(1.) Its vitality in the past; very remarkable.
(2.) Its effect at the present; very beneficial.
(3.) Its prospects in the future; very hopeful.
(4.) The spread of Rationalism; but this is no new difficulty, while it shows the strength of Christianity, and being only destructive, can never take its place.
(C.) Conclusion.
The history of Christianity, which seems to have been foreknown to its Founder, forms another strong argument in its favour.
The argument we have next to consider is that derived from the History of Christianity. This religion, it must be remembered, originated, spread over, and finally conquered the civilised world in an historical age. And since the fact of this conquest can neither be disputed nor ignored, it must be accounted for. How is it that an obscure Jewish Peasant, who was crucified as a malefactor, some nineteen centuries ago, should now be worshipped, by over five hundred million persons, including all the most civilised nations of the world? As a mere historical problem, this requires some solution, for an effect in history, as elsewhere, must have an adequate cause. And it is scarcely too much to say that this is the most remarkable effect in the history of mankind. Here, then, is the subject we have to discuss; and we will first consider the early triumphs of Christianity, and then its later history.
(A.) Its Early Triumphs.
Now it seems hard to exaggerate either the immense difficulties the religion had to overcome, or its marvellous success in overcoming them.