Many consider the writings of J. W. McGarvey as being among the best produced by Bible scholars of the nineteenth century. When he approached a subject, it was with a strong mind equal to the task. His commentaries, for many years, have been an aid to those who study and teach the Bible. He spent the last forty-six years of his life in Ken­tucky University at Lexington.

The contents of this work were given in his class of Sacred Didactics. These notes were taken down by James R. Hoover, a student. They were taken during the second year (1866-1867) McGarvey taught in the College of the Bible. Mr. Hoover made notes in a very concise hand. The notebook, very small and bound in leather, is still in a good state of preservation. It is the property of C. H. Woodroof.

As the usage of words changes down through the years, so does the method of making letters of the alphabet. Need­less to say, the handwriting of eighty-six years ago is quite different from the handwriting of today. Yet, by patient and careful work, every difficulty of changes in the style of handwriting was solved.

We believe that you will welcome this book, not only for its contents but for its original source. As the works of McGarvey have long been welcomed as a great help in study­ing the Bible, may this work prove to be a great benefit to that end.

Joe K. Alley