Let the Book be tried 'by its internal evidences, and let its undesigned coincidences be thoroughly studied. It is rich in them, and they are deeply interesting: some readers prefer the observation of them to the perusal of the last new novel.
Let it be tried by ancient records and memorials. Is it correct in historical matters wherein it would have surely failed had it been of human concoction? Providence has arranged for frequently testing it by this process; for away there in Egypt, Palestine, Moab, Bashan, Nineveh, fresh inscriptions and monumental sculptures are being found, and all of these, as they are brought to the surface, cry out as witnesses for Scripture history. With what delight would a slab have been welcomed, from any mound or catacomb, which would have contradicted Moses or the Prophets; but hitherto the sacred record has been vindicated.
Of late years certain of its bitter opponents have strung together a number of its supposed blunders. The work has been performed with the most acrid hate, and with magnifying glasses of a high power, and the result is nil. Reading with fairness, the mind is annoyed by the recklessness of the objections, the arrogance of the objector, and the ignorance which he imputes to his audience. It would be easy to refute the charges laid against the historical accuracy of Scripture; but it is an endless work where men do not desire to know the facts, but amuse themselves with quibbling.