When, however, the Reverend Author of this speculation establishes it as _a parallel with what has taken place with regard to the Word of GOD_, we tell him plainly that his insinuation that "critics and philosophers are maintaining the present mode of interpreting Scripture _long after they have seen that it is indefensible_"--is a piece of impertinence which seems to require a public apology. A man may retain Orders in the Church of England, if he pleases, while yet he repudiates her doctrines: may declare that he subscribes her Articles _ex animo_, and yet seem openly to deny them. But he has no right whatever to impute corresponding baseness to others. The charge should be either plainly made out, or openly retracted[147]. By such considerations then does Professor Jowett attempt to shew that we ought to "interpret Scripture like any other book." The gist of his observations, in every case, is one and the same,--namely, from _à priori_ considerations to insinuate that _the Bible is not essentially unlike any other book._ Now, quite apart from its Inspiration,--which is, obviously, THE one essential respect wherein the Bible is wholly unlike every other book in the world; (inasmuch as, if it is inspired, it differs from every other book _in kind_; stands among Books as the Incarnate WORD stood among Men,--_quite alone_; notwithstanding that He spoke their language, shared their wants, and accommodated Himself to their manners;)--_apart_, I say, _from the fact of its Inspiration_, it is not difficult to point out several particulars in which the Bible is _utterly unlike any other Book which is known to exist_; and therefore to suggest an _à priori_ reason why _neither should it be interpreted_ like any other book. 1. The Bible then contains in all (66-9=) 57 distinct writings,--the work of perhaps upwards of forty different Authors[148]. Yet, for upwards of fifteen centuries those many writings have been all collected into one volume: and, for a large portion of that interval, on the writings so collected the Church Universal has agreed in bestowing the name of _the Book_,--κατ' ἐξοχήν,--THE BIBLE. 2. The Bible is divided into two parts, which are severed by an interval of upwards of four centuries. On these two great divisions of the Bible, respectively, has been bestowed the title of the Old and the New Covenant. And, what is remarkable,--_The same phenomena which are observable in respect of the whole Bible, are observable in respect of either of its parts._ Thus, (=1=) The several writings of which the Old Testament is composed,--(39-3=) 36 in all[149], are by many different hands: those of the New Testament, in like manner,--(27-6=) 21 in all, are by eight different authors.