the Bible. He regards this as the Scriptural mode of presenting truth; for the Sacred Volume is our first and chief model for that interesting style of picture-writing, now so generally adopted by our best historians, biographers, and even essayists. Even before he entered the sacred ministry, his attention was called to the Book of Esther by a volume of Lectures upon it by the Rev. Dr. Thomas McCrie; and to this unpretending little volume alone—one of surpassing interest-does he feel under obligations demanding special acknowledgment, for the thoughts and conduct of these discourses.
Convinced that the Book of Esther is too little known even to serious readers of the Bible; persuaded that those whose minds are fairly awakened to it, will ever afterwards regard it as one of the most interesting portions of the word of God; and hoping that these Lectures may serve to call the attention of some to this portion of the inspired pages, to impart interest to many of the incidents which a casual reader might deem of little importance, and thus to enforce the lessons of inspired wisdom after this volume itself has been laid aside; he would lay this publication within the reach of christian readers. In the whole matter, he is less desirous, he trusts, of public favour, than of the Divine smile upon an humble attempt to glorify HIS WORD, HIS GRACE, HIS PROVIDENCE, AND HIMSELF.
