CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

PAGE

...17

ADAM.

OUR FIRST FATHER.

Made in God's Image-Splendor of his Inheritance-Naming of the Animals-

The Germ of Science-The Gift of Speech-Alone in Paradise-Creation of

Woman - Perfection of the First Pair-Their Garden-bome--Its Matcbless

Beauty and Countless Attractions- The Devil enters this Scene of Bliss-Ho

selects the Weaker Vessel--Eve Falls, and Adam with her- Every Sense and

Faculty Blighted by Sin-Our First Parents Driven from Paradiso-A Gleam

of Hope- The First Promise—The First Sacrifice—The First Death-Increase

of the Race-Culture and Progress-Death of Adam-So all must pass away. 27

II.

NOAH.

THE PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The World before the Flood-Long Life and abounding Wickedness-One Man

Faithful-Always a Remnant of Grace-A Respite before the Blow Falls-

The Building of the Ark-Scoffs of the Ungodly-Noah Builds and Preaches

- Vengeance Poured Out-The Race Swept Away-The Little Company

Saved Lessons of the Life of Noah-The Preaching of the Daily Life- All

may thus show the Power of Religion..........

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38

III.

ABRAHAM

THE FRIEND OF GOD.

Venerated alike by Jews, Christians and Mobam medans—The Father of a Na-

tion--Founder of the Oldest Family in the World-Patriarch of the Church
- His Likeness seen in his Descendants-Purity of the Jewish Blood— Preju-
dices against the Ilebrew Race-Illustration of this in Paintings of the Old

PAGB

Masters-Oppression of Ages--Beauty of Sarah and of the Jewish Women-
Beauty a Source of Innocent Pleasure-Intellectual Pre-eminence of Abraham's
Ruce-Great Men Selected for Great Ends--Abraham an Example of this--
Great in Mental and in Moral Endowments-God Works by Means and not
by Miracles-Attacks on the Bible--Theory of Human Progress-Abraham's
Ancestors Idolaters-His Father a Maker of Images—The Sabean Faith-
Worship of the Sun-Legend of Abrahain's Conversion-His Courteousness-
Interview with the Angels-His Generosity-Lot's Choice-Rescue of Lot-

Magnanimity of Abraham-His Tenderness of Heart, Intercession for Sodom

-llis Faith and Piety- Offering up of Isaac-Equivocation Touching Sarah

-The Friend of God and Father of the Faithful....

...........

Damascus-Its Great Antiquity-Webs of Silk and Weapons of Steel –“ Pearl of

the East”-Mohammed–The Cradle of the Race-Nimrod— The Mists of

Four Thousand Years-Damascus the Birthplace of Eliezer-Servants Hon-

ored by the Bible-Called to Adorn the Doctrines of God-Advantages of a

Life of Domestic Service-Eliezer a Slave-One Million Servants in Great

Britain-A Bible Model for this Class—Fidelity-Eliezer's Marriage Em-

bassy-His Prayer-Meets Rebecca at the Well-Woos her for Isaac-His

Diligence-His Piety-Better Masters would make Better Servants-Faults

in both Classes—Victoria's Monument to a Faithful Servant..

....

ISAAC.

THE CHILD OF PROMISE.
Fcw Points of Interest in his career-Quiet, Retiring Disposition—Pious from In-

fancy-Mocked by Ishmael—The Joy of his Parents-A Damper put upon
their Hopes—God's Command to Slay Isaac-His Patient Submission
Mount Moriah-The Cup Averted—Isaac's Marriage-Evening Meditation-
Contemplative Habits-Happy, Peaceful Life-But not all Brightness-Death

of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael Reconciled at the Grave-Birth of Esau and

Jacob- Partiality of the Parents-Deadly Feud of the Twin Brothers-Isaac

Amicted with Blindness-Deceived by Jacob-Trials Sent in Love.............. 92

VI.

JACOB.

THE WRESTLER WITII GOD.

Jacob's Estimate of bis Own Life-Not a Perfect Character-Hence more in Sym-

pathy with Universal Iluman Nature-Good and Evil Mingled in the Two
Brothers--Esau, the Shaggy Huntsman, Open-hearted and Cbivalrous-Jacob,

PAGE

the Supplanter, Cautious and Conservative-Yet the Inpulsive Hunter van.
ishes away-The “ Canny" persistent Jacob pushes on to prosperity-Not a
Character to be Scoffed at-Domestic, Affectionate, Ripened by Sorrow, The
Character of each Keproduced in his Posterity- The Turbulent Idumeans-
The Jews of the Middle Ages-- Neutrality of the Scripture Narrative-Esau
Painted by the Rabbinical Authors-Lessons of the History-Fickleness and
Weakness Ruin the Noble Esau-Steady Purpose and Self-denying Toil Ele-
vate the Timnid and Crafty Jacob The Night Vision of Bethel-The Memo-
rial Stone-Early Temples-- Twenty Years with Laban—The Service of Loro
-A Good Shepherd— The Slave becomes a Prince-The Exile returns a

Wealthy Chieftain-Wrestling with God- Israel-Peniel—The Brothers

Meet-Characteristic Generosity of the One and Caution of the Other— Tran-

sition from the Pastoral to the Agricultural--City of Shechem---Passionato

Lore and Grief of Jacob--Rachel's Pillar-The Descent into Egypt-Death

of the Patriarcb-His Burial in Canaan..

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97

VII.

JOSEPH.

TIIE SUCCESSFUL MAN.

