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PREFACE.

THE following pages are a compilation from manuscript observations, which the author has been in the habit of making, for some years, on the various works it has been his lot to meet with. It never appeared to him a legitimate expenditure of time, that so many writers in the learned languages should be perused, merely for the purpose of admiring or imitating their elegance of style, their originality of thought, or the glowing splendor of their genius. Both at home and abroad, therefore, he has aimed at connecting a nobler object with the study of the classics: and availing himself of the useful labours of

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Gale, Owen, Godwyn, Vossius, Stillingfleet, Bochart, and Bryant, he conceived that considerable and important evidence might be extracted from profane antiquity, in favour of Divine Revelation. It is true, perhaps, that no such testimony is needed, as the holy scriptures contain abundant internal evidence of their genuineness and authenticity. Yet the employment may not be deemed unuseful, which contributes something, in however humble a manner, to the augmentation of the already innumerable proofs, that the bible is the book of God, bearing on every page the stamp of inspiration.

Should the present design prove an acceptable one, another volume, on some future occasion, may be added, respecting the history given by Moses (not particularly of the deluge, as that has been so ably exhausted, but) of the various circumstances subsequent to the diluvian period. This will account for the following introductory observations taking rather a wider range, than merely the present subject would have rendered

necessary.

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Since the completion of this treatise, Mr. Faber's three quarto volumes on the Origin of Pagan Idolatry, have been put into the hands of the author; who was agreeably surprised at finding several of the sentiments in that erudite work, corresponding with his own. Yet, considering all the circumstances, he does not conceive the present undertaking to be superseded by the superior merits of that noble, and laborious, but unfortunately less accessible publication.

Some of the principles laid down in the course of the ensuing dissertation, may possibly appear too often repeated. The writer has doubtless done much for which an apology is necessary; but he ventures to conclude his preface, with a passage from that prefixed to the Hierozoicon by its incomparably ingenious author, whom he has sometimes attempted (magno intervallo) to follow through the fields of learning; stylum quod attinet, nemo a nobis expectet mellitos verborum globulos, et dicta quasi sesamo et papavere

sparsa;

Ornari res ipsa negat, contenta docere,

ERRATA.

Page 26, line from the top 4, for tower, read lower.

Page 154,

ditto

1, Atafantu, read Atalanta

I

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