stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right
hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die
with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and
the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were
within.
[Illustration]
19 _David Killeth Goliath._
1 SAM. xvii. 49, 51.
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and
slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone
sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his
sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut
off his head therewith.
[Illustration]
20 _Absalom caught up in the oak._
2 SAM. xviii. 9.
And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick
boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he
was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that
was under him went away.
[Illustration]
21 _Solomon’s Judgement._
1 KINGS iii. 25, 26.
And the King said, Divide the living child in two, and give half
to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the
living child was unto the king, (for her bowels yearned upon her
son,) and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no
wise slay it: but the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine,
but divide it.
[Illustration]
22 _Solomon’s Temple._
1 KINGS vi. 2, 3.
And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, the length
thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty
cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits. And the porch before
the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof,
according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the
breadth thereof before the house.
[Illustration]
23 _Elijah fed by ravens._
1 KINGS xvii. 3, 4, 6.
Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the
brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou
shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed
thee there. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the
morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the
brook.
[Illustration]
24 _The Assyrians Overthrown._
1 KINGS xx. 20, 21.
And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled, and Israel
pursued them; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse
with the horsemen. And the king of Israel went out, and smote the
horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
[Illustration]
25 _Elijah is taken up into heaven._
2 KINGS ii. 11, 12.
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that behold
there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted
them both assunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father! the chariot
of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
[Illustration]
26 _Jezebel eaten by dogs._
2 KINGS ix. 35, 36.
And they went to bury Jezebel; but they found no more of her than
the scull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they
came again, and told him; and he said, This is the word of the
Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In
the portion of Jezreel shall dogs, eat the flesh of Jezebel.
[Illustration]
27 _Belshazzar’s Feast._
DAN. v. 3-5.
The king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, drank wine,
and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of
wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s
hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of
the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of a hand
that wrote.
[Illustration]
28 _Daniel cast into the den of lions._
DAN. vi. 21, 22, 23.
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath
sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not
hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and
also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king
exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel
up out of the den.
[Illustration]
29 _Jonah is swallowed by a fish._
JONAH i. 17. ii. 10.
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And
Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. And
the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry
land.
[Illustration]
30 _The Salutation._
LUKE i. 30, 31, 32.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found
favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb,
and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be
great, and shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of his father David.
[Illustration]
31 _Wise men enquire after Christ._
MATT. ii. 11, 12.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child
with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him: and when
they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a
dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into
their own country another way.
[Illustration]
32 _The baptism of Jesus._
LUKE iii. 21, 22.
Now when all the people were baptised, it came to pass, that Jesus
also being baptised, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the
Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, like a dove, upon him; and
a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in
thee I am well pleased.
[Illustration]
33 _John Baptist Beheaded._
MATT. xiv. 6, 7, 8.
But when Herod’s birth-day was kept, the daughter of Herodias
danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with
an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before
instructed of her mother, said, Give me John Baptist’s head in a
charger.
[Illustration]
34 _The Good Samaritan._
LUKE x. 33, 34.
A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when
he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up
his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast,
and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
[Illustration]
35 _Christ’s sermon on the mount._
MATT. v. 1, 2, 3, 4.
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he
was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and
taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall
be comforted, &c. &c.
[Illustration]
36 _The Tempest_
MARK iv. 37, 38, 39.
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the
ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the
ship, asleep on a pillow; and they awake him, and say unto him,
Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked
the wind, and he said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind
ceased, and there was a great calm.
[Illustration]
37 _Christ healeth a bloody issue._
LUKE viii. 47, 48.
And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling,
and, falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the
people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed
immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort:
thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
[Illustration]
38 _The prodigal son._
LUKE xv. 21, 22, 23.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven,
and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But
the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put
it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And
bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be
merry.
[Illustration]
39 _The Parable of Lazarus_
LUKE xvi. 20, 21, 22.
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his
gate, full of sores. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which
fell from the rich man’s table: moreover, the dogs came and licked
his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.
[Illustration]
40 _The Last Supper._
MATT. xxvi. 26, 27, 28.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and
brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this
is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them saying, Drink ye all of it: For this is my blood of the New
Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
[Illustration]
41 _Jesus is accused before Pilate._
LUKE xxiii. 1, 2, 3.
