4. The first observation, relative to the historical evidence of the

miracles of Christianity?

5. In what case would this not have been affirmed?

6. How are these miraculous facts related?

7. What other evidence have we, of the truth of these miracles? 8. What is the most satisfactory account of the establishment of the Jewish and Christian religions?

9. The just consequence from all this?

10. What observation is made respecting the Epistles of St. Paul? 11. What proof of the truth of Christianity, of a nature and kind peculiar to itself, is furnished by these Epistles?

12. What further observations are made on this topic?

13. What claim did Christianity put forth, to be believed by all

men ?

14. What distinguishes it from all other religions?

15. How was Mohammedanism propagated?

16. What is there peculiar in the propagation of Christianity ?

17. What facts prove that the primitive Christians were really convinced of the truth of the miracles, which led them to renounce their own religion?

18. What is said of their belief?

19. Why is it real evidence ?

20. Show that it is yet, distinct from historical evidence.

21. With what did Christianity have to contend, in the outset? 22. If the evidence of Christianity is so strong, on whom does it rest to show that it is not to be credited?

23. Yet, what is the proper question, in a matter of so much im portance?

24. What reason do unbelievers allege against this evidence, which, in their opinion, is sufficient to destroy it?

25. How is it answered?

26. What is said of enthusiasm ?

27. How is this answered?

28. What alone, could overcome such testimony?

29. Is there any such incredibility in revelation?

30. What other things are mentioned as influencing men in com

mon matters ?

31. Do these things cause us to doubt common testimony?

32. What other reason is assigned why the apostles should not be

believed?

33. How is this replied to?

34. What further objection is made?

35. How is it answered?

36. What is said of fabulous miracles?

37. Show that this does not tend to bring discredit on the Christian miracles.

38. What is the effect of our being so liable to be deceived from

enthusiasm in religion, etc., etc.?

39. Do these things destroy the evidence from testimony which we have, of the truth of Christianity?

40. What alone can destroy the evidence of testimony in any case? 41. What rendered the early converts less liable to be deceived in regard to the facts of Christianity, than they would have been in common matters ?

42. What is said of assertions in arguments?

43. The conclusion from the foregoing observations?

44. How is this remark illustrated?

45. How does Bp. Butler propose to treat the evidence from prophecy?

46. The first observation on this subject?

47. Why is this so?

48. How is this illustrated ?

49. What further observations are made under this head?

50. The second remark on this subject?

51. In answer to what common objection is this remark made? 52. What two kinds of writing resemble prophecy, with respect to this matter?

53. How might a man be assured that he understood such writings? 54. Apply these remarks to prophecy.

55. How did the early Jews and Christians understand these prophecies?

56. The third remark on this subject? 57. How is this remark illustrated?

58. Apply it to the Scripture prophecies.

59. What is the real question to be decided in regard to prophecy? 60. Did the prophets understand, or think they understood, the full meaning of their predictions?

61. How have some persons, to no purpose, endeavored to weaken the force of prophecy?

62. What might have answered some purpose? and illustrate. 63. What then, upon the whole, is the matter of inquiry, in relation to the prophecies ?

64. In what respect, does Bp. B. say, some persons are deficient in integrity?

65. And what requires more modesty and fairness than many pos

sess?

66. What conduct is evidence of great weakness of understanding? 67. What argument for Christianity does Bp. B. now propose to enter upon?

68. Why does he take up this argument?

69. What two other reasons does he assign for this?

70. The thing asserted here, which it proposed to prove?

71. Show that this revelation may be considered wholly historical. 72. The general design of Scripture, which contains in it this revelation, thus considered as historical?

73. Why does it begin with an account of God's creation of the world?

74. How does revelation regard the common affairs of this world? 75. To what extent does it contain some very general account of the chief governments of the world?

76. Show that the supposed doubtfulness of the evidence for revelation, implies a positive argument of its truth?

77. What does the Old Testament contain, besides an account of the moral system of the world?

78. How does it speak of the coming of the Messiah?

79. What supposition is made, for the purpose of illustrating the argument drawn from these statements of the Scriptures? 80. To what conclusion would such a person come?

