Part II
Index to
References to the Editor’s Notes Are in Brackets
A common absurdity, 243
Abstract truth distinguished from facts, 305, [186
Absurdity of some objections to Christianity, 245
Abuse of our natural endowments, 217
Accidental, what events are so called, 226
Accountability gradually increases, 251
Actions,
definition of, in morals, 261
distinguished from things done, 261
their bad consequences sometimes escaped, 232
virtue and vice consist in them, 261
Advantage, as proper a consideration in religion as in temporal affairs, 298
variously bestowed, 249, 312
Analogy
a confirmation of all facts to which it can be applied, 306
affords no argument against the scheme of Christianity, 203
nor against miracles, 203
answers presumptions against miracles, 207
does not prove the wisdom of God, 301
does not teach that the whole of God’s government is like that on earth, 204
easily cavilled at, but unanswerable, 306
between natural information and that derived from inspiration, 212
between the remedies of nature and those of grace, 219
between the gospel and human discoveries, 219
between the light of nature and of revelation, 218
between the use of natural gifts, and miraculous, 217
between the government of God and that of a human master, 261
its small influence on men, 303
how used in this treatise, 306
may show our duty, but not the design of the requirement, 246
objections to this mode of arguing, CHAP. VIII.
shows that there may be infinite reasons for things, with which we are not acquainted, 188
the only ground for some of our knowledge, 306
Antidote to heresies, [191
Apocalypse, its principal object, [249
Appearances of men and things deceptive, 248
Arguments proper as to human writings, are not so as to Scripture, 214
Atonement,
how held by the ancients, 241
makes the innocent suffer for the guilty, 243
Author of nature taken for granted, 298
Authoritativeness of revelation, 189
Baptism
a test of obedience, [199
commanded and important, 194
why the form of words, 194
Bible, how to be interpreted, [202, 215
Brutes, their great sagacity, 216
Boundary of human inquiry, [223
Candor necessary in judging of Christianity, 302
Chance, really no such thing, 226
Characters drawn in Scripture evidently unfeigned, 287
Christ
a mediator, CHAP. V.
a prophet, 240
a priest and king, 241
his history, as given in Scripture, 285
his pre-existence taught, 282
his satisfaction, 239
his sufferings voluntary, 243
manner of his interposition, 238
not merely a teacher and example, 242
offered himself a propitiatory sacrifice, 241
Christianity
a fearful curse, if it give no more light than natural religion, [196
a question of fact, 301
a remedial system, [193
an authoritative republication of the religion of nature, 188, 189
a particular scheme under a general plan, 194, 224
a scheme imperfectly comprehended, CHAP. IV.
a scheme revealed but in part, 226
brings life and immortality to light, 190
could not possibly be a contrivance, [222, 294
demands attention, if barely probable, 253
has evidences besides miracles and prophecy, 263
in what degree remedial, [193
is a real revelation, 213
is conformable to the constitution of things, 295
its benefits require the use of means, 197
its establishment and prevalence, the most conspicuous and important event in history, 286
its evidences, CHAP. VII.
its good effects not small, 192
its precepts plain and obvious, 218
its proof historical, 304
its proofs liable to objection, 260
men bound to examine its evidence, 197
miracles and prophecy its direct and fundamental proofs, 263
must have mysteries, [223
no objection to the morality of it, 214, 220, 222
not merely a republication of natural religion, [196
not primarily designed to remedy the defects of nature, [193
not the discovery of reason, 188
objections to its evidence, 210
objections to its nature, 210
offered to some in a corrupt state, 250
prescribes new duties, 194
preserves natural religion in the world, 191
propagated against all obstructions, [294
rashness of treating it lightly, 194, 196, 197
requires means to accomplish ends, 225
reveals a particular dispensation of Providence, 194
reveals important facts, 196
some of its dark parts may be cleared up, others cannot, [223
teaches more than natural religion, 194
the evils ascribed to it, are not its evils, 192
the one great question concerning it, 213, 214
the only religion professedly confirmed by miracles, 268
to be transmitted by Christians, [190
universal, in nature and intention, [248
what alone could disprove it, 295
why not remedial to a greater degree, 193
why not sooner promulgated, 219
Christians
bound to spread Christianity, 190
primitive, their testimony, 267
Church
men bound to support it, 193
preserves a knowledge of religion, 191
visible, its design, 190, 191
Circumstantial evidences of Christianity, 263, 281
often as convincing as direct testimony, 294
Clemens Romanus, testimony of, 266
his letter to the Corinthians, [266
Climax of infidel extravagance, [294
Coincidence of natural and revealed religion, 211, 218
Coincidences of Scripture, 266
Comparison, how it may mislead us, 201
Compassion distinct from goodness, 233
visible in the constitution of the world, 233
