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PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH VERSION

whole of that verse or clause: but when | MAY BE PERFECT, THOROUGHLY FURNISHED the principal force of the illustration UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS." But it must be rests on a single word, the letter reference evident, that the Scripture could not be is placed immediately after that word. effectually profitable for these great ends This has been the general rule; and the nor make the man of God PERFECT, * if it exceptions have either been unavoidable, were not perfect itself; if its different parts or are quite immaterial. were at variance with each other: if, notIn referring to several relations of the withstanding all the variety of matter, and same facts, by different Writers in the Sa- multiplicity of detail, which such a book cred Volume, (as in the histories recorded required, the doctrines revealed, and the by the Four Evangelists, and in those con- moral duties enjoined, were not substantained in the Books of Kings and Chroni-tially and essentially the same throughcles,) the corresponding chapters, or parts out; and if all the parts did not concur in of chapters in each, having been once the plan of the whole. To exhibit, then, noted at the beginning of the history or the harmony of the Sacred Writers, on the subject, it has not been thought necessary subjects of which they treat, has been the to repeat those references in the subse-primary design of this selection. And as quent verses, except where something there are some subjects of leading imporinaterial is to be noticed. That also in tance, in which all the rest are included, the prophecy of Obadiah, which relates and by means of which the harmony and chiefly to the destruction of the Edomites, perfection of the Inspired Pages are writthe prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Eze-ten, as with the beams of the sun; to kiel, and Amos, on the same subject, hav- these, especial care and attention have ing been once pointed out at the com- been devoted. mencement, are not again referred to. And so in the history of our Lord's temptation, given in the fourth chapter of the Gospel by St. Matthew, reference being made from the first verse to the fourth chapter of that by St. Luke, where the same history is recorded, no further reference is made to that chapter in the subsequent verses; the connexion of the whole being obvious, and the comparison easy. More space has been thus retained for the illustration or confirmation of the subjects or sentences individually, which are comprised in the particular parts of the history or discourse.

For a similar reason, where the same identical words, or nearly so, might be found in a great number of texts, a few of these only have been selected ;---illustration, not repetition, having been the object in view.

The references, therefore, which fill the middle column, have all been diligently considered and applied with a particular attention to this specific end, that none which were superfluous might be introduced, while the most material purposes to be answered by References might nevertheless be effectually secured.

I. It has appeared an object of the first magnitude, that the reader of the Holy Scriptures should be assisted by references from text to text, to have constantly in view the connexion of all the divine attributes, and the holy uniformity of God in his government, both of his Church, and of the world. A display of the true character and perfections of God is, without dispute, one chief design of the Inspired Volume. Here, as in Isaiah's miraculous vision, may Jehovah he seen, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; his train fills the temple, and the Sacred Writers, like the Seraphim, cover themselves, and cry one to another, and say, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY 18 THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE WHOLE EARTH It is this which IS FULL OF HIS GLORY. gives to the Scripture its superlative grandeur. By it, God is known; his will is promulgated; his purposes are revealed: his mercy is announced; and he is every where exhibited as worthy of the supreme adoration, love, service, and praise, of all his intelligent creatures. Little do those who neglect their Bibles think what refined delight they lose, by thus turning away their eyes from the most sublime, the most glorious, and the most beatifying object of contemplation, that the whole universe affords.

WHETHER the latitude or the limits of such an undertaking be considered, it is II. But this manifestation of the Divine proper that the principles on which it has been conducted should be so far explain-character and government is not presented ed, as that the Reader may be apprised of to us as a matter of mere speculation, in what he is to expect from it, and in what which we have no immediate and personal branches of religious inquiry it may most interest. The Holy Scriptures are designmaterially assist him. ed to promote the Glory of God BY THE SALVATION OF MAN. The peculiar purpose of the whole is, to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; to raise them from the ruins of

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In that grand enunciation of the dignity and design of the Sacred Volume, which is given by the Apostle Paul, (2 Tim. iii. 16, 17,) we are told, that ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION of God, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF,

*'APTIOΣ, perfectus, integer, sanus, inco

FOR CORRECTION. FOR INSTRUCTION IN ¡imis, consentaneus, consummatus.
RIGHTEOUSNESS; THAT THE MAN OF GOD]

iv

Hedericks

OF THE POLYGLOTT BIBLE.

