erudition; of whom it is faid by the editor of his Life, that "he "(Dr. BEAUMONT) in the 21st year of his age, made himself acquain

ted with the facred writers in their own expreffive and manly language; "and notwithstanding the difficulties and difcouragements which usually " attend fuch an undertaking, especially at that time of life, examined "every verfion with great diligence, and a fcrupulous exactnefs; and "wrote, in the margin of an English bible, fhort, but critically just “remarks, which have been feen and read by the editor with the most "fenfible pleasure." This paffage alludes no doubt to the Bible now in my poffeffion, for it exactly anfwers the defcription he gives.

I have the pleasure to say, that these are not the only communications I have received; my best thanks are due to my Lord Bishop of CARLISLE, for the obliging readiness wherewith he put into my hands fome papers of GILBERT WEST, L. L. D. fo well known, and fo juftly admired, for his Obfervations on the Resurrection of Jefus Chrift: and it is mine, and the Public's misfortune, that the judicious author was fo prematurely taken to his reward, before he had finished his intended elucidations of the Sacred Scripture. However, brief as the remarks are which we have in hand, they are too confiderable to be withheld from the Public, and shall be given in a proper place.

I mention not fome other affiftance, with which the civility of my friends hath obliged met; but I flatter myself that the Public will think with me, that these communications are not only truly valuable in themfelves, but also a pleafing teftimony of that favourable esteem, in which my undertaking is held by men of letters; who the more they are pleafed to affift, will certainly find the work more worthy their encouragement.

With refpect to myself, the method I have pursued, and the authors I have confulted in my commentary, (fome of them hitherto unnoticed by any English commentator 1,) I refer to a Preface and Differtation which will hereafter appear; and have only now to add, that, as far as diligence, candour and fidelity can recommend, I may claim the public regard. I make no large profeffions, and fhall never prostitute my pen to falfe pretentions; let me briefly observe, that as this work is compiled in fuch a manner, as not to be beneath the attention of the learned, fo will it be accommodated to readers of inferior understanding; while, to render it ftill more useful to Families, Improvements, in the manner of the excellent Dr. DODDRIDGE, are occafionally fubjoined to the chapters; from the perufal of which, much profit, I trust, will be conveyed to the ferious reader: whofe friendly encouragement and approbation of this wellmeant, but laborious undertaking, will be no fmall confolation to my mind, amidst the fatigues which neceffarily attend it.

WILLIAM DODD.

ADMONITION to the READER.

have confulted, and the affiftance in general which I have had in this undertaking, will be given in a general Preface. In the mean time, I must beg leave to obferve for the Reader's fake and my own,

FIRST, That the Annotations on Genefis are extended to a greater length than thofe on any future Book will be; not only on account of the importance of the Subjects treated of in this Firft Book of Mofes, but because a full explanation and clear understanding of this Book, will render thofe following much more easy to be understood: and because various things are explained in the notes on this Book, which occurring afterwards, will only be referred to, The Annotations on Genefis may be con

fidered

Printed with his Poems, in quarto, 1749. † Particularly an interleaved Bible, with manufcript Notes, by Dr. Church, late Vicar of Battersea,

OL

fdered as a kind of Preliminary Introduction to thofe on the whole Sacred Scriptures. So that the candid Reader will form his general Idea of this Work, not fo much from the prefent Specimen, as from the fubfequent Sheets, which may be feen at the Bookfellers.

SECONDLY, I beg leave to inform my Reader, That I have diligently confulted all the best and most able Writers upon the Sacred Scriptures, which I have been able to procure: that where there is a pretty general coincidence of fentiment, I have not quoted any Name in particular: that where there is a difference of fentiment, I have always paid the firft attention to the Hebrew itself; next, to the moft antient and approved Verfions; and, after thefe, to the best Commentators: which done, I have freely and candidly advanced my own opinion, without the leaft attachment to any particular mode of thinking.

THIRDLY, I request my Readers to pay a particular attention to fuch "variations of our Verfion," as fhall be found in the Comment; fince very often a flight variation of this fort clears up the moft ftriking difficulties. FOURTALY, The Reader, who is defirous either of understanding the Scriptures in general, or my Explanation in particular, will be plea fed, not only to refer to the Marginal References, but to fuch References as are given in the Notes: without confulting which, thofe Notes will often be unintelligible. Scripture is, for the most part, the best interpreter of Scripture; and we have throughout endeavoured to confider it in that light.

FIFTHLY, I would obferve that, in order to avoid unneceffary repetitions, dificulties are often explained in one place, and only referred to in others. If therefore, defirous of meeting with a folution of doubts upon particular points, the Reader fhould turn to a paffage, and find but little fatisfaction; he will then be pleased, either to confult the fimilar places of Scripture, or fuch as are referred to in the Note.

SIXTHLY, Permit me to request the Reader, not haftily to disapprove any of the Expofitions which he may find in this Comment. Let him confider the different opinions which have been advanced upon many parts of Scripture: and, to awaken his candor, let him allow me to hint, the arduoufnefs of the undertaking, the fatigue even of confulting a variety of Manufcript Papers, together with the number of learned and copious Expofitions, which are carefully read upon this occafion; and the almoft impoffibility of arriving at certainty, refpecting fome abftrufe and dark points, in thofe moft antient of all books, the writings of Mofes. Let him alfo permit me to declare that, unbiaffed by prejudices of any kind, unattached to fyftems of any fort, I have endeavoured, with all fincerity, faithfully to expound the word of God: and That God, who is the fearcher of all hearts, is my witness, that I have not, knowingly or wilfully, perverted a fingle Word; but have given to each what appears to my best judgment its genuine and true import.

*For a proof of this, I would wish the judicious Reader only to reflect on the very elaborate Comments of Calmet, Le Clerc, Houbigant, Scheucher, Ufher, Patrick, Grotius, Chais, Marets, Michaelis, with the Jewish writers, Maimonides, &c. thofe in the Critici Sacri, The Univerfal Hiftory, and Poole's Synopfis: together with Parker,

WILLIAM DODD.

Ainfworth, Lightfoot, Henry, Spencer, Selden, Shuckford, Kidder, Witfics, Shaw, and a great many more, who have either written on particular parts of the Scripture, or have occafionally elucidated difficult Texts; as Sherlock, Chandler, Warburton, Newton, Jablonski, Huet, &c. &c.

Printed for R. DAVIS, L. DAVIS, T. CARNAN and F. NEWBERY, jun. And fold by W. GOLDSMITH, at No. 24, in Paternofter-Row, where Subfcriptions are taken in: Alfo by all other Bookfellers in Great Britain and Ireland,

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IN PENETRALIA INTRO.

In vain ye broud yourselves from heaven's bright ray ;
I pierce your walls, and drag you into day.