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[23]
There must therefore naturally arise great differences among writers,
when they had no original records to lay for their foundation, which might
at once inform those who had an inclination to learn, and contradict those
that would tell lies. However, we are to suppose a second occasion besides
the former of these contradictions; it is this: That those who were the
most zealous to write history were not solicitous for the discovery of
truth, although it was very easy for them always to make such a profession;
but their business was to demonstrate that they could write well, and make
an impression upon mankind thereby; and in what manner of writing they
thought they were able to exceed others, to that did they apply themselves,
Some of them betook themselves to the writing of fabulous narrations; some
of them endeavored to please the cities or the kings, by writing in their
commendation; others of them fell to finding faults with transactions,
or with the writers of such transactions, and thought to make a great figure
by so doing. And indeed these do what is of all things the most contrary
to true history; for it is the great character of true history that all
concerned therein both speak and write the same things; while these men,
by writing differently about the same things, think they shall be believed
to write with the greatest regard to truth. We therefore [who are Jews]
must yield to the Grecian writers as to language and eloquence of composition;
but then we shall give them no such preference as to the verity of ancient
history, and least of all as to that part which concerns the affairs of
our own several countries.
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