She would only add further, if such a memento be required, that any human assistance, whether supplied orally, or by books, is insufficient of itself. The Christian parent will not forget Who is the great Teacher of spiritual truth, or omit to direct to Him, both her own prayers and those of her child. It will be obvious, upon the slightest consideration, that in preparing a work like the present satisfactorily, it is absolutely necessary to consult, at least to have read, commentators and other like authorities; nor is it afterwards practicable to trace each particular piece of information, or solution of a difficulty, which may have been thus obtained, to the source from which it was originally derived. For the most part a general acknowledgment of such assistance must suffice. The author however wishes to observe, that, in regard to “the Natural History of the Bible," she has been occasionally much indebted to Dr. Harris's valuable little work on the subject. She should also have stated before that her narrative of the history of Joseph was not written without having previously read the Rev. Mr. Benson's most interesting Lectures, in his "Scripture Difficulties," on this affecting part of sacred history; and though, in some parts of the narrative, she has ventured to differ even from such an authority, still it is impossible to have read the Lectures just alluded to without having been placed under a great obligation to the writer. Antigua, Jan. 6, 1832. |