15551 PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE POLYGLOTT BIBLE. crue to a sincere and diligent reader of the subsequent verses, except where something niaterial Sacred Pages, from having constantly before him a is to be noticed. Thus also in the prophecy of ObaReference to similar and illustrative passages, care- diah, which relates chiefly to the destruction of the fully investigated, and suitably applied, must be ob- Edomites, the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezevious to every one ; and has been well understood kiel, and Amos, on the same subject, having been by many pious and able men, to whose diligent once pointed out at the commencement, are not and useful labours the Public is unspeakably in- again referred to. And so in the history of our debted. Lord's temptation, given in the fourth chapter of the the first verse to the fourth chapter of that by St. The Chronology is always placed at the top of the Luke, where the same history is recorded, no further middle column, where it denotes the Date of the reference is made to that chapter in the subsequent writing or transaction contained in the text, at the verses ; the connexion of the whole being obvious, beginning of the page. and the comparison easy. More space has been thus retained for the illustration or confirmation of the The Marginal Readings contained in the folio and subjects or sentences individually, which are comprisquarto Bibles are all introduced; the idioms of the ed in the particular parts of the history or discourse. original languages which are preserved in many of them, and also the various senses of particular words For a similar reason, where the same identical or phrases, being in most instances instructive, and words, or nearly so, might be found in a great numin all worthy to be known. But it has not been ber of texts, a few of these only have been selected ; thought necessary, in giving these readings, to insert -illustration, not repetition, having been the object such words as are repeated in the text, and which in view. would therefore have fruitlessly occupied a portion of the space allotted to references. The References, therefore, which fill the middle column, have all been diligently considered and apThe Various Readings are referred to by small plied with a particular attention to this specific end, figures placed immediately before the words for that none which were superfluous might be introwhich they are to be substituted ; and the Refer- duced, while the most material purposes to be anences by Italic letters, which are generally placed swered by References might nevertheless be effectafter the first or second word of a verse, or clause of ually secured. a verse, when they are intended to illustrate the whole of that verse or clause: but when the princi- WHETHER the latitude or the limits of such an pal force of the illustration rests on a single word, undertaking be considered, it is proper that the the letter reference is placed immediately after that principles on which it has been conducted should word. This has been the general rule; and the ex- be so far explained, as that the Reader may be apceptions have either been unavoidable, or are quite prised of what he is to expect from it, and in what immaterial. branches of religious inquiry it may most materially assist him. In referring to several relations of the same facts, by different Writers in the Sacred Volume, (as in In that grand enunciation of the dignity and dethe histories recorded by the Four Evangelists, and sign of the Sacred Volume, which is given by the in those contained in the Books of Kings and Chron- Apostle Paul, (2 Tim. iii. 16, 17,) we are told, that icles,) the corresponding chapters, or parts of chap- "ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF God, ters in each, having been once noted at the begin- AND 1S PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, ning of the history or subject, it has not been FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSPREFACE TO THE ENGLISH VERSION THOROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS. NESS; THAT THE MAN of GOD MAY BE PERFECT, sponsibility which they incur who wilfully neglect this holy book, and devote all their time, and the But it must be evident, that the Scripture could not powers of their minds, to terrestrial, and subordibe effectuully profitable for these great ends, nor nate objects. They slight the pearl of greatest make the man of God PERFECT,* if it were not per- price, which is no where else to be found ; and seem fect itself; if its different parts were at variance with as if they were determined to frustrate, as far as reeach other: if, notwithstanding all the variety of spects themselves, all that Divine wisdom and goodmatter, and multiplicity of detail, which such a book ness have done to rescue the immortal mind of man required, the doctrines revealed, and the moral du- from spiritual ignorance, error, vanity, vice, and ties enjoined, were not substantially