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Man's abuses of power---contrasted with the Benevolence of the Deity...
Loss of the ten tribes-- Inferences. The Messiah was the great object
of the Old Testament dispensation The very existence of the Jews de.
pended upon their connexion with the Savior.--The captivity of Judah,
when? and by whom? Intermediate events--The reading of the roll-
Nebuchadnezzar's first vision explained by Daniel... Total ruin of Jerusa
Jem...Description of Babylon Its walls.The bridge and banks of the
river-Canals--Palace, hanging gardens, and temple. Nebuchadnezzar's
pride and fall; related in his decree Obscurely hinted in Abydenus.--
Confirmed by Herodotus-Asserted by Josephus-Gathered from Ptole-
my's Canon-His reign and works mentioned by Berosus, Megasthenes,
Diocles, and Philostratus-Evil Merodach succeeds him---Then Nerig-
lasser...Then Belshazzar-Babylon taken by Cyrus---The Jews restored
Improvement...The facility with which God can punish nations---Ele.
vation sometimes bestowed upon the worst of characters--The power of
the wicked limited--- War a dreadful curse---Let us seek a better world!

LECTURE XII.

PAGE 320-347.

THE LIFE, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF JESUS
CHRIST, PROVED AS MATTERS OF FACT,

LUKE 11, 1-7. 1 Cor. xv, 3.-8. 2 Pet. 1, 16. Sublimity allied to
terror God alike great in every point of view. The former dispensa-
tion has yielded to one more simple and more spiritual---The obscurity of
antiquity left behind-The subject stated--It relates to facts transpiring
in the zenith of the glory of Rome. Expectations of the world at this
period- Extract from Virgil's Pollio compared with Isaiah's predictions
Tranquillity of all nations.The decree of Augustus ---Conjectures
respecting this tax, and its extent-- Inns of the East Poverty of the Sa-
vior's birth-It is announced to the Shepherds...Journey of the Magi-
who they were--the star which conducted them.. their country---Testi-
monies of Pliny and Chalcidius to this circumstance. Cruelty of Herod
...Evidence that Christ had been in Egypt...Testimony of Josephus res.
pecting him. Julian, Porphyry, and Celsus allow his works-His death
-Acts of Pilate...asserted by Justin Martyr and Tertullian - Manner of
it mentioned by Tacitus and by Lucian... Miracles attending his death--
Darkness supernatural Testimony of Phlegon of Suidas--and the re-
mark of Dionysius the Areopagite...Burial of the Savior...Evidences of
the resurrection---Plea of the guards answered in seven different ways...
Ascension Testimony of Pliny to the early worship of Christ...General
evidences of Quadratus- Tertullian, and Arnobius...Improvement---Rev-
elation resembles the guiding Star.in its nature in its source.in its
object...and in its issue.

LECTURE XIII.

PAGE 348-376.

THE CHARACTER OF THE

WRITERS OF THE OLD AND NEW
TESTAMENTS.

1 JOHN 1. 1-3. HEB. XI. 56-38.-Sensations excited in heaven and
upon earth, by the Ascension-The subject stated-The books of the
Old and New Testaments were really written by those whose names they
bear, proved by the Testimony of their countrymen, and the consent,

of all nations-They were for the most part eye-witnesses of the facts
which they recorded-What they did not see they derived from the most
certain evidences-Their integrity-Their impartiality-Their candor--
Their wisdom-Their holiness-Their lives contrasted with those of
their opponents-Their motives disinterested-proved by their actions→
and by their preaching-Their testimony respecting themselves-They
believed what they taught-proved by their sufferings-They were
guided by that which they preached--proved by the correspondence
of their lives-They could not be deceived in the facts which they re-
late-They would not deceive-proved from their acknowledged charac
ters-and from their criminality, supposing it possible-Their views
stated, and their prejudices-Their appeals considered-The concession
of their enemies-Improvement-The allowances to be made in reading
the scriptures-and the spirit in which they should be consulted.

