HELP TO THE UNLEARNED

IN THE

STUDY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES:

BEING

AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE BIBLE IN A
FAMILIAR WAY.

ADAPTED TO COMMON APPREHENSIONS, AND ACCORDING TO THE
OPINIONS OF APPROVED COMMENTATORS.

THE SECOND EDITION, CORRECTED AND IMPROVED.

"Sanaho]

By Mrs. TRIMMER,

AUTHOR OF SACRED HISTORY, SELECTED FROM THE SCRIPTURES,
WITH ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS,

AND OTHER WORKS;

AND EDITOR OF THE GUARDIAN OF EDUCATION.

Brit. Aus.

LONDON:

Printed by T. Benfley, Bolt Court,

4Z 2261

FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD;

AND J. HATCHARD, PICCADILLY.

46169.

INTRODUCTION.

THE following book was compofed with the hope of rendering the study of THE BIBLE eafy and profitable to those who have but little leifure, or who may not be able to underftand expofitions of Scripture in which more learning is dif played. The endeavour of the compiler has been to explain what is difficult, as far as is neceffary for Chriftians in general to understand it; and to direct the attention of the Bible ftudent to fuch paffages and texts, as require particular confideration, in order to produce a rational faith, and a right practice, founded immediately upon the WORD OF GOD.

But before any perfon begin to study the chapters of the BIBLE with the Explanation, it may be ufeful to examine that part of the volume which is not SCRIPTURE, namely, the TitlePage, Epifle Dedicatory, and the Names and Orders of all the Books, &c.

The TITLE PAGE is the firft printed leaf. The book is here called the HOLY BIBLE, because it was not written by the wisdom of men, but by the infpiration of the HOLY GHOST, who put into the minds of the writers what they were to write, for the inftruction, admonition, and comfort of mankind concerning holy and divine things.

The BIBLE Confifts of two principal parts, the OLD TESTAMENT, and the NEW TESTAMENT: the first of thefe contains what GOD faw fit to have written before the coming of CHRIST; the latter contains the hiftory of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, his divine difcourfes, and the doctrine of his Apoftles.

The original tongues from which the BIBLE was tranflated, fignify the languages in which this Holy Book was fift written. The original language of the OLD TESTAMENT was Hebrew, that of the NEW TESTAMENT, Greek. Το tranflate a book, is to put the fenfe of it into the words of

another language. There have been a great many tranflations of the BIBLE into different languages; that which we now have in English, was done by a number of the most learned men the kingdom ever produced; who, that they might be certain they gave the true fenfe and meaning of every part, diligently compared it with other tranflations, and then revised it, or examined it over and over again, that there might be no errors in their translation.

To prevent the English BIBLE from being altered and corrupted, no perfons are allowed to print it but thofe who have a privilege from the King. At the bottom of the leaf, we may always fee where any particular BIBLE was printed, and who are appointed to fell it to the bookfeilers.

The next leaves after the Title Page contain the EPISTLE DEDICATORY, addreffed to King JAMES the First by the bifhops and other learned men, who, in his reign, and by his authority, made this tranflation of the BIBLE. When the Roman Catholic Religion prevailed in the nation, the Pope forbad the reading of the Scriptures by the people, and they knew no more of them, than the Romish priests told them, After the death of Queen Elizabeth, there was great fear that fome Roman Catholic Prince might be raised to the throne, but King James favoured the Proteftant Religion, fo called because those who profeffed it, protefted against the errors of Popery; and the ufe of the BIBLE by the people at large was allowed.

We should obferve in the Epifle Dedicatory, what the learned and pious tranflators of the BIBLE thought of this holy book, after having ftudied it with the greatest care and diligence; and we fhould learn of them, to confider the "jacred word of God," that is the BIBLE, as that "inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time ipent in this tranfitory world, but directeth and difpofeth men unto that eternal happinefs which is in heaven above." We fhould alfo confider how great must be the fin of thofe, who being poffeffed of this inestimable treafure," feldom look into the Bible, but fpend the time that fhould be employed in ftudying the Scriptures, in reading books which corrupt the mind, and lead to the practice of wickedness.

The

The Names and Order of all the Books in the OLD and NEW TE TA ENT, fhow how the different Books follow one another in the BIBLE.

All the writers of the OLD TESTAMENT were Ifraelites, perfons defcended from the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; they were the chofen people of GOD, and the OLD TESTAMENT relates to them in a particular manner, though it was defigned for all mankind. The first five Books are called the Books of Mofes, and the Law; they were written by Mofes the great Law-giver of the Ifraelites. The Books that follow, as far as the Book of ESTHER, are called the HisTORICAL BOOKS. The Hiftories they contain differ from all the other hit ries that ever were written, for they give an account of the ways of Gov; and explain why GOD protected and rewarded fome perfons and nations, and why he punished others; alfo, what led particular perfons mentioned in Scripture to do certain things for which they were approved or condemned; whereas writers who compofe hiftories in a common way, without being inspired of God, can only form gueffes and conjectures concerning God's dealings with mankind, neither can they know what paffed in the hearts of thofe they write about; fuch knowledge as this, belongs to God alone, whose ways are unfearchable and paft finding out, and to whom all bearts are open, all defires known!

The BOOK OF JOB contains a wonderful example of patience under the fevereft temptations and trials that any mere man was ever exposed to.

The Book of PSALMS is a collection of Divine Hymns written by King David, and other infpired writers.

This is

a moft valuable Book, as it inftructs us how to worship GOD, and furnithes us with proper prayers, praifes, and thanksgivings, infpired by the HOLY GHOST. The Pfalms alfo contain many of God's Promues and Threatenings.

THE BOOK OF PROVERBS is a collection of wife maxims for the conduct of human life; written by King Solomon. ECCLESIASTES is another book written by King Solomon, in which is thown the vanity of all earthly enjoyments.

SOLOMON'S SONG. This book is very difficult to be explained, but the learned underftand it to relate to CHRIST and bis Church.

The