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nation of the Jews, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, was taken, and by wicked hands was crucified and slain. This Jesus hath God raised up.' Therefore should our hearts rejoice, and our tongues be glad, and our souls be enlivened with hope, because we shall not be abandoned in the dreary grave: knowing that he who raised up Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and thall present us, if we be worthy, before the throne of God with exceeding joy.

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X.-COLLATERAL EVIDENCE.

Definition. Great and sudden change which Christianity effected in the minds and manners of men. Obstacles which it had to encounter. -The systems which it overthrew were upheld by worldly power-by the prejudices of education.-Rites and ceremonies of idolatry capti vating to the imagination and indulgent to the senses.---Christianity propagated by seemingly insignificant means-Testimony respecting its progress from the scriptures. Unbelievers.Early Christians.Testimony respecting its influence over the minds and manners of men. -Apostles.-Early Christian writers. Unbelievers.-These effects to be accounted for only in the divine mission of Jesus.-Objection that Christianity no longer exerts its ancient influence considered.Objection arising from the laxity of modern Christian professors compared with those of primitive times considered.—The religion of Jesus not the cause of the anomalies which the Christian world presents. Excellence of Christianity in the formation of character.-Notice of -eminent men formed after the Christian model.-Influence of Christianity upon private persons and upon domestic life.-Christianity not accountable for the bad practices, of nominal Christians, nor for the vices of countries denominated Christian.—Influence of Christianity apon national manners and institutions.—Objectious considered.— Doctrines of Christianity superior to those of any other system.— Destined to accomplish future most extensive reformations in the manners and condition of man.-Conclusion.

THE subject of this lecture, the last of our course, is what is denominated the collateral evi

dence of Christianity. The term is usually employ. ed with reference to such circumstances as have occurred since the first promulgation of the Christian religion, indirectly confirming the divine commission of its authors. Our limits for such a review are, indeed, narrow, and our sketch must necessarily be slight. The important events which have resulted from the planting of Christianity in the world, the changes that it has wrought in the minds, habits, and institutions of men, cannot be fully discussed in a small space, nor largely discoursed of in the limits of a lecture. Nevertheless, we may perhaps seize upon a few of the more prominent points of the subject, and show, in some respects, wherein Christianity has benefitted mankind.

But

No one can even glance at the page of history, without being struck with man's improved condition, since the promulgation of Christianity. It cannot justly be denied that such improved condition has resulted from the influence of the Christian religion; and herein we have a collateral evidence of the truth of that religion. why do I limit myself to the phrase 'man's improved condition?' Truly this is a weak, an inexpressive term, when used as descriptive of the great change which Christianity suddenly effected in the world. When God, said, Let there be light; and there, was light when out of confusion, distortion, and hideousness, a system arose, in which appeared order, and symmetry, and

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* Rev J. Grundy on the Evidences.

beauty, it was not an improvement, but a new creation. When the sun, after having attained his utmost southern declination, retraces his course towards the northern tropic-and the chilly atmosphere begins to feel his power-and the frozen boreal wastes are loosened from their icy bands and the vegetable tribes awaken from their death-like torpor-and life is imparted to myriads of beings and the earth puts forth her countless progeny, it is not an improvement, but a new creation. These are the resistless proofs of. the power of God, and the eternal monuments of. his greatness, wisdom, and love. Not less so were the changes produced by the Christian religion. The previous state of the moral world was like, as, it were, the chaotic elements of things, before God issued the creating mandate and all things were reduced to their beautiful order. Jesus was that powerful word and that glorious light in the new and spiritual creation. The people walked in. darkness, and sat in the region of the shadow of death, until the 'Sun of Righteousness' arose with life and glory in his rays. His influence dissolved the icy bands in which the moral world was imprisoned, and called forth the torpid powers of the spiritual life, and fostered and matured virtues which had been hitherto repressed and hidden. No sooner did his beams begin to appear in the moral horizon, than the noxious vapours of the night were dispersed, and the owls, and the bats, and the beasts of prey, retired together. Idolatry. with its withering influence shrunk from his presence, and superstition and magic fled before his

light. A new and spiritual religion was established, purer morals were the natural fruits thereof; and, brighter prospects being opened into faturity, men had new motives to persevere in well-doing.

The rapid progress of Christianity, and the conséquent total subversion of idolatry, wheresoever it was introduced, do indeed afford a strong presumption of the truth of this religion. The great changes which took place in the moral world, were as surely indicative of the interference of the Deity, as those were, which originally took place in the material creation, or as those are which annually demonstrate his power and pre

sence.

But when we speak of the overthrow of idolatry, in the chief countries of the Gentile world, as an evidence of the divinity of Christianity, it may be proper to consider, briefly, the nature of that hold which it had upon man. What were the ties, charms, and influences of idolatry? First, it was supported by the arm of worldly power. Idolatry was interwoven with the political systems of the times. It was connected with every public office, it acted upon every spring of government. It gave a character to every civil ordinance, influenced every domestic habit, and was recognised in every social tie. Emperors and kings were 'defenders of the faith.' 'Shrine-makers' of all ranks and degrees were zealously attached to its forms; in fact, every thing powerful in command and honourable in station was pledged to its support. When therefore the popular system was con

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