“ But truth is always injured by the slightest connexion with fable. The moment I begin to read one of the animated speeches of a hero or a senator, which were never composed, delivered or written, till the historian arose, I feel myself instantly transported from the real theatre of human life into a fairy region. ”

“ All men have their favorite periods, causes, characters, which of course, they strive, at any rate, to embellish, to support, to recommend. They are equally subject to antipithies [antipathies] on the other hand, under the influence of which, they as naturally, strive to depress, to expose, to censure what they dislike, and as men write and speak, so they read and hear under the influence of prejudice and passion. Where the historian's opinions coincide with our own, we cheerfully allow him to be in the right; when they differ, without hesitation we pronounce him to be mistaken. ”

“ But on opening the sacred volume, all these obstructions in the way of knowledge, of truth, of pleasure, disappear; length of duration can oppose no cloud to that intelligence with which "a thousand years are as one day, and a day as a thousand years." ”

“ Now the professed purpose of all history is without fear or favor, without partiality or prejudice to represent men and things as they really are,—that goodness may receive its just tribute of praise and vice meet its deserved censure and condemnation. ”

“ When from the summit of some lofty mountain we survey the wide extended landscape; though highly delighted we feel ourselves bewildered and overwhelmed, by the profusion and variety of beauties which nature spreads around us. ”

“ For whatever things were written, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.—Romans 15:4.
Various methods have been employed, at different periods and by different persons, to convey useful knowledge to mankind. The knowledge most useful and most important to man is that of morals and religion. These sciences afford not only the most pleasant and elevated subjects of meditation, but evidently possess a very powerful influence over human happiness, both in the life that now is, and that which is to come. ”

“ These venerable men, though subject to like passions with others, there speak not of themselves, but from God, "for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and all scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works." ”

“ The charms and graces of poetry have been employed to set off the native modest beauties of truth and virtue, and allegory has spread her veil over them, in order to stimulate our ardor in the pursuit, and to heighten our pleasure in the discovery. ”

“ Scenes of violence and blood; the workings of ambition pride and revenge, compose the annals of men.—But piety and purity, temperance and humility, which are little noticed and soon forgotten of the world; are held in everlasting remembrance before God. ”

“ Our corruption subdued, is a victory infinitely more desirable and more truly honorable, than a triumph gained amidst the confused noise of ten thousand warriors and as many garments rolled in blood; "for he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." ”

“ But in the lapse of time, and waste of years, thousands of their pretended advocates have run before they were sent, multiplied words without that wisdom which comes from above, and darkened counsel without conveying that knowledge that is necessary to salvation. ”

“ And the pencil of history has enriched the canvass, not only with men in groups, but selecting distinguished individuals, delineating them in their just proportions, and enlivening them with the colors of nature, has exhibited a collection of striking portraits, for entertainment and instruction. ”

“ The human heart is there unfolded to our view by him that knows what is in men, and whose eyes are in every place beholding the evil and the good. The men and the events therein represented are universally and perpetually interesting, for they are blended with the "things which accompany salvation," and affect our everlasting peace. ”

“ The historian's page has been unfolded, ages and generations elapsed and gone, have been made to pass in review; the lessons of religion and virtue have been forcibly inculcated, by a fair and impartial disclosure of the effects, which the observance or neglect of them, have produced on the affairs of men. ”

“ In contemplating these, we seem to expatiate in a vast gallery of family pictures, and take delight in comparing the various features of the extensive kindred as they resemble or differ from each other, and through the physiognomy piercing into the heart, we find them though dead, yet speaking and pleasing companions. ”

“ Most of the writers of profane ancient history are chargeable with an absurdity, which greatly discredits the facts they relate, and reduces their works almost to a level with fable.—They attempt too much, they must needs account for every thing ”

“ Once more:—It is highly gratifying to find ourselves in the midst of a public assembly of agreeable people of both sexes and to partake of the general cheerfulness and benevolence.—But what are the cheerfulness and benevolence of a public assembly compared with the endearments of friendship and the meltings of love? ”

“ While those springing from a heart actuated by a consciousness of the approbation of heaven, have more frequently been the fruit of modest innocence and retirement, and will remain in oblivion till the searcher of hearts "shall try every man's work of what sort it is." ”

“ The holy scriptures possess an acknowledged superiority over all other writings in all the different kinds of literary composition which is called Biography or a delineation of the fortunes, character and conduct of particular persons; and whether the historians be themselves the men they describe and record, or whether from proper sources of information, they record the lives and destinies of others. ”

“ The penetration of genius, the enchantment of eloquence, and the creative energy of fancy, have successively lent their aid to those gentle guides of human life, those condescending ministers to human comfort. ”

“ Though wickedness now abounds and the love of many waxes cold, however we may deprecate it, such is yet the fact, and such will be the fact till the arch deceiver is bound and his works swept from the earth. ”

“ Take another instance:—The starry heavens present a prospect equally agreeable to every eye. The delights of a calm serene evening, are as much relished by the simple and unlettered, as by the philosopher. ”

“ The actors exhibited are either too lofty to admit of our approach with any interest or satisfaction to ourselves; too brutal to be considered without disgust or too low to be worthy of our regard. The very scenes of action are become inaccessible or unknown ”

“ But who will compare the vague admiration of the child or the clown with the scientific joy of the astronomer, who can reduce into order, what to the untutored eye is involved in confusion: who can trace the path of each little star ”

“ The principles of morality and religion, have by some, been delivered in short plain significant sentences, and have been left to produce their effect by their own weight and evidence.—Public teachers have at other times taken pains to explain and enforce these principles ”

“ To those who are acquainted with this kind of writing, much need not be said, to convince the superior excellence of the sacred penmen. Biographers merely human, uninspired, necessarily lie under many disadvantages and are liable to many mistakes. ”

“ To enjoy these we must retire from the crowd and have recourse to the individual. In like manner whatever satisfaction and improvement may be derived from general histories of mankind, which we would not be thought by any means to depreciate ”