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Matthew Henry’s Commentary – Preface to Volume I

Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary

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Matthew Henry
Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706)




P R E F A C E.


     

THOUGH it is most my concern, that I be able to

give a good account to God and my own conscience,

yet, perhaps, it will be expected that I give the world

also some account of this bold undertaking; which

I shall endeavour to do with all plainness, and as one

who believes, that if men must be reckoned with in

the great day, for every vain and idle word they speak,

much more for every vain and idle line they write.

And it may be of use, in the first place, to lay down

those great and sacred principles which I go upon, and

am governed by, in this endeavour to explain and improve

these portions of holy writ; which endeavour

I humbly offer to the service of those (and to those only

I expect it will be acceptable) who agree with me

in these six principles:–

     

I. That religion is the one thing useful; and to know,

and love, and fear God our Maker, and in all the

instances both of devout affection, and of good

conversation, to keep his commandments,

(Eccles. xii. 13)

is, without doubt, the whole of man; it is all in all to

him. This the wisest of men, after a close and copious

argument in his Ecclesiastes, lays down as the conclusion

of his whole matter (the Quod erat demonstrandum

of his whole discourse); and therefore I may be

allowed to lay it down as a postulatum, and the foundation

of this whole matter. It is necessary to mankind

in general, that there should be religion in the world,

absolutely necessary for the preservation of the honour

of the human nature, and no less so for the preservation

of the order of human societies. It is necessary

to each of us in particular, that we be religious;

we cannot otherwise answer the end of our creation,

obtain the favour of our Creator, make ourselves easy

now, or happy forever. A man that is endued with the

powers of reason, by which he is capable of knowing,

serving, glorifying, and enjoying his Maker, and yet

lives without God in the world, is certainly the most

despicable and the most miserable animal under the sun.

     

II. That divine revelation is necessary to true religion,

to the being and support of it. That faith without

which it is impossible to please God, cannot come to

any perfection by seeing the works of God, but it must

come by hearing the word of God,
Rom. x. 17.

The rational soul, since it received that fatal shock by the

fall, cannot have or maintain that just regard to the

great author of its being, that observance of him, and

expectation from him, which are both its duty and

felicity, without some supernatural discovery made by

himself of himself, and of his mind and will. Natural

light, no doubt, is of excellent use, as far as it goes;

but it is necessary that there be a divine revelation, to

rectify its mistakes, and make up its deficiencies, to

help us out where the light of nature leaves us quite

at a loss, especially in the way and method of man’s

recovery from his lapsed state, and his restoration to

his Maker’s favour; which he cannot but be conscious

to himself of the loss of, finding, by sad experience,

his own present state to be sinful and miserable. Our

own reason shows us the wound, but nothing short of

a divine revelation can discover to us a remedy to

be confided in. The case and character of those nations

of the earth which had no other guide in their devotions

than that of natural light, with some remains

of the divine institution of sacrifices received by tradition

from their fathers, plainly show how necessary

divine revelation is to the subsistence of religion; for

those that had not the word of God, soon lost God

himself, became vain in their imaginations concerning

him, and prodigiously vile and absurd in their worships

and divinations. It is true, the Jews, who had the

benefit of divine revelation, lapsed sometimes into idolatry,

and admitted very gross corruptions; yet, with

the help of the law and the prophets, they recovered

and reformed: whereas the best and most admired

philosophy of the heathen could never do any thing

toward the cure of the vulgar idolatry, or so much as

offered to remove any of those barbarous and ridiculous

rites of their religion, which were the scandal and

reproach of the human nature. Let men therefore pretend

what they will, deists are, or will be, atheists; and

those that, under colour of admiring the oracles of reason,

set aside as useless the oracles of God, undermine

the foundations of all religion, and do what they can

to cut off all communication between man and his

Maker, and to set that noble creature on a level with

the beasts that perish.

