NOTES ON CHAPTER Till.
Terse 1. Nov in the tyre^h monlK] What a number of providencea, and none of them apparently of an extraordinary nature, concurred to preserve a people so signally, and, to all human appearanrp, inevitably doomed to destruction! None ore ever too low for God lo lift np: too high for God to cast down. Must not theaa heathens have obaerved, that the uneontrolUUe hand of an Almigh^ Being had worked in behalf o( the Jews I And must not thia have had a powerfiil tendency to diseredit the idolatry of the counts 1
Terse 3. And all rultra qf^e province*] Mordecai being n\an\ lo the highest confidence uf the king, and to have authority over the whole realm i these offioera aaaistad the J«w% no doubt, with the troops under tbeir conunaod, to overdirow iboss who availed awmaclvee of tbs tbmsr decree to molest the Jews. For it does not sppear that lbs Jswa slew any person who did not rise up to oestrtpy then. Sea var. 5.
Terse 6. And in Skutlian] It is atraoge that in this city, where the king's mind mnstfanve been so well known, Ihersibould be fiNndJM hundnd persooa to rise n in
IQ k The tea sons of Haraan the son or Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jewa, elen they; t but on the spoil laid they not their hand.
1 1 On that day the number of those that were iriain in Sbusban the palace was brought before the kinc.
12 IT And the kin^ said unto Esther the queen, The Jewfl have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shashan the palfu», and the ten sons of H&man; what have they done in the rest of the kinz's provinces? Now, "what is thy petition? and it shall be fcranted thee: or wiiat it thy remiest forther? and it shall be done.
13 Tlwn said Esther, If it please the king, let h be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to4o to-morrow also "according unto this day's deeree. and * let Hamao's ten sons ' be lianged upon the caUows.
14 Aadthe king commanded it so to be done: •ad the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanced Haman*s ten sons.
Id For the Jews that vere in Shuahan ■ gathered dieinselTes together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew tJiree hundred men at Shushan; » but on the prey they laid not their hand.
16 But the other Jews that vere in the king's provinces 'gathered themselves togeUier, and stood for their lives, and had rest frun their eoenuas, and slew of their foes seventy and five thouaaod, ' but the^ laid aot their hands oa the prey.
17 On the tairteenth day of the ntonth Adar; ud on the fourteenth day * of the sEuue rested Ihnr* and made it a day of feastinr and gladness.
IB But tlM Jews that were at ShushaA assembled Mgether 'on the thirteenth day thereof •ad oa the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made k a day of fieastiiw and gladness.
19 Therefore tiva Jews of the villages, that dwelt in theuawalled towns.made the fourteenth day of the month Adar ' a daa if gladness and feasting, ■ and a good day, and of* sending portions one to another.
SOlTAsdMordecat wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that toere in all the prownees ofthe king Ahmroerus, 6o^A. ni?h and far.
Verw 10. jyie ten Mon$ iif Haman] Their names are givsn above. And it im remarked here, and in ver. 16. where the account n given of the number slain in the pro- TinooL that the Jews laid no hand on the apoiL They stood for dteir live*, and gave AiU pmor tlmt they sought fheir own sereonol safeQr, and not the property of iheir memleat though the decree in their favour gave them suthori^ U> take the property of all those who were their adversaries, ebM>. viii. ti.
Terse 13. Let JEbnuin's aotu ie hanfted} They had been alaio the preceding day; end now die reqnestt that they rntqr be exposed on poeia or gibbets, as a terror to dtoae who sought the destruction of Ue Jews.
Verso IB. And stew three hundred men) Esther liad probably been informed by Mordeciu, that there were still many enemies of the Jews who sought their destruction, who had escaped the preceding day; and, therefore, begs •lat this teamd day be added to the former permission. This bans accordingly granted, they found three hundred more. In all e£gAl hundred. Aai thus Susa was pnixed of all their enemies.
Ter. 19. TTieJew — tu»embled~on Ike Airteenih—and on the fourteenth] These two days ihey were employed in slaying their enemies: and they rested on the Jljteenth,
Verse 19. I^e Jews of the vilbtgn} They joined llutt to the preeeding day, ana mode it a day of festivity, and qf tei^ng vortioM to each othtr; lli tt is, die riA sent portions of the sacrifices slain on tfits oecasion to the poor, that they also mi^t be enabled to make the day a day of festivity; that as the »orrcm was general, so also micht the joy be.
