Uncle Austin and his nephews; or, The scripture guide. Being a familiar introduction to the study of the Bible

Front matter

PUBLIC LIBRARY

C B G

Class Book_

Chapter I

Introduction — Account of uncle Austin — The holidays — Visit to Oaklale — Meeting with uncle Austin — Conversation with him — Walk over the grounds. . . .11

Chapter II

Uncle Austin's study — Hebrew map — The Bible the most entertaining book in the world — Histories in the Bible — Bible histories are all true — Greatly neglected — It is God's book — Inspiration explained — The Bible tells us of Christ— The Gospels. 22

CHAPTER III. ■Egypt — The Bible gives us the earliest account of Egypt — The oldest book in the world — Our only history of early times — The book of greatest wisdom — Folly of heathens and infidels — The Bible teaches us our duty — Reveals to us futurity — The Bible shows the way to be saved. . 33

Chapter IV

Divisions of the Bible — Into Testaments — Meaning of the word Bible — Meaning of the word Testament — Names by which the Bible is known — Apocrypha — Original languages of Scripture — The Hebrew — The Greek — The Bible written at various times — Made up of many books — Number of these — Divisions of the Old Testament — Historical, doctrinal, poetical, and prophetical books — Form of ancient books — Hebrew writing — Service of the synagogues 46

Chapter V

The New Testament — Why written in Greek — Period between the two Testaments — Divisions of the New Tes-

8 CONTENTS.

Pap

tament — Historical, doctrinal, and prophetical books — Writers of the different books — Table of the writers and dates — Advantage of reading the Bible in the original — How the Moslems read the Koran — The word Gospel —

The catholic epistles CS

Chapter VI

A ncient writing and books — Meaning of the worn Volume — Invention of writing — Scrolls — Materials on which books were written. I. Vegetable substances — Leaves of trees — Bark — Wood — Roman tablets — Egyptian papyrus. II. Animal substances ■ — ■ Skins — Parchment — Vellum — Bones — Shells. III. Mineral substances — Lead- Copper — Brass — Silver — Gold — Stone — Bricks. . . 69

Chapter VII

Ancient writing and books, continued — Ancient Pens — Reeds — Introduction of quill-pens — Roman inkstands — Ancient ink — Hair-pencils — Iron pens — The stylus- Waxen tablets — Manner of binding ancient books — Synagogue rolls — Rollers — Sealed books — Cases for books — Scribes, or amanuenses. 8>

Chapter VIII

Ancient Bibles — Of the copying of books — Ornamental writing and illumination — Church bibles — Cost of ancient books — Ornamented covers — Value of books in the middle ages — Translations of the Bible — The Septuagint — The Vulgate — 'Other versions — Anglo-Saxon — English — Wiclif's New Testament — TindaPs Bible — Love of English Christians for the Scriptures — The Bishops' Bible — Collections o* translations. . , .94

Chapter IX

The authorized English version — Extent of its influence History — King James the First — Authors of this translation — Occasion of their undertaking the work — Account

CONTENTS. 9

fag«

of its progress — Manner of dividing the labour — Their great care in comparing and correcting — The learning of these translators — Revision of the whole — Printing of the English Bible — Translators' names. . . . 108

Chapter X

Names of Scripture books—Double names — Apocalypse Books of Samuel and Kings — The Preacher — Canticles — Divisions of the Bible continued — Lesser divisions — Chapters, paragraphs, and verses — History of the division into chapters — Jewish divisions — Concordances — Sancto Caro — History of the division into verses- Henry Stephens — Advantages and disadvantages of these divisions. 122

Chapter XI

Acrostics in the Bible — Running titles — Titles of the chapters — The margin — Marginal notes — Divisions of these — Marginal explanations — Marginal readings — Marginal references — Two kinds of marginal readings — Use of

these 137

Chapter XII

Marginal explanations continued — Dates — Abbreviations explained — Explanations of proper names — Brief comments — Marginal references — Mode of using these — Use of parallel places exemplified — Recommended by Bishop Horsley — Good editions named — Use of Italics in the English Bible — Use of capitals — The word Lord — Use of brackets 149

Chapter XIII

The dedication to King James — Tables at the end of the English Bible — Proper names which are written differently in different places — List of these — Hard words in the book of Psalms — Selah, Higgaion, etc. — Untranslated words — Hosanna, Tirshatha, etc. — Obsolete words — List of these. 163

10 CONTENTS.

:hapter xiv.

