The Bible Story - free ebook by Newton Marshall Hall

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The Bible Story

Newton Marshall Hall

141 chapters

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141 chapters

FOREWORD

FOREWORD

The five volumes of THE BIBLE STORY have served to beautify and classify the Bible and are simple and complete in themselves. They do not require explanation or enrichment. It is the desire, however, by the addition of this volume to suggest definite ways of using the work. This book contains a series of suggestions to fit the occasion, the temperament, and the time of the user. It may be picked up often and a part of it used as opportunity offers. We believe there may be those who will wish to

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KEY

KEY

Throughout this volume initials are used to indicate titles of volumes in which references are found, as follows:-- {11}...

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Why Read the Bible?

Why Read the Bible?

If Bible readers everywhere could return their answers what diverse and interesting points of view the replies would bring! For instance, one perceives in the Bible record the worst and the best that men have always thought and felt; for him it is full of the universal motives of humanity. He has noticed, too, that in sketching often but the single act of a character, the Book brings the essential man or woman vividly out of the darkness and into the light for all time. As a student of men, we c

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Why are Bible Readers so Few?

Why are Bible Readers so Few?

Truly the harvest of Bible enlightenment is plentiful beyond measure; why then are those who reap it for themselves so few? It is because we lack time to understand. Our Bible Schools might solve the problem if only they had time, but one hour a week with the Bible is scarcely an introduction to it, never a fellowship with it. The Book of books is no shallow friend to give up all its treasures upon a superficial acquaintance. Rather it is a friend to be lived with in the home. This book of sugge

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THE CHILD AND THE BIBLE

THE CHILD AND THE BIBLE

Answering Mothers' Questions {14} "So great is my veneration for the Bible, that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens to their country and respectable members of society." -- John Quincy Adams . {15}...

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THE MOTHER'S PART--HOW CAN I USE THE BIBLE STORY WITH MY CHILD?

THE MOTHER'S PART--HOW CAN I USE THE BIBLE STORY WITH MY CHILD?

This is the most important part of the work, because it helps you to understand and use all the rest, and answers your questions in regard to the religious life of your child. These suggestions are largely for the use of "The Golden Book." You must know three things:-- That a child will not appreciate and use this work at first unless you appreciate and use it too. That in order to appreciate and use it, you do not need to read all five volumes through at once. You may begin with any one of the

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QUESTIONS TO ASK LITTLE CHILDREN

QUESTIONS TO ASK LITTLE CHILDREN

If possible, set a regular time for reading "The Golden Book" with the child, taking it page by page. Use these questions to recall the previous lesson before going on to a new story. Making the Child Think {29}...

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PART II CHARACTER AND LIVING For Growth in Knowledge and Character

PART II CHARACTER AND LIVING For Growth in Knowledge and Character

{30} "Written in the East, these characters live forever in the West; written in one province, they pervade the world; penned in rude times, they are prized more and more as civilization advances; product of antiquity, they come home to the bosoms of the folk of modern days." -- Robert Louis Stevenson . {31}...

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MAKE THE BIBLE HEROES YOUR FRIENDS

MAKE THE BIBLE HEROES YOUR FRIENDS

We ever demand a person for an ideal instead of a principle. By living a year with a masterful character one would gain more than from a dozen years of moral precept. President King of Oberlin College says, "Character is not taught, but caught." Since character is contagious, mere teaching of the bare and unadorned moral principle is almost always vain. But a hero personifies virtue, commands admiration, becomes an ideal. This explains the power of stories in creating character. The heroes of th

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JESUS' CHARACTER-BUILDING STORIES

JESUS' CHARACTER-BUILDING STORIES

Do you know which parable teaches:-- When Jesus told the parable of the Sower, he first told the story and then because some of the people did not understand, he went back over it, giving full explanation. Read the story of the Sower (133 L.J.) , noting Jesus' method of explanation, and then read the parables suggested below and follow the reading with your own explanation of them. {33}...

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FOUNDATION STONES

FOUNDATION STONES

To what chapter would you turn in your Bible to find how you can best serve other people? Can you turn instantly to the Bible's finest teachings of charity, of purity, or of faith? The Bible is the mine for the Builder of Character, the storehouse of Foundation Stones. And yet--can you always go to it and bring back just the stone you are needing for the Building? Few can. But many desire to do so. Above all, parents wish to make the Bible a power in forming the characters of their children. Bui

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TRY LINCOLN'S WAY

TRY LINCOLN'S WAY

Do you know Abraham Lincoln's plan of learning English? It was a very simple and direct way of making the Bible English his own. The Bible, we are told, was one of the four or five books which Lincoln read and loved as a boy. He knew it well and to his study of it he owed the simple, strong, and beautiful English which gave his speeches--his address at Gettysburg, the Second Inaugural address, and many others--their high place among the most perfect and enduring of all writings. This was his pla

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HISTORY AND THE BIBLE

HISTORY AND THE BIBLE

{39} From your knowledge of general history, link up the stories of Daniel, Esther, and Nehemiah in point of time, remembering that:-- {42}...

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LIVING WITH THE BIBLE

LIVING WITH THE BIBLE

The Bible is a mirror "in which each man sees the motions of his own soul. Many of the Psalms express in exquisite words the kinship which every thoughtful human heart craves to find with a supreme, unchanging, loving God, who will be to him a protector, guardian, and friend." Many of the Bible passages give utterance to the ordinary experiences and the familiar thoughts of men. Readers will get more help from the Bible if they know where to look for just what they need. Following is an index to

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QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

Do not use these questions simply to "Mark Time." Let their message to you be--"Forward March." Interrogation, not statement, stirs the mind. The questions are framed to draw out the reader's knowledge and provoke discussion that will bring to light interesting points without consuming too much time. Try the questions in this way: Select one of the following stories and read it. After the reading, ask the questions that bear on the story. By means of the subtitles and page numbers the desired qu

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SONGS OF THE AGES

SONGS OF THE AGES

Most of the questions on this volume are of a literary nature and will be found in Part IV, "The Bible in Literature." (Questions on the literary value of Isaiah's poems may be found in Part IV.) {87} {88} {89} {90} {92} {93}...

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PART III THE LAND OF THE BIBLE Visiting Palestine with THE BIBLE STORY

PART III THE LAND OF THE BIBLE Visiting Palestine with THE BIBLE STORY

{94} "A land not of sailors, not of traders, not of foresters, but a land of lonely highlanders who won their living from the soil, from grain fields, from vineyards, from orchards, and from sheepfolds. A land of paths, not of thoroughfares, with but one great city. A land, not far from the highroad between Europe and the East, yet secluded on its hilltops, where prophets and patriots dreamed in its safe caverns. A land which, because it had little possible outreach, reached upward." {95} {96} R

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A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE LAND

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE LAND

The land of Palestine would be one of the most interesting even if sacred events had never occurred within its borders. In the first place, it is part of the world's largest oasis. Have you ever thought that it is the most isolated country on earth? Hemmed in by the desert, on part of one end by high mountains and on the west by the sea, it seems separated from an other lands as for some peculiar purpose. It is most astonishing in its physical contour. Though smaller than New Hampshire and of ab

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UNDERSTANDING GEOGRAPHY BY PICTURES

UNDERSTANDING GEOGRAPHY BY PICTURES

The inscription on the back of each of the pictures referred to below will answer the question and the text, referred to in brackets, will tell the story more in detail. {101} {102} {103} {104} {105}...

