7. The Holy Writings, or Poetical Books, sometimes called the Doctrinal Books, comprise five books,

viz.

Job. 1 Psalms.

Proverbs. I Ecclesiastes.

The Song of Solomon.

8. The Prophetical Books are divided into those of the Greater Prophets, and the Lesser or Minor Prophets, so called from the extent of their writings.

9. The writings of the four Greater Prophets, with the addition of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, are those of

4. Isaiah,

9. Jeremiah,

(Lamentations,)

13. Ezekiel,

11. Daniel,

10. The Minor Prophets, and their writings, are these twelve:

12. Obadiah,

1. Jonah,

6. Micah,

7. Nahum,

10. Habakkuk,

8. Zephaniah,

14. Haggai, 15. Zechariah,

16. Malachi,

**The figures denote the order of their appearance. 11. The Apocrypha.-In addition to these Books, there are what are termed the Apocryphal Books, so named from a Greek word 'apocrupto to hide. They are of doubtful origin, and are not written by inspired writers; yet they are useful for our edification.

12. The first English Bible was that made by Wickliffe, about A. D. 1380-90. After the invention of Printing (1441), the first entire Bible was the one by Myles Coverdale, A. D. 1535.

6. Which are the Historical Books? 7. What are the Holy Writings? 8. Into what two classes are the Prophetical Books divided? 9. What are the Greater Prophets? 10. What are the Minor Prophets? 11. What are the Apocryphal Books, and whence is the term derived? When was the first English Bible printed?

12.

13. The Authorized Version.-The Bible now in use was translated into English by forty-seven persons eminent for their piety and learning, by order of James I. They began their task in A. D. 1607, and completed it in A. D. 1611. This is called the 'Authorized English Version.'

14. When the Holy Scriptures were first divided into Chapters, and Verses, is not known; the Chapters are thought to have been introduced about A. D. 1240. VERSES are said to have been introduced in A. D. 1445, but the first English Version of the New Testament with Verses appeared in A. D. 1557.

15. THE BOOK of Genesis is the first of the Books of Moses, and also in the Bible, and takes its name from a Greek word, signifying a birth; and is the Book describing "the birth, or production" of all things. It comprises a period of about 2369 years.

16. The principal events recorded in it are the Creation; the original state, and the fall of man; the history of Adam, and his descendants; the deluge; the re-peopling of the earth; the building of Babel; and the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

17. The Creation.-The world was created by the word of God, 4004 years before the birth of Christ.

and

13. When was the present Authorized Version completed? 14. When was the Bible first divided into Chapters, and Verses? 15. What is the book of Genesis? whence is its name? What period of time does its history embrace? 16. What are the principal events recorded in Genesis? 17. How many years was the Creation before the birth of Christ?

18.

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'In the beginning,' in so far as relates to this world, God created the heavens and the earth,' out of nothing; (Heb. xi. 3.) And, it is said, the Spirit of God for this great purpose moved upon the face of the waters."

19. The CREATION occupied six days; on the
First day was created Light. Gen. i. 1-5.
Second day, the firmament or Air. 6-8.
Third day, the earth or dry Land was separated
from the Sea, and Herbs and Trees were
made. 9-13.

Fourth day, the Sun, Moon, and Stars. 14—19.
Fifth day, Fishes, and Birds. 20-23.

Sixth day, Animals, and Man. 24-31.

On the Seventh, God rested, and sanctified it.—ii. 2.

20. Plurality of Persons.-At the creation of man, 'God said, let us make man in our image after our .' likeness.' These expressions, 'us' and 'our,' teach us that there are more persons than one; that is, a plurality of persons in the Godhead: yet, there is but one God.(Deut. vi. 4.)

21. The Blessing.' So God created Man, 'male and female; and God blessed them saying; Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and 'have dominion over every living thing that moveth upon 'the earth:' and God gave them every herb, and every tree, for meat. Gen. i. 27. 30.

22. The work of Creation ended, God rested on the seventh day; and sanctified it as a Sabbath of holy rest. Gen. ii. 1-3.

23. Adam and Eve. And God formed man 'of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the

18. Describe the work of the Creation. 19. Specify the work of each day. 20. In whose likeness and image was man made? How is it that a plurality of persons is said to have been engaged in the Creation of the world.

21. What blessing did God pronounce on man immediately after his creation? What was their Food? 22. What did God do on the seventh day? 23. Of what was man made?

'breath of life, and man became a living soul. And God planted a Garden eastward in Eden;' which had two important trees in the midst; the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the Tree of Life;' and this Garden was watered by four rivers.

24. Adam was placed 'in the Garden of Eden to dress it, and keep it;' and was allowed the free use of every thing around him, with the exception of one tree, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evilof the fruit of which, if he should eat, he should surely die. Gen. ii. 7-17.

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25. Adam now gave names to all living creatures but being without a suitable companion, and as it was not fit that he should be alone, God 'caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam,' and then took from him a rib, and closed up the flesh instead 'thereof,' and formed it into a Woman, whom He presented to him as his wife, or helpmate. Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the 'mother of all living.' Gen. iii. 20.

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26. Sabbath, and Marriage.-In the time of the innocence of our first parents were instituted, as we have seen, the Sabbath, and Marriage: the former was necessary for man to bring continually to his mind his relation to God: and is a 'type of the 'rest we shall have when we have done our work faithfully. And Marriage having been thus instituted, is considered a religious contract. Matt. xix. 6; Eph. v. 31, 32.

27. The Fall.-The happiness of Adam and Eve was soon interrupted by the subtlety of Satan, who, under the disguise of a Serpent, tempted EVE to eat of the forbidden fruit; telling her that by so

24. Where was Adam placed? What was his employment? and what privileges were allowed him? 25. How did God provide man with a suitable companion? 26. What two ordinances were instituted by God in the time of man's innocence? 27. How was the happiness of Adam and Eve interrupted?

doing they would become as gods, and not die; EVE yielded, and prevailed also upon her husband to transgress. Immediately shame overwhelmed them both; and they in vain endeavoured to hide themselves from the all-seeing God. Sin and misery then entered into the world, (Gen. iii. 1—8.); and pain, sickness, want, and death.

28. The Curse.-In punishment God said to the Serpent:-'Because thou hast dore this, thou art cursed 'above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon 'thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the 'days of thy life.'-Gen. iii. 14.

29. God said unto the Woman,-'I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou 'shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy 'husband, and he shall rule over thee.'-Gen. iii. 16.

30. God said to Adam: Cursed is the ground for thy sake, in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days 'of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat of the herb of the field. In 'the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou 'return unto the ground.'-Gen. iii. 17-19.

31. Expelled.-God now sent Adam and Eve forth from Paradise 'lest he put forth his hand, and take 'also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live for ever; and the Almighty placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cheru'bims and a flaming sword, to keep the way of the Tree of 'Life.'-Gen. iii. 22-24.

32. Clothed.-After they were expelled from Paradise, 'Unto Adam, and to his wife did the Lord 'God make coats of skins, and clothed them.' They were doubtlessly the skins of the beasts that were slain and offered up in sacrifice before the Cherubim. 33. The Fromise, But in His abundant mercy, the Almighty gave intimation of the future redemption of mankind by proclaiming also to the Serpent:-'I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and

28. What punishment did God denounce upon the Serpent? 29. Upon the Woman? 30. Upon Adam? 31. Why did God send Adam and Eve from Paradise? 82. How were our first parents clothed after the fall? 33. What intimation did God give of the future redemption of mankind?