Page images
PDF
EPUB

PHILOSOPHY

OF

SACRED HISTORY

CONSIDERED IN RELATION

ΤΟ

HUMAN ALIMENT AND THE WINES OF SCRIPTURE

BY

SYLVESTER GRAHAM.

EDITED BY HENRY S. CLUBB.

LONDON:

HORSELL & CAUDWELL, 335, STRAND.

1859.

101. d. 272.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed]

PREFACE BY THE EDITOR.

SYLVESTER GRAHAM, the author of the following pages, became a popular lecturer on temperance and physiology in the United States in 1832, and during the ten succeeding years, he promulgated his views with great earnestness, zeal, and eloquence. In 1839, he published his lectures in a work entitled, "The Science of Human Life," in which what has been denominated the "Graham System" was fully developed and expounded. It has since been twice published in Great Britain, where it has received high commendation.

Assuming in "The Science of Human Life" the position that the proper food of mar is that which is obtained in a direct manner from the vegetable kingdom, and that the flesh of animals as food, as well as alcohol as drink, are opposed to man's physical, moral, and spiritual interests, and maintaining his position by arguments drawn from scientific facts which have never to our knowledge been either refuted or disproved, he became subject to attacks from men who professed to base their reasons for consuming these articles on Scripture testimony. This appeared to be the only ground which he had not fully discussed in

his very elaborate lectures, and therefore the one on which he was most assailed. Having had an education for the ministry, in which capacity he served with more or less regularity for some years in connection with the Presbyterian Church, and latterly as an independent preacher, he naturally felt deeply on this subject, believing it impossible that a system which his experience and observation, combined with scientific research, convinced him was highly beneficial to the human race, could be contrary to the teachings of the word of God; and with an earnest desire to arrive at the truth, he applied himself with great industry to this object, to discover the philosophy of sacred history in relation to human aliment.

The plan was, to publish the work in four numbers. He published three numbers during his lifetime; but, owing to a variety of conflicting circumstances, he did not live to issue the fourth. The stock of the first three numbers was purchased by Messrs. FowLER AND WELLS of Mrs. Graham; and, having occasion to examine his manuscripts for the purpose of preparing the "LIFE OF SYLVESTER GRAHAM" for the London publishers of Graham's works, we discovered the manuscript (probably a first draft) of the concluding portion of the work. This we have endeavoured to arrange so as to harmonize with the portion previously published; have compiled a copious index, and thus rendered the volume as complete as we believe it was originally intended to be by the author.

Though we cannot endorse all the sentiments expressed, nor can we approve of all the methods of reasoning adopted, we can commend the work as highly useful both for study and reference to all who are interested in the

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

great question of Biblical history in relation to the great moral reforms which are acknowledged as among the most prominent features of this nineteenth century. The purpose aimed at is one of great importance and utility, and the untiring industry, the earnest but candid spirit with which the various interesting passages of Scripture are discussed, will place this among the most valuable contributions to Biblical and reformatory literature.

New York City,

October 16th, 1854.

« PreviousContinue »