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THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.

The Books of the Bible.

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS.

AVE you learned the names of the historical books to-day, Willie?'

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Yes, father, I know them quite well now: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.'

You have not found the task so very difficult as you thought it would be.'

It was quite easy, but it would be very difficult to learn the names of all the books in the Bible at once.'

'You need not do so, only learn a few at a time, and you will soon know them all perfectly.'

'Now tell me what you know about the first of the historical books.'

'It is Joshua, and it tells us all about the Israelites crossing the Jordan, and taking possession of the land of Canaan.'

The book of JOSHUA is very closely connected with the books of Moses, and there are many references to them in it. Joshua had been Moses' servant during all the forty years they passed in the wilderness, and so was well trained for the work of leading the Israelites into the land of Canaan.

The books of Moses were his constant guide. When the Lord commanded him to lead the people over Jordan, he said, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayst observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee.

Joshua was an eminent type of the Lord Jesus, who alone can lead His people through the river of death into the heavenly Canaan. He is the Captain of our salvation, who subdues all our enemies and enables us to overcome them.

Besides being the completion of the books of Moses, the book of Joshua is the introduction to the other historical books. It gives an account of the survey of the land, and the allotting to each of the nine and a half tribes their own portion; the

tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh having received their inheritance before they crossed the Jordan.

The book of JUDGES carries on the history after the death of Joshua for more than three hundred years.

This book tells us that, after the death of the elders who outlived Joshua, the people forsook the Lord and learned the evil ways of the surrounding nations. Then the Lord was displeased and suffered their enemies to oppress them. But when they cried to him in their trouble he raised up judges for their deliverance.

The judges did not succeed one another as Joshua succeeded Moses; but each one was raised up for some special occasion, when Israel had cried unto the Lord in their trouble.

This book shews how prone men are to depart from God, and thus to bring punishment on themselves; and yet, how ready God is to pardon and send deliverance when they return to Him! The judges are called saviours in this book, and they were types of Him who saves His people from their sins. Samuel was the last judge, and the first of a long line of prophets. It is generally thought that he wrote the books of Judges and of Ruth, and part of First Samuel.

The story of RUTH is an appendix to the book of Judges, and connects it with the book of Samuel. This beautiful account is written to encourage the young to follow the Lord fully. It shews how the Lord recompensed Ruth for leaving her home and friends; what a full reward was given her by the Lord God of Israel under whose wings she had come to trust!

By her marriage with Boaz, Ruth the Moabitess became the great-grand-mother of King David, and her name is enrolled as one of the ancestors of the Lord Jesus Himself.

The FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL begins with the story of Hannah and her little son, of whom it is written: The child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord and also with men. Then we read of the awful judgments which befel Eli's sons

REVISING QUESTIONS.

for their wickedness, and how the Lord chose Samuel to be a prophet and a judge over Israel. It tells us too, how the people displeased God by asking a king; how God commanded Samuel to anoint Saul, and after he had rebelled against God sent him to anoint David, with whom the Lord was well pleased. The persecution David endured from Saul is also described in First Samuel, which closes with an account of the death of Saul.

The SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL is all occupied with David's reign over Israel, a period of forty years.

First and Second Samuel were originally one book, which bore Samuel's name because he wrote the first part of it. The rest is thought to have been written by the prophets Gad and Nathan.

REVISING QUESTIONS

ON THE

M. T. S.

INTERNATIONAL SCHEME of LESSONS

These questions are not meant to be the sole questions put, but may serve as guiding the teacher over the main points of the lesson.

MARCH 2. PAUL AT ATHENS. Acts xvii. 22-34.

1 At what city do we find Paul in this lesson? 2 What country was it the capital of?

3 What were its inhabitants famous for? (1 Cor. i. 22.) 4 Where were Silas and Timothy? v. 14.

5 In what famous place of Athens did Paul preach?

V. 19.

[city? 6 What inscription did he say he had seen in their 7 What did he say he had come to do? v. 23. 8 What was the first thing he told them about God? V. 24.

9 What inference did he draw from that fact? v. 24. 10 How did he prove the brotherhood of all men? v.26. 11 What quotation from one of their own poets did he make?

12 What solemn truth as to the future did he tell them? v. 31. [mock at? v. 32. 13 Which part of this discourse did the Athenians 14 Did any of them believe his words? Who? 15 Did Paul ever form a church at Athens?

16 What fact did he find notably true in their case? (1 Cor. i. 26.)

17 How did Christ state the same truth? (Mat. xi. 25.) 18 What resolution did his poor success at Athens probably induce Paul to make? (1 Cor. ii. 2.) MARCH 9. PAUL AT CORINTH. Acts xviii. 1-17.

