a fmaller fize, and at a moderate price. The Preliminary Differtation at the beginning, and the Notes at the end of the quarto Edition though excellent in themselves, yet abounding in philological learning and confequently of little ufe to the generality of Readers, are entirely omitted. At the fame time, it was thought, that some farther help for the better understanding this incomparable Book might properly accompany it. Of this nature, it is humbly presumed, is the Treatife prefixed, which fell into the Editor's hands by a seasonable Providence. juft as he had concluded to republifh the above-mentioned Work, and was looking out for fomething of the kind to fill up his plan. The Author, the Rev. Dr. John Smith, Minifter of the Gofpel at Campbleton in Scotland, has in the little Tract, from which this is taken, gone through the whole Writings of the Prophets in the fame maf terly terly manner; but as the Prophecy of Ifaiah terminates this Volume, his Summary View and Explanation thereof, added to his fhort Preliminary Obfervations on the Prophetic Stile, is all that is here printed.-In this Writer's advertisement, the following particulars, among others, are premised, which reftricted in their application to the fingle Prophecy before us, fhail conclude this Preface. Speaking of the propriety of reducing Commentaries on Scripture to a fmaller fcale for more general utility, "If, tr 'fays he, fo many of the scattered rays can "be collected into one point, as may ena"ble the reader of any portion or chapter "of Scripture to fee, as it were, with a glance of the eye, the scope and meaning "of the whole, with the connexion of the "several parts—if the meaning of the sacred "Writers can be exhibited in its own na“tive, noble and beautiful fimplicity, freed "from "from every false glofs of human system by which it is frequently difguifed, and "from every load of extraneous matter "with which it is frequently oppressed-a "most important object would be gained "indeed. The facred volume would be more read and better understood; its "influence on the heart would be more powerful, and its effect on the human "conduct more manifeft. How far the following attempt may be conducive to "these defirable ends, or how far it may "be proper to extend the fame plan to "other parts of Scripture, it is the part of "the Public alone to judge.--The Author "has only to add, That he has been care"ful to derive every neceffary information "from the most refpectable authorities. He "has confulted the moft approved Com"mentators in our own, and several in other languages. He has particularly "availed "availed himself on many occafions of the "affistance furnished by those later writers, "whose labours have caft fo much light on "the greater part of the Prophetic Writings, "fuch as Bifhop Lowth, Mr. Blayney, "Bishop Newcome, Bishop Newton, and "Dr. Kennicot.-If any Reader should "wifh for a more critical knowledge of "this part of facred writ, he may derive it "from thefe learned Authors, and from Houbigant, Michaelis and Vitringa,—or, "if more of practical ufes, inferences, re"flections, and improvements fhould be "defired, the Writers of larger Commen"taries will amply fupply them. But the ❝ object here aimed at was brevity, no less "than utility and plainnefs." ERRATA. |