advantageously occupied. Perhaps, this was being unnecessarily fastidious, but the author felt it the only way in which he could comfortably proceed. As yet, he has not had the pleasure of a perusal of this work; now he will be able to enjoy it. A considerable degree of surprise has been expressed, at the delay in the publication of these lectures. The author is well aware that the sale of the work will suffer from it, as much of the deep interest felt at the time when the lectures were delivered, must have subsided; yet, it was unavoidable, and he begs his friends to accept the following reasons as an apology. For nearly two months after the delivery of the lectures, the author was from home; one month, or nearly so, on business connected with the institution of which he was a tutor, and a few weeks afterwards on account of ill health. As the lectures before their delivery, though pretty fully written, were not in a condition to meet any other eye than that of their author, it was necessary that they should be entirely re-written. In addition to this, every argument has been re-examined, authorities re-consulted, and quotations verified. The interruptions also, from official duties, corrections and revisions of the press, &c., have not been few. It would have been much more satisfactory to the author's own mind, if he could have had yet a few months more to revise the whole, but the continued demand for the appearance of the work rendered expedition desirable. He wished to place the subject in the most convincing form, before the minds of those whose welfare he has more particularly sought; and deeply would he regret if he should fail in his object, through incapacity to do justice to so important a subject. In pursuing so many trains of thought, in introducing proofs and illustrations of so varied a kind, in touching on so many points of a difficult and delicate nature, in so many disquisitions of an abstract and metaphysical kind, it would be strange indeed, if both friends and opponents should not find something to which they might object; but for all that is material in the great argument, the author has no fear. He by no means deprecates the honourable criticism of friends, nor wishes to escape the most searching investigations of the unbeliever. He has no doubt but the practised eye will discover marks of haste; he hopes, however, that the inaccuracies will be few, and not important. The lectures are substantially the same in matter and method as they were delivered; they could not possibly be the same verbatim, as many of the most effective appeals, as well as several of the illustrations had no place in the previous notes. The style of address is preserved as nearly as possible; but the author must confess, that in preparing the lectures for the press, much of the spirit that attended their delivery, seems to have escaped; to write in the study, and to speak to a crowded audience whose attention is evidently and deeply excited, are very different things. No sooner was the intended publication of the lectures announced, than public information was given that they would receive a reply. Nor will the reply, it is believed, be long delayed; as, at the particular request of the sceptical party, the author has furnished them with the sheets as each lecture passed through the press. He has also to acknowledge, on their part, the readiness with which they furnished the author with works which advocated their sentiments, which were not in his own library. The arguments combated, are principally, though not entirely, taken from 'The System of Nature,' a work which bears the name of Mirabaud, though it was probably written by some other person or persons.* The principal objections in Mr. Hume's 'Dialogues on Natural Religion,' are also noticed, together with the arguments or objections of some others. The reason why the preference was given to 'The System of Nature' was, that besides its containing a more full and complete exhibition of the atheistic philosophy, than any one work with which the author is acquainted, and its being less grossly offensive in its language than most, it is considerably read in his neighbourhood, and appeals are often made to it. With other works of a similar tendency, it is published in cheap numbers for *The author could not procure a copy of the 'System of Nature' in French, or he certainly would have consulted it; but as it is the English copy which is circulated and read in his neighbourhood, the references to this are more convenient. The edition is the third, octavo, in two volumes. The other works of a sceptical kind quoted, with the exception of Mr. Hume, are from 'The Deist,' a work which boldly advocates atheistical principles, published by Mr. Carlile. more general circulation. That his townsmen, who intend to animadvert on these lectures, will treat him with courtesy, the author has no reason to fear; but he earnestly entreats them to combat not for victory, but for truth; he affectionately and solemnly begs them and others inclined to sceptical principles, who may read these lectures, to give them a serious and candid perusal, and in the calmness of retirement and the coolness of reflection, to inquire "what is truth"? Whether the author will feel it his duty to take any public notice of the intended reply, will depend on its character; he has no time for needless controversy, or trifling logomachy, while he would not shrink from properly conducted discussion, which has important truth for its object. a It is hoped that the lectures now introduced to the public, may not be useless to those who, from their connexions or circumstances, are exposed to the attacks of infidelity or the seductions of “ vain philosophy;" especially those whose youthful and ardent minds may be more liable to danger. Very thankful would the author be, should they be the means either of prevention or cure. It was the author's intention to follow up the present course, by another on the Christian Revelation; but what he has already done, has occupied so much time, and caused the suspension of so many duties, that, if he should deem it requisite to resume the subject, some time must elapse before he returns to it. In the mean time, he earnestly implores the Divine blessing on this attempt. Bowling Cottage, Bradford, Yorkshire, CONTENTS. P. 1 9 12 Address on the proposed Method-to Christians—to Unbelievers .. The great point of Controversy-on this Atheism cannot obtain Cer- General Belief unaccountable on the Principles of Atheism-whether supposed to be derived from Tradition-or to arise from the Consti- tution of Man-or from Reason—the Atheistic Attempt at explanation The Circumstances in which the Conviction of the Existence of a God ATHEISTIC HYPOTHESES EXAMINED. Introduction--the Task which Atheism has to perform .. FIRST HYPOTHESIS. That Matter, &c. had a beginning without a Maker That the whole System of Nature has existed as it now is from all Eternity-Preliminary Remarks-Absurdities in which it is involved -History and Science contradict it-Lucretius, Macrobius, &c.- That Matter is eternal, and that the various forms of Existence sprang solely from its Inherent Properties-Two Positions assumed by this Hypothesis; First, that Matter is Eternal-the Arguments for this Examined-proved to rest only on gratuitous Assumptions—and to be attended with insuperable Difficulties Second Position of this Hypothesis, that Matter, by its own Inherent Properties, has produced all things-Properties and Laws of Matter- the Eternity of Motion examined-Experience-Testimony-Analogy PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD FROM THE WORKS OF NATURE. Introduction-Selection necessary—the Nature of the Argument-Athe- istic Exceptions to it noticed-no Experience to guide us the necessary Laws of Matter-the Proofs to be adduced limited to Man THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE of Man. The Frame work--the Muscles-the Nerves-the Skin The adaptation of parts to each other 71 PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD FROM THE WORKS OF NATURE CONTINUED-OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. Introduction-Dishonourable Expedient of some Advocates of Infidelity (Note.) 118 |