THIS book is not written primarily for professional students, whether theological or scientific, though it is hoped that even readers of this class may find it not altogether uninteresting or unworthy of their notice. It is written expressly for that section of our intelligent Church members and adherents whose minds have been brought into contact with the religious doubts and difficulties of the age, and have in some measure felt them; and not less for those who, as Christian teachers and counsellors, are called on from time to time to deal with such doubts and difficulties as they arise in the minds of others.

The special design of the book has to a great degree determined its character. It is not meant to be a 'System of Christian Evidences;' for, as a rule, such treatises, from their very nature, are far too minute and full for the readers in view. Its purpose is rather to take up some of those points which are not only fundamental, but at the same time well fitted to meet the

wants of the day, and which are easily grasped by an intelligent mind. I need scarcely say that the object specially aimed at accounts for the greater fulness of statement and use of colour and illustration than might in other circumstances have seemed necessary. It further explains why the different studies, even at the risk of a little repetition, have been made as self-contained as possible, in order that they may admit of being read independently of each other.

The particular position taken up in the book is to be carefully noted. It starts from Theism, or the belief in a personal God, as its accepted basis. Its design is to aid in removing obstacles out of the way, and in conducting the earnest reader from the position of Theism into the central truths of the Christian religion, and a reasonable faith therein. It will be understood that it lies quite beyond its sphere to attempt any full and systematic statement of the different doctrines of Christianity.

In a department which has been so long and so fully investigated by able thinkers, but little that is new can be expected. I have, of course, gone over the whole field in my own way; at the same time, it has been part of my deliberate purpose to make a free use of available material, and so to work it up as to meet present needs and forms of thought. Accordingly much that I have attempted to say has been well said by others

previously; but wherever there is conscious indebtedness calling for notice, it is acknowledged. Wherever a quotation is of any length, or of special importance for the argument, the reference is carefully given. Wherever it has been deemed desirable to illustrate a point at length by quotations, this has been done in the Appendix.

In issuing a SECOND EDITION I have availed myself of the opportunity presented of submitting the whole work to a careful revision. While the curtailments have been few and unimportant, I have added a new study— the sixth-entitled, 'Some Recent Reverses of Negative Criticism,' and have also inserted several fresh paragraphs in the body of the work as well as in the Appendix.

MORNINGSIDE, Edinburgh,

September 1889.