The Canon of the Old and New Testaments Ascertained

OxE motive which induced the author to undertake the following compilation, was the desire of furnishing a supplement to the little volume which he recently published, on the Evidences of the Christian Religion; for the argument for the truth of Divine Revelation cannot be considered complete, without the testimonies, by which the Canonical authority of the several books of Scripture is established. But he was also influenced by the consideration, that a convenient and compendious work on this subject, is a desideratum in our English Theological Literature. The works which we possess on the Canon of Scripture, are either too learned or too voluminous, for the use of common readers. Besides, the whole subject has been seldom treated by the same author; for while one vindicates the Canon of the Old Testament alone, another confines himself to the settling of the Canon of the New Testament.

The object of the writer of this work is to exhibit a compendious view of the whole subject, and in such a form as will be level to the capacities of all descriptions of readers. He has aimed at bringing forward the result of the researches of learned men, who have treated this subject, in such a manner, that the substance of their works might be easily accessible to that numerous class of readers, who are unskilled in the learned languages. It was, moreover, his opinion, that such a volume as this, would not be unacceptable to theological students, and to clergymen, who have it not in their power to procure more costly works;

As a considerable portion of the materials used in composing this treatise have been derived from others, the author feels it to be incumbent on him, to give due credit to those learned authors from whom he has received aid; which can be more conveniently done, at once, in this place, than by perpetual references, in the body of the work.

In the First Part, which relates to the Canon of the Old Testament, assistance has been derived from The Panstratia of Chamier, The Isagoge of Buddeus The Thesaurus Philologicus of Hottinger, Prideaux’s Connexion Wilson on the Apocrypha; and above all, from Bishop Cosin’s Scholastick History of the Canon of the Old Testament.

In the Second Part, on the Canon of the New Testament, the testimonies adduced, have been principally selected from the ample collections of the impartial and indefatigable Lardner; but in all that relates to the Apocryphal books of the New Testament, little else has been done, than to abridge and arrange the information contained in the valuable work of the learned Jeremiah Jones, on the Canon of the New Testament.

On the subject of the Oral Law of the Jews, the author lias freely availed himself of the labours of that great polemic, Hohnsrek, in his learned work, Contra Jtidoeos. On that of Unwritten Traditions, he found no uriter more satisfactory, than Chemnitius, in his Exameu Con. Trid. By the introduction of a discussion on these points, into a treatise on the Canon of Scripture, he acknowledges that he has departed from the usual method of treating the subject; but he is persuaded, that a little consideration will convince every candid reader, that the sufficiency and perfection of the Scriptures, cannot be demonstrated, unless it be shown, that no part of divine revelation was left to be handcvl down by unwritten tradition. For if, as many believe, an important part of the doctrines and institutions of Christianity has been transmitted to us, only through this channel, it will answer very little purpose to prove, that our Bibles comprehend all the books ever written by inspiration for the use of the Catholic Church; since, on this hypothesis, an essential part of divine revelation is not contained in the Scriptures, and was, indeed, never committed to writing. But the object in this work is to show, that the Bible is complete containing, A 2 all things necessary to guide the faith and practice of every sincere Christian; and that the church is in possession of no other revelation, but what is recorded in these Sacred Books.

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