acquired an extensive circulation.
was composed upon principles, which, in the humble opinion of the present writer, are directly subversive of the authority of revelation, and are calculated to lead the superficial and unwary, more especially, to the worst extreme of infidelity. It is to be regretted that the work alluded to, abounding as it does with passages of great power and brilliancy, and indicative as it is of the knowledge, the industry, and the genius of its author, should contain opinions, and communicate representations, of the most erroneous character and pernicious tendency; while some of the most important facts and considerations connected with the History of the Jews, are either only incidentally mentioned, or are kept completely out of sight. The writer of the following pages trusts, that whatever may be the imperfections of his work, he will not be found chargeable with such errors or deficiencies, and that he will not at any rate deserve to be numbered among "those, who whether from an indiscriminate desire to adapt their work to the public taste, from the vain pursuit of some favourite theory, or from mere prejudice and misapprehension, disguise the genuine features and native dignity of Scripture history, and throw a veil of confusion and doubt over the sacred truths of revelation, may be tampering with the faith of thousands, and incurring a responsibility which it is fearful to contemplate."*
The reader will perceive by referring to the tenth and eleventh chapters of this work, that no detailed
• Jewish History Vindicated by Godfrey Fausset, D.D. p. 43.