It is worthy of remark, that the ancient JJalo or AniehUronymian version of this book omit* the whole of these nineteen, verses.
VeisB m JUMoBoi vrobffl^e tMnga^ It has been
31 To stubliuh li£s ancmc them, that ibsr should keep *■ the fourteenth day of the mtnlii Adar, and tne fiAeenth day of the same, yearly,
22 Ab the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the mont h which was * turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from moorning into a good day: that they should make them days of leasting and jo^, and of'' sending portioos one to another, and gifts to the poor.
S3 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them \
24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, 'bad devis^ a^inst the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to 'consume tbcm, and to destroy them;
25 But < when ^ Esther came belbre the kuig, he commanded hv letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should > return tmen his own head, and tliat be aad hia sum should be hanged oa the gallows.
adWhereforetheycaflea these days Purim.after the name oT^ Pur. Therefere.foriul thewerdst^ 1 this letter, and of thai which they had seen concerning thi8matter,andwbich had come onto them>
27 The Jews ordained, and took upon tbem, and upon their seed, and upon all such as " joined themselves unto them, so as it should not 'Ikfl, that they would keep these two da^'s ac«ordjqr to their writing,andaecording to their iqqwiaM time, every year;
28 And tibo/ these days sAottfdfttfreroenidterrd and kepjE throughout every generation, every family, every wovince, and every city; eiid tkat these days m Purim sboidd not " lafl from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them f perish fron their seed.
29 Then Esther the queen, ' the daughter of Ahihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wroie with 'all authority, to confirm this 'second letter of Parini.
30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jen, to " the biuidrad twenty and seven provineee or the kingdom of Ahasu^us, vUh words nf peaee and truth,
31 To confirm Aese days of Parim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen haa enjoined them, and as they had decreed * for themselves and for their
seed, the maiters of * the faatings and thrir cry.
supposed dmt thus for that part of the Book of Esther, vriiich was written Mcurdieait extends: what follows, to the end, was probably added either by Exra, or the wot qf the great eynagogne; thourh what is said here may refer only to the letters sent by Morderai to the Jews of w provinces. From this to the end of the rhapler is uo^^ig else than a recapitulation of the chief heads of (he ihujuBms history, and an account of the appointment of an aniRml feast, railed thejeatt of Purim, in commemoration of then provideniial denverance from the inalie« of Hainan.
Verse 23. Thejewunderiodctodoattheyhadleewn] They had alrearly kept the JlfleenA day, and some of ibem in the country the Jburteentk also, as 'a day of ri>joi«inc: Mordecai wrote to them to bind themselves aad the» snrcesBora, and all their proselytes, to eelebraie this as as annuo/./Vast throuriiout all Iheir seimattona; and this they vntirrtook to do. And it haa been observed ament them, in all place* of their dieperaimi, from Atat day m tfas present time, without any intermption.
Verse 16. Tlieyealiea theaedaya furim] Tymi\a,tn>m tcPjif P'^ri, the lot: becuise, aswe liave seesi, Hamas rasc lots to find what month, and what day of the mouth, wonW be most favourahl<> for the acoompliabotent <rf his bioodj dasignaaninstlheJews. Seeoncn.iii.7.; andiorthenuBer in which this feaat it now kept, see at the end of the hsafc.
And of that vhiA they had seen] The jlrsf Wtarto which diis second refers, most be that seat by MariRsi himself. See ver. 30.
Verse 29. Esther-^wrtOe wiA aU sWAsKfy] EsthH-snd Mordecai had the kiiq^s liecme so to do ( mod disir cmm authority was great aiia extensive.
Verse 31. A$ tkey had decrmd for OmuoIm* am4far their teed] TherQ is no meBtion «f thrar dis s{pn>batim (tf any ftifftpries^ n«r of any SBiInf^
32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these maxtersof Purim; and it was written in the book.
ND the king Ahaeuerus laid a tribute upon tlie land, and upon 'the isles of the »ea.
8 And all the acta of his power and of hie
that of Hordecai And Eather: the king rould not join in Mich & busineu, aa he had nothing to do with the Jewish religion) that not being the retifion of ihe countrjr.
Vem 32. 'ITte decree of Eslher confirmed thtae matlert] It was received by the Jews universally whh all respect, aod they bound ihemaelvea to abide by ii.
