Commentary on the Holy Bible

FOR WHATSOEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN AFORETDIE WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING; THAT WE, THROUGK PATIENCE AND COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES. MIGHT HAVE HOPE.— Rom. IV. 4.

n^HE diffeient nations of the earth, which have received the Old and New Testaments as a Divine -*- revelation, have not only had them carefully translated into their respective languages, but have also agreed in the propriety and necessity of illustrating them by comments. At first, the insertion of a word or sentence in the margin, explaining some particular word in the text, appears to have constituted the whole of the comment. Afterwards, these were mingled with the text, but with such marks as served to distinguish them from the words they were intended to illustrate; sometimes the cominent was interlined with the text, and at other times it occupied a space at the bottom of the page.

Ancient comments written in all these various ways I have often seen; and a Bible now lies before rae, written, probably, before the time of Wiclif, where the glosses are all incorporated with the text, and only distinguished from it by a line underneath; the line evidently added by a later hand. As a matter of curiosity I shall introduce a few specimens.

Comments written in this way have given birth to multitudes of the various readings afforded by ancient manuscripts; for the notes of distinction being omitted or neglected, the gloss was often considered as an integral part.of the text, and entered accordingly by succeeding copyists.

This is particularly remarkable in the Vulgate, which abounds with explanatory words and phrases, similar to those in the preceding quotations. In the Septuagint also, traces of this custom are easily discernible, and to this circumstance many of its various readings may be attributed.

In proportion to the distance of time from the period in which the sacred oracles were delivered, the necessity of comments became more apparent; for the political state of the people to whom the Scriptures were originally given, as well as that of the surrounding nations, being in the lapse of time essentially changed, hence was found the necessity of historical and chronological notes, to illustrate the facts related in the sacred books.

Did the nature of this preface permit, it might be useful to enter into a detailed history of commentators and their works, and show by what gradations they proceeded from simple rerJcZ glosses to those colossal accumulations in which the words of God lie buried in the sayings of men. But, ■ this at present is impracticable; a short sketch must therefore suffice.

Perhaps the most ancient comments containing merely verbal glosses were the Chaldce Paraphrases, or Targums, particularly those of Onkelos on the Law, and Jonathan on the Prophets; the former written a short time before the Christian era, the latter about fifty years after tlie incarnation. These comments are rather glosses on words, than an exposition of things; and the former is little more than a verbal translation of the Hebrew text into pure Chaldee.

The Targum Yerushlemey is written in the manner of the two former, and contains a paraphrase, in very corrupt Chaldee, on select parts of the five books of Moses.

The Targum ascribed to Jonathan hen Uzziel embraces the whole of the Pentateuch, but is disgraced with the most ridiculous and incredible fables.

Among the Jews, several eminent commentators;i|)j)eared at different times, besides the Targvmists already mentioned, who endeavoured to illnstralc difierent parts of the Law and the Prophets.— Philo Jud.f.vs may be reckoned among these; liis works contain several curious treatises in explication of difierent parts of the Hebrew Scriptures. He flourished about A. D. 40.

JosEfiius may be fairly ranked among commentators; the first twelve books of his Jewish Anti quities arc a regular paraplirase and comment on tlie political and ecclesiastical history of the Jews as given in the Bible, from the foundation of the world to the time of the Asmoneans or Maccabees. He flourished about A. D. 80.

It is well known that the Mishnah, or oral law of the Jews, is a pretended comment on the five books of Moses. This was compiled from innumerable traditions hy Rabbi Judah Halkadosh, probably about the year of our Lord 150.

The Talmud.s, both o( Jerusalem and Babylon, are a comment on the Mish7tah. The former was compiled about A. D. 300, the latter about 200 years after.

ChaldecTargums, or Paraphrases, have been written on all the books of the Old Testament; some parts of the book of Ezra, and the book of Daniel, excepted; which, being originally written in Chaldee, did not require for the purpose of being read during the captivity any farther explanation. When the London Polyglot was put to press no Targum was found on the two books of Chronicles; but after that work was printed, a Targum on these two books was discovered in the university of Cambridge, and printed at Amsterdam, with a Latin translation, 4to, 1715, by Mr. D. Wilkins. It is attributed to Rabbi Joseph the Blind, who flourished about A. D. 400.

The Masorets were the most extensive Jewish commentators which that nation could ever boast. Tlie system o( punctuation, probably invented by them, is a continual gloss on the Law and Prophets; their i^oivel points, and prosaic and metrical accents, &c., give every word to which they are aflixed a peculiar kind of meaning, which in their simple state multitudes of them can by no means bear. The vowel points alone add whole conjugations to the language. This system is one of the most artificial, particular, and extensive comments ever written on the word of God; for there is not one word in the Bible that is not the subject of a particular gloss through its influence. This school is supposed to have commenced about 450 j-ears before our Lord, and to have extended down to A. D. 1030. Some think it did not coinmence before the fifth century.

Rabbi Saadias Gaon, about A. D. 930, wrote a commentary upon Daniel, and some other parts of Scripture; and translated in a literal and very faithful manner the whole of the Old Testament into the Arabic language. The Pentateuch of this translation has been printed by Erpenius, I^ugd. Bat. 1622, 4to. A MS. copy of Saadias's translation of the Pentateuch, probably as old as the author, is now in my own library.

Rabbi SoLo.MON Jarchi or Isaaki, who flourished in A. D. 1140, wrote a commentary on the whole Bible, so completely obscure in many places, as to require a very large comment to make it intelligible.

In 1160 Aden Ezra, a justly celebrated Spanish rabbin, flourished; his commentaries on the Bible are deservedly esteemed both by Jews and Gentiles.

Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, commonly called Maimonides, also ranks high among the Jewish commentators; his work entitled Morcli Nebochim, or Teacher of the Perplexed, is a very excellent illustration of some of the most diflicult words and things in the sacred writings. He flourished about A. D. 1160.

Rabbi David Kuichi, a Spanish Jew, wrote a very useful comment on most books of the Old Testament: his comment on the Prophet Isaiah is peculiarly excellent. He flourished about A. D. 1220.

Rabbi Jacob Baal Hatturim flourished A. D. 1300, and wrote short notes or observations on the Pentateuch, principallv eabalistical.

Rabbi Levi hen Gekshoji, a Spanish Jew and physician, died A. D. 1370. He was a very voluiuinous author, and wrote some esteemed comments on difierent parts of Scripture, especially the fire books of Moses.

Rabbi Isaac Abarbanel or Abravanel, a Portuguese Jew, who was born A. D. 1437, and died A. D. 1508, also wrote extensive commentaries on the Scriptures, which are highly esteemed by the Jews.

Rabbinoo Isaiah wrote select notes or observations on the books of Samuel.

Rabbi Moses Mendelssohn, a German Jew, born at Dissau, in 1729, was one of the most learned Jews that has flourished since the days of the prophets; a man to whose vast mental powers was added a very aniial)lc disposition, and truly jihilanthropic heart. He wrote Nesibut Hashshalom, i. e., the Path of Peace; the five books of Moses, with a commentary, and German translation: Ritual laws of the Jews; the Psalms of David in verse; also, on the being of a God; the Inuiiortalitv of the Soul, and several philosophical works. He died at Berlin in 1786. See a well-written life of this great man by M. Samuels: 8vo. Lend. 1825. a 2

For farther information on the subject of Jewish and rabbinical writers, I must refer my readers to the BiBLioTHECA Magna Radbinica oi Bartolocci, begun in 1675, and finislied in 1693, four vols, folio. In this work the reader will find an ample and satisfactory account of all Jewish writers and their worlis from the giving of the law, A. M. 2313, B. C. 1 191, continued down to A. D. 1681. This work is digested in alphabetical order, and contains an account of upwards of 1,300 Jewish authors and their works, with a confutation of their principal objections and blasphemies against the Christian religion; together with frequent demonstrations that Jesus Christ is tlie promised Messiah, drawn, not only from the sacred writings, but from those also of the earlier and most respectable rabbins themselves: each of the volumes is enriched with a great variety of dissertations on many important subjects in Biblical literature. This work, left unfinislied by its author, was completed by Imhonati, his disciple, who added a fifth volume, entitled Bibliotheca Latino-Hebraica, containing an ample alphabetical account of all the Latin authors who have written either against the Jews or on Jewish atlairs. Roma', 1694. These two works are very useful, and the authors may be deservedly ranked among Biblical critics and commentators. Bartolocci was born at Naples in 1613, and died at Rome, where he was Hebrew professor, in 1687.

Most of the Jewish comments being written in the corrupt Chaldee dialect, and in general printed in the rabbinical character, which few, even among scholars, care to read, hence they are comparatively but little known. It must be however allowed that they are of great service in illustrating the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law; and of great use to the Christians in their controversies with the Jews.

As some of my readers may wish to know where the chief of these comments may be most easily found, it will give them pleasure to be informed that the Tar gums or Chaldee paraphrases of Onke- Los and Jonathan; the Targum Yerushlemey; the Masorah; the comments of Radak, i. e. Rabbi David Kimchi; RASHi,i.e. Rabbi Solomon Jarchi; Ralbag, i. e. Rabbi Levi ben Ger shorn; Ram BAM, i. e. Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, or 3Iaimonidcs;1\ash&c, i. e. Rabbi Saadias Gaon; Aben Ezra, with the scanty observations of Rahbi Jacob Baal Hatturim, on the five books of Moses; and those of Rabbi Isaiah on the two books of Samuel, are all printed in the second edition of Bomberg's Great Bible: Venice, 1547, &.C., 2 vols, folio; the most useful, the most correct, and the most valuable Hebrew Bible ever published. It may be just necessary to say, that Radak, Rashi, Ralbag, &lc., are technical names given to these rabbins from the i7iitials of their proper names, with some interposed vowels, as RaDaK, stands for Kabbi David Kimchi; RflS/il, for Kabbi iiolomon Jarchi; RoLBaG, for Kabbi Lerz Ben Gershom; and so of tlie rest. The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan are printed also in the three first volumes of the London Polyglot, with a generall)- correct literal Latin version. The Targum ascribed to Jonathan ben Uzzicl, and the Targum Yerushlemey on the Pentateuch, are printed with a literal Latin version, in the fourth volume of the above work. The Mishnah has been printed in a most elegant manner b)' Surenhusius: Amsterdam, 1698, 6 vols. fuUo, with a Latin translation, and an abundance of notes.

Christian, commentators, both ancient and modern, are vastly more numerous, more excellent, and better known, than those among the Jews. On this latter account I may be well excused for passing by many which have all their respective excellences, and mentioning only a few out of the vast multitude, which are either more eminent, more easy of access, or better known to myself.