Consequences of infidelity; more dangerous than those of faith, 294
of sin, often averted, 233
Conversational objections to revelation, 295
Conversion, how produced, [225
Course of nature different from what we might have supposed, previous to experience, 211
none at the beginning, 205
our total darkness as to its causes, 208
Creation
Mosaic account of, referred to by John, 282
a different exertion of power from government, 205
why Scripture describes it, 281
Creatures of like moral qualities placed in different religious situations, 251
Credulity of mankind acknowledged, 269
Cumulative proof of Christianity, [207
Daniel
his book had more evidence of authenticity than has come to us, 279
his predictions a support of Jewish faith, [249
quoted by Christ, 279
Dark parts of revelation, [223
Degrees of evidence have degrees of weight, 255
require nice examination, 258
Deistical explanation of Christ’s miracles, [206
Deists, why do they oppose Christianity, [196
Depravity of man obvious, 238
doctrine of, [218
Desert of good and ill, the notion of, 305
Development, of truth, 218
modern, doctrine of, [218
Differences of religious advantages may have like reasons as those for different temporal advantages, 251
would remain if revelation were universal, 252
Difficulties
absurdity of requiring them to be all removed, 297
as to the evidence of religion, analogous to those attending the practice of it, 256
cannot be solved by analogy, 296
speculative, may be the chief trials of some, 257
the discernment which can see them, might suffice to see through them, 260
Direct and circumstantial evidence must be taken together, 280
Diseases of body and mind, analogous as to their remedies, 220
Disobedience, without possible excuse, 253
Dispensations, preparatory one to another, 310
Disregard of religion a great profligacy, 233
Distinction between moral and positive obligation, 198, [198
between acts and principles, [235
between temporary, individual, and universal commands, [188
Doubt
affords scope for probation, 262
exercises our virtuous principles, 256
implies some evidence, 252, 254, 283
involves some obligation, 263
puts us upon probation, 253
Doubtful evidence should have some influence, 255
Duties arising from revealed relations, 195
moral and positive, 194
Earth, its appearances confirm Scripture, 238
Effect of Adam’s transgression, 238
of combined probabilities, 294, [294
Efficacy of repentance, [190
not taught by the light of nature, 190
End, God’s not known, 246
Enthusiasm
is not peculiar to religion, 272
impairs no testimony for Christianity, 271
may often weaken testimony, 271
sometimes mixed with knavery, 272
the absence of all sign of it in Christianity, a presumptive proof in its favor, 222
will not account for the spread of Christianity, 270
Enthusiasts make as great sacrifices as Christians, 270
Epistles of Paul, proof from, 266
Eternal retribution not taught by natural religion, [190
Ethics of natural religion distinguished from its objects, [194
Events expound Scripture, 219
Evidence
of Christianity impregnable, 295
collateral and direct to be viewed together, 294
from miracles and prophecy, 267
imperfect, should yet influence practice in proportion to its degree, 255
of circumstances may be most direct, 294
of religion, open to all, 260
of religion, the same in kind as that which controls us in temporal things, 258
much lower than satisfactory often determines us, 303
not only increased but multiplied by a combination of probabilities, 294, [294
reason the proper judge of, 221
requires careful sifting, 256
candor in judging, 302, [303
safety always in admitting it, 294
why liable to objection, 257
Evil, remedies provided for it, 219, 232
Exaggeration practised by many who will not lie, 272
External manner of heart worship, 195
Experience
affords no presumption against Christianity, 203
corroborates Christian doctrines, 245
teaches the effects of actions, 246
Extravagance of some objections, 187, 188
Facts
analogy the only proof of some, 306
distinguished from abstract truths, 305
of revelation distinguished from its principles, [235
Fall of man, assumed as a fact, 236
confirmed by appearances, 238
Falsehood, its degrees and inducements, 272
False miracles have deceived many, 273
have some historic evidence, 273
Fatalists, their principles argued upon, 304
Fear cast out by love, [301
Fitness, moral, 304, 305
Flippant objections to Christianity, 295
Folly, a real vice, 280
Foresight of brutes, 216
Future punishments,
all the reasons for them not known, 234
not arbitrarily appointed, 232
natural sequences, 231, 232
rendered credible by temporal punishments, 300
Genealogy of mankind given in Scripture, 283
General laws
a wise arrangement, 227
do not render miracles incredible, 227
control the Christian dispensation, 226
few events can be traced up to them, 226
miracles may be their results, 226, 227
the ground of believing there are such, 226
things called accidental governed by them, 226
Geology, its impressive lessons, [229
GOD
a master giving laws, 261
all his reasons for giving a command must be certainly known, and known to have passed away, before we can safely disregard it, 188
duties towards him as the Father, 194, 195
governs by mediation, 230
