fit something of this kind fhould be contrived, which might ferve the Reader's neceffity to the greatest advantage, that might be short and perfpicuous, cheap and eafie to be purchased, and after all fuch as bears the ftamp of publick allowance. For the following Notes, I fhall not need fay much, having acquainted the Reader already with the Occafion of them. Some few things I think fit to add: First, That I have all along made the Hebrew Text my Rule; nor do I fee how I could do otherwife, I am fure this is agreeable to the Sense of the Church of England; and this was the Rule which our Tranflators were go verned by on Loid aids Secondly, That I have never attempt ed to advance any private Opinion, nor in the leaft departed from my Rule, for any Confideration whatfoever. And though I have a great Opinion both of the the LXXII Interpreters (especially on the Pentateuch) and no mean one of the Vulgar Latin, and have with fome labour compared them; yet I have always had my Eye on the Hebrew Text, as upon the Rule which was to govern me. Nothing could tempt me to al, *er the Hebrew Text, or to depart from it. Thirdly, I must own, that as to the Senfe of the Text, I have received confiderable affiftance from the Ancient Ins terpreters, and from the Modern; efpe cially from the LXXII, the Vulgar and the Targum of Onkelos; (which is gene rally a Version rather than a Paraphrafe) nor hath the Syriac been forgot, and the Samaritan hath upon occafion been confidered. For the Modern Verfions I know none better than our own in En glish, that of Diodati in Italian, and the Tigurin in Latin, which have been con fidered in the following Notes. Fourthly, Nor have I neglected fo fephus and Philo the Jew. I have confidered how they have rendred 'the words of the Pentateuch as they have cited them on occafion, and what other accounts they have given of many paffages of thefe Books. Nor have I over-looked the Rabbinical Commentators: And I have received great help from Maimon efpecially, whom I have frequently confulted, and made ufe of upon this occafion. I am fully of opinion the Writings of that Jew (next to the Sacred) are one of the greatest Bleffings that the learned World hath. And that if young Divines would read his Works with due care, they would arrive at a greater degree of Scriptureknowledge, than by all the other methods which are ufually taken. I do not wonder that the Jews, when they fpeak of Mofes Maimonides, fhould fay, That, from Mofes to Mofes, there never was a Man like Mofes. Fifthly, Fifthly, I have endeavoured to make things as plain as I can to the ordihary Reader. I have ftudied to be short, and not to difturb the Reader with hard Words, or unneceffary Quotations. For those few Quotations I have, they are not taken upon Truft, but İ have conftantly seen with my own Eyes. What-ever defects there may be found in this Work, this I can truly fay for my felf, That I have diligently purfued the Truth: And fhall be very ready to liften to any Man that fhall fhew me my mistakes, and fhall moft readi ly retract them. I have used what care I could to minifter to the Neceffities of others, and done what lies in me to this purpose. I am fond of no fingular Opinions, have purfued no worldly Advantage, and (what-ever Cenfure I may meet with from abroad) I am not confcious to my felf of any want of diligence or integrity. ( b 2 ) |