These comments may be divided into four distinct classes: 1. Those of the Primitive Fathers and Doctors of the Church; 2. Those written by Roman Catholics; 3. Those written by Protestants, and, 4. Compilations from both, and collections of Biblical critics.

Class I. — Primitive Fathers and Doctors.

Tatian, who flourished about A. D. 150, wrote a Harmony of the four Gospels, perhaps the first thing of the kind ever composed: the genuine work is probably lost, as that extant under his name is justly suspected by the learned.

In this class Okigen occupies a distinguished place: he was born A. D. 185, and wrote much on the Scriptures: his principal works are unfortunately lost: many of his Homilies still remain, but they are so replete with metaphorieal and fanciful interpretations of the sacred text, that there is much reason to believe they have been corrupted since his time. Specimens of his mode of interpreting the Scriptures may be seen in the ensuing comment. See on Exod. ii.

Hyppolitus wrote many things on the Scriptures, most of which are lost: he flourished about A. D. 230.

Chrysostom is well known and justly celebrated for his learning, skill, and eloquence, in his Homilies on the sacred writings, particularly the Psalms. He flourished A. D. 344.

Jerome is also well known: he is author of what is called the Vulgate, a Latin version from the Hebrew and Greek of the whole Old and New Testaments, as also of a very valualile comment on all the Bible. He flourished A. D. 360.

F>HRAiM Syrus, who might be rather said to have mourned than to hci\e flourished about A. D. 360, has written some very valuable expositions of particular parts of Scripture. They may be ound in his works, Syr. and Gr., published by Asseman, Romae, 1737, &c., 6 vols, folio. Vol. 1. ( 2) 3

To Augustine, a laborious and voluminous writer, wc nre indebted for much valuable information on the sacred writin<rs. His expositions of Scripture, however, have been the subjects of many acrimonious controversies in the Christian Chnrcli. He has written upon a number of abstruse and (liilicult points, and in several cases not in a very lucid manner; and hence it is not to be wondered at if many of his commentators have mistaken his meaning. Some strange things drawn from his writinirs, and several things in his creed, maybe attributed to the tincture his mind received from his Manichcan sentiments; for it is well known that he had embraced, previously to his conversion to Christianity, the doctrine of the txco principles, one wholly evil, and the other ivliolhj good; to whose energy and operation all the good and evil in the world were attributed. These two opposite and conllirting lieings he seems, in some cases, unwarily to unite in one God; and hence he and many of his followers appear to have made the ever-blessed God, the fountain of all justice and holiness, the author, not only of all the good that is in the world, (for in this there can be but one opinion,) but of all the evil likewise; having reduced it to a necessity of existence by a predetermining, unchangeable, and eternal decree, by which all the actions of angels and men are appointed and irrevocably established. St. Augustine died A. D. 430.

Gregory the Great, who flourished about A. D. GOO, has written commentaries which are greatly esteemed, especially among the Catholics.

Theophvlact has written a valuable comment on the Gospels, Acts, and St. Paul's Epistles. He flourished A. D. 700.

Venerable Bede flourished A. A. 780, and wrote comments (or rather collected those of others) on the principal books of the Old and New Testaments, which are still extant.

Rabanus Maurus, who flourished A. D. 800, was one of the most voluminous commentators since tlie days of Origen. Besides his numerous comments published in his works, there is a glossary of his on the whole Bible in MS., in the imperial library at Vienna.

Walafridus Strabus composed a work on the Old and New Testaments, entitled Bihlia Sacra cdin Cllnssa Ordinaria, which is properly a Catena or collection of all comments of the Greek and Latin Fathers prior to his time. Strabus constantly endeavours to show the literal, historical, and moral sense of the inspired writers. Tlie best edition of this valuable work was printed at Antwerp in lOSl, 0 vols, folio. The author died in his fortv-third year, A. D. 84G.

It would be very easy to augment this list of Fathers and Doctors by the addition of many respectable names, but my limits prevent me from entcrinsr into any detail. A few scanty additional notices of authors and their works must suflice.

Salonius, bishop of Vienna, who flourished in 440, wrote a very curious piece, entitled a Mystical Explanation of the Proverbs of Soloiiiun, in a dialogue between himself and his brother Veranius: the latter asks questions on every important subject contained in the book, and the former answers and professes to solve all difllculties. He wrote also an Exposition oi Ecclesiustes.

Philo, bishop of the Carpathians, wrote on Solomon''s Song.

Justus, bishop of Orgelitanum, or Urgel, wrote a mystical explanation of the same book. He died A. D. 540.

And to Aponitis, a writer of the scBcni/i. century, a pretty extensive and mystical exposition of this book is attributed. It is a continued allegory of the marriage between Christ and his Church.

To Aponiiis and the preceding writers most modern expositors of Solomon's Song stand considerably indebted, for those who have never seen these ancient authors have generally borrowed from others who have closely copied their mode of interpretation.

Among the opuscula of Tiieopiiii.us, bishop of Antioch, is found an nllesrorical exposition of the /our Gospels. Theophilus flourished about the middle of the second century.

Victor, ])resl)yter of Antioch, wrote a very extensive comment on St. 3Iark's Gospel, in which many very judicious observations may be found.

TiiEODULUs, a presbyter of Ctelesyria, about A. D. 450 wrote a comment on the Epistle to the Romans.

Remigius, bishop of Auxerre, who flourished al)Out the end of the ninth century, wrote a comment on the twelve Minor Prophets.

Sedulus Hybernicus M'rote a Collectanea on all \\\e Epistles of St. Paul, in which there are many useful thinirs. When he flourished is uncertain.

Primasii's, bishop of Utica, in Africa, and disciple of St. Augustine, wrote also a comment on all St. PauVs Epistles, and one on the book of Revelation. He flourished A. D. 550.

And to Andreas, archlnsliop of Cresarea, in Cap])adocia. wc are indebted for a very extensive comment on the Apocalypse, which is highly extolled by Catholic writers, and which contains a suflicient quantum of mystical interpretations.

All these writers, with others of minor note, may be found in the Bibliotheca Vrtrnnn Patriim, «Sic., by Tte la Bigne, folio, par. 1624, vol. i. Any person who is fond of ecclesiastical antiquity will And himself gratified even by a superficial reading of the preceding authors; for they not only give their own sentiments on the subjects they handle, but also those of accredited writers who have flourished long before their times,

Amonff the Catholic writers many valuable commentators are to be found; the chief of whom are the following: — Hugo de Sancto Clara, or Hugh de St. Cler, flourished in 1200. He was a Dominican monk and cardinal, and wrote a commentary on the whole Bible, and composed a Concordance, probably the first regular work of the kind, in which he is said to have employed not less than 500 of his brethren to write for him.

Nicholaus de Lyra or Lyranus, Anglice, Nicholas jF/ar/icr, wrote short comments on the whole Bible, which are allowed to be very judicious, and in which he reprehends many reigning abuses. If is supposed that from these Martin Luther borrowed much of that light which brought about the Reformation. Hence it has been said.

Si Lyra non lyrasset, Lutherus non saltasset. "If Lyra had not harped on profanation, Luther had never planned the reformation."

Lyra flourished in 1300, and was the first of the Christian commentators, since St. Jerome, who brought rabbinical learning to illustrate the sacred writings. His postils may be found in the Glossa Ordinaria of Walafrid Strabus, already mentioned.

John Menochius, who flourished in the sixteenth century, has published short notes on all the Scriptures; they are generally esteemed very judicious and satisfactory.

Isidore Clarius, bishop of Fuligni in Umbria, in 1550, wrote some learned notes on the Old and New Testaments: he is celebrated for an eloquent speech delivered before the council of Trent in favour of the Vulgate. His learned defence of it contributed no doubt to the canonization of that Version.

John Maldonat wrote notes on particular parts of the Old and New Testaments, at present little read.

Cornelius a Lapide is one of the most laborious and voluminous commentators since the invention of printing. Though he has written nothing either on the Psalms or Job, yet his comment forms no less than 16 vols, folio; it was printed at Venice, 1710. He was a very learned man, but cites as authentic several spurious writings. He died in 1637.

In 1693-4, Father Quesnel, Priest of the Oratory, published in French, at Brussels, Moral Reflections on the New Testament, in 8 vols. 12mo. The author was a man of deep piety; and were it not for the rigid Jansenian predestinarianism which it contains, it would, as a spiritual comm.ent, be invaluable. The work was translated into English by the Rev. Richard Russel, and published in 4 vols. 8vo., London, 1719, &c. In this work the reader must not expect any elucidation of the difficulties, or indeed of the text, of the New Testament; the design of Father Quesnel is to draw spiritual uses from his text, and apply them to moral purposes. His reflections contain many strong reprehensions of reigning abuses in the Church, and especially among the clergy. It was against this book that Pope Clement XI. issued his famous constitution Unigenitus, in which he condemned one hundred and one propositions taken out of the Moral Reflections, as dangerous and damnable heresies. In my notes on the New Testament I have borrowed several excellent reflections from Father Quesnel's work. The author died at Amsterdam, December 2, 1719, aged 86 years.

DoM Augustin Calmet, a Benedictine, published what he terms Comrnrntairc Littcral, on the whole of the Old and New Testaments. It was first printed at Paris, in 26 vols. 4to., 1707-1717; and afterwards in 9 vols, folio, Paris, Emery, Saugrain, and Martin, 1719-1726. It contains the Latin text of the Vulgate and a French translation, in collateral columns, with tlie notes at the bottom of each page. It has a vast apparatus of prefaces and dissertations, in which immense learning, good sense, sound judgment, and deep piety, are invariably displayed. Though the Vulgate is his text, yet he notices all its variations from the Hebrevj and Greek originals, and generally builds his criticisms on these. He quotes all the ancient commentators, and most of the modern, whether Catholic or Protestant, and gives them due credit and praise. His illustrations of many difficult texts, referring to idolatrous customs, rites, ceremonies, &c., from the Greek aird Roman classics, are abundant, appropriate, and successful. His tables, maps, plans, &c., arc very judiciously constructed, and consequently very useful. This is without exception the best comment ever published on the sacred writings, either by Catholics or Protet-tants, and has left little to be desired for the completion of such a work. It is true its scarcit)-, voluminousness, high price, and the language in which it is written, must prevent its ever coming into common use in our country; but it will ever form one of the most valuable parts of the private library of every Biblical student and divine. From this judicious and pious coirrmentalor I have often borrowed; and his contributions form some of the best parts of my work. It is to be lamented that he trusted so much to his printers, in consequence of which his work abounds with typographical errors, and especially in his learned quotations. In almost every case I have been obliged to refer to the originals themselves. When once written he never revised his sheets, but put them at once into tlic hands of his printer. This was a source of many mistakes; but foi tlie following I cannot account. In his notes on Numb. xii. 3, he adds the following clause: Do;ninvs iratus est, Le Seigneur sc suit en colere, on which he makes the following strange observation: Cela n'est dans I'llebrcu, ni dans les Septante, ni dans Ic Chaldccn. On which Houbigant remarks: Potuit addere ncc in Samaritano codice, ncc in ejus interpretc, nee in ipso Vulg-ato, ncc in utroqun Arahc. Ut difficile sit divinare unde hwc verba Avg. Calmet dcprompscrit: nee miror talia multa excidisse in scriptore qui chartas svas, prima manu scriptas, non prius rctractahat, quam eas jam mississet ad typographos. The fact is, the words are not in the Bihlc nor in any of its versions.

