The evidences of the Christian religion: by the Right Honorable Joseph Addison, Esq; To which are added, several discourses against atheism and infidelity, ... occasionally published by him and others: ... With a preface, containing the sentiments of Mr. Boyle, Mr. Lock, and Sir Isaac Newton, concerning the gospel-revelation.

PREFACE.

THE Character of Mr. Addi∣son and his Writings, for Just∣ness of thought, Strength of reasoning, and Purity of style, is too well establish'd to need a Recommendation; but their great∣est Ornament, and that which gives a Lustre to all the rest, is his appear∣ing, throughout, a zealous Advocate for Virtue and Religion against Pro∣faneness and Infidelity. And because his excellent Discourses upon those Subjects lie dispersed among his other Writings, and are by that means not so generally known and read as they deserve, it was judg'd to be no unsea∣sonable Service to Religion at this

time, to move the Bookseller to pub∣lish them together in a distinct Vo∣lume; in hopes, that the Politeness and Beauty peculiar to Mr. Addison's Writings would make their way to persons of a superior Character and a more liberal Education; and, that as they come from the hands of a Lay∣man, they may be the more readily re∣ceiv'd and consider'd by young Gentle∣men, as a proper Manual of Religion.

Our modern Scepticks and Infi∣dels are great Pretenders to Reason and Philosophy, and are willing to have it thought that none who are really possess'd of those Talents, can easily assent to the Truth of Christi∣anity. But it falls out very unfortu∣nately for them and their Cause, that those persons within our own memory, who are confess'd to have been the most perfect Reasoners and Philosophers of their time, are also known to have been firm Believ∣ers, and they, Laymen; I mean Mr. BOYLE, Mr. LOCK, Sir ISAAC

NEWTON, and Mr. ADDISON: who, modestly speaking, were as good Thinkers and Reasoners, as the best among the Scepticks and Infidels at this day. Some of them might have their particular Opinions about this or that point in Christianity, which will be the case as long as men are men; but the thing here insisted on, is, That they were accurate Reasoners, and at the same time firm Believers.

Mr. BOYLE, the most exact Search∣er into the Works of Nature that any Age has known, and who saw Atheism and Infidelity beginning to shew them∣selves in the loose and voluptuous reign of King Charles the Second, pursu'd his Philosophical Enquiries with Religious Views, to establish the minds of men in a firm belief and thorow sense of the infinite Pow∣er and Wisdom of the great Creator.

This account we have from one who was intimately ac∣quainted with him,* 1.1 and preach'd his fu∣neral

Sermon:* 1.2

'It appear'd to those who convers'd with him in his Enquiries into Nature, that his main design in that (on which as he had his own eye most con∣stantly, so he took care to put others often in mind of it) was to raise in himself and others, vaster thoughts of the Greatness and Glory, and of the Wisdom and Goodness of God. This was so deep in his thoughts, that he concludes the Article of his Will, which relates to that Illustri∣ous Body, the Royal Society, in these Words: wishing them a happy success in their laudable Attempts, to discover the true nature of the Works of God; and praying, that they and all other Searchers into Physical Truths, may cordially refer their At∣tainments to the Glory of the great Author of Nature, and to the Com∣fort of Mankind.'

The same person also speaks thus of him,

He had the profoundest Veneration for the great God of Heaven and Earth,

that ever I observ'd in any person. The very name of GOD was never mention'd by him without a Pause and a visible Stop in his Discourse.

And, of the strictness and exem∣plariness of the whole course of his life, he says,* 1.3

I might here challenge the whole Tribe of Libertines, to come and view the Usefulness, as well as the Ex∣cellence of the Christian Religion, in a Life that was entirely dedicated to it.

Against the Atheists, he wrote his Free Enquiry into the receiv'd Notion of Nature (to confute the pernicious Principle of ascribing Effects to Na∣ture, which are only produced by the infinite Power and Wisdom of God;) and also his Essay about final Causes of things Natural, to shew that all things in nature were made and contriv'd with great order, and every thing for its proper End and Use, by an all-wise Creator.

