The temple opened. A guide to the Book

Front matter

Class JS^i^aZ Book .C)^ '^ -

COPYRIGHT DEPOSm

THE

Preface

There is but little need to detain long on the threshold of The Temple Opened. It is a Guide to the Book — the Bible. And while it has necessarily much in common Mnth all other books which, under various titles, aim to perform the same office, The Temple Opened, besides the form in which the matter is presented, has much that is peculiar to itself, and which, it is believed, as a Text-book, will give to it a great advantage over any of the volumes which have preceded it in the same line. In fact, there is no book constructed on the same plan and covering the same ground now before the public. It is hoped, therefore, that The Temple Opened may meet in church literature a want and fill a vacancy not supplied by any other publication.

The plan of the work is simple. Likening the Bible to a Temple, the Author constitutes himself a guide, placing himself at the service of those who wish to become acquainted with the history of the Sacred Structure and the nature of its contents, asking and answering all such questions as the earnest seeker after knowledge would be likely to put. First viewing the structure from the outside, the inquirer is taken round alSout it, marking its bulwarks, considering its palaces and telling its towers ; and then entering its open portals,

6 PREFACE.

like Christian in the House of Interpreter or in the Palace Beautiful, he is escorted from chamber to chamber, passing from one to another of all its Sixty-Six apartments, and is shown the "excellent things" of each and its "rarities" as well ; his attention is called to its hidden beauties, and its rich treasures, many of which would otherwise remain concealed from the novice, are exposed to his view.

It is this feature of The Temple Opened that gives to it whatever of special value it may possess over its predecessors in this peculiar field ; though the arrangement of the Historical Books of the Old Testament, the C'hapters on the Moral Law, the Theocracy, the Prophets, and the Hebrew Captivities, etc., will, it is hoped, make plain matters which ordinarily are quite perplexing, if not wholly unintelligible, to the average student of the Word ; while the matter of the Appendix, which is entirely new, will, it is thought, supply all charged with the religious instruction of the young with such material as can be readily taught to even the scholars in the primary department of the Sabbath-School, and which will prove to be a good foundation for a more intimate acquaintance with the Word in later years.

It is hoped also that The Temple Opened may contribute, in some degreee at least, towards the much needed study of the Bible as a whole, and of the individual Books of which it is composed.

In this volume, too, every young Christian may find material all ready to hand for the defence of himself against the assaults of cavillers and sceptics ; while at the same time he may also find much to nourish his own spiritual life and build himself up on his own "most holy faith."

PREFACE. 7

The Temple Opened is fully abreast with the discussion of all questions respecting the Bible, the results of recent explorations and the conclusions of critical inquiry being given in as few words as possible. The chapters on Inspiration and the Higher Criticism, it is hoped, may prove opportune owing to the general interest on these questions at the present time.

While it is believed that the pages of this book may be turned with profit by those most familiar with the contents of the Sacred Volume, it has been prepared with immediate reference to those who are just entering upon its study, and who desire to fit themselves to be teachers of others.

The Temple Opened is free from sectarian bias ; at least the author is not conscious of having said aught that should give offence to any evangelical denomination.

Suggestiveness, not exhaustiveness, has been the aim of the author throughout.

The Temple Opened is neither a compilation nor wholly an original work. Its pages are enriched with the spoils of extended reading and research. It may therefore be fitly termed a composite production ; and as special credit is nowhere given in the body of the book, this general statement of indebtedness to others is here the more unreservedly made.

W. H. G.

1318 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, August 18, 1891.

Part I. Page

Man and Religion 11

Reason and Revelation 14

The Bible and other Sacred Books 16

The Bible as a Revelation from God 20

The Bible and the Christian 28

The Bible and our Country 31

Antiquity and Writers of the Bible 34

Chapters and Verses of the Bible 36

The Two Latest Versions of the Bible 38

Circulation of the Bible 41

The Bible and its Use 43

The Bible and the Sunday-School 45

Inspiration of the Bible 48

The Canon of Holy Scripture 58

Apocrypha 70

The Text of the Bible — Lower Criticism 72

Bible Geography 93

The Land and the Book 108 b

10 CONTENTS.