The Vtdgate gives a atrai^w turn to this verae: Et omnia qua librilMhta, qui toeatar Ea&er, kUtoriS continmtw; "And all things which are oontaioed in the history of this book, which is called Esther."
Tlie Targumwayv, AndbytiievKyrd of Esther all Buee thinga relative to Ihtrim were confirmed; and Ihe roU was traaoeribtd in IhU book. The Skriae is the same as the Hebrev, and iIib SsfAm^nt in lals place not much differeuL
Tens 1. Laid a tribute upon th« Umd\ On the one hundred and twetity-sertai provinces of which we have mlready beard.
TTie itles of Ihe sea.] Probably the isles of the JEi^eUk >ea, which were conquered by Dariut Hyalaapea. Catmet aoppoaee that this mslaapea is the Ahaiuerua of Eether.
VerM2. JTu boiSc o^ Ihe CKronidta—af Media and Parna[ Tbft Fwviana have ever been remarkable for kee|H ins exact chroniclea of all public eveota. Their Toreemay ■which are compositions of this kind, are still very numeroui^ and indeed very important.
Verse 3. Was next unto King Ahamurua] Be was his prime minister; and, under him, was the governor of the whole empire.
The Tarram is extravagant in its encomiums upcm Mordedu: "All the kin^ of the earth feared and trembled ljefi>re him: he was as resplendent as the evening star ttmon^ the stars; and was as bright as Aurora bearouig forth in the moming; and be waa chief of the Jews."
Seekinr the vealtK qf Itia people^ Studying to pnunola the Jewish interest to the utmost of bis powes.
Speaking peace to all hi* teedJ] Endeavouring to eetde their prospen^ on such a basis, that it might be /or eter jMrmatuat. Him the ifiifcrm text ands; mi in the ancient VulgaU, and in the Orsst, tot verses are added to this copter, and nx vfutle chaptert besides; so that the nuntber of ou^itersia £«2A«raraountstos£z4em. Atranslation of these may be found iu the Apocrjmbo, bound up with the Sacred Text, in most of our larger English Bibles. On any part of this work it is not my province to add any comraenL This is the last of the historical book* of the Old Testament; for, from this time to the birth of Christ they had no iaapired writers; and the interval of their history must be sou^t amon; the Apocryphal writera, and other hisioriaos who have written On Jewish anairt. The most complete rupplemeni to this history will be found in that most eateeliml vork of Dean Prideaujr^eaMed The Old and New Testament eonneeUi in the Hittory qf the Jewt and neighbouring naiionM, from the declention <^ the kingdomtqf JfrMandJudahtothetitntiifCiiRiBT,4vo\t. 8vo. 1725. The editions prior to this date sre not so complete- I shall place a summary of the Jewish history, from Ihalimeof Esther to the Incarnation, at the end of the book.
We have already seen what the jeaet <if Pi;bih means, and why it was instituted: nothing remains but thai we show the manner in which it is celebrated amons the Jews in the present time, wliich is probabljr veiy little, if any thing, dinerent from the manner in whidi it was eelobraied from the timp r>f iis institution.
The day before Ihc fcnat the Jews obsei've oa a foat, beoUiae on Oiis diiy tlie fiiihcrs Ihsted when ihev were threatened will) uElcr dcsiruciion byHaman, arMl when they were gathering together to stand for their lives, "nie two following da^s are merely bacchanalian, or days of high ft'oaiine, tirioking, and mirth; for, on these days, they hold it tawfid to drink till they are unable to discern between the curses on Hanum, and the blessings on MofdecaL The chaasaa reads the whole Book of Esther, not out of a printed copy, but from a roll, generallv containing this book alone. All, men, wom#n, and children, who are aMe u aiteiHl. are requirmi tu com a ut thi« trMt, and to join in the reading, for (h» bvUer ^nt^nwMa of the iMbUiuiy uf (hia important fccL 'When ibs roll ia
mi^ht, and the declaration of the rreotaeu of Mordecai. ''whereunto the king « advanced him, are they not written in the book of the Chrontcles of the kings of Media and Persia?