and essentially ruin. Those, however, who are seeking to enjoy the same throughout; and if all the parts did not the blessings which the Gospel reveals, will, as concur in the plan of the whole. To exhibit , then, i they are able, search the Scriptures; and such perthe harmony of the Sacred Writers, on the sub- , sons wiil receive great help from having references jects of which they treat, has been the primary de- at hand to assist their inquiries. “ It were to be wishsign of this selection. And as there are some sub- ed,” says Bishop Horsley, “that no Bibles were jects of leading importance, in which all the rest printed without References. Particular diligence are included, and by means of which the harmony should be used in comparing the parallel texts of and perfection of the Inspired Pages are written, as the Old and New Testaments. ... It is incredible,” with the beams of the sun ; to these, especial care he adds, “ to any one who has not made the experiand attention have been devoted. ment, what a proficiency may be made in that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation, by I. It has appeared an object of the first magnitude, studying the Scriptures in this manner, without that the reader of the Holy Scriptures should be as- ANY OTHER COMMENTARY, OR EXPOSITION, THAN sisted by references from text to text, to have con- WHAT THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SACRED VOLstantly in view the connexion of all the divine UME MUTUALLY FURNISH FOR EACH OTHER. Let the attributes, and the holy uniformity of God in his most illiterate Christian study them in this manner, government, both of bis Church, and of the world. and let him never cease to pray for the illumination A display of the true character and perfections of of that spirit by which these books were dictated: God is, without dispute, one chief design of the In- and the whole compass of abstruse philosophy, and spired Volume. Here, as in Isaiah's miraculous recondite history, shall fivnish no argument with vision, may Jehovah be seen, sitting upon a throne, which the perverse will of man shall be able to high and lifted up; his train fills the temple, and shake this learned Christian's faith.”! So great and the Sacred Writers, like the Seraphim, cover them- perfect is the coincidence of every part of the Word selves, and cry one to another, and say, HOLY, HOLY, of God in the grand and merciful design of the whole ! HOLY IS THE LORD OF hosty, THE WHOLE EARTH It is this which gives to III. This is more apparent, and the harmony and the Scripture its superlative grandeur. By it, God perfection of the Holy Scriptures are rendered more is known; his will is promulgated; his purposes are peculiarly evident and distinct, by the constant rerevealed; bis mercy is announced ; and he is every ference of all its writers to our Lord and Saviour where exhibited as worthy of the supreme adora - Jesus Christ. To him GIVE ALL THE PROPHETS tion, love, service, and praise, of all his intelligent WITNESS. Aets x. 43. The things which were writcreatures. Little do those who neglect their Bibles ten in the law of Moses, and in all the Prophets, think what refived delight they lose, by thus turn- and in the Psalms, concern nim; (Luke xxiv. 27, ing away their eyes from the most sublime, the most 44;) and would come to nothing if he were separatglorious, and the most beatifying object of contem- ed from them. He is the bright and morning star ; plation, that the whole universe affords. the true light that must lighten every man who comes to see the glory of Divine Revelation. Rev. II. But this manifestation of the Divine character xxi. 16. John j. 9. It has therefore been a chief and government is not presented to us as a matter design of this work to connect and to exhibit the of mere speculation, in which we have no immedi- testimony which all the Sacred Penmen hear to the ate and personal interest. The Holy Scriptures are adorable Immanuel; to the proper and unequivocal designed to promote the Glory of God BY THE Divinity of his nature, the necessity of his mediation, SALVATION OF MAN. The peculiar purpose of the the reality and design of his incarnation, his spotless whole is, to turn men from darkness to light, and and exemplary life, his unparalleled sufferings, his from the power of Satan to God; to raise them from vicarious death, the verity of his resurrection and the ruins of the Fall, and to put them in possession ascension into heaven, the sufficiency of his rightof the blessings of Redemption ; to lead them from cousness, the prevalence of his intercession, the sin to holiness; to conduct them through a state of spirituality of his kingdom, his sovereignty in the conflict and trial on earth, to a state of rest and feli- Church, his constant care and love of his people, city in heaven; and so to assist and direct them in and the certainty of his second coming to raise the all possible conditions in life, that they may not dead and judge the world in righteousness ;-grand