may be derived from it. If we compare the

style of this book with that of

any

of those apocry

phal compositions which are attributed to the second and third centuries of the Christian æra; we cannot fail to observe that it is readily to be distinguished from them by the mingled simplicity and dignity which characterise its pages. It must be admitted also that either an independent coincidence of thought with other prophetic Scriptures, or the utmost felicity of quotation from them may be traced throughout this book; while the subject, everywhere sustained with equal power, is never lost sight of, nor mingled with any digressions unsuited to its solemn nature.

Although the sense of various prophecies of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and St. John is so amply given in this book that no doubt can be entertained of its agreement with the Scriptures, yet while I have been unable to recognize any direct quotation, it sometimes appears as if the passage contained in this book had been amplified by one of the Prophets.

It would appear that there is a marked difference between the portion which I have endeavoured to restore, and the later books which have been

2

confounded with it. That they have all been written in the Hebrew or in some kindred dialect is sufficiently apparent, as I have already endeavoured to shew; but there seems to be internal evidence, that these later books must be attributed to several periods. The book of Astronomy may probably be one of the most ancient among them, while that which contains the Jewish history has already been referred by the Archbishop of Cashel, to "an early part of the reign of Herod," and it certainly seems that an earlier date can hardly be assigned to it.

The absurd and legendary style of some of the allegorical descriptions in this book of history, and the gross legends of the Behemoth, contained in the book of secret things, would alone be sufficient to shew that no very early date can be ascribed to them; while the evident variation of style not only between each of these books, but also in the book concerning the angels, renders it almost certain that the books which we at present possess have been compiled from various sources.

Thus if we should be inclined to look upon that book which I have endeavoured to restore, with

the idea that it must have belonged to a far earlier age, than those with which it is associated; the errors or absurdities contained in the latter need in no degree affect the credit of the former book; since they only serve to prove the ignorance or carelessness of those who added them, in not discerning the many evidences, from which it might have been concluded that both could not be the productions of the same author.

Whatever may be our opinion of the comparative authority of this composition, it will probably be admitted, that it is not only without trace of any such rabbinical interpretation of Scripture, as might be expected to characterise the work of a Jewish Christian after the second century; but that the coincidence of its pages with those of the Scripture, is also very remarkably characterised, by the absence of any signs of a previous knowledge of those passages which have a similar meaning.

I shall endeavour hereafter to shew that the arguments which arise from the chronology followed in this book, are not such as ought to induce us to fix the date of its composition, on that ac

count, after the Christian æra; and I shall now proceed to collect such external evidence as may tend towards the conclusion that a much earlier date ought to be assigned, at least to some portions of it.

If some of the passages contained in the next chapter should appear to have but a slight reference to the question at issue; or if the testimony to be collected from any single source appears but vague and unsatisfactory; let it be remembered that from materials so scanty and so much interpolated, as all these ancient fragments are, the chief guidance which we can hope for must be obtained from the concurrence of testimony however slight; so that opinions derived from different sources may be valuable on account of their agreement, although taking each singly we might attach but little consequence to it.

CHAPTER II.

I HAVE already endeavoured to state the arguments which arise from the internal evidence attainable from these books; and in describing the principle on which I have proposed to place the several portions of them together, such passages only as were absolutely necessary for illustrating their connexion, have been produced. I have hitherto referred to no authorities which can be attributed to an earlier period than the second century; but in adding such external evidences of an early origin of these books as I have been able to collect, I have principally directed my attention to the remains of earlier writers; with the hope of showing, that although the nature of this subject forbids us to expect any exact quotations from the books of Enoch under their present name, their contents were yet extant from very ancient times, being referred to in such a manner as may enable us to identify various early fragments, with some portions of these books which are now in our possession.

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