CONTENTS.

CHAPTER L

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BIBLE AS A CLASSICAL BOOK.

Introductory-The Bible as a Classic-The Bible adapted to Childhood-The Bib e in

the School and College-The Bible in our English version-The Bible in the four

great Classic Tongues-The Bible as related to the State and its Schools-The Bible

the Palladium of American Institutions-The Bible and the Church of Rome--Con-

cluding remarks

13-67

CHAPTER II

POETRY AND THE BARDS OF THE BIBLE

Nature and Uses of Poetry in the Bible-Difference between Hebrew Prose and Poetry

-Style of Hebrew Poetry, Parallelism-Spirit of Hebrew Poetry-Departments of

Hebrew Poetry-Influence of Hebrew Poetry-Writers of Poetry in the Bible-The

Seven Greater Bards-The Argument from Poetry-Concluding Remarks, 68-117

CHAPTER III.

ELOQUENCE AND ORATORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

Elements and Characteristics of Eloquence-Illustrations of Eloquence-Earliest

Example of Eloquence in the Old Testament-Judah as an Orator-Aaron as an

Orator-Other Examples from the Old Testament-Eloquence of Hushai, the

Archite,

118-152

CHAPTER IV.

THE ELOQUENT ORATORS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

Examples of Perverted Eloquence-Herod and Tertullus-Speech of Gamaliel-The Elo

quent Apollos-Stephen's Address to the Council-Preaching of John the Baptist-

Peter as an Orator-Speech of James before the Synod-The Recorder or Town-

clerk of Ephesus-The Eloquence of Paul-Paul on Mars Hill-Discourses of our

Lord-Conclusion,,.
153-201

Interest of the Subject-General View-Classification-Picture of Eve-Sarah and

Rebekah-Character of Deborah-Character of Esther and Ruth-Jezebel and Atha-

liah-Herodias and her dancing Daughter-Abigail, Hannah, and Martha-The Ma-

rys-Concluding Remarks,
202-259

CHAPTER VI.

REPRESENTATIVE YOUNG MEN OF THE BIBLE.

Range and Limits of the Theme-The First of Young Men-The First Two Brothers→→

Character of Joseph-The Youth of Moses-Sketch of David and Jonathan-Sketch

of Samuel and Saul-Saul and Samuel at Endor-Character of Absalom-The Young

Man as Sovereign-The Young Men of the Captivity-Young Men of the New Tes-

tament,

260-323

CHAPTER VII.

SCIENCE AND THE SAGES OF THE BIBLE.

Relations and Bearings of the Subject-The Moral Science of the Bible-The Bible on

Physical Science-First Scientific Characteristic-Second Characteristic-Third

Characteristic-Additional Illustrations-The Sages of the Bible.

824-370

CHAPTER VIII.

ORIGINAL CONCEPTIONS; OR, OBJECTS OF SUBLIMITY AND BEAUTY IN THE BIBLE.

The Divine Existence-The Providence of God-The Personal Character of Christ-
The Idea of Special Divine Influence-The Church of God-The Common Brother-
hood of Man-The Day of Sacred Rest-The Millennium-The Resurrection of the
Dead-The Last Judgment-The Heavenly World-The Scheme of Redemption-
Recapitulation and Conclusion,

871-441

ATTRACTIONS OF THE BIBLE.

CHAPTER I

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BIBLE AS A
CLASSICAL BOOK.

Introductory-The Bible as a Classic-The Bible adapted to Childhood-The Bible in the School and College-The Bible in our English version-The Bible in the four great Classic Tongues-The Bible as related to the State and its Schools-The Bible the Palladium of American Institutions-The Bible and the Church of Rome-Concluding remarks.

1.-INTRODUCTORY.

In the following pages, addressed mainly, though not exclusively, to our educated youth, it is proposed to present an outline of what may be called the Incidental Attractions of the Bible; or, in other words, to set forth its claims both as a classic, and as a book of general education. As a book of religion, around which cluster all our hopes of immortality, the Bible has merits of the very highest order; and these, with every serious mind, will be, as they ever ought to be, its greatest attractions. But, aside from the religion which it reveals to us, and the good news of salvation which it brings us, the Bible has other attractions.

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