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Preface.

The following paper,^* as expressed in the title-page, is an extract from Leslie's work, named "A Short and Easy Method with the Deists," a copy of which I have had in my possession for many years, without ever having had my attention especially directed to it, or knowing much of its value. This I now regret, because in it I find an unanswerable argument to all that a Deist might urge against scripture, and so, perhaps, may have lost some opportunities of meeting the cavils of such. I now publish this extract (having ventured, here and there, to correct it in places where I thought it needed correction), with the hope of helping God's people in meeting the attacks of the enemy, page iv whether it be from Satan, seeking to inject infidel thoughts into their minds, or from man, casting contempt on God's word; and in so doing, I hesitate not to say that our author has supplied us with an argument quite sufficient for this—an argument so simple, and yet so profound, that no Deist could possibly meet it; treat it with scorn he might, but answer it he never could do. And as to the believer, he will rejoice in finding that the external proofs of revelation are not so abstruse and intricate as he may have imagined.

True it is, his style, we must reluctantly admit, is by no means without its defects; especially at the outset, before he fairly gets into his subject, it being, we think, both verbose and involved. This however is as nothing, when weighed in the balances, compared with the truth which he has so clearly defined and illustrated.

I now proceed, anticipating our author a little, to state what his argument is; it is this—that the truth of a matter of fact may be certainly known if it be attended with certain marks, such as no false fact can possibly have. These marks page v are four. It is required, first, that the fact be a sensible fact, such as men's outward senses can judge of.—Secondly, that it be notorious, performed publicly in the presence of witnesses.—Thirdly that there be memorials kept up in memory of it,—Fourthly, that such monuments and actions begin with the fact.

Thus our author in substance begins, and then proceeds to show how these four marks all concur, both in the Old Testament and in the New, in reference to Moses also and to Christ. And so effectually has he succeeded, that Middleton, an infidel writer of that day, feeling how necessary it was to his purpose that he should rid himself of the argument, sought for some false fact to which the four marks might apply, and this he did for twenty years, without any success.

Then, as to the origin of the work, the reader will like to know what it was; it was this—the Duke of Leeds of that day, with whom Mr. Leslie was acquainted, observed to him, in the course of conversation, that, although he was a believer in the doctrine of Christ, he was not satisfied with the common method of proving it, that the argument was long and complicated, page vi so that some had neither leisure nor patience to follow it, and others were not able to comprehend it; that, as it was the nature of all truth to be plain and simple, if Christianity were a truth there must be some short way of showing it to be so, and he wished Mr. Leslie would turn his attention to the subject. Such a hint to such a man produced, in the space of three days, a rough draft of the "Short and Easy Method with the Deists," which he presented to the Duke, who, on looking it over, told him that he thought he was a Christian before, but that now he was sure of it; and so grateful to him did he feel for thus enlightening his mind as to the external evidences of the word, that he never afterwards met Mr. Leslie without asking his blessing. This interesting anecdote came from Captain Leslie, a son of the author, and we venture to say, that everyone who carefully and prayerfully studies his book, will agree with the Duke in feeling grateful to him for supplying him with arguments so simple and clear, and, at the same time, so pointed and cogent, on a subject which is often made so perplexing and difficult.

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And now let me say a word in conclusion; it is this—that in introducing my name at the foot of this Preface, which, as I already have shown, only in part is my own, in connection with a work with which I am in no way connected, saving that of esteeming it highly, my object is not notoriety. I do it with no wish to put myself forward, and only because I seek in this way to bring it under the especial notice of my friends and acquaintances, earnestly commending it to them, and both desiring and praying that it may prove as interesting and as useful to them as it has done to myself.