Light in the dwelling : or, A harmony of the four Gospels ; with very short and simple remarks, adapted to reading at family prayers, and arranged in 365 sctions, for every day of the year

Front matter

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Preface

Objects of little intrinsic value are sometimes of great utility. Though many learned commentaries have been written, yet this humble w*rk may be useful in a sphere to which elaborate and elevated productions are not adapted. It does not aspire to interest the learned, or to attract the polite ; but endeavors to fix the inattentive, to awaken the unreflecting, to enlighten the ignorant, and to benefit the simple minds which are to be found in ordinary households.

Familiar illustrations, and brief reflections, expressed in common words, suit such a production better than profound remarks or elegant diction, even were they (which they are not) at my command.

Aware of the paramount importance of soundness in doctrine, in the humblest as well as in the greatest works, I have carefully studied the invaluable commentary of the Rev. Thomas Scott ; and, anxious to explain the allusions (in which the Scriptures abound) to Eastern customs, I have generally consulted the Pictorial Bible ; while, in the

10 PREFACE.

arrangement of the sections, I have taken as my guide, the Harmony of the Rev. George Townsend, Prebendary of Durham.

Conscious, however', of my own insufficiency, I submitted my work, some years since, to the judgment of Christian friends; and, before I ventured to send it to the press, solicited a clergyman to undertake its revision.

Yet, after all my own labor, extended through a period of eight years, — and after all the aid I have derived from others, I am aware that many defects must have eluded observation, and that many more are of a nature incapable of correction. To overlook these, I must throw myself upon the indulgence of the reader. It is my comfort to know that feeble attempts may yet receive an abundant blessing from that gracious Lord whose glory I have sought, and in whose power it is to bestow or to withhold success.

And what is success ? No circulation, however extensive, — no approbation, even of the wise and good, could be deemed success, if unattended by the conversion or edification of immortal souls. But if, at the last day, it should be made manifest that, through the means of this humble work, some thoughtless girl, removed from a beloved home, and sojourning among strangers, had been led to cry, "My Father, thou art the guide of my youth," — that some ignorant boy, in times past unprofitable to all, had, like Onesimus, become profitable to his employer and to the church of God, — that some self-righteous person, faithful to her earthly master, but a rebel against the best of Masters, had been brought, in her declining years, to seek His righteousness, and devote herself to His service, — that some unhappy

PREFACE. 1 1

wanderer, stained with secret crime, and tormented by the pangs of a guilty conscience, had been encouraged to plead for pardon, and to wash in the Saviour's precious blood, — that some little child, sitting at the feet of its father, or of its mother, turning over the leaves of its first Bible, had learned to love the Friend of little children, — this, this would indeed be success. Will the reader join his prayers to mine that such a boon may be granted me by " the Father of lights, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift 1"

ADVERTISEMENT

It is respectfully suggested, that the attention of a family is best promoted by the members following, in their own Bibles, the person who reads aloud ; care being taken that sufficient time be given, after the announcement of the passage, for every one present to find it.

The numerous italics which occur in this work, have been inserted for the help of those who, though perhaps needing no such help when alone, may yet be glad of it, when conducting family prayers.

While it has been the great aim of the writer, that the whole work should be characterized by plainness and simplicity, it has been doubly so in the preparation of the earlier sections of the work, as it was considered very important to meet the case of those members of the households to which this book should find access, who might have enjoyed but few opportunities of receiving religious instruction.

The portions of Scripture commented on being often very short, an attempt has been made to supply the deficiency, by a selection of chapters for reading in the evening. In preparing this selection, the compiler has endeavored that each chapter shall afford some illustration, or confirmation, of the morning subject.

EXPOSITION PAGE.

