THE THREE IMPOSTORS. TRANSLATED (WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS,) FROM THE FRENCH EDITION OF THE WORK, PUBLISHED AT AMSTERDAM, 1776. RE-PUBLISHED BY G. VALE, "BEACON" OFFICE, 3 FRANKLIN-SQUARE, NEW-YORK: 1846. NOTE BY THE AMERICAN PUBLISHER. We publish this valuable work, for the reasons contained in the following Note, of which we approve:-- NOTE BY THE BRITISH PUBLISHER. The following little book I present to the reader without any remarks on the different opinions relative to its antiquity; as the subject is amply discussed in the body of the work, and constitutes one of its most interesting and attractive features. The Edition from which the present is translated was brought me from Paris by a distinguished defender of Civil and Religious Liberty: and as my friend had an anxiety from a thorough conviction of its interest and value, to see it published in the English Language, I have from like feelings brought it before the public; and I am convinced that it is an excellent antidote to Superstition and Intolerance, and eminently calculated to promote the cause of Freedom, Justice, and Morality. J. MYLES. PREFACE BY THE TRANSLATOR. The Translator of the following little treatise deems it necessary to say a few words as to the object of its publication. It is given to the world, neither with a view to advocate Scepticism, nor to spread infidelity, but simply to vindicate the right of private judgment. No human being is in a position to look into the heart, or to decide correctly as to the creed or conduct of his fellow mortals; and the attributes of the Deity are so far beyond the grasp of limited reason, that man must become a God himself before he can comprehend them. Such being the case, surely all harsh censure of each other's opinions and actions ought to be abandoned; and every one should so train himself as to be enabled to declare with the humane and manly philosopher "Homo sum, nihil humania me alienum puto." Dundee, September 1844. CONTENTS OF THE PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. DISQUISITIONS on the book entitled "The Three Impostors." ANSWER to the dissertation of M. de la Monnoye on the work entitled "The Three Impostors." COPY of Part 2d, Vol. 1., Article ix. of "Literary Memoirs," published at the Hague by Henry du Sauzet, 1716. DISQUISITIONS ON THE BOOK ENTITLED THE THREE IMPOSTORS. It has long been a disputed point if there was at anytime a book printed and bearing the title of "The Three Impostors."