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CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE WORK.

PART I. THE OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY.

1. Address to the reader.-The Scriptures of divine authority.-A brief notice of the characters of the compilers or writers of the books contained in the Old Test

ament.

2. The history of that stupendous work the creation of the world, with suitable notes and reflections.

3. The creation of Adam and Eve-their temptation, fall, and expulsion from paradise-its fatal consequences, &c.

4. The history of mankind before the flood-their wickedness-the general deluge -preservation of Noah and his family, &c., &c.

5. The building of Babel, confusion of tongues, and dispersion of the people.

6. History of Abraham and his family.-Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, &c. 7. Persecutions of the Israelites by Pharoah, king of Egypt, with the various transactions that took place previous to their being miraculously released from bondage.

S. A full and particular account of the journeyings and encampments of the Israelites, with the great miracles wrought in their favor by Divine interposition, before their settlement at Jerusalem.

9. History of Samson, Saul and Jonathan, David, Naomi, Ruth, and all the principal Scripture characters.

10. History of the Babylonish captivity, with a full description of that magnificent building, Solomon's temple, &c., &c.

11. The various predictions of the prophets, concerning the coming and offices of the Messiah, &c., &c.

12. Particular accounts of the lives and transactions of the most eminent patriarchs, prophets, and other servants of God, who, by an inspired grace, have distinguished themselves in the display of divine wisdom.

PART II-THE NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY.

13. History of the life, transactions, and miracles of our BLESSED REDEEMER, from his birth to his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. 14. Also, the lives, travels, doctrines, sufferings, and various martyrdoms of the holy evangelists, MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, and JOHN; with the lives of the holy apostles, and other disciples; particularly ST. PETER, PAUL, ANDREW, JAMES the Great and Less, PHILIP, BARTHOLOMEW, SIMON, JUDE, MATTHIAS, BARNABAS, STEPHEN, TIMOTHY, TITUS, &c., &c., who were made instruments, by divine grace, in promoting the establishment of Christianity, the foundation whereon are built all our hopes of eternal salvation.

15. An account of the seven churches of Asia.

16. An account of the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, as foretold by our blessed Redeemer a short time before his death.

17. Also the various observations, comments, and illustrations, of the most learned biblical scholars and divines, ecclesiastical and other authentic ancient and modern historians, who have hitherto written on the Scriptures. To,which is added

A LITERARY HISTORY OF THE HOLY BIBLE.

The whole calculated to enlighten the understanding, purify the heart, and promote that KNOWLEDGE by which we may obtain happiness in this world, and eternal salvation in that which is to come.

OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS,-HISTORICAL, MORAL, AND DEVOTIONAL.

TO THE READER.

THE providence of Gon is particularly manifested in the preservation of the Holy Scriptures. To the Jews were committed the Oracles of God; and so faithful have they been to this sacred trust, that when copies of the law or the prophets were transcribed, they not only diligently compared the one with the other, but even counted the number of letters in each book, and compared the numbers.

No sooner did the gospel spread through the nations, than it was found necessary to translate the Bible for each into its proper language. Some affirm that the five books of Moses and that of Joshua were translated into Greek before the days of Alexander the Great. But the most remarkable translation of the Old Testament is called the Septuagint, which, if the opinion of some eminent writers is to be credited, was made in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus, about 280 years before the Christian era. At any rate, it is undoubtedly the most ancient that is now extant, and on many accounts deserving notice, though not to be put on a level with the Hebrew text, as has been sometimes done.

Other translations of the Old Testament into Greek were made, from A. D. 128 to 200. It is generally believed that the church of Antioch was favored with a Syrian version of the Bible in the year 100. The Ethiopians of Abyssinia have a version of the Bible, which they ascribe to Frumentius, of the fourth century. Chrysostrom, who lived in the end of the fourth, and Theodoret, who lived in the middle of the fifth century, both inform us that they had the Syrian, Indian, Persian, Armenian, Ethiopic, Scythian, and Samaritan versions. The ancient Egyptians had the Scriptures translated into their language. The Georgians have a version in their ancient language. The Old Testament of all these versions, except the Syrian, is taken from the Septuagint.

The famous Latin translation of the Bible called the Vulgate, which is now, and has been for many ages, of authority in the church of Rome, is of great antiquity. It is by some said to have been written, or at least copied and improved, by St. Jerome in the fourth century; probably the last was the case, for there existed before his time a Latin version, which Augustine calls the Italian, Jerome the Vulgate, and Gregory Nazeazen the ancient version. In the year 1200, Peter de Vaux translated the Bible into French; and about the same time the Spanish translation was made. There have been many translations both into French and Spanish since that time. The Polish version was published A. D. 1390; and the first Italian version, A. D. 1471. Luther composed his version of the Bible, in the German language, between the years 1521 and 1532; and what is remarkable, not only the Popish translations, but those of the Protestants, for a considerable time after the reformation, were made, not from the Hebrew of the Old, and Greek of the New Testament, but from the Latin of the Vulgate. We are told that early in the sixteenth century the Bohemians took their first version from the Vulgate; but that toward the close of that century eight divines were employed to compose another from the original text.

