JOHN WESLEY, M. A. Printed by GRABHAM and PINE, in Wine-Street, 1760. PREFA C E. LYXOR many Years I have had a Defire of fetting down and laying together, what has occurred to my Mind, either in Reading, Thinking, or Converfation, which might affift ferious Perfons, who have not the Advantage of Learning, in understanding the New Teftament. But I have been continually deterred from attempting any Thing of this Kind, by a deep Senfe of my own Inability: Of my Want not only of Learning for fuch a Work, but much more of Experience and Wifdom. This has often occafioned my laying afide the Thought. And when by much Importunity I have been prevailed upon to refume it, ftill I determined to delay it as long as poffible, that' (if it should please GoD) I might finish my Work and my Life together. 2. But having lately had a loud Call from GOD, to arife and go hence, I am convinced that, if I attempt any Thing of this Kind at all, I must not delay any longer. My Day is far fpent, and (even in a natural Way) the Shadows of the Evening come on apace. And I am the rather induced to do what little I can in this Way, because I can do nothing elfe: Being prevented by my prefent Weaknefs, from either Travelling or Preaching. But, bleffed be GoD, I can ftill read, and write, and think. O that it may be to his Glory! 3. It will be eafily difcerned, even from what I have faid already, and much more from the Notes themfelves, that they were not principally defigned for Men of Learning; who are provided with many other Helps: And much lefs for Men of long and deep Experience in the Ways and Word of God. I defire to fit at their Feet, and to learn of them. But I write chiefly for plain, unlettered Men, who underftand only their Mother-Tongue, and yet reverence and love A 2 the the Word of GOD, and have a Defire to fave their 4. In order to affist these in such a Measure as I am 5. I am very fenfible this will be liable to Objection: Nay, to Objections of quite oppofite Kinds. Some will probably think, the Text is altered too much; and others, that it is altered too little. To the for- mer I would obferve, That I have never knowingly,. fo much as in one Place, altered it, for Altering's Sake: But there, and there only, where, First, The Senfe was made better, ftronger, clearer, or more con- fiftent with the Context: Secondly, Where the Senfe being equally good, the Phrafe was better or nearer the Original. To the latter, who think the Altera- tions too few, and that the Tranflation might have been nearer ftill, I answer, This is true; I acknow- ledge it might. But what valuable End would it have anfwered, to multiply fuch trivial Alterations, as add neither Clearness nor Strength to the Text? This I could not prevail upon myself to do: So much the lefs, 6. I have endeavoured to make the Notes as short as poffible, that the Comment may not obfcure or der: For this Reason I have ftudiously avoided, not only all curious and critical Enquiries, and all Use of the learned Languages, but all fuch Methods of Reafoning and Modes of Expreffion, as People in common Life are unacquainted with: For the fame Reason, as I rather endeavour to obviate than to propofe and anfwer Objections, fo I purposely decline going deep into many Difficulties, left I should leave the ordinary Reader behind me. 7. I once defigned to write down, barely what occurred to my own Mind, confulting none but the inspired Writers. But no fooner was I acquainted with that great Light of the Chriftian World (lately gone to his Reward) Bengelius, than I entirely changed my Defign, being throughly convinced, it might be of more Service to the Caufe of Religion, were I barely to tranflate his Gnomon Novi Teftamenti, than to write many Volumes upon it. Many of his excellent Notes I have therefore tranflated. Many more I have abridged; omitting that Part which was purely critical, and giving the Subftance of the reft. Thofe various Readings likewife which he has fhewed to have a vast Majority of antient Copies and Tranflations on their Side, I have without Scruple incorporated with the Text: Which after his Manner I have divided all along (tho' not omitting the common Divifion into Chapters and Verfes, which is of Use on Various Accounts) according to the Matter it contains, making a larger or smaller Paufe, juft as the Senfe requires. And even this is fuch an help in many Places, as one who has not tried it can scarcely conceive. 8. I am likewise indebted for some useful Observations, to Dr. Heylin's Theological Lectures: And for many more to Dr. Guyle, and to the Family Expofitor of the late pious and learned Dr. Doddridge. It was a Doubt with me for fome Time, whether I fhould not fubjoin to every Note I received from them, the Name of the Author from whom it was taken; efpecially confidering I had transcribed fome, and abridged many more, almost in the Words of the Author. But upon farther Confideration, I refolved to name none, that nothing might divert the Mind of the Reader from keeping A 3. clofe |