CHAPTER XXX.
religion.
"Before thy holy altar, sacred Truth,
I bow in manhood, as I knelt in youth;
There let me bend till this frail form decay,
And my last accents hail thine opening day."
I bow in manhood, as I knelt in youth;
There let me bend till this frail form decay,
And my last accents hail thine opening day."
The à priori proof of the existence of a Deity—Proof from Revelation—Dr. Johnson's definition of Inspiration—Various Meanings assigned to the word 'Revelation'—Illustration of transmitted Testimony—The third source of proof of the existence of a Deity—By an examination of His Works—Effect of hearing the Athanasian Creed read for the first time.
There are three sources from which it is stated that man can arrive at the knowledge of the existence of a Deity.
1. The à priori or metaphysical proof. Such is that of Dr. Samuel Clarke.
2. From Revelation.
3. From the examination of the works of the Creator.
1. The first of these, the à priori proof, is of such a nature that it can only be apprehended in a high state of civilization, and then only by the most intellectual. Even amongst that very limited class it does not, as an argument, command universal assent.
2. The argument deduced from revelation is advanced in many countries and for several different forms of faith.
