Q. 2. What books are included in the Old Testament?.

A. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomon's Song, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Q. 3. What books are included in the New Testament?

A. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.

Q. 4. Are the books commonly called the Apocrypha, which are sometimes appended to the Old Testament, divinely inspired? or are they any part of the Sacred Canon?

A. There is no evidence, that they are; but there is much evidence, that they are not. 1. The authors of them do not pretend to be inspired. 2. They neither agree with themselves, nor with the Holy Scriptures. 3. The Jews never acknowledged them to be of Divine authority, as they were written after the days of Malachi, with whom the spirit of prophecy ceased, as they universally believed. 4. They are never quoted by Christ and His apostles. 5. They were never received in the first ages of the Christian church, as canonical Scripture.

Q. 5. How are the books of the Apocrypha to be regarded?

A. Simply as human writings, containing some truths and facts important to be known.

Q. 6. In what language were the Sacred Scriptures at first written?

A. The Old Testament was principally written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek.

Q. 7. What is meant by the Septuagint ?

A. The translation of the Old Testament into Greek, as is supposed, by seventy-two interpreters or translators. They are usually called the Seventy, as that is a full or round number.

Q. 8. When was the common English version of the Bible made?

A. More than two hundred years ago, in the reign of James I, king of England. Fifty-four of the most learned men of the realm were appointed to this service. Forty-seven only engaged in the work; and, after five or six years' labor, the present translation was published in 1613.

Q9. Have the Sacred Scriptures been published in any languages besides the Hebrew, Greek, and English?

A. They have in many, both ancient and modern. By the benevolent exertions of the different Bible Societies in the present day, the Scriptures have been translated into more than a hundred and fifty languages and dialects, and been published; and they will, no doubt, through the Divine assistance, be soon translated into all languages under heaven, and be published, and be distributed among all people.

Q. 10. Was it desirable and necessary, that God should make to mankind such a revelation as He has in the Sacred Scriptures?

A. It was, that He might assure them of a future state;-that He might set forth, in the most full, clear, and impressive manner, His perfections and their duty; that He might enforce their obedience to Him by the most powerful motives; and, especially, that He might make known to them the riches of His grace in salvation by Jesus Christ. (b)

(b) 2 Tim. i. 10. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.-2 Cor. v. 14, 15.

Q. 11. What is meant by the inspiration of the Sacred Scriptures?

A. By it is meant, that the sacred Penmen were moved, directed, and assisted by God what to write, and how to write, and when to write; so that they did write exactly, and in all respects, as they were moved, or borne on, by the Holy Ghost.

Q. 12. How does it appear that the sacred writers were possessed of an inspiration of this nature, sometimes called plenary inspiration?

A. From the fact, that they could not have delivered to the world what they did as a divine revelation, with confidence and safety to themselves, unless they had been conscious of their own inspiration, and they could not have been conscious of their own inspiration, unless they had been thus inspired;-that they could not have written what they did respecting God and Jesus Christ, angels and .men, time and eternity, heaven and hell, unless they had been thus inspired; -and that they profess to be thus inspired. (c)

For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. -Heb. xi. 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.-Luke ii. 10, 11. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

(c) 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God.-2 Pet. i. 20, 21. Knowing this first, that no prophecy is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.-1 Cor. ii. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.-Gal. i. 11, 12. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.Rev. i. 1, 2. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants, things which must shortly come to pass, and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Q. 13. When it is said that the Scriptures were given by Divine inspiration, is it meant, that God spake and did all which is related in the Scriptures, or that every thing there written is true?

A. Certainly not. Many things, which are related in the Bible as spoken and done, were spoken and done by Satan and wicked men. The Tempter spake falsely to our first parents, and the three friends of Job uttered what was not true concerning God. The incorrect opinions of good men, as well as their failings, are often told in the Scriptures. But for our instruction and warning, God directed the sacred Penmen to record what is written in the Holy Oracles. (d)

Q. 14. What is the evidence that the Bible is a revelation from God?

A. There is evidence from history;-from the miracles recorded in it, wrought in the presence of competent witnesses;-from its prophecies and their fulfilment ;-from the unrivalled sublimity of its language, the nature and harmony of its doctrines, and the perfect purity of its precepts ;-from the glorious effects it has produced upon the hearts and lives of multitudes;-from the sacred character of its writers; from the propagation of Christianity;-and from the analogy there is between natural and revealed religion. 1. All history, so far as it speaks on

(d) Gen. iii. 2-5. And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.-Job xlii. 8, 9. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering, and my servant Job shall for you; for him will I accept; lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, went and did according as the Lord commanded them: and the Lord also accepted

Job.

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the subject, declares that the different parts of the Bible, ever since their existence (and some parts of it are the most ancient of writings), have purported to be a revelation from God, and that they have been acknowledged to be such by almost all people in all ages wheresoever the true religion has prevailed. The account of many things, which took place in the early periods of the world, given by the sacred Penmen, is corroborated by the most renowned Pagan writers of the highest antiquity. This coincidence between sacred and profane history is an evidence in favor of the truth, and consequently of the divinity, of the Scriptures. 2. A miracle, in a theological sense, is an effect, varying from the stated course or laws of nature, wrought by the interposition of God Himself in attestation of some divine truth, or of the authority of some divine Messenger or Teacher. Consequently, the miracles performed by Moses and the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles, demonstrate, that the hand of God was with them, and that what they wrote as a revelation was of divine origin. (e) 3. Foreknowl

(e) Ex. xiv. 16, 21. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it; and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.-2 Kings ii. 8. And Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.-Mat. iv. 23, 24. And Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought unto him all sick people, that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.-Acts v. 12. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.-Heb. ii. 4. God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy ghost according to his own will. -2 Kings ii. 14. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, 'Where is the Lord God of Elijah?' And when he also had smitten the waters, they