     

III. That divine revelation is not now to be found nor

expected any where but in the scriptures of the Old

and New Testament; and there it is. It is true, there

were religion and divine revelation before there was

any written word; but to argue from thence, that the

scriptures are not now necessary, it as absurd as it

would be to argue that the world might do well enough

without the sun, because in the creation the world

had light three days before the sun was made. Divine

revelations, when first given, were confirmed by visions,

miracles, and prophecy; but they were to be transmitted

to distant regions and future ages, with their

proofs and evidences, by writing, the surest way of

conveyance, and by which the knowledge of other memorable

things is preserved and propagated. We have reason

to think that even the ten commandments, though

spoken with such solemnity at Mount Sinai, would have

been, long before this, lost and forgotten, if they

had been handed down by tradition only, and never had

been put in writing: it is that which is written, that

remains. The scripture indeed is not compiled as a

methodical system or body of divinity, secundum artem–according

to the rules of art, but several ways of writing,

(histories, laws, prophecies, songs, epistles, and

even proverbs,) at several times, and by several hands,

as Infinite Wisdom saw fit. The end is effectually obtained;

such things are plainly supposed and taken for

granted, and such things are expressly revealed and

made known, as, being all put together, sufficiently

inform us of all the truths and laws of the holy religion

we are to believe, and be governed by. That all scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

(2 Tim. iii. 16)

and that holy men spake and wrote as they were moved by

the Holy Ghost,

(2 Pet. i. 21)

we are sure; but who

dare pretend to describe that inspiration? None knows the

way of the Spirit, nor how the thoughts were formed

in the heart of him that was inspired, any more than

we know the way of the soul into the body, or how

the bones are formed in the womb or her that is with child,
Eccles. xi. 5. But we may be sure that the blessed

Spirit did not only habitually prepare and qualify the

penmen of scripture for that service, and put it into

their hearts to write, but did likewise assist their

understandings and memories in recording those things

which they themselves had the knowledge of, and

effectually secure them from error and mistake; and what

they could not know but by revelation, (as for instance,

Gen. i. and

John i.)

the same blessed Spirit gave

them clear and satisfactory information of. And no

doubt, as far as was necessary to the end designed, they

were directed by he Spirit, even in the language and

expression; for there were words which the Holy Ghost

taught;

(1 Cor. ii. 13)

and God saith to the prophet,

Thou shalt speak with my words,
Ezek. iii. 4.

However, it is not material to us, who drew up the statute, nor

what liberty he took in using his own words: when

it is ratified, it is become the legislator’s act, and binds

the subject to observe the true intent and meaning

of it. The scripture proves its divine authority and

original both to the wise and to the unwise. Even to the

unwise and least thinking part of mankind, it is abundantly

proved by the many incontestable miracles wrought

by Moses and the prophets, Christ and his apostles, for

the confirmation of its truths and laws: it would be

an intolerable reproach to eternal Truth, to suppose

this divine seal affixed to a lie. Beside this, to the more

wise and thinking, to the more considerate and

contemplative it recommends itself by those innate excellences

which are self-evident characteristics of its divine

original. If we look carefully, we shall soon be aware

of God’s image and superscription upon it. A mind

rightly disposed by a humble, sincere subjection to its

Maker, will easily discover the image of God’s wisdom

in the awful depth of its mysteries; the image of his

sovereignty in the commanding majesty of its style;

the image of his unity in the wonderful harmony and

symmetry of all its parts; the image of his holiness in

the unspotted purity of its precepts; and the image

of his goodness in the manifest tendency of the whole to

the welfare and happiness of mankind in both worlds;

in short, it is a work that fathers itself. And as atheists,

so deists, notwithstanding their vain-glorious pretensions

to reason, as if wisdom must die with them,

run themselves upon the grossest and most dishonourable

absurdities imaginable; for, if the scriptures

be not the word of God, then there is no divine revelation

now in the world, no discovery at all of God’s

mind concerning our duty and happiness: so that,

let a man be ever so desirous and solicitous to do his

Maker’s will, he must, without remedy, perish in the

ignorance of it, since there is no book but this that will

undertake to tell him what it is, a consequence which

can by no means be reconciled to the idea we have

of the divine goodness. And (which is no less an absurdity),

if the scriptures be not really a divine revelation,

they are certainly as great a cheat as ever was

put upon the world: but we have no reason to think

them so; for bad men would never write so good a

book, nor would Satan have so little subtlety as to

help to cast out Satan; and good men would never do

so wicked a thing as to counterfeit the broad seal of

heaven and affix it to a patent of their own framing,

though in itself ever so just. No, there are not the

words of him that hath a devil.

     

IV. That the scriptures of the Old and New Testament

were purposely designed for our learning. They might

have been a divine revelation to those into whose hands

they were first put, and yet we, at this distance,

have been no way concerned in them; but it is certain

that they were intended to be of universal and perpetual

use and obligation to all persons, in all places

and all ages, that have the knowledge of them, even

unto us upon whom the ends of the world have come.