3 For Mordecai the Jew was <* next unto Kiitg AhaeueruB, and great among' the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of hisbrethren, • seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
imfolded, the chassan says, " Blessed be Ood, the King of the World, who httth sanctified us bj his precepts^ and commanded us to read the MegiUah! Blessed oe God, who in those days worked miracles fir our fkthers P' As often OB the name of Haman occurs, alt the auditory cry out let hia name be blotted outl Hay the memofy M the wicked rot 1 Ttie diildren at the same time hissmg, and striking loudly on the forms with Ultle wooden hammen^ made for thejMirpose.
When the reader comes to the viidi, viiidi, and utth verses of the ixth chapter, where tlw names of Raman's ten sbns occur, he pronounces them with great lapidi^, and in one breadi, to intimate that they were al] haage& and expired in the same moment. In most MSS. MM printed editions of the Book of Eaiher the ten names, contained in the verses ah«ady mentioDed, are written under each o^er in ten Unes, no outer word beii^ eonmeledwith them. The reason of tiits ia, to exhibit the manner in wh^ they were hanged, viz. on a pote Jl/ry cabits, thatissevotfy- Jive ftet high: each of the brothers being immediately suspended, the one under die oittei, in one perpendimlar lti>e.
When the chassan has finished the readink all cry aloo^ Cursed be HamanI Blessed be Mordeofil Cnmd b« Zwohl Blessed be Eadier! Cursed be an idcdsiersl Blessed be all dte IsraeliiesI And blessed likewiis Harbonah, at whose instance Hainan was hanged!
On this feast they send portions to each other, and pardcularly to the poor, that they may be able to partake of the general hi^piness.
To excite and increase mirdi, the men put oaths womui's ^»parel, and the women the men's; fbr^dioiightbisis posinvehr forbidden hy the law, yet thagr oonsidBr it innocent on this occasion, aa it is done only to inersase the f^vi^.
In former times they mode a man of straw, which they eallsd Haman, put it on a crosi^ and burnt both. To this the T^irgum refers. It was discovered at last that this was intended, indirectly, to east oonlempt on the Chriatiui rsligioB, Haman, the man of straw nn the cross, representing our blessed Lord crucified. This part of the eeremonr the emperors Juatmian and Tlieodosiua ordered them to dtaeonnnue, on pain of loaing all their secular privil^;ea i and from that time this part of the ceremony lUM been dis* continued.
In some places they bring a huve stoae to the door of the Bynag(^u& on which the name of Hainan is written; and when in the course of die reading that name occurs, din beat on this fictitious Haman, with atonea, till they Weox it all to pieces.
It is said, diat the disorders Mrnimitted in the synagogues on the feast of Purim are so great, that the joiners are sure to have considerable labour at the conclusi<m, to repair the damages done among the seats, Ac in the synagogue. It seems, on the whole, that the fi»st is by no means a religious one; and that uiere ta not one act performed ia It that has any tendency to enlighten the understanding or improve the heart. Indeed, the Jew^ bad as they night have been before the feast of Purim, ore much leas Miartii uf Abrahnm at the conclusittn than they were before.
For farther information on this subject, ^ould the reader think he has not got enough, I bog him to refer to Bustotf, heittden, Stektin, and Calmefe I>ictioDary, article Air.
The following excelleat remarks on the history of the Jews from the B^loi^ ouiivity I borrow f^m Dr. John Ihj/lor'e scheme of fib-^tfurs DivinUjf t and make no doubt I abdl have the thanks of vnrf reado* whoss thanks are worth Aan'njr.
"After the Babylonish captivity, the Jews no mom lapsed into idolatry t hut remained steady in the acknowledgment and worship ftf the one living and true OlA Even dieo tliey fell inin new ■wt.ym of perverting reli^iOD, and the wise and holy intenitoas of the divine wwt— Is^ By laying all the stress 00 the extemai and lt$» momenlout parts of it, while they neglected the veirhty and tubttan- IMiUusktrfiness of heart and life. •HankindnetooMsily dr.iwu into this error: -^h^ S^^:A3''?T^L^'
Bion, ihey tti too apl w IssltQ to Btiy me-lhoda by ^^iijrh It mJiy be reduced to a ecriBiBiciicy w ith the prflfyfcfltfwft pf iA«r paarionst pf^idt^ n.nd clfan'c*. Thtii, tiy pliwing retii^ian in mere ^^/w-sion^ or in the KcdliUim tiliEerraiK* m rilis Biid cefBLimics, iimic^d of raii j'Uty, truth, puntij, and g-d«dn«M, ibey Jeai-n lu be reifi^wjti* wiiJjoiil nriliic. By ■jpcculaiiiig «id commsnting upon Ujb divine commandfl «nJ iiiBCiimionii till tLcir force iB^uite enerviteJ, and itiey are rofiiiwl mtu a ecnac lhal will coaimodiously nllow a Bli£;lil regnrd luai™! of aincere obedience. SJIy, By CMiBniriiiig anJ csinliliHliiiif; Uie iwfl former nt'cdioda of corni[iiin^ M?liL;jt»n iiy LrEnlilion, mid lite B-niliarily uf learn(>d rabtiina, |jrei villi 11^ iIihi vli*^rt.' was a. ayntem of religious ruks deliveri^i by nrirrd of Tnautli from MrwcB, cxplBJMlPTy ef the writlen law, known oa\y to iViOee rnbbinBi to wlieae judgment, Uifrefofe, aad dccLsicHil, (Ul itte people wert lA itibmil.
