ferent periods." He has not however applied this principle to any examination of the work at large.

If there were cause to suppose that the book is now in its original order, I should certainly have deemed it beyond the province of criticism to reason upon the transitions which might occur in it, or to seek to amend the connexion of the several parts, by conjecture.

But having been convinced that the fact is otherwise, by finding in the Apocryphal "testaments of the twelve Patriarchs," portions of the book which were quoted as early as the second century, but which are not now to be found in it, I have thought myself justified in assuming, that as the book has already undergone alteration, the connexion of its various parts, and the difference of the subjects which are treated of, may rightly be taken as guides in an attempt to restore at least some part of the original order.

Since the application of this principle has, as I imagine, shewn that the degree of authority due to one part differs widely from that which can be given to others; I have endeavoured to ex

hibit in a connected form that part which I judge to be the ancient book quoted by St. Jude: merely taking such notice of the more modern and rejected parts as may be sufficient to shew that they are not to be thrown aside as additions casually made to the more ancient work, but that they belong to books composed on other subjects, and that they may be so arranged as to form among themselves connected and consistent writings.

As to the probability that this book is not in all parts of equal authority, it is remarkable, that the shrewd Grotius formed this opinion, from the sight of those few fragments, which were known in the form of quotations, before the entire book was discovered.

"Credo initio, librum fuisse exiguum, sed cum tempore, quemque ea quæ voluit ei addidisse, ut in libris illis abstrusioribus factum est sæpe.

Bearing in mind that the Archbishop of Cashel has already proved the priority of this book to the Gospels, as far as such proof can be obtained

* Gr. Ad. Epist. Judæ.

from internal evidence; I have endeavoured to select some of those passages of the Scripture which appear most remarkably to agree with expressions found in this work also: and I have arranged them in such a manner that reference may be easily made to their context.

In the following observations I shall first endeavour to state the general arguments which may be applicable to the question of the preservation of ancient prophecies, unnoticed in the Scriptures. I shall also enquire into the internal evidence which is attainable for the purpose of fixing the country, the time, and language, of the most ancient part; as well as determining the probable period subsequent to which it could not have been written, supposing that it were altogether apocryphal.

I shall endeavour to make use of such scattered arguments as may seem to bear upon the question of its authenticity, and shall afterwards give the reasons which have induced me to prefer the present arrangement of the book, as being an approximation to its original form.

But I must first remark that I have no design

of entering upon this question, as imagining it capable of accurate solution.

As I shall offer no opinion as to the degree of authority which this book ought to possess, so I shall content myself with criticism which being professedly conjectural, can go no farther than to combine such probabilities as may afford at least, some foundation of belief, although positive proofs be unattainable.

If, however, it should be found that there are circumstances from which we may conclude that this book was but little known to the Jews subsequent to the captivity, and that the evidence as to their general knowledge of it before that period, is rather adverse than favourable to such a supposition; much of the apocryphal character arising from its total absence from the Canon of Scripture will be taken away. And thus in the present instance we shall perhaps be justified in giving more weight to internal evidence in favor of the antiquity of some portion of the book, than would be otherwise allowable.

The comparison of particulars derivable from internal evidence being, in this case, the chief

source from whence an approximation to truth may be obtained; the coincidence of several indications, which singly are of little value, may sometimes be preferable to a more direct but solitary evidence.

With regard also to any passages connected with the ideas of Geography or Astronomy, observable in these writings; conjectures which are founded on comparison or analogy may be admissible, where they appear to tend towards a common conclusion.

In considering the question whether this book may probably contain a record of the earliest patriarchal traditions, our first enquiry will be, as to the possibility that such traditions, if reduced to writing, could in any case be handed down to an age so late as that of the Apostles, without becoming part of the Jewish canon.

On this subject I must refer the reader to the authority of a writer equally distinguished for extent of acquirements, and acuteness of intellect.

The learned Bishop Horsley, when speaking of the Sybilline books, observes, "The prophecies "that were current in the gentile world in later