1 What city did Paul go to after leaving Athens? v. 1. 2 If Edinburgh is like Athens, what city in Scotland was Corinth like?

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3 With whom did Paul work at Corinth? What was his wife's name? [v. 26. 4 Shew that they were both intelligent Christians? 5 To what place did Paul always first go to preach? v.4. 6 What made him leave the Corinthian synagogue? 7 What leading Jew believed on Christ? v. 8. [v. 6. 8 What mark of distinction did Paul bestow upon him? (1 Cor. i. 14.)

9 What made Paul stay longer than usual at Corinth? 10 How long did he stay? v. 11. [v. 9, 10. 11 What two Epistles did he write from Corinth? 12 Who was Governor of Corinth at this time? v. 12. 13 Who brought Paul before him? V. 12. 14 What was Gallio's decision?

v. 15.

15 What other Roman Governor once acted differently? (Mat. xxvii. 22.)

16 How many Epistles did Paul afterwards write to the Corinthian Church?

17 Mention several members of the Corinthian church. (Rom. xvi. 23. 1 Cor. i. 11, 16.)

MARCH 16.

THE COMING OF THE LORD. 1 Thes. iv. 13-18; v. 1-8.

1 What was the former and present names of the city to which this letter of Paul's was addressed? 2 How had the people used Paul when he was with them? (Acts xvii.)

3 What subject was their church perplexed about? 4 What seems to have been their thought?

5 How did Paul calm their fears?

v. 16.

[v. 13.

6 Can any person know when Christ shall come? 7 What does Paul compare it to? chap. v. 2. 8 Who used that figure before him? (Luke xii. 39.) 9 What are Christ's plain words on this point? (Mat. xxv. 13.)

10 What did Paul warn the Thessalonians against? 11 What did he counsel them to do? v. 6. [v. 6. 12 What praiseworthy name did he give them? v. 5. 13 What two parts of the Christian armour did he specially advise them to put on? V. 8. 14 Mention some other parts of that armour? (Eph. vi. 14, &c.)

15 Are we commanded to be ever looking for Christ's coming? (Titus ii. 13.)

16 What is the best preparation for it? (Luke xii. 35.) 17 What parable teaches this lesson? (Mat. xxv. 1.)

MAR. 23. CHRISTIAN DILIGENCE. 2 Thes. iii. 1-18.

1 For what great object did Paul ask the prayers of the Thessalonians? v. 1.

2 What two blessings did he pray for them? v. 5. 3 What special command did he give them? v. 6. 4 What example did he point them to? v. 7. 5 Did Paul receive any salary for preaching? v. 8. 6 Did he say that he had the right to receive it? v. 9. 7 What common-sense rule did he lay down about work? v. 10.

8 What name did he give to idle talkers? v. 11. 9 What command did he lay upon these? v. 12. 10 What good counsel did he give to all? v. 13. 11 What rule of separation did he advise? v. 14. 12 How were they to regard even these? v. 15. 13 Did Paul write his letters with his own hand? 14 Why not, probably?

15 What part did he always write? and why? v. 17. 16 Repeat his parting blessing. v. 18.

17 Repeat his benediction to the Corinthians. (2 Cor. xiii. 14.) [who wrote it? 18 Is the subscription to 1 and 2 Thes. accurate? and

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THE

Silent Teacher

PRICE ONE HALFPENNY MONTHLY.

Only One Shilling a year, Post-free. Quantities at Special Rates. Send for this valuable Periodical

The January Number contains

ANOTHER YEAR!- New-Year's Greeting-- IN THE MIDST-

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By F. E. MARSH.
THE CRY OF A CHILD-A Touching Story;
and Remarks-
By Dr. GORDON.

A MAN WHO LOVED HIS CHAIN

By H. W. BLAKE.

O LORD, THOU KNOWEST-Verses.

BEAUTIFUL HYMN AND MUSIC-"I'LL SING FOR JESUS"

and other Articles and Illustrations.

THE HE primary object of this little paper is to have the Word of God made a matter of constant study, and to have Divine Truth made very real and very precious. The Leading Articles are on subjects of vital importance, and real incidents are introduced to illustrate truth. Difficult portions of Scripture are occasionally explained; infidel objections are cleared up and met; errors of interpretation are faithfully corrected with the best light of modern aids to study. Young converts will find the publication a faithful and loving guide-and young teachers a useful friend. Its teaching is in harmony with the Evangelical views held by the great body of God's people in this country. Each Number contains a beautiful Hymn with Music arranged for Part Singing, well adapted for Gospel Choirs.

Short articles on Scriptural subjects, illustrations for evangelistic work, or other contributions, are respectfully solicited. A column is now opened for brief reports and incidents of Christian Work. Communications to be addressed to the Editor, care of the Publishers,

J. AND R. PARLANE, PAISLEY.

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