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God and the things of God: this takes away or renders transparent the impenetrable veil "which hangs 'twixt mortal and immortal Being:" by this we live as it were in eternity;

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we look not at the things that are seen," which are vain, uncertain, and transitory, “but at the things that are not seen;" the favour, the image, the glory of God. "For the things that are seen are temporal," a vapour, a shadow, a dream; "but the things that are not seen are eternal," real, lasting, and unchangeable.

OF THE

HOLY SCRIPTURES,

WITH

GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR THEIR STUDY.

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

Paul,

THE writings of the Old and New Testaments are called the Scriptures from a Latin word, which signifies writings. These were given by inspiration of God. "All Scripture," saith St. "is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.". Again, saith St. Peter, the prophecy came, not in old time, by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." The whole collection of these sacred writings is called the Bible, from a Greek word, which signifies the book; a title appropriated, by way of eminence and distinction, to that collection of Scriptures which have at different times been composed by persons divinely inspired. The Old Testament contains the books written under the old dispensation of the law

of Moses. The New Testament contains the books that were published under the new dispensation of the gospel.

The Old and New Testaments teach the same religion, though under different circumstances and in different degrees of perfection. In the Old Testament was represented, and foretold by various institutions and prophecies, what was to come to pass in the New.

In the New Testament we are presented with the accomplishment of those events which were prefigured or foretold in the Old.

The only difference is, that the Old Testament exhibited only "shadows of good things to come;" the New Testament presents us with the very substance of those things: so that there is nothing relating to doctrine or practice obscurely revealed in the one, but is clearly brought to light by the other.

The Old Testament was chiefly written in the Hebrew language, and the New Testament in the Greek. Our present English Bible was translated out of the original languages in the reign of King James the First, in the year of our Lord 1611. To the writings of the Old

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