History of the transmission of ancient books to modern times - together with the process of historical proof; or, a concise account of the means by which genuineness of ancient literature generally, and the authenticity of historical works especially are ascertained including incidental remarks upon the relative strength of the evidence usually adduced in behalf of the Holy Scriptures

Two books which appeared more than thirty years ago, and which have been long out of print, are brought into one in this volume. The second of themthe Process of Historical Proof, was, in fact, a sequel to the firstthe History of the Transmission of Ancient Books to Modern Times. In now reprinting the two, as one, it has not been difficult to give continuity to the whole: this has been effected, partly by removing from each volume portions which seemed to be of secondary importance, and to be not closely related to the principal intention of the work; and partly by introducing several entire chapters of new material; and by the insertion of additional paragraphs throughout. What is new in this volume occurs chiefly in the mid portions of it, and at the end. In the course of this thirty years, the labours of critics, combined with the researches of learned travellers,[Pg iv] have thrown much light upon all parts of the subject which is compendiously treated in this volume. No reader who is fully informed in this department will need to be told that, within the limits of a volume such as this, nothing more than the most concise mention of these recent labours and researches could be attempted: they are referred to only in the way of suggestion and of sample. At the first, the two books above mentioned were intended to find a place in a course of general educational reading; and it is only as coming within the range of a purpose such as this, that the Reprint is now offered to the public. In excluding from the Reprint some chapters of the two volumes which related expressly to the Biblical argument, or Christian Evidences, I have been influenced by several reasonssuch as these: The first of them is this, that what may be regarded as the religious aspect of the general subject has no direct claim to be included in the treatment of it. In the next place, I have believedand think so decisivelythat, for the very purpose of bringing the Biblical argument home, with the greatest force, to the convictions of intelligent young persons, the subject should be fully understood in its broadest aspect. When it is thus[Pg v] presented, and when it is thus understood, well-informed and ingenuous persons will see and feel, irresistibly, that, as compared with any other mass of facts belonging to literary antiquarianism, and to historic evidence, the Biblical evidence is many times more ample, and various, and is more unquestionably certain, than even the best and the surest of those masses of facts. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 67778
Author: Taylor, Isaac
Release Date: Apr 5, 2022
Format: eBook
Language: English
Publisher: Jackson and Walford
Publication Date: 1859
Publisher Country: United Kingdom