In 175*J, Father IIoubigant, a Priest of the Oratory, published a Hebrew Bible, in 4 vols, folio, with a Latin Version, and several critical notes at the end of each chapter. He was a consummate Ilcbraician and accurate critic; even his conjectural emendations of the text cast mvich light on many obscure passages, and not a few of them have been confirmed by the MS. collections of Kcnnicott and De Rossi. The work is as invaluable in its matter as it is high in price and dillicult to be obtained. To this edition the following notes are often under considerable obligation.

Sebastian Munster, first a Cordelier, but afterwards a Protestant, published a Hebrew Bible, with a Latin translation, and short critical notes at the end of each chapter. His Bible has been long ncglorteJ, but his notes have been often republished in large collections. He died in 1552.

The Bible in Latin, printed at Zurich, in 1513, and often afterwards in folio, has a vast many scholia or marginal notes, which have been much esteemed (as also the Latin version) by many divines and critics. The compilers of the notes were Leo de Juda, Theodore Bibliander, Peter Cholin, Ralph Guatier, and Conrad Pclicanus.

Tremellius, a converted Jew, with Junius or du Jon, published a very literal Latin version of the Hebrew Bible with short, critical notes, folio, 1575. It has often been reprinted, and was formerly in high esteem. Father Simon accuses him unjustly of putting in pronouns where none exist in the Hebrew: had he examined more carefully he would have found that Tremellius translates the emphatic article by the pronoun in Latiti, and it is well known that it has this power in the Hebrew language. Father SimoiCs censure is therefore not well founded.

John Piscatou publislied a laborious and learned comment on the Old and New Testaments, in 21 vols. 8vo., Herborn, 1601-1(510. Not highly esteemed.

John Drusius was an able commentator; he penetrated the literal sense of Scripture, and in his Animadversions, Hebrew Questions, Explanations of Proverbs, Observations on the Rites and Customs of the Jews, he has cast much light on many parts of the sacred writings. He died at Francker, in 1616, in the 66th year of his age.

Hugo Grotius, or Hugh le Groot, has written notes on the whole of the Old and New Testaments. His learning was very extensive, his erudition profound, and his moderation on subjects of controversy highly praiseworthy. No man possessed a more extensive and accurate knowledge of the Greek and Latin writers, and no man has more successfully applied them to the illustration of the sacred writings. To give the literal and genuine sense of the sacred writings is always the laudable study of this great man; and he has not only illustrated them amply, but he has defended them stronuoush-, especially in his treatise On the Truth of the Christian Religion, a truly classical performance tliat has never been answered, and never can be refuted. He has also written a piece, which has been highly esteemed by manjs On the Satisfaction of Christ. He died in 1645, aged 62 vears.

Louis DE DiEU wrote animadversions on the Old and New Testaments, in which are many valuable things. He was a profound scholar in Greek, Hebrew, Chaldee, Persian, and Syriac, as his works sufficiently testily. He died at Leyden, in 1642.

Desiderius Erasmus is well known, not only as an able editor of the Greek Testament, but also as an excellent commcniator upon it. The first edition of this sacred Book was published by him in Greek and Latin, folio, 1516; for though the Complutensian edition was printed in 1514, it was not published till 1.522. For many years the notes of Erasmus served for the foundation of all the connnents that were written on the New Testament, and his Latin version itself was deemed an excellent comment on the text, because of its faitiifulness and simplicity. Erasmus was one of the most correct Latin scholars since the Augustan age. He died in 1536. I need not state that in some cases he appeared so indecisive in his religious creed, that he has been both claimed and disavowed by Protestants and Catholics.

John Calvin wrote a commentary on all the Prophets and the Evangelists, which has been in higli esteem among Protestants, and is allowed lo be a verv learned and judicious work. The decided and active part which he took in the Ueformation is well known. To the doctrine of human merit, indulgences, &c, he, with Luther, opposed the doctrine of justification by grace tTirough faith, for which they were strenuous and successful advocates. The peculiar doctrines vvhich go under the name of Mr. Calvin, from the manner in which they have been defended by some and opposed by others, have been the cause of much dissension among Protestants, of %vhich the enemies of true religion have often availed themselves. Mr. Calvin is allowed by good judges to have written with great purity both in Latin and French. He died in 1564.

Mr. David Martin, of Utrecht, not only translated the whole of the Old and New Testaments into French, but also wrote short notes on both, which contain much good sense, learning, and piety. Amsterdam, 1707, 3 vols, folio.

Dr. Henry Hammond is celebrated over Europe as a very learned and judicious divine. He wrote an extensive comment on the Psalms, first published in 1659, and on the whole of the New Testament, in 1653. In this latter work he imagines he sees the Gnostics every where pointed at, and he uses them as a universal menstruum to dissolve all the difficulties in the texi. He was a man of great learning and critical sagacity, and as a divine ranks high in the Church of England. He died in 1660.

Theodore Beza not only published the Greek Testament, but wrote many excellent notes on it. The best edition of. this work is that printed at Cambridge, folio, 1642.

Dr. Edward Wells published a very useful Testament in Greek and English, in several parcels, with notes, from 1709 to 1719, in which, 1. The Greek text is amended according to the best and most ancient readings. 2. The common English translation rendered more agreeable to the original. 3. A paraphrase, explaining the difficult expressions, design of the sacred writers, &c. 4. Short Annotations. This is a judicious, useful work.

Of merely critical comments on the Greek Testament, the most valuable is that of /. James Wetstein, 2 vols, folio, Amsterdam, 1751-2. Almost every peculiar form of speech in the sacred text he has illustrated by quotations from the Jewish, Greek, and Roman writers. But the indistinctness of his quotations causes much confusion in his notes.

Mr. Hardy published a Greek Testament with a great variety o'f useful notes, chiefly extracted from Poole's Synopsis. The work is in 2 vols. 8vo., London, 1768, and is a very useful companion to every Biblical student. It has gone through two editions, the first of which is the best; but it must be acknowledged that the Greek text in both is inexcusably incorrect. The Rev. Mr. Valpy has given a new edition of this work, with additional scholia, and a correct Greek text.

Mr. Henry Ainsworth, one of that class of the ancient Puritans called Brownists, made a new translation of the Pentateuch, Psalms, and Canticles, which he illustrated with notes, folio, 1639. He was an excellent Hebrew scholar, and made a very judicious use of his rabbinical learning in his comment, especially on the five books of Moses. To his notes on the Pentateuch I am often under obligation.

The notes of the Asseinbly of Divines, in 2 vols, folio, 1654, have been long in considerable estimation. They contain many valuable elucidations of the sacred text.

Mr. /. CaryVs exposition of the book of Job, in two immense vols, folio, 1676, another by Albert Schultens, and a third by Cliapelowe, on the same book, contain a vast deal of important matter, delivered in general by the two latter in the dullest and most uninteresting form.

Mr. Matthew Poole, a non-conformist divine, has published a commentary on the Scriptures, in 2 vols, folio. The notes, which are mingled with the text, are short, but abound with good sense and sound judgment. He died in Holland, in 1679.

Dr. John Lightfoot was a profound scholar, a sound divine, and a pious man. He brought all his immense learning to bear on the sacred volumes, and diffused light wherever he went. His historical, chronological, and topographical remarks on the Old Testament, and his' Talmudical Exercitations on the New, are invaluable. His works were published in two large vols, folio, 1684. He died in 1675. A new edition of these invaluable works, with many additions and corrections, has been published by the Rev. J. R. Pitman, A. M., in 13 vols. 8vo., London, 1825.

On the plan of Dr. Lightfoot's Hor« Hebraic;e, or Talmvdical Exercitations, a work was undertaken by Christian Schoettsccnius with the title Horm Hebraias et Talmxidica: in uvirersvm Novum Testamentum, quibus Hora Jo. Lightfooti in Libris historicis suyplentur, Epistola et Apocalypsis eodeni modo illustrantur, ^c. Drcsdo?, 1733, 2 vols. 4to. This is a learned and useful work, and supplies and completes the work of Dr. Lightfoot. The Horre Hebraicoc of Lightfoot extend no farther than the first Epistle to the Corinthians; the work of Schoettgen passes over the same ground as a Supplement, without touching the things already produced in the English work; and then continues the work on the same plan to the end of the New Testament. It is both scarce and dear.

Mr. Richard Baxter published the New Testament with notes, 8vo., 1695. The notes are interspersed with the text, and are very short, but they contain much sound sense and piety. A good edition of this work was published in the same form by Mr. R. Edwards, London, 1810.

Dr. Simon Patrick, bishop of Ely, began a comment on the Oild Testament, which was finished by Dr. Lawth; to which the New Testament, by Dr. Whitby, is generally added (o complete the work. Dr. Whitby's work was first published in 1703, and often since, with many emendations. This is a valuable collection, and is comprised in six vols, folio. Patrick and Lowth are always judicious and solid, and Whitby is learned, argumentative, and thoroughly orthodox.

The best comment on tlic New Testament, taken in all points of view, is certainly that of Whitby, lie is said to have embraced Socinianism previously to his death, which took place in 17-2G.

Mr. Anthony Pcrver, one of the people called Quakers, translated the whole Bible into Englisli, illustrated with critical notes, which was ])ublished at the expense of Dr. J. Fothergill. in 176-1, two vols, folio. This work has never been highly valued; and is much less literal and simple than the habits of the man, and those of the religious community to which he belonged, might authorize one to expect.

The Rev. William Burkitt, rector of Dedhani, in Essex, has written a very useful commentary on the New Testament, which has often been republished. It is both pious and practical, but not distinguished eitlier by depth of learning or judgment. The pious author died in 1703.

