A compendium of the religious doctrines, religious and moral precepts : with a separate moral selection from the Apocrypha...

Front matter

-n

I

Book.

Contents

27. Equality - - 104

28. Evil-Speaking - - 105 £9. Faith and Works - 106 SO. Fasting 110 Si. Fidelity - - - 111

32. Flood - - - lil

Preface

The compiler is aware of the unusual responsibility incurred by this publication. He can howoven sincerely affirm, that it has been his uniform and anxious design, to present to the public, an impartial compendium and digest of the religion and morals of the Bible. While the work is heartily intended to be a fair exhibition of the scriptural doctrines and ordinances of Christianity, it contains a body of moral instruction, and probably more of the rules of faith and conduct, than are comprised within the same extent, in any other compilation It denounces vice and error, enforces piety and virtue, unfolds the perfections of the Deity, and the most important facts relating to divine Providence, and the salvation of mankind. It displays alike the faith and practice, the commands and promises of the Gospel ; and is consecrated to the heavenly cause of evangelical religion. Such historical titles have also been included, as were considered indispensable to the plan of a work, intended for the most part as a manual of religion. He is not conscious of having been under the influence of any sentiments unfavourable to the impartial execution of it ; nor, as every word is copied from the Scriptures, has he been disposed to be wise above what is written. He has adopted the received text, as an invariable guide, and disclaiming the most distant intention of omitting any subject compatible with the nature and limits of the work, or of adding or diminishing

12 PREFACE.

upon any subject, with a view to any opinions not warranted by the whole tenor of the Scriptures, has faithfully endeavoured, as far as practicable, to offer to the public, in a form that would be inviting, a miniature representation of the great principles of divine morality and religion.

He has attempted such an arrangement of the chapters as would give facility of reference : and has diligently sought to digest them upon a comprehensive and systematic plan ; so that each should exhibit, not only, a just summary of the great truths comprising it. but also a regular composition, as far as the subject would admit; from which it will be perceived that it has been attended with no inconsiderable labour.

As the clergyman has his expositions, the lawyer his digest of cases and precedents, the physician his dispensatory, the legislator his statutes, the soldier his book of tactics, the seaman his nautical epitome, the farmer his manual of husbandry, the mechanic his secrets of the arts, and every other professor his hand book to consult in difficulties, will not every man, to whatever profession he may belong, be gratified with a compendium of the more essential principles and duties of life, derived from a perfect and infallible directory? It would be a disparagement to the public taste, and to the moral and religious character of a professedly Christian, country to suppose that the most -humble effort to recal the mind to the great doctrinal and practical truths of our blessed religion, infinitely surpassing all other subjects in importance, and even as specimens of fine writing, all the productions of uninspired men, would not be indulgently received. A judicious and well executed work

PREFACE. 13

♦presenting at a single view the elegant and divine system of Chris tianit y, in the language of the 9acred Scriptures, must at least, be a welcome tribute to the truly enlightened and the good. Should such be the character of this work, it might be presumed that the pure morals, sublime and eternally interesting doctrines which it comprises, wouid in this, where they might not in other forms, claim the serious and devout consideration of readers, and in some degree produce their benign and legitimate effects upon the life ; that the work would also tend to direct the attention to that inexhaustible fountain of good from whence it is derived, and contribute to inspire a love for the frequent and diligent perusal of the Word of God.

Though the work be designed as a school book for the instruction of youth, and of those in the earlier stages of life, it is conceived to be not less adapted to readers in general. To all whose attention may be arrested by unexampled simplicity, beauty, variety- grandeur, and sublimity of matter and of style ; to all who wish to possess an outline of the religious and moral excellencies of the sacred Volume, to all who have hitherto viewed that invaluable Book with indifference, but may_,perhaps derive some happy impressions from a novel exhibition of a part of its interesting contents : to all teachers and parents who deem it impoi tant that children should be early instructed in the inestimable doctrines and precepts of revealed religion^ to all who rethe unernfcg ana everlasting Word of God, who believe and love the gospel in sincerity, and u earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints : w this little volume is 3

14 PREFACE.

respectfully inscribed : and the blessing of Heaven fur its usefulness, humbly implored.