Matchless Pathos of the Story of Joseph-His Unique Experiences-Wonderful

Vicissitudes-Lofty Morality of the Narrative Analogies between the His-

tories of Joseph and of Jesus- The Successful Man-The Child of Fortune-

Bold Atheism of the Norseman-Divine Providence-Career of Louis Na-

poleon-John Bunyan-Merchant Princes-From Caresses and Indulgence to

the Blows and Tears and Chains of Slavery-From the Pit and the Prison to

the Post of Prime Minister- The Captive Boy next in Rank to Pharaoh-

This Success due to God-Special Providence-Yet Joseph the Architect

of his own Fortune--Description in Palgrave's Arabia-The Sailor must

have Skill to use the Breeze-Joseph's Piety and Virtue-His Wisdom and

Sagacity— Proinptness in seizing Opportunities-Shrewdness in making

Friends of those who might some time Help Him- Mastery over bimself-

Decision of Character–Iron Will-Loving Heart-Ready Sympathy--Patient

Endurance-Indomitable Energy-Sir Fowell Buxton to his Son .................. 111

VIII.

JOB.

THE EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE.

Conspicuous not only for Patience in Adversity, but for Humility, Wisdom and

Beneficence in Prosperity-An Upright Judge-The Priest of his Household

The Friend of the Poor-Sad Reverses-- Property and Children swept

away-Loathsome Disease-Tempted by his Wife-Deserted by his Friends

Miserable Comforters—“ Job, you must be a very wicked man"-Liars for

God--Christ's Rebuke of such Views-Job's Defence_Denies that he is a

Hypocrite-- Adinits his Imperfection-Sound Views of God's Providence-

Uniform Resignation and Reliance on God-The Clouds Disperse-Job Re-

stored to Prosperity, and the Cengorious Bigots Rebuked ......... ......... ... 130

PAGK

IX.

MOSES.

THE MAN OF GOD.

The Greatest Character in History-As a Writer-As a Divine-Leader and

Legislator-The Ten Commandments—Civil and Criminal Laws-As a Phil-

osopher-Science and the Bible-Conflagration of the World-Creation-As

a Patriot-His Sympathy with his People-Smiting the Egyptian-Forty years

of Self-sacrifice-Moses at Sinai–“ The Recompense of Reward”—Loftiness

of his Aims-Circumstances in which he was Reared-His Piety—“The

Burial of Moses.".... ... ........

........ 139

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13

The Glacier-The Pressure of Population-Founding of Colonies-Conquest of

Canaan and Settlement of the Land-No Separation of Families in the

Hebrew Emigration-Religious Interests cared for-Extermination of the

Canaanites—Fall of Jericho-Joshua acting under Divine Commission-

British Colonies-Much Land yet to be Possessed by the Church-Canaan

Divided into Twelve Parts for Conquest-So should the World be Divided by

the Christian Sects-Rapid Progress of the Church in the Beginning-Coin-

mensurate with the Roman Empire-Call to the Church now...... ....... 160

Moral Causes of Success in War-Education-Religion-France and Prussia-

Cromwell's Troops—Psalm-singing and Fighting-The Waldenses—Proper-
ties of a Good Soldier-Caleb's Fidelity-Sentinel at Pompeii-Dying at his
Post-Caleb and the Spies-His Words of Faith-His Courage-Christian
Bravery—Testimony of a Nobleman.....

.......... 178

XII.

GIDEON.

THE DELIVERER.

The Solitary Valley—Israel Desolated-Gideon's Complaint-The Call to

Repentance-The Threshing-floor-Humility of Gideon-Like Moses in his
Self-distrust-Contrast with the Twelve Apostles-Our Strength lies in our

PAGE

Weakness-Gideon's Faith Invigorated-Miracle of the Fleece—The Band of
Three Hundred-Lamps, Pitchers and Trumpets-Panic, Rout and Slaugh-

ter-The Christian's Work-Crowns for Warriors' brows-Faint yet Pur-

..... 198

suing ..............

XIII.

JEPHTHAH.

THE LAWLESS CHIEFTAIN.

A Wild Freebooter-His Irregular Birth-War with Ammon-The Gileadites-

Ephraim-Savage Taunt of Jephthah- The Fatal Vow-Grief of the Father

-Heroism of the Daughter-Iphigenia-Antigone-Horror of Hebrew Women

at a Childless Death-The Deed long Commemorated— Poetry-Lord Byron-

Tennyson-Bishop Wordsworth-Immolations of Children now ................... 201

XIV.

SAMSON.

THE DESTROYER.

The Western Frontier-The Philistines-Dan-The Nazarites—The Age of Vow:-

Birth of Samson--A Total Abstainer- His Seven Sweeping Locks-His jo-

vial Spirit-His Riddles—Practical Jests Burning the Grain-fields with

Jackals-Massacre of a Thousand Men-His grim Puns-Grotesque Irony-

Closing Scene-Overthrow of the Temple-Milton's Description ................. 207

Man's Oldest Occupation-Grain grown four thousand Years ago–The Labor of

the Mine and the Furnace-Agriculture employs more Men than any other
Calling-Boaz a Pattern--His Diligence in Business-An Idle Man tempts
the Devil-Courteousness of Boaz-Courtesy a great Set-off to Religion-
Ilis Conduct to Inferiors-His Piety-God in all his Thoughts--Ruth-
Marriage-Bethlehem .........

.................... 214

XVI.

SAMUEL.

THE SON OF PRAYER.

The Lord--Hisplit Labis Pic

The Last Judge-Founder of the Monarchy–His Mother-Dedicated to the

Lord-His Little Coat-His Prophetic Call-Residence at Shilob-The Assem-
bly at Mispeb-His Piercing Cry--Overthrow of the Philistines-His Circuit