The Rev. Matthew Henry, a very eminent dissenting minister, is author of a very extensive commentar)' on the Old and New Testaments, five vols, folio, and one of the most popular works of the kind ever published. It is always orthodox, generally judicious, and trulv pious and practical, and has contributed much to diffuse the knowledge of the Scriptures among the common people, for whose sakes it was chiefly written. A new edition of this work, by the Rev. J. Hughes, of Battersea, and the Rev. G. Burder, of London, corrected from innumerable errors which have been accumulating with every edition, has been lately published.

As I apply the term orthodox to persons who differ considerably in their religious creed on certain points, I judge it necessary once for all to explain my meaning. He who holds the doctrine of the fall of man, and through it the universal corruption of human nature; the Godhead of our blessed Redeemer; the atonement made by his obedience unto death; justification through faith alone in his blood; the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, regenerating and renewing the heart, is generally reputed orthodox, whether in other parts of his creed he be Arminian or Calvinist. Whitby and Henry held and defended all these doctrines in their respective comments, therefore I scruple not to say that both were orthodox. With their opinions in any of their other v.'orks I have no concern.

Dr. John Gill, an eminent divine of the Baptist persuasion, is author of a very diffuse com mentary on the Old and New Testaments, in nine vols, folio. He was a very learned and good man, but has often lost sight of his better judgment in spiritualizing his text.

Dr. Philip Doddridge's Family Expositor, 4to., 1745, often republished, is (with the exception of his paraphrase) a very judicious work. It has been long highly esteemed, and is worthy of all the credit it has among religious people.

Paraphrases, which mix up men's words with those of God, his Christ, his Holy Spirit, and his apostles, are in m)' opinion dangerous works. Through such, many of the common people are led into a loose method of quoting the sacred text. I consider the practice, except in very select cases, as highly unbecoming. The republic of letters would suffer no loss if every work of this kind on the IIolv Scriptures were abolished. Dr. Whitby, by the insertion of mere words in brackets and in another character, has done all that should be done, and vastly outdone the work of Dr. Doddridge.

To Dr. Z. Pearce, bishop of Rochester, wc arc indebted for an invaluable commentarj' and notes on the Four Gospels, the Acts, and the First Epistle to llie Corinthians, two vols. 4to., 1777 The deep learning and judgment displayed in these notes are really beyond all praise.

Dr. Campbell's work on the Evangelists is well known, and universally prized. So is also Dr. Macknight's translation of the Epistles, with notes. Both these works, especially the former, abound in sound judgment, deep erudition, and a strong vein of correct critical acumen.

Mr. Locke and Dr. Benson are well known in the republic of letters; their respective works on different parts of the New Teslamcnt abound with judgment and learning.

The Rev. J. Wesley published a selection of notes on the Old and New Testaments, in four vols. 4to., Bristol, 1765. The notes on the Old Testament are allowed, on all hands, to be meagre and unsatisfactory; this is owing to a circumstance with which few are acquainted. IMr. Pine, the printer, having set >ip and printed off several sheets in a type much larger than was intended, it was found impossible to get the work williin the prescribed limits of four volumes, without retrenching the notes, or cancelling what was already jirinted. The former measure was unfortimately adopted, and the work fell far short of the expectation of the public. This account I had from the excellent author himself The notes on the New Testament, whicli have gone through several editions, are of a widely different description; though short, they are alwa)'s judicious, accurate, spiritual, terse, and impressive; and possess the happy and rare propert)- of leading the reader inuiiedialely to God and his own heart. A new edition of this worlv, with considerable additions, has been lately published by the Rev. Joseph Benson, from wliose learning, piety, and theological knowledge, much has been reasonably expected. The work has been very useful, and has been widely dispersed.

The late unfortunate Dr. William Dodd published a commentary on the Old and New Testaments, in three vols, folio, London, 1770. 3Iuch of it is taken from the comment of Father Calmet, already described; but he has enriched his work by many valuable notes which he extracted from the inedited papers of Lord Clarendon, Dr. Waterland, and Mr. Locke. lie has also borrowed many important notes from Father Houbigant. This work, as giving in general the true sense of the Scriptures, is by far the best comment that has yet appeared in the JSnglish language. The late lamented Dr. Gosset, of famous bibliographical memory, told me that he " had furnished Dr. Dodd with the MS. collections of Dr. Waterland and others; that Dr. Dodd was employed by the London booksellers to edit this work; and it was by far the best of these works which might be said to be published by the yard."

A work, entitled An Illustration of the Sacred Wi'itings, was published by Mr. Goadby, at Sherbourne: it contains many judicious notes, has gone through several editions, and, while it see7ns to be orthodox, is written entirely on the Arian hypothesis.

The Rev. Thomas Coke, LL.D. has lately published a commentary on the Old and New Testaments, in six vols. 4to. This is, in the main, a reprint of the work of Dr. Dodd, with several retrenchments, and some additional reflections. Though the major part of the notes, and even the dissertations of Dr. Dodd are here republished; yet all the marginal readings and parallel texts are entirely omitted. The absence of these would be inexcusable in any Bible beyond the size of a duodecimo. Of their importance see pp. 19 and 20 of this preface. Dr. Coke's edition is in general well printed, has some good maps, and has had a very extensive sale. The original work of Dodd was both scarce and dear, and therefore a new edition became necessary; and had the whole of the original work, with the marginal readings, parallel texts, &c., been preserved, Dr. Coke's publication would have been much more useful. Dr. Coke should have acknowledged whence he collected his materials, but on this point he is totally silent.

The Rev. T. Scott, rector of Aston Sandford, has published a commentary on the Old and New Testainents, in five vols. 4to. The author's aim seems to be, to speak plain truth to plain men; and for this purpose he has interspersed a multitude of practical observations all through the text, which cannot fail, irom the spirit of sound piety which they breathe, ol being very useful.

The late Dr. Priestley compiled a body of notes on the Old and New Testaments, in 3 vols. 8vo., published at Northumberland in America, 1804. Though the doctor keeps his own creed (Unitarianism) continuall}- in view, especially when considering those texts which other religious people adduce in favour of theirs, yet his work contains many valuable notes and observations, especially on the philosophy, natural history, geography, and chronology of the Scriptures; and to these subjects few men in Europe were better qualified to do justice.

A new translation of Job, and one of tlie books of Canticles, has been published by Dr. Mason Good, both replete with learned notes of no ordinary merit.

In closing this part of tlie list, it would be unpardonable to omit a class of eminently learned men, who, by their labours on select parts of the Scriptures, have rendered the highest services both to religion and literature.

Samuel Bochart, pastor of the Protestant Church at Caen in Normandy, wrote a very learned and accurate work on the geography of the sacred writings, entitled Phaleg and Canaan, and another on the Natural History of the Bible, entitled Hierozoicon, by botli of which, as well as by several valuable dissertations in his works, much light is thrown on many obscure places in the sacred writings. The best collection of his works is supposed to be that by Leusden and Villemandy, three vols, folio. L. Bat. 1712.

Dr. /. James Sclieuchzer, professor of medicine and the mathematics in the university of Zurich, is author of a very elaborate work on the Natural History of the Bible, entitled Pliysica Sacra, which has been printed in Latin, German, and French, and forms a regular comment on all the books of the Bible where any subject of natural history occurs.

The rery learned author has availed himself of all the researches of his predecessors on the snme subject, and has illustrated his work with 750 engravings of the different subjects in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, to which there is any reference in the Scriptures. The German edition was published in 1731, in 15 vols, folio, the Latin edition in 1731, and the French in 1732, 8 ^■ols. folio, often bound in 4. The work is as rare as it is useful and elegant.

The late Rev. Mr. Thomas Harmer published a very useful work, entitled " Observations on various Passages of Scripture," in -ivhich he has cast much light on many difficult texts that relate to tlie customs and manners, religious and civil, of the Asiatic nations, by quotations from the works of ancient and modern travellers into different parts of the East, who have described those customs, &c., as still subsisting. The ocst edition of this work was published in four vols. 8vo., 1808, with many additions and corrections by the author of the present commentary.

Campcgius Vitriiiga wrote a learned and most excellent comment on the book of the Prophet Isaiah, in '2 vols, folio; the best edition of which was printed in 1724. He died in 1722.

Dr. R. LowTii, bishop of London, is the author of an excellent work, entitled, Isaiau: A New Translation, with a preliminary Dissertation, and Notes critical, philological, and explanatory, -lio., Lond. 1779, first edition. The preliminary dissertation contains a fund of rare and judicious criticism. The translation, formed by the assistance of the ancient versions collated with the best MSS. of the Hebrew text, is clear, simple, and yet dignified. The conchiding notes, which show a profound knowledge of Hebrew criticism, are always judicious, and generally useful.

The late Arclibish()p of Armagh, Dr. Newcome, has published a translation of the minor proi)hets, with learned notes: it is a good work, but creeps slowly after its great predecessor. Ho has also published a translation of the New Testament, with notes, not much esteemed.

On the same plan the Rev. Dr. Blayney translated and published the Prophet Jeremiah, with notes, 1781.

John Alhert Bengei, is author of an edition of the New Testament, with various readings, and such a judicious division of it into jiaragraphs as has never been equalled, and perhaps never can be excelled. He wrote a very learned comment on the Apocalypse, and short notes on the New Testament, which he entitled Gnomon Novi Tcstamcnti, in quo ex nativa vcrborum r;, si?nplicitas profunditas, concinnitas, saluhritas sensuum Calestium indicatur. In him were united two rare qualifications — the deepest piety and the most extensive learning.

A commentary on the same plan, and with precisely the saine title, was published by Phil. David Biirkius, on the twelve minor prophets, 4to., Heilbronna;, 1753, which was followed by his Gnomon Psalmorum, 2 vols. 4to., Stutgardia;, 1760. These are in many respects valuable works, written in a pure strain of piety, but rather too much in a technical form. They are seldom to be met with in this country, and are generally high priced.

The late pious bishop of Norwich, Dr. Home, published the book of Psalms with notes, which breathe a spirit of the purest and most exalted pietv.

Herman Venema is known only to me by a comment on Malachi, some dissertations on sacred subjects, an ecclesiastical history, correct editions of some of Vitringa's Theological Tracts, and a most excellent and extensive Commentary on the Psalms, in 6 vols. 4to., printed Leovardine, 1762-7. Through its great scarcity the work is little known in Great Britain. What was said by David of Goliah's sword has been said of Venema's commentary on the Book of Psalms, " There is none like it."