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LOCATING BIBLE CHARACTERS IN THE LAND

LOCATING BIBLE CHARACTERS IN THE LAND

(Use map at the beginning of this chapter except when referred elsewhere. ) {106} Trace out the general route taken by the children of Israel from Egypt to Canaan, locating the Red Sea, where the hosts of Pharaoh were drowned, 180 H.T. ; Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were given, 201 H.T. ; the wilderness, between the arms of the Red Sea, where the people wandered so long, 242 H.T. ; Hebron, to which the spies were sent, 243 H.T. ; Kadesh, where the people abode for many years and where

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PART IV THE BIBLE IN LITERATURE For Lovers of Literature

PART IV THE BIBLE IN LITERATURE For Lovers of Literature

{112} "It is surely good that our youth, during the formative period, should have displayed to them, in a literary dress as brilliant as that of Greek literature, in lyrics which Pindar cannot surpass, in rhetoric as forcible as that of Demosthenes, or contemplative prose not inferior to Plato's--a people dominated by an utter passion for righteousness." -- Richard G. Moulton . {113}...

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THE BIBLE'S PLACE IN LITERATURE

THE BIBLE'S PLACE IN LITERATURE

It may well be said that, like our English speech, our literature has drawn its material and its inspiration from many tongues and peoples. Its sources are world-wide. Its stream flows from innumerable springs and fountains. Some of them have been shallow and some have given up only the waters of bitterness, but many there are which keep the current broad and pure and deep. And of those fountains that ever pour out living water the most abounding is our English Bible. So abundantly has our liter

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QUESTIONS BRINGING OUT THE BIBLE'S LITERARY VALUE

QUESTIONS BRINGING OUT THE BIBLE'S LITERARY VALUE

What form of rhythm illustrated on page 12 S.A. is used in the psalms: Ruskin says that, among others, Psalms 1, 8, 15, 19, 23, 24, well studied and believed, are sufficient for all personal guidance. What principles of conduct are enjoined in:-- {121} The following well-known poems were inspired by passages in the Old Testament. Bring out some of the beauty and power which the poets saw in these passages by comparing them with the poems. Read the following stories from the volume, "The Life of

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THE BIBLE'S GIFT TO OUR LANGUAGE

THE BIBLE'S GIFT TO OUR LANGUAGE

How often in listening to a speaker or in reading our everyday literature we find our imagination stirred by a forceful phrase taken from the Bible. If we know the part of the Bible from which the phrase comes it always throws a flood of light upon the message. But due to ignorance of the Bible, too many of us grope for the phrase's meaning. In these days even high school and college graduates cannot explain the simplest Bible allusions. Charles Dudley Warner, writing in Harper's Magazine, says

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THE BIBLE AND THE TEACHER For the Bible School Teacher

THE BIBLE AND THE TEACHER For the Bible School Teacher

{160} "Talk about the questions of the time: There is but one question:--How to bring the truths of God's Word into vital contact with the minds and hearts of all classes of the people." -- William E. Gladstone . {161}...

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FOR THE BIBLE SCHOOL TEACHER

FOR THE BIBLE SCHOOL TEACHER

The two greatest needs of the Bible School teacher are thorough preparation of the lesson, and enthusiasm in presenting it. These needs are effectively and abundantly met in THE BIBLE STORY. This volume is so arranged that the teacher in any department may find what is best adapted to a particular age. The following definite suggestions as to how THE BIBLE STORY may be used in the Bible School will be found interesting and helpful for teachers in the accomplishment of their great aims of imparti

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KEY

KEY

Marked letters are pronounced as in the following words. Vowels found in unaccented syllables are unmarked and are given the natural, or long, sound. {170} {171} {172} {173} {174} {175} {176} {177} {178} {179} {1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6}...

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VOLUME ONE THE GOLDEN BOOK

VOLUME ONE THE GOLDEN BOOK

ARRANGED AND EDITED BY REV. NEWTON MARSHALL HALL, D.D. MINISTER OF THE NORTH CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS AND REV. IRVING FRANCIS WOOD, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION AT SMITH COLLEGE Authors of "The Early Days of Israel" "Advanced Bible Studies" Etc. THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS CHICAGO, CLEVELAND {8} COPYRIGHT, 1906, COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. {9}...

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INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES

The editors of this series believe that no task can be more important than that of winning the interest of children to their precious heritage, the Bible. The stories of the old Greek and Roman mythologies, the folk and fairy tales, have been given the child in beautiful form, suitably graded and arranged, with significant illustrations. The editors of this series attempt to do the same thing for the Bible: to take the matchless prose and poetry of the Bible and put it in the form which will mak

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PREFACE

PREFACE

The editors have endeavored to make this volume a treasure house of all the good things, new and old, which would serve to assist in the moral training of little children. The volume includes a Primer, arranged on the plan of the ordinary school primer, designed to give the elemental religious truths in the simplest form. Any child who is learning to read at school can learn also to read these sentences. The texts at the bottom of the pages are to be read by the parent to the child, and may with

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A BIBLE ALPHABET

A BIBLE ALPHABET

From an old alphabet belonging to Miss Clara L. Bodman, and used by her kind permission. {27} My father. My mother. My dear father. My dear mother. "Honor thy father and thy mother." -- Exodus 20:12 . "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." -- Colossians 3:20 . "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother." -- Proverbs 1:8 . {28} I brother sister love I love my father. I love my mother. I love my brother. I love

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HYMNS FOR THE MORNING

HYMNS FOR THE MORNING

{70} {71} {73} {74} THE BOY JESUS By Winterstein "Whatever father or mother wanted done in the house, fetching water, drink, bread, meat, looking after the house and other things of that sort, whatever he was bidden, that did the dear little Jesus, like any other child." -- Martin Luther {75} {77} By permission of Charles Scribner's Sons. {78} {79} {80} {81}...

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GOD SEES ME

GOD SEES ME

When does God see me? God sees me when I am good, and it makes him glad. God sees me when I am bad, and it makes him sorry. God sees me when I play, and knows if I am kind. God sees me when I am at school, and knows if I am faithful. God sees me when I am at home, and knows if I obey my father and my mother. God sees me when I am cross, and knows how ugly I look and feel. God sees me when I am happy, and knows how glad I am. God sees me all day long, and wants me to love him. God sees me all nig

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WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?