his government shows compassion, 233
progressive, 229
his means and ends we cannot distinguish, 228
his providence, objections to it idle, 300, 301
his reasons not assigned, 246
his will, as absolute or conditional, 261
how he would act in contingencies, unknown, [222
how to be worshipped, a pure matter of revelation, 195
instructs us by experience, 211, 246
little known, [222
not indifferent as to who suffer, 243
reveals our duties, not his plans, 246
the real author of the prophecies, 276
Good and evil unequally distributed, 248
Government of God sometimes, apparently, tardy in its results, 224, 225
Gradual growth of causes, [208
Happiness not always secured by well-laid schemes, 247
Hazard of neglecting Christianity, 262
Heathen world, condition of, 186, 250
Hieroglyphic and figurative language of Scripture, 210
Hinderances to natural and spiritual knowledge similar, 218
History
of miracles, 264
of the Jews confirmed by their condition, 289, 290
of the origin of religion, 206
furnishes no parallel to revelation, 207
prophecy is history anticipated, 281
Scripture, has not been invalidated, 283
Holy Spirit, its operations on the heart, [225
Human contrivance unequal to some things, [222
Human life, in what sense it may be called poor, 297
Human testimony, reliable notwithstanding the prevalence of falsehood, 273
Identity of principle between natural and revealed religion, [235
Ignorance
of heathen writers, [187
of other worlds, forbids objections to Christianity on the ground of miracles, 207
of the laws of miracles, not greater than of natural laws, 256
of the reason of our present condition, 251
much of it our own fault, 259
Imagination may fancy unreal coincidences, 293
Immorality not authorized in Scripture, 221, 222
Impassable limit to human knowledge, [223
Imperceptible accumulation of forces, [208
Imperfect knowledge, better than acting in the dark, 297
Imperfection of language, 216
Importance of revelation, CHAP. I.
an abstraction, [186
precludes the idea that the first witnesses were careless, 274
Improbability before and after an event, [207
of the Deistical theory greater than that of miracles, [206
Inadequacy of repentance, [236
Inattention to religion, real depravity, 252, 307
prevents convincement, 258
Incarnation an invisible miracle, 204
cannot be paralleled, [235
Influence of the Holy Ghost, [225
of the analogical argument, 303
Innocent sometimes suffer for the guilty, 243
Inspiration, the proper kind and extent of it not discoverable by reason, 212
not to be interpreted like other writings, 212
Inspired writers, key to their meaning, [276
their one great scheme, [276
show a foresight more than human, 278, 279
Instruction from God to savages, [206
Intercession by the good for the bad, [232
Interest, temporal, not always apparent, 302
Interpositions of men for each other, [232
Internal improbabilities weaken external proof, 215
Interpretation of Scripture, [215
Irregularity, really no such thing, 226
whence the appearance of, 227
Irregularities of men, consequences proportioned to magnitude, 233
Irreligion an aggravated sin, 233
especially in persons in high standing, 254
not justifiable on any pretence, 256, 312
Invention an irregular way of information, 216
Invisible miracles, [204
things of God, how learned, [230
Jews
God’s dealing with them, 290
their continuance, a standing miracle, 290
their history confirmed by facts, 291
their system of Theism, [206
Jewish miracles, a part of civil history, [265
John, his allusion to Christ, in the beginning of his gospel, 282
his doctrine agrees with that of Paul, 282
Kingdom of Christ on earth, 241
Knowledge
profound, not necessary to piety, 218
scientific and religious, have the same difficulties, 218
Knowledge of Scripture, improved in the same way as knowledge of the sciences, 218
unequally distributed, 249
Language necessarily ambiguous, 216
of the prophecies, often figurative, 210
Laplace, error of, [207
Levity destructive to religious influence, 259
Liberty
belief of our, unavoidable, 304
of the will, not discussed, note 304
necessary to the progress of knowledge, 218
the principle so natural that language is formed on it, 304
Life
future, brought to light by the gospel, 190
may be taken away by command, 221
not thrown away because success is uncertain, 302
whether desirable or not, 301
Light of nature displayed in the Scriptures, 188
does not teach our future condition, 190
favors the doctrine of a Mediator, 230
has left the greatest heathen in doubt, 186
Ludicrous turn, danger of, 259
Mahometanism not received on the footing of miracles, [268
Mahometans and ancient Persians, how situated as to revelation, 250
Man
accepted according to what he hath, 251
his circumstances no ground of complaint, 252
his obligation to study the Scriptures, 202, 262
must be renewed, 197
Manasses, prayer of, [237
Manner of worship a matter of pure revelation, 195
Martyrs
could not have been impostors, 272
had full knowledge of facts, 269, 271
the full force of their testimony, 269
their obligations to veracity, 274
were not enthusiasts, 271
Means as related to ends, 225
Mediation seen everywhere, 230
exemplified in social life, [232
Mediator,
appointment of, CHAP. V.
