a lieve infidels themselves, cannot vital religion, they have coopebe attributed to any deficiency in rated with a zeal and an unanimintellectual resources. They ity worthy of a better cause. have always arrogated a proud And of this widely extended superiority in profoundness of and simultaneous effort, what has science,subtilty of argumentation, been the result? The young, and in every thing which consti. whom impatience forbade to extutes the materiel for historical amine th argument on either or ethical polemics. Nor can side of the question, and whose this failure be attributed to any passions demanded a system want of exertion. Every range which would allow of vicious of argument has been resorted to indulgence, have sometimes been from the acute disquisition of enlisted. The dissolute, who reHume, to the low vulgarity of quired a system which would rePaine; and every variety of style lieve their lives from the charge has been courted that the argu- of inconsistency, have frequently ment might adapt itself to every been discipled; and in some few class of society. And lest the instances, a mind naturally vacilmind of a religious community lating, and unable or unwilling to might recoil from it when pre- go into the merits of a controversented alone, it has been blended sy, after adopting in turo several with the elements of almost eve- opposite systems, has at length ry science, and incorporated with settled down into infidelity. This, the most finished specimens in we may remark in passing, is every department of literature. plainly the result which might be At one time we find it interwoven anticipated, were the christian with a system of metaphysics. revelation true. It comes to us At another it is the corner stone with the unceremonious of a theory of ethics. Sometimes nouncement that an irreconcileit has been detected studiously able enmity exists between its concealed between the pages of doctrines and the moral propena profound and elegant historian, sities of man. The carnal heart and at others, it has decked itself is enmity against God; it is not in the splendid imagery or mel subject to the law of God, neither lifluous versification of elevated indeed can be. And besides this or of sentimental poetry. repulsiveness which attaches to Nor has there been any want its doctrines, the precepts of the of unison among the autbors who gospel require a radical and enhave attacked the evidences or tire alteration in the principles the fundamental doctrines of which man has cherished, and the christianity. The simple fact practices which he has loved. Its of an aversion to revealed re- declared object is to cast down ligion, has been sufficient to ef- every imagination and every high fect a coalescence as intimate as thing that exalteth itself, and to their radically defective morality bring into captivity every thought would allow. The most dissonant to the obedience of Christ. Now of them have been disposed to it is evident that the first appearmerge their common animosities ance of a system which presents in cordial tred to the humbling such universal requisitions must doctrines of the cross. Much as be at best ungracious; and the they might differ in political evidences which support it must speculations, inveterate as might be expected to meet but an unbe their envy of each other's welcome reception. Were the literary eminence, yet, in the at- belief of any universally actempt to sap the foundations of knowledged historical part to in an a of his faith by all the arguments of the infidel philosophers? And when we ask these questions, we do not specially refer to the Boyles, the Lockes, and the Newtons, who have professed and have adorned christianity. We speak not of the men who, furnished with all the weapons for intellectual warfare,have wielded them with as powerful an arm as ever fell to the lot of the proudest champion of irreligion, and to whom capacity of intellect, extent of erudition and profoundness of original investigation, have assigned the most conspicuous nitches in the temple of fame. It is not to these men we refer when we ask for the trophies of infidelity. We refer to the poor, the illiterate, the unrefined, with whom we are sometimes told in scorn the ranks of christianity are filled. In a contest with such men, where the intellectual superiority is wholly on the side of infidelity, what conquest has she ever made? Where was the man who knew and only knew his bible true," that was ever made to part with it for all that she could give him in return? It is a most interesting spectacle to witness a man of plain common sense, but of sincere and humble piety, hemmed in by a company of sceptical assailants. At one time you see him neutralize their arguments by a reference to principles which they cannot but allow. At another he moderates the vehemence their onset by an appeal to the conscience still slumbering in their bosoms. And whilst they are thus maliciously striving to wrest from him that hope which he prizes dearer than life, could you scrutinize his heart, you would see him humbly looking of volve so mighty a revolution of character, how soon would unanimity of belief in that fact be annihilated! Again, if the gospel be thus opposed to the natural propensities of man, it is easy to perceive who would be most likely to revolt from it. The most numerous classes would be the young, in whom passion had the greatest preponderance over reason; and the dissolute, whose passions had acquired strength by indulgence. It would be easy also on the same principles to conceive that the man whom frequent vacillation had taught to distrust the conclusions of his own intellect, should