cended up on high, and now sitteth on the right hand of God, to make intercession for us. These facts we have received from his apostles, who were eye-witnesses to these things; and they have attested the truth of what they say, by the miracles which they have wrought before our eyes. We have also experienced, in our own souls, the religion of Jesus."

saving power of the

The obligation to be always ready to give a reason of the hope that is in us, is no less binding on us at the present day; though the evidence to establish the facts and doctrines on which we rely is more remote, and requires more effort on our part to understand it, so as to give a reason for our hope that will convince the inquirer and confound the gainsayer.

It is proper, also, in this connection, to remark on the manner in which this reason of our hope is to be given. We are not to treat all inquiries and objections superciliously, or with contempt; nor to settle the matter simply by saying we know; but we are to render a good reason for our hope, and that in a good spirit—" with meekness and fear." If we treat opposers with harshness or contempt, they will be confirmed in their unbelief, and say that we are conscious of the want of evidence, and therefore refuse to reason the matter. But, if we treat them kindly and answer them judiciously, we may lead them to investigate, and perhaps, by the spirit we manifest, prove the superiority of our faith.

The truth of Christianity is substantiated by at least four distinct and independent series of proofs; either of which is, by itself, sufficient to establish its authenticity and divine authority, in the view of any unprejudiced mind. These are contained in the fol

lowing propositions, each of which I propose to prove by itself:

I. Man needs, and must have, some sort of religion: Christianity is the only system that is adapted to the necessities of man's moral nature: therefore, Christianity must be the only true religion.

II. The authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, contained in the Old and New Testament, as a revelation from God, is clearly established by external evidence. III. The Bible contains, within itself, the most conclusive evidence of its divine origin.

IV. The Bible contains prophecies which have been fulfilled, and which are fulfilling; and the fulfilment of these prophecies demonstrates the fact of the divine inspiration of the Bible.

These constitute so many Pillars, either of which would alone support the sacred edifice. And here is one of those sublime wonders which cluster around the Christian religion. Here is a building supported by four pillars, each independent of the other, and yet all standing so exactly in the centre, that, if either one, or all but one were taken away, the balance would still be so exactly preserved, that there would be no shaking of the edifice nor sinking of the foundations.

THE

FOUR PILLARS, &c.

CHAPTER I.

THE FIRST PILLAR.-Man needs and must have some sort of Religion: Christianity is the only System of Religion that is adapted to the Necessities of Man's Moral Nature: therefore, Christianity must be the only true Religion.

There is, inherent in the nature of man, a sense of moral obligation and accountability, which instinctively calls for a knowledge of his origin, present relations and duties, and future destiny. The proof of this is found both in his own consciousness, and in the fact that there never was known to exist a nation or tribe that was wholly destitute of some form of religion. It has, indeed, been said, that some barbarous tribes have been discovered, that had no ideas of religion whatever; but, a closer examination has proved the contrary; and that this opinion should have gained

credence with travellers is accounted for, by the fact that most barbarous tribes are very reserved and private about their sacred things. The existence of this principle in man is also proved from the fact that professed atheists have never been able to drive all ideas of religion from the minds of the common people, nor even from their own minds in the hour of peril. Such men have been known to fall on their knees, in a storm at sea, and cry out to the God whose existence they had denied, to save them; and the death-bed of Voltaire, as well as other distinguished men of this class, is said to have been a scene of remorse, despair, and indescribable horror. If we could conceive it possible to banish all religion from the earth, we could hardly form any conception of what would be the sate of things. There would be an entire removal of all restraint; and universal anarchy, confusion, and bloodshed, would prevail, till the whole race of man would be extinct. The experiment was tried a short time in France; and if it had been pursued much longer, it would have depopulated the nation. And this experiment was tried under every advantage of learning, philosophy, and refinement. Says a distinguished writer, "The National Assembly of France, in the commencement of the revolution, appointed a committee to inquire and re+port whether there were or ought to be a God; and the committee reported that there could be no liberty on earth, while there was believed to be a God in heaven; and that there is no God; and that death is an eternal sleep. The assembly adopted the report, abolished the Sabbath, burnt the Bible, instituted the