be confirmed by the judgment of other persons and the usefulness of the undertaking, time and experience must decide. A Commentary on the whole of the New Testament may be constructed according to the method here adopted, with some occasional variations; and the success of the present little work will enable me to judge how far such a composition may be likely to meet with a favourable reception. Certain I am, that whatever contributes to increase the practical knowledge of Scripture, and to display the spirit as well as the language of the sacred record, tends greatly to the glory of God and the welfare of mankind; and these are effects which, in dependence upon God's blessing, I propose to myself as the highest honour and most pleasing reward of my labour, while I attempt, in a new way, to exhibit the meaning, the beauty, and the force of the words of inspiration. 57, Harley Street, J. E. R. > honour], chap. ii. 7-a peculiar people [i. e., a purchased people, a private property]. Still with allusion to the ancient style of the Jewish church, ib. v. 9-submit yourselves to every ordinance of man i. e., to all constituted authorities], chap. ii. 13. The distribution and arrangement of the text and commentary may be easily understood upon inspection, and will be found, if I mistake not, more convenient than any other that can be adopted. The work is precisely adapted to family reading; and is, indeed, a fac simile of the effect produced by a person reading in the first instance a small portion of Scripture without note or comment, and then repeating the same with observations on every successive clause. While the text is mixed up with a variety of other matter, it is yet preserved inviolate, and stands out to notice with bold and prominent distinctness. The division into sections has been made with reference at once to convenient length, and to propriety of sense: the common distinctions of chapter and verse are added in the margin, but the sentences are not broken up into fragments according to the usual method. An Appendix, on a subject immediately connected with the design of a Scriptural Commentary, has been added. The whole work, as to its plan and execution, must now speak for itself. It embodies several favourite ideas of my own with respect to the best form and substance of a practical commentary on the Sacred Volume: whether or not my opinions will be confirmed by the judgment of other persons and the usefulness of the undertaking, time and experience must decide. A Commentary on the whole of the New Testament may be constructed according to the method here adopted, with some occasional variations; and the success of the present little work will enable me to judge how far such a composition may be likely to meet with a favourable reception. Certain I am, that whatever contributes to increase the practical knowledge of Scripture, and to display the spirit as well as the language of the sacred record, tends greatly to the glory of God and the welfare of mankind; and these are effects which, in dependence upon God's blessing, I propose to myself as the highest honour and most pleasing reward of my labour, while I attempt, in a new way, to exhibit the meaning, the beauty, and the force of the words of inspiration. 57, Harley Street, J. E. R. > THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. SECT. I. Chap. I. 1-12. 1 PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, 2 Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, 3 be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the 4 dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for 5 you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last 6 time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through 7 manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing 8 of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye B |