Against the Deists, he wrote a Trea∣tise of Things above Reason; in which

he makes it appear that several things which we judge to be contrary to Rea∣son, because above the reach of our Understanding, are not therefore to be thought unreasonable, because we can∣not comprehend them, since they may be apparently reasonable to a greater and more comprehensive Understand∣ing. And he wrote another Treatise, to show the Possibility of the Resur∣rection of the same Body.

The Veneration he had for the Holy Scriptures, appears not only from his studying them with great Exact∣ness, and exhorting others to do the same; but more particularly from a distinct Treatise which he wrote, on purpose to defend the Scripture-Style, and to answer all the objections which Profane and Irreligious persons have made against it. And speaking of Mo∣rality consider'd as a Rule of Life, he says,* 1.4

I have formerly taken pains to peruse Books of Mo∣rality; yet since they have only a power to persuade, but not to command, and

Sin and Death do not necessarily attend the Disobedience of them, they have the less Influence; for since we may take the liberty to question human Writers, I find that the methods they take to impose their Writings upon us, may serve to countenance either Truth or Falshood.

His Zeal to propagate Christianity in the World, appears by many and large Benefactions to that end; which are enumerated in his Funeral Sermon:

He was at the Charge of the Translation and Impression of the New Testament into the Malayan Language,* 1.5 which he sent over all the East-Indies. He gave a noble Reward to him that translated Grotius's incomparable Book of the Truth of the Christian Religion into Arabick, and was at the Charge of a whole Impression, which he took care to order to be distributed in all the Countries where that Language is understood. He was resolved to have carried on the impression of the

New Testament in the Turkish Lan∣guage; but the Company thought it became them to be the Doers of it, and so suffer'd him only to give a large share towards it.— He was at seven hundred Pounds charge in the Edition of the Irish Bi∣ble,* 1.6 which he ordered to be di∣stributed in Ireland, and he contribu∣ted largely both to the Impressions of the Welsh Bible, and of the Irish Bible in Scotland. He gave during his Life three hundred Pounds to advance the design of propagating the Christian Religion in America; and as soon as he heard that the East-India Company were entertain∣ing Propositions for the like design in the East, he presently sent an hun∣dred Pounds for a Beginning and an Example, but intended to carry it much further, when it should be set on foot to purpose. He had design∣ed, tho' some Accidents did upon great considerations divert him from settling it during his Life, but not

from ordering it by his Will, that a liberal Provision should be made for one, who should in a very few well-digested Sermons, every year set forth the Truth of the Christian Religion, in General, without de∣scending to the Subdivisions amongst Christians; and who should be changed every third Year, that so this noble Study and Employment might pass through many Hands, by which means many might be∣come Masters of the Argument.

In his younger years, he had thoughts of entring into Holy Orders, and one reason that determin'd him against it, was, that he believed he might in some respects be more ser∣viceable to Religion, by continuing a Layman;

His having no Interests,* 1.7 with relation to Religion, besides those of sa∣ving his own Soul, gave him, as he thought, a more unsuspected Au∣thority in writing or acting on that Side. He knew the Prophane Crew

fortified themselves against all that was said by Men of our Profession, with this, that it was their Trade, and that they were paid for it: He hoped therefore that he might have the more Influence, the less he shared in the Patrimony of the Church.

Mr. LOCK, whose accurate Ta∣lent in reasoning is so much celebra∣ted even by the Scepticks and Infi∣dels of our Times, show'd his Zeal for Christianity, first, in his middle age, by publishing a Discourse on pur∣pose to demonstrate the Reasonable∣ness of believing Jesus to be the pro∣mis'd Messiah; and, after that, in the last years of his Life, by a very judicious Commentary upon several of the Epistles of St. Paul.

