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PREFACE.

the poetry may also be added.

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As to the rest, I must

in the main lay claim to it. Thus Sec. XII. p. 70, contains of Feddersen's only what is to be found in six or eight lines on page 70, 71; and this is about the amount of his to be found in Sec. XIV. p. 77; Sec. XXI. p. 111: Sec. XXII. p. 114; Sec. XXIII. p. 116; Sec. XI. p. 150; while Secs. XXIV. p. 121; IX. p. 145; XVI. p. 164; XXII. p. 178, and XV. p. 219, of Feddersen's, contain nothing. I mention these only as specimens. From them some judgment may be formed as to the rest. The truth is, I have in general made use of the original merely as a book of hints, and it contains little or nothing more, not even a single illustration. To render the whole as useful as possible, I have, in the table of contents, given the principal Scripture references, marked the geographical names which designate the Saviour's journeys in italics, and added an Index.

Feddersen in his little work has often quoted verses, sometimes from an unknown source, and oftener still referred to a little volume of German Prayers and Hymns for children, by Sturm. The verses on pp. 12,

The

32, 70, 76, 97, 101, 106, 109, 113, 131, 177, are imitations of some of those that I found in Feddersen. hymn on p. 165 is an imitation, though not a very close one, of one referred to in Sturm's work. That on p. 179 has several stanzas, in imitation of Was Gott Thut das," a most beautiful hymn, made by Sam. Rodigast, formerly Rector in Berlin, for a sick friend. R. died in 1708. See Journal of Humanity, April 19th,

66

1832. The first and third stanzas of the hymn on p. 39 are also imitations. See Journal of Humanity, Jan. 3rd, 1833.

In regard to style and thought, I must confess that I have not sought much after monosyllables, nor always been careful either to chain the mind down to the earth, or to have everything fully developed. Why should the lad not occasionally meet with hard words, and find something which demands patient thinking, provided there is enough plain to allure him on? The mature scholar discovers new beauties and intellectual fountains in his Virgil, every time he reviews it; and yet, if he loved the study, he found enough there to interest and delight even when he was a lad. The young Christian understands something of the Gospel, and yet this same Gospel furnishes ample employment for the most able pupils in the school of Christ. Put always into the hands of a lad, if possible, a book which, while it interests and improves his youthful mind, has ample treasures for the investigation of maturer years. Let its sentences resemble little gates, which, on being opened, usher him at once into rich gardens and extended landscapes, over which he may ramble at pleasure, finding on every side new flowers to examine, mountains to climb, and rivers, vales, and woods to explore. Give him, also, to understand that if he would become a genuine thinker, he must learn at once to meet difficulties with courage, and habituate himself to patient investigation. It is not enough that he survey the

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garden from a corner, or the landscape from some mountain's top. He will know but little about them until everything is fairly explored, the fields have been crossed, the valleys visited, the woods penetrated, and every curious rock carefully surveyed.

I cannot flatter myself indeed that this little book is to any great extent of the above character. I rather fear it has too much of the opposite. As the Bible, however, is such a book, and much of what I have written is from the Bible, it would be somewhat strange if there were not some sentences in this respect resembling the sacred original. Whatever its character, however, I commit it to the world. That I should feel some solicitude as to its reception, is natural. I dedicate it to him of whom it treats, and hope that with all its imperfections he will accept of it, and turn it to account in building up his kingdom.

OLIVER A. TAYLOR.

Theol. Sem. Andover,

Jan. 1835.

CONTENTS, ETC.

A SHORT HISTORY OF JESUS' LIFE.

SEC. I.-FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS THIRTIETH YEAR.

Born at Bethlehem-Visited by the shepherds-[Presented in
the Temple, see p. 35.]-Visited by the wise men-Carried
into Egypt-Brought back to Nazareth-Goes up to Jeru-
salem in his 12th year, and converses with the teachers in the
temple-Character, &c. a

SEC. II. FROM JESUS' BAPTISM TO HIS BEGINNING TO
TEACH.

John begins his ministry Jesus comes from Nazareth to him
[in Bethabara] beyond Jordan to be baptized-The vision
seen and voice heard -John's testimony respecting him d.
Goes into the desert [probably of Judea] and is tempted of
the devil - Returns to Jordan-Chooses some disciples f

b Matt. iii. 1-12. Mark i. 1-8. Luke iii. 1-18.

13-17. Mark i. 9-11. Luke iii. 21-23. John i. 28.

15-36. e Matt. iv. 1-11. Mark i. 12, 13. Luke iv. 1-13.

i. 37-51.

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