We will now give some account of the translations of the Bible into the English language. There have been some who have affirmed that Adelme, Bishop of Sherborn, who lived in the beginning of the eighth century, translated the Psalms into the Saxon tongue. That, however, is uncertain, as some of the best historians make no mention of it; yet it is possible, as he was a man of great parts, and of great learning for those times, and said to be the first Englishman who wrote in the Latin language. About the same time, or a little after, Bede, commonly called the Venerable Bede, translated some parts of the New Testament-some say the whole Bible, but that is not probable. Near two hundred years later, King Alfred translated the Psalms into the same language. In 1382, Wickliff finished his translation of the Bible, which is yet extant; that is to say, there are copies of it in some public and private libraries. All these translations were made from the Vulgate. In the reign of Henry the Eighth, several editions of the Old and New Testaments were published in English: one of the most remarkable is that of William Tyndal in 1530. The translation of the New Testament was made from the original Greek, but probably the Old Testament either from the Latin of the Vulgate, or the Greek of the Septuagint. This was soon followed by the improvements of Coverdale and Mathews. By order of the king, Tonstal, Bishop of Durham, and Heath, Bishop of Rochester, made a new translation, which was published in 1541; but, not pleasing Henry, it was suppressed by authority. In the reign of King Edward the Sixth, another translation was made, two editions of which were published, one in 1549, and the other in 1551. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, another translation was made, which, being revised by some of the most learned of the bishops, went by the name of the Bishops' Bible. This professed to be translated from the Hebrew of the Old Testament, and the Greek of the New, though in some instances, when there was a difference, it preferred the Septuagint to the Hebrew.

This last circumstance, with some others, induced King James the First to select fifty-four persons, eminent in learning, and particularly well acquainted with the original languages in which the Old and New Testaments were written, to make a new translation of the whole Bible. In the year 1607, fortyseven of those persons, the other seven probably having died, assembled together, and arranged themselves into committees, to each of which a portion was given to translate. They were favored not only with the best translations, but with the most accurate copies, and the various readings of the original text. After about three years' assiduous labor, they severally completed the parts assigned them. They then met together; and while one read the translation newly formed, the rest had each a copy of the original text in his hand, or some one of the ancient versions, and when any difficulty occurred they stopped, till by common consultation it was determined what was most agreeable to the inspired original. This transla tion was first published A. D. 1610, and is the one which has been, ever since that time, generally approved by men of learning and piety of all denominations.

Α

NEW AND COMPLETE

HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.

PART I.

CONTAINING THE HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.

THE HE word BIBLE signifies The Book; and is applied by way of eminence to that sacred volume which was written by Divine authority and which contains the will of God revealed to man. It comprises the Old Testament and the New, or the Jewish and Christian Scriptures,* and consists of history, prophecy, doctrines, precepts, and devotional exercises. In some of the larger editions of the Bible there is a set of pieces called the Apocrypha, inserted between the two Testaments; but as they are not attended with evidences of Divine authority, they make no part of the Bible. These apocryphal books appear to contain a portion of authentic history, and many moral lessons, with much fiction and some gross absurdities.

The first five books of the Old Testament (which are called the Pentateuch), have all along been considered as written by Moses:† the others, chiefly by those whose names they bear; or where they do not appear under the name of any person, by some one qualified and authorized for that purpose. The books of the New Testament show the names of the writers to whom they are ascribed, except the "Acts of the Apostles," which bears no name, but evidently appears to have been written by the Evangelist Luke.‡

The Holy Scriptures are the gracious gift of GoD, an invaluable blessing vouchsafed to mankind. They carry with them indubitable marks of their Divine original; and that they are "written by inspiration of Gon," has been demonstrated "by many infallible proofs." The attempts of infidelity, to overturn or weaken the evidence in their favor, have tended only to illustrate and confirm them. But while the outworks of revelation are ably defended, it becomes every sincere inquirer to search out with great diligence the sacred treasures deposited therein. Here, alas! what negligence do we discover! As if it were enough to know that the Bible is the word of GOD, we are willingly ignorant of all it contains; or else we take up with some crude, undigested notion of divine things, which we have received merely upon trust. The truth, excellence, and importance of the Scriptures, are by most persons assented to; but, it is feared, few only, in comparison, are giving a serious and diligent attention to them. Every attempt, therefore, to illustrate the Bible, one of the oldest and most important books in the world-a book that has GOD for its author, and the eternal happiness of the human race for its end, deserves the most serious attention of all • The word Scriptures signifies the Writings.

+ Except the latter part of Deuteronomy, containing an account of the death of Moses.