And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And
they began to accuse him, saying, We found this follow perverting
the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that he
himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou
the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
[Illustration]
42 _The Crucifixion._
MARK xv. 24, 25, 26, 27.
And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting
lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third
hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his
accusation was written over, The King of the Jews. And with him
they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other
on his left.
[Illustration]
43 _The Ascension._
LUKE xxiv. 50, 51, 52.
And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his
hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed
them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they
worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
[Illustration]
44 _The Apostles speak divers languages._
ACTS ii. 2, 3, 4.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled all the house, where they were sitting. And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it
sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance.
[Illustration]
45 _Saul called to the Apostleship._
ACTS ix. 3, 4, 5.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there
shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to
the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord
said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to
kick against the pricks.
[Illustration]
46 _The Last Day._
MATT. xxv. 31, 32, 33.
When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the
goats: And he shall put the sheep on his right hand, and the goats
on his left.
THE HISTORY
OF
ABRAHAM, ISAAC, & JACOB,
EMBELLISHED WITH CUTS;
TO WHICH IS ADDED
AN ACCOUNT OF JONAH’S MISSION
TO THE
NINEVITES.
[Illustration]
GLASGOW:
PRINTED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS.
Sarah promised a Son.
[Illustration]
Hagar being returned to Abram’s house, soon bore a son, who was
called Ishmael. Thirteen years after, God appeared to Abraham to
renew his covenant, and instituted circumcision as a token of the
covenant, and promised him a son who should be the father of many
kings. Abraham laughed to think that Sarah, ninety years old,
should bear. A while after, as Abraham was sitting in the tent door
he saw three men coming, and as his charity suffered none to pass
without a refreshment, he ran to meet them. After they had eaten,
they asked for Sarah, when the men, (who were angels) assured him
that she would bear a son. Sarah overheard what was said, and
laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old, shall I have
pleasure--my Lord being old also. The angels reproved Sarah for
laughing, which she denied: they stated nothing was too hard for
the Lord. They then rose up, and Abraham with them went on their
way.
Lot entertains two Angels at Sodom.
[Illustration]
After God’s promise to Abraham, that Sarah would shortly bear him
a son, he was warned that Sodom was to be destroyed. Lot, seeing
two angels coming to Sodom, ran to meet them, and entreated them
to lodge with him. The angels at first refused, but Lot earnestly
pressed them to come in. The men of Sodom surrounded the house,
and demanded of Lot to deliver up the men, that they might satisfy
their lust with them. He resisted them with all his powers, but
still they insisted. Lot, pierced with sorrow, was on the point of
delivering them up, had not the angels put forth their hand, and
pulled him in; and having shut the door, they smote the men that
were without with blindness: yet with all this it reclaimed not
their fury; for they still sought to satisfy themselves, and they
laboured hard to find the door to effect their purpose.
Lot and his Two Daughters.
[Illustration]
The angel having warned Lot of his danger of remaining among the
Sodomites, hastened him to depart from the city with his wife and
two daughters, that they might not be consumed. They laid hold of
him by the hand, ordering him to escape, and not to look behind
him. Lot requested leave of the angels to retire to Zoar; and he
had no sooner entered Zoar, than the Lord rained fire and brimstone
on Sodom and Gomorrah from heaven. Lot’s wife, alarmed at a sudden
noise, looking back, became a pillar of salt. Lot, affrighted, went
up and dwelt in a mountain, his two daughters imagining that they
and their father were the only remains of the inhabitants of the
earth, thought it their duty not to suffer the generation of men to
perish, made their father drink wine, and did not stop to commit
incest in hopes of being mothers; and though we cannot think on
that action without horror, yet their innocence did much lessen the
guilt of it.
Abimelech afflicted by God.
[Illustration]
Abraham being obliged, soon after the overthrow of Sodom, to quit
his former abode, came to Gerar, where he was exposed to some
danger by the king of that city, on account of his wife, as he
had been by the king of Egypt. Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and
took Sarah, who called herself Abraham’s sister, as she had done
in Egypt. But God, who was the protector of Sarah’s chastity,
threatened that prince in the night-time, telling him he was a
dead man if he offered to touch Sarah, for she was Abraham’s wife.
