“526. ISAIAH AND THE PROPHETS”

Isaiah and the Prophets

Volume 6

Preface

The present Volume completes the series of Illustrations of the Old Testament. It will be found, like the preceding Volumes, to possess a distinctive character of its own, reflected from the equally distinctive character of the Books which it illustrates. The number and variety of these Books impart a more miscellaneous aspect to this Volume than belonged to any of its predecessors; but it is not likely that this will be regarded as a disadvantage to it. The selection of subjects was also thus rendered more than usually arbitrary; but we trust it will be found, that the selection has been made with due regard for the gratification of the readers for whose use the work is primarily designed.

The fulfillment of prophecy is a subject that scarcely comes within the scope of this Work; nor would the entire Volume, to the exclusion of all other matter, have sufficed for the adequate treatment of so large a theme. The subject has not, however, been altogether overlooked. Some of the prophecies which have been fulfilled by historical facts or local circumstances, or which have obtained recent corroboration from ancient monuments, have been selected for consideration. In the selection of these, the author has been mainly guided by that sympathy with his readers, which enables a writer of some experience to judge, or rather to feel, what would be most acceptable to his own public; and partly, also, by a natural preference for that which his observation and research might enable him most freshly to illustrate. From both considerations, and from the further wish of diversifying the Volume by biographical and historical materials, much attention has been given to the prophecies which refer to the person and exploits of Cyrus, who occupies so peculiar a position to the prophecy of Isaiah.

The Readings of this Volume comprise some conspicuous examples of the fulfillment of local prophecies. But into this class of subjects, although congenial to our own tastes, we have not entered so largely as we might have done, in the belief that it has already received most sufficient treatment in books which have had very extensive circulation.

We have not failed to render the recent discoveries at Nineveh available for the illustration of the Scripture facts and prophecies which refer to Assyria. In the hope of rendering this source of information more interesting, we have introduced a larger number of engravings than any other of our Volumes contain. Those which comprise Assyrian subjects have been copied, with care, chiefly from the sculptures in the British Museum, or from M. Botta’s great and costly work on Nineveh, for the free use of which by our artist, for the purposes of this Volume, we are glad to have this opportunity of expressing our obligations to the Senatus Academicus of Glasgow University.

The encouragements of various kinds which the Author has received during the progress of this Work, have been most refreshing; and he cannot now allow himself to doubt that the same will attend him to its close.

London, May 29, 1858.

Autor: JOHN KITTO