the notion of, natural, 230
the Scripture doctrine of, 238-240
whether one was necessary, 243
why most objected to, 243
Medium between full satisfaction of a truth and full satisfaction to the contrary, 313
Memory, eloquence, &c. imprudently used, 217
Men apt to be deluded by pretences, 273
their conduct may be guessed at, [222
Mercy seen in the constitution of the world, 233
Messiah came at the expected time, 285
his mission, 224
Minuteness of predictions touching Christ, 207
Miracles
admitted evidence for such as are false does not impair the evidence of Christian, 273
contrary to the course of nature?, 206
denying them leads to Atheism, [205
disorderly use of, 217
distinct reasons for them, 208
large historical evidence for their truth, 270
manner in which related, 264
no argument of analogy against them, 205-207
none parallel to those of Scripture, 207
not mere embellishments, 264
not to be compared to common events, 209
nowise incredible, 209
occasions for them likely to arise in the course of ages, 208
of the Old Testament, inseparable from history, [265
operate by general laws, 226
Pagan and Popish, were wrought after those systems had obtained, 268
peculiar to the Jewish and Christian religions, 268
received as genuine from the first, 268, 269
regulated by general laws, 227
satisfactorily account for the existence of Christianity, 265
should be compared to uncommon events, 209
the credentials of Christianity, 267
the evidence of their truth at first, 249
the question of their truth only one of degree in point of evidence, 208
the only satisfactory account of some events, 265
the real nature of presumptions against them, 208
the term a relative one, 205
their direct proof of Christianity, 264
their evidence the same as that for common facts, 264
their force as proofs, 189
visible and invisible, 204, [204
what evidence arises from their having been accepted as true by the first Christians, 268
writers upon, [264, 268
Miraculous power
creation not properly an act of, 205
misused by some, 217, 267
pretences of, have deluded some, 273
why bestowed, 190
Misconduct creates need of assistance, 235
Mistake of some of Hume’s opponents, 207
Mistakes of philosophers dangerous, [230
of transcribers, &c., 228
Modern geology, lesson from, [229
Moral action, the nature of, 261
an action becomes such by command, [221
Moral duties. See Positive.
Moral faculty, its object, 305
Moral government. See Government.
Moral precepts. See Positive.
Moral system revealed to mankind, 190
Morality of Scripture, reason a judge of, 220
Mysteries to be expected in revelation, 223, 224
as many in nature as in Scripture, 246
Mystery of godliness, 225
Mythological writings resemble prophecy, 276
Narratives of Scripture unadorned, 228
Natural consequences of vice are judicial punishments, 197
and spiritual things analogous in importance, 219
endowments often abused, 217
Natural light compared to revelation, 218
Natural religion
and revealed, coincide, 211
as much perverted as Christianity, 192
could not have been reasoned out, 192
discloses no Redeemer, [194
its ethics and objects distinguished, [194
its light wholly insufficient, 187
might be authenticated by miracles, 190
moral system of, 187
taught and confirmed by Christianity, 188, 286, 292
what it does not teach, [190, 194
Nature carried on by uniform laws, 226
implies the agency of God, 231
its light insufficient, 186
Nature and obligation of sacraments, note 195
Necessity of revelation, [186
Negligence prevents the recognition of truth, 258
wholly inexcusable, 197
Obedience from dread, [301
or disobedience, an important matter, 188
to a positive rite, especially indicative of piety, 199
Objections
to certain precepts of Scripture, as immoral, 221
to prophecy, from its obscurity, 275
to revelation, are of equal weight against natural religion, 97
to the analogical argument, as such, CHAP. VIII.
