II。OfSacredHistoryWhatmemorialsthereforeremaintogiveuslightintotheoriginalsofancientnations，andthehistoryofthoseages，wecommonlycallthefirstages？TheBible，itwillbesaid；thatis，thehistoricalpartofitintheOldTestament。But，mylord，eventhesedivinebooksmustbereputedinsufficienttothepurpose，byeverycandidandimpartialmanwhoconsiderseithertheirauthorityashistories，orthemattertheycontain。Forwhatarethey？andhowcometheytous？AtthetimewhenAlexandercarriedhisarmsintoAsia，apeopleofSyria，tillthenunknown，becameknowntotheGreeks：thispeoplehadbeenslavestotheEgyptians，Assyrians，Medes，andPersians，astheseveralempiresprevailed：tenpartsintwelveofthemhadbeentransplantedbyancientconquerors，andmelteddownandlostintheeast，severalagesbeforetheestablishmentoftheempirethatAlexanderdestroyed：theothertwopartshadbeencarriedcaptivetoBabylonalittlebeforethesameera。
Thiscaptivitywasnotindeedperpetual，liketheother；butitlastedsolong，andsuchcircumstances，whatevertheywere，accompaniedit，thatthecaptivesforgottheircountry，andeventheirlanguage，theHebrewdialectatleastandcharacter：andafewofthemonlycouldbewroughtupon，bythezealofsomeparticularmen，toreturnhome，whentheindulgenceofthePersianmonarchsgavethemleavetorebuildtheircityandtorepeopletheirancientpatrimony。Eventhisremnantofthenationdidnotcontinuelongentire。Anothergreattransmigrationfollowed；andtheJews，thatsettledundertheprotectionofthePtolemys，forgottheirlanguageinEgypt，astheforefathersoftheseJewshadforgottheirsinChaldea。MoreattachedhowevertotheirreligioninEgypt，forreasonseasytobededucedfromthenewinstitutionsthatprevailedafterthecaptivityamongthem，thantheirancestorshadbeeninChaldea，aversionoftheirsacredwritingswasmadeintoGreekatAlexandria，notlongafterthecanonofthesescriptureshadbeenfinishedatJerusalem；formanyyearscouldnotintervenebetweenthedeathofSimontheJust，bywhomthiscanonwasfinished，ifhediedduringthereignofPtolemySoter，andthebeginningofthisfamoustranslationunderPtolemyPhiladelphus。TheHellenistJewsreportedasmanymarvellousthingstoauthorise，andeventosanctifythistranslation，astheotherJewshadreportedaboutEsdraswhobegan，andSimontheJustwhofinished，thecanonoftheirscriptures。Theseholyromancesslidintotradition，andtraditionbecamehistory：thefathersofourChristianchurchdidnotdisdaintoemploythem。St。Jerome，forinstance，laughedatthestoryoftheseventy-twoelders，whosetranslationswerefoundtobe，uponcomparison，wordforwordthesame，thoughmadeseparately，andbymenwhohadnocommunicationwithoneanother。ButthesameSt。Jerome，inthesameplace，quotesAristeas，oneoftheguardofPtolemyPhiladelphus，asarealpersonage。
TheaccountpretendedtobewrittenbythisAristeas，ofallthatpassedrelatingtothetranslation，wasenoughforhispurpose。Thisheretained，andherejectedonlythemoreimprobablecircumstances，whichhadbeenaddedtothetale，andwhichlaiditopentomostsuspicion。Inthisheshowedgreatprudence；andbetterjudgment，thanthatzealous，butweakapologistJustin，whobelievedthewholestoryhimself，andendeavoredtoimposeitonmankind。
