CONTENTS.

LETTER I.

Reasons for these Letters being written- Education in
Bombay-Diversity of races, and discordancy of creeds, in
Bombay-Importance of Religion-State of Religion among
educated youth in Bombay-Non-Religious Seminaries-Mis-
sionary Seminaries-Neglect of Religion very common-but
sinful and dangerous-Responsibility for our belief-Death--
Necessity of preparation for it.

LETTER II.

Indispensable necessity of prayer-Definition of Revelation—
Necessity of Revelation-Views of ancient philosophers on this
subject-Plan of these Letters-Division of the Evidences-
External Evidence-Internal-Experimental.

LETTER III.

EXTERNAL EVIDENCE-New Testament-proofs of its An-
tiquity from Ancient Translations-Its genuineness and uncor-
ruptedness proved in the same manner-The same proved from
Ancient Manuscripts-Various Readings-Antiquity, genuine-
ness, and uncorruptedness of the New Testament, proved from
quotations made by ancient Christian authors-Quotations by
ancient Heathen authors-Specimens of these, from Celsus.

LETTER IV.

Historical value of the New Testament-Its credibility esta-
blished by many proofs-Four histories of Christ's life. Circum-
stances of the writers-Character of the writers - Testimony

to matters of fact-Testimony of all the early Christì-
ans- Testimony of the enemies of Christianity in regard to
the facts of Christ's life-Corroboration from Heathen historians
of the history given in the New Testament-Monumental evi-
dence, coins, medals, &c.-Examples of the evidence of the
truth of the New Testament thus supplied.

LETTER V.

General credibility of the New Testament incontrovertible—

Miraculous events recorded in it-Explanation of Miracle—

Three propositions on miraculous evidence-First, necessity of

carefully scrutinizing the evidence in proof of miracles-

Secondly, full evidence that Christ's miracles took place,—

eight arguments in support of the reality of Christ's miracles--

Thirdly, Christ's miracles prove him to have come from God—

Answer to the objection of the Jews that the miracles were

the work of Satan.

LETTER VI.

Argument from Prophecy-Definition of Prophecy-Its place
in the Christian system-First end it serves-Second end-
Prophecies in the New Testament-Prophecies delivered by
Christ himself, respecting His death, His resurrection, the
history of His followers, the destruction of Jerusalem, &c-
Prophecies in the Old Testament, respecting Christ-respect-
ing Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon, Tyre, &c.-Mathematical es-
timate of the force of the evidence from Prophecy.

--

LETTER VII.

-

INTERNAL EVIDENCE-Mode of its application Twofold
division of the argument-First, Christianity not like the work
of man - could not have been invented by Jews was not
calculated to suit the taste of Jews-nor of Gentiles-Secondly,
Christianity like the work of God -1st, the consistency of
Scripture with itself

2dly, the harmony of Scripture with

the works of Nature-3dly, its harmony with the Providence
of God-Peculiar force of the last argument from Christianity's
resembling Providence in points that are too profound for man
fully to comprehend.

LETTER VIII.

Christianity compared with Natural Religion-Natural Re-
ligion defined-Two observations in correction of erroneous
views on this point-Systems of Natural Religion drawn in part
from Revelation-- All the truths recognized by Natural Re-
ligion are recognized by Christianity-Christianity, while ever
parallel to Natural Religion, advances far beyond it — Illustra-
tions of these principles as to doctrines-and as to morality.

-

LETTER IX.

Christianity considered in its peculiarities, in which it advan-
ces beyond Natural Religion-The doctrine of the Trinity-
Sin and Redemption-Future existence and Resurrection-
Novelty in language as well as in ideas-Harmony of the
peculiar doctrines of Christianity-Originality of the Christian
morality-Character of Jesus Christ-Originality and profound
wisdom of the mode in which 'truth is revealed in the Bible-
Practical aim, and practical power, of Christianity.

LETTER X.

Christianity compared with other professed Revelations-
Christianity exalts God-Humbles man-Yet does not vilify
him-Presents deep views of Sin-Inculcates the necessity of
expiation—and of the purification of the heart-Is very little
of a ritual system, but remarkably a moral and spiritual one-
On many questions Christianity is exceedingly reserved-Is con-
sistent with science-Is fitted to be universal-Possesses
evidences fitted to all minds-Religions of ancient Greece and
Rome, Egypt, &c.

LETTER XI.

Existing religions that profess to be Revelations-Hinduism—

What is Hinduism ?-External Evidence-Age of the Hindu

Shástras-Examination of their genuineness-Miracles of Hin-

duism- Hindu prophecy Immense extent of the Hindu

Shástras.

Internal Evidence-Endless contradictions of the Shástras—

The Shastras opposed to Natural Religion, in doctrines and in-

stitutions-Contain an immense number of errors in matters of

science-Hinduism neither intended, nor fitted, to be a universal

religion-Hinduism productive of immorality-Summary of the

argument.

Examination of Primitive Hinduism. The Vedas.

Examination of the philosophy of the Vedánta.

LETTER XII.

Pársísm-What is it?-External Evidence-Age of the
Parsi Scriptures-Examination of the genuineness of the Zend-
avesta-The interpretation of the Zend-avesta exceedingly un-
certain-Translations of the Zend-avesta--Examination of its
credibility-Zoroaster: who was he?-Miracles ascribed to
him-Supposed prophecies-Recent discoveries as to the con-
nexion of the Veda and the Zend-avesta-Early Persian his-
*tory fabulous.

Internal Evidence. General estimate of the moral charac-
ter of Pársíism-Comparison with Hinduism-Contradictions.
of the Parsi Scriptures-The Parsi Scriptures opposed to
Natural Religion-Their views of God-of Sin-Many childish
institutions in Pársíism-The Zend-avesta contains many er-
rors in matters of science-Is irreconcilable with history-Its
general tendency and character-Summary of the argument.

LETTER XIII.

Muhammadanism-What is it?-External Evidence-Uncer-