See

Rom. xv. 4.

Though we are not under the law

as a covenant of innocency (for then, being guilty, we

should unavoidable perish under its curse), yet it is

not therefore an antiquated statute, but a standing

declaration of the will of God concerning good and evil,

sin and duty, and its claim to obedience is in as full

force and virtue as ever: and unto us is the gospel of

the ceremonial law preached, as well as unto those to

whom it was first delivered, and much more plainly,

Heb. iv. 2.

The histories of the Old Testament were

written for our admonition and direction

(1 Cor. x. 11),

and not barely for the information and entertainment

of the curious. The prophets, though long since dead,

prophesy again by their writings, before peoples and

nations

(Rev. x. 11),

and Solomon’s exhortation speaketh

unto us as unto sons. The subject of the holy scripture

is universal and perpetual, and therefore of common

concern. It is intended, 1. To revive the universal

and perpetual law of nature, the very remains of

which (or ruins rather) in natural conscience, give us

hints that we must look somewhere else for a fairer

copy. 2. To reveal the universal and perpetual law of

grace, which God’s common beneficence to the children

of men, such as puts them into a better state than

that of devils, gives us some ground to expect. The

divine authority likewise, which in this book commands

our belief and obedience, is universal and perpetual,

and knows no limits, either of time or place; it follows,

therefore, that every nation and every age to which

these sacred writings are transmitted are bound to receive

them with the same veneration and pious regard

that they commanded at their first entrance. Though

God hath, in these last days, spoken to us by his Son,

yet we are not therefore to think that what he spoke

at sundry times and in divers manners to the fathers

(Heb. i. 1)

is of no use to us, or that the Old Testament

is an almanac out of date; no, we are built upon

the foundation of the prophets, as well as of the apostles,

Christ himself being the corner-stone

(Eph. ii. 20),

in whom both these sides of this blessed building meet

and are united: they were those ancient records of

the Jewish church which Christ and his apostles so oft

referred to, so oft appealed to, and commanded us

to search and to take heed to. The preachers of the gospel,

like Jehoshaphat’s judges, wherever they went,

had this book of the law with them, and found it a

great advantage to them to speak to those that knew

the law,
Rom. vii. 1.

That celebrated translation of the Old

Testament in the Greek tongue by the Seventy, between

200 and 300 years before the birth of Christ,

was to the nations a happy preparative for the entertainment

of the gospel, by spreading the knowledge

of the law; for as the New Testament expounds and

completes the Old, and thereby makes it more serviceable

to us now than it was to the Jewish church, so

the Old Testament confirms and illustrates the New, and

shows us Jesus Christ the same yesterday that he

is to-day and will be for ever.

     

V. That the holy scriptures were not only designed

for our learning, but are the settled standing rule of

our faith and practice, by which we must be governed

now and judged shortly: it is not only a book of general

use (so the writings of good and wise men may be),

but it is of sovereign and commanding authority,

the statute-book of God’s kingdom, which our oath of

allegiance to him, as our supreme Lord, binds us to

the observance of. Whether we will hear or whether we

will forbear, we must be told that this is the oracle

we are to consult and to be determined by, the touchstone

we are to appeal to and try doctrines by, the

rule we are to have an eye to, by which we must in every

thing order our affections and conversations, and

from which we must always take our measures. This is

the testimony, this is the law which is bound up and

sealed among the disciples, that word according to which

if we do not speak, it is because there is no light

in us,
Isa. viii. 16, 20.

The making of the light within our

rule, which by nature is darkness, and by grace is

but a copy of, and conformable to, the written work,

is setting the judge above the law; and the making

of the traditions of the church rivals with the scriptures

is no better: it is making the clock, which every

one concerned puts backward or forward at pleasure,

to correct the sun, that faithful measurer of time and

days. These are absurdities which, being once granted,

thousands follow, as we see by sad experience.

     

VI. That therefore it is the duty of all Christians diligently

to search the scriptures, and it is the office of

ministers to guide and assist them therein. How useful

soever this book of books is in itself, it will be of no

use to us if we do not acquaint ourselves with it, by

reading it daily, and meditating upon it, that we may

understand the mind of God in it, and may apply what

we understand to ourselves for our direction, rebuke,

and comfort, as there is occasion. It is the character

of the holy and happy man that his delight is in the

law of the Lord; and, as an evidence thereof, he converses

with it as his constant companion, and advises

with it as his most wise and trusty counsellor, for

in that law doth he meditate day and night,
Ps. i. 2.