Page

Certain preliminary knowledge which is necessary in order to understand the Scriptures — Supposed case of a Chinese Life of Washington — Ancient geography — Chronology — Manners and customs of the East. .... 174

Chapter XV

Illustrations from Biblical Antiquities — Difference between eastern and western manners — Oriental houses — Posture at meals — Manner of sitting — Eastern dress — Girdles — Eastern bottles — Tear-bottles — Funerals — Phylacteries. 186

Chapter XVI

Rules for the reading of Scripture — The Bible must be read as the word of God — With prayer for divine light — Diligently — Patiently — Attentively — With faith — With obedience — W T ith self-application — With fervour — At hours of devotion — With Christ always in view — More than

other books. 204

Chapter XVII

Rules for the reading of Scripture, continued — The Bible should be read daily — In regular course — Neglecting nc part — In suitable portions — Without prejudice — Compar ing scripture with scripture — W T ith judicious use of commentaries, and abundant perusal of the text itself — Th<» Bible our study for life. ...... 226

Chapter XVIII

Rules for the reading of Scripture, concluded — The Bible must be read with ardent love — Charging memory with its instructions — The importance of self-examination, meditation, and conveisation on what has been read — Passages read should be turned into prayer— This reading is for the salvation of the soul — Recapitulation of rules — Conclusion. ... 244

AN

Introduction

TO

THE SCRIPTURES

Chapter I

!&*iodnction — Account of uncle Austin — The hoLdays — Visit to O^kdale — Meeting with uncle Austin — 'Conversation with him — Walk over the grounds*

Ernest and Hilary were the sons of Mr. Miller ^f New York. They were sensible boys, and had been taught in the best schools of the city Ernest was the elder ; but his brother had so much sprightliness, that they were almost always learning the same things ; and they looked very much alike, so that people sometimes took them for twins.

When the winter came on, and they had been going very steadily to school, they began to think of getting free from their books. They were sitting by a bright coal-fire in the little back-room, one evening in December, when Hilary shut up his grammar, and said, " Ernest, it is time to think about Christmas ; where are we going to spend the holidays ?"

" I heard father say," said Ernest, " that we are to go and see uncle Austin, in New Jersey ; and I am very glad of it, for I like uncle Austin. You were never at his house — were you, Hilary ?"

" No, brother ; you remember I had broken my collar-bone, and could not go out, when you went to Jersey. Tell me something about him. What is he like ?"

" Like !" said Ernest ; " why, he is like one of the best men in the world. He is like one of the good old folks we read about in the Bible. He has gray hair hanging down over his neck, and when he goes out he walks with a cane. But he is so kind and so gentle ! I never heard a cross word out of his mouth. When Tom and I broke his great inkstand, and blacked all his papers, he only said, ' O, children, children ; I shall have to teach you the way to be careful !' "

" O, then, I am sure," said Hilary, " he will give us a Christmas present !"

" Do not be thinking about Christmas presents, Hilary. Uncle Austin will do better than that. He will give us such good talk, and tell us so many pretty histories, and show us so many curiosities, and draw us so many pictures, that you will forget all about Christmas boxes, and the like."

Hilary looked sober for a while, and then said '* Brother Ernest, is this the same uncle that the boys used to call the Bible man?"

" Yes," said Ernest, " this is he. Whenever he went out walking, he used to carry Bibles and New Testaments in his great old-fashioned pockets, to give away to the poor people. This made them call him the Bible man. But besides this, you know he used to be a great traveller ; and when he came from sea, some years ago, he brought with him several boxes of books. When the boxes were opened, they were full of Bibles !"

Hilary. Why what could he do with so many ?

Ernest. I will tell you. There is a society in England called the British and Foreign Bible Society. They get Bibles in all languages, and send them all over the world. When uncle Austin was ?n London, he says that he was so delighted to see the great piles of Bibles for the heathen people, that the tears ran down his face. He bought one Bible in each of the languages, and brought them over to America with him. They fill several shelves in his library.

Hilary. Can he read in them all ?

Ernest. O, no ! He can read in a number of them, because he has lived in a great many different countries. But then, he says it is a memorial of the Bible Society. Whenever he looks at his 2 shelves of Bibles, he thinks of the good men who are trying to send the Bible all over the earth. He has given away a number of them to poor Frenchmen, and Spaniards, and others. And when there was a Greek in his neighbourhood, he sent him a present of a New Testament in modern Greek. Hilary. Uncle Austin must be a great scholar. Ernest. He is a great Bible scholar. He reads in the Bible more than in all his other books. And this is another reason why the neighbours call him the Bible man. Whenever they come in, they find him at his Bible.

Hilary. I wonder he does not get tired of reading so much in one book. I get tired of reading a single hour in the Bible.

