2-23-1932

THE

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PREFACE

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Tis fit I should acquaint the Rea der, in the first place, with the oc

cafion of the following Notes ; And I am the more inclined fo to do, that it may appear that I have not been forward to make them publick, and am bitious of appearing in Print.

Many years are now passed, since a confiderable number of the Clergy of London met together, and agreed to pub lifh fome fhort Notes upon the whole Bible for the Use of Families, and of all those well-difpofed Perfons that defired to read the Holy Scriptures to their greateft advantage. At that Meeting they a greed upon this worthy defign, and took their several shares, and affigned fome (a) part

part to them who were abfent. I was not prefent at that Meeting, but I was foon informed that they had affigned to me the Pentateuch. I was very fenfible how great a Task this would prove, and was fufficiently conscious of my own defects; Yet was I willing to undertake it, because I did always hope, that by yielding to it, I might incourage the Labours of those who would exceed what-ever I was able to do. Upon this confideration I did fet about this Work, and did often declare (and with great fincerity) that this was the Motive which did induce me.

The Work was begun with common confent, and we did frequently meet, and what was done was communicated from time to time to those met together, and that were concerned. The Methods of proceeding had been adjusted, and agreed to; A Specimen was printed, and an agreement was made when it should be put to the Prefs; and I finished my Part in order thereunto.

But

But fo it fell out, that, foon after all this, the Clouds began to gather a pace, and there was great ground to fear that the Popish Party was attempting to ruin the Church of England, and that there was a fevere Storm from that Quarter lighting upon us. We were alarm'd with their Plots and Confpiracies, and fometime after faw that Party encoura-, ged by the Higher Powers. Thofe of that Party preached and printed, and had their feparate Meetings, and drew away fome of our People, and more were in danger of being feduced. Hence it came to pals, that the thoughts of purfuing the above-mentioned defign were at prefent laid afide; and thofe that were concerned in it, were now obliged to turn their Studies and Pens againft that dangerous Enemy And what was done at that time, and upon that occa fion, by thofe concerned in this Work of writing Notes on the Bible, I fhall not need to tell the Reader in this place.

During this time also, some number of tho Perfons, concerned in the above-mentioned Work, were taken away by Death: And thus the Work was hindred, that might elfe have been finifhed long fince.

A Work well defigned it was, and would have been of unfpeakable advantage. And perhaps nothing could have contributed more toward the making Men wifer, and better; And nothing was more wanting among us than fuch a fhort Explication of the Holy Writ; And, I am apt to believe, nothing would have been more acceptable to thofe that are well difpored than fuch a Work. Some other hands have done fomething this way fince, whofe Endeavours have not wanted very confiderable encouragement. It would alfo have been of great ufe to the Undertakers themfelves, as it would have engaged them in those Studies, which, of all others, are moft entertaining to all Men that are truly Spiri tual. The ftudying of the Holy Scrip

tures

tures is the best imployment for the Minifters in Holy things, and for the People alfo. And they that apply themselves diligently this way, will be beft able to defend the Holy Writings against Gainfayers, and to deal with the Enemies of the Reformed Religion.

And I having drawn up my Notes upon this occafion, do now think my felf obliged to make them, publick, God having now difperfed thofe Clouds that then hung over our heads. And I do it from the fame Motive that firft induced me to undertake it; viz. that I might draw on others to do much better in the following Books. I am very willing to hope, that, in due time, the reft will fol low in the fame kind of Volume that these appear in: I can hardly think that a Work fo well devised will fall to the ground, and will do any thing in my power to revive what was fo well contrived at firft.

I cannot but say something in this place (befides what I intimated before) (az)

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