ON THE ATHEISTIC CONTROVERSY; DELIVERED IN THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1834, AT SION CHAPEL, BRADFORD, YORKSHIRE. FORMING THE FIRST PART OF A COURSE OF LECTURES ON INFIDELITY. Bunlarnin BY THE REV. B. GODWIN : "Having no hope, and without God, in the world." FIRST AMERICAN, FROM THE LONDON EDITION. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY HILLIARD, GRAY & CO. 1835. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1835, By WILLIAM S. ANDREWS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. TO THE CHURCH AND CONGREGATION ASSEMBLING IN SION CHAPEL, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, THESE LECTURES, WHICH ARE PUBLISHED AT THEIR ESPECIAL REQUEST, ARE WITH AFFECTIONATE REGARD INSCRIBED, BY THEIR SINCERE FRIEND AND DEVOTED PASTOR, B. GODWIN. PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. IN presenting to the American people a republication of this work, I consider myself as performing one of the most agreeable acts of my life, and one which I trust will be productive of the most beneficial influence upon the religion and welfare of the community. The publication with me was entirely accidental. I saw a copy of it in the Boston Atheneum, presented by Dr. Sharp, who had received it from one of his friends in England, a member of Dr. Godwin's society. Struck by the title, I was induced to read it, and was so higly gratified by the masterly ability with which the author has handled the subject, that I immediately applied to Dr. Sharp for his consent to a republication of it here, who very politely furnished me with a copy for this purpose ;-and also expressed his very high opinion of its merits, and his strong desire for its republication. At the present time, when such systematic and strenuous efforts are made, as well in this country as in Europe, to unsettle the public mind upon the great and fundamental doctrines of religion, and produce a state of the most thorough and cheerless scepticism in their place, it seems to me the appearance of such a work is extremely |