Prophecies in the Book of Daniel. XCI.-QUESTION: "Having just heard a very able discourse on the prophecies of Daniel-the learned divine assuming that the old prophet was inspired of God to reveal the destiny of the human race— I take the liberty of asking for an expression of your opinion in regard to the authenticity of the book." ANSWER: When the pure Hebrew tongue ceased to be vernacular, and the Jews had returned from Babylon, there was immediately formed a sacerdotal organization, and a committee of Rabbis was appointed to collect and preserve all the known Hebrew manuscripts. This was done, and the parchments placed in the Sacrarium. It was not, howover, until many years after the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity and exilement, that most of the books of the Old Testament were heterogeneously bound together. This was, properly speaking, the "Babylonian Canon;" because it was originally made by the Chaldeanic Rabbis. But many years subsequent to this collection there arose some considerable dissatisfaction and discussion among the younger Rabbis concerning the heterogeneousness of the first Canon. Hence, by permission of the sacerdotal authorities they rejected some books, arranged others in a different order, interpolated a few passages, and made another Testament. This is properly termed the "Jerusalem Canon;" because it was made by the Jews of Palestine. During all this time, owing to local oppressions and temporary emergencies-books, by the Jews, containing multifarious speculations and national prophecies, multiplied very rapidly. Parties and preferences became numerous, and began to create dissatisfaction in regard to the last Canon which was formed; and so, apparently to keep up with the demands of the times, another Old Testament was formed-the "Alexandrian Canon"-in Egypt. All these compilations, be it remembered, were different. At this time, the book of Daniel was generally regarded as the creation of an eccentric old Jew, who was talented, and a seceder from the regular priesthood. Hence, that interesting part of the present orthodox Old Testament was not then universally received as containing reliable inspiration, and we do not yet see any very cogent reasons for supposing Daniel a better authority, or a more reliable medium, than many inspired persons of our day who see visions and dream dreams. Jonah's Life in the Whale. XCII. QUESTION: "Will you please give us a little information in regard to Jonah ? It is not our object to reflect in the least on the authority of the record. But the wonder is why the great fish should be rendered Fish' in the Oid Testament and Whale' in the New. It is said in Matthew, that, as Jonah was in the Whale's belly three days and three nights, so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth. Jonah appears to have possessed a large share of human weakness, and much of the spirit which prevails at this day, for he became very angry with the Lord because he would not destroy the great city of Nineveh, wherein were more than six score thousand persons that could not discern between their right hand and their left. If God took such particular care of a rebel like Jonah, is there not hope for the most of sinners like ourselves?" ANSWER: Our questioner is evidently a searcher after traditional history and mythological intelligence. But there is some difficulty in the way of an explanation. If our questioner were a whaler, he would doubtless know all about the swallowing capacities of the whale aforesaid; or, if it had fallen to his lot to officiate as a pulpit commentator, then the problem of fish in the old writings would not becloud his faith in things impossible; but the iron leaf of Fate hath a record of a different kind for our interrogator, and hence the stumbling-blocks in the path of his theological convictions. It is generally known that no whale's throat is large enough to swallow the body of a man. But if the Lord had power to induce the unintelligent whale to swallow the un worthy Jonah, the natural inference is, either that the throat was made larger to receive the man, or the man was made smaller to suit the throat. We are not a "Doctor of Divinity," and cannot, therefore, dissect this patient; but no doubt there are professional gentlemen who will undertake the case, desperate as it may seem to the benighted inhabitants of this rudimental sphere. Many minds may indulge the opinion, however, that the miracle was wrought upon the man. We would style him. an imperfect Missionary, evidently very small, exceedingly reduced and diminutive; was treacherous, unfaithful, peevish, a prosy preacher, uncharitable, and proud. His anger was too hot for the health of the gourd, and his feelings, on being made a false prophet, must have been indescribable. He was ambitious of Leadership, or wanted to be a true prophet of evil. "The irrepressible conflict" in his interior must have been terrific, and we fear the evils thereof have descended to our modern politicians by hereditary transmission. Our interrogator wants to know-considering the spiritual care that was taken of Jonahwhether there is not some hope for the most of sinners like ourselves?" Don't deceive yourself, good reader. Perhaps you are a larger man in every sense than the medium Jonah ! He was exceedingly angular and spiritually undeveloped-went in and out through a small orifice. Perhaps you will require a much larger opening. Our modern politicians might possibly follow in the wake of their "predecessor," and many popular teachers of old theology might go through an aperture not larger than the swallow of Jonah's whale, but all this can give no reliable assurance to our friend and fellow sinner, the questioner. Finally BE A TRUE MAN! There is no other ticket to the goal of Happiness. The story of Jonah's whale is a whaler; it hath a strong fragrance of "fish" about it; and we would urge you never to "swallow a morsel of it; for it can never be digested by the mind that enjoys the teachings of Nature and Reason. Substance of Noah's Ark. XCIII. QUESTION:"Having read the opinions and criticism of the standard writers relative to Noah's ark, but not knowing your opinion on the subject, I venture to solicit from you an expression as to what was the Ark' in which Noah saved two of every kind, &c.?" ANSWER: Our interrogator is secretly wishing to get from us a spiritual significance or interpretation of the flood and the wonderful ark. In order to give such a rendering to the account, we should be obliged to occupy comfortable quarters, and to possess a fine telescope, on the summit of Mount Ararat, which spot, according to most maps and geographies, is inconveniently remote from the familiar desk whereon these sentences are being written. Therefore, we must, for the present, content ourselves with answering in Bible language. (See Gen. vi: 16.) Directions are therein given to the effect that the ark should be built three stories high; which language, if received with considerable dictionary emphasis, would seem to answer the question. Webster, the great lexicographer, in his fifth definition of the word, says: "A trifling tale, a fiction, a fable; as, the story of a fairy. Sometimes, a softer term for a lie." Now there are a long list of atmospherical, geological, historical, and biblical reasons for believing that Webster's definition is not inapplicable to the substance of which the ark was built. If the ark was three stories high, it is but reasonable to conclude that the same materials were used in the length and breadth, altogether constituting the largest story ever bequeathed by early historians to posterity. Adam and Eve in the Garden. XCIV. QUESTION: "Do you not see a spiritual truth in the account of Adam and Eve?" ANSWER: A few great religious authorities delight to revel in the literalness of the Eden-life as depicted by the writers of the Old Testament. That there is a spiritual truth hidden within the external legend, no symbol-reader ever for one moment doubts. But Milton, whose authority for literal truth in religious theories is just as reliable as the opinion of any other person who knows nothing about it, thus pictures the "attractive industry" of the fabled first pair in Eden. Eve, whose heart delights to throb through tender words of love, turns to Adam and says: "Let us divide our labors; thou where choice Leads thee, or where most needs; whether to wind In yonder spring of roses, intermixed With myrtle, find what to redress till noon." There is, as you probably well know, a philosophical side to this oriental conception, which is not called for by your interrogation. Is Inspiration the same as Revelation? XCV.-QUESTION: "Please favor me with your impressions of the following text selected from the third chapter of Timothy, 16th verse: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous ness.""" ANSWER: Our impression is so clear and comprehensive, that, without particularizing, we can impart it in a very few sentences. Inspiration is the inbreathing of that general psychaural influence which rests upon humanity, from celestial worlds in the surrounding immensity. The word "Scripture" signifies something that is written; so that the term |