" Tbii in lime (ihe Hfia^^ at Iteo hvndred and ainttten
Jeam) became llip Reiiural alfite of reli^'-ioil among tlip Ewa, B.rieF ill ey hill tiiecarJeid dolairj"; wiii ihie apini [>reniled nmone Tlj^in Tor Fome ogca, (fu-c Jjunc/mJ^ an:/ ninrfy ypaffi.) before die eoming of Measioh: but, hi^wever, i;aid not LDterfprt willi iht mdn lyBiem of prcviJeccc, or iho introducing the koowlmlgc of God nmoEiK llw nwiiom, u t.hiey bilL iMULhriued alemifeiBi s.ft 'lie ^^'C■^shlp of the true Gmi, without danger of ■deviadng fr^Mr il
" TliuB the Jswi were prDrured by the prec-ediiindiflpefh- Wtion ftt^ tlie reception of tfie Al^sciAh, ariiJ llie just notiona of ihc religion wJiicU hft wttti Ktiv i» nirnlrtttc; infloniuch lliat their guilt muit be Inglily nsgrnvftlwl, if they t«j« ted him, and hii inairjetitinH. Il could doI bp forwant of rapadiy, buLuf integrity; aiid mint bc Bnigncd to wilful blinJueaa ami obduntc)', Oui of regard to IcmpotaJ power, pi-nnHciAr, and enjoymenta, Ibey loved dark- Dcas rnthrr than light.
" For luaay &gf* the JeWa bad been well koovn in the eastern empire macag ihc Assyrians, Cfiuldeant, Ahdcs, and Pasian'; Ihii, till the unic nf AteiauiJer tli& Great, they had no comjnuiiicalion ivith the G'reciatiJ.
''About the year befaTe Chrial 33? Alexander buih AUxandfia in Kgypl; tm J, Ui people hia neu t-iiy, rf^iooved ihittier tniiJiy of ttic Jetc^, Mowing them the viae of Iheir own lawa and reli^un, lind llic B&me libeilieA with tlie Mienfoniflrt* iheriiselvfs. The Macsdonipjua who apakp the Grei;!! Santjuage, en-d oiher Grpelid, werp ihe priiii:ijinl inhabiiarkis uf Atexaiidria: from them tlie Jews h-nnii-d 10 npeak Greek, whidi wai the comrnuii lajagivi^e of tbn Ciiy, and which soon, beratne Ihe naiive laiigiiEigG of [he JeWK that livi^ there, vho, On that accOtLnt, were called HdleniaU,. or Greet JstM, mentioned Ads vi, 1, 9, 1 1, 30 These Greek Jews had synH^ogueB in Alpxnndrin; antl for their benefit the /'Ece Boohs nf i\tusM, wliicK alt/ne a( first ■were publicly read, were iraiiHlaLed iilio Orcek, (by whumin uiirenaiDjJawl wera ruiiJiti their ayrnau^Ti^a evi?ry sal-iljaih day: and in the fiirn'- of A'Moektu t-inphanes, about I68 yeara b*'rai-R Christ, the jrrapiirJs alao were translaled iato Grefik for the ube of the Alesaadriaii Jews.
"TTlis translaliotk coniributcfl mnri\ to ilte eprejiding the luiov.'le'tgc of inie re-liifion iimong!lie naliuriB in ttie weetem part* of th? worlJ.
