Page:The spirit of the Hebrew poetry 1861.djvu/17

 cerning the Scriptures, as inspired books, which we have inherited from our remote ancestors. No one, at this time, well knows what it is which he believes, as to this great question; or what it is which he ought to believe concerning those conditions—literary and historical—subject to which the Revelation we accept as from God, and which is attested as such, by miracles, and by the Divine præ-notation of events, has been embodied in the books of the Canon.

There are indeed many who, not only will reject any such intimation of obscurity or doubtfulness on this ground, but who will show a hasty resentment of what they will denounce as an insidious assault upon the faith. The feelings, or say—the prejudices, of persons of this class ought to be respected, and their inconsiderateness should be kindly allowed for; their fears and their jealousies are—for the truth; nor should we impute to good men any but the best motives, even when their want of temper appears to be commensurate with their want of intelligence. But after showing all forbearance toward such worthy persons, there is a higher duty which must not be evaded:—there is a duty to our-