CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTORY.

Object of the Lectures-Distinguishing feature of humanity-Utility of

language-Word of God-All books of human origin-What consti-

tutes a divine book-Utility of books-Immutability of Truth-Sacred
books of different nations Radical meaning of the name, Bible--

Powerful influence of early education-Benefits arising froin the in-

vestigation of this subject.

Page 7

LECTURE II.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CANONICAL BOOKS OF THE OLD AND

NEW TESTAMENTS.

Preliminary remarks-Definition of the term canonical-Council of

Nice-Commencement of the formation of the Scripture Canon-Books

of Apocryphal New Testament-Definition of apocryphal-Rejected

Gospels Council of Trent-Original language of the Old Testa-

ment books-Original language of the New Testament-Dates of the

origin of each-Materials on which they were written-Different trans-

lations-Division, into chapters and verses, punctuation, &c.-Present

English version-Elliot's Indian version-Act of justice to the memory

of Tyndall-Concluding remarks.

25

LECTURE III.

THE PENTATEUCH.

Meaning of Pentateuch-Titles of the several books-Their author-

ship-Original language-Invention of Letters-Hieroglyphics-Ob-

jectionable teachings of the Pentateuch-Weapons resorted to by ene-

inies of human advancement-Mode of defeating their aim-Passage

in the ninth chapter of Genesis-Opinions of Commentators-Account

of Creation-Garden of Eden. Concluding observations.

59

LECTURE IV.

HISTORICAL, POETIC AND PROVERBIAL BOOKS, FROM JOSHUA TO THE

SONG OF SOLOMON; WITH A BRIEF NOTICE OF THE APOCRYPHA.

Lost Books-Joshua-Standing still of the sun and moon-Judges-
Ruth-Samuel-Witch of Endor-Kings-Widow's oil-cruise-Story

of the bears and the children--Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah-Esther--

Job-Evidently a dramatic poem-Considered to be very ancient-Its

apparent object-Sublime passages---Biography of Job, in the Vul-

gate-Resemblance of the book of Job to Festus-Psalms-Barba-

rous passages-Beautiful extracts-Proverbs-Intoxication sanction-

ed-Corporal punishment of children-Ecclesiastes Song of Solo-

mon--Erroneous titles affixed to the chapters, in our Version-Lamen-

tations-Apocrypha-Remark of Dr. Mayhew-Allusion to the story

91

of Samson.

LECTURE V.

THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: WITH AN INQUIRY CON-

CERNING THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE GIFT OF PROPHECY.

Division of the Prophecies-Isaiah-Superior style of its literary com-

position-Its critical division-Its authorship-Regarded by some, as

a compilation-Coincidence with second book of Kings and second

book of Chronicles-Remark upon Jeremiah-Ezekiel-Hesitation

of Sanhedrim, about receiving it-Its author said to have written

some other books now lost-Daniel-Prophetic character of his writ-

ings disputed-Brief comment on other prophetic books-General mis-

apprehension of the subject of Prophecy-Practical importance of a

right understanding of it-Definition of prophecy-Scriptural allusions

to it-Mankind still endowed with this gift-Ancient and modern pro-

phecy identical in nature-Jesus, though a great prophet, did not fore-

tell exactly to a day-All things natural to God-Ezekiel's contempo-

raneous knowledge of an event which transpired at a distance-Paral-

lel case of Swedenborg---Other incidents somewhat similar---Myste-

rious connection of the Mind with the material universe---Political

and mechanical prophets, Milton, J. Q. Adams, Oliver Evans---Ancient

prophets doubtless judged partly from observation and experience-

They were not infallible---No evidence in the Bible that prophecy

should be withheld from mankind---Prophets now living, Garrison,

Pierpont, Whittier, Lowell and others---All Reformers in some degree

prophetically endowed-Sublime passage from Isaiah.

137

LECTURE VI.

THE FOUR GOSPELS, AND THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

Definition of Gospel-Origin of the title, Saint-When were the Four
Gospels written?-Their authorship-Acts of the Apostles-Inspira-
tion of the Evangelists-Supposed prophecies of Jesus, quoted from
the Old Testament-Alleged miraculous conception of Jesus-Mira-
cles ascribed to him-Casting out devils, not impossible now-
Mrs. Fry and Miss Dix-Co-operative agency of faith-Allegorical in-
terpretation of some of the miraculous accounts-Supposed cessation
of miraculous power in the church-Mesmerism-Rationality of some
of the miracles recorded in the Gospels-Some things once deemed
miraculous now explained on natural principles-Jesus would not per-
form miracles where he encountered the opposition of strong unbe-