He speaks of the MIRACLES wrought by our Saviour and his Apo∣stles, in the strongest manner, both as Facts unexceptionably true, and as

the clearest Evidences of a divine mission.* 1.8 His words are these; The Evidence of our Saviour's mission from Heaven is so great, in the multitude of his Miracles he did before all sorts of people (which the divine Providence and Wisdom has so order'd, that they never were nor could be denied by any of the Enemies and Opposers of Christianity) that what he deliver'd, cannot but be received as the Oracles of God, and unquestionable verity. And again;* 1.9 After his Re∣surrection, he sent his Apo∣postles amongst the Nati∣ons, accompanied with Miracles; which were done in all Parts so fre∣quently, and before so many Wit∣nesses of all sorts, in broad day-light, that, as I have often observ'd, the Enemies of Christianity have never dared to deny them; No, not Julian himself: who neither wanted Skill nor Power to enquire into the Truth; nor would have failed to have pro∣claimed

and exposed it, if he could have detected any falshood in the Hi∣story of the Gospel, or found the least ground to question the Matter of Fact published of Christ, and his Apo∣stles, The Number and Evidence of the Miracles done by our Saviour and his Followers, by the power and force of Truth bore down this mighty and accomplished Emperor and all his Parts, in his own Dominions. He durst not deny so plain Matter of Fact; Which being granted, the truth of our Saviour's Doctrine and Mission una∣voidably follows; notwithstanding what∣soever Artful Suggestions his Wit could invent, or Malice should offer, to the contrary.

To those who ask, What need was there of a Saviour? What Advantage have we by Jesus Christ? Mr. LOCK replies,* 1.10 It is e∣nough to justifie the fitness of any thing to be done, by resolving it in∣to the Wisdom of God? who has done it; Whereof our narrow Understandings,

and short Views may utterly incapa∣citate us to judge. We know little of this Visible, and nothing at all of the State of that Intellectual World (wherein, are infinite numbers and de∣grees of Spirits out of the reach of our ken or guess,) and therefore know not what Transactions there were be∣tween God and our Saviour, in refe∣rence to his Kingdom. We know not what need there was to set up a Head and a Chieftain, in opposition to THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD, THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, &c. whereof there are more than obscure intimations in Scripture. And we shall take too much upon us, if we shall call God's Wisdom or Provi∣dence to Account, and pertly condemn for needless, all that our weak, and perhaps biassed UNDERSTANDING, cannot account for. And then he shews at large the necessity there was of the Gospel-Revelation,* 1.11 to deliver the World from the miserable State of Darkness and

Ignorance that mankind were in, 1. As to the true knowledge of God,* 1.12 2. As to the Worship to be paid him, 3. As to the duties to be perform'd to him.* 1.13 To which he adds the mighty Aids and Encouragements to the per∣formance of our duty,* 1.14 1. From the Assurance the Gospel gives of future Rewards and Punishments; and 2,* 1.15 From the Promise of the Spirit of God to direct and assist us.

The Holy SCRIPTURES are every where mentioned by him with the greatest Reverence.* 1.16 He calls them the Holy Books, the Sacred Text, Holy Writ, and Divine Revelation; and exhorts Chri∣stians to betake themselves in earnest to the study of the way to Salvation,* 1.17 in those Holy Wri∣tings, wherein God has reveal'd it from Heaven, and propos'd it to the World; seeking our Religion where we are sure it is in truth to be found, com∣comparing

comparing Spiritual things with Spi∣ritual. And in a Letter written the year before his death, to one who had asked this Question,* 1.18 What is the shortest and surest way, for a young Gentleman to attain to a true knowledge of the Christian Religion, in the full and just extent of it? his answer is, Let him study the Holy Scripture, especially the New Testament. Therein are contain'd the words of Eternal Life. It has God for its Author; Salvation for its End; and Truth, without any mixture of error, for its Matter. A direction, that was copied from his own practice,* 1.19 in the latter part of his Life and after his Retire∣ment from business; when for four∣teen or fifteen years, he applied him∣self especially to the study of the Holy Scriptures, and employed the last years of his Life hardly in any thing else. He was never weary of admiring the great Views of that Sacred Book, and the just relation of all its parts. He

every day made discoveries in it, that gave him fresh cause of Admira∣tion.

