84 THE KEY. J. J. LIAS, M.A., ON THE UNITY OF ISAIAH. 



for my previous silence. I have had the honour of an introduction 

 to Mrs. Jeffreys, whose accurate knowledge of Hebrew is vouched 

 for by authorities so competent as Professor Margoliouth of Oxford 

 and my late valued friend, the Rev. Dr. Sinker, Librarian of Trinity 

 College, Cambridge. I had the opportunity of discovering that 

 Mrs. Jeffreys was as careful and accurate in her knowledge of Xew 

 Testament Greek as of Hebrew. Her book on Isaiah should be in 

 the hands of every one who wishes to do justice to the subject. As 

 is usual with the Germanizing critics, no reply has been made to 

 her arguments. Their own arguments, which largely consist of 

 mere assumptions and assertions, are simply repeated. Such 

 methods are not only unfair to their antagonists, but to the general 

 public ; and especially to the young, who are led to believe that no 

 reply has been attempted. 



3. I am deeply concerned at the curtailment of the activities of 

 the Victoria Institute which the War imposes. I trust that every 

 one who values the work which it has done, and is still doing, will 

 exert themselves to bring visitors to its debates and subscribers to 

 its funds. Years ago the assaults of sceptics were chiefly directed 

 against the possibility of the existence of supernatural, or perhaps 

 we had better say spiritual, forces. These attacks have now largely 

 ceased. They never were raised by our greatest scientific dis- 

 coverers, who were mostly reverent and humble, but came rather 

 from those who were endeavouring to popularize the study of 

 physical sciences. The present generation has been brought face 

 to face with indirect attacks, endeavouring to undermine the 

 authority of the records, which are based on the existence of such 

 forces. The ground of these attacks is therefore not scientific, but 

 literary ; and the methods of defence must consequently take a 

 different form. The existence of such a society as the Victoria 

 Institute is therefore as necessary as ever, and no effort should be 

 esteemed too great to ensure its continued activity. 



