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CHAPTER I.

PREFATORY OBSERVATIONS ON THE SEVERAL BOOKS OF SCRIPTURE.

Preliminary Observations on the Divisions occurring in the Bible.

BEFORE we proceed to the more immediate object of this chapter, it seems desirable to offer a few remarks on the several divisions of the Bible which have obtained in the Jewish and Christians churches.

1. The Old Testament resolves itself into two grand divisions -the Canonical and the Apocryphal books: the former were written under the guidance of divine inspiration; are part of the rule of faith and conduct of Christians; and have ever been undisputed as regards their authority: the latter are of no divine authority, and are only useful as historical documents. The books of the Maccabees are of considerable value, as helping to fill up the history of that interval of time which elapsed between the ceasing of prophecy and the advent of the Messiah. It is to be regretted that some of the Apocryphal books contain gross and palpable perversions of truth, and some details of an indelicate nature.*

2. The Jewish church divided the canonical books into three classes, under which form they were generally referred to and quoted. These were denominated THE LAW—THE PROPHETS and the HAGIOGRAPHA, or Holy writings. THE LAW Contained the five Books of Moses; frequently called the Pentateuch, i. e. the five Books. THE PROPHETS COMprised the whole of the writings now termed prophetical—from Isaiah to Malachi, inclusively-and also the books of Job, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther; these books having been either written or revised by prophets-probably the former. THE HAGIOGRAPHA included the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the

*Much curious and valuable information relative to the Apocrypha may be found in a recently published phamphlet, entitled "A Plea for the Protestant Canon of Scripture."

Song of Solomon. It is probable that our Saviour alluded to this division of the Old Testament when he said, "All things must be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me" (Luke xxiv. 44.) for the Psalms standing first in this collection of Books gave its name to the division.

3. Since the completion of the canon of the entire Scriptures, the general or principal division adopted is that of the Old and New Testament. The books included under each of these divisions are too familiar to every reader to need repetition here. It must be observed, however, that the order of the Books as placed in our translation is not according to the times in which they were written, or the course of the history to which they relate. The several books stand as unconnected and independent documents. Their chronological and historical arrangement has recently been completed in a very able manner by Mr. Townsend, on the basis of Lightfoot's well known "Chronicle." Of the importance of this classification to a right understanding of the Bible, we have spoken in Part I. A further division of the Scriptures into Legal, Historical, Doctrinal, and Prophetical books has been made, but such a division answers but little purpose, as almost every part of the Sacred writings partakes of these several characters.

4. The division into chapter and verse is a modern invention, which it is to be regretted should ever have assumed a higher character than convenient divisions for the purposes of reference and quotation, They should be totally disregarded in reading the Bible.

We now proceed to notice, in order, the several books of the Scriptures, and to furnish such information respecting their authors-dates-titles-scope or design-authenticityand contents, as is requisite for attaining to a proper knowledge of the respective matters treated of in them.

SECTION I.

OF THE PENTATEUCH.

Under this title, as before observed, are comprised the five Books of Moses, who speaks of himself in many places as their appointed author. These books are mentioned in seve

And in his fury did he confound them:

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Assuredly I have anointed my king,

Upon Zion, the mountain of my holiness!"

So long ago as Samuel's days, and by the hands of that celebrated man (1 Sam. xvi.), was David "anointed;" and he had repeated assurances, "that the Lord had established him king over Israel," 2 Sam. v. 12. All attempts, therefore, in opposition, were to be "derided;" and must end in the "confusion" of their abettors. In further exposition, this royal proclamation expressly affirms, verses 7-9,

I will declare the purpose of Jehovah :
He hath said to me:- "Be thou my son,
"This day have I adopted thee!

"Ask of me, and I will give to thee
"The nations for thine inheritance;

"And the ends of the land for thy possession.
"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;

"Thou shalt shiver them like a potter's vessel !"

Verse 7 most distinctly refers to the prophecy of Nathan (1 Chron. xvii. 3—15); and it is not improbable that that faithful prophet did, first of all, "declare" the things of these verses. Who was so likely to act the herald on this memorable day? Most appropriately are the "nations" here introduced that had aforetime been "tumultuous;" and the Philistines, or "ends of the land," so fully subdued by the prowess of David's arms, 1 Chr. xiv. 17. This national address then closes in suitable admonitions, verses 10-12.

Now, therefore, O chiefs, be wise;

Be instructed, ye judges of the land.
Serve JEHOVAH with fear;

And rejoice with reverence.

