Any person desirous of committing this JUVENILE BIBLE to memory (which may be done in a month, or less) should first learn perfectly the name of all the Books, and the numbers of the chapters in each Book, on the back of the title-page; then observe A stands for 1, B 5, C 9, D 13, E 17, F 21, G 25, H 29, I 33, K 37, L 41, M 45, N 49. When it is known what number every letter denotes, the number of the chapter that begins with that letter is known by it; for example, if you know the letter B stands for 5, then when you hear this line, "Before the flood man's life was long," you can soon tell it is the 5th chapter. If it be asked, what are the contents of the 5th chapter of Genesis, you answer with the above line, and so of the rest.
The three last lines of every Stanza depend upon the first line of it; so that if the number of the first line is known, it is easy to know the number of the rest: for instance, if you know that "Each male of Abram circumcis'd" is the 17th of Genesis, then it follows "He angels entertains" is the 18th; "Sees Sodom's flame God's wrath proclaim" is the 19th; "His wife his sister feigns" is the 20th.
This work is designed to promote the knowledge and practice of the Holy Scriptures—and when presents are made by Parents, or promiscuously awarded by Schools, let the JUVENILE BIBLE be always the first gift: but no portion of it should ever be allotted as a Task; the Author of this Work being well convinced, it is owing to the modern and impious mode of Education, compelling Children to learn Collects, chapters in the Bible, Hymns, &c. as occasional Exercises, and frequently by way of Punishment, that the Word of God is not heard and read with that satisfaction it always should be.
[GENESIS]
1 All things created Moses writes,
2 And Paradise displays,
3 Tells Adam's fall, which ruin'd all:
4 Cain righteous Abel slays
5 Before the flood, Man's life was long,
6 Noah the ark doth frame;
7 The world is drown'd, eight favour found,
8 Out of the ark they came.
9 Covenant of rain-bow; Noah drunk—
10 His family's increase;
11 They Babel rear, confounded are.
12 Abram is call'd in grace;
13 Departs from Lot: again is blessed,
14 'Gainst four kings doth prevail.
15 A numerous feed is promised.
16 Hagar bears Ishmael.
17 Each male of Abram circumcis'd,
18 He angels entertains;
19 Sees Sodom's flame God's wrath proclaim,
20 His wife his sister feigns.
21 Feasting and mirth for Isaac's birth;
22 God claims, but saves his life;
23 Machpelah's cave is Sarah's grave,
24 Rebeckah's Isaac's wife.
25 Good Abraham's death; Rebeckah's twins,
26 Isaac his wife denies;
27 Jacob by wiles Isaac beguiles,
28 To Padan-Aram flies.
29 He Rachel weds, and Leah beds,
30 Grows rich by cunning flight;
31 From Laban he doth quickly flee,
32 Wrestles with God all night.
33 Jacob and Esau friendly meet,
34 Fair Dinah's foul disgrace;
35 Benjamin's birth is Rachel's death,
36 The dukes of Esau's race.
37 Kind Joseph in a pit and fold,
38 To Jude twins Temar bears;
39 Joseph the chaste in prison cast,
40 To servants dreams declares.
41 Learns Pharaoh's dreams, and is advanc'd,
42 He takes his brethren up;
43 Them come again, doth entertain,
44 But stops them with his cup;
45 Makes himself known: for Jacob sends,
46 He with his house comes down;
47 In Goshen has a dwelling place,
48 Makes Joseph's sons his own.
49 Next blesseth all his sons and dies;
50 To Canaan is convey'd:
And thus in this book Genesis,
You fifty chapters read.
[EXODUS]
1 All Hebrew males were to be drown'd.
2 Moses born, sav'd in th' Ark;
3 From bush on flame is told God's name,
4 And wonders sent to work.
5 By Pharoah Israel's task'd, and cries,
6 JEHOVAH comfort speaks.
7 Moses the flood doth turn to blood;
8 Frogs, lice, and flies he makes.
9 Contagious murrain, boil, and hail,
10 Locusts and darkness reign;
11 Bids jewels borrow against the morrow,
12 Jews expell'd, first-born slain.
13 Dismissed they march with Joseph's bones,
14 Pharoah pursues, is drown'd;
15 At first they sing; then murmuring,
16 Quails sent and manna found.
17 Even the rock affords them drink
18 Jethro to scheme is driven;
19 God's thunders make mount Sinai quake,
20 The Ten Commandments given.
21 For servants, and man-slayers, laws,
22 With many more besides;
23 The seventh-years rest. Three yearly feasts,
24 Moses in mount abides.
25 Gifts ask'd for tent, ark, mercy-seat,
26 Boards, curtains, bars, and vail,
27 Oil, altar, court, with hangings for't,
28 Priests robes and pectoral [[1]]
29 How priests must consecrated be,
30 Anointed and perfum'd.
31 Bezaleel inspir'd with skill,
32 The golden calf's consum'd.
33 Jehovah's anger Moses stays,
34 New tables made and brought;
35 The people bring free-offering;
36 Boards, curtains, bars are wrought.
37 Knops, flowers, ark, table, mercy-seat,
38 And altar are prepar'd;
39 Priests garments too doth Moses view,
40 The tabernacle's rear'd.
[[1]] The breast-plate of judgment for the High-Priest