INTRODUCTORY HINTS ΤΟ ENGLISH READERS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. BY THE REV. JOHN A. CROSS, M. A. BLIOTHEST DEC !F82 SODLEIANA LONDON: LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. PREFACE. THIS HIS volume does not pretend to contribute anything new or original to the literature of the subject with which it deals. Its object is only to give in a short form and in simple language such elementary information about the character and contents of the Books of the Old Testament as may be gathered by those who have time and opportunity, from a study of the books themselves, or from larger and more technical treatises on the subject, but which it may be convenient to some readers of the Bible to have thrown together in this shape. As the most effective way of conveying a good general idea of the contents of the Historical Books, and of the relation which their parts bear to the whole, short outlines of the contents of the more difficult books are given, and are carefully broken up into sections under distinct headings. A similar plan has been adopted with the Prophetical Books. In matters of Biblical Criticism the writer has endeavoured to be guided by the best scholarship of the present day. He ventures to hope that this endeavour, as far as it has been successful, may prove a recommendation of these Hints to some whose duty it is to teach the Bible to the young, and who are anxious that the religious instruction which they impart may rest upon as secure a foundation as possible. There can be no doubt but that some, at least, of the unbelief which now prevails is due to the fact that many persons have been taught as children opinions about the Bible which the stronger reason and increasing education of maturer years have made it impossible for them to retain, and that in rejecting the error they have thrown away the truth with it. It is not necessary, nor would it be right, to turn the Scriptural education of the young into a series of lessons on Biblical Criticism; and the mistake of adopting too negative a style of teaching is one that may easily be made. To teach negations is not to teach religion. But the judicious instructor will be anxious to avoid as much as possible allowing the minds of the young to receive any wrong impressions about the Bible, which may prove dangerous to their faith when they grow older. Children should not be allowed to believe, as too many have been taught, that doubtful matters of history are part of a perfect Divine Revelation, or that the morality and wisdom of a comparatively rude age are the highest attainable by mankind, because the record of them is to be found in the Bible." And the young, as well as the old, should learn to practise suspense of judgment at times when the evidence adduced does not warrant a decision on the one side or the other. There are many subjects connected with the Bible on which we may well be diffident in expressing an opinion, when the wisest men - and the best scholars are not agreed about them. Such an attitude of mind on points which are comparatively of little importance need not interfere with sincerity in believing, or with decision in teaching, more essential truths.1 The writer is indebted to the kindness of friends for the correction of many errors of different kinds. 1 This subject is thoughtfully discussed by the Rev. Canon Sherlock, in a pamphlet on The Bible and the Young. (Dublin: Hodges, Foster, and Co.) |