Reasons for the Hope that is in Us

so marked, the reader may peruse, probably, every prophecy regarding our Saviour which the Old Testament contains.

As to the selections from the Epistles: On the subject of those of St Paul, which are the most numerous of any, I may add, that it is observed by Paley, that "piety, vehemence, affection, bursts of rapture, and of unparalleled sublimity, are properties all or most of them discernible in every letter of the collection ;" .”* and in the columns of choice passages having relation to those Epistles, will be found notes of all those parts of them to which the remark of that eminent writer applies.

As to the CLASSIFICATION OF TEXTS on important subjects in the New Testament, I was led to make it, from remarking the natural desire of many persons occasionally to turn up such parts of it as tend to support particular doctrines and duties; and it occurred to me as desirable to present my readers with such an arrangement of texts there, as would enable them, with little trouble, and whenever they should choose, to have recourse to every authority in it upon the principal and most interesting topics of it.

This classification, I have sometimes styled a Key to the New Testament. I hope it will be found so far to deserve the title, that to those who may use it, it shall, by facilitating their "searching the Scriptures,"

* Hora Paulinæ, chap. i.

open up to them those invaluable stores which are to be found in them. To continue my metaphor, I may add, that if the key is imperfect, I am alone answerable for it, because it is altogether my own workmanship, on a careful examination of the Scriptures themselves, without recourse to either concordance or commentary.

With regard to the texts (with which the collections conclude) on DOMESTIC DUTIES, or the duties of persons living together in family, it occurred to me as advisable to add them, in my wish to benefit, as much as possible, all those to whom the description applies; and desirous as I am, that this my little work shall find its happy way into every juvenile collection, and every book-case, book-closet, and more sumptuous library of private life.

SELECT SCRIPTURE READINGS.

I. DEVOTIONAL READINGS IN THE HISTORICAL BOOKS OF THE

OLD TESTAMENT.

GENESIS.

Choice passages.

i. whole chap. 3 to 9. Creation of the world.