Gaston, Hugh; Hall, John. A Scripture Account of the Faith and Practice of Christians ; consisting of an Extensive Collection of pertinent Texts of Scripture, illustrative of the various Articles of Revealed Religion : Fredericktown, Md.: Published by George Kolb, 1818. (From the First American Edition). [11839]
Brown leather spine & corners marbled boards, binding quite scuffed with some small worming yet with very good tight joints, black leather spine title label with chipped edges, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Manuscript note tipped in at front: "This book once the property of Bishop J. Erb, and presented to us by the Erb family, we now present it to the Historical Society, Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Dayton, Ohio. Bishop Wm. H. Washinger and wife, Romaine E., Sept 1st, 1917." Purchased by us from a dealer in central New York. xxix, 508 pp., 3 pp. list of subscriber's names. Generally clean pp., infrequent foxing, tight. Good. Hardcover.
Title continues: Reduced into Distinct Sections, so as to embrace all the branches of each subject, the motives to the Belief or Practice of the Doctrines Taught, and the Threatenings, Promises, Rewards, Punishments, Examples, etc. annexed. Addressed to the Understanding, the Hopes, and the Fears of Christians. The whole forming a Complete Concordance to all the Articles of Faith and Practice Taught in the Holy Scriptures.
Hugh Gaston (1710-1766), Member of the Root Presbytery, County Antrim, Ireland. His father's family were Huguenots who emigrated from France to Scotland, then settling in Ireland. His Scripture Account met with some success, and he was asked to promote it in America, particularly in South Carolina, where some of his siblings had settled. In August of 1766 he began his visit, which looked to be an auspicious one - opportunities for ministry were plentiful, and he was welcomed with warmth. Alas, it was not to be, for he contracted what was thought to be measles, and died in October of that year.
A remarkable Bible reference work, grouped by subject matter. This work is similar to a topical Bible, with verses arranged by topic for easy reference. It first appeared in the 1760’s.
“The arrangement is clear, the selection of texts is sufficiently ample, and a useful index enables the reader to find passages of Scripture arranged on almost every topic he can desire...As it is of easy purchase, it may be substituted for any of the larger common-place books.” - Horne’s Biblical Bibliography.
"The attributes, perfections, and operations of God: the glories of the Saviour; the accomplished work of redemption, and the agency of the Holy Spirit, are severally enlarged upon. The divine law is amplified with the consentaneous illustrations of its precepts by our Lord himself, and by the prophets and apostles. The personal and relative duties of mankind are largely insisted upon.” - Lownde.
