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volume more full treatment - the discussion of such textual questions as fell within its
scope, being, however, chiefly thrown into the footnotes. Many questions, indeed, on
which I could have earnestly wished to enter, lay quite outside the purport of the
present series, and had therefore reluctantly to be left aside. These concern chiefly the
antiquity and the authenticity of these books of Holy Scripture. I venture to think, that
a great deal yet remains to be said on these points - the chief defect of former treatises
lying, in my opinion, in this, that they rather busy themselves with refuting the
arguments of opponents, than bring forward what I would call the positive evidence.
That such positive evidence abundantly exists, a somewhat careful study has
increasingly convinced me. I am not ashamed to own my belief that, notwithstanding
confident assertions of writers on the opposite side, we may trustfully and
contentedly walk in "the old paths;" and the present volume is intended as a reverent
contribution, however inadequate, towards the better understanding of what, I verily
believe, "holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Spirit," and that, "for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
Alfred Edersheim
Loders Vicarage, Bridport
February 23, 1877
(^)