CONTENTS OF THE LECTURES. LECTURE I.-The existence of God proved by the works of nature, and the evidences drawn from physical science; together with the nature of that service which he requires of mankind, and the moral fitness, duty, necessity and advantages of Prayer. Text-Job, xxi. LECTURE II. The necessity of a Divine Revelation, drawn from the history of man, with and without a revelation, contrasted. LECTURE IV. The credibility of the Mosaic History established by the testimony of profane historians, who have borne witness to some LECTURE V.-The History of the Deluge, supported by well esta- blished facts, and the concurrent testimony of some of the most an- 64 LECTURE VII.-The destruction of Sodom and the Cities of the Plain, proved by the acknowledgment of early profane writers, and by evidences still remaining on the spot. Text-II. Peter, ii. 6. 87 LECTURE VIII.—The Prophetic Character of Moses, established by astonishing predictions, which have been, for ages, and are still fulfill- LECTURE X.-The prophetical writings of the Old Testament are identified with the history of the Jews, and cannot be overthrown with- LECTURE XI.-The life, labors, ministry, miracles, death and resur- rection of JESUS CHRIST, Supported by plain and stubborn facts.- LECTURE XIII.-Proofs of the genuineness and authenticity of the PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. With every sincere believer in divine revelation, it is a subject of rejoicing, that the providence of God has placed within our reach, such historical evidence as is found sufficient for the entire defence of that religion which inspires the rational and confident assurance of a happy immortality beyond the grave. Deprived of this inestimable blessing, and left to the uncertain conjectures which might arise in the mind, from the contemplation of the works of nature and providence, our existence would afford us but little enjoyment; and that little would be constantly embittered with the reflection, that we must shortly part with what we hold most dear, when the feeble taper of life should be extinguished in the darkness of the grave, since the volume of nature and providence furnish no clear and positive evidence of any existence after this mortal tenement shall have crumbled into its native dust. The design of the following Lectures has been fairly to meet, and candidly answer and refute, the most important and popular objections which infidelity has opposed to the truth and inspiration of revealed religion. The first edition, having met with a more favourable reception from the public, than the publisher anticipated, he is induced to believe that the author has not labored in vain to promote the interests of revealed religion. To excite inquiry, to elicit truth, to promote the knowledge and love of God, to spread the name and religion of Jesus Christ, and by thus doing, to advance the true interests and happiness of mankind, have been the leading motives, in presenting these Lectures to the public. The work will be found to contain more useful historical information, on the subjects to which it is devoted, than any other of the size and price; and nothing which can reasonably offend any Christian of any denomination. As the work becomes known, it is confidently believed, that it will be found in the hands of those at least, who are friendly to christianity, and who are able to procure it. THE PUBLISHER. Providence, July, 1831. LECTURE I. JOB XXI. 15. "What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him?" Such was the language of unbelief in the days of the patriarch Job; and such has been the language of those who knew not God, in every succeeding age. A portion of mankind have, in all ages of the world, been found to indulge a propensity to cast off the restraints of fear and reverence, and finally to call in question the existence of the Supreme Being, and his government of the natural and moral world. And, my hearers, it requires neither the wisdom of Solomon, nor the inspiration of Paul, to describe the certain consequences of such infidelity. It prostrates at a single blow, the fairest temple that ever graced and beautified the creation of God, THE TEMPLE OF VIRTUE ! But you may, perhaps, inquire; is there in creation, a wretch, so devoid of reason and principle, as to deny the being of a God? Yes, my friends, there are multitudes, who in theory deny this truth; and still more, who, in practice, evince that they are destitute of any proper sense of their accountability to the laws and institutions of his moral government; and are, therefore, in every practical sense of the word, involved in all the darkness of atheistical infidelity! It has been a question of doubtful solution, with some, whether there ever was a being, possessing moral intelligence, who could be so far blinded and depraved, as to call in question the truth, that a Being of infinite power and wisdom, created and governs the universe. But the modern boldness and daring attitude of skepticism has dissipated this illusion, and taught us that we have yet to contend, upon logical and philosophical principles, that the universe was created, and is governed by the agency of an infinitely wise and Almighty Being. Indeed, the words of our text afford sufficient evidence that there were men of this description in former ages, notwithstanding all the plain and impressive indications of a divine and intelligent First Cause, scattered throughout the boundless immensity and endless variety of the works of creation and providence. Hence the necessity of meeting characters of this description upon the ground of their own choice, and of employing the weapons upon which they profess to depend, becomes obvious to every candid and reflecting mind. Those who call in question the existence of a Supreme Being, alternately affect to be very wise and very ignorant. At one time you may hear them expatiating upon the astonishing laws and properties of nature; admiring the order, regularity and harmony of the physical universe, and really enthusiastic in their encomiums upon the wisdom, beauty and exuberance of nature: They appear to take delight in wandering back through the history of antique ages, and drawing from the records of olden time, the evidence of nature's constant and unchanging profusion. They will often profess a profound veneration and respect for the wisdom of nature's laws, and gravely philosophize upon the moral and social duties of mankind. But simply ask them whence these laws originated; from whom sprang this admirable order, regularity and harmony, so visible in the physical universe; and who is the author of nature, with all the profusion of blessings which it brings to man? and they will then change their position, and begin to plead the inability of mankind to form any correct conclusion of the source whence they had their origin; and of course, endeavour to persuade you, that for aught we know, they existed without beginning. With such pleas, and by confident appeals to man's ignorance of what he |