to the distribution of good and evil, 248-250
to the doctrine of mediation, CHAP. V.
to the evidence for miracles, CHAP. II.
to the unequal distribution of religious knowledge, 249
Objections to Christianity as a matter of fact, 301
as a remedial system, [193, 219
as a roundabout, perplexed contrivance, 228
as deficient in point of truth, 247
as a scheme, 209
as mysterious, [223
as to its wisdom and goodness, CHAP. IV.
as unimportant, CHAP. I.
atonement makes the innocent suffer for the guilty, 227, 243
contains things unlike the course of nature, 204
does not remove difficulties, [223
has been perverted, 192
has been productive of evils, 192
has internal improbabilities, 225-227
disclosed to the world so recently, 219
disorderly use of miraculous gifts, 227
has small influence, 192, 303
if true would not be left doubtful, 299
is not satisfactory, 260, 261
its doctrine of mediation, CHAP. V.
its external proof weakened by internal improbabilities, 215
its lack of evidence, CHAP. VI.
its late introduction, 219
may be advanced flippantly, but cannot be so answered, 295
natural things too unimportant to furnish analogies in its favor, 219
not just and good, CHAP. IV.
not necessary, 147
not universal, CHAP. VI., 248
slowly developed, 219
some of its precepts immoral, 221
sufficiency of natural religion, 187
vicarious sufferings, 245
Obligation arises from the bare supposableness of Christianity, 253, 262
Obligations to God arising out of relationship, 196
Obscurity in part of a prophecy, does not impair the evidence of foresight, 275
Offenders often shielded by friends, [232
Offices of Christ as a mediator, 238-240
Opinions must be distinguished from facts, 270
Ordinary rules of interpretation, [215
Pagan and Popish miracles easily accounted for, 268
Parables show what the author intended, 276
Partial views give an appearance of wrong, 309
Passion hinders correct judgment, 259
Paul, his separate testimony, 266
how he received the gospel, 267
summary of his testimony, 267
Perfection of religion, what? CHAP. VIII.
Persons for whom this treatise is written, 309
Philosophy, its true mode of proceeding, [230
Piety superior to ritual observances, 201
Pleasures and pains, which overbalance? 301
Political events, how mentioned in Scripture, 282
Popish doctrine of a miracle at the Eucharist, [204
Popular conversational objections, 295
Porphyry’s mode of interpretation frivolous, note 279
objections to the book of Daniel, 279
Positive evidence of Christianity, CHAP. VII.
Positive institutions
belong to the notion of a church, 192
lay us under the strictest obligation, 202
means to moral ends, 199
men disposed to depend on them, 200
necessary to keep up and propagate religion, 246
not to be made light of, 201
not to supersede moral obedience, 200
the reason of them often obvious, 198
two modes of viewing them, 198
Positive precepts compared with moral, 198, 201
create moral obligations, 221
Power of healing, [217
Practice should be influenced by probability, 254
Predictions of Christ very numerous and minute, 207, 208
Prejudice a hinderance to knowledge, 258
a mark of weakness, 280
as hostile to truth as enthusiasm, 272
operates contrary ways, 294
Preservation of the Jews as a distinct race, 291
Presumptions
against miracles, 205
against revelation as miraculous, CHAP. II.
