ChrllFian Reader. F than intend to engage any part of thy time in the perufal of the enfuing Difcou.rfcs andExpof- tion, it may not be amißto take along with thee the confideration offame things concerning the de- ign and aim of theirAuthor, in the Writing and prefent publifhing ofthem, which are here propofid unto thee. It is nowfundry yearsfine Ipurpofed in my felf, ifGod gave life and opportunity, to en- deavour, according to the meafure ofthe Gift re- ceived, an Expofition of the Epiftle to the Hebrews. ASubjell this was, I then knew, and now acknowledge, much labouredin by many eminent and learned men, both ofoldand of late. In particular, f me entire Commentaries, compofed withgood judgment, and to very goodpurpofe, have beenpnblfsed in our own Language. Tea,from him whofill began afirious Expofition of this Epfle, and whom none in all thingshave to this day exceeded, there havepaged few ages wherein_lime or other have not endeavoured theExplicationof it: And this allo hath been doneby menofall forts and parties, ofall perfwafans and Opinions in Chri- fiian Religion; an account of whole Patera! endeavours Jhall elfe-where be given. somewhat there was ofencouragement unto me in my defrgned un- dertaking, andfamewhat of quite akother tendency in this confideration: The help which Insight receive from thefdulous labours offo many learned men, and thole in Times, Places, Principles, difrant and diftingssifbed from each other; as alfo managing their common defign with great variety as to particular intentions; Ilooked on as a matter of no fmalladvantage unto me. Some I found had critically examined many of the Words, Phrafes and Expreffions of the Writer g fame compared his Quotations with theplaces in the OldTeamentfrom whence they are taken. some had endeavoured an Analyfis of the feveral Difcourfes of the Author, with the nature and force of the Arguments infiied on by him. The labours affame were to improve the Truths contained in the Eple untoPra&ice g others have collected the difficulties which they obferved therein, and (a) (canned
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