In the first place then it must be admitted, that all the hypotheses we have mentioned are equally and decidedly irreconcilable with that doctrine of inspiration once universally prevalent in the Christian church, according to which the sacred writers were merely passive organs or in: struments of the Holy Spirit. This doctrine however has i been so long abandoned that it would now be a waste of time to attack it. When I say it has been abandoned, I mean of coursexn introduction BY the translator'.