A conference with a theist part I / by William Nicholls.

THE CONTENTS of the First Part OF THE CONFERENCE.

• RUdeness and Danger of Atheistical Discourse. p. 6.
• Religion, tho' Erroneous, not to be scoffed at. 11.
• Particulars of the whole Conference. 13.
• Ground of Deism. 16.

Of the Eternity of the World.

• Occellus Lucanus not so old as Moses. 19.
• Answer to Ocellus's Arguments. 23.
• The Creation of the World not like ordinary Product. 32.
• The Dissolution not Piece-meal, but Instantaneous. 33.
• The Ridiculousness of making the World God. 38.
• God does not change himself by new Exhibitions, but his Creatures by new Productions. 39.
• The Change of the Deity not Voluntary. 40.
• Nor Necessary. 42.
• Such a Changeableness, contrary to the Attributes of God. 44.
• No constat of Sphericalness of the Universe. 48.
• That no Argument of a perpetual Motion. 49.
• Motion of Bodies, in Contigguity with Bodies not infinite. 50.
• Sphericalness does not infer infinity of Duration. 52.
• Arguments against the Eternity of the World. 53.
• Argument the First, from the Nature of Petrification. 54.
• Argument the Second from the sinking of Hills. 58.
• No new Hills raised which are considerable. 62.
• ...

• Physico. Theol. Discourses concerning the Chaos, &c, 63.
• Argument Third, from the Increase of Mankind. 66.
• The World never depopulated by Plagues. 70.
• Remarks upon the most remarkable Pestilences. 71.
• Essay of the Multiplication of Mankind. 73.
• The probable Number of Men in the World. 75.
• The World Increased more formerly than now, 77.
• This proved by Scripture and Reason. 79.
• Argument Fourth, from History, and the late Invention of Arts. 80.
• Mo considerable Arts lost and revived again. 85.
• Mankind could not, as the Theists pretend, have been with∣out Writing from all Eternity. 87.
• The Progress in the Art of Writing, and the no extraordi∣nary Difficulty in that Invention. 88.
• Excessive Computations, no Argument of the Eternity of the World. 94.

Of the Mosaical Account of the Creation.

• Answer to the Argument, from the late Communication of the Divine Goodness. 98.
• The Fixed Stars, probably, no part of the Mosaick Crea∣tion. 99.
• Genesis 3.16. Explained. 100.
• Objection against this Interpretation answered. 105.
• This Interpretation not prejudicial to Religion. 107.
• Light before the Sun, is the clearing up of the Chaos. 108.
• Waters above the Firmament; the Waters of the Pla∣nets. 114.
• The Seas easily formed in one Day. 117.
• Trees and Plants might easily grow before the Sun was made. 119.
• How the Planets are said to be made the Fourth Day. 123.
• Why Moses relates the distinct formation of the Earth a∣lone. 126.
• This Relation agrees with the aforesaid Hypothesis. 129.
• God acted by other Methods in the Creation than now. 135.
• He then took an immediate care of the Species. 137.
• Americans of the same Stock with the rest of the World. 139.
• How Inhabitants got into America, 140.
• How the Blacks might descend from a White Parentage. 143.
• ...

• This Blackness caused by the heat of the Sun. 145.
• By the Curse of Cham. 147.
• No Absurdity that Eve should be made of a Rib. 167.
• No Race of Men before Adam. 172.
• The Argument for the Praeadamites answered. 173.
• No confused Huddle in the Relation of the Sixth Day's Work. 181.
• The Fall of Man, not the first day of his Creation. 182.
• The Ridiculousness of other Nations Accounts of the Creati∣on, compared with the Mosaical. 187.
• The Aegyptian and Graecian. 187.
• The Mahometan. 188.
• The American. 189.

Of the Fall of Mankind.