God wants me to be kind to other children. God wants me to be gentle and loving. God wants me to be kind to animals. God wants me to obey my father and my mother. God wants me to care more for others than for myself. God wants me to keep the Sabbath day. God wants me to pray to him every day. God wants me to tell the truth. God wants me to be happy all the day. God wants me to be good, and then I shall be happy. God wants me to do these things because he loves me. I ought to want to do the thing

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WHAT GOD GIVES

WHAT GOD GIVES

God is always giving. God gives to the trees their leaves and fruit. God gives to the earth the rain in summer to make the grass grow, and the snow in winter to cover the ground. God gives to the beasts and to the birds their food. God gives to us our homes and friends and all that makes us happy. God gives us the Bible to tell us how he loves us. God gives us sweet sleep at night. God gives us health to enjoy all his gifts. What has God given you to-day? Have you thanked him for it? {86} JESUS

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JESUS HAD NO HOME

JESUS HAD NO HOME

Jesus had no home of his own after he grew up. Once a man wanted to be his disciple. Jesus wanted this man to know that he had no fine house where he could entertain him. He said that the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but that he had not where to lay his head. His friends asked him to visit them. They were always glad when he came to see them. Sometimes a rich man asked Jesus and his friends to dinner. He made no difference between the rich and the poor among his friends

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THE PEOPLE LOVED JESUS

THE PEOPLE LOVED JESUS

The people loved Jesus. They crowded about him to hear him talk. Sometimes Jesus and his friends did not have time to eat. Sometimes the people came after sunset. Sometimes they came early in the morning. Sometimes so many people came that the house would not hold them. Then they had to go out of doors. Jesus loved to talk with the people out of doors. He loved to look up and see the blue sky and the green hills. He told the people many stories while out of doors. Jesus never turned the people a

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THE SEA OF GALILEE

THE SEA OF GALILEE

Do you know what a lake is? Did you ever see a lake? There was a lake in the country where Jesus lived. It was a pretty lake. There were hills and mountains all about it. There were towns and villages on its shores. Jesus sometimes stayed in these villages. The lake had a long name. It was called Gennesaret. It also had other names. Sometimes it was called the Sea of Tiberias. Sometimes it was called the Sea of Galilee. There were many boats on the Lake of Gennesaret. How swiftly they sailed alo

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THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS

THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS

When Jesus was a boy, he lived at Nazareth. Nazareth was a village among the hills. It was itself on a hill. All about it were green fields. In the spring, the fields were filled with pretty flowers. Jesus' father was a carpenter. He made doors and chairs and tables. Jesus helped about the shop. He was a good boy and loved to help his father. He helped his mother to draw water from the well. He went to school and learned to read and write. He went to church on the Sabbath. The church to which he

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JESUS AND SICK PEOPLE

JESUS AND SICK PEOPLE

Jesus was very sorry for people who were sick. How pale and thin some of them looked! How some of them suffered! Jesus loved to heal them. He was glad to see them get well again. How happy they and their friends were when they were made well! How glad the little children were to see their fathers and mothers come home again, well! As soon as people knew that Jesus could heal the sick, they brought all their friends who were sick to Jesus. Sometimes they brought sick children. How glad Jesus was

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TALKING WITH OUR FATHER

TALKING WITH OUR FATHER

Because God is our Father we want to talk with him. We want to tell him about many things. We want to tell him how happy we are. If we have been naughty, we want to tell him how sorry we are. Sometimes we want to tell him how much we love him. Why do we do this? When people give us gifts, it is polite to say, "thank you." God gives us gifts, and we should say "thank you," to him. When we love people we want to talk with them. If we love God we will want to talk with him. When we have been naught

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GOD IS OUR FATHER

GOD IS OUR FATHER

We call God our Father. The prayer which Jesus taught us to pray, begins, "Our Father." Why do we call God our Father? Because God does for us what a good father does for his children. A good father loves his children. God loves his children. A good father gets food and clothing, and other things which his children need. God gets for his children what he sees they need. A good father wants his children to be good. God wants his children to be good. A good father will not let his children have wh

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WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT BIRDS AND FLOWERS

WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT BIRDS AND FLOWERS

"Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto his stature? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the gra

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WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT TREES

WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT TREES

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits ye shall know them." -- Matt. 7:16-20 . "And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree and all the tre

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JESUS AND THE LITTLE GIRL

JESUS AND THE LITTLE GIRL

Once upon a time, there was a man named Jairus. He was a very important man among the Jews. He was one of the rulers of the synagogue; that means that he was one of those who had charge of the worship in the synagogue or church of the town. This man had a dear little daughter. This little girl was twelve years old, and her father and her mother loved her very much. One day she was taken sick. Her parents were very anxious about her, for each day she seemed to be growing worse. Then her father re

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THE BABY HID IN A BASKET

THE BABY HID IN A BASKET

Once upon a time a little boy was born to some poor Hebrew people who were slaves in Egypt. The pharaoh, or king of that country, did not like the Hebrew people, and he said that all the little boy babies born to them must be killed. But the mother of this little boy wanted to save her pretty baby if she could. So she hid him three months. And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with pitch; and she put the child therein, and laid it in the flags

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AN OLD BOOK OF SONGS

AN OLD BOOK OF SONGS

In a city of the Bible land, called Jerusalem, there was a great temple, a sort of big church. Every day people came to this temple to worship in it. On the Sabbath, all the people came to worship in it. They did not sit in seats as we do in church, but stood up and listened. In front of where they stood were steps. Here, where all the people could see, stood a great band of singers dressed in white robes. Near by, were men with silver trumpets. When they blew the trumpets, all the people bowed

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A STORY WHICH JESUS TOLD

A STORY WHICH JESUS TOLD

Jesus often told the people little stories when he was teaching them to be good. These little stories he called parables. Here is one of the parables:--...

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THE STORY OF THE SOWER

THE STORY OF THE SOWER

And Jesus said, "Behold the sower went forth to sow; and, as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them: and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth; and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth, and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them: and others fell upon the good ground, and yiel

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SOME THINGS WHICH JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE

SOME THINGS WHICH JESUS TAUGHT THE PEOPLE

At one time Jesus went up the slopes of a mountain, and many people gathered about him and he taught them these words, which are called...

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THE BEATITUDES.

THE BEATITUDES.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are they that have been persecuted fo

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THE BOY WHO CAME WHEN HE WAS CALLED

THE BOY WHO CAME WHEN HE WAS CALLED

There was once a woman who lived in the Bible land, and her name was Hannah. She had a little boy named Samuel. When Samuel was a baby, his mother made up her mind that she would give him to God, to serve in the temple. So she took him to the temple, and as soon as he was old enough he helped the good priest Eli about his work. Every year Hannah made a little coat for her boy, and gave it to him, when she came to see him at the temple. It was very hard for Hannah to have her dear little boy away

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THE SHEPHERD BOY WHO KILLED A GIANT

THE SHEPHERD BOY WHO KILLED A GIANT

Once upon a time there lived in the little village of Bethlehem among the hills of Judea, a shepherd lad whose name was David. Every day he led his flock of sheep to the greenest pasture and then watered them at the still pools of water. This work was very pleasant when the weather was fair and warm, but sometimes it grows very cold in the hill country of Judea. The wind blows and the ground is covered with snow. Sometimes the shepherd is forced to stay out all night with his flock. Sometimes a

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DAVID AND KING SAUL

DAVID AND KING SAUL

After David had killed the giant Goliath, King Saul would not let him go back to his father's house at Bethlehem, but made him stay at the court, and gave him a high command in the army. King Saul was not well. He had a disease of the mind which made him at times almost, if not quite, insane. At such times he was very sad and gloomy. David could play very sweetly on the harp. When the king felt this trouble in his mind, he would send for David, who would play on the harp and the playing would so

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DAVID AND JONATHAN

DAVID AND JONATHAN

While David was living at the king's court his dearest friend was Jonathan, Saul's son. These two young men loved each other as soon as they met, which was after David had killed the giant. They went everywhere together. They hunted and played their games together. They were like two brothers. Jonathan was never jealous of David. He wanted him to be liked by others. He gave him the best that he had himself. He was a very kind hearted and generous young man. It made him very sad because his fathe

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DAVID AND HIS THREE BRAVE SOLDIERS

DAVID AND HIS THREE BRAVE SOLDIERS

Once when David was fighting against the Philistines the little town of Beth-lehem was in the hands of the enemy. David had a great longing for a drink of the cool water of the well which was near the gate of the town. It seemed to him that he would be perfectly happy if he could taste that water which he used to enjoy so much when he was a boy. He wanted it so much that he spoke out loud and said, "Oh, that one would give me a drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem which is near the gate!

