ALL Sciences have their introductions and rudimentary Preparatives , by which the learner may bee fitted and instructed to a farther and more researched knowledge of things ; All Noble families have their Porters to open unto their Visitors , and courteously to conduct them from the Gate to the Parlour : I doubt not ( Candid Reader ) but to find thee of my judgement , that the explication of the Scriptures should have its Introduction too , and the Learned , and therefore Noble Family of Commentators , their Ostiaries and Ianitors . Now that I might become a Servant in this Family , and shew my officiousness to give entrance unto the Suters of the holy Ministery , whereby they may have access unto the richer Providores in Gods Family , I have taken up my standing at the threshold of the house of God .

'T is well known in the Schools , in how little time , how many and great volumes are to be read , how many facilitating and perasceuastical exercises young Clients to Divinity must run thorow ; and in apportionating either of daies or hours , to the several sorts of studies , how little time is spent in reading the Holy Scriptures , to get a right understanding of which , ought to bee the chief labour of all men , especially of those that would hear the Lord himself speaking , that they may beleeve , and that what they beleeve as the Oracles of God they may publickly preach ; Hee that shall conduce what hee can to the furtherance of such Noble Bereans , Scripture-Disciples , I le bee his warrant , hee shall not lose his labour .

For their sakes that are students in Theology , by the authority of the National Synods Delegates , I made in my publick Lectures an Analytical Exposition of all the Apostolick Epistles , and those Lectures , though somewhat rude , I committed to the Press , that I might spare many's labour of transcribing them , and I purposed candidly to give you an account of my intent therein , to the end that I might render thee more equitable to mee in thy censure of mee .

For younger Students , for whom the reading of the Scriptures is necessary , but the perusing of larger Commentaries is impossible , according to my duty , I was to set forth an Explication of the main scope of the Text , and of the obscurer words , and harder sentences , and of their coherence one with another , and also with the principal scope ; now here was need of an Analysis , Glosses , and some Exposition , or Paraphrase which might bee instead of an Exposition . Brevity was so necessary for the intended Introduction , that it would have been better never to have undertaken it , than not to have made it short ; for if there had been no hope of brevity , it had never been at all . Now to the brevity of the Explication , perspicuity was also necessary , lest a trussing together of many things in few words should intangle the Reader .

That I might therefore obtain my designed end , I have pack'd the Analysis , and Commentaries , and Exposition or Paraphrase altogether , every one of which could not singly bee disposed of , without great tediousness : But whether or no , or in what measure I have effected what I aimed at , bee thou thy self Iudge , when having compared the Explication with the Text , thou shalt see how each thing hath reference to other . Onely know thus much , that I could with a great deal less labour have made my Explication longer , than so short as it is . I have not followed the Logical Analysis any further ▪ than was necessary to demonstrate the Scope of the Text ; for to mince every member of the sentence by peece-meal , would bee the work of a prolix Commentary : those that are called Logical terms of Art , I have used very sparingly , otherwise , I saw I should raise a quarrel against my self , and a trouble to thee , who mightest more easily understand the matter it self , than thou couldest examine , whether those terms were by mee rightly assigned , and wouldest sooner consent with mee in the main matter , than subscribe to my use of those Logical notions : For every one hath his several way of Analysing , so that you shall hardly finde two Writers that do agree in all their Logick terms , in the Resolution of but one Chapter , even when they unanimously accord in sense . For Logick terms according to a various respect had to the subject and attribute of the proposition to bee proved , are , and ought to be changed , the sense of the place remaining still intire and safe . The Precepts and Exhortations which are emphatically proposed in that which they call ( Modus Imperativus ) or any other Rhetorical Modus , according to the Rules in Logick , I have turned in Modum Indicativum , that the position to bee confirmed may bee the more clearly illustrated . The emphasis and forcibleness of the Spirit , I have left to bee unfolded in larger Commentaries and Sermons . For your memories sake , I have made the parts of every Chapter , and the chief Positions in every part ( as far as the truth of the matter would suffer ) very few . Arguments for the confirmation of that Proposition that expresses the scope , I have made more or fewer , all after as perspicuity required ; one while contracting the force of many Arguments into one , other while unfolding them severally .

Arguments that make to confirm the chief scope , and the next foregoing matter , I have referred to both . But I have disposed all things by way of Enthymem for brevity and perspicuities sake . If the scope or conclusion seems to bee repeated oftner than was needful , I hope you will pardon mee this labour , when you shall see the conclusion or purpose suppressed to bee more easily gathered by mee , than you can fetch it from what went before . Although at first blush some Arguments seem to bee the same , you shall see some new force the Apostle adds , doth make a difference . Nor let it not trouble you , that the Arguments that I refer to the confirmation of any Proposition , are used by learned men to prove other conclusions : For the same medium may fitly serve for the proving of several Propositions . Where the sense of the verses is obvious , and the connexion plain , there will be no need of this help of mine , which is to take place chiefly in the obscurer passages ; but lest there should bee any gap , I have made the work all along similar and homogeneous . Hee that likes not this concise way of writing , I beg of him that hee would not deter others from the reading of it . If this Introduction shall but open a door to the Students of Divinity unto larger Commentaries , I have my desire . A Key , the less it is , the higher it is wont to bee valued . In so great variety of Writers , hee consults best for the Common-wealth , that handles onely necessary things well , or at least , briefly , that the Reader may lose as little labour and cost as may bee .