none against the general scheme of Christianity, 203
none peculiar to miracles, 207
strong, overcome by weak proof, 207, [207
Priesthood of Christ, 238
Jewish, typical of Christ, 239
Principles argued upon in this treatise, 304
Progressions in our existence, 229
Progress in theology probable, [218
Probable proofs, by being added, not only increase evidence, but multiply it, 294
Probability should influence practice, 254
Profane history corroborates Scripture statements, 287
Proofs of Christianity a touchstone of honesty, [259
level to common men, 260
some important ones omitted in this treatise, and why, 304
why not more plain, 261
Prophecy
a joint review of prophecies furnishes a far stronger proof than examination in detail, 294
a series of, being applicable to certain events, is proof that it was intended of them, 276
compared to compiled memoirs, 278
created the expectation of a Messiah, 284
confirmed by appearances, 292
evidence from, 275
expressed in figurative language, 275
how understood by ancient Jews, 277
in relation to the Jews, 284
is history anticipated, 281
its obscurity, 275
its proofs amazingly strong, [207
may not always have been understood by the writer, 278
proves foresight, 276, 279
sometimes obscured by interpreters, 210
summary of, concerning Christ, 284
use of, to future ages, 249
writers upon, 277, 285
Prophet, Christ a, 240
Prophets
not the authors of what they wrote, 278
their sense of their predictions not necessarily the whole sense, 278
whether they had in view the events which Christians consider fulfilments, 277
Proverbial, use of the word, 201
Providence, never hasty, [229
objections to it useless, 300, 301
the course of, progressive, 229
Province of reason, 220
Prudence, its best plans often frustrated, 247
often requires us to act with uncertain prospect of success, 247, 248
Punishment
follows wickedness, of course, 231
instances of vicarious, 244
not always avoided by reformation, 235
not promiscuously inflicted, 243
provision made for escaping it, 232, 311
we cannot of ourselves escape it, 234
we cannot know why such and such are inflicted, 231
Quotations
Angus, [202, 223
Augustine, note 187
Arnobius, [269
Clemens Romanus, [266
Davidson, [294
Fitzgerald, [303
Grotius, [259
Guizot, [229
Hurd, [276
Dr. Johnson, [288
Mahomet, [268
Powell, [230
Warburton, [217, 223
Whately, [206
Rashness of interpreters, 210
of treating religion lightly, 197
Reason
could not have invented Christianity, 206
could not ascertain the power of penitence, 194
discovers our relation to God the Father, 194
but not our relation to the Son and Holy Ghost, 194, 196
its limits very narrow, [223
its proper province, 220
must have right principles, 220
needs the aid of experience in judging of the consequences of actions, 246
not sufficient to construct a system of natural religion free from superstition, 186
our only faculty for judging even revelation, 210
requires the importance of a question to be taken into account, 295
teaches nothing of the certain means of either temporal or spiritual good, 197
very incompetent to judge what a revelation ought to be, 210-212
Reasoning by analogy to any extent, leaves the mind unsatisfied, 296
Redemption
agreeable to our natural notions, 235
analogous to natural remedies, 232
conjectures about it must be uncertain, 242
mode of, not discoverable by reason, 243
men not competent judges of its plan, 243
on whom are its benefits, note 237
Scripture account of, 239, 240
we should be thankful for it, without disputing how it was procured, 242
References to other authors
Alexander, [269
Apthorpe, [285
Bayle, [301
Benson, [215
Birk, [266
Blaney, [285
Blunt, [266
Bolingbroke, [265
Boswell, [288
Boyle, [264
Butler, [190, 272
Campbell, [264
Celsus, [287
Chalmers, [187, 194, 242
Colliber, 195
Damascenus, [287
Davidson, [285
Diodorus Siculus, [287
Eupolemus, [287
Featley, [215
Fitzgerald, [193, 206, 207
Fleetwood, [264
Fuller, [285
Gibbon, [268
Graves, [266
Grotius, [266
Gulick, [277
Hengstenburg, [277
Horseley, [277
Howe, [236
Hurd, [285
Jortin, [264, 285
Julian, [257
King, [215, 277
Lardner, [264
Leland, [187
Longinus, [287
Lyall, [277
McCosh, [187
Mackintosh, [223
Magee, [236, 242
Manasses, [237
Menander, [287
Michaelis, [215
Mills, [207
Newman, [235
Numenius, [287
Owen, [242
Paley, [205, 266, 268
Pascal, [187, 223
Pfaffius, [264
Phlegon, [287
Phœnician Annals, [287
Pliny, [287
Porphyry, 279, [287
Samuel Stanhope Smith, [206
Solinus, [287
Spinoza, [215
Stapfer, [242
Storr, [215
Strabo, [287
Suetonius, [287
Tacitus, [287
Taylor, [264
Tindall, [196, 248
Tucker, [264
Turretin, [242
Vitringa, [276
Warburton, [187
Waterland, [195
Watson, [264
Waugh, [277, 285
Wayland, [188, 236
Whately, [206, 268, 288
Witsius, [264
Reformation does not always preclude punishment, 235
Regard due to the Son and Holy Spirit, 195
Regard to God as Creator, the essence of natural religion, 195
