to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Do not kill, for no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. The law is for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, and for man-slayers. He shall have judgment without mercy, who hath showed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Finally, be of one mind, kindly affectioned one to another in brotherly love." 12. [3.] General licentiousness. "The works of the flesh are manifest; which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. We beseech you to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient. Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor drunkards, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Ye have heard it said by them of olden times, Thou shalt not commit adultery; but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart. The time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries; wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot. Be not ye, therefore, partakers with them; have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. Cast off, therefore, the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light; walk honestly as in the day; not in riot ing and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness. Live no longer in the lusts of the flesh, but to the will of God. Abstain from all appearance of evil; for the grace of God, which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared, teaching us that denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should learn to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit; for as he that has called you is holy, so be ye holy, perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. ""* 13. Such is the morality of Christianity; such the precepts which it offered to the heathen world in exchange for the foul doctrines and practices that have been mentioned. And how perfect is its adaptation in every respect to their situation. Can any one fail to perceive, that many of the exhortations and precepts which have been repeated are aimed at the very foundation of their corruptions and abuses? They strike down alike the philosophy of the learned, and the superstitions of the ignorant; they sweep away together the savage cruelty of law and custom, and the licentiousness and human butchery of idolatry; and open to them a purer and a better way, pouring in upon their darkened minds the light of wisdom, and truth, and virtue. Thus, while its doctrines on the one hand, correct their errors of opinion with regard to Deity and his worship; its precepts on the other, correct their errors in morals and practice. Its entire fitness to the circumstances of the heathen world is, therefore, made manifest beyond all question; and it is believed the veriest sceptic that ever lived, could not have framed a religion more perfectly suited, in every particular, to the condition of Rom. xii. xiii. 1 Cor. iv. vi. *Matt. v. vii. xi. Luke xvii. 2 Cor. vii. Gal. v. Ephesians v. vi. James ii. 1 Peteri. ii. iii. iv. 1 John iji. mankind at the period of the promulgation of Christianity. 14. Since, therefore, there is such an exact adaptation to circumstances, this religion certainly comes to us with a weighty claim upon our favorable attention—yea, this very fact seems a strong presumptive proof of its divine origin. Be this, however, as it may; one thing is nevertheless certain, that whether of God or of man, it was precisely such a religion as the world needed. 15. Once more we note our progress. 1. There is a God. 2. A revelation from him is reasonable and probable. 3. Its necessity proved from the moral and religious condition of the world previous to the coming of Christ. 4. Christianity perfectly adapted to this condition, in doctrine and precept.-Our next step will be to bring forward the direct evidence of the truth of Christianity. CHAPTER V. HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE TRUTH OF THE CHRITIAN HISTORY. SECTION I. WERE THERE CHRISTIANS EIGHTEEN HUNDRED YEARS AGO? 1. THERE is in the world a class of people, or a sect of religionists, known by the name of Christians. They have a rule of faith and practice contained in their sacred books, which commonly pass under the title of the "New Testament." This sect is numerous, having spread itself into every part and portion of the civilized world; and it is signalized for zeal in the diffusion of its doctrines among the nations of the earth. The number at present believing these doctrines, is about two hundred millions, scattered throughout America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. We wish to know when and how Christians began to exist. They affirm that they owe their origin, name, and religion, to one Jesus Christ, who lived eighteen hundred years since, and taught, and wrought miracles in Judea. Our first object then will be to ascertain the truth of this affirmation, to learn whether Christians and Christianity have been in existence eighteen hundred years. 2. 1836-1500. That there are multitudes of Christians in the world at the present day, is a naked fact, which requires no proof. It is an easy matter to trace them back three hundred years, that is to say, to the year 1500 of the present era. In the year 1620, we see the Christian pilgrims landing upon the rock of Plymouth. If from this rock we embark for Europe, we find the Christians disputing with the Moors for the sovereignty of Spain— thence their history leads us up through the league formed in France against the Protestants to 1572. From this we may go back with them through the reigns of Elizabeth and Mary of England-thence to the treaty of Passau for the establishment of Lutheranism, and from this through the Reformation by Luther to the year 1500. 3. 1500-1000. Through the history of Europe, we go with the Christians from this first date to their expulsion from Constantinople by the Turks in 1453. Passing from this to England again, we come to the times of Wickliffe the Reformer, who made no small stir about the year 1377. Through abundant records of the Christians in England, France, Italy, and Germany, we may go up to the taking of Ptolemais by the Turks in 1291, which event ended the dominion of the Christians in that quarter. From this we go back through that series of wonderful events, known all the world over, by the name of Crusades; and here we find all the Christian nations of Europe, engaged in the enterprise of wresting the Holy Land from the hands of the Infidel Turks. It is sufficient for us to say that the last of these expeditions took place in 1248, and the first in 1095. Here then we are left at about the year 1000. 4. 1000-500. The history of the Christians from 1000 backward to 800, is the general and individual history of Europe. At the year 800, the celebrated Charle |