To explain the purpose for which the Bible was given to mankind.

To show the manner in which that purpose has been fulfilled.

To give some general remarks on the interpretation of the Bible.

To offer a slight sketch of the government, form of worship and

different sects of the Jews.

To give a short account of the Books of the Old and New

Testament, with such a notice of their contents as may in some

measure illustrate the previous remarks.

As we remarked earlier, we have not provided ourselves with the modern

Biblical Dictionaries and Cyclopaedias, their bulk and their price alike

preventing us from so doing, but whenever some particular point needs

verification or expansion, most readers will know of a library where such

volumes can be consulted.  What we are endeavouring to do, is to point out

the value of many works that are thrown aside as valueless and priced little

above waste -paper.  These neglected works may nevertheless become valuable

tools, and as such we recommend them.

Since writing this article we have come into possession of The Imperial

Bible -Dictionary which is edited by the Rev. Patrick Fairbairn, D.D.  The

`new issue' 1886 has useful introductions by Bishop Ryle, D.D.  and the Rev.

C. H. Waller, M.A.  The article by C. H. Waller is entitled `The

Authoritative Inspiration of Holy Scripture (as distinct from the inspiration

of its human authors) acknowledged by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'.

One paragraph of the Preface reads:

`In an age like the present, in which knowledge generally is so much

increased, in which also speculation in divine things is rife, and

weapons are so busily plied within as well as without the pale of the

Visible Church to undermine the foundations and pervert the teaching of

the Word of God, it is of the greatest moment that helps of the kind

now indicated should be amply provided -- such helps especially as

combine with the fruits of enlightened and careful inquiry sound

principles of Scriptural interpretation, and are not too voluminous or

expensive to be accessible to an extensive circle of readers'.

Here are two books, the one entitled:

Synonyms of the New Testament by Richard Chenevix Trench, D.D.,

published in 1858, and the other:

Synonyms of the Old Testament and their bearing Upon Christian

Doctrine, by the Rev. Robert Baker Girdlestone, M.A., published 1897.

Let us first of all be clear as to the meaning of a synonym.  The word

is composed of the Greek sun `with' and onoma `name'.  A synonym is a word

having the same sense as another in the same language; but more usually, the

word means either of any two or more words which have the same general sense,

but which possess shades of meaning peculiar to themselves and appropriate to

their contexts.

Strictly speaking there are no two words in any language that have

identical meanings and usage, and the discrimination of these essential and

fine differences is not only a help to the student in general, but most