which I refer my reader: and the same argument will hold good with regard to the historical part of Scripture. There I have shown particularly how needful it is to collect the great articles and rules of our religion, which lie scattered up and down in the Bible, into a shorter scheme for the use of younger understandings: and I have given my reasons, also, why the catechetical method of question and answer is preferable to all other methods of instruction; and I need not repeat the same things here, with regard to sacred history. It is proper the reader should know, that at the end of the History of the Old Testament, I have inserted one chapter, wherein the Jewish affairs are continued from the time of Nehemiah (where the sacred writers end) down to the times of Christ and the Gospel. This is borrowed from the best ancient writings we have of these events, namely, the books of Maccabees in the Apocrypha, and the history of Josephus; though I am greatly indebted also to Dr. Prideaux's Historical Connection of the Old and New Testament, wherein these narratives are so happily reduced to a chronological order, and embellished and improved with many valuable hints from heathen historians. And to render the work yet more useful in these days of infidelity, I have added another chapter, which I call a Prophetical Connection between the Old and New Testament, wherein the most eminent prophecies relating to our blessed Lord are set down in one view, together with their accomplishment; that young minds may see how much this great Messiah, or anointed Saviour, was foretold and expected through all ages, and may have their faith of Christ built early upon a solid foundation. I have nothing more to add, but to acquaint the reader with the method I have taken in composing this work, and with the use that he should make of it. In framing this book, I have observed the following rules, namely: 1. I have proceeded, for the most part, according to the order of things as they lie in the books of Scripture; but still endeavouring to maintain some connection throughout the whole history. Yet I cannot say I have always reduced things to that order in which they were transacted; for in several places I found that a strict observation of chronology would have intermingled too many incidents of different kinds, would have broken the scheme of things I had proposed, or interrupted the narrative of some particular event, and rendered the history much more unconnected and disagreeable to those for whom I write. II. Though I have not been solicitous to insert every incident, and the name of every person contained in the Old Testament, yet I have omitted scarce any name or remarkable transaction which has been referred to or cited in the New, or has any connection with the Gospel of Christ, which is the religion of Christians. It was not possible to insert all the particular narratives contained in the Scripture, without making another book almost as big as the Bible itself: whereas my prime design was to give an abstract or shrot view of the sacred history, for the use of persons of such age, capacities, or conditions of life, as are not able to attend to much reading, nor gain a fuller and more accurate knowledge of the transactions of God with men. III. I have added the chapter and verse of one or more texts of Scripture to every answer that required it, that the reader might be invited to search his Bible, and there gain a larger and more particular acquaintance with those historical matters which I have briefly mentioned in a line or two. If young persons, by this means, are allured to grow familiar with the word of God, I am persuaded the advantage they may reap thereby will richly compensate all their labours in reading this historical abridgment of Scripture, and all my pains in writing it. IV. It is all divided into chapters, and some chapters into sections, with a new title to each. This will, in some measure, give a comprehensive view of the method and order of the whole. It is evident that the catechetical form of question and answer takes off the tiresomeness of reading from younger minds, and perpetually allures their inquiry and curiosity onward by short answers, without that weariness which arises from many long continued pages of mere narrative: and in the same manner, a proper distinction of the history into chapters and sections, under different titles, renders the work of reading much more delightful by these frequent returning rests and pauses. V. Since I intended it originally for persons of younger years, and the common ranks of mankind, I have studied generally to use such words and forms of speech as are most plain and easy to be understood. It would not have an swered my design so well, if I must have sent my reader too often to his dictionaries to inquire the meaning of hard words and Latinized expressions. VI. Yet I have not so confined myself to the service of my unlearned readers, as to neglect all useful criticisms and occasional remarks to clear up difficulties: but have freely interspersed them throughout the whole book, so far as may inform the inquisitive, and give some hints to the more intelligent reader, for the further illustration of some passages of Scripture both in the Old Testament and the New. If there should be found any mistakes in drawing up this history, which might have been rectified by further consulting the writings of the learned, I would only mention one apology for myself; and that is, that a great part of it was drawn up in the country, at a distance from my usual habitation, where I had no learned writings to consult, and was confined to my Bible alone. Let me here speak a word or two more of the particular uses which may be made of this summary of sacred history. It may not be an improper book to lie constantly in the nursery or the parlour, to assist the instruction of children, or the conversation of grown persons. And if this and other useful books were suffered always to lie in the places appointed for servants, especially in great families, it might be an allurement to them to employ some of their leisure in a profitable manner. The placing it in any room of usual residence, may entice persons often to look into it, and lead them into an easy acquaintance with the various dealings of God with men from the beginning of the world. Nor can I think it would be a vain and useless employment for persons who are not furnished with better advantages for scriptural knowledge, to read it over once in a year or two, in order to keep these sacred memoirs ever fresh in their minds. Half a chapter a-week would be no heavy task, and this would finish it in twelve months' time. May the divine blessing attend this feeble endeavour of mine to diffuse the knowledge of divine things among mankind, and to furnish families with useful matter for conversation, whereby they may be better secured against the temptation of loose and vicious writings, and vain discourse, which give an unhappy tincture to the imagination in early years, and tend to defile and destroy the soul. V. Of the Ceremonial Law of the Jews Sect. 1. Of the Ceremonies of Purification 2. Of the holy Persons, namely, Priests, 3. Of the holy Places, particularly the Ta- 4. Of the holy Things, namely, the Ark, Table, Candlestick, Altars, Laver, Holy ib. 5. Of the holy Times, Feasts, and Fasts, the Sabbaths the New Moons, the Passover, 47 Sect. 6. The Use of the Jewish Ceremonies VI. Of the Political or Judicial Law of the Jews, namely, of their Wars, Marriages, Food, Raiment, Cattle, Sabbatical year, Jubilee, &c. 55 2. Of the Government of the Jews by IX. Of the government of the Jews under their kings; and first of Saul and David. X. Of the Reign of Solomon and Rehoboam XIII. Of the Return of the Jews from Captivity, and the Building the City of Jerusalem |