PREFACE. By way of preface to this Essay the author has only to say that, in the course of a protracted and earnest inquiry, he has not found any one book or teacher to give him a definite and satisfactory explanation of the very important term "Inspiration." There is, in one school of thought, much which has been written ably, undeniably and, no doubt, honestly in opposition to the common idea of Inspiration; and there is, in another school of thought, not a little which has been written truly, ingeniously and piously in support of the common idea: but few, if any, earnest thinkers will call in question the desirableness, not to say the necessity, of some simple and self-consistent treatise which-while, on the one hand, it shall contain a refutation and abandonment of what is untenable in the popular notion and, on the other hand, an assertion and demonstration of the true doctrine of Inspiration-shall at the same time vindicate a high reverence for the just authority of Holy Writ and shall show how this reverence for the sacred volume is to be reconciled both with the articles of existing Creeds and with the startling facts, bearing on Inspiration, which are made apparent by a diligent analysis of Scripture itself. The object of this Essay is thus to be destructive of prevailing errors; to be constructive of a true doctrine of inspiration; to uphold the highest reasonable authority for Holy Writ; and to give ease and security, in Christian faith, to all piously and honestly disposed minds. How far that object has been prosecuted in a becoming manner, or has been effectually attained, it is for the reader to decide: but, whatever may be the public decision on this point, it will ever be a source of happiness to the author to feel that he has given expression to his opinions candidly and, to the best of his power, clearly. EVERTON, LIVERPOOL: March 28, 1856. SEC. 4.-The general danger to faith of such confusion, a motive for the undertaking of this Essay in the interest of SEC. 5.-The author's experience of benefit from the views about SEC. 6. The terms "plenary," " verbal," "mechanical," "dynami- cal," "suggestive," and "superintendent," not em- ployed in these pages as epithets of Inspiration SEC. 7.-The confirming of faith, the removing unbelief, and the SEC. 8.-The arrangement of the work in five Books SEC. 9.-Acknowledged sources whence the materials of this Essay CHAP. I.—The Inspired Book and its supposed infallibility, SEC. 1.-Importance of ascertaining the meaning of Inspiration as a characteristic of Holy Writ SEC. 3.-Definitions of "Inspiration " in the diction- CHAP. II.-Scientific and Historical Errors observable in Holy SEC. 1.-Our investigation will not turn on the SEC. 2. The genealogies of Our Lord A.-Matthew's account of the genealogy of Jesus 27 1. What if errors in transcription be acknow- 39 |