Thusyousee，mylord，thatwhenweconsiderthesebooksbarelyashistories，deliveredtousonthefaithofasuperstitiouspeople，amongwhomthecustomandartofpiouslyingprevailedremarkably，wemaybeallowedtodoubtwhethergreatercreditistobegiventowhattheytellusconcerningtheoriginal，compiledintheirowncountryandasitwereoutofthesightoftherestoftheworld；thanweknow，withsuchacertaintyasnoscholarpresumestodeny，thatweoughttogivetowhattheytellusconcerningthecopy？
TheHellenistJewswereextremelypleased，nodoubt，tohavetheirscripturesinalanguagetheyunderstood，andthatmightspreadthefameoftheirantiquity，anddohonortotheirnation，amongtheirmasterstheGreeks。Butyetwedonotfindthattheauthorityofthesebooksprevailed，orthateventheyweremuchknownamongthepaganworld。Thereasonofthiscannotbe，thattheGreeksadmirednothingthatwasnotoftheirowngrowth，“suatantummirantur“：for，onthecontrary，theywereinquisitiveandcredulousinthehighestdegree，andtheycollectedandpublishedatleastasmanyidletraditionsofothernations，astheypropagatedoftheirown。JosephuspretendedthatTheopompus，adiscipleofIsocratesbeingabouttoinsertinhishistorysomethingshehadtakenoutofholywrit，thepoormanbecametroubledinmindforseveraldays：andthathavingprayedtoGod，duringanintermissionofhisillness，torevealtohimthecauseofit，helearnedinhissleepthatthisattemptwasthecause；uponwhichhequittedthedesignandwascured。IfJosephushadbeenalittlemoreconsistentthanheisveryoften，suchastoryasthiswouldnothavebeentoldbyone，whowasfond，asJewsandChristiansingeneralhavebeen，tocreateanopinionthattheGentilestooknottheirhistoryalone，buttheirphilosophyandalltheirvaluableknowledge，fromtheJews。Notwithstandingthisstory，therefore，whichistoldinthefifteenthbookoftheJewishantiquities，andmeansnothing，ormeanstoshowthatthedivineprovidencewouldnotsufferanecdotesofsacredtobemingledwithprofanehistory；thepracticeofJosephushimself，andofallthosewhohavehadthesamedesigninview，hasbeentoconfirmtheformerbythelatter，andatanyratetosupposeanappearanceatleastofconformitybetweenthem。WearetoldHecateusAbderita，forthereweretwoofthatname，wroteahistoryfavorabletotheJews：and，nottomultiplyinstances，thoughImighteasilydoit，evenAlexanderPolyhistoriscalledin。HeisquotedbyJosephus，andpraisedbyEusebiusasamanofpartsandgreatvarietyoflearning。Histestimony，aboutthedelugeandtowerofBabel，isproducedbySt。CyrilinhisfirstbookagainstJulian：andJustintheapologistandmartyr，inhisexhortationtotheGreeks，makesuseofthesameauthority，amongthosethatmentionMosesasaleaderandprinceoftheJews。ThoughthisPolyhistor，ifIrememberrightwhatIthinkIhavemetwithinSuidas，spokeonlyofawomanhecalledMoso，“cujusscriptumestlexHebraeorum。“HadtheGreekhistoriansbeenconformabletothesacred，Icannotseethattheirauthority，whichwasnotcotemporary，wouldhavebeenofanyweight。TheymighthavecopiedMoses，andsotheydidCtesias。
Buteventhiswasnotthecase：whateveruseaparticularwriterhereandtheremightmakeoccasionallyofthescriptures，certainitisthattheJewscontinuedtobeasmuchdespised，andtheirhistorytobeasgenerallyneglected，nayalmostasgenerallyunknown，foralongtimeatleastaftertheversionwasmadeatAlexandria，astheyhadbeenbefore。Apion，anEgyptian，amanofmucherudition，appearedintheworldsomecenturiesafterwards。Hewrote，amongotherantiquities，thoseofhisowncountry：andashewasobligedtospeakveryoftenoftheJews，hespokeoftheminamannerneithermuchtotheirhonor，nortothatoftheirhistories。