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DAVID AND HIS SON ABSALOM

DAVID AND HIS SON ABSALOM

After Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle David became king. He did many brave and wise things and some foolish and evil things. For the wrong deeds he was punished by great sorrows. He had a favorite son named Absalom. Absalom grew up to be a very bad boy. No doubt David was foolish in his affection and did not train the boy as he should. He grew so bad at last that he gathered an army and rebelled against the king. At first he was successful and actually drove his father out of Jerusal

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THE STORY OF A GOOD KING

THE STORY OF A GOOD KING

When King David died, Solomon his son became king. He was the wisest and best king the people ever had. He is often called "the wise king." One night soon after he became king he had a dream. In his dream he seemed to see the Lord, who said, "Ask what I shall give thee." Instead of asking for great riches or honor or power, Solomon asked for wisdom. He said, "I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart." And the Lord replied, "B

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JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN

There was once a boy whose father loved him very much indeed. The boy's name was Joseph. His father's name was Jacob. The father gave the boy a coat of many colors. It was a very fine coat and he was very proud of it. He had eleven brothers, and they hated him because he was his father's favorite. He had a dream in which he saw the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowing down before him. This made the brothers hate him still more, and even his father was none too well pleased. One day the broth

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THE BOY WHO WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD

THE BOY WHO WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD

Once upon a time there was a widow who lived, with her only son, in a city in the land of the Bible. She was very poor, and one year she found herself still poorer. Everybody was poor that year, for there was a famine in the land. How thin and hungry some of the children became! How glad they were to get even poor food! How carefully the poor widow watched her barrel of flour and her jar, or cruse, of oil, with which the flour was mixed for baking! How hard she worked to get more! At last she ha

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THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

The people of the Bible land had lost their kingdom before the time of Christ. They had no king of their own, but governors came from Rome, a city hundreds of miles away, and ruled them. But the people hoped that this would not last. They wanted a kingdom of their own. They believed God would give it to them some day. They prayed that it might come. When Jesus began to teach and hear people, they thought perhaps he would be a king to bring this kingdom that God would give them. But Jesus had som

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THE MUSTARD SEED

THE MUSTARD SEED

"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field. {202} "Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." So the kingdom of heaven grows very quietly. But it is very precious, even if it is hidden away so closely. One might better let anything else go than that. Again, he told them, the kingdom of heaven is like to

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THE LITTLE CAPTIVE MAID

THE LITTLE CAPTIVE MAID

In the old times war was very cruel. Houses were burned and men and women killed, and very often the little children were taken far away and sold for slaves. Sometimes they never came back to their homes or friends again. There had been war between the people in Israel and the people who lived in a country called Syria, which lay to the north of Israel. In this war a little girl had been taken away, and sold as a slave. She was bought by a great general named Naaman, who took her home, and she w

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HOW THE PEOPLE TRAVELED IN THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE

HOW THE PEOPLE TRAVELED IN THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE

Did they have railroads? Oh, no. Railroads were first built less than a hundred years ago, and the Bible times were many hundreds of years ago. Then they must have traveled in wagons? Not often. There were few roads, and wagons were not very common. Then they went on horseback? Sometimes, but not often. In the earliest Bible times horses were only used in war, and only the kings of great countries kept a few, for their most honored soldiers to ride on. How did they travel, then? Very often they

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HOUSES IN THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE

HOUSES IN THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE

The people in Bible lands did not have houses like those we live in to-day. You would not like to live in their houses. They were low, and small, and dark. Some were built of stone, but many were built of a sun-dried brick. They had flat roofs, where the people often went and where they slept in warm weather. A stair led up to the roof from the outside. Those that were made of the sun-dried brick were not very durable. Thieves could easily "break through and steal." The house which the man "buil

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CHILDREN IN THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE

CHILDREN IN THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE

The children of Bible lands were very well cared for. They were sent to school. They were taught the Bible very carefully and every Sabbath they went to church. The children were very busy. They learned early to watch over the sheep, to work in the fields, to card and spin the wool and weave the cloth. Every child was taught some special trade or business. Still they had time to play and enjoyed their games as much as you do. Jesus was taught to be a carpenter like Joseph. Nazareth, where he liv

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JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM

The city that the Bible tells most about is Jerusalem. It is on a high ridge of hills in the middle of the land. On one side of it is a deep valley, and across the valley a hill called the Mount of Olives. On that hill there was a village, Bethany, where some of Jesus' friends lived. Deep valleys were on two other sides of the city. Why did they build cities on the hilltops, and not in the valleys? Because, in the old days when wars often took place, a city on a hilltop could not be so easily ta

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THE JORDAN

THE JORDAN

Up among the mountains in the North of the land of the Bible a little stream flows down from a rocky valley. After wandering through beautiful hills with many trees and vines, it comes into a wide valley and passes through a little lake. Then it goes tumbling and roaring down a narrow gorge with high rocks on each side. After that it widens out into the beautiful lake of Gennesaret, or Sea of Galilee. In the time of Jesus there were many towns about this lake and many boats sailing over it. Afte

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THE DEAD SEA

THE DEAD SEA

The strangest lake in the world is the lake that is called the Dead Sea. It is east of Canaan. The Jordan runs into it, but no river runs out of it. It lies deep down between mountains. On one side the hills rise so steep that one cannot climb them. On the other, there is only here and there a place where a man on horseback can scramble down the rocks into the valley. Why is it called the Dead Sea? Because the water is so salt that no fish live in it. It looks very clear and beautiful as it lies

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BETH-LEHEM

BETH-LEHEM

The "little town of Beth-lehem," as it lies among the hills of Judaea, is one of the most famous places in all the world. But it is not famous because of its wealth or its size, it is famous because of the people who lived there. Beth-lehem means in the Hebrew language, "House of Bread," and it was in the fields of Boaz about Beth-lehem that the beautiful Ruth of Moab gleaned. Then it was David's home. In the pastures beyond the town he used to feed his father's flocks. Sometimes it has been cal

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HYMNS FOR THE DAY

HYMNS FOR THE DAY

{232} {233} By permission of Houghton, Mifflin &amp; Co. {234} {235} {236} JESUS BLESSING THE LITTLE CHILDREN By Bernard Plockhorst (1825- ) {237} {238} {239} {240} {241} {242} {243} {244} {245}...