Rejection of Christ by many, at first, the argument from it, [269
foretold, 285
Relations, being learned, duties are perceived, 194
Relations of man to Deity, 194
to the Son and Holy Ghost, 195
Religion
a practical thing, 298
a question of fact, 301, 304
affords particular reasons for miracles, 208
confirmed by the establishment of a church, 191
considered as external and internal, 195
doubt of its evidence does not release from moral obligation, 254
has its end on all persons to whom proposed, 303, [303
if true, why susceptible of any possible doubt? 299
its acceptance safe, 295
its general spirit intimated, 200, 201
its great importance, 254
its introduction into the world, 206
its reasonableness fully shown, if it can only be proved that it may be reasonable, 301
its very nature overlooked by those who insist that it should have overwhelming evidence, 302
may be true, though doubtful, 299
must be judged by its evidences taken together, 294
not a thing reasoned out, 206
not equally taught to all men, 206
objections to it removed by analogy, 300
presupposes candor in those who examine it, 256, 302, [303
reason may judge of its morality, 220
reasonable, for aught which can be shown to the contrary, 301
the perception of, 302
the view of it taken in this treatise, 299
the evidence for it may be lessened, but cannot be destroyed, 295
why its evidences are allowed to admit of doubt, 249, 253, 299
Relief for evils provided, 232
Remedial nature of Christianity, [193
Remedies
provided in nature, 219, 232
may be unskilfully used, 220
show the compassion of God, 233
and also his strictness, 234
Repentance
cannot cancel guilt, 236, [236
general sense of mankind on the subject, 236
its efficacy not taught by natural religion, [190
its efficacy taught in the Scriptures, 190
not sufficient to preclude disaster, 234, 235
Revelation
a particular part of a great plan, 224
accounts for the Theism of the Jews, [206
at the beginning of the world, would not be miraculous, 205
cannot be neglected with impunity, 260-262
considered as miraculous, CHAP. II.
considered historically, 281
difference between its facts and its principles, [235
discovers new relations, and so new duties, 194
distinguished from natural religion, 195
does not compel assent, 253
has twice been universal, [248
how it could be overturned, 214
its disclosures, of course, could not have been anticipated, 211, 212
its measure of evidence puts us on probation, 253
its facts necessarily singular, [235
no more different from the course of nature than some parts of the course of nature are different from other parts, 312
necessary, CHAP. I.
republishes and confirms natural religion, 188, 189
nothing incredible in it, 271
teaches that God’s laws are compassionate, 236
the use of unwritten revelation, 213
what is to be expected in revelation, 210, 212
Reverence for the will of God, [199
Ridicule of Scripture an offence against natural piety, 286
easier than examination, 259
the great weakness of being influenced by it, 280
Roman Empire mentioned, 279
Rules for health very fallible and inexact, 302
of Biblical interpretation, [215
Sacrifices
commanded, 241
expiatory, 239
how the ancients regarded them, 242
learned by the heathen from tradition, 241
really efficacious, 242
the prevalence of, 236
Sacrifice of Christ an objection to it, 243
how efficacious, not taught, 242
proper and real, 239-241
puts us into a capacity for salvation, 242
voluntary, 244
Safety an important consideration in judging, 294
Satirical writings, how understood, 276, 277
Scheme of nature, vast, 204
progressive, 229
Scheme of providence, if understood, would justify facts which are objected to, 300
Schemes, the best may be disconcerted, 247
Science confirms Scripture history, 287
Scorn of prophetic diction, 210
Scripture
announces a general restoration of things, 282
antiquity of, 287
characters evidently not feigned, 287
confirmed by profane authors, 288
confirmed by the state of the earth, 287
considered historically, 281
contains an abridged history of the world, 282
exposed to criticism, 283
expounded by itself, [202
gives a history of this world as God’s world, 281
gives an account of civil governments only as they affected religion, 282
has internal evidence of truth, 287
history genuine, 265
how distinguished from other books, 281-283
how to be interpreted, [202
if false could be shown to be so, 283
includes a history of thousands of years, 283
includes the chronology of nearly four thousand years, 284
its authority the great question, not its contents, 214
its chronicles confirmed by history, 287
its evidences comprise a series of things of great variety and reaching to the beginning of time, 263
its evidences not intended to be overpowering, 253
its great proofs are miracles and prophecy, 264
its relation to miracles only to be accounted for on the supposition of their truth, 265