In offering to his friends and fellow-citizens^ this tribute of devotion to the most interesting cause, the compiler cannot omit the opportunity of bearing the public testimony of his homage to the divine excellence of the Christian religion. He deems it a sacred duty, and it affords him great pleasure, to state, as the result of his very limited, but as he trusts dispassionate reflection upon the Scriptures, that his mind has settled down into a solemn and absolute conviction that they are " given by inspiration of God $" to avow his most sincere admiration of their pure, sublime, consistent, and eternally important system of religion and morals, and unequivocally, his most profound veneration of their contents : to declare to the world, that he is u not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ," having an unshaken confidence that "it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth ;" that by a faithful obedience to its divine injunctions, and a right acceptance of its merciful assurances, it will at once swell the measure of the highest earthly happiness, become a source of ever increasing consolation in this scene of probation, and lighten the way to an eternal world of felicity : presenting to the soul, immortal, and boundless in its desires, amid the adversities of life, and the fleeting and imperfect nature of the most elevated of human occupations, enjoyments, and subjects of contemplation, an ultimate, satisfactory, and ever blessed object of holy ambition, rising, like a majestic island, infinitely above the waves of all other pursuits. RODOLPHUS DICKINSON.

Greenfield, (Mass.) 181 r.

COMPENDIUM OF THE BIBLE.

chap. i. ATTRIBUTES AND GOVERNMENT OF GOD

God is love

Our God isbfpaful.

The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy, gracious, and full of compassion. He is kind unto the unthankful, and to the evil.

The Lord is of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression. He is the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. His tender mercies are over all his works.

Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.

The Lord is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The Lord God liveth.

My heart and my flesh crieth out for the Hying God.

The Lord is flie true God.

God is true. Thy law is the truth. Just and true are thy ways.

The truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

Justice andjudgment are the habitation of thy throne.

God is faithful. Great is thy faithfulness.

Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations.

Thou art good and doest good. The Lord is good to all. There is none good but one, that is God.

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

The goodness of God endureth continually. How great is his goodness !

m

Holy and reverend is his nai

Who is able to stand before i\. / Lord God ?

Who is like unto thee, O Loi\ ? w r ho is like thee, glorious in holiness, fean .1 in praises, doing wonders ?

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Clouds and darkness are round about him : righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

The heavens declare his righteousness. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness.

God is pure. The words ot the Lord are pure words. The commandment of the Lord is pure.

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.

God is great and we know him not. Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised $ and his greatness is unsearchable.

His understanding is infinite. There is no searching of his understanding.

The Lord of hosts is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working, the only wise God.

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, lull of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear ? he that formed the eye, shall he not see ? he that tcacheth man knowledge, shall not he know ?

The counsel of the Lord stand eth forever. There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

The Lord of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it ?

Can a man be profitable unto God ? Is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect ?

The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

All nations before him are as nothing ; and they are counted to him less than nothing and vanity.

Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty.

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine : as for the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded them.

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heaven-, is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with ai! that therein is.

All things are of God. He is the former of all things. He that built all things is God.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The Lord by wisdom has founded the earth ; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens.

O Lord how manifold are thy works : in wisdom hast thou made them all.

Of him, and through him, and to him are all things.

God created man in his own image. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me.

He giveth to all life and breath, and all things.

Thou hast created all things ; and thou preservest them alL

In him we live and move and have our being.

Thou hast clothed me with skin and ilesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my soul.

bless our God, which holdeth our soul in life !

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this ? in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it : except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late.

Affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of yOar head are all numbered.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man.

The eyes of all wait upon thee ; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly : thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers : thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness ; and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness ; and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks : the valleys also are covered over with corn.

The Lord reign eth ; let the earth rejoice.

His kingdom ruleth overall. The Lord shall reign for ever.

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

He doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.

The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

The kingdom is the Lord's : and he is the Governor among the nations.

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water : he turneth it whithersoever he will.

God is a spirit. The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? or whither shall I flee from thy presence ? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there : if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things wljdch are not yet done. God calleth those things which be not, as though they were.

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Neither is time any creature that is not manifest in his sight 5 but ait things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. God is light and in him is no darkness at all.

If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me ; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day ; the darkness and the fight are both alike to thee.

The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.

Mine eyes are upon all their ways, they arc not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

The Lord looketh from heaven, he beholdeth all the sons of men.

