GENERAL CLAIMS OF BIBLES.
More than twenty sacred books have been found in varions countries, which, if not in all cases denominated Bibles, have at least been venerated and used as such, and, properly speaking, are Bibles. Hence we shall call them Bibles. The list in this chapter comprises nearly all which recent research has brought to light. A brief synopsis of the character and contents of each will be presented, so far as a comparative view with the Christian Bible seems to make it requisite.
All of these Bibles possess some common characteristics:—
1. All of them were claimed to be inspired.
2. All were claimed to be an embodiment of wisdom and knowledge far transcending the ordinary attainments of man.
3. All were penned by inspired men, who were shielded from the possibility of erring while writing them.
4. Each Bible is a finality in religious knowledge.
5. Each one is an authority from which there is no appeal.
6. It is a sin to question or doubt the truth of any of them, or to suggest the possibility of their containing errors.
7. Some of them were written by God, some by angels, and others by inspired men.
8. Each one points out the only safe and certain road to heaven.
9. He who is a disbeliever in any one of these holy books is an infidel.
10. Each one is to effect the salvation of the whole human race.