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EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.

TION BE STRENGTHENED.

[LECT. X.

If the divine torrent which rolls

by you, once relieves your own thirst, you will understand better its virtue and excellency, and the living source from which it springs. We cannot put men into the possession of the full evidence of any branch of our subject, except as they practically obey the gospel. We state indeed the argument, and if there be any candor of mind, any feeling upon morals and religion, any knowledge of the human character, any fairness in weighing evidence, we carry conviction into their inmost soul. However slight their acquaintance with the nature of real Christianity, we have proof enough to show that such a religion could never have been propagated by such instruments, in the face of idolatry, vice, sensuality, authority, habit, persecution; and have subdued the world, without a divine hand.

But how much more forcible and satisfactory is the proof to that man who has understood all the awful doctrines, and experienced and known all the transforming influence of Christianity? He has then in his own case a demonstration of the power from which the establishment of Christianity sprung. He perfectly well knows that to effect the conversion of one individual from carelessness, ignorance, prejudice, and vice, to the love and obedience of the gospel, is a work beyond the power of man-a work which in his own. case has been difficult, slow, surrounded with obstacles; and which requires, not only for its commencement, but its progress, the continual aids of the Holy Spirit. The conversion, then, of the world from heathen idolatry and licentiousness, or Jewish formality and pride, to the religion of Christ, could have proceeded from no other hand but that of God. As well might feeble man have attempted to dry up the ocean with his word, as the apostles to stop, by human wisdom, the inundation and torrent and ocean of vice and misery. The same power which created the world, could alone reform it. The same voice which said to the deep, be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers; alone could say, The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

LECTURE XI.

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF CHRISTIANITY.

1 TIMOTHY iv. 8.

Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

We have reviewed the arguments for the truth of Christianity which are derived from the miracles performed, the prophecies accomplished and now accomplishing in the world, and from its rapid and extensive propagation.

These establish beyond all reasonable question the divine authority of our religion: and we might now pass on to the subject of the inspiration of the scriptures.

But there is another external argument of great moment which I am desirous first to notice, that derived from THE MORE OBVIOUS EFFECTS WHICH CHRISTIANITY HAS PRODUCED AND IS PRODUCING UPON THE WELFARE OF MANKIND.

This is generally classed with the Internal Evidences. And undoubtedly many of its details and most of the causes from whence it springs, are best reserved for that part of our course. Still I cannot but think that the beneficial effects of Christianity are so obvious to every candid observer, that we may properly arrange them with the external proofs. It is surely a powerful argument in favor of revelation, that it

advances the solid happiness of man, that it has the promise of the life that now is; that, whilst its great object is to remedy the fallen state of our nature by the spiritual blessings of redemption, it uniformly dispenses also temporal benefits, and raises the condition, and promotes the present wellbeing of the human race. Christianity doth this in various ways-it implants those PRINCIPLES on which the welfare of individuals and states depends—it has actually BANISHED an immense mass of frightful evils from Christian countries -it has MITIGATED many other evils which are not entirely removed-and it has ACTUALLY CONFERRED and is conferring the most numerous and substantial positive benefits on mankind.

I. Christianity IMPLANTS THOSE PRINCIPLES upon which the welfare of individuals and states depends.

1. It begins in the proper province of religion, the silent course of private and domestic life. It makes good fathers and mothers of families, good children, honest men-servants and maid-servants, faithful tradesmen, quiet villagers, peaceful manufacturers and husbandmen. These are the materials of public property. The welfare of states is only the consequence of individual happiness.

2. In the next place, Christianity arouses the powers of conscience and directs aright its determinations. It gives solemnity and sanctity to oaths-on which the security of persons and property, and, indeed, of society in all its relations, so much depends. Thus it lays the foundations and forms the sanction of human laws. Wherever it spreads, it sets up a judge and avenger within the breast, and governs man by the fear of an invisible tribunal.

3. Then it discourages and tends to eradicate the vices which most directly infest society-rapacity, violence, malice, revenge, profligacy, treachery; and establishes the contrary virtues of honesty, meekness, forgiveness of injuries, purity, fidelity and truth: and thus restores peace and harmony amongst men.