• The Wickedness and Folly of drolling upon Scripture. 192.
• Not unreasonable that the Devil should tempt Mankind in the form of a Serpent. 196.
• The Devil much pleased with Serpent Worship. 199.
• This Serpent not the common viperous kind. 201
• God not oblig'd to keep Man from Sinning by an irresista∣ble Power. 204.
• This would have destroyed Freewill. 206.
• Man had sufficient Assistance. 208.
• This Miscarriage was repaired by God's Mercy afterwards. 209.
• The Relation of two Trees not ridiculous. 211.
• Difficulties about the Rivers of Eden removed. 215.
• Moses did not give Account of the Rivers to find out Para∣dice by. 217.
• The Reasonableness of the Probative Precept. 219.
• The prohibition of an Apple, more proper than any thing else. 220.
• The Transgression of our First Parents, no trifling Offence. 225.
• The Difficulties of Original Sin removed. 229.
• The Cursing the Ground, no Reflection upon the Deity. 235.
• Nor the Curse of the Serpent. 237.
• The meaning of Their Eyes were opened. 239.
• No Absurdity in the Relation of the Fig Leaves and the Skins. 244.
• The Difficulties of the Cherubims, and the Flaming Sword re∣moved. 245.
• ...

• The History of the Fallnot Allegorical. 250.
• Such a Supposition would destroy all History. 250.
• Moses a plain Writer. 252.
• Had no design, like the Heathen Philosophers, to serve by an Allegory. 253.
• Nor the same design with Allegorical Fathers. 254.
• Moses gives the best Account of the depravation of Man's Will. 256.
• The Miscarriages of the Philosophers in this. 256.
• His Account the best of the Pudor circa Res Veneris. 261.
• Of the pain of Child Birth- 262.
• Of the Barrenness of the Earth. 263.

THE CONTENTS of the Second Part OF THE CONFERENCE.

• PArticulars of the Conference. p. 4.

Of Natural Religion.

• The unreasonableness of villifying the Clergy. 7.
• The People partook of the Antient Sacrifices. 14.
• Natural Religion not the Tendencies of Nature. 18.
• Priests in all places of the World, and in all Ages. 21.
• The Advantage of a Ministry. 23.
• Pure Natural Religion no where practised. 25.
• What is called Natural Religion, was at first revealed. 32.
• Riddles not the corruption of Natural Religion. 38.
• Heathen Polytheism not the diverse Exhibitions of Provi∣dence, 41.
• ...

• Caused by the Darkness of the Post-diluvian Ages. 45.
• by deifying of Princes. 46.
• by the Worship of the Sun, Moon and Stârs. 49.
• by Deifying Words. 51.
• Morality of the Philosophers grounded upon Pride. 54.
• The Antient Philosophers mistaken in the nature of God. 56.
• Erroneous in their Moral Doctrines. 58,
• Their Lives Vitious. 61.
• The Lives of the Common Pagans highly vitious. 64.
• They and the Philosophers wanted a true end of their Acti∣ons. 65.
• The Lives of Christians better than the Pagans, in many particulars. 67.
• Idolatry. 68.
• Magick. 68.
• Augury. 69.
• Human Sacrifices. 69.
• Lewd Worships. 69.
• Ʋnlawful Marriages. 70.
• Cruelty. 70.
• Self Murther. 71.
• Common Swearing. 71.
• Exposing Children. 72.
• Ʋnjust Wars. 72.
• Luxurious Living. 73.
• Enormous Lusts. 74.
• No Devout Worship. 74.
• God more severe to Modern Theists, than Antient Hea∣thens. 78.
• Heathens do not go to Heaven. 79.
• What other Provision God may make for them. 80.
• Not Indifferent to be of any Religion. 84.
• 'Tis Hypocrisie. 85.
• Sometimes Idolatry. 85.
• Morality not the same in all Religions. 86.
• Not always to be of the Religion of our Country. 87.
• Sin outwardly, to comply with a false Religion. 88.
• No Folly to suffer for Religion. 89.
• K. of Siam's Argument answer'd. 90,

Of Revealed Religion, and the Doctrine of the Mediator.

