Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, By JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts STEREOTYPED AT THE PREFACE. If, on examination, the book here presented to the public should be thought to possess merit sufficient to justify its introduction into the common schools, the hopes rather than the expectations of the compiler will be realized. It is not intended to supplant any other book now used in schools, nor can it be condemned as an intruder on the office performed by any of the numerous excellent works in the various branches of common education. Its contents are drawn entirely from the Bible; and its object must be apparent at a single glance. It will be perceived that each lesson consists of three principal divisions. The first is a selection of short sentences of a didactic character, selected chiefly from the Book of Proverbs, each calculated to impress on the mind some important moral truth. These are to be read by the instructer, or by an advanced scholar appointed by the instructer. The second division is a selection from the Book of Psalms, arranged in a suitable manner to be read by the instructer, or one, whom he may appoint to perform that office, and the pupils. The portion assigned to the pupils is generally a response in sentiment, as well as in form, to that, which is read by the person, who leads in the service. The third division is selected chiefly from the Gospels, and embraces a complete narrative of the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of the Founder of the Christian religion, with as copious extracts from his discourses and conversations as the limits of the book would admit. This portion is also to be read by the instructer, or some one under his direction. The Lord's Prayer is then to be recited by all the pupils in concert, following the instructer. No other form of prayer has been introduced, because, in |