SCRIPTURE LESSONS ON THE NEW TESTAMENT: INTENDED AS AN INCITEMENT TO YOUNG PERSONS, TO REGARD WITH DEEP ATTENTION, AND ENDEAVOUR TO IMPRESS ON THEIR MINDS, THE SACRED TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL ; ALSO AS AN ASSISTANT TO PARENTS, IN COMMENCING THE DUTY OF COMMUNICATING TO THEIR CHILDREN, A KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES BY THOMAS MAW. "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able YORK: PRINTED AND SOLD BY W. ALEXANDER AND SON, CASTLEGATE; 1826. "These words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children; and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way; and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up; and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes." Deut. vi. 6. And seeing the Holy Scriptures have received such additional confirmation by the honour put upon them by our Lord Himself; and are so eminently enhanced in their value by what is now further revealed, in the New Testament, of the fulfilment of the Law, and of the nature and design of the more glorious Dispensation of the Gospel; it must be obvious that Christians are not less responsible for the right use of so invaluable a treasure; but have stronger incitement to endeavour, under the Divine blessing, to embue the minds of their children with the heavenly precepts they contain. The following Selection was originally made with the sole design of assisting the writer, in directing the attention of his own children to the value and importance of these sacred writings: in doing which, little more has been aimed at than to bring into view, in a manner calculated to impress on the mind, the principal historical facts, doctrines, and precepts of the New Testament; and such impressive passages as áre calculated to have a practical influence on the dispositions and affections of the heart: they are now published, not with a view of superseding a more extended and systematic plan, adopted with great advantage in some of our public schools, but with a hope they may prove a useful auxiliary where such endeavours are already employed, and afford assistance to those parents who, with a right concern for the religious im provement of their children, may be discouraged from making any similar attempt by an apprehension of want of ability or leisure for such a purpose. In the construction of the questions an attempt has been made to give them such a bearing on each passage as should bring it readily into view, either by direct reference to the subject-by alluding to some circumstance of time or place connected with it--or by endeavouring to elucidate its meaning, by pointing out some practical lesson to be derived therefrom. All the answers are purely. Scriptural; extracted from the authorized version, and placed in their natural order; and care has been taken not to mutilate any important passage, by a deficient or partial quotation. To be taught the fear of God whilst in the simplicity of childhood, and to have the heart expanded with a sense of the ineffable love of the Redeemer, in early life, is a blessing not to be estimated by a comparison with any worldly accomplishments. Such as are thus instructed, as they advance in years, will be likely to escape many of the snares into which the ignorant and unwary are easily betrayed; and, through Divine grace, to attain to a capacity for religious usefulness beyond what others are likely to acquire. To his younger friends, therefore, the Author recommends this little work, with an affectionate solicitude for their advancement in the scale of Christian excellence; trusting they will not find it a laborious task, but an interesting and edifying practice, to endeavour to fortify and enrich their minds, by committing some portion of the Holy Scriptures daily to memory. |