* Compare the first chapter of Luke with the first of Acts.

those, especially, who profess the Christian religion. To answer this valuable purpose, is the design of the present volume. Not merely for entertainment, but for "instruction in righteousness," and to excite men to search the Scriptures for themselves, it is intended. One would think that curiosity, alone, would prompt persons to their study. For we shall hereby become acquainted with knowledge the most sublime, and events the most wonderful. But a far nobler motive than curiosity should recommend this duty to us. We are called to it by the highest authority; nor can we neglect it, without a manifest contempt of GOD, who, in that sacred book, makes known his will, and requires our unfeigned obedience. The external evidences in favor of the Bible, and the internal marks of Divine authority which it carries, together with its power on the hearts and consciences of men, have been sufficient in all ages, to convince the humble and candid inquirer after TRUTH, that the religion therein contained is from GOD—“ the word of the living God," and is “able to make us wise unto salvation."

The importance and value of the Old Testament, in the study of either ancient or sacred history, all must admit.* With its general advantages as a text-book, comprising every species of knowledge that is useful and entertaining, every reader should be acquainted. But there are some more peculiar to it; the first of which is, that the New Testament can not be understood without the Old. The apostles often cite it, and more frequently allude to it; and our blessed LORD taking his leave of his disciples, says: "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was still with you; that all must be fulfilled, which was written of me in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms." Luke xxiv. 44.

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CHRIST being the end of the law, many things which are spoken of in the Old Testament, relate to CHRIST and his servants, as well in a literal as an allegorical sense: "Our Fathers," saith St. Paul, were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses, and in that cloud, and that sea; and did all eat the same spiritual food, and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was CHRIST. Now all these things were types unto them, and were written to admonish us, upon whom the ends of the world are come."

Another great advantage is, that the Old Testament is a magazine furnished, with a variety of figures, examples, doctrines, and sententious oracles, not only relating to faith, but to a good life, that thence we may furnish ourselves with directions on all occasions. Thus our blessed LORD, by the example of Noah, and Lot's wife, stirs up the slothful to watchfulness, Luke xvii. 27, 32. He threatens the obstinate

The formation of man, with all his full-grown powers of body and mind-primeval rectitude, federal character and fall-the promised Saviour and his predicted victories-the patriarchal age-the deluge-the foundation of the new world-the settlement of the mother country-the division of the earth-the confusion of tongues, and the dispersion-the early settlement of Egypt-the rise and fall of the Assyrian empire, even to the names of all its successive princes from the first to the last-the origin, peculiarities, and overthrow of the Hebrew state--the progress and decline of Canaan, Persia, and Media,-are all familiar topics of Biblical history. Ancient cities, too,-Thebes-the No-Ammi of Nahum-Nineveh, Jerusalem, Babylon, with all that rendered them the wonders of the world, would be traced to the remote darkness of the fabulous age, but for the Old Testament. The only authentic history of these remote events and kingdoms is in the Pentateuch and in the prophets. Before the days of Moses, there were no historical records either in Assyria, Egypt, Phoenicia, Chaldea, or Greece. No other historian has lived at so remote a period as the exodus from Egypt. Dr. Winder shows, at considerable length, that Moses is the only man who had any considerable materials for Egyptian history; as the ancient learning of Egypt must have been chiefly lost by the excision of the first-born and the disasters of the Red sea. Since the priests the more common depositories of learning, usually attended in their wars, the people who were left behind must have been chiefly the common people; so that for a long time after this disaster, Egypt was involved in ignorance and darkness; nor is this nation subsequently mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures until the reign of Solo"Moses was the father of history." Infidels have affirmed, there were astronomical calculations in Babylon that reached back to a period much farther than the Mosaic history; which therefore, if true, invalidate the entire account given by Moses. This assertion has received a very conclusive refutation from the astronomical calculations of Bedford. But there is a fact stated by Gillies, in his history of Greece, that confirms the calculations of Bedford. This historian states, that, after the conquest of Babylon by Alexander, he "eagerly demanded the astronomical calculations that had been carefully preserved in that ancient capitol about nineteen centuries. By the order of Alexander they were faithfully transcribed and transmitted to Aristotle," who was the preceptor of this prince. And "they re-mounted to twenty-two hundred and thirty-four years beyond the Christian era," a period not even so remote as the deluge. There is no history that can be so safely relied on, or that is so ancient, as the Mosaic history. Every other attempt at history, until the reigns of David and Solomon, is but a mass of shapeless, rearranged tradition, as corrupt as it is fabulous. Long after this time, indeed, the pages of writers, esteemed the most authentic, are disfigured by absurd and disgusting fictions. This defect in the annals of earlier times must be everywhere and deeply felt, if we exclude the information obtained from the Bible. There only is the deficiency supplied. Sanconiathan, Berosus, Ctesias, and Manetho are the oldest human historians; but "Moses was five hundred years before the first and more than a thousand before the last."

mon.