PREFACE . OUR knowledge of the Bible has decreased lamentably in the last fifty years. In the last chapter of this book will be found a set of examination questions which was given to a class of about thirty students, many of whom were making a special study of English literature. The average number of questions answered was five. In giving out the questions it was remarked that the examination would constitute a general intelligence test because it was assumed that one could draw on his fund of general information to answer the questions, although he might not be a profound biblical student. The results seemed to show that the examination could by no means be regarded as a general intelligence test. It is the opinion of those especially interested in the study of the English Bible that there is at present something of an awakened interest in the subject. In some of our colleges credit is given for systematic work done in the Sunday school. In many institutions courses are given in biblical literature where the subject is presented in its historical development. There are a number of textbooks which cover this ground in a satisfactory manner. This book recognizes at the outset the existing condition that the great majority of our young people are lacking in a proper knowledge of the Bible itself. About half of the work, therefore, is devoted to a direct study of the narratives in order to supply a foundation for the literary study with which the other half is concerned. It is hoped that it may be useful to students in schools, colleges, and Sunday schools; and to divinity. students who may need to extend their knowledge of the Bible in this direction. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THIS book contains a large number of quotations from poets, novelists, essayists, and orators. It is impossible to make specific acknowledgment for every individual quotation, but where they have been extensively used permission has been granted by the pub lishers. The Houghton Millin Company have given permission for the use of quotations, from The Life and Literature of the Ancient Hebrews, by Dr. Lyman Abbott; for the use of quotations from Bayard Taylor's translation of Faust; and for miscellaneous quotations from the Cambridge Edition of the poets. D. C. Heath & Company have permitted us to make extracts from Moulton's The Literary Study of the Bible; and from Professor Cook's The Bible and Eng. lish Prose Style. The Funk & Wagnalls Company have given us per mission to make quotations from their book, The World's Famous Orations, by W. J. Bryan. To these publishers we make grateful acknowledg ment for extending these courtesies. |