'■ Fof the JeWB, thuir sjiinffofnies n.nd worship wer^ after AleJ:a|Mler''H death Jieperae^ aliBoat every where njnong the nalioru. Plalcny, oDe of Alenander'a Bijcceaaors, having rrduced J^'rTJealenl &n<t 41! Jtjdca about 320 yeira before Chnsr, wirrifd oim ku-ndred IhoriKand Jews into!E|^pt, and lliere raiaed eon-sidd'ahle nuiiibcrg of iherni tii pbt^ea of Irual nnH pow«r; and a<>\'eral of them lio placed ID Cyrcne, bdJ Lihm. Sj/^jctw, onoilier of Alraander'a MVCCCiS^tiiB, alwiiL 300 yenra before Oiriat, built Aiilioch in CLILcia, anJ many oilier cities, in nil thirty-Jtve, ajid acrdo of the capiuil <;itifa iti ihe Greater mini Lcskt Ahih, in a|] whifh he planted yiv^ Jews, ^'ving them eijnal pmilp^a ar^il iiiLmuniiiea with (he Gj^celiB jiiid Mar^rloniaiis, especially at Antioch, tn Syria, \vli?ri" lht;y settled in grotil itumbera, and becaiue fliinoat ng considcmlile a pnrt of that city U they wci^ at AleRarulria^ On thot laemLirabte rlay of penieroBt, Acta ii. 5, 9, 11, 1'2, were aueinbled in Jeruaalem Jeiei, dcraut men out of treiy iicttiun under Aeoren, namely, ParihianB, Medea, and Persiana, of the province of Elymnis, inhabitanta of MeHOpotamia, Jiidea, Cappadocio, Ponl'iB. Aaiii, Phrytjia, Pampliylia, Ej:ypt, Cyrene in Libvft, ana Rume, tftea, and Arabs, who w^re all tiiher 3ewa natiiml, or dermd men, i. e. proaelytu to the Jewish religion. And in ev-fry city of the Roman empire, ■wbefe Paul preached, be fouTtij a l>t>dy of hLi ctjunirvmen the Jew*, exeeni in Aihrtia, whirfi was ac that time, 1 snp- J>aMt a lowti of no eoDii'dera'ble trade: which showa lliat the Jcwiaod their ly nag ogiicf, at the titue of our Lord's &ppmnmcc, wttii pravidentially acaUered overall iheRotnan
empire. and had IneverypUceiTiUoJuced moTecrk^aoiMie ihc miioot the knowledge and wofahip of God; and *) kad prepared great itumhera for the recepljoa of the GoohI.
"About the time that Aleaandet built Aleiuwia » El^vpt, the iiK of the papyi-itt for wntinij was foiad M in lbat pwintry. Thifi ini-ention was m favuiirvblc talitetaiure, tlmt PtaJemy Soterwas thereby enaljlert wereeta 7Jiir«fiiHi,nr«6ru™, vhirh by hiKon and aurj-wiwr, WKladthihus, who di-'J (i» huiidred and /orly-srrtn ytun before Chriil, WM memented to Mtxen hundred rAotwund volumea, Pnrt of thia lUwaiy happeiied to be burnt whm J^fitu Cvtar laid sbegeto AleJtwdna: but, after th^ icM, it was again mufh augmenied; and woo grev bp Id b« larger, awl of more emini^nt note, ihajx the wmer: tiU M Iciipth it waa Luiiit and finally dejirnyed fc^ the Sarano^ in tJie year af our LifrJ Thia plaiuly prow Itnl
milch the InvMition of iiimiiiK llie jutpyruM itlo psfwr cijniribuied to the incrpaae of boaki, and the advaiKvnieal of lenrniog, for wme a^es before the eouiing of our Lord. Add 10 bJ] this, "bat thie world, after niany changea Arid re vol I iti cm By waa, by God'a oll-rulijig wiiHJt>ni, thrown into that form of civil alTairji, uhieh bcBt ffiited wuh ilw gitai iijrciiil«d alteruiion. The many petty staiea and lyiamue^ whose i»afliionB and higofry niii-bt have ruii COint^r w the Bchemea. of prcivideoc-i', w-erp all awallowed upiTiOWgr9t power, the IloMAir, 10 whifh all appeala toy: line walot which, Rvme, |iy at a great diatance from Jerturtbwf tlieeprin? rram whieh tlie GtMpel wa* 10 fite. aod Aovio all iiationa: and, therefore, Bi no mUerial cbBtntrtkmialfaa Goapel eould conic Vui from one ^ptaTir^y none maiA endff/Ti^ arise from thciicc, but only ni jmxtm \^ tint whrtt the Gospel woa Hufficiently opened and ea»ablu4*d; aa it did n« in the least interfere With die Rmaan peli^ knd fforemment,
"The GoHpel vaa firat published in ailciwCff rfnmt pease and tranquillHy thro^ui!!]tmt iHeif*oic vtyriii, wtnA give the preachera ofit on onpaniuiity of pfiMinf freely fiKua oiie eountry to aiiniher, and the uundaof lucC the advulaee of ntieod^ng calmly to it.