The Lord looketh on the heart. The righteous God trieth the heart and reins.

Hell and destruction are before the Lord ; how much more then the hearts of the children of men.

The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.

Can any man hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him ?

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good. The Lord searchest all hearts, and understandest all the imaginations of the thoughts. There is no darkness, nor ^shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

The Lord our God is oxfc Lord,

There is none other God but one. God is one.

There are three that bare record in heaven, the Father, the W ord, and the Holy Ghost : and these three are one.

He that is our God, is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord, belong the issues from death.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

We trust in the living God who is the saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.

O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth !

God is the judge. The Lord shall judge the people.

God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness.

God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil,

Thera is no respect of persons with God* m COMPENDIUM

I am the Lord, I change not.

Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God is not a man that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good ?

He is the living God, and steadfast for ever. The word of our God shall stand for ever. "Whatsoever Got! doeth, it shall be forever.

A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past,and as a watch in the night.'

One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

No man hath seen God at any time. There shall no man £ee me and live.

The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.

I am the Almighty God. The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.

Thine, Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty.

Great is our Lord, and of great power. With God all things are possible. With God nothing shall be impossible.

He commanded, and they were created.

By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host thereof by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done ; he commanded, and it stood fast. God said let there be light : and there was light.

OF THE BIBLE. 2S

None can stay his hand, or say unto him, what : doest thou ? His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back ?

It is he that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain ; which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble; which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and sealeth up the stars ; which alone spread eth out the heavens, ^.nd treadeth upon the waves of the sea which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south ^ which doeth great things past finding out ; yea, and wonders without number.

The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary.

, Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, ' and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hilis in a balance ?

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder ?

The Lord thundered from heaven. The God of glory thundereth. The thunder of his power who can understand ?

Plis lightnings enlightened the world : the earth saw, and trembled* The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord.

The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God.

The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

With God is terrible majesty God ? thou art terrible out of thy holy places.

The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

He commandethaud raiseth the stormy wind. He makcth the storm a calm.

Extol him that rideth upon the heavens. Sing to him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens.

He bowed the heavens and came down : and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub and did fly : and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his piaise. And his brightness was as the light. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

He stood and measured the earth : he beheld, and drove asunder the nations 5 and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow : his ways are everlasting.

I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction : and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. The mountains saw thee and they trembled : the overflowing of the water passed by : the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. The Sun and moon stood still in their habitation.

Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Thou, Lord, shalt endure for ever 5 and thy remembrance unto all generations.

The eternal God is thy refuge, and under* neath are the everlasting arms.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world.

even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

All thy works praise thee, O Lord. Declare his marvellous works among all nations.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

O the depth of the. riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out !

Canst thou by searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection ? It is high as heaven ; what canst thou do ? deeper than hell ; what canst thou know ?

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out : he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice.

Shall not his excellency make you afraid ? and his dread fall upon you ?

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth ! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

A God of truth. A father of the fatherless? and a judge of the widows. The God of patience and consolation. The God of peace. The great, the mighty God. The living God. The invisible God. The incorruptible God. The everlasting God.

As for God his way is perfect. His work is perfect. Your father that is in heaven is perfect.

Bless the Lord your God for ever and ever.

Bless the Lord, O my soul : and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Blessed be God. Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever. Blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

Holy, holy, holy, is tire Lord of hosts.

Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Chap. II. Attributes, Life, And Example, Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and the government shall be upon his shoulder : and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it, with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed : it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feel, until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

I shall see him, but not now ; I shall behold him, but not nigh ; then shall come a Sfar out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, aad thy fellows that sit before thee : for they are men wondered at : for behold I will bring forth my servant the Branch.

There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots ; and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, fl)e spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears : but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth : and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his mouth shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God ; to comfort all that mourn : to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

The gloiy of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together : for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 1 Thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel ; whose goings have been of old, from everlasting.

The angel said unto them, fear not : for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ail people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good wiV towards men.

There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel ; and forgiveness of sins. Neither is there salvation in any other : for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

I am the resurrection and the life. The power of God is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, hut have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world ; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him ; and without Mm was not any thing made that was made. In him was life ; and the life was the light of men. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Father hatli delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son : in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins : who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature : for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, a*id that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers : all things were created by him, and for him : and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.