A TEACHER: A STUDENT OF LAW, AND TUTOR. 79 



first objects of my attention. I am the more induced to 

 make this examination, as some of the doctrines contained 

 in the New Testament are apparently so contradictory to 

 each other, and so subversive of the conclusions drawn by 

 human reason, concerning the justice of the Deity in his 

 government of the world, and in the dispensation of future 

 rewards and punishments, that I expect to found my belief 

 of these doctrines solely upon the external evidence that 

 they came from God. If I find sufficient evidence that 

 Jesus Christ so appeared, so lived, so taught, so died, and 

 so ascended into heaven, as in the Bible he is represented 

 to have done, to command my belief, then I must of con- 

 sequence believe the doctrines which he taught. I am 

 at present reading Bossuet's "Universal History," which 

 throws much light upon this subject by showing the con- 

 nection of sacred and profane history 



Three years after he writes in a similar strain. 



TO MR. G. S. SILLIMAN. 



NEW HAVEN, Aug. 22, 1800. 



I AM gratified with the seriousness which often 



marks your letters, and which was particularly conspicuous 

 in your last. It is indeed true that we must soon leave 

 " this vale of tears," and pass through the " dark valley of 

 the shadow of death " into that unknown world from which 

 there is no return. The thought strikes me, I must con- 

 fess, with terror, but still I am conscious that no object in 

 this world is capable of satisfying the desires of an immor- 

 tal mind. I am engaged in a serious examination of the 

 evidences of the Christian religion. What I have already 

 perused would have staggered my mind had I been an 

 infidel. I devote my Sabbaths to the pursuit, and mean to 

 continue it until ! am able " to give a reason of the hope 

 that is in me." The solicitude of our excellent mother is 

 so great respecting us both upon this subject, that I should 



