Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

PREFACE.

THE Bible is the book for the world. Every part of it has its uses, and not the shortest passage could be omitted without diminishing its perfect adaptation to ALL the purposes for which it was designed.

But the WHOLE of it is not equally appropriate for EACH of these purposes, and therefore when, only one or several of these are contemplated, selections suitable to them may with propriety be made from the Sacred Volume.

On this principle has the Scripture School Reader been prepared. For the use of Schools it claims the following advantages.

FIRST. As from the limited time allowed to the reading of Scriptures, selections must be made, and from inexperience, or little attention of teachers, extempore selections cannot always be most judicious, there is a manifest advantage in having them mapped out beföre hand, with reference to their comparative adaptation.

SECOND. All the matter of this compilation, in the judgment of the most fastidious, will be found suitable for promiscuous reading, and comprises all those striking moral lessons, especially adapted to the education of

[blocks in formation]

THIRD. By bringing together passages relating to the same subject, it enhances the relative beauty of each, and combines the varied language and imagery of the Scriptures, to illustrate with incomparable clearness and effect, their own doctrines and laws.

FOURTH. By collecting detached narratives of the lives of Scripture characters, and presenting them divested of extraneous matter, in succinct biographies, it invests them with a new and surprising interest, and renders their moral impression more distinct and permanent.

FIFTH. By restoring the poetry of the Scriptures to its proper metrical form, it clothes it with new beauty and force.

SIXTH. By restoring the whole matter to its original, and more natural arrangement in paragraphs, like other reading books, and presenting it in handsome type and page, it facilitates the observance of punctuation, and all the habits of correct reading.

NOTE. In the preparation of this Volume, the Editors have been much assisted by the "Bible Manual," which in addition to an accurate and full classification of texts, furnishing a complete index to all the teachings of the Scriptures; and a compilation and arrangement of the devotional language of the Bible, constituting a Scriptural directory to prayer; embraces also copious doctrinal and didactic selections, and numerous selections for special and ordinary occasions of worship; in the comprehensiveness of its plan, and the fullness of its matter, ministering more variously and extensively to the usefulness of the Scriptures than any single Volume before the public.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

In the beginning God created the heaven, and the earth. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God said, Let there be a firmanent in the midst of the waters: and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear and it was so. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree, yielding fruit after his kind. And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called. Mine hand hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the host of them, by the breath of his mouth. He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as a heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the

inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake and it was done: he commanded, and it stood fast.

I am the Lord and there is none else, there is no God besides me: I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil. There is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it.

O Lord, my God, thou art very great: thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light, as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, who maketh the clouds his chariot who walketh upon the wings of the wind. Who maketh his angels spirits: his ministers a flaming fire. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

Canst thou by searching, find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do? deeper than hell, what Icanst thou know? Behold he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect.

We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come, because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. I am Alpha, and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Isaiah 45: 5-7. Isaiah 43: 13. Psalm 104: 1-7. Job 11: 7, 8. Job 9: 12. Gen. 17: 1. Rev. 11: 17. Rev. 1: 8. Rev. 19: 6.

« AnteriorContinuar »