APPENDIX.

EVIDENCES

OF THE

CHRISTIAN RELIGION:

Briefly and plainly stated.

BY

JAMES BEATTIE, LL. D. F. R. S. E.

PROFESSOR OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY IN MARISCHAL COLLEGE, ABERDEEN, AND MEMBER OF THE ZEA, LAND SOCIETY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, AND OF THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF MANCHESTER.

INTRODUCTION.

THAT there is in the world, and that for more than seventeen hundred years there has been, a RELIGION called THE CHRISTIAN, will hardly be controverted: and that it must have derived its origin from some person or persons, who introduced and taught it, seems to be equally certain, or at least will not be denied by those who allow a cause to be necessary to the production of an effect.

This religion, say the Christians, derives its origin from JESUS CHRIST; a person of unequalled wisdom, unexampled goodness, and supernatural power; who taught it to his disciples, commanding them to preach it in all nations. This religion, says the infidel, admitting that JESUS introduced it, derives its origin from imposture and falsehood, and owes its continuance to the enthusiasm, the knavery, and the folly of mankind.

The tendency of this religion, say its enemies, is to darken and bewilder the understanding, to interrupt the pleasures of life, to confound human affairs, to debase the mind by superstition, and to make men timorous and cruel. The tendency of this religion, say they who are better acquainted with it, is to enlighten the mind with true wisdom; to banish superstition; to promote universal righteousness, charity, and peace; to comfort us in adversity, and give prosperity its highest relish; to encourage the most transporting hopes, with full assurance that they will not be disappointed; to repress every malevolent and every evil passion; to make men, whatever their outward circumstances may be, resigned and thankful; and, in a word, to promote their happiness, both in time, and through all eternity:

Opinions so opposite cannot both be true; and they who have the means of knowing the truth, ought to inquire on which side it lies. If this religion be from heaven, to be indifferent about it is inexcusable, and must be dangerous. And no man is entitled to say, that it is not from heaven, till he has studied its evidence and doctrines, and found the former insufficient to satisfy a fair mind, and the latter unworthy of a divine original. To refuse to believe, or inquire about this religion, because one may have read or heard some things plausibly written or said against it, would be as uncandid, as to refuse all information concerning my character, for example, except that which is known to have been given by my mortal enemy. Between the two cases, however, there is this difference; and a very considerable one it seems to be. To the greater part of mankind it is a matter of no moment to be informed, whether I be honest, or the contrary, a man of sense, or a fool. But if the Christian religion be true, and that it is false has not yet been proved, it must be a matter of infinite concern to us all, that it be accurately studied, and well understood.

In defence of Christianity many excellent books have been written; by Grotius, Clarke, Locke, Lardner, Butler, West, Lyttleton, Sherlock, and others, whose integrity and learning will not be called in question. The design of this little work is, not to supercede, as unnecessary, but to recommend, and serve as an introduction to, the perusal of those great authors; by showing as plainly, and as briefly, as I can, to every candid reader, and especially to the young, that the evidence of this religion is at least strong enough to merit attention and deliberate inquiry. If I can accomplish even this purpose, I shall do service to a cause, which, as a friend to makind, I have always had very much at heart. For, from several conversations which it has been my chance to have with unbelievers, I have learned, that ignorance of the nature of our religion, and a disin clination to study both it and its evidence are to be reckoned among the chief causes of infidelity.