examples of English and American literature in which the Bible is used as a basis of thought will be found extremely suggestive and valuable in connection with this course.

COURSE VI. THE LIFE OF JESUS AND THE EARLY CHURCH. COURSE VII. THE LIFE OF PAUL,

THE GREAT CAPTAIN OF THE FAITH

In these two courses, we are on more familiar ground so often covered, with the exception of the Epistles, in the Sunday school lessons. It will be found, however, that the pictures, the introductory notes, especially those upon the Life of Paul and the Epistles, the contact made in Course VII with the Greek and Roman religions and civilizations, will bring a new charm and a new meaning to subjects which seem familiar.

COURSE VIII. COURSE FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
AND PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

This is one of the most important courses given. It is intended to help both the Sunday school and the home by bringing them together for a consideration of mutual problems. It is not intended as a course of methods in the conduct of Sunday school. Least of all is it intended to supersede or interfere with the regular lessons. It is intended first to give the teacher a survey of the problems of the home with respect to Bible study and certain proposed helps to parents in this field. Second, it is intended to give suggestions and help to the busy teacher along the line of supplementary instruction, and especially with respect to new methods of arousing and stimulating interest. It is a parallel course with Course I. It is suggested that a group of mothers taking Course I and a group of teachers taking Course VIII, might very profitably meet informally once a month or once a quarter for comparison of methods and the results of study. This course as well as others is intended for both public school teachers and Sunday school teachers. It will be found especially helpful for teachers in the church schools which are being established rapidly in so many communities. Public school teachers will find especially helpful the very full selection of literary quotations on page 304.

A very valuable exercise in home, Sunday school, and public school is to prepare similar lists from current publications. In Course I, one entire section is devoted to the subject of coöperation with the Sunday school.

COURSE IX. FATHER AND SON COURSE

This course is designed as a guide for men who, like the reporter who suddenly discovered what a great book it is, do not know the Bible at all, for men who know of the great value of the Bible but who find it difficult to make any contact with it; for men who have come to think that the Bible is "out-of-date"-that it does not meet modern conditions; for the busy man who needs some guide for his reading. It is designed for out-of-doors men, practical men, business men, men of action. Above all, it is designed as a “father and son" course for men and their older boys, for men who are keen enough to know that the boy needs such a study and who are willing to make some little sacrifice of time to take it with him. It is not too easy. Difficult and perplexing questions will arise. Talk them out frankly, but remember that beneath all difficulties, apparent discrepancies, and things hard to understand is the everlasting foundation rock of truth which all the controversies of the ages have left unshaken. The course brings out the side of the Bible which appeals to men and boys, the heroic, the daring, and achieving side. It emphasizes the fact that nearly all the Bible characters from Abraham to Paul were out-of-doors men. The greatest difficulty will be found, probably, in the fact that each lesson covers so much ground. If this seems to be true, to the discouragement of the student, take for actual study only the sections under the head of "required readings." The section on the prophets will seem especially difficult, but it is very valuable. This was a favorite part of the Bible of such men as Lincoln and Roosevelt. It is well worth while to take the time to study and to master it. Read all the introductions. Study the pictures as a help. Even if everything is not definitely understood, it is all worth reading and thinking over.

The Proverbs is a much neglected book, but it is a real "father and son" book. Some of the precepts, such as "He that spareth the rod hateth his son," may not appeal to the modern youth, but there is much that will be immensely valuable to him and to the parent. The same may be said of the almost unknown book of

Ecclesiasticus. The arrangement of both these books will be found very helpful. They are books which never grow old.

A subject which cannot fail to interest boys of high school age will be found in the study of the relations between Israel and the great civilizations of the world: Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and Rome. The subject is illustrated by a series of unusual pictures.

The lessons on the Life of Jesus and the Life of Paul are not intended to be complete studies of the subject but to bring out the heroic side of their lives.

It has not been possible to include direct references to the hundreds of pictures and to the maps within the narrow limits of the space assigned to the outline of the courses. Full indexes are, however, given at the end of this volume.

E

The Bible in English and

American Literature

NGLISH and American literature is filled with the Bible. Many volumes would be required to contain all the Biblical references. Those in this chapter are only examples of what may be found in all the field from Chaucer to the present day. They serve to show how wide-spread has been the use of the Bible by writers; how their minds were filled with its conceptions, how naturally they turned to it for illustration and figure. We see too that the great writers of our literature not only use the Bible freely, but use it correctly. He who is ignorant of the Bible walks blindfolded to some of the finest beauties of English poetry and prose.

The use of such a collection as this is not merely to show how much the Bible is used. It is also to stimulate readers to look for Biblical references as they read. In spite of the general opinion to the contrary, current literature articles in the magazines as well as editorials in newspapers abound in quotations or adaptations of Biblical language. The making of lists of such quotations will be found to be a very valuable exercise. The collection may be used in school or home or by the private reader, to further knowledge of the Bible. Can you tell the story or repeat the phrase to which allusion is made? How does the allusion add to the point which the writer is trying to make?

I. ENGLISH LITERATURE

The foundations of English literature were laid upon the Bible. The Canterbury Tales contain many references to the Bible and to Biblical characters; and nearly every writer who follows Chaucer shows a close familiarity with the Bible.

"The power of the book (the Bible) over the mass of Englishmen showed itself in a thousand superficial ways, and in none more conspicuously than in the influence it exerted on ordinary speech. It formed, we must repeat, the whole literature which was prac

viii-305

GROUP OF ANGELS

By Benozzo Gozzoli (1420-1498)
Color Photograph by Alinari Brothers, Florence,
Italy

GOZZOLI was a pupil of Fra Angelico and his pictures much resemble those of the master. The angels in this picture have very sweet faces and the coloring of the garments is lovely. They are kneeling in the foreground of a garden.