John Brown of Haddington's renown rests chiefly on The Self-Interpreting Bible,

... and to a lesser extent on A Dictionary of the Holy Bible (also available on PuritanDownloads.com). 'Brown's Bible' was repeatedly reprinted (in America as well as Britain, as were all his more popular works), with improvements by later editors, even into the twentieth century (and now into the 21st century!—RB). Its numerous aids... included a system of marginal cross-references novel in its extensiveness. This 'library in one volume' became as common as Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress (also available on PuritanDownloads.com) and Thomas Boston's Fourfold State (also available on PuritanDownloads.com). It incorporated material from the Dictionary, which unlike modern counterparts, explained basic English vocabulary and grammar (making it useful for homeschooling—RB), and often went beyond making the Bible intelligible (to interpreting it, for example the entry on—RB)... 'Antichrist' surveys papal history... (the complete work—RB) is exemplary in its directness and accuracy (Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, p. 99, emphases added).

In Mackenzie's book, John Brown of Haddington, a whole chapter is devoted to just the Self-Interpreting Bible. Here is a glimpse at what Mackenzie has to say,

No work carried the reputation of the author so far afield as his Self-Interpreting Bible... Its success from the first was extraordinary... It will be evident that an extraordinary amount of valuable material was thus placed at the command of the ordinary reader. It was the information that a student of the Scriptures hungered for, who had not access to the learned works dealing with such subjects... Brown states that his avowed aim in his publication is not to depreciate the valuable commentaries of these writers (referring to some of the most famous Reformed commentators of the past—RB), but 'to exhibit their principal substance with all possible advantage... and in referring particularly to the New Testament, he adds that 'there the explication is peculiarly extensive, and attempts to exhibit the substance of many learned and expensive commentaries.' ...The last edition of Brown's Bible is undoubtedly the best (which is the same as the edition we have used—RB) (pp. 177, 178, 185, 186).

The issue of this Bible Commentary brought Brown into correspondence with many notable persons, among them the saintly Charles Simeon of Cambridge... It was Simeon's habit... to rise every morning at 4AM... after lighting a fire, he devoted the first four hours of the day to private prayer and the devotional study of the Scriptures. The favorite companion of these devotional hours was Brown's Self-Interpreting Bible... Simeon prized the Self-Interpreting Bible above all others, and made acknowledgment of the spiritual enlightenment and quickening which he received from its daily perusal... (writing) "Your Self-Interpreting Bible seems to stand in lieu of all other commentaries; and I am daily receiving so much edification and instruction from it, that I would wish it in the hands of all serious ministers" (pp. 187-188, emphases added).

Brown's Bible was treasured in the homes of the people with all the reverence and care enjoyed by Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Boston's Fourfold State. It supplied what was lacking in these great soul classics, providing a clear path to the fount from which they derived their vitality and strength. The three were considered the necessary literary and religious equipment of the household. They furnished pabulum for serious reading; and they produced strong men (p. 190, emphases added).

Over 2200 (8.5" X 11") pages in the complete set -- this Bible contains more features and additions (from sections on prophecy fulfillment and hermeneutics to a chronological index to Scripture history, Jewish festivals and the significations of obsolete words [and much more!]-- with 448 photographs showing places of Bible events) than we have space to note here!The Self-Interpreting Bible: With Commentaries, References, Harmony of the Gospels and Many Other Helps Needed to Understand and Teach the Text (Volume 1, 1914 edition) by John Brown of Haddington covers Genesis to Joshua & Helps.

This four volume set includes:

The Self-Interpreting Bible: With Commentaries, References, Harmony of the Gospels and Many Other Helps Needed to Understand and Teach the Text (Volume 1 covers Genesis to Joshua & Helps, 1914 edition) by John Brown of Haddington.

The Self-Interpreting Bible: With Commentaries, References, Harmony of the Gospels and Many Other Helps Needed to Understand and Teach the Text (Volume 2 covers Judges to Song of Solomon, 1914 edition) by John Brown of Haddington.

The Self-Interpreting Bible: With Commentaries, References, Harmony of the Gospels and Many Other Helps Needed to Understand and Teach the Text (Volume 3 covers Isaiah to Malachi, 1914 edition) by John Brown of Haddington

The Self-Interpreting Bible: With Commentaries, References, Harmony of the Gospels and Many Other Helps Needed to Understand and Teach the Text (Volume 4 covers New Testament & Helps, 1914 edition) by John Brown of Haddington.