A PARAPHRASE ΟΝ ΤΗЕ Four Evangelists. WHEREIN, For the Clearer Understanding of the SACRED HISTORY, With CRITICAL NOTES on the more difficult Very Useful for Families. In Two VOLUMES. By SAMUEL CLARKE, D. D. late The SEVENTH EDITION. VOL. I. LONDON: Printed by IW. B. for JAMES, JOHN and PAUL KNAPTON, 6 FH TO THE Most Reverend Father in GOD, THOMAS, Lord ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY, &c. May it please your GRACE, T O accept favourably this Paraphrafe upon St. Matthew, as an humble Expreffion of that Duty and Honour, which I, with all good Men, owe to your GRACE, whom the special Providence of God has placed in the highest Station of our Church; Where, by your wife Government and pious Example, you fupport and encourage true Religion and Virtue; which seem to be in great Danger, not only from the bold Pretenders to Atheism and Deifm, but even from the many Controverfies about smaller Matters, A 2 Matters, raised and uncharitably managed among Christians, while little regard is had to the great Duties and most essential Parts of Religion. THE Care, Sincerity, and Impartiality with respect to any Theological Controverfies, wherewith I have endeavoured to explain in general the Doctrine and History of our Saviour; may, I hope, procure me Pardon for the involuntary Errors and Failings in this Performance. For as I cannot, without great Presumption, suppose it free from Mistakes; so I trust I have no where offered any Interpretation repugnant to the fundamental Articles of our Religion, or the neceffary Rules of Holy Life. And that I might not be deceived in Matters of so great Importance, I have (as I thought my felf obliged to do) fubmitted these Papers, before they were made publick, to the View and Censure of fome of my Superiours, on whose Judgment I thought I might fafely rely. Now, that GOD may long preserve your GRACE, for the Good and Honour of this Church; is the constant Prayer of, My LORD, Your Grace's most humble, and obedient Servant, S. C. THE PREFACE. A MONG the many excellent Commentaries and Expositions which have been written upon the Books of Holy Scripture, I have not yet feen any, wherein the Text of the New Testament bas been fully Paraphrafed with Brevity and Plainness. Erafmus's Performance of this Kind, is very eloquent and judicious; But his Explications are large, having frequent Digressions; and in many Places, be indulges allegorical Interpretations; And moreover, the Beauty of his Work is very much lost in our Tran flation. The eminent and learned Bishop Hall, wrote a pious Expofition upon particular difficult Texts; But because it was only upon particular Texts, the Design it felf allowed him not to regard the Transitions, and to make his Paraphrase one continued uninterrupted Difcourse. Dr. Hammond has with great Pains collected all the Assistances of ancient and modern Learning, and with great Success applied them to the Explication of the New Testament: But those who justly admire his great Learning and Skill in Interpreting, yet complain of the obscurity A 3 |