Ernest. And you ought to be ashamed of it. But only go to uncle Austin's, and he will explain it all to you. I cannot say the things as he says them ; but I can tell you this, that ever since I was at Oakdale, where he lives, I have had very different thoughts about the Bible.

Hilary. Well, it may be so : but I hope he has somebody to cook the Christmas dinner, and make the pies and cakes, while he is at his books.

Ernest. There you are at your jokes again ' Why, Hilary, you would make one think that you care for nothing but eating. Uncle Austin is a widower. His wife has been dead more than twenty years. But he has a good kind niece, who is our cousin, who takes good care of the housekeeping. And the old gardener, John, will be sure to be attentive to the "little masters," as he calls the boys.

The boys then turned to their books, and studied as usual until the family were called to family worship. When they retired to bed, Hilary thought a great deal about the approaching holidays. In the morning, he awaked his brother, and said, " Ernest, are you sure that this good old uncle of our's will be glad to see us ?"

"Yes," said Ernest, "his face will be bright with joy."

" But," said Hilary, "if he studies the Bible so much, and is so very religious, I should think he would be very solemn and dry."

" That," replied Ernest, " is one of your ignorant notions. When you see uncle Austin, you will see that religion does not make people gloomy. He is a happy old gentleman, and he loves the little children so much, that he often carries bundles of little books to give away at the doors of the country schools. But I will tell you one thing ; you had better be brushing up your knowledge of the Bible before you go, for uncle sometimes asks some hard questiors."

The nolidays came at last. The boys were up before daylight, in order to get ready. Their trunks were packed, and their great-coats spread out. The young travellers could scarcely be content to wait for the carriage. At length it came to the door : there was much shaking of hands, and abundance of messages and good wishes, and then the carriage drove off. The ground was covered with a light snow, and the sleet of the preceding night had settled in a glassy coat upon the trees and shrubs. When the sun shone out, the whole country glistened, as if every icicle had been a crystal or a precious stone.

The journey need not be described. It was like most journeys in which boys are concerned Ernest was stretching his neck one way, and Hilary was stretching his neck another way, both eager to see every thing, and both delighted at every thing they saw. Hilary talked most and laughed most ; but Ernest looked wise, as if he were ashamed to admire any thing too much. They were glad when they found they were drawing near to Oakdale.

" There ! there it is!" cried Ernest. "Look out, Hilary ! Look out ! There is uncle's barn ; there is the little brook, and the bridge over it; there is the row of oaks ; and now I see the house ; and the green cedars before the door ! 4.nd, O ! there is good uncle Austin himself, with his blue cloak on, waiting for us, and his staff in his hand."

The carriage stopped. The step was let down. The door was opened ; Ernest stepped out. The good old man cried, " Welcome, welcome, nephew !" and, taking Ernest in his arms, he kissed his forehead. " And this is my nephew Hilary ? I must take you in my old arms too. But come in, Hilary — come in, Ernest — the day is cold — the parlour is all warm for you, and every one glad to see you, even down to Hylax the dog."

Old John, the gardener, took in the luggage ; and uncle Austin led the way into the house. Miss Priscilla More, his niece, was standing there to receive her cousins. They found a bright country fire, roaring in a large old-fashioned hearth. A high arm-chair was before it. In this the old gentleman seated himself, and then pointed to a low chair on his right, and another on his left : " There are your seats, my lads," said he, cheerfully; " Ernest, sit on my right; Hilary, sit on my left: now be as happy as you can."

By the time the boys had got well warmed, and somewhat rested, they were called into the next room to dinner. The young travellers sat down with good appetites, and I must confess that Hilary thought more highly of Oakdale than he had ever done, when he saw the bountiful provision which had been made by his cousin Priscilla. During the meal, uncle Austin looked very attentively ai 2* his nephews, and smiled with pleasure when he saw how well they behaved themselves. After dinner, they returned to the warm parlour, and drew their chairs again around the fire. Uncle Austin leaned back in his chair, and began as follows :

" I have been thinking how rapidly time flies. It seems but a little while since I used to go to my grandfather's, to spend my winter holidays. And now I am old enough to be your grandfather."

Hilary said, " Uncle Austin, how old would your grandfather be, if he were living now ?"

" O, my child, he would be the oldest man on earth ; for he was very old then, and it was sixty years ago ; he would be a hundred and fifty year? old."

" That is not as old by twenty-five years as Abraham was," said Ernest.

"lam glad you know so much about Abraham, nephew. Men lived to be older in those days. Pray, master Hilary, how old was Enoch when he died?"

Hilary smiled, and said, " Just as old, sir, as Elijah was."

