Che Necessity of a Revelation:

AND

THE CONDITION OF MAN WITHOUT IT.

BY REV. A. B. VAN ZANDT,

PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

ARCHDEACON PALEY, in his "View of the Evidences of Christianity," says, "I deem it unnecessary to prove that mankind stood in need of a revelation, because I have met with no serious person, who thinks that even under the Christian revelation, we have too much light, or any degree of assurance which is superfluous."*

If this view of the subject is correct, it should only be our aim, to establish, from this conceded necessity, the probabilities, or the certainty that a revelation had actually been given to mankind. But if no "serious person" will assert, that man possesses more light than he needs, yet it is notorious, that many do deny the necessity for any supernatural divine communication. Even these, it is true, acknowledge a revelation of some sort, and dignify by that name, their boasted discoveries of truth, from the works of God interpreted by the human reason. This miscalled revelation they hold to be sufficient, and on that ground, reject any other as unnecessary, and therefore improbable. We, on the contrary, by demonstrating the insufficiency of their uncertain and erratic guide, prove the necessity of a supernatural divine communication, and thence, legitimately argue its probability, if not its certainty. The discussion of the former part of this argument, might not fall within the plan of the distinguished Author whom we have quoted. Its omission, however, did not need to be justified by an assumption so unwarranted.

But the argument which Paley pronounces superfluous, Chalmers is disposed to reject as invalid.

"There are some," he says, "who must be satisfied that a revelation is necessary ere they will proceed to inquire whether it is true. There seems to be no logical propriety in this. It presumes a greater acquaintance with the principles and policy of the Divine administration than belongs to us."***"We know vastly to little of that mysterious Being who suffered so many * Paley's Evidences, p. 1.