It remains, that some account be now given of the matters contained in the notes. In the first place, then, when the author introduces the interpretations of former commentators, he commonly mentions in the notes the proofs by which they support their interpretations; hoping they may be of ufe, even to the learned, by bringing things to their remembrance which otherwife, perhaps, they might not have recollected.-In the fecond place, as the christian revelation is founded on the Jewish, and is the completion of it, the apostles, in explaining the doctrines of the gospel, have not only used the language of the Jewish scriptures, but have frequently quoted or alluded to particular paffages in them. Wherefore, that ordinary readers may understand the fcripture phraseology, which, in many particulars, is very different from the language of the European nations, and difcern the propriety of the apostle's reasoning, the author, in his notes, hath explained the peculiarities of that

în nobis.) That that right of the law, namely, to perfect obedience, might be fulfilled in us. By this tranflation Beza meant to establish his favourite doctrine, that the righteousness of Chrift is imputed to believers in fuch a manner, that all which the law required from them, is fulfilled in them; so that they become thereby perfectly righteous. Rom. xi. 32. T8s waytag, omnes illos; and in his note he says, electos videlicet, de quibus differuit.-Titus ii. 11. Illuxit autem gratia Dei falutifera (waos) quibufvis hominibus, Here all men, are converted into fome men, left, from the just grammatical translation, any argument fhould be drawn in favour of univerfal redemption. See also his translation of 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2, 4.; 2 Pet. iii. 3-Heb. x. 38. Fußtus autem ex fide vivit. Sed fi quis fe fubduxeris, non est gratum animæ meæ. In this paffage, by adding the word quis, any one, which is not in the text, and by mis-translating the claufe, 8x Eudoxes n tuxn je ev UT, Beza hath hidden from his readers that God supposes a juft man may draw back, and thereby lose his favour, left, from that fuppofition, an argument might be drawn against the perseverance of the faints. Examples of ftrained criticism might be produced from Calvin, Grotius, Hammond, Limborch, Locke, Taylor, and other famed commentators. But the above are all quoted from Beza, because most of the calvinist divines fince his time, who have tranflated and interpreted the apoftolical epiftles, and among the reft our English tranflators, have followed him too implicitly. For example, by copying Beza as he copied the vulgate, our tranflators have rendered their verfion in the following paffages unintel ligible 2 Cor. iv. 3. It is hid to them that are loft. 4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. But what idea can any reader form of Satan's blinding the minds of them who believe not, in other perfons who are loft?-2 Cor. v. 2. Defiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.4. Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon. But to be clothed upon with a house, is a jumble of metaphors, which no ordinary reader can understand. See alfo Rom. i. 17. 1 Cor. vii. 36. Heb, ix, 15. VOL. I.

E

phrase

phrafeology, and hath transcribed the paffages of the old teftament at full length, of which a few words only are quoted, or which are alluded to indirectly, that the reader, who is supposed, by the apostles, to be well acquainted with the fcriptures, having the whole paffage under his eye, may be fenfible of the juftness of the reasoning.—In the third place, As the manners, opinions, proverbs, and remarkable fayings, not only of the Jewish prophets and wife men, but of the fages of other ancient nations, are mentioned or alluded to by the facred writers, these also are explained in the notes; that what is only a proverb, or an allufion to fome known fact, or saying, may not be interpreted as a doctrine, or prediction, contrary to the intention of the facred writers. Examples of this kind of allufion are, Mat. ii. 45. x. 39.; Luke xxiii. 31.-In the fourth place, as often as an uncommon interpretation is given of any paffage, the author, in the notes, hath endeavoured to fupport it, by its agreement with the context, and with the apostles design in writing; by parallel paffages; by criticisms on the language, especially those contained in Effay IV.; by the established rules of interpretation; by arguments drawn from common fense; and fometimes by the opinion of former commentators, both ancient and modern, whofe judgment is justly respected by the learned. In many inftances, however, for the fake of brevity, neither the tranflation, nor the interpretation, though uncommon, is fupported by any particular proof: because it was fuppofed, that, to the learned, both would clearly appear from the original itself; and to the unlearned, from their giving a better fense of the paffages than that found in the common versions and paraphrafes.-In the fifth place, instead of entering into theological controverfies, the author, judging it more for the readers profit, hath in the notes, fhewn how the important fentiments contained in the word of God may be improved for forming men's tempers and manners. Laftly, In the notes, the author hath displayed the beauties of some of the finest paffages, by remarks on the fentiments and language.