at last gravitate toward that system into whose scale passion had thrown her preponderating influence. And besides such disciples as these, we ask, where are the trophies of infidelity. What converts has she made from the walks of humble pains taking christianity? Where are the men whose deportment had evinced their affections placed on things above, that have afterwards enlisted into her ranks? Where was the man who had in health evinced a "correspondence fixed with heaven," that in sickness fled to the consolations of Paine or of Hume, of Shaftsbury or of Bolingbroke? When was there an instance of an individual who had in life relied for salvation on the blood of the atonement, that in death wished to exchange the ground of his confidence for any or for all the supports of infidelity? Or without resorting to so severe a test, we would only ask, where was there a man in whom that holy transformation which the gospel describes had been effected, that was moved from the steadfastness * It is scarcely necessary to remark that the infidelity of France during the revolution, and cases of a similar nature, do not affect the present argument. There are instances of a people rejecting a system calling itself Christianity, but scarcely more resembling it than the system they adopted in its place. as up to Heaven for wisdom, and every missile of infidelity ? In fervently supplicating that they what manner is it so entwinmight be made converts to that ed around the very soul of the religion which he feels to be true. believer, that it cannot be wrestAnd if at last, they baffle him ed from him, until you can change by reference to historical fact the nature of man, or blot from which he is not prepared to creation every evidence of the meet, or if they bewilder him in attributes of God? What is this the maze of metaphysical subtil. talisman which, with more powty, whilst he regrets his inability er than was ever attributed to to answer them, his confidence magic, renders the pious man in the verity of the gospel impenetrable to the whole arremains unshaken before. mour of scepticism? What is They have only skirmished a the new name written in the round the outworks; they bave white stone which is given to yet not approached the citadel of every one that believeth, and his faith. They cannot see why, which no man understandeth and perhaps he cannot tell them saving him who receiveth it ? why, but some bow or other, not one of their blows has struck upon the rock on which rests ON THE INTERNAL EVIDENCES OF the foundation of his belief. REVELATION. And if by some artifice of un No. 2. usual subtilty, his faith be for a moment beclouded, and the The questions, which closgloomy suggestion brood over ed the above paper, we aphis mind that the gospel may prehend, may be satisfactoriafter all be a fable, he no soon- ly answered by an attentive coner retires to his closet than the sideration of the internal eviillusion vanishes. When as dences of revelation. It will humble penitent he draws nigh immediately occur, that the beunto God in confidence on the lief to which we have referred, blood of the atonement, he feels cannot depend upon external that his bible is true. He has at- evidence, for it is equally ontained an elevation from whence wavering in the ignorant and the he can behold far beneath his learned, in the christian who feet the mists which so lately takes the bible to be the word enveloped him; and though per- of God, because he has felt its haps even now his eye cannot power, and in him, who, at one pierce them, yet he no longer glance, surveys every link of doubts whether the sun has ris- that historical chain, on which en, for he feels the chilly damp- its external evidence depends. ness which benumbed him, sud- Evidence, may perhaps with sufdenly dispelled, and beholds the ficient correctness be defined that broad beams of the luminary of which being perceived is the day, reflected from mountain and immediate antecedent of belief. from meadow, from woodland and We have only in this discussion, from waterfall, in every variety of to consider the nature of the hue, and with every combina- evidence of testimony. 66 Tes. tion of loveliness. timony is a serious intimation It must certainly be a ques- from another, of any fact or obtion of interest, where has this servation, as being what he reprinciple of belief been deposit- members to have seen, or heard, ed in such perfect security from or experienced."* Now when a Campbell's Phil. of Rhetoric, B. 1. C. 5. p. 68. a a serious intimation of a fact is referring to his own bosom he made, the evidence, or that will perceive the internal eviwhich immediately produces be. dence, to have, by far, the greatlief, is of two kinds. First we in- est effect in producing belief. quire whether the speaker be a Ap illustration somewhat more person of veracity, or whether complicated, but very much in in such circumstances he would point, may be found in the life be likely to speak the truth. of Alexander the Great.f It This is the inquiry into the ex- will be recollected that a few ternal evidence or probability of days before the battle of Issus, the story Or, secondly, we Alexander was taken violently may compare together the va- ill, in consequence of bathing in rious circumstances of the re- the cold waters of the river Cydlation, and if it respect individ- nus when covered with a prouals whom we have known, we fuse perspiration. Under the ormay reflect how it coincides dinary methods of medical treatwith their previously ascertained ment, he could not recover before character. This is the inquiry a battle would be rendered necinto the internal evidence or essary by the approach of Darius. plausibility of the story. We A battle, unless he commanded in shall devote the remainder of person, he knew would be fathis paper, to an illustration of tal to his interests. He felt that these different kinds of evidence. the safety of his army, and what It is said that a certain antidote was to him of vastly greater imfor poison, called Mithridate, was portance, his own reputation, de"invented by Mithridates, king of pended upon his speedy recovPontus ; that the receipt of it ery. Death seemed to him infi. was found in a cabinet written nitely preferable to the thought with his own hand, and was car- of being pursued by the enemy ried to Rome by Pompey; that whom he himself had hoped to it was translated into verse by have attacked. 