CHAP. XXI. ON THE SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT PERIOD FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, RELIGION, AND HAPPINESS. WE have heard of a Royal infidel, who was impious enough to declare, that had the Maker of the universe consulted him at the Creation, he could have given him hints for the improvement of his plan. Many, who do not go so far as to regret that their advice was not asked when the world was made, practically intimate that they could improve upon the scheme of Providence in carrying it on. We have met with persons, who, not fully satisfied with the evidences of Christianity, at least not quite firm in the practical adoption adoption of its truths, have expressed a wish, that for the more complete confirmation of their faith, their lot had been cast in this, or in that particular age, in which they might have cleared up their doubts, and removed their difficulties. Now, though it is not permitted to indulge any wish contrary to the appointment of Him who fixes the bounds of our habitation, and ordains our whole lot in life; yet it should seem that we, in this age and country, have the most abundant reason, not only to be contented with our allotment, but to be peculiarly grateful that it has fallen at this precise period. Who, that reflects at all, will maintain, that any æra in the history of the world, whether antecedent, or subsequent, to the institution of Christianity, could have afforded clearer lights or higher aids than the present? or would have conduced to make us wiser, better, or happier? - Let us be assured, that if we do not see truth with sufficient distinctness, it is not our own position, nor that of the object, which is in fault, but the organ itself. It is not to our present purpose to insist on the internal evidence of Christianity; on that witness within - that conviction of the Christian's own mind, arguing so strongly the truth of Revelation from its correspondence to his own wants - because this is an evidence equally accessible to the believer of every period. We shall, therefore, only offer a few observations on the superior advantages which we at present enjoy, as well from other causes, as from the fulness of the external evidence which has been undeniably established upon the profoundest knowledge and closest examination of the Sacred Records, by so many of our wisest and soundest divines. We We have, for our assistance in religious knowledge, the collective wisdom. of sacred antiquity; and for our furtherance in piety, its precepts, its monitions, its examples. It is also the peculiar honour of our apostle, that from his life and writings alone, a new confirmation of the truth of the Gospel which he preached, has been recently and completely made out. In addition to the fullest general evidence of the authenticity of the New Testament, two of our own contemporaries, - men of different rank, habits, education, and turn of mind, - have extracted from the writings of Saint Paul exclusively, particular and collateral evidence of a most interesting and important nature. We refer, in the first instance, to a small but valuable work of a noble author *, himself a convert of no common order, in which he lays down, and substantially proves the truth of the position, that the con * Lord Lyttelton. version version and apostleship of Saint Paul alone, duly considered, is, of itself, a demonstration sufficient to prove Christianity to be a Divine Revelation. Into these circumstances, which it is probable powerfully assisted his own convictions, he has with great diligence examined; and has with irresistible strength proposed them for the conviction of others. In the other instance, we refer to that exquisite work, the "Horæ Paulinæ," of Doctor Paley; a work which exhibits a species of evidence as original as it is incontrovertible. It is a corroboration of the truth of the New Testament, derived from the incidental but close correspondence of numberless passages inthe life and travels of Saint Paul, related in the Acts, with his own repeated reference, in his Epistles, to the same circumstances, persons, places, and events; together with their most correct geographical agreement; - the respective authors |