ANALYTICAL CONCORDANCE то THE HOLY SCRIPTURES; OR, THE BIBLE PRESENTED UNDER DISTINCT AND CLASSIFIED HEADS OR TOPICS. EDITED BY JOHN EADIE, D.D., LL.D., PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE TO THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AUTHOR TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ON THE BASIS OF CRUDEN," &c. "COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL." 1 Cor. 2: 13. BOSTON: GOULD AND LINCOLN, 59 WASHINGTON STREET. NEW YORK: SHELDON, BLAKEMAN & CO Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by GOULD AND LINCOLN, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. IN presenting this important work to the American public, the present publishers would call attention to some of its peculiar features. At first view, it might not seem to differ greatly from certain other works designed to aid in the study of the Bible. On comparing it with such, however, it will be found to possess an essentially original and distinctive character. It differs especially, in some important particulars, from two classes of works to which it bears a general resemblance,—the common Concordance and the Scripture Manual or Topical Text-book. The design of the common Concordance is to assist the student in finding some passage of Scripture by means of a leading word; and that is its whole design.. The design of this work, on the other hand, is to present, not a concordance of words, but a concordance of subjects. All those passages of Scripture which relate to one subject are brought together under one general head, and then distributed under many subordinate heads. It is apparent from this statement, that while the Analytical Concordance essentially differs from, it in nowise supersedes, the common Concordance; each ministers to a distinct and independent purpose, but both are equally necessary to the Biblical student. Again: this Concordance differs from the common Manual or Topical Text-book; and it differs in two important respects. First, the latter class of works are confined to theological or doctrinal topics; the Analytical Concordance, on the contrary, embraces all the topics which are naturally suggested by the entire contents of the Bible. Second, the Topical Text-book contains only a part of the Bible; this contains the whole. Thus, in all respects, the Analytical Concordance is more comprehensive and complete than the class of works with which it is here compared. It is, in short, nothing less than the whole Bible distributed under appropriate heads. VII saving, as The purchaser, therefore, gets not only a CONCORDANCE but also a BIBLE in this volume. The superior convenience arising out of this fact it does, the necessity of having two books at hand and of making two references, instead of one - will be readily apparent. Another feature of the work that deserves special notice is the Synopsis. This presents to view, in a brief compass and in the author's own words, what in the Concordance is spread over many pages and is expressed in the language of Scripture. It will be found of no small value in giving unity and clearness to the conceptions of the student. In addition to the Synopsis, there is also an Index embracing nearly two thousand leading words arranged in alphabetical order. That such a work as this is of exceeding great convenience is matter of obvious remark. But it is much more than that; it is also an instructive work. It is adapted not only to assist the student in prosecuting the investigation of preconceived ideas, but also to impart ideas which the most careful reading of the Bible in its ordinary arrangement might not suggest. Let him take up any one of the subjects-Agriculture, for example-and see if such be not the case. This feature places the work in a higher grade than that of the common Concordance. It shows it to be, so to speak, a work of more mind. There is but one other work in our language prepared on the same general plan as this, and of that the author has sufficiently spoken in his preface. It need only be remarked, that while from what is there said this work appears to be every way superior to that, it is offered to the public at much less cost. All classes and conditions of people will find this Concordance specially adapted to their necessities. It is equally adapted to assist Clergymen and Theological Students; Sabbath school Superintendents, Teachers, and Bible Classes; Authors engaged in the composition of religious, and even secular works; and, in fine, Common readers of the Bible, who have no other end in view than their own personal improvement. BOSTON, January, 1857. |