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more familiar texts of Scripture as experience alone can render credible. But remember that all depends on the regularity and uninterrupted habit. Mark the 30 or 31 verses on the first day of each month, and consider you have failed, unless the number of the day and of the verse are the The Hebrew or Greek version is of course to be preferred by scholars; still none should omit the English.

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One of my friends, a young lady, takes much interest in writing out the verses to which the marginal references of the Bible allude. Her paper is ruled by the stationer with one vertical column about two inches wide, for the text; the rest of the page has horizontal lines. One line also guards the margin that the work may in future years admit of being bound. This is a much more profitable employment than knitting, though ladies may be allowed to do both. Who would not be more proud of a mother who bequeathed him a commentary than a quilt?

The Society for the Diffusion of Christian Knowledge has published a prayer-book with marginal references. The Catechism, the Two Sacraments, and the Articles would be very useful portions for such illustration. In the last age young ladies used to be taught at school to present their mammas with a sampler; if every

young lady and young gentleman too were required to produce a neat copy of all the scripture proofs of our liturgy, it would produce a wonderful extension of scriptural knowledge of the soundest kind.

Another exercise, really invaluable to clergymen especially, is to make a scriptural commonplace book. This will require the use of two books,—one as a day book, another as a ledger. The day book must be always at hand as you read the Bible from end to end. In this you will write down promiscuously any illustration of the divine attributes, faith, justification, types, prophecies, and innumerable other topics, as you please. Then in your ledger you will enter each of these under its proper head, which you will also notice with the number of the page in the index. A small work of this kind has been published by Chalmers.

Lastly, attend particularly to the style, dates, and proofs of the genuineness and authenticity of the several books of Scripture; and read the history of the different translations. For this purpose Gray's or Percy's "Key," Tomline, or Horne's "Introduction," will be serviceable.

2. WORKS OF COMMENTARY AND NOTES.

We will now consider some of the many valuable works which have been written to explain the several books or parts of Scripture respectively.

First. On the whole of the Bible it will be enough to mention

Horne's "Introduction," which contains information so varied, that few persons can require more. And here I remind my readers that this work contains further instructions on Theological reading.

The "Epitome of Horne's Introduction " (1 vol.), and

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Key to the Bible," by the Society, will be useful for those who have little time for study. The Commentaries to the Bible by Mant, Scott, Clarke, and others, are well known.

Secondly. On the Old Testament, Gray's "Key" is very valuable. That of Tomline is also useful. Bishop Horsley's "Biblical Criticism" is highly esteemed by the few who know it. A new edition is now advertised in a more convenient form.

Thirdly. On separate portions and subjects of Scripture.

On the Pentateuch, Graves's "Lectures" display much useful learning.

The "Hora Mosaicæ," by G. S. Faber, 1818, is much admired for scriptural learning and truth. Warburton's "Divine Legation" is one of the standard pieces of English literature.

On the Prophecies generally, read Sir I. Newton and Davison's "Discourses upon Prophecy," also Keith.

On the minor Prophets only, Bishop Newcome and George Hutcheson (1675) have written. The first is termed "critical and useful," the second "pithy, full, and spiritual."

On the historical parts, read "History of the Bible," and "History of the Jews." Also a most useful analysis given at the end of Mant's Bible.

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On the whole of the New Testament, Percy's Key to the New Testament" is very popular. Paraphrase of the New Testament," by Richard Baxter, 8vo. 1810, is said to be a book " of much piety and good sense, but very brief." All commentaries will naturally be brief, when the author means rather to solve than evade difficulties.

Hammond on the New Testament is the most learned and satisfactory Commentary. Burkitt is excellent in drawing out every text into its full and legitimate signification.

Henry's Commentary is also very good for all purposes.

On the four Gospels. Campbell's "Four

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Gospels translated" is a valuable critical work. Read also

Elsley's "Annotations on the Four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles."

Bishop J. B. Sumner's "Practical Expositions on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark."

The English" Diatessaron" is useful to mark the order of events.

On the Miracles, read Campbell's work.

On the Epistles of St. Paul, Paley's "Horæ Paulina" will never be superseded.

Shuttleworth's "Paraphrase of the Epistles" is the most concise and generally useful commentary. On St. Peter, Leighton's book is one of the first of scripture classics.

It will be of no real use to proceed with a list of the commentators of each separate book of the Bible; because every one who has read half of the works already mentioned, must have risen above the rank of those I presume to instruct. I must refer the student to the booksellers' theological catalogues.

On Biblical Antiquities. Many works combine entertainment with instruction; such as

Jenning's "Jewish Antiquities."

Lightfoot's works, chiefly on the same subject. Shuckford's Sacred and Profane History connected."

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