them; little or no care being taken by their teachers to explain the fense and meaning of any passage however difficult, or to enforce the obligation of any duty however important. A neglect, which unhappily extends its influence likewise to the more advanced stages of life. Many are the families of lower rank especially, who, though they have a just sense of both the privilege and duty, and live in the habitual and zealous practice of reading the Word of God, are yet too apt to think, that as foon as the lessons for the day are finished, their task is then done ; and so close the book, without attempting to consider what may be the meaning of passages that occurred in their reading, which, however, they are conscious that they do not understand. And thus, with the best dispofitions, they are, by a defective education, deprived of much of the satisfaction and benefit they might reap from this religious. exercise, did they accustom themfelves to read the Bible with the same attention which they find requisite for understanding other books.

Every language has its own peculiar idiom and mode of expression, which even in a contemporary author will not always bear a strict" and literal translation; and the holy scriptures, though so clear and. plain in every article of faith and practice necessary to falvation, that he may run that readeth, do nevertheless in other points (in common with all the writings of remote antiquity) abound in a variety of figurative, parabolical

, and proverbial expressions ; which being formed on customs extremely different from our own, cannot be perfectly understood without some regard to those circumstances. This it is that creates the principal difficulty in studying the scriptures : and to lessen that difficulty, and promote a more general spirit of rational piety, is my design in this undertaking ; by affording a cheap and easy affiftance to well-disposed Christians of humble stations, and by setting in a just light such passages as the young and ordinary reader, relying on the sound of words, might be tempted by the fuggestions of a prevailing superstition, or enthusiasm, to misapply in support of opinions, which are not founded in the true sense of scrip

ture,

ture, but, on the contrary, whatever appearance they may affume, are really fubversive of the principles of genuine Christianity.

Matt. v. 4. Note (6), for that they mourn, read they that mourn.

xi. 8. For King's, read Kings.
xiii. 19. After ary, read one.
xiii. Note (b), for Lauke xiii. 16. read Chap. xxv. 29. Luke viji. 18. .
xiii. 55. Number of Verse omitted in the Text.
xxi. 24. For likewise, read like wise. .
xxi. 28. After sons put (;)

xxiv. Note (f), for Gospel, read Prophet:
o xxvi. Note (n), for Mark xiv. read Mark xiv. 306

xxvi. Note (7), for Luke v. 11. read Mark xiv. 38. Mark ii. 25. For bungered, read hungred.

ix. Note (), for burning, read burnings,
x. Note (F), for wordly-minded, read worldly-minded.

xiji. Note (1), for his power, read bis own power,
Luke iši. Note (k), for was entered in, read was entring into.

V. 36. A new Germent. N. B. This article is omitted.

xvii. Note (i), dele inverted commas.
John ii. 11. Number of the Verse is omitted in the Text.

ii. Note (i), for told, read foreteld.
iv. Note (m), for Verse 10, read Verse 9.

vi. 27. The latter Part of Note (g) ought to be (b), referring to the word seated; but the subsequent Noies must all be new marked one letter higher.

viii. Note (a), for either by taking, read of taking.
xii. Note (m), for to hardened, read to barden.
xviii. 21. For askeih, read askeft.
xviii. Note (e), for Gen. xlii. 32. read Gen. xliii. 34.
xix. Noteb), after Mark, for xv. 25. read xv. 42. .

XX. Note (c?), for Psalm xv)..20. read xvi. 10.
Acts vii. 16. For athers, read fathers.

ix. Note (1), for criptures, read Scriptures.

xvi. 3. Add, Because be know that ibe Jews would not bearkes to : Timothy, bad be not been circumcised. -xvi. Note (f ), for power, read no ower. xxiv. Note (a), for s called, read is calied.

THE

I 2

T

HE book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the

son of David, the son of Abraham (b). Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob be3 gat Judas and his brethren. And Judas begat Pha

res and Zara of Thamar, and Phares begat El4 rom, and Efrom begat Aram. And Aram begat

Aminidab, and Aminidab begat Naasson, and Naaf5 son begat Salmon. And Salmon begat Booz of Ra

chab, and Booz begat Obed of Ruth, and Obed be6 gat Jeffe. And Jelle begat David the King, and

(a) The word Gospel signifies good tidings; and in all the books of the New Testament it stands for the joyful ridings of salvation through Jefus Christ, and comprehends not only the biltory of his life written by the four Evangelists, but likewise the whole covenant of reconciliation and acceptance, its glorious conditions and most glorious rewards.

(6) The use of this pedigree is to shew that Jesus was descended from Abraham and David, and was therefore fo far proved to be the true Messiah, or Christ, whom the Jews were then expecting, according to the Scriptures of the Old Testament. See Gen. xii. 3. xxii. 18. 2 Sam. vii. 12, &c. 1 Kings ix. 5. Psalm cxxx. 11, 12. Jer. xxiü.-5, 6.

B

David

David the King begat Solomon of her that had been 7 the wife of Urias. And Solomon begat Roboam, 8 and Roboam begat Abia, and Abia begat Afa. And

Afa begat Jofaphat, and Josaphat begat Joram, and 9. Joram begat Ozias. And Ozias begat Joatham,

and Joatham begat Achaz, and Achaz begat Ezekias, 10' And Ezekias begat Manasses, and Manasies begat II Amon, and Amon begat Josias. And Jofias begat

Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they 12 were carried away to Babylon. And after they were

brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel, and 13 Salathiel begat Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begat

Abiud, and Abiud begat Eliakim, and Eliakim be14 gat Azor. And Azor begat Sadoc, and Sadoc be15 gat Achim, and Achim begat Eliud. And Eliud

begat Eleazar, and Eleazar begat Matthan, and 16 Matthan begat Jacob. And Jacob begat Joseph,

the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who 17. is called Christ. So all the generations from Abra

ham to David, are fourteen generations : and from David, until the carrying away into Babylon, are fourteen generations : and from the carrying away

into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations, 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:

When as his mother Mary was espoused to Jo

feph, before they came together, she was found 19 with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her

husband, being'a just man, and not willing to make

her a publick example, was minded to put her away 20 privily. But while he thought on these things, be

hold, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife : for that

which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call

his name (c) Jesus : for he fhall save his people

(c) The name Jesus signifies Saviour.