fail of these great ends, except by their own wilful and sublime truths, in which every individual of the rejection of the counsel of God against themselves. human race is deeply and eternally interested. The salvation of his own soul should therefore be the grand concern of every reader of the Scripture. IV. The chief purpose of Christ's mission being Here the imniortality of the soul is brought to light, that such as believe on him night be saved from and placed in unquestionable evidence. Here, its sin, which is the transgression of the Divine law, and defection from original purity is clearly demonstrat- from the punishment due to it; it has been thought ed; the means of its restoration are set forth ; and important frequently to connect those texts which its future destiny is declared. It is an awful re- speak of transgressions, with those in which the IS FULL OF HIS GLORY. 'APTIOS, perfectas, integer, sanus, incolumis, consentaneus, consun matus.-Hedcricus. † Horsley's Nine Sermons, p. 224-228. iv OF THE POLYGLOTT BIBLE. law concerning them is to be found, and in which world at large, are consistent with those pronounced punishment is threatened; and sometimes with by other Prophets. The accounts of the Jewish those in which the atonement is set forth, and par- polity under its various vicissitudes, are confirmed don is proclaimed; or in which sanctification is by the writings of the Prophets who lived during or promised, or enforced ; and these again with such after those vicissitudes; while the former tend reas relate to the future happiness and glory which is ciprocally to estublish the authenticity of the latter. promised to the faithil, or punishment and misery The histories of the Four Evangelists bave a regular denounced against the impenitent. A small body of connexion and parallelism, especially those of Matdivinity is sometimes comprised in a few texts con- thew, Mark, and Luke. The recital of the transacnected together in this way. Thus, from those tions of the Apostles, after the ascension of our words in Eze.xxiii. 49. Ye shall bear the sins of your Lord, strongly authenticates the Apostolic Epistles : idols, the Reader is referred first to Numb. xiv. 34, and Archdeacon Paley bas well shewn the confirmaas a parallel passage, shewing God visiting sin upon rion wbich the Epistles of St. Paul derive from ibe the transgressors themselves; then to Numb. xviii. circumstances recorded by St. Luke, in his book 23. to shew the typical visitation of it upou the Le- of the Acts. Prophecies are connected with their vitical priesthood; then to Isaiah li. 11. to shew accomplishments, as far as those accomplishments the prophetic declaration of its being laid on Chrisi; are included in the Scripture History: Promises aud, lastly, to 1 Pet. ji. 24. to shew the actual fulfil- and threatenings are connected with their respecment of that prophecy, and the end to be answered live fulfilinents; precept with example, and with by it: for there we are told, that He that jugeth supplicutiou ; ad the prayers of believers with righteously, “ his own self, bare our sins in his own the answers they have received. All these rebody on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live lations have been carefully regarded in this comto righteousness.” pilation. V. The concurrence of the Old and New Testa- VIII. Further, the Scriptures are not merely inment with each other, and the relation of the types tended to lead men to godliness: they are intendbefore and under the Mosaic law, to their comple- ed also to exemplify it. Repentance, Faith, Hope, tion under the Gospel, have been studiously regard- Charity, and Devotion, are here exhibited in the ed, so as to render it evident, that whatever varia- inost perfect models; and it has therefore entered tions may have been made in the form and adminis- into the design of this work to shew the correspondtration of external worship, true religion, under the ing emotions and conduct of the Saints, both of the former dispensations, was always essentially the Old Testament and the New, when under the influsame as true religion under the present; that "he is ence of those dispositions, conteniplations, and emonot a Jew which is one outwardly ; neither is that tions, which are most peculiarly characteristic of circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he true piety; and also to counect the devotional parts is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision of Scripture with the occurrences which gave rise is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the let- to them, as far as they can be ascertaived. Thus is ter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. For Religion known by its fruits : not as a thing merely in every nation, he that feareth God, and worketh of times and circumstances : but a living principle righteousness, is accepted of him.” Rom. ii. 28, 29. in the mind, which times and circumstances call Acts x. 35. In this, the revelation made before the into action, and