11 p R E F A c E. concerned to believe and obferve it. And hence the Scriptures were writ– ten in the common Language, viz. the Old Teframent in Hebrew, the Mother Tongue of the 'je1vs, and the New in Greek, which was the moft univerfal Language of that Time. Here we may note the Impiety of fuch as prohibit Tran!lations of it, or keep it from the common People, fo as they are not to read God's Word, but as the Priefrs pleafe. Ble!fed be God we have the Scriptures tran!lated in our Mother Tongue, and it is the Duty and Int-ercft of every Soul to converfe with the Word of God. Is Wifdom and Underfranding Man's moft invaluable Jewel? Where is be to find it? Let Wi!Ciom berfelf be the Guide-" Search the Scriptures, " &c. which, as the beloved Apoftle faith, are able to make us Wife unto " Salvation through Faith in Jefus Chrifr," John v. 39· How to obtain it we are elfewhere told, " We mull: a!k it of God, who giveth liberally, " and upbraideth uot, and it fhall be given to us," James i. 5· " It is to " be fought for as Silver, and fearched for as hid Treafure," Prov. ii. 3· He who fincerely gives himfelf to Prayer and JV(ecli,tation, a~Jcl refolves to be in the Purfuit of this chief of Bleffings, may allure him[elf of Suc– cefs, having the Promife of a faithful God who ca,mot lie. The Means are great, and the Encourage1~1ent great l,Jeyoncl Compa– rifon, if is therefore the lntereft of every one to converfe with the W.ord, of God, to. obtain a Purchafe fo eminently dignified witl1 the Title o€ Principal 'lht11g. The.Scrip.ture is a large Field for fpiritua,l Employment, and it is obvious to every one's Obfervation, that it abounds with Meta– phor~, Allegories, and other Tropes and Figures of Speech. And having a particular Inclination to fiudy the Nature of Metaphors, Tropes, and Figures, principally for the Edification of my Hearers, 1 betook myfelf to preadi upon fame Metaphors, which, by the Aid of divine Goodnefs, wanted n~ither Succefs, nor the general Satisfaction of my Auditory. And having many b;ief Heads of my Notes by me, it was judged worthy my Time and Pains to compile the Work before thee ; and to render the Utility of the Work as valuable as I could, 1 applied for the Ailifrance of Men malt eminent in Piety and Literature, and was fo hi!ppy as to fuc– ceed in the Application. I mull: confefs my own inability for the Under– taking, but the Chriftian, and candid Reader, will call: a Veil over l).umaJ;l Frailties, and accept the \Vill for the Deed. As for Carpcrs and cen:.. furing Critics, that are pleafed with nothing but their own Performances, fuch Gentlemen are beneath Regard. I have met v.rith an Objecti0n againft my Method, viz. that llO Parallels are to be drawn beyond the Scope of the Text-To which I anfwer, that I have endeavorcd with all Diligence, to conform all my Parallels to plain Scripture, and the Analogy o( the or– thodox Faith. Jf I go beyond what the Scope of a particular Text is, yet I agree with the general Tenor of God's Word. And as Metaphors are Terms borrowed from Things that have divers Properties, as far as they yield P<J..rities, or Difparities, with_the Object reprefented, they may be fafely ufec\. As for Exa,mple, God; (in a ~etaphorical Notion) is called a Father; how can a Parallel be liq1itted, ti~l you apply all the beneficial Propenies of a natural Father f I~ is. therefore demon!hable to every one, that the Volume of God's Word abounds with' Metaphors, Allegories, and other Tropes and Figures of Speech. Similitude~
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