Author's Preface: The first edition of this book was published in 1883, and consisted largely of readings furnished by various parties, which were only edited, as the writer was not responsible for their arrangement. The unexpected loss of the old plates furnished an opportunity for the revision of the whole book. In the present form it has been entirely rearranged and enlarged. The original idea has, however, been retained, in that the book is more of what God says on the subject of holiness and related doctrines than what man says. It is, therefore, unlike many other books called "Bible Readings, which consist largely of what their various authors say about what God says. In this book we reverse this process.
A book with so many references is difficult to make without some errors, but these we have labored to prevent, and ask the reader's indulgence for those which may have escaped notice.
The readings not by the author are properly signed by their respective authors, though the arrangement followed in the first editions has usually been recast under appropriate subheadings.
We commend the book again to the many who may use it, saying as we did in the preface to the first edition: "The Word speaks for itself. Make your own remarks and draw your own inferences. We shall be satisfied if it can be said of us, as it was said of our great example, 'I have given them Thy Word.'"
The Table of Contents are as follows: PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION NATURE AND USE OF BIBLE READINGS HOW TO MAKE A BIBLE READING Chapter 1 THE HOLINESS OF GOD Chapter 2 THE HOLINESS OF JESUS Chapter 3 DIVINITY OF THE HOLY GHOST Chapter 4 MAN CREATED HOLY Chapter 5 MAN FELL AND LOST THE IMAGE OF GOD Chapter 6 THE FALL DEPRAVED MAN AND HE BECAME POSSESSED OF A CARNAL MIND Chapter 7 CARNAL MIND EXISTING AFTER CONVERSION Chapter 8 CARNAL MIND CANNOT ENTER HEAVEN Chapter 9 REMEDY FOR THE CARNAL MIND Chapter 10 KNOWLEDGE IS ESSENTIAL TO SINNING Chapter 11 SIN A VOLUNTARY VIOLATION OF A KNOWN LAW Chapter 12 SIN NOT IMPUTED WHERE NO SIN WAS INTENDED Chapter 13 NO LICENSE TO SIN Chapter 14 SALVATION FROM SIN OF GOD AND FOR MAN Chapter 15 SALVATION FROM, NOT IN SIN Chapter 16 SALVATION THROUGH THE BLOOD Chapter 17 SALVATION IS BY WAY OF REPENTANCE DEFINITIONS Chapter 18 SALVATION IS BY WAY OF FORGIVENESS OR PARDON Chapter 19 SALVATION IS BY WAY OF JUSTIFICATION AND CONVERSION Chapter 20 SALVATION IS BY WAY OF REGENERATION Chapter 21 SALVATION IS BY WAY OF ADOPTION Chapter 22 SALVATION IS BY WAY OF SANCTIFICATION Chapter 23 SANCTIFICATION OR HOLINESS Chapter 24 WHAT KIND OF HOLINESS WE MEAN Chapter 25 HOLINESS ESSENTIAL Chapter 26 CHRISTIAN PERFECTION Chapter 27 ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION Chapter 28 HOLINESS EXPERIENCED AFTER CONVERSION OR JUSTIFICATION Chapter 29 THE BIBLE TEACHES TWO EXPERIENCES Chapter 30 HOLINESS RECEIVED ON CONDITIONS Chapter 31 HOLINESS A SECOND WORK OR EXPERIENCE Chapter 32 THE DOUBLE CURE Chapter 33 JUSTIFIED AND SANCTIFIED LIFE DIFFERENT Chapter 34 JESUS RECOGNIZES THE HIGHER AND LOWER MEASURES OF RELIGIOUS LIFE Chapter 35 CONSENSUS OF VIEW Chapter 36 GENERAL MEANING OF THE WORD "SANCTIFICATION" Chapter 37 SCRIPTURAL OBTAINMENT OF HOLINESS Chapter 38 HOLY BLAMELESSNESS Chapter 39 DOES SALVATION SAVE, OR IS IT ONLY A HOPE OF BEING SAVED? Chapter 40 CONSECRATION Chapter 41 WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? Chapter 42 WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SANCTIFIED WHOLLY? Chapter 43 HOW SHALL I LIVE IT? Chapter 44 TEMPTATION Chapter 45 HOLY SPIRIT Chapter 46 ENDUEMENT OF POWER Chapter 47 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD Chapter 48 CONSCIENCE