CONTRADICTIONS IN SCRIPTURE.
[TO THZ EDITOR OF THE "EIFECTATOR."]
SIE,—Reading the Spectator of April 7th, I noticed your observations in a notice of the "Paragraph Bible" of the Religious Tract Society, on the reconciliation of the apparently contradictory accounts of the death of Ahaziah, son of Athaliah. Are these somewhat contemptuous observations justified ? especially that which states that no one would dream of such reconciliations of contradictory statements of modern historical events, but would at once set down one as false ? Let us suppose a case,—two very brief and incomplete narratives of the close of Napoleon's power. One states that Paris was captured by the Austrians and Prussians after a fierce fight at the gates, that Napoleon was consequently compelled to abdicate, and was carried by an English frigate to an island in the Mediterranean, where he was permitted to rule with the title of Emperor. A second narrative states that after a tremendous battle in Belgium, and the surrender of Paris without a blow to the English, he was obliged to abdicate, was deprived of his title by the European Powers, and carried on board an English ship of war to the island of St. Helena, where he died.
Do you not see here, Sir, a tissue of contradictions which, according to your dictum regarding the Scriptural narratives in question, would inevitably stamp one as full of error And yet we know how easy it is to reconcile the two. Do let us be careful how we handle these sacred records which the Master treated with such absolute reverence.—I am, Sir, &c.,
W. DYER WARE.. Bedland Hill House, near Bristol, April 7th.
[Mr. Ware gives his case away. The first of his parallel narratives is erroneous, if it professes to give the end of Napo- leon's career. It is the end of Ahaziah's life that both the writer of Kings and the Chronicler profess to relate.—En. Spectator.]
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