

PREFACE. 



THIS book was originally intended to be but a re-print of 

 the English work, by Carpenter. His volume, however, was 

 found to contain so much of Biblical criticism, and Classical 

 learning, as to be adapted almost exclusively to the use of the 

 Greek and Hebrew scholar. 



It was therefore thought best to revise Carpenter ; to omit 

 'hose classical discussions, and verbal criticisms, which al- 

 though interesting and valuable to the orientalist, must, from 

 their very nature, be of little service to common readers ; and 

 to bring the substance of the Scripture illustrations, found in 

 his volume, within the reach of the readers of the English 

 Bible. 



Such a revision of Carpenter's volume, with alterations and 

 additions, was but just accomplished and ready for the press, 

 when the third London edition of his work camfe to hand, 

 published under countenance of the * Book Society for promo- 

 ting Religious -Knowledge/ in which the design above stated 

 was fully pursued, and that too, with evidence of much judg- 

 ment and good taste. 



The very favorable and commendatory notices which his 

 first editions had received from the ' Eclectic and Monthly Re- 

 views,' ' The Athenaeum,' ' The Christian Remembrancer,' 

 'The Home Missionary,' 'The Baptist,' < The Methodist/ 

 ' The Congregational/ ' The Evangelical/ and ' Imperial 

 Magazines/ and other publications, induced him to prepare an 

 edition better calculated for popular use and general circula* 

 tion. 



1 In doing this/ the author remarks in his preface, * he has 

 borne in mind a suggestion, put forth in a favorable critique 

 upon the first impression, in the " Eclectic Review/' and by 

 divesting the work of some of the dryness and tedium of crit- 

 icism, and making it less diffuse, he has sought to give it a 

 more " popular," though not a less useful character. These al- 

 terations have enabled him, without omitting any thing of re- 

 al value and utility, to bring the volume into a smaller com- 

 pass, and a more attractive form.' 



