17. Reply to the objection that these laws are unknown to us. 18. To what are the appearances of deficiencies and irregularities in nature, owing?

19. The inference from this?

20. What two classes of objections against Christianity have been answered in this, and the preceding chapter?

21. The next thing proposed to be done?

22. What is the objection against the whole scheme of Christianity? 23. How is it answered?

24. Do we know what are means with God, and what, ends?

25. What do we certainly know, on this subject? and illustrate.. 26. How do God and men differ in their actions?

OF THE PARTICULAR SYSTEM OF CHRISTIANITY; THE APPOINTMENT OF A MEDIATOR, AND THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD BY HIM.

1. What has been most objected against, in Christianity? 2. The first remark made on this point? and illustrate.

3. In what way does God exercise His visible government over the world?

4. The inference from this fact?

5. What fact must be assumed, before we can enter into a consideration of the revealed doctrine of redemption?

6. What is implied in this fact?

7. Of what things connected with this fact, are we ignorant? 8. What does analogy teach us, may be the manner in which future punishment will follow sin?

9. What objection may some good men make to this remark? 10. Show that it is unfounded?

11. Is it a matter of any moment, so far as the argument is concerned, whether this supposition be true or not?

12. Mention some things in the constitution of nature, or the appointments of Providence, analogous to the revealed doctrine of redemption.

13. In what way, more desirable than the present, are we apt to imagine, the world might have been constituted?

14. How has God actually constituted it?

15. Illustrate.

16. In what other manner might the world have been constituted ? and what might have been the result?

17. Show then, wherein consists both the severity and the indulgence, or compassion, of the present constitution of nature ?

18. What do these things teach, respecting the revealed doctrine of redemption?

19. Why may some wonder at finding it made a question, whether God has made provision for rescuing man from the consequences of his own sins?

20. Why is it not a subject of wonder?

21. What evil has man done, for which he should be punished? 22. What are often, the effects of vice in the present world? 23. What may we infer from this?

24. Is there any probability that anything we could do, would alone, and of itself, prevent the consequences of sin from being inflicted?

25. Show that the contrary cannot be proved.

26. What does analogy teach us? and, show how.

27. What do we learn also, from the practice of civil government, and from the general constitution of nature?

28. What, from the prevalence of propitiatory sacrifices throughout the heathen world?

29. The inference from these things?

30. What then, does revelation teach us?

31. How was the redemption of the world effected?

32. What considerations show what little reason men have to object to the Scripture account of the degradation of human nature ?

33. The effect of the first sin of our primogenitor?

34. How is Christ's office as Mediator, represented to us in the Scriptures?

35. How is He described in the Old Testament?

36. What objection is urged against this?

37. How is it answered?

38. The originals of the Levitical priesthood, and of the tabernacle made by Moses ?

39. What then, is the doctrine of the Epistle to the Hebrews? 40. What texts are quoted in proof?

41. In what other way do the inspired writers speak of the satisfaction of Christ?

42. Under what three heads do divines usually treat of the office of Christ, as Mediator?

43. What has He done as our Prophet?

44. How does He act as our King?

45. How, as our Priest?

46. How did sacrifices originate?

47. How did the ancients suppose pardon to be obtained by sacrifices? 48. Have the Scriptures explained this subject?

49. State the doctrine of the Gospel on this subject?

50. Our duty, thereupon? ·

51. How does it appear that we are not judges, antecedently to revelation, whether a Mediator was necessary or not, to prevent future punishment, and secure to us future happi

ness?

52. Of what else are we, for the same reasons, not more the judges? 53. The inference from this?

54. In what case only, can an objection against any particular part of Christ's mediatorial office, be urged?

55. What one is urged, that looks to be of this positive kind?

56. Show that this objection proves too much.

57. Show that the objection is stronger, in one respect, against natural providence, than against Christianity.

58. What is implied in the world's being under the righteous government of God?

59. What, for aught we know, may be absolutely necessary, in order to the completion of this moral scheme?

60. Show that icarious suffering is a providential appointment of every day's experience.

61. To what only, then, can be attributed the objection to the satisfaction of Christ?

62. Why do any conclude that the sufferings of Christ could not contribute to the redemption of the world, unless by arbitrary and tyrannical will?

63. Admitting, for argument's sake, that this is an objection against Christianity, what does it amount to?

64. What is said of arguments against particular dispensations of God, when the reasons of these dispensations, are unknown?

