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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
ON THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF GENUINE-
NESS AND AUTHENTICITY IN THE BOOKS
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
Brief flatement of external evidence.- Particular in-
quiry into the proof arifing from internal marks.—
1. Style and idiom.-2. Minuteness of detail.-
3. Abfence of all party Spirit.-4. Candour of
the writers, in relating their own failings.
5. Agreement of the facts with the fuppofition of
a miraculous interference.-6. Uniform prefervation
of character.-7. Various proofs, arifing from a
comparison of the genuine Scriptures with the Apo-
cryphal Books. PP. 1-67.
CHAPTER II.
ON THE PROOF ARISING FROM THE NATURE
AND STRENGTH OF THE PREJUDICES OF
THE JEWS.
Peculiarities in the character of the Jewish people.-
Prophecies concerning the Meffiah.-Expectations
formed in confequence of them.-Appearance of
falfe prophets. In what manner Jefus appeared,
in the character of the expected Meffiah.-His
conduct and doctrine.-Gofpel, how preached after
his death. The Chriftian religion not founded in
impofture, or enthufiafm.-The actions of Fefus con-
b 2
fidered
fidered with reference to each of these fuppofitions.
-Jewish zealots. - Inference from the foregoing
falls.Recapitulation. pp. 68-116.
CHAPTER III.
ON THE CONDUCT OF THE DISCIPLES.
How far the Disciples refembled their countrymen.-
Who they were.- Addrefs of Jefus to them, after
they were chofen.-Their ignorance of their Maf-
ter's real office, and distrust of his power.-Con-
duct at the transfiguration.-Difpofition to inter-
pret the prophecies literally.-Candid reprefentation
of their own conduct, a proof of their veracity.-
Difputes who fhould be the greatest.—Triumphant
entry of Jefus Chrift into Jerufalem.-The last
fupper.-The garden.-Apprehenfion of Fefus.-
Sentiments and conduct of the difciples at that
event.-Circumftances attending the refurrection.-
Difciples, at length convinced, boldly preach a cru-
cified Meffiah.-How this change is to be accounted
for.-Some remnant of their old prejudices and
miftakes.Converfion of Cornelius.— Reflections
upon that event.-Edict of the council at Jerufa-
lem.-Conclufion warranted by these facis, and
others harmonizing with them. Pp. 117-162.
CHAPTER IV.
ON THE MIRACLES WROUGHT BY THE DIS-
CIPLES DURING THE LIFE OF OUR LORD.
Introduction and divifion of the subject.- 1ft, proofs
from Scripture, that this power was conferred-
and
and 2dly, actually exercifed.—3dly, The purpofe
for which it was beftowed.-Laftly, the effects it
produced on the minds of the Apoftles.-One in-
ftance against the exercise of this power examined.
·Reafons affigned for it.-Further reflections upon
the fubject.-Uniformity of the divine difpenfations.
-Refult of this inquiry favourable to the truth of
our Holy Religion.-Vindication of the Apofiles
character. Pp. 163-202.
-
CHAPTER V.
ON THE SCHEME OF THE GOSPEL.
Difference, between the mode and extent of Christ's
preaching and that of the Apostles, ftated.-made
the ground of an objection by infidels.-Defign of
the Gofpel.-offered to the Jews first, but in-
tended from the first to comprehend the Gentiles.
Various proofs of this intention.-Rejection of it
by the Jews foretold by our Lord, as well as the
deftruction of the Jewish polity.-Difciples acted
in conformity with the views and directions of their
Mafter.-If they had made any alteration, it
would have been of a very different kind from that
imputed to them.-No motive can be assigned for
their conduct in this particular, but their well-
grounded confidence in the pretenfions of Jefus to the
title of Meffiah.-Improbabilities of any other fup-
pofition. pp. 203-232.
CHAPTER VI.
ON THE CHARACTER OF JESUS.
Malignity and extent of the charge, urged by unbe-
lievers against the Chriftian Religion.-Particu-
larly as it affects the character of Jefus.-An
objection
--
---
objection against producing the teftimony of his
friends obviated.-Conceffions of his adverfaries
upon this point.-Vanini.-Chubb.-Bolingbroke.
Rouffeau.Voltaire. Paine-Gibbon.-Le-
quinio.-What the intentions of Jesus must have
been, according to the affumptions of his enemies.-
Their own conceffions fhewn to be at variance with
thefe affumptions.-Different grounds of argument,
taken by unbelivers, examined.-The imputation of
impofture fhewn to be inconfiftent with the character
of the virtues, which they allow him to have pof-
Jeffea. Near infpection, to which the conduct of
our Lord was Jubjected.-Yet no inftance of any
deviation from moral rectitude.-Compared with
Minos.-Numa.-Lycurgus.-Mahomet.-The
fcheme of Jefus, if founded in fraud, less excufable
than thofe of thefe acknowledged deceivers.-Con-
fequently not imputable to one of his good character.
Inquiry whether he could have been actuated
by any good motive to affume falfe pretenfions,-
anfwered in the negative. PP. 233-284.
CHAPTER VII.
MR. GODWIN'S MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THE
CHRISTIAN RELIGION AND THE CHARAC-
TER OF IT'S FOUNDER EXAMINED.
Paffage from Mr. Godwin's Enquirer quoted.-The
charges, contained in it, reduced to three heads.-
1. That bigotry and intolerance are encouraged by
the Chriftian religion.-2. That an improper ftrefs
is laid upon faith.-3. That there are certain
moral defects in the character and temper of
Jefus Chrift.-Each of these charges examined
feparately and confuted, partly by historical docu-
ments