CLAUSES directed by the FOUNDER to be always prefixed

to the HULSEAN DISSERTATION.

CLAUSES from the WILL of the Rev. JOHN HULSE, late of Elworth, in the County of Chester, clerk, deceased: dated the twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven; expressed in the words of the Testator, as he, in order to prevent mistakes, thought proper to draw and write the same himself, and directed that such clauses should every year be printed, to the intent that the several persons, whom it might concern and be of service to, might know that there were such special donations or endowments left for the encouragement of Piety and Learning, in an age so unfortunately addicted to Infidelity and Luxury, and that others might be invited to the like charitable, and, as he humbly hoped, seasonable and useful Benefactions.

He directs that certain rents and profits (now amounting to about a hundred pounds yearly) be paid to such learned and ingenious person, in the University of Cambridge, under the degree of Master of Arts, as shall compose, for that year, the best Dissertation, in the English language, on the Evidences in general, or on the Prophecies or Miracles in particular, or any other particular Argument, whether the same be direct or collateral proofs of the

Χ

Christian Religion, in order to evince its truth and excellence; the subject of which Dissertation shall be given out by the Vice-Chancellor, and the Masters of Trinity and Saint John's, his Trustees, or by some of them, on New Year's Day annually; and that such Dissertation as shall be by them, or any two of them, on Christmas Day annually, the best approved, be also printed, and the expense defrayed out of the Author's income under his Will, and the remainder given to him on Saint John the Evangelist's Day following; and he who shall be so rewarded, shall not be admitted at any future time as a Candidate again in the same way, to the intent that others may be invited and encouraged to write on so sacred and sublime a subject.

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He also desires, that immediately following the last of the clauses relating to the prize Dissertation, this invocation may be added: May the Divine Blessing for ever go along with all my benefactions; and may the Greatest and the Best of Beings, by his all-wise Providence and gracious influence, make the same effectual to His own glory, and the good of my fellow-creatures!"

Subject proposed by the TRUSTEES for the Year 1849. "The Influence of the Hebrew and Christian Revelations on Ancient Heathen Writers."

THE

INFLUENCE OF THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN REVELATIONS ON PAGAN WRITERS.

THE

INTRODUCTION.

HE sacred Scriptures claim to be the authoritative instructors of mankind on a class of subjects not within the reach of unaided human reason. And it is a question of importance and deep interest, in what degree it can be shewn, that they have imparted the light of religious truth to those nations of mankind who have been in possession of it.

Although the proof of the divine authority of the Sacred Writings rests mainly on that of their historic truth, apologists have always felt the importance to this argument of being able to shew, that they had actually been to mankind the instructors which they claim to be; and from the time of Josephus till the eighteenth century of the Christian era it had been confidently asserted, and maintained, by what were regarded as the clearest proofs, that heathen philosophy derived all its religious light from the Holy Scriptures,

T. H. E.

B