All the different parts of the author's plan, above defcribed, being neceffary to the right explanation of the apoftolical epiftles, the due execution of them hath fwelled this work to a great

bulk.

bulk. Yet no one who knows how many volumes have been written by critics and commentators, for elucidating a fingle Greek and Latin claffic, can be offended with the fize of this performance. For, however profitable the right interpretation of the writings of the celebrated authors of Greece and Rome may be to those who take a delight in polite literature, it is a matter of small importance, in comparison with the right interpretation of the oracles of God, by which the faith and morals of mankind are to be regulated. However, that this publicaCation might not be needlefsly fwelled, the author hath, to the beft of his judgment, fhunned every thing trifling. And that the fame remarks might not be repeated, he hath, as often as it was neceffary, referred the reader to the places of the work where they are to be found. When the interpretations and remarks of other commentators are introduced, fuch only are mentioned as are accompanied with fome degree of probability. And both in giving his own interpretations and the interpretations of others, the author hath ftudied brevity. With the fame view, he hath endeavoured, in general, to exclude from his ftyle, tautology, Synonymous epithets, and circumlocution. And that what he hath written may be understood at the first reading, he hath all along aimed at fimplicity, perfpicuity, and precifion in his style.-Many Greek words, it is true, and phrafes, are introduced, especially in the notes. But these being placed as parentheses, to fhew that the fenfe of the fentences where they occur is complete without them, they can occafion no dif ficulty to any reader. They are inferted for the fake of perfons fkilled in the Greek, to whom the author appeals for the juftness of his critical remarks. And although the unlearned cannot judge of such matters, he hopes it will be fome proof, even to them, that his remarks are well founded, if the alterations in the translation, and in the interpretation which they are defigned to fupport, make the fcriptures more plain to them than they were before; and if they afford a clearer view of the sentiments and reasonings of the infpired writers.

To conclude; as it is ultimately from the fcriptures, and not from creeds and fyftems, by whomfoever compofed, nor even from the decrees of councils, whether general or particular,

that the genuine do&rines of the gospel are to be learned, the study of these writings is the most profitable work, in which any man can be employed, especially if he be a teacher of religion; and the right understanding of them is the best of all acquifitions. The perfon, therefore, who puts it in the power of others to attain their true meaning, whether it be by faithfully tranflating them into a known language, or by rightly interpreting them, where they have been misunderstood, performs a work most acceptable to God, and does the greatest possible fervice to the world. In this perfuafion, the author having spent the greatest part of his life in the study of the fcriptures, now offers to the public his tranflation and interpretation of the apostolical epiftles; becaufe, notwithstanding all the light which hath been thrown on that part of the word of God by modern critics and commentators, many obfcurities and errors, both in the tranflation and interpretation of these invaluable compofitions, still remain, which the friends of revelation, who are qualified for the undertaking, fhould endeavour to correct. The author flatters himself, that, by rectifying the translation in many places, and by offering interpretations different from thofe commonly given, he hath fuccessfully removed fome of the former difficulties; and makes no doubt, but, by the diligence and skill of those who fhall fucceed him, the difficulties which remain will, in time, receive a fatisfactory folution. (See Effay I. at the end.) The prejudice, therefore, which is taken up by many, in the prefent age, that fuch writings on the scriptures as may yet be published, can contain nothing of moment, but what hath been advanced before, is groundless, and of most pernicious confequence, as it puts a ftop to all farther enquiry. The fcriptures being not yet fully understood, they ought to be diligently fearched, that the treasures of divine knowledge which lie hid in them, may be brought to light. What the author hath said or infinuated in this preface, concerning the things he hath done for the explanation of the apoftolical epiftles, hath been faid, perhaps, with too much confidence. But as he is perfectly fenfible that his opinion of his own work will have no influence on the judgment of the public, the things which he hath faid can only be meant to draw the attention of the

learned,

learned, to whom it belongs to determine, whether he hath executed the feveral parts of his plan in the manner proposed by him; and whether his discoveries, if he hath made any, ought to be approved and received, or disapproved and rejected. To their examination, therefore, he submits the whole, and waits for their decifion with refpect. In the mean time, he commits his performance to God, in whofe hand all things are; with fervent prayers, that he would be pleased to make it fubfervient to his own glory, and to the good of his church. And if, in any degree, it contributes to promote these great ends, he will reft contented, as having received an ample reward.