1. Johni.l— 5. The Word 27

2. John i. 6— 11. The Witness 28

3. John i. 12, 13. The sons of God 29

4. John i. 14—18. The testimony of John. . 30

5. Luke i. 1—4. The Preface ••• 32

6. Luke i. 5—14. The angel's visit to Zacharias 33

7. Luke i. 15—17. The Prophecy concerning John the Baptist 35

8. Luke i. 18—23. The unbelief of Zacharias 36

9. Luke i. 26—33. The angel's visit to Mary 37

10. Luke i. 35 — 45. Mary's visit to Elizabeth. 39

11. Luke i. 46—56. The Song of Mary 40

12. Luke i. 57 — 66. The Circumcision of John 41

13. Luke i. 67 to end. The prophecy of Zacharias 42

14. Matt. i. The angel's visit to Joseph 44

15. Luke ii. 1—7. The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ 45

16. Luke ii. 8—14. The angel's appearance to the shepherds 46

17. Luke ii. 15—20. The shepherds visit Bethlehem 48

18. Luke ii. 21—32. The song of Simeon- ... 49

19. Luke ii. 33 — 35. The words of Simeon to Mary 51

20. Luke ii. 36 — 40. Anna the prophetess ... 52

21. Matt. ii. 1 — 8. The wise men's arrival at Jerusalem 54

22. Matt. ii. 9 — 11. The wise men's journey

to Bethlehem • 56

23. Matt. ii. 12— 15. The heavenly warnings. 58

24. Matt. ii. 16—18. The slaughter of the babes 59

25. Matt. ii. 19—23. Joseph's return 60

26. Luke ii. 41 to end. Christ among the doctors 62

27. Matt. iii. 1 — 6. John preaches in the wilderness 64

28. Matt. iii. 7—12. John warns the Pharisees and Sadducees 66

29. Luke iii. 10 — 14. John instructs various classes in their duties 67

30. Matt. iii. 13 to end. The baptism of Christ 70

31. Matt. iv. 1—7. The temptation of Christ. 72

32. Matt. iv. 8—11. The same continued .... 74

33. John i. 19—34. The record of John at Bethabara - 76

34. John i. 35 — 42. Andrew leads Simon to Christ ■. 77

35. John i. 43 to end. Philip leads Nathanael

to Christ 78

36. John ii. 1 — 10. Jesus turns water into wine 80

37. John ii. 11—17. Christ purifies the temple 82

38. John ii. 18 to end. Christ speaks of the temple of his body 83

39. John iii. 1 — 8. Christ's conversation with Nicodemus 85

40. John iii. 9—21. The conversation concluded 87

41. John iii. 22 to end. John's testimony to Christ at Enon 88

42. Luke iii. 19, 20. John's imprisonment ... 90

43. John iv. 1—15. Christ's conversation with the woman of Samaria 92

EVENING SCRIPTURE PORTION.

Gen. i. The Creation.

James v. Conversion of sinners.

Eph. ii. Regeneration.

2 Cor. iv. The glory of Christ.

I Tim. iii. Inspiration of the Scriptures.

Rom. iii. Righteousness.

Numbers vi. 1—12. The Nazarite.

Ex. iv. 1 — 17. Two signs wrought by Moses.

Is. xi. Christ the rod out of Jesse's stem.

Heb. ii. Christ's human nature.

Ex. xiv. The Red Sea.

Eccles. xii. Early piety. 1 John ii. Strong in spirit.

Is. vii. 10 to end. Immanuel.

Micah v. Bethlehem.

Rev. v. Angels' songs in heaven.

Ez. xxxiii. 21 to end. Ezekiel's words listened teas a lovely song.

Job xix. Seeing the Redeemer. 1 Peter ii. Christ a stone of stumbling.

1 Tim. v. A widow indeed.

Ps. ii., iii., iv. The opposition of the wicked to

Christ and his people.

Ps. lxxii. Kings shall worship Christ.

Job v. Disappointment of wicked devices.

2 Sam. xii. 13—23. David's child

Prov. iii. Promise of direction. 2 Cor. v. Serving the Lord.

Isaiah xl. 1—17. Prophecy concerning John.

Phil. iii. The righteousness of Christ.

Titus ii. Relative duties.

Eph. i. "Accepted in the beloved."

Deut. viii. The wilderness.

Gen. iii. The fall of man.

Numb, xxviii. 1—25. The daily burnt-offerings.

Is. Iv. Invitation to come to Christ.

Ps. cxxxix. God's all-seeing eye.

Prov. iv. The path of the just.

Ps. lxix. Zeal for God's house.

Rev. ii. 1—17. Christ knows our works.

Rom. viii. 1—17. The earthly and spiritual mind:

Numb. xxi. 1—9. The brazen serpent. -

Ps. lxxiii. The wicked and the righteous.

Ez. xiv. The stumbling-block of iniquity.

Rev. xxii. The water of life.