PREFACE. As the title of the work implies a chronological arrangement of its contents, it has accordingly been attempted; but as there is great diversity of opinion concerning the dates of many parts of Holy Scripture I have not mentioned them, but have only followed the order of events that upon the whole appeared the most satisfactory. Guided by his probably very great age, Job is assigned a place anterior to Abraham. No date is given to many parts of Holy Scripture, nor does the subject matter always determine it when the date is omitted, and a very slender intimation of it is often the sole ground on which writers have built their theories. Much that I have passed over others would perhaps have selected; this is unavoidable, every one looks at Scripture from his own stand-point, hence the great diversity, sometimes contrariety, of exposition. But the sincere desire to think alike without compromise will end in the modification of statements, of which the final, though perhaps yet distant result, will be substantial oneness of opinion, sentiment, and feeling concerning the essential doctrines of Scripture. REDEMPTION UNFOLDED. REDEMPTION the work of the triune Jehovah-is the deliverance of man from the sin and penalty incurred by the fall, and the recovery of progressive peace and holiness preparatory to their completeness and perfection in another world. As soon as God had prepared a garden for man's abode, Adam was created and placed in it. He was not from the beginning placed on the earth where we reside, but in a carefully prepared and well cultivated garden. Here was, at the same time, design, order, and benevolence. Paradise was an artificial state of things improvised. It is implied that God made himself known to Adam from the moment of his creation; and in obedience to the voice of the invisible One, his first employment of speech gave names to the living creatures as they were severally brought before him. In doing this, he discovered that animals were in pairs, a male and his female, whilst he stood alone or was without a suitable companion. After this, in a deep sleep, he saw the formation of B |