"''Many aavnge tiaijons were civilised by the Ranon^ QTid acquai'iicd widi the cwta and vinuM of their coajattora. Thiu ihe dArkeat e-ountriea bad; their ih^ght^awihen-^d, and wei'e crowing to a capacitv of r^iviofr ai dK (iralfd lime the knowkBge of true ixJipion: to tbot all thjnga and circumUJificte coii«pirfd new w)ih die v(ew« of H-eaven, mid njofle thu apparently tliefufnttt of fnto<^ (Gn,!. tv. 4.) or the fi:ttgt jtindnre fnr Qott revtal hnaaelf to the Gtmtiha, and to put an end fo idolatry ihrocghout the HTth, Now the minda of men wrjr gejicralJy ripe for a purer and brighletdiapenration; and the cirniiiulAim* of the wOrM were atich aj favoured the pi«rrtMof it." p.36EL
END OP TSt NOTBS ON
Hafcd nnd dfjpi.qed aa the Jetr* were Hnioni* the proud Ffomanii, and the wilt inrirp itroud and aufviTiliou* Grtcka, their Biijoiir!iing among ihecn, aijd thc-ir Grctkrfrtiim tif ihe Scrlp{v.rt£. comDionty ca^lled the Sfpiua^nl, were ihc meoDfl of furtiiBbing them with truer notiona, and a more difltinct koowled^ of rice and rirlue, than they e'er Iifld hefure..\nd, oil e:X ami nation, wo dilll find dnai from liie lime of Alexonder'a cDnijueai ol JiKlec, a little mora (hfin three hundred yeara before our l.tiriJ, both CcMka nnd Romana became more correct in their theoloipn] cpintona f and the sect of edetrlie pMlctopher^, wham wu to select from aU pracedinf^ seel* what waa moat oMi- Bieieni with reason and truth, w«re oot a liltle imlebtetf IQ the progreaa which the light of God. disperuetf by loeMM of the Sep(tia^in(i hod made in the he/uh<5n ivoiM. And 1** it be reniemberc*! tiiat for^eiH', who were seiiled la Grrciaa roiinlries, IhvB veraion wns mad^; and by ihooc/eiAt it WW i?Brripd liirmigh all the places of llielr dtneraion.
To this ro-iton Chnaiiatmy, under Ood. awea muA. To ihia version we art indebted fur nieh a linowtadgc of the Hettrne originjilB of the Old Teatanicbl. u we eould tievei-have had without ii; ihe pire Hebrew havir»jre««rd to lic verrwolar after the Bahvloiiiah enptivity: and 3twim -Chriai wid hia Bpostlea huve stamped at* mfiiU'c '^hje upon ir, by the geilerni use they have mide of ii in A" rJew Tcfiianicnt: perhopa never om-e quotJH:^, dimMj^ Hebrew text, or ULiiivg any oiher rerrion (tiac nrn* copy of file Seplrtai^int. By thii veraioii,. ihcQ^h pn^ phecy had ccjued IrOin the Limei of Eirm l*aniel, mnd Malachi, yet the law apd the propheta were r»ntimtud da-urn to the lime qf Cbj-ist: and thia waa Utt grand tbfdium by which this rflnvejaiicfr wa* roade- Acid wfcy «• this veraion ficjglecTedl 1 heiiiate rnw to awn, thai no man can ever [fain a ihoroueh krowledge of ihc pAri***- alaey of the.VertF Testmmtm vritert who i» itoac'iuaintad wiUi thia version; or hoi not profiled by vjrh vnten deiHved their knnwledge from ii- il- Ct*Mx*.