The Question: Was Moses The Author Of The Pentateuch?

Answered in the Affirmative

Some friends to whom it was known that I had been engaged many years ago, under the auspices and encouragement of Principal Cunningham and Dr John Duncan, in translating for publication select portions of the writings of Witsius, requested me lately to translate and publish his dissertation on the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. It was also expected of me that I should write a preface, introducing it to notice, and connecting it with the present re-opening of the question, by the publication of the article Bible in the Encyclopædia Britannica. Being, at the time of the application—though disabled by chronic disease—somewhat better than usual, I readily undertook the task. But it proved one greatly too hard for me; an increase of illness supervened, and, with the exception of two or three pages, the whole of this little work has been written on a sick bed, or dictated from it. I do not mention these circumstances to deprecate criticism, but merely to explain that the translation, and still more, the preface, are in point of execution, very far from satisfying myself. My plan was repeatedly altered, from the issue of the report of the committee, appointed to deal with the author of the article Bible; and from the publication of an excellent pamphlet by the Rev. James Kennedy, B.D., superseding not a little I had previously written, as well as from other causes. From these circumstances large excisions have been made, and the re-union of the severed portions has not been altogether so successful, as to give the whole composition that unity of structure which, if I do not deceive myself, it would otherwise have exhibited. Sequestered in obscurity for more than eighteen years, I would have kept silence, but for the requests alluded to, and the wish to contribute, though but a very little, to the adjustment of the awful issues confronting the superior courts of our Church; and, I must add, to exonerate my own conscience as a member and minister of the Free Church, from any participation in the sinful procedure which, under an alarming pressure, she is in danger of adopting.