A Textual Concordance of the Holy Scriptures

Front matter

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A TEXTUAL CONCORDANCE OP HE HOLY sCRIE LURES

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Preface

Leo XIII, in his encyclical, Providentissimus Deus, on the study of Holy Scripture, speaking of the life and power that the frequent use of the Sacred Text gives to the utterances of the preacher of the Divine Word, adds: “And it is this peculiar and singular power of Holy Scripture, arising from the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, which gives authority to the sacred orator, fills him with apostolic liberty of speech, and communicates force and power to his eloquence. For those who infuse into their efforts the spirit and strength of the Word of God speak not in word only, but in power also, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much fulness. Hence, those preachers are foolish and improvident who, in speaking of religion and proclaiming the things of God, use no words but those of human science and human prudence, trusting to their own reasonings rather than to those of God. Their discourses may be brilliant and fine, but they must be feeble and they must be cold, for they are without the fire of the utterance of God, and they must fall far short of that mighty power which the speech of God possesses.”

To give this power, and to place at more ready disposal the treasures of this sacred mine, the present work has been compiled, and is now offered.

This work is a textual concordance of Holy Scripture, arranged especially for use in preaching.

It follows simply the alphabetical order of subjects; and is divided into two parts or books, moral and dogmatic; to which is added an appendix containing principally the miracles, prophecies, and parables of Christ.

In accordance with the purpose of this work, it has been the aim of the compiler to choose only such subjects, or headings, as would be of practical use in preaching; and under them to place only such texts as clearly and strongly bear upon the subjects to which they refer.

This concordance necessarily is far from exhaustive; but it is hoped that each topic is sufficiently enriched with the Scripture texts pertaining to it to furnish meat and substance for many discourses.

This work differs largely from that masterpiece of Scripture compilation, “The Divine Armoury,” by Father Vaughan, both in arrangement and in choice of subjects or headings. A glance at the index of both works will

6 PREFACE show this sufficiently. It differs also from the “Thesaurus Biblicus” of Father Lambert, being more restricted in choice of subjects and of texts. The first part, which constitutes the bulk of the work, is simply the result of frequent perusals of the Sacred Text; and was compiled, in the course of some seven years, neither by reference to, nor by the aid of, any other work of this or a similar nature.

In the second part, which contains the scriptural proofs in the course of dogma, I have followed in great measure that clear and excellent work, “Synopsis Theologie Dogmatice,” by Father Tanquerey.

In the appendix, on the miracles and prophecies of Christ, I have followed, in part, the “Manuel Biblique” of Bacuez and Vigouroux, and “The Christ the Son of God,” by the Abbé Constant Fouard.

It is earnestly hoped that this work, in spite of its many imperfections, may be of some slight aid, to enable the preacher of the Divine Word to follow the desire and instruction of vur late Holy Father, expressed in the same encyclical :

“Let all, therefore, especially the novices of the ecclesiastical army, understand how deeply the sacred books should be esteemed, and with what eagerness and reverence they should approach this great arsenal of heavenly arms. For those whose duty it is to handle Catholic doctrine before the learned or unlearned will nowhere find more ample matter or more abundant exhortation. . . . “Let the speech of the priest be ever seasoned with scriptural reading.’ ”

THomas Davip WILLIAMS.