an ear- or eye-witness, or by cogitation and study. Besides, I was encouraged by that robe of blessed service, in which I have dressed myself, to compose such an explanation for him, who occupies a high throne, that he may see herein a new sign of my service, and that thereby I may obtain the garments of such a glory, the memory and splendour of which will last as my heirloom in posterity through the flood of ages and generations. If, therefore, he—whose noble mind may God preserve!—will favour his servant by overlooking his audacity, and accepting his excuses, he follows the right idea, if it pleases God. And now I commence and say:
The best and nearest way leading to that, regarding which I have been asked for information, is the knowledge of the history and tradition of former nations and generations, because the greatest part of it consists of matters, which have come down from them, and of remains of their customs and institutes. And this object cannot be obtained by way of ratiocination with philosophical notions, or of inductions based upon the observations of our senses, but solely by adopting the information of those who have a written tradition, and of the members of the different religions, of the adherents of the different doctrines and religious sects, by whom the institutes in question are used, and by making their opinions a basis, on which afterwards to build up a system; besides, we must compare their traditions and opinions among themselves, when we try to establish our system. But ere that we must clear our mind from all those accidental circumstances which deprave most men, from all causes which are liable to make people blind against the truth, e.g. inveterate custom, party-spirit, rivalry, being addicted to one's passions, the desire to gain influence, etc. For that which I have mentioned, is the nearest way you could take, that leads to the true end, and the most efficient help towards removing all the clouds of uncertainty and doubt, which beset the subject. It is impossible in any other way to reach the same purpose, notwithstanding the greatest care and exertion. On the other hand, we confess that it is by no means easy to act upon that principle and that method, which we have laid down, that on the contrary from its recondite nature, and its difficulty, it might seem to be almost unattainable—on account of the numerous lies which are mixed up with all historical records and traditions. And those lies do not all on the face of it appear to be impossibilities, so that they might be easily distinguished and eliminated. However, that which is within the limits of possibility, has been treated as true, as long as other evidence did not prove it to be false. For we witness sometimes, and others have witnessed before us, physical appearances, which we should simply declare to be impossible, if something similar were related from a far remote time. Now the life of man is not sufficient to learn thoroughly the traditions of one of the many nations. How, therefore, could he learn the traditions of all of them? That is impossible.
