almost to paralyze the energy, and exclude the light, of divine truth itself. Hence he exhibits an insensibility to evidence, and a reckless audacity of assertion, which is perfectly astounding. He states, for example, that all the religions of the world are founded on the same suppositions, and that they are the following. 1. That there is an absolute necessity to believe all that the priests declare. 2. That the blackest of crimes is to disbelieve what they promulgate as divine truths. 3. That there is the same criminality in loving or hating, what the priests all over the world say should be loved or bated. 4. That for believing and loving what the priests say should be disbelieved or hated, men shall be eternally rewarded punished. or "You thus perceive," he continues, "that when religion is stripped of the mysteries with which the priests of all times and countries have invested it, all its divinity vanishes; and it stands before the astonished world, in all its naked deformity of vice, hypocrisy, and imbecility. In consequence of this discovery, all testimony handed down to us from our remote and ignorant ancestors, when opposed to facts, or the unchanging laws of nature, will not hereafter be received into any intelligent or superior mind. Such will be aware, that, of necessity, the universe must be one great truth, (!) composed of all the facts which it contains," &c. &c. To reply to such rabid stuff as this, would be to waste the time of the writer, and the patience of the reader. It does not fall within the scope of this introduction, to notice the progress of Deism in other nations. It might be sufficient to rejoice, that the mantle of the ancient Freethinkers is now only employed, to veil from the public view the demoralizing and disgusting filthiness of their successors. The opinions of Mr. Owen, however, will lead the recollection of the reader to the School of Rationalists, who usurp the name of Christians in Germany. These, like the raving Apostle of the "New Moral World," appoint human philosophy as the supreme arbiter of religious truth; and while they ridicule the inspiration of the Bible, regarding prophets as patriotic bards, and Jesus and his apostles as promulgating important truths by justifiable frauds, yet allow the system to continue, as “a muzzle for the brute," until the transforming efficacy of philosophical morality shall have rendered its influence unnecessary. We have already seen, in the course of this brief review, the fallacies and iniquities of successive schools of infidelity, falling before the power of the truth of the Gospel. It is gratifying to know, that this ostentatious usurpation of the dignities of religion, is fast falling into contempt. We have already followed many of the devices of a corrupt ingenuity to the long home of forgetfulness; and we delight to fortify, by experience, the confident hope, that in every succeeding attempt to overcloud the lustre of the gospel, the thin and empty mists of human folly will roll away beneath a distant horizon, before the ever brightening beams of the Sun of Righ teousness. CONTENTS. Page. Letter I.-Some account of those that first took upon themselves the name of deists -Observations on Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Scheme Letter II.-Farther Observations on Lord Herbert's Scheme Postscript.-An account of a remarkable Incident relating to Lord Herbert of Cher- 19 26 Letter VII.-An Account of Mr. Collins's Discourse of Free-thinking, and of his Letter VIII.-Mr. Woolston's Discourses on the Miracles of our Saviour considered 81 Letter IX.-An Account of Dr. Tindal's Christianity as old as the Creation. Letter X.-Dr. Morgan's Book, called The Moral Philosopher examined Letter XI. -The Pamphlet intitled Christianity not founded on Argument examined 123 Letter XII-A Pamphlet intitled The Resurrection of Jesus considered, exam- Letter XIV. Some further Remarks on Mr. Chubb's posthumous Works Letter XV. Observations on a Pamplet intitled Deism fairly stated, and fully vindicated-A brief Account of Lord Bolingbroke's Attempt against the Scrip- tures, in his Letters on the Study and Use of History Letter XVI. Some general Observations upcn Mr. Hume's Scheme in his Philo- Letter XVIII.—An Examination of the first part of Mr. Hume's Essay on Miracles which is designed to show, that Miracles are incapable of being proved by any Letter XIX.-Reflections on the second Part of Mr. Hume's Essay on Miracles, which is designed to show, that in fact there never was a miraculous Event, established upon such Evidence as can reasonably be depended upon-A par- ticular Examination of what he has offered concerning the Miracles attributed to Letter XX. Additional Observations relating to Mr. Hume, with Remarks on an ingenious Paper, containing an Examination of Mr. Hume's Arguments in his Letter XXI.-Farther Reflections relating to the Abbé de Paris, and the great Sanctity ascribed to him-Observations on some Passages in Mr. Hume's Inquiry concerning the Principles of Morals, relating to Self-denial, Mortifica- Postscript.-An Account of Mr. Douglas's Book, intitled The Criterion, or Mira- Letter XXII.-General Remarks on Lord Bolingbroke's posthumous Works 285 i Letter XXIII.-An Inquiry into Lord Bolingbroke's Proofs of the Being and Letter XXV.-Lord Bolingbroke's Sentiments concerning the Immortality of the Letter XXVI. Observations on Lord Bolingbroke's Account of the Law of Nature 362 Letter XXVII.-An Examination of what Lord Bolingbroke has offered concern- Letter XXIX.-Lord Bolingbroke's Objections against the divine Original and Letter XXX.-Farther Objections of Lord Bolingbroke against the Mosaic Writings, and the Scriptures of the Old Testament, considered Letter XXXI.-Reflections upon the favourable Representations made by Lord Bolingbroke, of the excellent Nature and Design of the original Christian Reve- lation. Those Passages which seemed designed to expose the Doctrines, and invalidate the Proofs and Evidences of Christianity, considered Letter XXXII.-Lord Bolingbroke's Objections against the Laws and Doctrines Letter XXXIII.-The Christian Doctrine of future Retributions vindicated." Con- clusion of the Observations on Lord Bolingbroke's posthumous Works Letter XXXIV.-Designed to introduce the Reflections on the late Lord Boling- broke's Letters on the Study and Use of History, which are subjoined at large. 531 Letter XXXV.-The Account of the Deistical Writers closed, with general Letter XXXVI.—A Summary of the Evidences of Christianity The Conclusion.-In an Address to Deists and professed Christians Appendix.-Reflections on the present State of Things in these Nations N.B. For a fuller account of the Contents, see the Head preceding each Letter. |