IN DEFENCE OF DIVINE REVELATION, DELIVERED AT THE UNIVERSALIST CHAPEL, IN PROVIDENCE, R. I. BY DAVID PICKERING, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers SECOND EDITION. PROVIDENCE. PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL W. WHEELER. Cranston & Hammond, Printers. 1831. BT 1101 P5 1831 cop.1 Rhode-Island District, sc. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this tenth day of February, A. D. one thou [L. S.] sand eight hundred and thirty, and in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Samuel W. Wheeler, of said District, deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the following words, to wit: "Lectures in Defence of Divine Revelation, delivered at the Universalist Chapel in Providence, R. I. by David Pickering, Pastor of the First Universalist Church and Society." "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things." "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good."-St. Paul. In conformity to an act of Congress of the United States, entitled "and act for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of maps, charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned," and also to an act entitled "an act supplementary to an act entitled an act for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of maps, charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the time therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, etching and engraving historical and other prints." BENJAMIN COWELL, Clerk of the Rhode-Island District In presenting the SECOND EDITION of these Lectures to the notice, and for the pa tronage of a christian community, it is gratifying to the Publisher to be able to accompa ny them with the following brief testimonials of approbation, from gentlemen whose well known abilities will not fail to entitle them to a respectful consideration. The following recommendations have been addressed to the Publisher, by the gentlemen whose names are prefixed to their respective certificates:- From OLIVER ANGELL, A. M. Providence, R. I. Author of Union Class Books, Treatise on Mathematics, &c. "I have read Mr. Pickering's "Lectures in defence of Divine Revelation," and assure you I have been highly gratified and instructed. They appear to me admirably calculated to strengthen and confirm the faith of christians in the divine origin of their religion, and to shake the sandy foundation of skeptical philosophy. I would cheerfully recommend a perusal of these Lectures to all who wish to become acquainted with the evidence on which the truth of our religion rests." From Rev. PAUL DEAN, Pastor of the Central Universalist Church, Boston, Mass. "It is with sincere pleasure I have been apprised of your intention to publish a second edition of Rev. Mr. Pickering's "Lectures in defence of Divine Revelation," because such are their subjects, style and execution, as, in my apprehension, to recommend them to the favor of the public. They will, I feel assured, be perused with instruction and pleasure by christians of every denomination-especially of the younger class; also by very many who are perplexed with doubts on the all-important subject on which they treat. For one, I should be gratified to see a copy of them in the hands of each of my parishioners and friends." From Rev. LINAS S. EVERETT, Pastor of the Universalist Church, Charlestown, Mass. "I have read "Lectures in defence of Divine Revelation," by Rev. David Pickering, with great satisfaction. They evince much labor, and are replete with historical information and sound argument. A work of the kind was much needed, and the author has conferred a great favor upon community by furnishing its members with this valuable result of his investigations. It is devoutly hoped that christians of all denominations will feel inclined to extend its circulation, and avail themselves of the invaluable instruction its pages afford. From Rev. NATHANIEL WRIGHT, Minister of the South Parish, Attleborough, Mass. "I am glad we are to have from you a second edition of Pickering's Lectures-for the work richly deserves that evidence of the confidence of the public in its merits, which is evinced by the rapid sale of the first edition. This is one of those rare kind of books, which expresses much valuable sentiment in a few well chosen words-powerfulfully calculated to convince the candid skeptic, and to increase the faith of the firm believer. I can wish its author no greater reward for his labor than that he may ever enjoy that ardent love for christian truth which he so freely exhibits in this work.-Nor my fellow-men a greater good, than that they be possessed of the evidence therein contained, of the verity of our holy religion." From Rev. CHARLES HUDSON, Pastor of a Church, Westminster, Mass. Author of" A Series of Letters," "Reply," &c. "I have perused with attention, Pickering's Lectures in defence of Divine Revelation. I am highly pleased with these discourses, and I consider them a work of real merit, containing more valuable information of a historical kind, on the subject of which they treat, than any work of the size that has fallen into my hands. The work is of the popular kind, but is at the same time, sufficiently critical to engage the attention, and gratify the taste of the scholar. The arrangement is good, and the topics are well selected. The reasoning is direct, clear and manly; and the principal arguments in support of divine revelation are brought home to the understanding with a force and energy calculated to produce conviction in every reflecting breast. The gross inconsistencies, the vain boasts, the artful cavils, and the unblushing ignorance and temerity of unbelievers, are exhibit ed in their naked deformity, and exposed with a master's hand. The work is highly creditable to the talents and research of the author, and should be in every family brary." |