• No Revelation to the Gentiles, for their Religions. 97.
• Because Idolatrous. 98.
• Immoral. 99.
• Melchisedech. 99.
• This agreable to God's usual Providence. 113.
• No Injustice in God. 113.
• Other Instances of Providence as unaccountable. 114.
• Jews not such ill People as pretended. 117.
• Justin, &c. considered. 119.
• Natural Knowledge not Revelation. 128.
• Prophets not only extraordinary Men. 131.
• Spirit of God in Scripture signifies Revelation. 135.
• That Prophesy does not consist in Imagination. 143.
• Prophets had the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost. 150.
• Prophecy not inconsistent with Wisdom. 153.
• Prophecies not variable, according to the Prophets Passions. 154.
• Passions not the cause of Prophecy. 155.
• Vain Opinions not mixed with Prophecy. 157.
• More in Prophecy, than Fancy and Well meaning. 159.
• First Notion of Miracles not from the Jews. 164.
• No Immutable Chain of Nature. 165.
• God's Providence better than Fatality. 167.
• God a wise Governour without Fatal Laws. 169.
• Miracles not Occurrences, which the Vulgar do not under∣stand. 169.
• Miracles do not make Men doubt of a God. 171.
• False Miracles, no Argument against True ones. 173.
• Instances of the Jews, and Solomon considered. 175.
• Miracles not naturally come to pass. 178.
• Difficulties of the Deluge accounted for. 186.
• Remarks on the late Theorys, &c. 187.
• Tradition in all Nations of a Deluge. 198.
• That the Deluge was possible. 203.
• The Israelites did not pass round the Head of the Sinus. 229.
• The Waters did not stand erect. 230.
• Not beat back by a Natural Wind. 232.
• Alexander's passing the Pamphylian Streights not parallel, 233.
• The Aegyptian Tradition groundless. 234.
• ...

• The Jewish the best of all Political Laws. p. 239.
• The Extraordinary Mercifulness of them. 240.
• The great Wisdom of them. 242.
• Objections against particular Laws answered. 244.
• Jewish Rites not derived from the Egyptians. 255.
• Circumcision not from the Aegyptians. 257.
• Nor Ʋrim, and Thummim. 259.
• Priests Linnen Garments not from Aegypt. 263.
• Nor the Cherubim. 264.
• Nor the Ark. 268.
• Feasts of the New Moon not Aegyptian. 269.
• Nor Washings. 271.
• Nor the Temple. 272.
• Other Nations have Customs as like the Jewish. 275.
• Jews far from being Anthropomorphites. 280.
• Hebrew Language, as well expresses the Nature of God, as the Scholastical. 282.
• Expiation consistent with the Mercy of God. 292.
• The Origin of Sacrifices from Antient Revelation. 295.
• God's Honour to be considered in the Mediatorship. 300.
• What is meant by Satisfaction. 303.
• A Vicarious punishment not unjust. 306.
• Christ, tho' God, might Suffer. 307.
• No Incongruity in the Doctrine of Christ's Intercession. 309.

THE CONTENTS. of the Third Part. OF THE CONFERENCE.

Of the Predictions concerning Christ.

• THE Objections answered, of Prophecies not to the pur∣pose. p. 10.
• ...

• Texts quoted by way of accommodation. p. 10.
• Texts quoted in Mystical Sense. 14.
• Types and Allegories vindicated. 20.
• Gen. 3.15. A Prophecy of Christ. 27.
• Scepter of Judah. Gen. 44.10. Prophecy of Christ. 36.
• How the Fathers interpreted this Prophecy. 45.
• Balaams Star, Numb. 24.17. a Prophecy of Christ. 49.
• A Virgin shall conceive, Isa. 7.14. Prophecy of Christ. 53.
• The Jewish way of Exposit. a confirmation of Christianity. 63.
• The Prophetick Excursions Explained. 69.
• 2 Psalm, a Prophecy of Christ. 71.
• 62 Psalm, a Prophecy of Christ. 76.
• Prophecy of the Call of the Gentiles, verified in Christ. 83.
• Call of the Gentiles, no random Guess of the Prophets. 89.
• Glory of the Second Temple, Hag. 2.7. a Prophecy of Christ. 90.
• 52 & 53 cap. Isa. Prophecy of Christ. 96.
• The Monarchies and Weeks in Daniel, Prophecy of Christ. 100.
• Micha 5.2. Prophecy of Christ. 115.
• Reason why Prophecies are something obscure. 119.

Of the Life and Actions of Christ, as they are Re∣corded in Scripture.