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THE STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

THE STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

Once there were two little children who lived in a large, red brick house, on a quiet street in the city. The names of these little children were Margaret and Harold. Margaret was five years old, and Harold was eight. Margaret and Harold used to have the best of times together. They played with their dog Sport and their cat Spot. They built houses of blocks. They colored pictures with their crayons. In winter, Harold drew Margaret on his sled, and in summer they played in the garden. But, better

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THE STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.

THE STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.

"Once upon a time, there was a little town called Bethlehem of Judea, and late one afternoon in winter, a man named Joseph, and his wife named Mary, came to this {246} town. They were very glad to reach the village, for they were cold and hungry. But they were disappointed. No one would take them in. There is an old song which tells about it:-- "Wouldn't anyone let them in?" said Margaret. "No," said mamma. "They went to the inn, or hotel, of Bethlehem, and the keeper of the inn said, 'No room f

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THE STORY OF PALM SUNDAY

THE STORY OF PALM SUNDAY

One Sunday Harold noticed that all the people who came from one of the churches wore a little piece of palm, or evergreen. "What does that mean?" said Harold. "Oh, this is Palm Sunday," said mamma. "This was one of the glad days in Jesus' life. To-night I will tell you all about it." When it grew dark mamma called Margaret and Harold, and began...

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THE STORY OF PALM SUNDAY.

THE STORY OF PALM SUNDAY.

"You know that Jesus was poor and homeless, yet he was very rich in the love of his friends. He was never honored but once as his friends liked. That was on Palm Sunday, and the children helped to do it. "It happened at the great city of Jerusalem. Jesus did not go to the city very often. He liked to live in the villages and in the country better. At this time there was a great feast in the city, and Jesus was going to the feast with his friends." "What sort of a feast was it, mamma?" asked Haro

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HOW JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE WORLD

HOW JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE WORLD

One afternoon in the springtime, just before Easter, Margaret was playing with her dolls. Her mamma came into the room and said:-- "I want my little girl to be good while I am gone; I am going to church." "Why, mamma," said Margaret, "this is not Sunday, this is Friday." "Yes," said mamma, "and this evening I will tell you and Harold why I am going to church on Friday." At bedtime, mamma said, "Now I will tell you "It is a very sad and yet a very sweet story. It is very sad to think that Jesus h

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THE STORY OF THE FIRST EASTER DAY

THE STORY OF THE FIRST EASTER DAY

It was Easter Day. Both Margaret and Harold went to church. It was a beautiful day, warm and pleasant. The grass was green, and the tulips and the crocuses were blossoming in the gardens. Everybody was glad that the snow and the cold of winter had gone. When they were on their way to church, they saw a robin on a branch of a tree. The children laughed with pleasure to see Mr. Robin Redbreast back again. At church there were beautiful flowers, and the choir sang Easter songs and hymns. One of the

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STORY OF THE FIRST EASTER DAY.

STORY OF THE FIRST EASTER DAY.

"You know that the enemies of Jesus crucified him as I told you, and he died upon the cross." "Yes," said Margaret, soberly, "I know about that. My little kittie died. She went to sleep, and couldn't wake up any more. Poor little kittie!" "Yes," said mamma, "and you know that dear Grand-mamma White went to sleep and didn't wake up, and God took her dear, beautiful soul to be with him. "After Jesus had suffered on the cross, he went to sleep, that sound, sound sleep that we call death. Then they

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THE STORY OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

THE STORY OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

Harold and Margaret had been hoping for a snowy Thanksgiving, and they were very happy when, two days before Thanksgiving, the snow began to fall in great flakes. The sun shone again on Thanksgiving morning, and at nine o'clock the sleigh with the two dapple gray horses was ready to take all the family to Grandpa Emerson's over the river and away four miles across the snowy fields in the country. How they enjoyed the ride in the fresh cold air! What a merry tune was sung by the jingling of the s

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THE STORY OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.

THE STORY OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.

"The first settlers of New England were the Pilgrims who came across the sea from England in the ship Mayfower." {271} "Oh, yes," said Harold, "I remember when we went to Plymouth and saw the Plymouth Rock and the old houses and the monument on the hill." "Yes," said mamma, "that is where they landed and built their log houses. I will recite a poem which I learned when I was a girl and went to school like Margaret." "Did they have a very hard time at Plymouth?" said Margaret. "Yes, my dear," rep

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WHO WAS THE NEIGHBOR?

WHO WAS THE NEIGHBOR?

"What is that long word?" asked Harold. "That is 'neighbor,'" said mamma. "Can you tell me what it means?" "Oh, yes," said Harold. "It means the people who live close by. Ralph and Elizabeth are our neighbors, because they live in the house next door." "Yes," said mamma, "and in the old times when people did not travel as much as they do now, they did not know much about any except their neighbors. The Old Testament says that you should love your neighbor. That meant the people you meet day by d

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THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

"'And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? "'He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? {280} "'And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. "'And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. "'But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesu

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THE GOOD SHEPHERD

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Harold and Margaret were looking at a picture of an Eastern shepherd with his flocks. "Mamma," said Harold, "is this our country? This man is not dressed as men are here." "No," said mamma, "it is a picture of a shepherd and his sheep in the country of the Bible." "What makes the shepherd go before the sheep, mamma?" asked Harold. "In that country," said mamma, "the sheep are not driven, but led." "Were sheep more plenty in the Bible land than in ours? I have never seen many sheep," said Harold.

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LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE AIR AND FIELDS

LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE AIR AND FIELDS

Margaret and Harold had learned to be kind to animals. They belonged to a "Band of Mercy," a company of boys and girls who were pledged never to be unkind to any dumb creature, and to rescue any poor beast who might be in distress or suffering cruel treatment. They had many chances to help poor dogs and cats which were being persecuted by cruel boys. One day they came home from school and told about a poor little kitten which they had protected when it was almost dead from fright. "That was very

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A SONG OF PEACE.

A SONG OF PEACE.

"That reminds us of what the prophet said about the time when all the beasts even shall lose their cruel traits and live at peace with each other, and even play with little children." "Could that ever be true, mamma?" interrupted Harold. {301} {302} ON GUARD {303} "Well, even now, my dear," replied mamma, "wild and fierce animals have been wholly tamed by kindness. We cannot tell what beautiful things might happen if all evil and unkindness should be driven from the world and men should live as

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PRAYERS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

PRAYERS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

{318} {319} PRAYERS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN {320} {321} {322} THE SOUL'S AWAKENING By James Sant (1820- ) {323} {324} {325}...

