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INTENDED AS A NEW AND IMPROVED

COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE;

WHEREIN THE AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO GIVE MORE RATIONAL
INTERPRETATIONS OF SUBJECTS AND PASSAGES, THAN

ARE COMMON IN OTHER WORKS HAVING THE

SAME GENERAL PURPOSE:

ON A PLAN THAT RENDERS THE BOOK AS WELL FITTED FOR READING
AS FOR REFERENCE.

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Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1860,

BY W. E. MANLEY,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

Printed by

BAZIN AND CHANDLER,

37 Cornhill

BJ 1151 •M3 v. 2

PREFACE.

We should never read a book till we have read the Preface. Every book that is well arranged should be read in the order given in the book itself; first the Title-page, then the Preface, and so on. The reason of this is obvious; for how are we to read a book understandingly, unless we know the author's purpose and the plan he has adopted for reaching it? The Titlepage and Preface are designed to show this,- the one by a brief and comprehensive statement, and the other by a full and sufficient explanation.

The design of the present volumes (of which the one here of fered to the public is the second) is to furnish a rational interpretation of the Scriptures. The need of such an interpretation will hardly require any argument. It is sufficient to say, that any system of theology or of biblical interpretation that does not commend itself to the common sense of men, will, at the present day, meet with but little favor from intelligent and thinking men. If the Bible is found, on examination, not to admit of such an interpretation, the result will certainly be that the Bible will be rejected. We trust that this venerable Book is not destined to such a fate. We believe it is not; and we look forward to the time when it will be more firmly believed than it ever has been, and for the reason that it will be better understood. We do not believe that its entire mission has been fulfilled. It has a work to do in the future, quite as important as any it has ever accom

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