its strangeness not surprising, 288
its style objected to, 210
its truth must be judged of by the evidence taken together, 295
may contain things not yet discovered, 218
miracles, their first reception, 265
naturalness of its statements, 287
not composed by rules of art, 210
nothing improbable related in any part, 287
not to be judged by preconceived expectation, 215
not to be judged exactly as other books, 214
ordinary rules of interpretation, [215
our duty to search it, 202, 262
precepts, some give offence, 210
reveals our relation to the Son and Holy Spirit, 194
the possibility of its truth demands investigation, 258
truths not discoverable by reason, 203
variety of topics introduced, 283
written in a rude age, 283
why it describes creation, 282
Searching the Scriptures a great duty, 202
Self-deceit, our liability to it, 262
Serious apprehension may comport with doubt, 313
Shameful mistakes of philosophers, [230
Similarity of objections to religion and nature, 298
Sincerity of belief proved by dying for it, 270
Skepticism no justification of irreligion, 253
Sorrow cannot of itself restore abused benefits, 234
Speaking with tongues, [217
Speculative difficulties similar to external temptations, 256
the chief trial of some, 257, 259
Spread of Christianity unaccountable if it were an imposture, 290
Standing ministry, what for, [191
Strangeness of some Scripture events, 288
Stupidity of the martyrs, if insincere, [269
Subserviences, the world a system of, 229
Success, temporal, always uncertain, 302
Suffering, ignorance does not prevent it either in temporal or spiritual things, 196
Sufferings of Christ vindicate God’s law, 244
of the early Christians, 269
Sufficiency of light of nature pretended, 186
Summary of Jewish history, 284
of the historical evidence of Scripture, 292
Supernatural instructions necessary from the first, [206
Temporal interests not always discerned, 247, 248
managed by prudent persons on the very principles proposed by religion as to spiritual interests, 298, 299
Temporal interests often decided by considerations which fall short of demonstration, 299
Temporary commands, distinguished from perpetual, [188
Temptation
a wholesome discipline, 256
earthly and spiritual similar, 256
calls forth virtuous effort, 257
Testimony
can be destroyed only by counter-testimony, or by the incompetency of the witness, 274
for miracles not mentioned in Scripture, does not impair the testimony for those there recorded, 273
of Paul, separate and independent, 266
of profane authors to the truth of Scripture history, [287
of the first Christians, 269, 271
must be judged candidly, [259
none counter to Christianity, 275
slight, overcomes strong presumptions, 208
unconfuted, must be admitted, 273
value of, lessened by enthusiasm, 271
Theism of the Jews accounted for, [206
Theology of the Bible, not to be corrected, [202
Things which it is unreasonable to dispute, 307
Thoughtlessness of men, 233
Tradition teaches that there was a revelation at the beginning, 205
of the fall of man, 311
Transubstantiation, [205
Trial by speculative difficulties, analogous to other trials, 256
True philosophy inductive, [230
Truth of Christianity proved, unless the whole of its history and influence can be accounted for by accident, 295
Truth, how developed, [218
the, of an event may be fully proved, though no one of sundry proofs may be complete, 295
whether there is any such thing, denied by skeptics, 305
Twofold effect of the analogical argument, 305
Unbelievers, acknowledgment of, 289
cannot deny a conformity between prophecy and events, 293
Understanding, its right use, 245
Undesigned coincidences in Bible history, [266
Undeterminate language deceives many, 297
Unequal distribution of religious knowledge, 249
Unfair dealing of objectors, 297
Unreasonableness of applying to passion for guidance, 295
Unsatisfactory evidence, men often obliged to act upon it, 302
Variety in the distribution of God’s gifts, 249, 312
Vastness of the scheme of nature, 204
Veracity of the first Christians, 274
Vicarious punishments witnessed every day, 244
deter from sin, 245
Vice
appointed to be punished, 231
blinds men to just evidence, 255
its effects in the present world, 234
its natural consequences are God’s judicial inflictions, 197
its real enormity, 234
not palliated by any supposed lack of evidence for religion, 255
Vindication of religion by analogy impossible, 296
of the character of God, not attempted in this treatise, 299, 300
Way of salvation for the helpless, [186
Will of God, as absolute or conditional, 261
World, wickedness of, 238
Worship, mode of, a matter of pure revelation, 195
Writers
on the atonement, [242
Christian sacraments, [195
miracles, [264, 268
necessity of revelation, [187
prophecy, [277-285
Scripture difficulties, [215
undesigned coincidences, [266
The End