" Well done !" said uncle Austin. " I thought 1 had caught you : but you have looked a little into the best of books. It is well that you do. As for me, I began too late. When I was of your age there was no such thing as a Sunday-school, and very few books to explain the Bible. When we wanted to read, we used to get little gilt books from Mr. Newberry, of St. Paul's Churchyard, London. We had Jack the Giant-killer, Guy of Warwick, and the Seven Sleepers. But I cared little for reading of any kind. My delight was to ride, and shout, and frolic. And when I began to read the Bible some years after, it was quite a strange book to me."

Ernest. Uncle, how old were you when you went to France ?

Uncle. I have been several times to France, my boy. The first time I was twenty-three years old, and then I travelled all over Europe ; but the time I stayed longest in France was when I was about forty years of age. And now I am content to remain here, and lay my bones in America.

Hilary. But, uncle, we never see you in the city. You must get very tired of staying always here in this lonely place.

Uncle. Not at all, Hilary. There you make a boyish mistake. I dare say you think that nobody can be happy unless he lives in New York, and walks in Broadway, and sees abundance of fine stores, and fine people, and fine ships. You fancy that I am lonesome. Now let me tell you, I am happier here in my quiet Oakdale, than many a man who lives in a marble house, among thousands of gay citizens.

Hilary But what can you do with yourself? Whom have you got to talk with ?

Here uncle Austin looked very archly at the little boy, and sai^, as he rose from his chair, ''Do you see that mahogany door? I have a number of friends within, with whom I talk every day/'

Hilary. Ah, uncle ! you think to catch me again You mean your books. Now, do you not, uncle ?

Uncle. I do, indeed. Is it not a strange thing that I cannot entrap such a little fellow as you are ? I suppose I shall have to show you my library. But we will first take a walk, and while we walk I will tell you something about my place.

Hilary ran to get his uncle's cane, Ernest brought his coat, and Miss Priscilla tied a handkerchief around his neck. Then taking his hat, the good old man gave an arm to each of the boys, and led them out to survey the farm and grounds.

" Yonder," said he, " is the place where your dear mother was born. The old house used to stand between those large oaks. It was burned down twenty years ago. And there is a ruinous house, which, in old times, was a distillery ; but we have learned to do without distilleries, and the house is now used for a tool-house by the gardener. There is a hedge which I have amused myself in making. There is a row of pear trees which I planted when I was a boy. There is a broken tree which I saw struck with lightning many years ago. And on the other side of the bridge is a little row of houses, which I have built for some of my poor neighbours. In the opposite direction, you may see the steeple of the church rising among the trees. Thus you see, my dear children, that whenever I come out of my doors, I see something or other to remind me of past days."

The boys now began to roam over the farm, and the old gentleman, finding it cold, returned to the house. Here he had a fire made in his library and prepared several things for the amusement of his nept^ws, whom he loved very much.

Chapter II

Uncle Austin's study — Hebrew map — The Bible the most en tertaining book in the world — Histories in the Bible — Biblr histories are all true — Greatly neglected — It is God's book Inspiration explained — The Bible tells us of Christ — The Gospels.

When it began to grow dark, Ernest and Hilary returned to the house, and were immediately con* ducted to their uncle's study. Hilary had now an opportunity to see for himself what his brother had told him. The study, as it was always called, was a large room in the pleasantest part of the house. A row of windows on the eastern side made it very light and cheerful, and the opposite wall was entirely covered with handsome shelves, full of books. Between the windows were several paintings and maps, and over the chimney-piece was a plan of the city of Jerusalem. Hilary had never seen such a place before. He was used to his father's store and counting-room, and you could hardly have shown him any thing new in the way of merchandise ; but he was not so much acquainted with books. After he had gazed about him for a time, his uncle said to him, " Come here, nephew, aud sit near the lamp, for I have something to show you. What is this, Hilary, which I hold in my oand V*

Hilary. It looks like a pocket handkerchief, sir,

Ernest. It looks more like a map.

Hilary. But who ever saw a map on a piece of red cotton cloth ?

Ernest. Who ever saw a handkerchief with mountains, and lakes, and rivers on it ? Yes, and heie I see the latitude and longitude.

Uncle. You are both right. It is a handkerchief with a map painted on it. The map represents the Holy Land. The names are in Hebrew. It is so printed (or rather lithographed) for the convenience of Jews travelling to Palestine. The map is a very correct one ; I obtained it from Trieste, where it was made.*

Ernest. Would not that map help one to understand the Bible ?

Uncle. It would help one who could read Hebrew : but we have better maps of Palestine. There, over the sofa, hangs an excellent map published by the American Sunday-school Union.

