the additional fact of a direct intercourse between man and his
Creator or (in other words) of a revelation from God to man. p. 38.

I. Proofs of the fact of the universal deluge. p. 39.

1. Historical proof, built upon the attestation of all nations to

the fact of a general deluge. p. 39.

(1.) The substance of the tradition prevalent among all na-

tions. p. 40.

(2.) The tradition embodied in the national mythology and

religion of every people. p. 41.

2. Physiological proof, built upon the existing phenomena of

the globe which we inhabit. p. 43.

(1.) No circumstance is more thoroughly established in geol-

ogy, than that the crust of our globe has been subjected

to a great and sudden revolution by the agency of water.

P. 44.

(2.) Various physical matters testify, that this great revolution

cannot have happened at a more remote period than five

or six thousand years ago. p. 44.

3. Moral proof, built upon the progress of civilization. p. 52.

(1.) Civilization has always a natural tendency to spread itself

more and more widely, while barbarism has a natural

tendency to contract itself within more and more narrow

limits. p. 52.

(2.) With this view of the matter, all history, down to the

present time, perfectly agrees. p. 53.

(3.) The necessary inference from such facts. p. 54.

II. The additional fact, of a direct intercourse between man and his

Creator or (in other words) of a revelation from God to man,

demonstrated from the established fact of an universal deluge.

p. 55.

1. The supposition, that the deluge did not cover the tops of the

mountains and that men and animals preserved themselves

by escaping to their summits, shewn to be untenable. p. 57.

2. The supposition, that a family escaped in a ship built acci-

dentally and not in consequence of a divine revelation, shewn

to be equally untenable. p. 58.

3. The final result is: that, if the fact of the deluge be admitted,

we shall find ourselves compelled to admit also the additional

fact, that a revelation of God's purposes to his creature man

has assuredly taken place as we find it recorded in Holy

Scripture. p. 61.

SECTION IV.

The difficulties attendant upon deistical Infidelity in regard to actually

accomplished prophecy. p. 62.

The prediction, selected as a specimen of the argument from accom-

plished prophecy, shall be that of Moses respecting the future des-

tinies and fortunes of the Jews. p. 62.

I. Abstract of the prophecy. p. 63.

II. View of the accomplishment of the prophecy. p. 65.

1. Its accomplishment has taken place in all the numerous par-

ticulars of which it is composed. p. 66.

(1.) The first particular. p. 66.

(2.) The second particular. p. 67.

(3.) The third particular. p. 68.

(4.) The fourth particular. p. 68.

(5.) The fifth particular. p. 68.

(6.) The sixth particular. p. 69.

(7.) The seventh particular. p. 69.

(8.) The eighth particular. p. 70.

(9.) The ninth particular. p. 70.

2. The estimate of their own situation by the Jews themselves.

p. 71.

III. The train of reasoning, which springs from the prophecy and its

accomplishment. p. 74.

1. Insufficiency of the first possible deistical solution: the politi-

cal foresight and sagacity of Moses. p. 76.

2. Insufficiency of the second possible deistical solution: a lucky

accident. p. 78.

(1.) Essential difference between the leading characteristic of

the real prophecy of Moses, namely definite complexity;

and the leading characteristic of the pretended prophecy

of Seneca, namely indefinite simplicity. p. 79.

(2.) Dissimilarity in the grounds and reasons, on which each

prophecy is supported. p. 82.

(3.) A tradition of the discovery of America by the Phenicians

was not unknown to Seneca: whence his prophecy be-

comes a mere poetical ornament. p. 84.

IV. Summary of the argument. p. 87.

m

SECTION V.

The difficulties attendant upon deistical Infidelity in regard to the facts

and circumstances and character of the Christian Dispensation. p. 88.

No small difficulties also attend upon Infidelity in regard to the facts

and circumstances and character of the Christian Dispensation. p.

88.

I. The present existence of Christianity is a naked fact: hence the

only question between the believer and the unbeliever is, how

it first started into existence. p. 88.

1. The account of its rise and progress is contained in the his-

torical books of the New Testament. p. 88.

2. Suppressing for the present the question of miraculous inter-

ference, we may say, that to deny the praise of general ve-

racity to the narrative is to unhinge all historical evidence.

p. 89.

