PREFACE.

THE history of the following lectures may be given in few words. In the autumn of eighteen hundred and thirty-one, when the University of the City of New York had not yet organized its classes, nor appointed its instructers, it was represented to the Council, that a course of lectures on the Evidences of Christianity was exceedingly needed, and would probably be well attended by young men of intelligence and education. On the strength of such representation, the author of this volume was requested, by the Chancellor of the University, to undertake the work desired; not, he is well aware, on account of any special qualifications for a task which many others in the city would have executed much more satisfactorily; but because, having lectured on the Evidences of Christianity, while connected with the Military Academy at West Point, he was supposed to be in a great measure prepared at this time for a similar effort. It was under a considerable misunderstanding of the extent to which the proposed engagement would be expected to go, that the author expressed a hesitating willingness to assume its responsibility. The next thing was the honour of an appointment, by the Council of the University, to the office of "Lecturer on the Evidences of Christianity." Alarmed at the prospect of so much additional work, but desirous of serving a rising and most hopeful institution, as well as of advocating the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; he consented to the appointment, with the expectation of finding, in the manuscripts of the former course, enough preparation already made to prevent any considerable increase to his accumulated engagements. What was his disappointment, on inspecting those compositions, to find himself so little satisfied with their plan and whole execution, that instead of attempting to mend their infirmities and supply their deficiencies, it seemed much better to lay them all aside in their wonted retirement, and begin anew both in study and writing! Thus, in the midst of exhausting duties, as a parish minister,* and in a state of health by no means well established, he was unexpectedly committed to an amount of labour which, had it been all foreseen, he would not have dared to undertake. Mean while, a class of many hundreds, from among the most intelligent in the community, and composed, to a considerable

The author was at that time Rector of St. Ann's Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.

*

extent, of members of the "New York Young Men's Society for Intellectual and Moral Improvement," had been formed, and was waiting the commencement of the course. A more interesting, important, or attentive assemblage of mind and character, no one need wish to address. The burden of preparation was delightfully compensated by the pleasure of speaking to such an audience. The lecturer could not but feel an engrossing impression of the privilege, as well as responsibility of such an opportunity of uscfulness. He would thankfully acknowledge the kindness of divine Providence, in his having been permitted and persuaded to embrace it, and for a measure of health, in the prosecution of its duties, far beyond what he had reason to expect. His debt of gratitude is inexpressibly increased by the cheering information, that much spiritual benefit was derived from the lectures by some whose minds, at the outset of the course, were far from the belief of the blessed gospel, as a revelation from God.

The idea of publication did not originate with the author. He began the work with no such view. Had it not been for the favourable opinion of the Council of the University, as to the probable usefulness of the step, and the urgent advice of distinguished individuals of that body; he would have shrunk from contributing another volume to a department of divinity, already so well supplied by authors of the highest grade of learning and intellect. After the recent lectures of Daniel Wilson, D. D., the present excellent bishop of Calcutta, not to speak of many other and earlier works in the same field, it will not seem surprising to the present author if some should think it quite presumptuous, at least unnecessary, for a writer of such inferior qualifications, in every sense, to offer an additional publication. But all have not read, nor may all be expected to read the books which have already been issued. Nothing can be more conclusive; and yet, to multitudes of readers, they must remain as if they were not. A work of inferior claims may find readers, and do much good, in consequence of local circumstances drawing attention to its pages, where all others would be overlooked. Vessels of moderate draught may go up the tributary streams of public thought, and may deal advantageously with the minds of men, where others of heavier tonnage could never reach. Should such be an advantage of this unpretending publication, its apparent presumption may be pardoned, and its author will, by no means, have laboured in vain. That many faults will be found in it, he cannot but anticipate. That any have arisen from haste, carelessness, or want of pains, he will not dishonour his sense of duty, however he might excuse his understanding, by the plea. He can only say that he has tried to do well, and to do good. If, in the opinion of any qualified critic, he has succeeded, he desires to regard it as a matter of thankfulness to God, not of praise to himself. If he has failed, let the infirmities of the lecturer, not the merits of the subject, receive the blame.

