I. THE COMPETENCY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE EVIDENCE. (Part First.)

1. Evidence is Necessary for the Establishment of Christianity. (Chap. I.)

(1) The subject-matter of no question can exempt it from being decided by those principles of evidence which are universally acknowledged to constitute in all other matters the proper test of truth. (Page 10.)

(2) Such principles are best known and acknowledged in the rules of evidence obtaining in our courts of law-in which are considered, first, the competency and credibility, and, second, the weight, of the evidence. These principles and this method are accordingly observed here. (Pages 10, 11.)

2. The Evidence we Possess is of a Character Competent to Prove Christianity. (Chaps. II., III., ÍV.) (1) A Miraculous Revelation, such as that of Christianity, is Possible. (Chap. II.)

1st. A revelation, if possible, must be miraculous. The general opinion of mankind that such a revelation is possible affords a strong presumption that it is so. (Pages 14-17.) 2d. Nature gives evidence of the reality of miracles. (a) The laws of nature are not invariable and without exception; (b) the laws of nature are often interfered with and overcome by higher laws and powers; (c) there are "breaks" in nature, such as creation, the first appearance of life on the earth, and the appearance of man, implying the interference in nature of a supernatural Intelligence; (d) the existence of such an all-pervading and governing Intelligence is, in the opinion of many eminent scientists, proved by the very existence of a law in nature instead of chaos, and of "force," or "energy," as distinct from matter; (e) miracles do not abrogate the laws of nature, but they supplement, renovate, and elevate nature. (Pages 18-27.) 3d. Miracles are not morally impossible. (Pages 27, 28.) (2) A Miraculous Revelation may be Proved. 1st. That Christianity alone, of all religions, possesses a body of "evidences," is a presumption in her favor. It has been objected, however-first by Hume-that "no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle" (and therefore to establish a miraculous revelation, as Christianity), "since a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature, which a firm and unalterable experience has established, experience of human veracity is far from being uniform." (Pages 29-32.) But

(Chap. III.)

whereas our

(a) Miracles cannot be said to be "violations of the laws of nature" any more than man's daily interference with them

and overcoming of them. The laws of nature, as we have seen, are not uniform and "without exception," nor are miracles contrary to our experience, since our personal experience has never had any trial of them whatsoever. (Pages 33-35.)

(b) The improbability of a miraculous revelation, arising from the ordinary uniformity of nature, may be overcome by an extraordinary necessity for such a revelation and its consequent probability-just as, at first, the improbability of miracles was outweighed by the necessity for creation, etc. And that such a revelation is probable, we infer from (1) the common consent of men, and the admissions even of skeptics; (2) the actual darkness and confusion of men in respect to moral subjects; (3) the corruption of morals prevailing wherever the Bible has been unknown; (4) the inability of human reason of itself to discover the truth; (5) the imperfection and impotency of the light given by nature. (Pages 36-54.)

(c) The objection begs the matter in dispute-viz., that there have been miracles—by merely asserting that miracles are 'contrary to experience." (Pages 55, 56.)

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2d. In general, it may be safely claimed that there is no miracle so great but that human testimony may establish it. (Pages 57, 58.)

(3) Probable Evidence, such as Christianity Offers, is Sufficient for such Proof. (Chap. IV.)

1st. That probable evidence alone is applicable to the establishment of any facts whatsoever (and therefore of the facts of Christianity), is shown from the necessity of the case. (Pages 59-62.)

2d. Such a principle is exclusively followed in the trial of causes before all judicial tribunals. (Pages 62–65.)

3d. The investigations of science must always proceed upon the same principle. (Pages 66-68.)

4th. And it forms the very guide of daily common life. (Pages 69-71.)

5th. The denial of its validity logically leads to the denial of the reality of all facts, and renders human knowledge impossible. (Pages 72-74.)

3. The Evidence Offered by Christianity is Trustworthy. (Chap. V.)

(1) The gospel histories are proved to be true by exactly the same kind of evidence, only in a much higher degree, as is thought to be perfectly satisfactory for the establishment of the truth of any ancient writings whatever. 1st. They were indisputably written in the countries, and very soon after the time, in which the events which they record took place. (Pages 75-89.)

2d. The facts they relate are shown to be true by the character

of their authors-the agreement of their accounts-the belief in those facts at the time-the existence of commemorative institutions ever since the testimony of profane authors-the impossibility of forgery-the impossibility of creating such a character as that of Christ. (Pages 89-107.)

(2) We have now substantially the same accounts which those authors originally gave. (Pages 108-110.)

II. THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE. (Part Second.)

1. The Divinity of Christianity is natural Advent of Christ.

Proved by the Super(Chap. I.)

(1) That the coming of Christ was supernatural and divine, is shown by the careful preparation made therefor-among the Jews, among the heathen. (Pages 111-122.)

(2) The prophecies respecting it. (Pages 123-125.)

(3) His miraculous conception and birth. (Pages 126, 127.) 2. By the Superhuman Character of Christ. (Chap. II.) (1) His character was absolutely faultless-a fact never elsewhere found, either in real life or among the ideal creations of genius. (Pages 128-133.)