Hewrotepurposelyagainstthem：andJosephusattemptedafterwards，butApionwasthendead，torefutehim。Apionpassed，Iknow，foravainandnoisypedant；buthepassedlikewiseforacurious，alaborious，andalearnedantiquary。Ifhewascabalistical，orsuperstitious，Josephuswasatleastasmuchsoashe：andifheflatteredCaligula，JosephusintroducedhimselftothecourtofNeroandthefavorofPoppaea，bynoveryhonorablemeans，undertheprotectionofAliturusaplayer，andaJew；tosaynothingofhisapplyingtoVespasianthepropheciesconcerningtheMessiah，norofhisaccompanyingTitustothesiegeofJerusalem。
Inshort，mylord，theJewishhistoryneverobtainedanycreditintheworld，tillChristianitywasestablished。Thefoundationsofthissystembeinglaidpartlyinthesehistories，andinthepropheciesjoinedtothemorinsertedinthem，Christianityhasreflectedbackuponthemanauthoritywhichtheyhadnotbefore，andthisauthorityhasprevailedwhereverChristianityhasspread。BothJewsandChristiansholdthesamebooksingreatveneration，whilsteachcondemnstheotherfornotunderstanding，orforabusingthem。
ButIapprehendthatthezealofbothhasdonemuchhurt，byendeavoringtoextendtheirauthoritymuchfartherthanisnecessaryforthesupportperhapsofJudaism，buttobesureofChristianity。Iexplainmyself，thatImayoffendnopiousear。
Simon，intheprefaceofhiscriticalhistoryoftheOldTestament，citesadivineofthefacultyofParis，whoheldthattheinspirationsoftheauthorsofthosebooks，whichthechurchreceivesasthewordofGod，shouldbeextendednofartherthantomatterspurelyofdoctrine，ortosuchashaveanearandnecessaryrelationtothese；andthatwhenevertheseauthorswroteonothersubjects，suchasEgyptian，Assyrian，orotherhistory，theyhadnomoreofthedivineassistancethananyotherpersonsofpiety。Thisnotionofinspirationsthatcameoccasionally，thatilluminatedthemindsandguidedthehandsofthesacredpenmenwhiletheywerewritingonepage，andrestrainedtheirinfluencewhilethesameauthorswerewritinganother，maybecavilledagainst：andwhatistherethatmaynot？Butsurelyitdeservestobetreatedwithrespect，sinceittendstoestablishadistinctionbetweenthelegal，doctrinal，orpropheticalpartsoftheBible，andthehistorical：withoutwhichdistinctionitisimpossibletoestablishthefirst，asevidentlyandsolidlyastheinterestsofreligionrequire：atleastitappearsimpossibletome，afterhavingexaminedandconsidered，aswellasIamable，allthetrialsofthiskindthathavebeenmadebysubtileaswellaslearnedmen。
TheOldissaidtobethefoundationoftheNew，andsoitisinonesense：
thesystemofreligioncontainedinthelatter，referstothesystemofreligioncontainedintheformer，andsupposesthetruthofit。ButtheauthorityonwhichwereceivethebooksoftheNewTestament，issofarfrombeingfoundedontheauthorityoftheOldTestament，thatitisquiteindependentonit；theNewbeingproved，givesauthoritytotheOld，butborrowsnonefromit；andgivesthisauthoritytotheparticularpartsonly。Christcametofulfiltheprophecies；butnottoconsecrateallthewritten，anymorethantheoral，traditionsoftheJews。WemustbelievethesetraditionsasfarastheyrelatetoChristianity，asfarasChristianityreferstothem，orsupposesthemnecessary；butwecanbeundernoobligationtobelievethemanyfarther，sincewithoutChristianityweshouldbeundernoobligationtobelievethematall。
