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Table of Contents

ABRAHAM.

RELIGIOUS FAITH.

Abraham the spiritual father of nations

General forgetfulness of God when Abraham arose

Civilization in his age

Ancestors of Abram

His settlement in Haran

His moral courage

The call of Abram

His migrations

The Canaanites

Abram in Egypt

Separation between Abram and Lot

Melchizedek

Abram covenants with God

The mission of the Hebrews

The faith of Abram

Its peculiarities

Trials of faith

God's covenant with Abram

The sacrifice of Isaac

Paternal rights among Oriental nations

Universality of sacrifice

Had Abram a right to sacrifice Isaac?

Supreme test of his faith

His obedience to God

His righteousness

Supremacy of religious faith

Abraham's defects

The most favored of mortals

The boons he bestowed

JOSEPH.

ISRAEL IN EGYPT.

Early days of Joseph

Envy of his brethren

Sale of Joseph

Its providential results

Fortunes of Joseph in Egypt

The imprisonment of Joseph

Favor with the king

Joseph prime minister

The Shepherd kings

The service of Joseph to the king

Famine in Egypt

Power of Pharaoh

Power of the priests

Character of the priests

Knowledge of the priests

Teachings of the priests

Egyptian gods

Antiquity of sacrifices

Civilization of Egypt

Initiation of Joseph in Egyptian knowledge

Austerity to his brethren

Grief of Jacob

Severity of the famine in Canaan

Jacob allows the departure of Benjamin

Joseph's partiality to Benjamin

His continued austerity to his brethren

Joseph at length reveals himself

The kindness of Pharaoh

Israel in Egypt

Prosperity of the Israelites

Old age of Jacob

His blessing to Joseph's sons

Jacob's predictions

Death of Jacob

Death of Joseph

Character of Joseph

Condition of the Israelites in Egypt

Rameses the Great

Acquisitions of the Israelites in Egypt

Influence of Egyptian civilization on the Israelites

MOSES.

JEWISH JURISPRUDENCE

Exalted mission of Moses

His appearance at a great crisis

His early advantages and education

His premature ambition

His retirement to the wilderness

Description of the land of Midian

Studies and meditations of Moses

The Book of Genesis

Call of Moses and return to Egypt

Appearance before Pharaoh

Miraculous deliverance of the Israelites

Their sojourn in the wilderness

The labors of Moses

His Moral Code

Universality of the obligations

General acceptance of the Ten Commandments

The foundation of the ritualistic laws

Utility of ritualism in certain states of society

Immortality seemingly ignored

The possible reason of Moses

Its relation to the religion of Egypt

The Civil Code of Moses

Reasons for the isolation of the Israelites

The wisdom of the Civil Code

Source of the wisdom of Moses

The divine legation of Moses

Logical consequences of its denial

General character of Moses

His last days

His influence

SAMUEL.

ISRAEL UNDER JUDGES.

Condition of the Israelites on the death of Joshua

The Judges

Birth and youth of Samuel

The Jewish Theocracy

Eli and his sons

Samuel called to be judge

His efforts to rekindle religious life

The school of the prophets

The people want a king

Views of Samuel as to a change of government

He tells the people the consequences

Persistency of the Israelites

Condition of the nation

Saul privately anointed king

Clothed with regal power

Mistakes and wars of Saul

Spares Agag

Rebuked by Samuel

Samuel withdraws into retirement

Seeks a successor to Saul

Jehovah indicates the selection of David

Saul becomes proud and jealous

His wars with the Philistines

Great victory at Michmash

Death of Samuel

Universal mourning

His character as Prophet

His moral greatness

His transcendent influence

DAVID.

ISRAELITISH CONQUESTS.

David as an historical study

Early days of David

His accomplishments

His connection with Saul

His love for Jonathan

Death of Saul

David becomes king

Death of Abner

David generally recognized as king

Makes Jerusalem his capital

Alliance with Hiram

Transfer of the Sacred Ark

Folly of David's Wife

Organization of the kingdom

Joab Commander-in-chief of the army

The court of David

His polygamy

War with Moab

War with the Ammonites

Conquest of the Edomites

Bathsheba

David's shame and repentance

Edward Irving on David's fall

Its causes

Census of the people

Why this was a folly

Wickedness of David's children

Amnon

Alienation of David's subjects

The famine in Judah

Revolt of Sheba

Adonijah seeks to steal the sceptre

Troubles and trials of David

Preparation for building the Temple

David's wealth

His premature old age

Absalom's rebellion and death

David's final labors

His character as a man and a monarch

Why he was a man after God's own heart

David's services

His Psalms

Their mighty influence

SOLOMON.