contribute to display. institution of the Levitical priesthood, that made during its continuance, and that which has been IX. The ophoristic and poetical parts of the Samade since its termination, all agree. The Mosaic cred Writings are also connected, so as to illustrate ritual was the shadow of good things to come; so and enforce each other; that the Reader may be were the priesthood and kingdom of Melchisedec: constantly impressed with those momentous truths, and the body is Christ, who is essentially the same, and that sublime language with which they abound, both in his person and in his government, yesterday, and which ntiord perpetual food for the best exerto-day, and for ever. Heb. xii. 8. cises of the understanding, and the finest emotions of the heart; at once furnishing materials for the VI. But the ivstruction diffused through the Scrip- most rational entertainment, and the most solid intures, respecting the gracious and indispensable ope- struction. In this respect, the Scriptures will be rations of the Holy Ghost the Sanctifier, has not been found to resemble the garden of Eden, in which forgotten : and the references on this article will the Lord God has made to grow every tree that shew, that, as to his sacred influence on the minds is pleasunt to the sight, and good for spiritual food. of the Inspired Permen, we are indebted for all the But no Cherubim or flaming sword are here to truths they have taught us; so to his influence on prohibit access to the Tree of Life. The children the minds of those who receive and regard them, of the second Adam may freely, and without fear inust such persons be indebted for all they have or interruption, now put forth their hands to its learned, or can learn, of them. His work completes soul-reviving fruit, and take, and eat, and live for the great design of the whole ; and his assistance ever. and blessing are distinctly promised to all who sincerely ask them. X. The agreement of the Sacred Writers with each other will be found not only to exist in the VII. As the Scriptures harmonize in their pri- subjects on which they treat, but to extend to their mary and general objects, so do they with regard to own individual characters. It will appear that they the particular subjects comprehended in their plan. were all animated by the same Spirit; that they Historical accounts are verified by other coincident were all holy men, speaking as they were moved by ones, or by accounts of the persons or places to the Holy Ghost, calling men to holiness, as the inwhich they refer. The prophecies of one Prophet, dispensable requisite to the enjoyment of everlasting concerning events which were to take place, relat- happiness ;--men, nevertheless, of like passions with ing either to kingdoms, families, individuals, or the ourselves, conscious of their own natural infirmity PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH VERSION, &c. and sinfulness, and of the mercy of God through tions of human wit, after a few perusals, like gatherChrist Jesus, as their only refuge from his just dis- ed flowers, wither in our hands, and lose their frapleasure. In short, they were men fearing God; grancy; but these unfading plants of Paradise beloving God; loving his character, his laws, his will come, as we are accustomed to them, still more and admiring his great and wonderful purposes, and more beautiful; their bloom appears to be daily voluntarily, deliberately, and determinedly devot- heightened, fresh odours are emitted, and new ing themselves to his service, whatever it might sweets extracted from them. He who hath once cost them, and to whatever it might expose them. tasted their excellences, will desire to taste them On all these accounts, they are held forth as ex- yet again; and he who tastes them oftenest will amples, whose faith, patience, and practice, Christ- relish them best.” ians are to follow. 1 Cor. xi. 1. Heb. xii. 7. Ja. Happy in having labored to facilitate the acquaint ance of the Christian with this invaluable treasure, It is thus that the Scriptures are PROFITABLE to the Editor has now only to implore the blessing of all the purposes for which they are destined, and Him by whom its exhaustless stores have been beare calculated to make the man of God PERFECT, stowed on sinful man ; and to hope that his feeble and thoroughly furnished unto all good works. endeavours may be instrumental in advancing the To the Inspired Pages at large may be applied the Reader's edification, and, in their humble measure, remarks of the excellent Bishop Horne (on the tend to promote that happy state of things, so long Psalms.). “Indited under the influence of Him, to foretold, and so ardently to be desired, in which the whom all hearts are known, and all events foreknown, they suit mankind in all situations, grateful as the manna which descended from above, and con- THE SEA. Heb. ii. 14. Is. xi. 9. formed itself to every palate. The fairęst produc T. C. v. 10. EARTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF |