With a hope to excite an increasing interest in the Bible, by inducing the readers to search it for themselves, the writer has generally forborne to make any particular reference to the specific chapter or verse to which the different passages allude. To increase their admiration of the Word of God by such research, is her fervent desire; and this more especially at a period when, by so many recent attacks, its truth is impugned, its authority denied, its doctrines vilified, and the characters it exhibits viewed with abhorrence, or treated with ridicule.

The familiar measure here adopted is very unfavourable to the subject. The author never remembers to have seen a serious poem written in it except hymns; and even hymns, besides being short, are generally in the quatrain stanza; which, by making the rhyme alternate, gives greater room for elevation in the diction, and expansion of the thought, both of which, the measure here used is calculated to cramp and contract.

This trifle was intended for little more than a Catalogue Raisonné of the names of the books of the Bible; the subject, it is true, admits of little poetical embellishment, even were the Author better qualified to bestow it. Indeed the dignity of the Sacred Volume is so commanding, its superiority to all other compositions so decided, that it never gains any thing by human infusions: paraphrase dilutes it, amplification weakens, imitation debases, parody profanes.

Much more latitude is given in the Old than in the New Testament. The latter consists chiefly of

fact and doctrine. It has less imagery; it exhibits a more explicit rule of faith; a more spiritualised code of morals; it is more specifically didactic. On this holy ground, therefore, we must tread with peculiar caution; because here every article of faith is definite; every rule of practice is established; the scheme of salvation is completed: so that all who enlarge on it must carefully avoid the awful sentence denounced on those who add to, or take from, what is written.

Barley Wood,
August 14. 1822.

THE

OLD TESTAMENT.

INTRODUCTION.

HERE the first history of mankind

From its first origin we find ;
God is its author, truth its name,
Salvation all its end and aim:

Here we are shown" the good old way,"

First to believe, and then obey.

God's Spirit dictates; men proclaim
The doctrines as from him they came.

And not by miracles alone,

By prophecy, the truth is shown.

Though 'tis no scheme for dry dispute,

No scene to wrangle and confute;

Not an arena for debate,

A field for harsh polemic hate;

Yet strict enquiry may be mov'd,

The more 'tis search'd the more 'tis prov'd.
It is a boon by mercy given,

That man may gain some taste of heaven;
Best medicine for the sin-sick soul,

For guilty passions best controul;

To all, its precepts are applied,

The rich man's guard, the poor man's guide;

To fill with gratitude the hearts
Where God his larger gifts imparts;
To cheer with higher hopes the poor,
To teach the suff'rer to endure;
The meek to raise, repress the bold,
To warn the young, to wean the old;
The arms it lends are faith and prayer,
Its fruits, oblivion sweet of care.

Here are the only precepts given
For peace on earth, or rest in heaven.
Sole lesson since the world began,
For fear of God and love to man:
It came with blessings in its train,
Which to recount, the attempt were vain.
It came to hinder fell despair,

The ravages of sin repair;

It came to cheer the contrite heart,
Redemption's wonders to impart ;
That he who sins should sin no more;
It came a lost world to restore.