65. What makes the folly of them still greater?

66. What do both reason and analogy teach us, on this subject? . 67. How are we taught how to behave ourselves; by reason, or by experience?

68. The extent of our knowledge of God's providence?

69. How does this compare with our knowledge of revelation?
70. Do we know the reasons of all the Christian precepts ?
71. The design of positive institutions ?

72. Whence arises our duty to Christ?

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE WANT OF UNIVERSALITY IN REVELATION; AND OF THE SUPPOSED DEFICIENCY IN THE PROOF OF IT.

1. What objection is sometimes urged against revelation?
2. How may the weakness of these opinions be shown?
3. Mention the suppositions on which they are founded?

4. By what are they contradicted?

5. Mention several instances in the natural government of God, in which men act on uncertain evidence.

6. Do not men often engage in pursuits, in which the probabilities of success are greatly against them?

7. Are the blessings of life bestowed equally upon all?

8. Do these things prove that God is not the governor of the world? 9. Has the evidence for the Jewish, or for the Christian religion, been always the same?

10. During what period was the evidence for the Jewish religion strongest ?

11. In what respect has the evidence for Christianity been stronger than it is now?

12. In what respect is it stronger now, than it ever was?

13. In what respect has the evidence for Christianity been perfectly uniform, and of a piece with the conduct of Providence, in the distribution of other blessings?

14. Illustrate.

15. What consideration is sufficient to show that there is nothing shocking in all this?

16. Is as much expected by God from those in heathen lands, as from Christians?

17. The law of Scripture, on this subject?

18. Is the condition of all persons here, with respect to futurity, equally advantageous?

19. In what other respects is there a difference among God's creatures on earth?

20. Can we account for this difference?

21. Of what may our present state, possibly, be the consequence? 22. Were revelation universal, would this make the religious situations of all persons, in all respects, equal?

23. What would cause the difference?

24. Mention one possible benefit of the evidences of religion not appearing obvious.

25. Why may we not be in a state of probation, with regard to the exercise of our understanding on the subject of religion, as well as, with regard to our behavior in common affairs?

26. Mention some reasons that go to prove that we are. 27. What is said of inattention, negligence, and want of serious concern, on the subject of religion?

28. What, of active solicitude about it?

29. What then, constitutes religious probation?

30. Show that the evidence of religion, though in the highest degree, doubtful, will put men into a general state of probation, in the moral and religious sense.

31. What is said of the apprehension that religion may be true? 32. What effect should it have on us?

33. What would be the tendency of such behavior?

34. What is said of the responsibility of men of great influence, or strong intellect?

35. What does doubting, necessarily imply?

36. Show that this is so.

37. How many intermediate degrees are there between no evidence at all, and that degree of it which affords ground of doubt ? 38. What is said of one who is uninfluenced by a lower degree of evidence, when discerned?

39. What is remarked of the difficulties on which the evidence of religion is involved?

40. The benefit of temptations?

41. Show how speculative difficulties are like them.

42. What effect should supposed doubtfulness in the evidence of religion, have on us?

43. What may be regarded as an additional discipline and improvement of virtue ?

44. Of what kind of persons may the speculative difficulties in which the evidence of religion is involved, be the principal part of their trial?

45. What is the chief difficulty, with some persons, in regard to

conduct?

46. The true cause of men's dissatisfaction with the evidence of

religion?

47. What persons are most likely to overlook the evidences of re

ligion?

48. What may hinder one from seeing these evidences ?

49. The general effect of levity, carelessness, passion, prejudice, &c. on the mind, in the investigation of truth?

50. What is said of the general proof of natural religion and of Christianity?

51. Of what are common men, capable?

52. Of what is no one capable?

53. In what way do men often become infidels?

54. What objection may still be urged?

55. How may it be answered?

56. Give a full answer from the nature of religion.

57. What is implied in our being in a state of religion?

58. What follows from this?

59. In what does our probation consist?

60. What does experience teach us on this subject? and illustrate. 61. What results from the constitution and course of the world being such as it is?

62. If the observations in this chapter are unintelligible to any, to what may their lack of understanding be owing?

63. What facts should be forced upon the reflection of such persons?

CHAPTER VII.

OF THE PARTICULAR EVIDENCE FOR CHRISTIANITY.

1. What are the direct and fundamental proofs of Christianity? 2. To what is the conviction, arising from the direct and collateral proofs of Christianity, compared?

3. How does Bp. Butler propose to treat this subject?