PREFACE. TO promote sincere and solid piety, with * sound and pure morality; and at the sanie time to show, how forcibly these most interesting objects are inculcated in the writ<ings which are justly called, the Holy Scriptures; are the views with which the present publication is introduced to its readers. The author is sensible that publications of this nature, by much abler pens than his, have already appeared; but he has not met with any work exactly upon his plan. To collect the principal passages of Scripture on the leading Duties of Religion and Morality; and to intersperse a few remarks and observations, tending to illustrate and enforce the precepts which are taught, and to make them read connectedly, appeared likely to convey instruction of the greatest importance, and, at the same time, to manifest the excellence of the Bible, as being in both Testaments, what the Apostle says of the Old, "profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction, for instruction in righ teousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." If there should be any Book on the same plan extant, it is presumed, that to these subjects we can scarecely have our attention too often turned: so that as every new publication may be supposed to attract some readers, it is hoped that a benefit will accrue from being reminded of the im portant duties which are here recommend ́ed ; and when we consider that many publications which issue from the press, are calculated to lay waste moral and religious principles, it certainly behooves the friends of Religion and Virtue, not to be backward in using every means which they conceive to be right, for counteracting the effects of those poisonous principles, which a philosophy, "falsely so called," is administering to the depraved taste of too many Readers. In preparing this work, the author has to acknowledge himself indebted to other publications, and particularly to Gastrell's Christian Institutes; a book, which though capable of some improvement, is excellently adapted to show, how each religious and moral duty is inculcated in the Holy Scriptures, The author thinks it proper to state, that his original view in writing this book, was |