vicinity of Corinth. These were solemnised every fifth year in honour of Neptune, and a vast concourse of people from all Greece, on this occasion, assembled at Isthmus, on which Corinth was situated. At these games great numbers of combatants, who were previously prepared by a regular and strict regimen for this arduous contention, entered the lists, and generously vied with each other in various exercises, for the envied palm. With what an elegant and beautiful propriety is it, then, that the Apostle addresses the Corinthians, in whose neighbourhood these games were solemnized, in the following terms: "Know ye not that they who run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away." These are all agonistic terms, beautifully applied to our vigorous contention in the Christian race; and such an address to the Corinthians was quite in character, and properly introduced with, "Know ye not?" for every citizen in Corinth was perfectly acquainted with every minute circumstance of this most splendid and pompous solemnity. * And With regard to the epistle to the Ephesians also, we know that the temple of Diana at Ephesus was one of the most superb and magnificent edifices the world ever saw. from this temple the Apostle borrows some beautiful imagery, in addressing this people, ch. ii. 20-22.† These remarks might be much extended; but what has been said is sufficient to shew the advantages derivable from an adoption of the rule here recommended. 5. The scope or principal design. We have already treated of the nature and importance of this aid in PART I. CHAP. II. § III. to which the reader is referred. 6. The Chronology, or period of time at which a book was written, as well as the length of time included in it, is another important aid in the investigation of Scripture. Chronology is justly regarded as one of the eyes of history, and it is equally valuable for the understanding of Scripture as other kinds of history. "Distinguish well between times and times, and you dissolve many knots." + *See Chap. xii. sect. 2. post. + Harwood's Introduction to the New Testament, Vol. i. ch. viii. sect. 11. Roberts' Clavis Bibliorum, p. 45. 7. The principal parts or divisions of each book. A knowledge of these is indispensable. Such an analysis of a book will not only afford a clear view of the chief subjects discussed therein, but also of the methodical and orderly coherence of all the parts of each book with one another, and will enable the student to trace the connection subsisting between them, to the perfect understanding of the writer's design. "Books looked upon confusedly, are but darkly and confusedly apprehended: but considered distinctly, as in these distinct analyses or resolutions into their principal parts, must needs be distinctly and much more clearly discerned." Now, we would impress upon the reader's mind, the great advantages which he will derive from a steady and persevering effort to collect the information of which we have been treating, for himself, above what he would secure by placing a reliance upon the compendiums or treatises which are furnished by others. Those persons who spend a considerable portion of their time in wading through commentaries, or in forming selections, and digesting them into common-places, may appear to themselves to make wonderful progress in the acquisition of Scriptural knowledge; but when they come to apply the knowledge thus obtained to the purposes of biblical exposition or illustration, it will be found too superficial and evanescent to be of much service.It is not by such a process that we must expect to acquire the ability for an accurate interpretation of Scripture; this can only be derived from a personal and attentive study of the word itself. The same may be said of the species of information of which we have just been treating. Let the reader diligently study the Scriptures for himself, and endeavour to form for his own use a series of introductions to the several books thereof, embracing a notice of the principal matters above referred to, with such analyses of their contents as will answer the purposes to which we have adverted. By such a mode of proceeding, he will lay the foundation for solid information, contributive to a right understanding of the Book of God. Compendiums and introductions are good in their places when judiciously drawn up, they are valuable for the purposes of repetition, and for more forcibly impressing upon the memory what has been previously learned; but they must not rank higher in our estimation, nor usurp that time and attention which should be given to the Bible itself. "Diligence in reading and examining the word itself, is a compendious system of Mnemonics. * Roberts' Clavis Bibliorum, p. 46. II. SOURCES OF EXTERNAL HELP. These are extremely numerous, and some of them are placed beyond the reach of the unlearned reader. It will be our business briefly to notice those which may be rendered contributive to his assistance, before we proceed to treat of them in a subsequent part of this work. The sources of Scriptural help here demanding notice, may be comprised under SACRED GEOGRAPHY-BIBLICAL ANTIQUITIESand PROFANE HISTORY and ANTIQUITIES. That an acquaintance with these subjects is indispensable, in order to understand various parts of the Bible, is too obvious to need any extended remarks. If, to understand the history and poetry of another nation, it be found requisite to cultivate an acquaintance with their customs and mannerstheir religion and polity-the nature and administration of their laws-the character of their climate and productionstheir geographical and political relations—with a multitude of other particulars too numerous to mention here,-how shall we expect to discern the beauties, or even to understand the histories and doctrines of the Sacred writers, while destitute of this information? The sacred books were written in countries far removed from our own, and in ages remote from those in which we live. They describe manners and customs, they prescribe institutions and ceremonies, so different from every thing falling under our personal notice, that without the previous information to which we have alluded, many will appear useless, and not a few absurd. 