Abimelech was horror-struck at having nearly committed so great a
crime, and terrified by the threats of God, called all his officers
and servants together, as also Abraham, and reproved him sharply
for concealing the truth, to make him and his kingdom guilty of so
great a sin. Abraham replied, that they were both of one father but
different mothers.
Hagar and Ishmael cast out.
[Illustration]
God fulfilled his promise to Sarah, and she brought forth a son
in her old age. Abraham called him Isaac, and circumcised him the
eight day. Sarah suckled him herself, though a great princess;
and when the time of weaning Isaac was come, Abraham made a great
feast to express his joy. In the mean time, while Sarah had so
much reason to rejoice, Hagar’s son became cause of great trouble
to her. This lad, disappointed in his hopes by the birth of Isaac,
could not endure to see his father and mother delight so much in
him, and began to behave himself abusively towards him. Sarah
foresaw the fatal consequences of this hatred, and entreated
Abraham to cast out the bond-woman and her son. This request
greatly afflicted Abraham, but God advised him to do as Sarah had
said. They were forthwith cast out; but an angel appeared and spoke
comfortably to them in the wilderness, assuring her, her son would
be the father of a great nation.
Abraham offereth up Isaac.
[Illustration]
Isaac being now arrived at the age of twenty-seven, God, to try
Abraham, commands him to take his son, whom he loved, and offer him
up upon a mountain. He remembered he had received his son from God,
and his great faith stifled all the thoughts which did arise in him
about the divine promises so often repeated to him, that from the
very Isaac whom he was now about to offer, his posterity should be
multiplied as the stars of heaven. Accordingly he rises early in
the morning, and takes Isaac his son, and two servants, cleaves
the wood for the burnt-offering, and binding Isaac his son, laid
him on the altar, and stretching forth his hand, took the knife to
slay him. God, seeing constancy in the father, stops his hand by
an angel from heaven. Hereupon Abraham, seeing a ram caught in a
thicket by the horns, offered him up to God instead of his son, and
returned to his house.
The Death and Burial of Sarah.
[Illustration]
Isaac being restored to his parents by the command of him who
first bestowed him, he was the comfort of his mother in her old
age, who, being arrived at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven
years, died. Abraham having wept over her some time, considers
of providing a burying place for her. He addresses the children
of Heth, stating he was a stranger, and that he wished a burying
place to bury the dead, out of his sight, which was kindly granted,
requesting him to take choice of all their sepulchres. Abraham,
who would not be beholden to any man, entreated them to sell him a
field which had a double cave, but they wanted him to accept of it
as a free gift, but Abraham was immoveable, and forced Ephron to
tell him that the field was worth four hundred shekels of silver,
which Abraham paid down, and there he buried Sarah.
Isaac’s Marriage with Rebekah.
[Illustration]
Abraham being old, and thinking to take a wife for his son Isaac,
resolves not to allow him to marry any of the daughters of the
Canaanites; but despatches Eliezer his steward to Mesopotamia to
take a wife for his son. Being come near the city of Nahor, he
prayed that God would direct him to the person he had allotted
to be his master’s son’s wife, by this token, that the damsel he
should ask to draw water for himself and his camels, should do it
frankly. Rebekah came, and Eliezer ran to meet her, and desired
water to drink, which she readily gave him, and hasted to draw
for his camels. This faithful servant, satisfied that she was the
person, presents her with many presents, when she ran home to her
brother, who instantly ran to meet Abraham’s servant, brought him
home, and set down meat before him but would eat none till he got
an answer to his business. A favourable answer being given, he
prepared to return home.
Esau sells his Birthright to Jacob.
[Illustration]
After the happy consummating of Isaac’s marriage with Rebekah,
Abraham lived many years, till at length transported to that better
and heavenly country; having spent one hundred and seventy-five
years in the exercise of holy virtues and graces. God, after his
death, multiplied his blessings on Isaac his son. But they had been
twenty years married without having any children, when Isaac prayed
the Lord for his wife’s sake for children, and he was heard, and
Rebekah was delivered of male twins. The Divine oracle stated that
the elder should serve the younger. When these two children were
grown up, Jacob, the youngest, on a time sold lentil pottage, and
Esau, returning from hunting, extremely hungry, with greediness
desired this pottage; which Jacob perceiving, would not part with
it till he had promised to sell him his birthright in consideration
thereof, to which Esau agreed.