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OLD TIME VERSES FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

OLD TIME VERSES FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

{326} {327} {328} {329} {330} {331} {332} MADONNA OF THE ANGELS By Adolph Bouguereau (1825-1905) {333} {334} {335} {336} THE DIVINE SHEPHERD By Murillo (1618-1682) {337} {338} {339} {340} MADONNA AND CHILD By Carlo Dolci (1616-1686) {341} {342} {343} {344} {345} {346} {347} {348} THE PITTI MADONNA By Murillo (1618-1682) "The Pitti Madonna is one of this sweet company, and perhaps the loveliest of them all. Both she and her beautiful boy are full of gentle earnestness, and if they are too simple-

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CHRISTMAS HYMNS

CHRISTMAS HYMNS

{386} {387} {388} THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE SHEPHERDS By Bernard Plockhorst (1825- ) "And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a

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HYMNS AND POEMS FOR THE TWILIGHT HOUR

HYMNS AND POEMS FOR THE TWILIGHT HOUR

{422} {423} {424} {425} {426} {427} {429} {430} {431} {432} THE MADONNA OF THE HARPIES By Andrea del Sarto (1487-1583) One of the most famous painters of the Florentine school. He lived and worked in his native city of Florence except for a sojourn at Paris, where he was invited by Francis I. This picture is called the "Madonna of the Harpies" because of the strange figures of harpies in the border, not shown in this reproduction {433} {434} Adapted from the nineteenth Psalm . {435} {436} JESUS

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MEMORY VERSES

MEMORY VERSES

{490} {491} MEMORY VERSES One for Each Week of the Year . {492} {493} {494} {495} {496} God tells us in the Bible. [ By courtesy of the Clarke School, Northampton. Mass. ] {497} {498} JESUS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR By Heinrich Hofmann (1824- ) {499} {500} {501}...

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PROVERBS

PROVERBS

These wise and true sayings are taken from the book in the Bible called "Proverbs." Some of them are said to have been written by Solomon, the wise king of Israel. {502} {503} {504} {505}...

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PROVERBS

PROVERBS

The following proverbs are from various sources outside the Bible. {506} {507} {1} {2} {3}...

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THE BIBLE STORY

THE BIBLE STORY

{4} {5} {6} Joseph, the Prime Minister, Greeting his family. "And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen; and he presented himself unto him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while." {7}...

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VOLUME TWO HERO TALES

VOLUME TWO HERO TALES

ARRANGED AND EDITED BY REV. NEWTON MARSHALL HALL, D.D. MINISTER OF THE NORTH CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS AND REV. IRVING FRANCIS WOOD, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION AT SMITH COLLEGE Authors of "The Early Days of Israel" "Advanced Bible Studies" Etc. THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS CHICAGO, CLEVELAND {8} COPYRIGHT, 1906, COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. {9}...

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PREFACE

PREFACE

This volume contains those Old Testament stories of heroic lives, which never lose their charm. No better nor more fascinating stories were ever written than those of Abraham, and Joseph, and Gideon, and Moses. In the ordinary volume, however, they are scattered over many chapters and even books, and the reader has great difficulty in piecing them together. Here they are told as continuous narratives, with illustrations of the famous places, which enhance their charm. We believe that the old her

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ABRAHAM

ABRAHAM

The Story of the First Great Hero of Israel's History. How He Tented with His Flocks on the Upland Pastures of Palestine, and Became the Father of a Great Nation. THE MIGRATION. He Leaves His Father's Home and Journeys to a New Country . There was a man named Abram, who lived in the city of Ur of the Chaldees. Now the Lord said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation,

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ISAAC

ISAAC

The Story of a Man Who Was Quiet and Gentle in His Nature, Who Lived in Peace with God and Man . ISAAC AND REBEKAH. How Abraham Sought a Fair Maiden of Nahor to be His Son's Wife . And Abraham was old, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, who ruled over all that he had, "Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: and I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughte

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JOSEPH

JOSEPH

The Story of the Shepherd Boy Who Was Sold into Bondage, and How He Became Ruler in a Great Nation . A COWARDLY DEED. Joseph Arouses the Enmity of His Older Brethren, and They Sell Him into Slavery . (Joseph and Benjamin were the sons of Rachel, Jacob's best loved wife. Their mother died while Joseph was still a little boy and Benjamin was a baby. Their father loved the two motherless boys very much.) Joseph, when he was seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and he was a

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MOSES

MOSES

The Story of the Man Who Led a Race of Slaves Out of Bondage, and Became the Emancipator of a Great Nation . THE ISRAELITES ARE ENSLAVED IN EGYPT. The Slave Who Was Brought Up in a King's Palace. Moses Kills One of the Egyptian Taskmasters and Flees from the Country . Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: come, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come

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THE WANDERINGS IN THE WILDERNESS

THE WANDERINGS IN THE WILDERNESS

THE RED SEA IS LEFT BEHIND AND THE MARCH TO CANAAN IS BEGUN. The Bitter Water of Marah . And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called "Marah," that is, bitter. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" And he cried to the Lord;

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THE MARCH TO THE PROMISED LAND

THE MARCH TO THE PROMISED LAND

THE PILLAR OF FIRE AND THE CLOUD OF SMOKE. And on the day that the tabernacle was set up the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the tent of the testimony: and at even it was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel enca

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JOSHUA

JOSHUA

The Story of the Hero Whose Genius as a Warrior Won the Land of Canaan for Israel . (The Israelites found the land of Canaan occupied by a fierce and warlike people with whom they fought many battles and waged long campaigns. The story of this warfare is filled with deeds of cruelty and violence, yet it is no more terrible than war has always been. We cannot understand why God has permitted so much suffering, but we know that in some cases at least the world has advanced in freedom through the l

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DAVID

DAVID

The Story of the Shepherd Boy Who Became King . THE SHEPHERD LAD OF BETHLEHEM. Samuel Secretly Anoints David as the Future King of Israel . (After Samuel had said to Saul that God wanted no king who would not do exactly as he said, he himself became very sad, because he loved Saul.) But the Lord said to Samuel, "How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provi

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SOLOMON

SOLOMON

The Story of the Wisest and Greatest King Israel Ever Had . (After some opposition on the part of the other sons of David, Solomon was established on the throne.) THE DREAM OF SOLOMON. He Makes a Wise Choice . And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, "Ask what I shall give thee." And Solomon said, "Thou hast showed unto

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NOTES

NOTES

{486} {487} NOTES. ABRAHAM. HIS JOURNEYS. Ur of the Chaldees was an ancient city on the great plain of Babylon. Haran . A city lying far to the north of Ur, northeast of Palestine, on the road from the east to the Mediterranean coast. Canaan, Palestine, the Land of Israel , are all names which have been used at different times for the same country. Canaan is the oldest Biblical name. It means "the lowlands" near the Mediterranean, but was used for the whole country. Shechem . A city in the middl

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MEMORY VERSES

MEMORY VERSES

{502} {503} MEMORY VERSES. One for Each Week of the Year . {505} {506} {1} {2} {3}...

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THE BIBLE STORY

THE BIBLE STORY

{4} {5} {6} BUILDING THE ARK "Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shall thou make in the ark and shall cover it within and without with pitch. And this is how thou shalt make it; the length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits." {7}...

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VOLUME THREE TALES OF OLD JUDAEA

VOLUME THREE TALES OF OLD JUDAEA

ARRANGED AND EDITED BY REV. NEWTON MARSHALL HALL, D.D. MINISTER OF THE NORTH CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS AND REV. IRVING FRANCIS WOOD, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION AT SMITH COLLEGE Authors of "The Early Days of Israel" "Advanced Bible Studies" Etc. THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS CHICAGO, CLEVELAND {8} COPYRIGHT, 1906, COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. {9}...

