a pure
system of worship, and the discipline of warning and correction, the
Israelite failed. Hence the Old Testament continually teaches (_a_)
that God governs, (_b_) that man needs a Saviour.

3. The Old Testament consists of 3 parts (_a_) the Law and History,
(_b_) the Psalms and Proverbs, (_c_) the Prophets.

(_a_) The Law and History part includes the books from Genesis to
Esther, and relates the progress of the people of God from its
separation as a family and its growth to be an important nation, to the
downfall of its independence, and its partial recovery. The writers
were a succession of prophets, who continually point to the hand of God
in the events which they record.

(_b_) The Psalms and Proverbs part includes the books from Job to the
Song of Solomon, and contains {49} many Hymns of prayer and praise;
also discussions of deep problems of human nature and our relation to
God (Job and Ecclesiastes); together with other things which stir us to
a life of goodness and worship.

(_c_) The Prophets are not arranged in order of time at which they
lived. The four Books which come first are called the Four Greater
Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel: and are followed by the
Twelve Lesser Prophets. To find the place in the Lesser Prophets it is
sufficient to remember Hosea, Joel, Amos as the three which are placed
first; and Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi as the three prophets after
the Captivity, and therefore placed last. Isaiah should be read with
parts of Kings and Chronicles, and Haggai and Zechariah with the Books
of Ezra and Nehemiah; and others in like manner according to their
period.

4. The New Testament consists of 3 parts--(_a_) The History, (_b_) The
Epistles, (_c_) The Revelation of St John.

(_a_) _S. Luke's_ History is in two volumes--the Gospel, which recounts
our Lord's Life from His Birth to His Ascension (note here the number
of His Parables): and the Acts of the Apostles, which continues the
history from His Ascension to the (first) imprisonment of S. Paul at
Rome. _S. Matthew's_ Gospel corresponds to S. Luke's Gospel,
recounting our Lord's Life from His Birth, with many of His sayings
about the Kingdom of Heaven, and especially the Sermon on the Mount.
_S. Mark's_ Gospel is similar to the two former. It recounts
particularly the details of the various scenes of our Lord's Life, {50}
and shows how frequently He retired for meditation,--"a living picture
of a living man[1