Isaac blesseth Jacob instead of Esau.
[Illustration]
Esau having sold Jacob his birthright, Rebekah, who had a tender
love for Jacob, ratified the right by a holy piece of craft. Isaac
being sensible of his great age, and willing to bless his children
ere he died, called Esau his eldest, whom he loved, to him, to
hunt some venison, and make savoury meat that he might bless him.
Rebekah told Jacob to fetch two kids, that she might make savoury
meat to Isaac. She then dressed Jacob in Esau’s dress and put the
skins of the kids upon his hands and smooth of his neck, that his
father might suppose him to be Esau, which had the desired effect;
for he received his father’s blessing by this deception. Scarcely
had he made an end of blessing Jacob, when Esau came in from
hunting, prepares his savoury meat, brings it to his father, and
desires him to eat that he might bless him. The holy patriarch,
perceiving the deception, trembled, and Esau cryed bitterly. Isaac,
moved with his cries, blesseth him also, but subjects him to Jacob.
Jacob’s Mystical Ladder.
[Illustration]
The anger of Esau against Jacob was too visible to be hid from
Rebekah; and the tender love she had for Jacob caused her to send
him away for a time, though grieved to let him out of her sight. To
reconcile her husband Isaac to it, she spoke of his marriage--how
grieving it would be if her son Jacob would marry any of the
daughters of the land of Canaan, as Esau had done against their
wish. Jacob was sent away, more like a fugitive than the son of
a rich person. Being overtaken by night, he was obliged to take
up his lodgings upon the earth, with no softer pillow than stone.
Here he dreamed that he saw a ladder, the top of which reached to
heaven, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon it.
He was the Lord above it, who encouraged him to proceed on his
journey, and promised that his seed should be as the dew of the
earth, as in him should all nations of the earth be blessed.
Jacob serveth for Rachel and Leah.
[Illustration]
Jacob assured by the vision of the Divine protection, went
cheerfully on his way to Haran, and meeting some shepherds near
a well, which had a great stone at the mouth thereof, asked them
whither they knew one Laban, a grandchild of Nahor. They answered,
yes; and that Rachel his daughter was coming thither with his
sheep. Jacob no sooner saw her, then he went and rolled the stone
from the mouth of the well, watered his sheep, kissed her, and
made himself known to her. She ran with the tidings to her father,
who came forth, kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob
told him of his brother’s fury, stating that he wished to serve
him; to which Laban agreed, that Jacob should serve him seven
years for Rachel, which term he finished; but Leah was falsely put
into Jacob’s bed, which displeased Jacob; but Laban appeased him
by promising him Rachel at the end of other seven, which he also
completed.
Jacob’s return to his birth-place.
[Illustration]
The blessings that God so plentifully showered down upon Jacob
excited Laban’s envy, so that he perceived it prudent to leave
Mesopotamia. For this purpose he calls his two wives, and tells
them of his design, which they approving of, he went off privately,
taking family and possessions. Laban, informed of their sudden
departure, and missing some of his idols, pursues them seven days.
As soon as he overtook them, he reproached Jacob for stealing his
daughters; and however right it might be to return to his country;
it was very unjust to steal the idols. Jacob declared his ignorance
of any such thing, whereupon Laban examined his whole effects, and
at last enters Rachel’s tent; but before his coming she hid them in
the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them; and desired her father
not to take it ill that she did not rise, as she was unwell. Laban,
forced to return without them, made a covenant with Jacob, after
which they lovingly took leave of each other.
Jacob wrestleth with an Angel.
[Illustration]
Jacob having thus escaped the hands of Laban, began to think how
he might escape those of Esau, whereupon he sent messengers before
him that he might find grace in his sight. Upon their return they
declared that he was at the head of four hundred men coming to
meet Jacob, which filled him with extreme fear. Jacob, to soften
his brother’s heart, prepared great presents to him, left orders
for his wives and children to pass over the brook Jabbok by night,
while he remained on the other side. He betakes himself to prayer
for a happy meeting with his brother, when an angel appeared unto
him, and wrestled with him until day, when the angel touched the
hollow of his thigh, and caused him to halt, and gave him the new
name of Israel, with the assurance that he had nothing to fear from
men, and in particular from his brother Esau.
Jacob’s sons kill all the people of Shechem.
[Illustration]