A COPIOUS AND ORIGINAL SELECTION OF REFERENCES TO EXHIBITED IN A MANNER HITHERTO ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS AND ENGRAVINGS. PHILADELPHIA: SORIN & BALL, 42 NORTH FOURTH STREET. 1847. PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE Polyglott Bible. Tappears, is altogether different from any ble, of con HE form in which this Volume now ed exceedingly desirable that a NEW Binient size for the Pocket, oriLaing which has before been given to the Pub-ginal in its plan, purpose, and execution, ic, but its originality will be found pre-emi- should be published; in which a MORE AP nently to consist in a laborious and entirely PROPRIATE and ACCURATE selection, adapnew Selection and Arrangement of Refe- tation, and Arrangement of References might ences, in which it has been endeavoured be introduced; both for the Assistance of aithfully to exhibit the Scripture as its Private Readers, and to facilitate the ready own Expositor. examination and quotation of passages, The greatness of the advantages that which the Preacher, or the Biblical Stumust accrue to a sincere and diligent rea-dent, may have an immediate occasion to der of the Sacred Pages, from having con- cite, or to consult. stantly before him a reference to similar Convenience and utility were, however, and illustrative passages, carefully investi- to be equally consulted in all the parts of gated, and suitably applied, must be obvi- the undertaking. If the size of the book ous to every one; and has been well under- were too large, or the page too crowded, stood by many pious and able men, to so as to be made wearisome to the eye, its whose diligent and useful labours the convenience would be lessened; and if, in Public is unspeakably indebted. the limits which these considerations imposed, great care were not employed in examining and applying the References, its utility would in a great degree, be destroyed. On mature deliberation, therefore, it appeared best to adopt the plan here presented to the notice of the Public; in which the Marginal Readings and References are all contained in a MIDDLE CO. LUMN, between two of text; and the number introduced is sufficient, except in a few pages only, completely to fill that column. The Chronology is always placed at the top of this middle column, where it denotes the Date of the writing or transaction contained in the text, at the beginning of the page. References, however, have hitherto been printed, almost exclusively, in the margins of Bibles of a large size; and the benefit resulting from them has, in consequence, been very much restricted--the only small Bible with References, in the English language, being that published by Mr. Canne. The defects of which are many; for though he was a diligent student of the Scriptures, and his work was at that time eminently serviceable, yet, as he was not in possession of those helps, for the accomplishment of the task which he had undertaken, that are now afforded by many valuable editions and comments, which have been printed in different languages since The Marginal Readings contained in the his time; and being, therefore, under the folio and quarto Bibles are all introduced; necessity of relying chiefly on his own the idioms of the original languages which industry; it is not surprising that he should are preserved in many of them, and also have been less successful than he would the various senses of particular words or otherwise have been. His references are phrases, being in most instances instrucoften only remotely applicable: he seems tive, and in all worthy to be known. But frequently to have been guided more by it has not been thought necessary, in givsimilarity of expression than by illustra- ing these readings, to insert such words as tion: the errors in the letter-press are are repeated in the text, and which would tumerous: many of the Marginal Readings therefore have fruitlessly occupied a porare omitted: the Chronology is altogether tion of the space allotted to references. left out and all the References in this, as The Various Readings are referred to by in the larger Bibles, are placed in the mar-small figures placed immediately before the gin of the text; by which they are render- words for which they are to be substituted; ed liable to be cut in binding, or worn and the References by Italic letters, which away by use, or bound so into the back of are generally placed after the first or second the book as not to be easily read. word of a verse, or clause of a verse, when they are intended to illustrate the On all these accounts, it has long appear PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH VERSION rests ou a single word, the letter reference is placed immediately after that word. This has been the general rule; and the exceptions have either been unavoidable, or are quite immaterial. whole of that verse or clause: but when MAY BE PERFECT, THOROUGHLY FURNISHED the principal force of the illustration UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS." But it must be evident, that the Scripture could not be effectually profitable for these great ends nor make the man of God PERFECT, if it were not perfect itself; if its different parts were at variance with each other: if, not withstanding all the variety of matter, an multiplicity of detail, which such a book required, the doctrines revealed, and t moral duties enjoined, were not substa tially and essentially the same throu out; and if all the parts did not conc the plan of the whole. To exhibit the harmony of the Sacred Writers, subjects of which they treat, has primary design of this selection. Sbit In referring to several relations of the same facts, by different Writers in the Sacred Volume, (as in the histories recorded by the Four Evangelists, and in those contained in the Books of Kings and Chronicles,) the corresponding chapters, or parts of chapters in each, having been once noted at the beginning of the history or subject, it has not been thought necessary to repeat those references in the subsequent verses, except where something there are some subjects of leading material is to be noticed. That also in tance, in which all the rest are incl the prophecy of Obadiah, which relates and by means of which the harmony ar chiefly to the destruction of the Edomites, perfection of the Inspired Pages are wil the prophecies of Isaiah, Jerennah, Eze- ten, as with the beans of the sun; t kiel, and Amos, on the same subject, hav- these, especial care and attention have ing been once pointed out at the com- been devoted. mencement, are not again referred to. I. It has appeared an object of the first And so in the history of our Lord's tempta- magnitude, that the reader of the Holy tion, given in the fourth chapter of the Scriptures should be assisted by refe Gospel by St. Matthew, reference being reuces from text to text, to have constantly made from the first verse to the fourth in view the counexion of all the divine atchapter of that by St. Luke, where the tributes, and the holy uniformity of God in same history is recorded, no further refe- his government, both of his Church, and rence is made to that chapter in the subse- of the world. A display of the true characquent verses; the connexion of the whole ter and perfections of God is, without disbeing obvious, and the comparison easy. pute, one chief design of the Inspired VoMore space has been thus retained for the lume. Here, as in Isaiah's miraculous viillustration or confirmation of the subjects sion, may Jehovah be seen, sitting upon a or sentences individually, which are com- throne, high and lifted up; his train fills prised in the particular parts of the history the temple, and the Sacred Writers, like or discourse. the Seraphim, cover themselves, and cry one to another, and say, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY 18 THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY. It is this which a gives to the Scripture its superlative gran- n deur. By it, God is known; his will is promulgated; his purposes are revealed: his mercy is announced; and he is every where exhibited as worthy of the supreme adoration, love, service, and praise, of all his intelligent creatures. Little do those who neglect their Bibles think what refined delight they lose, by thus turning away their eyes from the most sublime, the most glorious, and the most beatifying object of contemplation, that the whole universe affords. For a similar reason, where the same identical words, or nearly so, might be found in a great number of texts, a few of these only have been selected ;---illustration, not repetition, having been the object in view. The references, therefore, which fill the middle column, have all been diligently considered and applied with a particular attention to this specific end, that none which were superfluous might be introduced, while the most material purposes to be answered by References might nevertheless be effectually secured. WHETHER the latitude or the limits of such an undertaking be considered, it is proper that the principles on which it has been conducted should be far explain ed, as that the Reader may be apprised of what he is to expect from it, and in what branches of religious inquiry it may most materially assist him. In that grand enunciation of the dignity and design of the Sacred Volume, which is given by the Apostle Paul, (2 Tim. iii. 16. 17,) we are told, that "ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, II. But this manifestation of the Divine character and government is not presented to us as a matter of mere speculation, in which we have no immediate and personal interest. The Holy Scriptures are designed to promote the Glory of God BY THE SALVATION OF MAN. The peculiar purpose of the whole is, to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; to raise them from the ruins of *APTIO, perfectus, integer, sanus, inco Hedericks. FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN limis, consentaneus, consummatus. 1 |