430 MEMOIRS OF MR BOSTON. order in We Hebrew : but where that could not be obtained, the Hebrew order is notified by a figure above the word ; as, 1 Gen. i. 1. GOD he created; the figure 1 notes, that word to be the firft of the two in the Hebrew : and more than that, the original words are, wherefoever they occur, rendered in that verfion, in their one formal fignification, according to the ufe of them in the Bible ; the which fignification is eftablithed in the notes, being difcovered by comparing of other places where the words occur. For which effea, the Bible ittélf, with Buxtorf's Hebrew Concordance, is, I humbly conceive, the belt Lexicon. Upon this fubje&, I cannot but mention with honour Guffet's Comment. ling. Ein'. Meanwhile this cannot mifsof making that verfionuncouth, and even (hocking to fome. Neverthelefs, by means thereof, the Engli(h reader hath a kind of original (if I may fo exprefs it) in his own language, by which, he may the better judge of fmoothverfions ; and the Hebrew reader may difcover the true fenfe of a text, together with the reafon thereof, from the language itfelf, and the phrafeology of the Holy Ghoft. But however (hocking it may be to any, I am apt to think, that a verfion of any Roman author, on fuch a plan, and under fuch ftri& rules, would be far more fo. 2. The notes are formed on the rigidly- literal verfion ; and in compiling of them, the philological part was firft fludied and written, and from thence was the theological fenfe of the text inferred and written. Howbeit, tranfcribing the whole in mundo, I judged it expedient, efpecially for the fake of the unlearned reader, to invert that order : fo that the philological part comes lift, that they who have no guff for it may pafs it. Meanwhile it contains the reafon of the verfions, and fenfeof the text, which are given. 3. The more fmoothverfion will, I apprehend, be judged by r too haT(hand literal ; and therefore it may yet again be licked ver; and I am refolved to expunge, in many places therein, the word even, very frequently occurring, fatistying myfelf with its (landing in the other verfion. But I mutt own, I ani much addióted to the letter of the facred text `and loth to depart from it, but upon evident neceffity. For I am fully convinced, that a cloud hath been caft over the true fenfe offeveral texts, by interpreters allowing themfelves a great liberty indeparting from it; inftance Gen. iii. 1. ; and humbly conceive there is a be-. coming reafon for the facred Hebrew "phrafeology. Withal I am of opinion with a famed author, that the Hebrew manners of fpeech kindly mix and incorporate with the Englith language ; and, if I miftake not, we may in feveral infances exprefs them more happily in our native language than in Latin. 4. The authentic copy written with my own hand, from
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