CIVIL AND MORAL HISTORY OF THE JEWS FROM MALACHI TO JOHN Sec. 1. Sketch of the Civil History of the Jews between the two Sec. 1. The Gospels in their mutual relations, § 135, 136. Sec. 2. The genuineness of the Gospels, § 137. Sec. 3. Introduction to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, § 138-141. Sec. 4. The Chronology of the Gospels, § 142. Sec. 5. The Gospels Harmonized, § 143-150. Sec. 6. Topics to be noticed in reading the Gospels. Lessons to Sec. 2. Introduction to the Book of Acts, § 162, 163. Sec. 3. Chronology of the Acts and Epistles arranged, § 164-166. Sec. 1. On the study of the Epistles, § 167-169. Sec. 2. On the genuineness of the Epistles, § 170. Sec. 3. Helps to study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, I and 2 Corinthians, Romans, James, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians, Hebrews, I Peter, 1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Peter, 2 Timothy, Jude, and precepts given in each, with epitome of Doctrines, § 171-195. Sec. 4. Helps to the Study of 1, 2, and 3 John, and to the Book THE BIBLE HAND-BOOK, INTRODUCTORY. ... "I use the Scriptures not as an arsenal to be resorted to only for arms and weapons but as a matchless temple, where I delight to contemplate the beauty, the symmetry, and the magnificence of the structure; and to increase my awe and excite my devotion to the Deity there preached and adored."- BOYLE · On the Style of Scripture, 3d obj. 8. "Scarcely can we fix our eyes upon a single passage in this wonderful book which has not afforded comfort or instruction to thousands, and been met with tears of penitential sorrow or grateful joy drawn from eyes that will weep no more."-PAISON: The Bible above all Price. "This lamp, from off the everlasting throne, And earnest sighs, to hear, believe, and live."-POLLOK. 1. EVEN as a literary composition, the sacred Scriptures The Bible: its claims. form the most remarkable book the world has ever seen. They are of all writings the most ancient. They contain a record of events of the deepest interest. The history of their influence is the history of civilization and happiness. The wisest and best of mankind have borne witness to their power as an instrument of enlightenment and of holiness; and having been prepared by "men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," to reveal “the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent," they have on this ground the strongest claims upon our attentive and reverential regard. a b The use of a hand-book of Scripture requires one or two cautions, which both writer and readers need to keep before them. a 2 Pet. I. 21. John 17. 3: Ps. 19. ク B 2. First, we are not to contemplate this glorious fabric of Divine truth as spectators only. It is not our business to stand before Scripture and admire it; To be studied with faith and obedience. but to stand within, that we may believe and obey it. In the way of inward communion and obedience only shall we see the beauty of its treasures. It yields them to none but the loving and the humble. We must enter and unite ourselves with that which we would know, before we can know it more than in name.a the Bible itself. 3. Secondly, nor must the study of a help to Scripture be All helps of confounded with the study of Scripture itself. value only as Such helps may teach us to look at truth so as to they lead to see its position and proportions, but it is the entrance of truth alone which gives light. The road we are about to travel may prove attractive and pleasing, but its great attraction is its end. It leads to the "wells of salvation." To suppose that the journey, or the sight of the living water-perhaps, even of the place whence it springs—wili quench our thirst, is to betray most mournful self-deceit or the profoundest ignorance. Our aim-" the sabbath and port of our labours"-is to make more clear and impressive the Book of God, "the god of books," as one calls it, the Bible itself. Its names. b 4. The names by which this volume is distinguished are not wanting in significance. It is called the BIBLE, or the book, from the Greek word ßißλos, book, a name given originally (like liber in Latin) to the inner bark of the linden, or teil-tree, and afterwards to the bark of the papyrus, the materials of which early books were sometimes made. It is called the Old and New Testament (that is, covenant Old and New or appointment), the term by which God was Testament. pleased to indicate the relation or settled arrangement between himself and his people. The term was first applied to the relation itself, and afterwards to the books in which the records of the relation are contained. Among the Jews, the Old Testament was called "The Law, a Prov. 2. 2-5: John 7. 17. Ex. 24. 7 2 Kings 23. 2: Greek is disposition, or a will; equivalent to σvén, a covenant. b The Synagogue, No. xiv, 2 Cor. 3. 6-14. dan, in classic in Hellenistic Greek, it is often Gen. 21. 27, 32: 26. 28: 31. 44. The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings." Sometimes the the Prophets, writings, or (as the Greek name is) the Hagiographa, and Holy Writings. were called, from the first book under the division, the Psalms. a What books were included in these divisions we gather from ancient Jewish authorities. Josephus reckons two-andtwenty canonical books of the Old Testament, and the whole are thus divided: The five books of Moses [in]. Torâh. The Law. The historical division Di D', Nebiim Rishonim, 1. Joshua. 2. Judges and Ruth. 3. Samuel, 1 and 2. 4. Kings, 1 and 2. 5. Chronicles, I and 2. 6. Daniel. 7. Ezra and Nehemiah. 8. Esther. 9. Job. The Prophets, properly so called, in D. Nebiim Acharonim. 10. Isaiah. 12. Ezekiel. II. Jeremiah and Lamentations. 13. The twelve minor Prophets. And the Hagiographa, D'n, Cethubim, namely The Psalms, the Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and In modern times, the following were also placed among the Hagiographa : Job, Ruth, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles. And this is the arrangement now in use in the Hebrew Scriptures. The terms, "the Scripture," "the Scriptures," Other names. " and "the word of God,” are also applied in the Bible itself to the sacred books; as is the expression, "the oracles of God;"" though this last is sometimes used to indicate the place where, under the old dispensation, the will of God was revealed. "The Law 5" and 66 the Prophets "h are each a Luke 24. 44. b John 10. 35: Jas. 4. 5. Luke 24. 27. d Luke 11. 28: Prov. 30. 5. e Acts 7. 38: Rom. 3. 2: Heb. 5. 12. 1 1 Kings 8. 6: 2 Chron. 4. 20: Ps. 28. 2. Mat. 5. 18: John 10. 34: 1 Cor. 14. 21. h Mat. 26. 56: Acts 3. 18, 21: 28. 23. a employed, and sometimes unitedly by a common figure of Canon of The sacred writings were sometimes called the canon of God. 5. Of all these titles, the "word of God" is perhaps the most CHAPTER I. ON THE GENUINENESS OF SCRIPTURE: OR THE BIBLE, AS "The integrity of the records of the Christian faith is substantiated by evidence, Sec. 1. Genuineness defined and proved. 6. IF a MS. of each book of the Bible in the author's hand- A genuine writing were still extant, and if the fact of its being such could be proved, every copy that agreed with 7. A book is said to be genuine if it be as it was written by defined. a Matt. II. 13: 22. 40. |