66 If, (said he,) Democrates, a famous physician, there be any skill in medicine, and that it was afterwards trans- be it known that I seek not so lated by Galen, from whum we much a preventive from death as from defeat." Suppose the question to arise, Whilst the monarch was in whether Mithridates was the in- this state of extreme agitation, ventor of this receipt. By trac- Philip, his confidential physician, ing the several links of historical and the friend and associate of testimony, we ascertain the exter- his youth, assured him, that he pal evidence. But let us suppose could, in three days, prepare a that the medicine was uniform- medicine which would effect an ly successful, and that no person immediate cure. had lived before or since Mith- position to the advice of his ridates, possessed of sufficient friends, Alexander grasped at the skill to invent it. In this case, proposal, only regretting that so , every instance of cure would be long a delay was necessary. Be. an internal evidence that he was fore the third day arrived he, howits inventor. Here we see both ever, received a letter from sources of evidence perfectly Parmenio, one of his most intellidistinct, though perfectly coin gent generals, informing him, cident. What we would have that Philip had been corrupted the reader remark, is that by by the offer of immense rewards have it."* In 'direct op 1 * Chalmer's Dict. + Q Curtius, Lib. 111. Cap. 11-15. from Darius. The conflicting General Washington. Let us supemotions which, under these cir. pose that an anecdote bearing cumstances, would agitate the many of the marks of authenticity mind of such a man as Alexander, were published, in which he was may be better conceived than de represented to have acted with scribed. After balancing the meanness, duplicity or pusillaprobabilities of the case, be foid- nimity. Who would believe the ed the letter, sealed it with his anecdote ! We should feel at own signet, and without mention. once, that it was at utter variing to any one its contents, placed ance with the well established it under his pillow. At the ap- character of the man, and this pointed time he, without betray- alone would be sufficient to overing any emotion, received the balance almost any weight of tes. cup from the hand of Philip, and timony. We should declare that fearlessly swallowed its contents. the narration was forged, or if The effect was such as the phy- this ground were untenable, we sician had predicted. In a few should settle down in the confidays, he commanded in person at dence that it contained some in. the battle of Issus, where he explicable error. This is a case gained one of those victories in which the internal is directly which have ranked him among opposed to the external evidence, the most eminent destroyers of and is alone sufficient to neutralmankind. ize it. By reversing the case, In examining this case, we we shall see tbat an anecdote shall see that the question which which coincided with the well agitated the mind of Alexander known character of Washington, was, Is Pbilip faithful ? On this would be believed on almost the question, the external and in- slightest external evidence. ternal evidence were contra- It is natural to suppose, that if dictory. The external evidence the Bible were a revelation from was, the well attested letter of God, it would be attended by both Parmenio ; and the fact that in descriptions of evidence. It prohis present alarming illness he fesses to be a system of facts, remight be destroyed by poison, lated by certain persons, and for and his death attributed to dis- a particular object. In ascer To counterbalance this taining its truth, we may inquire strong probability, there into the character of the wit. nothing but the former character nesses, their liability to error, &c. of Philip He had 60 often prov. This is the inquiry into the exed his attachment to his master, ternal evidence. Or we may inthat Alexander felt himself war- quire whether the facts related ranted in believing that no bribe corresponded with the character which could be offered, would of the Beings to whom they relate. induce him to swerve from his This is the inquiry into the interfidelity. The event proved that nal evidence. It is on the latter, he had decided correctly. That if we might reason from analogy, is, that internal evidence may be that we should expect a revelasufficient to warrant belief, even tion from God principally to rely. where it is opposed by very We all believe that God created strong circumstances of external the world, but who does not feel probability. that the evidence of this fact from We will advance but one other the works of nature has a greater illustration. The American pub- power over his belief than the lic are well acquainted with the narrative of Moses? Might we leading traits of the character of not then expect, if God should ease. was |