the more important places each account is given separately, to enable the reader to compare them with each other. II. The Apostolic history is divided, headed, and illustrated in a similar manner to the Gospels, with the exception, that it includes a far larger proportion of historical, geographical, biographical, and antiquarian notes. It embraces, 1. The Acts of the Apostles, with the narrative paraphrased, and the speeches and sermons reprinted verbatim, as in the Gospel portion. 2. The continuous history of St. Paul, completed until his death, by the intercalation and addition of historical matter from the Epistles, and by a paraphrased narrative of his voyages. The latter is more extended than any other portion of the volume, in order to include as much geographical description as possible in the text, without obliging the reader to refer to detached notes, which but too often distract his attention and break off his interest in the most important periods of the history. 3. An Analysis of the Epistles, those of St. Paul being inserted in the history of the period when they were written, and which may be referred to by means of the index; and those of St. Peter, James, John, and Jude, being arranged by themselves as an appendix to the Acts. 4. The Book of Revelation, including the more certain arguments in favour of its authenticity, and an Analysis and Summary of its contents. Such then are the principal features of the volume now presented to the public. It also contains, in addition, an Introduction, comprising an analysis of all the principal proofs of the authenticity, credibility, and inspiration of the New Testament; and an outline of its critical history and geography. Notices of the twelve disciples will also be found at page 207, and complete indexes both to the text and notes at the end of the volume. In the preparation of this work, numerous authorities have been consulted upon every subject, and endeavours have been made to select, analyze, and digest an amount of information, which though comparatively new to the general reader, should yet prove instructive and explanatory. Wherever such information has been deemed original or important, a reference has been added; but to have appended one in every case would have been both needless and troublesome.* The author, however, acknowledges his great and especial obligations to the valuable researches in Kitto's Biblical Cyclopedia, and Dr. Wm. Smith's Classical and Biographical Dictionaries, and to those of Greswell, Davidson, Horne, Bengel, Burton, Mosheim, Parkhurst, Lightfoot, Robinson, Olshausen, Neander, Tischendorff, Tate, Bp. Pearson, Professor Hackett, and to many historians and geographers referring to the period, as well as the works of others to which only incidental reference has been made. For many of the more practical notes, the author has been especially indebted to those of the Rev. R. C. Trench, on the Miracles and Parables, in which are exquisitely combined the feelings of the poet with the sentiments of the Christian. In concluding this somewhat lengthy preface, the author would express his satisfaction at the favourable manner in which his previous works have been received both by the press and the public. He has hitherto withheld his name from the title-pages of his different publications, but the The more advanced student will find references to almost every existing work that is really valuable upon any subject, by turning to the subject itself, either in Kitto's Cyclopedia, or Horne's Manual of Biblical Bibliography. The writer of the present pages would also be happy to furnish such information as might be directly required by any of his readers. success which has attended his efforts induces him now to acknowledge the authorship. The facilities his business as a bookseller affords him for referring to so many authorities, has, he hopes, increased the value of his unpretending volumes; nor can he charge himself with neglecting important avocations, whilst devoting the intervals of business to literary labours, which have been so indulgently received, and earned for him, however unworthily, the kind regard and esteem of some of his most valued friends, to whom otherwise he must have remained unknown. Cambridge, J. TALBOYS WHEELER. INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. CONTENTS. I. The Jewish nation, or Palestine.-Face of the country.-Divisions, viz. 1st, West of the Jordan. 1. Galilee, or the northern district. 2. Samaria, or the central district. 3. Judæa, or the southern district. Description of Jerusalem. 2nd, East of the Jordan. 1. Peræa Proper. 2. Gilead, or Galaaditis. 3. Deca- polis, or Ten Cities. 4. Batanæa. 5. Gaulonitis. 6. Auranitis, or Hauran. 7. Trachonitis. 8. Ituræa. 9. Abilene. II. The Gentile nations, viz. 1. Syria and Phoenicia. 2. Asia Minor. 3. Mace- donia and Illyricum, or Northern Greece. 4. Achaia, or Southern Greece. 5. Islands The World of the New Testament.-The geography 1 of the New Testament may be divided into that of the 2 3 into which the inspired annals of our Saviour and his apostles are naturally separated. Accordingly the present outline is arranged under the two following heads. 1. The Jewish nation, or Palestine, in which our Saviour taught and suffered. 2. The Gentile nations, comprising Syria, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, Northern Greece or Macedonia, Southern Greece or Achaia, Italy, and some of the islands in the Mediterranean, which together formed the more extended theatre on which the apostles faithfully preached the gospel of their Lord and Master, in obedience to his last commands. I. The Jewish nation, or Palestine.-This included a tract of country enclosed between the mountains of Lebanon, the Mediterranean Sea, and the deserts of Arabia and Syria. It was bounded on the north by the highlands of Syria and Phoenicia; east, by the deserts of Syria; south, by Arabia Petræa; west, by the Mediterranean. Its extreme length is about 180 miles; its width in the north scarcely exceeds 20 miles, whilst in the south it has been variously estimated at from 45 to 60 miles. Face of the country.-The country consists of two sets of highlands ranging north and south, enclosing the valley of the Jordan, the lake of Tiberias, and the Dead Sea. These highlands are formed by the chains of Libanus and Anti-Libanus, which run nearly parallel through Palestine on opposite sides of the Jordan, and finally connect themselves with Mount Horeb and Sinai near the Gulf of Suez. Both chains give out numerous lateral spurs, some of the western range extending so as to project, like Mount Carmel, in bold headlands on the coast. These subordinate ranges, with the west declivity of Libanus, and the east declivity of Anti-Libanus, are by far the most fertile portions of the mountain system; for the mountains which surround the Dead Sea, |