GLORY OF THE MONARCHY.

Early years of Solomon

His first acts as monarch

The prosperity of his kingdom

Glory of Solomon

His mistakes

His marriage with an Egyptian princess

His harem

Building of the Temple

Its magnificence

The treasures accumulated in it

Its dedication

The sacrifices in its honor

Extraordinary celebration of the Festivals

The royal palace in Jerusalem

The royal palace on Mount Lebanon

Excessive taxation of the people

Forced labor

Change of habits and pursuits

Solomon's effeminacy and luxury

His unpopularity

His latter days of shame

His death

Character

Influence of his reign

His writings

Their great value

The Canticles

The Proverbs

Praises of wisdom and knowledge

Ecclesiastes contrasted with Proverbs

Cynicism of Ecclesiastes

Hidden meaning of the book

The writing of Solomon rich in moral wisdom

His wisdom confirmed by experience

Lessons to be learned by the career of Solomon

ELIJAH.

DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM.

Evil days fall on Israel

Division of the kingdom under Rehoboam

Jeroboam of Israel sets up golden calves

Other innovations

Egypt attacks Jerusalem

City saved only by immense contribution

Interest centres in the northern kingdom

Ruled by bad kings

Given to idolatry under Ahab

Influence of Jezebel

The priests of Baal

The apostasy of Israel

The prophet Elijah

His extraordinary appearance

Appears before Ahab

Announces calamities

Flight of Elijah

The drought

The woman of Zarephath

Shields and feeds Elijah

He restores her son to life

Miseries of the drought

Elijah confronts Ahab

Assembly of the people at Mount Carmel

Presentation of choice between Jehovah and Baal

Elijah mocks the priests of Baal

Triumphs, and slays them

Elijah promises rain

The tempest

Ahab seeks Jezebel

She threatens Elijah in her wrath

Second flight of Elijah

His weakness and fear

The still small voice

Selection of Elisha to be prophet

He becomes the companion of Elijah

Character and appearance of Elisha

War between Ahab and Benhadad

Naboth and his vineyard

Chagrin and melancholy of Ahab

Wickedness and cunning of Jezebel

Murder of Naboth

Dreadful rebuke of Elijah

Despair of Ahab

Athaliah and Jehoshaphat

Death of Ahab

Regency of Jezebel

Ahaziah and Elijah

Fall of Ramoth-Gilead

Reaction to idolatry

Jehu

Death of Jezebel

Death of Ahaziah

The massacres and reforms of Jehu

Extermination of idolatry

Last days of Elijah

His translation

ISAIAH.

NATIONAL DEGENERACY.

Superiority of Judah to Israel

A succession of virtuous princes

Syrian wars

The prophet Joel

Outward prosperity of the kingdom of Judah

Internal decay

Assyrian conquests

Tiglath-pilneser

Fall of Damascus

Fall of Samaria

Demoralization of Jerusalem

Birth of Isaiah

His exalted character

Invasion of Judah by the Assyrians

Hezekiah submits to Sennacherib

Rebels anew

Renewed invasion of Judah

Signal deliverance

The warnings and preaching of Isaiah

His terrible denunciations of sin

Retribution the spirit of his preaching

Holding out hope by repentance

Absence of art in his writings

National wickedness ending in calamities

God's moral government

Isaiah's predictions fulfilled

Woes denounced on Judah

Fall of Babylon foretold

Predicted woes of Moab

Woes denounced on Egypt

Calamities of Tyre

General predictions of woe on other nations

End and purpose of chastisements

Isaiah the Prophet of Hope

The promised glories of the Chosen People

Messianic promises

Exultation of Isaiah

His catholicity

The promised reign of peace

The future glories of the righteous

Glad tidings declared to the whole world

Messianic triumphs

JEREMIAH.

FALL OF JERUSALEM.