the Fall, and to put them in possession of PHETS WITNESS. Acts x. 43. The things the blessings of Redemption; to lead them which were written in the law of Moses from sin to holiness; to conduct them and in all the Prophets, and in the Psalms, through a state of conflict and trial on concern HIM; (Luke xxiv. 27, 44;) and earth, to a state of rest and felicity in hea- would come to nothing if he were separat ven; and so to assist and direct them in all ed from them. He is the bright and mornpossible conditions in life, that they may ing star; the true light that must lighten not fail of these great ends, except by their every man who comes to see the glory of own wilful rejection of the counsel of God Divine Revelation. Rev. xxii. 16. John 1. against themselves. The salvation of his 9. It has therefore been a chief design of own soul should therefore be the grand this Work to connect and to exhibit the concern of every reader of the Scripture. testimony which all the Sacred Penmen Here the immortality of the soul is brought bear to the adorable Immanuel; to the to light, and placed in unquestionable evi-proper and unequivocal Divinity of his nadence. Here, its defection from original ture, the necessity of his mediation, the purity is clearly demonstrated; the means reality and design of his incarnation, his of its restoration are set forth, and its fu- spotless and exemplary life, his unparallelture destiny is declared. It is an awful re-ed sufferings, his vicarious death,the verity sponsibility which they incur who wilfully of his resurrection and ascension into heaneglect this holy book, and devote all their ven, the sufficiency of his righteousness, time, and the powers of their minds, to the prevalence of his intercession, the terrestrial, and subordinate objects. They spirituality of his kingdom, his sovereignty slight the pearl of greatest price, which is in the Church, his constant care and love no where else to be found; and seem as if of his people, and the certainty of his sethey were determined to frustrate, as far cond coming to raise the dead and judge as respects themselves, all that Divine wis- the world in righteousness;---grand and dom and goodness have done to rescue the sublime truths, in which every individua! immortal mind of man from spiritual igno- of the human race is deeply and eternally rance, error, vanity, vice, and ruin. Those, interested. however, who are seeking to enjoy the IV. The chief purpose of Christ's mission blessings which the Gospel reveals,will, as being that such as believe on him might they are able, search the Scriptures; and be saved from sin, which is the transsuch persons will receive great help from gression of the Divine law, and from the having references at hand to assist their punishment due to it; it has been thought inquiries. "It were to be wished," says important frequently to connect those Bishop Horsely, "that no Bibles were texts which speak of transgressions, with printed without References. Particular those in which the law concerning them diligence should be used in comparing the is to be found, and in which punishment parallel texts of the Old and New Testa- is threatened; and sometimes with those ments.. It is incredible," he adds, "to in which the atonement is set forth, and any one who has not made the experiment, pardon is proclaimed; or in which sancti what a proficiency may be made in that fication is promised, or enforced; and knowledge which maketh wise unto salva- these again with such as relate to the fution, by studying the Scriptures in this ture happiness and glory which is promismanner,WITHOUT ANY OTHER COMMENTA-ed to the faithful, or punishment and miseRY, OR EXPOSITION, THAN WHAT THE DIF-ry denounced against the impenitent. A FERENT PARTS OF THE SACRED VOLUME small body of divinity is sometimes comMUTUALLY FURNISH FOR EACH OTHER. Let prised in a few texts connected together the most illiterate Christian study them in in this way. Thus, from those words in this manner, and let him never cease to Ezek. xxiii. 49. Ye shall bear the sins of pray for the illumination of that Spirit by your idols, the Reader is referred first to which these books were dictated: and the Numb. xiv. 34, as a parallel passage, whole compass of abstruse philosophy, showing God visiting sin upon the transrecondite history, shall furnish no argu- gressors themselves; then to Numb. xviii. ment with which the perverse will of man 23. to show the typical visitation of it shall be able to shake this learned Chris-upon the Levitical priesthood; then to tian's faith." So great and perfect is the coincidence of every part of the Word of God in the grand and merciful design of the whole!

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III. This is more apparent, and the harmony and perfection of the Holy Scriptures are rendered more peculiarly evident and distinct, by the constant reference of all its writers to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. TO HIM GIVE ALL THE PRO

* Horsey's Nine Sermons, p. 224-238.

Isaiah liii. 11. to show the prophetic declaration of its being laid on Christ; and, lastly, to 1 Pet. ii. 24. to show the actual fulfilment of that prophecy, and the end to be answered by it: for there we are told, that He that judgeth righteously, "his own self, bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live to righteousness."

V. The concurrence of the Old and New Testament with each other, and the relation of the types before and under the Mosaic law, to their completion under the

PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH VERSION

Gospel, have been studiously regarded, so the circumstances recorded by St. Luke, as to render it evident, that whatever va- in his book of the Acts. Prophecies are riations may have been made in the form connected with their accomplishments, as and administration of external worship, far as those accomplishinents are included true religion, under the former dispensa- in the Scripture History. Promises and tions, was always essentially the same as threatenings are connected with their retrue religion under the present; that "he spective fulfilment; precept with examis not a Jew which is one outwardly; nei- ple, and with supplication; and the prayers ther is that circumcision which is out-of believers with the answers they have ward in the flesh: but he is a Jew which received. All these relations have been is one inwardly; and circumcision is that carefully regarded in this compilation. of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the VIII. Further, the Scriptures are not letter; whose praise is not of men, but merely intended to lead men to godliness: of God. For in every nation, he that they are intended also to exemplify it. feareth God, and worketh righteousness, Repentance, Faith, Hope, Charity, and Deis accepted of him." Rom. ii. 28, 29. Acts votion, are here exhibited in the most perx. 35. In this, the revelation made before fect models; and it has therefore entered the institution of the Levitical priesthood, into the design of this Work to show the that made during its continuance, and that corresponding emotions and conduct of the which has been made since its termina- Saints, both of the Old Testament and the tion, all agree. The Mosaic ritual was New, when under the influence of those the shadow of good things to come; so dispositions, contemplations, and emowere the priesthood and kingdom of Mel- tions, which are most peculiarly characchisedec and the body is Christ, who is teristic of true piety; and also to connect essentially the same, both in his person the devotional parts of Scripture with and in his government, yesterday, to-day, the occurrences which gave rise to them, ana for ever. Heb. xiii. 8. as far as they can be ascertained. Thus VI. But the instruction diffused through is Religion known by its fruits: not as a the Scriptures, respecting the gracious and indispensable operations of the Holy Ghost the Sanctifier, has not been forgotten: and the references on this article will show, that, as to his sacred influence on the minds of the Inspired Penmen, we are indebted for all the truths they have taught us; so to his influence on the minds of those who receive and regard them, must such persons be indebted for all they have learned, or can learn, of them. His work completes the great design of the whole; and his assistance and blessing are distinctly promised to all who sincerely ask them.

thing merely of times and circumstances: but a living principle in the mind, which times and circumstances call into action, and contribute to display.

IX. The aphoristic and poetical parts of the Sacred Writings are also connected, so as to illustrate and enforce each other; that the Reader may be constantly impressed with those momentous truths, and that sublime language with which they abound, and which afford perpetual food for the best exercises of the understanding, and the finest emotions of the heart; at once furnishing materials for the most rational entertainment, and the most solid instruction. In this respect, the Scriptures will be found to resemble the garden of Eden, in which the Lord GOD has made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for spiritual food. But no Cherubim or flaming sword are here to prohibit access to the Tree of Life. The children of the second Adam may freely, and without fear or interruption, now put forth their hands to its soul-reviving fruit, and take, and eat, and live for ever.

VII. As the Scriptures harmonize in their primary and general objects, so do they with regard to the particular subjects comprehended in their plan. Historical accounts are verified by other coincident ones, or by accounts of the persons or places to which they refer. The prophecies of one Prophet, concerning events which were to take place, relating either to kingdoms, families, individuals, or the world at large, are consistent with those pronounced by other Prophets. The accounts of the Jewish polity under its vari- X. The agreement of the Sacred Writers ous vicissitudes, are confirmed by the writ- with each other will be found not only to ings of the Prophets who lived during or exist in the subjects on which they treat, after those vicissitudes; while the foriner but to extend to their own individual chatend reciprocally to establish the authen-racters. It will appear that they were all ticity of the latter. The histories of the animated by the same Spirit; that they Four Evangelists have a regular connec- were all holy men, speaking as they were tion and parallelism, especially those of moved by the Holy Ghost, calling men Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The recital of to holiness, as the indispensable requisite the transactions of the Apostles, after the to the enjoyment of everlasting happiness, ascension of our Lord, strongly authenti-men, nevertheless, of like passions with cates the Apostolic Epistles; and Archdea- ourselves, conscious of their own natural con Paley has well shown the confirmation infirmity and sinfulness, and of the mercy which the Epistles of St. Paul derive from of God through Christ Jesus, as their only

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OF THE POLYGLOTT BIBLE.

refuge from his just displeasure. In short, rusals, like gathered flowers, wither in our they were men fearing God; loving God; hands, and lose their fragrancy; but these loving his character, his laws, his will; ad- unfading plants of Paradise become, as we miring his great and wonderful purposes, are accustomed to them, still more and and voluntarily, deliberately, and determi- more beautiful; their bloom appears to be nately devoting themselves to his service, daily heightened, fresh odours are emitted, whatever it might cost them, and to what- and new sweets extracted from them. He ever it might expose them. On all these who hath once tasted their excellencies, accounts, they are held forth as examples, will desire to taste them yet again; and whose faith, patience, and practice, Chris- he who tastes them oftenest will relish tians are to follow. 1 Cor. xi. 1. Heb. xiii. them best." Ja. v. 10.

7.

Happy in having laboured to facilitate It is thus that the Scriptures are PROFIT- the acquaintance of the Christian with ABLE to all the purposes for which they are this invaluable treasure, the Editor has destined, and are calculated to make the now only to implore the blessing of Him man of God PERFECT, and thoroughly fur-by whom its exhaustless stores have been nished unto all good works. To the In- bestowed on sinful man; and to hope that spired Pages at large may be applied the his feeble endeavours may be instrumental remarks of the excellent Bishop Horne (on in advancing the Reader's edification, and, the Psalms.) "Indited under the influence in their humble measure, tend to promote of Him, to whom all hearts are known, and that happy state of things, so long foretold all events foreknown, they suit mankind and so ardently to be desired, in which in all situations, grateful as the manna THE EARTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE which descended from above, and con- KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF JEHOVAH formed itself to every palate. The fairest AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA. Heb. ii. productions of human wit, after a few pe-14. Is. xi. 9.

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T. C.

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