etermine. It seems, then, that a
variety of style may be expected in the records written by different
persons of the revelations which they have received. As has been before
observed, all that is essential to the truthfulness of the record is that
God should approve of it.

A question may possibly arise here as to the precise _manner_ in which
the words may be so recorded, as to convey a true account of God's
revelation. In endeavouring to supply an answer, it should be
remembered, in the first place, that in the ordinary affairs of life no
great difficulty occurs with regard to the transmission of a message. If
the person who has been selected to convey it, has sufficient
intelligence to understand it, and is, moreover, desirous to deliver it
faithfully, he is, in most cases, able either to speak, or write it, in
his own words, in such a manner as to convey the right meaning to others.
So, too, with regard to a revelation; if the person to whom it has been
made rightly apprehends it, and endeavours to record it honestly, the
probability is great that the record which he makes will be a true one.
If, too, we are prepared, in accordance with the common belief in all
ages, to admit that God can, and at times does, exercise a control over
the minds of men, it is reasonable to believe that He would do this, when
the object was to furnish a correct record for the benefit of future
ages. This control might be exercised either consciously, or
unconsciously to the writer. All that would be needful for the
truthfulness of the record is, that it should be exercised in some way.

* * * * *

4. We will now proceed to offer some remarks as to the conditions under
which _a revelation may be expected to be transmitted_. Much of what has
been said, with regard to the recording of a revelation, by the person to
whom it was originally made, applies to the transmission of such a record
to future generations, and its translation into other languages. If a
belief (in what way originated we do not now stop to enquire) in the
reality of the recorded revelation existed, the greatest care would
naturally be taken in making copies from it, and also in translating it.
Well-known examples of this are to be found in the care which the Jews of
old used in making new copies of their sacred books, and also in the fact
that, in our own country, no printers, but those appointed by the Queen,
are permitted to pu