RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Bibles, Annotated, and [Bible Summaries
analyzed and explained; the most important readings in the Hebrew collections of Kenmcott and De Rossi on the Old Testament, and in those of Mill, Wetstein, and Griesbach on the New, are noticed; the date of every transaction, as far as it has been ascertained by the best chronolo<rers, is marked; the peculiar customs of the Jews' and neighboring nations, so frequently alluded to by the prophets, evangelists, and apostles, are explained from the best Asiatic authorities; the great doctrines of the Law and Gospel of God are defined, illustrated, and defended; and the whole is applied to the important purposes of practical Christianity." A considerable popularity was achieved also by D'Oyly and Mant's commentary, The Holy Bible according to the Authorized Version, with Notes explanatory and practical, taken principally from the most eminent writers of the United Church of England and Ireland ; together with appropriate introductions, tables, indexes, maps, and plans, prepared and arranged by the Rev. G. D'Oyly, B.D., and Rev. Richard Mant, D.D., Oxford and London, 1814, 3 vols., and various subsequent editions printed at Cambridge and Oxford. " This work, which was published under the sanction of the venerable Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, professes to communicate only the results of the critical inquiries of learned men, without giving a detailed exposition of the inquiries themselves. These results, however, are selected with great judgment, so that the reader who may consult them on difficult passages will rarely be disappointed. Of the labour attending this publication some idea may be formed, when it is stated that the works of upward of one hundred and sixty authors have been consulted for it, amounting to several hundred volumes. On the fundamental articles of Christian verity — the Deity and atonement of Jesus Christ, and the personality and offices of the Holy Spirit — this work may be pronounced to be a library of divinity" (Home, ut sup., pp. 261-262).— A work of a similar character was The Holy Bible, newly translated from the original Hebrew, with Notes critical and explanatory. By John Bellamy, London, 1818-34. Orme considers it a strange hodgepodge of error, confidence, misrepresentation, and abuse of learned and valuable writers in all the departments of Biblical literature.
Rev. B. Boothroyd edited A New Family Bible, and Improved Version, from corrected Texts of the Originals, with Notes critical and explanatory; and short Practical Reflections on each Chapter, Pontefract and London, 1818-23, 3 vols. The author has very happily blended critical disquisition with practical instruction, and an invariable regard to the spirit and design of revelation. — in 1821 there appeared The Plain Reader's Help m the Study of the Holy Scriptures; consisting of Aotes, explanatory and illustrative, chiefly selected or abridged from the Family Bible, published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. By 1891 o ' William Thomas Bree, M.A., Coventry, Ml 22 The aim was to supply brief and un-
wh un°teS at a moderate Price for readers
0 could n°t procure or consult larger works.— 11—11
In 1824 appeared The Holy Bible, arranged and adapted for family reading, with notes, etc. by a
Layman of the Church of England (2
Wo^ks61" vols-' London)-— Another popular
1818-38. Bible was the so-called Cottage Bible
and Family Expositor ; containing the Authorized Translation of the Old and New Testaments, with Practical Reflections and short Explanatory Notes, calculated to elucidate difficult and obscure Passages. By Thomas Williams, London, 1825-27, 3 vols., and various subsequent editions. This unassuming but cheap and useful commentary on the Holy Scriptures was professedly designed for persons and families in the humbler walks of life. — There is also to be mentioned The Comprehensive Bible ; containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the Authorized Version, with the various readings and marginal notes usually printed therewith ; a general introduction, containing disquisitions on the genuineness, authenticity, and inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, — various divisions and marks of distinction in the sacred Writings, — antient versions, — coins, weights, and measures, — various sects among the Jews : introductions and concluding remarks to each book ; the parallel passages contained in the Rev. J. Scott's Commentary, Canne's Bible, Rev. J Brown's Self- Interpreting Bible, Dr. A. Clarke's Commentary, and the English Version of the Polyglott Bible systematically arranged ; philological and explanatory notes. With chronological and other indexes (by William Greenfield, London, 1827).— In 1828 there was published The Holy Bible principally designed
to facilitate the audible or social reading of the Sacred Scriptures ; illustrated with notes, historical, geographical, and otherwise explanatory, and also pointing out the fulfilment of various prophecies. By William Alexander — vol. i — the Pentateuch — York, 1828; two other volumes were planned but did not appear). This Bible owed its origin to efforts of members of the Society of Friends. Passages " unsuitable for a mixed audience " were printed in italics below the teyt. — C. Girdiestone edited The Old and New Testament, with a commentary, consisting of short lectures for the daily use of families, London, 1835-42. — Another Bible of the same style was the Treasury Bible. First division : containing the authorized English Version of the Holy Scriptures, as printed in Bagster's Polyglott Bible, with the same copious and original selection of references to parallel and illustrative passages, and similarly printed in a centre column. Second division : containing the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, consisting of a rich and copious assemblage of upwards of five hundred thousand parallel texts, from Canne, Brown, Blayney, Scott, and others, with numerous illustrative notes, London, 1835. In 1837 there was published The Condensed Commentary and Family Exposition of the Holy Bible : containing the best criticisms of the most valuable Biblical Writers, with practical reflections and marginal references ; chronology, indexes, etc., etc. By the Rev. Ingram Cobbin, M.A., London, 1837. This work is literally a condensed commentary, derived from the best accessible sources. Th* notes are brief, but well chosen, and are partly
Bibles, Annotated Bibles, Historical