That many books have been consulted in the preparation of this volume, and that the author is greatly indebted to the more learned labours of numerous predecessors, he need not acknowledge. It seems unnecessary to mention

more particularly than is done in the margin, the various works from which assistance or authority has been derived. Wherever quotations occur they are marked, and almost always credited to their respective authors. The elaborate work of Lardner on the Credibility of the Gospel History, and the books of Josephus, being more frequently cited than any other; it may be well to mention that the edition of Josephus, referred to in the marginal notes, is that of Whiston's translation, in one volume octavo, London, 1828; and the quotations from Lardner are out of the quarto edition of his works, in five volumes, London, 1815.

And now, without further preface, let this humble attempt to promote the saving truth of Jesus Christ be committed to Him whose blessing alone can honour it. Should it receive but little favour from man, and yet be made, in the Lord's hand, the instrument of leading some misguided soul from the darkness and barrenness of infidelity to the precious light and hope of the gospel, its name will then be written in heaven, and its unworthy author will have a rich reward. C. P. M.

PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION.

So many, and such remarkable instances of a divine blessing having been graciously vouchsafed in the reading of this book, have come to the author's knowledge, that he cannot but regard it as a duty to see that it be no longer allowed to remain out of print, as it has been for some time past. It would make a very interesting little book were it in the power of the author to recollect and relate the particulars of the many cases of persons who have ascribed their conversion from infidelity, and their affectionate embracing of the gospel, under the blessing of God, to the use of this little, unpretending work. In many instances, the accounts were given to the author by the persons themselves, earnestly seeking an interview for the purpose; in others, by their friends made happy by their conversion; or by those who had advised the reading of the book, and wished its writer to be partaker, with them, in the joy of knowing that it had been made a signal blessing. Some are now in the ministry of the gospel, who, when they began the perusal, were in the darkness of infidelity. A copy of the first edition was sent by the author, as a present, to the library of a literary institution. Some time after, he received a request for another copy, with the reason that the first had got worn out before it ever reached its destination. The explanation was, that an officer of the institution had lent it to a person living in a neighbouring village, who was well known among the inhabitants as an infidel, and who had succeeded in poisoning the minds of many in the vicinity against the gospel. God blessed the book to the breaking up of that man's whole boasted system of opinion. He became a Christian, and then sent the volume, as a

missionary, among those whom he had poisoned. When its rounds were done (which were greatly blessed), it was worn out, and a new one was requested for the library.

The author is sensitively aware of the delicacy of his speaking of these things, lest he should seem to regard them with feelings of self-complacency, and to mention them with a view to his own praise. God forbid ! How can he take praise to himself for that which is, and must be so exclusively, the work of the mighty power and unsearchable grace of God, as the conversion of a sinner from a hardened infidel to being an humble, obedient follower of Christ? He has three motives in speaking of these things. One is, that he may thankfully acknowledge the goodness and condescension of God in having made use of an instrument so humble and unworthy, for the accomplishment of such a wonderful and infinitely precious end as the turning of immortal souls "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." Certainly, when these lectures were composed, and when the author concluded to print them, he little suspected ever to be greeted with such accounts of their usefulness as have come to his ears.

Another motive is, that persons may be encouraged to put this, or similar books, into the hands of those who unhappily have taken up with sentiments opposed to the gospel of Christ. There is a mass and a solemnity of strength in the evidences of Christianity, when properly presented; there is visible upon them so distinctly the handwriting of God, that they cannot fail to be exceedingly impressive to any mind that is once induced to consider them. The author is persuaded that professing Christians are too little informed on this subject for their own benefit and usefulness, and that the importance of the general circulation of well-digested, serious, earnest, spiritually-minded works thereon is not rightly appreciated by the Christian community.

A third motive is, to point out one reason which may account for the fact that, in the circulation of this book and others of the same class, in a certain respect which will presently be mentioned, there have occurred so many more instances, not merely of the removal of skeptical doubts, but also of the actual work of God's grace in turning sinners to himself, than have usually been known in connection with books on the Evidences of Christianity. No explanation can be found in any greater skill, or weight of argument; in any new evidences, or any new logical method of arraying what had often been exhibited before. It seems to be in this, that the argument is not presented merely as an argument, abstractedly from the great and infinitely momentous interests which depend upon the conclusion to which the reader shall come, but is kept in close connection with the question, What must I do to be saved? and thus its whole force becomes a matter of serious and solemn impression, as well as of