3. Speculations of Mr. Volney as to the personal existence of

Christ. p. 92.

4. Conclusion as to the character of the evangelical histories.

p. 93.

II. The infidel, on his principles, must maintain, that Christ was

either an impostor or an enthusiast. p. 94.

1. The difficulties attendant upon the hypothesis, that Christ was

an impostor. p. 95.

(1.) Statement and practical demonstration of the necessary

conduct of an impostor, as an impostor, in the times

during which Christ appeared. p. 96.

(2.) Statement of the actual directly opposite conduct of

Christ. p. 99.

2. The difficulties attendant upon the hypothesis, that Christ

was an enthusiast. p. 111.

(1.) The sobriety of Christ's conduct, as exemplified in his

words. p. 111.

(2.) The sobriety of Christ's conduct, as exemplified in his

actions. p. 115.

3 Numerous contingencies were associated with his claim of the

Messiahship, which were quite out of the control either of

an impostor or of an enthusiast. p. 117.

III. The conduct of the apostles and first preachers of Christianity.

p. 122.

1. The common notion entertained by infidels respecting the

apostles. p. 123.

2. The difficulties attendant upon this notion. p. 125.

(1.) The first stage of the proceedings of the apostles. p. 125.

(2.) The second stage of the proceedings of the apostles.

p. 127.

3. The effects produced by the alleged resurrection of Christ.

Grounds for believing the truth of the alleged fact.

Difficulties attendant upon the denial of it. p. 135.

4. Evidence specially afforded by the conduct of two of the

apostles. p. 142.

(1.) Conduct of Judas the traitor. p. 142.

(2.) Conduct of Paul, first a persecutor, then a convert. p. 146.

SECTION VI.

The difficulties attendant upon deistical Infidelity in regard to the rapid

propagation of Christianity and the evidence by which the perform-

ance of miracles is supported. p. 155.

The necessity of accounting for the fact of the rapid propagation of

Christianity is felt and acknowledged by all. p. 155.

I. A consideration of the five natural reasons or causes proposed by

Mr. Gibbon as sufficient to account for the fact. p. 155.

1. The first reason: The inflexible and intolerant zeal of the

early Christians. p. 156.

2. The second reason: The doctrine of a future life. p. 158.

3. The third reason: The miraculous powers ascribed to the prim-

itive Church. p. 160.

4. The fourth reason: The pure and austere morals of the prim-

itive Christians. p. 161.

5. The fifth reason: The union and discipline of the Church.

p. 162.

II. Concerning the aspect, which Christianity must have presented

to the Gentiles at its first promulgation among them: and

whether Mr. Gibbon's five reasons are sufficient to account for

its success. p. 163.

III. A consideration of the two supernatural reasons proposed in

Scripture. p. 171.

1. The first reason: The operation of the Holy Spirit to incline

the heart, p. 171.

2. The second reason: The performance of miracles to convince

the head. p. 173.

(1.) The testimony, by which the performance of works pur-

porting to be miraculous, is established. p. 178.

(2.) The evidence, by which these works are proved to have

been real, not simulated, miracles. p. 189.

SECTION VII.

The difficulties attendant upon deistical Infidelity in regard to the

internal evidence of Christianity. p. 196.

In discussing the internal evidence of Christianity, two particulars only

shall be selected, as a specimen of the mode of reasoning from it.

p. 196.

I. The character of Christ. p. 196.

1. The favourite ideal character of a hero variously exemplified.

p. 197.

2. The opposite character of Christ. p. 200.

3. Conclusion drawn from the contrast. p. 201.

II. The spirit of Christianity. p. 203.

1. The spirit of confessedly false religions. p. 203.

(1.) The Scandinavian theology of Odin. p. 203.

(2.) The Arabic theology of Mohammed. p. 204.

(3.) The imposture of Alexander of Pontus. p. 207.

(4.) The theologico-political system of Hindostan. p. 208.

2. The directly opposite spirit of Christianity. p. 210.

3. Conclusion drawn from the contrast. p. 213.

SECTION VIII.

Recapitulation and Conclusion. p. 214.

Previous to the general conclusion, the several difficulties, which en-

cumber the march of Infidelity, shall be briefly recapitulated.

p. 214.