It concerns us to be ready in the scriptures, and to make

ourselves so by constant reading and careful observation,

and especially by earnest prayer to God for

the promised gift of the Holy Ghost, whose office it

is to bring things to our remembrance which Christ

hath said to us

(John xiv. 26)

that thus we may have

some good word or other at hand for our use in our

addresses to God and in our converse with men, in

our resistance of Satan and in communing with our own

hearts, and may be able, with the good householder,

to bring out of this treasury things new and old, for the

entertainment and edification both of ourselves and

others. If any thing will make a man of God perfect in

this world, will complete both a Christian and a minister,

and thoroughly furnish him for every good work,

it must be this.

2 Tim. iii. 17.

It concerns us also to

be mighty in the scriptures, as Apollos was

(Acts xviii. 24),

that is, to be thoroughly acquainted with the true

intent and meaning of them, that we may understand

what we read, and may not misinterpret or misapply

it, but by the conduct of the blessed Spirit may be

led into all truth

(John xvi. 13),

and may hold it fast in

faith and love, and put every part of scripture to that

use for which it was intended. The letter, either of

law or gospel, profits little without the Spirit. The ministers

of Christ are herein ministers to the Spirit for

the good of the church; their business is to open and apply

the scriptures; thence they must fetch their knowledge,

thence their doctrines, devotions, directions, and

admonitions, and thence their very language and

expression. Expounding the scriptures was the most

usual way of preaching in the first and purest ages of

the church. What have the Levites to do but to teach Jacob the law

(Deut. xxxiii. 10);

not only to read it, but

to give the sense, and cause them to understand the reading?
Neh. viii. 8.

How shall they do this except some

man guide them?
Acts viii. 31.

As ministers would hardly

be believed without Bibles to back them, so Bibles

would hardly be understood without ministers to explain

them; but if, having both, we perish in ignorance

and unbelief, our blood will be upon our own head.

     

Being fully persuaded therefore of these things, I conclude

that whatever help is offered to good Christians

in searching the scriptures is real service done to the

glory of God, and to the interests of his kingdom among

men; and it is this that hath drawn me into this undertaking,

which I have gone about in weakness, and

in fear, and in much trembling

(1 Cor. ii. 3),

lest I should

be found exercising myself in things to high for me,

and so laudable an undertaking should suffer damage

by an unskilful management. If any desire to know

how so mean and obscure a person as I am, who in

learning, judgment, felicity of expression, and all advantages

for such a service, am less than the least of all

my Master’s servants, came to venture upon so great

a work, I can give no other account of it than this: It

has long been my practice, what little time I had to

spare in my study from the constant preparations for

the pulpit, to spend it in drawing up expositions upon

some parts of the New Testament, not so much for my

own use as purely for my entertainment, because

I knew not now to employ my thoughts and time more

to my satisfaction. Trahit sua quemque voluptas–Every

man that studies hath some beloved study, which

is his delight above any other; and this is mine. It

is that learning which it was my happiness from a child

to be trained up in, by my ever honoured father,

whose memory must always be very dear and precious

to me: he often reminded me that a good textuary

is a good divine; and that I should read other books

with this in my eye, that I might be the better able

to understand and apply the scripture. While I was thus

employing myself came out Mr. Burkitt’s Exposition,

of the Gospels first, and afterwards of the Act and the

Epistles, which met with very good acceptance among

serious people, and no doubt, by the blessing of God,

will continue to do great service to the church. Soon

after he had finished that work, it pleased God to call

him to his rest, upon which I was urged, by some

of my friends, and was myself inclined, to attempt the

like upon the Old Testament, in the strength of the

grace of Christ. This upon the Pentateuch is humbly

offered as a specimen; if it find favour, and be found

any way useful, it is my present purpose, in dependence

upon divine aids, to go on, so long as God shall

continue my life and health, and as my other work will

permit. Many helps, I know, we have of this kind

in our own language, which we have a great deal of

reason to value, and to be very thankful to God for:

but the scripture is a subject that can never be exhausted.

