SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER ROW, AND
65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD.

1840.

31.

JOHN HILL,

PRINTER,

BLACK HORSE court, FLEET STREET.

INTRODUCTION.

In order to a correct understanding of various parts of Scripture, information is needed as to many Eastern Arts and Antiquities. A knowledge of these sheds much light on the sacred page, which would otherwise be lost to the reader. It unfolds to him the beauty of the numerous figures drawn from the various works of Eastern Art; and it removes many difficulties, which ever and anon rise before him, when he does not understand Oriental usages.

We may illustrate this subject, by a reference to a transaction recorded Luke v. 19. It is there said, of the friends of the man suffering under the grievous affliction of palsy, that, anxious to obtain for him a cure at the hands of our Lord-" When they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus." Now, a person unac quainted with the Oriental mode of building is at a loss to know how this could have been effected. Sceptics, indeed,