Though I have not the prefumption, my Lord, to fuppofe that mine can be of much ufe to the profeffed fcholar; yet I am willing to flatter myself, it may be of some assistance to two claffes of people. to the younger ftudents in divinity, as an introduction to the Scriptures and to thofe, whose engagements in the world, or neceffary bufinefs, may prevent their making deeper researches.

Your Lordship knows how many years I have employed upon this work, and how long it hath lain by me; and yet, though I hope I have neither been deficient in reading, in thinking, nor in confulting my friends on the fubject, I still bring it forward with apprehenfion. Nothing is more arduous than to comment on the Scriptures to publish our own interpretations of the word of God. In many places we must conjecture; and there will ever be a variety of opinions. I humbly, however, trust in God, that I have hazarded no conjecture, nor have given any explication of obfcure points, inconfiftent with the general fenfe of Scripture,

Scripture, which is certainly our best guide in all dubious passages.

Your Lordship's approbation of my work is one of the best grounds of my hope, that it may in fome measure answer the ends I propose. I am, my Lord, with the greatest refpect,

Your Lordship's moft obedient,

And obliged, humble Servant,

VICAR'S-HILL,

April 12th, 1790.

WILLIAM GILPIN.

GENERAL PREFACE.

AT

T the time of Jefus Chrift's birth, the whole world enjoyed profound peace. The fovereignty of Rome, under Auguftus Cæfar, had united, and in a degree civilized, almost all the known nations of the earth. This, indeed, may be confidered as one of thofe modes of preparation, which God had provided for the reception of the gofpel. The feveral parts of the empire were not only rendered more acceffible to it, but were better difpofed to receive it. The age was more enlightened; impostures were more easily detected; and the evidences of that religion, which wifhed for the cleareft light, were produced with greater force.

Among other nations, the Jews fell under the government of the Romans. They felt, like the reft of the conquered provinces, the avarice and exactions of pretors and publicans; but, on the whole, they were humanely treated. They were fuffered to live under their own laws,

*This was Pliny's opinion. The Roman empire, he tells us, Sparfa congregaret imperia, ritus molliret, &c. The Roman empire bad collected the different governments of the world into one bad Softened their favage rites-diffeminated a general language to affift the intercourfe of mankind — and, in short, had reduced the world to a fate of bumanity. (Nat. Hift. b. iii. c. 5.)-The conqueft of Europe by the Romans, fays Dr. Lightfoot, was one of the means, in the Lord's providence, to barrow the world's ruggedness, and 19 fe it the better for the fowing of the gospel.

VOL. I.

with

with a few restrictions; and their religion was left invio. late. The high-prieft exercifed his office, and the Sanadrim, in a great degree, their power. It is true, indeed, the emperor fometimes interfered in the promotion of these rulers; yet ftill their functions went regularly on.

In the mean time, the nation became exceedingly corrupt. The Babylonish captivity, which had been the punishment of their idolatry, had effectually rooted out that crime. But they had adopted others. The spirit of their religion was gone: and though the form of it remained, yet different rites, of Babylonifh, Egyptian, Syriac, and Arabic origin, had, in fome degree, polluted the purity of the Mofaic ritual. Their morals, too, were much infected. Roman luxuries and Roman vices had found their way into Judea, and had greatly corrupted the people at large; but chiefly in the vicinity of Herod, who was proud of adopting the licentious manners of his conquerors*.

The learning of the Jews, in our Saviour's time, confifted almost entirely in the gloffes and interpretations of their rabbies upon the law. This licence in religion was in an earlier period unknown. The old Jewish feer or prophet, who was enabled to work miracles in proof of his divine commiffion, was the fole interpreter of fcrip. ture. He recorded all events, both civil and ecclefiaftical, He warned the difobedient of the judgments of God; and reproved both kings and people. Under this high authority, all licentious opinions were restrained; and the Jewish church was unacquainted with fchifm.

After Malachi, who was the last prophet, and lived about four hundred years before Chrift, the Jewish church by degrees divided into different fects. Of thefe, the most

See an account of the corrupt fate of Judea at this time, in Lardn. Credib. p. I. b.i. remarkable