JErn. Frid. Car. Roscnmulleri, Ling. Arab, in Acad. Lips. Professoris, &c.. Scholia in vETUs Testamcntvm.. Edit, secunda emendatior. Lips. 1705-1812, 11 vols. 8vo. Scholia iu Novum Testamentum. Edit, quinta auctior et emendatior, 1801-1808. 5 vols. 8vo., Nuremberg. This is a very learned and useful work, but rather too diffuse for Scholia. In the Scholia on the Old Testament Rosenmiiller has not meddled with the historical books.

Class IV. — Compilations and Collections.

On the FOURTH Class, containing compilations and critical collections, a few words must suffice. Among the compilations may be ranked what are termed Catena: of the Greek and Latin Fathers; these consist of a connected series of different writers on the same text. The work of Galafridiis, or Walafridus Strahus, already described, is of this kind; it contains a Catena or connected scries of the expositions of all the Fathers and Doctors prior to his time. A very valuable Catena on the Octatcuch, containing t'lc comments of about fifty Greek Fathers, has been published at Leipsig, 1792, in 2 vols, folio; it is all in Greek, and therefore of no use to common readers. The work of Venerable Bede, already noticed, is professedly of the same kind.

Father De la Haye, in what was called the Bihlia Ma^na, 1643, 5 vols, folio, and afterwards Biblia Maxima, KiOO, 19 vols, folio, besides a vast number of critical Dissertations, Prefaces, &c., inserted the whole notes of Nicholas de Lyra, Menochius, Gagneus, Estius, and the Jesuit Tirin.

Several minor compilations of this nature have been made bv needy writers, who, wishing to sret a little money, have without scruple or cercmonv borrowed from tjiose whose reputation was wcW established with the public; and by taking a little from one, and a little from another, pretended to give the marrow of all. Those pretensions have been rarely justified: it often requires the genius of a voluminous original writer to make a faithful abridgment of his work; but in most of these compilations the love of money is much more evident than the capacity to do justice to the oriiriiial author, or the ability to instruct and profit mankind. To what a vast number of those minor compilations has the excellent work of Mr. Matthew Henry given birth! every one of which, while professing to lop off his redundancies, and supply his deficiencies, falls, by a semi-diameter of the immense orb of literature and religion, short of the eminence of the author himself.

The most important collection of Biblical critics ever made was that formed under the direction of Bishop Pearson, John Pearson, Anthony Scatter good, and Francis Gouldman, printed by Cornelius Bee, London, 1660, in 9 vols, folio, under the title of Critici Sacri, intended as a'companion for the Polyglot Bible, published by Bishop Walton, in 16.57. This great work was republished at Amsterdam, with additions, in 12 vols, folio, in 1698. Two volumes called Thesaurus Dissertationum Elegantionim, <Sj-c., were printed as a supplement to this work, at Amsterdam, in 1701-3. Of this supplement it may be said, it is of less consequence and utility than is generally supposed, as the substance of several treatises in it is to be found in the preceding volumes. The work contains a vast variety of valuable materials for critics, chronologists, &c.

The principal critics on the Old Testament, contained in the foreign edition of this great collection, which is by far the most complete, are the following: Sebastian Munster, Paul Fagius, Francis Vatablus, Claudius Badwellus, Sebastian Castalio, Isidore Clarius, Lucas Brugensis, Andrew Masius, John Drusius, Sextinus Amama, Simeon de Muis, Philip Codurcus, Rodolph Baynus, Francis Forrerius, Edward Lively, David Hceschelius, Hugo Grotius, Christopher Cartwright, Cornelius a Lapide, and John Prica;us.

Besides the above, who are regular commentators on the Old Testament, there are various important Dissertations and Tracts, on the principal subjects in the law and prophets, by the following critics: Joseph Scaliger, Lewis Capellus, Martin Ilelvicus, Alberic Gentilis, Moses bar Cepha, Christopher Helvicus, John Buteo, Matthew Hostus, Francis Moncseius, Peter PithoRus, George Rittershusius, Michael Rothardus, Leo Allatius, Gaspar Varrerius, William Schickardus, Augustin Justinianus, Bened. Arias Montanus, Bon. Corn. Bertramus, Peter Cunaeus, Caspar Waser, and Edward Brerewood.

On the New Testament the following commentators are included: Sebastian Munster, Laurentius Valla, James Revius, Desiderius Erasmus, Francis Vatablus, Sebastian Castalio, Isidore Clarius, Andrew Masius, Nicolas Zcgerus, Lucas Brugensis, Henry Stephens, John Drusius, Joseph Scaliger, Isaac Casaubon, John Camero, James Capellus, Lewis Capellus, Otho Gualtperius, Abraham Schultetus, Hugo Grotius, and John Priceeus.

Dissertations on the most important subjects in the New Testament inserted here were written by Lewis Capellus, Nicolas Faber, William Klebitius, Marquard Freherus, Archbishop Usher, Matthew Hostus, /. A. Van-der-Linden, Claudius Sabnasius under the feigned name of Johannes Simplicius, James Gothofridus, Philip Codurcus, Abraham Schultetus, William Ader, John Drusius, Jac. Lopez Stunica, Desider. Erasmus, Angclus Caninius, Peter Pithceus, Nicephorus, patriarch of Constantinople, Adriani Isagoge cum notis Dav. Hceschelii, B. C. Bertram, Anton. Nebrissensis, Nicholas Fuller, Samuel Petit, John Gregory, Christ. Cartwright, John Cloppenburg, and Pet. Dan. Huet. Those marked in italics are not included in the critics on the Old Testament. The Thesaurus Dissertationum Exegcticarum, published as a supplement to this work by Theod. HascBUS and Conrad Ikenius, in 2 vols, folio, contains upwards of one hundred and fifty additional writers. Such a constellation of learned men can scarcely be equalled in any age or country.

Mr. Matthew Poole, whose English comment has been already noticed, conceiving that the Critici Sacri might be made more useful by being methodized, with immense labour formed the work well known among divines by the title of Synopsis Criticorum, a general view of the critics, viz., those in the nine volumes of the Critici Sacri mentioned above. The printing of this work began in 1669, and was finished in 1674, 5 vols, folio. Here the critics no longer occupy distinct places as they do in the Critici Sacri, but are all consolidated, one general comment being made out of the whole, the names of the writers being referred to by their initials in the margin. To the critics above named Mr. Poole has added several others of equal note, and he refers also to the most important versions, both ancient and modern. The learned author spent ten years in compiling this work. In point of size, the work of Mr. Poole has many advantages over the Critici Sacri; but no man who is acquainted with both works will ever prefer the synopsis to the original.

Perhaps no city in the world can boast of having produced, in so short a period, so many important works on the sacred writings as the city of London; works which, for difficulty, utility, critical and typographical correctness, and expense, have never been excelled. These are, 1. The Polyglot, 6 vols, folio; begun in 16.53, and finished in 1657. 2. The Critici Sacri, in 9 vols, folio, 1660. 3. CastelVs Heptaglot Lexicon, compiled for the Polyglot Bible, 2 vols folio, 1669. 4. The Synopsis Criticorum, 5 vols, folio; begun in 1669, and finished in 1674. These works, printed in Hebrew, Chaldee, Samaritan, Syriac, Arabic, jEthiopic, Persian, Greek, and Latin, forming 22 vast vols, folio, were begun and finished in this city by the industry and at the expense of a few English divines and noblemen, in the comparatively short compass of about twenty years! To complete its ciniiifiicc in Bihliciil literature, and to place itself at the head of all ihe cilics in the universe, Londun lias only to add a new and improved edition of its own Polyglot, with the additional versions which have come to light since the publication of tlic original work.

To the above list might be added those who have illustrated the sacred writings by passages drawn from Josephus and the Grt-ek and Roman classics, among which the following are worthy of particular regard: Jo. Tubicn Kkebsii Observationes in Nov. Testam. i Flav. Josepho, 8vo., Lips. 1754. Geo. Dav. Kypke Observationes in Novi Fcderis Libros, ex auctoribus, potissimum (Ircecis, &c., 2 vols. 8vo., Vratislavia;, 1755. Georgii Raimielii Annotationes in Sacram Scriptiiram, «S-c., Lugd. 1717, 2vols. 8vo. Krebs throws much light on different facts and forms of speech in the New Testament by his quotations from Josephus. Kypke docs the same by an appeal to the Greek writers in general. And Raphcliiis gives historical elucidations of the Old, and philological observations on the New Testament, drawn particularly from Xcnophon, Polybitis, Arrian, and Hrrodotus.

To these might be added several excellent names who have rendered considerable services to sacred literature and criticism by their learned labours: Sir Norton KnatchbuW s Observations, Hallctt's Critical Notes, Bowyer's Conjectures, Leigh's Aimotations, &c., &c.; to whom may be added those who have illustrated innumerable passages, obscure and difficult, in lexicons and dictionaries for the Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament: Buxtorf, Cocceius, Mintert, Pasor, Schoetlgenius, Stockius, Krebs, Calniet, Leusdcn, Robinson, 31ichaeUs, T^dward Leigh, Schulz, Dr. Taylor, Schletisner, and Parkhurst, a particular account of whom would far exceed the limits of this preface; hut Schlevsner, as a lexicographer for the New Testament, is far beyond my praise.

I have already apprized the reader that I did not design to give a history of commentators, but only a short sketch; this I have done, and am fully aware that difl'erent readers will form ditlerent opinions of its execution; some will think that writers of comparatively little eminence are inserted, while several of acknowledged worth are omitted. This may be very true; but the judicious reader will recollect tliat it is a sketch and not a complete history that is here presented to his view, and that the important and non-important are terms which different persons will apply in opposite senses, as they may be prejudiced in favour of different writers. I have given my opinion, as every honest man should, with perfect deference to the judgment of others, and shall be ollcnded with no man for diflering from me in any of the opinions I have expressed on any of the preceding authors or their works. I could easily swell this list with many foreign critics, but as far as I know them I do not in general like them; besides, they are not within the reach of common readers, though many of them stand, no doubt, deservedly high in the judgment of learned men.

Having said thus much on commentaries in general, it maybe necessar)^ to give some account of that now offered to the public, the grounds on which it has been undertaken, and the manner in which it has been compiled.