Embrace the
ye

son,

lest he be angry,

And ye should perish in the way;

For his wrath will be kindled in a little.
Happy are all they who confide in him!

Thus correspond the chieftains, or kings, of verses 2 and 10; and the Son of verses 7 and 12. The concatenation of thought and expression is accurately and beautifully preserved throughout the Psalm.

*Scripture Magazine, Vol. iv. pp. 20-22.

Let the forty-second Psalm be read as the composition of David, penned when he was fleeing from Absalom, and on the night when he was about to pass over Jordan: let an accurate survey be also taken of the existing circumstances of the pious monarch, and the character of the surrounding scenery, and that beautiful and affecting composition will appear doubly beautiful and affecting. The prophetic writings, and also the epistles of the New Testament are susceptible of the same kind of illustration; indeed, without connecting them in this way with the several parts of the history to which they are related, the meaning of many passages in them will remain locked up from our comprehension.

2. The titles of the several Books. These, as we have had occasion to observe when treating of the scope, sometimes declare the design proposed by the author, and therefore assist in understanding his reasoning, &c. By the title of the book, we do not merely mean the word or words which stand at its head in the respective versions; as GENESIS"the generation or production of all things;" EXODUS-" the departure," i. e. of the Israelites from Egypt: the English reader will not unfrequently fail in deriving a notion of the character of the book from these. The real title of the book, however, will sometimes be found in the first verse or verses as given by the original penmen, in which case its importance is obvious.*

3. The authors of the respective Books may generally be known from the titles prefixed to them in our translation. A knowledge of the principal features of their character, circumstances, and style, will materially conduce to our improvement in perusing their works. It is unnecessary to enlarge on this: every reader of the Scriptures, especially of the New Testament, is fully aware of its importance.

4. The persons to whom the Books were respectively and primarily addressed.-In the New Testament there is a variety of compositions inscribed and addressed to people, residing in different towns and countries. The circumstances of that people to whom these epistolary admonitions were addressed, and the customs and usages, and other remarkable things by which they were distinguished, are to be minutely and accurately marked. Previously to the critical examination of an epistle sent to Rome, to Corinth, to Ephesus, we should enquire what customs were prevalent in these places; for what such a town was principally celebrated, and what peculiarly ennobled and signalised such a city. Because, in writings addressed to the inhabitants of such renowned places, * See page 23, ante.

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there must be frequent allusions to these distinguishing circumstances, a knowledge of which will illustrate many passages, and place them in a most beautiful and striking point of view. In such figurative allusions consists a considerable part of the elegance and effect of fine writing; for they do not merely soothe and charm the imagination of the reader, but they infix the deepest impressions on his mind and memory. For example; we find an epistle inscribed to the Romans. Antecedently to our attentive and critical perusal of it, let us consider what customs eminently distinguished this people. Now, in their historians we find very frequent mention made of adoption; it occurs almost in every page. Their poets are full of it; and it is the perpetual object of the ridicule and banter of their satirists. Families of distinction were continually settling mutual adoptions; and they were ratified with scrupulous and most solemn formality. There was no custom more prevalent at Rome.-It was regarded as the cement of indissoluble friendship and union among families. St. Paul knew this; and in his epistle to the Romans, makes many beautiful allusions to it. And it is a proof of the fine genius and excellent judgment of the Apostle, that in writing to this people, among whom this custom was so predominant, he should take occasion from it to speak to them of the distinguished privilege of being adopted into God's family, and the signal happiness of being constituted the heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus, of an heavenly inheritance. The Romans would perfectly understand him, and his words would have all their effect upon their minds, when he told them, that they had not received the spirit of bondage, again to fear, but that they had, through the benignity of God in the gospel dispensation, received the spirit of adoption, and could, with liberal and filial confidence, cry out, Abba, father!

So also, before we proceed to an attentive examination of the epistles to the Corinthians, it will be proper to reflect what Corinth was celebrated for; and what principally distinguished that renowned city. Now, most ancient writers make mention of its abandoned luxury and effeminacy, and in their historical monuments eternise its profligacy, voluptuousness, and debauchery. Hence we see with what peculiar propriety it is, that St. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, uses every argument and persuasive to deter them. from these vices. Every page is full of the most warm and pathetic admonitions, to fly these fatal excesses; and his epistles to this people, more than all his other writings, abound with remonstrances against them. We learn also from history, that the Isthmian games were celebrated in the