Sadness and greatness of Jeremiah

Second as a prophet only to Isaiah

Jeremiah the Prophet of Despair

Evil days in which he was born

National misfortunes predicted

Idolatry the crying sin of the times

Discovery of the Book of Deuteronomy

Renewed study of the Law

The reforms of Josiah

The greatness of Josiah

Inability to stem prevailing wickedness

Incompleteness of Josiah's reforms

Necho II. extends his conquests

Death of Josiah

Lamentations on the death of Josiah

Rapid decline of the kingdom

The voice of Jeremiah drowned

Invasion of Assyria by Necho

Shallum succeeds Josiah

Eliakim succeeds Shallum

His follies

Judah's relapse into idolatry

Neglect of the Sabbath

Jeremiah announces approaching calamity

His voice unheeded

His despondency

Fall of Nineveh

Defeat and retreat of Necho

Greatness of Nebuchadnezzar

Appears before Jerusalem

Fall of Jerusalem, but destruction delayed

Folly and infatuation of the people of Jerusalem

Revolt of the city

Zedekiah the king temporizes

Expostulations of Jeremiah

Nebuchadnezzar loses patience

Second fall of Jerusalem

The captivity

Weeping by the river of Babylon

JUDAS MACCABAEUS.

RESTORATION OF THE JEWISH COMMONWEALTH.

Eventful career of Judas Maccabaeus

Condition of the Jews after their return from Babylon

Condition of Jerusalem

Fanatical hatred of idolatry

Severe morality of the Jews after the captivity

The Pharisees

The Sadducees

Synagogues, their number and popularity

The Jewish Sanhedrim

Advance in sacred literature

Apocryphal Books

Isolation of the Jews

Dark age of Jewish history

Power of the high priests

The Persian Empire

Judaea a province of the Persian Empire

Jews at Alexandria

Judaea the battle-ground of Egyptians and Syrians

The Syrian kings

Antiochus Epiphanes

His persecution of the Jews

Helplessness of the Jews

Sack of Jerusalem

Desecration of the Temple

Mattathias

His piety and bravery

Revolt of Mattathias

Slaughter of the Jews

Death of Mattathias

His gallant sons

Judas Maccabaeus

His military genius

The Syrian generals

Wrath of Antiochus

Desolation of Jerusalem

Judas defeats the Syrian general

Judas cleanses and dedicates the Temple

Fortifies Jerusalem

The Feast of Dedication

Renewed hostilities

Successes of Judas

Death of Antiochus

Deliverance of the Jews

Rivalry between Lysias and Philip

Death of Eleazer

Bacchides

Embassy to Rome

Death of Judas Maccabaeus

Judas succeeded by his brother Jonathan

Heroism of Jonathan

His death by treachery

Jonathan succeeded by his brother Simon

Simon's military successes

His prosperous administration

Succeeded by John Hyrcanus

The great talents and success of John Hyrcanus

The Asmonean princes

Pompey takes Jerusalem

Accession of Herod the Great

He destroys the Asmonean princes

His prosperous reign

Foundation of Caesarea

Latter days of Herod

Loathsome death of Herod

Birth of Jesus, the Christ

SAINT PAUL.

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY.

Birth and early days of Saul

His Phariseeism

His persecution of the Christians

His wonderful conversion

His leading idea

Saul a preacher at Damascus

Saul's visit to Jerusalem

Saul in Tarsus

Saul and Barnabas at Antioch

Description of Antioch

Contribution of the churches for Jerusalem

Saul and Barnabas at Jerusalem

Labors and discouragements

Saul and Barnabas at Cyprus

Saul smites Elymas the sorcerer

Missionary travels of Paul

Paul converts Timothy

Paul at Lystra and Derbe

Return of Paul to Antioch

Controversy about circumcision

Bigotry of the Jewish converts

Paul again visits Jerusalem

Paul and Barnabas quarrel

Paul chooses Silas for a companion

Paul and Silas visit the infant churches

Tact of Paul

Paul and Luke

The missionaries at Philippi

Paul and Silas at Thessalonica

Paul at Athens

Character of the Athenians

The success of Paul at Athens

Paul goes to Corinth

Paul led before Gallio

Mistake of Gallio

Paul's Epistle to the Thessalonians

Paul at Ephesus

The Temple of Diana

Excessive labors of Paul at Ephesus

Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians

Popularity of Apollos

Second Epistle to the Corinthians

Paul again at Corinth

Epistles to the Galatians and to the Romans

The Pauline theology

Paul's last visit to Jerusalem

His cold reception

His arrest and imprisonment

The trial of Paul before Felix

Character of Felix

Paul kept a prisoner by Felix

Paul's defence before Festus

Paul appeals to Caesar

Paul preaches before Agrippa

His voyage to Italy

Paul's life at Rome

Character of Paul

His magnificent services

His triumphant death