That this little work will be full of many, many imperfections, the writer presumes not to doubt; but in so good cause, he does not anticipate to be severely visited for what he has done his utmost, though surrounded by the most unceasing and wearying calls of an entirely different nature, to prepare with diligence and solicitude. If it has been painful for him to force his mind into trains of reminiscence, which, if he had consulted his own happiness solely, he would willingly have forgone; he consoles himself with the reflection, that the pain is over when he sends this humble endeavour to the world; and imperfect, though it be, ventures to anticipate that it may possibly bring conviction and increased enjoyment to some of the most interesting of his fellow creatures.

He lays claim to no originality whatever. He is aware that this species of composition is the humblest of its kind. He has freely used every author of every complexion who seemed

likely to advance his purpose. He only wishes that he could have gained access to

the works of numerous others, which it has been impossible for him to see. Under this privation, however, he is consoled by reflecting, that it is more in the appendages than in the main body of his work, that any prejudice is, on this account, likely to be felt. Should a subsequent edition ever be demanded, he will endeavour, profiting by the animadversions of his friends (and enemies, if he can have any such, in an undertaking of this sort), to render his lists more extensive, and the whole more worthy.

He is not aware that there is any work of a precisely similar character. Admirable as many of those treatises, most commonly recommended for the perusal of the philosophical inquirer into the truth of Revelation, confessedly are in themselves; he has remarked, that they, almost universally, set out from a point too much in advance of a man hedged in by a thousand popular difficulties, and a general state of uncertainty as to the nature and fairness of that kind of Proof upon which assent is demanded. It is, as is already observed,

the peculiar object of this treatise, to alleviate these difficulties, and prepare the candid inquirer for a consideration of the positive evidence which is adduced, by the best writers, on the history and doctrines of Christianity.

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Indisputably," writes the late hapless, but interesting Byron, a year or two only before he was withdrawn from among us, "indisputably the firm believers in the gospel have a great advantage over all others: for this simple reason, that if true, they will have their reward hereafter; and if there be no hereafter, they can be but with the infidel in his eternal sleep, having had the assistance of an exalted hope through life, without subsequent disappointment, since (as the worst, for them) out of nothing, nothing can arise, — not even sorrow."*

This "great advantage over all others," which poor Byron speaks of here, it is the humble desire of the author to be made the instrument of helping to confer on many. To

* See letter, given at length, Appendix, ii.

increase the fund of human happiness has been his sanguine wish; and even though he may have greatly failed in the attainment of his whole object, he yet hopes to have rendered some service, however insignificant; at all events, to have furnished some useful and available materials for others, more capable, but not more sincere well-wishers than himself, to the intellectual and moral and spiritual good of his fellow creatures.