a fhorter Scheme for the Use of younger UnderStandings; and I have given my Reasons alfo, why the Catechistical Method of Question and Answer is preferable to all other Methods of Infruition; and I need not repeat the fame things bere, with regard to facred Hiftory.

It is proper the Reader fhould know that at the End of the Hiftory of the Old Teftament I have inferted one Chapter, wherein the Jewish Affairs are continued from the Time of Nehemiah (where the Sacred Writers end) down to the Time of Chrift and the Gofpel. This is borrowed from the best ancient Writings we have of these Events, viz. the Books of Maccabees in the Apocrypha, and the Hiftory of Jofephus, though I am greatly indebted aljo to Dr. Prideaux's Hiftorical Connexion of the Old and New Teftament, wherein thefe Narratives are so happily reduced to a Chronological Order, and embellished and improved with many valuable Hints from Heathen Hiftorians.

And to render the Work yet more useful in thefe Days of Infidelity, I have added another Chapter, which I call a Prophetical Connexion between the Old Testament and the New, wherein the most eminent Prophecies relating to our Blef fed Lord are fet down in one View, together with their Accomplishment; that younger Minds may See how much this Great Meffiah or anointed Saviour was foretold and expected through all Ages, and may have their Faith of Christ built early upon a folid Foundation.

I have nothing more to add, but to acquaint the Reader with the Method I have taken in compofing this Work, and with the Ufe that be fhould make of it.

In framing this Book, I have obferved the following Rules, (viz.)

1. I bave proceeded, for the most part, according to the Order of Things as they lie in the Books of Scripture; but still endeavouring to maintain fome Connexion throughout the whole Hiftory. Yet I cannot say I have always reduced things to that Order in which they were tranfacted: For in feveral Places I found that a fritt Obfervation of Chronology would have intermingled too many Incidents of different Kinds, would have broken the Scheme of Things 1 bad propofed, or interrupted the Narrative of fome particular Event, and rendered the History much more unconnected and disagreeable to thofe for whom I write.

2. Though I have not been follicitous to infert every Incident and the Name of every Perfon contained in the Old Teftament, yet I have omitted Scarce any Name or remarkable Transaction which has been referred to or cited in the New, or has any Connexion with the Gospel of Chrift, which is the Religion of Chriftians. It was not poffible to infert all the particular Narratives contained in the Scripture, without making an other Book almost as big as the Bible itself: Whereas my prime Defign was to give an Abfiract or foort View of the Sacred History for

the

the Ufe of Ferfons of fuch Age, Capacities, or Conditions of Life, as are not able to attend to much Reading, nor gain a fuller and more accurate Knowledge of the Tranfactions of God with Men.

3. I have added the Chapter and Verfe of one or more Texts of Scripture to every Answer that required it, that the Reader might be invited to fearch his Bible, and there gain a larger and more particular Acquaintance with those hiftorical Matters which I have briefly mentioned in a Line or two. If young Perfons by this Means are allured to grow familiar with the Word of God, I am perfuaded the Advantage they may reap thereby will richly compenfate all their Labours in reading this hiftorical Abridgment of Scripture, and all my Pains in writing it.

4. It is all divided into Chapters, and fome Chapters into Sections with a new Title to each. This will, in fome measure, give a comprehenfive View of the Method and Order of the whole. It is evident that the catechetical Form of Question and Anfwer takes off the Tirefomness of reading from younger Minds, and perpetually allures their Enquiry and Curiofity onward by fhort Answers, without that Weariness which arifes from many long continued Pages of mere Narrative: And in the fame Manner a proper Diftinction of the Hiftory into Chapters and Sections under different Titles renders the Work of reading much more delightful by the frequent returning Refts and Paules.

5. Since

5. Since I intended it originally for Perfons of younger Years, and the common Rank of Mankind, I have ftudied generally to ufe fuch Words and Forms of Speech as are most plain and easy to be understood. It would not have answered my Defign fo well, if I must have sent my Reader too often to his Dictionaries to enquire the Meaning of bard Words and Latinized Expreffions.

9. Yet I have not fo confined myself to the Service of my unlearned Readers, as to neglect all ufeful Criticisms and occafional Remarks to clear up Difficulties, but have freely interperfed them throughout the whole Book, fo far as may inform the inquifitive, and give fome Hints to the more intelligent Reader for the further Illustration of fome Paffages of Scripture both in the Old Teftament and the New.

If there should be found any Mistakes in drawing up this Hiftory, which might have been rectified by further confulting the Writings of the Learned, I would only mention one Apology for myfelf; and that is, a great Part of it was drawn up in the Country at a Distance from my ufual Habitation, where I had no learned Writings to confult, and was confined to my Bible alone. A friendly Notice of any fuch Miftakes might occafion a Correction of them.

Let me bere fpeak a Word or two more of the particular Ufes which may be made of this Summary of facred Hiftory.

It may not be an improper Book to lie-conftantly in the Nursery or the Parlour, to affift

the

the Inftruction of Children, or the Converfation of grown Perfons. And if this and other useful Books were fuffered always to lie in the Places appointed for Servants, especially in great Families, it might be an Allurement to them to employ fome of their Leifure in a profitable manner. The placing it in any Room of ufual Refidence may entice Perfons often to look into it, and lead them into an eafy Acquaintance with the various Dealings of God with Men from the Beginning of the World.

Nor can I think it would be a vain or useless Employment for Perfons who are not furnished with better Advantages for Scriptural Knowledge to read it over once in a Year or two, in order to keep thefe facred Memoirs ever fresh in their Minds. Half a Chapter in a Week would be no beavy Tafk, and this would finish it in one Year's time.

May the divine Blessing attend this feeble Endeavour of mine to diffufe Knowledge of divine Things among Mankind, and to furnish Families with ufeful Matter for Converfation, whereby they may be better fecured against the Temptations of loofe and vicious Writings and vain Difcourfe, which give an unhappy Tincture to the Imagination in early Years, and tend to defile and deftroy the Soul.

A SHORT