Hilary. Why do you think so much of the Bible, uncle ? Almost all your books and pictures have something to do with the Bible.

Uncle. A very proper question. I have found * Such a map is in the author's possession.

out that I have more entertainment from this book than from any thing else.

Ernest. Entertainment ! Why, uncle, I neve* thought of getting entertainment from the Bible. I thought it was the most serious book in the world.

Uncle. So it is Hut also entertaining. There is such a thing as serious entertainment. It is the best sort. One does not become weary of it so soon. I love to read about the people of ancient times — their greatness, their adventures, and their wonderful deeds. I have other reasons for liking this holy book, which I mean to give you at another time. But, as yoa are boys, and not old men, I mentioned the entertainment it affords.

Ernest. But, uncle Austin, I do not understand you. When I want to be entertained, I like to read in histories about battles, and generals, and such things. I like to read about the adventures of Captain Cook, and Baron Trenck ; or. about Alexander the Great, and Hannibal, and Peter of Russia. And I read in the Bible to learn what is good.

Uncle. True, the Bible teaches us concerning God, and our duty ; but God has been so condescending as to make it at the same time the most interesting book in the world. If you like to read of adventures, this book is full of them ; and what is more, they are all true. There is not a word from beginning to end which is not true. Ernest likes to read of great captains and wars. I am afraid he has something of the soldier in him Now the Bible has the most remarkable accounts of this kind. There never was a greater commander than Moses.

Ernest. Moses ! Uncle, are you in earnest ?

Uncle. To be sure I am in earnest. Moses was b great general. Just think of what he did. He led out more than a million of people through a sea, and through a desert, and through the land of enemies, to the border of Canaan. And he was forty years their leader. What other general ever did this ? And he wrote the account of it himself, and here we have it all in the Bible.

Ernest. Csesar also wrote about his own wars.

Uncle. Yes ; I am glad you take notice of this. Listen again. Joshua was a great captain. Jephthah was a remarkable commander. Samson was a hero, greater than Hercules. His history is wonderful. If we had never heard of it before, and . i vome one should tell us about him, we should think it more interesting than any of our story-books. David was a noble general ; he was brave and generous ; and his life is as pleasant to read as a novel. And then Ezra and Nehemiah were two fearless, independent men, who loved their country, and delivered their city from being a ruin. 3

Hilary. I never thought of this before. But uncle, I am not like Ernest ; I do not care half so much about fighting, and armies, as he does. When I read in Caesar about his wars, I am wearied out I am fond of adventures. I like the Arabian Nights, and Gulliver's Travels, and Robinson Crusoe ; but mother takes them away from me, because they are untrue.

Uncle. Very right. Some children would read nothing else, if they were not checked. But take the Bible, and study it well, and you will read abundance of adventures and wonders too. But take notice of this — they are all true. God himself assures us that they are all true.

Hilary. Perhaps I have skipped them when I have read in the Bible.

Uncle. No. I understand how it is. I also used to consider it a dull and tedious book ; but the more I read in it, the more interesting it grows. You can hardly open it without finding some wonderful narrative. The history of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is exceedingly wonderful and affecting too. His birth at Bethlehem — his miracles — his feeding thousands — his stilling the tempest — his raising the girl, and the widow's son, and Lazarus — all are most delightful histories. A.nd then what did you ever reaa so wonderful as his trial, his crucifixion, his resurrection, his ascen-

TO THE SCRIPTURES. 2i

sion, his appearing to Stephen, and to Saul, and to John ?

Hilary. Are there such wonderful things in the first part of the Bible ?

Uncle. Surely there are. Have you never read of Daniel in the lion's den — of Elijah and Enoch, who were carried to heaven without ever dying — of the army of Gideon — of the sun and moon standing still — of the manna — of the pillar of cloud — of the flood — of the tower of Babel ? Then of all the histories I ever read, I never saw any one so interesting and affecting as that of Joseph. It is hard to read it without weeping.

Hilary. I wonder then that people do not read the Bible more.

Uncle. So do I. It is strange to see how ignorant many in this Christian land are about this sacred book. Some who pass for educated men and women are as ignorant as the rest. They cannot tell how many books are in the Bible, though they pretend to read in it every day. They cannot tell who wrote it, or when it was written, or how many languages it was written in. They do not know where the places are that are mentioned in Scripture. And while they are so ignorant, they cannot take any interest in the book. It is like a box of jewels in a man's house, which ne never opens.

Ernest. Uncle, I wish you would tell us some of these things, for I am one of these ignorant people. I know the Bible is a box of precious jewels ; but I cannot open it.