EDITOR’S PREFACE.
When a man holds up a book, and says, "You must believe this, because it says, 'Thussaith the Lord,'" should we not pity that man? Does he comprehend the liberty of man toacquire knowledge?
Any book that imparts knowledge of the life and destiny of man, is a good book. Anybook that unfolds the character and person of Jehovih, and the wonder and glory of Hiscreations, is a good book.
When a book gives us information of things we know not of, it should also give us amethod of proving that information to be true. This book covers that ground.
The day has arrived, when man will not accept proclamations and assertions; he wantsplausible reasons, or substantial proofs, that the authority be not merely a presence, but ademonstrable fact.
The time of man-worship is at an end; readers no longer accept a book as good and great,merely because any certain one wrote it. The book must have merits of its own, otherwiseit will soon pass out of existence.
If a book were to fall down from the sky with Jehovih's signature to it, man would notaccept the book on that account. Why, then, should anything be said about how this bookwas written? It is not a destroyer of oldsystems or religions. It reveals a new one, adapted to this age, wherein all men can be as brethren.
NEW YORK, 1882.
