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Over what a lapse of centuries, then, do not these sacred songs extend! As to the titles prefixed to them, they may, as a bare possibility, have had some ground of tradition ; but they so often contradict tlie internal evidence, that we may more reasonably ascribe them to the glossings of early Rabbins. They stand therefore on no better ground than the Yedic Br^hmanas and Sdtras. " But what will be the bearing of this sort of inquiry upon the prophecies ? As to the book of Daniel, no canons of pure criticism will allow us to place it earlier than the time of An- tiochus, or 170 — 160 B. c. For in the first place the external evidence brings it low ; since the Jews arranged it not among their ancient prophets, but among the later miscellaneous writ- ings, which are called the Hagiographa. Secondly, it has not only Greek, but Macedonian words; and these would be very improbable in a Jewish writing before the age of Alexander. Thirdly, it has plain and minute history, though in a prophetic form, down to the age of Antiochus. Now I assent to the canon, justly laid down, that any minute descriptions of external events mitst be considered historical rather than predictive, unless clear testimony is shewn to the existence of the book containing them at a date prior to the events; whereas with the book of Daniel the external evidence is for the lower date. In the same manner it may be remarked, that the book ascribed to Zechariah has about eight chapters which seem contempora- neous with the return from Babylon, and bear due marks of that time. But it has about six others, which are in an entirely different style, implying not the joy of return, but the agitation of alarm or struggle, while they mention a conflict with * the sons of Greece*.' No fair criticism would allow us to place * Zechariah be. 13. ISAIAH. 395 these latter chapters before the age of Alexander; though they may be somewhat later. " As to portions of other prophets, I need only observe that they are arranged piecemeal, and in no consecutive order*, as in the case of Jeremiah is allowed. There are critics, and not the worst, who think that the last twenty-seven chapters of Isaiah are of a later date than the first thirty-nine. Without speaking too positively on an unsettled point, I think that both the contents and the change of style render this conjecture pro- bable ; nor is there even a shadow of external evidence to turn the scale against whatever may be the internal probability. Finding then, as we do, that the first thirty-nine chapters speak of various events in succession, but chiefly in a tone of rebuke and threatening, with some interspersion of promises to repent- ance; while all the later chapters are in a sustained tone of exultation and a breaking out into joy for the glad tidings on the mountains of the decree of return from captivity, I assent to the chronological distinction which good critics have drawn. Even verbal arguments f to the same effect are brought, though not without dispute, among philologers. "Now comes an important question, whether the results of chronological and other criticism affect the sacred character of the Bible, as a collection of religious books. It has been argued, that the religion itself is independent of such inquiries, and only bids us accept calmly whatever the Scriptures may say or imply of themselves or of the secular circumstances in which they had their origin. Nor can I deny, that such independence agrees very well with the spiritual view of Christianity as a kingdom not of this world, but as one taking possession of the ' thoughts which wander through eternity,' and of souls destined to enjoy it. I should be constrained to admit, that a knowledge and a peace which the world cannot give, can neither be taken away * Bishop Watson*8 Apcloffyfor the Bible. f Compare Jahn, IntroducHo in Ubro8 Vet. Fced.y and Dr Samuel Lee's Z>i- coui'9€9 on Propheqf, containing a reply to Geseuius. 396 HOW CRITICISM AFFECTS PROPHECY. by worldly accidents, affecting either ourselves or our sacred books and their authorship. But on the other hand, to those who hug the Jewish views of external prophecy and of an earthly kingdom, great difficulties appear to arise from a critical investigation of the Bible. For in the first place, the prediction of external events is rendered doubtful by any uncertainty as to the date of books. If the latter part of Isaiah is rather contem- poraneous with Cyrus than prior to him by a century, it may remain a glorious outburst of national thanksgiving and recog- nition of Jehovah, who, although he had suffered his priests and prophets to be slain, was now bringing about their pious anticipations ; but it will not have the positive air of a descrip- tion of events beforehand, which some would find in it. " We may now ask as to the Hebrew predictions in general, if they are of events nearly contemporary, by how long did the sayings come first? Was the interval ever too great for his- torical sagacity and human presentiment to overleap ? Or if, as some tell us, there are predictions referring to a future still remote, how do we know these will be fulfilled? Some expect the Jews *to occupy Palestine again.* I have not found for my- self any predictions of a restoration, which may not have had an adequate fulfilment in the six hundred years of nationality between Cyrus and Titus. But as the canon was closed long before that period ended, it is a gratuitous assumption that any additional period was ever contemplated. Again, if the pre- dictions refer to a coming Messiah, were they fulfilled literally in Jesus? If we make some allowance for the inflation of Eastern style, their text applies better to ancient kings and prophets, such as Solomon or Jeremiah, and others of the class of persons of whom I think it demonstrable that the old pro- phets conceived themselves to be speaking. " But if we leave prophecy, a farther consequence arises. If we ask what is the range of knowledge in the books of the Old Testament, we find it answer in each case to the horizon of the age, in which a fair criticism places the books. Moses knows SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND SPHERE OF SCRIBE COINCIDE. 397 Egypt, and Solomon whatever Tyre or Tarshish could teach. Daniel exhibits a wider acquaintance with the activity of the Greeks. In the books after the captivity, we find the Zoroas- trian personification of evil first tinging the language of the Jews; as in Kings, it is the Lord who tempts David, but in Chronicles Satan stands up. So the names and distinctions of the angels are reported by the Jews themselves to have been brought from Babylon. But, if we find the system to have thus grown as an organisation; if human knowledge accumulates upon it, according to natural opportunity, while even its sacred ideas are tinged by contact with foreigners ; if prophecy becomes less demonstrably predictive of events in proportion as the books containing it are rightly placed, may not the Hindtis retort your question, What becomes of any supernatural communication? I have not dwelt upon miracles, for our friends here wotdd pro- bably allow them to any extent*, and only relate to you greater marvels in return ; but the farther any books are removed from the events mentioned in them, the wider becomes the room for magnifying whatever happened. Those who know the force of imagination, and how easily poetry takes the place of history, while popular traditions may receive from a learned caste a written form, will easily apprehend what I mean. However I have said enough, in deference to your wishes, to enable Sad£- nanda to judge, how far the rationale of explanation which criticism applies to things wonderM in Scripture, has a de- structive effect or not." Here Wolff paused ; and Blancombe, turning to Mountain, said smiling, "Perhaps it is time to bring up heavier metal." Accordingly his elder fnend, with a reverend sort of gravity, began. " We should be careful to state facts rightly, and then draw inferences. The external evidence for the Pentateuch goes up much higher than the Babylonian exile, or the reign of Josiah, when Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law. For the five * See the AJM DuboU on Hindu miracles. 398 EXTERNAL MENTION OF THE LAW.