A collection of short poems describing every book of the Bible (both Old and New testament) for young children to read in order to help them learn about the Bible.
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This JUVENILE BIBLE, or TABLES OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, being a Metrical Index to the Old and New Testament, has with much Labour been compiled for the Edification of Youth. By means of this little Instructor, the reader is not only made acquainted with the chief Contents of every Chapter, but likewise with the number of chapters in every Book. This methodical arrangement is as follows:
Every Book that exceeds five Chapters is divided into Stanzas, each Stanza, acrostic-like, beginning with A, B, C, &c. the Stanzas contain four lines each, and every line is a Chapter (except otherwise distinguished, as the Chapters are numbered in the margin by figures); thus B, beginning the second Stanza and fifth line, is the fifth Chapter, C the 9th, D the 13th, E the 17th, &c. as far as N, which is the 49th Chapter, no Book containing more than 52, except the PROPHECY of ISAIAH, which runs four letters more, O, P, Q, and R; likewise the Book of PSALMS, being 150, which are divided into three alphabets, not exceeding N, and containing 50 each. Those Books which do not exceed five chapters, viz. RUTH, LAMENTATIONS, JOEL, OBADIAH, &c. are without this method, which do not require it, and are consequently expressed in one Stanza, sometimes exceeding four lines.
In the historical books, the contents of every chapter is as fully expressed as the narrow limits of one line will admit; and the PSALMS, which have letters expressive of the occasions of them, are by those distinguished: but the other PSALMS, as also the PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, &c. consisting of various and unconnected Sentences, and not being reducible to any certain head, are only characterized by some remarkable passage in them.
This novel and curious arrangement will, it is presumed, gratify the taste of young readers, and not only give them a relish for the Sacred Volume, but even assist their memories when duly acquainted with it.
Any person desirous of committing this JUVENILE BIBLE to memory (which may be done in a month, or less) should first learn perfectly the name of all the Books, and the numbers of the chapters in each Book, on the back of the title-page; then observe A stands for 1, B 5, C 9, D 13, E 17, F 21, G 25, H 29, I 33, K 37, L 41, M 45, N 49. When it is known what number every letter denotes, the number of the chapter that begins with that letter is known by it; for example, if you know the letter B stands for 5, then when you hear this line, "Before the flood man's life was long," you can soon tell it is the 5th chapter. If it be asked, what are the contents of the 5th chapter of Genesis, you answer with the above line, and so of the rest.
The three last lines of every Stanza depend upon the first line of it; so that if the number of the first line is known, it is easy to know the number of the rest: for instance, if you know that "Each male of Abram circumcis'd" is the 17th of Genesis, then it follows "He angels entertains" is the 18th; "Sees Sodom's flame God's wrath proclaim" is the 19th; "His wife his sister feigns" is the 20th.
This work is designed to promote the knowledge and practice of the Holy Scriptures—and when presents are made by Parents, or promiscuously awarded by Schools, let the JUVENILE BIBLE be always the first gift: but no portion of it should ever be allotted as a Task; the Author of this Work being well convinced, it is owing to the modern and impious mode of Education, compelling Children to learn Collects, chapters in the Bible, Hymns, &c. as occasional Exercises, and frequently by way of Punishment, that the Word of God is not heard and read with that satisfaction it always should be.
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