• The Birth of Christ Vindicated. 124.
• The Blasphemy of Celsus and Julian confuted. 127.
• Christ more glorious and great, than Romulus, Numa, &c 132.
• The Vindication of Christ's Anger, Christ a pattern of the greatest Patience. 136.
• Our Saviour's Discourse, agreeable to the Eastern way of Reasoning. 143.
• By making use of the Greek Philosophy and Eloquence, he would not have been understood by the People. 145.
• He avoided by this Prolixity. 146.
• Christ does not speak Parables in his Laws, nor generally, Parables difficult. 448.
• Christ's riding on an Ass, not ridiculous. 150.
• This a Token of his Humility, and the nature of his King∣dom. 150.
• To shew him to be a King, as well as a Prophet. 152.
• Jews Interpret this Prophecy of the Messias. 153.
• Christ no Impostor, but a good Man. 155.
• Because his Miracles were done so often, and before so ma∣ny. 157.
• ...

• His Miracles not capable of Collusion. 158.
• He was no Cheat, because he could get nothing by it. 159.
• Because of the great Penalty on Impostors 162.
• Such Numbers could not conceal a Cheat. 163.
• Christ's Miracles owned by his Enemies. 165.
• The Reason why Christ did so few Miracles in his own Coun∣try. 167.
• Christ Preached the Gospel to the Poor, not to deceive such people, but because they were better qualified to receive the Gospel than the Rich. 170.
• The Ignorant better qualified for this than the Learned. 170.
• This Choice made the Progress of the Gospel more miracu∣lous. 171.
• Why Christ required Faith in his Disciples. 173.
• Mean Men as good Judges of Miracles as others. 173.
• Vindication of Christ's Patience. He more couragious and patient than the Heathen Philosophers. 176.
• Reason of our Saviour's praying that the Cup might pass from him. 177.
• Christ's Death no Collusion. 181.
• Instances of Aristeas, &c. compared with Christ's Resurrecti∣on confuted. 182.
• Testimony of Christ's rising from the Dead unexception∣able. 185.
• The Disciples stealing away the Body a foolish Lie. 189.
• Christ's not so generally Conversing with his Disciples after the Resurrection, no Argument against the Truth of it. 193.
• The Comparison of Apollonius with Christ foolish. 199.
• Philostratus set on to forge his History. 202.
• Forged in immitation of Gospel Miracles. 203.
• Apollonius no good Man. 206.
• Apostles more credible than Philostratus, because unlearn∣ed. 207.
• Story of Abaris his Miracles, ridiculous. 208.
• The Apostles not Counterfeits. 209.
• Because good Men. 212.
• Because they knew the Matters they related. ib.
• Because not cunning enough, to carry on such a Cheat. 213.
• Because all witnessed the same. 214.
• Because they could get nothing by it. 215.
• Because the Truth of what they said, easily examined. 216.
• Because they Suffered and Died for their Doctrine. 217.
• ...

• Tis false, that the Apostles ventured nothing by preaching, for they ventured their Lives and Liberties. 221.
• They did not preach for Vain Applause. 222.
• Got nothing by the Collections. 223.
• Persecuted by the Gentiles, as well as Jews. 224.
• Preached against the Heathen Idolatry. 225.
• False Brethren, not Informers. 226.
• What St. Paul said to the Pharises, no prevarication. 226.
• Case of the Apostolick and Popish Miracles different. 228.
• The Doctrine of the Messias before the Captivity. 230.
• Not owing to the Jewish Gematria. 232.
• Notion of a Temporal Messias, did not further the Gos∣pel. 233.
• The Millennium no Apostolick Doctrine. 234.

Of the Doctrines Contained in the Old Testament.

• Prayer of Christians vindicated, because better than the Heathens. 238.
• No Sauciness to pray to God. 239.
• Prayer for Rain, not for a Miracle. 240.
• Christians think not to weary God by Prayer. 242.
• Nor to flatter him by Thanksgiving. 243.
• Mortification vindicated to be a a reasonable Duty. 246.
• Single Marriage vindicated. Polygamy not lawful from the practice of the Antients. 249.
• Or Barbarous. 250.
• More Comfort in Single Marriage. 251.
• Affections of the Married, do not naturally wear off by Age. 253.
• Nor by the speedy decay of Feminine Beauty. 254.
• Ob. against Polygamy, from the slavery of such Wives. 255.
• From the equal Number of Males and Females. 256.
• Humility and Meekness vind. against Spinosa and Match. 263.
• Forgiving Injuries Vindicated. 268.
• Doctrine of Repentance Vindicated. 276.
• And that of Grace. 282.
• Reasonableness of the Institution of the Sacraments. 287.
• Reasonableness of the general Resurrection. 296.
• Of the Doctrine of Wicked Spirits. 302.
• Of Hell, and the Eternity of Hell Torments. 307.
• Of Heaven. 315.

