NOTES UPON THE NEW TESTAMENT. BY JOHN WESLEY, A. M. KATE FELLOW OF LINCOLN COLLEGE, OXFORD. VOL. I. THIRD AMERICAN EDITION. Gift of Cut O NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED BY DANIEL HITT AND THOMAS WARE, FOR THE John C. Totten, Printer. 1812. PREFACE. 1. OR many years I have had a desire of setting down and laying toing, or conversation, which might assist serious persons, who have not the advantage of learning, in understanding the New Testament. But I have been continually deterred from attempting any thing of this kind, by a deep sense of my own inability of my want not only of learning for such a work, but much more of experience and wisdom. This has often occasioned my laying aside the thought. And when by much importunity I have been prevailed upon to resume it, still I determined to delay it as long as possible, that (if it should please God) I might finish my work and my life together. 2. But having lately had a loud call from God, to arise and go hence, I am convinced that, if I attempt any thing of this kind at all, I must not delay any longer. My day is far spent, and (even in a natural way) the shadows of the evening come on apace. And I am the rather induced to do what little I can in this way, because I can do nothing else: being prevented, by my present weakness, from either travelling or preaching. But, blessed be GOD, I can still read and write, and think O that it may be to his glory! 3. It will be easily discerned, even from what I have said already, and much more from the Notes themselves, that they were not principally designed for men of learning; who are provided with many other helps: And much less for men of long and deep experience in the ways and word of GOD. I desire to sit at their feet and to learn of them. But I write chiefly for plain unlettered men, who understand only their mother-tongue, and yet reverence and love the word of GOD, and have a desire to save their souls. 4. In order to assist these in such a measure as I am able, I design first to set down the Text itself, for the most part, in the common English translation which is in general (so far as I can judge) abundantly the best that I have seen. Yet I do not say it is incapable of being brought, in several places, nearer to the original. Neither will I affirm, that the Greek copies from which this translation was made, are always the most correct. And therefore I shall take the liberty, as occasion may require, to make here and there a small al teration. 5. I am very sensible this will be liable to objections: Nay, to objections of quite opposite kinds. Some will probably think, the Text is altered too much; and others, that it is altered too little. To the former I would observe, that I never knowingly, so much as in one 26978 |