THE NEW AND COMPREHENSIVE SCRIPTURE CATECHISM: DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF Schools, Bible Classes, and Private Families. BY CHARLES BRIDGMAN, AUTHOR OF "THE COMPREHENSIVE GOSPEL HISTORY,' SCRIPTURE Third Edition, Carefully Revised. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." LONDON: BIBLE CHRISTIAN BOOK-ROOM, 26 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1060. f. 1. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. THE author having asked me to write a short preface for this, the third edition of his valuable little book, I have much pleasure in complying with his request. He himself, in his Preface to the Second Edition, has indicated the "best method" to be pursued in using the Catechism in Sunday Schools, in separate Bible-classes, at Sabbath School Anniversaries, and in the family. Every minister and teacher knows the value of catechetical instruction, and there are, I think, signs that, after having been allowed to fall into disuse, the custom has been revived of late in many quarters. The special value of this Catechism is that it is emphatically a Scripture Catechism. The necessity which all feel who are engaged in the work of teaching Bible truth, viz., to analyse and classify the most important of the facts and incidents of Scripture, the author has here skilfully done for them; and I think many of them will gladly avail themselves of his labours, and at the same time be quite ready to acknowledge their obligations. The vein of fine gold running through the Scriptures Mr. Bridgman has skilfully worked, and here much of it he has coined for general use. We trust his work will find general acceptance among the classes for whom it is specially designed. 14 BELMONT ROAD, CLAPHAM, F. W. BOURNE. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. IN bringing a second edition of this Catechism before the public, the Author hereby expresses his unfeigned gratitude for the many favourable reviews of the first edition, which have appeared in the leading periodicals of the day; and also for the numerous letters sent him, unsolicited, from friends far and near, bearing testimony to the usefulness of the work. This edition contains additional matter, and several important alterations. The whole is arranged suitably for general use in schools, for exercises in families, for separate Bible-classes, and for anniversaries. If what has been affirmed be true, that "The number of immoral books published annually, is more than the total issues of the Christian Knowledge Society, Religious Tract Society, British and Foreign Bible Society, Scottish Bible Society, Trinitarian Bible Society, and some seventy religious periodicals," and that each of those pernicious publications has a tendency, more or less, to bring the Bible into disrepute, lower the standard of morality, and lead souls from the centre of holiness to dissipation and ruin, then, surely, the duty of every |