situation we can never believe, that they would have attempted to deceive the world, or if they had, that they would have succeeded. Yet they did succeed, in a most surprising manner. Their story, therefore, must have been true; and consequently, the dispensation of the Cross, founded upon that story, divine. This conclusion is greatly strengthened by what has occurred, in various ways, subsequently to the first publication of it.

Let us, therefore, gratefully acknowledge the goodness of God, in having favoured us with so excellent a Revelation, and confirmed it by such irresistible testimony; and pitying those who, with abundant opportunities of investigating that testimony, continue in their infidelity, let us remember how incumbent it is upon ourselves to adopt an opposite line of conduct. Let it be deeply impressed upon our minds, that this Gospel was not introduced with such awful sanctions, prophecies so solemn, and miracles so magnificent, to be rejected and dishonoured at pleasure; but that, as it shall determine, we shall all, from the greatest to the least of us, be happy or miserable for ever. And let it be our constant care, while we defend it with our tongues, to adorn it by our examples; in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation shining as lights in the world, and so holding forth the word of life. *

* Phil. ii. 15, 16.

F

IV.

AN

APOLOGY FOR THE BIBLE;

ABRIDGED FROM

BISHOP WATSON'S ANSWER

TO THE

SECOND PARt of paine's age of reason.

"Let all the nations be gathered together, and all the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth."-Isai. xliii. 9.

I

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE

OF

THOMAS PAINE.

AMONG the individuals actively employed in stemming the tide of blasphemy and impiety, is one who has spent a long life in such exertions. The subjoined statement is said, I know not however upon what authority, to be the production of her pen.

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF
MR THOMAS PAINE.

"The life of this unhappy man affords a striking example of the effect of such principles as he professed, upon the moral conduct. He began his career in life with defrauding a public office in London, in which he had been employed, and from which he was consequently obliged to fly.

"It is no less a fact, that his next employer was under the necessity of dismissing him from his house, for loose and immoral conduct with his wife. After his escape from France, he took up his residence in America, where he is thus described by Mrs Dean, with whom he lodged: "He never failed to get drunk daily; and, even in his sober moments, constantly disturbed the peace, and destroyed the comfort of the family, by his brutal violence and detestable filthiness. On leaving her, he engaged