THE CONTENTS of the Fourth Part OF THE CONFERENCE,

Of the Authenticalness of the Books of Scripture.

• MOses allowed to be the Author of the Pontateuch, by all Antiquity. p. 6.
• Father Simons Supposition Examined. 8.
• No setled Scribes, to write Scripture among the Jews. 10.
• Jewish Scripture not wrote on loose Leaves. 11.
• No Compilers to alter original Scripture. 16.
• Esdras could not forge the Scripture. 18.
• Spinosas Arguments, against Moses being the Author of the Pentateuch answered. 23.
• Isaiah the Author of the Book under his Name. 38.
• Samuel Author of Judges, and beginning of Samuel 41.
• The other parts of Samuel, wrote by Nathan and Gad. 43.
• Kings and Chronicles, a compilation after the Captivity. 45.
• Esra wrote the book of that Name. 46.
• Nehemiah Author of that Book. 47.
• The Book of Job vindicated. 49.
• The Psalms. 52.
• Solomon Author of the Proverbs. 54.
• Ecclesiastes. 56.
• Panticles. 57.
• The Authority of the Book of Isaiah. 57.
• Jeremiah. 60.
• Ezekiel. 63.
• Daniel. 65.
• ...

• Twelve Minor Prophets, 66.
• The Absurdity of Spinosas asserting, that all the Books of the Old Testament, were wrote by the same hand. 67.
• The Authority of the Gospel of St. Matthew. 75.
• Of St. Mark. ib.
• Of St. Luke, and the Acts. 76.
• Of St. John. 77.
• Of his three Epistles, and the Book of Revelations. ib.
• The Authority of the Epistles of St. Paul. 78.
• Of the Epistle of St. James. 79.
• Of those of St. Peter ib.
• Of the Epistle of St. Jude. ib.
• The Authority of the Scriptural Books, more indubitable than others. 81.
• Hereticks, not accepting them, no Argum. against them. 84.
• Old Testament, not more inspired than the New. 88.
• Apostles not doubting in their Doctrine. 90.
• Want of exactness in the Greek, no Argument against the Apostles Inspiration. 92.
• Nor their Reasoning. 93.
• Nor that St. Paul uses Intreaties. 96.
• Preaching of the Apostles, not after human Art. 96.
• Different Methods of the Apostles, not the cause of Here∣sies. 98.
• Seeming Contradictions, no Objection against their Inspi∣ration. 99.
• Nor want of Exactness, in Time or Number. 100.
• Nor St. Paul thinking he had the Spirit of God. 101.
• Different Explications, no argum. against Inspiration. 103.
• Inspiration of Scripture, proved from Reason. 105.
• As much need of Inspirat. in Writing, as in Preach. ib.
• The Apostolick Honour, a Proof of their Inspiration. 106.
• Because Inspirat. the best way to preserve Christianity. 108.
• Proof of Inspiration from Scripture. 109.
• From Antient Authority. 112.
• How far the Scriptures were Inspired. 114.
• The Apostles generally make use of their own Words and Reason. 115.
• Chief of the Sense of Scripture Inspired. 117.
• Sometimes the Words. 119.

Of the Style of Scripture.

