802 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. " provoker of it. And if you desire it, I will not refuse. " It shall be at your own choice. As I love not to begin " controversy, so I will not be wanting to do any good I " can, to you or any other ; or to defend any point of truth " which God hath given me to see and witness, when I am "duly called thereunto."* Mr. Ainsworth cultivated, at the same time, those studies which were more congenial to his profession, and more beneficial to the best interests of men. His great work, the " Annotations on the Five Books of Moses, the Psalms, and the Song of Solomon," was published separately, in the year 1612, and several following years ; and afterwards collected and printed in London, in one volume folio, 1627, and again irr 1639. This last edition is said to be very scarce. As to the execution of the work, its great worth has been established by the strongesttestimonies of foreign as well as British divines. Succeeding critics have adopted his remarks, and he is frequently cited by modern com- mentators. Dr. Doddridge says, " Ainsworth on the Pentateuch, Psalms, and Solomon's Song, is a good book, full of very valuable Jewish learning ; and his translation is, in many places, to be preferred to our own, especiallyon the Psalms."+ The manner of Mr. Ainsworth's death, as related by Mr. Neal, was sudden and singular, and not without strong suspicion of violence. For it is observed, that he, having found a diamond of great value in the streets of Amsterdam, advertised it in print ; and when the owner, who was a Jew, came to demand it, he offered him any acknowledgment he desired. Mr. Ainsworth, however, though poor, would accept nothing except only a conference with some of the rabbies, upon the prophecies of the Old Testament relating to the Messiah, which the other promised ; but not having sufficient interest to obtain the favour, it is thought he causedhim to be poisoned.# Other accounts say, that he obtained the conference, and so confounded the Jews, that, from spite and malice, they in this manner put a period to his life. Some writers, however, doubt the truth of this account, because it is never mentioned byany of the editors of his posthumous pieces. His death, by whatever cause it was produced, happened about the close of the year 1622, or the beginning of 1623.1 Paget's Arrow againstSeparation, p. 2. t Doddridge'sWorks vol. v. p. 472. Edit.1804. t Nears Puritans, vol. ii. p. 45. 4 Life of Ainsworth, p. 60, 61.
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