In such a view we perceive that the Bible, though unquestionably written by so many different persons, at such distant periods of time, nevertheless presents to us, as a whole, the gradual progress and development of one single matter, connecting the earliest ages of the world with the present day, and now influencing the world more extensively than ever, under circumstances totally different from those in which it appeared during two thousand years, yet in far greater accordance with its very first predictions; and (therefore we may well believe) working its way towards the glorious consummation brought to light by its latest and clearest promises.

The practical importance of acquiring this general view of scripture (in which we see by the very scale and plan of the object thus presented to us, its infinite transcendency above all human contrivance) it cannot be necessary to point out. On this head it will be sufficient to observe, that to this view our attention is very frequently called by scripture itself; as well in those passages of the Old Testament, which directly appeal to that proof of Divine inspiration which consists in "declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, the things not yet done;" as in those of the New, which remind us that the things which we see and hear, are none other than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come;" that "those things which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets"— "he hath so fulfilled."

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The object then of the present work is chiefly to assist those who have little time for reading, in the attainment of that general knowledge of the principal matter of the Old Testament, which is so necessary, both for understanding the writings of the New, and for obtaining any

tolerably just idea of that plain evidence of the truth of Christianity, which is afforded us in the present visible fulfilment of ancient prophecy.

The method in which this object has been pursued requires to be explained, for fear of misconstruction. On a hasty glance at the following selections, it might possibly be supposed that this book is meant to be an abridgment, or compendium of all such matters of the Old Testament as may, on their own account, be reckoned among the most important and instructive; and this would not only be a wrong notion of the book, but might possibly lead to a wrong use of it; or, at least, to a misconception of the use for which it is intended.

The method pursued in these selections is not that of abridging the words of scripture, so as to introduce an equal, or nearly equal, number of matters, in a smaller compass; but that of presenting a very reduced number of matters, in order that the attention may not be occupied and divided among so great a variety of particular subjects, and yet dwell so long on the parts most necessary to be read, in order to obtain a connected view of the general train of the dealings of God with his chosen people, preparatory and relative to the Christian dispensation, that this unspeakably important view may be clearly and indelibly impressed upon the mind.

There are many parts, therefore, of the Old Testament of the very highest interest and importance, (some of them even containing direct prophecies of Christ,) which, for the reason just given, will not be found in the following selections. To revert again to our illustration of the building, there may be many things in it deserving, on various accounts, peculiar attention, which are totally lost sight of in the distant view necessary for seeing the effect of the whole; still you would, for

a while, dispense with the closer examination, for the sake of seeing the general effect.

With respect to the observations which will be found in various parts of the book, their sole object is uniformly (or with very few exceptions) to point out to those who may need such assistance, the relation between the Old Testament and the Gospel, the light which they throw upon each other, and the evidence which they mutually afford of the divine origin of both.

It may be proper, however, to add, that the notes on the Psalms are much more copious than they would have been if those Psalms did not form a part of our public worship, in which all are expected to join.

It seemed probable that the evangelical import of many passages in the prophetic Psalms would not occur to every reader without being pressed upon the attention by some such remarks as are there offered; and that where that import is either unperceived or not considered, such passages are, in great measure, lost to all the purpose of Christian worship.

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Names of those Books of the Old Testament, no part of which will be found in these Selections.

The following is a list of the verses in which any omission is made; not including those omissions, the reason of which is evident.

GENESIS.

Chap. 6. ver. 9; 15. 2; 17. 12; 25. 11; 26. 1.

EXODUS.

Chap. 2. ver. 15; 7. 22; 8. 19, 26; 12. 43; 22. 31; 23. 2;

28. 15, 17.

LEVITICUS.

Chap. 4. vers. 11, 31; 5. 3, 10; 14. 8, 12, 21. xix. and xxviii. of NUMBERS, inserted after Levit. xxiii. Chap. 19. ver. 5; 28. 9, 10, 24.

NUMBERS.

Chap. 1. the alternate verses 22 to 43 inclusive; 9. 25, 33; 12. 1, 14; 13. 22; 14. 25; 21. 24; 26. I, 4.

DEUTERONOMY.

Chap. 4. ver. 1; 7.1; 19. 8; 28. 64.

X

JOSHUA.

Chap. 3. ver. 16; 24. 27.

JUDGES.

Chap. 3. ver. 15; 4. 9, 10, 15; 8. 11,21,33; 11. 1, 5, 11, 29.

1 SAMUEL.

Chap. 14. vers. 3, 20; 20. 26.

2 SAMUEL.

Chap. 1. ver. 1; 4. 2; 10. 13.
After 2 Sam. xxii., 1 Chron. xxix. 8.

1 KINGS.

Chap. 4. ver. 31; 11.27, 29; 12. 16, 20, 23.

2 KINGS.

Chap. 1. ver. 4, 17; 3. 1; 2.7; 9.7, 11, 12; 15.30; 17.23.

2 CHRONICLES.

Chap. 13. ver. 2; 17. 1, 8; 18. 2; 21. 2. 19; 24. 1, 17; 25.1; 26. 3; 27. 1,2; 28. 18; 29. 5, 12, 31, 25; 30. 15; 32. 17; (Here 2 Kings 19. 10;) 34, 22; 35. 25; 36. 8.

PSALM. 69. 4. ISAIAH, chap. 3. ver. 8; 49. 23, 26. JEREMIAH, chap. 3. ver. 13. HOSEA, chap. 1. ver. 6, 9. HABAKKUK, chap. 3, ver. 4. ZEPHANIAH, chap. 1. ver. 4.