lief-The Transfiguration-Mr. Furness' exposition-Alleged miracu-

lous phenomena at the time of the Crucifixion-Resurrection of Jesus,

and alleged subsequent appearance to the two Marys and the disci-

ples-Exegesis of Prof. Bush-What does the Resurrection prove?-

No model of our resurrection, unless we are to rise bodily, as Mr. Bal-

four and others believe-Mr. Balfour consistent with himself-The

Ascension-If miraculous power was the crowning gift of Jesus, the

"SEAL of his Messiahship," his pre-eminently divine peculiarity, then

he was on a level with some heroes of the Old Testament, Moses, Eli-

jah and Elisha, for his miracles were but repetitions of theirs (see page

287)-Was Jesus more than human ?-Disagreements between the

evangelists-Alleged appearance of a star, and singing of angels, at

the birth of Jesus-Jesus not prophesied in the Old Testament (see

page 304)-Temptation of Christ-His fasting forty days, &c., Moses

and Elijah did the same-The canonical Gospels furnish no proof that

Jesus himself ever wrote any account of his life or doctrines-Evan-

gelists not infallible-Effect of exercising discrimination in regard to

their writings.
167

LECTURE VII.

THE EPISTLES, AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION; WITH REMARKS

UPON THE APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT.

Epistles not arranged chronologically--Uncertainty concerning the several

dates of their origin-Lardner's conjectural table-Character of Paul's

writings-Fifteenth chap. 1 Corinth.-Paul's trance-His belief in a

resurrection of the body-Passage in one of his epistles to Timothy,

concerning inspiration-Epistle to Philemon, and the rascally use made

of it-Epistles of John-Epistle of Jude, fallen angels, &c.-Ques-

tion, whether apostles believed in literal destruction of the earth-

Opinions of Clarke and Wm. Miller-Epistles teach bodily resurrec-

tion of the dead-Apostles expected such an event during their life-

time-Book of Revelation-Nobody can fully explain it-Frequent

occurrence of the number seven-Epistles of doubtful authenticity-

Apocryphal New Testament-Wonderful relations in the Gospel of

Nicodemus-Miracles of Jesus, when he was a child-His general

precocity-Lardner's opinion of the Epistle of Barnabus-Other Apoc-

ryphal Writings-Ascension of Isaiah-Remarks on some books of

canonical New Testament-Passage in First Epistle of John-Original

language of Matthew Hebrew copy known to have been corrupted-

Separation of Apocryphal Writings from those styled canonical-Tes-

timonies of Mosheim and Gieseler-Brief account of the Manicheans,

who believed that the New Testament had been interpolated-De-

liberations at Council of Trent-Inconsistent intolerance of some

Protestants.

311

LECTURE VIII.

CONCLUSION.

Reversal of the order of inquiry-King James' Translation-Regarded
as imperfect-Remarks of Mr. Balfour-Version sanctioned at Coun-

cil of Trent-Wickliffe's Translation-Dark Ages-Character of the

Christians, in the second century-Testimony that they were ignorant,

superstitious and dishonest-No certainty that they did not corrupt

the New Testament-Effect of this admission-Necessity of discrimi

nation-Application of a certain preacher's argument-Many writings

of the Bible do not profess to be divinely inspired-Opinion of Dr.

Palfrey-Some apparently miraculous events perfectly natural-Over-

throw of Sodom, Death of Lot's wife, &c.-Pillar of cloud and fire-

Passage of Red Sea-Jonah in the fish's belly-Remark on the De-

luge---Paul's conversion---Passages which represent God as taking

part in battles---Hooker's speech---Obscene and immoral passages-

Question of the continuance of miraculous power in the church-

Testimony of the Fathers---Dr. Middleton's argument against them-

Application of his argument to the writings of the apostles---Testi-

mony of Josephus, that devils were cast out in the name of Solomon-

An alleged "seal of Christ's Messiahship" tested---Remarks upon mi-

raculous narrations in general---Christianity true, independently of mi-

racles---Comment on Christ's appeal to his miracles, in behalf of his

claims, as one sent of God---He neither performed nor taught any

thing essentially new-.-His actual superiority---The essentials of Reli-

gion---Notice of an anticipated objection---Distrust of the people, on

the part of the priesthood, formerly and at present-Concluding ob-

servations.

379

ERRATA. On page 222, fourth line from the top, for "the subsequent

history of those," read-the subsequent history of some of those. Page

398, eighth line from the bottom, for "seven miles," read-seven German

miles. A few other slight errors may have been inadvertently over-

looked, in reading the proof-sheets. If there be any such, it is probable

that the correction will be readily obvious to the intelligent reader.