obliged entirely to reject the intermediate portions, since they could not possibly be made to assimilate sufficiently to assume a consecutive form.

On the contrary, in the present case, the change which is required for the emendation of one text, amends another also; and it will be found, on inspecting the table of alterations which I have added to this enquiry, that the other books, which are now disjointed and intermixed, thus acquire a more regular structure, and become far more distinct in their relation to the several subjects treated of, than they are at present. And hence it seems that we have internal evidence, decisive as to the fact that one book must have existed before the others, and that these additions have been partially intermingled with the original subject.

I assume that what would thus appear to have been added is necessarily later than the rest, because, it will be admitted, that there could be no conceivable motive for wilfully interpolating fragments, which should seem to have no connexion with one another, and neither serve to raise the credit, nor diminish the obscurity of the books to which they were added.

M

If on the other hand we look at the book concerning the future judgment, even in the comparatively complete and uninterrupted form to which I have endeavoured to reduce it; we shall be rather inclined to the supposition that had it primarily existed, as an apocryphal writing compiled after the other books with which it is now intermingled; the author who had thus composed it, would rather have trusted to the impression which the imposing style and scriptural sentiments contained in it, might be supposed to make in its favor, than have made the novelty of his additions only the more palpable, by mingling them with writings, which must have been already known as having existed, for at least some years.

I think it may be taken for granted, that if any author had forged a pseudo prophetic book on the judgment, and added it to the Apocryphal books already existing, he would have added it in such a form as should best support its reputation, and shew by the excellence of the composition, according to whatever might be the composer's idea of excellence, that it at was not unworthy of examination.

I shall therefore proceed with my analysis of this book, guided by the rule which I have already laid down.

In the second page of the Archbishop of Cashel's translation, immediately after the passage quoted from this book by St. Jude, there is a sudden transition; the subject is abruptly changed, and the book proceeds with the words, "All who are in "the heavens know what is transacted there." And here I conceive that the first interpolation occurs. But from this place, for a space of more than forty pages, (to page 45,) although the subject is several times interrupted, and a portion of a vision is interposed which in some degree resembles the commencement of the book; yet the passage abruptly broken does not seem to be resumed, till at the 45th page, the enumeration of the stars, &c. is as suddenly suspended, leaving that subject also apparently incomplete. The 45th chapter then begins with a title, evidently added by some transcriber, for it does not correctly describe what follows; and the next words which occur are, "Heaven they "shall not ascend, nor shall they come upon the "earth; This shall be the portion of sinners who

deny the name of the Lord of Spirits, and who "are thus reserved for the day of punishment and "affliction."

But this is at least perfectly coherent with the former fragment. They who shall not ascend nor come upon the renovated earth, are the sinners and the ungodly, just before mentioned; and the sense of the denunciation there commenced against them, is continued so as to make the description of their fate complete.

The subject thus resumed remains unbroken for the next page, when a portion of one of the visions left unfinished in the former space, appears to intervene. My reasons for the rejection of these portions, which at first sight appear to relate to the subject of the judgment, are that the first book appears to speak of " that day" only, without reference to place, while these rejected parts contain a successive enumeration of places seen after each other, with a constant allusion to the former book of secret things, which afterwards also occupies a considerable space, occurring in a more connected form. These portions likewise contain some apparent imitations of passages which afterwards

occur, in that which I judge to be the older book, while the expressions found in the latter, are distorted and exaggerated in the imitation, as if they had been misunderstood.

Thus, to the Son of man, instead of the office of judgment, that of "revealing the treasures of that which is concealed," is ascribed; and this is apparently imitated from the subsequent declaration, that "he shall judge every secret thing."

Moreover, it will be observed, that the same phraseology occurs here, as in the book of secret things, at page 41, of which description this appears to be a continuation. In that page and in the 44th, we have similar expressions. "I besought the angel of peace who was with me to explain," &c. "I enquired of the angel who proceeded with me:" &c. " and here I enquired of one of the angels who went with me and shewed me every secret thing," &c. But we shall find no trace of these forms of expression in that which I regard as the original book.

Thus also to the name of Ancient or "head of days," is added the description of Daniel, "whose head was like white wool." This internal evidence