4. Further, it mitigates that insatiable ardor after worldly possessions and enjoyments, which is the spring of so many acts of injustice and oppression; by elevating man

to a consideration of spiritual, intellectual, solid, pure, eternal blessings.

5. It implants especially the principle of enlarged, active, effectual benevolence, in opposition to that inordinate self-love which is the bane of every virtue, the enemy of all public spirit and love of country, and the gangrene of On earth peace, good-will towards men, is inscribed on the banners of the Christian faith.

states.

6. It is, again, the spring of personal exertion and beneficial industry-it expels indolence, and self-indulgence and inspires an active and useful diligence, the employment of life to the most valuable purposes, and the occupying with our time and various talents as accountable stewards of the Great Householder.

7. Lastly; it elevates the whole charaoter, enlarges and improves the mind, raises man in the scale of being, brings him back to himself, to his fellow-men, to his country, to all the ends for which he was created, to his God. It first teaches him to love the Lord with all his heart, and soul, and mind, and strength; and then to love his neighbor as himself.

II. By the operation of these principles the Christian doctrine has actually BANISHED AN IMMENSE MASS FRIGHTFUL EVILS from Christian states.

OF

1. Idolatry with all its atrocious impurities and cruelties was gradually expelled from the kingdoms of Europe, Asia, and Africa, as our holy faith was propagated. Human sacrifices prevailed in the heathen world. Men offered their sons and their daughters unto devils. The polished Greeks and Romans were infected with this horrid practice, as well as the ruder Scythians and Thracians. It reached from one end of the globe to the other. Our own ancestors offered their Druidical victims; and on the discovery of south America, it was found, says Robertson, that Montezuma immolated twenty thousand human beings annually to the sun.a

(a) See Bishop Porteus's Beneficial Effects of Christianity; to which excellent summary of Ryan's larger work I am much indebted. Bishop Horsley's Sermon before the Philanthropic Society; Paley; Wilberforce's Practical View; Fuller's Gospel its own Witness; Harness' Happiness of Men; Sumner's Reception; the Monthly Lectures, 1827; and Dewar's Designs of Christianity, have also aided me.

The light of truth scared away the monster from the Christian flock.

2. Again, the heathen were full of murder, as the Apostle strongly expresses it. Scenes of blood made a part of the public diversions of the people. Miserable slaves were exposed to the fury of wild beasts for an amusement and recreation to the populace, and were engaged in mortal combat with each other upon a public stage. Such bloody sports are no more.

Women of condition would have no relish, as of old, for the sight. They would not be able to behold it with so much composure as to observe and admire the skill and agility of the champions, and interest themselves in the issue of the combat. The tender virgin would not rise from her seat in ecstacy as the victor put his dagger to the throat of the vanquished; and exclaim, 'He is my delight;' and give a sign with her thumb for him to lay open the breast of the prostrate wretch. Nor would the audience applaud and shout when the blood of the dying man gushing from the ghastly wound, flowed upon the stage.b

3. Further, Christian nations are not destitute, as the Heathen, of natural affection. "No man in a Christian country would avoid the burden of a family by the exposure of his infant children; no man would think of settling the point with his intended wife before marriage, according to the ancient practice, that the females that she might bear, should be all exposed, and the boys only reared."<

4. Once more; Christianity has cleared away the immense mass of misery and vice, arising from the heathen customs of divorce and polygamy. It is no longer the practice, as it was in the latter days of Rome, for the profligate woman

(b) Bishop Horsley, vol. 3. Serm. xl. before Phil. Soc.

(c) Bishop Horsley ut supra. The general neglect of human life is a striking characteristic of Paganism. The value of human existence and happiness was reserved to be proved by that religion which teaches the immortality of the soul and the redemption of it by Christ. "The truth is, so very little value do these people (the Hindoos) set on their own lives, that we cannot wonder at their caring little for the life of another. The cases of suicide are double those of suttees; men, and still more women, throw themselves down wells or drink poison, for apparently the slightest reasons, generally out of some quarrel, and in order that their blood may lie at their enemy's door.-Bishop Heber's Journal, vol. i. P. 269.