THE New Testament, WITH REFERENCES under the Text in To which are added, The CHRONOLOGY of Bishop USHER, WITH Many more REFERENCES than in any Edition of With a TABLE of the Texts of Scripture which are Containing the Four Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles.. By FRANCIS FOX, М. А. The SECOND EDITION. LONDON: Printed for ТноMAS PAYNE, in Round-Court in the Strand, against York-Buildings. 1748. D THE PREFACE. T HAT the holy Scriptures are the Rule of Faith, the Meafure and Standard by which we are to try and judge of all Doctrines propounded to be believed by us, is a Truth universally acknowledged by all Protestants. Some Writers of the Church of Rome, to fupport the groundless and ufurped Authority of their Church over the Minds and Confciences of Men, have indeed denied this; but the Primitive Church, and the ancient Ecclefiaftical Writers, are as (1) unanimous in afserting this Truth, as the Protestants. It is likewife acknowledged, That the Scripture is its own beft Interpreter, in all Instances where it reflects Light upon its felf. I will add, That the diligent comparing of one place of Scripture with another, will often clear up an obfcure and doubtful Text, and give greater Satisfaction to the Mind, than the Perufal of many critical Notes, and the (2) voluminous Writ ings of Commentators. Were (1) See this proved in A. Bp. Tillotson's Discourse concerning the Rule of Faith, against Mr. Sergeant, &c. particularly Part 4. Sect. 2. See like. wife Dr. Lloyd, the late Lord Bishop of Worcester, his Sermon on Act. 2.42. preached at Whitehall, Nov. 24. 1678. In which he gives a short, but faithful History, confirm'd by unquestionable Authorities, of the corrupt Doctrines brought into the Christian Faith by the Church of Rome. I do not remember, that this Sermon was ever fo much as pretended to be anfwered by the Writers of that Communion. (2) I remember a Saying of Erasmus, that when he first read the New Teftament, with Fear and a good Mind, with a purpose to understand it, and obey it, he found it very useful and very pleasant: But when afterwards he fell on reading the vast Differences of Commentaries, then he understood it less than he did before, then he began not to understand it. Bp. Taylor's Sermon before the University of Dublin, on John 7. 17. Were Christians more generally sensible of their great Need of Divine Assistance, in order to their attaining to a Saving Knowledge of the Scriptures; did they by earnest Prayer apply themselves to God through Jesus Chrift, for the Aids of his holy Spirit, to enlighten their Minds, to purifie their Hearts and Affections, to sanctifie their Wills, to reprove them for their Failings, to teach them, and to lead them into all Truth, and to set home the Scriptures on their Consciences, they would questionless become wife unto Salvation, and ready to every good Work. Did Christians spend more Time in reading and comparing the sacred Writings, than in searching after the different and disagreeing Opinions of Expositors, I am perswaded the Way to divine Knowledge would be both eafier, and shorter, and more fatisfactory, the Disputes among Christians fewer, and those which should remain, would be managed with a Spirit of Meekness and Love, the Practice of Religion would become more universal, and the World would feel the Benefit of the Religion our Blessed Saviour taught Men, and be (1) convinced of its divine Original. To facilitate the comparing of one Place of Scripture with others, Parallel Texts have from Time to Time been collected and placed in the Margin of the Bible by learned Men. The first who seem to have done this, were the Translators of the (1) Notwithstanding the many strong and admirable Discourses to prove the Truth and Certainty of the Christian Religion, it is to be feared, that Infidelity spreads and gets ground apace. To fatisfie there fore in this important Point such as are willing to receive Satisfaction, I will fet down some Books, any of which, by the Blessing of God, are sufficient to convince a reasonable, unprejudiced, and uncorrupt Mind. Bp. Gastrel, Bp. Bradford, Dr. Clarke, their, and several other Sermons at Mr. Boyle's Lecture. Dr. Hammond of the Reasonableness of the Christian Religion. Sir Charles Wolseley Bart. of the Reasonableness of ScriptureBelief. Grotius on the Truth of the Christian Religion, (particularly the Second and Third Books) translated both by Bp. Patrick and Dr. John Clarke. The Lively Oracles, by the Author of the Whole Duty of Man, Sect. 2, 3. Mr. Nelson's Difcourses on the Festival of Easter, concerning the Refurrection of Chrift, the Immortality of the Soul, and the Refur rection of the Body; also his Discourses on Monday and Tuesday in Whitsun-Week of the Truth of the Christian Religion, in his Festivals and Fasts of the Church. A. Bp. Tillotson's Sermons published by Dr. Barker, particularly the 5, 12, and 13 Vol. To omit many others, fee the Short and easie Method with a Deist, and its Defence, in a Book intitled the Truth of Christianity demonftrated, both by Mr. Leslie, who feems to have made an Abstract of Dr. Allix's Reflections on the Books of holy Scripture to establish the Truth of the Christian Religion. |