Of St. Paul in particular, upon se∣veral of whose Epistles he drew up a most useful Commentary, he says,* 1.20 That he was miraculous∣ly call'd to the Ministry of the Gospel, and declared to be a chosen Ves∣sel; — That he had the whole doctrine of the Gospel from God by immediate Revelation — That for his Informa∣tion in the Christian Knowledge, and the Mysteries and depths of the dispen∣sation of God by Jesus Christ, God him∣self had condescended to be his Instruc∣tor and Teacher — That he had re∣cev'd the light of the Gospel, from the fountain and father of Light himself —and, That an exact observation of his reasonings and inferences, is the only safe guide for the right under∣standing of him, under the spirit of God,* 1.21 that directed these Sacred Writings.

And the death of this great man was agreeable to his life.* 1.22 For we are inform'd by one who was with him when he dy'd, and had lived in the same family for seven years before,* 1.23 That the day before his death he particularly exhorted all about him to read the Holy Scriptures, That he desir'd to be remember'd by them at Evening Prayers, and being told, that if he would, the whole Family should come and pray by him in his Chamber, he answer'd, he should be very glad to have it so, if it would not give too much trou∣ble; That an occasion offering to speak of the Goodness of God, he especially ex∣alted the love which God shewed to man, in justifying him by Faith in Jesus Christ; and return'd God thanks in par∣ticular for having called him to the knowledge of that divine Saviour.

About two months before his death he drew up a Letter to a cer∣tain* 1.24 Gentleman (who afterwards distinguish'd himself by a very

different way of thinking and writing,) and left this direction upon it, To be deliver'd to him after my decease. In it, are these remarkable words, — This Life is a scene of Vanity that soon passes away, and affords no solid Satis∣faction, but in the consciousness of doing well, and in the hopes of another life. This is what I can say upon experience, and what you will find to be true, when you come to make up the account.

Sir ISAAC NEWTON, universally acknowledged to be the ablest Philo∣sopher and Mathematician that this or perhaps any other Nation has produc'd, is also well known to have been a firm Believer, and a Serious Christian. His discoveries concerning the frame and System of the Universe, were apply'd by him, as Mr. Boyle's Enquiries into Nature had been, to demonstrate a∣gainst Atheists of all kinds, the Being of a God, and to illustrate his Power and Wisdom in the Creation of the World. Of which a better account

cannot be given, than in the words of an ingenious Person who has been much conversant in his Philosophical Writings:* 1.25

At the end of his Mathematical Princi∣ples of Natural Philosophy, he has given us his thoughts concerning the Deity. Wherein he first observes, that the similitude found in all parts of the universe, makes it undoubted, that the whole is governed by one supreme Being, to whom the origi∣nal is owing of the frame of nature, which evidently is the effect of choice and design. He then pro∣ceeds briefly to state the best meta∣physical notions concerning God. In short, we cannot conceive either of Space or Time otherwise than as necessarily existing; this Being there∣fore, on whom all others depend, must certainly exist by the same ne∣cessity of nature. Consequently wherever space and time is found, there God must also be. And as it appears impossible to us, that space should be limited, or that time

should have had a beginning, the Deity must be both immense and eternal.

This great Man apply'd himself with the utmost attention to the study of the Holy Scriptures, and consider'd the several parts of them with an un∣common Exactness; particularly, as to the order of Time, and the series of Prophecies and Events relating to the Messiah. Upon which head, he has left behind him an elaborate Dis∣course, to prove that the famous Pro∣phecy of Daniel's Weeks, which has been so industriously perverted by the DEISTS of our times, was an express Prophecy of the coming of the Mes∣siah, and fulfill'd in Jesus Christ.

Mr. ADDISON, so deservedly cele∣brated for an uncommon accuracy in Thinking and Reasoning, has given abundant proof of his firm belief of Christianity and his Zeal against Infi∣dels of all kinds, in the Writings that are here publish'd; of which it is cer∣tainly

known, that a great part of them were his own Compositions.

