furnish such general rules as should lead, if carefully adopted and followed up, to a correct acquaintance with the letter of Scripture. PART II. was designed to comprise a discussion of the various subjects usually classed by biblical writers under historical circumstances, sufficiently ample to give a correct general view of these matters a task which, it will be conceded, was not easily to be accomplished within so small a compass. It is hoped, nevertheless, that this object has been attained to some extent. ge Chapter 1, contains a series of Prefatory Observations on the several Books of Scripture; comprising a distinct notice of their authors, chronology, scope, the persons to whom they were primarily addressed, analyses of their contents, &c. &c. And although it formed no part of the author's design to exhibit the neral evidences of Revelation, he has yet judged it expedient, in treating of the respective Books, to offer a few remarks on the leading features of that evidence which attests their genuineness and authenticity. In reviewing the Old Testament Scriptures, the utmost conciseness, compatible with intelligibility, has been aimed at; but in the remarks on those of the New Testament, it has been deemed requisite to be somewhat more diffuse. For this part of his work the author has consulted such publications as he conceives to be the best authorities; and where modern writers have either borrowed from earlier ones, or improved upon their labours, reference has been given to their works, in preference to those which cannot be presumed to be so accessible to that class of persons for whom this publication is designed. Chapter 2, contains a Sketch of Sacred Geography, comprising an account of the Holy Land, and also of those other countries whose histories are connected with that of the Jewish people. In the compilation of the former part of this chapter, the author has taken Reland's very elaborate Work Palestina Illustrata-as his model and guide; having recourse at the same time to the labours of Josephus, Wells, Whitby, Michaelis, Lightfoot, Beausobre and L'Enfant, D'Anville, Calmet and his erudite and industrious editor, the authors of the Universal History, and others. Nor have the contributions of modern travellers been neglected, as the various illustrative information derived from Maundrell, Shaw, Hasselquist, Clarke, Richardson, Burckhardt, Buckingham, Jolliffe, and Captains Irby and Mangles, will sufficiently attest. The author much wished that he could have been at liberty to enlarge on the geography of Palestine, but his limits rendered this impracticable. He has therefore been obliged to content himself with exhibiting the general features, divisions, and phenomena of this interesting, and once delightful spot of the globe. Of the Maps accompanying this chapter, the author will only say, that upon them he has bestowed no trifling labour; and yet, after all, he sees much reason to solicit the indulgence of those who may inspect them. They who know the difficulties of the subject will not be surprised that he should have sometimes erred. Chapter 3, which treats of the Political Antiquities of the Jews, has been drawn up after a careful examination of Lowman, Lightfoot, Michaelis, Godwyn, Calmet, Jennings, Lamy, Fleury, Harwood, and such of the Commentators and other writers as the author was acquainted with. Chapters 4 to 8, relate to the Sacred Laws, Festivals, Places, Things, and Persons of the Jewish Church; and it is hoped that they present a mass of information on these subjects-so important to a correct understanding of Scripture—as is not any where to be met with in so small a compass. The writers to whom the author has here been principally indebted are, Josephus, Lightfoot, Lowman, Lamy, Michaelis, Calmet, Godwyn, Jennings, and Dr. Brown, whose valuable work on the "Antiquities of the Jews," cannot be too highly commended. Where he has seen occasion to differ from preceding writers, he has generally given the reasons which have influenced his judgment. Chapter 9, on the Corruption of Religion, and Religious Sects among the Jews, does not require to be more distinctly noticed. Chapter 10, on the National and Domestic Customs of the Jewish People, embraces, it is presumed, much information which will contribute to the illustration of Scripture. In addition to the writers who have professedly written on Biblical Antiquities, most of whom have been already enumerated, much aid has been derived from Harmer, Taylor, and Burder, and also from some eastern travellers who have either escaped the notice of these writers, or appeared subsequently to the publication of their respective works. The illustration of Scripture incidents and expression has been constantly kept in view throughout this part of the work. Chapter 11, contains a notice of various customs and opinions, not adopted by the Jewish people, but to which there are either direct references or incidental allusions in the Sacred Writings. In this Chapter the author has been chiefly indebted to Dr. Harwood, whose "Introduction to the Study and Knowledge of the New Testament" contains some masterly disquisitions on subjects of this nature, but which, it is to be regretted, are mixed up with much that is erroneous and dangerous with respect to Christian doctrine. In the Appendix will be found a Table, comprising such a distribution of the whole Scriptures as that they may be read through in chronological order, once in the year. For this the author is indebted to a friend, who originally drew it up for publication in the Scripture Magazine, where it may be seen with the addition of the Sacred Seasons and Remarkable events of the Bible. It is necessary to apprise the reader, that some parts of this volume have appeared as separate papers in the periodical just referred to a work which it has been the author's pleasure to conduct for some period of time. These prefatory remarks may be closed, with much propriety, in the words of Lightfoot-a name dear to every biblical scholar :-"What I have done, I leave, with all humbleness, at the reader's feet. If he accept it, it is more than I can deserve; if he censure it, it is no more than I shall willingly undergo; being most ready ever to submit to others, and to acknowledge my own infirmity; and owning nothing in myself but sin, weakness, and strong desires to serve the Public," November, 1826. CONTENTS. PAGE Importance of the subject.-I. Gratitude for the fact and character of the Divine Revelation. II. Humility of Mind. - III. Devout prayer.. IV. Freedom from all undue bias of Sentiment, and a determination to I. The literal meaning to be sought after. -II. Of Method in Reading. III. Of the scope.. VI. Of the analogy of faith.-VII. Cautionary rules for practical reading 18 PART II.-HELPS TOWARDS A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING Introductory Observations on the Nature and Sources of these CHAPTER I. Prefatory Observations on the several Books of Preliminary Remarks on the Divisions occurring in the Bible... 56 The Book of Genesis. The Book of Exodus.-The Book of Leviticus. - The Book of Joshua. -The Book of Judges. - The Book of Ruth. The two Books of Samuel.-The two Books of Kings.-The two Books of Chro- |