Q. 8. What is meant by the Septuagint?

A. The translation of the Old Testament into Greek, as is supposed, by seventy-two interpreters or translators. They are usually called the Seventy, as that is a full or round number.

Q. 9 When was the common English version of the Bible made?

A. More than two hundred years ago, in the reign of James I, king of England. Fifty-four of the most learned men of the realm were appointed to this service. Fortyseven only engaged in the work; and, after five or six years' labor, the present translation was published in 1611.

Q. 10. Why are some words in the present English translation of the Bible printed in italics?

A. Not because they are more emphatic, as words printed in italic are in other English books; but because there are no words for them in the original language. They are designed to supply an elipsis, or what is wanting, in the original.

Q. 11. Have the Sacred Scriptures been published in any languages besides the Hebrew, Greek, and Eng

lish?

A. They have in many, both ancient and modern. By the benevolent exertions of the different Bible Societies in the present day, the Scriptures have been translated into more than a hundred and fifty languages and dialects, and been published; and they will, no doubt, through the Divine assistance, be soon translated into all languages under heaven, and be published, and be distributed among all people.

Q. 12. Was it desirable and necessary, that God should make to mankind such a revelation as He has in the Sacred Scriptures?

A. It was, that He might assure them of a future state; that He might set forth, in the most full, clear, and impressive manner, His perfections and their duty;— that He might enforce their obedience to Him by the most powerful motives; and, especially, that He might make known to them the riches of His grace in salvation by Jesus Christ. (b)

(b) 2 Tim. i. 10. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life

Q. 13. Scriptures?

What is meant by the inspiration of the Sacred

A. By it is meant, that the sacred writers were moved, directed, and assisted by God what to write, how to write and when to write; so that they did write exactly, and in all respects, as they were moved, or borne on, by the Holy Ghost.

Q. 14. How does it appear that the sacred writers were possessed of an inspiration of this nature, sometimes called plenary inspiration?

A. From the fact, that they could not have delivered to the world what they did as a divine revelation, with confidence and safety to themselves, unless they had been conscious of their own inspiration, and they could not have been conscious of their own inspiration, unless they had been thus inspired;-that they could not have written what they did respecting God and Jesus Christ, angels and men, time and eternity, heaven and hell, unless they had been thus inspired; and that they profess to have been thus inspired. The patriarchs and Moses, Samuel and David and the prophets had special communications with God, and received instructions directly from Him. Christ and His apostles quote the Old Testament in all its several parts as the word of God. Christ assured His disciples the night before His crucifixion, that the Holy Spirit or Comforter should be their Teacher and Guide, and should lead them into all truth, and bring all things to their remembrance, which He had communicated to them in conversation. Accordingly, in consequence of the Spirit's influence, they spake with tongues, and every

and immortality to light through the gospel.-2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.2 Cor. v. 14, 15. For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.-Heb. xi. 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.-Luke ii. 10, 11. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

where claimed, and were understood to claim, to be the inspired messengers of God to their fellow men. (c) Q. 15. When it is said that the Scriptures were given by Divine inspiration, is it meant, that God spake and did all which is related in the Scriptures, or that every thing there written is true?

A. Certainly not. Many things, which are related in the Bible as spoken and done, were spoken and done by Satan and wicked men. The Tempter spake falsely to our first parents, and the three friends of Job uttered what was not true concerning God. The incorrect opinions of good men, as well as their failings, are often told in the Scriptures; and we are to judge of their opinions, conduct and sayings, and to receive as correct only what the Scriptures approve. But for our instruction and warning, encouragement and spiritual improvement, God directed the sacred Penmen to record what is written in the Holy Oracles. It may be remarked that there is a distinction between what is true historically, and what is true in itself. What the Bible relates is all true historically, but not all true in every respect. (d)

Q. 16. What is the evidence that the Bible is a revelation from God?

(c) 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God.-2 Pet. i. 20, 21. Knowing this first, that no prophecy is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.-1 Cor. ii. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.Gal. i. 11, 12. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.-Rev. i. 1, 2. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants, things which must shortly come to pass, and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

(d) Gen. iii. 2-5. And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know, that in the day ye eat, thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.-Job. xlii. 8, 9. Therefore take unto you now sever bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering, and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept; lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye

A. There is evidence from history;—from the miracles recorded in it, wrought in the presence of competent witnesses; from its prophecies and their fulfilment;-from the unrivalled sublimity of its language, the nature and harmony of its doctrines, and the perfect purity of its precepts; from the glorious effects it has produced upon the hearts and lives of multitudes;-from the sacred character of its writers;-from the propagation of Christianity;and from the analogy there is between natural and revealed religion. 1. All history, so far as it speaks on the subject, declares that the different parts of the Bible, ever since their existence (and some parts of it are the most ancient of writings), have purported to be a revelation from God, and that they have been acknowledged to be such by almost all people in all ages wheresoever the true religion has prevailed. The account of many things, which took place in the early periods of the world, given by the sacred Penmen, is corroborated by the most renowned Pagan writers of the highest antiquity. This concidence between sacred and profane history is an evidence in favor of the truth, and consequently of the Divine origin of the Scriptures. 2. A miracle, in a theological sense, is an effect, varying from the stated course or laws of nature, wrought by the interposition of God Himself in attestation of some divine truth, or of the authority of some divine Messenger or Teacher. Consequently, the miracles performed by Moses and the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles, demonstrate, that the hand of God was with them, and that what they wrote as a revelation was of divine origin. (e) 3. Foreknowledge belongs to God

have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job, So Eliphaz the Tamanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, went and did according as the Lord commanded them: and the Lord also accepted Job.

(e) Ex. xiv. 16, 21. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it; and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.-2 Kings ii. 8. And Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.-Mat. iv. 23, 24. And Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went

alone. He, therefore, who foreknows or foretells events, must be God, or some person whom He has inspired. Consequently, the prophecies mentioned in the Scriptures, some of them uttered and written thousands of years ago, which have been fulfilled, and are now fulfilling, with perfect exactness, are a main pillar in supporting their Divine origin, and do incontrovertibly prove them to be a message from Jehovah to man.(ƒ) 4. The sub

throughout all Syria; and they brought unto him all sick people, that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.-Acts v. 12. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.— Heb. ii. 4. God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will.-Luke viii. 24. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish! Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; and they ceased, and there was a calm.-John xi. 43, 44. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him and let him go.— Acts v. 15, 16. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by, might overshadow some of them. There came also a inultitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one. (ƒ) Gen. xvi. 12. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.-This prophecy respects Ishmael and his descendants, the Arabs, and in them it is exactly fulfilled. -Hos. iii. 4. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim.-Deut. xxviii. 37. And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a by-word among all nations whither the Lord shall lead thee. The prophecies contained in these two verses, relate to the Jews, and in them they have been completely fulfilled.—Is. liii. 7, 9. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death: because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.-An account of the accomplishment of this prediction is recorded in Mark xv. 3, 20, 27, 42, 43, 46. And the chief priests accused him of many things but he answered nothing. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on