OF BP. COLENSO'S DIFFICULTIES WITH REGARD TO THE PENTATEUCH; AND SOME REASONS FOR BELIEVING IN ITS AUTHENTICITY AND DIVINE ORIGIN. BY THE REV. ALEXANDER MCCAUL, D.D. PROFESSOR OF HEBREW AND OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS, THIRD LIBRARY EDITION. LONDON: RIVINGTONS, WATERLOO PLACE. PREFACE. HAVING been requested by friends to furnish solutions to Bishop Colenso's difficulties, I hastened, as soon as health and leisure permitted, to examine his controversial statements, and now present the results of the examination. His lordship's preface has been left unnoticed, because the narrative contained in it seems to be beset with difficulties as grave as any which he has found in the Pentateuch. But, after the consideration of his objections to this sacred Book, I have thought it well to add some reasons for believing in its authenticity and Divine origin; and have therefore traced the outline of an argument, which all readers of the English Bible may fill up for themselves; and which may serve generally as an answer to all objections. He who patiently follows the chain of testimony to the existence of the Pentateuch from Malachi to Joshua, will not waver in faith, even though he may not be able to solve all difficulties. He who bows to the witness of Christ and His Spirit in the New Testament, will not be troubled with doubts as to the veracity of the Mosaic narrative. In this second part, the works of Graves, Faber, Jahn, Ewald, Hengstenberg, Hävernick, and I. M. Augustine Scholz, have been freely used. To avoid the frequent repetition of the words "Bishop Colenso," the initial letters D. C. have been employed, B. C. having already a chronological appropriation. |