tend to corroborate, still more, that they are the result of divine teaching.

The Writer would not be understood, by this, as speaking in any manner disparagingly of commentators; he would rather bear a cheerful testimony to the many very excellent and great men, who have served the Christain world in this way, with their writings and comments upon the Word of God: he only means to observe, that, upon the present occasion, not one of them hath been consulted. The pure Word, in the present faithful translation of it, is the only authority upon which the Author hath founded the observations proposed in these Essays. And if the Reader should discover any thing which to his view may appear new in the deep things of God here

humbly brought forward to his meditation, still the Writer indulgeth the pleasing hope, that there will not be found a single sentiment in these Essays contrary to the analogy of faith, and the general tenor of the Holy Scriptures.

RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE,

BY THE

REV. DR. HAWKER:

Ir would require no small apology, in any man, to intrude upon the Christian world a publication which did not possess sufficient importance in point of doctrine, and sufficient merit in point of performance, to recommend itself; and with me, I confess, such impressions would have induced a very long pause, before that I should have volunteered (and a volunteer I am upon the present service) to solicit the public favour, but upon those grounds.

The Author's own Preface hath very modestly explained what the Reader of these Essays hath to expect in the perusal of them.. And the manner in which the several subjects are treated cannot fail to show, at the same time, that the mere recommendation of them, had that been all intended from it, would have been altogether superseded..

But if I feel myself prompted (as I really do) to step beyond the usual boundary, in calling the attention of serious minds to the very interesting truths contained in these Essays, I still venture to hope that the motives. which I take with me will more than plead my apology, nay, even conci-liate favour.

Let it be recollected, by the Reader,