The Scripture Guide, a Familiar Introduction to the Study of the Bible [pp. 201-221]

To an Idequate Support.
to write numerous folios, in the intervals of labour, but we
have each his humble sphere in which if each were to labour
with assiduity and singleness of purpose, we should,soon
see a new era in the condition of our church.
It is mentioned in the pamphlet before us that there are
twenty one ministers in the presbytery of Elizabethtown,
and with scarce a single exception, the work of the ministry
is their only work. This is a most honourable distinction;
but it is melancholy that it should be a distinction. What
should be a matter of course, has become a matter for special
gratulation. That these things should not be so, no one can
doubt. What the church needs, more than any other outward blessing, is a minrislry exclusively devoted to their
work. And how it is to be obtained, unless the people will
make such a provision for their pastors, that they may
be free from worldly cares and avocations. To this they are
bound by the principles of justice; by the ordinance of
Christ; by a regard to their own spiritual interests, and the
welfare of the church.
ART. III.-The Scripture Guide: a Famtiliar Introdue lion to the Study of the Bible. Prepared for the Amer ican Sunday School UJnion, and revised by the Committee
of Publication. Philadelphia. pp. 263.
WE give the title of this unpretending little volume for
two reasons. As it is written in the form of dialogues, and
published for the use of Stunlay Schools, it is likely to be
overlooked or slighted by adults. And yet it contains a
large amount of information, highly important even to ministers and students of theology, many of whom can scarcely
be expected to derive it from the various, remote, and scattered sources, of which this writer seems to have availed
himself. The volume gives a succinct account of the various
bibliographical particulars belonging to the subject, and in
relation to which we fear that not a few men of some learned
pretension would be found deficient. In these matters are
comprised the literary history of the Bible, its divisions and
authorship, the means of its preservation and transmission,
(including a full account of the ancient materials of writing,
the appearance, value, &c. of manuscripts) notices of the
1839.]
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