CONTENTS. Preparatory Considerations.-Of the antecedent credibility of miracles PART I. OF THE DIRECT HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY, Page i 6 PROPOSITION I. That there is satisfactory evidence, that many, professing to be original witnesses of the Christian miracles, passed their lives in labours, dangers, and sufferings voluntarily undergone in attestation of the accounts which they delivered, and solely in consequence of their belief of those accounts; and that they also submitted, from the same motives, to new rules of conduct ib. CHAP. I.-Evidence of the sufferings of the first propagators of Christianity, from the nature of the case ib. CHAP. II.-Evidence of the sufferings of the first propagators of 13 CHAP. III.-Indirect evidence of the sufferings of the first propagators of Christianity, from the Scriptures and other ancient Christian writings. 16 Page CHAP. IV. Direct evidence of the same CHAP. V. Observations upon the preceding evidence 20 28 Christianity suffered, was miraculous.. CHAP. VII. That it was, in the main, the story which we have now, proved by indirect considerations. 34 CHAP. VIII.—The same proved, from the authority of our historical Scriptures 42 CHAP. IX. Of the authenticity of the historical Scriptures, in eleven Sections. 50 SECT. I. Quotations of the historical Scriptures by ancient 55 SECT. II. Of the peculiar respect with which they were quoted 69 SEOT. III.-The Scriptures were in very early times collected into a distinct volume SECT. IV. And distinguished by appropriate names and titles of respect . . . 72 74 SECT. V.-Were publicly read and expounded in the religious assemblies of the early Christians 76 SECT. VI.-Commentaries, &c. were anciently written upon the Scriptures 77 SECT. VII. They were received by ancient Christians of different sects and persuasions 80 SECT. VIII.-The four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen SECT. X.-Formal catalogues of authentic Scriptures were pub- |