If this labour of mine bee welcome to thee , your admonition shall not bee unwelcome to mee , though it pitch upon something to bee amended , or if in your prudence you think fit to give mee any advice . I will do my indeavour ( God willing ) to satisfie thee as to an English Translation , which many of my friends put mee upon , if it shall bee found worth the while . In the mean time I humbly beseech the Father of Lights , that hee would send more learned and able servants of his into this Harvest , that what I cannot , they may do in this kind of writing . For I hope , that very many that are now kept off by the onely prolixity of Commentaries , that they read little or nothing , and with very small benefit , will now read the Scriptures more eagerly , having some short helps for the opening of their scope and sense tendred them .

THis Reverend Author having so well approved himself to the Church of God , by his several labours upon the Holy Scriptures , was a great motive to us , to make these elaborate Expositions upon the Epistles , of universal use , by putting them into the same language , with his pious Commentaries on the Psalms of David , St. Matthews Gospel , and other Tractates that have promoted sober minds in the practical understanding of the word of God . And for this in thy hands , as many learned men ( with great commendation ) have taken much pains in the explication of these sacred Letters of St. Paul ; so this Learned Professor of Divinity ▪ hath very much served the Church of God , by the addition of his Analytical Exposition , wherein hee is true to his Method , solid in his Explication , and learned in both . Yet possible it is , that matters of the best desert , may fall under the censures of some , amongst the rest , perhaps the translating of this book into the English tongue ; I hope the suspicion of an offence will not appear so great , when wee shall have shewed the reasons that carried us thereunto , which among the rest were such as these ▪

Whilst this Commentary remained in the same language wherein the Author sent it into the world , it was more confined in its use , and could be helpful onely to some , and those men of learning ; By this means it becomes instrumental to all , both learned and unlearned . And surely it is very meet that the learned should condescend to the good of others , when they cannot ascend to their own .

We conceived that this eminent part of the Holy Scriptures , being plainly opened ( seeing that so many have , and do wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction ) might prove very useful to all Families , where the word of God is conscionably read , and diligently studied , for their direction in the true intent and meaning of the Holy Ghost ; for want whereof , many have abused their own understandings , and the apprehensions of others about the mind of God in his revealed word ; whereas this Commentary , being near at hand , will readily lead them , not onely to the sense of every single verse in any Chapter throughout this work , but to the scope and aim of the Apostle , in the whole design hee hath in hand : For by abstracting a particular sentence ( or verse ) from the body of the Epistle , it may seem to look another way , than the c●ntexture of the discourse doth import .

Another motive of this translation , was that which sometime moved King Alured ( or Alfred ) to procure the turning of Gregories Pastorals into English , because some of his Church-men did not understand the Latin tongue . Thus it pleases God to have it at this day ; Many Preachers in England , who take upon them to teach others , understand nothing but their Mother-tongue themselves , nor ever came they where Learning grew . But seeing they will undertake to minister to the people , and the wind blows for their turn ; That the Church of Christ , purchased with his most precious blood , might not be left qu●●e destitute , and totally subver●ed by comments of their own , wee thought it meet to commend this useful Author to their understandings , whereby they might have some assistance proportionable to their capacities .

These were the main inducements wee eyed in attempting this work , and wee hope its general serviceableness ▪ will answer to whatever might be objected against the undertaking . Sometimes through the mistakes of printing the Latin book , the sense was here and there disturbed , whereupon wee were forced to take the more care in finding out the Authors mind , that wee might accordingly commend it to ●hy benefit .

Another thing I should signifie to the Reader : Some years since this Author set forth his Explanation of the Epistle to the Hebrews , a Book so useful and solid , that it became deservedly acceptable to most men : This wee have inserted in its proper place , in this Volume and Edition : So that besides the Analy●●cal Exposition of these Epistles ( which was the sole intendment of the Author in this present work ) yo● have his practical observations formerly set forth , upon the Epistle to the Hebrews .

〈…〉 remains , but that thou apply thy self to the perusal of the whole , and before thou unde●●●kest ●o be a Iudge become a Reader ; and while thy meditations are imployed in these sacred Oracles of God , I shall pray that the Spirit of truth and goodness may come down and rest upon thee : For 〈◊〉 hee b●eathes from these mountains of spices , and wee delude our selves with the visions of our own heart● ▪ while wee think to finde the Holy Spirit , God blessed for ever , in any other Chanels , but these wherein he is determined to conveigh his holy and heavenly motions .