ADVERTISEMENT. BLAYNEY'S Translation of Jeremiah, together with the Notes that accompany it, are too well known to those conversant in biblical criticism, to stand in need of any recommendation in this place. The value of this work has been long justly appreciated by those who have been in the habit of consulting it. Of these indeed the number has been probably much less than it otherwise would have been, from the high price of the former edition, and the difficulty that was frequently experienced in procuring a copy of it. It was this consideration, in connexion with the intrinsic value of the work, that first suggested the idea of publishing the present edition, and thus of presenting so useful a volume to the public in a cheaper and more accessible form. The Editors conceive they do no trifling service to those who are employed in the study of the word of God, while they put into their hands a valuable work of sacred criticism at half the price at which it could formerly be procured. They have only farther to notice, that particular care has been taken to make the present edition as accurate as possible. The errata that had crept into the former edition have been corrected, and the indexes have been carefully examined, and accommodated to this new form of the work. One of the indexes accompanying this publication, they conceive, adds considerably to its value, viz. that which contains a list of all the texts, arranged according to the books of Scripture, which are more or less explained in the course of the author's Notes and Illustrations. By this means, the inquirer into the meaning of Scripture, can at one glance discover whether any illustration of a particular text is to be found in the work to which such an index is attached. Into this part of the former edition, several errors had found their way, which were not noticed in the errata. These, it has been the study of the Editors, in the present impression, carefully to correct. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND AND HONOURABLE SHUTE LORD BISHOP OF SARUM AND CHANCELLOR OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER. MY LORD, HONO CONOURED long ago by your Friendship, and distinguished of late among the first, by your voluntary and unsolicited Patronage, it would ill become me to appear in public without paying You my tribute of Gratitude, and expressing my warmest acknowledgments for Favours, rendered doubly obligatory by the mode of conferring them. But there will appear a peculiar propriety in the introduction of your Lordship's Name at the head of this Work, when it is known that it was You, who first prompted the Author to undertake, and afterwards encouraged him, perhaps too justly dif fident of his own Abilities, to persevere in it. If therefore there should be found any thing useful or valuable in these Sheets, it must all be placed to the account of Your unwearied zeal in recommend ing and enforcing, upon principle, the cultivation of Sacred Literature. It would be arrogance in me to imagine, that my weak Voice could have any influence in guiding the Public Applause. But the World will daily receive the most substantial proofs, that your Lordship comes 'not behind the most illustrious of Your Predecessors in any of the Qualifications, which constitute or adorn the Character of a truly Christian Bishop. That You may long live to signalize those Virtues, which must necessarily tend to advance the Credit of our most Holy Religion, confirm the Happiness of Your Diocese, and greatly endear You both to God and Man, is the unfeigned and ardent Prayer of, MY LORD, Your Lordship's most dutiful and most devoted Servant BENJAMIN BLAYNEY. |