LUCILLA; OR, THE READING OF THE BIBLE. BY ADOLPHE MONOD. Translated from the French. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth A NEW EDITION. LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, 109. e. !! PREFACE BY THE TRANSLATOR. HE work of which a translation is here presented to the English reader, has recently been published in France, where the whole of the first impression was sold in a very short period. It is the production of a Protestant minister of deep piety, of pre-eminent talents, and of ardent zeal in the cause of Christianity. His design is to prove that the Holy Scriptures are inspired of God, and are, consequently, of Divine authority; and that it is at once the privilege and duty of all people to read them with a reference to their personal salvation. The volume is, therefore, on the one hand, an antidote to Infidelity, which regards the Bible as a merely human composition, and to Popery on the other, which would restrict the reading of the sacred books. The manner in which the author has executed his task is worthy of high praise. His reasoning is beautifully simple, lucid, and 3 strong; and his spirit, kind, benevolent, serious, and firm. He speaks with authority, for he thoroughly understands his subject; and with tender affection, for his heart yearns over those who obstinately reject the word of God, and who are passing to their final account ignorant of its blessed truths. The work is especially adapted to France, where a blind infidelity scoffs at the Bible, considered as a revelation from God; where the Romish priesthood inveigh against the general reading of that holy volume; aud where the agents of Bible Societies are labouring in the length and breadth of the land, with a most laudable assiduity, to press it upon the attention of all classes of the community, offering it at moderate prices from door to door. It is hoped that this admirable publication may be of considerable use in England, where infidelity and Romanism are unhappily too prevalent. Should it contribute in any degree to arrest the progress of these kindred evils, and encourage the reading of that inspired book which an old writer has justly called "the great charter of the world's blessedness," the author and translator will consider themselves rewarded. It is committed to the press with earnest prayers for the Divine blessing. LUCILLA; OR, The Reading of the Bible. INTRODUCTION. LETTER I. LUCILLA TO THE ABBÉ FAVIEN. IR,-You will, perhaps, be surprised to receive a letter from me. You will be still more so when you have read its contents. But you are the only person in the world to whom I dare open my mind, on a subject by which it has been much engrossed for the last few weeks. For the first time in my life I begin to perceive that I have no religion, and I wish that I had one. Like everybody else, or at least like every woman, I have had moments of religious excitement; especially about the age of fifteen, when I felt the necessity of giving my heart to God. These were, however, but transient impressions. Soon the pleasures of the world, and the reception I met with in society; then the attachment I felt for Mr. Lassalle; and lastly, the duties B |