1. Sacred Geography and Natural History will claim some considerable attention, as a mean of elucidating various parts of Scripture. This branch of study may be conveniently divided into HISTORICAL and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: the former relates to the names, divisions, and history of the Land of Canaan the latter regards the climate, seasons, and other natural phenomena of the country, with the agricultural and horticultural practices of its inhabitants. Much information on these subjects may be derived from modern travellers, particularly from the volumes of Shaw, Russell, Hasselquist, Maundrell, Clarke, Burckhardt, Richardson, and Buckingham, whose minute and intelligent relations confirm our more ancient accounts and Scriptural allusions. The edition of Wells' Geography, by the editor of Calmet's Dictionary, and the first three volumes of the Modern Traveller, will afford much geographical information to the person whose reading must be limited; and for the natural history of the Bible, he will need little more than the very valuable work of Dr. Harris, two English editions of which have been recently published. 2. Jewish Antiquities. This embraces the POLITICAL, SACRED, and DOMESTIC Laws and Customs of the Israelites, and is evidently of much importance in the study of Scrip ture. In the prosecution of this branch of our studies, we must be careful to derive our information from authentic sources, and exercise much caution in applying it, when acquired, to the illustration of Scripture. There is one advantage which we possess in this pursuit, arising from the permanency of Oriental customs. The prevailing and singular manners of the modern Syrians and Arabs have been successfully traced up to the patriarchal times, and much light is thrown upon many Scriptural scenes and histories, by a knowledge of these manners. For the purpose of acquiring this, Harmer's "Observations," and the "Fragments" appended to Calmet's Biblical Encyclopædia, will be read with much profit. But to a knowledge of the customs of the Eastern people generally, the reader must add an acquaintance with those customs which were peculiarly Jewish, as these are so closely interwoven with every part of Scripture. For this purpose, recourse may be had to the works of Josephus, Fleury, Lamy, Lowman, Godwyn, Jennings, Brown, &c. A summary of these laws and customs, sufficiently ample for general readers, it is hoped, will be found in a subsequent part of this work. 3. Profane History and Antiquities. An acquaintance with the history of the Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, Egyptians, Assyrians, Medes, Babylonians, Persians, Arabians, Greeks, Romans, and other nations of antiquity, is of the greatest importance to the historical interpretation of the Bible: for, as the Jewish people were connected with those nations, either in a hostile or a pacific manner, the knowledge of their history, as well as of their customs, arts, and literature, becomes the more interesting; as it is well known that the Israelites, notwithstanding they were forbidden to have intercourse with the heathen, did nevertheless borrow and adopt some of their institutions. More particularly, regardless of the severe prohibition against idolatry, how many idols did they borrow from the Gentiles at different times, previously to the great Babylonish captivity, and associate them in the worship of Jehovah! Their commercial intercourse with the Egyptians and Arabs, and especially with the Phoenicians, was very considerable: and, at the same time, they were almost incessantly at war with the Philistines, Moabites, and other neighbouring nations, and afterwards with the Assyrians and Egyptians, until they were finally conquered, and carried into captivity by the Assyrians and Babylonians. Further, the prophets, in their denunciations or predictions, not only address their admonitions and threatenings to the Israelites and Jews, but also frequently accost foreign nations, whom they menace with destruction. The writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, contain very numerous predictions relative to the heathen nations, which would be utterly unintelligible without the aid of profane history. The same remark will apply to the divisions of time, forms of government, &c. that obtained at different periods, which cannot be ascertained from the perusal of the Sacred writings merely.* On these subjects, the Connections of Sacred and Profane History, by Drs. Shuckford and Prideaux, and the Ancient History of Rollin, may be read with advantage. We have already adverted to the necessity of exercising much caution in the application of these several species of knowledge to the purposes of Scriptural illustration. The authority of the facts may be unquestionable, while the application of them is unfounded; and some writers have even invented ancient customs, from passages in the Bible which they have misunderstood. The application of these matters should never be so made as to offer any violence to the sacred text, or to induce a belief that the words have been distorted from their simple and obvious meaning. Having thus pointed out the sources whence assistance towards a right understanding of Scripture may be derived, we proceed to lay before the reader whose means or opportunities of study may be so circumscribed as to preclude him from perusing those voluminous works to which reference has been made, so much of the necessary information as our limits will permit, and which we hope will furnish him with the means of deriving from the Sacred Volume that degree of satisfaction and edification which, in some measure, depend upon a knowledge of the various laws and customs, histories and sciences, to which the inspired writers so frequently allude.† * Horne's Introduction, vol. ii. p. 549. fourth edition. |