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of casual variety in the reading of the Scriptures, and casual 

 conformity in the opinions of the earlier chronologists, which 

 he afterwards remarks : I feel I cannot too severely repro- 

 bate and condemn this total neglect of sound reasoning and 

 candid investigation, which would so far abandon the prin- 

 ciples of equitable dissent and justifiable scepticism, or so far 

 surrender the dictates of reason to the suggestions of system ; 

 direct evidence to positional argument; sensible proofs to pre- 

 conceived principles; the recorded opinions of the learned, to 

 the prejudices of individual persuasion, as to deliver the re- 

 sult of an inductional conclusion for the statement of an ad- 

 mitted truth; as to propose the correction of every known 

 version of Scripture, on the grounds of a few futile and incon- 

 sequent deviations, the weakness of the evidence for which, 

 we shall soon expose and demonstrate ; and to add the au- 

 thority of a name, not unknown or unrespected, to a charge 

 of interpolation in the sacred writings, which, if true, could 

 only serve to alarm the fears of the timid and the unlearned, 

 who would not stop to examine into the evidence of a state- 

 ment, delivered with so little hesitation, and recommended by 

 so many titles to credibility and belief; or to enhance the 

 triumph of the infidel, who will not fail to aggrandize with 

 this concession, his catalogue of pious frauds, interpolated pas- 

 sages, important variations, and inconsistent testimonies; but 

 if, as I hope to establish it is false and unfounded, what shall 

 be said of the logical accuracy and ingenious reasoning of 



the 



