correctness of his interpretations.

The Scriptures are crowded with references to the cities, mountains,
plains, deserts, rivers, and seas of Palestine and the surrounding
regions; to their climate, soil, animals, and plants; to their
agricultural products and mineral treasures; to the course of travel and
commerce between the different nations; in a word, to those numerous
particulars which come under the head of _geography_ and _natural
history_. The extended investigations of modern times in these
departments of knowledge have shed a great light over the pages of
inspiration, which no expositor who is worthy of the name will venture
to neglect.

And if one collect and illustrate the various allusions of Scripture to
the manners and customs of the ancient Hebrews, to their civil
institutions and their religious rites and ceremonies, he will compose a
volume on _biblical antiquities_.

The connection, moreover, which the covenant people had with the
surrounding nations, especially the great monarchies which successively
held sway over the civilized world--Egypt, Assyria, Chaldea, Greece,
Rome--requires an extended knowledge of _ancient history_, and, as
inseparably connected with this, of _ancient chronology_. Biblical
chronology constitutes, indeed, a science of itself, embracing some very
perplexed and difficult questions, the solution of which has an
important bearing upon the passages of Scripture to which they have
reference.

7. We do not affirm that all the above-named qualifications are
necessary to a saving knowledge of God's word. Its great essential
doctrines and precepts are so plain that the unlettered reader, who
brings to the work an honest heart, cannot fail to understand them. In
this respect God has made the vision so plain "that he may run that
readeth it;" and the road to heaven so direct that "the wayfaring men,
though fools, shall not err therein." But the interpreter of Scripture
is expected to unfold the meaning of the difficult passages also, as far
as human investigation will enable him to do so. They are a part of "all
Scripture given by inspiration of God," which the apostle affirms to be
"profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness." He should spare no effort, therefore, to ascertain
their exact sense, and to expound this sense to others with all possible
fidelity and clearness.

8. There is a _human_ and a _divine_ side to biblical interp