At an early age I took for my motto Prov. xviii. 1: Through desire a man, having separated himself sce.keth and intcrmcddleth with all uisdo}n. Being convinced that the Bible was the source whence all tlie principles o{ true wisdom, wherever found in the world, had been derived, my desire to comprehend adequately its great design, and to penetrate the meaning of all its parts, led me to separate myself from every pursuit that did not lead, at least indirectly, to the accomplishment of this end; and while seeking and intermeddling with different branches of human knowledge, as my limited means would permit, I put each study under contribution to the object of my inirsuil, endeavouring to make every thing subservient to the information of my own mind, that, as far as Divine Providence might think proper to employ me, I might bo the better qualified to instruct others. At first I read and studied, scarcely committing any thing to pa|)er, liaving my own edification alone in view, as I could not then hope that any thing I wrote could be of sufficient importance to engage the attention or promote the welfare of the public. But as I proceeded I thought it best to note down the result of mv studies, especially as far as they related to the Scptiiagint, which about the year 17^ I began to read resularly, in order to acquaint myself more fully with the i)hraseology of the New Testament, as I found that this truly venerable version was that to which the evangelists and apostles appear to have had constant recourse, and from which in general they make their quotations. The studv of this Tersion served more to illuminate and expand my inind than all tlie theological works I had ever consulted. I had jiroceeded but a short wav in it before I was convinced that the prejudices against it were utterly unfounded, and that it was of incalculalde advantage toward a proper understanding of tlie literal sense of Scripture, and am astonished that the study of it should be 80 generally neglected. About nine years after this, my health having been greatly impaired by the severity of my labours, and fearing that I should soon be obliged to relinquish my ]>ublic employment, I formed the pur])osc of writing short notes on the New Testament, collating the common printed text with all the versions and collections from MSS. to which I could havo access. Scarcely had I projected this work when I was convinced that another was previously necessary, viz., a careful perusal of the original text. I began this worli, and soon found that it was perfectly possible to read and not understand. Under this conviction I sat down determining to translate the whole before I attempted any comment, that I might have the sacred text the more deeply impressed on my memory.

I accordingly began my translation, collating the original text with all the ancient and with several of the modern versions, carefully weighing the value of the most important variotis readings found in those versions, as well as those which I was able to collect from the most authentic copies of the Greek, text. A worse state of health ensuing, I was obliged to remit almost all application to study, and the work was thrown aside for nearly two years. Having returned to it when a state of comparative convalescence took place, I found I had not gone through the whole of my preliminary work. The New Testament I plainly saw was a comment on the Old; and to understand such a comment, I knew it was absolutely necessary to be well acquainted with the original text. I then formed the plan of reading consecutively a portion of the Hebrew Bible daily. Accordingly I began to read the Old Testament, noting down on the different books, chapters, and verses, such things as appeared to me of most importance, intending the work as an outline for one on a more extensive scale, should it please God to spare my life and give me health and leisure to complete it. In this preliminary work I spent a little)nore tlian one year and two months, in which time I translated every sentence, Hebrew and Chaldee, in the Old Testament. In such a work it would be absurd to pretend that I had not met with many diiHculties. I was attempting to illustrate the most ancient and most learned book in the universe, replete with allusions to arts that are lost, to nations that are extinct, to customs that are no longer observed, and ^bounding in modes of speech and turns of phraseology which can only be traced out through the medium of the cognate Asiatic languages. On these accounts I was often much perplexed, but I could not proceed till I had done the utmost in my power to make every thing plain. The frequent occurrence of such difficnlties led me closely to examine and compare all the original texts, versions, and translations, as they stand in the London Polyglot, with some others not inserted in that work; and from these, especially the Samaritan, Chaldee Targums, Septuagint, and Vulgate, I derived the most assistance, though all the rest contributed their quota in cases of difficulty.

Almost as soon as this work was finished I began my comment on the four gospels, and notwithstanding the preparations already made, and my indefatigable application early and late to the work, I did not reach the end of the fourth Evangelist till eighteen months after its commencement. Previously to this I had purposed to commit what I had already done to the press; but when I had all my arrangements made, a specimen actually set up and printed, and advertisements circulated, a sudden rise in the price of paper, which I fondly hoped would not be of long continuance, prevented my proceeding. When this hope vanished, another work on the Scriptures by a friend was extensively announced. As I could not bear the thought of even the most distant appearance of opposition to any man, I gave place, being determined not to attempt to divide the attention of the public mind, nor hinder the general spread of a work which for aught I knew might supersede the necessity of mine. That work has been for some time completed, and the numerous subscribers supplied with their copies. My plan however is untouched; and still finding from the call of many judicious friends, and especially of my brethren in the ministry, who have long been acquainted with my undertaking and its progress, that the religious public would gladly receive a work on the plan which I had previously announced, I have, after much hesitation, made up my mind; and, in the name of God, with a simple desire to add my mite to the treasury, having recommenced the revisal and improvement of my papers, I now present them to the public. I am glad that Divine Providence has so ordered it that the publication has been hitherto delayed, as the years which have elapsed since my first intention of I)nnting have afforded me a more ample opportunity to reconsider and correct what I had before done, and to make many improvements.

Should I be questioned as to my specific object in bringing this work before the religious world at a time when works of a similar nature abound, I would simply answer, I wish to do a little good also, and contribute 7ny quota to enable men the better to understand the records of their salvation. That I am in hostility to no work of this kind, the preceding pages will prove; and I have deferred my own as long as in prudence I can. My tide is turned; life is fast ebbing out; and what I do in this way I must do now, or relinquish the design for ever. This I would most gladly do, but I have been too long and too deeply pledged to the public to permit me to indulge my own feelings in this respect. Others are doing much to elucidate the Scriptures; I wish them all God's speed. I also will show my opinion of these Divine records, and do a little in the same way. I wish to assist my fellow labourers in the vineyard to lead men to Him who is the fountain of all excellence, goodness, truth, and happiness; to magnify his law and make it honourable; to show the wonderful provision made in his Gospel for the recovery and salvation of a sinful world; to prove that God's great design is to make his creatures happy; and that such a salvation as it becomes God to give, and sucli as man needs to receive, is within the grasp of every human soul.

He who carefully and conscientiously receives the truths of Divine revelation, not merely as a creed, but in reference to his practice, cannot fail of being an ornament to civil and religious society. It is ni)' endeavour therefore to set these truths fairly and fully before the eyes of those who may be inclined to consult my work. I do not say that the princij)lcs contained in my creed, and wliich I certainly have not studied to conceal, arc all essentially necessary to every man's salvation; and I should be sorry to unchristianize any person who may think he lias Scriptural evidence for a faith in several respects different from mine. 1 am sure that all sincere Christians are agreed on what are called the essential truths of Divine revelation; and I feel no reluctance to acknowledge that men eminent for wisdom, learning, piety, and usefulness, have differed among ihemselves and from me in many points which I deem of great importance. While God bears with and does us good, we may readily bear with each other. The hostility of others I i)ass by. The angry and malevolent are their own tormentors. I remember the old adage: " Let eiiry alone, and it will punish itself."

Of the copv of the sacred text used for this work it may be necessary to say a few words. It is stated in the title that the text " is taken from the most correct copies of the present authorized version." As several use this term who do not know its lueaning, for their sakes I shall explain it. A resolution was formed, in consequence of a request made by Dr. Reynolds, head of the noncovforniist part}', to King James L, in the conference held at Hampton Covrt, 1603, that a new translation, or rather a revision of what was called the Bishops' Bible, printed in 15C8, should be made. Fifty-fuur translators, divided into six classes, were appointed for the accomplishment of this important work. Seven of these appear to have died before the work couuncnced, as only forty-seven are found in Fuller's list. The names of the persons, the places where employed, and the proportion of uork allotted to each class, and the rules laid down by King James for their direction, I give chiefly from Mr. Fuller's Church History, Book x., p. 44, &c.

Before I insert tliis account, it may be necessary to state Dr. Reynolds's request in the Hampton Court conference, and King James's answer.

Dr. Reynolds. " May your Majesty be pleased that the Bible be new translated, such as are extant not answering the original V [Here he gave a few exaviples.]

Bishop of London. " If every man's humour might be followed, there would be no end of translating."

The King-. " I profess I could never yet see a Bible well translated in English; but I think that of all, that of (Icneva is the worst. I wish some special pains were taken for a uniform translation, which should be done by the best learned in both universities, then reviewed by the bishops, presented to the privy council, lastly ratified by royal authority, to be read in the whole Church, and no other."

The bishop of London in this, as in every other case, opposed Dr. Reynolds, till he saw that the project pleased the king, and that he appeared determined to have it executed. In consequence of this resolution, the following learned and judicious men were chosen for the execution of the work.

The Pentateuch: the Story from Joshua to the first Book or the Chromcles

Dr. Andrews, Fellow and iMastcr of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge; then Dean of Westminster, afterwards Bisho]) of Winchester. Dr. Overall, Fellow of Trinity Coll., Master of Kath. Hall, in Cambridge; then Dean of St.

Dr. Clarke, Fellow of Christ Coll. in Cambridge, Preacher in Canterbury. Dr. Laifield, Fellow of Trin. in Cambriduc, Parson of St. Clement Danes. Being skilled in architecture, his judgment was much relied on for the fabric of the Tabernacle and Temple. Dr. Leigh, Archdeacon of Middlesex, Parson of All-hallows, Barking. Master BuHOLEY. Mr. Kino. Mr. Thompson.

From the First of the Chronicles, with the rest of the Story, and the Hagiographa, VIZ., Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Canticles, Ecclesiastes.

Mr. Richardson, Fellow of Emman., afterwards D. D., Master, first of Peter-house, then of

Trill. College. Mr. Chaderton, afterwards D. D., Fellow first of Christ Coll., then Master of Emmanuel. Mr. Dillingham, Fellow of Christ Coll., beneficed at in Bedfordshire, where he died a single and a wealthy man. Mr. Andrews, afterwards D. D., brother to the Bishop of Winchester, and Master of Jesus Coll. Mr. Harrison, the Rev. Vice-master of Trinity Coll.

Mr. Spalding, Fellow of St. John's in Cambridge, and Hebrew Professor therein. Mr. Bing, Fellow of Peter-house, in Cambridge, and Hebrew Professor therein.

The four greater Prophets, with the Lamentations, and the twelve lesser Prophets.

Dr. KiLBY, Rector of Lincoln Coll. and Regius Professor.

Master Smith, afterwards D. D., and Bishop of Gloucester. He made the learned and reliaious

The Prayer of Manasseh, and the rest of the Apocrypha.

Dr. DupoRT, Prebend of Ely, and Master of Jesus Coll.

Dr. Brainthwait, first Fellow of Emmanuel, then Master of Gonvil and Caius Coll. Dr. Radclyffe, one of the Senior Fellows of Trin. Coll.

