedy of that state, in the mighty redemption of Christ, the more adequately will it appear to meet all the necessities of our fallen and disordered state-every desire of the human heart. The author is deeply impressed with the persuasion, that to eradicate infidelity, or a coldness in the Christian cause, next to infidelity, we must unite the internal with the external evidences of Christianity, and make both to bear upon the conscience of man. Thus will Almighty God be honoured in the arguments adduced for the revelation which he has given us-thus will the sacrifice of the blessed Saviour be continually adverted to as the centre truth of that revelation—thus will the sacred influences of the Holy Spirit be exhibited as the means for the moral restoration of our nature. And thus will man-feeling all his case relieved, all his wants supplied, all his apprehensions and fears calmed, all the capacities and desires of his immortal being directed to an object of corresponding magnitude and elevation -acquiesce with entire repose of mind, in the Christian

religion, as emanating from the Fountain of all goodness and holiness, and leading him to the full and exuberant fruition of all the highest ends for which he was created.

The author has only further to request of all his readers their earnest prayers on his behalf, now that he is removed from the duties of a parochial clergyman, to the fearful responsibility of that most extensive diocese, to which Almighty God in his providence has been pleased to call him.

He hopes to go forth to India in the faith of this Christianity, and to labour to promote its genuine grace and influence by every means in his power; happy if he can be permitted to dedicate the remainder of life to so high a purpose, and can advance in the slightest manner, the glory of that divine Redeemer, to whom he would desire to ascribe all the praise, for whatever strength he may receive for this or any other service.

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