under Your peculiar jurifdiction: and RACE is very kind in permitting me to it to Your Name, which kindness I abuse by the usual stile of dedications, RACE'S virtues are so well known, and fo lly esteemed, as to stand in need of no dation, and much less of mine, uld rather beg leave to apprise Your and the reader, of the design of these ions: which is not to treat of the proin general, nor even of those prophecies cular, which were fulfilled in the perfon ions of our Saviour; but only of fuch as more immediately to these later ages, and fome measure receiving their accomplishat this time. What first suggested the were fome converfations, formerly with General*, who had for many years the ommands in the army, and was a man of * Marshal Wade 1 good understanding, and of fome reading, but unhappily had no great regard for revealed religion or the clergy. When the prophecies were urged as a proof of revelation, he constantly derided the notion, asserted that there was no such thing, and that the prophecies which were pretended were written after the events. It was immediately replied, that thơ fuch a thing might with less scruple and more confidence be affirmed of fome prophecies fulfilled long ago, yet it could never be proved of any, the contrary might be proved almost to a demonstration: but it could not be fo much as affirmed of feveral prophecies without manifeft abfurdity; for there were feveral prophecies in fcripture, which were not fulfilled till these later ages, and were fulfilling even now, and confequently could not be framed after the events, but undeniably were written and published many ages before. He was startled at this, and faid he must acknowledge, that if this point could be proved to fatisfaction, there would be no : arguing against such plain matter of fact; it would certainly convince him, and he believed would be the readiest way to convince every reasonable man, of the truth of revelation. It was this occafion, my LORD, that first gave rife to these Differtations, which were originally drawn up in the form of fome fermons. But fince that time, they have been new-modelled, much altered and much inlarged, and confirmed by proper authorities. And tho' fome of them only are here published, yet each differtation may be confidered as a diftinct treatise by itself. It is hoped indeed, that the whole, like an arch, will add strength and firmness to each part; but at the fame time care hath been taken, that the parts should have strength in themselves, as well as a relation to the whole, and a connection with each other. The publication therefore of some parts cannot be improper; and the others shall go to the press as foon as an indifferent share of health, conftant preaching twice a day, and 1 and other neceffary duties and avocations will permit me to put the finishing hand to them. Every reader muft know, Your GRACE and every scholar must know more efpecially, that fuch works: ks are not to be precipitated. They require time and learned leifure, great reading and great exactness, both difquifitions of some of the most curious points of history, as well as explications of fome of the most difficult passages of scripture. And I should not prefume to offer any of them to Your GRACE, or to submit them to the public cenfure, if they had not been first perused and corrected by fome of my friends, and particularly by three of the best scholars, and ablest critics of this age, Bishop Pearce, Dr. Warburton, and Dr. Jortin; who were also my friendly coadjutors in my edition of Milton; and as they excel in all good learning themselves, so they are very ready to promote and assist the well-meant endevors of others. A 4 When |