81. How is this illustration carried on?

82. What is a remarkable circumstance in favor of the Scripture history?

83. How is the truth of the New Testament history still further confirmed?

84. Carry on the illustration still further.

85. What alone, kept the Jews a distinct people?

86. How does the establishment and preservation of natural religion among the Jews, confirm the miracles of Moses ?

87. Carry on the illustration still further.

88. How is it pretended to account for the Jews' remaining a distinct people?

89. Is the fact alone, of their remaining a distinct people, a miraculous one?

90. In what then, does the miracle consist?

91. Wherein consists the miracle in our Saviour's being born in Bethlehem?

92. In what other aspect may these events be viewed?

93. Illustrate this remark.

94. What is said of the evidence for Christianity, founded on that part of the prophetic history which relates to the situation of the kingdoms of the world, &c., from the establishment of Christianity to the present time?

95. What supposition is here made, for illustration's sake? 96. How much has Bp. B. endeavored to show, respecting these things?

9%. What may unbelievers say with respect to these things, and how may they be answered?

98. What course is recommended to serious persons by this general view of the evidence for Christianity?

99. The advantage of such a course?

100. What is remarked of putting down what might be thought to make for the contrary side?

101. In deliberations concerning our conduct, what is very important to be considered? and illustrate.

102. By what is the truth of religion to be judged of?

103. By what is it proved? and illustrate.

104. How is advantage given, by the nature of this evidence, to those persons who attack Christianity, in conversation?

105. Is it possible to destroy this evidence?

CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE OBJECTIONS WHICH MAY BE MADE AGAINST ARGUING FROM THE ANALOGY OF NATURE TO RELIGION.

1. Why does Bp. B. suggest and answer these objections?

2. The first objection?

3. To what is the plausibility of it owing?

4. In reply to this objection, what is the first thing to be remarked? 5. How have men always been allowed to argue ?

6. What is remarked of the epithet " poor," in this connection? 7. Why is it a thing of consequence to show that such objections are as much levelled against natural religion, as against revelation?

8. How are such objections answered?

9. What is it plainly, very material, to observe here?

10. How has Christianity been chiefly indicated in this work?

11. The second remark, in reply to the objection?

12. State in full, the argument for the practice of religion.

13. In what does the chief and proper force of the argument, referred to in the objection, lie?

14. State the argument.

15. What observation is an answer to this argument?

16. Why is it so?

17. In what does the force of this answer lie?

18. The third general remark, in reply to the objection?

19. How far only, is it necessary that we should justify the dispensations of Providence against objections?

20. How is this remark illustrated?

21. Has the author endeavored to remove objections against the divine justice and goodness by arguing from the analogy of nature ?

22. What then, has he endeavored to do? and illustrate.

23. Show that it is of weight, to prove the credibility of the things objected against, whether the objections themselves be answered, or not.

24. Show that objections against the credibility or truth of the system of religion, may be answered, without entering into a consideration of its reasonableness.

25. Is it necessary to show the reasonableness of every precept? 26. What is all that is necessary, in order to show the general obligations of religion?

27. And what, in order to show, the reasonableness of its practice? 28. To what is the analogy of nature an immediate and direct

answer?

29. The fourth general remark in reply to the objection?

30. What other things are equally uncertain?

31. What is said of those who object to the evidences of religion as unsatisfactory?

32. Show that they forget the very nature of religion.

33. What ought to be the real question respecting the evidences of religion?

34. What never is the practical question in common matters ? 35. What, in all cases, is the practical question?

36. The fifth general remark?

37. The object of the foregoing Treatise?

38. By what means are men put in a state of probation?

39. What do both revelation and reason teach us?

40. The sixth and last general remark, &c.?

41. How has Bp. B. argued in this Treatise?

42. What does he mean by arguing on the principles of others? See note.

43. What principles force themselves upon the minds of all per

sons ?

44. Omitting these principles, in what view alone can we consider religion?

45. How has it been treated in this Treatise? and illustrate.

46. What assertion is stated here, which contains both an abstract truth and a matter of fact?

47. What supposition is made, which would be a statement of a mere fact?

48. If this fact were acknowledged, what difficulties might still be raised?

49. What then, might be said?

50. Apply this, to the subject in hand?

51. What will believers in Christianity find in this book? 52. What, unbelievers ?

CONCLUSION.

1. Why is infidelity in man, so surprising?

2. What is said of inattention to revealed religion?

3. Why does it demand to have its claims examined?

4. How much further do many go, than merely to reject Christianity?

5. What do such as reject Christianity, seem to take for granted? 6. To what class of persons is this Treatise adapted?

7. What has been shown in it?

8. How have objections against the wisdom, justice, and goodness of the Christian dispensation been answered?

9. Mention one objection to the Christian dispensation?

10. How has it been answered?

11. How has the objection to the particular method of our redemp

tion, been answered ?