ed and elaborate books have been written ;-so many eloquent and powerful sermons have been preached, and published; and so many able, convincing, and irresistible arguments have been urged in defence of Christianity, that it cannot be expected that the author of these Lectures has found out any thing very original, either in argument or illustration. If, however, there is not much that is properly original, there will be found, notwithstanding, a very considerable variety. The reader will sometimes find himself with Moses on the Mount; then with Joshua in the camp of Israel; with David, singing to his harp; with the Prophets, rapt in vision; and with the Apostles and their blessed Master, in the valley of humiliation. Anon he will find himself in company with some of the ablest advocates of Christianity and sound theology, that the world has produced, which may, it is hoped, cause him to wish for farther acquaintance with those great and venerable authors. Happy will the writer be, if he shall be the humble instrument of leading any of his younger brethren in the ministry to the more diligent study of these deeply interesting subjects, or a Sabbath school teacher, or member of a Bible class, to the perusal of those invaluable works so often referred to in these pages. ** * The subscribers to this work will perceive an omission of two or three subjects named in the prospectus, in place of which they will find several others brought forward, equally important, and, it is hoped, far more interesting. Hartford, Nov. 20, 1835. G. COLES. LECTURES, &c. INTRODUCTORY LECTURE, Containing a brief view of the present state of the world, the claims of Christianity, Missionary operations, character and efforts of Infidelity, &c. AT the present moment, there is, in the very heart of the Christian world, a principle directly subversive of the faith once delivered to the saints, the hope of the gospel, and that charity which is the bond of perfectness. It claims to be the friend of man, but it is, in truth, his greatest enemy. It offers to guide the wanderer through the wilderness of this world, and over the stormy ocean of life, but it only bewilders and misleads in the one case, and diverts and draws aside from the proper course in the other. Its watchword is, " Beware of superstition and priestcraft, and the union of church and state." Its motto is, "Reason, Equality, and Liberty." Its boast is, "Superior intelligence, and common sense;" and its continual cry is, "Down with religion and fanaticism." Its proper name is INFIDELITY. It is the first born of Apollyon, and is the determined enemy of God, of man, and of all right eousness. In direct opposition to this, there is another principle, which, like its author, came down from heaven, and "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." Between these two principles there is an avowed hostility, and so far as human agency is concerned, it remains for Christians to say which shall prevail. That victory will be eventually proclaimed on the side of Immanuel, admits of no question; "For he must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet ;" but that Christians are justifiable in remaining at ease in Zion, while the whole world lieth in wickedness-standing all the day idle, while so many are destroyed for lack of knowledge, admits of a doubt. The superior excellency of Christianity above every other form of religion, is admitted by all who have examined, with an eye of candor, the comparative claims of each. As a light to guide our feet into the way of peace, its claims are pre-eminent. As a balm to heal the wounded conscience, it stands unrivalled. As offering the only foundation on which it is safe to build our hopes in life and in death, it has proved itself all-sufficient, and in the case of those who have long been the victims of contending claims, and to those who have turned away from every other help and have fled to lay hold on the hope it sets before them, it has proved itself a refuge in time of trouble. As a system of doctrines, it is sublime and pure, worthy the character of God and the |