THE

PROPER LESSONS

From the Old Testament

FOR SUNDAYS AND OTHER HOLY DAYS,

WITH

A PLAIN COMMENTARY

EXPLAINING PARTICULARLY THEIR CHRISTIAN MEANING AND THEIR
RELATION TO THE DIFFERENT SEASONS OF THE CHURCH'S YEAR,

BY

THE REV. WILLIAM J. DEANE, B.A.,

RECTOR OF ASHEN, IN THE DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER.

"And now that I have mentioned this, I will add two or three things more that would
be of great advantage to the Church, if they were done by persons of care and judgment.
2. A new work of short marginal annotations on the Bible, explaining only the
most obvious difficulties, that seem to puzzle ordinary readers. .. 3. Till this were
effected, a short exposition of those chapters only which are read as Proper Lessons out of
the Old Testament, might be a proper help to vulgar capacities and ordinary readers, to
employ their meditations upon those parts of Scripture, which the Church has chosen for
their edification and instruction, and seem most to want some light and guide, to make
them answer that end to them."-BINGHAM, Orig. Eccles. Pref.

LONDON:

JOSEPH MASTERS, ALDERSGATE STREET,

AND NEW BOND STREET.

MDCCCLXIV.

138. f. 35.

PREFACE.

THERE is a regular course of instruction provided for us in the yearly services of the Church. Each holy time and day add something to the store, and the teaching is only complete when the year itself is ended. By presenting to her children "here a little and there a little," the Church gradually instructs them in the great principles of the Faith, and unfolds to them the duties which they have to perform as members of CHRIST. Advent, Easter, Whitsuntide, speak respectively of CHRIST as Man, CHRIST as GOD, and the Descent of the HOLY GHOST; while Trinity Sunday sums up the whole revelation of Almighty God, and the rest of the year is occupied with applying these great doctrines to the every-day life of Christians.

In accordance with this design the Proper Lessons have been arranged. Of course, like all Scripture, the particular passages thus selected have more than one application; but it is not in our power to fathom the full depth of God's Word, and we shall best do our duty by first learning the bearing of the appointed chapters upon the particular seasons whose teaching they illustrate, before attempting to seek out other meanings.

In the following commentary it has been attempted, first, to exhibit the special doctrine taught by each Proper Lesson as it occurs in its particular season; secondly, to afford an approved explanation of all difficulties which meet an ordinary reader or hearer in the selected passages; and thirdly, to indicate very briefly

the most generally allowed typical and spiritual significations which underlie the letter of the Scriptures. Ancient authorities have been used in preference to, but not to the exclusion of, modern commentaries; but references are not given to the various sources from which the notes are drawn, as it was thought that such references were unnecessary in a work entirely uncritical and not intended for learned readers.

The compiler believes that he has advanced no private interpretation of his own, as he knows that he has endeavoured to explain the Word of GOD in conformity with the teaching of the Church; and he humbly prays that this book, the fruit of the reading and meditation of many years, may tend to the honour of GOD and the edification of Christian souls.