Dr. Ravis, Dean of Christ Church, afterwards Bishop of London.

Dr. Abbott, Master of University Coll., afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Epistles of St. Paul, and the Canonical Epistles.

Dr. Rarlowe, of Trinity Hall, in Cambridge, Dean of Chester, afterwards Bishop of Linco n.

"JJow, for the bitloi' ordering of their proceedings, his Majesty recommended the following rules, by them to be most carefully observed.

1. Tiie ordinary IJible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishops'' Bible, to be followed, and as liltlo altered as the original will permit.

2. The names of the propliets, and the holy writers, with their other names in the text, to be retained, as near as may be, according as they are vulgarly used.

3. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept, viz., the word Church not to be translated Congrc-

4. When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the must eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place, and thp analogy of faith.

5. The division of the cliapters to be altered either not at all, or as little as may be, if necessity so require. C. No marginal notes at all to be affixed, but onlv for llip explanation of the Hebrew or Greek words, which cannot, without some circumlocution, so briefly and titlv be expressed in the text.

7. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down, as shall serve for the fit reference ol one scripture to another.

8. Every particular man of each company to take the same chapter, or chapters; and having translated or amended them severally liy himself, where he thinks good, all to meet together, confer what they have done, and agree for their part what shall stand.

9. As any one company hath despatched any one book in this manner, they shall send it to the rest, to be considered of seriously and judiciously; for his Majesty is very careful in this point.

10. If an}' company, upon the review of the book so sent, shall doubt or difler upon any places, to send them word thereof, note the places, and therewithal send their reasons; to which, if thev consent not, the difl'erence to be compounded at the general meeting, which is to be of the chief persons of each company, at the end of the work.

11. When any place of sjiecial obscurity is doubted of, letters to be directed by authority, to send to any learned in the land, for his judgment in such a place.

12. Letters to be sent from every bishop to the rest of his clergy, admonishing them of this translation in hand; and to move and charge as many as, being skilful in the tongues, have taken pains in that kind, to send his particular observations to the company, either at Westminster, Camhridge, or Oxford.

13. The directors in each company to be the Deans of Westminster and Chester for that place;

and the King's Professors in Hebrew and Greek in each university.

14. These translations to be used, when they agree better with the text than the Bishops' Bible, viz..

" Besides the said directions before-mentioned, three or four of the most ancient and grave divines in either of the universities, not employed in translating, to be assigned by the vicechancellor, upon conference with the rest of the heads, to be o^ crseers of the translations, as well Hebrew as Greek, for the better observation of the fourth rule above specified.

"And now after long expectation and great desire," says I\Ir. Fuller, "came forth the new translation of the Bible (most beautifully printed) by a select and competent number of div7nes appointed for tliat purjiose; not bein.g too many, lest one should trouble another; and yet many, lest many tilings might haply escape them. W'ho neither coveting praise for expedition, nor fearing reproach for slackness, (seeing in a business of moment none deserve blame for convenient slowness.) had expended almost three years in the work, not only examining the channels by the fountain, translations with tlie original, which was absolutely necessary, but also comparing channels Avith channels, which was abundantly useful in the Spanish, Italian, French, and Dutch (d'cnnan) languages. These, with Jacob, rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well of life; so that now, even Rachel's weak women may freely come both to drink themselves and water the flocks of their families at the same.

" Leave we then those worthy men now all gathered to their fathers and gone to God, however they were requited on earth, well rewarded in heaven for their worthy work. Of whom, as also of that gracious kino that employed them, we may say, ^^'^lcresocver the Bihle shall he preached or read in the irhole world, there shall also this that they have done be told in memorial of them." Ibid. p. 57, <fcc.

The character of James I. as a scholar has been greatly underrated. In the Hampton Court conference he certainly showed a clear and readv comprehension of every subject brought before him, totrether with extensive reading and a remarkably sound judgment. For the lest translation into any language we are indebted under God to King James, who was called a liypocrite by those who had no religion, and a pedant by persons who had not half his learning. Both piety and justice require that, while we are thankful to God for the gift of his word, we should revere the memory of the man who was the instrument of conveying the water of life through a channel by which its purity has been so wonderfully preserved. As to politics, he was, like the rest of the Stuart family, a tyrant.

Those who have compared most of the European translations with the original, have not scrupled to say that the English translation of the Bible, made under the direction of King James I., is the most accurate and faithful of the whole. Nor is this its only praise; the translators have seized the very spirit and soul of the original, and expressed this almost everywhere with pathos and energy. Besides, our translators have not only made a standard translation, but they have made their translation the standard of our language; the English tongue in their day was not equal to such a work, " but God enabled them to stand as upon Mount Sinai," to use the expression of a learned friend, " and crane up their country's language to the dignity of the originals, so that after the lapse of 200 years the English Bible is, with very few exceptions, the standard of the purity and excellence of the English tongue. The original from which it was taken is, alone, superior to the Bible translated by the authority of King James."* This is an opinion in which my heart, my judgment, and my conscience, coincide. f

* These are the words of the late Miss Freeman Shepherd, a very learned and extraordinary woman, and a rigid papist.

t It is not unknown that, at the Hampton Court conference, several alterations were proposed by Dr. Reynolds and his associates to be made in tlie Litiirgii then in common use, as well as in llie Bible. These however were in general objected to by the king, and only a" few changes made, which shall be mentioned below. While on this part of the subject it may not be unacceptable to the reader to hear how the present Liturgy was compiled, and who the persons were to whom this work was assigned; a work almost universally esteemed by the devout and pious of every denomination, and the greatest effort of the Reformalion, nest to the translation of the Scriptures into the English langtiage. The word Liturgy is derived, according to some, from Ajn/, prayer, and epyov, work, and signifies literally the v:ork or labour of jnaycr or supplication,; and he who labours not in his prayers prays not at all; or more properly ^etrovpyta, from Aeirof, public or common, and epyov, work, denoting the common or public work of prayer, thanksgiving, 4-c., in which it is the duty of every person to engage; and from Airai'CTu, to siipplicalc, comes?i-at. prayers, and hence Mraveia, Litany, supplication, a collection of prayers in the Liturgy or public service of the Church. Previously to the reign of Henry VIII. the Liturgy was all said or sung in Latin, but the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Comniandmenis, in 1536 were translated into English, for the use of the common people, iiy the king's command. In 1545 the Liturgy was also permitted in English, as Fuller expresses it, " and tliis was he farthest pace the Reformation slept in the reign of Henry VIII."

In the first year of Edward VI., 1547, it was recommended to certain grave and learned bishops, and others then assembled, by order of the king, at Wiud.'or Castle, to draw up a communion service, and to revise and reform all other ofiices in the Divine service; this service was accordingly printed and published, and strongly recommended by special letters from Seymour, Lord Protector, and the other lords of the council. The persons who compiled this work were the following: —

1. Tuojus Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.

2. George Day, Bishop of Chichester.

3. Thomas Good rick. Bishop of i3<y.

4. John Skip, Bishop of Hereford.

6. Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of Rochester.

7. Thomas Thirlby, Bishop of Westminster.

10. Doctor HaiTies, Dean of Exeter.

11. Doctor Robinson, afterwards Dean of Durham. 13. Doctor John Redman, Master of Trinity College,

Cambridge. 13. Doctor Richard Cox, then Almoner to the King, and afterwards Bishop of Ely.

It is worthy of remark that as the first translators of the Scriptures into the English language were several of them persecuted unto death by the papists, so soine of the chief of those who translated the Book of Common Prayer, (Archbishop Cranmer and Bishop Ridley) were burnt alive by the same cruel faction.

This' was what Mr. Fuller calls ihefiht edition of the Common Prayer, published in 154S. Some objections having been made to this work by Mr. John Calvin abroad, and some learned men at home, particularly in reference to the Commemoration ofthr-. Dead, the use of Chrism, and Extreme Unction, it was ordered by a statute in parliament (5 and fi of Edward VI.) that it should be faithfully and godly perused, c:cplai)ied, and made fully perfect. The chief alterations made in consequence of this order were these; the General Confession and Absolution were added, and the Communion Service was made to begin with the Ten Commandments, the use oi oil in Confirmation and Extreme Unclion was left out, also Prayers for the Dead, and certain expressions that had a tendency to cotmtenance the doctrine of transubstantiation.

The same persons to whom the compiling of the Commimion Service was intrusted were employed in this reWsion, which was completed and published in 1553. On the accession of Clueen Mary this Liturgy was abolished, and the Prayer Book, as it stood in the last year of Henry VIII., commanded to be used in its place. In the first year of [he reign of Uueen Elizabeth, 1559, the former Liturgy was restored, but it was subjected to a farther revision, by which some few passages were altered, and the petition in the Litany for being delivered from the tyranny and all the detestable enormities of tlie bishop of Rome left out, in order that conscientious Catholics might not be prevented from joining in the common service. This being done, it was presented to parliament, and by them received and established; and the Act for Uniformity, which is usually printed with the Liturgy, published by the queen's authority, and sent throughout the nation. The persons employed in this revision were the following: —

4. Richard Cox, afterwards Bishop of Ely.

5. James Pilkington, afterwards Bishop o'f Durham. G. Doctor Mj!/,' Dean of St. Paul's and Master of

Trinity College, Cambridge. 7. Sir Thomas Smith, Principal Secretary of Slate.

1. M.aster Whitehead, once Chaplain to dueen Atma

2. Matthew Parker, afterwards Archbishop of Can-

3. Edmund Grindall, afterwards Bishop oi London.

Tills Bil)lc was begun in 1607, bui was not completed ami published till Ifill; and tlicrc nre copies of it which in their titlcpages liavc the dales 1612 and 1013. This translation was corrected, and many parallel texts iidded, by Dr. Scattergood, in 1683; by Dr. Lloyd, bishop of London, in 1701; and afterwards by Dr. Paris, at Cambridge; but the most complete revision was made by Dr. Blayncy m the year 1769, under the direction of the vice-chancellor and delegates of the University of Oxford, in which, 1. The punctuation was thoroughly revised;

2. The icurds printed in italic'i examined and corrected by the Hebrew and Greek originals;

3. The proper names, to the etymology of which allusions are made in the text, translated, and entered in the margin; 4. The heads and running titles corrected; 5. Some material errors in the chronology rectified; and 0. The marginal references re-examined, corrected, and their number greatly increased. Copies of this revision are those which are termed above the most correct copies of the present authorized version; and it is this revision;-c-co//a?cJ, re-examined, and corrected from typographical inaccuracies in a great variety of places, that has been followed for the text prefixed to these notes. But, besides these corrections, I have found it necessary to re-examine all the italics; by those I mean the words interspersed through the text, avowedly not in the original, but thought necessary by our translators to complete the sense, and accommodate the idioms of the Hebrew and Greek to that of the Englisli language. See the sixth rule, p. IG. la these I found gross corruptions, particularly where they have been changed for Roman characters, whereby words have been attributed to God which he never spoke.