(2) It has exerted an influence for good beyond all others that have ever appeared in human history. (Pages 134, 135.) (3) Even skeptics have testified to his unrivaled perfection. (Pages 136-139.)

(4) Thus perfect, he testified to his own divinity. (Pages 140

142.)

3. By the Superhuman Teaching of Christ. (Chaps. III.,

IV.)

(1) Its Agreement with the Conclusions of the Highest Human Reason. (Chap. III.)

1st. Christ's doctrines are in their very nature reasonable, while they are without any defect or infirmity. (Pages 143-150.) 2d. They are in agreement with the opinions of the best and wisest of the human race. (Pages 151-161.)

(2) Its Agreement with the Teachings of Nature. (Chap. IV.) 1st. Nature teaches that mankind are appointed to live in a future state. (Pages 162-164.)

2d. That in that future state men shall be rewarded according to their conduct here. (Pages 165, 166.)

3d. And therefore that the Author of nature is in favor of virtue and against vice. (Pages 166, 167.)

4th. That our present life is one of probation for our moral discipline. (Pages 167-171.)

5th. That such a system is not inconsistent with wisdom and goodness. (Pages 172, 173.)

6th. That we should expect such a system to have some things in it incomprehensible to us. (Pages 174-176.)

7th. That we should expect the appointment of a Mediator for human redemption. (Pages 176-179.)

8th. That we should not expect Christianity to be clearly proved or universally believed. (Pages 180-182.)

(3) Its Superiority to both Reason and Nature. (Chap. IV.) 1st. In its setting forth the whole vast range of moral truth, and that with perfect wisdom. (Pages 182-184.)

2d. The complete verification of its truth and wisdom by the history of the world ever since. (Page 184.)

3d. The unique freedom of Christ's teaching from the power of all local or national influences. (Page 185.)

4th. Its creation of a moral and spiritual power adequate to effect the regeneration of mankind. (Pages 186–193.)

4. By the Evidence of Prophecy. (Chap. V.)

(1) The biblical prophecies in general. (Pages 194, 195.) (2) Those delivered by Christ himself of his death and its circumstances, and especially of his resurrection. (Pages 196-198.)

(3) Those concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. (Page 199.) (4) Those of the continued subjugation of Jerusalem. (Pages 200-202.)

(5) Those of the universal spread of his gospel. (Page 203.) (6) And that he should have an enduring Church. (Page 204.) (7) These prove his divine foreknowledge. (Pages 205–208.) 5. By the Evidence of Miracles. (Chaps. VI., VII.) (1) The Weight of Evidence Afforded by Miracles, in General. (Chap. VI.)

1st. Our ignorance of the modus operandi of miracles does not detract from their evidential value, since the same is true of creation, which yet testifies strongly of the power and wisdom of the Creator. Miracles are in harmony with all the other superhuman characteristics of revelation, and therefore to be expected. (Pages 209-213.)

2d. Their essential character as "powers," "works," and "signs," of divine working, indicate their evidential force. (Pages 214-221.)

3d. That the miracles were actually performed is proved by the circumstances under which they were wrought forbidding deception, by their characters of number, variety, greatness, disinterestedness, etc., especially their essential organic unity. (Pages 222-230.)

(2) The Evidence of the Miracle of the Resurrection of Christ, in Particular. (Chap. VII.)

1st. The disciples, who testified to his resurrection, could not have been conscious deceivers. No other explanation than that given by them consistent or credible, especially that

of the Jews, that the body was stolen by the disciples, since this was impossible either to have been done, or to have been known if done. (Pages 231-243.)

2d. The disciples were not themselves deceived. They could not all have imagined they saw Christ risen from the dead so many times, and so familiarly; nor could they have mistaken a slow recovery from exhaustion and syncope for a triumphant resurrection from death. (Pages 243-253.) 6. By the Supernatural Results of Christianity. (Chap. VIII.)

(1) The test of experiment, the final and conclusive test of modern science, proves the truth of Christianity. The personal experience of all who have ever tried it-embracing men of all ages and races, and many of the best and wisest of mankind. (Pages 254-261.)

(2) The wonderful changes for good indisputably wrought in the world by Christianity-in its remarkable growth in the beginning, and its continual progress since-in its universal influence for good, effecting what no other agency has ever done, the reclamation of the lowest savages. (Pages 262-272.)

7. The Cumulative Weight of all these Separate Proofs Combined, Establishing Christianity Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. (Chap. IX.)

(1) There is no evidence against these evidences of the mattersof-fact of Christianity; nor are there any evidences in support of any opposing system of moral truth. Even were there such, so long as Christianity still remained supported by the preponderating weight of its own evidence, we should not reject Christianity, but as men do in trials at law, in the common affairs of life, and in scientific investigations, we should rather seek their reconcilement. But there are none such. (Pages 273–276.)

(2) Christianity offers every kind of evidence applicable to the subject, while no hypothesis can rationally account for the facts, except that Christianity is true and divine. (Pages 277, 278.)

(3) The cumulative weight of all these various evidences combined, calculated according to the scientific "Doctrine of Probabilities," proves beyond all reasonable doubt that Christianity is true and divine. (Pages 279–282.)