that Christianity is false, and asks us to reject it, he is bound of course to provide us with something better and truer instead; under penalty of being cons'dercd a knave trying to swindle us out of our birthright, and laughed at as a fool, for imagining that he could persuade mankind to live and die without religion. Supposo he had proved to the world's satisfaction that all Teligion is a hoax, and all men professing it are liars, how does that comfort me in my hour of sorrow? Scoffing will not sustain a man in his solitude, when ho has nobody to scoff" at; and disbelief is only a bottomless tub, which will not float me across the dark river. If Infidels intend to convert the world, they must give ua some positive system of truth which we can believe, and von crate, and trust. A glimmering idea of this necessity seems lately to...'...and quoted the authors. Where no such quotations are noticed it will be understood that I am responsible for the fairness with which I have represented the opinions which are examined. It is not my design to fight men of straw.Every historical or scientific fact adduced in support of the arguments here used is confirmed by reference to the proper authority. But it has not been deemed needful to crowd the pages with references to the works of Christian apologists. The Christian scholar does not need such references; while to those for whose benefit I write, their names carry no authority, and their arguments are generally quite unknown. One great object of my labor will be gained if I shall succeed in awaking the spirit of inquiry among my readers, to such an extent as to load them to a prayerful and patient perusal of several of the works named on the next page. They have heard only one side of the question, and will be surprised at their own ignorance of m

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