The Punctuation, which is a matter of no small importance to a proper understanding of the sacred text, I have examined with the greatest care to me possible: by the insertion of commas where there were none before; putting semicolons for commas, the better to distinguish the members of the sentences; changing colons for semicolons, and vice versa; and full points for colons, I have been in many instances enabled the better to preserve and distinguish the sense, and carry on a narration to its close, without interrupting the reader's attention by the intervention of improper stops.

The References I have in many places considerably augmented, though I have taken care to reprint all that Dr. Blayney has inserted in his edition, of which I scruple not to say, that as far as they go, they arc the best collection ever edited, and I hope their worth will suffer nothing by the additions I have made.

After long and diligently weighing the different systems of Chronology, and hesitating which to adopt, I ultimately lixed on the system commonly received; as it appeared to me on the whole, though encumbered with many difficulties, to be the least objectionable. In fixing the dates of particular transactions I have found much difficulty; that this was never done in any edition of the Bible hitherto olFered to tlie public, with any tolerable correctness, every person acquainted with the subject must acknowledge. I have endeavoured carefully to fix the date of each transaction u-hcre it occurs, and where it could be ascertained, showing throughout the whole of the Old Testament the year of the world, and the year before Christ, in which it happened. From the beginning of Joshua I have introduced the years before the building of Rome

Of these Drs. Cox and May were employed on the first edition of this work, as appears by the preceding- list.

In the first year of King James, 1604, anotlicr revision took place, and a few alterations were made, which consisted principally in the addilion of some prayers and tJuin^sgtvings, some alteration in the Rubrics relative to the Absolution, to the Confirmation, and to the office of Private Baptism, with the addition of that part of the Catechism which contains the Doctrine of the Sacraments. The other additions were, A Thanksgiving for divers Benefits, A Thanksgiving for Fair Weather, A Thanksgiving for Plenty, A Thanksgiving for Peach and fictnni. and A Thanksgiving for Deliverance from the Plague. See" the Instrument in Pymer, vol. xvi. p. 51)5, &c. When the work was thus completed, a royal proclamation was issued, bearing date Jilarcli 1, UM, in which the king gave an account of the Hampton Court conference, the alterations that had been made bj- himself and his clerg)' in the Book of Common Prayer, commanding it, and none other, to be used throughout the kingdom. See the Instrument, tfymer, vol. xvi., p. 575.

In this.';tate Ihe Book of Common Prayer continued till the reign of Charles II., who, the 25th of October, ICGO, " granted his commission, under Ihe great seal of England, to several bishops and divines to review the Book of Common Prayer, and to prepare suirh alterations and additions as they thought fit to ofi'er." In the following yeai the king assembled the convocations of both the provinces of Cantrrlmryanii York, and " authorized the presidents of those convocations, and other the bishops and clergj- of the same, to review the said Book of Common Prayer," &c., requiring them, "after mature consideration, to make such alterations and additions as to Ihem should seem meet and convenient." This was accordingly done, several pravers and some whole services added, and the whole published, with the Act of Uniformitii, in the 1 llh of Charles II., IGtil; since which lime it has undergone no farther revision. These se'veraV additions have made the public.service too long, and this is the principal cause why this part of Divine worship is not better attended. This excellent service is now burdensome through its extreme length; and the clergy shorten their sermons, making them superficial, to prevent too much weariness in their congregations. After being an hour and a half at prayers, they dismiss their audience with fifteen or twenty minutes' preaching; thus the pi-ople are not.sufficiently instructed." This is a short history of a work which all who are acquainted with it deem superior to every thing of the kind produced either by ancient or modern times.

It would be disingenuous not to acknowledge that the chief of those prayers were in use in the Roman Catholic Church from which Ihe Church of England is reformed; and it would beiray a want of acquaintance with ecclesiastical antii|uity to suppose that those prayers and services originated in that Church, as several of them were in use from the first ages ol Christianity, and many of the best of them before the name oipopc o\ popery was 'down In the eartu.

till the seven hundred and fifty-third year before Christ, when the foundation of that city was laid, and also introduced the Olympiads from the time of their commencement, as both these eras are of the utmost use to all who read the sacred writings, connected with the histories of the times and nations to which they frequently refer. And who that reads his Bible will not be glad to find at what time of the sacred history those great events fell out, of which he has been accustomed to read in the Greek and Roman historians? This is a gratification which the present work will aflbrd from a simple inspection of the margin, at least as far as those facts and dates have been ascertained by the best chronologists.

Ill the Pentateuch I have not introduced either the years of Rome or the Olympiads, because the transactions related in the Mosaic writings are in general too remote from these eras to be at all afl^ected by them; and I judged it early enough to commence with them at the time when Israel was governed by the Jndg-es. But as the exodus from Egypt forms a very remarkable era in the Jewish history, and is frequently referred to in the historical books, I have entered this also, beginning at the 13th of Exodus, A. M. 2513, and have carried it down to the building of Solomon's temple. This, I conceive, will be of considerable use to the reader.

As to Marginal Reading-s, I could with very little trouble have added many hundreds, if not thousands; but as I made it a point of conscience strictly to adhere to the present authorized version in the text, I felt obliged by the same principle scrupulously to follow the Marginal Readings, without adding or omitting any. Had I inserted some of my own, as some others have done, then my text would be no longer the text of the authorized version, but an altered translation; for the Marginal Readings constitute an integral part, properly speaking, of the authorized version; and to add any thing would be to alter this version, and to omit any thing would be to render it imperfect. When Dr. Blayney revised the present version in 1769, and proposed the insertion of the translations of some proper names, to the etymology of which reference is made in the text, so scrupulous was he of making any change in this respect that he submitted all his proposed alterations to a select Committee of the University of Oxford, the Vice-chancellor, and the Principal of Hertford College, and Mr. Professor Wheeler; nor was even the slightest change made but by their authority. All this part, as well as the entire text, I must, therefore, to be consistent with my proposals, leave conscientiously as I found them, typographical errors and false italics excepted. Whatever emendations I have proposed, either from myself or others, I have included among the Notes.

That the Marginal Readings, in our authorized translation, are essential to the integrity of the version itself, I scruple not to assert; and they are of so much importance as to be in several instances preferable to the Textual Readings themselves. Our conscientious translators, not being able in several cases to determine which of two meanings borne by a word, or which of two words found in difl'crent copies, should be admitted into the text, adopted the measure of receiving both, placing one in the margin, and the other in the text, thus leaving the reader at liberty to adopt either, both of which in their apprehension stood nearly on the same authority. On this very account the marginal readings are essential to our version, and I have found, on collating many of them with the originals, that those in the margin are to be preferred to those in the text in the proportion of at least eight to ten.

To the Geography of the sacred writings I have also paid the utmost attention in my power. I wished in every case to be able to ascertain the ancient and modern names of places, their situation, distances, &c., &c.; but in several instances I have not been able to satisfy myself. T have given those opinions which appeared to me to be best founded, taking frequently the liberty to express my own doubts or dissatisfaction. I must therefore bespeak the reader's indulgence, not only in reference to the work in general, but in respect to several points both in the Scripture geography and chronology in particular, which may appear to him not satisfactorily ascertained; and have only to say that I have spared no pains to make every thing as correct and accurate as possible, and hope I may, without vanity, apply to myself on these subjects, with a slight change of expression, what was said by a great man of a great work: " For negligence or deficience, I have perhaps not need of more apology than the nature of the work will furnish; I have left that inaccurate which can never be made exact, and that imperfect which can never be completed." — Johnson. For particulars under these heads I must refer to Dr. Hales' elaborate and useful work, entitled,.4 Jicw Analysis of Chronology, 2 vols. 4to., 1809-10.

The Summaries to each chapter are entirely written for the purpose, and formed from a careful examination of the chapter, verse by verse, so as to make them a faithful Table of Contents, constantly referring to th(; verses themselves. By this means all the subjects of each chapter may be immediately seen, so as in many cases to preclude the necessity of consulting a Concordance.

In the Heads or head lines to each page I have endeavoured to introduce as far as the room would admit, the chief subject of the columns underneath, so as immediately to catch the eye ot the reader.

Quotations from the original texts I have made as sparingly as possible; those which are intro« Vol. I. ( 3) 17* duced I have endeavoured to make plain by a liloral translation, and by putting them in European cliaracters. The reader will observe that though the Jlibrrw is here ])roduced withuut the -points, yet the readiiiir given in European characters is according to the points, with very lew exceptions. I have clioscn this middle waij to please, as far as possible, the opposers arid friends of the Masoretic system.

The controversies among religious people I have scarcely ever mentioned, having very'seldom referred to the creed of any sect or party of Christians; nor have 1 |)roduced any opinion merely to confute or establish it. I simply propose what 1 believe to be the meaning of a passage, and maintain what I believe to he the truth, but scarcely ever in a controversial way. 1 think, it quite possible to give my own views of the doctrines of the Bible, without introducing a single sentence at which any Christian might reasonably take offence: and I hope that no provocation which I may receive sliall induce nie to depart from this line of conduct.

It may be expected by some that I should enter at large into the proofs of the authenticity of Divine Revelation. This has been done amply by others; and their works have been published in every form, and, with a very laudable zeal, spread widely through the public: on this account I think it unnecessary to enter professedly into the subject, any farther than 1 have done in the " Introduilion to the four fios()els and Acts of the Apostles," to which 1 must beg to refer the reader. The dillerent portions of the sacred writings against which the shafts of infidelity have been levelled, 1 have carefully considered, and I hoj)e sudlcicntly defended, in the places where they respectively occur.

For a considerable time I hesitated whether I should attach to each chapter what are commonly called reflections, as these do not properly belong to the province of the comwentator. It is the business of the preacher, who has the literal and obvious sense before him, to make reflections on select passages, providential occurrences, and particular histories: and to ajjply the doctrines contained in them to the hearts and practices of his hearers. The chief business of the commentator is critically to examine his text, to give the true meaning of every passage in reference to the context, to exjjlain words that are difficult or of dubious import, illustrate local and provincial customs, inanners, idioms, laws, &c., and from the whole to collect the great design of the inspired writer.