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PREFACE

PREFACE

This volume contains stories from the Old Testament, not included in the previous volume of this series, "Hero Tales from the Old Testament." It tells of brave women and strong men, of marvelous adventures and escapes, of gallant struggles for liberty, of good and bad kings, of national deliverance and captivity. Some of these stories are given in the form of great symbolic poems and stories like the "Pilgrim's Progress," conveying some great truth by means of poetic imagery, others are the lite

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TALES OF THE FAR-OFF DAYS

TALES OF THE FAR-OFF DAYS

{14} Map of Palestine in Old Testament times. {15} THE STORY OF THE CREATION. " In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth ." In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light": and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light

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RUTH

RUTH

PERSONS OF THE STORY. PLACE OF THE STORY. Moab . Beth-lehem of Judah . RUTH. (One of the sweetest stories of the Bible is that of Ruth the Moabitess. Many of the pages of the Old Testament are filled with the noise and tumult of battle, but this tale breathes only of peace and calm, of sunny harvest days when fair Ruth gleaned in, the fields around the old town of Beth-lehem.) And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-l

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DEBORAH AND JAEL

DEBORAH AND JAEL

PERSONS OF THE STORY. PLACE OF THE STORY. DEBORAH AND JAEL. THE STORY OF TWO WOMEN WHO HELPED TO OVERCOME AND KILL A MIGHTY WARRIOR. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. And the Lord gave them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera. And the children of Israel cried to the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. {52} Now Deborah,

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ESTHER

ESTHER

PERSONS OF THE STORY. Ahasuerus, King of Persia . Vashti, Queen of Ahasuerus, deposed by him . Esther, Queen of Ahasuerus . Mordecai, an officer of the Court . Courtiers, officers, women of the harem, messengers . PLACE OF THE STORY. The Palace of Ahasuerus . ESTHER. THE STORY OF A BRAVE QUEEN WHO SAVED HER PEOPLE IN A FOREIGN LAND. Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from India even to Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces): that in th

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TALES OF ELIJAH AND ELISHA

TALES OF ELIJAH AND ELISHA

{110} {111} ELIJAH AND ELISHA PERSONS OF THE STORY. Elijah, Elisha, Prophets . Ahab, King of Israel . Jezebel, his wife . Joram, son of Ahab . A widow in Zarephath, her son . Obadiah, an officer of the king . Naboth, a Jezreelite . A woman of Shunem, her husband and son . Naaman, captain of the hosts of Syria . A little Hebrew captive maiden . Gehazi, servant of Elisha . Ben-hadad, King of Syria . A King of Israel . An officer of the King . Jehu, a captain of the Hebrew army, afterward king . Pr

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TALES OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE

TALES OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE

{164} {165} THE STORY OF JONAH. THE STORY OF A PROPHET TO WHOM GOD TAUGHT IN A WONDERFUL WAY THE LESSON OF OBEDIENCE. How Jonah Reluctantly Brought a Message of Repentance and Salvation to Nineveh . Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me." But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish

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THE STORY OF A DIVIDED KINGDOM

THE STORY OF A DIVIDED KINGDOM

{236} The dates given in this table are only approximate. It is impossible to give the exact dates of many of the events in Bible history. In many cases no date is given in the Bible itself, and many times the date is in round numbers or is obscure. Accuracy in the matter of dates was not thought to be so necessary in those days as it is now. {237} REHOBOAM. How a Foolish Young King Lost the Best Part of His Kingdom . (Under the great King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel rose to the zenith of its

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THE KINGDOM OF THE NORTH

THE KINGDOM OF THE NORTH

JEROBOAM. (The story of the revolt of the northern part of the kingdom from the south has been told in the story of Rehoboam . Jeroboam, who became the king of the northern territory, was little improvement over Rehoboam, his rival in the south. He was not of royal birth, but, as a bright young man in Solomon's court, came under the great king's notice. He plotted, however, against his master, and, his treachery being discovered, fled to Egypt. As soon as Solomon died, Jeroboam returned from Egy

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NOTES

NOTES

{486} {487} NOTES TALES OF THE FAR-OFF DAYS. Shinar . A part of the great plain of Babylon (the Babel of the story). On this plain great towers of bricks, once temples of the gods, are found. This story seems to be told about one of these great towers. RUTH. Moab lies across the Dead Sea from Judah. One can see its hills from the heights about Bethlehem, and to this day grain is brought across from its fields and sold in Jerusalem. Kinsman . In the East the duty of caring for the family was very

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MEMORY VERSES

MEMORY VERSES

{500} {501} MEMORY VERSES One for Each Week of the Year . {503} {504} {505} {506} {507} {508} {1} {2} {3}...

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THE BIBLE STORY

THE BIBLE STORY

{4} THE WISE MEN AND THE STAR "When they saw the star,they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." {5}...

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VOLUME FOUR LIFE OF JESUS

VOLUME FOUR LIFE OF JESUS

ARRANGED AND EDITED BY REV. NEWTON MARSHALL HALL, D.D. MINISTER OF THE NORTH CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS AND REV. IRVING FRANCIS WOOD, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION AT SMITH COLLEGE Authors of "The Early Days of Israel" "Advanced Bible Studies" Etc. THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS CHICAGO, CLEVELAND {6} COPYRIGHT, 1906, COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. {7} PREFACE. In this volume is told the story

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PALESTINE IN THE DAYS OF THE LORD JESUS

PALESTINE IN THE DAYS OF THE LORD JESUS

Palestine was a busy country in the days when the Lord Jesus lived in it. Hundreds of little villages were scattered all over its hills, with here and there a great town, where all day long crowds of people passed in and out the gates of the gray stone walls. Greatest of all the cities, loved by every Jew in the world, was Jerusalem, but more trade flowed in and out of some other cities. All over the country were roads running from city to city. He who traveled on a great road saw much of the wo

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How the Lord Jesus Spent His Boyhood.

How the Lord Jesus Spent His Boyhood.

{34} {35} {36} THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY AT BETHLEHEM. Used by special permission of the Detroit Photograph Company. This marble star marks the place of Jesus' birth according to the belief of many. {37} I THE NATIVITY How the Lord Jesus Was Born in a Stable . (In the days of the Roman Emperor Augustus, a census of all the people of the empire was taken. Everyone went to his own city to be counted in the census. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to

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How the Lord Jesus Began to Win the Love of Many People.

How the Lord Jesus Began to Win the Love of Many People.

{62} {63} {64} THE LOWER FORDS OF THE JORDAN. Photograph taken by Mrs. Frank L. Goodspeed of Springfield, Mass., and used by her kind permission. This fine picture shows the traditional place of the baptism of Jesus. The river has been at flood, as often happens in its impetuous torrent, and quantities of driftwood are shown along its banks. {65} I THE BAPTISM OF JESUS How John Preached to the People, and How the Lord Jesus Was Baptized by Him in the River Jordan . In those days came John the Ba

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How the New Faith Spread from Jerusalem.

How the New Faith Spread from Jerusalem.