I mention not these great Names, nor the Testimonies they have given of their firm belief of the Truth of Christianity, as if the Evidences of our Religion were to be finally resolv'd into human Authority, or try'd in any other way than by the known and establish'd Rules of right Reason; but my design in mentioning them, is

1. To shew the very great Assurance of those who would make the belief of Revelation inconsistent with the due use of our Reason; when they have known so many eminent instances in our own time, of the greatest Masters of Reason not only believing Revela∣tion, but zealously concerned to esta∣blish and propagate the belief of it.

2. The Remembrance of this will al∣so be a means, on one hand, to hinder well-meaning people from being mis∣led by the vain Boasts of our modern Pretenders to Reason; and, on the

other hand, to check the Inclination of the wicked and vicious to be mis∣led; when both of them have before their eyes such fresh and eminent In∣stances of sound Reasoning and a firm Faith, join'd together in one and the same mind.

3. Further, as these were persons generally esteem'd for Virtue and Goodness, and, notwithstanding their high Attainments, remarkable for their Modesty and Humility; their Exam∣ples shew us, that a strong and clear Reason naturally leads to the belief of Revelation, when it is not under the Influences of Vice, or Pride.

4. And, finally, as they are all Lay∣men, there is no room for the Ene∣mies of Reveal'd Religion to alledge, that they were prejudiced by Interest, or secular Considerations of any kind. A suggestion, that has really no weight, when urg'd against the writings of the Clergy in defence of Revelation, since they do not desire to be trusted upon their own Authority, but upon the

Reasons they offer; and Lawyers and Physicians are not less trusted, because they live by their Professions; but it is a suggestion that easily takes hold of weak minds, and especially such as catch at objections, and are willing to be caught by them. And, consider∣ing the Diligence of the Adversary in making Proselytes and drawing Men from the Faith of Christ; equal di∣ligence is requir'd of those who are to maintain that Faith, not only to leave men no real ground, but even no colour or pretence, for their Infide∣lity.

The following Discourses, except that concerning the Evidences of the Christian Religion, were all published in separate Papers some years ago, and afterwards collected into Volumes, with marks of distinction at the end of ma∣ny of them, to point out the Writers, Mr. Addison's are there distinguish'd by some one of the Letters of the word CLIO; and the same marks of distin∣ction are here continued; as are also

the rest, where any Letter was found at the end of the Discourse.

In those Volumes, they stand ac∣cording to the order of time in which they were at first separately publish'd, without any Connexion as to the mat∣ters contain'd in them; but here, the several Discourses on the same Subject, which lie dispers'd in those Papers, are reduced to their proper Heads, and put into one view, that the whole may be more regularly read, and each head may leave a more lasting Impression upon the mind of the Reader.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dr. Burnet.
• * 1.2

  Life, p. 22.
• * 1.3

  Ibid. p. 9.
• * 1.4

  Life, p. 17.
• * 1.5

  Life, p. 36.
• * 1.6

  Life p. 37.
• * 1.7

  Life, p. 37.
• * 1.8

  Reasonable∣ness, &c. p. 256.
• * 1.9

  Ibid. p. 263.
• * 1.10

  Ibid. p. 255.
• * 1.11

  Ibid. 260.
• * 1.12

  257.264
• * 1.13

  282.
• * 1.14

  284.
• * 1.15

  289.
• * 1.16

  Prof. to Comment.
• * 1.17

  Ibid. p. 24.
• * 1.18

  Posth. Works, p. 344.
• * 1.19

  Posth. Works, p. 20.
• * 1.20

  Comment. p. 16.
• * 1.21

  p. 17.
• * 1.22

  Posth. Works, p. 21.
• * 1.23

  Ibid. p. 20, 21.
• * 1.24

  Posth. Wo••ks, p. 328.
• * 1.25

  View of his Philosophy, p. 405.