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PREFACE.

THIS little Work was drawn up for the immediate use of Young Persons, who had lately engaged in the rite of Confirmation, with a view to * “lead them in the knowledge and obedience of God's Word;"-but consisting as it does, of selections from the pure Word of God, the regular perusal of it may afford edification to Christians of all ages.

Objection has sometimes been taken to a selection of Texts from the chapters of the Bible in which they stand, lest it should lead to a perversion of the sense of Scripture; as words may occasionally depend on the context for their meaning: it is hoped, however, that no real objection will be found to lie against this little book, care having been taken not to strain the texts from their natural meaning, such only being put together as tend either to explain or illustrate each other. And one object of the compilation is to induce the readers to refer to the chapters from which the texts are taken, and see to what they relate.

An anxiety to complete the work as a Manual for the Confirmed, has caused the execution of it to fall short of the compiler's wishes; it may be, however, as well to state, that in the compilation, no aid has been borrowed from previous collections, but every passage has been selected after a fair examination of all the chapters for the service of the day.

Whatever be the merits or demerits of this publication, the testimony of two able men, one remarkable for his simplicity and godly sincerity, the other for his extensive and well-digested learning, shall be here adduced as to the general utility of Scripture parallels.

* Confirmation Service,

"The circumstances of Scripture" says the bishop and martyr Latimer, "enlighten the Scriptures, and one Scripture doth expound another to a man that is studious, well-willing, and calling upon God in continual prayer.”

"He," observes bishop Horsley, "who would read the Holy Scriptures with advantage and improvement, should compare every text which may seem important for the doctrine it may contain, with parallel passages in other parts of Holy Writ. Particular diligence should be used in comparing the parallel texts of the Old and New Testaments. When you read the Old Testament you should turn to the parallel passages of the New, that you may see in what manner, in what sense, and to what purpose the words of the more ancient are alleged by the latter writer, who, in many instances, may be supposed to have received clearer light upon the same subject. On the other hand, when you read the New Testament, and meet with citations from the Old, always consult the original writer, that you may have the satisfaction of judging for yourselves how far the passage alleged makes for the argument it is brought to support. The Bible thus studied," adds the prelate, "will indeed prove to be what we Protestants esteem it, a certain and sufficient rule of Faith and Practice."

JANUARY.

1. Circumcision.-COLLECT FOR THE DAY. Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; Grant to us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

2. God created the heaven and the earth. Gen. i. 1.————The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. Rom. i. 20.

3. I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid. Gen. iii. 10.- Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil. Rom. ii. 9.

4. God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. vi. 5. -All have sinned. Rom. iii. 23.

5. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Matt. iv. 10.-Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be alway acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer. Ps. xix. 14, 15.

6. Epiphany.-COLLECT FOR THE DAY. O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy onlybegotten Son to the Gentiles: mercifully grant that we which know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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