{324} {325} I THE DAY OF PENTECOST The First Meeting of the Disciples in Jerusalem . (After Jesus had left the company of the apostles, and was seen no more by them, they remained quietly in Jerusalem. They chose a man named Matthias to take the place of Judas, but they had no definite plan of action, not yet quite realizing the importance of the work which they were to do. Suddenly, on the day of Pentecost, there came the great inspiration from God to go forward and take up the work of redeemin

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THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

After brief visits at Jerusalem and Antioch , Paul started by the land route for Galatia. After revisiting the churches there he came through central Asia Minor to Ephesus . For two years Paul made this great city the center of missionary effort. After the great riot in Ephesus , which interrupted his plans, Paul set sail on a coasting vessel for Macedonia , changing ship at Troas . Thence he sailed for Philippi and remained three months with the Macedonian churches. Then he went to Corinth , wh

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THE CAPTAIN OF THE NEW FAITH IN THE CAPITAL OF THE CAESARS.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE NEW FAITH IN THE CAPITAL OF THE CAESARS.

I PAUL'S VOYAGE TO ROME. When Paul appealed to Caesar it became necessary to send him to Rome. It happened that a convoy of prisoners under the charge of a captain of the Augustan cohort and a detachment of soldiers was being despatched to the capital, and Paul was sent under the captain's charge. No ship was found sailing directly from Caesarea to Rome , so a coaster was taken which went as far as Myra , touching at Sidon . At Myra was found one of the great imperial grain ships bound for Italy

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Notes

{484} {485} NOTES The wise men were perhaps Jews, though it is generally thought that they belonged to some other people, who looked and longed for a great king who should free them from the Romans. Many Jews lived in the East, and had become wise in the arts of astrology. They studied the stars and thought that in them could be read the signs of things about to happen on the earth. Indeed, it is not many centuries since, all over Europe, men thought that a comet foreboded much evil of some sort

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MEMORY VERSES

MEMORY VERSES

{500} {501} MEMORY VERSES One for Each Week of the Year . But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. -- Isaiah 53:5 . All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. -- Isaiah 53:6 . For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall

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VOLUME FIVE SONGS OF THE AGES

VOLUME FIVE SONGS OF THE AGES

ARRANGED AND EDITED BY REV. NEWTON MARSHALL HALL, D.D. MINISTER OF THE NORTH CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS AND REV. IRVING FRANCIS WOOD, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION AT SMITH COLLEGE Authors of "The Early Days of Israel" "Advanced Bible Studies" Etc. THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS CHICAGO CLEVELAND {6} COPYRIGHT, 1906, COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. {7}...

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PREFACE

PREFACE

In this volume are gathered up selections of the most inspiring literature which the Bible contains. The Psalms are given nearly entire, but with fresh titles and a new typographical arrangement. The book of Job is presented in a way to interest the modern reader. The material found in the "Prophets," usually entirely unintelligible to young readers, is given in a form which should prove interesting and inspiring. In addition to the sublime poetry of the Old Testament inspiring passages from the

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THE POETRY OF THE BIBLE

THE POETRY OF THE BIBLE

The first poetry was made to be sung. It almost made itself. It had two qualities--the expression of strong feeling of some kind, and some sort of rhythm that could be put into song. Ever since the days when all men were savages, and told simple stories and sang rude songs as they gathered about the campfires, those two things have marked the difference between poetry and prose. Poetry must have feeling and rhythm. In most languages the rhythm is one of sound. The words flow along so easily that

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THE BOOK OF PSALMS

THE BOOK OF PSALMS

The Book of Psalms is the Hebrew hymn book. The Psalms were gathered to sing at the services in the temple at Jerusalem. Here there was no sermon, as there is in our churches, and as there often was in the synagogues which were scattered all over the land, but there was a large choir which sung these Psalms of praise, while the people stood below and listened. Some of the Psalms were written for this choir. Others, written for other purposes, were put into this hymn book, sometimes with more or

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SELECTIONS FROM JOB

SELECTIONS FROM JOB

{178} {179} JOB There is one question over which men have puzzled for many, many hundreds of years. It is the question, "Why do good people suffer?" When wicked people suffered, the reason seemed to be plain. It was because they had done wrong; and people who do wrong ought to suffer. But good people as well as wicked people suffer, and it has always been very hard for many to see how God can be good and this still be true. This is the question that a Hebrew poet tried to answer in the book of J

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SELECTIONS FROM THE SONG OF SONGS

SELECTIONS FROM THE SONG OF SONGS

{234} The "Song of Songs," sometimes called "Solomon's Song," and "Canticles," is a collection of Hebrew wedding songs. These songs in form and spirit approach nearer to what we call lyric poetry than anything else in the literature of the Bible. In their exquisite freshness and grace they may well be compared with the lyrical poetry of the Elizabethan period in England. {235} {236} {237} {238} {239} {240} {241}...

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SELECTIONS FROM ECCLESIASTES

SELECTIONS FROM ECCLESIASTES

{242} ECCLESIASTES This is, in some respects, the most curious book in the Bible. It has puzzled many people. Like Proverbs, it is put together without very much order, but that does not make the greatest puzzle of the book. The question has been, "What does the author intend to teach?" The book seems to take a very dark view of life. It almost seems as though the author thought nothing was worth living for. Over and over he says that all is vanity; that is, emptiness, nothingness. He questions

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THE PRAISES OF WISDOM

THE PRAISES OF WISDOM

{252} {255} {256} {258} {259} {260} {261} {262} "THE PROPHETS" From the frieze of "The Prophets," by Sargent, in the Public Library at Boston. The prophets here represented are Jeremiah, Jonah, Isaiah, Habakkuk. {263} THE PROPHETS There are two groups of prophetic books in the Old Testament: the longer books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel, in one group, and what are known as the books of the "Twelve Minor Prophets," in another group. These books, especially those of the "Minor Prophets

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ISAIAH

ISAIAH

THE GREATEST PROPHET OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (David and Solomon had long been dead. The kingdom of Judah was not so strong as the old kingdom over which they had ruled. It was constantly quarreling with the kingdom at the North, which had been separated by rebellion. It was often in danger of being overcome by the greater kingdoms about it. The kings were not always wise rulers. Many of the people did not care to serve Jehovah alone. They wanted to serve other gods as well. The rich were often crue

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SELECTIONS FROM THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN

SELECTIONS FROM THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN

(This book is also called the Revelation.) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to shew unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the

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HYMNS OF THE AGES

HYMNS OF THE AGES

{480} Many of the great hymns are given elsewhere in the series. A few of the choicest of the centuries are given here. {481} {483} {485} {487} {489} {490} {491} {492} {494} {495} {496} {497}...

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NOTES

NOTES

THE PSALMS. Psalm 1 . Ruskin, in "Our Fathers Have Told Us," declares that among others Psalms 1, 8, 15, 19, 23, 24, well studied and believed, are sufficient for all personal guidance; that Psalm 72 contains many of the principles of just government; and that Psalm 104 anticipates the triumphs of natural sciences. Jerome, a great scholar in the early church, was drawn to study while still young. One of his favorite texts was from Psalm 1: "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his l

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