The scripture of truth

344 Pages·2011·12.99 MB·English

by  Collett, Sidney

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THE SCRIPTURE OF TRUTH.
A FEW OUT OF MANY
vy
The BISHOPofDURHAM.—''Of real value in the defence
of Holy Scripture."
DrA. T. PIERSON.—"\ haveread itcarefullyandwithmuch
enjoyment,and considerit one of the best I have ever seen."
DrH. GRATTANGUINNESS.—"The best ofits kind."
Pastor THOS. SPURGEON.—''The book we have been
looking for."
The CHIEF RABBI, Rev. A/OSES CASTER, D.D., Ph.D.—
"It is a book which is greatly wanted."
"BIBLE LEAGUE QUARTERLY."—"\t is what we
have waited for."
Rev. F. S. WEBSTER, M.A.—''k most helpful book of
reference to the Bible student."
Rev. F. B. MEYER, B.A.—'' Replete with the evidence
of wide reading and investigation."
Rev. HUGH D. BROWN, i^/.^.—"Packed full of most
useful and Interesting information."
" TRUSTING AND TOILING:''— " It is difficult to
exaggerate its value."
RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND.—''The
most remarkable book of the kind (we) have read."
Rev. ROBERTDAWSON{thelate).—''Thereisnonewritten
on these lines, none so full of information set forth In a
clear and usable form."
Pastor W. FULLER GOOCH.—'' It is unique ... in-
valuable."
''SOUTH AFRICAN PIONEER."—''Oi immense value
... it is unique."
"JOYFUL NEWS.''—''Crammed with information. . . .
A mine of wealth."
A WORKING MAN—"It is the best nutrition ever 1
read in my life both for soul and memory."
— —
THE SCRIPTURE OF
TRUTH
ITS ORIGIN—ITS LANGUAGES—ITS TRANS-
LATIONS ITS CANON—ITS SYMBOLS
ITS INSPIRATION—ITS ALLEGED
ERRORS AND CONTRADICTIONS
— —
ITS PLAN ITS SCIENCE
—
OTHER SACRED
BOOKS
BY
SIDNEY COLLETT
author of
•thb king's declaration—a protest and a warning'
FIFTH EDITION
LONDON
S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO,
8 & 9, PATERNOSTER ROW
PREFACE.
I HAVE SO often been asked to put in print the
substance of an address on the Bible, which I de-
Hvered in the year 1904, on wliat was known as
"Bible Sunday," that, having felt led to comply
with that request, I have amplified and arranged
the matter in the form in which this book is now
presented.
In doing so my object has been to prepare in a
simple, concise, and readable form such a book on
the Bible as I should have liked to possess twenty-
five years ago, when, as a young Christian, I was
not only puzzled by many of the questions dealt
with in the following pages, but was also entirely
at a loss to know how I could obtain the desired
help and information thereon.
The index furnishes a complete list of the subjects
dealt with, but I may here mention that, in order
to make the book as complete as possible, I have,
among other subjects, traced the history of the
Bible from its very commencement, and have dealt
—
with such important themes as the canon that
is, whether our Bible as we have it is absolutely
—
complete the inspiration of the Bible, its alleged
—
inaccuracies, its relation to science a most absorbing
iv
;
PREFACE. C- V
—
study showing how complete is the harmony be-
tween the two; and, finally, I have furnished the
reader with information, not generally known, con-
cerning the sacred books of the East.
Technical terms have as far as possible been
avoided, or, when used, they are explained.
While most of the information herein contained
is the result of my own personal study, the rest
can, generally speaking, only be found in large and
expensive volumes not easily obtainable and the
;
Author's earnest prayer is that many elder boys in
our great Public Schools, young University men, and
otherswho are troubled withBible difficulties.may find
those difficulties met and answered in the following
pages. It is also hopedthat ministers and other Bible
students may find it helpful as a book ofreference.
The study v;hich the preparation of this book
has entailed has proved a great help and blessing
to the writer, who now commends this work to
Him whose glory and honour have been earnestly
sought throughout,and whose blessing is now craved
in the hope that, in addition to imparting much-
needed information covering a somewhat wide field,
it may tend to strengthen the faith of young
Christians and others in the Word of God in
these days when destructive criticism and scepti-
cism abound on every hand.
Sidney Collett.
191, Belsize Road, N.W.
November, 1905.
2094016
—
;
PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.
In issuing this second edition I desire to offer heart-
felt praise to God for graciously condescending so
to own my simple effort that the first issue was
exhausted within a few weeks of its publication.
I desire also to render thanks to those who have
largely contributed to the success of the book
notably Mr. F, A. Bevan, who ordered nearly seven
hundred copies for distribution as a Christmas gift
among the members of the London City Mission and
the Christian Community of which he is president
while an anonymous friend ordered one hundred and
fifty copies for distribution in a similar way amongst
the members of the Evangelisation Society.
My acknowledgments are also due to the Rev.
John Tuckwell, M.R.A.S., for much valuable informa-
tion in connection with the cuneiform inscriptions,
and the Rev. David Baron, for help in other directions.
This Second Edition, which has been verycarefully
revised, and considerably enlarged with much impor-
tant additional matter, is sent forth with the earnest
prayer that God may use it further for His glory,
—
and that it may prove to be —what Pastor Wright
Hay said of the first edition " A book to check
unbelief and to confirm faith."
Sidney Collett.
191, Belsize Road, N.W.
February^ 1906.
VI