PREFACE. THE little Manual, now offered to the Public, has been undertaken in consequence of requests long since communicated to the Author, and frequently repeated, that he would prepare an ANALYSIS, or Abridgment of the four octavo volumes of his larger "Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures;" as an assistant to the studies of Gentlemen, at the Universities and other Seminaries of Theological Literature, as also of those individuals who may respectively possess that work, and to whom such an auxiliary would be acceptable. At the same time, the present volume has been so arranged, as to form a Comprehensive Guide to the Study of the Bible, adapted to the use of GENERAL READERS: it will be found to contain, I. A Summary of the Evidences of the Genuineness, Inspiration, &c. of the Holy Scriptures, refuting the most modern objections of Infidels; II. An Outline of the Literary History and Interpretation of the Bible; III. A Compendium of Biblical Geography and Antiquities; and IV. Introductory Prefaces to the several Books of Scripture. In preparing this Manual for the press, the order of the larger Introduction has generally been followed; the Parts and Books, into which it is divided, corres ponding with the volumes, and parts of volumes in tha work. Those bibliographical, critical, and other details only have been omitted, which either would not admit of abridgment, or which would be uninteresting to the generality of English readers. The Author has subjoined, in an Appendix, a List of Select Chapters of the Bible, forming an Epitome of the Old and New Testaments, adapted to perusal in the family, or in private, together with chronological and other tables; which he trusts, with the Divine blessing on his labours, will contribute to facilitate the devout and attentive reading of "the Holy Scriptures, which ALONE are able to make us wise unto salvation, THROUGH FAITH which is in Christ Jesus." TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. On the Necessity, &c. of a Divine Revelation. CHAPTER II. On the Genuineness and Authenticity of the Books of Sect. III. On the uncorrupted Preservation of the Books of the CHAPTER III. On the Credibility of the Old and New Testaments Sect. I. Direct Evidences of the Credibility of the Old and New ibid. § 3. Collateral Testimonies to the Truth of the Facts record ed in the Scriptures, from ancient Coins, Medals, and Mar- CHAPTER IV. All the Books of the Old and New Testaments are of Sect. II. The Miracles related in the Old and New Testaments Class III. Prophecies directly announcing the Messiah Class IV. Prophecies by Jesus Christ and his Apostles Refutation of various Objections against Prophecy CHAPTER V. Internal Evidences of the Inspiration of the Scriptures Sect. I. The System of Doctrine and the Moral Precepts, which are delivered in the Scriptures, are so excellent and so per- fectly holy, that the persons who published them to the World, must have derived them from a purer and more ex- alted Source than their own Meditations 1. A Concise View of the Religion of the Patriarchal Times 50 $ 4. On the Objections of Unbelievers to the Doctrine and Sect. II. The wonderful Harmony and intimate Connexion subsisting between all the Parts of Scripture are a further Proof of its Authority and Divine Original Sect. III. The Preservation of the Scriptures is a Proof of their Sect. IV. The Tendency of the Scriptures to promote the present ibid. ibid. Sect. V. The peculiar Advantages possessed by the Christian Sect. VI. Inability to answer all objections, no just cause for rejecting the Scriptures.-Unbelievers in Divine Revelation more credulous than Christians CHAPTER VI. Recapitulation.-Moral Qualifications for the Study of Sect. i. On the Hebrew Manuscripts of the Old Testament Sect. II. Account of Greek Manuscripts containing the Old and CHAPTER IV. On the Ancient Versions of the Scriptures Sect. I. Of the Targums or Chaldee Paraphrases Sect. II, Ancient Greek Versions of the Old Testament Sect. III. Ancient Oriental Versions of the New Testament Sect. IV. Ancient Western Versions of the Scriptures Sect. I. On the Modern Latin Versions of the Old and New Tes ibid. |