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and reflexions, which I believed would neither be unpleafing nor unprofitable; and, for that reafon, I foon determined to communicate them to the world. And I own, not without fome hope of fupplying even the light and libertine. reader with matter of information and entertainment, if not of real improvement; and, at the fame time, avoiding all imputation of offence and demerit with the ferious, the learned, the reasonable, and the religious.

IN this work I freely own, I ferved myself as well as I could, of all the labours of the learned (that came in my way) upon the fubject; but without a fervile adherence to their judgments or fentiments, and without tying myself down to the painful drudgery of retailing their particular opinions and obfervations. My bufinefs, I thought,

was,

was, to feast my reader, the best I could: if the entertainment was to his liking, I imagined he would be little folicitous about the purveyors (their names and characters) of the particular messes that made it up.

THERE is, perhaps, more vanity than humility, in owning, that I am indebted, on this occafion, to all the commentators of note, more than I imagined I should at my first setting out ; and more to a commentator of little note, than to almost all the reft put together; I mean Mr. Trap of Wefton in Gloucefterfhire. In short, there is but one work upon the fubject (which yet treats it more profeffedly than any other which hath fallen in my way) to which I am not indebted for fo much as one fingle hint, or one idea.

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NOW, in truth, the hiftory I am going to prefent to the reader, is not fo properly the hiftory of David, as the hiftory of the divine Providence, during the life and reign of that prince, and within that Scene of action.

And

this, methinks, is matter of refined and uncommon curiofity. Here the reader will fee the prudence and paf fions of men, operating in their ordinary courfe, and producing their common effects; and at the fame time, the wisdom of GOD interpofing, fuperintending, fwaying, and conducting them all to the purposes of his adorable Providence.

HERE he will fee, not only the ordinary occurrences, revolutions, and events, which pass before a common eye, upon this stage of the world; but

be

be will alfo behold the fecret and unfeen Springs and movements, the whole machinery by which they are brought about: and from a careful obfervation, and right application of what he here learns, he will be able to contemplate the whole hiftory of the world, the lives of princes, and the revolutions of empires, in a very different light from that in which they prefent themselves to careless obfervers.

AND, what is yet of more importance, he will learn what degree of favour, fupport, and fuccefs he himfelf is to hope for from the divine Providence, in the upright and confcientious difcharge of his duty; and what chaftifement, diftrefs, and difappointment he is to expect from a contrary conduct.

IF

IF it pleafe GOD that fuch reflexions make him wifer and better, his end will be answered, and fo will

mine.

ERRATA.

1.

PAge 12. line 11. read a parent; p. 18. 1. 15. r. prophets; p. 62. 1. 5. r. it is; p.74. l. 7. r. enmity; p.85. Note, r. Vajehummim; ibid. Note, r. abhaiv abheru; p. 86. l. 13. r. Inge minant auftri; p. 105. 1. 18. r. be. p. 111. 1. 2. r. Ahimelech ; ibid. 1.21. r. Ahimelech; p. 112. 1.18. r. Ahimelech; p. 125. 1. 18. foldurii; 144. l. 16. r. Ahimelech; ibid. l. 17. r. Ahimelech; p. 152. 1. 13. for was, r. is; p. 157. 1.9. r. obligations ; p.161.1.8. r.they; p. 164. 1. 15. r. ftrict; p. 195. 1. 24. r.colouring; p. 201. 1. 7.r. Jonath elem; p. 225. I. 19. r.take away all; p. 279.1.4. r. Gen. xxxiii.; p. 295. 1. 6. dele even; p. 304.1.15. s.day.

THE

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