Semper habet aliquid relegentibus–However

frequently we read it, we shall always meet with something

new. When David had amassed a vast treasure

for the building of the temple, yet saith he to Solomon,

Thou mayest add thereto,
1 Chron. xxii. 14.

Such a

treasure is scripture-knowledge; it is still capable of

increase, till we all come to the perfect man. The scripture

is a field or vineyard which finds work for variety

of hands, and about which may be employed a great

diversity of gifts and operations, but all from the same Spirit

(1 Cor. xii. 4, 6)

and for the glory of the same Lord.

The learned in the languages and in ancient usages

have been very serviceable to the church (the

blessed occupant of this field), by their curious and

elaborate searches into its various products, their anatomies

of its plants, and the entertaining lectures they

have read upon them. The philology of the critics

has been of much more advantage to religion, and lent

more light to sacred truth, than the philosophy of the

school-divines. The learned also in the arts of war

have done great service in defending this garden of

the Lord against the violent attacks of the powers of

darkness, success fully pleading the cause of the sacred

writings against the spiteful cavils of atheists, deists,

and the profane scoffers of these latter days. Such as

these stand in the posts of honour, and their praise is in

all the churches: yet the labours of the vine-dressers

and the husbandmen

(2 Kings xxv. 12),

though they are

the poor of the land who till this ground, and gather

in the fruits of it, are no less necessary in their place,

and beneficial to the household of God, that out of

these precious fruits every one may have his portion of

meat in due season. These are the labours to which,

according to my ability, I have here set my hand. And

as the plain and practical expositors would not, for

a world, say of the learned critics, There is no

need of them; so, it is hoped, those eyes and heads will not

say to the hands and feet, There is no need of you,
1 Cor. xii. 21.

     

The learned have of late received very great advantage

in their searches into this part of holy writ, and

the books that follow (and still hope for more), by the

excellent and most valuable labours of that great and

good man bishop Patrick, whom, for vast reading, solid

judgment, and a most happy application to these

best of studies, even in his advanced years and honours,

succeeding ages no doubt will rank among the first

three of commentators, and bless God for him. Mr. Pool’s

English Annotations (which, having had so many

impressions, we may suppose, have got into most hands)

are of admirable use, especially for the explaining

of scripture-phrases, opening the sense, referring to

parallel scriptures, and the clearing of difficulties that

occur. I have therefore all along been brief upon that

which is there most largely discussed, and have industriously

declined, as much as I could, what is to be

found there; for I would not actum agere–do what

is done; nor (if I may be allowed to borrow the apostle’s

words) boast of things made ready to our hand,
2 Cor. x. 16.

These and other annotations which are

referred to the particular words and clauses they are

designed to explain are most easy to be consulted upon

occasion; but the exposition which (like this) is put

into a continued discourse, digested under proper heads,

is much more easy and ready to be read through

for one’s own or others’ instruction. And, I think, the

observing of the connection of each chapter (if there

be occasion) with that which goes before, and the general

scope of it, with the thread of the history or discourse,

and the collecting of the several parts of it, to

be seen at one view, will contribute very much to

the understanding of it, and will give the mind abundant

satisfaction in the general intention, though there

may be here and there a difficult word or expression

which the best critics cannot easily account for. This,

therefore, I have here attempted. But we are concerned

not only to understand what we read, but to improve

it to some good purpose, and, in order thereunto, to be

affected with it, and to receive the impressions of

it. The word of God is designed to be not only a light

to our eyes, the entertaining subject of our contemplation,

but a light to our feet and a lamp to our paths

(Ps. cxix. 105),

to direct us in the way of our duty,

and to prevent our turning aside into any by-way: we

must therefore, in searching the scriptures, enquire,

not only What is this? but, What is this to us? What use

may we make of it? How may we accommodate

it to some of the purposes of that divine and heavenly

life which, by the grace of God, we are resolved to

live? Enquiries of this kind I have here aimed to answer.

When the stone is rolled from the well’s mouth

by a critical explication of the text, still there are those

who would both drink themselves and water their

flocks? but they complain that the well is deep, and

they have nothing to draw with; how then shall they

come by this living water? Some such may, perhaps,

find a bucket here, or water drawn to their hands; and

pleased enough shall I be with this office of the Gibeonites,

to draw water for the congregation of the Lord

out of these wells of salvation.