THE

LECTURE XIV.

PAGE 377-397..

UNSEARCHABLE GOD: OR, AN ATTEMPT TO PROVE AN
ANALOGY BETWEEN THE RELIGION OF NATURE AND THAT OF
THE BIBLE, BY SHEWING THAT THE SAME OBSCURITY WHICH
OVERSHADOWS REVELATION, EQUALLY OVERSPREADS NATURE

AND PROVIDENCE.

JOB XXXVI. 14-Man, a needy dependent creature-in his infancy-
his childhood-his youth-his manhood-his death-Revelation meets
him on the terms of his nature-Magnitude, beauty, and wisdom, com.
parative terms-Limitation of human powers-Created minds swallow.
ed up in the Deity-The subject stated-God unsearchable in the works
of creation-Ignorance of man in early ages-Progress of philosophy---
Our present ignorance of the planetary system-Attempts to reach the
poles frustrated-Our ignorance of the minutiae of nature, and of the
structure of the human frame-God unsearchable in providence-Its mys-
teries relative to empires-The assistance of Revelation-Its perplexi-
ties relative to individuals-Partial illumination from the Bible-Our ig-
norance of the invisible worlds-These were once unknown altogether-
Their existence is now clearly proved in the Scriptures-Their nature in
general is ascertained-But few particulars respecting them have trans-
pired-God unsearchable in the word of Revelation-Its general truths
exhibited-Its promises-Concession respecting its difficulties: but in
this very point consists its analogy with nature and providence-These
all are but partial views of the Deity-The thunder of his power is incon-
ceivable-Illustrations-Conclusion.

Writers quoted, or referred to, in the course of the

Lectures, with their respective dates.

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ON

SCRIPTURE FACTS.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTORY-THE NECESSITY OF A DIVINE

REVELATION.

JOB XI, 7-9.

Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is high as heaven, what canst thou do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea!

To enlarge the sphere of knowledge, and to increase the sum of happiness in the present world, is an object worthy the attention of every friend of human nature; and the effort, even should it fail, deserves the approbation and the applause, of wise and good men: but to provide consolation against the severest moments of trial, to disperse the cloud which hangs over "the valley of the shadow of death," and to conduct the immortal spirit safe to the throne of the invisible God, is a purpose far more sublime, and an exertion of still greater utility. To shed lustre over a few years, or to live in remembrance a century or two, and then to be forgotten, is comparatively of small importance: yet for this the scholar labors, and the hero endures hardship-this is the summit of human ambition, and the boundary of its most sanguine expectations. To shine on the roll of science, to pluck honors which fade like

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the flower of the field, while you gather them, or to sparkle among the favorites of fortune, is of little avail to man, who must soon resign to the merciless grasp of death, even the sceptre of the world, were it committed to his possession. Yet these things are sought amid repeated disappointments; and the golden bait is received with increased avidity, although barbed with anguish and sorrow. But who regards the silent finger of religion pointing to an inheritance above the stars, promising splendors which shall never expire, and waiting to crown the man, who obeys her gracious admonitions, with honor, glory, and immortality?

When I remember the occasion on which I stand before this large assembly, and the awful engagement which, at the solicitation of many among you, I have undertaken-I shrink from my subject, and enter upon the discussion of it with "fear and trembling." To throw down the gauntlet, and to enter the list with winning and attractive fashion, is a bold and daring effort. It will be admitted that this is a day of prevailing infidelity; and surely it will also be allowed, that it is the duty of every man, who sustains the sacred office of a Christian minister, to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints," and to "give a reason for the hope that is in him." On this principle the Lecturer presumes to offer his mite to the Lord of the Treasury towards the support of this great and common cause. It may be asked, why hoary age should not rather enter upon this arduous work? Would to God that more efforts were made on the part of able and faithful ministers, equally venerable for years and for literature, against the common enemy! Those, however, who imagine that age should exclusively wield the "two-edged sword" against skepticism, will do well to re

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