• Charge of want of Eloquence, answered, because Eloquence in Scripture needless. 122.
• Greek and Latin Authors, nor the Standard of Eloquence. 126.
• The Scriptures avoid the Vices in Eloquence, which the Greek and Latin Authors are subject to. 130.
• Seeming uncuothness in Scripture Style, from the literal Translation. 134.
• Scriptures truly Eloquent. 139. Because the Subject veri∣similar. 140. The Arguments conclusive. 141. They move the Passions. 143. and because their Eloquence suited to the Capacities they speak to. 145.
• Scriptures not void of Rhetorical Figures. 146. Anaphora. 147. Anadiplosis 148. Climax. ib. Auxesis. 149. An∣tithesis. 150. Exclamation. ib. Hypotyposis. 151.
• They have sometimes more sublimity than the Heathen Writers. 153.
• Charge of want of Method in Scripture, refuted; because Method and Art invented by the Heathens. 159.
• Method useless. 160.
• Neglect of Method more answerable to Inspiration. 161.
• Method not wholly wanting in Scripture. 163.
• Particular Reasons of the want of Method. 165.
• Charge of Obscurity upon Scripture, refuted; Because Histo∣ry and practical Duties plain in Scripture. 169.
• Some sublime things in Scripture cannot be plain. 171.
• Obscure Pas••ages may be hereafter plain. 172.
• Obscurity arises from want of Exactness in Jewish Language and Customs. 173.
• Reasonableness of some places being obscure. 176.
• Imputation of Trivialness and Impertinence unjust, because the meanest parts of Scripture, is necessary to the perfecti- of the whole. 179. Family Affairs of the Patriarchs. 180.
• The Scripture Writers do not pretend to the Heathen exact∣ness of Style. 181.
• Exact writing of History, a Heathen Art. 182.
• What may seem Impertinent, is sometimes Typical. 184.
• Sometimes Prophetical. ib. Or brought to confute Here∣sies. 185.
• Charge of Repetition removed because that is owing to the different Authors. 186.
• ...

• Practical Duties ought to be repeated for inculcation. 187.
• Some things diversly urged, to suit with Mens Inclinat. ib.
• Heathen Authors as moch subject to Repetitions. 189.
• The Prophets and Apostles Vind. from this Charge. 191.
• Imputation of the want of Reasoning answered, because Scrip∣tures make use of Rational Argumentation. 194.
• Tho' they have not that need of it as other Books. 196.
• Scriptures vindicated from Contradiction, because no Contra∣diction in a material point. 199.
• Some slight Contradictions proof of the Genuiness. 200.
• All seeming Contradictions satisfactorily solved. 201.
• There could not but be such seeming Contradictions, arising from antient Customs. 202. Hebrew Tongue ib. Chrono∣logy. 203.
• Pretended Contradictions about the time of Christ's Resur∣rection solved. ib.
• That about hearing the Voice in St. Pauls Conversion. 204.
• That about the time of the Israelites stay in Aegypt. 205.
• Scripture has more Difficulties than other Books, from the strangeness of the Language and Matter, &c. 211.
• From the Multitude of Interpreters. 212.
• From the design of wicked Men to oppose it. 213.
• Unbelievers would like Scripture Style better, if they would forbear drolling upon it. 214.
• If they would study it in the Orig. Languages. 216.
• If they would lead a good Life. 217.

Of the Truth and Excellency of the Christian Re∣ligion.

• Arg. 1. Drawn from the foolish Scheme of Infidel Principles, their groundless Objections against Christianity. 233. and silly system of Moral Principles. 235.
• Arg. 2. Drawn from the Harmony of the parts of Christi∣anity. 238.
• Arg. 3. From the great progress of Christianity in the World. 236. Growth of Christianity against Wit and Learning. 240. Secular Power. ib. Prejudice. 241. Persecution. 242. notwithstanding the meanness of the Propagators. 243. Progress of Mahometanism no pa∣rallel. 244. Nor that of Quakerism. 245.
• Arg. 4. Drawn from the Prophecies contained in the Old Testament.. 248. Prophecy of the Destruction of Je∣rusalem.

• 249. Increase of Christianity. 254. Of Anti-Christ. 255. Of Christ's Resurrection, and the Com∣forter, 257.
• Arg. 5. From the Miracles which confirmed the Christian Religion. 258. Miracles in our Saviour's, and the A∣postles time, and in the succeeding Ages of the Church. 259.
• Arg. 6. Drawn from the Excell. of the Christian Doctrines. 267. Speculative. 269. Practical. 271. The Mo∣tives to them. 274.
• Arg. 7. Drawn from the comparison of Christianity, with other false Religions. 277. Heathen Religion. ib. Ma∣hometan. 279. Bramins. 280. Traditions of the Tal∣mud. 281. Popish Legends. ib.
• Arg. Drawn from the Influence of the Christian Religion, upon Mens Lives. 283.
• Arg. 9. Drawn from the exact Historical Evidence, and in∣dubitable Testimony, of what the Apostles taught and did. 288.
• Conclusion, Containing an Advice to Philologus, 298.