     

That which I aim at in the exposition is to give what

I thought the genuine sense, and to make it as plain

as I could to ordinary capacities, not troubling my readers

with the different sentiments of expositors, which

would have been to transcribe Mr. Pool’s Latin Synopsis,

where this is done abundantly to our satisfaction

and advantage. As to the practical observations, I have

not obliged myself to raise doctrines out of every

verse or paragraph, but only have endeavoured to mix

with the exposition such hints or remarks as I thought

profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

instruction in righteousness, aiming in all to promote

practical godliness, and carefully avoiding matters of

doubtful disputation and strifes of words. It is only the

prevalency of the power of religion in the hearts and lives

of Christians that will redress our grievances, and

turn our wilderness into a fruitful field. And since our

Lord Jesus Christ is the true treasure hidden in the

field of the Old Testament, and was the Lamb slain from

the foundation of the world, I have been careful

to observe what Moses wrote of him, to which he himself

oft appealed. In the writings of the prophets we

meet with more of the plain and express promises of

the Messiah, and the grace of the gospel; but here,

in the books of Moses, we find more of the types, both

real and personal figures of him that was to come–shadows,

of which the substance is Christ,

Rom. v. 14.

Those to whom to live is Christ will find in these

that which is very instructive and affecting, and which

will give great assistance to their faith, and love, and

holy joy. This, in a particular manner, we search the

scriptures for–to find what they testify of Christ and

eternal life,

John v. 39.

Nor is it any objection against the

application of the ceremonial institutions to Christ

and his grace that those to whom they were given could

not discern this sense or use of them; but it is rather

a reason why we should be very thankful that the veil

which was upon their minds in the reading of the

Old Testament is done away in Christ,
2 Cor. iii. 13, 14, 18.

Though they then could not stedfastly look to the

end of that which is abolished, it does not therefore

follow but that we who are happily furnished with a

key to these mysteries may in them, as in a glass, behold

the glory of the Lord Jesus. And yet, perhaps, the

pious Jews saw more of the gospel in their ritual than

we think they did; they had at least a general expectation

of good things to come, by faith in the promises

made to the fathers, as we have of the happiness

of heaven, though they could not of that world to come,

any more than we can of this, form any distinct

or certain idea. Our conceptions of the future state, perhaps,

are as dark and confused, as short of the truth

and as wide from it, as theirs then were of the kingdom

of the Messiah: but God requires faith only according

to the revelation he gives. They then were accountable

for no more light than they had; and we now are

accountable for that greater light which we have in

the gospel, by the help of which we may find much

more of Christ in the Old Testament than they could.

If any think our observations sometimes take rise from

that which to them seems too minute, let them remember

that maxim of the Rabbin, Non est in lege vel

una litera à quâ non pendent magni montes–The

law contains not a letter but what bears the weight of

mountains. We are sure there is not an idle word in

the Bible. I would desire the reader not only to read

the text entire, before he reads the exposition, but, as

the several verses are referred to in the exposition,

to cast his eye upon them again, and then he will the

better understand what he reads. And, if he have leisure,

he will find it of use to him to turn to the scriptures

which are sometimes only referred to for brevity’s

sake, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

     

It is the declared purpose of the Eternal Mind, in all

the operations both of providence and grace, to magnify

the law and to make it honourable

(Isa. xlii. 21),

nay to magnify his word above all his name

(Ps. cxxxviii. 2),

so that when we pray, Father, glorify thy name, we mean

this, among other things, Father, magnify the holy

Scriptures; and to that prayer, made in faith, we may

be sure of that answer which was given to our blessed

Saviour when he prayed it, with particular respect to

the fulfilling of the scriptures in his own sufferings,

I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it yet again,
John xii. 28.

To this great design I humbly desire to

be some way serviceable, in the strength of that grace

by which I am what I am, hoping that what may

help to make the reading of the scripture more easy,

pleasant, and profitable, will be graciously accepted

by him that smiled on the widow’s two mites cast into

the treasury, as an intention to magnify it and make

it honourable; and if I can but gain that point, in any

measure, with some, I shall think my endeavours abundantly

recompensed, however, by others, I and my

performances may be vilified and made contemptible.

     

I have now nothing more to add than to recommend

myself to the prayers of my friends, and them to

the grace of the Lord Jesus; and so rest an unworthy

dependent upon that grace, and, through that, an expectant

of the glory to be revealed.

M. H.      
            Chester,

      October 2, 1706.

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Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706)


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