IthathbeensaidbyAbbadie，andothers，“ThattheaccidentswhichhavehappenedtoalterthetextsoftheBible，andtodisfigure，ifImaysayso，theScripturesinmanyrespects，couldnothavebeenpreventedwithoutaperpetualstandingmiracle，andthataperpetualstandingmiracleisnotintheorderofProvidence。“NowIcanbynomeanssubscribetothisopinion。Itseemsevidenttomyreasonthattheverycontrarymustbetrue；
ifwesupposethatGodactstowardsmenaccordingtothemoralfitnessofthings：andifwesupposethatheactsarbitrarily，wecanformnoopinionatall。Ithinkthattheseaccidentswouldnothavehappened，orthattheScriptureswouldhavebeenpreservedentirelyintheirgenuinepuritynotwithstandingtheseaccidents，iftheyhadbeenentirelydictatedbytheHolyGhost：andtheproofofthisprobableproposition，accordingtoourclearestandmostdistinctideasofwisdomandmoralfitness，isobviousandeasy。ButtheseScripturesarenotsocomedowntous：theyarecomedownbrokenandconfused，fullofadditions，interpolations，andtranspositions，madeweneitherknowwhen，norbywhom；andsuch，inshort，asneverappearedonthefaceofanyotherbook，onwhoseauthoritymenhaveagreedtorely。
Thisbeingso，mylord，whathypothesisshallwefollow？ShallweadheretosomesuchdistinctionasIhavementioned？Shallwesay，forinstance，thattheScriptureswerewrittenoriginallybytheauthorstowhomtheyarevulgarlyascribed，butthattheseauthorswrotenothingbyinspiration，exceptthelegal，thedoctrinal，andthepropheticalparts，andthatineveryotherrespecttheirauthorityispurelyhuman，andthereforefallible？Orshallwesaythatthesehistoriesarenothingmorethancompilationsofoldtraditions，andabridgmentsofoldrecords，madeinlatertimes，astheyappeartoeveryonewhoreadsthemwithoutprepossession，andwithattention？Shallweadd，thatwhicheveroftheseprobabilitiesbetrue，wemaybelieve，consistentlywitheither，notwithstandingthedecisionofanydivines，whoknownomorethanyouorI，oranyotherman，oftheorderofProvidence，thatallthosepartsandpassagesoftheOldTestament，whichcontainprophecies，ormattersoflawordoctrine，andwhichwerefromthefirstofsuchimportanceinthedesignsofProvidencetoallfuturegenerations，andeventothewholeraceofmankind，havebeenfromthefirstthepeculiarcareofProvidence？Shallweinsistthatsuchparticularpartsandpassages，whichareplainlymarkedoutandsufficientlyconfirmedbythesystemoftheChristianrevelation，andbythecompletionoftheprophecies，havebeenpreservedfromcorruptionbywaysimpenetrabletous，amidstallthechangesandchancestowhichthebookswhereintheyarerecordedhavebeenexposed；andthatneitheroriginalwriters，norlatercompilers，havebeensufferedtomakeanyessentialalterations，suchaswouldhavefalsifiedthelawofGodandtheprinciplesoftheJewishandChristianreligions，inanyofthesedivinefundamentaltruths？Uponsuchhypotheses，wemayassertwithoutscruple，thatthegenealogiesandhistoriesoftheOldTestamentareinnorespectsufficientfoundationsforachronologyfromthebeginningoftime，norforuniversalhistory。Butthenthesamehypotheseswillsecuretheinfallibilityofscriptureauthorityasfarasreligionisconcerned。Faithandreasonmaybereconciledalittlebetterthantheycommonlyare。ImaydenythattheOldTestamentistransmittedtousunderalltheconditionsofanauthentichistory，andyetbeatlibertytomaintainthatthepassagesinitwhichestablishoriginalsin，whichseemfavorabletothedoctrineoftheTrinity，whichforetellthecomingoftheMessiah，andallothersofsimilarkind，arecomedowntousastheywereoriginallydictatedbytheHolyGhost。