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THE

INSPIRATION OF THE

BIBLE.

The books of the Old Testament, in the number and order in which we now possess them, were held sacred by the Jewish church. Concerning them especially, the apostle Paul declares," All scripture is given by inspiration of God," 2 Tim. iii. 16, and the apostle Peter, in reference to the same, testifies, “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," 2 Pet. i. 20, 21.

Being inspired by God, signifies being supernaturally influenced by his Holy Spirit; thus the ancient prophets are said to have spoken by divine inspiration. The inspiration of the sacred writers consisted, 1. in their being excited and moved to undertake their work; 2. Being furnished by special revelation from God with the knowledge of things which they had not previously possessed; 3. Being directed in the choice of proper words to express their conceptions; and, 4. Being guided to write according to the will of God.

That the Holy Scriptures were inspired, is evident from their divine sentiments in religion; 1. The glorious char acter under which they represent Almighty God; 2. The purity and reasonableness of their morality; 3. The majestic simplicity of their style; 4. Their wonderful efficacy on the minds of believers; 5. The faithfulness and disinterestedness of the writers; 6. The miracles by which they confirmed their doctrines; 7. The astonishing preservation of the several books to our times; and, 8. The fulfilment of their numerous and various prophecies.

THE

TRANSLATION OF THE

BIBLE.

The authenticity of the Bible will be more fully estabblished, by a consideration of some of its translations and

young believers cannot fail to be interested, in being informed of some particulars concerning the history and character of that in the English language.

The Old Testament was translated into Greek, nearly three hundred years before the birth of Christ. This version is commonly called The Septuagent, from the reported number of seventytwo, or, in round numbers, seventy Jewish elders, who were employed in the work. Soon after the publication of the apostolic writings, the Bible was translated into Latin, for the use of the Christians using that language. This version was called the Italic, which being in the vulgar tongue of the Romans, was called the Vulgate, of which, A. D. 384, Jerome, who died a. D. 420, published an improved translation, containing both the Old and New Testament, with prefaces to the several books; this is the only authorized Bible of the Romish church at the present time. It is in common use in this country.

Many other translations were made, and finally King James of England, in 1603, in consequence of the request of Dr Reynolds, gave orders for a new translation. Fortyseven learned divines were engaged in the work, which was commenced in 1607, and completed and published in 1611, with a learned preface, and a dedication to king James. After this publication, all the other versions fell into disuse, and king James's version has continued to this day to be the only Bible allowed to be printed, without notes, in Great Britain.

The translators did not pretend that it was a perfect and faultless version; and as it was made so long ago, it may De reasonably supposed that it is capable of some improvements: but of its general excellence, the following testimonials, given by learned divines of different communions, may be regarded as sufficient to satisfy any unlearned reader.

About a hundred years ago, Dr John Taylor wrote,— “You may rest fully satisfied, that as our English transla

tion is in itself by far the most excellent book in our language, so it is a pure and plentiful fountain of divine knowledge; giving a true, clear, and full account of the divine dispensations, and the gospel of our salvation; so that whoever studies the Bible, the English Bible, is sure of gaining that knowledge, which if duly applied to the heart and conversation, will infallibly guide him to eternal life."

Dr Geddes says, "If accuracy, fidelity, and the strictest attention to the letter of the text, be supposed to constitute the qualities of an excellent version, this, of all versions, must in general be accounted the most excellent."

Thus we see a merciful providence has marvellously appeared in raising up learned men to translate the Holy Scriptures; and there are at this time more than one hundred and fifty languages in which the oracles of God are circulated!

GEOGRAPHY OF THE

BIBLE.

The principal countries mentioned in the Old Testament, except Egypt, are situated on the western border of the Asiatic continent. In that quarter of the world, the first man was created — there dwelt the first long-lived patriarchs, and the descendants of Noah, till long after the delugethere the great monarchies of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia were founded and flourished. The ruins of stately palaces and of other magnificent buildings, which are still to be seen throughout the countries that formed the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires in Asia, sufficiently attest the multitude and riches of its ancient inhabitants, and corroborate the astonishing accounts transmitted to us by different ancient historians.

Paradise, or the garden of Eden, is supposed to have been situated in Armenia, near the celebrated river Euphra The country called Palestine, or the land of Judea;

tes.

Syria, including Phœnicia; Asia Minor, now called Natolia ; Mesopotamia, now termed Diarbeck; Chaldea; Assyria and Arabia, constitute the principal countries noticed in the Old Testament Scriptures, and are all in Asia. Egypt, which is on the northeast coast of Africa, is separated from Asia only by a narrow neck of land, called the Isthmus of Suez, and the Red Sea, now called the Arabian Gulf.

Asia is celebrated as being far superior to Africa or even Europe, both in the salubrious serenity of its air, and the rich fertility of its soil, producing the most delicious fruits, and the most fragrant and balsamic plants, gums, and spices.

The scriptures, however, relate chiefly to the events which took place in Palestine, or Canaan—where the kingdoms of Israel and Judah flourished- where the temple of God was erected by king Solomon - where most of the inspired Scriptures were written - where our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished the all-important work of human redemption and where the apostles of the Saviour were supernaturally qualified to go forth among all nations, to preach the gospel of eternal salvation, bringing sinners of every tribe into the kingdom of Messiah.

Canaan was so named from Canaan, the son of Ham, the son of Noah. It lay between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains of Arabia, extending from Egypt on the south, to Phoenicia on the north. It was bounded on the east by Arabia Deserta; on the south by Arabia Petræa, Idumea, and Egypt; on the west by the Mediterranean, called in Scripture The Great Sea; and on the north by the Mountains of Lebanon in Syria. Its length from the city of Dan, which stood at the foot of those mountains, to Beersheba, which was situated at the southern extremity of the land, is about two hundred miles; and its breadth, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the eastern border, is about ninety miles. This country is known to us by several

significant names besides that of Canaan; it is called The Land of Promise, from the fact of its having been promised to Abraham and his family; Palestine, from the Philistines; Judea, from the tribe of Judah possessing its most fertile division. It is frequently called The Holy Land, from the circumstances recorded in the Holy Scriptures, especially as the ministry of Christ was exercised in that country; and as there the obedience, and death, and resurrection of Christ took place for our eternal salvation.

On the completion of the work of redemption, the apostles were commissioned to "go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature ;" and the fulfilment of their ministry opens to us a new field of geography. Asia Minor, Greece, and several other parts of the Roman empire, especially the countries around the shores of the Mediterranean, might claim a particular notice in this place, did the nature of this work allow of an extension of the subject.

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1. The patriarchs were the fathers who lived in the early ages of the world, and who became famous on account of their long lives, and their descendants. Adam, Seth, Enoch, &c. were eminent before the deluge: Noah and his sons after that event. Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and his sons, are the other most celebrated patriarchs of the Old Testament; they were the founders of mighty families. The patriarchs exercised a kind of sovereign authority in their respective households, being both priests and princes. In Job and Abraham we see excellent examples of the patriarchal government.

2. The prophets were illustrious persons who were divinely raised up among the Israelites, to be the extraordinary ministers of the dispensations of God. They flourished in a continued succession during a period of more than a

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