All scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, 2 Тім. ііі. 16, 17. First American Edition. HARTFORD: PRINTED BY LINCOLN & GLEASON. 1807. ADVERTISEMENT. THOUGH the author, if his life had been spared to publish this Abridgment himself, intended to have left out all his Introductions to the several Epistles, it has been thought advisable to give the reader a concise abstract of them, so as to convey an idea of the occasion on which these Epistles were written, and the leading objects which the writers had in view. With regard to some of the longest of them, especially that to the Romans, the editor has thought something further was desirable, and therefore has abridged the whole of the Introduction, so as to form a concise Analysis of the Epistle, apprehending that this will serve to throw considerable light upon various passages. In the doctrinal part, where the sense appeared to be attended with difficulty, more of the author's paraphrase is retained, than in the rest of this volume; in the far greater part of which the sense seemed so obvious as to need no explanation. There are perhaps fewer Notes in this volume than some readers might have wished and expected, but there are as many as the prescribed limits of the work would admit, or as appeared needful for answering the design proposed, and more than the author himself intended: the practical Reflections being the things which he and the promoters of this undertaking considered as of the principal importance to the generality of private Christians, and especially to Christian Families. December 9, 1800. |